Rohal Call

Update time again...

2011-12-14T16:28:00.000-05:00

Since I never seem to ~~have~~ make the time to update my blog these days, I decided it was time to update you of the goings on around here. Excuse the bullets, but they will help me to relay all necessary info without requiring any sense of cohesiveness....

- We are still living with my parents. If you are sending us a holiday card, you can send it here. If you've already sent one to our MD address, we will get it eventually, either through the postal service forwarding it here or by picking it up ourselves....BUT, if you are not uber-organized (yep, it's a word), and haven't sent your cards yet, you can send it to this address...
1290 Mount Joy Road
Manheim, PA, 17545

-While we're on the subject of holiday cards, I'm not sending you one. Well, not just you. I DO plan to send change of address cards however, when I have a new address to give you. Not sure when that will be yet BUT...

-We rented our house in MD!!! Woo hoo!!! That is one major piece of the puzzle.

***PA friends, this one's for you!!!***

-I'm starting a book club! It's one of the things I miss most about MD, and so I'm starting one here. The plan is to meet the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm. We will have dinner (soup, salad, bread, and dessert). You don't have to bring a food item every time. After dinner, we will have discussion. We are meeting Thursday, Dec 28 at 7:30 pm (location to be determined) to pick the books for the first few months. Then, we will begin our first meeting and book discussion on the first Tues in Feb (the 7th). The idea is to do a variety of genres, and also to have a diverse group of women to discuss. If you are interested, please email me at therohals@yahoo.com, and I will give you more info.

-In other news, Nathaniel is crawling....like for real....like he's MOBILE. Yeah, game changer. Super cute though.

-I really need to post some pictures. So sorry, I'll get right on that. Posts are so much better with pictures of my cute children.

-m'kay, time to cook dinner for the masses, wipe some snotty noses, and ya know, other mom stuff...

In case you were wondering....

2011-11-20T22:31:00.000-05:00

...my life if CRAZY right now! I haven't given an update for a while, so here goes...

We are ~~mostly~~ living in PA at this point. My parents have been so generous and hospitable as 5 of us ~~and all our stuff~~ descended on their home. Patrick started his new job three weeks ago, and it is going really well. He splits his time between Baron Family Practice and a clinic in inner city Lancaster for now. He has off on Wednesdays (LOVE THAT!) but works late on Thursdays (so they can have some evening hours at the clinic).

We've been working on renting our home in MD, as we would lose too much by selling it. The market has tanked everywhere, but it seems to be especially bad in the DC area. It stinks if you want to sell your home, but it does create a rather nice rental market. Anyway, we just agreed to a lease this week, and the new tenants are moving Dec 1!!! That means we need to get out....SOON!!! The packers/movers are coming the Monday after Thanksgiving, and we will spend a few days bonding over the work of packing most of our worldly goods, which will then go into storage until we close on a house in PA. To close on a house in PA, we first need to have a contract. To have a contract, we need to have a loan. Having a loan largely depended on having a tenant. Ah, now you see how this is all coming together. We are hoping to hear news about our loan tomorrow (happy news, please!!!), and put in an offer this week. The owners of the house we want don't want to move until January, so if all these little details work in our favor, that is when we will finally settle here. God is so good. Thank you for your prayers. Please keep praying!

Having a house here will probably help reality to set in that we now LIVE in Pennsylvania. I've been working on and off in MD, and we've been down to visit on a few weekends, so we still pop in at church and Bible studies on occasion which really makes it seem like we're not really gone yet. I guess not having a house there anymore will help the feeling of permanence.

We've also begun to plug into life in our new town. It helps that this is "home" for me, and we already have friends and family here. We are really excited about church and the people we are meeting there. I joined the flute choir. Patrick is planning to sing with the men's choir in a few weeks, and he will probably join one of the noteveryweek choir options. The church offers dinner every Wed evening for $12 for your whole family. LOVE THIS! After dinner, there are various rehearsals, Bible studies, classes for the kids, and nursery for the babies. How nice to not have to cook dinner or find childcare to be involved in church activities. I've also been going to a mom's group (at another church) that several of my friends attend on Wednesday mornings. I've run into old friends that I haven't seen in years. It feels good to be home.

So, that's us. That's why I haven't been blogging. I can't find my shoes some days, let alone compose coherent sentences. Most of the pictures that go with posts in my head are on the computer we still have in MD. I keep reminding myself that this is not a normal season for us. My kids may watch more TV than I ever thought I would allow. I might not read to them as much as I like, they might have candy before breakfast some days, and we may have to skip many of our holiday traditions. It's okay. This isn't our home. Our stuff is in a million places, and I don't have to do it all. Can you hear me preaching to myself? I'm tough to convince....

What I've Been Reading...

2011-11-13T21:28:00.000-05:00

I'm already starting to forget some of these books, so it's high time I did a "What I've Been Reading" post.

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks is based on the true story of a tiny village in England in 1666. When the plague visits their quiet town, they make a pact to stay together in their village rather than infect the surrounding area. A neighboring town brings them food/goods at a designated spot in exchange for their vow to not spread the disease. The book is slow at times, but still worth the read. As well as describing this distinct place and time in history, there are elements of faith, love, morality, witchcraft, sacrifice, and healing.

I just finished Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, which I believe is Jamie Ford's first novel. I don't know what it is with me and books about WWII and/or Asian culture, but this one has both. I had a hard time getting into the story, but about 3/4 of the way though, I really wanted to finish it. The story is based on Henry's life, a Chinese boy raised in the US in the 1940's. He meets a Japanese girl at school who becomes his best friend and later love interest, which is not an option for his traditional Chinese family as Japan is "the enemy." The story oscillates between Henry's life in the 1940's and his life 40 years later. If you cut out 1/3 of the book, the story would be great. The title suits the story well as the love story weaved throughout is truly bittersweet.

I haven't read a Tim Keller book yet that I wouldn't recommend, and Counterfeit Gods is no exception. I read it for book club, and appreciated it so much more after the discussion. Before the meeting, it wasn't my favorite Keller book (still isn't), but I gleaned so much from the discussion, and I think I would glean even more from the book if I read it slower and more intentionally. As the cover explains, it is about "The empty promises of money, sex, and power, and the only hope that matters."

Okay, so I'm not QUITE done with Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, but I'm close. This book made my list of "books I didn't finish" at one point, but this translation is SO much more reader friendly. The ladies from our church in Maryland have been studying it under the direction of Barbara Coleman. As I always advise new ladies attending our church, "If Barbara Coleman is leading a study, go if at all humanly possible." I am taking my own advice and traveling from PA to MD for a few of the meetings this month. I arranged it so I could work during the day (in MD) and then have dinner with friends from church before going to the study and driving home. Long day, but SO worth it. Read this book. Read it with a group so you will have accountability and learn together from this amazing allegory.

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins is unlike anything else I'm reviewing here. I DEVOURED this series. Honestly, it sounded corny and science fiction-y to me, but a friend recommended it, so I thought I would try the first one, and I was hooked! I finished The Hunger Games before vacation and read the second one, Catching Fire on the plane (it's a PERFECT travel read). I finished the third, Mockingjay, about two days after I got home. Really well written, emotional, action packed. Add this to your list.

I want to love One Thousand Gifts. So many of you reviewed it and recommended it. I won it on Sara's blog (which you should check out if you haven't. She's awesome). I was drawn in by Ann Voskamp's unique writing style, but after a chapter or two, I found it flowery and annoying. I thought her message was fabulous, perhaps even life changing. The importance of thankfulness is something we all take for granted, and Ann teaches us how to find joy in the mundane through nurturing an attitude of thankfulness. Not just trying to be more thankful, but actively, intentionally, practicing and looking for the gifts God lavishly gives to each of his children. He loves us more than we could ask or imagine. I had a hard time getting through it, but I am glad I read it.

The Road to Sedona

2011-11-04T22:55:00.001-04:00

This the first of four posts with pictures of our recent vacation to Sedona/Grand Canyon/Las Vegas. The following were taken on the way to Sedona from Phoenix.

Montezuma's Castle

Detail of the Castle

I was fascinated by the trees in the Southwest. Lynn got this picture on her iPhone.

This is the picture I was taking above. A juniper.

Montezuma's Well, a natural spring in the middle of the desert.

Resting at the well.

Stay tuned for the red rocks of Sedona!

My Grandma....

2011-10-10T21:46:00.000-04:00

...was an incredible lady. She went to be with Jesus on Friday. She lived a long (would have been 90 next month) and active life. Two months ago she was still walking 2 1/2 miles every morning, volunteering, sewing part time, living independently, and driving. She was sharp as a tac. She sometimes babysat my kids when I was home. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and quickly deteriorated. She loved the Lord and loved her family. She prayed for each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren daily. I was able to see her a few times since she was diagnosed. She said, "I'm ready to see Jesus and see Miles (my grandpa)."

For anyone who is local, her viewing is on Wednesday evening, and her funeral is Thursday morning. Let me know if you need more specific details. I love you, grandma, and I will see you again....

Day at the Park

2011-10-10T10:07:00.000-04:00

The following were taken using our new Tamron 18-270mm lens (with a UV filter). We recently took the Beginner and Intermediate classes with McKay Photography Academy, and I took these as part of a "Rule of Thirds" exercise. -- Patrick

They heard a squirrel rustling in the leaves...and declared it was "a bear."

"Camille, look at Daddy!" She just would not turn around. Then, "Camille, I'm gonna get you!" And I snapped this shot.

BIG NEWS!!!

2011-09-24T22:37:00.000-04:00

No, not that news....good gracious people, Nathaniel's only 6 months old!

We're moving!!!!!

We thought we were staying in this area for another 3-5 years. God had a different plan. Doors were closed here, and doors we were barely knocking on started opening wide. Bottom line...we are moving back to Pennsylvania!!! Patrick accepted a position at a small family practice (in my hometown!) under the umbrella of Heart of Lancaster hospital. His start date is Nov 1. We are both excited and overwhelmed.

We need to sell our house. The market is not very conducive to meeting that goal, but we know our God is big enough. Please pray with us that we would find a buyer soon. If you know anyone moving to the Baltimore/Washington area (our house is in Bowie, MD), please send them our way!

I created a blog to show our house, since most of the sites where we listed it only allow 5-10 pictures. Our house is convenient to several military bases (Andrews, Naval Academy, Fort Meade, Bethesda). Comments, advice, and encouragement are welcome.

www.orchardparkway.blogspot.com

You can also pray that we will find a house in PA. We've been looking, although the process is somewhat stalled until we sell/rent our house. It's a big decision.

More PA weekend fun...

2011-08-09T08:32:00.000-04:00

The same weekend as "camping weekend" we spent Sunday with my family. Lisa even joined us for dinner. The fish pond is just beautiful in my parents' back yard. The girls love to help paw paw feed the fish.

My dad is super cool, talented, and creative. He decided to build a tree house for my kids. It even has a porch, skylight, and a slide attached. I tried to get a good picture of it, but it's hidden by some trees. You get the idea though...

Camping Weekend...

2011-08-08T20:30:00.000-04:00

You may remember the super fun kickoffthesummer picnic we had at Jen and Scott's farm. Since they are such fun folks, they invited us all back to camp out one Friday night. We I have very little camping experience. Yes, all 5 of us "slept" in the red tent. We figured even if it was awful, it was one night, and we would recover. Having indoor plumbing a short walk away was helpful. I was woefully unprepared in the blankets department....it was a COLD night. In the wee hours, I was scavenging the house for blankets. We did better after that.

I left my kids with my friends and went to get a haircut. John, Jonathan, and Patrick went golfing while Scott packed eggs. The kids spent most of the day in their swim suits. They played in the water, rode bikes, played with water balloons, chased each other, played lawn games, played in the sand, and ate...we all ate...a lot.

I was so proud of Adeline for trying this floaty. Jen K was kind enough to swim with Adeline so I could ~~take a nap~~ tend to the other two.

Popsicles!!! Brennan, Isaiah, Aubrey, Camille, and Adeline

Molly is such a sweetie, but she usually has to stay in the garage when we come to visit. However, my ~~usually scared of a dog the size of her ankles~~ brave girl even petted her a few times.

Boche ball....among other lawn games...

It was a packed weekend, and we were all wiped!

Thanks again to Scott and Jen for opening up your home. We love you!

Wordless Wednesday...

2011-08-03T06:56:00.000-04:00

July 4th!!!

2011-07-31T06:59:00.001-04:00

Well, since it's technically still July, I'm not THAT late with this post. Patrick's family came to our house to celebrate the holiday.

Nathaniel with his great grandpa (aka Pepe) (Patrick's mom's father)

Uncle Damien has the touch...

We played several rounds of bocce.

Camille and Mikey had a blast together.

Seriously, how cute is that outfit?!? (yes I know Mikey's cute too)

The girls decided to play dress up.

We ordered crabs. This was the first time I've ever ordered crabs to serve at my house. I'm from PA. We don't do such things there. The Maryland crew were all pros at picking out the meat.

Adeline, unsure if she is scared of the ~~dead~~ crab....oh, and yes, still playing dress up.

Desmyn holding Nathaniel (he peed on her the first time they met right after we got home from the hospital. She forgave him...)

The kids had their own table.

Add caption

If you know my children AT ALL, you don't even have to ask if we saw any ~~loud, bright, scary~~ fireworks ~~after bedtime~~.

Port Discovery

2011-07-30T20:47:00.000-04:00

Thanks to our awesome friends, Chris and Missy, we had some free tickets to Port Discovery, a kids' museum in Baltimore. We took our friends, the Fixes (also known as Mr. Fix, Mrs. Fix, Rock, and Louisa). What a blast!

After karaoke (sorry, no pix), we went to explore the land of Paul Bunyan, where we...

...built a log cabin,

and stood in his footprints.

Princess Camille (aka "Cindawella")

The kids loved painting...

Nathaniel was just taking it all in...

...except when he was sleeping.

One of our favorite activities was the gas station/convenience store.

Who needs a cart?

Louisa (one going on 16), "driving" the car at the gas station.

Our attempt at a picture of all the kids in the train...

Giant light bright....SO COOL!

You can't tell from the picture just how fun this was, BUT, a projector reflected pictures of leaves, water, etc. When the kids would walk or jump in the oval, the leaves would scatter, water would ripple, or lilly pads would move.

Time for a little quiet time to read and build.

This is my best attempt at taking a picture to show you the inside of the museum. The center is just a giant, three story play area to climb and slide. Adeline went through this tunnel with her daddy.

Another super fun room was the "water room." No, that is not Adeline standing with her daddy. It was too scary for her. This is a random ~~younger~~ girl who wanted to try it...

This hoop rests in a trough of bubbles. When you pull the rope, you are enclosed in a giant bubble. So cool!!! If you look behind Patrick, you can see the bubble coming up from the ground.

This display showed the water cycle.

Our last stop was the diner. The girls had such fun taking our orders, making the food, and checking us out at the register. So well done.

Adeline was not shy about letting this boy know she needed a piece of bread for her mommy's sandwich.

What a great day!!!

Nolt Picnic

2011-07-30T09:23:00.000-04:00

I know I haven't blogged much lately. I'm going to try to spend a bit of time updating today. Patrick's contract position fell through, so if you could keep us in your prayers as we figure out where to go, what job to pursue, etc, we would appreciate it. The unknown is so scary and uncomfortable sometimes, but we're also just really excited about what God has for us next. We'll keep you posted (pun intended).

___________________________________________________________________

In June, we had a Nolt family gathering at my Uncle Clair and Aunt June's house (also known as the farm where my dad grew up). Here is a picture of my grandmother (my dad's mom) with her 15 great grandchildren.

June had lots of fun activities for the kids including sidewalk chalk, play dough...

a pedal tractor...

...and a piñata!

Of course the food was amazing.

...as was the fellowship. I love my family.

What I've been reading...

2011-07-28T22:03:00.000-04:00

If you read Kristen's blog, then you will have seen all of these books before. Based on her recommendations, I've been doing some summer reading......

Loving Frank is a novel based on the love affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney. Nancy Horan does quite a bit of research into their lives and weaves fact with fiction (her perceptions of their feelings, motives, etc). I liked this one....didn't love it. It isn't graphic, but my moral red flag goes up whenever I read about an affair. As Kristen suggests, do not google anything about FLW if you don't know anything about his life. It would really spoil the ending.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay was definitely a worthwhile read. It is a heartbreaking but gripping story. It is historical fiction based on the Vélodrome d'Hiver round up in Paris back in 1942 where thousands of Jew's were killed.

I heard a lot about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, so I decided to read this (even though thrillers are not usually a genre I migrate towards). I read all 600 pages in a little over a week. Truly a gripping story. The synopsis on the back compared it to Silence of the Lambs. I agree. Great story, well written, has a plot (not senseless violence). However, it is not for the faint of heart. I haven't decided if I will read the other two books in Stieg Larsson's trilogy or not. I think the next one deals with sex trafficking, and I'm not sure I could handle that in graphic detail.

It took me a while to get into Winter Garden, a novel by Kristin Hannah, but after I did, I LOVED it! Add this one to your reading list. There is a bit of historical fiction mixed in with a look into how complicated relationships can be and how our perceptions are not always accurate.

Reasons to love Chick Fil A...

2011-07-10T16:56:00.000-04:00

Last week, we went to family night at CFA. This used to be "kids eat free" night. Alas, they did make some changes and kids no longer eat free, but they still bring in a super talented face painter. She turned Camille into a princess (as though she needed any help). Adeline was insistent..."I don't want you to paint on me." After her daddy agreed to have his ENTIRE face painted like a frog, she relented and allowed her to paint flowers on her arm.

Kudos to Pat for once again being a super cool daddy.

Then, because we love us some CFA, we dressed like cows for the annual cow appreciation day. Yes, ALL of us participated. Nathaniel donned a white onesie (since I only have about 328 of them) turned cow costume with a black sharpie. I think the fumes may have made him a bit high though. lol. Camille pretty much stole the show in her halloween costume turned perfect outfit for the occasion. The rest of us just wore white and printed out the costumes from their website. We waited until we got there to tape on the "Eat Mor Chikin" signs. Those milkshakes (especially when they're free) just make me happy. Three cheers for Chick Fil A!!!

More Camille...

2011-07-10T16:42:00.000-04:00

Mawy had a wittle wamb...

2011-07-06T14:35:00.000-04:00

Slowly but surely...

2011-07-06T09:39:00.002-04:00

Quick update...

2011-07-01T22:40:00.000-04:00

It's been a while (as several of you have pointed out) since I've posted anything. For those of you who don't know, Patrick separated from the air force at the beginning of June. He had a contract position lined up, but it fell through about two weeks before his separation date. To make a long story short, he found another contract position PTL (in flight medicine at Andrews AFB), but he's had some time off in between jobs. We are in full summer-play-with-daddy mode! ...except for that week when we were all sick. Our friends here affectionately titled it, "the toddler plague." 2-3 year olds were sicker than others who were infected....and most kids (and sometimes adults) we know were down for the count. We quarantined ourselves for about two weeks. Anyway, back to summer...

There have been princess tea parties...

...LOTS of ice cream...

...trips to the pool...

...and Father's day.

Our garden is growing...

...as is our son.

There's more to post, but for now I'll leave you with two of my favorite recent pictures of my favorite guys. I think I'll have one of them made into a large canvas print like the ones I have of the girls with me.

Hope you're loving summer as much as we are!

It's sum-mah, sum-mah, sum-mah, ti-ime!

2011-06-10T21:45:00.000-04:00

I'm SOOO behind on blogging. We are fully enjoying our summer, and blogging has taken a back seat. I'm okay with that.

Here are a few pix from a picnic in PA at the Gochenaur's farm. Do I have any pictures of the Gochenaurs or Hollingers who were also picnicking with us...NOPE! Sorry gang! Well, I did at least get one of the back of Aubrey in her adorable swimsuit. Keep reading....

This is the screensaver on our iMac right now. Just makes me smile.

I love that my kids get to play in OTHER PEOPLE'S sandboxes.

Aubrey, you are just too sweet.

Excuses

2011-06-03T21:02:00.000-04:00

Camille is now sleeping in a "big girl bed." It's adorable. I'll have to post pictures. Anyway, tonight she is standing at the top of the steps screaming for daddy after we have already put her down for the night. I lead her back to her room and am just about to explain AGAIN to her our rule about not getting out of bed, discipline her, and close her door, when she says the one thing that exonerates her from all punishment...

I pooped.

2 going on 4

2011-05-18T10:24:00.002-04:00

When you ask Camille how old she is, she'll say, "I four!" When you say, "You're not four." She'll say, "TWO!"

Indeed, my baby girl just turned two. She is sure she can do everything her 4 yo sister can do, and honestly, I feel like she's been 2 for at least 6 months. Her birthday was May 9th. Her party for family and friends was on Saturday the 7th.

The theme was BALLOONS! I was really happy with how my balloon cupcake display turned out. I got the idea here.

The pink ones were strawberry, the purple were vanilla, the green were chocolate, and the orange were "mystery."

Once again, the Hollingers made the trip from PA. We love them.

We had the party at Fox Hill Park again this year. We used the grill for a delicious cookout. Once again, there was a second party that showed up to use the pavilion. You can't reserve it. It's first come, first serve. Luckily, they found my husband first. He has so much more grace than I do in these situations. I was ready to tell them to move some tables together under the trees like we did last year. We were here first! Of course, SHARING was a much better example for our kids, and it really was fine. The pavilion is huge. Thank you sweetie.

KISS SANDWICH!!!

Her cupcake of choice....unfortunately, I forgot to bring candles.

Gamma Barron with cousin Mikey

Aunt Brooke and Uncle Damien

Uncle Bobby and Aunt Jenny
Bobby took most of the pictures in this post. I handed him my camera when we got to the cupcakes part, and he did a great job capturing the rest of the party. Thanks Bob!

GIFTS!!!

My uber talented friend, Missy, MADE this doll for Camille. Yes, I said "made"....yes, she does have three girls of her own....no, I don't know where she finds the time to be so generous with her creativity.

On Camille's actual birthday, daddy had an errand to run close to our house in the middle of the day. Afterward, he showed up with flowers and a princess card for his birthday princess.

Yeah, he's cool like that.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!!! We love you!

Wordless Wednesday...Dress-up

2011-05-18T00:26:00.000-04:00

She was especially proud of this last one...

What I've been reading...

2011-05-17T23:01:00.000-04:00

This post was deleted by blogger, so I'm reposting it...sorry if you are reading it for the second time.

Why not read a children's classic just to mix things up a bit? I read Heidi during my last weeks of pregnancy and during my hospital stay. It is sweet...sometimes nauseatingly sweet. It's predictable and drags at times, but it was light and perfect for that time in my life.

As one girl in my book club commented, "You could tell me this book was written in 1832, and I would believe you." Sinclair Ferguson writes with the sage wisdom of classic Biblical scholars, yet has a wit and style that makes it readable. The Pundit's Folly is a study of life according to Ecclesiastes. It is convicting, encouraging (if you are a Christian), and engaging. I recommend this one.

I can't say enough about Unbroken. My friend, Krista, predicted in March that it would be the best book she'd read all year. She has good taste, so that was enough to convince me to read it. IT WAS FABULOUS! Hillenbrand spent 7 years doing research for this book, and she does a superb job of recounting this amazing World War II story. Krista's review is great, so I'm going to link you to her blog rather than writing a synopsis of my own. READ THIS ONE!!!

I probably would rate this book higher if I hadn't read Unbroken first. In Night, Elie Wiesel tells his story of life and torture as a young Jew in Auschwitz. Through the atrocities he experienced, he began to question his faith and ultimately rejects God. Unlike memoirs like Unbroken and The Hiding Place, there is no redemption. Night is a concise and well written account of the horrors of genocide that occurred in WWII, but as our book club discussion leader pointed out, remembering is not enough. The problem is sin, and no amount of education, preaching, or law making is going to change that we are all sinners and are capable of horrible things. Certainly an excellent book, but if you are only going to read one WWII story this year, pick Unbroken

Tiny Talk Tuesday

2011-05-17T06:34:00.002-04:00

A: "Bunny likes to have lunch first and then have breakfast."

_________________________

A: "Paw paw, you're old."
_________________________

This was a conversation between Rock and his mother, Rachel, last week after Rock and Adeline played together while Rachel and I had Biblestudy.

Rock: "Two times, mommy."
Rach: "What do you mean, Rock?"
Rock: "Two times I kissed Adeline. One was a regular kiss and one was a love kiss. I hugged her too."
Rach: "What is a love kiss?"
Rock: "You know, a love kiss."
Rachel, unable to get a better description from her 3yo son, decided to pump Adeline for info when she had her in the church nursery the following Sunday.
Rach: "So, Adeline, I hear Rock gave you a kiss on Thursday."
Adeline: Smiles and blushes slightly.
Rach: "What kind of kiss was it?"
Adeline: "A sweet kiss."

Patrick already warned Rock that he's keeping an eye on him...

_________________________

After bath time, I told Adeline to put on some clean pant*ies. After standing in front of her armoire for some time, she says....

A: "Mommy, I'm going to wear the flowered ones because grandma planted flowers today, and daddy planted flowers today, so I'm going to pick these because they have flowers on them."

This will be especially funny to a few people who know me well...

Head to Mary's for more Tiny Talkers!

Random Updates...

2011-05-15T23:36:00.000-04:00

Patrick built a garden box this year.

He had some help doing the planting...

We are hoping for a lot of peas. They planted them in intervals to spread out the harvest season. We were very excited when they sprouted.

Patrick built a pea trellis so the peas would be happy...

I love that he involves the girls in the process.

Our excitement grew as the peas quickly started wrapping their tendrils around the trellis.

Stay tuned for more gardening updates. ~~We've~~ Patrick also planted peppers, cherry tomatoes, squash, zucchini, lots of herbs, tea, and flowers.

In other news, a bird family has been building in our bird house. How cosy.

This little guy is still stealing our hearts.

He is more alert these days.

and still gets LOTS of love from his sisters.

Wednesday marked 9 weeks. He had his 2 month check up on Tuesday. As we suspected, he's growing. 11 lbs, 5 oz to be exact...

He has also begun smiling and "talking" which is awesome. We've yet to capture a smile in full bloom on camera, but this is close...

He does still does plenty of this though....which makes mommy very happy.

Patrick's cousin, Tina, sent the cutest package from Hawaii. How sweet are these hula skirts?!? We are going to have to host a luau this summer just so Nathaniel can wear his adorable Hawaiian duds.

Camille has transitioned to a "big girl bed." She started taking naps in Adeline's room a few weeks ago, and then we decided we should turn our guest room into a room for Camille. We just purchased an ADORABLE daybed from Craig's list. I'll try to post pictures soon. She loves to do all things "big," so this was an easy transition for her. If only the ease would carry over to potty training (which we haven't started yet)....sigh.

Two year birthday pictures coming soon...

Wordless Wednesday---When sisters share...

2011-05-11T10:03:00.000-04:00

Easter Finest

2011-04-27T13:57:00.000-04:00

Thank you, Grandma, for the coordinating Easter dresses and hats....SO CUTE!!!

Oh, yes, he DID wear plaid, seersucker overalls!!! I KNOW!!!

I took the girls outside before church to try to get a few pictures. Camille wasn't having it!

But she cheered up a bit when we got back inside.

I couldn't resist...

Someone commented that Camille is ALWAYS smiling. She is a pretty happy girl, but I thought I should post a picture of her "serious" face.

We spent the afternoon with Patrick's family.

Grandma spoiled them...

Mikey

Madison and Jenny

Taylor and Dominick

Here's the best one of all the cousins...

and one with Grandma...

Seriously, how cute is she in that hat?!?

Mikey was having a bit of a rough day. Why is he crying here?...

It might be because my ~~oblivious~~ daughter is playing his favorite ~~for today~~ guitar.

Yep, it's guitar envy...

Then there was bubble blowing...

and egg hunting...

Mikey with his daddy "Uncle Bobby"

They love him...

2011-04-25T22:01:00.000-04:00

...they REALLY, REALLY do.

They want to hold him...

and kiss him...

and sit/lay/be next to him.

Most of the time, it's the most precious thing in the world.

But sometimes it gets to be a bit much...

or a little dangerous even...

but then the safety of ~~mommy's~~ daddy's arms makes it all better.

the end.

Cherry Blossom Cruise

2011-04-23T20:48:00.000-04:00

My dad has wanted to see the cherry blossoms in DC for YEARS. So when a groupon came up for half off a yacht cruise to see the cherry blossoms, I knew it was the perfect birthday present for him. The day was lovely, but unfortunately, the cherry blossoms were not. Turns out they don't like to come according to a schedule (kinda like babies....I mean really, how many are actually born on their due dates?). SO, although they are beautiful in MD where we live, the season was over in DC. We saw a few, and the boat was really nice (the treat boxes from a local bakery were the "cherry" on top). Kids were free, so we took the girls, but we left Nathaniel, in all his newness, with "Miss Tammy."

Sunday Finest

2011-04-22T14:12:00.000-04:00

I'm only now getting around to posting this. I would have just waited and posted it this Sunday (because really, how many of you would know what week it is from), BUT, this week is Easter Sunday! We celebrate Resurrection Sunday because our Lord is RISEN! We want the focus to be on the real meaning of the holiday, but all those who know me, know that I love any excuse to get my kids dolled up. My mom bought the girl's dresses last year after Easter, and I can't wait to dress them with their cute dresses and hats....sigh...

Okay, now onto last week's Sunday Finest...

Little boys + overalls = adorableness!!!

And then she got pigtails...

Which she took out later that day...

...and here are a few bonus pictures I took the other day. When my girlfriends visited, Jen gave Nathaniel this adorable outfit. He looks like such a big boy! The shirt is a onesie/t-shirt combo. It's two shirts that are connected, with the t-shirt hanging out over the pants. Brilliant!!! This avoids the silly Ihavenowaist look that babies get when you put them in a onesie with pants overtop.

My friends rock!

2011-04-22T13:34:00.000-04:00

They've shown up on this blog before. I really have the best friends in the world. I love them each like sisters. Jen, Heidi, and Jen came a few weeks after Nathaniel was born to visit. They not only brought dinner for that night, they brought an extra casserole for whenever. SWEET! Thanks for making the trek from PA to spend the day with us.

Heidi's daughter, Gabriella, came along. She read to my girls, played games with them, and even brought a bunch of "my little ponies" with a castle and accessories for them to enjoy. What a treat!

Heidi MADE this fun pizza game for my girls. She made a whole bunch of toppings, which you hand out to each player. You roll a dice and put the number of toppings on the pizza to coordinate with your roll. Not hard...but perfect for my little gals to learn how to take turns and count. You can add in trickier things, like rolling two dice and adding the numbers together, but for now, we stick with the basic version, which even Camille can play!

He just keeps growing...

2011-04-21T21:22:00.001-04:00

Hospital Pictures

2011-04-17T06:50:00.000-04:00

Hospital photographers are NOT what they used to be...in a good way. She showed up while the girls happened to be visiting us, but she only had a few minutes. I thought, okay, I love pictures, go ahead. I had low hopes that they were going to be better than some of the ones we took though. Wow. That's all I can say...

The next day, another photographer from the same company came to take some of Nathaniel by himself.

I also asked for some n*ked baby photos. Their clothes never fit at this stage, and I just love all their wrinkly newness.

And that, my friends, is why I had my birth announcements done and sent within a month.

Korenglish

2011-04-16T21:44:00.000-04:00

Come on, you know you miss my Korenglish posts....

For those of you who are more recent readers, we lived in Korea for a year, and I did frequent posts about the "not quite right" English translations that were EVERYWHERE! Seriously, if you haven't done so before, click on "Korenglish" in my sidebar or under my labels and prepare to pee your pants.

On my way home from work a few months ago, I stopped at a "non brand name" grocery store. It turned out to be a sort of international grocery store....with some CHEAP produce. There were about 30 fruits/vegetables/herbs that I have NEVER heard of in my life. I like to cook, and my husband ~~and kids~~ will eat any genre of food. I'm telling you, this place is a WHOLE new experience. There are the Korean, Thai, Mexican, and Chinese aisles (several of which have zero English on their products), the "American milk" aisle, and a huge seafood counter (since many of these cultures cook with a lot of seafood). Just to make it more authentically "international" (or at least qualify it as a notquiteright Korenglish establishment), there are small stores in the back and front of the market, kinda like in an airport. The computer repair shop is next to the wig store (I kid you not).

My favorite sign was this one...

"PERSON HYEGENE"

"TOILT TISSUE"

Also, you gotta love that those things are in the same aisle as BBQ Supply, Pest Control, and light bulbs.

Oh, and did I mention that I got a free roll of paper towels at the check out? I thought they added them to my order by mistake. They said, "No, they free." nice....

Better than a superbowl ad...

2011-04-14T22:51:00.000-04:00

My blogging friend, Mari, posted this, and I think it's just amazing. ENJOY!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

2011-04-12T16:53:00.000-04:00

me: "It's getting close to lunch time. Are you guys hungry?"
Rock: "No, I'm not hungry."
A: "No, we're getting married right now."
Rock: "Yeah, we already are married. Let's go back to our house." (also known as the play room)
_____________________________

me: "Where did grandma take you for dinner?!?"
the girls: "CHICK-FIL-A!!!!"
me: "And then where did you go for ice cream?"
A: "We went to Old McDonalds!"
_____________________________

Adeline and I were looking at pictures...
A: "Look! There's daddy in his work pj's!" (also known as his uniform)....

Head to Mary's for more Tiny Talkers!

How Nathaniel spends most of his time...

2011-04-06T12:07:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday...

2011-03-30T06:39:00.004-04:00

Any title suggestions?

It was the middle...

2011-03-29T20:39:00.000-04:00

Some of you saw my facebook status asking...

"Was it the sometimes uncoordinated, crazy first child or the "I want to do it myself," independent middle child that was the first to need stitches?" (or something like that)...

Those of you who guessed Camille are correct! She and Adeline were ~~being crazy~~ playing on our bed when Camille took a dive over the edge and hit her head on my bedside table. The cut was short but deep. She happened to chose a day when we were headed to the clinic anyway for Nathaniel's two week well check up. We swung by daddy's office, where the girls were going to stay to color/read/play leapster while I took Nathaniel to his appointment. Change of plans....I took Adeline with me to Nathaniel's apt (he's healthy...weighing in at 8lbs, 9oz), and Patrick took Camille to the ER for stitches. We all convened there.

Might as well use the waiting time to hold my baby brother!

They wrapped her in a sheet like a burrito, and she insisted that mommy hold her.

She SCREAMED the whole time and broke my heart.

When it was done, they gave her a popsicle, and like a light switch, she was "all better." "This pah-sicle is nummy, mommy." ....and she's been her joyful self ever since.

Adeline's 4th Birthday

2011-03-24T21:46:00.000-04:00

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures from Adeline's 4th birthday. I've been a bit preoccupied the past few weeks. ;o)

I was looking for an easy party this year (read not in my house....and ONE party for family and friends rather than two parties like last year) since I was due with Nathaniel two weeks after her birthday. When ~~Camille and I~~ some of us had the flu the Saturday of her party, we had to postpone things, and then my ideas were not working for the same date. Anyway....here's how it went.

Part 1

We went to the PG County Sports and Learning Center for their open gymnastics workshop. They have a HUGE foam pit you can slide, swing, or jump into. They also have trampolines, a climbing wall, balance beams, and other fun get-your-energy-out equipment. My girls love it, and it took ZERO planning on my part. Perfect.

She could jump all day!

Yes, she was hanging on "all by her big girl self!"

Part 2

Adeline's real birthday, Feb 27, was on a Sunday. My dad brought my grandmother and my sister down for the day (my mom was in Florida). We enjoyed a nice lunch, opened presents, and visited....low key.

We got her a leapster....she loves it!

Lisa enjoying the 2010 scrapbook I made....perhaps I should blog about that sometime.

Her pigtails melt me.

Me (very pregnant) with my birthday girl.

Part 3

Pizza lunch at the food court of our local (outdoor) mall. This was brilliant! (if I do say so myself). There is an indoor food court (that is lovely with large windows, etc) in the center of the strip of stores at our local mall. The only time we ever go there is to frequent Dairy Queen because....in the mall area there is also a Chipotle, Panera, Noodles and Co, 5 guys, and other sit down restaurants. Yeah, who is going to eat fast food chinese when you have all these other choices?!? BUT, they have pizza, and my kids LOVE pizza. We had the place practically to ourselves. We put tables together and put paper tablecloths and pink paper plates on them for all our guests. We were able to bring in veggies, fruit, and cake (which were not options in Chick-Fil-A, my first choice). When the party was over, we wrapped them all up and left the mess THERE...NOT in my house!!!

We had a princess theme. The girls were encouraged to dress in their favorite princess costumes, and the boys could be knights.

I used my mom's doll skirt cake mold from when I was a kid and bought the "doll pick" (yes, that's what it's called) on Amazon for $5. This cake was easy and fun.

Camille with Uncle Bobby

Adeline with her buddy, Linus

Mommy fastening a necklace she was given....I love her curls here.

There was dancing

Joy personified.

"I do it my-SELF!"

Violet chose to put on her princess dress about 10 min before the party was over. At least I got a picture!

Some pix...

2011-03-20T21:51:00.000-04:00

I know, I know....post some pictures already!!! I've just been soaking him up. This should tide you over until I can do a "real" post again.....who knows when that will be!

1st bath

Praying hands...

His sisters love him....a little too much sometimes. ;o)

Nathaniel Patrick Rohal

2011-03-11T14:55:00.000-05:00

Nathaniel Patrick Rohal

March 9, 2011

11:41 am

7lbs, 15oz

19 inches

-Looks just like his daddy.

-Born on his grandmother's birthday (Lynn's mom)

-"Gift from God"

-Perfect in every way.

-I wasn't able to post anything from the hospital, but I was able to post pictures on facebook, so hopefully most of you saw the news there....

7lbs 15oz

1st bath...

Waiting to meet his sisters

Swoon...

Family of FIVE!!!

Camille's reaction..."BABY!!! I hold him."

I am blessed beyond measure...

Opening gifts "from Nathaniel." He's already winning his way to their hearts.

He's already in high demand for being held and kissed.

Nancy, Tammy, and Megan (some of his first visitors). Sorry Fixes...I guess when you come two hours after birth, we are too delirious to take your picture. But you brought treats, so you were MORE than welcome. ;o)

Day 2

One of my favorites...

Picnic on "mommy's bed." SOOOO exciting!

What I've Been Reading

2011-03-07T21:41:00.000-05:00

It took me a while to get into A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, but by the end, I was really glad I read it. This classic by Betty Smith tells the story of Francie, as she grows up in a poor New York family. By the end, you really feel like you know the characters, for all their virtues and faults.

I loved The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. The writing is supurb, the characters draw you in, and the story is easy to read. There is a little history (set during the 1960s with high racial tension), a lot about relationships (mother/daughter, racial, boy/girl), and a lot about maturing. I recommend this one. If you liked The Help, you will like this one.

Cheaper by the Dozen is another great read! This classic is hilarious while it also makes you think. The Gilbreth family has its share of eccentric characters, but yet everyone will relate to them in some way. Frank and Ernestine Gilbreth are fabulous storytellers as they share about their unique childhood in a family with 12 kids.

I first read Chasing the Dragon while I was visiting my cousin and his wife in Hong Kong. I had just finished college and was not the avid reader that I am now. I remember being "grabbed" by Jackie Pullinger's story of being a missionary in the walled city. I didn't remember the poor quality of the writing. While her theology is quite different from mine, God is clearly using Jackie to change the lives of hundreds of drug addicts, prostitutes, and gang members. Her testimony is amazing....just hard to follow at times.

What Pullinger's book lacks in writing quality, Gilead makes up for 10 fold. The prose in Marilynne Robinson's novel is just beautiful. However, I just couldn't get into the story and struggled to get through this one. The entire novel is a letter from an aging father with failing health to his 7 year old son. It is slow moving but eloquent.

Pregnancy Update...

2011-03-01T22:05:00.001-05:00

I am 38 weeks today, and yes, still pregnant. At my last appointment, we found out baby is/was breech. I've been trying some positions to get him to turn, and we think he may be head down now. The other concern is my platelets have been dropping. Apparently this happens in pregnancy sometimes, but it is a concern. I am going in again tomorrow morning to have my blood checked again and check baby's position. They also want me to see a hematologist (apt on Thurs morning). This puts me at risk to not be able to have an epidural (which I've done before), but it also means that if I need a C-Section, I would need to be knocked out (no needles in my back for fear of bleeding and not being able to clot). Please pray that baby boy will come at the perfect time, in the best way, and that we would both remain healthy.

***UPDATE***

I had my OB apt today. The baby has turned and is now head down! Yeah!!!! My platelet levels went up as well. They are higher than they've been for the past two weeks (103,000 for you medical types). Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for baby boy's safe arrival.

Skating Party

2011-02-28T21:41:00.000-05:00

Amelie Salada chose to go ice skating for her 6th birthday party. Unfortunately, I somehow missed taking HER picture, but I did get pictures of her siblings, Violet and Linus. Adeline, following her tradition of being scared of new things....especially things that have the potential to result in her getting hurt or resulting in a loud noise, was not crazy about this idea. After much watching, we coaxed her out with her daddy and the walker. She made it around once and was quite proud of herself. She REALLY didn't want mommy to take her picture though...

Linus was a much more willing subject.

Violet had a BLAST! Her cousin, Megan, hung out with her for the day.

Here they are watching the zamboni driver, but this is where both girls spent most of their time.

At least she looks like an ice princess even if she wouldn't skate much...

Happy Birthday, Amelie! Come home from vacation....we miss you!!!

My Grandpa's 90th Birthday!!!

2011-02-23T15:06:00.000-05:00

I wasn't sure if we would make another trip "home" before this baby, but when a 90th birthday party was planned for my Grandfather, that was a reason to go. He is an amazing man, physically, spiritually, and mentally. He loves the Lord and loves his family.

My mom's amazing talent shown in her fruit tray.

My grandpa with his 5 girls and their spouses.

Yep, FIVE daughters!!! (back) Reba, Marilyn (my mom), Rachel
(front) Shirley, Miriam, and Grandpa (David Miller)

Paw paw keeping my girls entertained

Grandpa with his brother, Albert. It was a special treat to have him there.

Four Generations

Our Love Story---The Wedding

2011-02-17T20:45:00.000-05:00

December 22, 2001

Our good friends, Adam and Kim Forry, were our gift receivers. They stood outside with this antique sleigh.

My aunt, Reba, did my makeup.

Rachel, Krista, Brooke, me, Jen, Heidi, Jen, Melissa

We each lost a grandmother and another close friend within a few months of our wedding, so we had this tribute table for them.

One of my favorites. I had these black velvet capes made for the girls and I wore a white fur cape and muff. So pretty!

We rented "Charles Dickens" type costumes for our friends, and they sang carols as guests arrived at the wedding and reception.

My mom has BRILLIANT ideas. She froze holly and greens in buckets (like an ice mold you would make for a punch bowl), and put a cup in the middle. Then, she removed the cup and put a candle inside. They lit the way into the wedding and reception. They were BEAUTIFUL! As the ice melts a bit it is even prettier.

I love dessert! Instead of a cake, we had a dessert bar with this ice sculpture sleigh in the middle. There were several types of pie, cake, pudding, cheesecake, cream puffs, candy, etc. People LOVED this!

We opted to cut a cheesecake (my favorite) for our cake cutting.

Patrick's twin brother, Eric, giving a toast.

I loved every minute of that day.....and I love you more now than I did then.

Our Love Story---The Proposal

2011-02-14T15:47:00.000-05:00

I reread my love story posts that I started over two years ago and realized I never finished the series!!! I left you hanging with ring shopping, so today I will share about "the proposal." I don't feel like doing all the links, so to read posts 1-4, just click on the "Our Love Story" category on the left.

I knew it was coming SOMETIME, so of course, I was suspicious during every date. Patrick asked my dad to lunch, and they shared a quick meal at Burger King (my dad's suggestion since that's all the time he had), and Patrick asked him for my hand. He made the trip to PA and back without me knowing!

April 6 was our 1 year dating anniversary, and Patrick had a special date planned for us. He came to pick me up, and he was pacing while I was getting ready....he would normally just watch TV or relax on the couch. He took me to a fabulous restaurant for dinner. We had a room to ourselves with a fireplace. I thought, "this MUST be the night." Patrick dropped his fork, and my heart skipped as he bent to pick it up....nope. Towards the end of dinner, he got down on one knee.....EEEKKK....tied his shoe and went to the men's room. To Patrick's credit, he wasn't messing with me. He had a plan for when he would propose, and this wasn't it. He didn't have a clue that I was going crazy! Once dinner was over, he took me to watch the sunset at Loch Raven Reservoir, the place where he asked me to start dating him. We saw more than a dozen deer....it was perfect. The ring was in his pocket. THEN, a fisherman slowly inched his way towards us and was right in front of us at the perfect moment. Back into his pocket went the ring.

We headed back to Patrick's place to watch a movie. At this point, I lost all suspicion. If he hadn't done it in the romantic restaurant or by the river with the sunset and deer, it was probably not happening tonight. We parked outside his house, and as I opened my door, Patrick suddenly ordered, "GET IN THE CAR!" I quickly closed the door. There had been some gang activity recently in the neighborhood, and Patrick spotted a group of guys coming around the corner. We drove away as they chased our car. Thank you Lord!!! Patrick had the ring in his pocket!!! I suggested we go back to MY place for the movie, but Patrick was afraid my roommate would be there, and he REALLY DID want to propose that night. After we had called the cops and drove around for a while, he convinced me it was safe. AFTER the movie, he started talking about some of his favorite memories from the past year. I started to cry. He thought I knew what was coming...the funny part is after being suspicious the ENTIRE evening, I didn't think this was "it." I just realized what a great guy he is, and I was overwhelmed by the memories. He slipped a ring on my finger and said, "I look forward to a lifetime of memories with you. Would you marry me?" YES!!!

Despite the late hour, we called all our immediate family to share the news.

When it's Saturday and there's snow...

2011-01-30T22:25:00.000-05:00

Pregnancy Update...

2011-01-28T21:00:00.000-05:00

27 Weeks

32 Weeks

I haven't posted much lately. That's because there has been a whole lot of yuck going on around here the past few weeks. We've all had some combination of symptoms... pink eye (Adeline....and then grandma), fevers, coughs, runny noses, aches....you know.....the same stuff 90% of you have right now. I hate colds. Really, really, a lot. They sap my energy and last FOREVER. My colds aren't pretty. I get the red/crusty nose, swollen face, thick snot, watery eyes, ugly cold look. Let me tell you, they are 10 times worse when the "night-time sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, so- you-can-rest medicine" is on the forbidden list. I have enough problems breathing already! Anyway...

Pregnancy wise, I'm doing GREAT! None of my pregnancies have been hard, compared to what many women experience, but I think this has been the easiest by far. My energy level has been pretty good, I don't have any major aches or pains, and ~~most of the time~~ I still walk without waddling. Here are pictures from 27 and 32 weeks....I'll be 34 on Tuesday. I haven't been doing quite as well keeping up with picture taking for this pregnancy, but I'll try to get more in these last 6 weeks so at least his scrapbook page will be comparable to the girls. :o)

OH, and contrary to the comments/opinions of some....
1. I'm sure it's not twins.
2. I'm not going to "pop" any minute.
3. This is probably NOT going to be a HUGE baby (especially since I think I'm a bit smaller than I was with the girls).
4. I think I CAN hold out until March.

Thank.you.very. much....

PS. I get an equal amount of kind comments....they just aren't as blog worthy.

Joy Personified

2011-01-19T06:19:00.000-05:00

I LOVE this girl!!! She really is "joy personified." Here are a few pictures Patrick took from their trip to the Strasburg railroad. She's such a hoot!

*Update* Thanks to everyone who has been praying for Camille. She is doing great after her surgery. She spiked a fever the next day (103ish) that lasted 3 days. We don't think it was related to the surgery (except that she may have picked up the virus in the doctor's office or hospital...ya know, where sick people go?!?). Her eyes seem to be much straighter. She occasionally overcompensates and crosses her eyes, but that is typical after surgery and should correct in a few weeks (we notice it less every day). We see her doctor again at the beginning of Feb. We saw him two days after the surgery, and he was very pleased.

Homestead Gardens

2011-01-18T21:31:00.000-05:00

Just a few pictures to share from my third annual "Breakfast at my house followed by trains at Homestead Gardens" event. This year I served...

-Sarah's stuffed french toast

-Cherry Chip Scones

-Spiral Sliced Ham

-(and my friend, Chelsea, brought a fruit tray)

It was fun and delicious. I didn't manage to take any pictures at my house this year, and our crowd slimmed before heading to the nursery to see the trains. However, here are a few (belated) pictures for my friends to enjoy....

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-12T11:37:00.001-05:00

Date with daddy October 2009

December 2010

Strasburg Railroad and Choo Choo Barn

2011-01-12T07:51:00.000-05:00

Paw Paw Rich is a bit of a railroad nut, so of course a trip to the Strasburg Railroad and Choo Choo Barn was in order ~~which gave mommy and grandma a chance to do after Christmas shopping.~~

They had a picnic on the train.

The choo choo barn is a miniature train museum of ginormous proportions. I love this Amish barn raising scene.

The fire trucks were "noisy."

Love this pic!

What I've been reading...

2011-01-11T08:59:00.000-05:00

One of my resolutions for the coming year (not that I really make any), is to keep up with posting books I read. I do these posts on occasion, and I know I forget some each time. I really want to keep track of what I've read and my opinions (since my memory is so short lived). So, once again, here's what I've been reading......

If you like books about Asian culture, The Calligrapher's Daughter is a good one to read. Novels written about this part of the world are rarely favorites of mine, and this one was no exception. I enjoyed the story, but it is not one I would say you must read in 2011.

A dear friend sent me The Council of Dads for Christmas. Bruce Feiler finds out he has a large, cancerous tumor on his leg. Faced with the prospect of dying and leaving his wife and twin 3 yo daughters behind, he develops the council of dads, a group of men from various stages of his life that he tags with the job of being surrogate dads for his girls. Each one is meant to portray some characteristic of Bruce that he wants to pass on to his daughters. I enjoyed this book a lot. It was humorous, thought provoking and sweet.

Some ladies from my church did When God Interrupts as a study. This is a great book for when God's plan doesn't match up with your plan. M. Craig Barnes unpacks how seemingly "bad" things can bring growth and lead us closer to God......to a better life than we thought possible.

I read a lot about Tom Davis on other blogs. The topic of human trafficking has become a hot button topic, and I was curious about this author who writes novels based on his own experience working with victims of these horrors. Priceless: A Novel on the Edge of the World was my introduction to Davis's writing. The writing is mediocre at best, but the story is gripping. I think I will read another of Davis's books, but this one didn't measure up to ~~the hype~~ my expectations.

I am still mulling over Extraordinary Relationships: A New Way of Thinking About Human Interactions by Roberta Gilbert, MD. This is truly not your typical relationships book. It is based on the theories of Dr. Murray Bowen (1913-1990), and I don't think it is stretching to say this book is life changing. I didn't agree with everything in it, but it has certainly changed the way I think about myself, my motivations, my interactions, and how changing MYSELF changes and deepens my relationships with others. The Family Systems Theory, pioneered by Bowen, offers practical advice and shocking insight into how families shape who we are and how deepening our family relationships impacts our maturity and ability to relate to others in all spheres of life.

I've developed a love for reading in recent years, but I have read very few plays......even Shakespeare. A Man for All Seasons was a book club selection. A morality play based on a standoff between King Henry VIII, and Sir Thomas More. Henry wants More's official approval of divorce, but More's strict ethical and religious code will not let him waffle. A quick read (it is a play after all), this was a nice change of pace in genre from my regular reading...and I even learned a little history in the process.

Not your typical Grisham novel, Skipping Christmas has many modern parallels to the classic tale of Scrooge. It is light, quick, and enjoyable. Grisham's characters are exaggerated to make us think about our holiday traditions

I grabbed Stuart Little off our shelf for a quick read before getting a new stash from the library. What a delightful children's fantasy. I think Adeline may enjoy this in between Little House novels.

The "red rider bb gun of Christmas gifts"

2011-01-11T07:51:00.000-05:00

Bouncy house!!!!! Daddy's idea...

It's the gift that keeps on giving.

The static hair is just bonus entertainment for the adults....

Candy Lane

2011-01-07T20:59:00.000-05:00

Once again, we went with my parents to Hershey Park for Christmas Candy Lane. Once again, it was COLD!....but oh so fun.

Camille was so bundled up that she could barely move! I don't think she was even able to put her arms down to her sides. Poor, sweet (warm) girl.

Shedding some layers to do the Chocolate World tour.....free with chocolate at the end....always a hit.

Dad's gifts...

2011-01-06T20:03:00.000-05:00

Perhaps you remember this post from last year...

Well, once again, dad was in rare gift giving form. The above "arrangement" was for Patrick and me. It had a certificate attached to it for the Wetlands restaurant.

Lisa loves McDonalds ice cream and Issac's Restaurant (funky sandwich shop where the sandwiches all have bird names and their mascot is a flamingo), so he made these wooden versions of their logos and gave her gift cards.

Another creative year, dad! So fun!

Wordless Wednesday---My babies...

2011-01-06T07:46:00.000-05:00

Camille's Surgery

2011-01-05T12:56:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone who prayed for Camille's strabismus surgery today. Everything went really well, and we are home again. She is such a morning girl that she didn't even mind us waking her at 5:45 to go to the hospital. In the van, she just wanted to know, "Where Ady-ine?"

She cooperated with EVERYTHING....even the blood pressure and pulse ox on her toe.

She's so sweet, I could just eat her. Joy personified....

Seriously!!!!

Grandma Barron met us at the hospital.

We took a little walk while we waited. She charmed everyone.

Singing "Silent Night" with daddy while she drifted off to sleep.....

Only one of us could be with her during this time, and I opted for AFTER she was awake.

One more kiss from daddy.

She's all done! She was screaming when I came back to see her, but she quickly calmed down and fell asleep in mommy's arms.

They wrapped her arm to keep her from pulling out her IV.

When she got a burst of energy, she was REALLY hungry. We were afraid she might be nauseous, but she ate a whole banana and some pretzels. She wanted to do everything by her "big girl self," so she was frustrated that she couldn't use her dominant right hand to reach in the pretzel bag.

Getting love from both grandmas at home (Grandma Nolt stayed home with Adeline).

Her eyes are a bit crossed and red (which is normal). She should be back to herself by tomorrow. We are so thankful.