What I Love About Max

1. He purrs like a kitten.
2. His ear-to-ear smile is pure happiness.
3. He has a subtle dimple on his left cheek that plays peek-a-boo.
4. He has started to coo.
5. He is *always* happy in the morning.
6. He lets me kiss him all day long.
7. He has to scrunch up his face into a grimace for 10 seconds before a cry can emerge.
8. He loves to be wrapped in a whole bunch of blankets (like his mama!).
9. He holds my fingers so tight in his hands that I think he'll never grow up and let go.
10. He slept for eight hours last night! Hooray, Max!

Atlantic City

Clint drags us all over the map, and this week, we made an unexpected stop at Atlantic City's beach. It was a cute coastal town. I thought it was a tad cold and windy, but we all know kids don't care a wink about that. They soaked themselves in the waves and built sand castles anyway.

We were surprised to drive around town past all of the Monopoly names. It was such a fun discovery for the kids that we had to take their picture with their favorite property (Boardwalk, of course!).

Max Up Close

People would like to know ...

If he still has blue eyes (they are deep, like sapphires),
And brown hair (it's light, but brown nonetheless),
And how much he weighs (no answer for this one yet, but he is showing signs of early chubbiness).

So hopefully this photo will clear up a couple of points.

She's 10 at Mount Vernon

I don't know many kids who would like to spend their birthday at Mount Vernon, but Nicole was really excited about it.

I told Nicole that I was about her age when I was able to pick out some of my own gifts. So when we get back from our trip, we're going to have a girls' day at the mall to find some cute things for this sweetie pie!

Yorktown

The medicine man had some spooky tales to tell, supported with unbelievable statistics. For example, a rustic craniotomy (the procedure of drilling a hole in the skull to relieve pressure or blood) had an 80% success rate.

Also, the painkiller laudanum, which is a mixture of opium and alcohol, was available over-the-counter in the U.S. until the 1920s.

The Family at Jamestown

Jamestown is awesome! If you have young kids who like to run around outdoors, touch *everything* and learn new things at the same time, come here. We have had so much fun today.

All of the kids took a class this morning on either the Indians or the British settlers. Then we explored the rest of the recreated settlement.

Scotty is in front of the Indian village. The houses were full of animal furs, baskets and tools.

The boys are on the life-size replica of the Godspeed (Susan Constant is in the background).

Nicole tried on armor in the fort (British).

Shari and Max went where we went. But what else is new?

The Other Traveling Baby

Shari is such a good sport. She follows the big kids on their adventures, rarely complaining. Not having access to her crib today, she finally fell asleep in her stroller on the dock at Jamestown. Bless her heart!

Where Is Max?

I've lost count, but Nicole, Grant and Scotty have visited a lot of states (like 80% of them). Little Max, by nature of his birth rank, has some catching up to do.

Clint is making quick work of it, though. Since Max's birth in Pennsylvania just two months ago, Max has visited New York and Canada. Today he has traveled through West Virginia and Maryland. He'll be spending the next few days in Virginia. So to answer the question concerning his whereabouts, it depends on the day! And today, I have a picture for you of Max in Virginia.

Miraculous Little Nothings

Today I heard two things that I never thought I'd hear.

As we were checking out at the library, the librarian said, "It was a pleasure to have you and your children with us in the library today."  She seemed genuine, and the kids had been pretty good, so I think she really meant it.  This reminds me, though, of the last time I took Scotty to the library (a different one).  I had told him a hundred times before entering that he needed to whisper if he had something to say.  He whispered to me the whole way in and for a minute after entering.  In a soft voice, he asked to go to the children's area.  I consented and followed behind him a few minutes later.  I entered the children's area just in time to see Scotty pop up on stage at the puppet theater and proclaim in his best, loud announcer voice, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE DRAGON PUPPET THEATER!!"  At least he was kind enough to invite every library patron.

OK, I'll preface the second statement by saying that I have been trying to menu plan lately.  I figured it would simplify my life a bit.  As such, I have been incorporating many of my Pinterest recipes, just to see if there's anything to it.  Tonight we had Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops with Parmesan Mashed Potatoes (how's that for a title?).  I normally try to reserve some plain meat for the kids while Clint and I eat the good stuff with seasoning and/or sauce, but this recipe wouldn't permit it.  I was about to let the kids off without eating any of it (even though I spent an hour and a half making it) when a thought occurred to me.  I informed them that any child desiring dessert needed to try one bite of dinner.  Grant opted out immediately (no surprise).  Nicole, who is usually a good sport and always wants dessert, asked for a small piece.  Next thing I know, Nicole says, "This is actually good.  Can I have more?"  WHAT?! Is the crisis over?!  A child who eats what I make for dinner?!  As a result of Nicole's stellar example, Scotty ate a plate full as well (I knew Scott would like it, but initially he didn't want to try because Grant wasn't eating it).  Two out of three isn't bad.  Poor Grant only ate watermelon for dinner.  However, I can now see that there's hope for him yet.

Presque Isle Beach, PA

Presque Isle (Almost an Island) Beach should really be Presque Beach, since it's almost a beach.  I mean, Lake Erie looks like an ocean, and there are waves and sand, but it's still fresh water, so can it really qualify as a beach?  It's 2 1/2 hours from home, so it'll do for now.  It is a gorgeous state park, and I wish we lived closer!  The kids were looking forward to this day of our trip all weekend.  All the way from our hotel in Rochester to the beach parking lot, Scotty repeated, "Dad!  Go faster!  I so excited!"

Here's Scotty with his replacement tractor. 

He'd been begging for a dump truck for months, so we finally got around to buying one.  He says it's "super strong!"  Must be if it can't hold him.

Nicole is always so good with the babies.  She took Shari out for a swim and Max for an incredibly shallow wade.

Nicole mustered the courage to join a group of strangers at Frisbee.  This lasted for more than an hour.  Note to self: take a Frisbee to the beach next time.

Grant was all over the place.  Running and swimming in the water ...

And playing in the sand ...

Shari Brooke didn't know what to think at first.  She had been so many places over the weekend and experienced so many new things to touch and feel.

She eventually settled in and started eating the sand (a lot!), and the rocks and the shells and plants and pretty much anything she could find.

I should have changed into my swimsuit, but I didn't think I'd get much swim time in.  Here's what parents do at the beach when they have three big and independent kids and two *dependent* babies:

It's a good thing we don't live closer ... I would go there every day with a playpen for Shari, a blanket for Max, a book for myself and a whole pile of toys for the big kids.  And we'd just pass our whole lives away enjoying the sunshine and water.

Church History Sites

This first picture is from Kirtland, Ohio.  It's a short drive from Pittsburgh, and we asked Ethan to tag along with us a couple of weeks ago.  I have long wanted to see this temple, even though it's no longer owned by the church.  I admire the craftsmanship of the day and appreciate the spiritual experiences that occurred there so long ago.

The rest of these pictures are from Palmyra, New York.  The Church has maintained this area beautifully.  It still has wooded areas, apple orchards and old homes that take you back in time.  I suppose the trails through the Sacred Grove were not there a couple hundred years ago, but the kids loved walking through the "forest." 

Shari Brooke in her stroller at the Sacred Grove.

Hubby and kids on the Smith farm.

Big Sister and Baby Brother.

Daddy teaching the kids to whistle with a blade of grass.  (Who knew?!)

Scotty picked a flower for me and placed it in this tree stump.  He and Grant are always bringing me flowers.  It's the sweetest.  I hope they do that for their wives.  Don't all girls love flowers?

I snapped a shot of this plaque because I liked the quote at the bottom: "I will not cast one longing look upon anything which I leave behind me."  This simple sentence puts life in perspective; material things are not what make our lives worth living.

We traveled to all of the Church sites in Palmyra and surrounding areas, but I didn't get my camera out.  The kids said they liked the Hill Cumorah the best.  It was a much bigger hill than they were anticipating, and they had fun climbing up and down.  It was so big that I was only good for one trip up (and barely, at that).  I think Clint may have a few more photos on his phone, so those will have to wait for another day.

A Bunch of Pictures of Us at Niagara Falls

We had a three day weekend, so Clint took us to Canada!  That's one of the perks of living in the east (although the locals claim they live in the midwest).  The last time (and coincidentally the only time) I was at Niagara was about 15 years ago.  I loved it then, and I love it even more now.  It is such a beautiful place.  I love the falls (and you must see them from the Canadian side), and I love the city.  It is so classy.  I love how it is not commercialized.  There's the Maid of the Mist tour, which neither Clint nor I had done previously, and there are a few street vendors and restaurants, but other than that, the falls are surrounded by impeccable garden landscapes. 

So here we are in our blue ponchos for the boat tour. Max is hiding in his carrier.

I don't know if Clint has ever been asked, "Are all of these kids yours?!"  But we attracted a lot of attention with five kids and little Max being so new.  One lady was just beside herself and couldn't stop talking about us with her foreign accent, "What?  They all yours?  You get married when she 15 and you 18? Bless you!  What beautiful children!"  When she first asked me if they were all mine (which, by the way, I get asked on a DAILY basis), I pointed to Clint and said, "No, they're his, too. We share!"

The wait time was close to one hour, and Scotty nearly "quit" before we got on the boat.  He was under the mistaken impression that we were going to the beach, so he brought his tractor to dig in the sand.

He ended up loving the boat ride, and out of excitement, threw his tractor into a blocked off area of rocks as we were leaving.  That was the end of this cute tractor.  It was promptly replaced, as you will soon see.

Nicole and Grant have much more practice at being patient in line (thank goodness!).

We were some of the last people to board the boat, so all of the good spots were taken.  Scotty, however, "makes things happen," as I like to say, and wriggled his way into a front-row spot and took Grant along with him.  Fortunately, he found a very kind woman who took pity on them and guarded their territory the whole time.  I followed the boys, and Clint took charge of the girls.  I didn't know it was possible to get sea sick on a 20 minute river ride, but now I know that I am the most pathetic sea creature that ever lived.  I didn't lose my lunch, but I almost fainted after we got off the boat.  Clint said I was so pale he wouldn't let me hold Max.  It must have been a combination of following the boys all over the boat in the heat and in the motion.  Ugh, just the memory of it makes me sick.  Pathetic, yes!  And for this reason, I will NEVER go on a cruise ship.  I don't care how big the ship is.  I do not belong on water (unless it is a calm lake ... so far, I have been able to tolerate that).

Shari had a great time with Clint ...

And eating everyone's ponchos.  She grabbed any that crossed her path.

For my sanity, here are few land shots.  The babies waited in the car with Clint while the big kids and I strolled around the top of the falls.  Scotty was anti-camera by this time of day.

I love seeing these two together.  Perhaps because in the beginning, it was just them.  They have always had so much fun together.  Nicole, at 3 1/2 years old mothered Grant until he was old enough to be a playmate, and they have been best friends ever since.  They still play games together every day.

A stranger snapped this one for us.

I think another reason Niagara is so dear to me is because the signs are written in English and French.  It makes me smile to see French out and about.  Clint and I aren't big into souvenirs, but we did find a trinket that we both loved and that we're going to hang on the Christmas tree.  The boys wanted a plaque with the tour boat on it, and I was just now experiencing a tinge of regret about not purchasing their choice.  But just as quickly I justified in my mind that I almost always give into the kids, and this one time Clint and I can have a little something special just for us.  It's a small wooden plaque with a golden maple leaf in 3D above the words "Niagara Falls."  When I saw it, I suppose I should have thought of the Canadian flag, but I was instead instantly reminded of one of my favorite literature readings with my French classes at BYU called Une Abominable Feuille D'Erable Sur La Glace.  If you ever learn French, read this story.

Even though I have seen more spectacular falls (Foz do Iguacu), Niagara is sweet to me.  I will be back.