Confession

So I have a confession to make. 

I hate my husband's birthday.  Loath, detest, dislike? Not strong enough.  I hate it.

I never seem to put together a good gift/party/anything.  (And sorry to family and friends who already know that I'm pretty bad at being celebratory on other holidays.)

Here are my reasons (or should I say, excuses?):

1. Creativity?  Unless it is related to sewing or finding new ways to ruin dinner, I'm below standard. 

2.  I asked him a few weeks ago what he wanted, and he gave me a bunch of lame answers like ties and books for graduate school.  The only legit gift he asked for (new basketball shoes), parents (kindly) took care of. 

Having a non-needy husband is great 362 days of the year, but it is lame on his birthday, Christmas, and our anniversary.  It is not like I don't have cart blanch (or whatever that French word for open range) on whatever I want to spend, but I know what he would really like, and if I brought home a Harley he'd be the one footing the bill.


3. The kids are no help.  Their ideas? 
"I'll draw a hand for him."  Maggie
"A pink BYU tie." Susanna



"Some awesome movie to watch with me." Tim
"Blue ties are good." Ami

4. I swear it falls on mother's day every year.  And he always takes care of mother's day stuff. 

5. Surprising him is nearly impossible.  He can tell when I am plotting, and though he pretends not to see things coming, he does.

6. Case and point?  We're on our way home from date night (Sushi week!) and I mention I have not been able to figure out what to get him.  Get this, he responds, "I figured you were struggling with this, there's a blu-ray the kids "got" me hidden in the file cabinet at home, that way if things went south, they would not feel bad."



I asked, "What about me?" and then look at where we are - the local natural remedy shop.  "I figured we could get some essential oils from you."  "But those are for my hobbies!"  "Yea, but when you're happy, I'm happy, and I would love some of these." 

I call bull.

So, we made him some ties.  It's kinda a family tradition started by his sisters.




When Ami saw the look on his face at homemade ties, she said, "Ok Dad, so I know the pink one was really stupid, but the others aren't that bad right? The pink one was Susanna's idea."

And yes, Ami currently thinks most of Susanna's ideas are not up to the family standard.

Recent adventures in Salt Lake

David and Maggie enjoyed a trip to Salt Lake for general conference.





Ami received tickets from her schooling to the Aladdin Ballet performance by Ballet West.

 

She brought a friend, and David took them to Temple Square, the Ballet, and to Seigfried's.  Seigfried's is a truly authentic German restaurant.  The girls went to town on wiener schnitzel, red cabbage in applesause, sausage, cheesecake, strudel, raspberry yogurt cake, and gravy.  Es wast sehr gut!  David enjoyed the best Reuben he has ever had.

But it is!

Today's Thatababy comic was extra funny for us, because he is wrong. Bestest holiday ever.

UPDATED Big News

Big News:
1. We have accepted reality, our children will be raised in Utah.
2. We are moving.
3. Our home is for sale.  Yes, we have a realtor.  Please send any interested friends (or frienemies as long as they want to buy it).  Prayers are appreciated.
4. Ivory homes is building our next home on a .27 acre lot in Utah County.  We chose the Newcastle model (Get it?  Ivory homes - new castle - Ivory - Castle - nevermind - Phd joke). (Thanks for the recommendation J & A).
5.  There is still a lot available a few doors up the street... G & K?  S & D?  S & J?  L & K? D & P?

Take the tour of the design by pressing "Photo Tour 1" on this site:
http://www.ivoryhomes.com/?mID=8&k=Newcastle-Traditional-model-homes&tab=2&homedesignID=348

We finished design plans today:

The Hanex counter-tops are the bottom left square, the walls will be two tone - koi pond and bright white, and in the back right you can see the cabinet color. 

 The home will employ two types of tile.  On the walls we have this (color did not turn out so well) tile that looks like wood for the fireplace and the master bath walls and grand tub.

 The walkways, laundry, kitchen, dining, and bathroom floors will use this.

 Another look at the oak cabinets.

 The sides and back will employ this two-tone stucco.  It looks olive green in the sun.

 Carpet, garage door color, and banister to match cabinets.

We switched the powder blue for a pewter green.  The red brick we opted for.  We chose matching red shutters, and our home has less brick than this example picture.

The roof does not look like this.  We went with a darker black.


Thanks for reading!  And seriously - if you know anyone who wants a 5 bedroom 3 bath 2498 sq home, please have them contact us.

Gollum?

Sooooo...

Last night at the Mexican restaurant we enjoyed some crazy hot jalapeno sour cream cilantro salsa.  The sour cream made it cool in the mouth, so everyone had their fill.  Especially one little one...

This morning, through the bathroom door, one could hear weeping and a whimpering:

"It burns [us], it buuuurrrrrnnnnnnsssss [us master]."

GOLL-um, GOLL-um.

Thanks Tony!

We ended our day-cation with a meal at a new Mexican restaurant and tickets (thanks Tony) to the BYU game.  Where else can you get six people in on four tickets as long as you are carrying two.  They are really lenient on that babes in arms policy.  Next time, we try to get in on two tickets!  Quick Maggie - fireman carry!

Have you seen the movie RV? Accurate.

For a family day-cataion we went to the Utah RV show.  The children loved the RVs with kids bunks and lofts.  We spent our time shopping the residential living RVs.  We wanted to price shop so we know what we should plan for in the future.  We imagine it takes less stress off the children when they do not have to accommodate grandparents visiting.


Our best in shows:

Category 1: "If we bought one now"

Winner: Heartland Cyclone CY4100
- Fireplace
- 50" TV
- Dining for 6 legitimately and another 4 on the patio
- Queen master bedroom with Washer/dryer
- Loft for two in main area
- Couch for two (kids) in main area
- Double queen bunks in "garage area" - Hello Grandparents?
- Available patio rear door.
 http://www.heartlandrvs.com/index.php?p=35&c=toyhaulers&sc=CYC&i=Overview

Runner-up: Coachman Chaparral 345BHS
- Best kids' room in the business: bunks, toy storage, toilet for puking when you get sick of Disneyland food, lockable :) , kids loved it.
http://coachmenrv.com/products/chaparral.aspx

Category 2: Retirement= couple's mission/vacation vehicle


Winner: Thor Redwood 36RL

- Double extension
- Diva closet (gorgeous see picture)
- Tons of comforts
- Great window space
- Great reason to buy a 3/4 ton diesel
- Just check it out
http://www.redwood-rv.com/products/redwood/redwood-photo-gallery

Runner-up: Keystone Montana (Series)
- Some fun features, great resale value, but not as cost effective for some of the same features.  Still, they are the Lexus/Acura of the market if Thor is the BMW/Jaguar.

http://montana.keystonerv.com/#/floorplans

Lots of fun.

Quirkle

Accusation during board game after a brilliant counter: "You guys stink."

Kelli: "Actually, I smell quite fresh."

Tim: "I am sorry, it was me."