the fohawk, by maddie

Max Can Move

This was a few days ago, but I wanted to post it on here for those who don't see my Facebook page. Max started grooving to music about a week ago. Clapping also inspires bobbing.

the last few days

Max playing in the kiddie pool on Thursday that his Grandma Martin got him

Max meeting Kelly, my good friend from High School, later that day before sailing

Dad, Kelly, and me out for a sail

Max saying goodbye to his Great Grandma and Grandpa Peterson and Grandma and Grandpa Martin  before we headed back to Nazareth on Saturday

Croissants aux Amandes

I earnestly sought out and found a recipe for almond croissants after having had one in Florida a few weeks ago. And today, I finally made them. They are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and very, very dangerous.

a story in pictures - how a nap was postponed for two minutes because a lamp was kinda cool

peterson post and present

I hadn't seen my grandparents in eight years when I came to Franklin a week ago. It feels good to now say that it's been mere minutes since I last saw them. They've been staying with my parents for a few weeks and might stay indefinitely. We'll see. 

Grandpa treated us to lunch yesterday and even made the waiter correct the mistake he made on my order.  I never do that. I just complain and then eat it. Go Grandpa. Max got bored watching us eat, so I put my sunglasses on him to see what he'd do.  This is what he did -

Max has visited with my grandma several times, and I think it brightens her days. She had a stroke several years ago and hasn't been the same since, but Max makes her smile.

Grandma and Grandpa will sit on the back porch and get sun some days. They wear snazzy hats for just these occasions. 

We've watched a couple of the NBA finals games with Grandpa, chit-chatted on the back porch, and taken a car tour of parts of Franklin courtesy of my mom. I'm hoping they stick around until August when I may be coming back to Franklin before moving to Utah.  I have 8 years to make up for...

apparently, we are too excited to write a succinct and complete post

We can hardly believe it, but we're moving to Utah! I've already lived there 7 years of my single adult life, so I wasn't anticipating going back when married and a mother. Nate and I came east from Arizona assuming and hoping that he'd get a job in or near Pennsylvania, and we couldn't have foreseen the course change.  A few months ago, Nate emailed Ryan, a former coworker who now works for Adobe, and asked if the company was hiring. He didn't hear back until the beginning of last week when Ryan sent him a one-liner asking if Nate was still looking for employment.  Nate shot an email right back, and the next morning Ryan and Nate were on the phone discussing the details of a position in the legal department. By the end of the week, Nate was interviewing for the position.  Today, they extended the official offer.

This is Nate - we are excited to be moving to Utah.  More than anything though we are excited that I have a job with a good company with great benefits and that Utah is a pretty cheap place to live.  That will make it easier to pay off my loans.  I think Em is mostly excited about La Villa and I don't blame her.  Now that I have a job lined up (pending the background and credit check) it alleviates some of the bar pressure, but adds more as well because if I don't pass the bar then it will be really, really embarrassing.  Can't mess it up! It is funny though that when I left Utah three years ago I thought I would probably never live there again.  I think that if things go well with Adobe we will be there for at least 2-3 years.  We thought we would be living out East, and are sad that we won't be near our parents.  However, we are excited to be close to family out West.  Now I just gotta take this darn test.

father's day weekend

After a few weeks in Nazareth, we headed over to Franklin on Friday.  Before we left, I made some caramel for Maddie's apple-dipping delight.  Max enjoyed gnawing on an apple slice while we enjoyed the good stuff.  The sweet and salty flavor was delicious, and despite the grainy texture, Maddie loved it.  Success.

 

 Saturday morning, Max stayed home with Mom while Dad took us sailing. Nate studied for the bar to and from the lake and even went through some of his notes with my dad while on the boat. We stopped at Hughes Homemade Ice Cream on the way home where I had a Butter Brickle cone.

Yesterday for Father's Day, I made Nate breakfast before we headed to church.  We took naps before an early dinner and went for a walk in the late afternoon. Max wore a shirt that said, "I love Dad" and gray basketball shorts just like Nate's.

Nate is a good dad. I hope Max turns out just like him.

attaboy

Two days ago, I taught Max how to put plastic balls into their two-tiered spiral tower. After about 20 seconds of watching me, he proceeded to do it himself.  Not only was he copying me, he started alternating which tier he'd put the balls in - bottom, top, bottom, top, bottom.

Max is my first child, so I don't have anyone to compare him to... but I'm thinking he's a pretty smart kid, eh?  I mean, he's only been alive for 6 months.  

16 snow peas and 1 red raspberry

Max and I spent part of the late morning picking and nibbling peas in the shade. I found what might be the first red raspberry of the year on the bushes the Dunfords planted along the bank by the stream. Max liked the bright red color, which happened to be the same color as my toenails - something he also likes.

The Sweet Cherry Cherry Pie Pie

I introduced Sandra to the show Pushing Daisies the other day.  I had only seen a few episodes, but I liked it's quirky and vibrant style.  Well, Sandra liked it too.  She was already to the end of season two (which, sadly, is the last season despite great reviews) when I joined in her marathon yesterday.  We both started craving pie, so I made one with Sandra's occasional help (she was busy with the show, you know).  Lori had bought fresh cherries, so I used those and a recipe from a website I trust.  I hand-pitted and halved the cherries, doubled the sugar (I prefer sweet over sour), opted for the egg wash, and used her Perfect Pie Crust recipe.  The results -

ScrumdiddlYUMptious.

these days

Max and I have been filling our days with toys and naps while Nate studies for the bar. 

Kevin received his mission call to Brazil, Bello Horizonte. He leaves in November.

Max had his first Brazilian experience at Rios.  Nate loves it, and some day Max will, too.

The family went to the Priesthood restoration site on the Susquehanna where Kevin was made an Elder.  It rained liked crazy, but Nate and I ran over to his benches.  He made them for a service project back in high school. 

(Nate's eyes are shut 80% of the time in photos.)

Max's first two teeth poked through while I was in Florida a couple weeks back.  He's been happily gnawing on whatever we let him... like snow peas from the garden.  I've been boiling and pureeing them because he likes them as much as he likes bananas. 

Nate and I spent a day in Washington D.C. on Friday.  He had two interviews, and in between them we ate lunch at La Ruche (where I had the best tuna sandwich I've ever had) and went to the D.C. temple.

The desserts at La Ruche were so delicious looking, and that chocolate croissant in front...was delicious tasting.

On occasion, Nate will take a break and watch some basketball with his boy.

 And now for the good news... Nate has an interview the end of this week with Adobe.  If he gets the job (and it's looking like a done deal), we'll be moving to Utah in August. I'll write more about it when we know for sure.