The Davies Family of 4 1/2

Gingerbread in January

2012-01-27T14:33:00.004-07:00

When we went to visit Rocky's parents over Christmas break, we didn't have a chance to make a gingerbread house. So, they sent us home with a kit. Today, the kids and I were very bored. So, what did we do? Made a gingerbread house! Not such a beauty, but they were excited about the project, and Chase was especially meticulous about where she wanted each candy to go. She would point to where she wanted me to place the frosting. Ryder was especially excited about the candy. He was busy sneaking candy, while Chase masterfully decorated this little jewel. :)

New Year's Interviews

2012-01-10T17:56:00.003-07:00

For FHE last night we decided to do "New Year's Interviews." So, we sat down and each of us answered the following questions. I will only list Ryder and Chase's answers since they are more interesting and cute. :)

Ryder
Favorites:

cereal-"Frog Cereal" or "Honey Smacks"
vegetable-oranges :)
drink-milk
toy-blankie (He loves his blanket! He still takes it in the car with him on the way to preschool.)
TV Show-Spiderman
game-Uno-Moo
book-A pig a party (If You Give a Pig a Party)
restaurant-Firehouse Subs
holiday-Christmas
animal-hippopotamus

If you could change your name, what would you choose? Donken (I don't know how he came up with that!)

What do you love about each person in our family? Daddy-being mad. (?) Chase-making silly faces. Mommy-hugging.

Where would you like to go on vacation this year? Upstairs where the tent is. I told him that if we were to go outside our house to another place he said, "To Idaho. To Grandma's House"

What are some of your wishes for this year? Christmas time

Chase
Favorites:

cereal-Captain Crunch
vegetable-fruit snacks (haha, I guess I need to teach my kids what vegetables are!)
drink-water
toy-blankie {she's doesn't care about her blankie, but Ryder said it :)}
TV Show-Frosty the Snowman
game-I don't know
book-She pointed to a random book on the shelf. :)
restaurant-McDonald's
holiday-Frog Cereal (haha)
animal-My Miss Piggy stuffed animal.

If you could change your name, what would you choose? A Smiley Face (Maybe she's channeling her inner "Prince" or "The Artist formerly know as Prince." haha

What do you love about each person in our family? Daddy: Smiley Face. Ryder: Ball Face. Mommy: Kisses.

Where would you like to go on vacation this year? Visit Grandpa Davies

What are some of your wishes for this year? She pointed to me. Then I asked her if she wanted me to have a baby, and she said, "Yeah."

Quiet Time Dilemma

2011-12-15T13:36:00.002-07:00

I need advice!!

The past couple weeks I've been having my kids go to their rooms for "quiet time." This means that for a half hour they go up in their room, close the door, and play with toys quietly in their rooms.

Here is the problem: Chase spends almost the whole half hour either crying or coming out of her room to use the bathroom. Ryder is a perfect angel. He could probably spend a full hour in his room playing by himself.

So, my question is: what should Chase be doing? I've given her special toys, different toys each time, etc. But, I don't think she knows how to play by herself! How can you even teach this? Your suggestions are appreciated!

Verbal Gems

2011-12-07T09:25:00.005-07:00

I had to post this for posterity/grandparents!

I know I just posted about Ryder, but this kid is really cracking me up!

Top 3 awesome things he's said this week:

1) Me: Ryder are you going to get married someday?

R: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! What did I tell you? What did I tell you?! I'm not getting married! :)

2) Chase was dancing around the kitchen and Ryder observed and said, "Great dancing Chase, bravo! Bravo!" (Where does he learn this?)

3) Our family was in the kitchen doing different activities: coloring, baking, drawing, playing with toys, and Ryder stops coloring to make some awesome remarks. :)

Ryder: We live in a dirty house.

Rocky: Who makes it a dirty house?

Ryder: The kids.

At least the kid is honest! haha

My Little Hero!

2011-12-01T17:27:00.005-07:00

Lately I have really enjoyed Ryder. I know that sounds like an awful/odd statement, but I have enjoyed watching him learn new things, mature, and say some funny things. :) He really is a sweetheart, but I think back to the terrible twos, (and, let's face it, the not-so-pleasant threes) and it amazes me how much he has progressed.

Ryder has such a funny sense of humor. Today he was talking about what would happen if he didn't have a mommy or daddy [some positives and some negatives :) ] But, he said, "If I didn't have a mommy, then who would wipe my bum?" Lol!

When we went to pick Ryder up from preschool today, he showed me this cute sticker he had earned for being good. He then proceeded to put in on Chase's shirt because he had missed her so much! (15 minutes later they were fighting, but that's a different post!) He really is a sweet brother to Chase, and I'm excited to see how the receive our new baby GIRL!! :) They've already started to kiss my belly and say "Nice baby," as they pat it. haha

Ryder really was my hero today because when I was buckling them in the car after preschool I accidently locked the keys in the car with both of them buckled in. So, I had to have Ryder get out of his booster seat, climb into the front seat (child safety locks), and unlock the door. He did it!! It only took about 5 minutes, which saved me time and cash! Thank you Ryder buddy! :)

P.S. No, this is not a recent picture of us (I will post a new one in 6-12 months time).

Halloween

2011-11-03T16:40:00.008-06:00

Trunk or Treating

Ryder's little buddy

Rocky's parent's came to visit...

Leftover Halloween candy!

PS Sorry this looks so ghetto, but unfortunately Blogger is lame and it won't let me fix stuff because I don't speak html. BOO!!

A Prompting...

2011-10-06T20:12:00.002-06:00

Tonight I was reading the Engsign, and I came across something that really spoke to me. I felt prompted to share this quote and some thoughts about it.

President Marion G. Romney said, “I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity--the pure love of Christ--will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness.”

About 2 months ago our home teachers came and challenged us to read the scriptures with Ryder and Chase. Rocky and I have been doing this on our own, but we really hadn’t been doing it with our kids. They suggested that we read only a few verses with them. So, we started that night--reading and discussing what we read with them--and we’ve continued to read with them every night (but 1) since then.

I testify that what President Romney said is true. We have experienced more reverence, more respect and consideration, less contention, greater love and wisdom, Ryder and Chase listen better, and we do feel more peace, joy and happiness. Now, do they listen each night? No. :) But, when we discuss what we’re reading with them and how it applies to their lives, I see them learning and growing. We ask them questions like, “If you have a problem and mommy and daddy aren’t around, who can you ask?” And we discuss how Heavenly Father hears and answers our sincere prayers.

I don’t want to sound self-righteous in any way. I know many of you are probably already doing this, but I challenge you to start (if you aren’t already) reading the scriptures (Bible, Book of Mormon, etc.) with your kids, and I know it will increase the peace, joy, and happiness you feel in your homes.

When you start wearing your fat pants...

2011-09-15T09:50:00.003-06:00

You might be pregnant!

It's true. I'm 9 1/2 weeks pregnant, and I'm due April 16th. I'd like to say I'm having twins (because I seem to be increasing in size at an exponential rate), but then I'd be having twins... :). Rocky would love that!

I will find out what this little bundle of joy is in the middle of November. I will keep ya'll posted. Luckily I'm on some medication, so things haven't been too bad! :)

Mr. Ryder

2011-09-11T18:47:00.004-06:00

I'm slow getting Ryder's preschool pictures posted but they're still adorable! :) He started Wednesday, September 7th. He was very excited, and I was so excited for him. We went and toured his preschool (which is at a sports plex). Every Wednesday takes swimming lessons as part of the preschool and on Thursdays he takes a gymnastics/tumbling class as part of the preschool.

It was both sweet and heartbreaking for Chase to send him off to preschool. Once we got home from dropping him off, she seemed a little depressed and lonely...and laid down on the couch for a little while quietly (SAD!!). When Ryder got home from school I had to tell him how much Chase missed him. He was thrilled! He did this cute little laugh and gave her a big hug. He told her not to worry.

The second day I was an evil mother! Chase wanted to take her backpack for the ride, so I agreed. In the car, Ryder gave Chase his most prized possession (his blanket) and told her she could hold it while he was gone so she wouldn't be sad (I was beaming).
When we got to the the preschool I told her she could wear her backpack inside like Ryder (Oh, BIG mistake!). We all walked in, and Ryder proceeded to go put his backpack in his cubby. Chase followed him and tried to put her backpack in another kid's cubby. I had to crush this little girl's heart by telling her that she would be going home with me and not staying with Ryder. It was very sad. She bawled, and I had to bribe her by telling her I would take her to the store and get her a treat (Twix solve so many problems).
When Ryder returned from school he was excited to see Chase, and he asked her if she was sad when he was gone. She said, "Yeah." So, I guess they really do love each other after all! I have this as evidence one day when he's being a complete bully older brother!! :)

Chasey Girl

2011-09-09T07:22:00.004-06:00

This morning Chase wanted to wear the new shorts we bought her last week. So, she put them on, and then requested that I cut the tags/label off in the back (these often bother her).

We went downstairs, and I got the scissors and just as I was about to cut I said, "Hold still so I don't cut you."

Then she said very seriously, "Don't cut my bum off!" haha

I told her, "I would never do that!" (between fits of laughter).

*My friend Nikki took these pictures.

NC house sneak peak

2011-07-17T19:04:00.006-06:00

When the kids and I came to the house last Monday, Rocky had these surprises for us...

We are eagerly awaiting our bedroom set and couch (coming Saturday), but Rocky proved to be quite the interior designer! He put all of these decorations up himself while we were away. Several of them he purchased himself. He started to wonder if the people at Hobby Lobby were questioning his sexuality. Good thing he is confident in his artsy skin! :)

Messages to Heaven

2011-05-03T09:36:00.006-06:00

Last Friday would have been my dad's 70th birthday. Before he died he ordered a bridge, and for his birthday we had the bridge installed with a plaque commemorating his life. We had a little ceremony to say a few words about him, and then we all wrote messages which we attached to a balloon. After singing "Happy Birthday" to him, we let the balloons float to heaven. One of my nieces wrote on her message: Grandpa, Happy birthday! I really like your birthday and I hope you like your balloon.

Pajama Buddies

2011-04-29T08:34:00.006-06:00

Chase's favorite thing to do lately...

Ryder was calling her "Buddy" (a combination of Woody and Buzz).

2 posts in 1 day--oh my!

2011-04-08T21:08:00.004-06:00

Blonde (modeling for a project of Rocky's).

Brunette.

Exhibit A.

Exhibit B.

Gloating

2011-04-08T20:04:00.009-06:00

Don't you hate it when people post their awesome pictures from Hawaii? Well, that's why it took me so long to put these up. I felt smug doing it. But, with this crappy weather, I guess I just want to go back in time.

So here are some pics from February when Rocky's amazing parents took us with them to Hawaii! Don't be hater. :)

<---Someone had to tame this beast.

<----These flamingos were on our hotel grounds.

I'm still trying to teach Rocky how to ride like a cowboy. :)

<----

Susan and Kent. Rocky's parents. They are the best!

<---

We went snorkeling and the boat also had 2 slides and a diving board. We whipped up a routine for the passengers.

<---- :)

<---How did this picture get in here?

LUAU!!

<-----

The Nuggets of Motherhood

2011-01-19T20:06:00.000-07:00

*Pun intended.

You know those shining moments of motherhood? When you get that warm fuzzy feeling, and think to yourself, "I just love my kids!" This...was not one of them.

Today started out well. The kids were playing well. Usual routine. But, when we arrived at my sister's house, Ryder's inner beast was unleashed. I won't get into specifics, but I'll summarize by saying that 2 changes of underwear (see title above if you're confused), and 3 time outs later I was at a crossroads. Should I use the boxing gloves or the broomstick? Broomstick.

No, it wasn't pretty folks, but I tell you this so that when you and your husband are observing little Timmy playing quietly with his chemistry set and Sally re-reading the encyclopedia {those are your kids names, right? :)} you can think to yourself, "Wow, we really are great parents. We never have to raise our voices, and our children listen intently to ever word we utter."

Now, before I get out of hand, let me just say: I did learn something today. I learned that motherhood is the hardest job I've ever had. I used to think I was patient, kind, understanding, and loving. But, now I know I'm not any of those. Not perfectly, I mean. But, I guess that's why motherhood is the most rewarding job I've ever had, too. Because it's not about controlling your child and molding them into the perfect version of yourself. It's watching them grow and make choices and help them become the best version of themselves.

The Bad, The Very Bad, The Good, and The Ugly!

2011-01-18T14:24:00.000-07:00

The Bad:

January 3rd we received a call from our neighbors in Spanish Fork informing us that our smoke alarms were going off. They told us that they would use our spare key to investigate. We thought (hoped & wished) that it was a fluke. Nope. It was $10,000 worth of damage they were hearing!
Our neighbor, Russell, went inside to find that our kitchen floor was flooded. A pipe had frozen and was draining from under the sink into our dishwasher, which in turn flooded the entire kitchen and bathroom floor and seeped into 2 bedrooms and a bathroom in the basement. Was the basement finished? You might be asking--yup. {Insert vomiting sound here.}

The Very Bad:

The 2 questions that ran through our mind were: 1) How did this happen? 2) Will our insurance cover it? OH BOY...well, this is where it gets VERY bad because question 2 is determined by question 1. The answer to question 1 is: Our pipes froze because of the temperature. Rocky's face drained of all color when he realized that he had turned off our heat!!!! Will the insurance cover that? NO. No, they won't cover that teeny mistake. We were sick, sick, sick. Where would we come up with $10,000 (or more)?

The Good: {Insert sigh of relief here--if you've read this far you may be emotionally invested.}

Rocky talked to the insurance adjuster and answered all his questions honestly. I was feeling bitter because I felt we were going to be punished for Rocky's honesty. We could have lied and said the heat was on, and the insurance would have happily paid. But, when Rocky told the guy that he had turned the heat off--things were NOT looking good. (Why is this in the good section?!)
So, we prayed, and prayed, and fasted and called relatives and friends and connections who we thought could help. Then, a miracle happened! It turns out that after talking to our neighbor, and a different neighbor, and the restoration guy they all said that when they went into our house that the heat was, in fact, on. We wondered who had turned it back on. Maybe someone who had walked through our house, a realtor, or an angel! :) But, that simple fact changed everything because now: OUR INSURANCE WILL COVER IT!!
We are thrilled and we feel very blessed! It's quite amazing, really.

The Ugly:
Well, this is going to seem so trivial after that epic disaster, but I had a sore throat/cold/man voice for a full week. It was NOT pretty! That's all on that one. Seriously.

This all adds up to an eventful January, and I feel like I need a vacation--which I will be going on in 3 weeks! Hurray! Pictures to come. :)

Exciting News!!

2010-11-04T19:59:00.000-06:00

NOPE...I'm not pregnant.
It's bittersweet news actually. After much consideration, prayers, pondering, contemplation, etc. we decided to sign with a realtor. (If you want more specifics why, we'll have a chat later). So, because we made that decision we are heading up to Idaho before the house is sold. We are hoping to be there before Thanksgiving!
It will be very quick, and we will be SO sad to leave our awesome ward and the wonderful friends we have made. But, we are so excited to be by my family and friends up in Idaho...at least for the short few months until we make the BIG move to North Carolina for Rocky's job.
So, Idaho prepare yourself for a party, and Spanish Fork ladies--get nice and sick of me while you can!

I've been busy doing this!

2010-10-28T21:43:00.001-06:00

spanishforkforsalebyowner.blogspot.com

I'm back

2010-10-17T20:23:00.001-06:00

Yes, I have been away for a while now. I just didn't quite know what to say after my dad died. It's been over a month now, but I still think about him every day. If you had told me in high school that I wouldn't have a father 10 years from now, I wouldn't have believed it. It's funny how in high school you think your parents are complete nerds who don't know much of anything. I wish I would have cherished the time a little more...but, I'm not going to talk about this depressing topic anymore for now.

Our latest adventures include:
1) a move--first to Idaho Falls to live with my mom for a few months (this will hopefully happen when our house sells!)
2) a second move--to North Carolina where Rocky is currently working for a company based in Durham. They would rather not skype or conference call daily with him.
3) Chase and Ryder...where do I begin? Ryder is tormenting Chase, and Chase is screaming. They haven't quite learned to share, and I'm really getting great with my "selective hearing." They really are good overall, though. :)
4) I've been...cleaning, packing, organizing, dejunking, selling things, sweating, and feeling like a crazy person in the midst of it all (I'm sure many of you empathize with this).
5) Rocky is working, working, WORKING!! He has been working 2 jobs. One that goes 8-5 (with a lunch break), The other that works 9-12 (most nights).

So, that's my life in a nutshell. Not quite cover story stuff, but at least you know that I've had some reasons for my absence.

Heartbreaking

2010-07-31T08:11:00.000-06:00

I've been avoiding writing anything about my dad up to this point for a few reasons: 1) I didn't want to have a "poor me" attitude, 2) It's difficult to talk about, 3) I've been in denial.
So, here is the situation...
My dad has bone cancer. He was diagnosed in 2004. The doctor told him then that he would live 3-5 years, and if he had a stem cell transplant he would live up to 7 years.
My dad experienced the excruciating pain of chemo and a stem cell transplant. He's gone through periods of good health and very poor health. He's never complained about this roller coaster. He's always had his feet firmly planted in the gospel. He'll wake up early to read his scriptures and write in his journal. He's an amazing person, and he's always seemed larger than life, heroic, and invincible.
But, he is going to die soon. He's been in the hospital 2 times in the past 3 weeks and each time the nurses and doctor were convinced he wouldn't make it out alive. But, my dad is a fighter--the hardest worker I've ever known--yet, you can only cheat death for so long.
Knowing someone is going to die never makes it easier, and being able to say goodbye doesn't make it easier either. How do you look at someone who has influenced your whole life and tell them what they mean to you? Words can't describe.
I'm so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know my dad will be a missionary (a great one!) in the next life. And I know that I will see him again...but that doesn't erase the sadness and loss I know I will feel because I feel the pain now.
Why do I write this? Because I know to talk about it after he dies will be even harder. But, when I look at him, I don't see fear. I'm not trying to be pessimistic or wish his life away. My point is...he's lived a great life, and I will miss him.

This reminds me of a poem my dad has quoted:
"I love life, and I want to live
To drink of life's fullness, take all it can give.
I love life, every moment must count.
To glory in it's sunshine and revel in it's fount.
I love life.
I want to live.
I love life."

I shouldn't brag...but I will anyway! :)

2010-07-12T13:18:00.000-06:00

Doesn't it feel great when you set a goal and accomplish it?! I feel so friggin' good right now!!!
For the past few months I have been training to run a 1/2 marathon in Springville. Saturday was the big race day! So, before the race I was talking to Rocky about my goal for the race. I told him that I wanted to run it in under 2 hours. He is a very smart guy, and he told me that it always helps him to imagine accomplishing your goals. So, he had me close my eyes and visualize the race. He took me through the race step by step, and finished with "and you'll even complete the race faster than you thought. You will finish in 1 hour and 45 minutes." I felt a huge weight on my shoulders when he said that! At the time I really wished he wouldn't have said that!
But...I kept that visualization in my mind. I didn't want to set myself up for failure so I made a plan A,B, and C (as suggested by my amazing marathoner sister Lynette). What do ya know--I finished in 1:44:50! :) That's an 8 minute mile, baby! :) Am I sore? OH YEAH! But, do I feel awesome? HECK YES!!
Now, I've gotta go repent for being prideful and bragging! haha

Little Lynette and me after the race. P.S. She finished in 1:34--What a rock star! :)

Paradise

2010-06-30T17:41:00.000-06:00

My parents took all their children and their spouses on a week long vacation. There were 25 adults and 3 babies on the trip. We vacationed in beautiful Destin, Florida. It's rumored to be one of the finest beaches in Florida. Did we run into any oil on the beach? No, but we did run into these beautiful sights!

But the REAL paradise was this...

and this...

I love my family SO much. I had the best time of my life! And I was SO grateful that I wasn't worried about my kids at home because they were in very safe hands with my in-laws.
I wish I could write all the things that happened, but I think I'll save that for my journal so as not to bore anyone reading this! :)
P.S. My mom is almost 70 and driving a wave runner...she ROCKS!!

The Pack Rat

2010-05-25T20:08:00.000-06:00

When I opened the door to Ryder's room after his nap, I found this. I don't know if you've seen the show Hoarders, but if they plan a junior addition I may have a candidate.

Side-note: this is just one of the many piles he's been making lately. What can I say? He's just like his dad!

MY little LADY

2010-05-14T20:44:00.000-06:00

Chase is officially 1! Her birthday was Wednesday, and these are her stats from her well check: 51% for head, 18% for length, and 8.6% for weight. She's just itty bitty! However, she can hold her own. She tackled a baby twice her size the other day. It was classic! I just sat and watched it happen. I wanted to see if she could take "the tank" down. :) That's my girl!

Here are a few pics from her b-day:

We went to McDonald's for lunch. Happiest place on Earth, right, er...that might be somewhere else.

Not quite sure what this face means. Evidence may be on the face.

She loved her birthday balloons!

A few of her presents.

Loving her b-day cupcake.

A cry/laugh when the cupcake was almost gone. :)

Spaghetti (this was pre b-day dinner)

Little buddies! I love this little lady. She makes my life complete!

Are you freakin' kiddin' me!

2010-05-06T10:18:00.000-06:00

Here is what I've experienced with potty training today:
-poopy underwear round 1--Yuck!
-poopy underwear round 2--Chase puts hand in it, Ryder steps foot in it, ground in carpet, smeared all around! YUUUUUUCK!
...and it's only 10:20 am.

See Any Resemblance?

2010-04-24T08:14:00.001-06:00

Ultra Romantic

2010-04-23T08:03:00.000-06:00

I had to lay on the cheese for this post. It was Rocky and my 4th anniversary last week. What better way to celebrate than to go to Destinations Inn...er...New York! My sister was so nice to babysit for us. It was relaxing and fun!

The Creation

2010-04-08T06:59:00.000-06:00

For FHE Rocky taught us about the creation. He showed a picture of Adam and Eve:

At the end of the lesson he reviewed to see if Ryder could remember who they were. He said, "Ryder, who is this?"
"Adam and Evil."
tehe.

God, you sure have a sense of humor!

2010-03-11T22:19:00.000-07:00

If you read the post below, you know that life has been pretty slow lately. So what did I do? Stated the obvious and complained a little.
The Lord sure is funny...I just got called to be the Young Women's President. haha, oh boy! I told Rocky I wouldn't have been more surprised if he'd slammed my head in the refrigerator.
Well, Heavenly Father, you're gonna start hearing a lot more pleading prayers. Hope you're ready to send some blessings my way! :)

A Traitor to Motherhood?

2010-02-18T10:55:00.001-07:00

I've been debating about whether or not I should discuss this topic. I don't want to sound negative or pessimistic. However, I have been feeling really BORED lately. I hope I don't sound like a traitor to motherhood! Do I love and cherish my kids? Of course! Am I glad that I am staying home to teach, play, and watch them grow? Absolutely.

The past few days have felt like Groundhog Day. I get up, get the kids fed, get them and myself ready, clean up toys, play with them, put them down for naps, clean up toys, make lunch, play with them...Are you bored yet?!!

Here are the responses I've received when I tell others that I'm bored:

1."Can't you find a cupboard to clean out?"
Answer: Yes. I have plenty of mess in my garage, storage room, etc. Is this suppose to cure my boredom? Am I suppose to accomplish anything when I have the wrecking crew following behind me? (By the way, my sweet mother said that--never bored when you have 13 kids!!)

2."Don't you have a hobby that can occupy your time?"
Answer: Yes. I do have hobbies--I like to sew, read, run, play sports,etc. Can I do these things while watching my 2 kids. Well, a little bit. I guess it just really bothers me to stop in the middle of project or to feel like I'm neglecting them while I'm doing a project. (P.S. Comment made by Rocky, an extremely talented artist that can dedicate his time to his craft...wow, I'm sounding cynical!)

I'm sure most of you wake up and find millions of things to fill your day with and hardly have a moment to relax. Yes, I do have those days, but not lately.

Advice or sympathy would be much appreciated...Thanks! :)

I couldn't resist!

2010-02-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

And neither could she. :)

Chase is 9 months old now! I know it might be a little early to be feeding her a chocolate chip cookie. What can I say? Like mother like daughter! :)

Things she can do:
-crawl
-pick up tiny things (usually from floor)
-stand up to furniture
-cruise (a little) around furniture
-climb stairs at an alarming rate

Sundance Date

2010-02-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

Rocky and I hadn't been snowboarding in years. A guy at his work gave him free tickets to Sundance, and we jumped at the opportunity. Here are a few pics from our adventure.

Shuttling up to the slopes.

Me busting a move...actually I was slow but it beats falling! :)

I was quite surprised with Rocky's speed and skills (we had never gone together!).

Riding the lift. Slow and romantic.

Enjoying our last few moments of freedom!

Made my day!

2010-01-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

While Ryder and Chase were napping I took advantage of the time and cleaned the kitchen and living room. When Ryder came down the stairs from his nap he asked, "Did you clean the house?" I said, "Yes," and he looked around and said ever so sweetly, "It looks beautiful."
I felt like crying it made me feel so good to get such a complement from a 2- year old! :)

A Cutie and a Hobo

2010-01-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

Chase is 8 months old now!

She is starting to crawl, but still LOVES to be held.

She loves her daddy (but she loves mommy the most!) :)

This is Ryder (taken in Idaho). My mom dressed him in this hobo gear. :)

Christmas Project

2010-01-11T12:40:00.001-07:00

This is a gift I made for Rocky's parents.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

Holiday Clipdown

2010-01-10T22:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a little bit of what we did over Christmas Break! It's a bit choppy, but you get the idea...

Dancing Queen

2009-12-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

I love her little face!

I'm sure this has never happened to you...

2009-12-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

Side effects of Christmas Shopperitis may include (but aren't limited to) the following:

-Uncontrollable urge to strangle, throttle, or ram the adjacent shopping cart.
-Desire to spout off a tirade of colorful expletives.
-Longing to curl up in the fetal position, allowing shoppers to run over you with their carts.
-Hair loss.
-Feelings of anxiousness, fatigue, nausea, or vomiting.

I'm sure this has NEVER happened to you, and it never happened to me today. :)

He'd have to be on the REALLY, REALLY nice list...

2009-12-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

I went to the mall last week with a friend, and I thought that while we were there I'd take Ryder to see Santa. Luckily it was early in the day so there was no line. Ryder liked looking at Santa from a distance, but didn't want to sit on his lap. Santa asked, "What would you like for Christmas?" Ryder quietly said,"I'm hoping for a dog." Santa and I laughed at that.
He can have any kind of dog...as long as it's a stuffed one! :)

Chase's Furry Friend

2009-11-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

This is how I found her a couple mornings in a row. I had to start closing the door because Kiwi was waking Chase up!

Running some "Aaron"ds

2009-11-17T13:47:00.000-07:00

I told Ryder that we needed to "run some errands" today. I was just dropping different things off at some neighbors. We made our first stop and after I got in the car Ryder asked, "Where's Aaron?" I was confused at first. I just said, "We're not seeing Aaron." Then, we had to make another stop. When I got back in the car Ryder said, "I want to play with Aaron." Then it hit me...errand...Aaron. Oops! He was so good, I told him we had one more errand to run, and then we'd go home and I'd give him a sucker (he deserved something for sitting so well and being so confused)! After my last stop he said, "Bye Aaron!" Love that kid!

1/2 a year

2009-11-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

Here's my little messy-faced princess. She's starting to eat solids and gets very envious of any food you're eating.

There's my silly little man in the background. Previous to this picture I was dancing around and he said, "Shake it, bay-ba."

My big kid and kids...

2009-11-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

The Fam (except Chase who pooped through her costume) on Halloween night!

Fall Photo Shoot

2009-11-02T09:02:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures that my sister, Heidi, took of our family. She did an awesome job!

Where's my dippins'?

2009-10-30T09:32:00.001-06:00

Ryder has been saying some funny things lately. Here is a sample of some of our conversations.

Me:(setting down fries and nuggets on a tray for him)
Ryder: Where's my dippins'?

Me: Ryder, did you have a good nap?
Ryder: Where's Rocky?

Me: (just gotten out of the shower) Do you like this towel on my head?
Ryder: Nope. Take that off!

Stress Free Potty Training?

2009-10-15T09:47:00.000-06:00

I had been avoiding the idea of potty training. It just made me stressed to think about all the work that would go into it. So, I looked online and found this book:
The book gives parents different signs of readiness to look for before you start potty training. A quiz helps you determine what your child's personality is, then divides the different personalities into chapters. I didn't read the whole book--just the chapters that pertained to Ryder's personality types (he's a combination, of course).
About a month ago I bought him a potty chair to get him interested in the idea.
Then I started giving him "naked time," which means that after bath time or a diaper change you let your child roam free. This helps them feel the sensation more easily.
This brings me to yesterday...I was letting Ryder have "naked time" after the bath. I even gave him a drink to help him try to go pee-pee. After nothing happening I walked out of the room for a bit, and I heard the successful sound of the potty chair. I went in to see what had happened and ta-da! A successful pee-pee. He did it again for Rocky. Then in the evening he had 2 accidents. Unfortunately one was a not-so-easy-to-clean accident. Let this potty business begin.

He decided to take his diaper off during his nap. Peek-a-booty. :)

4 months old!

2009-09-13T20:19:00.001-06:00

Well, I thought I would do some updated pics of Chase. She turned 4 months yesterday. Someone said, "That's 1/3 of a year old!" which just made me sad. I love having a sweet little baby. Rocky never wishes for the kids to stay young. In fact he says he wishes Ryder was 5! It must be a "girl thing" to be so sentimental. :)

Chase's top 5:
1) Drooling--and a lot of it!
2) Smiling. Any time someone looks at her she flashes a big grin.
3) Blowing Raspberries. Gotta love that sound.
4) Baths. A girl after my own heart!
5) Mommy! Of course--I feed, bathe, and adore her the most! :)

Let's not forget Ryder...
Ryder's top 5:
1) Playing pretend. He loves to make his toys talk. Favorite quote: "Are you calling me a liar?"
2) Cheese. He eats a steady diet of it...hopefully he won't end up living in a van down by the river.
3) Movies. Favorites include: Monster's Inc., Toy Story 2, and Madagascar 2.
4) Ty. That's Ryder's best friend.
5) Nursery. That's right. He's been sick so he couldn't go today, and he was crying saying he wanted to go to "nursey."

Stones--AGAIN!!

2009-09-04T11:51:00.000-06:00

Just when I thought the stones were all gone they decided to come back for another visit...
It started Tuesday afternoon while I was waiting for Lindsay and Crissy to come over. At first I thought that they were menstrual cramps, but then the pain escalated. I took 2 oxycodone and I felt good for the visit (Lindsay could probably tell you if I was really acting normal). That evening I passed 2 stones, but I still felt so sick.
I tried drinking lots of water to pass more stones, but I couldn't keep anything down (I threw up 12 times in about 36 hours). Anyway, I passed 2 more little stones and I think I may have one more small one. I'm crossing my fingers that this will be the end!!

Diaper Bag

2009-08-28T22:28:00.000-06:00

I made this diaper bag last month, but I'm slow in posting. I actually got this pattern from Christi (Thanks, Christi!). I put this stiff Pellon interfacing in it to make stand up. It was fun to make, but working with interfacing is not easy! I still may add a ribbon enclosure, but for now it's velcro inside.
Anyway, it's a big accomplishment for me because I don't consider myself a seamstress!

Chase Update

2009-08-04T13:44:00.000-06:00

I realized I need to post more pictures of Chase!! She is growing so much. Here is a little photo progression of her life the past couple months.

She is such a happy baby!

A little too much love...

A rude awakening...

A very honest reaction from an infant. :)

Bath time.

Awww!

And of course, we can't forget Ryder.

Goin' in for the kill.

He is such a silly boy!

He likes to pretend to be a baby sometimes.

This is Ryder's best friend, our next door neighbor, Ty.

P.S. About my kidney stones...they are no longer! I had heard about the coke and asparagus remedy (Thanks, Rachel! :)), and I haven't had pain since. Now hopefully I've passed them all.

My crafty 15 Minutes of Fame

2009-07-24T23:47:00.000-06:00

I wouldn't describe myself as a crafty person, but I saw these cute owls on a website called farmhousefive.com so I decided I would attempt to make some of my own using scrapbook paper we had at home. I was feeling crafty and the price was right. My plan is to put the 3 owls in a long white frame, and I had a frame for the other piece. I am really excited about these, but don't look too closely! :)

I have a low tolerance for pain...

2009-07-13T13:59:00.000-06:00

Here is the short story of what happened last Thursday: My kidney stones are back and I haven't passed them, but the pain is gone--for now.

Long story:
About 2 weeks ago I was having some stomach pains. I thought it was flu related because Rocky was having similar symptoms. However, my pain was different because it was concentrated more in my lower left abdomen. So, I asked Rocky to give me a blessing and the pain went away.
Fast forward to Thursday: I woke up in pain! It was really strange. I was having the same pain again, but it wasn't as strong. Rocky asked if he needed to take me to the doctor, but I thought the pain would go away.
Shortly after he left the pain was just getting worse. I called my sister Charise because she has had appendicitis and I thought that's what it might be. When I was talking to her the pain was getting so bad that I told her I had to go.
I thought I would get ready and drive myself to the doctor. I was in so much pain I decided I would just get dressed. I hadn't done my make-up and my hair was still wet.
Then, I called my next door neighbor. She is the sweetest! I could barely speak. I just started to cry and she asked if she should come over and help. I told her yes.
She came over and I was crouched over on the ground. She said that Ryder could stay with her 10 year old son and she would drive me to the doctor and watch Chase. (Talk about an answer to prayer). We drove to the Instacare, but there was a detour on the way and I just had to keep moving my body around (no position was comfortable).
When I checked in the lady probably thought I was crazy because I just kept bending over and clutching my stomach. They admitted me quickly and took a urine sample that showed I had a lot of blood in my urine. Then, they told me they needed to draw blood to see if it could be a kidney infection. While I was waiting for the nurse to come back I was in the room huddled on the floor just praying that this pain would go away. When she came in I got up and she drew the blood. It took 3 tries because I was trying to sit still, but it was very difficult!
The doctor came in and could see I was in pain. So, he gave me two different shots--one was Demerol the other--I don't know--the kind that makes me not feel pain! :)
I tell you what, Demerol is crazy. I felt like I was spinning in circles and I was moving in slow motion. The nurse told me I had to be taken out in a wheelchair because I was so loopy.
So, I got out to the waiting room and my neighbor, Amy, was still there holding Chase. I was SO grateful. Then, Amy took me to fill my prescription for pain meds and some antibiotics. By the time I got the prescriptions Chase was screaming she was so hungry. But, I finally made it home safely, and I still haven't passed the stones (I'm straining my urine so I know). Thankfully, the pain is gone for a bit. I'm just waiting for it to come back on once the stones start to descend again.
So, that's my long story. I'm going to try some remedies I've heard, and I will post my progress later. If you read this whole thing CONGRATULATIONS your a marathon reader.

Ryder's birthday!

2009-06-30T21:47:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I haven't written in a long time. I've been busy with little Chase. It has been a lot of fun getting to know her and trying to be super mommy. Some days I feel like I fall flat on my face and other days it is so rewarding. I guess that's the joy of motherhood.
Anyway, Rocky made this cute montage of Ryder's birthday. I know it's not always the most fun to see videos of other people's kids, but we are totally entertained by this. If you get bored you have to at least skip to the end few seconds--it's hilarious!

She's here!

2009-05-13T18:46:00.001-06:00

Chase Davies was born Tuesday, May 12th at 5:30 pm. She weighs 7 lbs, 1 oz. and is 19 1/2 in. long. She is a sweet little girl and highly adorable. I'm so glad that she's here and safe! You forget how precious a newborn is until you hold one in your arms.

False Alarm!

2009-05-10T12:01:00.001-06:00

Unfortunately this is not a post about a new baby. On Friday night, I thought it was going to be...it actually started Friday morning. I started having these menstrual-like cramps, and I thought it was kinda weird. I thought they would go away, but all day while I was teaching I felt them. I had to sit down a good majority of the day. Then, after school I started having painful contractions. They weren't really regular so I just thought, "maybe soon." Actually, I kinda started to panic because I haven't finished all my sub plans. So, I later that night I went to the school and was working on getting everything ready just in case. Finally, I decided I should leave the school because the contractions were getting really painful and more regular. When I got home I was finding it hard to walk, and the contractions were regular. So, Rocky took me to the hospital. When, we got there they hooked me up and my contractions were 3-5 min apart. However, I was a dilated to a 1 (same from my Dr.'s apt. on Tuesday) and I wasn't totally effaced--in fact the nurse said it was about the same. I was just sitting there thinking, "Why the heck am I in so much pain if nothing is progressing?!" But, they said that if I changed in an hour that they would keep me. Of course I didn't change!!! Aaaaa! I was so frustrated, but this same thing happened with Ryder, so I wasn't too disappointed.
Anyway, I really haven't tried to push myself further into labor. I accepted medicine that I knew would slow down the contractions. I guess I'm not totally prepared--I still haven't finished my sub plans, and my house could use some more cleaning. So, I guess it's a blessing in disguise? :) Anyway, I'll keep everyone posted.

2 weeks...

2009-05-05T22:18:00.000-06:00

I feel like a lot has happened and yet time seems like it's starting to slow down. I went to the doctor today and he told me that I am dilated to a 1 and I am 60% effaced. Now, maybe that is too much info to be sharing, but after having one baby and you have like 10 different nurses see your bum you just get used to being more open. Anyway...
Lately people have been asking me, "How are you feeling?" You know it's usually more of a rhetorical question, and what they really mean is, "Hi. I'm acknowledging you and being polite" or they are expecting "Good." I usually do just say "Good," but sometimes when I'm feeling brutally honest I say, "Fat," "Huge," or an occasional "Uncomfortable." When it gets to that point you know that you are ready to have the baby.
I still have so much to do--I need to clean, prepare sub plans, etc. but I just feel like I can't get my body to cooperate. It's telling me that I need to slow down. (I guess this post was more a vent, but WOW! I hope the next post is about a new baby!!!)

Little Stinker

2009-04-12T13:27:00.000-06:00

Ryder has been quite the character lately. I don't know if he's hitting his terrible twos a little early or what. Most of the things he does I just want to laugh out loud about, but I know that this would encourage some negative behaviors. He really has a funny personality--as you can tell!

I heard loud noises upstairs when Ryder was suppose to be taking a nap. I went upstairs to see what the commotion was. This is what I saw.

This helmet was HUGE, but he loved wearing it.

Rocky informed me that this is an "imperial guard" helmet. Ryder really wanted to wear it.

Rocky chose these adorable eggs. Ryder's favorites were the monkeys.

A rainy neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt.

Chillin' with Grandma. Ryder is always saying that "grandpa" (which means grandma & grandpa) are at work. That means that he can't see them so that's where they are.

He loves wearing these green glasses.

Ryder and Daddy Monkeyin' around.

He LOVES wearing hats!

Ryder's sweet glasses.

Spoiled!

2009-03-22T18:47:00.000-06:00

I meant to write about this last week, but I was too busy getting ready for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Anyway, Rocky's parents came to visit the 8th-12th. They had some business they were doing here in Utah, so we were lucky enough to get to spend some time with them.
I absolutely love it when Rocky's parents come. For several reasons. One being that Ryder loves them, and they are constantly entertaining him. They spoil him so much with attention. He just gets to show off for them, and we all watch him. They also spoil him with a ton of toys! They bought him this little interactive playhouse and lots of other little treats and things.
Another reason why I love when they come is because they spoil Rocky and me! On Monday they volunteered to watch Ryder while Rocky and I went to dinner and a movie. Then, on Wednesday they took us to dinner and afterwards to Walmart.
Now, when I say spoiled, I mean SPOILED!!! They just let us fill up 2 carts full of food, toys, essentials, etc. then they paid for it all! Ridiculous! But, it's true. They are super sweet, and I feel so lucky that I don't have any nightmare mother-in-law stories! :)

Hilarious!

2009-03-11T21:41:00.000-06:00

This was one of the funniest things a kid has ever said to me. First, you have to know this kid. He is somewhat clueless--a daydreamer. He is smart, but sometimes you have to beat him on the head with common sense. That said, here is today's conversation after school:
Shanden: "Hey Mrs. Davies, are you pregnant?"
Me: (chuckle) "Um, what do you think?"
Shanden: "Well, I think yes, but at first I just thought you'd been eating a lot."
Me: "Oh, well, yes, I am pregnant."
Shanden: "Alright, well see ya."
Me: "Bye."

I guess maybe you had to be there to hear his tone and see the expressions on his face, but it was priceless! He was very matter-of-fact and not at all embarrassed to say just what he thought.

Not much new...

2009-02-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

I haven't written on the blog for a while because not a lot has been happening. A lot happens at school, but I don't know how much people want to hear about my professional life. For example, on Thursday I had to deal with a kid running away from school. It was a little scary...he was found at the park 2 hours later.
Parents make me laugh, though. During lunch today, I got a message asking if I would fax a boy his homework. Haha, I asked the secretary who took the message if he was going to be gone the rest of the week. She just gave me this funny look and said they were "snowed in." So, I asked his next door neighbor if she would take it over to him. :) It was too funny! Next thing ya know I'll have parents asking if I will text them updates on their child. Gotta love the life a teacher.

Other Random Thoughts

2009-01-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

I failed to mention something especially exciting!!! Rocky and I traded in our cars (Mustang & Camry) for two new cars! We got a great deal on these beauties, and I have thoroughly enjoyed them.

Also, I have some delightful pics...
Before...

After...(5 months preggos)

Last, I can't resist putting up this adorable outfit!!

My Little Buddy

2009-01-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

Ryder has really been cracking me up lately. Forinstance, today in church we were sitting by a family that lives next door to us. They have a little boy close to Ryder's age, and the boy gave him a little monkey and tiger to play with. So Ryder took this little squatting monkey and placed him on the back of the tiger. At first, Rocky and I just thought it was unintentional, until Ryder proceeded to pick up the tiger with the monkey on its back and pretend it was galloping like a horse. But instead of a horse sound, he was making loud growling sounds. I know it may not sound funny, but I was laughing so hard I was crying. It was priceless.

Also, on Friday, Ryder and I were driving in my car and the KT Tunstall song came on (the Black Horse and the Cherry Tree). In a little high pitch voice he sang "woo hoo, woo hoo." It was so adorable and totally unprompted. Then, when it came to the "no, no" part again he sang "no, no" in this sweet little high pitched voice. It was so adorable. I just wanted to turn around and start recording him. But, I was driving and did not have a camera!!

I think Ryder may realize that we have a limited time before a new little member of the family comes along. It seems like any opportunity he gets he wants me to hold him, and he's so cuddly and sweet. He does have his little evil moments, too, but everything he does is an effort to get attention. I'm just trying to pay the closest attention to when he does good things. (If anyone has any tips for reinforcing the good behavior a little more, let me know).

It's a Girl!

2009-01-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

I found out on Tuesday that I'm having a girl! I am quite excited and a little bit nervous. Excited to buy all the cute baby clothes and such, but I'm nervous because it's a new experience! I have loved Ryder, and he is such a good little boy. I'm afraid this little one might have some attitude. (I don't know why :)). The day after we found out we went out and I bought her some clothes.
Some of the names we like are: Peyton, Chase, and Reese. I think our favorite is Chase. I know it's usually a boy's name, but we still like it! We also like Piper, but I think it's a little too close to Ryder.
Also, I already bought her baby bedding. Rocky's mom had a business associate give her a hefty gift card to Pottery Barn. So, we used some of it to buy her bedding. The link to it is: http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/fd2661/index.cfm?pkey=cgirls%2Dnursery%2Dbedding%7Cb. I even have a little idea of what I want the paint to look like on the wall. It is at: http://featurewalls.ie/children_baby.php (click on pink bugs mural). Rocky is willing to add all the cute details, but my idea is to have a little stream around the room with little flowers, lily pads, frogs, butterflies and such and little castle somewhere on the wall. I don't want it to be too busy, so the pictures would be smaller. We'll see. I would be fine with one plain color, but Rocky thinks it would be fun to have pictures up. I'm sure I would have loved it as a kid.

Disney World

2008-12-03T20:47:00.000-07:00

Over Thanksgiving break we went to Disney World. It was a ton of fun! I feel a lot fatter now because we just ate out for 5 days straight, but it was definitely worth it--even after getting weighed at my doctor's appointment.

We went to Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Downtown Disney. Ryder thought that the characters were awesome...from a distance. When we would get up close he started to get really nervous. He was pretty good with Tigger and Pooh, though (pictures pending). He loved going in all the gift shops where he would proceed to take every different stuffed animal off the shelf, look at it, and set it on the ground. He's hilarious! He let us know early on that he didn't appreciate any loud noises or rides that had menacing music.

I think his favorite ride was "It's a Small World." Probably because he thought the kids were real, and he loves singing. I think the most fun he had was with Rocky's dad. Kent would hold Ryder and take him wherever he pointed his finger. (And believe me he points his finger a lot and makes a lot of gibberish noises that he thinks are sentences).

I also enjoyed myself. Previous to our trip, I asked my doctor what I could do about the rides. He said that I should read the signs and follow any cautions. So, I did as he said. I read the signs, and some of them said "Pregnant women should not ride this ride." However, the sign didn't say "Pregnant women cannot ride this ride." I guess I was in luck. I didn't go overboard--I just went on Tower of Terror, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and some of the smaller rides. I don't really think that was pushing it. :) I didn't go on Rockin' Rollercoaster or Everest, so I think that was more cautious. I just didn't want to go to Disney and not enjoy myself.

All in all, it was a lot of fun, and hopefully Rocky had a good birthday as well. (His birthday fell on Thanksgiving this year).

"Kneaders" Experience

2008-11-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

I had been craving Kneader's french toast for about a month now, but we could never make our way to Provo before 11 am to indulge. Finally, yesterday we were able to make the journey to the "promised land." (You can definitely tell I am pregnant because it was such a momentous occasion). Upon arriving, we discovered that the parking lot was packed. Uh-oh...when we went inside the line was long, and it was 10 minutes to 11. I was so worried that I would have to eat a sandwich. However, when we got to the front of the line, victory was mine--I ordered the french toast without a hitch.

After ordering, I realized we had an even bigger problem--the seating situation. Each table was packed with ravenous college students that were coming back for more french toast (did I mention it's all-you-can-eat?). Every single table inside and outside was taken. Looking around the room we tried to gauge which group would be the first to leave so we could occupy their table. At one table there was a lonely guy using his sidekick with a plate fully clean. He was oblivious to the 8 other customers in our same boat waiting to snatch his table. Then there were "The Hills" girls who came in and ordered after us who casually snuck into a table in the corner because the were much to important to think of common courtesy. (I think even Lauren Conrad might have been a little more aware).

Finally, we grabbed the next available table just when our food arrived. We sat down, and I slowly savored the delicious meal. It had all been worth the college drama. Even the petty conversations about how to get the girl to like you without really showing you were truly interested didn't bother me. It did make me wonder, "Was my circle of awareness ever that small?" To which I think the answer is yes. (I'd like to think to a smaller degree), but having a child and another one on the way does make me think of those around me a lot more. P.S. The guy by himself was holding a table for his friends who arrived 40 minutes later--when several tables were available. Good thing he saved them a seat! :) I couldn't resist.

FRUSTRATED!!!

2008-11-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

I am so frustrated right now...I just logged on to Facebook, and I started reading comments that some of my "friends" from high school were posting. Talk about bigotry...of course it was about prop 8. They adamantly pointed out that 75% of the funding for 8 was by the LDS church. They went on to say that they were "glad" that our tithing went to a good cause--rather than helping homeless people. WOW...first off, it is our fast offerings which help those in need. Secondly, I'm not sure those people have ever donated a dime in their life to any charity. So, why would they dwell on this?

Also, the reason why the LDS church donated so much for prop 8 wasn't because the church is against gays having rights. It is because if prop 8 didn't pass it would infringe on our rights of worship, intrude on our moral beliefs, and force the church to support something that is morally wrong or they would get sued.

I wanted to write something back immediately because it was pure ignorance I was reading. But, I knew if I did it would be words against words and useless. They will never change their beliefs, and I won't change mine. It just disgusts me how they think that people are so intolerant if they happen to disagree with mainstream media and moral ideals.

Your husband might be a nerd if...

2008-11-04T17:46:00.001-07:00

Not only is Rocky's Halloween costume an example of why he is a nerd, but here are some other things to consider...
Your husband might be a nerd if:
-he has more toys than your own child and the neighbors combined.
-he is getting a custom made Star Wars costume for next year (being made now).
-he owns copies of several kids cartoons.
-he tries to teach your child the names of various superheroes and other things relating to the "nerd side."
-reads Wired and National Geographic magazines cover to cover.
-had to be conviced to stop using his cartoon pillowcase.
...I think I could go on, and on, but overall being a nerd makes my husband a fabulous father! :)

Halloween Party

2008-10-27T21:52:00.000-06:00

We had a Halloween party at my sister Monica's house on the 18th. It was a lot of fun! The kids played several different games, one of which was eating a donut off a string as quickly as possible. After observing his older cousins, he tried eating with no hands. Ryder proved to be quite talented at this.

Sweet Moves...

2008-10-27T21:48:00.000-06:00

The Contest...

Hello there!

2008-10-21T18:57:00.001-06:00

I decided it would be a good idea to create a blog so that family and friends could stay in touch with us. Previously I had viewed a blog as the Christmas letter that never ends. You know the one where the parents brag about how wonderful their kids are. "Billy just invented the cold fusion reactor in his science class!" (Rocky helped out with that). So, I guess some things do change. And by the way, Ryder just won "Cutest Baby Award" issued by...me!