Saturday, January 31, 2009

A Year of Dates: Weeks 3 & 4

Week 3: We met up with some good friends for dinner at Zupas. The sandwiches and salads are delish. I gave Zach 3 choices on what to do afterwards, and he chose to see:

Note to self: don't sit in the front while at a James Bond movie--it tends to make for motion sickness. #2 Note to self: don't go to a James Bond movie expecting to understand what is happening when you haven't seen the first movie to which it constantly refers. #3 Note to self: expect to see more violence than you expect to see . . . what with the hand to hand combat, car chases, gunshots, corrupt police, airplance chases, hotels in the middle of Bolivia that sit on their own fuel cells (c'mon people). Still, very enjoyable to be with Zach:-)

Week 4: Our at home date for the month. . . our "Fridate," if you will. We put the kids in bed, got takeout from Bajio's and watched a Harry Potter. Gotta love those. And if I'm being honest, I'd MUCH rather watch a movie in the comfort of my own home, sitting on my couch, with my feet up on the ottoman, fire flickering off to the side, with captions on. (Ummm, yeah . . . I've realized I really can't hear all that well, and I always use closed captioning. Zach's very understanding. He gave up trying to convince me I didn't really need it ages ago.)

Friday, January 30, 2009

Flashback Friday

Because I'm feeling just a teensy bit tired of this:
I decided to spend a few moments remembering this:

On the Big Island, February 2007
Volcano tour: I can't NOT pose in front of a camera. It's a curse. I'm not sure the tour guide liked it so very much. Aerial shot.
Ahhhhhh . . . I'm remembering the beautiful weather.
Zach parasailing. Man, it looks fun, doesn't it? They wouldn't even let me on the boat. (Baby #4 was on the way.)
See . . . I told you about the pose thing.
And THEN I got Zach to do it, too, which goes to show the extensive power of my influence. Oh wait . . . he still looks pretty normal. I guess it's just me.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Fortunes


Here's how it works: before you get to open your fortune cookie, someone asks you a question and your fortune answers it. (Am I the only one who didn't do this growing up? Zach was appalled the first time I opened a fortune cookie after we were married and he hadn't asked me a life-altering question yet.) Anyway, tonight the question we asked each of the kids was, "What will you be when you grow up?" Their fortunes were as follows:

L: "Do not worry about the stock market. Invest in family." OK, then, mom it is.

K: "Your careful nature will bring you financial success." Not sure what his profession will be, but he won't be taking any risks, apparently.

I: "An unexpected vistor will bring you good blessings." Sounds like he's going to win the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes. As long as he shares, that'll be just fine.

A: "This coming Friday will be an exciting time for you." Discovered as a Baby Gap model, perhaps? This Friday might be a little early to determine a career, but we shall see. (Maybe he could be a professional tantrumer . . .)

Saturday, January 17, 2009

A Year of Dates: Weeks 1 & 2

Week 1: For one of Z's Christmas presents, I arranged 12 months of weekly dates for us. Well, really, I just made the babysitting arrangements and lists of things to do and places to go around here for our dates. Baby steps. For our first official date of 2009, after grabbing dinner at Panda Express, we went to "Move: Versatility in Body Expression" at the Scera Theater. Heading home, Zach said, "That really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," which I will consider an unqualified success. It was dancing after all, and though it may shock you to hear, it's not exactly his favorite artistic medium.
Week 2: Best date ever. Luckily, to avoid peaking too early, we've arranged to go every month.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Flashback Friday

If you were wondering where my kiddos get their charming smiles, look no further. . .





Sunday, January 11, 2009

Holiday break: a (very brief) recap

And now a little more detail, to make up for my lame-o lack of picture taking over the break: BYU Bookstore on Christmas Eve, Light of Christ program, yummy food, lots of treats, playing Wii, Bolt, sledding, Christmas dinner, watching Bolt, lap harp, Star Wars Complete Saga, castle with knights, stacking boxes, codfish, machines, dancing, celebrating, exercising, SURPRISE!, big breakfast, time with gma Tina and gpa Ron, cinnamon rolls, cribbage, trip to Malad, sick baby, no sleep, new calling, LOTS OF FUN!

Holiday break: a (very brief) photographic journey

Reindeer food
Lights at Temple Square
Kye refused to take off this hat while sledding, and it was like this the whole time.
Hannah getting in a few pages before sledding.
Christmas morning.
One more. Seriously . . . that's all I took.
Playing our new favorite game on NYE: Machines.
Isaac, finally crashing at 11 p.m. on NYE.
Playing games with gpa Ron.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Do you remember the kid from A Christmas Story

who can't stand up in his snow clothes? He's got nothing on Adam.



Top Ten--December 2008

Top Ten things done, heard, seen, or experienced by the B's in December 2008

10-Amazing fall-like weather for the first few weeks of the month. We were outside without jackets till the middle of December. Kye was thrilled. He told Isaac, “If it doesn’t snow for Christmas, that means you get a LOT of presents.” Must have been heart-wrenching for him to see it snow and snow and SNOW just before Christmas. At least he didn’t have to wonder why he didn’t get more gifts than usual.

9- M: What do you think we should get Dad for Christmas?
I: Mmmmmm, I fink we should get him a eyeball.
M: Excuse me, what?
I: A eyeball.
M: But WHY?
I: Because then he could have thwee.

8-Zach’s complete inability to tell a lie. Though I’m proud to have married a man with amazing similarities to George Washington, and I know it is a wonderful feature, and an envious strength, it really doesn’t serve him well when he’s trying to keep a secret. It gets especially hairy around Christmas, which (as I often remind him) is supposed to be filled with secrets and surprises.

7-The end of a wonderful 2 ½ years serving in the Primary Presidency. At our last meeting with the Bishopric on the morning we were released, it was said that our greatest friendships are made as we work together to build the Kingdom of God. I can’t tell you just how true this was for me. I learned amazing things from each of the women I served with. Among other things, R. taught me the power of personal growth through our callings, P. taught me about pure Christlike love for Heavenly Father’s children, E. taught me to take things as they come b/c when we are doing our part, all will work out, T. taught me the joy that comes to others when we are willing to serve with all our strength. I’ll miss it, but I’m so pleased to be serving in our junior nursery this year. After all, "the Church starts training leaders at 18 months."
6-The boys’ unfortunate propensity for injury. Bloody noses were this month’s winners. Kye took several knees to the nose on the trampoline and Isaac stuck a chop stick up one nostril waaaaaay too far. Results=instructions to be a little less crazy on the tramp and no more chop sticks for Isaac . . . ummmm, ever.

5-Dinnertime conversation:
M: What does Daddy need to hold in order to baptize you?
K: The Priesthood.
M: Right! Now, what do deacons need to hold to pass the sacrament?
I: The food.
Technically correct, but I was going for a something a leetle different there.

4-Our binkie-sucking, blankie-loving, temper tantrum-throwing, sugar-eating, non-talking, growling little man. He’s growing up and I’m not sure I like it. We love that kid.

3-I find myself saying the most ridiculous things to my children. Should these things REALLY be necessary? “Kye, if I let you play the Wii, you have to agree not to complain about going to the movies.” Was I was making him watch some intensely boring, want-to-shoot-your-ears off documentary? Nope, I had to bribe him with the Wii so he would go see “Bolt,” for crying out loud. Turns out he loved it—well, tolerated it anyway.

2-Adam’s future career based on this month’s interests: professional thief, embezzler, or perhaps a pirate?? When the new primary secretary came over for a training one day, Adam snatched her keys unbeknownst to us. After searching the house for over an hour, she walked home, broke into her house and came back with the spare keys. The next day, Adam walked out of who-knows-where with the keys and dropped them on the kitchen floor. At least he remembered where he’d stashed his treasure.

1-Could there be a better Christmas surprise than my parents showing up for a New Year’s Eve breakfast at my house when they should in actuality be in S.D.? (When I say “surprise,” I mean the surprise I felt the day before they showed up when Zach gave in and told me they were coming. Remember how he can’t tell a lie?)

Monday, January 5, 2009

Family Photo

October 2008
Mesa, Arizona

Sunday, January 4, 2009

New Year's Resolution

My New Year's resolution is to stop procrastinating. I want to write all about our holiday celebrations, get our December top ten done, and post lots of fun pictures. And I will . . . tomorrow.