Love

Here is my beautiful wife and awesome son. This picture was taken just before church. I love 'em both so much. Psh, they're the best!

Good as New

This chair used to be my mom's when she was a child and then it was mine when I was a child, and now it's Vessel's! It used to look like this, but we decided to strip the stain, sand it down and repaint it. The stepping stool was also mine as a child, but given to me as a gift from someone else. We thought we'd make it go with the chair. This project took longer than expected, considering that we wanted to give it to Vessel on his birthday. The sad thing is, we were so close to having it done by then, but since it wasn't, we slacked off and barely finished it this week. Thinking it would be less boring, Mike and I decided to paint it 2 colors instead of one. After taking the slats off and sanding it all down, we first put the white coats on (which actually turned out to be eggshell) and then the red. After several coats and touch ups, we finally put on the Shellac, or the sealant. Then we nailed the slats back on and viola! An awesome chair just Vessel's size! I'm sure a professional could've done a lot better, but bear in mind that we have never done something like this before. However, it was a fun project that Mike and I could work on together and a piece of history we could pass down to our son. We love it!

Our Little Helper

Ves has been climbing into the dishwasher (to help us clean the dishes of course) for months now, but I finally got it on camera, and in his birthday suit no less.

Wrangler Butts Drive Me Nuts!

Don'tcha just love the Wrangler diaper cover?

Cowboy Vessie!

Killer footwear, eh?

On his horse "Taffy."

Relationship to Food

So as I was browsing my SIL Karen's blog, I saw she had a post with 10 weird facts about her relationship with food. She didn't tag me by name, but she said if anyone reads it to do it. And I'm not one to pass up the opportunity to talk all about myself, so here ya go. :) I tag Mike, Tracy, Gavin, Bekah, Chris, Annika, Carrol, cousin Tracie, and Shelly-Chelle.

1. I love getting food samples at the grocery store. One afternoon I went to Harmon's and practically ate lunch there from the multitude of sample stations set up all over the store. And, because I'm pathetic, I'll usually go back and get another sample when the server's not looking.

2. I love to munch on crunchy food. When I want a snack I usually go for something crunchy. Like banana chips, apple chips, potato chips, tortilla chips (hey, I like chips,) cereal, vanilla wafers, goldfish crackers, Milano cookies, toffee, carrot sticks, etc. Even when I eat ice cream (my all time favorite food) it's much better for me if it's got something crunchy in it or if it's in one of those crunchy waffle bowls or a sugar cone.

3. Lumps in food gross me out. Who likes lumpy gravy or lumpy pudding, or lumpy anything for that matter?

4. I am desperate to try some chocolate covered bacon. Salty and sweet....what a great combo!

5. I hate to cook. I can do it, and when I do it usually turns out fine, but it's not my favorite thing in the world.

6. Even though I hate cooking, I enjoy watching cooking shows. I'm really starting to like Nigella Lawson. Maybe it's because she likes chocolate covered bacon. :)

7. So once in awhile if I have nothing else to do on Wednesday night I'll watch "Kitchen Nightmares" while Mike is at class. Let me tell ya, that show seriously makes me reconsider eating out at ANY restaurant.

8. This week I watched "Criminal Minds" and it was about the detectives honing in on a kidnapper who they later learned was a cannibal. Before knowing who the killer was, the detectives got together with the local church to search for one of the missing neighborhood girls. Well the killer (a member of the congregation) just happened to show up to aid in the volunteer search that day. But instead of going on the search with the rest of the group, he was in charge of making BBQ for the group to eat when they got back from searching the woods. Well, he ended up feeding that missing girl to the whole congregation, including the priest. When they finally realized who the killer was, one of the detectives questioned him in a room with the priest there. The killer said something to the effect that he had done a lot of bad things and he didn't feel like God's spirit was with him anymore. The priest tried to offer some consoling words by saying "God is in everybody." The killer just smiled and said, "So is _________." (name of the girl he fed to the people.)

My stomach was in knots and doing somersaults for the rest of the night. You know, I am sometimes paranoid that someone will do something bad to my food, like hock a loogy in my sandwich or something. But I have never thought that someone was probably feeding me a human being. And now I'll never look at barbeque the same again, let alone eat it.


Looks like I could only think of 8 things. Sorry to let you all down.

Classes

Last week I determined my school schedule for January. I’m signed up for statistics (my only required class) and my other four classes are electives. I decided to sign up with an aerobics class because not only did I need an extra credit to fill, but I think I’ll be more motivated to exercise if I know I’ll be getting a grade for attending class. I’m also taking mediation, a drawing class, and an honors class called technologies of the body. Here’s the description of the class:

Technologies of the Body The body is continually being negotiated in a landscape of ever-changing signifiers, including enhancements, exchanges, modifications and inscriptions: all instances of how we engage in 'body-work'. Bodywork includes various forms of alterations and transformations, for example, reductions, piercings, tattoos, injections, and transplantations. These practices alter and construct how the body is read, and consequently, what the body signifies. The body as a cultural signifier also includes capacities of the virtual body with the arrival of computerized, robotized, digitized, and postmodern bodies. The aim of this course is to consider and examine the argument that participation in these contemporary technologies has significantly transformed the experience of what it means to have a body. The consequences of the intersections-between technology and the body-will be explored and critically analyzed.

It sounds interesting right? If it wasn’t for Mike I wouldn’t have known it even existed. He’s the one who suggested I apply for the Honor’s program so I could be eligible to take one of the cool classes the department offers. And only the best of the best professors are allowed to teach honors courses (according to Mike), so I hope I don’t regret registering for this class. My back-up classes (in case I decide against any that I’m already signed up for) are hip hop dance (don’t judge me) and Acting 1033, at which Mike will mock me for taking both, so let’s hope it doesn’t come down to that.

Another week has begun

Another week has begun. Where did the weekend go? It was a great weekend, but went by too fast. One of my friends started a monthly get-together, appropriately named “girls night in,” where about 10 of us women get together at someone’s home to work on our projects, eat, and basically just talk all hours of the night. So on Friday a few women, including me, brought our scrapbooks, one brought some needlepoint, another worked on painting, another was sewing something special to give as a Christmas gift, and one filled out some baby shower invitations. It’s not very often that I feel comfortable with a big group of women, but I have to be honest and say that I had a fabulous time. I saw a side of some girls that I had never seen before. It was great just being able to have adult conversation (which is a must when you’re with a kid all day long) and talk freely about pretty much any topic. Nothing was taboo. Overall, I enjoyed learning about other women’s lives and was happy to find out that other women have several similar ideas and experiences as me. And besides eating and laughing together, I was actually able to make progress on my scrapbook (something I never get a chance to do when it’s just me and Vessel at home) and swap ideas with fellow scrapbookers. Thanks to my honey for giving our son a bath and putting him down for the night so I could go have some fun. :) The host of this month’s “girls night in” decided she wanted to do the pencil test on one of the pregnant woman in the group as a means to finding out the gender of her baby. If you read my “10 unknown facts” post recently, you’ll remember that I’m superstitious, and this little pencil test is no exception. I remember my mom doing the test on me as a young girl, but with a needle instead of a pencil. Oddly, I don’t remember the results. So out of curiosity I had my friend dangle the pencil lead above my wrist and tell me my pregnancy future, if you will, and according to the pencil I’m only having 2 boys. Psh! We’ll just see about that. For one thing, I was kind of planning on having more than 2 kids, and for another I KNOW I’m going to have a girl SOMEDAY. I just have to. Pencil, why do you have to mess with me? Anyway, has anyone ever heard of this pencil test who wouldn't mind sharing their experiences/thoughts on it?

On Saturday a friend of mine who is so sweet watched Vessel for us so Mike and I could attend a temple session. We went with another couple and it was a really good session. In fact, one of the best I’ve had in a long time. And it made me feel happy the rest of the day. After picking up Vess, we went out with the same couple to have some Indian food (Mike’s favorite.) By the time we got home Vessel was so exhausted that he took a 2 ½ hour nap, which was fine by me, because I needed a nap too. I have not taken a real nap in months, and let me tell ya, it felt SO NICE. That night I made spaghetti and meatballs with garlic toast, which turned out okay, but for some reason I can never get my meatballs to maintain their “ball” shape when I cook them. Does anyone have some tips for me? After Vessel was down for the night, Mike and I watched a movie, ate ice cream and snuggled. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kid, but sometimes I really can’t wait for 8:00 to roll around so Mike and I can just have some alone time and talk or so I can finally work on my neglected projects.

On Sunday, Vessel was a demon, and I mean that. The poor kid caught a mild cold plus he’s getting his molars, and on top of that I think he’s having a growth spurt. So he’s been really irritable and uncomfortable the past few days. I know something’s not right when my seemingly mellow, happy, content child is shrieking and whining non-stop all day. It’s like he turned into a completely different person. I had a feeling he was teething again because he’s been drooling excessively and putting his fingers in his mouth, and sure enough I looked at his gums and I can see them starting to bubble up. So right now he’s just one snotty, slobbery mess. The reason I think he’s having a growth spurt is because he’s eating more than usual and it doesn’t seem like he’s grown for some time, (or maybe I just don’t notice him getting bigger because it’s so gradual.) But in any case, if it is a growth spurt, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s in some pain. As a child Mike would cry and complain about his joints, bones and skin hurting when he was going through a major growth spurt, so I’m sure Vessel could have a similar experience. I hope he gets feeling better soon.

Hooray for Dan! (UPDATED)

*UPDATE*---Here is a video David put together for those who could not be there. Good times, good times.


Last night we went to the Bates' house because Danny wanted all the family to be there when he opened his mission letter. He has been called to serve in the Guatemala, Guatemala City North Mission! He will report to the Guatemala MTC on February 27th. Mike and I are very happy and excited for him and also very proud.

10 unknown facts about Mike

Ok, Jamie wanted me to post 10 things that people don't know about me. Well, I've gotta say I'm pretty transparent and shallow, so if you already know this stuff you can just give yourself a pat on the back and we'll all move on. Deal? Here it goes:



#1: I am emphatic in my opinion that yellow is a girl color, and no one is going to change my mind.



#2: I wore Jamie's socks like three times in the last week (see, I'm already grasping).



#3: Although I consider myself a relatively generous tipper, I receive NO satisfaction from it. In fact, I do it 100% out of a sense of obligation.




#4: I detest Bic pens. I have to use my "Primary Pen" at all times. I always have an ink/pencil lead refill on hand in case of an emergency.



#5: I don't have the ability to wear business casual clothing. I either have to be in a suit or be totally casual. (sure, I have some khakis, but I don't have it in me to take the next step and tuck in a pink button-down or something).



#6: I follow the speed limit when I'm driving 99.9% of the time and consider it a moral issue.



#7: I hate graduation ceremonies so much that I have only attended one besides mine from high school. I'm not even going to my own when I graduate from the U.



#8: I don't like to bask on the beach. I have to be doing something more exciting or I get really annoyed.



#9: I don't watch sports AT ALL, and I don't care about team rivalries or any of that stuff. I'll play the games, but I can't stand watching it for any period of time.



#10: I have a journal, and I have a crazy mental block from writing negative thoughts in it. I'll complain and whine on the internet to complete strangers, but I'm always totally optimistic when I write in my journal.

So there ya go. I don't know if anyone is going to learn anything useful here, but at least it's done, ne?

Mystery

After my mom passed away I found this quilt in her closet. There are 48 embroidered quilting blocks, one for each state (excluding Hawaii and Alaska) and the state flower. It has a peach background and backing (my mom's favorite color.) It looks like a lot of work went into it. The problem? I don't know who embroidered the quilting squares. It is still a mystery to me. I've called numerous family members to find out if they know. I called my great aunt Ludeen thinking that her mom (my great grandma Jessie) might have embroidered them because I know she made several quilts and embroidered items. I described the quilt to Ludeen and when she told me she also had a state flower quilt with the same kind of pattern that her mother Jessie helped her set, I thought for sure that my great grandma had done it. I then called my aunt Ella (my mom's sister) to find out if she knew anything about it. She told me that her grandma Ames (my great grandma) made each grand-daughter a different quilt top and that my mom's may have been the state flower quilt top, but wasn't sure. I then called my other aunt to find out if she had any information. She agreed that my great grandma Ames had made a quilt top for each girl and that all the grand-daughters just had to finish the quilt themselves (like add the batting, backing, and finish the edges.) I vaguely remember my mom talking about a quilt she needed to finish when I was younger, but I'm not sure who helped her finish the quilt. And I still don't know who embroidered everything. I wish I would've asked my Mom this before she passed away, and my 2 grandmas that would have the answer have also passed away. It's frustrating because it's such a neat quilt and I'd love to know who in my family background made it. Here's my advice: talk to your parents and grandparents now! If you have old things like this, find out who made them, ask questions about your genealogy, take an interest! I wish I would've then, but now it's too late. *sigh*

Here are a few of the quilting blocks:

(Idaho--my state baby! Woot woot!)

The quilt laid out on our bed: