These are chocolate chocolate chip cookies made by Isaac. I am going to try having the kids choose a cookie each week and teach them how to measure, mix, bake, clean up, etc.
This is week one for summer break. The kids are excited about it, so it might actually last more than a couple of weeks.

More Education

Isaac was making toast. I came upstairs to see flames in our toaster oven and Isaac at the fridge filling a cup of water.
!!!
I unplugged the toaster then proceeded to ask him what he was doing with a cup of water - what were you thinking?!?!? Water on an electric appliance?!?!? Plus, if you were going to get water, why from the fridge? It takes about 60 seconds to fill a cup, verses the sink which would take 10 seconds. I wonder about that kid sometimes.
Our toaster may have to visit the garbage. Our kitchen still stinks; three days later.

Gardening Merit Badge

Jacob and Isaac harvested their first veggies yesterday. They are working on the gardening merit badge. They are required to plant from seed and harvest three veggies (among other requirements). So far they have spinach and radishes. They both tried them; spinach tasted like nothing, and radishes were spicy. I was surprised that they didn't have a stronger reaction.

So amazing. An apostle of the Lord was in my midst today. Jacob, Isaac, Allison, Ammon, and I shook his hand. He even asked Isaac how the Book of Mormon reading was going. Isaac said, "good!" I hope they remember this event for the rest of their lives. What an amazing experience for these young children.
I joined the Stake Choir because I wanted to be close and have a good seat for this special stake conference. Also, I miss singing. To be honest, I was disappointed in my seat. The organist left his hymnal at the organ, which consequently covered Elder Perry's entire head.
The family got to the church at 7:48 am. Justin and I needed to be in our choir seats by 8:15 to practice. We got the kids great seats. LaMon and Barbara were kind enough to sit with the kids.
Elder Perry arrived about 9:40. When he walked in, the congregation rose. This was a time that I did love my seat. Being able to see all of these followers of Christ stand to honor an apostle. I wish I could bottle the feeling I got when I saw him and share it with you. It's indescribable. I'm getting teary just thinking about it.
He shook hands with many people as he entered, made a joke with the organist, and talked with our director (the best!) Sister Gray.
President Wiberg greeted us; opening hymn; prayer, 
then the choir sang More Holiness Give Me.
President Wiberg spoke first, followed by the mission president (Howell), then Elder Perry.
He stressed making the Book of Mormon come to life for your kids and retold the story of getting the Brass plates from Laban. He also talked about how we need to make things happen in our lives, not wait for them to happen.

This day is a highlight in the life of JoAnne Dittmer

Cute grill

I wanted to document something that Allison (cute baby grill) does when she's saying goodbye. She gives us Air Hugs.
I'm hoping you can imagine it. Not hugging herself;
hugging the air with arms stretched out wide, patting.
It's becoming another Dittmerism.
Justin tried to Air Make Out tonight. He's such a dork.

Faith = Blessings

I wanted to relate an experience that our family had a couple of weeks ago...

Our ward asked all of the families to keep track of their expenses for the month of May and to make a budget. Justin and I sat down early in the month and divvied up how we thought it should be spent. We have a rather "large" expense this month: Allison's tonsils are costing us $2000. Wow! More than we thought. Plus Justin is making quite a bit less money this year than any previous year so far working in MN. Also, we're trying to save for that once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney World.

All of this means we have been cutting back drastically on everything. In fact, the only extra thing we could eliminate was piano lessons for Jacob and Isaac. So now I have to teach them again, and of course, it isn't going as well as I'd hoped. I hate the nagging to practice everyday. Where's self-motivation???

I'm so off track here...

My Mom also had told me about a comment made in her Sunday School regarding Fast Offerings: that if you are having financial trouble, pay double. Justin and I discussed it and decided to pay so much that it's uncomfortable. I have to be honest. When I was writing the check, I had little prayers going out.

You're wondering what blessings were poured upon us, right?

They were joking in church last week how we can't expect Heavenly Father to send us a check, but he kinda did for us. Not many days later, we received that exact amount of money we paid in fast offerings, via check in the mail. It wasn't signed Him personally, but I know He was blessing us.

The feeling I had when I saw these checks was amazing. It was almost like an out-of-body experience. My love for Heavenly Father grew and I was excited to share with Justin our "Dittmer Miracle."

Playgroup at Shamrock Park

For some reason, I have a hard time putting pictures up in order, because you have to do it backwards. If anyone knows of an easier way to do this, PLEASE do tell. It's hard to drag the pictures around.
Ammon pitched a mini fit so I rode Lil Push down the hill.
Ammon decided it looked fun when I rode the bike down the hill, so proceeded
to do it three times.

Going...

...Going...

...Gone. Nap time.

This is a cool modern type teeter totter. It helps to have somewhat even weights. I've got Ammon and Jaeden on here with me.