Eighteen Months in the Making

A year and a half ago we started preparing for our trip across the country and today was the day that we put those plans into motion. Beginning in January 2009 we started having family nights centered on different phases of church history, I researched what happened where, ordered books and DVDs on line, pulled together pioneer stories from the Friend, and arranged for activities to participate in along the way. This morning we drove out of Sudbury, knowing that we wouldn't return until the summer was over and we had a new, more informed perspective on who we are as Latter Day Saints, where our ancestors sacrificed and even died for our beliefs and how this reshapes our spirituality. Our first stop of the day was Harmony, Pennsylvania. Fortunate for us, we have an eight year old in our family, which meant that the natural thing to do is baptize her in the Sesquehanna River, the same flow of water in which Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey were baptized.

We arranged for the missionaries to be witnesses in the event, so Elder Ulrich and Elder Roberts met us at the Joseph Smith home site. They took us to the banks of the Sequahanna River where Steve baptized Annelise. The spot was serene and beautiful. I knew we were so lucky to have her baptism on this sacred ground. As we enjoyed the surroundings, I felt impressed by God's love for his children, which is evidenced by him blessing us with the restoration of the priesthood. We were standing on or near the spot where Peter, James and John appeared to Joseph Smith and gave Joseph the priesthood keys. This was also the spot where John the Baptist gave Joseph Smith the Aaronic priesthood, telling him to baptize Oliver and then for Oliver to baptize Joseph. When we set up Annelise's baptism, the bishop in the area told us that while we do not know where Joseph was baptized exactly, there is no other spot on the river in the vicinity where someone could be baptized due to the depth and the currents. The spot on which we stood was on Joseph's original 13 acres of property that he had bought from Emma's brother.

After the baptism, we drank from the spring that was on Joseph's land and visited the McCune cemetery were Alvin, Joseph's first son was buried, along with Emma's parents. Alvin died shortly after Martin Harris lost the 116 pages from the transcription of the Book of Mormon. This was a time of great sadness for Joseph and Emma.

We visited the Priesthood monument and learned that the monument is a time capsule as well, with items from 1960 placed inside.

We took a picture on top of the foundation of Joseph and Emma's house. It was amazing to think that we were standing on top of the location where much of the miracle of the Book of Mormon translation took place.

We then crossed over the highway to Issac and Elizabeth Hale's home, where Emma lived as an older child. Because we were with the missionaries, we were able to go through the locked gates and explore the home site. To the left of the property is an area that had been recently cleared. The missionaries were surprised. They informed us that a year ago this area had been discovered, but that it had only been cleared out of thick growth the day before. We explored the remains of perhaps an old barn, with the missionaries pulling up a stone to discover an old well with water at the bottom. We could see where the animals would have been fed and corralled. We found a wagon wheel, with the iron frame still intact. Silo foundations were built in the ground and old wagon parts were scattered about. The missionaries indicated that we were the first visitors to visit this new area and that it would surely be cleaned out soon. We felt so lucky to see it literally in the same condition and form in which it had rested for about two hundred years, under thick brush. Apparently the Hales were the only ones to have lived on this property, so it was left exactly the way Emma's parents had abandoned it at some point hundreds of years ago.

While exploring, the children found a kitten. They begged to bring it with us and make it our pet. Tears even ensued. If the children don't remember the Indiana Jones type of experience we had discovering the untouched Hale archeology site, they will at least remember the little kitten they found!

We then wandered up to the Hale's home site, which was neatly fenced in and presentable for visitors. A brick was left from the original house and the old stone wall from the grist mill still remained, along with a river bed that still fills with raging water during rain storms.

Our explorations were concluded and so we took the missionaries out to dinner at a local Italian restaurant. We thanked them for a fantastic day.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Happy Birthday, Miriam Caroline! Where has this year gone? I swear it was yesterday that our sweet baby cooed in her bassinet, as she slept by my side. Miriam has brought so much joy into our lives. As soon as she wakes up in the morning, one of her siblings is rushing in to welcome her to our day. Miriam is bounced from one child to the next, all through the day. In the afternoon, she is the first to be greeted as the kids trickle in from the bus and at night they swoop her away to play with her alone. She just might be the most loved baby around!

So for her birthday, she had quite the celebration, including an outdoor photo shoot, a dinner of homemade rolls and honey butter, pork tenderloin, strawberry balsamic salad and sweet potato and bacon hash, an individual cake and a pile of presents.

Following with tradition, Mia was presented with her own cake to devour, baby Mia style.

For some reason Mia was enamored with this particular piece of wrapping, holding it and turning it over and over.

Being number six, Mia has done everything she can to define herself as unique. Mia grew fangs, sporting them for several months until her middle teeth finally grew in, she doesn't crawl, but rather scoots around in an upright position, using her feet as paddles, propelling herself around, and she takes long morning naps rather than an afternoon siesta, which I am still adjusting to. She is definitely one to keep my eye on, as she determines just how she will maneuver in this world!

Cans

sleep through the night

say "Mama", "Dada", "book", "hi!" while waving, and "keys"

(but definitely not when encouraged or prompted!)

wave "bye-bye!", give "five!", point to your nose, squeeze it and giggle when you say "honk! honk!", play "so big!" and "peek-a-boo!"

put her toys back in the box, but only when she wants to, of course

scoot from point A to B faster than you think

Cannots

crawl, stand, walk

Likes

Blankie (both the full adult size that she is attached to and the small travel size that I had to cut from the large "must stay at home"sized blanket)

blueberries

bananas

lullabyes

bath time

the stroller

ice cream

her siblings

my iphone

the beach

Dislikes

the car wash

dogs

bows in her hair

We love you Mia and look forward to years two, three, four, and on and on and on!

Smashed Peas to Steak and Potatoes

One

Two

Three . . . Four

(Thank goodness for the current vampire trend!)

Five

Six

*Check out Annie's new post on her blog. (She loves feedback!)

In Lights

A few months ago my brother-in-law, Kyle, was in town for business. During a day of sightseeing, I decided to stop at a small cafe near our house for lunch. Just as I was about to open the front door, I whispered, "I have only been here once before", clarifying that I thought the food was good, but couldn't guarantee anything. As soon as I swung the door open, the owner greeted me. "Camille!" he exclaimed. Kyle looked at me, puzzled. I was reminded of the effect that six kids has in New England. I remembered my conversation with this man a couple of months before. He had never even seen my family of eight, but just hearing about them burned a place for me in his memory, apparently. While waiting for my chicken curry sandwich, I began asking him about his desserts. "Do you make them yourself?" I asked. "No, they are brought in" I was told. "I have always wanted to open up a little cafe. I love to cook," I mentioned. Our conversation about biscotti, mint bars and tarts went on. After lunch I gathered up the kids and was heading out the door. As I was leaving, the man came over and suggested that I bring in some of my baked goods and see how they sell. Somehow I blurted out, "Oh, people love my cookies!" It was too late to carefully place those uncharacteristically bold words back in my mouth. I wondered where they had come from, but then realized that I had just made my first sales pitch.

Later in the day I mentioned my conversation to the kids while driving in the car.

"Well are you going to do it?" Jonathan asked

"You should call it 'Camille's Pastries'!" Emilie exclaimed but then added, "No no! Then you would have to make eclairs and you don't know how to do that!"

"How about 'Ebert's Bakery'" Annelise suggested.

"But then we would all have to help!" someone resisted.

"What about just 'Camille's'" Jonathan said.

"Camille's! In lights! I like it!" Sophia shouted from the backseat.

With the kids on board and Steve supportive, I decided to drop off a few different kinds of cookies, just to see what happened. I took in chocolate white chocolate chunk and gingersnap cookies and lemon bars. Bryan, the owner called the next day and said that all of my cookies had sold. He wanted to know what else I could bring in. I met with him later in the week and gave him some poppy seed bread as well as a list of sale items. He called me on my way home. He had just had a slice of my bread and was calling to say that we simply had to do business!

June was my trial month, I told Bryan. If my baking works for him and if it works for me, I will come up with a name and a logo, set up an LLC then continue baking when I return in September.

I am still defining what I am doing, how it will work, why I am doing it and what the name of my baking company will be. Any suggestions?

Service Learning

As a mother, I have always wanted to teach my children to be compassionate and service orientated. I have thought about taking on an on-going family service project, but just haven't gotten around to it. So when Emilie came to me and asked if she could participate in Relay for Life, a national fundraiser for cancer research, I was more than supportive. She joined her friend's team of ten middle school girls who committed to raise at least $150 each and then relay through the night to show their support and dedication to cancer patients. With the help of her family members and friends, Emilie raised $160. (Thank you, thank you!) Her team raised over $2,500, earning a bronze award, and our town's fundraising goal of $100,000.00 was surpassed. I was so proud of these students! Emilie joined her team on a Friday night and walked miles around a field, supported fundraising efforts by having her face painted, hung out with her friends when it wasn't her turn to walk and participated in the candle lighting ceremony.

Emilie's sympathetic heart combined with her eagerness to participate in every opportunity that comes her way led to a great night with friends, healthy exercise, and support for a worthy cause. Way to go Emilie!

Show Business

Sophia has always been a natural performer. She knows exactly what to say, right on cue. She doesn't have a shy bone in her body and she picks up ditties and dances like a Broadway star. So when she had the opportunity to perform on stage, there was nothing she was more excited for. Beginning in September with her first dance lessons, Sophia began talking about her Spring Concert. She looked forward to her costume, the pictures, the flowers and the audience who would watch her dance steps in amazement, she was sure. One Saturday in May Steve and I took her to Regis College where her dream came true. She and her fellow dancers tapped to "Achy Breaky Heart", dressed head to toe in their purple sequined outfits, accented with the brightest pink around. Fortunately I was able to capture the big event in photos at the dress rehearsal and few days prior to the performance.

At the end of the concert, her pictures were taken, she was presented with a bouquet of flowers, and she left convinced that the audience thought that her dance steps were indeed amazing!

Great to be Eight!

For Annelise, the count down to her eighth birthday began two years ago, the day Jonathan was baptised. After watching him enter the water, she knew it was her turn next. She has asked questions about the significance of being eight, given us updates on how many months remain until her eighth birthday and even born her testimony in Sacrament Meeting about her anticipation of being eight. Although she is still patiently awaiting her baptism, May 4th, her big day, arrived with fanfare. Annelise awoke to breakfast in bed. Her pancake shaped like an "A" was a hit, but as always it was the seven person chorus which made her most happy! We wished her well and walked her to the bus. On her way to school she was serenaded again by her bus mates and then again by a class full of second graders.

After school we took her to Dick's to pick out a new purple bike. She was so excited she rode it through the store, up to the cash register, out the door and through the parking lot to the car. We met the family at the Cheesecake Factory, Annelise's restaurant of choice. The wait staff serenaded her one more time as she blew out her candles.

We returned home for phone calls from home and gift opening.

With the arrival of Annelise's eight birthday, she was welcomed into Achievement Day's. This means that every other Wednesday, Annelise joins her older siblings who go to the ward house for scouts and Young Women's. Annelise has been looking forward to her admittance into the group with much excitement.

Whether she is building miniature temples out of sugar cubes or cleaning the nursery for a service project, Annelise couldn't be happier to be a member of this group of sweet girls. Annelise recently joined the girls for a trip to the Boston Temple and to one of the girl's homes for a swim party, with me tagging along.

Annelise was in her element, which is so much fun to watch. For Annelise, it truly is great to be eight!