washington dc

Hello to all our family! We are back and refreshed and ready to roll! We have had a wonderful four days. Our adventure began Saturday with a trip to the temple. We got to the hotel room and plotted out the bus and train tickets. All went well until I forgot the directions in the hotel room. Thanks to mom's quick fingers and willing hand, we were able to get the directions and made it to the temple. We made it and quickly dressed for our session. The DC temple is extraordinary. The entrance is on the main level the changing rooms are on the second floor and the endowment rooms are on the third floor. They are in a circle surrounding the celestial room which is exquisite. We had a very enjoyable experience and Morgan was able to receive some answers to questions he has had. On our way out we began to worry about the walk back to the bus station. We were momentarily distracted by the beautiful mural in the front foyer of the temple. We went to the desk to see if there were any closer bus stops and as we asked a couple offered a ride. We got in the car and were discussing the location of the bus stop and they asked where our hotel was. As luck would have it, it was close to where they lived and they offered to take us home. They also offered to return the next day to take us to church. I was so excited. Sunday dawned late for us. Around 9:30. It was heavenly. I slept all night, no interruptions. Church started at 1 and our ride arrived at 12. The meeting was fantastic and the Chantilly ward so warm and welcoming. We were told quite a few times that we were more than welcome to move in. This whole experience was such a testimony to me of how aware Heavenly Father is of each of us and how if we have a desire he will provide a way. As we spoke to the family that took us to church afterward, it became very apparent that Heavenly Father was helping our cause. The family was 5 minutes late for the earlier session which if they had made would have meant that we would have had no ride and maybe no opportunity to go to church. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and for families who listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and are willing to answer the call to serve.


Monday we chose to go to the Smithsonians. We packed lunches and headed straight for the art museum. It was incredible. Morgan loved it and so did I. He was like a kid in a candy shop. It was so fun to see so many incredible works of art. I saw a few Degas which was very exciting. I was even able to see the little dancer statue. It is one of my favorites after reading the children's book telling the story behind the artwork. We both really enjoy Monet and spent quite a bit of time looking at his works. We spent about four hours in the museum. It was fantastic. I would love for Morgan to have more opportunities to study great artwork in that setting.





We took the remainder of our day to look at the US history museum and the landmarks. We saw Dorothy's red shoes. Abraham Lincoln's top hat, the sixty minutes stop watch and the sign post from MASH. We also saw the sunstone from the Navoo temple and C3PO and R2D2 from Star Wars. We really enjoyed this museum. We didn't walk up to the capital building but enjoyed the day and night time views. We walked to the Washington Memorial and stood in front of the White House. We also visited the Abraham Lincoln Memorial. At this point we were running out of daylight, so we headed back. On the way we visited the Korean War Memorial and then with mom's help found our way back to the hotel. Mom, thank you for being on call as our official mapquester!












I'll close with grattutude. I am so thankful for this wonderful free country in which we live. I am so thankful for friends who not only made this possible, but willingly and lovingly took all our kids. The kids had a fantastic time and really enjoyed their vacation too. Liam built a boat and Emery grew a bit more. Isa enjoyed all the joys of having lots of girls to play with. All in all the weekend was wonderful for all involved and Mark and Sara have decided that four is enough! These last two photos are the boat Liam built and our personal favorite of Morgan and I by the reflecting pool.

busy weekend

The little girl and her mom are our good friends from the branch here. We love their family. The kids play so well together and all of them love to hang out. I have to laugh as I find myself wondering and hoping that they maybe somehow end up a part of our family. Part of that is that I would love Mark and Sarah as in-laws. They are great people. Anyway, enough about my funny thoughts enjoy these fun photos!













Well this weekend was nice and full of family fun. We went to the park and our branch valentine's day dance on Saturday. We had so much fun. Emery LOVES the slide and Liam and Isa had a great time with Cole, Cydney and Spencer. At the dance I am happy to say my little man was a perfect gentleman. We had a great time and got all our wiggles out. The final shot is one we took today. Liam designed and created this robot for halloween. (he doesn't have my flair for procrastination) So as you can see all is well with us. Hope this finds you all well and happy. We love you!

Mandy's answers

TEN YEARS AGO - February 1998
1. I was fourteen!....very close to 15.

2. LOVED Track and Basketball.

3. Was probably snowboarding at this time because school was out.

4. First time ever to meet Nathan.

5. Was just starting to find who I was.

THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST TODAY

1. Massage Morgan and Liam.

2. Review for tomorrows class.

3. Prepare and pack bags for work tomorrow.

4. Send some photos of Marley to my family.

5. Get myself and Marley ready for our Valentines date with Daddy
tonight!

THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE SUDDENLY MADE A BILLIONAIRE

1. Become debt free!!!

2. Set some funds up for Marley.

3. Pay for my family to meet on a beach...any beach, most haven't seen
one in person or if they have it's been along time.

4. Travel the world.

5. Spend some time helping out in Africa and other countries in need.

Bad Habits

1. chewing my lip (I hear you Jessie)

2. Being too hard on myself.

3. Worrying about others more than I should.

4. Letting the dishes pile up.

5. Clearance shopping even when I shouldn't be shopping at all.

Places I have lives

1. Iona, ID

2. Pocatello, ID

3. Twin Falls, ID

4. Nashville, TN

5.

Jobs I have had

1. MOM!!! (favorite one yet)

2. Nannying

3. House Keeper

4. Golds Gym

5. Hastings

Things most people don't know about me

1. I get irritated and impatient when I'm hungry or tired.....it's not
too extreme though.

2. I love to imagine that I'm a famous dancer or singer....I don't
think I've ever told ANYONE that.

3. I love to cook/entertain other people although I haven't done it in
awhile.

4. I may act tough but I am VERY tenderhearted.

5. I LOVE doing off the wall, crazy fun stuff....gives me a rush and
makes me feel alive.

Things that make my life Superfabulous right now

1. Christ

2. Family

3. Friends

4. Nature

5. Going to school for something I'm passionate about.

snow???

yes,today we received our yearly 1/4 inch of snow. The kids had a blast and
i finally took photos and downloaded them to the standards laptop. enjoy!

Tag

Well, this is a great way to get me to do a blog entry. I was so excited to post photos from our Saturday family moment and then our computer died again. We're working on it so hopefully by the summer we'll be able to show some photos. Anyway, this is a good start.

TEN YEARS AGO - February 1998
1. I was proposed to exactly ten years ago today. I am so thankful for that moment in time!

2. I was working for a soda fountain by day and the safe house by night. I was a busy girl

3. I was living in my parents house with my roommate Caroline and loving the fact that we had a dance studio however small it was.

4. I was 21 years old and it didn't make any difference to me

5. I was happy.

5 THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST TODAY

1. contact the new babysitting option

2. homeschool the kids

3. wash my work clothes

4. make a healthy dinner for Morgan and the kids

5. finish the valentine's for the kids party on Thursday

5 THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE SUDDENLY MADE A BILLIONAIRE

1. Pay tithing right off!

2. Pay off all my debts. Debt free that sounds so nice!

3. I would schedule our tenth anniversary to be in England and fly mom and dad out to watch the kids (and pay their paychecks so they didn't have to worry)

4. take the kids to disneyworld ( I need to make good on this promise!)

5. Save the rest for a rainy day.

Bad Habits

1. chewing my lip

2. leaving a laundry pile on my rocking chair

3. not clearing my spot at the table

4. never flush in the middle of the night

5. forget to write expenditures down in my bank book ( i just keep a mental note)

5 places I have lives

1. Rexburg, ID

2. Boise, ID

3. Twin Falls, ID

4. Provo, UT

5. Nashville, TN

5 Jobs I have had

1. MOM!!!

2. waitress at Cracker Barrel

3. Ice Cream scoop/ soda fountain girl

4. Chiropractic Assistant/massage therapist

5. house keeper

5 things most people don't know about me

1. I can't stand to sleep with socks on

2. I love to listen to talk radio

3. I enjoy doing the dishes

4. I love filling out questionaires

5. I love making lists and writing things down in little notebooks. I think this is in my DNA. mom and Price are the same way.

5 things that make my life Superfabulous right now

1 MORGAN

2. Liam

3. Isbelle

4. Emery

5. family, friends and my faith in the plan Heavenly Father has for us!

Now to play tag... Mom , Audrey, Aunt Patti, Christy and Mandy, you are it!! Oh hey, I'm adding a number 6... Christine, you're it too!