Daddy's Boy

On one of several car trips today, it was just Gabe & i. We'd dropped off who needed dropping and had some time before we had to start picking up (would've just said picking, but then you might get the wrong idea.) Anyhow, he was just chattering away in the back. I started listening, and realized he was mentioning his Dada. He loves his Daddy, and says all the variations of Dada he can say at his tender age... Da-da, Dad-ee, Da-dee, & Da. He would jabber about something else, but kept coming back to talking about his Dad. I'll admit it, I was starting to feel a little jealous. Why, just this morning, I brought him into bed with me. He practically plowed over me on his way to Clint's side of the bed (Clint was playing church basketball at the time.) He pulled back the covers, calling for Da-dee, then whimpered when he couldn't find him. It took a few more seconds of searching before he finally accepted that Dada wasn't there. Anyway, back to the story. He really began talking a lot about Clint, and I finally decided to look at him while we were stopped at a red light, and see what was prompting this discussion. Did he have his toy phone in hand or was he looking at Clint's coat in the back? As I turned, I saw him flipping the pages of his favorite book:



The pages are filled with illustrations of monkeys and gorillas; and, for once, I was glad he wasn't uttering the scarcely-heard "Mama." :)

Happy Halloween!

I tried to convince them to go with the "Snow White" theme. Autumn was temporarily on board; this happened during an exhausting trip to a GARGANTUAN mall while we waited for a plane that had room to take us home from CA in August. At the Disney Store. So she was stuck. Gabe really had no vote, but ended up loving his Dopey hat almost as much as his prop the spoon (too bad I don't own a wooden one. For the first time in 10 years, I needed one.) But Micah would have NONE of being his sister's prince. (He said she might kiss him.) And Jonah could not abandon the hope of impersonating his hero H.P., even though the lure of a dagger-wielding woodsman was strong. So, here they are, the way they were either forced or at some point chose to be:



Micah did follow his pre-Halloween costume selection process. First, he chose a typical Halloween character (a ghost this time.) Then, he firmly decided to be a character completely unrelated to Halloween, got super excited about the idea and told EVERYONE (a chicken... smothered in white feather boas, donning yellow tights and rubber glove feet), and for the final days before the main event his costume ideas switched on the hour...until I finally set a deadline. And he chose to wear what Jonah did last year. One less costume for me to make...thanks, bud!!



Here's proof that Gabe actually did enjoy dressing up (he's just not big on picture-taking):


Autumn before I took her to preschool. I really should have worn my sunglasses, even though it was quite overcast. I tear up EVERY year at the sight of little ones all dressed up on Halloween. I was totally blubbering when one of her teachers opened the car door and unbuckled her seat belt. Embarrassing.



S.W. & her sidekick, again



Just look at those eyes... and I hadn't noticed Autumn's artwork before looking through these pictures. Nice drawing of Daddy.



And, in case you were wondering....

still crawling!

Mawwiage

So, unless you've been living in a bubble for the last few months, you've heard all about the upcoming votes in California (Prop. 8), Florida & Arizona on same-sex marriage. I've thought a lot about how to add my voice to the support of these measures, being as how I don't live in any of these states. And I think my little part is to blog about it. In a world that is shifting daily on a million fronts, I am thankful for the stability my home and marriage bring to me, to my husband and to our little ones. I think of times when the only word to describe how I have felt with my family is "heaven," and know that those same experiences could not be recreated had I married a woman. Without passing judgment on those who are living alternate lifestyles, I believe in safeguarding traditional man/woman marriage.

I agree 100% with this position, clearly explained in great detail, and released by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is worth the minute or two to read over why a non-political Church has devoted many resources in support of Prop. 8, in particular. And, lastly, I was especially relieved to hear both Palin & Biden (in the VP debate) reassure us that neither administration would support same-gender marriage, and that they each agree with extending rights, such as those mentioned in the press release I linked.

Ok...thanks for letting me get that off my chest. More light-hearted, birthday, family visiting, and such posts to follow!

Happy birthday, little guy!

As to be expected, Gabe wasn't entirely sure what to make of opening presents. At first, he seemed curious. Then, he tried to wiggle off my lap. Tearing strips of wrapping paper off the box caught his attention for a minute. And, in the end, the boxes and ribbons were the biggest hit. :)



J & M (especially J) were bummed that I was stealing this little guy away on his actual birthday (for a trip to CA to be discussed later). They've been looking forward to celebrating with him for.... well, a year now. We did the next-best thing, and that was to party a day early. I told them that Gabriel doesn't know the difference, which was a very small consolation. We did all enjoy, no less than we would have the next day, watching our little angel devour his pint-sized birthday cake.


(He got so much frosting up his nose, he sneezed yellow buttercream until it all cleared out.)

A trip down Memory Lane

Ten years ago last night, Clint mustered up the courage to take me out on our first date. It wasn't anything spectacular... dinner at a 50's diner & then a movie at a sort of run-down theatre in Provo, the city where we were both going to BYU. At the time, it was really just two friends, testing out the waters of more-than-friendship. The waters, as it turned out, were quite nice...although I'd say it took one more date for us to figure that out.

Anyway, we decided to recreate that first date (all right, I decided & he somewhat-reluctantly went along with the idea) .

First, we revisited the diner...


...which is now a Japanese restaurant. They haven't changed the door, the fixtures or the main layout. And the food was an improvement over what the last place had to offer. It was fun to reminisce about our first date 10 years ago. I remember that Clint ordered a big meal, and then finished off my salad afterwards. That was my first hint at the man's appetite. Nothing's changed in that arena over the years:


Though, to be fair, we did share this "Love Boat" until we were both so bloated (the waitress may have been overly efficient at refilling our waters, if that's possible) we couldn't finish off the rest.

Then, instead of trying to find the obscure theatre (which has probably been demolished by now), we decided to take a walk through our old stomping grounds. It's been a while since we visited BYU's campus. I think the library may have been finished last time, but several more changes have transpired since then. Anyway, it was fun to walk around and enjoy the beauty of that place, in every sense of the word!


After the date that followed, we've rarely spent a day apart. It was fun to think back on the beginnings of our relationship, especially as we sat and walked and talked in some of the places where it all went down. We've definitely grown and changed, and i'm sure also regressed in some ways, over the years. We have seen places, grown to love new friends, enjoyed happy times, experienced hardships, worried over children, exercised faith, and let out many laughs along the way. Clint, I love you. Thank you for making this journey with me. (And thanks for watching the kids last night, Grandma & Grandpa!!!)

Do As I'm Doing

Follow, follow me.

Happy (late) 11 months, Gabe!

The Greatest Show on Earth/Longest Post EVER

Last week, we were treated to a visit from my sister Eve, her husband Greg, their adorable Wren & my boys' playmate Shibby. While they were here, the kids took part in a neighborhood circus (coordinated by two much more ambitious moms than me!) The kids performed acts, sold snacks, sang & danced. The money they charged for admission & concessions was used to buy school supplies to put together school kits for children in other parts of the world. A writer from the local paper even showed up.

The week before the show, I took the kids to sign up for their acts. Autumn immediately decided to be a muscle man, but Jonah (the sexist) said that was all wrong and persuaded her to be a ballerina, instead. I have to admit, she makes a very graceful ballerina:


...and I'm sooo glad she didn't fall off that tight rope!! In the middle of this sea of pink, here she is doing the bunny hop. (Disclaimer: Autumn is not at fault for what you are about to see. That is the little girl's big sister.)





The boys did a magic act towards the end of the program. They practiced a lot, and most of the tricks went off without a hitch.


Though, Micah was definitely a better assistant than his big brother...the turkey!!



Thanks again for coming Eve & Greg!! (Sorry I didn't get a picture of you, Greg... and thanks for watching the babies while we enjoyed the circus!! And i hope you're feeling better, Eve.)



A & M being silly


Clint trying out for next year's performance



And, if you're still here, here's a copy (with our city edited out) of the newspaper write-up:

Clowning around

By Devin Felix

A three-ring circus came to town Wednesday night, but instead of riding from town to town on a train, the performers mostly rode their bikes and then went home with their parents.

It was the second annual Neighborhood Kids’ Circus in ???.

The tradition was started last year by Laurie Hurst. Hurst grew up in Grantsville, where residents put on a first-grade circus every year. She and her daughter were disappointed that they couldn’t take part in that circus, so they decided to put on their own in their yard and involve their whole neighborhood.

They charged a 50-cent admission and sold cotton candy, root beer and other concessions. They then went shopping to buy school supplies, which they donated to needy schools through a program run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The event was such a success they decided to repeat it again this year.

This year’s circus featured about 20 different acts, including dances, animal acts, clowns, magic and more. About 100 family, friends and neighbors gathered to watch the event. Most simply walked over from their homes.

“I think it’s fun, and of course it’s mainly for the kids, but it’s also a great way for parents to show support for their kids,” said Bryan Hickman, whose sons were in the show.

Hickman said the community is great because the people all know each other and events like the circus aren’t uncommon.

Hickman’s son Kaden showed off tricks with his pet bird, which spent much of the evening perched on his shoulder. Other animal performers included three costumed dogs, one of which stood on its hind legs and jumped to and from platforms on command.

There were plenty of clowns in the show, who performed classic clown gags including cramming themselves into a tiny car and battling a burning building, complete with cardboard flames.

At one point in the show, a group of about 10 “muscle men” entered the stage, flexing to show of their bulging muscles. They did pushups and lifted impressive-looking dumbbells — which the two tumbling girls had carried on stage with one hand.

“I’m really good at acting,” said 11-year-old Alex Orth, the strong men’s leader, when asked why he wanted to be in the circus.

Several young magicians — clad in capes and top hats or wizard’s robes — wowed the crowd by making things appear and disappear. Tight rope walkers — including some probably not long out of diapers — waltzed confidently across planks suspended many inches above the ground.

All of the performers were from same neighborhood, said Katrina Smith, a parent who helped organize the event.

“They have to be able to bike here,” Smith said.

Hurst said that, in addition to raising money for needy schools, the purpose of the circus is to give the children confidence and a chance to learn leadership. It also builds their friendships with each other, she said.

Many mothers in the neighborhood helped put together the event, but the kids also played a large role, Hurst said. They choreographed dances and skits and helped decorate the arena, which was complete with three painted rings.