Nursury Bound

Can you believe that MK will be 18 months this coming week? It doesn't seem possible, but it's true. We took her to Nursery at Church today: She did great! I got tired of wrestling with her during Sacrament Meeting. She has made friends in our other meetings, especially an older couple that she's taken a shining to. It was so cute because the husband started bringing small toys to church just for her. MK used to walk and walk and walk around the room stopping by people she's made friends with.

MK wasn't too sure about Nursery at first, but she warmed up and soon was giggling and playing with all the toys and other kids. I left her to toys, friends, snacks, and puzzles to go to my meetings sans kids. It was nice to go to my meetings without chasing kids and being able to focus on the teacher/speaker.

MK had fun at Nursery and Mom and Dad had fun with her there.

Temple Views

A new temple has been announced within sight of our home. The new temple site is within 5 miles. We have a great uninterupted view of the valley and will be able to see the construction as it progresses. It'll be interesting to watch. I told R that he needs to put his newly found photography skills to work and do a photo project of its construction. I thought it would be interesting for him to take a photo each week as it progresses from empty field to finished building. He thought that was a great idea (well, it was from me =) so I'm not really surprised) and wants to do it.

R.I.P. Furnace

Our furnace passed away last night. It became sick (again) over the weekend (of course) and died a slow and painfully cold death. The heating technician pulled the plug last night at 8:08 p.m. to put it out it's misery and us in the cold. The furnace is survived by 3 space heaters and 5 chilly people. After a period of mourning and reflection, the vacancy created by its untimely death was filled by a new furnace. This succession was unanimously approved by the survivors. The new furnace is happy to have found a new home and fill the home with love and warmth.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Last night we drove up to Salt Lake City to take the kids to Temple Square and see all the lights and nativities throughout the grounds. It was cold, so we had to bundle up. We had such a fun time walking throughout the grounds and looking at all the colored lights, cool nativities, reflection ponds, and tabernacle. Later, we stopped in the visitors center to warm up and watched Luke II.
C & S kept testing their "sliding" skills in all the snow. We had to keep S away from all the water--he kept trying to get up close and personal with the reflection pond and water fountains.

When we left for home, I asked the kids what their favorite part was.
C: The orange and red lights in the trees.
S: The movie and the Christus.
MK: Probably being pushed around in the stroller in cozy comfort.

Our First New Year's Eve

10 years ago tonight marks the first time R and I went out. Our history together is quite funny, looking back. When I got back from France, an old roommate asked me if I wanted to share an apartment again. R lived in an apartment on the same floor just kitty-corner to mine. I had acquired a stalker who I couldn't seem to shake and who claimed R and him were great friends. So thinking that R was in the same vein as this guy, I avoided him. The first time we spoke to each other, I walked away mid-conversation once R brought up that other guy. So for a few weeks/months I tried not to be ambushed and forced into talking to R again. I was more embarrassed than anything around him--because of the whole walking away from him while he's talking and because I thought he was like that stalker-guy and because I thought he thought that I LIKED that stalker-guy. Then came New Year's Eve.

I got back to my apartment on New Year's Eve Day. Originally, I had plans to go out with some friends from home.....but they abruptly changed their plans to go some where I didn't really care to go to. My roommie was there and we were hanging out in our living room wondering what we would do when a guy from downstairs came along saying that he's trying to get a group together to go up to SLC for New Year's Eve. His 2 sisters were visiting and he was trying to find others to come along. My roommate and I agreed, then I found out R was going to be part of the group. Yikes....and I had done so good on avoiding him.

So, the 6 of us drive up to SLC through all the fog. I remember it was hard to see the road as we drove up. They had fireworks that no one could see because of the fog: Instead, the fog just changed colors. We took some pictures, and EVERYONE of them R would put his finger in my ear! Weird-o!

 

 

So both pictures we have from that night I'm making a crazy face because who would think that a guy you barely know would stick his finger in your ear? During a group picture? Apparently, R would. (He still does that to our boys. Hilarious to me since it's not me this time around.)

We all had so much fun that we all kept getting together every night after that until classes started up again. Then, a couple days later R called me up and asked me out.

10 years later, we've been married 9-1/2 years, have 3 kids, and a mortgage. Oh, and I still have the coat.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas all! We have had a great morning and a smooth drive to R's dad's house in So. Nevada. Thank you to everyone who helped make our Christmas possible. The kids have had a great time....R and I, too.

A Festivus Miracle!

This morning R was a wonderful hubby and got up with MK who wakes up at 7:50am like clockwork. He brought her into bed with us, and she snuggled with him for about 15-20 minutes before I realized she was there. I then got up and did the morning routine with the kids getting them breakfast and ready for our day. Then C and S proceeded to do what all kids do this time of year when school is out, candy is in abundance, and excitement is in the air: They drove me absolutely insane! (i.e. fighting, whining, complaining, arguing, etc.) Finally, I had had enough. I sent C to their room and S to sit on the couch. I went into the bedroom to get a sweater so we can go deliver some Holiday Cheer (not sure where I was going to get some Cheer since I was in short supply.) R looked up at me when I came into the room, and I said "I'm done." I put on my sweater and realized something was in the pocket. I reached inside and pulled out 5 peppermint patties. Now, you have to understand that peppermint patties are my absolute favorite--I can eat them all day, everyday without end, forever and ever, amen. I looked at R and asked him if he had done that. "No," he said. "It's a Festivus Miracle!" I laughed: It was a Festivus Miracle. I ate my peppermint patties and went out to hug my kids. We bundled up and went out to deliver some Holiday Cheer....that and the SandArt Brownies we made for them.

Unexpected Visitor

So a crazy thing happened last night. The kids were all in bed, I was laying in bed reading a book waiting for R to finish up his work in his study when all the sudden someone started to pound (not knock politely, but pound frantically) on our door. At first, I thought it was just some neighborhood kids pulling a prank. But the pounding soon became very frantic accompanied by a woman screaming as if someone was chasing her. I tried to find some clothes to put on, while I heard R cautiously open the door. A woman was on our door step sobbing that she needed help, needed a fire extinguisher, because the car she was towing was on fire--in the middle of the street right in front of our house!

R quickly handed her our fire extinguisher, told her to keep away from the car (who knows if and when the fire would hit the gas tank) and that he was calling 911 right then. By then, I was dressed and grabbed my coat and shoes. I did my best to keep the driver from getting too close to the car and out of the snow. She was in shock and couldn't stop crying. The police came and blocked off the street and we waited for the fire department. It seemed like forever until the firefighters showed up, but in retrospect it was pretty darn quick--especially for a volunteer fire department. We stood on our driveway and watched the firefighters put out this car fire. R got some great pictures.

While we were outside, we noticed we were the first "on the scene" with the driver. A lot of neighbors came out of their homes to watch. But I realized that this woman chose our house because it was around 11:30 pm, and we were the only home with lights still on. I was glad that we could help her.

The kids slept through everything even though MK woke up during the pounding.

So, here's what we found outside our door.

Here are the firefighters.

This a really cool one R got.

And when it was all said and done.