Springfield

Thanks to my awesome in-laws and my parents (last minute - thank you!), Mike and I were able to get away for a couple of days and head to Springfield, IL.  It was so fun to just spend time together.  I'll admit that although some of the highlights of the trip were getting to eat without first making 2 little plates and cooling them off, getting to go to the restroom without anyone banging on the door crying, the freedom of going out whenever we wanted, etc. we were still beyond excited to get back to our little sweethearts and being a family again.  But I would totally do it again.  It was freaking awesome.

Lunch on Monday

Standing in front of a really weird Lincoln painting, waiting for a movie to start that  didn't actually happen.

 I called the city tourist office because I saw that they had performances around town.  What she told me was that there was going to be a performance at the Old Capitol building about the underground railroad......in song.  I was so happy, thinking we were going to go to a weird, train-wreck performance.  Turned out it was a critically-acclaimed film called The Underground that I was really excited to see.  But it wasn't going to start for a long while so we headed out.  Bummer.  I was wanting either a great film, or a train-wreck.  :)

"I'm just a bill here on Capitol Hill."

Eating a horseshoe - it's meat, cheese sauce, fries, all on top of a piece of bread. Weird, but very good!

I have a confession.  I REALLY love staying in a hotel.  I get super excited about all the pillows, the free breakfast, the comfy beds, the ridiculous t.v., and yes, getting ice from the machine.  Here I am over-dramatizing (a bit) my excitement over staying at the hotel.  :)  FYI, I love the Drury Inn.  Except that their shampoo smells weird.

The Lincoln Museum is sooooo awesome.  We spent so much time there, and just loved it (as usual).  I recommend it strongly, especially if you are a Lincoln fan.  And no, I don't know why the figure in front is so ticked off.  Maybe he didn't get to stay at a hotel.

On the way home.  Excited to see the kiddos, totally in love, and happy to be together.

Mandatory stop at Ted Drewes for Big Apples

Delicious.  The ice cream, not me.  Please don't eat me.  You'd regret it.

If you have never been to the Gyro Company in St. Louis, I weep for you.  It is so incredible.

I want another one.  Right now.

We had such a fun time.  Thanks again to our babysitters.  The kids had such a fun time, too!

Infinite

"Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely.

 Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. 

Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely. 

He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children.

He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God’s love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.

What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us^."

                     ^{-Dieter F. Uchtdorf - The Love of God, General Conference October 2009}

^{My in-laws have parts of this talk posted in their home.  I know God lives.  I know He loves me.  I know He loves everyone on this earth, without reservation.  I know that I can return to Him if I am diligent and follow His commandments.  I love Him with all of my heart, and am so grateful to have Him always on my side.}

Good Moments

My sister Laura got Andrew this tool set for his birthday  (we just got to see her last week finally!  It  has been way too long.)  Let's just say, it was a HUGE hit.  Andrew has been fixing everything in the house all week. He always wears his protective glasses, and is so adorable.  Thanks, Laura!

Both kids LOVED this tool set.  Let me be more specific.  They each loved each tool.  At the exact same time.

His speech got rapidly more muffled and nasal-y the longer he wore these.  :)

Mike made Andrew a "turtle shell."  He was ecstatic.

As I said in my last post, this hasn't been a banner week for us, health-wise.  But Andrew and Emily have made us laugh quite a lot anyway.

  We went to the doctor to get Emily's rash checked out.  Our regular doctor, Doctor Wheeler, was on vacation, so we saw the on-call doctor.  When she came in, Andrew said, "It's a Doctor-Mommy!  It's a Doctor-Mommy!"  I realized then that he was excited to see a woman doctor and said "Yeah, it's a doctor who is a woman."  He looked puzzled so I said, "She's a girl, and she's a doctor.  Like......Dr. Wiseman from Curious George."  (For all you die-hard Curious George watchers, I realized after I said it that she is called PROFESSOR Wiseman.  :) Andrew lit up and said, "IT'S DOCTOR WISEMAN!  HEY, DOCTOR WISEMAN!"  She was a little confused, but was really nice, all the same.  Andrew has been asking to go back to the doctor ever since.

 Emily enjoys lording over Andrew.  If I say, "No, no, no Andrew.  Blah blah blah."  Emily will stand up with her little belly poking out and look at him sternly and say, "No no no!  Hey!  No no no!"  Also, Andrew will give Emily his bread crusts or whatever else he decides he doesn't want that day.  Emily, who in her own right has become a bit of a piggy, will start in on him as soon as they sit down.  She'll lean across the table (as much as she can in her booster seat), holding out her little hand and say, "Hey.  Hey!  Hey!  Hey."

  Today Andrew was running in circles around the living room and when he'd get to Emily, he'd stop and give her a hug.  About the third time around, he gave her a big hug and they just stood there for 2-3 seconds looking at each other and smiling, still hugging.  It was the sweetest, best moment.  I sure love those crazy little kiddos.

Sickies

I saw a cartoon online of a baby and above it, it said, "I'm sorry you're sick, Mommy.  Just kidding.  I don't care."

Well, that's so true it's funny.  :)  Emily and I have had this massive cold with sore throats and fevers since Wednesday or so.  Andrew's starting to get sick, but Mike is (cross your fingers) staying healthy for now.  You really never appreciate being well until you are sick.

But I did come up with a great insight yesterday.  I was looking around at the state of the house (which wasn't looking so great) and wishing that I wasn't so dizzy and weak so I could do SOMETHING.  I had been praying to recover quickly and to feel better, but I realized that I could be specific.  I prayed that I would have the energy to help clean the kitchen and get the dishes done.  About 5 minutes later, I realized I was cleaning up toys in the living room, which meant I had some energy!  So I went to the kitchen and started cleaning.  I was able to fill the dishwasher, then although I had to do this pathetic sit-down-and-sweep kind of action, I was able to get the kitchen looking manageable.  Michael's been taking care of us, and doing a good job of it, but I was so glad to be able to help.