let's go O's!

 ^^8 months old this boy^^

^^Little city kid^^

^^looking at the camera but not smiling...^^

^^Not looking at the camera, but smiling... 

She must be two or something ;) ^^

^^Watching out the window of the light rail. 

Don't you love her itty bitty braids.^^

^^baseball games are LOUD! Madeline was so confused as to why everyone was screaming and hollering. I tried to explain that a grand slam is kind of a big deal and everyone was happy but she wasn't getting it so finally I told her,"You can scream at baseball games! Just not at home..."  "oh WOW!" She said.

 ^^We figured if Madeline felt her ears should be covered Luke's ears should be covered too. Poor kid thought his parents had lost it, taking him to such a loud and strange place!^^

^^I can't tell you how much I'm loving this beard :) And there's no sarcasm here.  Someday, Luke, you might be able to grow one too. But for now I'm too in love with your soft chubby cheeks^^

^^'Seriously, mom, it's like wayyyyyyy past my bedtime.'^^

^^There's a first time for everything. mmmm....^^

^^You'll have to believe me when I say she enjoyed it 

more than she's letting on :) ^^

^^loving the photo bomb Anna ;) ^^

It was LDS family night at the Oriole's game last night. The second baseball game in two weeks for Jeremy and I (we got to go on a date to a National's game last week) and the first baseball game ever for the kiddos. I have to say I think I'm a convert. There's something so appealing about the atmosphere (as long as you're not sharing your seat with the severely obese woman next to you... we moved during the 5th inning). It probably helps that I have a decent grasp on the concept :) As Jeremy said,"Yeah it's a slower paced game that you can get." Thanks babe. But more than that it's the smells, the crowd, the dancing and the music. The cheering and the kissing cam. Who doesn't love seeing a couple in their eighties steal a kiss on the giant screen? It enlivened my soul to be united in one cause with thousands of other people, all with the common goal of 'rooting for the home team'. 

It was also our first time on the light rail (well the kids and I). I'm a wee bit embarrassed to admit it, since we've lived easy walking distance from it for two years.. but we finally did it! The only mishap was right after Madeline asked for her buckle and I explained there isn't a buckle. You have to sit in your seat and hold still so you don't get hurt. The 'no buckle' part clicked (pun intended... haha that one's for you Dad!), but not the hold still part. You might notice there's a bruise below her left eye in the pictures at the game but not on the train ;) 

The kids were really well behaved. Madeline was cheering and making friends with people around us. I guess she did get into the trash around us a little... At one point I looked down and Luke had somehow (Madeline?) managed to help himself to an empty, except for the last few drops, beer cup without leaving my lap. I guess we can cross underage drinking off his list. Excellent cup holding skills for a kid his age, though. Really impressive. We kept a closer eye on them after that. I'm sure we wouldn't have enjoyed the game nearly as much if our kids hadn't had a good time as well. We really have GREAT kids. I mean, really. We didn't get home til almost four hours past their bedtime but they stayed happy the whole time. Luke of course fell asleep five minutes before we got home.... But he still went to bed well.

I'm really excited to be getting to the stage with our family where I feel like we can do stuff and enjoy it again. It feels like we've been in a box for a while, and now that Luke's a little older and more interested in activities it gives us more reason to get out as a family. HIP HIP HOORAY! 

I'm ready. 

p.s. The Oriole's won :)

for good

^^ "Helping" Eric frost the cupcakes ;) ^^

I'm not sure where to begin with this post... There's so much in my heart I want to convey, and yet I find myself unsure of how to begin.

Since moving to Baltimore, one of the biggest blessings we've been given as a family would undoubtably be the friendship with these two wonderful people, Eric and Kristelle. They've taught us so much about life, marriage, parenting, service and love. We've laughed together and we've cried together. We've played games, celebrated holidays, shared some of the best meals and created memories I'll never forget.  

Madeline has been spoiled (like every child should be ;) ) during the past two years. She has these two wrapped around her finger, and all three of them seem to be pretty okay with it that way. iPhones,  iPads, cupcakes, books, snacks, movies, exploring/emptying Kristelle's purse over and over and over again.... always willing to play with her, they are saints, I tell you. It's fitting that from time to time she lovingly refers to them as "mommy" and "daddy". 

It brings a lot of peace of mind knowing that there are still people in this world like the Larsens. People who will watch your daughter when you go to the hospital to have a baby. Who are willing to wrestle your toddler through Sacrament meeting week after week (I'm going to have a meltdown the week we get back from vacation and they aren't here - count on it). They make the world a better place to live, and I'm so grateful to be able to say I know them.

I never knew what friendship could be and how much it could mean until I met Kristelle. We kind of got to know each other backwards, in that we were in a situation which forced us to get to know each other on a deeper level first, and then we learned the more trivial things from each others' lives later. And while I realize not every friendship works like that, I'm grateful that ours did. It's a beautiful thing to be able to share some of the deepest feelings, dreams and heartaches of your soul and have them received with open arms and no judgement, yet know she's willing to tell it to me straight when I need to hear it. It's great to have a friend who'll tell you there's something in your teeth or let you know there's a little hole on the back of your shirt. We've each got a shoulder for the other to cry on and it feels good to know it's available when needed. In so many ways we are completely different. Different style, opposite music tastes, different interests and talents. And yet, I don't think anybody beyond a few family members understands me better. Especially if it has anything to do with hormones ;) I am in awe at the way she has turned potentially faith shattering trials into opportunities for growth, and  chances to love others. She is one of the strongest people I know and I am better for knowing her. 

It's hard to see this phase of our lives come to and end, but I am so grateful for the time we've had together. We're going to miss them, but how lucky are we to have the technology we do today?! 

I know it's cheesy and a little over the top dramatic, but in true Sarah fashion, all I can think about is the song, "For Good" from the Broadway musical Wicked.  I think everything in life can be made better by great music ;) And what better song than one sung by two friends (a blonde and a brunette ;) ) 

...I've heard it said, 

That people come into our lives

For a reason

Bringing something we must learn.

And we are lead to those

Who help us most to grow if we let them.

And we help them in return.

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today because I knew you.

Like a comet pulled from orbit

As it passes the sun.

Like a stream that meets a boulder, 

halfway through the wood.

Who can say if I've been changed for the better

But because I knew you,

I have been changed for good.

It well may be

That we may never meet again

In this lifetime.

So let me say before we part 

So much of me is made of what I learned from you.

You'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart.

And now whatever way our stories end

I know you'll have rewritten mine

By being my friend.

Like a ship blown from it's mooring

By a wind off the sea.

Like a seed dropped by a sky bird 

In a distant wood.

Who can say if I've been changed for the better

But because I knew you

Because I knew you.

I have been changed for good...

...I do believe I have been changed for the better

Because I knew you

I have been changed for good.

I really, truly have been changed for good. And I look forward to the day we get to meet again. 

Kenosha's got great things coming it's way.

girls night

It's great to know you have friends who are willing to stay up late eating junk food, painting nails and talking the night away like teenage girls. Also, it's maybe a little validating to find out you aren't the only one who has a rather large collection of nail polish... ;) 

I'm so grateful to be here in Baltimore getting to build friendships with all of these lovely ladies, and grateful to have had an excuse (not that we need one...) to get together and say goodbye to one who's moving on to new adventures. We're going to miss you Kristelle!

perfect weekend

^^These two are the cutest little best friends you ever did see.

(They're in front of the fountain. I know they're tiny)^^

^^Couldn't figure out what they were looking at, then I saw it^^

 ^^SPIDER! They loved watching it.^^

^^And these cute baby boys! Luke is a few months younger and gets so frustrated watching 

his buddy crawl away because he can't follow. Soon enough Luke.^^

^^There's a flower on our tomato plant!^^

^^Looks like a good little grill, right?^^

^^And then Jeremy stands next to it and you

 just can't help but laugh at how little it is^^

^^It's a Madeline sandwich!^^ 

The past couple days have been some of the best we've had in a while. Saturday we drove to the D.C. Temple on the most beautiful day of the year. It really couldn't have been more perfect weather. We went with friends so we could take turns watching the kids and each attend a Temple session with our spouse. We got to go to the Temple --TOGETHER-- for the first time in a loooonnng time. It replenished our hearts and filled our souls. It was beautiful and spiritual and what we've been missing. It was a long day, especially for the kids, but they were troopers and it was worth it. 

We've been blessed beyond what we deserve to have this family move in our building! And that would have been great, but in addition to that they have kids the same ages as ours, we go to the same church, and we've all really hit it off. Jeremy and I were commenting about how it's amazing that we've known them just a few weeks and already we're borrowing flour, watching each others' kids and she and I have started exercising together a few mornings a week. Grateful and blessed.

Sunday was beautiful as well, and a great day to celebrate the father's and father figures in our lives.  On Friday I let Jeremy open his present early so he could take it into consideration when deciding what he wanted for dinner Sunday. I was surprised to find a charcoal grill in our budget, especially after Jeremy had expressed his desire to own one, but assuming it'd be a few years yet. Needless to say he was surprised and very excited. He set it up Friday evening and we were a little surprised when we realized it was a mini-grill. We came up with about ten jokes about it and were crying we were laughing so hard. I love being married to him and I love that we get each other. I can't remember all of the jokes we said, but some of them were "You'll have to put hot pads on your knees" "It's Madeline's size!" "It's fun-size" "If R2D2 was a grill...". It still cooks great though! So we're happy.

We'd talked about having our good friends the Larsens over for dinner Sunday, but after getting home late Saturday night we weren't thinking straight and didn't buy enough food for us all. It came up at church, though, and we ended up throwing together the two meals we each had planned and it was a delicious thanksgiving in June. I keep saying it, but we are going to miss them when they move in two weeks!

It kind of felt like a celebration weekend, honoring the beginning of a new friendship and the end of this stage of friendship with others. Grateful for the temple, good food, great friends both new and old, and the chance to be here in Baltimore enjoying it all.