Imagination is THE best toy...

and the possibilites are endless. I get a kick out of secretly listening to Isaac. He has a great imagination.

Isaac is jumping from one couch to the other. He puts a wooden sign, which should be hung on his wall, across the arms of the couches and nevously walks across then crawls across on his belly. Next Isaac stretches his body across the expanse, "Mom look at me. I'm a huge bridge."

Then he tries to hop over Seth but isn't quite tall enough and slams Seth to the floor. Seth cries.

"I'm trying to pick up Seth. (briefly releasing Seth and flexing his arms) I'm strong. I'm strong. I'm strong."

At the table with twistable crayons. Isaac twists them and then two crayons have a little clash.." One cryaon says to the other, "Come on Jet." The other cayon replies, "Hey wait for me Rocket."

Isaac asks me what I want. "Huh?"

"What do you want to eat?"

"Ohhhhh. I would like a hamburger please."

"Umm. We are out of hamburgers"

Scratching my head, this IS make believe, you never have to run out of anything, but I play along. "Oh. Well how about a hotdog?"

"Sure. Here you go."

Isaac stands by the window and shuts the curtains together in front of his face. "Going up." The doors/curtains open and Isaac sees Seth. "Come in the elevator Seffy. Do you need to go down?" They played elevator for 10 minutes.

Amish country

Pure and simple are the adjectives I would use to describe the Amish people. I am quite taken with them. This was my 5th or 6th visit and I will go back again. I am transfixed with the Amish culture.

This man scooted past our window, quite literally. Kind of a funny happening. I love my Amish Scooter. Ya'll are invited to come take it for a spin.

Amish people are fascinating. I try and ride a carriage every time I go, not for the ride, but for a chance to talk to the driver. I have had a ride from an Amish gentleman, a young man whose grandparents and extended family were all Amish, and this last visit was with Lydia, a ex-Amish of about two years. She was better than google, I tell you. I learned that we are in Amish marriage season which runs from October-November. Tuesday and Thursdays are the only days they get married so that there is a day between weddings for everyone to help get ready for one wedding and clean-up the other for the week. Lydia was called on by the Elders, or Amish bishops, to come to church to repent for doing a bible study with her parents who had left the church a few months previous. She didn't go, so she was served with another request and also didn't show up. It was sort of her way of severing ties, and she was then excommunicated. She said as soon as her parents left the church her brother hooked them up with electricity. They stopped wearing full Amish clothes, and could wear what they liked, but her hair was still put in a bun and she was wearing a dress. I got the feeling that they still follow many Amish traditions. It was fascinating to talk with her. Usually Amish fold are baptized at 17 or 18 after they take a summer of studying. And in each district they only get baptized once a year. Full recommendations if you happen to be going to Lancaster county.

So we missed the breath taking leaves in the Shenandoah's but we found them in PA.

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We started out in Hersey, PA. Last time I was there the whole town smelled like chocolate. I loved the Hersey kiss lamp posts

The whole reason we went was to meet up with my dear friend Joyce. We have been friends since highschool. I love her heart, she is so good and I want to be good when I am with her.

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These last two pictures are my favorite. We were there on a Jewish holiday. It was an interesting mix of cultures, Amish and Jewish. The women in both groups wore modest dresses. They are both a bit of a mystery as they don't actively seek converts. They are both reserved, if you will. Neither groups like to have their picture taken, or at least the Orthodox Jews and "Orthodox" Amish don't. Hmm...interesting comparisons.

Life is old there, older than the trees

Shenandoah National Park-We were in search of some breath taking autumn color...we didn't find it. Dear reader, if you plan on going this fall wait until the end of October. BUT we did see a wild bear, a little baby cub. Christy wouldn't let me get out of the car to get a better shot, once a mom always a mom. Can you even see it? Try squinting maybe.

This is my favorite form of wild life, Seth at the wheel. We stopped for a picnic. Christy said, "We'll let them get out, make them a sandwich and make them think we are having a fun time." After being out of the car for about 1 minute Isaac said, "You guys can stay out, I wanna get back in the car." Ha ha mom.
Does this seem ironic to anyone else?

Virginia Beach

What thrills you? I mean to your very core? What brings joy and happiness and purpose to your life and reminds you that life is good and that you are so happy to be a part of it?

• Laughing! Laughing so hard that I can't catch my breath, or I cry, or I have to run to the bathroom, or better yet listening to Isaac peel with laughter (usually at Max and Ruby). He makes my heart happy.
• Come Thou Fount from the BYU singers Thanksgiving CD, with full orchestra. I always say "Ditto." in a silent prayer as I listen.
• Reading something marvelous: sometimes in the scriptures, sometimes on a blog, sometimes on an email from Eric, sometimes in the newspaper (that happens less as we don't subscribe). I love to read anything that makes me think, laugh, or learn.
• Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, I love you and I miss you. At times I am homesick for you and I waunder back to you in my memories. Can't wait until our next meeting.
• Ocean! Mmmmm...Ocean. Ocean. Ocean. The waves the sand, the seagulls, I love everything about it. Mundane daily tasks seem so trivial as I listen to the sweeping waves and I am reminded that there is greater purpose to life. I think I am my best me when I am at the beach. My best or happiest conversations with Heavenly Father happen at the beach. It is so painfully obvious that He is when I am standing at the brink of sand and water. Mmmm...ocean.

Cape Henry Inn at Fort Story gets high marks from this lowly traveler; close enough to the beach to hear the waves when we opened our patio door, and far enough away from "Virginia Beach" to not feel boardwalk-ish.

Isaac loved the play ground, and talked his ole lady into joining him.

My mom celebrated her 68th birthday with us on the beach. We started off having a fancy pantsy breakfast (from McDonald's) on an Atlantic Beach. Couldn't beat the scenery. Christy said that was her favorite part.

When we asked Isaac what his favorite part was he said "Chasing the birds." It's a wonder that the seagulls didn't drop anything on our heads. I still giggle as I think of Isaac throwing a bit of egg Mcmuffin into the wind at a seagull. The muffin came right back at him and the seagull went after it. Isaac yelped like a girl and I laughed until it hurt. I guess the real wonder is that we didn't have to go change Isaac's pants.

There was a beach wedding-so romantical. It was not a "reserved" beach, so there were plenty of strangers who were gawking. What's the proper etiquette? We moved as far away as possible (to the other side of a No Trespassing fence, to help them feel like it was private, but stayed on the beach. Christy was acting as the paparazzi.

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My mom had her 68th birthday while we were there. She isn't really a dwarf, we barried her legs in the sand.

Me and my boy...what a heart throb. I love Seth more than the beach.

Honey heart and other randomness

Arrrr maties, September 19 is interrrrrnational talk like a pirate day. Shiver me timbers if the ole wench didn't take it to heart. Gladdens me heart.

Seth thought the monkey costume was a scream...errr, I mean Seth Screamed when we put him in the monkey costume. He smiled some, but was happy to get out of it. Right now he is sitting to my left as I type this and laughed like it was a good joke when he saw this picture of himself.

Tricky business, and sometimes he stands on his head and swings his arms up. He still isn't walking, he is not a risk taker and likes the stability of all four limbs touching the ground, but sometimes he will stand and clap for himself.
Honey Heart Grandma with her Honey Heart. Isaac likes her a lot. When it was time for her to go home Isaac said. "We're gonna keep ya, Grandma." Wish we could.
Isaac was taking a bath. Seth was not. Seth threw himself over the tub so he could join his brother, I guess clothes are optional.

TV or no TV, that is the question

I am reading blogs and facebook. It is lame and soaks up my time and attention. Isaac likes to be diverted with the TV, but I often times tell him no because it does nothing for his brain. (hmmm, I might be feeling a little like a hypocrite) Just now:

Isaac:Mom can I watch TV?

Me: Mmm, yes.

Isaac: (incredulously excited): Did you say yes?!?

Evidently, it doesn't take much to make me feel like I am an okay mom after all.

You've had a birthday, shout HURRAY

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY SETH!

You have your mommy wrapped around your chubby little finger. I could eat you up. We have been nearly inseparable this last year and are still happy to be paling around together. Your papa and Isaac are also members of your fan club.

Birthday festivities took place at Grandma's and Grandpa's (Eric's parents) house. Carol, Martin, Trent, Great Grandma Hatch, Evan, JaNeece, Sam, Lauren all came to help celebrate. Cousin Even descibed what happened perfectly: Little Seth fell asleep in his high chair with his head rolled back and his mouth wide open during lunch before the cake was even brought out-hilarious! Seth slept that way for about an hour, and then when he woke up the party resumed.

These are a few of your favorite things:

• Isaac
• 6:20 pm or whenever your papa walks through the door
• raspberries
• being held
• going to bed with your mommy
• bathtime
• jumping
• grandma's canned pears
• music and moving your little body, you shake it even while sitting down
  
• books, eating or reading them
• the laptop, boy do you love pressing the buttons, you've removed several of the keys of daddy's laptop
• the remote, it also has buttons

Here are some things you could do without

• Isaac
  
• changing your diaper
• gerber baby food