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June 13, 2009
We couldn't be more proud of Jeff! He rode in the Tour de Cure bike race today for the second straight year, raising $840 for the American Diabetes Association (thanks to his fund raising parents and the Smithfield Lions Club). If someone would have told me a few years ago that my husband would have ridden 63.89 miles on a bike I would have laughed. Not saying he's not studly, because he is, but it just didn't seem like his thing. I am so proud of his hard work, training, and finishing even with some rain and a sore butt. Pearl eagerly awaited "Daddy bike" to come by at the finish line. She was pretty fussy until she saw him and then quickly wrapped her arms around him for a big hug and a few kisses. Once she tasted the gross, salty sweat, she decided a tongue kiss was in order. Gross! Last year I said I'd think about riding but the thought of sitting on a bike that long isn't my idea of fun. I'd rather pound pavement with sore knees. But this year, I think I'm really serious about joining him, or at least getting in shape again as a starting point. While Jeff was burning a week's worth of calories, I sat around and ate Oreos.
June 12, 2009
The car show does three things to us:
1. Makes Jeff long for Big Red. In years' past it was more of a longing to have the money and time to restore Big Red but now it's just to have Big Red back.
2. Consider "turning this car around" (aka the stroller) without seeing all the cars. Pearl just doesn't get that this is a fun family activity. Even a pink balloon couldn't hold her attention for very long.
3. Beg my dad to restore his 1940 Ford pickup truck. He's had his truck since he was a teenager At one point he fixed it up and drove it around but now it just sits, waiting for someone to lovingly restore it into what could be quite possibly the coolest truck ever. My mom won't let him sell it and neither will Jeff. In fact for my dad's 50th birthday Jeff opened an account up for him and started putting restoration money into it. Someday, someday...
Any guesses on what the picture is of? I had never seen one like this before!
June 11, 2009
The rain has really hampered our evening fun with Pearl, well at least outside. It's so hard to come up activities when you're stuck indoors to getenough wiggles out for a long night's rest. Yesterday we managed to wear Pearl out with this infant fish toy that we converted into a "tunnel" (which she tried to reenact the show "WIPEOUT" with) but tonight we opted for some quieter activities. She loves stickers, even though they aren't helping on the potty front, and we spent about a half hour drawing "Abby" (Ariel the little mermaid) and placing fish stickers on her before Pearl decided she needed something more exciting to do. I was just impressed that the stickers actually made it onto the paper. Pearl usually takes her pants off and puts them all over her legs and feet... or my legs (but I still have my pants on!).
June 10, 2009
This is why I don't let Pearl dress herself quite yet. With all the rain and cold weather we've been having, my feet have turned into popsicles. I've had to pull out my fuzzy socks to try and keep warm and Pearl finds them fascinating. She always has to wear a pair of the "boots" as she calls them, just like mom. And the more they clash with her outfit, the more she seems to like them. I can only imagine what this could turn into in another 12 years.
June 9, 2009
One tidbit I learned while working for the Utah Chronic Disease Genomics Program is that tongue rolling is genetic. Yep, you either get the gene or you don't. Me? Didn't get the gene, which according to Jeff means I am not a good kisser. Jeff? He got the gene (and you can imagine about the kissing part). Pearl? Guess she will be one good kisser someday - she's been rolling her tongue since she was six months old.
If you want a really fun family activity (great for reunions or Thanksgiving dinners) that will teach your kids of all ages what runs in your family like tongue rolling, check out the Tree of Genetic Traits from the Genetic Science Learning Center.
June 8, 2009
You'd think that serving as F.H.E. "grandma" and "grandpa" in our student ward would have instilled in us a commitment to always holding Family Home Evening once we got married but no. Despite the many fun activities (picture a whole bunch of college kids in cardboard box cars with balloons attached having a demolition derby or playing "bigger or better" and winning with a tractor) and hours of heart and soul poured into planning weekly activities to uplift spirits and build friendships, we have always struggled to have our own Monday night spiritual (or at least fun) boost. I often feel guilty about not doing what has been commanded and decided to kill two birds with one stone this week and actually sit down as a family for an hour and work on our emergency supplies. I admit I can get pretty paranoid about disasters and being stranded somewhere without diapers, food, or something to keep us warm but I really feel like we need to get a 72 hour kit put together. I felt strongly about this a few months ago (in the midst of wrapping up my graduate degree) but haven't done much until now. So... with a bit of mumbling, grumbling, and joking we wrote out a list of supplies we felt we'd need in our 72 hour kits. I thought I'd take it easy on my family and just make a list this week. Then we can go shopping next week for the actual supplies we need. Pearl got bored pretty quick with the F.H.E. lesson and took my highlighter and started tracing her feet instead. Then Jeff got bored and started googling things that I'm pretty sure he knew would get a reaction out of me (in between checking his Facebook Mafia Wars game). Did you know there are 9,920 results for "what does my paranoid wife need in her 72 hour kit???"
June 7, 2009
You might think my choice in photos today is a bit odd (and I admit that Jeff took it), but there's a story that must be told about the cake. We got this coupon in the mail from Baskin Robbins for $3 off an ice cream cake. I love ice cream cakes (had one at my wedding) and mentioned that it would be fun to get one for Pearl's birthday party. But they are expensive so I wasn't really serious about it and didn't order one. Jeff thought I meant that I was going to get one and asked me yesterday if I was going to pick one up. I took his comments as don't make a cake but go and buy one. Well, our miscommunication lead to an argument and $40 less in our checking account. At least they wrote happy birthday in pink icing on it for free. Then I thought it would be fun to use the wedding knife to cut the cake seeing as how it just sits in a cupboard all the time anyway. So I took the cake out to soften, just like the directions said to, helped Pearl blow out her candle (she almost got it on her own), then proceeded to mutilate the beautiful Oreo ice cream cake. But not before Pearl decided to help herself to the Oreos and chocolate and pink frosting. It was hilarious to see how excited she got to dig into it with her fingers. Anyway, back to the mutilation. The edges weren't too bad to cut but once I got to the middle, ooops the knife snapped in half. Make a mental note for the next time we get an ice cream cake (which will be NEVER)... use a real knife.
June 13, 2009
