Boston

I think it's time for a new post! Wow... so much happening around here but at the same time, I don't feel like I have much to write about.

For the great story of the week - Dan and I were goofing off in our "closet room" last week. This is the room in the house that is 8 feet wide and 20 feet long. Down one side of the wall is our closet since we don't have one in our bedroom. It is great because it is a huge walk in and right across from the bathroom. However, it still hasn't been remodeled (it will also house the baby in August). Anyway, the walls are papered and falling apart and so is the ceiling. Not just that but the carpet is a nasty green and yellow. Well Dan and I were playing around and I stepped on a thistle or pine needle or something (who knows what you find in that carpet!). So I went to pull it out and there wasn't anything there. Well, it just so happens that there was a camouflaged wasp in the carpet. I got stung! My shock was quite delayed. Suddenly, I started to hyperventilate. It was my first ever sting so I hobbled to the kitchen to google wasp stings.
Later in the week, Dan got his running shoes out of the same room and put those on. He said his sock was all crumpled at the bottom; however his sock was on straight...sure enough there was another wasp in his shoe! Must be that time of year!

Last week was my birthday. As my brother Josh said I am a big "tutu" now... then he added with a frufru (meaning the baby). But, my birthday was full of two surprises... Dan came home from work early and brought me a frosty. Other than that, the day was normal and good. We went to a branch party that night and had SO much fun! My surprises were my hair a couple of weeks ago, a pair of earrings at the beginning of the week and chocolate in the bed two days after my birthday. OH and a package from my mom yesterday. Talk about a birthday month! Another gift we get is next week when we get to have another ultrasound.



This past weekend we went to Boston! Dan's dad Lon ran the Boston Marathon. It was a great two day trip full of adventures... of course! We stayed with my girl friend Melanie and her husband Sterling. They have the cutest baby Lydia and she was so GOOD! She never cried the whole time. Even during the night! We enjoyed talking and catching up. I really love her and can't wait to see her again. It was also good to get to know her husband as well. The adventure there was the air mattress that we didn't blow up enough (talk about BAD for a prego woman!). The next night we scooted their couch and love seat together and slept that way... not much better, but I wasn't in as much pain the next morning. We ventured with the crowds onto the train to get to the marathon course. I couldn't believe how many runners there were! 25,000 people running in two lanes. It was crowded for them... I loved how many people there were cheering all the runners. We were right next to Boston College so we were around a lot of young people. Lon finished around 3 hours and 45 mins for 26.2 miles... better than I could ever do! I am happy with two miles in 30 minutes right now!
That night we went out to eat with Lon and Bev. We had a great adventure getting there... but I will just say how grateful I am for a GPS! GET ONE... or two! We ate a the Bugaboo Steakhouse and it was a fun! The food was great and I got to kiss a moose as he sang happy birthday to me and brought me a chocolate "moose" cake. Thanks Lon and Bev!
On Tuesday morning we went to the Boston Temple. We did a bunch of sealings (not long because it is tough for me to kneel nowdays!). It was so nice to feel the spirit and be in God's house. We went into the celestial room afterwards and it was SO beautiful and peaceful. I am so grateful for the sanctuary that temples are. I love being able to go most places and have a temple to attend.



This week is deemed work week. Dan's Dad came back with us and will be working with Dan for the week. I already know that I can get used to being lonely for the week! Sun up until Sun down is his motto. I hope they can accomplish a lot to get the quarry ready for a good, long, and hopefully profitable summer! I am also planting my garden this week in my boxes! For those that wonder why we are going this route when we have over 50 acres of land... check out Square Foot Gardening in your local library. The seeds that I planted two weeks ago have finally started to sprout! It makes me SO excited. We have been working hard on the outside of our little farm house. It was funny knowing that the yard has probably not been raked in over 20 years and here I was, pregnant, raking it. Talk about a lot of work!

Last but not least, a little baby update. Actually it is more like a mommy update! I grew massively this week! Pop goes my tummy! The difference between this week and last week is incredible. But that is good because the baby is supposed to get its first layer of fat this week. Still kicking and active!

For all those that are done with finals... CONGRATS. And for those that had babies since my past post... CONGRATS as well! We love you all!

The Ants go Marching One by Ten Thousand!

This weeks was full of kitchen adventures... thousands of them!



When we first had ants, we just killed them. However, they kept coming on strong! Finally one night Dan traced them to the cupboards and found this!

Yesterday, I planted all my indoor starters for my veggie garden that Dan and I are preparing. We are trying our hand at Square Foot Gardening. I enjoyed my trip to Lowe's last week to get ready for this. I planned on doing my monthly trip to Lowe's, Wal-Mart, and Sam's... however Lowe's packed me in tight and I had to postpone Wal-Mart. When Dan unloaded the Durango that night, Dan sweetly told me that I loaded down too much and had no spring left. Dan sweetly informed me that even after he took out half of my garden load, that he still had to spring. We are excited to watch our "faith seeds" grow! I actually bought one tomato plant... just shows my unbelief I guess.

I tried out Sam's Club's Online Click'n'Pull this week. It was great! I just ordered what I needed the day before and then went into Sam's customer service counter, paid and walked out with my cart. I didn't even have to lift a finger to have the food scanned! Plus, I can save my grocery list for future use! The food was all right there and just wonderful that I didn't have to push a heavy cart around.

New York has had beautiful weather the past weeks! Even with a couple of mornings of snow, we have loved the 60-70* weather. Supposedly, there is always a HUGE winter storm in April, but it sure doesn't look like it! :)

We have loved to hear about all the new babies being born and Spring fever happening! It has been wonderful to hear of all the achievements of those we love!

Life in Daily Doses

So many things happening in our lives---

First and foremost is an update on the baby- it is a great kicker! This week has marked the event that we can now watch it kick instead of having to press to feel it with our hands! Wahoo!

Conference has been so good thus far. I have loved all the talks on eternal families in the first session. I also loved what Elder Wirthlin said about limitations and trials. President Eyring's talk was so powerful at the end with his firm testimony too. We have such great advantages in life with the general authorities' leadership and guidance.

Yesterday I went with my friend Charity and we got our hair done! So long butch cut... hello beautiful mane. I was trying to wait another month, but it seems that time of year that the need for change comes to us and all the women in the world go out for a hair color and cut. Our stylist Dan (great name huh?) was totally awesome and completely straight. We were there for 6 hours... yes, that is how long it took to fix my hair and and color it. Dan (my hubby) was so supportive of my quest for a better image and gave it to me as an early b-day present. I enjoyed myself and especially that I went with a friend! Yay for new friends!

Speaking of Charity. Her and her husband Jason live just two houses away from us and they have become our closest friends out here in just a short month. They call us the holiday people because we happened to show our faces on Halloween last year, Valentine's Day, Leap Year, St. Patrick's Day and Easter at their house. And we didn't try! They are such great friends! When we were sick with the flu two months ago, I went over to their house for the first time because they invited us to dinner and Dan was to sick to go. But it was my first time "hanging out" with them for a long period of time. I was just getting the flu and they were so gracious as I had to use their restroom to puke. What a great beginning huh? Hello, I am Clarissa Thomas! They have been to good to us and we love them dearly.
It is wonderful how the subject of religion comes up no matter where you are, but with Jason and Charity and their two kids... we talk about it often. So often in fact they have met with the missionaries twice already and came to church last week with us! They are an awesome family that hasn't had religion or God in their home. As we have shared with them messages of God and Eternal Families, we have had many good discussions on the church and what it can do for them. Jason is into the history of the church and Charity really loves the Strength of Youth pamphlet that I gave her. We love to watch their progress and answer questions for them. They have taught me the importance of religion and God... but mostly that sharing the gospel is such a wonderful thing! I love to share what I know... and it is SO EASY! I always believed that I would never have been able to serve a mission, but now I can't wait to serve full time someday. I LOVE sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love serving him and I am so grateful that I now have this testimony. It is SO easy! And when you start sharing, it makes it easier to live what you believe because you bear witness of it to others. Good butterflies! Dan has been the greatest example to me in being a missionary anywhere and I sure love him for that! Go Dan!
We had them over for dinner this past week... 8 people in our small living room... so small Dan sat with his chair on the treadmill.



So for now it is quiet time in my home! I have done the dishes... and gotten rid of something I found in the fridge that had turkey from Thanksgiving in it... I think. Either way, I know it was a long time. I think that I will make some jewelery and watch a movie while Dan is at Priesthood. Have a great weekend!