Happy 4th!

We had a very fun weekend, filled with...
-a party and parade with playgroup friends
-replacing the brakes on both cars (0k, not the most fun part of the weekend- but productive!)
-a downtown festival
-a cook-out and fireworks with Aunt Suz and Uncle Sean
-a trip to the pool with the Horrances
-Gelato from Gnam-Gnams (Have you tried this place? It is awesome!)

Here are some photos:

We love our country and our freedom!

Clara's Ballet Recital

Clara LOVED the ballet class she has been taking this summer. She dances around the house, all day, and is always pretending to be a character from the book/movie series Angelina Ballerina. Her favorites are Angelina, Alice, Flora, or Felicity, and while she is pretending to be them, she bosses around an imaginary Henry).

l
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Who Ya Gonna Call?

The Story of our New Vacuum:
We have lots of hardwoods and lots of tight corners, so an upright doesn't work well and pulling around a canister vacuum is a pain. After using a $10 yard-sale-find for 8 1/2 years, we finally splurged on a new vacuum. I went for the industrial backpack vacuum.

I think I'm in love.

Plus, I have my Ghostbusters costume all set for Halloween.

More big news:
I got this measuring spoon-magnet-hangy-thing for Mother's Day. No more searching the drawers for the measurement I need. I am a new woman.

Ahh... the simple joys of a housewife.

Belated Soccer Wrap-Up

I knew it... I knew joining Facebook would interfere with my blogging. I am way behind. Here is a summary of Clara's soccer season (which ended over a month ago).


Clara Sherwood, #0

Season highlights:

• Clara seeing me eating a banana on the sidelines... then running off the field and refusing the go back until I gave her a bite.
• Clara falling down every time she saw someone else fall down, then waiting for the coach to come and pick her up. (He did this during the first game, so she thought it was part of the sport, I think)
• Clara got to play goalie a couple of times. One time she got bored and ran to the playground adjacent to the field... good thing her team was stacked and they didn't get scored on even with an open net.
• Clara spent more time picking flowers and dancing than playing soccer
• Clara never got the hang of the "handshake in a line" routine after games. Check out the video... she was so confused. :)
  

Clara's favorite things about soccer:

• Snacks and drinks after practices
• Snacks and drinks after games
• The practice when her Daddy subbed for the coach and they got to play "pirate."
• Playing with boys (the rest of her teamates were boys, and most of her little friends are girls, so she liked making new friends).
  

Strawberries

We went strawberry picking this weekend. We barely made it in time for the end of the season, which is ending early, this year, because of all of the wet weather. (I'm not sure who was more disappointed - Clara or myself- when all of our regular picking spots were already closed.)

Luckily we found a farm with some strawberries left.

We made strawberry shortcake, strawberry popsicles, and fruit leather with our stash. Yummy!

Sarah-Jane, 9 months old

Stats:
Length = 28 3/4 inches (between percentile 75 and 90)
Weight = 20 lbs. (between percentile 50 and 75)

• New skills: turbo crawling, pulling up, cruising, waving (see this sideways video)
  

• Does not like baby food (anything pureed), but will eat finger foods

• Loves people... anyone who looks at her gets a huge smile and a wave

• Loves baths... is desperate to get into the tub if she hears it running!

• Has two bottom teeth, and 6 of her top teeth are on the way... all at once!

• Favorite song: Little Sacka Sugar (I know, you think I'm making this up... how can a baby have a favorite song? Let me tell you, she goes nuts whenever it comes on- just dances her little heart out)

• She's gotten very playful, lately (read: busy, busy... into everything). We figure we only have a couple of weeks before she starts walking.She is a happy, happy girl and we love her!

(I started this post a while ago, but am just now finishing it up... so she is actually almost 10 months by now!)

Topsail Island, May 2010

We spent a week at the beach with friends.
6 adults + 6 kids (all 3 and under) + one beach house =
lots of craziness, not a lot of sleep, but TONS of fun!

Happiness is...

a new swingset...

and learning how to pump all by yourself.

Conference Takeaways

I wanted to record some of my favorite quotes from General Conference (every six months, the leaders of our church speak about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the issues we face today, including inspiration and counsel).

From Julie Beck, Relief Socity General President:

"Women should be women and not babies that need petting and correction all the time. I know we like to be appreciated but if we do not get all the appreciation which we think is our due, what matters? We know the Lord has laid high responsibility upon us, and there is not a wish or desire that the Lord has implanted in our hearts in righteousness but will be realized, and the greatest good we can do to ourselves and each other is to refine and cultivate ourselves in everything that is good and ennobling to qualify us for those responsibilities.”

Measuring Success:
Good women always have a desire to know if they are succeeding. In a world where the measures of success are often distorted, it is important to seek appreciation and affirmation from proper sources. We are doing well when we develop attributes of Christ and strive to obey His gospel with exactness. We are doing well when we seek to improve ourselves and do our best. We are doing well when we increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help others who are in need. We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive, and know how to follow the Spirit. When we have done our very best, we may still experience disappointments, but we will not be disappointed in ourselves. We can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when we feel the Spirit working through us. Peace, joy, and hope are available to those who measure success properly.

From Elder Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Ideas for watching over our children...

"(1) reading and talking about the Book of Mormon with your children

(2) bearing testimony of gospel truths spontaneously with your children

(3) inviting children as gospel learners to act and not merely be acted upon

Parents who do these things faithfully will be blessed to recognize early signals of spiritual growth in or challenges with their children and be better prepared to receive inspiration to strengthen and help those children."

From President Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency

"When we are tempted to judge, let us think of the Savior, who “loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. . . .
“[And] he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, . . . [for] all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.”
As I read the scriptures, it appears that those who receive the Savior’s strongest reproach are often those who hold themselves in high esteem because of their wealth, influence, or perceived righteousness.
On one occasion the Savior taught a parable of two men who went into the temple to pray. One man, a respected Pharisee, prayed: “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.”
The other man, a hated publican, stood “afar off, [and] would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”
And Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.”2
In truth, we “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”3 We are all in need of mercy. In that last day when we are called to the judgment bar of God, do we not hope that our many imperfections will be forgiven? Do we not yearn to feel the Savior’s embrace?
It seems only right and proper that we extend to others that which we so earnestly desire for ourselves.

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An old Jewish legend tells of two brothers, Abram and Zimri, who owned a field and worked it together. They agreed to divide both the labor and the harvest equally. One night as the harvest came to a close, Zimri could not sleep, for it didn’t seem right that Abram, who had a wife and seven sons to feed, should receive only half of the harvest, while he, with only himself to support, had so much.
So Zimri dressed and quietly went into the field, where he took a third of his harvest and put it in his brother’s pile. He then returned to his bed, satisfied that he had done the right thing.
Meanwhile, Abram could not sleep either. He thought of his poor brother, Zimri, who was all alone and had no sons to help him with the work. It did not seem right that Zimri, who worked so hard by himself, should get only half of the harvest. Surely this was not pleasing to God. And so Abram quietly went to the fields, where he took a third of his harvest and placed it in the pile of his beloved brother.
The next morning, the brothers went to the field and were both astonished that the piles still looked to be the same size. That night both brothers slipped out of their houses to repeat their efforts of the previous night. But this time they discovered each other, and when they did, they wept and embraced. Neither could speak, for their hearts were overcome with love and gratitude.8
This is the spirit of compassion: that we love others as ourselves,9 seek their happiness, and do unto them as we hope they would do unto us.10
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Here are my (Nicolle) goals for putting the teachings of our prophet and apostles into action:

-Love more people more unconditionally

-Increase my ability to receive personal revelation... especially regarding parenting

-Increase my compassion and service for others

Happy Easter

We had an Easter Brunch/ Easter Egg Hunt for about 30 people at our house.

(Is Greg helping selflessly or does he see some Reese's eggs in his future?) hmm...

Sarah-Jane got in on the egg hunt action. She liked to shake the eggs with jelly beans inside.

The Easter Egg Hunt was followed by a treasure hunt... 3 adorable baby chicks were at the end!

Clara named them Bear, Bird, and Molly.

We adopted these little girls for a few days, then passed them on to our friends, who raise chickens. (Greg wanted to keep them, and I actually thought about it, but there were just too many reasons that made it not a good idea).

We had such a great time... thanks to everyone who came and participated and brought delicious food!

Sneak Peak

Clara is playing soccer for the first time, this season. Greg thinks I am more excited than Clara is. (He might be right.) She does love it, though.


Not only is she the only 3 year old, she is also the only girl on her team of 4 year old boys. She has had a couple of practices, and her first game is next week. I can't wait. Oops, I mean Clara can't wait. We'll let you know how it goes. If it is anything like the practices, she'll spend more time picking clovers and dancing than actually playing soccer.

It is time for the Madness

I love this time of year. We have a bracket and if any of you wish to join, you are more than welcome. Don't think you need to know anything about Basketball. You will beat Greg Regardless of your basketball knowledge.Here is the information:To accept this invitation and join the group, click the link below (or cut and paste the link into your browser's address bar).You'll be asked to enter the group's password before you can join. The group password is included below
.http://sherwoodbracekts.mayhem.sportsline.com/e

Our Group password is: ASUrules

Amazing Race, minus the cameras, Phil, and the million dollars

by Greg...
On Friday March 5th, Nicolle and I got to participate in an Amazing Race type event taking place in downtown Greensboro. We were excited to do "Around Downtown in 80 Minutes" because Greg has organized a number of these races for family, friends and coworkers, but has only raced in these events twice, and never with Nicolle as a partner.

This was a risky move on both Greg and Nicolle's part for many reasons:

1. They are both very competitive
2. Greg finished 2th & 5th respectively in the races he has been in
3. Unlike the previous races which had 40-60 people in then, this race had 95 teams of two (or 190 individuals)
4. Greg is fat and had not exercised in 3 or 4 weeks
5. Nicolle is always right
6. Greg is always right
7. Reason 5 + Reason 6 = Marriage counseling if Reason 5 does not = Reason 6

Anyway, we got arrived at the race with time to map out our route. On the 4th review of our
route Nicolle recommended a gutsy move, which -if performed with precision, accuracy, and speed -could vault us into the running for a top spot. Greg felt this tactic would demand too much needed time and result in absolute failure.

After much discussion, Greg finally gave in to the high risk, high reward strategy.

Then the gun sounded, grandmothers trampled crying babies, and we were off.

Over the next 57 Minutes and 12 seconds Nicolle and Greg dodged, jumped, answered questions and ran around downtown Greensboro.

The race went considerably faster than Nicolle and Greg had planned, and despite not knowing that the population in downtown Greensboro is not 1000 (rather 1500) people, we finished getting to all the stops.

As we sat and waited for the results (scoring was based on how many points and bonus points received-time finished was the tiebreaker, if needed) there were some raffles. This provided one of the humorous highlights of the evening. A guy who looked like my brother in law Bryant (see below) won a complete hair cut and style package from a local salon.

Calgon Take me away

In a stroke of good luck, Greg won a Triad Stage coffee cup and Nicolle won a Gift basket from a local boutique bakery.

Then the announcement of the 3rd place winner was announced (this was good for 4 tickets to Triad Stage) it was ........ some other team.

We were sad that we did not win those tickets, but we maintained hope that might have gotten 2nd place. But alas, the prize of a dinner for two at a fancy restaurant went to some lucky couple who think neon green and pink are still in style. (I wonder if they heard MC Hammer wasn't 2 legit to quit?)

Then came the Grand prize:
1 night stay at the Greensboro Biltmore Hotel
Dinner for 2 at 223 Elm Street (easy to find on GPS)
8 Tickets to any show at Triad Stage
and Bragging rights

IT WAS US. WE WON. Greg grabbed the microphone and started thanking his keen sense of direction, his agent, his cow "No Horns" who made him hate cows so much that he had no issue eating meat, which gave him the mental acuteness to figure out the fastest route. When the music started playing he asked Nicolle if she had anyone to thank, but then remembered to thank his old teammate Micheal Aagard, "We did it Micheal, We did it."

The tears were flowing, the pain and suffering were worth it. The years of training had paid off , for this moment, this one moment in time..
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel
I will feel eternity

Go TEAM USA

Clara's trip around the world.

Clara had a very fun month at preschool. If you want to see what she's been up to, check out Miss Shelley's blog.

6 Months

Sarah-Jane is 6 months old. I know I sound like a broken record, but I can't believe how fast the last 6 months has flown.

Stats:
26 7/8 long
18 lbs.
80th percentile for height and weight (we have big girls)!
She is getting more steady in a seated position and is close to crawling... I think my blissful days with a non-mobile baby are coming to a close! She has quite a grab, but -so far- is still very happy even when we need to take away things she can't have.

Vancouver Olympics 2010

I love the Olympics. I find it so inspiring to see people push themselves to the limit... to do their very best... to work unbelievably hard to accomplish their dreams. It inspires me to want to do my best, despite obstacles or setbacks. I mean, if Anja Paerson can win a bronze medal in alpine skiing one day after wiping out like this, then surely I can survive one more 3 year old meltdown, right? Especially when I know that when I peek in on her, later, after she has gone to bed I'll see this... a very cute, sleepy girl reading through her library books one more time before she falls asleep.
I recorded all of the Olympics, because I didn't want to miss anything. I still have about a week's worth of viewing before I get through them all, so don't tell me any results from the final week, ok?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREG

You are cute. I love you!
Love, Nicolle
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Clara's Funny Book

Some funny/cute things Clara has said, lately:

(Dressing Sarah Jane up like a princess)

(singing) Rudolph the red-nose Reindeer, had a really (very) shiny nose.

(singing) I love to see the Temple, I'm going there someday
To feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to play (pray).

"Wow, look what we do'd" (did).

She loves to announce herself whenever she arrives at a playgroup...
"Hey everybody, I'M HERE!"

Clara loves to climb on my lap when I am holding Sarah-Jane and say "look at all of these girls!"

Clara started to say "NO" to me one day. I looked at her like... "excuse me?!? You aren't supposed to talk to me like that" and she quickly recovered "(NO)-VEMBER'S ALL DONE. IT'S CHRISTMASTIME." She is quick on her feet, that girl.

Clara loves being in Sunbeams at church. She wants to participate in everything and for every turn to be her turn. Since I play the piano in Primary, I get to overhear lots of cute comments. Last week, the teacher was encouraging them take turns saying a little testimony. They would find a piece of paper that said "I know" and then were supposed to finish it with something like, "Jesus lives." When it was Clara's turn, she stood up confidently and said, "I know... my Mommy."

Clara is really into princesses and pretty dresses. I got dressed for a choir concert at Christmastime and when Clara first saw me she gasped (a huge gasp) and said, "Wow, Mommy you wearing a pretty dress?!?" She was very curious about my pantyhose (since I never wear them, otherwise, she didn't know what they were). The next night, I told her I was going to get dressed for my concert and she said, "Oh, you gonna wear your panty's? (she meant pantyhose)."

She has been trying to squirm out of her carseat, sometimes, lately. The other day I had to pull over to put her back in and I told her I was going to tighten the straps really tight so she couldn't squirm out. The rest of the way home she screamed and cried, "Mommy don't tie me up(tighten me up)!!!" Not so funny at the time, but looking back it is funny.

Her grandma gave her some birthday money. We went to Target and she picked out a toy and gave the money to the cashier. The cashier gave her some change and she said, "Oh, you give me some new monies?!?"

Mom: Clara, please go potty before we leave the house
Clara: But, Mom, I went potty two years ago
Mom: We go potty several times a day
Clara: But I already went potty seven times!

Mom: Do you like your teacher?
Clara: Yes, she is so nice to meet you! (So nice to me)

Love is in the Air

and on our car...

(Greg left this surprise on my car this morning)

and in our treats...

and at Clara's preschool party...



Clara got to sit in the "warm fuzzy chair" while her friends told her why they love her...
Addie likes her Curly hair
Shaelyn likes her special hugs
and Caroline likes her silly songs.

Here is Clara's preschool class with their beloved "Miss Shelley"

Snow in NC

Greg (from Rochester, NY) and I (from Nashville, TN) have very different backgrounds when it comes to winter weather. I really learned a lot about snow on our recent trip to NY- like, for instance, what a snow plow is. Really- I saw a snow blower and said, "Wow, that person owns their own snowplow?" It was one of many times Greg had a good laugh at my expense.

Now it is my turn... it snowed 7 inches at our home this week! Here is a sample of what happens when a Yankee marries someone from the South:

Greg: I think I'll go out and shovel the driveway.
Nicolle: What? How?- We don't own a snow shovel.
Greg: I'll just use the garden shovel.
Nicolle: Why do you want to shovel the driveway?
Greg: So it will be easy to get the car out when I go to work.
Nicolle: Are you going to shovel the whole way to work, because they only (maybe)plow the main roads...
Greg: Oh, good point
Nicolle: We don't shovel snow in the South... we just wait a couple of days for it to melt

Here is what we have been up to while we've been trapped at home.

Finally taking down our Christmas Card photos (sad).

Teething

BFF's playing together

And, of course, lots of sledding, building snowmen, and playing in the snow

And finally baking a successful batch of cinnamon rolls. (I have been trying for years, but could never get them to come out right). Thanks, Jennie, for the dough recipe, and thanks to Greg's Mom for teaching me the thread trick.