Happy Birthday Mom!

Thank you again Mom and LaDale for letting me practice the new flip chart MK stuff on you. And also for buying a roll-up bag! =) I love you both. I hope that your trip back to Vegas is good, with no surprises. Have a happy, happy birthday, momma!

Also, I hope everyone has a great Conference weekend! I know I'm excited about watching all the sessions. Have a great day and I love you all!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Adam and Kip would like to say Happy Birthday to their Grandma. They also hope this day treats her well.

adam the ham!

Adam and i were playing this morning and he takes a teddy bear and hands it to me and lifts up his shirt like he's trying to show me his belly button, but instead of showing me his belly button, he pats his stomach. He does this twice before i realize that he wants me to stuff the bear inside his shirt. So i do and he starts dancing around. He's definitely a Tobler! ;)

no temptations

Growing up in my parents house we had truly dishonest neighbors, who made no point of hiding their drugs including their favorite piece of equipment of choice their bong{s}. Their thieveing ways were generational the youngest daughter told us years later what her sisters had done, and remained loyal only until she picked up a hustler for a boyfriend and became a habitual liar. Unfortunately my family fell to be their prime target of small thefts.And of course their was no proof left behind that they had done it Their absolute favorite time to get inside our house was the three hour block in which we went to church. The biggest and final theft was during the 4th of july holiday in which the rest of my family was at a family function and i was in las vegas with my soon to be in laws. Of course we always locked up and at one point even had a house alarm. Sometimes police reports were filed and home owners insurance claims were made and took care of whatever we were missing. I have always locked up everything including the car and have never left anything of value out in the car or out in the open.
It stinks being violated and i'm sorry that anyone has to have it happen to them. My thoughts are to not leave anything to tempt others with {unlocked cars or dvd equipment in cars}. I'm not saying don't be friendly to your neighbors, i'm just saying don't tempt them or anyone else.

Happy Birthday, Kip!

I hope you had a great first birthday, boyo! I sure miss you all.

Mercy's birthday was great! She DEVOURED her chocolate cupcake, even licking her hands to get as much as possible. This is a girl who likes food. We'll hopefully get some fun pictures up eventually. It's a little crazy around here with visitors, so it will probably be later this week.

Jen, I'm SO sorry. You've had some seriously difficult luck with stuff in your van. Did you report it to the police? Even if they can't do anything, I'd think they'd like to know so that they have an idea about the crime in the area.

I love you all very much.

Kip's Birthday

I will be trying to upload a few pictures of Kip and Adam during this wonderful celebration of Kip's birth.

RE Birthdays and crooks

Well first of all happy first birthday to Mercy and kip.
Jenafer I am so sorry about your braclet that stinks.
I hope that you will be able to get a new one soon.
We will see you guys on saturday.



Prayers: This is a question for all


Each of us pray daily have you ever had a prayer answered in an unexpected way?
Even if the answer was no.
I think it is important for us as family to share our experiances with prayer.

More on crooks

The real heartbreak is that they took what they probably thought was an empty bag from the car, probably to put the player in. Unfortunatly, I had placed my charm braclet in the zipped pocket. So now, I don't have my baby's charms!

Re: Happy Birthday and Cars

First of all, I'm glad that you got home safely, Jenafer, and thanks again for the great stuff you sent on to us! We spent some time last night going through some of it and we are excited to have it. Thanks!

Second, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Kip and Mercy! We celebrated Mercy's birthday last night with Mom and LaDale here and it was so fun. We'll be trying to get some of the video and pictures Tyler took over to Keryn so she can post them, but we'll also probably post them on our website. I hope that Kip has as good a time as Mercy did! Tell Kip we love him very much and hope his first birthday is absolutely fabulous! =)

Third, Jen, I'm so sorry about your car! That must be so frustrating! I hope that nothing else gets stolen and I'm glad you have a garage you can park in. It will such a strange sensation when we have a garage someday...at least right now we have a car port that we can park under to keep most of the snow off our car! We are very grateful for that. Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Re: Crooks

Jen,

I'm sorry to hear about the break in. That is horrible. I must admit that I was pleased to hear that you can park a car inside your garage. I know there was quite a while that you could not even do that. SKT

Crooks

This morning, Jeff woke me up by asking if I had taken the DVD player out of the car. No! I had not! Our car was broken into again last night. They only took the kids DVD player. Get this, the movie was Veggie Tales, Easter Carol, (a copy) so we didn't lose much. The upshot is, Jeff's car has an alarm, so he can now park in the driveway and I will park in the garage until we get enough stuff moved so that we can both park in there.

Birthdays!!!

A very happy birthday to the cutest two one-year-olds on the face of the planet! We love you very much, Mercy and Kip!

happy belated birthday to mercy!

Samuel and i were really busy this last weekend and did not post a happy birthday on Saturday to Mercy. So Kip wishes his cousin Mercy a Happy Birthday ;)

Vegas

Well, we are home from a wonderful week in Vegas. I didn't go to sleep before midnight any night last week! We had a great time. It was even worth missing the Grand Opening of our very own Wall Mart last Wednesday. It was great to see Mom, Dad and LaDale. We even caught some rain. I'll tell more later but we are probably going to go back sometime this summer, if we can throw it. We may not be able to pull it off with our trip, girls camp and Telima's baby, our 7 weeks of summer will be stretched kind of thin. But we will be trying!

Balderdash

(I'm not as good at making up definitions as Keryn, but here goes.)

Fugacity - A city in which fugues are the only compositions that can be legally played (although some daring musicians will play an occasional sonata in the city's speak-easies).

Keryn, congratulations! That's so exciting that you get to be a county delegate! I know you'll love that. And thanks for the laugh with the Harrison Ford's wife thing. It was hilarious.

I hope everyone is having a fabulous time in Vegas! (I think they must be, considering we haven't heard from the ones in Vegas since they got there!) Have a wonderful day!

RE: Balderdash

Fugacity: noun, latin root modified by Tongan. One of several herbal compounds that reduce the effects of gas on the system. That meal of beans and rice needed to have a fugacity served with it.


P.S. I actually know this one--we use it in geology a lot when calculating magma chamber conditions.

Balderdash

I just learned a new word. Before I say what this word is, keep in mind I learned it in one of my graduate physics courses, let's play a weird game of Balderdash and find out what you all think this word could, or should, mean. The word is "fugacity" pronounced "few-gas-ity" or "fu-ga-city." Hopefully these should lead you to the same pronunciation. Try not to cheat and google it. Although I did try and google this word and I had a hard time sifting through all the text to find a good way to discribe it. I want you all to have fun. Don't limit yourselves to potential physics vocabulary. If you were given this word in a game of balderdash, what would you say it means? Love you all.

About Harrison Ford's wife

Just like you don't want to wear a red shirt on the starship Enterprise, and you don't want to be named "Guy" on "Galaxy Quest", you don't want to be married to Harrison Ford's character in a movie--as is explained here.

Congratulations Keryn!!!!

So next time i go name dropping i won't have to say my half uncle's, cousin's step sister's half cousin's evil twin brother's niece three times removed. I can just say my sister in law. All joking aside congratulations i think you'll be great!

Caucus excitement

I'm a county delegate!!!!!!

Everyone together now: Oooooooh!

Tonight was the night of the neighborhood caucus meetings in Utah. We dropped the babies off at a friend's house, and had a little political date night together down at Spanish Fork High School. There were only twenty people attending our precinct's meeting (which was a far cry from the presidential election year crowd of 80+ in Orem last year), and we only knew two of them--and one of those only because he was in our old stake presidency. It was a really neat evening, relaxed (although with "motion seconded" and "move to close the nominations") and not intimidating. Bradley nominated me to be a county delegate, and two others were nominated, too. I had to get up and give a little speech about what I thought about some issues, and answer some questions. It was really low key and kinda fun. And I won (I had pretty good chance, you know, seeing how we got to send two county delegates and there were only three of us nominated). Now I get to learn about the issues, and go to the county convention on April 29. I honestly don't have a clue what to expect, but I'm really excited to find out.

(For those who don't know (I sure didn't two years ago, when I went to my first) a caucus is the meeting where delegates are chosen to represent your precinct to the party big-wigs at the county and state political conventions. In a presidential election year, the precinct delegates at the state convention choose who goes to the big, national conventions (and presumably wear funny hats while they are there). Anyway, the pledge is recited and the party platform (county level) is read, and then you nominate and vote for precinct chair, vice-chair, etc, and a certain number of delegates.

Re: QOTW

As for the new qotw, I do have a suggestion. I think LaDale would go great under the name: Alexandra Theogrand. This will show the world that she is grand. That is all for now. SKT

Nine Year old glaze

I have been holding back and waiting to write when the time was perfect...okay so really Telima just makes sure that I stay posted and so I do not worry about writing. I could not however pass up Jenafer's lovely post about video games and young children.

I know that none of you will believe me but I was once a young child too. As a young child I played many video games and it was by far my parents' favorite way to keep us out of trouble. Ah, the special moments spent basking in the glow of a TV that was inches from your face. You got this warm sensation in the back of your head that assured you that youhad to win the next round, or get over the next enemy. Ah, Telima says I now use the computer for such sensation, she is probably right. I at least am not playing games but rather writing code.

Jenafer, for your sake...for the sake of mothers everywhere I hope that there is an chain explosion in all video game manufacturing plants at one time. I know it is hoping to a little much but it is the only way we will stop seeing 20+ men with 9 year old glazed eyes.

i think

I was actually reading jen's last post and thinking i'm so glad i live in a 1 story house. For me personally i have to know everything that is going on around me.

RE: Vegas and QOTW

I'm not going to Vegas (part of me wishes I was, but most of me doesn't. I'm still sick of travelling, and I haven't gone anywhere since Christmas!). But good luck and have fun to all those who are!

As for the QOTW, I'm pretty sure LaDale is going to use the pen name of "Lousia Ferncliffe" or just possibly "Valerie von Hentzau". But "TLC" is very catchy. Maybe she'll go for that.

And, just to tie up loose ends, I finally found the quote I was referring to about sleeping while standing. From The Blue Sword, chapter 14, page 206-207 in my little paperback:

"Perhaps if I could stand on three legs and let my eyes glaze over, it would help," she [Harry] replied. "I do not feel like sleeping and I...dread dreaming."

Fortunately for me, the cold is finally lessening its grip over my poor innocent body. I expect that I will be over with it by Wednesday or Thursday. :)

Las Vegas or Bust

No video games involved, just a foot of snow.

Actually, I don't think we hit feet, just inches. Beautiful, and I am so glad I don't have to go anywhere. WAIT! I DO!- I am flying to Vegas! Good news. The storm advisory watch is no longer in effect, just the warning and that only until 11:00. I wasn't leaving for the airport until 12:00, so, hopefully that will make poor Corina (who is driving me to the airport) feel better about the actual driving. I am dreading the airport part, however. So far the only delay (at least that they have shown on line) is a flight to Georgia that is delayed 29 minutes. Hopefully, as the morning progresses, it will only get better.

Thanks for making me laugh out loud, Jenafer. Poor David. Poor Jenafer. I simply LOVE 9 year olds.

Las Vegas or Bust

I'm just sitting here waiting for my lovely children to wake up so we can get on the road to Vegas. Question- Why is it that children only sleep in when you don't want them to? Case in point, they are up at 5:30 am on Saturday, but sleep until 7:30 am on Sunday, and church starts at 8:00. Anyway, the kids are all excited about the trip. I told Benjamin that he couldn't bring his playstation and he was very sad. Let me tell you why I think his playstation appartenly makes his mind go by-by.

It was Saturday. Jeff had gone to a meeting of his car club in town. Jenafer decited to take her shower because if she waited, she would be dirty in church the next day. Jenafer finished her shower and spent some time upstairs, finishing up laundry and so forth. About two hours later, Jenafer came downstairs to do dishes. While downstairs, Benjamin, who was sitting on the floor, watching TV, looked up and asked, "Where did Skylar go?"
"HUH!?!?!?! Where did that come from?" Jenafer wonders.
"Well, I'm just wondering if he left," Benjamin elaborates.
Finally, Jenafer gets Banjamin to explain that while she was in the shower TWO HOURS AGO, the doorbell had rung and all those lovely children had ANSEWERED the door and there was my wonderfull, larger brother and his lovely wife and adorable three children. AND NO ONE HAD TOLD HER THEY WERE THERE! After wondering around a little, David went upstairs, where Banjamin was playing his video game (He had left it for a few seconds to ansewer the door) and asked Benjamin where Mommy was. "I dunno," came Benjamins reply. So David, Amy and children felt they should leave.
Jenafer feels like banging her head against a wall. Hard. And Repeatedly.

Video games are bad. They kill all the little brain cells in a nine year olds brain!

The revival of the Chateau

Well, it wasn't taxes that did it for me, just a busy, busy weekend. I hope that everyone is doing well. Things here have settled down a bit, although not too much. I'm trying to work extra hard to finish my month on the right track for Mary Kay. It's tough! But yesterday ended up being much better than I originally expected, so hopefully everything else will continue to go well. I can't wait to see Mom and LaDale soon and thank you, thank you, Jenafer for everything you're sending up to us to help with the baby! =) We really, really, really appreciate it. Love you all!

new qotw

I have been thinking of Lemony Snicket and all that fun stuff and how it's a pen name. So of course i decided to have a little fun concerning LaDale and her talent and hard work in writing a fabulous book! With her permission of course, i came up with the latest qotw.

If you could give LaDale a pen name what would it be? {if you have more than one please feel free to share as many as you'd like}

I have a 2 or 3 of them so far in mind.

#1"Tastes Like Chicken" but you could call her TLC for short ;)
Then i thought of playing off her initials {LT} for a little bit and calling her
#2 Lettuce and Tomato
and then something a little closer to home like calling her
#3 Little Toblerone

Ooops

That last post about the hurricane was me, Keryn, not Brad. I didn't notice that he was the one signed in. Sorry!

Hey, Samuel...

First, whoa! Did taxes kill the Chateau or what?

Hey, Samuel, did you hear about the massive hurricane about to hit Cairns?

Thousands of residents fled their homes as the worst cyclone to threaten Australia's Queensland state for decades bore down on the coast.

Tropical Cyclone Larry was expected to hit the north-eastern state early Monday with wind gusts of up to 280 kilometres (175 mph) an hour and storm surges of up to two metres (6.6 feet), the weather bureau said.

Glad you aren't there!

Re: taxes

Mom writes, "He is wishing that tax season was over but it is going well."

If it is any consolation, we finished our taxes in February. ;-)

Getting a refund is so much fun I'm seriously thinking about changing our number of exemptions. Sure, it is compulsory savings, but it works!

Re: quote

I'll take your word for it, but I still, in my mind, see that white horse when I hear that quote. I can't find my copys at the moment to look it up!

RE: Quote

SOOOOOOOOOO close. I think, though I haven't looked it up yet, that it is in Blue Sword. Right before the battle.

I think.

But darn good job, Jen!

Re: Quote

I believe that is in The Hero's Crown.

What I love

My daughter's face when she grabs Ezra's cup of goldfish when he is busy elsewhere--Look at what I can get away with!

Ezra's off-hand, matter-of-fact statements, "I love you, Mom."

Snow that I don't have to drive in (poor Bradley, though, it took him almost 50 minutes to get to work yesterday, when it usually takes him 15) (and I know that this won't get any sympathy from Jeff, David, or Samuel).

The fact that the Gem and Bead Faire is tomorrow up at the Salt Lake County Fairgrounds and I've been saving my pennies (literally) so I can buy some stuff.

The fact that LaDale and Mommy will be here in under two weeks.

Mercy's little singing-along with hymns and/or theme songs (like the "We did it" song from Dora).

Things I don't love:

Hurt thumbs. Who knew you use your thumbs so much?

Nasty head colds that make it so that you can't lay down with practically suffocating. It makes you wish you were a horse and could just let your hind leg go slack and your eyes glaze over (name that quote! It's not exact, but it's close.).

re:qotw

As much as I love dad's pies, my favorite pie is German Chocolate cream pie. I love chocolate but I love that German chocolate has nuts and coconut in it. That is one goooood pie!!! But next to that I love dad's sour cream lemon and yes we do have the recipe for it. I will give it to you on the blog if you want but I think to really make it work you should have dad help you the first time and then you have to practice to get it good.

Dad is feeling better somewhat. His back is still bothering him but he is doing better. Just knowing that it is stress has relieved some of the stress. He is wishing that tax season was over but it is going well. He is taking some time off to relax in the middle of the day to try to help and it is helping.

My life continues to be very hectic but fun.
I love you all.

Re: Pie!

Well, there I was, trying to get gmail to work so that I could send Keryn the next chapter and IT WILL NOT WORK. So, in an effort to remain calm and not blow as gasket because I am stressing about my deadline, I will take a break and answer the question of the week.
I am slightly afraid, though, that I cannot vote with the crowd. Daddy's lemon meringue pie is not my favorite. Lemon pie in general is not my favorite, no matter who makes it. I will have to go with his banana cream, but I also love pumpkin pie (good pumpkin pie that is, because not all pumpkins pies are) and french silk and boysenberry (which is not just for boys) and... and... I'm afraid I love too many kinds!!!

RE: QOTC

David, is that like the Question Of The Century? Wow! =) Just teasing. I love you!

RE: QOTC

Hello all...I know we've been away from the blog for a while but we're back...for now.

As far as the QOTC goes...since I don't react to bananas as much as Jenafer does, it is a bit of a toss-up for me...but in the end I have to go with the Lemon Meringue/Sour Cream Pie. (Mom, Dad, do you have the recipe for that? I don't think Amy has ever had that before) Amy's favorite pie is Pecan Pie.

LaDale...thanks for the shrimp recipe...I have never cared for shrimp or any other type of sea food (the only exception being clam chowder, which I love) but Amy is a devoted fan. The house fried rice at Pick-Up Stix has chicken, beef, and shrimp in it and Amy loves it when I pick out the shrimp to give to her. I've decided that it is a texture thing even more than the taste to I agree with Brad on that one.

We love you all...

Mom...thanks for the news update on Dad, we are always praying for you.

Re: QOTW

I just have to add my vote to Keryn's and Telima's. I love the lemon merange, sour cream pie the most! Don't think I wouldn't vote for the banana cream, but as Daddy uses real bananas in it, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole!

RE: QOTW

Now, on to more important things: Pie. I love pie. All kinds, thank you very much. But my favorite has to be sour-cream lemon meringue. So delicious. Especially the way Daddy makes it. Yummy! (I'm starting to feel like this blog is "Farmer Boy". Everytime I read it I get hungry!)

And, Mommy, I'm so grateful for the information about the bone scan. We pray for you both every night.

RE: Priesthood Meeting

I have the best family in the world. Thank you so much for all your thoughtful responses. And thank you for not treating me like I was crazy or something.

Bradley and I talked a lot about this last night, and I figured some things out about what I was feeling. First, sorry, Samuel, I'm not pregnant. (I'm trying to finish my thesis first!) But I am stopping nursing and that is wreaking havoc on my emotions. Silly, huh? So yes, I'm a little unstable right now...sniff...don't push it, okay! (Just kidding!!!!!) But, seriously, one of my main thoughts was feeling left out. How silly is that? But I honestly did feel ignored.

I also was feeling indignant on behalf of two of my good friends in the ward. Shirley, our Primary President, is divorced, and our first counselor Dinah's husband isn't active. Who is going to make sure they know about it? And how important it is to our stake presidency? Bradley pointed out that it just happened on Sunday. His sense from the meeting was that this is going to be a major focus in the coming months--so Dinah, Shirley, and everyone else will have ample opportunities to hear about it. So at this early date it is unfair to be too concerned about that.

And, finally, I felt like the stake presidency was cutting off half their resources for this important task. But I am equally sure they didn't do it on purpose. I think you are right that the Priesthood meeting was already set up, so why not talk about it then? And how many big Relief Society meetings do we have? (We've not even had a Women's Conference in this stake since I've been here.) And, honestly, I am NOT advocating more meetings. No, thanks!

This is getting long, but I just wanted to finish up with my testimony. I don't want anyone to think that I am feeling frustrated with the church or the gospel. I'm not--I was just worrying about one situation a little too much, and it got to me. I know the Church is true, and I know that our leaders are called and directed by God. Even when mistakes are made, we are blessed by following their counsel. I really do know that.

And I love you all!

Re: Priesthood, Pi Day, and QOTW

So, I have to admit that I read Keryn's question yesterday and then didn't answer because I needed some time to consider it myself. This morning, after reading what everyone else has said, the whole thing makes more sense to me. I don't really have anything to add to it, just thanks for helping me understand (my mindset was right there with Keryn's).

I have always known that Mar. 14 is Pi Day, mostly I think because it is one of my friends from high school, Marc Porritt's, birthday. We always celebrated it with him and remembered it because it was Pi Day. Tyler and I went to the store last night to get milk and juice and cheese (WIC things) and some sort of treat. In honor of Pi Day, Tyler wanted to get Mud Pie, instead of regular ice-cream. However, the ice-cream in Mud Pie is Coffee and chocolate, yuck. So, instead we got a chocolate mousse ice-cream pie. Wow, was it rich. One tiny slice and you have to have a whole cup of milk to get it all down. But it was good! (Yes, we jumped the gun a little and had some last night...we'll celebrate again tonight, though, it was a big pie!)

My favorite kind of pie has always been either the sour cream lemon or the banana cream pies that Daddy always makes. Sooo good. I look forward to Thanksgiving dinner every year for those pies more than anything else. I prefer the lemon just a tiny bit over the banana, so that's my favorite.

new qotw

In essence of pie day. What is your favorite kind of pie?

I'm not that much of a fan i have to be really in the mood for pie. But i do actually have a favorite.

It's called republican pie. Well according to my parents it was called that while i was growing up. Who knows if someone else calls it something else. Anyway it has layers.
It's usually done with a graham cracker crust, though an oreo cookie crust is said to be good too.
it's made with coolwhip, cream cheese powdered sugar and chocolate pudding, it's served chilled, not baked and usually topped with shavings of a hershey candy bar.

re: Pi, Priesthood and such things

I did not know that March 14 is Pi day. It never entered my mind. Thank You all for telling me. Maybe I will go buy a pie for dad.
The Stake Presidency probably just decided what they wanted the stake to do to prepare for stake conference and then said, "Oh, hey, priesthood meeting is schduled for this week. Let's announce it then." They did not think about the women or anything else. Many times it is just timing that determines when things get said. I think that if the women had their woman's conference going they would have announced it then. I really don't think there was any intent to even have anyone think about why would they exclude us in this announcement. Just so you know only about 20 years ago it would not even have been something anyone would have thought about. The prophet was very, dare I say, calculating when he announced the proclamation in the Relief Society broadcast. He was saying to the church that women have come a long way toward being truly equal in the church. We however has a ways to go with our own feelings.

Now, for my news to you all. Your dad and I have been keeping somethings from you. Not because we didn't want you to know but just that we wanted all the answers before saying anything. Last year, at this time of year, dad had a problem with his back hurting so bad that he couldn't sleep sometimes. We thought it was just stress. This year he has been going through the same thing and our mind went to cancer. He told the doctor and the doctor ordered a bone scan. The scan was done last Thursday. Today we got the results. There is no change in the cancer. The back ache is probably just stress. That in itself relieves some of the stress. He is still in pain but I think it will gradually go away and he will be fine. He does go back to see the doctor in April but just for a quick check not for any tests. That will happen in May.

I am soo looking forward to next week. I can't wait to see Jenafer and the kids and LaDale. And the week after to see Keryn's and Telima's families.

Re: Many things

Did you know that the the family proclamation came out in the General Relief Society Meeting back in September 1995? So we are not always, totally left out, so to speak. I also agree with Samuel that the stake presidency did not think about that half the stake wasn't there, only that the priesthood meeting seemed like a good place. I do have to admit, though, that since I moved into my apartment, I have missed having a member of the priesthood come home and tell me about priesthood sessions, mostly General Conference. (or else a home I can go to and learn about it, like when I lived in Vegas).

Pi day. Samuel jumped the gun. I had a wonderful e-mail that I was going to sent to him tomorrow with three picture of different kinds of pie. I was hoping to surprise him with the silly knowledge that I realized it was pie day. Only now, I can't surprise him. Oh well. So tomorrow, everyone have a happy pie day.

Announcements

Well, I'll weigh in on the stake announcement.
I think that in our church, given that it IS very patriarcial, the state presidency probably didn't even think about the fact that the women weren't there. After all, as Samuel said, the Bishopbrick (sp) was there and it really is their job to get the word out to all of their ward members. The fact that they will probably just hand off to the Relief Society President is just proves that the system works, right?
I told Jeff that it was Pi day tomorrow and then had to explain why. I'll probably bake a pie on honor. Any suggestions on what kind?
Most of you will have probably heard about our braking of our dry streak. After no measurable rain sence October, we recieved 3 plus inches last Saturday. It literally never stopped raining all day on Saturday. It was supposed to rain on Sunday as well, but we are glad it didn't. Apperantly, the roof of our church leaks, and we would have been in the rain inside as well as outside!

Re: Pi, stake, and stuff

Notice that the items in the title could be food.

I needed to add my 2 bits about what is said and discussed. First, I was really confused about how in the world July 22 could be considered Pi Day. Then I thought. Having spent nearly 2 years in a country that puts the day before the month in dates I started to understand. First, the is no 14th month of the year. So the 3rd of the 14th month did not make sence. Next, there is not 31 days in the 4th month, April. So 31, April = 1 May doesn't make any sence either. I guess there could be something about the 3rd of January, but that ruins the very point of including the first 3 digits that a lot of people know about, 3.14. So, it seems the "nerd" had to think of another day that was not American to celebrate Pi day. 22 divided by 7, 22/7, is, remarkably, close to Pi. That's it. We will call 22nd of July Pi day. That way the truly nerdy population will have to pull out their calculators to verify that it really is 3.14 + whatever. I for one had to do just that. Oh well. I will stick with the simple and "sweet" March 14.

Next, my opinion about the stake announcement. It seems easy to get word out to tell the priesthood. A representative, if not the whole, of each ward's bishopric would be in attendence. Easy way to tell them all, plus other people who will be able to spread the word. Just my opinion. At this point I really don't know much about the church as an organization. I do feel that I am learning tons each week that I attend church.

By the way, Caren and I got new callings in our ward. We teach half the 7-8 year olds. It sure was fun. Kip roams around the class as we teach the lesson. Then Caren and I take turns taking them to sharing time while the other attends Kip in RS/EQ.

P.S. Personally, I'm beginning to think Keryn is pregnant and the hormones are kicking in high gear. :-) Love you Keryn. --SKT

A serious question

More seriously, though...

Brad told me a little about the priesthood meeting he went to yesterday. The stake presidency announced that they would like us to read the Book of Mormon before our next stake conference in September. Then they would like us to write out our testimonies of this experience.

I think this is a wonderful idea. But there has been something nagging at me since Brad told me about it.

Why did they announce and talk about in a stake priesthood meeting? Oh, I'm sure they are going to read a letter or have it announced in some way in sacrament meeting, if only for those single sisters in our stake who don't have a husband to come home and tell them about it. If home teaching was perfect, and attendance at this meeting perfect, then I suppose they wouldn't have to do that to get the word out. But even still...

I am not trying to pick at nits, or kick against the pricks, honestly. But doesn't it seem a little...insensitive to leave out half of the stake's adult population from such an important announcement? It seems to me that the stake presidency wants this to be a major part of our family/personal scripture study for the next six months or so. Why would they convene a meeting with only the men to announce it?

I'm absolutely positive that there is no insult intended. And I'm looking forward to reading the Book of Mormon on a tight schedule again. But I feel concerned about the unthinking mindset that this may reveal.

Do you think I'm overreacting? I'd really like to know what you all think about this.

RE: Fajitas and Pi Day

Hey, Samuel, isn't it also Albert Einstein's birthday on 3/14? And just so you know, some people believe that July 22 (22/7 in the European fashion) is a better, more accurate pi day. Just FYI.

Maybe I will make fajitas AND pie to celebrate tomorrow. Who can say?

And just for all of your information: Pyrex cassorole lids don't just break when they hit tile floors. They shatter. And it's all the better if your husband is at a priesthood meeting, your children have bare feet, and you are on the phone with LaDale. Then the party never stops.

don't forget

Tomorrow, March 14th is pie day. 3.14159 etc. It would be terribly blasphemous if you didn't celebrate it by buying or making a pie.

So celebrate pie day everyone!!!

chicken fajitas

keryn asked for the recipe so here it goes:

i so cheat and buy the fajita seasoning packet at walmart

it's the {great value brand even} for 50 cents

i actually boil the chicken on the stove top that way it doesn't dry out.
step 1
2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts {thawed}{equal to 1 pound}
a pot of water with enough water to cover the chicken in it.
put the pot on the stove{uncovered} on high until the water boils, then reduce heat to low and cover and cook for 15 minutes.

Step 2
remove from heat, drain the water and let cool. Then marinade in a ziploc freezer bag with

1 great value brand fajita seasoning packet
1/4 cup of water
2 tbsp of vegetable oil
{these are the instructions on the packet actually}
shake this up in the bag and chill in fridge and allow to marinate for 2 hours

step 3
dice up the chicken and heat it up in the frying pan and i like to add the rest of the marinade juice in with it and cook it until the juice pretty much is cooked right into the chicken {this is about 10 minutes or so}

step 4
serve in tortillas with your favorite toppings

mmmmmm.... tastes like chicken

RE: Lobster

Mmmmmmm, lobster. That sounds good too.

The only time I've ever had lobster was when I was in Maine. It was this little shack where you ordered at the window and then got your food at another window and ate outside on these benches. You got to choose your own lobster, but I let them choose. I have no idea how to choose a lobster. It was REALLY delicious, but a lot of work and not very filling for a $9.99 meal. So when I was done I bought a cup of clam chowder. And that was delicious too. I ate well that night!

Speaking of food...so right now the only things Ezra will eat are goldfish, cheese slices, fruit snacks, and Cheerios/Rice Krispies. And not always those. It sort of depends on his frame of mind--and let me tell you, although it's an adorable frame of mind, many times it is not a comprehensible one. But I guess that is the life of a two-year-old--and his parents!

And Mercy has added some more words to her vocabulary--joining "no", "Da", and "bye" are "ball" (really breathy on the "buh" sound), "wow", and "yay". With clapping. It's really cute.

shrimp

I have to weigh in on this issue. I love shrimp. I love shrimp cooked in anyway. I love fried shrimp, grilled shrimp, boiled shrimp, canned shrimp, shrimp cocktail, shrimp in everyway that I have tried them. I am sure that there are ways that I haven't tried and maybe somewhere there is a way that I wouldn't like them. The only thing is I really don't like to clean them. I don't like to look at uncleaned ones and I really don't like to see fresh ones but I don't care that much for the looks of lobster but they are really yummy.

Re: Shrimp

I don't really like shrimp either, although, like Jenafer was, I'm not sure if that's because I really don't like them or because I didn't like them when I was little and just haven't tried it again...I don't know. But generally, I don't like sea food. Tyler says it's just because I've never had really good sea food and he could be right. All I know is the smell of it makes me sick, even when I'm not pregnant. Of course, again, that could very well be just a certain kind of sea food and I'm generalizing. Maybe someday, I'll try to figure it out. Not right now, though. =)

Shrimp

Bradley hates shrimp. Something about biting through the layers or something. I don't understand it, personally, because I adore shrimp. Especially crispy honey-fried shrimp from Pei Wei's or PF Chang's. YUMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!

Oooh, that sounds so good. Too bad PF Chang's is too expensive and we don't have a Pei Wei's here in Utah. Bummer.

general info

You know, I can't stand shrimp. I would never eat it as a child. Once I became an adult I wondered if I just didn't like the way they looked, so I tried some. I really don't like shrimp and will probably never voluntarily eat it again.
We weighed Lillian today. She has gained a whole pound. The doctor is no longer worried about her and she is compleatly on a bottle.

Re: Scallions

Okay, I just finished lunch, which was left over from last night's dinner and thought I would let you know about the scallions recipe. I was pretty good. Not absolutely fabulous- you have GOT TO TRY THIS recipe, but pretty good. It was called Scampi with Pasta and here is the recipe if you would like to try something new. Oh and within the parenthesis you will find information I added to help the next time I tried this recipe. It says it should only take about 15 minutes of active work. It took me about 45 minutes, but maybe that was because I was spending so much time measuring. Or maybe I am still learning how to be quick in the kitchen.

Scampi with Pasta (makes 4 servings)
12 oz linguine
3 Tbsp butter, cut up
3 Tbsp olive oil
4 tsp minced garlic (about 2 1/2 cloves)
1 lb peeled, deveined, extra large shrimp, thawed is frozen (don't forget to peel the shrimp. It's harder after they're cooked)
1/4 c chopped scallions (green onions)
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
2 tsp grated lemon zest (pretty much the outside of a medium lemon)
1/4 cup each lemon juice and parsley (I used about half as I was using dried parsley and that was still too much)

1. Boil linguine as package directs
2. Meanwhile, heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat until butter melts. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds. Add shrimp, scallions, salt and pepper; cook stirring often, about 5 minutes just until shrimp turns pink (I didn't understand this part, I cook it for over five minutes and I didn't think my shrimp turned any pinker than they were before I dropped them into the pan- but they tasted alright, so it must not matter too much- unless I drop dead of food poisoning in the next few minutes. If so, don't try this recipe). Remove from heat; stir in lemon zest, juice and parsley.
3. Drain pasta; serve with shrimp.

There you have it. Enjoy!!!

Pictures or lack thereof

Well, I was able to download the pictures, but I can't get them posted here. I'm not sure why not--I'll look into it.

I love you all!

RE: The dentist

Oh, LaDale, I'm so sorry! That's terrible. I feel your pain (although, hopefully, not literally). What yucky news. I was going to try to cheer you up with cute pictures of my cute babies, so I took some, but I can't find our USB cable, so I can't download them...wait a minute...let me try something.

dental work

How appealing do false teeth sound? I feel that way sometimes after dental work. When i was little i used to associate them with old people but now old people just might have the edge.

Dentist woes!!!

I have to admit, back- however many years- when Keryn was going through her wonderful dental problems I was secretly grateful I did not have the same problems. I was secretly grateful too early. I just returned from my six months cleaning to find out that I will be in big trouble soon if I don't do something sooner. Oh no-- no cavities!! No nothing like that- just a tooth (make that teeth) that have cracked so that the dentist was amazed I hadn't lost a corner of one tooth yet. She showed me the picture. Sure enough, the tooth is cracked clear around. WONDERFUL!!! Also, I have a tooth that is in trauma. (Whatever that means?) Actually I did ask- I grind my teeth at night and it appears that is the problem- again, no cavity, just a possible root canal if it gets worse. I already don't eat on that side of my mouth as it is. Which is why the plague build-up is so bad back there. (Apparently it is worse when one 'baby's' a tooth than when one eats regularly on it). They have all these numbers they add up to obtain a score. You want to be in the 90's. My score was 78. Again! I didn't improve it seems. Although my gums are better. Sigh!!! So the next appointment is scheduled and the next few years will be WONDERFUL!!! The treatment is in three parts. They clean out all the cracking old fillings, then add temporary buildup. Then I spent (however long it takes) to straighten my jaw, which will stop the grinding. And finally, I receive the permanent caps!!!
ARGH! DENTISTS! Good thing I like these people at my dentist's office- they were so kind, especially when I started to cry when they told me my score. I know, I know- I felt very foolish, but I couldn't help it!!

Roseolla, scallions, etc.

So, Keryn, I think that you can take Mercy out becoause if I'm right roseolla is contagious while the baby has the fever not the rash. And it is sometimes called baby measles because no over 2 ever gets it.
LaDale, I didn't know what scallions were until I was about 45. I mean it. I had not even heard the term before them. I felt pretty stupid when I found out that they were just green onions cut up especially the green part. I am not a chef I just like to eat not cook.
I think Samuel is brilliant also but some of what he talks about are too deep for me. I loved the picture though. I do have a great time trying (and I do mean trying) to understand what you are doing. I feel that way about some of what Keryn says and also everyone of you.
Telima, I will see if I think it will work for me and let you know about the Mary Kaye party.

RE: Synonyms

Hey, LaDale, wanna cook for me? Your last couple of posts...yum! I totally crave steak now. But how do you know what a good cut is? Do you just look for a thin, expensive one?

And what is this recipe that needs scallions? I'm really in a rut right now cooking wise. Anyone want to share recipes? Caren, those tacos we had at your house on Christmas day were fabulous...can I get the recipe?

Mercy developed a rash last night, and we went to see the doctor today. She's had a high fever for the last about four-five days, and she's been really really sad and not hungry and it's just been not fun. BUT--it's roseola and now that the fever broke yesterday and the rash appeared she is all but better, finally. So yay for roseola and getting it over with! The rash will last about five-seven days but it won't bother her really--no itching or discomfort. She's acting like my little Mercy again. But I'm sure glad we didn't take her to church on Sunday--she was still infectious, probably.

Love you all!

synonyms

Did you know that until about 15 minutes ago, I had no idea what scallions were? It's true and I wasted about 20 minutes (20 minutes I did not have to waste, mind you) looking for them at the store. Finally, I gave up and came home, frustrated because now I would have to go out again or not use all the other ingredients I had just bought for a new recipe I wanted to try. So, I'm sitting here on my couch and thought maybe I would look up on-line what scallions where, so next time I would know what I was looking for. LOW AND BEHOLD!!!!- scallions are green onions in disguise and what did LaDale buy when she was out, because she does every chance she gets- green onions. Recipe saved! Oh, the life of a chef. (Just kidding)

Question

So, I have a question for all my wonderful sisters (of course including in-laws) and mom. Would any of you be willing to host a Mary Kay web party for me? Let me tell you what it entails and you can get back me. If you let me know within the next day, I'll be able to count them as bookings before my next unit meeting and I would be forever grateful. But I understand if you need a little more time to think about it.

Here's how it works: You ask anybody you want (it usually works better if you know them fairly well and see them sometimes) if they would like to participate in a Mary Kay Web party and get a Virtual Makeover. We'll set up a 24 hour time period in which you tell people to go to my website (www.marykay.com/telima_smith), register, and get their Virtual Makeover (which is actually a lot of fun, just ask Keryn!). You can tell them that registering just lets me know that they've been there. I won't send them any email unless they check the box that says they want to receive the monthly newsletter. We'll set up something like they'll get 10% off anything they purchase from the website during that 24 hour period, as long as they put in the comments box at the checkout that they are there for your party. Depending on how many people visit the site that day and how many actually buy something, you will also get a discount, but something more like 25% probably. We'll have to talk out the details. But that's how it works! Let me know if you're interested!

I love you all!

RE: QOTW and Birthdays

My favorite birthday has to be my 19th so far. I was a freshman up here at BYU and I had mentioned to momma that I didn't think my birthday was going to be anything really special and I was okay with that. But of course, momma being the wonderful mom that she is, immediately called Keryn and told her to think of something to make it special for me. So, when I got to work that morning, my desk was decorated with streamers, balloons, and candy, with a big sign that said "Happy Birthday, Telima!". It was a beautiful spring day and I spent a long time just wandering around campus, taking in the beautiful day. I think I found a patch of grass and read some Harry Potter. Then I went to visit Samuel at the Physics tutorial lab where he worked, and he gave me a balloon (which should have tipped me off, but it didn't). We set up a time for him and Caren to take me to dinner that night and I headed home. I walked into my apartment and then opened my bedroom door. I couldn't hardly get two steps into the room because it was literally filled with balloons! Samuel had apparently come over while I was at work and school and had filled my bedroom with balloons, with the help of Audrei and my other roommates. I had presents from my family and Audrei sitting on my bed and got to open them with all my roommates around. They had made me a cardboard car with a license plate that said "Ty'sGrl" on it. It was the cutest thing (I kept the license plate, but the rest of it has gone all the way of the world). Anyway, the end of that wonderful day was dinner with Samuel and Caren. It was a great day.

RE: spelling

That would be genius (which is somebody with exceptional ability, especially somebody whose intellectual or creative achievements gain worldwide recognition) and not genus (which is a category in the taxonomic classification of related organisms, comprising one or more species.) Oh well- now you know which word definitely does not describe me!! Thanks for being kind.

LaDale

Re: Atomic, bread, and birthdays

Frankly, LaDale, I'm pretty sure Keryn was showing off. She does that sometimes.

And, darn it, I was going to use LaDale's birthday with Timp Cave as one of my favorite birthdays, and it wasn't even mine.

So I'll tell about another birthday--my twenty-third (I think...). It was my first year at grad school and Samuel's freshman year at BYU. When I walked into the grad cubes and to my desk it was covered with streamers, balloons, and a huge birthday sign with a cake with volcano candles. It was SO great--I'm not sure who did it. I think it was either Samuel or Emily, but I still don't know. Samuel and a friend stopped by the grad cubes and serenaded me with "Happy Birthday". And Emily brought sugar-free ice cream and sugar-free root beer for all the grad students so we could "toast" my birthday with root beer floats. And Samuel took me out to dinner at the CougarEat and then to a Jon Schmidt concert for my birthday. A very fabulous day, that's for sure!

Thanks for the bread recipe, Jenafer!

Bread

Keryn,
You asked me a long time ago for my bread recipie (sp) Here it is

6 C Warm Milk
1/2 C Butter
3/4 C Honey
1/4 C Oil
3 Eggs
2 Tbsp Salt
6 Tbsp Yeast
10-16 C Flour

Re: QOTW, atomic, Piggie Pie

QOTW: I shared my favorite birthday in the question about our favorite holidays, but I can share another, very similar experience. After my mission, Keryn, who was also at BYU, arranged for the two of us to go hiking to Timp's cave on my birthday. So, we're hiking along, talking and laughing and we then turn a corner. Low and behold, there are my parents- again driving up from Las Vegas to surprise me!!! I love them!!

Atomic: Frankly, just reading the conversation between Samuel and Keryn convinced me that I really have no idea what they are talking about. I mean, at least Keryn has the vocabulary to ask a question. I don't even have that. All I know it that Caren's husband a genus, which I've always suspected.

Piggie Pie: I love Piggie Pie. I actually own two copies. (One for the kids which is so completely thrashed that I have tape taping the tape on each and every page, and one for me). Gritch the Witch is one of my favorite characters. I love the way she has to fan her tooties after landing her broom- which is actually the dilemma in Zoom Broom. Surprise, surprise, considering the title. (Another great book, but one I do not own). I hope your kids love it, Jenafer. I can't wait to see you all in a few weeks!!!

Re: Atomic

At this time, I do not know the benefits for these wires. They grow randomly in the vacuum at this time. I do know that the fact that these wires grow at right angles to each other is a great benefit. These will be used to help study items on the really small scale, like biological systems. I don't know all the applications of these wires yet but I do know my adviser was very happy to see them.

RE: Atomic

Whoa. I feel like I am talking in real time to you, Samuel. That is really awesome. What are the Pt wires used for? Or are you refining a process for something else? Or is it all a little too far above my head? Regardless, thanks for sharing it! It is awesome.

Re: Atomic

I'm sorry that I did not mention this. The image below was taken on a Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). That is a little needle-like points that bounces off the surface and the computer records the bouncing to make the image. SKT

RE: Atomic

Awesome, Samuel! What is it? What did you use? Backscatter? SEM? What are the "scratches"?

I think you are brilliant too.

a reminder

I think my husband is brilliant!!!!!
by the way in case anyone doesn't know but i'm thinking the majority if not all know,

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is available to purchase tomorrow March 7th.
You know know the important things in life

Atomic resolution

I wanted to share with you all a little of what I am doing in my research right now. Above is a picture of very small wires. The scale on the bottom right says 5 micrometers. This is 1,000,000 times smaller then a meter. The wires are made of Platinum. They "grew" on the silicon background in a low pressure vacuum system. I "grew" these wires on Friday 3 March.

I want to bring your attention to one thing that I really liked about this picture: Look at either side and you will see small ripples in the background. These are steps on the silicon surface. Think of a map of the mountains. Each step is one atom high. Notice the wires can not go across these steps. Instead they break the steps or force them to grow under them. Interesting, at least for me. I hope you all enjoy this little insite into my life as a graduate student.

Piggy Pie

Well, Jeff and I went out last night for his birthday. After dinner, we had about an hour to kill before the movie started, so we went to Barnes and Noble to use Jeff's gift certificate from Christmas. While Jeff looked in the magazine section, I went to the children's section. Did you know that there is a sequel to Piggy Pie? It's called Zoom Broom. I didn't get a chance to do more then just glance at it but that crazy witch is at it again! I think my kids may have to get some new books for our upcoming trip to Vegas!

RE: QOTW

Well, my most MEMORABLE birthday moment wasen't even on my birthday. Samuel- It was on YOURS. Of course, for your first birthday, mom put this chocolet cake with chocolet icing and blue letters on it in fornt of you and you dove in. All I could see was that there was not going to be any cake left for me! I just knew that little one-year old you was going to eat that entier layer cake and I wasen't going to get any. Anyway, I have a picture of me at that party, tears streaming down my face as I had a melt down over my portion of the sweets. I also remember everyone LAUGHING at me and that there was enough cake for all.

new qotw

Inspired by birthdays coming and going. The most recent was Jeff's birthday yesterday, i got to reminiscing a bit about my birthdays.

So the new question of the week is what is your most interesting birthday memory or memories? If you have more than one feel free to share as many as you like.

Think of my parents nick naming me mud face. They actually did after this birthday memory that i'm about to share with you. I was 2 years old. At that young age it was already determined that i was a big fan of chocolate. So lo and behold my aunt made me a super duper chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and left it on the counter while everyone else was outside visiting or whatever. I being 2 scaled the counter somehow like spiderman, maybe i got a chair to help or something, i can't remember how i got up there. I successfully dug both hands into the cake and went to town! It was great fun! Then i went outside to show the world my artwork and of course i looked like i had been playing in the mud. From then on i was called mud face.

Happy, happy birthday, Jeffrey dear!

a few things

Happy Birthday Jeff!
Next Telima, i'm so glad to hear little apple jacks is okay. She is a cute little fetus. I hope you don't mind me nick naming alyssa that. It's just her initials brought that on as well as the fact her last name is smith which is also connected with an apple. {granny smith}.

Cooking for LaDale revisited

Previously I wrote about my not so wonderful cooking experiences and I received back many brilliant words of advice. Well, recently I took all that advice to heart and now I am updated my experiences.
I had a pretty great steak tonight for dinner. I cut the piece in half, so it was thinner. I pounded it some and then marinaded it in my own, sort of, concoction. (I placed it in a container with a little olive oil, soy sauce, some freshly cut garlic and onion, a bit of brown sugar and enough water to cover the meat). Then after about 5 hours, I cooked it, remembering to take it out of the oven a little before it was nicely done and -Viola- It was great. So, THANKS to everyone who helped me out.

Dreams

Hey! I'm sensing a theme here and I'm not sure I like it! Why am I in everyone's most memorable dreams? Am I really that much of a source of anxiaty for everyone? I really can't remember any recent dreams. I know that I have had some wierd ones, but I just can't remember them. I do, however, remember a dream I had in Kindergarden. There was a corner of the kindergarden playground that had some oleander bushs in it and they grew in such a way to create a hiding place behind them. For some reason, I found a dinosaur egg there and then it hatched and proceeded to eat everyone in the school. It scared me to death. I got up and went to Mommy in the livingroom and she and I knelt and prayed to make it so I could go to sleep again.

Everything I haven't already talked about!!

Telima, I love the baby pictures and I am soooo happy that everything is going well with Alissa. I sometimes think that we had it easier before all the tests. We didn't always know what was happening but we didn't worry about thoses things that COULD be wrong. Maybe that was harder but I think worrying about possible things could be wrong is harder.
My dreams are usually not very memorable but I do remember two very clearly one scary and one silly. The scary one is about Jenafer and I was pregnant with David. We (in my dream) were driving down the freeway and came to a sign that said 'freeway ends' there was a barrier across the road and that was the end. Only problem was, it ended on the top of an overpass but never went down the other side. It just dropped off. Jenafer got out of the car and before I knew what was happening she ran to the end to look over the drop off. I went to get her and she just stepped off and I woke up. I had to go look at her three times that night to make sure it was just a dream and she was okay. The silly dream was: I was 7 months pregnant with Jenafer and I dreamed I had a job as a store detective. They figured no one would suspect me because I was as big as a house. I was watching someone when they put something (I can't remember what) into a pocket of their coat. I followed them (there were two people, one man and one woman) to the door and as soon as they went outside without paying I stepped up to stop them. They both took off running and I started to chase them. That was something to see a 7 month pregnant woman running after two people, screaming for them to stop. I was just about to catch them (funny huh?) when the floor opened up and I fell in a whole. Before I could hit the bottom of the whole I woke up. I remember one other dream, short but not so sweet, I was sleeping in bed and there were spiders all over the bed. I woke up and woke up dad trying to kill and knock off all the spiders that were not there.
Oh, and happy Birthday Jeff. I love you!!

Perinatologist Visit

Well, I drove all the way to Salt Lake this morning to see a perinatologist and figure out what's going on with our baby. After finally finding the place (it's a good thing I left an hour and a half early!), I sat in the waiting room for about 45 minutes before finally being called backto get the ultrasound done. I was at the University of Utah Hospital, so every step of what I did today was watched by med students and job shadowers, which was an interesting experience. The ultrasound technician asked me a lot of questions, I think to find out how much I was told about why I was there. She went through and measured everything on the baby, got many, many, many pictures of everything and said that she would be back with the Perinatologist/Genetic Counselor. Before she left, the med student who was observing asked if it would be okay with me if he took some ultrasound pictures before I got all cleaned up, to practice. I didn't really care and so he stayed while the other technician left to print up all the pictures and get the Perinatologist. After he finished, he left and I cleaned all the goop stuff off. They came back a few minutes later with the Genetics Counselor and I left with her and a girl who was shadowing her to go to her office. There I found out what everything really means:

The umbilical cord usually has three vessels, two arteries and one vein. The artieries bring nutrients to the baby, the vein takes wastes out of the baby. I have only one artery, instead of the two. (They know for sure that I have one of each, because if I didn't, the baby wouldn't have made it this far without aborting.) This isn't usually a problem, but they like to do an in depth ultrasound to make sure that no other abnormalities are found; about 25% of the time, there are other problems, such as Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18. However, they didn't find anything wrong with Alyssa. She's perfectly healthy and as long as she keeps growing at a normal rate, the fact that there's only one artery bringing her nutrients shouldn't be a problem at all. Of course, there's still about a 1% chance that she could be Down Syndrome and they suggested that I do a test to find out if she is. However, this test has a risk of miscarriage that goes with it (albeit not a very high risk). I decided not to get the test done, because there are usually physical signs by now of Down Syndrome and Alyssa doesn't have any of those. And really, even if she did, we wouldn't be aborting, so I didn't feel it was necessary. The end result is that she seems perfectly healthy and I don't have to go back there again unless I'm sent again by my doctor. They will be monitoring her growth more closely, which means more ultrasounds, but other than that, everything is fine. So, all is going well for both Alyssa and me!

(Sorry for the long message, but I wanted to make sure that everyone knew what was happening. I love you all!)

Jeff's Birthday

Well, tomorrow is Jeff's birthday. We are going to get to go out tomorrow night. Dinner and a movie. Today is his mother's birthday. We are going over to their house on Sunday to celebrate. We are having a birthday party/housewarming party on Saturday the 11th at the house. We are going to be watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Jeff's almost completed theater room. I, personally, am very excited, because I never got to see it in the theaters. The only thing I would be more excited about is if it were Narnia!

Re: Little girl names

So this is mainly directed to Telima and Tyler. I like the name you picked. I guess I will not be able to talk her Gurtrude any longer. I am glad you did not call her Alyssa Stephanie. That would have meant teasing for years.

Does anyone happen to notice that all the little girls in the family all have middle names? Sometimes I wonder about that. I personally don't have any little girls but I am no better as the only girl name Caren wants for our own girl is Carly Michelle, notice the middle name. Ah well. What can you do. SKT

RE: QOTW

To dream- I dream, you dream, he dreams, they dream, we dream. I dreamt, I am dreaming, I will dream again. DREAMS.
Like many, I don't tend to remember my dreams very often and since I am not and never have been pregnant- I can't use that as an excuse to have weird dreams.
Recently, though, I did have two dreams that I remembered, which is, as I said before, fairly unusual for me. They happened on two separate nights back to back. The first was about Keryn. She had just signed on to promote someone else's book and at first I was a tad upset. That is, until I realized she was only doing it in preparation to help with my book. In the second dream, the following night, I was preparing for my wedding. I never saw the groom (sigh) but I was running around in my wedding dress with about a million other people, tying up flowers (tulips to be exact) so their leaves wouldn't flop down. Funny thing was, I was more stressed in the dream about the stupid book than in the one about getting married. I felt wonderfully calm in that dream, even for all the running around.
Whereas these dreams might reveal a deeper darker side, I frankly think they are my overactive subconscious getting rid of all the stupid stuff lodged in my brain. At least no one was in danger of being eaten- only smothered in tulip pollen. (p.s. the tulips were from my institute class. Sister McConkie gave all the sisters in the class tulips on Valentine's day).

Pictures of our baby girl!

If you go to our website, you'll find a picture of our little girl. You'll notice that she has a name, so I guess we're cutting all the speculation short here...but we are going to name her Alyssa Jenae. At least, that's the plan right now. Here's the link to our site again. anaconda.byu.edu/~tyler You just go to Pictures and look under the column that says "Us" then 2006. Of course, you have get through some pictures of me that are not very flattering, but she's there too. We decided just to put this one up for now. The other one is cool, but not really web-posting appropriate...=) Hope you enjoy!

Re: Baby Girl names

Hmmm...it seems that I have two votes for Rainbow Sprinkles and two votes for Gertrude...that's that Samuel wants me to name her. I'll ponder this as the rest of you put your votes in and get back to you on our decision. =)

RE: Baby girl names

According to the Bradley Ross Family rules, the name must be:

a. pronounceable
b. spellable
c. unusual

In other words, "Rainbow Sprinkles Smith" has our vote, Tyler and Telima!

Baby girl names

Ok, so I think we must all help the new parents pick out a name for this sweet little bundle of joy. I'll go first, but please, everyone chime in! You should name her Mergatrude, no Mildred, no Maud, no, wait, Rainbow Sprinkles Smith has a very nice ring to it, no Tangerine, no Gurtrude, no wait, there are just to many good names out there!