What?

Okay, I have debated back and forth about this post and I decided I have the patience to type right now so here it goes...

Saturday night we went to Spencer's Endo Department Christmas Party and stayed up a little late making us a little lazy Sunday morning. We were still in bed when the phone rang and I answered it trying not to sound like I just woke-up. The gentleman said who he was, which I didn't know, and said he was from the stake presidency, and then asked to speak to Spencer. He proceeded to talk for a few minutes and then got off the phone. A few minutes later he mentioned we were going to have a visitor in the next half hour from the Stake.

WHAT?

I rushed around the house waking and then dressing my kids and myself , all in the mean time wondering what this was all about! Our visitor came and after chatting for a few minutes he offered Spencer a new calling... and we never in a MILLION YEARS would have guessed what it would be. And then he spoke the words...

Second Counselor in the Bishopric!

Spencer and I looked at each other like he had just spoken another language because there is no way he just said what we thought he said.

Here are the reasons why

1- We didn't know the Second Counselor had moved and needed to be replaced.

2- We are going to only live here for 21 more months.

3- There are SO many amazing people in our ward, no offense to Spencer, but as far as qualifications... who knows.

4- Out of all the wards we have lived in, this one seemed the one we would most likely fly under the radar for the 27 months we would be here.

I guess the Lord has his own plan for us. And I wouldn't want it to be any other way. I know this will be a great opportunity for Spencer and our family. I am sure we will learn a LOT, like how to get Evan to sit through sacrament.

Two hours after Spencer was asked if he would accept this calling he was sitting up on the podium with the rest of the Bishopric and Evan kept pointing and saying "DAAADDDDYYYYY!"

Spencer I am proud that you are the person you are and worthy and willing to accept this calling.

I love you!

St. Louis

We spent Thanksgiving in St. Louis,

at my brother Richard's home, along with my parents.

It was FOUR days of this kind of stuff...

There were TWO things I wanted to do in St. Louis:

See New Moon again, this time with him & my family, &

Go Here

This being our families THIRD time going to

CITY MUSEUM

The anticipation grows each time.

It is truly the most unique place I have ever been.

This picture of Evan

taken after our day at the museum,

his favorite way to sleep in the car.

NEW PLACES WITH NEW FACES

I love trying out new places;

Especially when it becomes a girls night out!

Here are THREE great places

I recently went to...

Jeni's Icecream

I can't believe I didn't hear about this place before!

It is a local franchise that makes the most unusual flavors of icecream that are amazingly good.

The goal of Jeni was to make icecream less sweet and more flavorful.

HERE are some of the flavors.

Edamame

Sushi & Grill

We tried it out thanks to Leah (second from the right).

Who had a coupon for $50 off every $100,

making it a sweet deal.

The Sushi was really good...

my favorite is and probably always will be

California Rolls, though.

And who can't love a place with the name like-

Chocolate Cafe

A perfect place for visiting teaching.

Though they serve dinner, we went just for the desserts;

hot chocolate and more icecream for me!

I had to include a picture from last night, my marathon girls night.

dinner came first, then to Twilight,

followed by New Moon!

I got home a 2:30! I don't even know the last time I was out so late,

but we had such a great time & I loved, loved, loved New Moon!!!!!

HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES

IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS OUR FAMILY CRAMMED IN AS MUCH HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES AS POSSIBLE. IT WAS A TON OF FUN, THOUGH I AM A LITTLE WORN OUT. GRATEFUL WE HAVE A MONTH BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS HIT.

For Love of The GAME...

I can mark off my yearly football experience!

we got tickets to an OSU game on Saturday and it couldn't have been better football weather.

The lovely "Horseshoe" stadium has got to be one of the best places to experience college football, though I may be a little bias.

I was grateful we came with a few guy friends, so Spencer had people to talk football to... the whole way there and back home.

Can you tell how excited Spencer was to get his picture taken,

or was it how OSU was playing?

Leed's Farm

It's FALL...

and with that comes changing leaves, crisp air, and spending as much time outside as possible.

Our family had our first experience at LEED'S FARM on Saturday.

I decided to get my moneys worth and try the BIG ZIP. I admit, my heart started pounding a bit at the top.

Do kids under 2 ever smile for these kind of pictures?

Well, I don't think mine ever have.

I asked the kids what there favorite thing on the farm was--

Kayla's couldn't decide, she loved it all,

Avery's was the small zip and the bouncy bubble,

we all agreed Evan's was the corn box (like a sand box but with dried corn instead) and the tube slides.

My favorite thing, besides just watching the kids have fun, was the food; I am such a sucker for homemade yummy treats and hot cider.

Spencer seemed to love rolling the girls in the HUGE tubes, not really sure what they are called.

I do love these days!

Avery's Sweet & Sassy's Birthday

Avery turned FIVE yesterday!

After much discussion, we decided every other year we do a family party. This year being a family party year, we made an appointment at the fancy kids salon...

Sweet & Sassy.

(The only possible way of going here was to have a "family party")

The girls got a pedicure, manicure, and a princess updo: all with LOTs & LOTs of sparkly lotion.

Avery was in heaven and it was so fun to watch.

With her party now over, I wonder what she will have to talk about...

HALLOWEEN?

NEVER A GOOD THING...

Let me first start this post by saying, like most wives, I am not a fan of having my husband out of town. Luckily he doesn't go without us too often. I usually survive his absence by staying busy taking the kids places and getting projects done.

Spencer left to Philadelphia on Thursday night for some Endo classes. Friday was my first full day with out him around. I stayed busy seeing Kayla off to the bus, watching my friends kids, then taking Avery to preschool. After picking Avery up from preschool I hurried to the store before Kayla got home. In the hurry to unload the car and get groceries put away ...

I LOCKED MY KEYS IN THE CAR!!!!!!

My nightmare situation with my husband gone... being stuck in the house for two rainy days trying to keep my kids entertained. I know it is not that big of deal, there are far worse thing that could happen. I realize that many people have survived having only one car and wives get stuck home all the time. I guess the part that made it the hardest is that I wanted to get a long list of things done and I needed my car to accomplish those things.

I made the best out of Saturday; doing crafts with the girls, baking cookies, and keeping my house spotless so I don't feel crazy in a dirty house.

Last night Evan spent most the night crying. I don't know why, maybe his teeth that are coming in hurt, maybe he is getting sick, or maybe he is ready to have Spencer home, I know I am. Needless to say I didn't sleep much last. By 1 o'clock I turned on the T.V. and started watching "Never Been Kissed." I had given up on even trying to sleep.

The fact that I am even typing a LONG post, a thing I don't enjoy doing, must be a sign of some sort. Anywhoooo, I need to go get Evan to stop climbing on things.

Happy Days!

After this weekend I will appreciate my car all the more, as well as having Spencer around to help with the KIDOS.

Playing with Cousins

Cousins came from ST. LOUIS this past weekend to PLAY with us.

We ENJOYED the new LEGO store at Easton...

So many things to make...

and A HUGE variety of COLORS!

My Brother, along with Scottie, Parker, & Tommy

had a great time picking out all sorts of colors and sizes of Legos to buy.

I felt bad at the time I wouldn't let Kayla or Avery get any.

But by the end of the weekend after many failed attempts to keep the Legos off the floor and only in the playroom, I realized we need to wait until Evan is older to buy any.

Ahhhh... and this is my FABULOUS brother Rich! The Orthodontist, Children's Book Author, and Father to 3 Genius boys... and a little bit of a workaholic.

Lisa, Rich's BEAUTIFUL wife, is the kind of person I want to be in the kitchen, always cooking up something yummy. She made the BEST cookies:

1 c.butter

1 c. white sugar

1 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 c. oatmeal

1 1/2 c. Rice Krispies

1 c. coconut

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 c. Chocolate chips

Cream butter & sugar; add vanilla and eggs. Mix well. Add flour, sifted with salt, baking powder, and soda; add oatmeal, Rice Krispies and coconut. Make small balls and bake at 375 for 9 minutes.

(I don't know what our family would do without her and Spencer at Thanksgiving.)

Nothing like wearing out the kids with a little kick ball.

Rich & Lisa, Thanks for coming & visiting us!

Once again... here is Evan wearing his FOOTBALL jersey... Spencer makes sure his son is supporting OSU for ALL game days. Poor kids has no chance but to be a BUCKEYE FAN.

COLLEGE GAMEDAY & the night before

The night before the big game {OSU vs UCS} we met up with the Anneliese & Zach Haws and Aaron & Alder Orme and one of Zach's friends. They were all in town for the game. Anneliese introduced us to the fabulous RUSTY BUCKETS, which is famous for their dip fried pickles. Spencer and I tried and they were surprisingly yummy!

I have to thank Anneliese for the pictures, since I copied them off her blog.

Next up we hit HANDEL'S ice cream.

It was a little chilly that night... hence the blanket.

It's always so great to catch-up with old friend. So all of you BUCKEYE fans, you know you have a place to stay if you come into town.

We made it down to campus to watch part of ESPN'S GAMEDAY be filmed across from the OSU stadium. I have to say the mood was a little somber in anticipation for the game, since we didn't look to hot against unranked Navy last week. Looking at Spencer, Blake, & Spencer Fullmers faces the picture below says it all. {NERVOUS!!}

It was a close and great game, even if we didn't win!

Avery didn't want to be left out of this post so here is a picture added to show she was there.

One of the many things I love about living in Columbus these days is getting to see old friends who come to see the BUCKEYES play. This past weekend we got to catch-up with Brooke & Devon Jarvis over Sunday dinner.

I couldn't help but reminisce back to Spencer's first year of Dental school and the Sunday dinners we had at their house along with the Mannings, Karens, and sometimes the Missionaries. They were one of the couples that made moving so far from family a little easier.

Avery finally had her day to shine. She started preschool Tuesday and she couldn't have been more ready. After taking a few pictures of her Evan thought it was his turn and stood by the wall to get his picture.

We just had lunch and hadn't gotten his shirt back on. But to be honest it seems he is only fully dressed half the day. And by night he is so dirty there is never an option but to give him a bath.

Having Avery in preschool FIVE days a week and during Evan's nap time... I can't even express how great it is!

PLAYING WITH ADOBE

I have been figuring out some new tricks on Adobe today and wanted to one of the pictures I was playing with...

I bought the texture package from HERE and then duplicated the background in ADOBE. Then I put the picture of Evan in between the two layers and then used the erasing tool. (if that makes any sense?) I definitely need more practice but you get the idea. I love learning new techniques, if you have any you want to share I am all ears.

Today was KAYLA'S first day of 2nd grade.

She was so excited, she came into my room at 7 a.m. to make sure we weren't going to be late. Her bus leaves at 8:30, which is a nice change from Colorado Springs. Last year she left on the bus at 7:30.

Yesterday, being Kayla's last day of summer our schedule seemed full of things to do. We spent the first half of the day at ZOoMbEzI BaY ; a new water park that is connected to the Zoo. Then we went to "meet the teacher" night. Kayla's teacher, Mr. D'Andrea, looks around 30 and seems to be mellow. I think Kayla will really like being in his class. From there we headed to OSU's stadium for the teams open practice. We counted this outing as F.H.E., since it was MONDAY. We didn't stay long since the kids were pretty tired by this point.

Walking around the stadium, listening to the band practice made me get excited for fall. I hate to see summer go but i love fall!!! Especially in OHIO!

Hocking Hills

When I was young I had fond memories going camping in Aspen Grove, Utah.

It was a Magical place, a place I thought, where fairies could live.

Hocking Hills is that place for my kids.

We enjoyed exploring some of the trails and then headed to the campsite where friends were going to camp.

Cute friends!

My Favorite thing, the Fire!

Spencer broke out the dutch-oven and made some yummy APPLE CRISP.

The girls HIGHLIGHT is always the smores.

Here are the ladies of the night.

(minus Stacey Anne who wasn't there yet and Lacy was setting up her tent)

Thank you Kristie (middle) for organizing the event

We didn't get to actually sleep-over since Spencer had a endo golf scramble today, but we sure had fun staying late... and then sleeping in our own beds. Hopefully next summer we will start the camping thing with the our kids.