Happiness

Elizabeth Asher Jonah and Ethan We miss you and love you too! This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott. -notice how each picture has a head that is being cut off? Funny, huh?

I have stopped posting regularly on the adoption blog but I still feel very strongly about it all. I really feel that some children come to us through many ways- be it fertility treatments, adoption, etc. I always felt strongly about families and felt that I would get married and go on to have my children one after another until we were done. That hasn't happened. And then there are women or families who have babies coming to them when they are not ready to Parent AT ALL. They may be married, they may be single and they may have children already and are simply not ready to Parent another one. When these two groups of people- those who are just dying to Parent and also have the space in their home and their hearts- and those whose need help- get together, a beautiful thing called ADOPTION happens. Adoption is the best option (for some of us). This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

I sat down yesterday and made a list of all the fun things we want to do this summer. I had wanted to print out some really cute paper, put it into a frame and write on the glass with marker, but black permanent ink on a pink index card will have to do. Here it is- Summer 2011 Go swimming (check x20) Go to IKEA (Ethan added that one) Do crafts Make smoothies Go to a fun park (check already) Ride a carousel (since there are 5 available!) Have a water balloon fight See a $1 movie (used to be free- now they are $1) Go to the National Zoo Visit the Native American Museum Chuck E Cheese (this is for Jonah who LOVES the place) Go fishing Go for a train ride (Cabin John) Go for a walk (check) Go to the library (weekly) Go bowling (Ethan's request) Have play dates (Elizabeth's request) Visit New York (again!) Go boating (Black Hills) Make smores (with our inside smore kit) Make Homemade Ice cream I'm sure we'll find more to do than this list, but it gives us some good ideas! Th...

Charlotte I remember Seeing you The first time Sweet and sleeping I remember Your round, Blue eyes, Those soft cheeks, The tiny dimples. You made My heart Glow with Love And now That you Are gone I love you Even more My dear Angel in Heaven.

Need a way to add warmth and light plus a lovely fragrance to your home? Then I have to tell you of Scentsy ! Scentsy is a ceramic holder that uses a small light bulb to heat scented wax and make the air smell divine. I first saw it at one of my friend's houses and I loved it! I loved the idea of it- no wicks, no mess. And it smelled heavenly! Then I found out my PTA President sold Scentsy. I would browse over the catalog, wondering which one I would buy. I decided I wanted one for Mothers Day and when Mothers Day came and went, I got one myself! It's white and goes perfectly in the kitchen. The full kit comes with 3 bars of wax and you melt only one or two squares at a time. If you want to change the scent- get this!- you pour it back into it's original plastic bar and melt a different kind! Currently I have cinnamon melting in mine-- even though it's summer! I also have orange and coconut. The idea was thought up by one individual and it kept growing and growing! So, ...

Ethan's first Maryland crab. Delicious!!!! As I was sorting and organizing school papers, I found some really funny writing. Ethan's paper said- "Write something you would like to learn about Spring." Ethan wrote: "I would lik to learn to not tuch posin ivey." Yep, he had poison ivy once. He will always remember the itching, the scratching, the pain. When we are out hiking all I have to say if he is off the trail "Ethan, poison ivy" and he is outta there! For Father's Day each kid wrote something about their Dad. Jonah wrote: "I know my Dad loves me because he hugs me." So sweet. Ethan wrote: "I know my Dad loves me because I love him." Aw. We came back from a Maryland Park Quest this afternoon and both Ethan and Jonah (and Asher) fell asleep on the way back. Asleep, Ethan and Jonah look pretty much identical (ok- most people think they are always identical- to me it is only when they are asleep or their heads are turned or ...

Teacher gifts for the end of the year Turns out I still have 40 more posts to go until I reach 1,000! Phew. That shows you how good my math skills are! I guess I have more time to think of something! My little baby got a cavity filled today (Tuesday). Actually, two of my little babies got cavities filled. I took all four kids to the dentist yesterday and Ethan had 2 cavities and Asher had one! Jonah had none and Elizabeth had a small one in a baby tooth that they will just let fall out. I was sad. Turns out 6 years old do need to floss. Especially mine- who have tight gaps between their teeth. Poor little guys. When we got home the dentist called and said they had a cancellation and could fit Asher and Ethan in the next day to get it fixed. The dentist will be gone for the next two and a half weeks on vacation (to Spain! Jealous!) and so we went for it! Asher's cavity was small and simple. No needles and it took 3 minutes tops. He even got a matchbox car afterwards. Upon leaving As...

I am 2 posts away to hitting 1,000 posts written on this here blog! Wow! How should I celebrate? Throw an ice cream party? A give away? Write a piece about blogging? What do you think? This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

Living in Maryland, close to D.C., we see a lot of homeless people. Usually they stand on the median of the big intersections- holding signs and cups, asking for money. I always feel for them and wish that I could give them something. Sometimes I have given them something and usually get a smile and a "God Bless!" in return. When I served a mission for the Church in Spain twelve (!) years ago, I felt so sorry for the gypsies who were constantly coming up to us and giving us money. I started to give them money and my companion stopped me. That's not really our money she said. It's the Church's. We pay our tithing and the Church can help those in need. I still felt for them and there was one lady who always sat at a corner we passed by every day. Since I couldn't give her money, I would give her a smile. A real cheerful one, so she would feel not neglected. One day she screeched at me "You! You are always smiling at me! You never give me money and you just ...

My Mom and Dad My Other Mom and Dad Us Happy Father's Day to the three most AMAZING men in my life. I love you. Thank you for all the hard work that you have done for me and for your families. Thank you for your commitment, your testimonies, your strength and your valor. May our sons watch and learn all they can from you. This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

School is OUT!!!! YAY!!! Let the fun begin!!!!

the kids at the park! The last day of school for my kiddos is tomorrow, but I might as well blog about it today since after tomorrow my ability to sit down at the computer uninterrupted will be minimal. Actually, if I put a movie on for all four kids, I can usually get about an hour. After an hour the boys get bored- even if it's a movie they like- and begin wrestling with each other, which leads to bonked noses which leads to bloody noses and we don't want that. So, I guess I will be able to blog. But, my mind will be filled with visions of team practices, homemade lunches scattered across the kitchen island and all those trails of treasures boys- and all kids- seem to leave behind them. I always know whose trail is whose. Ethan leave coins, leaves he has collected from outside, checkers and whatever snack they were eating- granola bar crumbs, etc. Jonah leaves behind dead ants (he likes to look at them in his microscope), his favorite red jacket that often needs washing (whic...

Elizabeth- practicing her Articles of Faith on the sidewalk! Just yesterday morning I found out that the husband of a friend of mine- a girl that I visit taught at one point for about six months- had passed away last week. Due to complications of Depression. To say that I was shocked is putting it mildly. I knew that he had been struggling with Depression. She had told me of his struggles and of some of his thoughts and concerns. BUT!!! They had been married in the Temple. They have a gorgeous son who is about 3 years old. His wife is gorgeous- talented beyond description- and currently teaches fifth grade. All those BUTS made me not worry. I figured things would be okay. Things would turn out well. He would make things work. Yesterday reminded me that LIFE happens sometimes. Even though we are married in the temple, even though we have children and even though we are talented (or should I say especially?) life can hit us upside the head, break our hearts and knock us for a loop. We c...

picture via queandbrittany.blogspot.com I was sitting down and re-reading some parts of the April 2011 Ensign because someone had mentioned that there was an article on adoption in there and I came across this poem entitled Just the Same. I was touched as read the sweet author's words. Here it is: Just the Same By Diana Lynn Lacey Sometimes— God sends rain Straight from the sky To nourish the young flower and it grows. Sometimes— God sends rain from the sky To the mountaintops, Then over hills and through valleys Until it reaches the flower ...

Asher! It's getting to be Summer Time! Boxes of different kinds of popsicles- bomb pops, fudgcicles, otter pops- are congregating in my freezer, just waiting to be opened. Swimteam has been attended and attended. Goggles have been broken into and arms and legs are weary at night. A camera bag has finally been ordered- and arrived!- off of amazon.com and picture from the local farmers market and the pool are to be had! School is nearing to an end. Field day is today. The kids play and play and try to eek out more playing before their homework is to be done. Blueberries and cherries and peaches are bought and blueberry muffins are made at 6 am at the insistence of a soon-to-be kindergartner. And while those muffins are still warm, I am off- to enjoy them and be swept away in a busy, busy day. This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

Each year the SGA- Student Government Association- throws a Spirit week. This year it was in the end of May and my kids just love dressing up for it! Here's this year's themes for the week- Moday- Hat day. I didn't get a picture but all three kids picked out some crazy hat from our dress up box and wore it to school. They were careful not to put it on until they got into their classrooms though. It was a serious thing and they couldn't get over the "no hats" in school rule! Ethan and Jonah for twin day! Ethan and Jonah. Ethan has always been an inch taller than Jonah. Always! Tuesday- Twin Day. Of course, it helps to have a built in twin. Ethan and Jonah decided to dress the same- in Jonah's colors- with red and denim. They were just so cute and Jonah even had two of the same shirts! I have no idea how that happened. Too bad that right before Jonah got into the car he claimed that he was hot and went upstairs to change. I couldn't convince him otherwis...

Jonah and Asher In our Church the Fathers and Sons go on a camping trip each year to commemorate the restoration of the Priesthood. Or at least, I think that's why. I don't hold the Priesthood but I do get many, many blessings from it. I should do a blog post on it one day. This usually happens in May and this year it was on May 8th and 9th. I was happy to send all my boys away and spend some girl time with Elizabeth. Usually we stay home and paint our nails and watch girlie movies. This year we went over to a friend's house and painted nails and did our hair. So fun! I gave the camera to Josh this year and this is what he came back with. They had a blast- even though it had been raining the whole day before- and came back wet, dirty, smelly and happy. Give boys a little fresh air, some fire and marshmallows to roast and they are happy campers! Now I want to go camping too! Just once though. Just once! Asher and Ethan in the smoke of a campfire Oh, and the other day I made ...

My Dad and Asher 2008 Amy with Uncle Doug and Aunt Sheelah! 2007 Sunday was my Dad's birthday and today is my sister Amy's birthday! I am a little remiss that I am late on this post for my Dad. Sorry! Amy turns 28 today! Wow! Happy Birthday to my Dad! He recently found out that, after quite awhile, he is Lukemia free! We are so happy for you, Dad! What a blessing! My Dad has also retired this year! He has worked long and hard for about twenty five years in the California School System as an Elementary and Jr. High School Counselor. Way to go, Dad! Now you can relax, work on the yard, take care of Shasta, spend more time with Mom and make home videos for me! Happy Birthday to Amy Jo! Amy is six years younger than me but we have always gotten along wonderfully. We were roomies at BYU right after I got off my mission. We shared a bedroom when Molly went off to BYU right after we graduated from High School. When I would come back from college I would entertain her with stories of ...

Sorry I didn't post on Friday! Last Thursday, Friday and most of Saturday was spent watching my friend's 19 month old son Atticus while she and her husband were at the hospital having a gorgeous baby. Oh, my goodness is their baby just adorable! She is Mexican and he is White and they have such a cute little family. Little Atticus is adorable and very active and managed to keep me on my toes the whole time he was here. Since Asher is almost five, our home is no longer baby proof and I would follow him along, baby-proofing everything as I went. Yesterday I took a 3 hour nap- I was so exhausted from the whole experience! The kids loved having him over and kept saying "when is Atticus going to wake up (he would sleep 12 hrs straight)" and "Can I sit next to him?" and "Attack of the Baby Atticus" when he would chase them! Our next child sure will be loved!!! On the Horizon for our little family: 1. Swim team ! I signed Elizabeth to be on our local swim...

It's been SOOOO HOT lately! Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we saw 95-99 degrees of heat. Plus humidity. We were dying. You couldn't even be outside for more than five minutes without breaking into a sweat and needing to seek shelter. This morning a cool breeze broke the heat and a cool 85 without any humidity has been marvelous. Yesterday, since it was so incredibly hot, I took the kids to get slurpees at 7 Eleven. That's the first time I've taken all 4 before. I've taken them by themselves for one-on-one time, but never all four. It was messy, but worth it. On the way over Asher said: "We're going to get slinkies." "Slurpies. We're going to get slurpies." corrected Elizabeth "Sloopies?" asked Asher "No, slurpies." I can see how it's hard to know how to say words when you can't read so you can't sound out each letter and put the word together. When we came home, each of us choosing a half red and half blue m...

Ethan in Orange and Jonah in Red Ethan, talking and opening gifts Jonah and one of his presents! Love the missing tooth! Ethan, A and Jonah opening their presents! The boys had a blast and now I have 2 seven year olds. Wow. This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.