Camping Trip

Friday morning, after Greg joined us at the library for story-time, we headed to Stone Mountain State Park in NC for a quick camping trip.  The weather cooperated!

High-75 degres

Low- 45 degrees

Sunny, no rain 

First, a picnic lunch.

 Then, a hike to the waterfalls.  We took a family photo at the beginning of the hike, thinking that the girls might be whiny by the end.  Suprisingly, they were great little hikers, and with only a few piggy-back rides happily finished the hike.

To congratulate their efforts, we went to the general store for ice cream.     

Later, we set up camp and cooked dinner over the fire... hot dogs, asparagus, corn on the cob, (plus quinoa salad brought from home).  And, of course, S'mores.  Aunt Suz, Uncle Joel, Uncle Sean, Anna, Chloe, Luke, and Gray joined us on Friday night for a campfire and hot chocolate.  All in all it was a pretty great day.




Saturday, we went for another hike, this time to a restored homestead with a gorgeous view of Stone Mountain.  It was such a peaceful place.  After the hike and another picnic lunch, C ran around like a wild girl with her older cousins (who were so sweet to include her) for a few hours before we headed home. 
 

A very fun, but exhausting weekend.  Saturday night, we put the girls to bed at 7pm and we were in bed by 9pm! 

5 on Friday

1.  I'm trying not to constantly interrogate C about school.  I am dying to know what she does all morning without us, but whenever I ask her questions about it her resonse is "I don't know."  If I am patient and don't pester her, I'll eventually get gems like this...
"Bats aren't actually scary.  They use sounds to see... it's called echolocation."  (whoah!... I had to google that one)
"Mom, today Emory and Ava Grace asked me to be a fairy, because they needed two fairies, and I said yes.  I was a fast flying fairy and I had to protect the castle with a bubble.  Now they really love me."

2.  This week marks the 7th anniversary of us in our house.  I can't believe it has been that long.  I fall in love with it, again, every Autumn when the weather gets cool and we can spend lots of time on the porch or outside and see the trees start to change.

3.  Greg and I noticed, recently, that we no longer know what good Mexican food is.  When we first moved here from AZ, we were appalled at what the restaurants here called "mexican."  Now we eat it happily and can't remember what was so different... so sad.  I'd say it is time for a trip to Tempe. 

4.  My parents came in town last weekend and we had a great visit. It had been a year since we had seen them, so it was great to show the girls off to them.  Sadly, I have no pictures of the visit!  

 I got to go to the Relief Socitey Broadcast with my Mom.  "Gi-gi and Poppi" also came to the store with us to help pick out the girls' Halloween costumes. 

They are always generous about noticing some housefold item that we need... once it was a potato masher, another time a router.  This time we received a new toaster as an early Christmas present.  Thanks, Mom and Dad... it is nice to have our bread toasted on both sides for a change! 

  5. Enjoyed hearing from the Prophet and Apostles during General Conference last weekend.  Especially enjoyed this message about children and this one about eternal decisions.  Also, a quote from President Uchtdorf's message. 

"There is nothing wrong with righteous yearnings—we hope and seek after things that are “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.” The problem comes when we put our happiness on hold as we wait for some future event—our golden ticket—to appear."



Here is a video of SJ singing her ABC"s and some photos of the girls displaying some of their  library and school projects.

First week of school- Five on Friday

1. The girls started preschool this week.  C was so excited that she got her pajamas and backpack on and announced she was ready for bed at 6pm the night before.  The faster she goes to sleep, the faster the next day comes, right?

 2.  They both did great and loved it.  I am really happy with their teachers and the school.  Next week I'll start teaching music, there, a few hours a week.  I'm really excited to see them in their classrooms.

3.  While the girls are in school on Thursdays, I am playing in a doubles tennis league.  After the clinic I took this summer, I have finally improved enough that I feel like I can contibute to my team, and I am having so much fun!

4.  We loved having a 3 day weekend for Labor Day.  We went to two cookout/picnic events and had lots of time to be together and relax. 

5.  The Fall season of rehearsals for Bel Canto (the choir I sing in) has started.  We are working on a tricky Bach Motet (Lobet Den Herrn), among other things.  We didn't get our music ahead of time, so I'm having to put in some good time with it.  It's great to have a challenge.  I'm so lucky to have this choir to sing in.  

What we did this summer

Happy Labor Day... time to say farwell to our summer schedule.  Here is what we did:

Mondays:  AM- music class at our house with SJ's friends

                 PM- swim lessons for C

 Tuesdays:  AM- Gym

                  PM- Ballet for C

Wednesdays:  Playgroup at the park or splashpad

Thursdays:  pool or story/art time at the libraray

Fridays:  The girls played at the Leavitt-Lytle's while I got to go play tennis

We had a "summer wrap-up" family home evening and when I asked C which of these things she wants to do next summer she said... "ALL of them!"  We love our enthusiastic, happy girls!

Daughter

Wanted to record something I was reminded of, today.

"Live up to the great and magnificent inheritance which the Lord has provided for you.  Rise above the dust of the world.  Know that you are daughters of God, children with a divine birthright.  Walk in the sun with your heads high, knowing that you are loved and honored, that you are a part of his kingdom, and that there is for you a great work to be done which cannot be left to others." 

-Gordon B. Hinckly

5 on Friday

We had two natural disasters last week... luckily both mild. 

1st:  Earthquake on Aug 28th:  my very first time experiencing any kind of earthquake.  It registered 5.8 in VA.  I was in the basement switching laundry when I felt the house shake... I thought the girls were jumping or had tipped over some furniture in the room above me.  I didn't realize it was an earthquake until Greg called me from work, saying he had felt it there, too. 

2nd:  Hurricane Irene... usually we get big storms whenever there is a hurricane at the coast, but not this time.  Just some gusty wind on Saturday. 

more for our 5 on Friday...

3.  This week C told me "You're not a lady, you're a Mom!"

4.  Another coversation with C..."When I go to college at Indiana I will very very miss you.  You can come visit me and we'll go to the beach at Indiana."

5.  Went to preschool "open house" this week for C and SJ.  I almost lost it during C's orientation... a mixture of being so excited for her, so glad she'll be in good hands, (she has a great teacher) and knowing this is the beginning of her growing up. 

A Graduation Party

 





for our favorite guy...

Greg Sherwood, MBA (shouldn't he be wearing a suit?)

SJ helping set up

Way to go, Greg.  He won't admit it, but going to graduate school while supporting a family, holding down a demanding full time job, and a busy calling (volunteer position) at church is remarkable.  All while still making lots of time for his family and without borrowing any money or showing us his stress.  We sure love and appreciate him.   

5 rules from the Laundry Nazi

Who is the laundry nazi, you ask?  It is I, Nicolle.  I like doing laundry.  That may sound wierd, but it is true.  It is one household chore that I don't mind, as long as it is done MY WAY!

1.  Laundry is to be done once a week- on the same day each week. 

2.  Wash loads in this order:  whites, then pinks, then darks, and then medium colors go last (that way, if you miss something, you can catch it in the last load)

3.  Have all loads done by the time the kids are in bed... that way you can fold laundry while watching the nightly news. 

4.  # 4 is the MOST IMPORTANT RULE:  Do not start putting the laundry away before it is all folded... otherwise you have to put it away 2 or 3 times and you end up doing 2 or 3 times the work.

5.  Put all of the laundry away before going to bed... this prevents your nice folded baskets from being overturned first thing in the morning by your "helpful" children.  (SJ loves to say "I'n hepiiinnn")

Any questions?

You Have Been Chopped

Your challenge is to create a dish, using the 4 mystery ingredients, within the 30 minute time limit. 

APPETIZER:

Contestants:
Natalie "miso sassy" Harris

David "give me all your plates" Harris

Mystery ingredients:  prosciutto, asparagus, egg noodles, and miso paste

Finished product: 

(Natalie) miso, prosciutto, asparagus, and crunchy egg  noodle pizza

(David) some prosciutto on a crepe (ran out of time to finish his prosciutto, asparagus, egg noodle crepes with miso sauce)

Winner:  Natalie

-----------------------------------------------------------

ENTREE:

Contestants:

Bridget "I'll do all of the dishes" Nelson

Kip "is that a tomato or a red pepper?" Nelson

Ingredients:  spinach pasta, pork tenderloin, "kickin hot" peanut butter, eggplant

Finished product:

(Bridget) breaded pork over roasted vegetables and pasta

(Kip) Pork Jambalaya

Winner:  Kip

-----------------------------------------------------------

DESSERT: 

Contestants:

Nicolle "let me read the directions" Sherwood

Greg "how do you chop up a mango?" Sherwood

(sidenote:  this photo describes our entire married life... Nicolle reading the directions and Greg jumping right in) Ha!

 

Ingredients:  phyllo dough, fresh mango, cinnamon, and marshmallows

Finished product: 

(Greg) mango/marshmallow/cinnamon ice cream with a phyllo dough dipper

(Nicolle)- s'more's pastry (phyllo dough filled with graham crackers, nutella, marshmallows, cinnamon) and mango/strawberry frozen custard.

'

Winner:  Nicolle

A photo of the champions...

This was the funnest get-together we've had in a long time.  (Yes, we are nerds)  :)

FUN! 5 on Friday

We've been having way to much fun around here, lately. 

1.  I had 3 (count them, 1-2-3) girls nights out last week. 

1st:  tennis with Andrea (we won our traditional one match for the season)

2nd:  went to see the movie The Help with book club... loved the book and highly recommend it

3rd:  out for Japanese to celebrate Shelley's 30th b-day

2.  Now, don't you worry about Greg... he's been having plenty of fun, too.  Playing golf for "work," playing basketball, soccer, and this weekend is going to the PGA Tournament TWICE (once for "work")!  Wow... life is going to be so leisurly now that he is finished with that MBA! 

 3.  Greg also cashed in his Father's Day present this week... our dear friend Natalie watched the girls ALL DAY so I could go with him to the Whitewater Center in Charlotte.  We rafted and ziplined to our heart's content. 

See?  I told you... WAY to much fun around here.

4.  Some other recent photos... Clara helping me peel shrimp.  She is really good at it!

 5.  Notice anyone new to our mantel?  We and some of our friends have a contest each season of NBC's Amazing Race to pick the order each team will place.  I won last season, and this roaming gnome is my prize. Aren't you jealous?

Happy 2nd Birthday SJ!

Today is SJ's 2nd birthday.   We celebrated, yesterday, with Elmo and some friends.  

 

 I love the streamers on the wall behind the high chair... C was so excited to help decorate and surprise SJ... it was very sweet.  C was a little disappointed when SJ woke up on her 2nd birthday and didn't look any bigger than she had the night before.  (Also, if I may brag some more... if you watch the video of SJ blowing out her candles, my favorite part is seeing C watch over her in such a motherly way). 

 

 Unfortunately, SJ was alone in a room with the cupcakes for 10 seconds before the party started, so we served smashed Elmo cupcakes with our little lunch. 

All about SJ:

Favorite Activities:  Swimming, swinging, sliding (esp. if someone is at the bottom to crash into) and wiffle ball.  She loves to go into the garden and pick whatever she can find (ripe or not, doesn't matter) and eat it immediately.  Gives great hugs and will still snuggle up with me to rock right before a nap or bed. 

Favorite show:  Jack's Big Music Show or Elmo (these are our best chance to get her to watch TV... even then we are lucky if she'll sit for 5 minutes).  

Likes:  jumping, climbing, exploring, opening/taking things apart.  She also likes her pacifier, dogs, toilets, the refrigerator, and my make-up bag or other little bottles (lotion, spices... anything "off limits").   Of course, she still loves music, dancing, and to do things "mysewf."

Dislikes:  sitting still, help with getting dressed, brushing teeth, or getting her hair done.  Is grumpy for a few minutes after she wakes in the morning or after a nap.  

Things that make her laugh:  "Animal" on the muppets (hooray for youtube), toys crashing, being tickled on her neck, tackling Mommy, chasing Clara, and hearing other people laugh.

Favorite foods: tomatoes, any fruit, pasta, olives, or any food being eaten by a stranger within her view.

Her word that can multi-task:  "Sowie"  (can be used to mean shower, sorry, or sour)

 

We love our wild and crazy two year old!