Rittman Orchards

This morning we went strawberry picking at Rittman Orchards.  It is Adam's last day before he begins residency.  We have loved him being around so much and are sad about going back to "real life."  At the same time, it will be a good season in our lives, and we're looking forward to what the next three years will bring. I was glad that he was able to come with us this morning to gather some yummy strawberries.

Really, he did most of the picking.  I was SO excited to take Charlotte.  I thought she would love it.  On the way to the orchards we told her we were going to pick strawberries on a farm.  She didn't believe us.  Adam told her all about how they grow in the dirt.  She started laughing and said, "Mom, do strawberries really grow in the dirt."  I told her they did.  Her response was, "No, that would be yucky. They grow in boxes at the store."  We explained all about plants and how they grow and eventually someone puts them in boxes at the store.  So, after that I was even more excited to take her.  Well, her enthusiasm lasted about three minutes.  She picked probably 5 strawberries and then she wanted Daddy to fill the rest of her bucket.  I think her face in the next picture says it all.  On our way home we asked if she had fun.  She quickly replied, "Yes, but next time let's just get strawberries in a box at the store."  Looks like she's gonna be a city girl.

Jonas was really good.  He stayed right beside Adam at first and once he mustered up a little courage to explore on his own there was no stopping him.  He truly understood the joys of berry picking.

 Some of our bounty from today.  Can't wait to turn these into jam because I eat a pb&j almost every day.



She's a Thinker and Persistent

A couple days ago I had a conversation with Charlotte that left me a little bit amazed with her brain.  We were walking out of Giant Eagle around 4:40pm, and it went like this:

Charlotte: Mom, let's go to that place were we go down like this (makes a sliding motion).
Mom: The park?
Charlotte: No, it's by our house.
Mom:  You want to use Aiden's slide?  (Aiden is our neighbor)
Charlotte:  No, you eat food there and play things. (She's clearly frustrated by now and using a tone to let me know that).
Mom:  I don't know where you're talking about.
Charlotte:  I'll show you on the way home.

So we get in the car and start driving.

Charlotte:  I think we already passed it.
Mom:  Burger King?
Charlott:  No, that place (pointing)
Mom:  Oh, McDonalds (We've never taken her there.)
Charlotte:  Yeah, McO'donalds.  Let's go there now.
Mom: No, we need to go home because I am making taco salad for dinner.
Charlotte:  Well, I want to go there.  If we don't go there I will be mad and cry.
Mom:  You can choose to act that way, but we're still not going there right now.  We're eating dinner at home.
Charlotte:  I have an idea.  Daddy can take me to McO'donalds.  Would that be fine?
Mom:  No, I am making dinner.  We're eating at home.
Charlotte:  Well, I will ask Daddy.
Mom:  That's fine, but he's going to say no.

There is a period of silence.  I think she's forgotten all about it until we pull up to our place.  Then she says,
"Let me talk to Daddy first, mom.  Okay?"

I was pretty amazed with how she set up her argument and she did NOT give up.  We ate dinner at home that night, but went to McO'donalds for Family Home Evening refreshement and activity.

Jonas - 9 months

This little boy is becoming more and more of a mama's boy the older he gets.  I love it.  I took him to the doctor today, and he is 30 inches long (90th percentile) and weighs 21 pounds (75th percentile).  He's lengthening out and has lost most of those adorable baby rolls.  He now has eight teeth and is starting to eat more and more "big people" food.  He is VERY picky.  We don't really know what to do with a picky child since Charlotte would eat anything.

He figured out crawling and has just taken off.  He climbs the stairs, pulls himself up, and gets into everything on his level.  He can also throw, and it makes him happy.

Thrill Seeker

We took Charlotte to a kiddie amusement park yesterday.  I was a little concerned that she would be too scared to ride any of the rides.  Those concerns were put to rest as soon as she got off the first ride.  She was ecstatic. Jumping up and down.  Giggling.  Hugging my legs.  Squealing.  Begging to go on another.  Smiling so wide her cheeks had to hurt.  She even put her hands up on the roller coaster...something I've never been brave enough to do.

We went with our good friends who are moving away in a couple weeks. We're really bummed about that!

Kicking off Summer

This past weekend we went camping with some friends to officially begin summer.  It has been SO rainy here all spring.  There was a chance it would rain this weekend, but we went anyway...hoping our boldness would deter Mother Nature.  It didn't.  We saw rain for about an hour on Friday evening, and it left our campsite a muddy mess.  We still had fun though (I'm sure for Charlotte the mud made it more fun).

We celebrated a birthday.

We played with built a fire.

We set up our tent.

We relaxed.

We played.

And we got really dirty.

I think everyone had a great time eating the yummy food, having good conversation and enjoying nature (except Jonas).  He was a grump.

Graduation

This past Friday Adam graduated from The Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine.  As we were driving to his graduation at The Palace Theater I couldn't help but think how surreal this all seemed.  When we first started school it seemed like it would last for ages.  When I look back now, I see how quickly time has passed.  So much has changed for us in the past four years. We were blessed with two children.  We've learned a lot about each other and finding balance in life.  Overall, I think what we've most come to understand is how much our Heavenly Father cares about us and how keeping an eternal perspective makes hard things easier.

The emotions have been running strong this past week.  They were very strong at graduation.  I am so proud of my husband.  He has sacrificed so much and worked so hard these past four years.  It was difficult to hold back the tears as they called his name at the ceremony.

We took some pictures after, but Jonas was asleep in Aunt Lippy's arms.  We were thrilled to have Adam's family come out and celebrate with us. (More posts to come about that later.)

Afterward we went back to the school for a reception.  It was a bittersweet time celebrating accomplishments and saying goodbye to friends.

We  were heading out the same time as the Britt's and decided we needed to snap a "family" picture really quick.  These guys have been our neighbors for the past four years and have become like family.  It's so hard to see them move away.

Well, here's to Daniel Adam Nelson, D.P.M. (That means he's a doctor!)

Indians Game

Last night we went to the Indians game with some friends.  It was the first time we've been to a game without kids since Charlotte was born.  It was a great date night!

The game was pretty intense during the 9th inning.  Indians were losing.  The guys felt it was necessary to pull out the rally caps...and it worked!  The Indians won with a walkoff homerun.

 Between great company, dollar hotdogs, fireworks, and good seats...it was a night to remember!

"You Keep Using that Word.

I don't think it means what you think it means."

                                     ~The Princess Bride

The other evening when I was giving Charlotte a bath I pulled out some soap.  She didn't want me to wash her off and she said, "You can't wash me off.  It's too adorable when you do that."

Then this morning I was trying to convince her that she wanted fruit salad for breakfast.  Her response, "I don't like salad.  It's too adorable for me."

Hmmm...I think she's too adorable. period.