The last Sunday

Sundays are always fun, run home, get the kids feed, take a nap or two or three and then get dinner, get ready for the week and before you know it the day is over. We will see how that all goes next week when our meeting time move from 9 to 11.

Abby has started to really ham up for the camera and so loves taking pictures more and more. I was surprised at how different the girls looked today so I had to throw this one out there. Tori is really becoming her own little person latley.

As I mentioned before, two or three naps get taken on sundays. This is on the top list for Chris' favorit things about being a Dad, naping with the girls.

Second Children

I think that being a second child diffenatly has its advantages. With Abby she didn't even get a bite of yummy things like ice cream let alone an ice cream cone all to herself. How times have changed because as you can see Tori is going to town on her little ice cream cone. She has loved it since the first time she was given some, and will follow you all over the house if she knows that you have some ice cream.

More enjoyment...

The great divide

It was stake conference today and rummors have been floating for a while that changes were in the works. So it was no surprise today that after the sustanings were completed, some releses and callings were announced that there was a request for the high council members to distribute the maps with the new boundaries. Needless to say that we are no longer part of the Park View ward and now are part of the Smoky Hill Ward. This of course is bitter sweet for our family. Overall the change effected people in all 7 wards. I am sure some were happy, some were sad and some were glad it was just done with. So what does this mean for the Marshalls...
The Pros:
-We only have to be at the 11AM meeting time for a couple of months
-We now are the middle of a ward versus being an island unto ourselfs on the boundary line
-We now get new callings (hopefully good)
-We still have a lot of people we know in our new ward
-New people to meet

The Cons:
-We have to meet at 11AM, instead of the nice 9AM time
-There will be a new nursery for Abby to attend, we will see how that goes
-We lose a lot of friends that are still the the Park View ward
-We are both released from our great callings, Chris as the 11 year old scout leader and 11 year old primary teacher and me as the Primary secratary

I have been in the word since I moved here, so over ten years. This is the end of an era for me. Well I am sure there are more changes in the works as soon as the new stake center is built, and who knows what that will mean?

Days to remember

Every once and a while you have one of the days when your kid(s) are so great that they off set the days when they are not so great. Today was one of those days. Abby is growing up so fast and loves to help me more and more. Today she:
-washed/rinsed dishes
-set the table
-played with Tori
-helped fold and put away laundry
-helped change the sheets on her bed
-shared and played nice at church
-listened and didn't argue too much

These are the days that I love being a mom, I just hope she stayes helpful for a couple more years!

Birthday Celebrations

Today we went to my parents house to have our August/September birthday celebration. We are trying something new, which is to celebrate mid day on a Saturday instead of Sunday after church. The last time we got together after everyone was done with church, we said our goodbyes about about 10:30, much to late for the little ones and those of us that have to get up and go to work too. This seemed to work out really great so I bet this will be the new standard.

You know this means that my birthday is finally over, sadly enough and I will have to wait a whole 10 1/2 months to start the celebrations again. As many of you know I like to celebrate the whole month of August and this year I even got 1/2 of September too.

We celebrated birthday's for Ryan, Grandma, Lynette, Theresa (if only in spirit) and me.

Following are a bunch of fun pictures we got during the day. And as nothing in my family can go according to schedule it was the all day birthday party that would have lasted into the night, had we not already had plans.

Elise is true Elisa style made 2 cakes a yummy carrot cake and the Gillmore chocolate cake, as well as a lemon meringue pie and a cheesecake. All very good!!

Ellie guarded the cake, she was eying it all afternoon, she sure looks like her mom?

Tori enjoyed Abby's baby doll's hand. We call her Mary as that is the name Abby had chosen for her, she goes with her everywhere.
Yes that is dirt on her lips and not the yummy chocolate cake. She managed to the dirt mecca at the gate to the garden and thought it to be rather good, I guess it could have been worse...

Abby and my mom picked this wonderful looking tomato from my parents garden. This thing is huge and has so many great vegetables in it.
Rachel, Marcy and Jakob started picking tomatoes from one of the huge plants. More and more of us joined in and didn't even make a dent with all the the tomatoes that were there.Ryan and Tori had fun playing airplane.
Rachel helped Tori walk around the backyard. Rachel stared walking on August 26th and hasn't stopped since. She is getting really good and can do about 15 steps before she takes a fall. Josh is in the back on the tramp doing some ninja moves.
We were taking pictures and Grant looked so sad, as if to say "hey what about me, take my picture" so he was happy to pose for one.
More playing with Abby and Jakob.
Ellie was doing some posing, I love the curly hair!

Happy Birthday Uncle Ryan

We hope you had a great day!

Your cake was yummy, we saved you a piece!

"Team Work"

Tonight Abby taught us all some very import facts about team work...
How many times have you heard..."There is no I in team",
Well according to Abby there also in no Abby in team, no Tori in team, no Mom in team, no Dad in team, and no family in team.
Tonight she talked for 60 minutes straight about everything and anything. Chris couldn't get a word in and yet she got mad at us for talking, telling us we were going to wake up her baby. Then it was "do you understand what I am saying to you" and that was followed up but a rendition of rocka my baby (rock a bye baby).
Chris was asking to night if we could get a D O G for Christmas for the girls, but I think it really is for him so that he has someone that will just listen to him and not cry, yell or tell him no. I told him we would just need to see. Any ideas of good dogs to have with kids around?

A child at play

This eventing I called upstairs to Abby to find out what she was doing, and when I got no reply, I proceeded upstairs after her with caution. What I found was a child who had taken off all her clothes, and was running around our room in a circle in a wet towel. When I asked her what she was doing she just giggled at me and proceeded to run around. I couldn't help but think what would the neighbors think if they stopped in now and saw a 2 1/2 year old running around with nothing but this wet dish towel? I contemplated a picture, but then decided I didn't want to encourage the behavior, so you will just have to use your imagination on this one.

Tori is walking

Tori is getting better and faster everyday, and I will get video of that some day, but for now here is a picture of her in mid stride.
The girls are getter better at playing together, they were playing with the farm tonight, well Abby was placing the animals and Tori was moving them. Tori still doesn't get the sharing thing too well yet.

The Family Fair

Well it was the 5th and final Family fair today and we enjoyed all that they had to offer. They really out did themselves with all the activities for the kids, the wonderful food and everything else that there was to do and see.

Abby loved getting in the fire truck so we did that a couple of times as well as the giant slide. Tori spent most of the time sleeping, so she missed out on lots of things. We ran into lots of old friends and our family even came out to have some fun, sorry I forgot to get some pictures of that.


So here are a couple of the fun events from the day:

Abby with her flower face paint

Abby and Chris on the big slide

Abby in the fire truckAbby and Tori riding at the end of the day

Preschool

Abby is always bringing home things she did at preschool. Here are a couple of items that she made this week. The lion she did all by herself, including putting the eyes, mouth and whiskers on. The alligator, she glued on as well. I am always amazed at the skills she has learned and how she gets concepts like opposites, order placement (first, second) and the newest one...why?

I am sure she will keep us on our toes as she gets older, but for now I find it amazing!

Yes, I really am a Harry Potter junkie at heart, I requested the book, book on tape and cd on tape all from the library to see which would come first and the winner is....the book, I am about 3/4 of the way through, so don't spoil it for me.

Cookies from Canada

For those of you who don't know there are 2 great cookies from Canada, the first is the Maple leaf cookie, the second is the Oreo.
You can't get either of these yummy treats in the states and so when we are lucky enough to have friends go or come from Canada, our request is always, can you bring back some Maple Leaf cookies and double stuffed Oreo cookies please??
So if you are going to visit, just make sure to bring a box or two.

Labor day fun

Well we spent our Labor day at the Zoo this year and had a blast!! We took the kids met up with Aubree, Judd and the kids to trek around and enjoy the animals for a couple of hours. We even got to see a wildlife show, which both Abby and Tori loved (I guessed from the screeching and waving from both of them). Abby loved the giraffises as she called them.

Grant and Abby checked out this statue, it looks pretty real though and they took turns making "getting bit" sounds.


Abby loved to ride on Dad's shoulders because she could see better.

The kids loved the great apes, and we loved pondering the question...if we "evolved" from apes, then why are there still apes left?

Although you would think she is part monkey to watch her climb, she doesn't really look like the one behind her...

After lunch Tori had enough and was ready for a nap.

Play time

Abby and Tori were super cute today, yesterday my dad gave me some safety goggles to were when using the circular saw and Abby just couldn't wait to get them on and then insisted I take a picture of her!Tori started walking this week (August 26th) and so I need to get some video of that on the web soon. She has discovered the dishwasher and was running her hands over the door because it was all wet (and slimy) yuck, but she seemed to be having a ball!!

Canning Peaches

Well we made record time this year in canning peaches, is what I am told. I have to admit that I have enjoyed peaches for many years and haven't canned (or help with the canning) since I was living at home. Abby calls them "grandma's peaches" and has loved them since she could eat them. While we were working Theresa called and was sad she wasn't there to help, don't worry, we will save you some for your return in December!

It took 3 of us 6 hours and our husbands to take the kids off to play to get 72 pint jars done. Here are some photo's of us hard at work!


By the way the peaches were wonderful and sweet!


And of course it wouldn't be complete without a picture of the finished product?

They are well worth the effort, until we have more in a couple of weeks...

While we were working my dad came in to tell us "that my mom's friend was back" so can you name the bug??