H & M Reynolds

January--The Month of the Tongue!

2012-02-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

January was filled with tons of firsts. Preston learned how to push up on his hands and do mini-pushups with his belly off the floor. Cute. He also started watching Yo Gabba Gabba. He freakin' loves that show and it's so weird! He has started to put everything in his mouth too. I've given him a few tastes of banana, applesauce, mashed potatoes, and POPSICLE! He had some popsicle on his Grandma Pam's birthday and he freaked out. He kept trying to grab it and shove it in his mouth. So funny.

So far he's still nursing exclusively, but it's fun to see his reaction to little tastes of things. I am looking forward to feeding him some solids because I feel absolutely drained sometimes. Preston has a huge appetite! I feel like I nurse him 20 times a day.

He started waking up once a night to eat for about 2 weeks at the end of January. It drove me crazy to get up at 2 a.m., but then I realized he was probably going through a growth spurt. He definitely did a lot of growing. He practically skipped 6-month size clothes. He went from his 3-6 month clothes to 9-month clothes this last month. He wore some of his clothes once before he grew out of them. I am excited to see how much he weighs and how long he's gotten when we go to the doctor on February 9th.

In this picture, he was trying to eat the tag on his playmat. You can kind of see why I call him Friar Tuck. He has a bald spot in the shape of a ring along the sides and back of his head.

He's rolling around a ton! He tipped his whole playmat over one day. Strong kid.

His tongue seemed to pop out all of sudden this last month. It's pretty hilarious.

Apparently, this is the best angle for watching tv. He won't stay on his quilt at all anymore. It drives me nuts because he gets dirty from the carpet and wood floor. I guess I need to vacuum more often now. Whoops.

Handsome boy!

On Janury 25th, he managed to roll off the couch while I was sitting next to him. He cried a little bit and I cried a lot. I felt like such a bad mom. Needless to say, Preston doesn't get to lay on the couch anymore!

These orange-striped bulldog jammies are my favorite! They have a huge bulldog on the bum. Look at that full belly!

This is the face Preston makes when he gets really excited. His eyes get all big and he starts shaking his arms and legs really fast and exhaling quicky. It's so funny! He loves to go on walks every day. He usually nods off towards the end of each walk.

We started putting Preston in his bouncy chair now that he can hold himself up really well. He can't quite sit up on his own yet, but he does well when we support his hips and waist.

He doesn't really bounce in it yet, but can twirl around in it a little bit. His teeny tongue popping out just kills me!

He can still take naps anywhere. His favorite is to fall asleep while watching tv. A new habit he's formed is falling asleep when I feed him. Then he just lays on my lap while latched on and gets mad when I go to move or lay him down. It drives me NUTS!

Preston went to his first Stake Conference on January 22nd. He slept for a lot of it, but we had to leave before the closing song because he started getting cranky!

We pulled out the baby carrier to go on a walk after church one Sunday. Preston doesn't really like his carrier that much, but we will keep trying it out because it's easier to deal with than a stroller! He didn't mind daddy carrying him around with his sunglasses on.

Just chillin' in the gorgeous 70 degree January weather!

Preston is such a stinkin' cutie. I don't think I'm biased (too much) either! He's ridiculously adorable--just how a baby should be!

Button nose, round, rosy cheeks, big, blue eyes, double chin, chubby legs, pot belly, soft skin. Love him.

It's a good thing we had his tongue clipped, otherwise his tongue probably wouldn't be coming out of his mouth at all!

I feel blessed that he's such a good baby and so laid-back. He doesn't mind being held by others and is content to just lay on the floor. He's officially 6 months old today. I am really looking forward to seeing how much he will progress in the next few months. Should be a good time! I will do his 6-month post tomorrow after we go to the doctor.

January 8th=5 Months Old!

2012-02-06T17:59:00.000-08:00

Preston turned 5 months old on January 8th. He is getting huge! I estimate that he was around 18 or 19 lbs. at the time. He really started getting around all of a sudden too. The week that he turned 5 months, he started rolling around like mad! I'd find him 5 feet away from the blanket I laid him on!

I left him on the floor in my bedroom while I took a quick shower, and he rolled 10 feet into my master bathroom onto the tile floor next to the shower. Crazy kid! I really have to watch him now. He does NOT stay in one spot anymore.

I love his rosy cheeks and big smiles!

He's pretty serious and I'm pretty tired.

Loving his rings as usual!

Taking a nap with daddy.

The best part about this age is that Preston started sleeping through the night. I think it has something to do with how much moving around he can do now! He slept through the night for 3 weeks in a row. HOORAY!

Here are a few fun things I want to remember:

We started 8:30 a.m. church on January 1st. It's been quite the adventure trying to get us all up and ready for church. Preston occasionally sleeps until 9 a.m. so sacrament meeting can be rough! If I am lucky, he will fall asleep. And Michael plays the organ for the meeting, so I am single-momming it!

On January 2nd, we took Preston to his first movie in the theater: The Adventures of Tin-Tin. He did really well. He watched some of it and slept for most of it.

On Michael's birthday, I scored a huge deal on an adorable pair of boat shoes for Preston. They are technically his "first shoes." They are still too big, but so adorable. He matches his daddy now!

Preston is almost 6 months now, so I need to hurry and catch up! AHHHH!

Five Years of Wedded Bliss!

2012-02-05T18:07:00.000-08:00

Michael and I celebrated our fifth anniversary on January 5th. We always feel a little pinched money-wise on our anniversary since it's right after Christmas, so we decided to just go to dinner a few times instead of something big. Also, it's hard to go on trips when nursing a baby!

On the actual day of our anniversary, Michael had a roundtable for scouts, so we made a quick trip to one of our favorite restaurants: Teriyaki Kitchen. They have the best rice bowls! We got our usual large Tokyo bowl to share. Currrrry. Yum.

The babe was being way cute so he monopolized the picture taking again!

Our second fifth anniversary dinner was at Charleston's. We took Preston and he was so good even though it was really busy. It was technically his second time there since we went there for our anniversary last year too! I was 9 or 10 weeks pregnant at the time and could only eat soup because I was so sick to my stomach! Memories, memories!

I love Michael and cannot believe that time has flown by so quickly. It's really hard to remember what it was like before we were married. I am so grateful that we get along so well (we've never had a fight!) and that we are best friends. This last year has been the most challenging for us from car accidents and injuries to becoming new parents. It is the best to feel loved and supported at all times. The hard times seem more bearable and pleasant. I have the best husband!

Michael's 27th

2012-02-05T15:33:00.000-08:00

Michael turned 27 on January 4th. Yes, the day before our anniversary! I had no idea what to do to make it special for him, so I decided to spend a bunch of money and surprise him with Mario Kart. He's been wanting to get this game forever but I kept telling him that we didn't need another video game.

He was legitimately surprised, despite his fake-looking cheesy faces!

Look! A picture of me! That's rare!

Daddy is teaching Preston the fine art of Mario Karting.

It was a little too much for our little man!

I made some chicken enchiladas for dinner and then Michael had to go! Michael and I were lucky enough to both have birthdays on Wednesday, so Michael went off to mutual that night. It was a good day, even though we didn't get to spend the evening together.

Happy Birthday, Michael! Love you!

Ringing in the New Year

2012-02-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

On New Year's Eve we threw a mini-party at our house. We had the Joneses and the Kleislers over for nachos, hot wings, pigs in a blanket, cookies, brownies, veggies, and Martinelli's! We ate and watched TV and I put Preston to bed at his normal time. We started lighting fireworks around 10 p.m. and I went inside to find some matches when I heard Preston crying. Something had woken him up--probably the fireworks--so I got him out of bed to enjoy the rest of them.

After the fireworks, I put Preston back to bed and we played Battle of the Sexes and watched the ball drop. It was such a fun night with our friends!

I know it's February now, but HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas 2011!

2012-02-05T12:36:00.000-08:00

This post is SUPER overdue. Whoops. Whatever. It's my blog. So there!

Christmastime is always busy and tiring! Preston agrees. He really loves his linking rings! He never lets go when he's in his car seat!

Here's Preston on Christmas Eve. He was the best gift that we got!

Michael on Christmas Eve. Wearing his festive red shirt to match our couch.

Me (and Preston) on Christmas Eve. We went over to Michael's parents' house for Christmas Eve dinner and to get our jammies. We were there with the whole Reynolds fam: Pam, Trent, Michael, Melissa+Blake, Miriam+Bryce, Malachi, Max, me, and Preston. It's always crazy when we're all together.

Here we are all spiffed up on Christmas day before church. Preston got an adorable outfit from my parents for Christmas and I got one from my parents for my birthday. Since Christmas was on Sunday, we got ready and went to the Reynolds' house again to open gifts before our ward started at 12:30. Michael's parents took a bunch of pictures, and I didn't take any. Dang it. Preston got some books, linking rings, a glow worm, a monster truck, a playmat, and a quilt! Michael got some money and gift cards to get a gun cabinet. I got the Hunger Games Trilogy boxed set and some clothes. We also got Rock 'em Sock' em Robots!

Preston got these cute PJs from his Grandparents Reynolds for Christmas. Here he his rocking them after the festivities on Christmas Day. We had the Kleislers over for Christmas dinner. Sarah, Keith, and baby Luke brought over the whole dinner! We had a great time. Yet again, I didn't take any pictures!

We had a wonderful Christmas and are so blessed. I am so grateful for the Savior and that we get to celebrate His birth. I know that He lives!

Christmas Party, Neurosurgeon and Temple Lights

2012-01-12T14:20:00.000-08:00

My friend Amanda had her annual Christmas party on the 15th. Preston tagged along, but napped for most of it. We got to meet Amanda's brother and see her dad again. Here's the sweet picture of Michael and me at the party.

On Monday, December 19th, we had our appointment with the neurosurgeon to get Preston's huge, long head checked out. We were kind of nervous going into it, knowing that there was a possibility that Preston would need surgery. The doctor looked at and measured Preston's head. (His gargantuan cranium is measuring 17 1/2 inches!) Then he sent us from his office to get x-rays. Getting x-rays only took about 20 minutes. The wonders of modern medicine!

Newborn head... Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Of course he looked perfect to me until the nurses pointed it out and said his head would get better after a while.

Michael went in with Preston to get the x-rays. They swaddled Preston tightly in a special x-ray outfit thingy and then Michael held him in different poses. Preston HATED it! We were able to see the images and have a consultation with the doctor right away. It was kind of funny to see Michael's hands in the x-rays of Preston's skull. Right away the doctor said that he had good news. Preston had wide open sutures! (Click HERE for info about baby skulls and sutures.) I started singing "Wiiiiide open sutures!" to the tune of the Dixie Chicks' "Wide Open Spaces." Obviously I was a music major in college. ha.

Almost 5 month-old head. I definitely see improvement, don't you?

If his sutures had begun to close prematurely, then he would have needed surgery to prevent his head from getting worse and worse, leading to . (And to make room for his genius brain to grow!) So we have a follow up appointment in February to see if his head shape is improving. If not, he might need to have a helmet. I hope not because those things are suuuuper expensive!

On the 20th, we went to the Mesa Temple to see the Christmas lights and the nativity display in the visitors center. I've tried to be a stickler about making sure Preston gets in all of his "firsts" but he usually sleeps through all of them! This was no exception. Hopefully it will be wayyy more fun the next time we go! We walked around and enjoyed our time with Keith, Sarah, and baby Luke.

4 Months on December 8th

2012-01-06T13:04:00.001-08:00

I put a Christmas stocking on his head. He loves it. For sure.

I am sooo behind. What's new? Preston turned 4 months old on the 8th of December. We had an eventful week prior to that. Preston had a really goopy eye so I made an appointment for the 1st with the doctor. Of course the goopy eye was gone the next day. HOORAY! They weighed him anyway, and he was 16.9 lbs! CRAZY! I also wrote down that I tickled his toes for the first time and got a giggle that day as well.

Looking serious after church

On the 5th, Preston took his first trip to the E.R. with mom and dad after I fell down the stairs carrying him. He was a little scared and started crying, but I cradled him and sacrificed my body to keep him safe! Luckily nothing was broken, but I am still feeling my back muscles and tailbone. OUCHIE. I feel so blessed it was not worse. This whole thing happened just a month after Michael sliced his finger open with a knife and had to get stitches. I think maybe we are both clumsy when sleep deprived...

Relaxing on the couch after getting home from the ER

The weekend after he turned 4 months, his Grandparents Reynolds moved from Mesa to Gilbert. We also had our ward Christmas party on the 10th and I sang "O Holy Night" in our ward the next day.

Starting to enjoy the bumbo chair

Monday the 12^th, we went to see Santa Claus at Bass Pro Shop. It was suuuuper crowded and we were there for an hour and a half. Preston slept the whole time until 10 minutes before we saw Santa (OF COURSE!). He started to fuss but luckily we got a decent picture of him. Santa wasn’t very happy in the picture. Haha. It was a good time.

Not feeling it, obviously...

On the 13th was Preston's 4 month checkup. He had gained half a pound in 12 days! He broke 17 pounds. What a BIG BOY! Not so good for mommy's sore back. He got 4 shots that day and it was pretty rough for both of us. Preston cried and cried for at least 5 minutes. Pooy baby. At least this time I had given him tylenol beforehand so that he didn't get a fever and felt better afterwards. Also, PA Bill was worried about Preston's head shape and recommended that we make an appointment with a neurosurgeon to make sure the plates in his head hadn't fused too early. I made the appointment for the next Monday. (More on that later!) That night we went to YC's Mongolian Grill to celebrate my birthday since we didn't know if we'd be able to the next night.

Anticipating bathtime

On my birthday Michael had a Gilbert Public Policy Committee meeting after work and then had mutual that night. Luckily, his meeting let out earlier than expected and we were able to go out to dinner again at Buffalo Wild Wings. It was really yummy and we were glad to be able to go out twice that week.

Blurry, but the BEST cheesy grins from both of us.

Taken on my 27^th birthday! I am so old!

It rained and rained all week long so we had to keep putting off getting a Christmas tree. I love having a real tree and we've had one every year except for the year we moved into our house (we moved in right before Christmas that year). Finally it was clear enough to get one on Friday the 16th. We tried for an hour to get it straight and got tired of trying, so it stayed crooked. Oh well! It was a beautiful tree. We decorated it the next day.

Well, that’s the first half of December for your reading pleasure! More to come, hopefully before next Christmas gets here! Yikes.

Thanksgiving in California

2011-12-21T15:27:00.000-08:00

Gotta hurry and get some posts up before the new year! haha. This has been a busy time for us. For Thanksgiving, we went to California to spend time with my family. I am suuuuch a bad mom and didn't take any pictures on my baby's first Thanksgiving Day. Maybe I was tired from our drive out there that morning! At least the traffic was great. We ate dinner at my aunt and uncle's house with my mom, dad, bro, sis, grandpa, grandma, bro's friend Zach, Michael, me, and last, but not least, PRESTON! My aunt and uncle were in Utah. We just used their house. haha.

The pictures are from the rest of the weekend at my parents' house.

Extreme closeup! WHOOPS!

We had a wonderful time with my family. I am amazed by how blessed we are. I know that I don't deserve all that I have--most especially my awesome family. Happy Thanksgiving! Has it already been a month since then?

November Fun!

2011-12-13T11:30:00.000-08:00

3 Months Old!

2011-11-14T10:17:00.001-08:00

Preston turned 3 months old on November 8th. These pictures are from the first week of November.

He LOVES to sleep in his swing during the day. I wish I had an adult sized swing to help me sleep!

This kid has mastered the ticked-off look. He has the most expressive eyes!

Here are some tummy time pictures.

He's working hard trying to lift his gargantuan cranium!

His bum and thighs are too cute.

I edited this picture to take the red out, but I guess it didn't work or something. His eyes are still awesome!

He really started grabbing toys and rings and things recently.

I made Michael get a quick picture of our cyclops pumpkin before we threw it out.

Wearing a Winnie-the-Pooh outfit from his Grandma Pam (Michael's mom).

Trying out his nonchalant model faces out while wearing his adorable church outfit.

I love this onesie from Janie and Jack. This kid is such a hottie!

We went on a walk and sat him up for the first time in his stroller. He loved looking around!

Pondering the mysteries of life in his Monkey outfit. It has a matching hat, but his head is wayyy too big for it. haha. Genius brain.

He's a stunner with those eyes! These were taken on his 3 month birthday.

The Rest of October

2011-11-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

October was a fun month. Preston did a lot of growing and learning. He found his hands and learned how to suck on them! He makes funny sucking noises at night in his crib. This also means that he won't take a pacifier much anymore. He smiles every morning when I get him out of his crib and we lay together in my bed and cuddle and play. Being a mom is finally getting fun!

Here he is getting ready to run an errand. (Not liking the pacifier, obviously!)

Making funny faces in his sleep.

First time wearing the Winnie the Pooh outfit from my mom, GRANDMA(!!!) Stacey.

Gorgeous blue eyes!

Chillin' on the couch!

Getting ready to go to the Ward Trunk or Treat. Michael was on a campout with the scouts, so I was a single mom. It was pretty rough! My pictures didn't turn out all that great.

Our little skeleton. The costume/pajamas from Old Navy. It glows in the dark too! CUTE! We also went to Michael's family's ward's trunk or treat on Saturday the 29th so that Michael could get in on the action. Michael dressed as a doctor and I dressed as a milkmaid (HAHA!). I didn't take pictures, because our costumes were kind of lame. We had fun chatting it up with our friends Dan and Rachel though. Good times.

Totally relaxed!

Taking a few pictures with the huge pumpkin before carving on Sunday the 30th. BALANCING ACT! We eventually carved the pumpkin into a cyclops. I didn't take a picture. I guess I don't feel like taking pictures of anything but our child. haha.

I don't think he liked it very much! PIST!

First time wearing real pajamas! It's finally cold enough to wear something other than a onesie to bed.

Again with the pretty eyes!

This is on actual Halloween. He was a lot more awake and a lot happier when we put his costume on this time. This kid is ridiculously cute. He got his first glimpse of zombies getting their heads blown off as we watched 2 episodes of "The Walking Dead" with our friends Adam and Cathie.

We got like 50 trick or treaters this year. The last 2 years, we've only gotten 10 or so. I guess our neighborhood is old enough now that people are catching on to the 200 houses packed into our tiny neighborhood. CHA CHING on the candy! We didn't have enough candy the first year and had to hand out a few hot chocolate packets. It was such a hit that we decided to continue handing them out. It's so crazy how kids love hot chocolate. WINNING!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2-month Checkup

2011-10-26T10:41:00.000-07:00

Preston had his 2-month checkup on October 13th. He weighed 13 lbs. 2 oz. and was 23" long. He's holding steady at around the 75th percentile. He grew a whole inch and gained 3 pounds in one month. Amazing! PA Bill said he is really strong and to expect him to roll over soon. Preston also has an inguinal hernia popping out of his belly button. I have such a rare child... tongue tie, hernia, fevers after shots... lucky us! He got 4 shots that day and was pretty miserable that evening and at night. Poor, poor baby! He got his first few tastes of acetaminophen to bring his fever down and to help him feel better.

Here are the pictures from that week:

Blessing Day!

2011-10-21T23:24:00.007-07:00

Preston was blessed on August 9, 2011. We had my grandpa, grandma, uncle, aunt, 2 cousins, and my parents, brother, and sister come into town from California for the occasion. Michael had a ton of family come to the blessing as well.

Michael's parents had a little dinner party for the family at their house that afternoon to celebrate. It was fun, but a little overwhelming for my little man. He mostly slept through it!

This first picture is the evening before the blessing. My sweet grandma was trying to comfort my crying baby. It's an awesome picture.

This is my dad (Grandpa Preston) playing with Preston in the morning before church.

Four generation picture with my dad and Grandma Luena. Unfortunately, my Grandpa "Bucks" passed away before Preston got to meet him. It was so great to have my grandma there though.

Four generation picture with my Grandpa Harry and my mom.

The little family picture. I love Preston's foot hanging out! One of his booties fell off.

Here is Michael's dad (Grandpa Trent) getting some rest with Preston after the long day of family and celebration.

Our camera ran out of memory, so we don't have the big picture of my whole side or Michael's family. Hopefully family members will share their pictures with us later!

Family Pictures 2011

2011-10-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

I really wanted to get family/baby pictures taken to capture this time in our life. Also, I've felt not very attractive lately and wanted an opportunity to look my best.

My family came into town for Preston's blessing so we took advantage of that and got some pictures with my parents, grandpa, brother and sister too. It was really fun. The weather cooled down for 1 week and we were soooo lucky that it was cool the day we took our pictures. We walked around downtown Gilbert and found some neat spots. It was great!!!

Thanks to Aimee Jensen from http://www.aimeejensenphotography.com/ for the great pictures!

Week 9: Turning 2 Months!

2011-10-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

Preston is getting cuter and cuter. The week of October 3-9, he really started holding up his head and reacting to us. He giggled a few times too. I took a ton of pictures of him! He turned 2 months old on Saturday, the 8th.

During this week, we prepared to have a bunch of family in town for family pictures and for Preston's baby blessing. We bought his first Halloween costume at Old Navy and daddy bought us a HUGE pumpkin at Sam's Club.

This is THE BEST bunch of pictures so far. He is super cute and makes hilarious faces that are easier to catch on camera now.

Two Months: Random Facts!

2011-10-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

I'm typing these up mostly so that I remember. I'm sure they are boring to everyone else!

Random Preston Facts:

-He doesn't really like to be held unless he's being fed. He prefers being laid down to play, sleep, and stretch his muscles! Some people think that he doesn't like them, but he just wants to be put down. I think it's because it was soooo hot when he was born (HOTTEST AUGUST ON RECORD!!!) and he's more comfortable when not in someone's arms.

-He will only take Avent pacifiers and only when he's tired and cranky. Amazingly, we've only lost one so far!

-He makes a weird breathing noise when he's being happy and kicking his legs. It's pretty funny.

-He loves to be swaddled. It settles him down right away if he's being fussy.

-He will only sleep in his crib at night. He sleeps in his swing during the day. He can't help but be lulled to sleep when he's in that thing!

-He typically wakes up once a night, usually around 1 or 2 a.m., and he's up for the day around 7 a.m. Ugh. I wish he would sleep later in the morning!

-His eyes are a really dark, gorgeous blue!

-He often has a stuffy nose. He's doomed to have allergies and sinus problems.

-He pretty much always has gas when I'm nursing him. It gets a little painful for both of us!

-He loves the bath. I usually get him in the tub with me and hold his head up while his body floats around. He's in absolute heaven every time.

-He gets a "cheesy" neck. It's hard to keep his neck folds clean! Sometimes I pick him up and he smells like stinky cheese. This is why we bathe every day!

-He loves his toys that play music and light up. He smiles and smiles when they are turned on.

-He'll go in waves with the peeing-all-over-when-we-change-his-diaper thing. He'll do it a bunch of times in a row and then won't do it for a few weeks. The walls of our house are grateful when he's in a no-pee stage.

-His fingernails grow really fast. He's scratched himself on the face numerous times. I am such a bad mom!

-He generally likes car rides, but doesn't really like being put in his car seat.

-He likes to go on walks in his stroller.

-He is starting to realize that he can touch things with his hands--mostly swatting at toys above his head.

-He knows when I am getting ready to feed him. It's hilarious. You'd think I starve him or something.

-He has a stick-straight, natural mohawk. I don't even have to comb it that way.

-His hair gets greasy after one day. Takes after his well-oiled daddy.

-He is the cutest, most handsome, best-looking baby ever.

-He is the funniest, most exciting, happiest baby ever.

-He is a genius. THE END.

Week 8

2011-10-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

During week 8 (Sept. 25-Oct. 2), we really started working on tummy time. This kid is really strong. I got a video of him laying on his belly, lifting his legs and head at the same time. We were getting kind of worried about him though because he was favoring his right side and would curl his whole body that way.

Preston also experienced his first General Conference on T.V. He did his usual sleeping through everything. We also went on a lot of morning and evening walks around our neighborhood.

As you can see, he's starting to chunk up a bit.

First Time at Church!

2011-09-30T16:18:00.000-07:00

Preston didn't get to church until he was 7 weeks old. I was going to take him at 5 weeks but I was sick and then at 6 weeks we were in Idaho.

He did so well at church. He slept THE ENTIRE 3 HOURS. Dream baby. Seriously. Here are the pics:

Disregard the swollen eye I've had for the last year or so. Ugh.

The whole fam. PRECIOUS.

He wasn't too thrilled about going to church at first. Ha.

Week 7

2011-09-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

Week 7 was a hard one for all of us. My grandpa passed away on September 11, so on the 18th, we flew to Idaho Falls for his funeral on the 19th. It was pretty crazy to take such a little baby (6 weeks old) on an airplane. Luckily the flights were short and Preston mostly slept in his dad's arms.

Preston had had a stuffy nose for a week by the time we left, and it really flared up on our trip! Poor baby! And poor me. I hardly got any sleep at all.

Our hotel was really awesome and had a gorgeous view of the Snake River and Idaho Falls temple. The weather was amazing too! It was in the 70s during the day and the 40s at night. It was weird to have to make sure Preston was bundled up. We are definitely not used to cold weather. He doesn't even have a jacket that fits him.

Here are the pictures of Week 7:

Preston and our airplane

Looking like a rockstar!

On the plane

Sleeping on the tray table while mom and dad eat!

The gorgeous view from our hotel room

All dressed up for the funeral.

Back home and sleeping

In-grown toenail on one foot. Poor baby!

Twinkle toes. haha.

Weeks 5 and 6

2011-09-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

Lots of pictures! Preston had his 1 month appointment during the 5th week. He weighed 10lbs. 6.5 oz. and was 22" long. He was in the 70th percentile for height and weight and the 85th percentile for head size. He must have a huge genius brain in there!

Preston rocked some tie-dye from his Aunt Stephanie, learned to looooove the bath, ate himself dizzy (and had a full belly!), kicked his legs out of his swaddle, continued to have bad acne, made some cute faces, slept on his daddy, in his swing, and in his crib in his own room (for the first time!), and showed off his awesome ear hair.

Week 4

2011-09-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

My mom left at the end of week 4 and we were all sad, especially her! =) Preston got to meet his great-grandma Reynolds this week. We also took a four-generation Reynolds picture with Michael, his dad, and his grandma.

Preston rocked a mohawk, did some hardcore sleeping, and got a big crop of acne all over his face. He also learned to really like sitting in his high chair.

Week 3

2011-09-16T15:32:00.001-07:00

Week 3: My mom was still here (YAY!). We didn't take a ton of pictures this week. Highlights include getting a real bath (his umbilical cord finally fell out!) and playing the piano with dad. This week we also went to the doctor for his 2-week check-up. This kid gained 12 oz. in 7 days--almost double the normal amount of weight gain for his age!

Little-known fact: Preston was tongue-tied at birth. This caused us big problems with nursing. He wasn't getting enough food, and I was in serious pain. SERIOUS PAIN. So he had his 2-week check-up and then later that day we went to another appointment to get his tongue clipped. They weighed him again and he'd gained a whole ounce since that morning. Crazy kid.

My mom held his arms down while I looked away. He was more mad about his arms being held down than getting his tongue clipped. I nursed him right away to help stop the bleeding and he was a whole new kid! And I swear it changed his face. He couldn't even stick his tongue out before and now he can! YAY!

Week 2

2011-09-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

Highlights of week 2: My family came into town at the end of the week and Preston met my mom, dad, and sister. Jackson couldn't come. Boo. My mom ended up staying with us for 2 weeks. Preston also met his Uncle Blake (Melissa's husband) for the first time.

First Doctor Appointment

2011-09-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

When Preston was a week old, we (Michael!) sponge bathed him and got him ready for his first appointment with the Doctor. He weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. for a total gain of 3 oz. since we had left the hospital. His weight had dipped down to 7 lbs. 15 oz. a few days after birth. If you can't tell, he really favored the right side!!!

Here are the pics:

First Week Faves

2011-09-14T12:24:00.001-07:00

Coming Home AKA Looking Haggard and Exhausted

2011-09-12T16:17:00.000-07:00

We came home on Thursday, August 11th! It was super humid outside and really hot. The first night home was not too bad except for my healing body! I have a great baby who usually only wakes up once a night. He's been really consistent so far. I do have to say that it was weird to hear him make noises during the night those first few nights. I kept thinking, "I hope he's okay!"

Getting ready to go home.

Cute little outfit!

Take 1 (Michael didn't know I was taking the picture)

Take 2

Take 1 (Bleh)

Take 2

Hospital Stay

2011-09-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

We were in the hospital from Monday night to Thursday night. It was a really rough healing process. And poor Michael slept on the fold-out couch. Time in the hospital was really confusing. I was getting used to so many things and was on a lot of drugs and the nurses were all telling me different things. I wish we didn't have to stay so long, but once I got home, I kind of missed having other people taking care of me and my baby.

My feet were super swollen by the last day in the hospital. I was told it was the I.V. fluids.

I had 29 of these little staples in my stomach. GROSS!

Being Cute and Squishy... Hospital-Style

2011-09-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

Being adorable

Asian?

Pirate?

Happy?

Happier?

Relaxing

Dad has a big hand

Squishy frog legs

Squishy Foot

Big Yawn

Itty Bitty Baby

Squishy face

Squished up ear from being squished in my womb

Flip-flop-ready toes... already an AZ boy

Being born is hard work

Squished against the side of the bassinet

Belly Progression

2011-09-06T12:50:00.001-07:00

37 Weeks

38 Weeks

39 Weeks

40 Weeks (On my due date at Ikea)

41 Weeks (This is getting ridiculous!)

Some Birth Day Pictures

2011-09-03T14:30:00.001-07:00

This is me... pretending to look happy.

Walking back to check-in.

Here's Michael's perspective of the birth.

Here are the first few family pictures.

Baby Preston has a football-shaped head from his breech position. The nurse told Michael that his head would get back to normal in a few weeks. Neither of us had even noticed that there was anything wrong with his head when she said this. We were both confused. haha.

Sadly, there are no pictures of me holding Preston on his birthday. I was super drugged up and for some reason, I didn't hold him much. I am kind of sad about this.

Preston's Birth Story Part 3 (The Actual Birth Part)

2011-08-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

We got to the hospital at 2:45 p.m. to check in after spending hours and hours anticipating and tying our stomachs in knots. I was still an emotional wreck--a mixture of anger, sadness, confusion, fright, hunger, and nerves. NO GOOD.

The lady at the check-in desk kept talking and talking and all I heard was BLAH BLAH BLAH because I couldn't concentrate at all. She kept telling us personal stories about how she lived in Apache Junction. I really wanted her to shut up and check us in. (Can you tell I was in a great mood?) Finally we got all the paperwork signed and they took me into triage to get ready for the version. I stripped down and put on a gown and they poked me a bunch of times trying to get the I.V. in. Nightmare. We signed some more paperwork and the nurse, Tara, (who looks JUST like Lauren from Laguna Beach... the one that is not L.C.) asked me a bunch of questions and took my blood pressure etc. etc. So I layed there and layed there feeling horrible--physically ("I'm starving and exhausted") and emotionally ("I'm freaking out").

An ultrasound tech came in and we waited for the Doc to come. He explained the details of the version (monitoring baby's heart rate and what he's going to try to do). LaurenTara gave me a shot in the arm to relax my uterine muscles. It hurt. Then the Doc and the tech get in position for the procedure. I spent the next 20 minutes or so in excruciating pain as the Doc tried and tried to flip my baby. I could tell that he was bruising the crap out of my abdomen where the baby's head was. I had to remember that I agreed to this, wanting a vaginal birth, and that I needed to relax as much as possible.

Every now and then the doctor would stop to check the baby's heart rate on the ultrasound machine. He never removed his hand from my abdomen because he didn't want the baby to slip back to where he was (PAIN!). He got him half way around and then he said it was like pushing on a brick wall. He absolutely could not get the baby's bum out of my pelvis. Finally, he stopped pushing and before he said a word I felt like all of my hopes came crashing down on me as it set in that I would have to have a c-section. He said some blah blah about how he knows I really wanted a natural birth, but how it wasn't going to happen and that a c-section was best for me and baby.

Oh, by the way, Michael was there too. haha. He couldn't really do much.

Once the doctor gave the word, they immediately started prepping me for surgery (shaving things etc.). They gave Michael scrubs to change into. Then they all left to make sure everything was in order. Alone with Michael, I started bawling. I felt so lost and scared and sad and mad. LaurenTara came back in to bring us to the operating room. She saw me crying and had to reassure me that I was doing the best and safest thing for me and my baby. (Shut up. I'm just pissed. Let me cry. And I know the hospital tells you to tell women this crap.) She proceeded to make small talk about my family and Michael's family. Then she drops Michael off to wait in a different room while I got prepped some more.

The operating room was just like on T.V. Bright lights, tons of people, freezing cold (LaurenTara had warned me.) Two different nurses asked me questions at the same time with two different accents that were very hard to understand. I sat on the operating table and got my spinal which was surprisingly the least painful thing I had experienced so far that day. They laid me down on the table with my arms spread out like wings and put a band on my arm to check my blood pressure every minute. I started to go numb. It was super freaky. I felt all warm and tingly and COULD NOT MOVE. If I had let myself think about it, I think I would have freaked out more. I felt pretty claustrophobic in my own body.

The big blue sheet went up in front of my face and they put a warm blanket over my upper body. I was starting to feel rather cozy at this point until my heart rate started being weird and they put oxygen tubes in my nose and raised my head a little bit. Fun. Not. Doc came in and started poking me to see if I was numb. When I didn't answer him the last time, he said, "Good. That's the right answer." haha. Apparently I was ready to be cut open. Yay?

Michael was now in the room with me and was telling me the only thing he could remember to tell me from our (now) useless birthing class we had taken a few weeks earlier. "You're doing great." And I was thinking, "I'm doing nothing..."

So they started cutting me and I could feel some pulling and pressure. I couldn't see a thing. I guess they don't like for you to see yourself cut open or something. I heard things like, "that's the water breaking." Then the Doc asked Michael if he wants to see (no fair!) and our child was born. I felt a big weight taken off my ribcage and heard a throaty, mad cry. Of course I couldn't see and had to lay there waiting.

While they cleaned the baby up and started putting me back together, the nurses and doctor talked about my placenta and how it looked different. Michael brought Preston over to me for the first time and I said, "Oh! He's cute!" We took a family picture (which is ridiculous because you can only see my head) and then Michael went with Preston to the recovery room to wait for me.

The doctor said,"blah blah vasa previa blah blah veins the size of your fingers." Then he looks over the sheet at me and said, "Haylee, we've had a real blessing here." He explained to me how huge veins had grown out of my placenta into the membrane. If I had gone into labor and my water had broken, the baby could have bled to death in minutes. Apparently, this occurs in 1 in 3000 births. Lucky me. So basically, my baby flipped himself over because he knew he had to be born via c-section so that he wouldn't die. Baby Preston FTW.

And that's the story. We're glad he's here, safe and sound. But it was a terribly painful, emotional and scary day for me. Probably the worst and best day of my life all rolled into one.

Pictures to follow!

Preston's Birth Story Part 2

2011-08-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

FINALLY Monday rolled around and Michael stayed home from work to go to my appointment with me. I had already decided to tell my doctor that I didn't want to be induced that day because I really wanted to go into labor on my own. We got to my doctor's office and got started with the exam. I told the doctor my feelings about being induced. He said that was fine and that we would need to do some tests to make sure the baby was still healthy and everything was fine. In the middle of this conversation, the doctor felt my stomach and his eyes got big. He said, "I think this baby is breech!" Oh crap.

So basically, he was not breech at 40 weeks and breech at 41 weeks. Outta control. Babies that far along do not typically flip around like that... especially not without the mom really feeling it. At that point, Doc takes me into the ultrasound room to make absolutely sure the baby is breech. Turns out he wasn't just normal "frank" breech but "COMPLETE" breech. His feet were down near my cervix. Ugh. Little stinker.

This whole birth thing just got a lot more complicated. Because of my first-time mom, unproven pelvis, there is no way that my doctor would let me try to deliver a breech baby vaginally. So here are the options he gave me: change my induction appointment to a external cephalic version where I am given a shot to relax my uterine muscles and Doc tries to manually flip the baby from the outside. If the baby flips then we immediately induce and try for a vaginal birth. If the baby doesn't flip then we have a c-section. The doctor felt that it was pretty pointless to wait and see if the baby would flip himself again this far along in the pregnancy.

So all of a sudden, I was for sure having a baby that day or the next morning. Pretty trippy. I had to make sure to fast the rest of the day in case I had to have a c-section. I spent the day starving and crying and miserable. The uncertainty was horrible and I was so scared of what was going to happen. I really wasn't handling the situation well at all. Michael would try to console me, and I just started crying more. This is getting good, right? Hah.

Preston's Birth Story Part 1

2011-08-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

I need to write this stuff down before I forget!

I guess it all started when I went to see my doctor on my actual due date of Monday, August 1st. Michael was able to come with me. I was anticipating some kind of progression as far as labor goes. Unfortunately, I was nowhere near ready to have a baby (i.e. my cervix and the baby's head were super high and tight and I was dilated only 1 cm). And the pelvic exam hurt so bad. Needless to say, it was a horrible day. I had tried so hard not to look forward to my "due date" knowing full well that due dates pretty much mean NOTHING. But still, I was disappointed. So we walked around Ikea for 2 hours that night trying to get something going. I had only had some mild cramping occasionally and some tightness in my abdomen up to that point. My doctor fully expected to see me at my next appointment.

We scheduled my next appointment for Monday, August 8th at 8:15 a.m. I also got a call later that week to let me know that a time to be induced had also been scheduled the same day at 3 p.m. I was pretty ticked because I did not want to be induced, but I decided to keep the appointment just in case something was not okay with me or the baby at my appointment. And besides, it's not like they could make me be induced if I really didn't want to be.

That week, we kept walking and walking culminating in a 4-hour trek around Chandler Mall on Friday. Then we watched every single Harry Potter movie that weekend to help pass the time. On Sunday, during Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, I was getting kicked and baby was rolling around a lot. I didn't think anything of it. Dun Dun Dun... foreshadowing.

He's Here!

2011-08-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

Preston Trent Reynolds

Born August 8, 2011 at 5:04 p.m.

8 lbs. 7 oz. and 21.7 inches long.

Wedding Times

2011-07-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

Michael's sisters both got married in the spring... about 6 weeks apart. CRRRRAZY. I was a bridesmaid in one of the weddings and I helped make tons of decorations. Here are some pictures:

Setting up the night before:

Michael is so handy! Those decorations would NOT have gone up without him.

Sarah and me, cheesin' it up!

Michael is soooo good-looking and I'm 6 months pregnant!

POOR, POOR ACCORD!

2011-07-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

Back in February, Michael was taking the young men in our ward to the temple at 4:30 in the morning. I was still sleeping when I heard the garage open at about 5:30. I wasn’t expecting Michael home for a few more hours, so I knew something was up. Michael came upstairs and told me that he’d been in a car accident!

He had three teenagers in the car with him in the right lane and there was a dump truck in the left lane. Well, the dump truck decided to get over into the right lane and didn’t see Michael. He also didn’t hear Michael’s honking. Michael tried to speed up and get out of the way, but didn’t quite make it. The dump truck hit the side of our beloved Accord and knocked him against the curb. Michael spun out and ended up in the median facing the opposite direction! CRAZY!

Michael has been going to the chiropractor for his back ever since the accident and today marks his LAST treatment. Holy smokes! Here are the pictures:

Our beloved Accord was totalled and we ended up getting a Honda Odyssey. The Odyssey is great, but it sure took a ton of our money to get it! Hopefully it lasts for a long, long time.

Helicopter Ride

2011-07-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

Michael's sweet helicopter video:

Graduation: Contrast

2011-06-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

Here's Michael's happy graduation day in 2008. Sunny and warm and not sick! =) So proud of him!

Craziest Week of My Life

2011-06-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

I had a lot going on during the Fall 2010 semester and it definitely went out with a bang. On December 14th (Tuesday), it was my 26th birthday. I was coming off a horrible 2-week cold (ALL DURING FINALS!!!!!) and I felt like I wasn't getting over it.

My friend Amanda threw her annual Christmas party on the night of my birthday. I was feeling totally blah... like, food was grossing me out. And that is bizarre. So I sucked it up and went to the party and ended up feeling better and having a good time. Here are a few pics:

Amanda was super sweet and got me a birthday cake which I didn't feel like eating. Uhhh. Weird.

The next day was Wednesday the 15th, and I was still feeling sick and really nauseated. I couldn't believe how horrible I felt and how I didn't want to eat anything! What kind of cold was this anyhow? So I got to thinking about how I could possibly be pregnant. This was a whole new kind of sick. I went to the grocery store and stood around looking at pregnancy tests until another lady with a toddler on her hip grabbed a box. I figured she knew about pregnancy tests, and followed her lead. (Those things are expensive, by the way!)

I will spare you the pictures of the pee sticks (I actually didn't take any pictures of them... that kinda grosses me out), but I took 3 of them and they were definitely all positive. After taking them, I looked at my miserable self blubbering in the mirror and said, "I don't know what to think about this!" It was really quite comical and I started laughing/crying. haha.

Then I called Michael and was still crying and sputtering. "I...I...I... th-think I'm pregnant. CRY CRY CRY." Of course Michael was very sweet and happy and trying to make me feel better. I was miserable and really didn't know what to think. Kind of confusing.

That night, I picked up my parents from the airport and tried not to barf the whole drive there and back. When we got home, I straight up told my parents that I thought I was pregnant. I felt like they needed to know why I was sooooo sick without actually being sick.

AND THEN...

I graduated from ASU the next morning. It was a pretty rough day. I had to be there at 8:30 in the morning, and it was raining and I was pale and sick. ACK. My parents, Michael and my friend Sarah came to the morning festivities. We went to lunch at Mimi's Cafe and they brought us breakfast menus because it was like 10:30 a.m. I saw the pictures of eggs on the menu and just about threw up right there! I choked down a muffin and a bowl of French onion soup. Michael's parents joined us for the Herberger Institute graduation later that day.

Here are the pictures. I look sooo pale. haha.

Senior Recital!!!

2011-06-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

I performed my senior recital on November 29th, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in Katzin Concert Hall at ASU. So many people came to support me. It was such a great feeling to perform for friends and loved ones and to finally have it over! It was a lot of hard work.

Here are the links to the videos that Michael uploaded to YouTube:

Part 1 -Donizetti and Puccini

Part 2 -Schubert

Part 3 - Chausson

Part 4 - Howells #1-3

Part 5 -Howells #4-5

Here's the photo of all the family that was there plus my accompanist Mauricio (in the teal shirt!)

And here's the headshot that Michael took of me. I used it for Les Miserables and for all of my recital posters. I've never had a headshot taken and I think this one turned out great!

Les Miserables

2011-06-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

Michael and I had the opportunity to perform in our stake's production of Les Miserables. It was a lot of fun, despite my crazy schedule trying to finish my last semester at ASU. The performances were on November 4th and 5th, 2010 at Gilbert High School.

Michael was "student #2" (it looked like "studcat #2" in the program--haha). I had the role of Cosette. Lots of fun! Here are some pictures:

Me, Michael, Melissa, Max, and Malachi after the show.

The whole cast on stage. Can you find me and Michael?

Mom (Fantine AKA Stephanie) and Me (Cosette)

Dasha, Me, and Kristina.

Pam (MIL), me, Michael, and Trent (FIL) after the show.

The Silver Creek Ward REPRESENT!

Me and Sienna--one of my cute laurels.

Rehearsal at a nearby church building.

The love triangle: Cosette (Me), Marius (Jeff), and Eponine (Alyssa)

Real husband, me, fake husband!

Back in the Saddle

2011-06-17T00:35:00.000-07:00

Soooo....

Even though my last blog was about my brother, my life did not end when he got home from his mission. HA!

A lot of stuff has happened in the last few years. Maybe I will get caught up with it and maybe I won't. Either way, I'm hoping to get get this blog back and running to show off the cute little baby that I will be having in about 6 weeks! Get ready for the debut of Captain Awesome!

MEIN BRUDER!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-14T10:16:00.000-07:00

My brother Jackson got home from his mission last week and we went to California for his homecoming. It was a fun weekend. We were crazy enough to take our 6 dogs out there with us because we didn't want to leave them with anyone. Having the dogs with us made it hard to sleep at night and they threw up in our car a few times. GROSS.

ANYWAY... it was really good to see my brother. On Friday we went to the Ventura County Fair. Average temperature in August in Ventura = 74 degrees. I was in heaven. It was cool to have the whole family there.

This is a quilt that I saw at the fair. I loved it.

Here are Jackson and Kelsey. Both are thrilled to be there.

The back of Michael's head on the way to the livestock pavilion.

This was an interesting sign we saw while we waited for freshly fried mini doughnuts. SO GOOD!

Jackson's foot, Michael's food, my feet waiting for the blacksmith show to start.

More blacksmith waiting. It started to get really cold as the sun started to set.

Here is the set of the village blacksmith. Michael and Stephanie both one a lucky pony shoe that the blacksmith made during the story his wife told.

We sat down to dinner. My hair gets really weird and curly in the front when it's humid outside.

Here's Stephanie, Mom, and Dad eating dinner.

Michael got an Italian sausage sandwich and I had a meatball sandwich.

Michael and Jackson getting a little closer.

More making fun of my silly forehead curl.

I loved everything about the fair. We saw the mineral and rock expo, the floraculture expo (Michael's favorite, I think), the commercial expo, the children's expo, the arts and crafts expo, the livestock pavilion, the Village Blacksmith show, the All-Alaskan Pig Races, some horse competitions, and all kinds of crazy fattening foods like chocolate-covered bacon.

I didn't really get any more pictures of the weekend. On Saturday we spent the day with the family. My grandparents were in town. Sunday was the big homecoming day at church. My brother gave a talk about service and my mother and I sang "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". It was a great Sunday. I got to see a lot of friends and was so glad that Cristin and Fa were able to drive up from San Dimas to spend some time with us. Love you guys!

So now my brother is on the market. If you know any fine young ladies for him to date, let me know and I'll pass the word along.

Last Day With All of the Puppies!

2009-08-14T06:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took the whole litter and their mommy to get fixed at the shelter yesterday. WHAT A DISASTER! Luckily everything worked out. The white one couldn't be fixed because he had not dropped (if you know what I mean...) so I have to continue to foster him. Everyone who did get fixed is doing well though. Thank goodness. I was so worried because these puppies weigh 2 and 3 pounds! Unfortunately, the shelter was soooo disorganized and could barely handle what was going on. I had to lead them along like a puppy on a leash (I'm so punny) to get them to do what they told me they would!

My friend Natalie adopted the brown male and named him Charlie. There was a ton of drama trying to get the puppies adopted yesterday, but Natalie was finally able to take him home!!! I have to admit that I kind of miss him, but I know I will get to see him in the future.

Summer Fun

2009-08-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

Here's some stuff that's happened this summer:

I went with Michael's family down south to Kartchner Caverns and to Huachuca City to see some of their cousins. We spent some time at a little lake near Tucson.

Max enjoyed being the swimming cowboy.

Here I am keeping my skin beautiful in the shade.

Here's the whole crew. I was SOOO tired that whole trip.

We followed some cute kids around town in a Jeep Cherokee!

This is the only picture I got at Kartchner Caverns. Max was pretty bored after the tour and just wanted to go play with his cousin Sammy!

DIAMOND BACKS GAME!

We went to a DB game with Trevor and Jessica Smith a few weeks ago. It was pretty hot and sweaty, but fun. We are making "db" signs by the way.

MUSEUM FOR YOUTH!

I took Max and Malachi to the Museum for Youth in downtown Mesa last month. I thought it would at least be fun for Max. There were a few fun things but Max got bored really quick. Malachi had fun with the building blocks there. At least we got in free!

McDonald's Trip

It is SOOOO hot here, so we met one of Max's friends from school at the playplace at McDonald's. These two are so cute and have the best time together.

I am so sad that summer is coming to an end!!!!

Smith Family Reunion 2009/Boise Idaho Trip

2009-08-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of July we went to Boise, ID for a family reunion on my dad's side. We also had a great time sight-seeing. Michael ended up serving his mission in Boise, ID so we visited places he had served, apartments he lived in, and people he spent a lot of time with. It was a great trip. Michael has more pictures on his camera, so there might be more later.

Cousins in the pool. (I didn't go to the YMCA.)

Chelsey, Shelbi, Stephanie and Kiley: The Wallflowers

The Whole Family (Almost). Check out my sweet Show Choir pose.

Some Fine Ladies

The Youngest Cousins

The Harvey and Luena Smith Family

Sisters with lots of hair

Stephanie and cousin Emery

Relaxing on the couch

Trying to squish everyone on the couch

Family times

My dad

The Smith Brothers

Stephanie and Jordan (We dyed all of these shirts ourselves)

We love Kacee.

This is the first night we were in Boise. This is Dalla Bills. AKA Dolla Bills AKA Elder Bills AKA Brian Bills who served in the Boise mission at the same time as Michael.

We drove out to Twin Falls and saw some beautiful stuff.

Water was seeping out of the walls here. Who would have thought that in some parts of the country there is water in abundance?

I took this picture of Elk for my dad. These big guys live at an elk farm.

Michael looking at the falls

Some gorgeous falls pictures.

We had a great trip and it was so fun to see family and friends. I was shocked by how beautiful Boise is and told Michael that if we had to move there someday, I wouldn't mind. There was grass everywhere and everything was green.

Here are some more things we did on the trip: ate at Good Wood BBQ twice, saw The Proposal in downtown Boise, ate at Fuddrucker's with the Beaths, ate at Cafe Rio with the Tranmers, drove around in a truck made with no air conditioning (can you believe they actually make cars that way?!), slept in until 8:00 (So late, right? haha) every day at our hotel, went to WinCo Foods with my mom, tie-dyed t-shirts, went to Jordan's Eagle Scout Court of Honor (Michael enjoyed the Eagles' Nest), and spent a ton of time at Aunt Kirsten's house with the fam. GOOD TRIP!

Woohoo!

2009-07-22T18:06:00.000-07:00

Puppy Love! Literally!

2009-07-03T20:45:00.001-07:00

So here is the dog story: We decided to go to the animal shelter one Friday JUST FOR FUN. We took Max with us to look at all of the dogs. We happened to see two dark little Cairn terrier mixes in a kennel together. One thing led to another and we paid the $220 bucks for the two dogs. They needed to be fixed so we had to wait until Monday afternoon to pick them up. WELL... Sunday afternoon we get a call from a lady telling us that the femaile dog we adopted had had puppies. WHAT THE HECK!? Nobody knew she was pregnant? Out of control.

Monday afternoon I pick up a neutered male (Bo) and a mother dog (Sugar) and 4 puppies all by myself. My 2-door Civic was stuffed to the brim with dogs. haha. We went from having 0 dogs to having 6.

We've had some peepees, poopoos, and diarrheadiarrheas. But other than that, we are loving our new dogs. Here are some pics:

Mommy (Sugar)

Puppy #1 Brown/Male

Puppy #2 White/Male

Puppy #3 Dark Gray/Female

Puppy #4 Light Brown/Female

The whole rainbow...

Bo and Sugar and Me

Happy Fathers Day two days ago...

2009-06-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

To all of you who think you have a great dad, let me just say this: My dad can beat up your dad. He'd probably give Chuck Norris a run for his money too.

Memorial Day Extravaganza... sort of.

2009-05-28T06:41:00.001-07:00

We went to California this past weekend to take advantage of Michael's 4-day weekend. It was a pretty good time. I just wish I didn't live so far from my family. The drive to my parents' house is so ugly... I think it makes the time pass slower. haha. I'm thankful Michael drove the whole way. I kind of hate driving.

My grandparents were in town while we were there, so it was good to see them too.

My sister monopolized the weekend with all of her high school events. Friday night was the annual Wm. S. Hart High School Show Choir Spring Concert. It was horrible! Were my concerts that bad? I think maybe they were. It was sooooo long too. Nearly 3 hours. I really tried to be impressed, but it didn't work.

Then Stephanie had prom the next night. My mom and I ran around town running errands because Stephanie hadn't finalized her prom look. We had to schedule a nail appointment and buy nailpolish, earrings, and hairclips. That girl is crazy!

Sunday we went to church. It's always funny to go home after getting married and moving out. A lot of people are interested in what you are doing and there are also a lot of people at church who are new and have no idea who you are. It makes for some good times.

Monday we saw the new Star Trek movie with my parents and sister. It was a great movie. After the movie, we started on our way home. There wasn't ANY traffic. It was great. We left at 2 p.m. and got home around 8:30 after stopping for dinner, stopping for gas, and going to Dairy Queen here in Gilbert. Awesome!

The quote of the weekend was from my exhausted sister after 3 nights of choir concerts, a procrastinated school project, and getting ready for prom. "The good times are killing me!" haha.

Biggest Geek Ever

2009-05-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

I thought that my biology class started today so I woke up at 5:45 and got ready to go. I arrived at CGCC at 6:50 a.m. thinking that my 7:00 class was about to start. WRONG. I tried opening the door and stood there for 3 minutes until I actually looked at my schedule and saw that the class starts on June 1st. SILLY!!!!!!!!!! I called Michael and had a good laugh with him.

In my defense, my German 102 course begins online today. So I'm not a total dork.

Time to Get the Ball Rollin'

2009-05-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

School is over for the summer (until I start summer school on Monday). Now that I have more free time on my hands, I am going to try to actually use our blog.

This school year was rough. I felt like I was always so busy and just running and running. Between really hard music theory, music history, choir, piano class and a part-time job, I didn't have any time to blog.

This brings me to today. My last final was on Monday. My grades keep coming in and I have 5 As so far out of 7 classes. I'm feeling pretty good. I think I will have 6 As and 1 B. I'm pretty proud of that. Maybe I'll catch up to my summa cum laude husband. Since school has let out, I have been soooooooo lazy. It feels good to just sit on my bum and watch a movie. I know that there are things I need to get done this summer, but can't I start next week? hahaha.

I am watching The View. I'm thinking that I don't really like this show. It's just a bunch of gossipy ladies. Today they were talking about Heaven and Hell and if they believe in it. They have Ron Howard and Tom Hanks on today talking about Angels and Demons that comes to theatres today. It's interesting to hear different beliefs and ideas about what happens after this life.

I'm so glad for the knowledge that I have as a member of the church. It's very comforting and makes life way less confusing.

Ok, next topic. I really want a Westie. They are the cutest dogs ever. I always had a dog growing up and my parents still have one to this day. Dogs are so loving and always want to be with you. I would love to have a dog, but I would feel bad because we are so busy. Maybe I will get one for my graduation.

Well... I think I will watch Little Women now. I love summer.

More Las Vegas Pics!

2009-04-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

Lost Wages AKA Las Vegas

2009-03-25T15:48:00.001-07:00

We went to Las Vegas for Spring Break. It was a great trip and really fun even though I was getting over the flu. We didn't actually gamble in "Lost Wages" but we definitely spent a lot of money. Bottles of water were like $3.00 everywhere we went.

We stayed at the Rio. On Thursday, our plane left Phoenix around 4:00 p.m. so we didn't get to our hotel until close to 6:00. We decided to relax and not go out that night because we were so tired. Both of us were really hungry so we ate at the cheapest restaurant we could find in our hotel. About $12.oo/person. Not too shabby. I had the BEST BLT with avocado and Michael had a yummy mushroom burger.

The Rio only has suites for rooms. We got lucky enough to have a corner room--2 of the 4 walls were windows! This is the view from our bed. We LOVED our room and enjoyed looking out on The Strip at night.

We were on the 15th floor and our room was at the very end of this HUGE HALL:

Needless to say, we did plenty of walking on our trip. Luckily, the Rio has a FREE shuttle that took us to the strip. On Friday we were the only ones on our shuttle. I guess nobody was out and about at 10:00 a.m. like us. We wanted to see the sights!

DAY 1!!!

Once we got to The Strip this is what we saw on the way to Caesar's Palace:

The fountains in front of the Venetian

The Eiffel Tower in front of Paris

We finally made it to Caesar's Palace and this is what we saw inside:

The Trojan Horse (F.A.O. Schwartz Toy Store)

There are toys inside of the horse!

There is a HUGE fish aquarium with some cool fish, but we couldn't get any good pictures, see:

Next, we went to the free show there in the mall. It was really funny. There were animatronic robot people like Pirates of the Caribbean. It was definitely a "free show" if you know what I mean. CHEESECAKE FACTORY!!!!!!!

I'm not posting any more pictures of the show because I am so bored just thinking about it.

NEXT! We decided to head over to the Venetian to see if we could get tickets to Blue Man Group. We walked around the Venetian and the Palazzo for HOURS before our show started. We were EXHAUSTED by the end of the night, but this is what we saw:

Wax Blue Men

Humpty Dumpty

Gondola Ride

The Living Garden

FINALLY we got to the show!

I never get tagged... nor do I tag.

2009-03-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

Well... McKenzie tagged me and since she was one of the best roommates ever, I have to oblige.

10 Random Things About Me:

1. I am watching an infomercial about Lifestyle Lift right now. (I can't find the remote and I am too tired/sick to find it.)

2. I can think of a song for just about any word/circumstance. Michael and I have some friends who think were are pretty strange because we bust out in song all the time.

3. I LOVE Target. It is the best store EVER.

4. I never got asked to prom in high school. I always had to "find" dates. Lame.

5. I am really paranoid about getting skin cancer because I am so fair and I live in Arizona.

6. I am completing my 6th year of college this semester. I will have roughly 190 credits by the time I get my B.M. from ASU.

7. I just got called as the Ward Music Director in my new ward. I lead all of the congregational hymns and plan music for sacrament meetings. I think it's awesome because I am taking an LDS Hymns institute class AND choral conducting for my major right now. The Lord knows me, for sure.

8. I have blood sugar issues. If I am hungry, I get really sick. Like... wanting to throw up sick. Fasting is a nightmare for me. I also get really cranky. Poor Michael. I am a crazy woman when I'm hungry.

9. I have road rage. I don't know what it is, but stupid drivers make me really angry. It could be all of the snowbirds and students around here. I need to work on this for sure.

10. I am not very social. I really have to force myself to get to know people. I think I would be content to not have people over EVER as long as my family is around. Michael is the opposite. He really forces me to be social. It's good for me.

Well... that's about it. This kind of made me realize how strange I am. Yikes.

Sick Day

2009-03-06T09:44:00.001-08:00

I am hope sick today. It sucks. I can't even spell. I must REALLY be sick. You should have seen/heard me at my piano midterm yesterday. Hilarious!

My new hat

2009-02-22T18:29:00.000-08:00

I have a new hat. It's from Nordstrom. Actually, NordstromRack. I got it for $10 because there's a little mark on the side.

You may see me wear it.

I'm wearing it now. I usually don't wear it to or from work, but it's one of my favorite parts of the weekend.

There. I felt bad that I haven't posted in over a month. Now you have a posting.

I'm working on another idea for a post... Maybe you'll see it soon.

Am I an environmentalist?

2009-01-19T18:08:00.000-08:00

I'm conservative, and I believe in markets. Except when they don't work. One of the reasons that markets fail is that the people making the decisions don't really experience the full consequences of their decisions.

For example, Johnny likes burritos, but they give him gas. Johnny lost his sense of smell, so he thinks that they don't smell. But he works in a call center, where people all sit next to each other. When he has burritos for dinner, all of his coworkers can smell it. Of course, nobody will tell him that he smells after burritos, because that's kinda awkward. Without the knowledge that his burritos are causing his coworkers to choke to the very edge of death, Johnny eats three every Tuesday and Thursday. Since he's not suffering, he doesn't even consider the pain that his beany burritos inflict on his coworkers.

There, now you understand what economists call "externality". Somebody makes a decision without personally experiencing all of the costs or benefits.

I think our lifestyle is kinda like this. We love our big houses, big cars, and big tvs (I know that I do!). And since this whole climate change catastrophe may be decades or even a century away, I don't really consider it in my decisions. After all, nobody can tell me exactly how bad it will be, and many people are somewhat uncomfortable about it anyway.

So like burrito-eating Johnny, I'm enjoying my consumerism and energy-heavy lifestyle.

But I believe that if Johnny were simply aware of the impact of his decisions, he might make different decisions. Maybe he'll only eat one burrito, or maybe he'll change his burrito nights to Saturday and Sunday (homemade, of course). Maybe he'll visit a doctor and get his plumbing checked out. Maybe he'll walk outside to allow the burrito's effects to dissipate - away from his coworkers.

There are tons of choices for Johnny!

And there should be some choices for me. I don't know what choices I'll make yet, but I am trying to consider the impacts of the things I do. Some little things I've already been doing include reusing my nalgene when I have it nearby, CFLs throughout our home, LIVING on cruise control, and considering my electricity usage when setting the thermostat. I would like to say that I reuse shopping bags, carpool or mass transit, and drive more efficiently.

However, I know that individual actions are practically negligible. So that's why I support people who find ways to get lots of people to do what's right.

Although I generally don't like the Sierra Club, they have an invitation to cut your carbon output by 2% this year. Seriously, 2% is nothing. Swap out a 5 pack of lightbulbs with CFLs, and you've done it. And for the pledge, you get this Missy Higgins track as a pat on the back. And on top of that, for the next 5+ years, your bank account will thank you when you get your power bills.

So check out http://missypledge.warnerbrosrecords.com/.

Blogging... What a let down!

2009-01-15T17:08:00.001-08:00

okay... So it's been 5 days since my post. No comments.

Haylee told me that most people wouldn't really understand what is in that image from the last post. For those who aren't aware, it would be the crowning event of the 1994 Maxis classic SimTower. Only when your tower has 5 stars are you permitted to build a cathedral, and the cathedral can only be built on the 100th floor. I built a superwide tower up to level 45, then I built an elevator spire to the 100th floor for my cathedral. That single cathedral is the fruit of hours and hours of effort.

But I understand that not everybody can appreciate my nunchucks skills, so there is no offense taken by all y'all's apparent lack of excitement.

However, I want my footprint on the blogosphere to be at least enjoyable for those who spend time looking at it. Therefore, I have done some research to see why blogs of some are more popular than blogs of others. I have come to the conclusion that I lack the childhood cuteness that typically interests people of the Mormon persuasion, which is a healthy chunk of our modest readership.

But we're not having a baby now, nor are we trying to. Therefore, I am forced to share my very own childhood cuteness in efforts to entice readership. My mother gave us boxes of stuff that mothers usually keep, and I found these, from kindergarten. This first picture is of my lovely sister Miriam. She was born in 1991, the year this picture was drawn, and it still looks just like her!

To properly understand this next poem, you must understand that I have inherited allergies from my mother's father and a genetic kitten-hatred from my own father.

Now, feel free to comment to tell me how you wish that your kids grow up to be as cute as me.

California and Progress

2009-01-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

So we come to California, and we have a relaxing time enjoying the wedding of Haylee's good friend Cristin to her love, Fa. Of course, it was a beautiful time and we quite enjoyed the company of Cristin's family and friends.

Of course, I do have a great accomplishment that I must share with you:

I remember playing Sim Tower in middle school once I finished my work in computer class. Never had I enjoyed the success that I have found here.

On to other news, we have been working on our guest room. It has a bed now and we bought an awesome comforter set. I'm excited to have out-of-towners come and stay with us.

Budgeting for Marrieds

2009-01-05T19:18:00.001-08:00

So here's how it goes:

Of course, we all live on a basic budget. We know how much we make and we can't spend more than that. But we have our wish lists. Usually, mine is full of electronic things that I enjoy while sitting on the couch. Haylee wants things that are pretty. Clothes, house decorations, etc. Also girly books and disney movies.

Of course, my things are very expensive. Like... Hundreds of dollars, minimum. That represents many hours of sitting in a cubicle.

How can I possibly not feel guilty for buying those things, when I know perfectly well that buying these toys will have zero positive impact on my long-term financial situation? I could be putting that extra money torwards paying off the car, student loans, or house. But those electronic things are so fun.

I need(ed) a receiver. After all, the speakers are already in the ceiling, just begging to be powered. And how can you possibly run a surround sound system without a subwoofer? And once I have my receiver, how can I possibly operate such an amazing system without a fancy remote?

Okay. I've established that I need these items. Now how do I possibly make myself feel better about buying these things?

The solution: I can convince Haylee to buy things, too. That way, if the money is too tight, then it was a contributory effort. It wasn't just my fault.

Of course, the end result is that all of my toys cost a bit more than the actual price on the tag, since the total bill includes buying stuff for Haylee, too.

But the "home theater" is starting to be freakin' awesome. And I figure we have until kids arrive in a few years before we have to be really frugal.

Toomuchstuffhashappenedandiamtoolazytowriteaboutitiamevenlazyenoughtoforgetspacesandpunctuationmarks

2009-01-05T05:16:00.000-08:00

I don't really feel like writing about all the stuff that has happened the last month. We had Christmas, New Years, my birthday, Michael's birthday and our anniversary is today. We moved into a new house and started going to our new ward. I finished another semester of school.That's a lot of stuff.

The end.

p.s. I am not pregnant even though everyone else seems to be. haha.

Isabella...

2008-12-19T05:20:00.001-08:00

is the most popular girls' name of 2008. Hmm. I wonder why. haha.

Moving

2008-12-17T06:50:00.000-08:00

Can I just say that moving is a nightmare? I absolutely love my new house but I feel so claustrophobic and OCD about all of the stuff laying around my house in boxes. AHHHH! Let's also talk about how fun it is to move when it is raining and it's the week before Christmas. Oh yeah. Woo.

Vote for ME!

2008-12-04T20:20:00.000-08:00

It's Michael here.

Friends and neighbors, I have an announcement.

I love sharing my opinion on important issues. I love debating everyday things that people care about and determining why they feel the way they do. I believe in careful commitment to decisions that supports a better future.

Does that sound too politician-like?

How about this:

I want to run for Town of Gilbert leadership in 2010 or 2012. Although I believe that Gilbert is one of the best municipalities in the nation, I feel that there are three areas that need to be addressed to make sure that Gilbert remains among the best places to live.

1. Citizens need to be heard. There are two recent examples where Gilbert citizens have been ignored recently. One was by the school board, which went through the motions of openness only to insult citizens by ignoring their voice in the decisionmaking process. Similarly, recent zoning decisions around the future temple site have been made without adequate consideration of the citizens' opinions. Simply explaining what I am doing and why is not sufficient. I must do what I do because I and the citizens both understand that the future will be better for what we do today.

I will address this concern by establishing a "Lobbyist Chat". In these sessions, I will allow citizens to discuss with me what is on their mind. I will call it "Lobbyist Chat" because I want the citizens to know that their lives and opinions are the voices that will steer my decisionmaking. They will be my only lobbyists, and I will encourage citizens to make sure their opinions and lives are recognized in the leadership of their town.

2. The city zoning hasn't been forward looking. Nearly everybody who lives in Gilbert works elsewhere. Why does Gilbert have some of the highest transit times in the valley? Because city planning has failed to establish employment opportunities within the community for the citizens. Without forethough and serious planning, Gilbert will continue to grow and be one of the best places to live... for perhaps another decade. Then, Gilbert will become the new Mesa, a bedroom community full of great people who drive across town borders to work and spend. Unfortunately, as we see in Mesa, when the citizens spend and work across the town borders, then the municipality cannot support the necessary infrastructure to maintain a safe and pleasant community.

I will address this concern through working towards a comprehensive city plan. Town planning and zoning leadership can help Gilbert to become the community of the future that is the premier place to live, not just sleep. I will work with the planning and zoning leadership to establish and communicate Gilbert's plan to be the most livable city in Arizona. Although I do generally believe that a smaller government is a better government, I do believe that a city investment in business incentives to attract quality jobs and tax revenue is something that should be discussed and considered.

3. City responsibilities of infrastrucutre and policing have been neglected. Gilbert average transit times lead the Valley. Public transit is not adequate or useful. Gilbert police staffing is among the lowest in the valley. Although this may be proportional to Gilbert's current level of safety, I am not sure that the level of police staffing is adequate to maintain the safety and comfort of Gilbert communities.

I will address these concerns by encouraging a reprioritization. Gilbert should focus on utilization public transit through park and ride facilities that link to Phoenix's new light-rail system. Gilbert needs to evaluate the utilization of roads, using a logistical analysis to determine if further progress can be made in light timing and speed limits to encourage a smoother, more efficient commute. Finally, the police force needs to be strengthened. Gilbert will manage the police force in a way that city leaders, citizens, and police leadership feels will maintain the safety of Gilbert.

That's what I'm thinking.

What do you think?

Are there obstacles I should be aware of? Would you support my campaign? Do you think I should run?

Now, I need to make sure that the house we're buying becomes ours so that I can live a year in Gilbert before the next election.

Twilight... What the heck?

2008-11-28T21:39:00.000-08:00

Okay... I haven't read the books, but my mom and sister dragged me to see the movie. I really enjoyed it despite some super cheesy parts. Now I am finding myself obsessed and wanting to read the books. What the heck? This is craziness. I feel like every silly young girl in America does right now. haha.

The love story is great. I have felt those same feelings. I remember when I really started loving Michael and wanted to be around him all of the time. (I was 19 or so.) I had literal heart burn for him every moment that we were not together... Over 2 years... I'm hardcore, I know. I just really love my man and to quote my friend Amanda, "Sigh. Everyday is Twilight for me." Seriously. And you know what's even cooler? I get to be with my man FOREVER and he doesn't even need to bite me to make it that way. The temple is the TRUTH and my love story is REAL. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to be married in the temple. Families can be together forever. I'm glad that we both made good decisions growing up so that we could go to the temple. I LOVE MICHAEL!

I guess I'm glad that Stephenie Meyer wrote stories that remind me of my love. It's fun and it makes me feel 19 again... but I still get to be the almost 24 year-old me and enjoy the fruits of my marriage. ;)

Primary Thoughts

2008-11-22T18:46:00.000-08:00

Okay... I gotta warn you that this post seems surprisingly Relief Society. It must be that primary has kept me out of priesthood for a while.

Ya know, I only have a few memories from primary:

I remember the chorister teaching us to sing like "wide-mouth frogs" for the alphabet-Christmas song.
I remember one sharing time where a boy had to touch a lit lightbulb with a hot pad (his name is David Faust). I think the moral was that making bad decisions keeps us from feeling the spirit. I remember that he kept touching the lightbulb while the member of the primary presidency was teaching because she never told him to stop. Then he said "I can feel it now." We all laughed and he didn't have to touch the lightbulb anymore.
I remember that one of my primary teachers gave me my very first Altoid. Holy cow, that was intense.
I remember a sharing time when there was a wrapped present with only a slip of paper that said "Holy Ghost."
I remember going over to my primary president's condo for my exit interview. Her name was Sister Panell, I think. I had to recite all 13 Articles of Faith.
I remember that Jessica Fuller could enunciate beautifully while reading verses in the scriptures. I tried to copy the way she read the letter "s"... she said the "s" sound through her teeth.
I remember that I was chosen for a special primary choir. I sang really loud (REALLY loud). I think some kids made fun of me a little bit after that. I haven't really liked to sing (other that congregationally) since then.
I remember Cub Scouts and my first experience with a hot-glue gun. We got it on our fingers on purpose, and it hurt really bad. We were making neckerchief slides.
I remember playing pogs on the foyer floor in the 40th St. & Oak building with Curtis Mortensen. I remember that he moved far away.
I remember bearing my testimony in Sacrament Meeting and getting all sniffly as I returned to the pew. My mommy was so proud.
I remember getting really upset that I wasn't going to be in sr. primary for another year. I thought they changed the rules just to keep me out, but I think it was that there weren't any kids in the class above me, so when everybody got older, I still had to sit on the jr. primary side of the room.
I remember leaving primary during the last hour after I turned 12. I got to go to priesthood. I was the priesthood pianist, and I could play any hymn (as long as it was 106, 142, or 239).
I remember the primary presidency changing and all of the women crying. I didn't understand what the big deal was, since I'd still see everybody in the chapel.

Haylee and I only have a couple-three weeks left in our calling... Ya know, it's been hard. Sometimes, it seems that no matter how prepared our lesson is, no matter how involved I am in making the lesson enjoyable, and no matter how well we follow all of the instructions for making the class valuable, everything falls apart and we are a failure.

But because I can add a few special moments to my "Primary Memories" list, I realize that it is all worth it:

I remember having a primary party at our apartment, where we watched a movie. Almost everybody had seen it and there were no surprises as the plot continued, aided with whispers.
I remember coming to sharing time determined to learn, and leaving with a deeper understanding of the atonement.
I remember having a really tough lesson... It seemed that nobody was being receptive. As I was getting more frustrated, I got to the part of 3 Nephi where Jesus called for the children. I started to get choked up as everything changed and our classroom became a holy place.
I remember knowing that as I was being called in with my wife for a quick moment with a member of the bishopric, I was getting the one calling that I really didn't think would work.
How inspired was my calling!

I remember, and I am thankful.

Do you have any special primary remembrances?

Thoughts on Marriage

2008-11-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

Today I was watching national news on ABC. They talked a bit about the protests outside of the Los Angeles Temple. I saw pictures online today that captured the moment as thousands of angry people brought their signs and graffiti to the fence around this special place.

There, on Santa Monica Boulevard, Haylee married me.

I thought I'd share a picture that reminds me why some things are worth fighting for.

In primary last week, Haylee was teaching the lesson about how Mormon was watching his people perish in wickedness. They weren't fighting for the right reasons, only "their wives, and thier children, and their houses, and their homes" (Mormon 2:23)

Those are all valuable things. But they didn't understand that the fight is for "our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children" (Alma 46:12).

They left out our God, religion, freedom, and peace.

To me, it sounds like they let the religion out of their marriages, replacing it with worldly property.

Cobbler Gobbler

2008-11-12T19:30:00.000-08:00

Haylee burned her thumb pretty bad today. So I made dinner. I made some quick tuna on toast, but that was only an appetizer. The real dinner was dessert. I decided to try my ol' Dutch Oven cobbler "recipe" in a pyrex cake pan. Behold:

Peaches in a pan... most of the syrup drained off.

Cheap cake mix and butter:
About an hour at 375 degrees (I think that the cake mix doesn't really start cooking until the remaining peach syrup boils, which is just before halfway through)
And the final result, served in a bowl. (Check out our awesome pot-holders in the background!)
We didn't have ice cream, since that's one of those yummy things (like soda) that we don't bring into our house except for very special occasions.

So we ate it and it was yummy. I think I could have added a dash of cinnamon on the top. And I probably drained a tad too much syrup at the beginning, but it takes a few times before I'll be able to perfect the process outside of the dutch oven (in the pyrex, the moisture can escape).

So friends, that's why I rock. I think I have magnified my breadwinner calling.

In other news, I watched both Rodeo Championship and Nascar on Sunday. And now I'm watching CMA. What the heck is wrong with me?

So there's a group called "Lady Antebellum" that performed for the CMA. Those jerks stole the old band name. Actually, we were just "Antebellum". But still, that's totally a stolen name. Here's proof. 2004!!!!!!

This is just like when my friends and I made lego lightsabers in 8th grade about a year before the Star Wars lego sets came out. Sometimes I feel like I'm on the Truman Show and the producers think it would be funny to steal my good ideas and see how long it takes me to realize that I've been copied.

Have y'all (uh-oh... Nascar/Rodeo/CMA) had great ideas that have been stolen to make someone rich?

Little Letters From Mikey

2008-11-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

Dear Wifey,

You're practicing the piano right now. I'm so proud of how hard you're trying to get done with school. Keep it up. Please don't procrastinate your essay much longer!

Love, Hubby

Dear Snowbirds,

I've noticed you've returned. Please go the speed limit.

Sincerely, Late4Something

Dear Self,

How is it that you had a 3 day weekend and still haven't really done anything?

Sincerely, Times-A-Wastin'

Dear Christmas,

I think that this year will be meager for many... I hope that this helps us to focus on what's really important. I think we will buy a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree from Walgreens this year to remind us that it's not the things that matter. That should prove a point. I look forward to you.

Sincerely, IronicConsumption

Dear Foreclosee,

I appreciate how you purchased many upgrades for the home we're going to buy. But sometimes I feel like we're stealing the American Dream from you. Until I remember that you sold all of the appliances.

Thank you, WhatWasYoursIsAlmostMine

Dear Laundry,

Why do you torment us so? One day we're done with you, then you sneak up on us until you've consumed all of our clean clothing. I try to beat you by wearing the same pants for almost a whole week, but then you change tactics and go after the whites. You rascal.

Sincerely, YouStink

Dear Mac,

I want you. I need you. Why will you not let Netflix play movies through your OS X? It's breaking my heart.

Sincerely, StuckWithDell

Dear California,

Your rallies are large and impressive. But you forget that your chance to speak was on November 4. Please stop harassing others who used democratic means to express their opinions.

Sincerely, SilentMajorityMember

Dear Appliance Manufacturers,

You make expensive stuff. I'll be watching Craigslist for black appliances, hoping to not need to buy your stuff new. But if we do need to buy stuff new, it will be after Thanksgiving. That should boost your Q4 profits.

Sincerely, MoneyIsExpensive

Dear Netflix,

I am very happy that you added like 1000 new movies on the instant playable movie list through Starz. I've already selected the 30-40 that I like. Please add thousands more.

Sincerely, NoPopcornNeeded

Dear Blogspot Bloggers,

I covet your blog comments. I tried to leave some on your blogs so that you'll try to return the favor. It's hard to comment. You don't want to say what everybody else said, but you don't want to be weird. And you certainly don't want to leave a comment more than a week after the blog entry, or you risk being never read.

Sincerely, Blogstalker

Dear Monday,

I have a case of the yous. And it's still Sunday. I hope you're happy.

Sincerely, MyCubicleAwaits

Arizona's State

2008-11-04T20:30:00.000-08:00

Okay. Hopefully you've already read my national post. This is going to have a somewhat different tone. By the issue:

PROPOSITIONS

Proposition 100 - Yay no new property taxes.

Proposition 101 - "Protect Medical Choice" - This one had me torn. I actually changed my vote as I was driving to the polling place. I don't really care, because I don't see socialized medicine as a state issue. I don't think that the socialized medicine threat will come from the state, and if it's a federal issue, then our little proposition won't do anything to stop it. I voted yes for the ideology. But I don't care how this one turns out.

Proposition 102 - Marriage Amendment - At this point, it appears that this proposition will pass. I do believe that this proposition is necessary. I would be happy to discuss my beliefs on this issue with anybody. Please understand that I would welcome legislation for domestic partners of all types to enjoy the benefits of shared health coverage, property ownership, and hospital visits. This legislation will protect my religion from claims of discrimination and will ensure that the education of my children, should it happen in Arizona, will not be contrary to my beliefs.

Proposition 105 - "Majority" - It is silly to consider non-voters as no-voters. I'm glad that this is handily defeated.

Proposition 200 - Payday Loans - Heck yes! This makes me so happy. Payday loans take advantage of citizens. I'm glad that voters saw through the incredible money that the payday loan centers poured into this issue. I look forward to the day when their legislative permission to exist ends.

Proposition 201 - Homeowners' Bill of Rights - I don't think that this would help homeowners. I don't mind that it failed. There are other routes to get homebuilders to do what they should.

Proposition 202 - Stop Illegal Hiring - I'm glad that voters realized that this would roll back more powerful legislation.

Proposition 300 - State Legislators' Salaries - Come on folks. Give legislators some dough. Their salaries are pitiful. Worse than schoolteachers! I don't mind this time, but if I ever run, I'll need a bit more. So keep that in mind. It's not very much money, at least compared to the money that Gov. Nappy has thrown away.

CORPORATION COMMISSION

This makes me sad. Very sad. The solar team is a joke. I've attended the debates. They don't know the damage that they will cause. 100% solar is not the answer. I won't whine too much more, but I am WAY glad that my new house is in SRP's service territory. APS rates will go up. Unfortunately, since SRP's power plant siting and line siting is also under the control of the ACC, SRP rates will probably go up too, but at least SRP won't be bound by silly renewable mandates. Barry Wong is an Arizona superstar, and I believe that pure ignorance has prevented Arizona from making the correct decision here.

TUCSON

What the heck is wrong with Tucson? Pima County is outta control. They need to be moved to New Mexico or something. Too Democrat.

LEGISLATURE

No surprises. Get to work, representatives!

SHERIFF JOE

Of course. Keep it up, boss.

Thoughts on the Nation

2008-11-04T19:25:00.000-08:00

The election is settled for our next President, and I think I'd like to share some thoughts.

Given my previously expressed economic and political views, many of you may be surprised at this entry.

I've been torn. I could not vote for Obama. I have ideological dissonance. However, there are some promises that Barack Obama has made to which I look forward. There are also some consequences of this election that I will welcome. They follow:

1. Alternative energy. For those of you who are familiar with my employment, I see many things that involve the energy future of Arizona and America. I am generally unhappy with the direction we have been pursuing. My hope is that Barack will have the ability to achieve his clean energy transformation. I would love to see the American innovative spirit dedicated to new-age geothermal, next-generation biofuels, and solar technologies. I think that the one national action that can make any of this possible is an improved grid.

2. Taxes. I have the underlying feeling that we're having a "read my lips" repeat. But I would love to have reduced taxes for at least most of Americans. (Mostly me.)

3. Education. American children are at a disadvantage because of unqualified and underfunded instructors and instruction environments. I don't know what the magic change needed is, but Barack has promised that it will come. And I want it. However, I fear that states want control over education, and I don't know if the federal powers will have the influence they would need.

4. Unification. Perhaps to overcome racial prejudices, Barack has been redundantly harping on unity and a lack of division. He wants all parties, peoples, and places to join together in a fresh American push. I like that. But then I see the exit polls, where 97% of African-Americans support Barack Obama. Perhaps it is a belief that Obama will bring them some sort of elusive equality. In any case, I hope that this is the last time that we ever talk about anybody's race, gender, or religion in an election. I want the result of this election to be that there aren't such rifts between the races. In the name of fairness, equality, and unity, I think that a result of Barack's presidency should be that African-American voters never again need to be so one-sided toward any given party. I don't know if this change will come through a reformation of the Republican party (which I would not oppose - but more on that later) or a change in the American psyche, but I want it either way.

5. Republican reformation. I think that the Republican National Party would be stupid to believe that everything is okay. It reminds me of what I have heard of the Democratic party in 1968. There need to be changes in leadership. I've stated before that the Republican party needs some rockstars. My nominations are Mitt Romney, Colin Powell, Mike Huckabee, Aaron Schock, and John Boehner. Of course, Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani are worth keeping around. However, the image of the party and its spokespeople should be carefully guarded. Unlike the Democrats, we do not have the ability to stand behind a Waxman or a Frank and expect to grow. The goal should be to excite moderates by teaching sound principles. I think that the unbridled power of the Democrats in government will leave some alienated moderates looking for a home. I think that jumping back to Conservative Christians will only stretch out the hospital stay for Republican ideologies.

I do not wish to be negative, so I will only mention my national concerns that are expanded with the tone of this national election: taxes, budget, outsourcing, electricity prices, international trade breakdowns, reduction of healthcare quality, supreme court changes, and expansion of affirmative action.

I trust that the new government will not use swift and unreasonable legislation to alienate those who ideologically disagree.

Congratulations to those who have completed an historic, successful campaign. I personally would like to thank those that have freely shared their thoughts and spent their time in defense of their beliefs and values, especially as they find that their views are contrary to those around them.

As for my thoughts on Arizona, that will be another post.

2008-10-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

This is so cool.

Houses Cost a Lot of Money

2008-10-29T06:58:00.001-07:00

They just do! Yikes.

Favorite Magazine

2008-10-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

So... we don't subscribe to many magazines. Most of them are expensive and waste a lot of trees. BUT... when we can get them for free, we love them!

We got our newest issue of Domino Magazine today. Michael has already made his way through it. haha. This mag gives us so many ideas for decorating our future home. It's awesome! I don't know how we ended up getting a free subscription, but I hope it keeps coming.

We might get a house..........!!!!!!!

2008-10-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

The Park across the street:

One of the bedrooms:

Master bath:

Dining area w/ door to patio:

Entrance, stairs, 1/2 bath:

Living room:

Pathway to the house (3rd on right):

Pretty floor:

Granite counters w/ tile backsplash:

Whole kitchen, no appliances :

From living room looking into dining area:

The house:

NO TIME!

2008-10-16T12:58:00.000-07:00

I have no time to blog. Bummer.

I will take a moment to share that I had a crazy experience finding hair in the Sacrament bread on Sunday. It's all blessed, right? Blech.

Let's talk bailout - and election - and politics, etc.

2008-09-29T18:22:00.001-07:00

Before I get started, let me express that it is in my best interests for house prices to tank another 20 or 30 percent. I would love to buy a cheap house, and I don't care if the value of every home in the city fades away.

My job is likely to still be here, so I don't really need job growth, either. And I don't have a whole lot of cash deposited, so if our credit unions fail and the NCUA can't meet their insurance obligations, then we're not out a whole lot.

Of course, I will need to make sure that financing is available so that I can buy a home, but I have full confidence that the next president will have plenty of time to throw together a first-time homebuyer program that will enable me to jump into a beautiful home in a beautiful neighborhood for half the price that my (new) neighbors paid a couple of years ago.

Call me selfish... it's true.

But let's ignore all of this and talk about why the bailout (as currently written) doesn't make me happy:

1. Price of mortgage-based securities: As written, the treasury under the instruction of Paulson can buy the worthless mortgages from banks until they use up their $700Billion. But the problem is that there is no set price for these failing mortgages. The reason that we have this credit crisis is because banks can't sell the mortgages to anyone. The prices offered are crazy low and the banks are demanding buyers that want to pay way more than the failing mortgages may be worth. So the government is willing to jump in and buy them. And although I know that Ben and Hank are smart guys, they want to pay "up to" original value of these failing mortgages. Let me explain:

Banks bought mortgages like gold; they expected them to be worth even more, failing to realize that those paying the mortgages couldn't keep paying the mortgage. They put them on the books at, let's say, present value of $250k for a $200k mortgage, since they would get so much interest.

Homebuyers started defaulting and home values sunk, meaning that homebuyers owed $200k for a house that is only worth $160, and their creative financing agreement meant payments go up. Since they owe more than the house is worth, the homebuyer couldn't refinance because they had negative equity. So they had ballooning payments but no extra income to meet the payments.

Now the mortgages are going into foreclosure. Some people are willing to buy that $200k mortgage at, say, $40k, hoping to work with homeowners to make partial payments or just hoping that a few of those bad mortgages can somehow make their payments. But banks valued it at $250k, and $40k seems insulting. So they go into foreclosure, kicking out the homebuyers, ruining their credit, and trying to sell the house in a market where there's no bank willing to finance any new mortgages.

So Ben and Hank want to pay "up to" original book value, or $250k for this mortgage, knowing full well that it is not worth $250. They say that they are not going to actually pay $250k, but the bailout plan needs to say that anyway so that nobody can interfere with the surgery.

In my opinion, the mortgages are worth what is being offered. So it is obscene for anybody to offer more than $40k for this bad mortgage. Now I consider that my tax money is going into buying these mortgages, knowing full well that the price will be higher than the present value of expected future cash flows (there ya go, finance buddies). Which means it's a dumb investment, which Ben and Hank think is a necessary sacrifice for the better good.

2. Reworking mortgages. I do not like the idea of the government reworking the contracts of these purchased mortgages. If a homebuyer agreed to pay 18% interest on their mortgage forever, then they deserve to pay 18% interest on their mortgage. I do not believe that people should be absolved of their agreements. EVERYBODY knows that you're supposed to understand the mortgage before you sign it. It is well known (and often joked about) that you may be signing away your life, and yet the government feels that we should absolve homebuyers of any responsibility that they agreed to at the time that the mortgage was signed.

3. Nancy Pelosi. If she likes something, I don't. I thought her speech today on the floor of the house was distasteful and overly partisan. And then, upon failure of the bill, she came out with fighting words about partisan politics, which she had absolutely no room to speak about. I do not know of one good thing that has come from congress under her Speakership, and with all due respect, I fully believe that she and Harry Reid are the two people responsible for congressional approval ratings camping below presidential approval ratings. It makes me sick to hear of all of the times when the Republicans have screwed things up in congress (with the exception of filibusters), since there is Democratic control of both houses. There is absolutely no excuse for the Dems to not pass a climate change bill. There is definitely no excuse for this bailout to not get out of the house in one day flat. The reason is that Nancy Pelosi is labeling the legislation as partisan, even though the bailout plan did not even have legitimate Democrat support (at least not among those representatives that have a tight race this election).

So what's silly is that the government is going to buy these mortgages at an inflated price. Then they will adjust the terms so that they are worth even less.

Let's talk Obama a bit. Every time he mentions "John", I can't help but think "same ol', same ol'". His campaign isn't a change at all. It is the exact same campaign that every other old-school candidate has ever run. I don't even care what his "real" issues are; everything he says is exactly what he says he's trying to get rid of.

The debate... I hated the format, full of unstructured interruptions. I thought that Senator Obama was more rude than I would have liked to see. I was impressed with the frequency of Senator McCain's calm responses continuing through the frequent and rude interruptions of Senator Obama.

So Senator Obama seems to be the quintessential partisan presidential candidate, which says many things to me, none of which are "Change".

And limiting short-selling of securities still makes me very unhappy. I think that today shows that the market can drop significantly even without short-sold financial companies. In fact, short sellers have to buy back sometime, and I think that the short-squeeze potential has the same potential at boosting prices as the original sale had to reduce it. I find the limiting of short sales to be morally repugnant.

Okay... So I bashed the bailout. What do I think is acceptable?

1) Capital injection through other means, such as the Federal Reserve is already fully capable of doing and is doing today in combination with other central banks.

2) Purchase of securities at a set price. This will be hard to do, as nobody knows what mortgages are bundled in the mortgage-based securities (aka "mortgage-backed..."). But it's only fair, and it will stretch my tax dollar further while offering hope for a return (even though I do not think that the government should be in the mortgage business). We cannot have "up to" original book value used, as the legislation dictates and Ben supports. We must also make the purchase price at a low enough level that it is in the bank's best interest to try to negotiate the mortgage. Once the mortgage is purchased by the government, I do not believe that there should be any negotiations of mortgage terms.

Anyway, Haylee's hungry, so I'm going to leave this and make some dinner.

Many of you might find this post to be boring,

and the rest of you may be strongly opposed to my statements.

Either way, let me know and I'll explain why I'm right. (Yeah... I'm selfish AND prideful!)

I'm here

2008-09-23T20:35:00.000-07:00

Funny how many of the good names for blogs are taken.

I was looking for a new name for some of my more individual thoughts and rants, and I seriously had like 20 in a row that were already taken that I thought were original. I noticed that most of them hadn't been edited since 2001 or 2002. Jerks. Stealing the good names and camping on them For-Ev-Er.

So the economy is rough. We're looking to buy a house. I figure house prices are pretty good. So now we need to see if we can get a mortgage.

We would really like our own place. It'd be spectacular. But I still don't know if the time is right. An Oppenheimer analyst said today that prices should go down another 25%. I would hate to jump in now if that's the case. But then again, the new socialist bailout proposals are sure to keep foreclosures down, which means prices go up. Which means more expensive houses. Good for banks, bad for me.

Actually, I'd like to rant on that for a minute. I had a rant typed up but I deleted it because it makes me angry. Suffice it to say that I find the bailout plan, capping short sales, and and this last minute response to be reckless, harmful, and overly socialistic. And McCain's comments have kinda made me sad.

The Office starts in 2 days. And Pushing Daisies starts October 1. These are our favorite shows.

In other news, Haylee is not enjoying some of her classes at school. Apparently music theory can be a beast.

I start work at 6:30, so I'm doing pretty good at getting to bed by 9:30, but Haylee's been staying up later working on homework.
:-(.

In fact, I'm going to go to bed right now and she's still at her choir practice. Poor Haylee.

Max's Stable

2008-08-29T15:21:00.000-07:00

Politics - A Rant with Endorsements

2008-08-28T21:13:00.000-07:00

O Republican party, where is thy rockstar?

As I enjoyed the Democratic National Convention, I couldn't help but wonder where the Al Gore or Bill Clinton or Obama of Republicanism is hiding. Honestly, Arnold is the best we've got, and not only is his Republicanism less than strict, but his political career is at its apex. Ronald Reagan is gone and we are stuck with the wrinkles and negative political capital that eminates from the Bush and Cheney and Dole families. Honestly, dear conservative allies, why have you alienated yourselves from the future?

In complete respect for the great Republican political machine, I refuse to believe that this election is over, but Republicanism has relegated itself to a future of wrinkles and presidential victories that rely on a carefully placed minority of the popular vote. It is true that Republicanism is plagued by old ideas and a delivery of those ideas that hides any optimistic excitement and passion.

I hope I'm wrong. I hope that tomorrow's announcement of a running mate gives us some excitement. I hope that the Republican convention is not focused on separation from our present, but rather a unifying vision of a solid tomorrow.

America does need vision. Obama wants change, but change has already come. America needs reassurance that our America can be the same. Our America fought over 200 years ago for the principles of justice and freedom. In the 1860's, our America faced a great division and emerged with a new commitment to principles of justice and equality. Our America fought throughout the 1910's and the 1940's to ensure that the divinely delivered rights of freedom and justice were not destroyed through arrogant dictation of thought and action. Even on our own soil of the 1920's, 1950's, and 1960's, the principles of freedom and justice were defended by valiant Americans who shall live on through the rights that they secured for all Americans, regardless of race or gender.

The change has occurred. We know that change has already come because it is now unAmerican to buy an American-made vehicle. We know that change has already come because our Suburbia is suddenly desolate. We know that change has come because we are watching nations emerge competitively into the arena of world trade, in many cases showing American corporations a product that in all apparent measures is of acceptable quality while at a much lower cost than American counterparts. We know that change has come because we are surprised by the changes we observe in our climate and the ferocity we observe in our weather extremes.

We don't need change. What we need is reassurance that America will be the same America that has overcome every barrier and obstacle placed in its past. We need assurance that the same America that sprouted from the dreams of valiant men centuries ago can emerge from the economic and environmental challenges of today.

Senator McCain, please help me to hope that America can be the same.

Friends, please vote on September 2 during the primaries.

My endorsements:
US Rep (District 5) - Jim Ogsbury
State Senator (District 18) - Russel Pearce
State Legislature (District 18) - Cecil Ash
Corporation Commission - Barry Wong and Bob Stump (I know you can choose 3, but I will only choose 2 until I can vote for Kara Kelty in the general election)

(The rant and endorsements are the views of Michael and not necessarily Haylee.)

Traffic.

2008-08-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

I decided to take the freeway home today. I would get on the 202 at Center and get off at McClintock. That is around... meh... 2 miles. I get off work at 4pm, so traffic is usually pretty good, but I hardly ever take the freeway because it's too unpredictable.

Today: Case in point.

During my short 2 mile drive, there were THREE accidents. That's right. Count 'em.

1. (haha.. dumb guy in smart car!)

I could hardly believe it. I knew something was up when I was passing the first accident and didn't see the traffic let up. So I pulled out my blackberry and tried to take pictures to share this craziness with all two of my readers while staying out of the accident tally myself. I realize that the traffic doesn't properly capture the pure essence of the traffic situation, but trust me, it was frustratingly bad.

Usually, taking surface streets, I get off work at 4, exit the parking lot around 4:05, and get home around 4:20.

Today, I got off work at 4, but I was at another building across the street for a meeting. So my car was closer. I got out of the parking lot BEFORE 4:05 and didn't get home until around 4:35. Which cut 15 minutes out of my Rock Band time. Go ahead. Ask me if I'll be taking the freeway again. 15 extra minutes for TWO MILES!

Civilization is okay.... Sometimes I kinda wish I lived in the forest with a windmill, solar panels, a fireplace, and thousands of acres as a buffer between those who I want to be with and... well... the incivility of civilization. I think civilization is the new ironic word of the day. What's civil about it?