Schnee Schuen

About a month ago Chris and I went on a great adventure.  We went snow shoeing.  For us, this is quite the adventure.  We dropped Little Man off at his Aunt SandraLee's house...I guess that would be his Great Aunt SandraLee.  Wowzer! That sounds awfully old for someone in their 40's.

Anyway, we rented shoes from BYU and off we went.  

Don't worry, we had to stop every 20 feet because my lungs felt like they were on FIRE!   I think I have a disorder of the lungs.  Every time I do something strenuous I feel like I'm breathing in hot razor blades.  And I start to wheeze...like that wheezy little penguin from Toy Story (who's name is if fact Wheezy).  I like to think I have exercise induced asthma...it's a thing, check webmd.  But I probably just have the disease known as, Outofshapeitis.

It was such a beautiful day.  Look at how clear that sky is.  De--lightful.

My artzy shots:

Chris and I have been on a peanut kick these days.  So we stopped for a peanut break.  I wrote the "I love you" in the snow and Chris used the peanut shells to return the favor.

We only have one pair of sunglasses, so Chris sported these guys.  Take note of how we coordinate with the lime green and all. 

At one point I just tipped right on over.  I timberered.  

On our way back, we took the scenic root through the woods with all of these little streams.  It was much more fun than tromping up a mountain.  And we happened upon this fort/beaver dam...if the beaver's were the size of ROUS's.  It looked like someone had camped here at one point and built a fire.  We even found a Spiritual First Aid Kit partially buried in the snow.  You know you're in Utah when you happen upon a random churchy object lesson...in the middle of the woods.

Here we are outside of the giant dam thing.  

We had a lovely time.  I just want to go on more adventures!

P to the S: I posted some pictures I drew of my sister's kids over at my art blog.  HERE.

5 Random Thoughts

1. You know that phrase "Live like you are dying"?  I hate it.  Worst mantra ever.  I am a chronic worrier and this phrase seems to say, "Worry everyday that you will die".  Which I have to fight not to do anyway.  Every time Chris leaves I fear I won't see him again.  I always wonder what my last words to him would have been. I try to think up every possible thing that could go wrong.  Somehow I feel if I've thought it up, it won't catch me by surprise and I won't be played a fool (they always say that in the Bachelorette...I wanted to try it on for size).  So, I have decided that it is best for me to, "Live like I have at least 50 more years to go".  

2. The other week Mandi cut here hair.  Somehow the topic of pixie cuts was brought up by Chris.  He feared Mandi had done thusly to her hair.  When I asked how he knew what a pixie cut was (he had never even heard of an eye lash curler until we were married) he simply said, "If there is something that ugly, you need to know the name of it."  

3. Like unto my sister before me, I also have compiled a Worst Movies Ever list.  Also inspired by itjustgetsstranger.com   I feel it should be known that I inspired Mandi to create her list as well.  And I did not include all of her choices because I felt she would sufficiently cover them.  Which she has.  Turns out we hate all the same movies.  So just consider this a continuation of her list...if you have access to her private blog (she's the mysterious twin...she wishes). 

Troll 2:  This movie is so bad they included a 2 because they wanted to make it sound like Troll 1 had been successful   Which it hadn't because it doesn't exist.  It's hard to explain in words how creepy and nasty this movie is.  Think, the horrors of Willow, the creepiness of Labyrinth, the acting of a Hallmark movie, and the worst nightmare you've ever had...combine those and you will only slightly understand how horrible this movie is.  

The Goonies: I also included this one because Mandi and I both wrote this one down before we compared notes.  As far as I'm concerned the only redeeming factors of this film are the Oregon coast and Sean Austin.  That gnarly minion with the cone head they keep underground...hate him.  Hate. Him.

Couples Retreat:  I don't remember too much about this movie.  Except that I wondered how they got any self respecting actor to agree to be in it.  And if they got a movie company to back that movie up, I should have been making bank on the script I wrote...in the 6th grade.

Catwoman:  She thought she was slutty sexy.  She was wrong.  She was just slutty.

Spiderman:  I'm not really a big fan of Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, or spiders.  So it never really stood a chance.

The Golden Compass:  All throughout the movie all I could think was, "You really couldn't have gotten a cuter girl for this?"

Cider House Rules:  Again...Tobey Maguire.  Not a fan.  Add to that, incest and abortion and this movie was a real thumbs down.

Princess Diaries 2:  I felt that this movie was made by 10 year old girls, one predictable scene at a time.  It was like they just threw all of their ideas together.  "Now we should have the Princess roam the streets and hand a little orphan girl a flower."  "Or how about they slide down the stairs...with...um...mattresses.  At a party with a bunch of girls 10 years younger than Anne Hathaway!?"  The whole thing lacked some serious back bone.  It did however have John Rhys Davies and Chris Pine, so I guess that's good.  

Lost in Space:  Two words: Bad acting.  Although in their defense the script was really bad.  One of the lines was, "I don't like the sound of that sound."

Spy Kids:  Like Mandi this movie weirded me out.  Thumb Thumbs.  Freak to the EE!

Drag Me to Hell:  This was pretty much as horrible as it sounds.  

The Black Cauldron:  I just remember this movie had the feeling of The Last Unicorn (this was my favorite movie at one point.  Poor choice indeed).  70's dark cartoon...not really my thing.

  

James and the Giant Peach:  Anything Tim Burton vexes me.  And there were these creepy black and white striped characters singing in a peach.  And they weren't really cartoon and not really computer animated...more like electronic clay.  And then the bull in the clouds murdered that kids parents.  And as I watched I just kept thinking, "Well James...if that was my life...I might just offer myself to the bull."

Sweeny Todd: A musical about cannibalism.  I feel like that covers all the bases.  Oh and Tim Burton...can't forget that.  

4. Best Movies Ever:

Breakfast at Tiffany's: I once dedicated a whole post to my love of this movie.  You can read it here.   That's how much I enjoy it. 

The Family Stone:  I just love Christmas.  And realistic depictions of family.  And houses in movies that actually looked lived in.  

Lord of the Rings:  There was a time when these movies were my life.  I was ob to the sessed.  Mandi and I were in love with these movies.  I dressed up as Arwen for the opening night of The Return of the King.  I feel like that epitomizes my love of these films.

Pride and Prejudice (1995):  I just enjoy the way this movie makes me feel.  Like life is simple and wonderful.  The acting is supreme.  The costumes are wonderful and it just transports me to a place I never want to leave.

The Joseph Smith Movie:  This sounds like a cheesy choice but I. LOVE. THIS. MOVIE.  It feels me with such love of the gospel.  I feel like it can get at me spiritually like few things can.

Oceans 13:  I enjoy everything about this movie.  Everything from the witty banter, to the colorful sets, to George Clooney's hair.  

5.  The last random thought I have is about marriage.  I read something that said marriage shouldn't feel like 50/50.  If you are doing it right it will feel like 90/90.  I really love that thought.  I need to give more and expect less. 

My Silly Boys

Here are some random picture of my boys I found oot and aboot (out and about, Canadian style).

Here is Jack doing his official gay pose.  His little hand just curls over and he keeps it like this.

This is typical Chris.  He decided to help me out and clean the house.  I knew he had been putting away the dishes from the dishwasher and drying them off.  What I didn't know, was that he got distracted and didn't finish.  I went to load the dishwasher, opened it up, and sitting inside were some dishes and the rag he was using to dry them.  Chris tends to get distracted easily and sort of flits about, cleaning things here and there.  I don't mind though, I just love that he is helping me so much.  And I love finding little things like this...its like a visual representation of how his mind works.

Here's little man being very reverent for our family prayer.  He forgot to bow his head and close his eyes though.  Tsk, tsk, tsk. 

This last picture is a true gem.  This is what Chris will look like in about 20 years, if he decides to go all 90's on me with this hair halo.  He was shaving his head and we had a little fun and shaved the top first.  Oh and he decided to shave his head because then it always looks done, without having to mess with hair gel.  He's a sexy sexy man. 

Chrit-ma Photo Dump

That's how this Cambodian (or was she Filipino?) lady, at the doughnut shop in Kansas, said Christmas.  Without any s's.  You should try singing "O Christmas Tree" like that.  "Oh Chrit-ma tree, Oh Chrit-ma tree!"  It's quite enjoyable.  

Anywho...Here are a medley of photos from Christmas Time.

Little man and his dad.  Look at how blue Chris's eyes are.  I always think that if he had darker eyelashes people would constantly be commenting on his blue eyes.  Sometimes you just don't notice as much with his light brown ones.  You can definitely tell where Little Man gets his eye color from.  Not me... I have weird yellow, blue, green numbers.

And here's the Little Man himself.  These little pug faces he makes always crack me up.  He looks like he's about to start barking.

This is a picture from when we went ice skating.  Mandi and I were Blaik's official hand holders and Chris was...whatever that is.  Figure skater extraordinaire?  Ice skating gimp? Rose from Titanic ("Look Jack, I'm flying")?  Either way, this is one of my favorite photos of Chris.  Also, watching Blaik ice skate might have been one of the cutest things I've ever seen.  His little feet were so zippy.

Each family was supposed to bring an ornament for my parent's Christmas tree.  I decided to make an ornament every year and whipped up this number.  Don't worry they are just monkey footie pjs.

Complete with a monkey on the butt.  I made this quite obviously because of Jack being born this year.

"All of the stockings were hung by the chimney with care."  Or in this case, closet. Oh what's that? One stocking is 3 times as large as the others? Yes indeed, that would be Chris's.  He informed me I had to fill the whole thing up.  I told him that I was just going to shove Jack in the top of it.  Oh and my stocking is that little Mickey one peeking over the top of Chris's.  And Jack's is on the bottom right.  I spent many an hour making that stocking for Jack.  It's amazing I got it done in time.  A Chrit-ma miracle. 

This was our gift to Chris's dad.  He just loves J-Dawgs and this was the perfect gift.  Or so we tell ourselves.  The problem with the perfect gift is that you can never top it.  Chris discovered this and has been giving his mom a box of hand warmers for about five years now.  Maybe we'll have to do the same thing with this gift.

Little Man and I are getting ready to go to the Riverwoods to visit Santa.  I just LOVE the way he looks in his little baby carrier.  Like a little Ewok.  And I have discovered this is the best way to hug a baby.  You don't have to worry about holding them up, you just squeeze.

Here are Kathi and wee Blaik at the Riverwoods.

Don't worry, it;s just the twins.  Mandi looks like Gromit in this photo. (from Wallace and Gromit.)

See:

It's uncanny.

At the Grizzlies Hockey game.  It was so fun to have Kristin and Jared there.

Ben was very focused on the game.

Blaik wasn't.  He just kept sliding on this little ledge.  I guess they shouldn't make that ledge the perfect height for 2-year-olds if they don't want them on there.  I wanted so badly for one of the players or coaches to turn around and see Blaik sliding away.  But, like Ben, they were focused on the game.

Family photo.  Little Man has now been to 3 Hockey games.  Not bad for such a little guy.  Although, he doesn't look so little in this picture.  Chunky little guy.

And here he is with his La-La. (Chris's mom.)  I think Jack get's more love from her than just about anyone.  When Chris's parents are in town we automatically move his bed into their room and basically forget we even have a child.

  

A giant flask at Pottery Barn.  I'd like to see those DIYers make a knock-off of this bad boy.

Jack in his little Christmas pj's. I just love the little bum on these.

And I also just love this picture of Chris and the little guy.

Wakey smile.

Sleepy smile.

And these last two pictures are of what Mandi and I do when we go shopping together. 

This Chewbacca may be one of the funniest things I've ever seen. 

Well there you have it.  Some snippets of our Chrit-ma.

Jack at 3 Months

Jack is now 3 months old.  He is changing so much and really starting to have more of a personality.  He's gotten more happy, fun and also a little bit more sassy.  He has started to laugh and make these cute little cooing noises.  Sometimes I am just flabbergasted by how cute he is.  I've decided he is the cutest baby to me but realistically he is probably really not the cutest baby.  Does that make sense? 

Anyway on to the top three's...

Top 3 Things People Say about Him:

1. "How old is he?"   Me: "3 months."  Them: surprised looks.  Everyone thinks he is about 6 months old.  He's a biggun'.  

2.  "His hands are so big."

3.  "Look at those fat cheeks."  He does have chipmunk cheeks.  My favorite comments about his cheeks thus far are, "How does his face hold up his cheeks?"  And, "His fat cheeks are hiding his face."  

Top 3 Cutest Things he does:

1.  Makes little cooing noises and little giggles.

2.  I still love his little sighs.  They're just like, "well I guess this is my lot in life."

3.  When I look over and he is smiling at me.  And how he has started to follow my voice.

Top 3 Least Cute Things He Does:

1.  Cries and throws little baby fits.  Usually this means he is tired and wants to be cuddled.

2.  Spits out his pacifier in the car and then cries.  And then we have to contort our bodies to reach back, find the pacifier and put it back in.  Multiple times per car ride.

3.  He still pulls on my hair sometimes.  I imagine this will only get worse.

Top 3 Dislikes:

1. Being swaddled.  But if we don't, he flails his arms and wakes himself up.

2. Being hungry.

3. Me picking at him (his ears, dry head, toe jam etc.).  I want him to get used to it though, because picking at things is one of my greatest joys in this life, so I just continue...and he doesn't care as much these days. 

Top 3 Likes:

1. Being talked to.

2. Being snuggled.

3. Eating.

Top 3 Ailments:

1. He was starting to get flat head on the sides of his head.  But now he sleeps with a head rest thing that keeps his head up.  And his head is getting much more shapely.  

2. Dry skin.  Poor guy inherited it from me.

3. Rashes on his tummy and boy bits.

Overall he such a good baby.  He sleeps through the night and a lot of the day.  I still get my 10 hours of sleep...I know, that's a lot.  But I sort of need a lot of sleep to function.  At least I tell myself this.  

Currently we are trying to balance out how much to feed him.  He could eat like 9 ounces if we let him.  But if he eats too much he spits up a lot.  I never really know exactly what to do.

That is true of many things in motherhood. I feel like I'm just winging everything.  People always ask me questions about him like, "Oh he like to sit up, doesn't he?" or "Oh he like to eat, huh?" or "Don't babies like such and such?" and "Is this normal for a baby."  And I always just say, "I guess so." or "I don't know."  Because I have no idea what most babies are like.  Everything he does I assume is just normal.  He is my only point of reference.  I really have no idea what I'm doing.  All I know is that I do my best, and I just love the little guy more than just about anything. 

Here follows a million photos of the cutie.

This picture cracks me up.  Cute little red-faced tomato.

 I think he has my nose and cheeks, or pear shaped head (thank you Mandi), and Chris's eyes.

Don't you just want to scoop him up?

This is a little outfit Chris wore as a baby.  I guess that makes it vintage.  And I guess that makes him all sorts of "in".

 Looks at those cute little man-boobs.  Or moobs.  

I love his smiles!

His obligatory photo with Albert.

This face is what I like to call creepy-cute.

Look at that wee tongue! 

Well there is our little man.  Chris and I just love our little Brevis. 

A Jack of all trades...

Jack has many skills...

He's a volunteer firefighter. 

And a soldier in the Roman army.

I'm pretty sure he is one of Maximus Decimus Meridius's protege's.  

Sometimes he moon-lights as a Pharaoh.

And sometimes he get's sick of ruling the world, and is Mickey Mouse for a little while.