Classic Skating

Last night NorthStar rented out the skating rink, Classic Skate in Orem for a little 80's dance/skate party. Before we get to last night's pictures, I wanted to share a little gem, give you all a blast from the past.

Just take a gander at 'im. Complete with feathery brushed hair and a wee lit'ol mullet. Look at 'im sportin' that letterman's jacket with such finesse, playing his board game at home, with his wee lit'ol Garfield T-shirt and sweats on. This is the man I married folks. This is him in his glory days. When I still hadn't yet even completed the D.A.R.E. program.

Fast-forward to present day: He's put on a little muscle here and there since then, but he really hasn't changed too much. Same mullet, sportin' that same jacket, representin' Granger High with pride. Ooooh how much you wanna make a bet he can throw a football over them mountains?... Yeah...If Coach woulda put him in fourth quarter, they would've been state champions. No doubt. Ooooh man, if he could just go back in time. He'd take state.

We were pleasantly surprised to see these little skates that they rent out to minis- just clamp 'em on over the shoes and it's party time! Still a little too big for Miss Lucy.

Scarlett knew we'd be clamping those skates on her shoes next...

This next pic is of Lucy trying to get in on some of that dance floor action.

Sweet moves. Mind if I join?

That little blond might be the smallest of the group but it was clear she was definitely the alpha female. Look, just because you wore the right color doesn't mean you're one of us. You haven't proved anything.

Lucy doesn't like to show off but as initiation into the group she was forced to break dance for several minutes, spinning on her head and freezing in many diverse positions. After that they had no choice but to welcome her to the dance party with open arms.

Jason loves a little friendly competition, and this one was especially enticing. You can't see this here, but there is a line of people gathered behind him waiting their turn for a chance to hit the ball into the hockey net from various distances...

And the moment of victory arrives... it was just as sweet as he thought it would be. He didn't mind making fools of several little girls between the ages of 7 to 13 by beating them so badly, in fact he reveled in it. And then when their parents weren't looking he knocked them down on the rink, and glided away in triumph. O'doyles rule!!

I haven't had me some good roller skating for quite some time. I'd forgotten how invigorating that wind feels in your hair as you land from a triple axle. You know what I'm talking about. We will definitely be back!

Recent Happenings

I've been feeling like a robot lately with the blog. Sometimes I have so much to write about. Like seriously compelled to write. And then sometimes my brain is mush and there is so much happening in our lives but I have absolutely nothing to say about anything. That's how I feel today. Mush brain. And I should probably be waking Lucy up right now from her nap. Because she turns into a crazed lunatic at bedtime when she naps too long during the day. And it's a big drama session in our house trying to wind her down. But it's just so dang peaceful and quiet right now that I'm having a hard time finding the motivation to go get her. Just 10 more minutes.

Scarlett was blessed yesterday in our church house. Her daddy gave her a beautiful blessing. June 6th, 2010 marks the 6 year anniversary from our first date. We went to "Phantom of the Opera," at the Capitol Theater. Little did we know when we were sitting there in that cozy theater... Jason inching his pinkie finger closer and closer to my pinkie finger, sweaty palms quaking with anticipation...that 6 years later to the day he would be holding a new little person that we would eventually be creating together in his arms, giving her a name and a blessing. (He decided it was too much for a first date, no matter how bad he wanted those pinkie fingers to connect, so no hand holding just yet. He might tell you that he wasn't quaking with anticipation, but I can assure you, he was. Sweating bullets, stuttering and stammering with nervousness, quaking with anticipation. That's the way I remember it. Don't you dare believe his side of the story.)

Oh glorious day! We are so thankful you've been sent to our family, Scarlett. We are so happy to be your mother and father. The spirit was so strong as your daddy gave you a blessing. We could feel how much he loves you by the tenderness in his voice and words. You are absolutely beautiful and joyful and so wonderful.

Divine Scarlett Marie laying on her very own Grandma-made-blankie...

Sissydoodles

With Papa and Grammy

With Grandma and Grandpa

We had the pleasure of having the Collard family stay with us for a few days... (That's Abe and Tiffany and co.) Abe is in med school in Pennsylvania so it was most excellent to have them here!

Kinley girl:

Calum:

Ethan:

Among other exciting news: I have a garden! I've always wanted a garden, but it's always seemed like something I would have when I was...older. So I think subconsciously I've been putting it off because only grown-ups "garden". Well, Jason spent a lot of time putting together these garden boxes for me, and I had no choice but to plant. And I realized kids can have vegetable gardens too. We will be enjoying lots of fresh salsa come August. Seriously, anything better than garden fresh tomatoes? Anything?

Still in progress:

After a few weeks: We have tomatoes and peas and carrots and squash coming up. This is my first time doing this, so it's kindof a big deal. If you've never done this, seeing the little green start to poke through the soil is much more invigorating than you expect it to be. I'm quite attached. :)

Another of baby girl looking extra scrumptious. I have an outfit that matches this, and we wear them together. I put a large diaper on too, just for added effect.

We are happy that summer weather actually finally came! Except do you ever get claustrophobic having the AC running all day long? Keeping the windows closed and knowing that you're breathing in the same recycled air you've already breathed except the oxygen content is just getting lower and lower?? I get like this in the winter, too. Maybe it's just me. One time when I was single and home alone, I got the one and only migraine I've ever had in my life and thought I was being poisoned by carbon monoxide. No logical reason I would think that. But the AC was blasting 24 hours a day and no fresh oxygen was getting in, so that's what I came up with. I crawled in agony on my hands and knees to the door and burst it open, laying there in the doorway taking in big gasps of fresh, hot air. Then I puked. And my migraine didn't go away with the fresh air. The point is, constant air conditioning gives me the heebie jeebies for some reason, even though I'm really grateful for it. I don't think the AC has actually killed anyone, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did. Sorry for the tangent.

Another reason we lack fresh air in our house is because Lucy can open the doors, so they are dead bolted 24 hours a day. Lucy thinks she is being held in prison, thankfully the little runt hasn't figured out how to unlock them yet. I'm not really holding her prisoner, we go outside every single day. And once she gets out there she runs and runs and doesn't really look back. She revels in the freedom. She is a little Huck Finn discovering snails and rollie pollie bugs and earth worms. We're pretty much Swiss Family Robinson, I'll be riding an ostrich around in no time.

Memorial Day Weekend

We had quite the eventful weekend over Memorial Day! My mom and dad came down and we had Carson for the weekend as well. Started off the weekend right, at the Bean Museum. As in, the Monte L. Bean Science museum on BYU campus. Until recently, I thought it was a museum of all different kinds of beans. And still thought it would be interesting, but wasn't dyin' to get myself over there. It was much more than beans! And the kids loved it.

These cousins adore each other. {I sorta think they might have little crushes on one other. I remember when I was tiny and had a crush on my older cousin, Ben. I was about 16. Just kidding. But still... I relate.}

I guess Lucy didn't realize, "Please do not touch," includes not picking the animals' noses. She'll try to pick your nose too if you let her. Don't you let her. Don't you dare let her.

On the way to the BYU creamery for a little ice cream.

Sunday was our little nephew Corbin's blessing. It was a beautiful blessing and a beautiful day.

Lucy and aunt Cathy, talking politics. That night she told me, "Cathy was a little more liberal on some issues than I was expecting, which was fine... just unexpected." 22 month-olds say the darnedest things. And yes, that is in fact how you spell darnedest.

Scarlett has learned to communicate extraordinarily well. She tells me she needs a diaper change by making one eye go slightly cross-eyed. Child prodigy material. Can't get enough of this little face.

Cousins, two weeks apart... Corbin Jay on his special day. Look at those cheeks!

Had to include a pic of Papa and Scarlett. Love that little white knuckle grip she's got on his shirt. So sweet.

Onto Monday! We headed down to Heidi and Steve's new place in Gunnison! Lucy could not have fit in better. She was so country... munching on raw corn :)

The neighbors down there are raising two baby raccoons. She was quite exhilarated by them. And mom washed her hands 9 times afterwards. They are mischievous, and so is Lucy. There was an instant bond. And Lucy has a bushy ringed tail, but we're having it surgically removed next week. Guess they'll always have the mischievous thing in common.

Just look at 'im. I couldn't have looked this little guy in the eye if I hadn't saved his relative that day. Still proud of it, haven't looked back since.

We ended the day with a mean game of water balloon volleyball.

And snuck through the neighbors yard to see their baby cows. Lucy was in hog heaven.

Jason grew up on a farm and is always saying he'd eventually like a bigger piece of land, some chickens and maybe a goat or two. I always thought I was a little too city slicker for it, (grew up in the heart of the sprawling metropolis Idaho Falls ), but there was something so very charming about being down in little Gunnison. Mostly the enormous state prison. No but seriously, there was. :) He might make a farmin' woman outta me afterall!