Tired!

I have been completely exhausted lately. I feel like a flat tire. It probably has something to do with the stress of hauling my family across the nation and adjusting to a new state, climate, ward, schedule, etc. I've been so tired and icky feeling that I even took a pregnancy test *negative*. I'm hoping that some zyrtec will help with the icky feeling and that just a little bit of time will help the rest. Abby has been exhibiting stress in her peeing way. It is much better today. She told me that she in nervous to start preschool. Personally I am counting down the days (first visit is on Friday). She is so bored and hyper all the time. I haven't decided if we are going to do mornings or afternoons. We're signed up for the mornings but I will always be late for the classes I have been going to at Bally's. A lame reason I know but still a factor.
Josh started clapping today! It was so cute. I will post a video of it soon. He has had a cold. We took him to the doctor today. He's healthy, except they worry that he doesn't eat any solid foods. The pediatrician mentioned popsicles. He tried one today. Stuck out his little red tongue and then pulled a face whenever I put the popsicle on it. He seemed to like it though snot and all.
Adam has his first test today. He is taking it now and I don't know when we will find out the results. He has been gone the last two days. We miss him.

The Importance of Children

Russell M Nelson at the recent World Congress of Families said
“Future happiness and even the future of nations is linked to children. Families with children need to be re-enthroned as the fundamental unit of society. We simply must value children more than we do.” (http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/elder-russell-m-nelson-addresses-international-conference-on-families) I couldn't agree more.

Composting

For a while now I have wanted to start composting. I have been researching different methods. I have narrowed it down to 2. Worm composting and lasagna composting.
For worm composting you need to get a cardboard box, dirt, and worms. Then you put your table scraps, chopped finely, in a thin layer in the worm home. They should live contendedly so long as you don't make their home to acidic. The positive part of worm composting is that you can put meat and other non-traditional composting foods in the bin. The drawbacks are that you may potentially end up with smelly trash and 100 dead worms. Plus I have to find a place in cleveland that sells worms.
The other most appealling type of composting is called Lasagna Composting. The Cleveland Clinic has partnered with several businesses and is now composting all of their hospital kitchen scraps. They are using lasagna composting. Here is a link from their page http://ccetompkins.org/compost/Lasagna%20Composting.pdf . The positive part of this composting is that I will not need any additional materials *no potentially dead worms* and I can do it in small increments *no 'saving' my food materials until I have collected enough*.
I am going to begin my attempt at lasagna composting today or tomorrow. It's raining right now so I will have to wait and see how the weather goes.

A Better Walking Video

Here is a better walking video of Josh. We gave him his first haircut on Thursday. Adam held him while I did the honors, so it's not really dramatic. He looks a little more manly anyway.

Sun Room

I successfully converted our sun room into a play room for the kids. Everyone has been enjoying it the way it is. When winter comes we may have to figure something else out, but we will wait and see how it is. In the meantime this is a place that we hang out a lot.

Abby's Birthday

Abby turned four last week. We celebrated by going to the swimming pool, eating cake, and eating at her favorite restaurant (Panda Express). Although we had some moments of intense longing for our Texas friends I think that she had a good time.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Shortly after moving into our house Adam and I decided to head over to the national park nearby our house. The picture at the top of my blog is one I took of the Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. We had a really great time at the park.