Naomi Food

As I've bragged about before, Naomi is a good eater. But I just have to state it again because I took this cool picture of her food. I put it on a play plate from her litte kitchen. She thought that was awesome.

Farmers Market

I just got home from wandering the Carbondale Farmers Market. I love farmers markets! If we weren't moving so soon I would have bought some flowers, there was a lot of variety and I kind of have a soft spot for potted flowers. Right now though my pretty ceramic pots are sitting empty and neglected. Sigh. next year I will do flowers.
There is a guy at the market who sells wooden puzzles, letters and names- he makes them. I ordered a name puzzle for Naomi last week and he had it finished today! I was super excited, Naomi and I played with it for about 20 minutes before she tired of it. It surprises me when I fall for a personalized item but this is too cute.
There is also a wide selection of fabulous looking fresh produce at the farmers market. Next weekend I'm going to try to go early enough to buy some asparagus, it goes so fast, it was totally gone by 10 a.m.
There's just something about the atmosphere at a Farmers Market. It's like we can go back in time for just a few hours each weekend, to when you could just take their word for it, everyone wasn't in such a hurry, life slows down just a bit.
In the shade under some huge trees at one end of the market there's usually a box or two of puppies or kittens for sale or for free. Groups of children huddle around the cages and giggle and a few lucky kids are holding a soft fluffy thing but the luckiest ones are walking away with a little lump of fur. It's so sweet, Naomi just plopped down next to the kitten cage today and let them lick her fingers.
I'm looking forward to a long summer of Farmers Markets.

I love my Naomi!

Even as I'm adding these pictures I can't help but wish they were better, better focus, lighting, arrangement, etc. I just think I need a new camera:) OR I could practice some more...

This first one is Naomi signing "thank-you"

A little blurry but cute expression anyway
Naomi LOVES the playground, she was getting daring here on the slide
Playing Peek-a-boo! Naomi was hiding behind the shower curtain and popping out and flashing me BIG grins:)

GEORGETOWN!

Ok, so it's been forever since I posted. I would like to blame my lack of writing on being busy or other things but lets just face it, I'm LAZY. Now I've confessed:)

So, at the post title indicates, we have BIG news! Zach is transferring to Georgetown! Yup, in Washington, D.C.
So very crazy.
I've been combing through bajillions of apartment sites to find us a decent place to live out there, it's going to cost about triple what we are paying now for rent.
It makes me almost physically ill.
But cost aside (which you can't really say because it's such a difference from S. Illinois, living expenses and tuition) but, cost aside- we are SOOOOO excited!!!!
I've never been a city girl but I'm about to take a crash course. But before our big adventure begins we are moving to Logan for the summer:) (yay) and living in some seriously LOW cost apartments on a summer only deal, it's going to cost us less for the entire summer in Logan than ONE MONTH in D.C. See what I mean about ILL.
We are flying to SLC on the 14th of May, the day after Mother's Day and then flying to Cabo San Lucas on the 18th! (the later trip is SANS toddler).
This summer is really going to be so fun, we're going to Lake Powell, as is the Low family custom, in July and we will also be making an appearance at the annual Champlin Family Reunion- it's a big deal:)
So now my tasks here in Southern Illinois are to pack up all our stuff for the summer and decide what we can stuff in suitcases for the trip home!
It's getting so humid here, lotion is a thing of the past. However, I did use some yesterday when I gave myself a home pedicure, it was much needed.
I need some good luck to get everything done in time...

One Wish

I came across this story today, so I'm just helping spread the word:) I have a few thank you and b-day cards to make and I'm going to include one for this little boy:

Shane Bernier is a courageous seven-year-old boy from Lancaster, Ontario who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was only five. On June 6th, 2006 Shane and his family received some unfortunate news: Shane experienced a relapse after completing 108 of 130 weeks of treatment.
However, despite the bad news, Shane has managed to keep a positive outlook on his situation and has made a heart-warming wish... He hasn’t asked for money or toys or anything of the sort. Instead, his birthday is on May 30th and he would like to break the world record for the most birthday cards ever received. His goal is 350 million cards. With every card, Shane’s courage grows. Something as simple as sending a birthday card could be enough to help Shane find peace and joy in his current circumstances.
Please take the time to send a card to Shane and make his dream become a reality. Share his story with your friends, family and co-workers. If at all possible, get your youth groups, church congregations, employees, neighbours or communities to set aside a few minutes to write a thoughtful note to Shane.
With every card, Shane’s smile grows...

If you’d like to send a card to Shane, please send it to:

Shane Bernier
PO Box 484
Lancaster, Ontario
K0C 1N0
Canada

Photo-a-holic

Ok, just a FEW more.

I took some really cute pics today and I just had to share!

EGGS

Naomi was so excited about coloring eggs! she was really good at cracking them too...:)
Making things "FIT" is a favorite game of Naomi's

Naomi and Mommy (I've seen better days!)
Trying to put the egg in her pocket.

Happy Easter!

We colored eggs today and went shopping for Easter dinner food, and best of all, Zach was home all morning! Naomi has been a trooper, she's been feeling a little sick all week. She's just seeming to be getting over her cold and now her temperature is shooting up. I suspect (another) ear infection. Sigh... I breastfed that baby forever and less ear infections is supposed to be a benefit!!! ah well.

She's sleeping now (thank goodness). Naomi's been tired all day and unable to get to sleep. She ended up with a 25 min. nap earlier this afternoon. Poor baby.

If she's feeling yucky still tomorrow I'm going to take her to the E-room and get her ears checked out, it's not worth waiting another whole day for antibiotics if that's the case. I'm just praying she'll sleep well tonight.

Anyway, back to Easter. Last night Zach and I watched the Testaments DVD my Mom & Dad sent us for Easter. It's so amazing, I wish Naomi was able to understand but I think she already does in her own way.

I'm posting some cute pictures from today and a few from the park a few days ago. It's still freezing here since that cold front stormed in, literally. I have a sweet little green Easter dress for Naomi to wear tomorrow if she's feeing up to church. The dress and little white sweater were b-day gifts for Naomi from my mom. I have the cutest dresses for her to wear this summer!! I'll probably post pics of them all. ha ha.

TORNADO WATCH!!!

This is why I am not going to live in the Mid West just as soon as I can get myself out of here.

Tornadoes

Up until today, I have never truly been scared of the weather. Growing up in Utah it just never warranted something to be frightened of. Sure you got an occasional super loud thunderstorm, but that was awesome to watch! And the snow was never something to be afraid of, just annoying when you needed to get somewhere.

Right now I'm in the middle of a Tornado Watch, meaning that Severe Thunderstorms are creating weather conditions favorable for the formation of severe hail, rain, wind gusts and TORNADOES. About 20 minutes ago I was close to tears, no I was crying. It's still raining pretty hard and thunder and lightning are ripping through the sky but I think the worst has passed. It was hailing so hard I thought for sure a window was going to break.

Now that I'm feeling sane again, I have decided once and for all, we are going to live in the WEST.

SUMMERTIME (In April?)

It's officially summer here. Today it was 80 degrees and we had a pool party! Too bad the pool was too small to fit me too. Naomi had a blast, this cute little pool is a Wal*Mart special, $6.97.

I'm looking forward to a loooong hot summer with LOTS of swimming. We'll be at the Logan Aquatic Center come May! I'm so excited to take Naomi swimming! She loves the water allready.