AMEN

Happy Easter.

PRETTY IN PINK

As I rounded the corner up cardiac-hill to go to the Petterson Event Center this was the scene that awaited me. There were hundreds of police officers lined up waiting for their fallen friends. It took my breath away.

They brought Stephen and all the officers in one at a time following the marching bagpipes and followed by there family. The girls Jennifer and Brooklynn were dressed in their bright pink Easter dresses, each was holding one of their mother's hands. Shandra looked so beautiful.

(Side note: Some of you may be wondering why have been stealing pictures from the news instead of taking some for myself. These events have been so reverent and solemn it would have almost seemed sacreligious to pull a camera out.)

BAGPIPES

I don't think I will ever get the absolute silence and then those ringing bagpipes out of my head. It will be a memory that will stay with me throughout life. I love you Shandra. I am so sorry.

PITTSBURGH MORNS

Today was a very emotional day.



Isn't music so powerful? I love this song and have felt particularly moved by it today.

SERVICES

All three officers, Paul Sciullo II, Eric Kelly and our dear friend Stephen Mayhle will be at the City-County Building beginning Wednesday at 3 p.m. You can come by for the viewing, it will go from 3 pm until everyone who has wanted to has paid their respects. (It will be a closed casket viewing.) The address is 414 Grant St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. All of Pittsburgh is invited. This is the first time a police officer has fallen in the line-of-duty in over 18 years. I am certain all of Pittsburgh will come out and I have heard police officers from all across the country will be comming, including some of the officers from the California district who were affected by a similar tragedy one week ago. Also, there will be a public memorial service at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Petersen Events Center in Oakland. Everyone who can, should attend. You should head out early. If you have questions, again e-mail.

MISSING YOU

Aren't they the cutest family? I am saddened today to let my friends and family know that mine and Sierra's dear friend's father and husband was killed today in the line-of-duty. He was a real hero. Stephen, if you are listening to this, you are right it isn't just firemen, police officers are heroes too. (He use to always tease that everyone was always excited when firemen showed up. They were the real heroes, he would say as he rolled his eyes.)

If you would like to send a card, e-mail me at lcmcknight@gmail.com. I will let you know their address. I am grateful for my faith today. I know Stephen is lovingly watching over his family. I know Jesus Christ will walk with them today and every hard day to come.

URBAN GARDENING

Who wants to garden this year? Well, every year I have made sparse attempts. We have moved every year, so although we have planted we have never harvested, which was sad. Last summer I heard rumor that you could rent a garden plot up in Stanton Heights. I looked around and researched it, but I always hit dead ends. I should have been a little more aggresive.

This year I have found the rumor is true. You can rent a plot for $15.00 a year. This includes all the water you will need. They also have a few tool you can use. The man in charge of plots is Jim Tunney. His home phone number is 412-441-3958. He says as of now they have plenty of plots available. The plots won't be available until May. May 2 at 10:00am they are having a meeting at the cemetery office on Butler. I will be there.

If you are interested in gardening this year then come and garden with me. For those of you who don't know, tomatos grow like weeds in Pittsburgh. The soil is great. Ashley Clark grew some beautiful cilantro last year. You could easily grow a salsa garden. I bet you could grow really yummy strawberries. I know a lady up in Butler who could teach us how to can what we grow. Also, for those of you who don't live in the area, you can garden on any abandoned lot as long as it is owned by the city and you get a garden waiver from the city. All the information I have obtained is on this website, growpittsburgh.org. Let's all get out and grow something.

WALK AND BLOW

MJ has developed a lot of leg strength lately. She is really enjoying her walker. This walker has a stationary post and it pivots. She's been walking in circles today. She has worn a circular pattern into the carpet. Look at those chubby buff legs. She is so dang cute.

Her sister has taught her how to blow on people's skin to make obnoxious nosies. When MJ is in a playful mood she will bury her little head in my neck and blow until she can make a sound too. She has gotten pretty good at it. A huge grin spreads across her face whenever she is able to make a really loud noise. I have been trying to capture this on video but have been unsuccessful. Look for a clip in an upcoming post. It is only a matter of time.

Funny thing Sierra said today....

CC: Mom can we go to that Chineses place, so I can hug that little man again. That will make me so happy.

Mom: What? (Before you get all creeped out envisioning us at a Chinese restaurant with CC hugging a decrepit Chinese short Chinese man, which was the exact vision passing through my head at the moment.)

CC: You know the place we went for Adalie's Birthday?

Mom: We went to Chuck e Cheese not Chinese.

SCAREY MONKEY

Well, Sierra and I went to the Thrift store yesterday. We were browsing for a particular item and we noticed there were no toys in the store. The toys are typically the number one attraction for Sierra. I will typically let her chose one she likes to entertain her through the store while I shop. (We never take the toy home.) I let her chose a few books to take home. I found a cute hat for my sister's baby. Suprisingly, I found a brand new Easter Veggie Tales movie. I was impressed by my finds. While we were at the checkout Sierra said to the cashier, "Hey, where did all the toys go?" She replied, "It is against the law now for thrift stores to carry toys because of all the lead based paint in Chinese produced toys." I told her how sad that was. She mentioned she felt it was particularly sad for there store because they would research the recalls and not put toys out that were on the recall list, but they had to abide the same law as all the other stores. Sad. She asked Sierra if she had seen Barbie Island Pricesses. I said that she owns and loves the movie. Her daughter is starting to out grow Barbie. She brought the monkey to give away. The monkey is a charicter on the movie. Sierra was thrilled and loves her new toy. It talks and gives kisses. Madison won't stop smiling and laughing every time Sierra shows it to her. I think its a little scarey looking. Despite mixed reviews on the appearance of the monkey, we all feel it was a really kind gesture from a complete stranger.

STILL LEARNING

I altered a pair of hand-me-down pants to shorts today. Sierra loved the flower applique on the front of the jeans. She kept telling me how sad she was that I cut if off. Well, I removed the applique from the pant leg and added it to the leg of the shorts. I was so excited to tell her what I had done. She was playing the bathtub. I said, "Sierra look at what I did? Doesn't it look so nice?" She replied, "No, it looks dumb." I was shocked and little taken back. I paused and looked at her with a question in my eye. She said, "Mom, dumb means shorts, right?" I replied, "Ah, no, dumb does not mean shorts." She asked, "Then what does dumb mean?"

IT's RAINING IT's POURING

Joy and Andrew invited us to go to the zoo yesterday. I almost backed out, because it was raining, but I am glad I didn't. The lions were roaring like crazy. You could hear their cries echoing through the park. Sierra was so excited about to being in the rain with an umbrella. Although, most of the time she wasn't holdings it over her head, she did get it right for the picture though.


We went through the shark tank. There were scuba divers cleaning up the poo and slim on the bottom of the tank. They were using instruments the size of toothbrushes and looking over there shoulders the whole time. The process looked very inefficient and scarey. I had to take a picture but I was too embarassed to keep snaping until I got one with the sharks and the scuba divers in it at the same time. See below... sharks. Scarey!


Scarey SHARKS. Lerking behind the scuba divers.


The number two attraction at the park. When we got into the aquarium the kids crowded around MJ. They thought she was so cute.


The third most impressive attraction. WE love the polar bears. We are always excited to find one in the water playing.

The most impressive attraction at the park I didn't get a picture of but here is a picture of the aftermath. Sierra went down the slide several dozen times. (Joy and I both think it is funny our kids go to the zoo to play at the park.) Sierra and Andrew's clothes soaked up all the water on the slide until they were soaking wet. Sierra's little hands were frozen like ice cubes. She was so cold. We had to hurry her home and throw her into a nice warm bath, complete with her polly pockets.

I KNOW SHE IS HER FATHER's DAUGHTER WHEN...

I say, "CC come make delicious sugar cookies with me."
CC says staring at the television with a massive grin, "Mom, I can't. I am watching them make fireworks on PBS. Their showing us how to make fireworks!"

MJ'S QUILT

My favorite Aunt Ruth asked me to post this. This is the only quilt I have finished in the last 5 years. (Did I say I? I mean my family) I made it for my little MJ. Funny, she has never slept on it or drooled on it. I have never taken it anywhere. I haven't even washed it yet. Aren't blankies suppose to be loved and cherished and not kept away from the child? Ironic.

Well, my Aunt Ruth, who I love more than life, gave me her left over fabric from a sample quilt she did, similar to the one I posted earlier. The batting I believe came from my mother. I found the backing and binding at a fabric store on-sale, on-sale. I used a needle I got from my grandma. I used some old thread of my mother's. My sister Michelle free-motion stitched it together. All in all I invested two dollars into this project, thanks to all the donors. It was a fun over the summer project. As far as I know hexagons can't be sewn together by machine. If anyone knows how to sew them by machine, I would love to know how.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED?

Where CC and MJ get there glares from, or why they are so bald as babies,



or where they get there looks from,



or what Lisa looked like as a little girl. (I am the blonde in the middle incase you are confussed. :) )

Maybe these pictures might help clarify a few things.

ANDRUD, ISN'T HE HANDSOME?

I am grateful Joy shared her son with me on Friday. Sometime I feel we need a little man's influence in our home. Sierra can get most children to follow her lead but Andrew will tell her, "No, that isn't a good idea." She was trying to get him to chew her ABC gum. He said, "No." I don't know why she thought it was a good idea. I am grateful he told her it wasn't.

When he arrived at our house he said, "We live in a house not a hotel." I have been laughing about that for days.

Joy was setting up for Enrichment. She did such a fabulous job. Amazing. The room was so serene and beautiful.


Don't you think they make a cute couple? I am not apposed to matchmaking. Joy? She's a fireball, but he is a keeper.

1 HOUR OUTSIDE EACH DAY

It was a beautiful clear day. I thought it was going to be 72 degrees like the day before. I told Sierra we could go for a bike ride around the reservoir. Sierra was so excited. She hiked her bike up the long stairway to the reservoir.



She loves to look at the water as she rides. Occasionally she stops and climbs onto the rails and looks over at the water. As you can see the sides of the reservoir are slanted. If she went over in the freezing water, I have no idea how I would rescue her. I have to throw around bizzar punishments that will keep her off the rail like, when we are half around the reservoir, I will say, "Sierra don't you climb up on the rail or I am going to take you home." Truth be told we are already headed home. Even if I turned her around it would be the same distance home.



Madison, isn't she sweet. I love that she obeys and doesn't try to climb the rail.



Sierra sitting next to a brick building on our way home. Don't you just want to squeeze her?



Sierra ready to skewer MJ with a stick. I liked the picture. I thought that it was cute despite the evident danger.

3 YEAR PROJECT NOT QUITE COMPLETE

After two and a half years, I finally have the face of my hand stitched quilt completed.

A really good friend, Celeste McClure, invited me to take a class out in Bever County the first year I moved here. I was so grateful for that invitation and the hand of friendship. Her invitation blessed me in incalculable ways. When we first moved here we bought a standard. I had never learned how to drive a standard. I had to learn on the winding, hilly, roads of Pittsburgh; an adventure I don't want to repeat. She gave me an opportunity to get out of the house and out of the city and drive through the beautiful landscape of Pennsylvania. A much needed reprieve.

I will never forget the ladies from the class. They were all so kind. I often had to attend with Sierra in tote. Maxine, the lady who taught the class, always made sure Sierra had toys to play with.

I really hate the colors and patterns I chose. I think the quilt is way too busy. However, I love every memory tied up in this quilt. I think because of that it will always have a place in my heart.

I am done with the face. I am going to cheat and send it to my sister Michelle to stipple it and then maybe my mother will bind it. Hopefully, that won't take another three years.

ANYTHING FOR A LAUGH

Sierra loves to see her baby sister laugh. She will do anything to get her to laugh or to get her to keep laughing. She has done some pretty crazy things. If you noticed on both the clips I have to stop the filming to prevent a disaster from insuing.

Yesterday, I took MJ and CC to the zoo. CC insisted on bringing her baby doll and stroller. I allowed her to because then she wouldn't be constantly grabbing at MJ's stroller and trying to push her. (Sierra tries to run and push her as fast as she can and then let go of the stroller. Her Grandpa Craven did this with her in the grocery cart in Utah. It made her laugh, so she thinks it will make MJ laugh. I have had to overt disaster there too. I can no longer allow her to push MJ.) She would push her baby doll as hard as she could and then run after her, laughing the whole time. She said it was what her Grandpa did and it was so funny. Then she asked again if she could push MJ. I told her no. She said, "Mom I like your baby better than my baby." I said, "Why is that?" She said, "Because MJ is growing bigger and bigger but my baby doll isn't."

Later that day she says, "Mom, I am sorry." I responded, "Why are you sorry?" She said, "Because I keep growing bigger and bigger." (She should be. I miss my little baby. However, I am loving my little girl.)

MY BOLD DAUGHTER

Yesterday, Sierra, Madison, and I climbed on the elevator to exit the building and head to church. Nate had gone on ahead to warm up the car. One of our neighbors climbed on the elevator with us. Sierra said, "Where are you going?" He replied, "Out... I am going to the store." She said, "Why aren't you going to church?" He said, "Well, sometimes people do other things." She said, "Today is Sunday. On Sunday you go to church." He was gracious and smiled a broad smile, "Young lady I think I have been thoroughly put in my place." I thought first of apologising for her boldness but then thought better of it and replied, "She normal isn't this bold."

3 DECADES OLD

Sierra opened the candle box to place the candles on the cake and said, "Mom, you get to have the yellow one. I want you to have the yellow one because there is only one pink one left." Sierra was so excited she blew out the candle and exclaimed, "I got my wish"

Well, I have been obsessed about becoming a better cook. I have always lothed making dinner. Ask me to bake bread or a cake and I am there. Ask me to make dinner and I am afraid I would bow out. I hate cooking the same thing every week. I have tried experiementing but it is hard to find a new recipe you want to put effort into for fear of it not working out. I found this website called americastestkitchen.com. I love there food. They take every day recipes and make them backwards and forwards until they come up with the perfect outcome. Then they teach you how to make it. I am hooked. I bought myself an online membership for my birthday and a couple of cooking gadgets. I figure I am going to be doing this 3 times a day for 365 days of the year so I better get to the point were I don't loathe it.

If you have any cheap, easy, fabulous, simple ingredient, dinners that you love, send them my way. I would love to test them out.

HATING DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

Daylight savings has thrown off MJ's napping schedule and both my girls bedtime routines. I have finally resigned to just putting them to bed an hour later and pushing everything I use to do forward an hour. I don't think a mother invented day light savings. Because of daylight savings, for the last week, every time I have put MJ down for a nap she pops her head up and starts smiling and talking. I can't resist, I have to scoop her back up into my arms and take her back out into the family room and play with her some more. She has gotten out of a lot of naps lately. I have put my foot down the last two days because despite how cute she is, she really needs her rest. She is finally back on a good schedule.

TEMPLES

I love being in the temple and feel as Elder Holland does that I am close to heaven when I am in the temple. I am grateful for my faith. I am grateful for amazingly kind friends who accept, support and love me and members of my faith despite our differences.

MJ THE BEAUTIFUL

MJ. Isn't she beautiful? She is growing so quickly. She is so much fun. I love this little outfit my friend Joy gave her at my baby shower. Her color is definitely pink. Is it okay that I am obsessed with how beautiful my children are? (We did good Nate! Love your guts!)

CANDID PICTURES OF MJ AND MOM TAKEN BY SIERRA

Sierra insisted on taking pictures for the blog. I thought, why not. It isn't every day that I get to have a picture of me featured on my blog. When I try, the angle seems to distort my face and make me look like I am walking through a fun house. Sierra did a good job.

HYUN JUNG BABY SHOWER

Well, I love this idea and I think we should all adopt the tradition of a Korean Baby Shower. In Korea when a women has a baby it is perfectly acceptable to go through your child's belongs and pick out the best of what they have out grown; clean it, press it, and make it look new. Then wrap it and present it to the mother to be. In America for some reason it has to be new to be socially acceptable. Well, last night I, with the help of several great friends, threw Hyun Jung a baby shower Korean style. There were a few people that insisted on bringing something new, which was great. Then there were others who brought used items, which was great. There were others still who made something new out of used items, which was amazing. We had a fabulous turn out. Hyun Jung said, "I felt so loved."

I went through some of Madison and Sierra's gender neutral clothes and cleaned and pressed them. Then I made her two receiving blankets out of two pieces of flannel. I took the blankets, and bibs my sister gave me that I was never going to soil because they were too expensive, and made a diaper cake. The diapers came from diapers our children had outgrown. (You hate it when your daughter graduates to the next diaper level without using all the diapers in the last package you purchased. Well, here's a way to put those to use.) Atrena contributed the most diapers. It was a joint effort. I thought it turned out so cute. I made a lemon layer cake. It was a little tart but good. I thought it looked cute on the table.

Well, I am now boring myself. I will close by saying, I think I will never throw another American baby shower again.

CHILDREN's GAMES

Oh, the cleaver games Sierra comes up with for us to play. I thought I would be a really good mom and try to create a project for Sierra, like the type of projects my friend Shelly engages her daughter in. I got all the crayons out and spread them across the table. I drew a design on the paper and tried to show Sierra how to; color in the spaces, scribble in black crayon over top, and then etch out a design. Sierra decided this wasn't exciting enough. She decided it would be a better idea if I would join her in racing crayons across the table by blowing them. Pretty funny. We had a good time.

NATHAN MCKNIGHT THE LOVE OF MY LIFE

(Nate doesn't let me take his picture unless he is holding a really great catch. I took this picture last summer of him and CC after he caught a really big fish from Lake Erie.) Nate is a private person and asked me not to blog about him. A request I detest because he really is very funny. I think my reading public would double in a few weeks if I could blog about the man I love. I just wanted to say I love his guts. Even though you can't get to know him though my blog he really is an amazing person. I couldn't have married a better husband or given my children a better father. LOVE YOU BABE.

MY GIRLS

I don't know of two sisters have ever loved each other more than these girls. Sierra is in her bedroom playing while Madison is napping. She just wanted to be near Madison. Madison went down for her nap twice as quick just because she could hear Sierra's voice as she fell asleep. (I had better pictures of them loving each other but I really loved this one. Sierra sometimes loves MJ more than she wants.)

RANDOMNESS FROM THE WEEK

Sierra wore her scrubs all day on Wednesday. She loves them. When she puts them on she feels like she is a doctor, so now we have two doctors in the family. I made the scrubs from fabric my Aunt Suzanna gave me, two thanksgivings ago. She would be proud. Sierra adored the fabric from the moment she set eyes on it because it has ladybugs and butterflies.


I got my wedding ring on my ring finger again. Yes! I haven't been able to wear it since before my second trimester of pregnancy with Madison. I am happy to be wearing it again. My hand has felt naked for the last nine months.



This is a picture of Sierra catching fairies in her bedroom. For those of you who don't know Sierra has three fairy friends that are always with her; Fairy Mischievous, Fairy Tinker Bell and Utah, strawberry, grandma fairy. Fairy Mischievous, who is her favorite, does all sorts of naughty things. She turns little boys' coats from blue to pink and she makes people bump their bums by sprinkling fairy dust on the slide and making it extra slippery. Fairy Tinker Bell will make the naughty things Fairy Mischievous does right once the victim cries. The next time you talk to her ask her about her fairies. She will talk forever, especially if you gasp in horror repeatedly at the things Fairy Mischievous does.

A MESSAGE EVERYONE SHOULD HEAR

I needed to hear this message today. I was really uplifted by Elder Uchtdorf words, the images of this clip, and the music. The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints produces so many beautiful pieces of media. I love Elder Uchtdorf and know he is an apostle of God. One of the twelve apostles of are day. I know we are all children of God. I know if all women everywhere could feel his words and believe them we could change the world.

BURNT

Yesterday morning I put Sierra's hair in pony tails to go to my friend Bethany Wilde's birthday party. I was in a hurry to gather everything together as I headed out the door. My mind must have been on other things. Sierra turned the curling iron up to its highest setting. Yes, I smelt something burning. I didn't know what is was. I just placed the curling iron clap down on Sierra's hair. The curling iron got stuck on her hair. I unclasped it and looked at her hair. There were particles of singed couch stuck all over her pony tail. I looked back at the couch and this is what I saw. Luckily, we only paid 2,000 for this one. Phew. (No really, I told Nate luckily all our furniture is crappy stuff we have bought third hand or has been given to us, so I don't feel bad when stuff like this happens.)


Well, here is the worst of the day. Last night I was so excited about making Nate a delicious meal. I made him this divine sweet pork brisket. I sat the pot on the stove top and was removing chunks of meat from the pot. I grabbed on the handle to steady it and walla. I burnt three fingers on my left hand. (Thankfully my left.) Madison wasn't doing well last night so I was holding her in my left hand. I was bouncing her and singing "Old McDonald." I had my hand in a cup of ice. Fingers spread wide so the cup was dangling but staying where I needed it to. Then I was rolling tortilla's out with my right hand. I was determined this small set back wasn't going ruin my awesome dinner. However, once the brisket and tortillas were done I quit. My hand was hurting. Madison was screaming. Mediocre once again became good enough.