One Year Older

Happy Birthday Peter!
Our little tub of love turned one today.

(This naked picture is so you can appreciate how plump a 10 pound, 10 ounce newborn looks. Oh, did I forget to mention that's how much Pete weighed at birth?
And that the epidural quit working?)

We are so grateful to have such a sweet, happy, healthy boy in our family. Seriously, if I'd had him first, I'd never have appreciated him.

Some things about Pete:

He's a very happy baby. Unless you try to make him sleep in a tent.


He's a very heavy baby.

He just started crawling really fast and cruising really fast. Hopefully he won't be so heavy soon.


He's already got eight teeth (four top and four bottom, working on a couple molars).


He loves to eat anything and drink out of a sippy cup.

He has huge dimples and beautiful blue eyes. I routinely have people stop and tell me he's the most beautiful baby they've ever seen. Braggy yes, but true.


He makes the funniest face when he sucks on the aloe baby wipes (can't figure out why he keeps doing it).


He can say "Dada," "Mama," "Nana," "Nigh-nigh," "bath," "dog," "uh-ooh," and once a perfectly clear "thank you." He is also speaking a bunch of adorable gibberish and looks slightly put-upon when we don't understand him.

His wrists are so thick that I can't button long-sleeve shirts.

He is the best stroller baby.

He's an awesome open-mouthed kisser.


He sucks in his upper lip whenever he's excited.

He loves to give "high fives."

"Get Thee a Wife!"

To celebrate our twelve years of marriage, Dan took me to see "Much Ado About Nothing" at Sand Harbor. Our first real date was to this play back in Utah, with a much younger, but equally talented cast. Sort of like us.

Can you imagine a more scenic and romantic setting for Shakespeare? Blue skies (even though thunderclouds threatened), sunset over the lake, and brilliant stars at night.


I've decided we should support the arts by attending annually. Anyone up for next year's festival?


My man splurged and got the reserved seating--third row, comfy chairs, and wait service (but we still brought our own dinner, because we aren't that kind of money, no way no how). I made him take a picture of how many people were sitting behind us.

Gotta love a man who willingly watches Shakespeare with his wife.

And a quick review: The cast was exceptionally talented, although surprisingly much older than expected (was this just because I was close enough to actually see their faces?). The costumes were 1940s, which I found distracting and unflattering. And the opening dance routines made me appreciate that those on "So You Think You Can Dance" really CAN dance. If you've seen it, what did you think?

Quick Quote

Dad: "Nate, why don't you say your prayer now?"

Nate: "Umm, but I can't because . . . ummm . . . I've got suu-u-per powers."

Mom: "Why don't you say Pete's prayer for him?"

Nate: "Ahhh, I don't have suu-u-per powers that can make a baby talk!?!" (Shoulders shrugged.)



**Found this gem saved from back in May. Still getting organized to update on our vacation. Stay tuned.

Another Shiner

July 2009

Not only does Peter resemble Jacob the most of all the brothers, but it appears he also has a touch of "the shine."

A Dozen

Going to the temple . . . 1997

Who are those young kids?

Why It's Still Great after Twelve Years:

1. He still makes me laugh every day.

2. He still feels like home to me. Beside him is my place in the world.

3. He's a wonderful, hands-on father to our gorgeous boys.

4. He's always the first person I want to talk to.

5. He listens to me. He listens A LOT.

6. He's an honorable man.

7. He's hot.

8. He rarely loses his temper.

9. He doesn't panic when I'm panicking.

10. He can reach all the places I can't.

11. He picks up all the dog poop. And cleans up the kids' puke.

12. He's still the best thing about every day.

Happy anniversary honey. You're still the one.

Here's to the next couple dozen coming up roses too.

Marketable Skills

Over dinner, Dan and I were discussing the topic du jour, the recession, and Dan stated something to the effect, "If I lost my job, we'd be scr-ewwww-ed."

I dissented. "You'd just get unemployment and find another job. Besides, I have some marketable skills." (Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, I used to practice law.)

At this point Jacob joined the adult conversation. "You can make beds!" he exclaimed.

"And you can make cookies! And bake cakes!"

"And you are really good at controlling us!"

So according to Jake, I'm qualified as a maid, a baker, and possibly a . . . ?

This Is What We Did in Utah

Per the recent state budget cuts, Dan is required to take one furlough day each month. We've decided to turn this forced leave into forced vacations. This way we can lose double the money.


For July we headed to Utah at the last minute because the stars aligned and two long-time-haven't-seen friends converged in the Beehive State. Here's our pictorial travelogue.

This is what the salt flats look like at 103 degrees with high humidity.

This is what college roommates look like 12 years and 9 children later. Also, this is what it looks like when somebody forgets to clip the baby's fingernails.

This is why photos taken uphill should be avoided.

This is what the offspring of those roommates look like after the Days of 47 Parade, Cafe Rio (it is as good as the hype), and several hours at a park, on a hot day. Kudos to those who can name these kids.

This is what it looks like when somebody's children are better at posing for pictures than somebody else's--darn that Nate. And what does the empty stroller symbolize?

This is what swapping spit means when you are 11 and 9 months old--sharing the parade freebie dog tag. Ewww. This is also just so you can see the difference between the petite little girl and the bruiser boy. Pete. If you want to see the buff Ryan, click here.

This is the last time I saw this friend (we were neighbors for the first three years of our married lives--good times). Nine years ago, she was all loaded up (literally!) and moving back to a Happy Life in Arizona.

This is what those newlywed neighbors look like 9 years and 8 kids (including twins!) later. This is also what convinces me a breast reduction is in my future.

This is what the 8 kids of those newlyweds look like.
Extra credit for those who can name them.

This is how happy our husbands were to see each other.

This is what you get when you let the 7-year-old take the picture.

This is the way my boys like to shop. Me too!

This is what reminds us what really matters.

This is why people moved out of our way on the sidewalks.

This was the boys' favorite ride.

This is cousins in the tub.

This is just one of the reasons we're worried about this kid.

This is another.

This is what Gabe did for nearly the entire 20+ hours in the car.

Go ahead, criticize our parenting.

This is what the middle of Nevada looks like. In case you were wondering. Or in case you lost your Garmin GPS while driving along I-80 and had absolutely no idea where you were. Because you can never underestimate the necessity of knowing your exact latitude and longitude at any given moment.

This is the end. For now.