Non-sequitur

We are happily employed.

We have sufficient for our needs and wants.

We are not planning on moving unless offered a position out-of-state with our current employer (unless a high-paying cheese-tasting job opens up somewhere).

We enjoy spending time together as a family more than about anything else.

Gas is expensive.

PhD programs are psychotic endeavors in masochism.

So why are we starting a PhD from Utah State's Theories and Practices of Professional Communication department?

Because.

No really, why?

Because.

Go Aggies.

 

Prayers and pain began in August.  

Goodbye Bruce, Enjoy Blowing a Gasket

Our mechanic and good friend informed us our Subaru was well on its way to blowing a head gasket shortly after the warranty would expire (after only 22000 miles this was not a pleasing thought) so we traded good ol' Bruce in for Scottie.

Named after Scottie from Star Trek, this Gunmetal Honda Civic LX Coupe Econ gets about 40-45 miles per gallon, has comfortable seats, and only fits the severely vertically challenged and small children in the back.

We always seem to be blessed with what we need and want.

There are worse ways to spend your 10th anniversary.  We'll go out to eat another night...

Salt Lake Staycation

For vacation this year Amirrah requested a "train ride".  So we took Trax to Temple Square.  David's employment allowed us to get a special look at the temple from the Church office building, and we were able to eat in the cafeteria with the employees and general authorities - which proved to be the perfect place for Susanna to have a meltdown. 

Don't mind us.

 We also toured the Conference Center and enjoyed the gardens on the roof for the first time.

First Recital

Amirrah's first recital went as many formal recitals do.

Step 1: Pre-arrival excitement, counting down the days for a week.
Step 2: Arrival nervousness.
Step 3: Realization that one will be playing for people they do not know.
Step 4: Complete meltdown.
Step 5: Dad promises Ice Cream, great excitement.
Step 6: Realization that one will be playing for people they do not know.
Step 7: Complete meltdown with stomach problems.
Step 8: Call to stage.
Step 9: Refusal to go without Dad.
Step 10: Trip on stage and face plant with instrument.
Step 11: Get ready to play while having breakdown
Step 12: Play

Here is step 12:

Egg-celent

A couple pictures from our neighborhood egg hunt and bar-b-que.

Hard

Some mornings, family scripture study is just hard.



Shortly afterward, I gave her milk to get her some calories since she acted lethargic.

While off on an errand, she decided to deliver David curds and whey. All over her hair. For those of you who know his gag reflex, you can imagine the challenge that presented as he tried to wash it out of her hair. Apparently it was a twenty minute process. One was miserable when I came home, the other comatose. Any guesses? You may just be wrong!

It's baaacccckkkk

It starts out as a cartoon, then it becomes a toy, family movie night begins to include lies like, "Dad you promised you would watch the 'My Little Pony Pretty Ponies' movie with me."
"No."
"But-"
"NO."
"But-"
"NO."
"Tim do you want to watch My Little Pony?"
"Sure."
"That's it, you are grounded from watching TV until you watch 3 UFC fights. Seriously. Go in there and learn how to pass the half-guard."



When removed from the living room, it returns...



It's My Little Pony. And it wants revenge.

Mommy, wow I'm a big kid now!

No, unfortunately Susanna is not potty trained. But she HAS figured out how to unzip her pajamas, get into dad's deodorant, remove the cap, and smooth it all over her belly. Benefits of such actions include increased flotation, a fresh musky scent, and absorption of all the spills down her front. We are quite confident it will become all the rage for babies in the near future.