Where is Wednesday?

I have a confession to make--there will be no "How We Met" segment today. Before you do anything crazy, let me assure you that we will post it ASARP (as soon as reasonably possible). Blake is actually still in Massachusetts this week. I didn't mention that before because I didn't want to give any psycho ideas about taking off with my adorable children and me in his absence. But he will be home shortly and then we'll be gone the rest of the night. But we'll try to post tomorrow or soon.

In the interim, you get to enjoy the tagging I received earlier in the week. Seven random facts about me.

1. I am afraid, make that terrified, of unreal creatures in the dark. Ghosts and demons, mainly. That is why I do not watch scary movies of any kind. I have tried reasoning with myself and what I know to be true. And explain that I'm much too old to be scared. But at 3 AM, I don't believe myself.

2. I have really incredible hearing. But I'm pretty sure by the time Bryce reaches Kindergarten, it will be down to a normal level. His screams have a way of resonating inside my skull, leaving no doubt that damage is being done to my hearing.

3. If I were to be a Disney princess, I would be Belle.

4. I HATE when my husband is gone. I am so thankful that he hardly ever has to travel because there is a lot of potential for travel in his industry.

5. Sometimes I picture myself running on a serene path in the woods to help me fall asleep.

6. I was voted "Class Flirt" my Senior year of high school.

7. I insist on my pasta being al dente. So I have to go before it gets soggy and tonight's dinner is ruined.

Just Chillin'

Well, we haven't been up to much of anything exciting. But we've been busy. Too busy to blog. And not really doing anything worth blogging about. So, I thought I'd let you all in on the small things going on in our lives.

Kayli went to a birthday party for her best buddy this Saturday. She keeps asking when she can go to his birthday again. She had the time of her life!

It was a Kitty Party, so everyone had to look like a cat, of course!
This is the front of the card Kayli made for her pal. I helped with the "J", the top of the "b", and the curve of the "r". That's it. I just told her what letter to write and she did it. We just discovered last week that she can write her name. I had no idea!

Kayli is still doing dance lessons and loving every minute of it. She's making new friends all the time and loves that too. Although, I eavesdropped on a conversation with her daddy the other night and heard her telling him about a girl at the gym who refuses to give her a hug. It was heart breaking to hear her tell it and I wished that a hug from me could make up for it all. I'm sure this is just the start of dealing with the effects of other kids.

But on other fronts, she continues to amaze us with her skills and development. She makes up stories all the time about everything. I don't know if she understands that they aren't true. It's almost always about "when she was a baby". For example, today she told me that when she was a baby she had a wife and his name was Joseph. What do I say to that?

Bryce is still my little snuggle bug

(Next time I'll try to do my hair)

He is talking more and more every day. He thinks that "huh uh" means "yes". I think it's pretty funny. He's pretty clingy and I love it and dislike it all at the same time. It's great when I have time, but very frustrating when I'm trying to make dinner. He wouldn't even let me set him down to drop cookies on the cookie sheet today! When he isn't throwing a tantrum, he is the sweetest little soul. And when push comes to shove, he can always make me smile--even when I should be really mad about his latest escapade!

See what I mean?

Blake spends most of his time at work. Surprising, I know. He was actually at a client in Massachusetts pretty much all of last week (if you call, ask Kayli to say that--so cute!). The Saturday morning baseball is now football. I love that he can have fun with the guys, but I'm so nervous that he's going to get hurt. So, I won't be too upset when it gets too cold to play. Then he can join me at the Saturday morning weight lifting class again. Working out is always more fun when he's there too.

When he's home he does his best to be an awesome daddy and husband. We really noticed that last week when he wasn't here to do that. We all missed him SO MUCH! I can't wait for the four-day weekend coming up!

Speaking of football, that is how we spend our Saturday evening--listening to the BYU game on-line. D-E-P-R-E-S-S-I-N-G. I love my cougars, but--ugh! Of all games. It was truly tragic.

I'm trying to find balance in life. I think I got a little too caught up in training at the gym and I realized maybe I was missing out. So, lately we've been busy with play dates, play groups, and of course, shopping. I thought that I would have more time if I didn't spend as much time at the gym. Turns out I have less. But we're happy and really enjoying ourselves.

I told you things aren't very exciting, but they're good. We're happy. I hope the same is true for all of you!

Wahoo It's Wednesday!

Reconciliation

After sleeping and praying on it, I decided I didn’t want to give up on this relationship yet. And I realized that I had been part of the problem. I’m very good at quick sarcastic jabs. Blake kindly refers to this as my “quick wit”, but it’s not always a good thing. I felt that perhaps I had been the instigator of the teasing that upset me the night before. So, I decided to make up for it by being extra kind. I knew that Blake’s ego was definitely bruised from the rejected kiss and would also benefit from this course of action.

During the preceding weeks, Blake and I began sitting together during Sacrament meeting and attending the same Sunday School class. We had the meetings in reverse order in that ward, beginning with Relief Society/Priesthood, then Sunday School, and ending with Sacrament Meeting. So, I didn’t see Blake until Sunday School. He had already taken a seat in a class and I had to go find him and ask if I could sit with him. He responded indifferently and I knew I had a challenge ahead of me. I felt kind of awkward tagging along behind him as we headed to Sacrament Meeting next. Especially when we encountered Heather. He was suddenly quite flirtatious and I had to remind myself of what had happened the night before to prevent extremely hurt feelings. Did I mention that I felt very insecure next to Heather? She really seemed to have it all. So, a part of me wondered if Blake was reconsidering his choice. But I wasn’t ready to give up.

My sister Amy invited my brother, his wife, and I over for dinner that night and I had already invited Blake to come as my date. They were anxious to meet Blake, since I had been quite taken with him. I hadn’t yet had the chance to fill anyone in on the latest developments. Amy later told me that she didn’t really like Blake at all during that first meeting. It appeared that I was very clingy and that he was very cold and uninterested. I can’t blame either of them for that. Blake was still nursing a wounded heart and nervous to meet my family. And Amy was being a protective big sister. Meanwhile, I was hugging Blake every chance I got to try to reassure him of my feelings.

Fortunately, Blake came around at some point during the night. We hitched a ride there and back with my brother. As we sat in the back seat on the way home, I remember Blake holding me very tightly and whispering how much he was going to miss me when I went home to NY in a few weeks. I still remember that moment with almost perfect clarity because everything about it felt so right.

This wasn't that night, but it was a dinner at my sister's house.

My side of the story…

Before I begin I need to mention a couple details that I forgot that apply to last week’s post. In Cheryl’s earlier post she made it sound like my ability to play the guitar was the deal maker for us. Truth be told, earlier that summer I had really gotten into guitar playing and could play a few songs and sing along. I wasn’t able to continue teaching myself to play when my brother Brandon claimed that he owned the guitar (it belonged to my dad) and demanded it back. Anyway, I really could play for a time and don’t feel that I mislead Cheryl in anyway about playing the guitar. Maybe I’ll take it up again someday.

The other thing I wanted to mention was how I felt on the drive home from my company party. Cheryl started acting differently and when I asked her what was up she mentioned a good fried who was on a mission. That comment was very troubling and I started to feel that my perfectly planned evening was going to crash. I didn’t really know much about this missionary, but I could tell that Cheryl still had feelings for him.

Now on to the story at hand… Following the lousy ending to our otherwise great evening I went home, depressed and wondering what had happened. Here’s an excerpt from my journal dated December 30, 2002: “When I saw Cheryl at Church the next day I didn’t know what to think. She later told me that I acted somewhat reserved. Can you blame me? Cheryl, however, acted normal so I convinced myself that nothing was up and that I, as always, was overreacting.

“That evening Cheryl had invited me to go with her to her sister Amy’s house for a little sibling get together. Amy is married to Scott and they have a young baby named Tyler. Cheryl’s older brother David also came with his wife Belky who is a native of Venezuela. David drove.

“Dinner was excellent and I got along with her siblings so I was happy. We played Phase 10 and had a good time. Cheryl sat very close to me the whole way home and I held her tight. That was enough convincing that I just needed to take my time.”

I do remember that ride home. Cheryl had finally convinced me that things were ok between us and I was regaining confidence in us. I was glad David was driving so I could hold her and be close.

In Case You're Wondering

Last week's highlights involved a cute new hat and a couple cases of pink eye. The end.

I copied this from some other friends' blogs. I've done the things in white.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own

Wandering Wednesday

Sunday (November 9th) was the 6th Anniversary of our first date. That really doesn’t seem like that long ago when you think about all that has happened since!

Holding Hands…And Letting Go

We talked or hung out every night for the rest of the week. But Blake wasn’t the only guy coming to my apartment to hang out. Remember Tad? Well, we had a Business class together and had become friends while working on a project. He randomly started dropping by in the evenings. I enjoyed flirting with him but one night Blake’s roommate Cody happened to be there to see my roommate Linsey and I worried what he would go home and tell Blake! Blake never had any real reason to fear. I wrote this in my journal: “He is a great guy and really good looking but Blake is the one I like.” And don’t feel bad for Tad. He began dating his future wife only a week or two later.

We had Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment with the entire ward that Thursday night. It was always with the whole ward—guys and girls. Here is an excerpt from my journal (December 6th):

“He insisted on walking back with me even though his roommate Cody wanted to drive us. When we got to my door he asked if I wanted to keep walking and, of course, I did. We went pretty far but we had a great talk and got to know each other better. And (get excited) we finally held hands! I’m excited. And I am so glad that we could like each other so much without there being anything physical between us.”

I don’t know how long that walk was but I think we went at least as far as 500 West (from 100 East) and then down to Center Street and then back up University Ave. We lived in The Elms, just south of campus. I wanted Blake to hold my hand while we were walking home from Enrichment, but he didn’t. I think I intentionally left my gloves home so I could play the “cold hands” card to finally get him to offer once we started our long walk. And then once we began holding hands, neither of us wanted the walk to end because so would the hand holding. It was really cold, but it was a great time. We talked about all kinds of things. I remember specifically talking about music—how much we both loved music; we both felt it was essential to have music in our homes and wanted to teach our (not together at the time) kids to love music as well. I also remember telling Blake how much I love guitar music. To which he replied, “I play the guitar.” And that was the deal sealer for me. Whenever I listened to a guy play the guitar, I fell in love with him (at least as long as he played). So, to find out that this guy I was already in love with played the guitar was perfect. Guess how many times I’ve heard Blake play the guitar? None. Guess how many times I’ve seen Blake touch a guitar? Zero. I did come across a photo of him holding one and supposedly strumming, but that is as close as I have ever gotten. Yeah, I got duped. But I didn’t know it that night. The other funny thing about our walk was that Blake had to find a bathroom when we were on Center Street. I don’t remember why, but the only one available was in a bar. I was only 20, so they didn’t want to let me in, but it was FREEZING! So, they finally agreed that I could stand right in front of the door and wait. So fun.

We went to “Christmas Around the World” the next night (Friday) as a group date. I remember being a little nervous about holding hands. You never know if the first time was a fluke, or how the other person feels about making things public. But it seemed like a mutual desire as soon as we were together and it was great!

Saturday we went to the Festival of Trees to do some volunteer work for Circle K (part of Kiwanis Club). Linsey and Cody also came. We had a lot of fun and then walked around to see all the trees. The trees are always fun and impressive, but mostly I was just excited to be holding hands again!

That night was Blake’s work party. He had invited me as his date and I was really looking forward to it. We went to dinner at the Macaroni Grill. That was a little awkward because I didn’t know any of his co-workers. I think one person even referred to me as Blake’s wife. Really awkward. But his boss Doug and his wife Sharon sat near us and were very easy to talk to. They had their cute little baby there too, so that was fun.

I didn’t write about all of this in my journal, so I’m struggling to explain what happened next. We were going to the Hale Center Theatre to see “A Christmas Carol”. It seems like we got into a bit of a sarcastic tease on the drive over and somewhere between getting out of the car and getting into our seats, I got upset with Blake. So, I tried to make it obvious that I was not pleased by leaning away from him and either not holding his hand, or holding it very limply. He didn’t catch on and was still quite flirtatious during intermission. That only made me more bothered. By the time we drove home, I was questioning the whole thing again. I kept thinking that Nathan and I never joked that way and I felt foolish for forgetting about him. Blake asked me what I was thinking and I tried to be honest but not really give anything away by saying that I was thinking about a friend who was on a mission.

When we got back to our complex, Blake walked me to my apartment and then came in for a little while. I wasn’t really comfortable with it any more, so I was glad when he got ready to leave. But then he leaned in for a kiss! I wasn’t sure that this was over but if it was I didn’t want to add another guy to the list of guys I’d kissed and if it wasn’t, I didn’t want our first kiss to happen when I was upset. So, I quickly turned my head and went in for a hug to try to smooth it over. He left and I tried to figure out what had gone wrong.

From the left: Blake, Julia (my friend who started our Circle K chapter at BYU!), Cheryl, Cody, and Linsey

My side of the story…

I remember things slightly different. I was ticked when Cody came home to report that Tad had been lurking around Cheryl’s place. Was this guy my arch-rival or what? Still, I had decided I would not freak out and instead would continue to play it cool and consistent unlike with earlier girls. There is no better way to tell the rest of my side of the story than through my detailed journal entry dated December 30, 2002.

“In my last entry I was stoked about Cheryl. I often felt that the girl pumped life into me. Sometimes I felt that my only drive to make it through any given day was the chance that I might see Cheryl that evening. Things were and have always been different with Cheryl. I made no attempt to rush anything and I wasn’t freaking out like I have sometimes in the past. Deep within I just had this strong desire to be with her, because of how she made me feel. When I was around her I wanted to do better, to develop my talents, and to treat others with more respect. And Cheryl wasn’t playing any games with me, bless her heart!

“On Thursday the 5th of December Cody and I prepared for an enrichment activity. We would be singing an a Capella duet as part of a Christmas program. Cody really doesn’t have any musical background. Nonetheless, the performance went well and several people congratulated us. Cheryl and I kind of hung out the whole time afterward. Normally, I feel like I kind of jump from group to group just talking and making the rounds. However, it was different that night because the only person I wanted to talk to was Cheryl. Everything else was just an exchange of pleasantries.

“Cheryl and I walked home together from the Manavu chapel. We stopped by my old apartment to say hi to John. We had our arms around each other as we walked. Note: I had, at that point, never held her hand. Well, we got back to the Elms way too soon and nothing had happened! I asked Cheryl if she wanted to go for another walk. She didn’t even hesitate and I was excited.

Well, we went walking and everything worked out right and I held her hand! I was pumped…until I had to go the bathroom like never before! We ended up stopping at a bar (of all places) and I had to show ID just to use the restroom! Embarrassing, but I had no choice. Anyway, we walked for a long time and we talked about our families, dreams, etc. That walk was definitely a pivotal moment for us.


“The next evening I took Cheryl to Christmas Around the World. The production involves all of BYU’s excellent folk dancing teams as they portray folk dances from all over the world. When I picked up Cheryl I have to admit I wondered if the night before would affect the date. I couldn’t help recalling the many instances when Heather was a different person in private and in public. Heather always dropped my hand when in public and made an effort to show we weren’t together.

“Well, my fears soon subsided when Cheryl grabbed my hand as we walked up to the Marriott Center. We played with each other’s hands throughout the whole production. Afterward we held hands in front of all of my roommates and their dates as we played Guesstures. I was thrilled. That night I truly felt at the top of my game.

“Saturday was eventful to say the least. Cody and I went with Cheryl and Linsey up to Sandy to the Festival of Trees. Cheryl is member of a service club so we volunteered for two hours at a little booth helping kids make stained glass windows out of tinfoil and transparencies. I really had fun. Then we walked around and looked at all of the trees. Of course, Cheryl and I were holding hands nearly the whole time. My heart was soaring!”

Good grief! Is this mushy or what? Maybe I should start writing romance novels? Ok, let’s take a breath and collect ourselves. Now back to the story…

“After the Festival of Trees Cheryl and I came back to Provo to attend my company party. We all met for dinner at the Macaroni Grill. Dinner was enjoyable and Cheryl was able to meet my friends from work. Following dinner we went to the Hale Center Theatre for the production of A Christmas Carol. We had to wait outside for a couple of minutes before they opened the doors so Cheryl and I gave each other long hugs to stay warm. Several of my coworkers thought we were “all over each other” throughout the play and in the intermission. I guess they were right. What do I care? They are all married and they’ve been there before.

“I honestly thought that I would kiss Cheryl that night. I mean, considering all that had happened, I thought it was a done deal. Imagine my surprise when I tried to give Cheryl an Eskimo kiss (rub noses) at her apartment and she pulled away! Oh, the agony! I didn’t consider it a rejection for being kissed, but it surely wasn’t a good sign. I went home depressed and with sunken spirits.”

*Editors Note: Remember Blake attempting to hold Cheryl's hand and instead getting the zipper of her jacket a few weeks prior to this? He wrote nothing of that in his journal. Who wants to look like they get rejected all the time in their own journal? No one. So, Cheryl's version has more credibility than Blake's in the areas where they differ.

Better Photos of the Kids

All Things Unexpected

This last week was definitely the week of things not going as planned. Tuesday I woke up expecting to wait in a long line to vote in an election I was incredibly disappointed with and then have no time to do something fun the rest of the day. Blake came with me so we could both vote and manage the kids. We were pleasantly surprised to find NO line that morning. So, we placed our votes and headed home in record time.
In the meantime we received a couple phone calls from friends setting up play dates for the rest of the day. Tuesday's weather was unbelievably beautiful. It was in the mid-60s--perfect for hanging out outside. We went to a park with some friends that morning and walked a mile lap, then let the kids play for a while. We've been really busy and haven't had time to hang out with our friends for a really long time, so it was great to hang out and catch up.

You can imagine how happy the kids were to be able to play outside again since it's been too cold for a while.

After lunch and a nap, we headed to another park to hang out with some other friends. The family of Kayli's best friend--Joe. These pictures area little better than the last one (that looked like she was taking his head off) to show how much they really LOVE being together.
Our friends were walking down this really pretty path when we got there, so we walked to meet them. When Kayli and Joe saw each other, they both broke into a run and then gave each other a big giggly hug when they met. They, of course, ended the hug as soon as I had my camera out and ready for a picture. Sigh. But here they are running happily down the path.

I didn't realize until editing this on my computer that I think they are holding hands here! We better watch out!

Have you ever seen a cuter pair of monkeys?

After the park, we all headed to Ben & Jerry's for our free Election-Day scoop of ice cream. The line wasn't as bad as I expected and it was fun to break the rules and eat a little ice cream before dinner. The kids and I shared a scoop, so it wasn't too bad.

Kayli and Blake had been sick the week before but both seemed to be basically over it. Bryce appeared to avoid it completely and I had a few light symptoms but relied on my weird but tried and true home remedies and never felt very sick. However, by the time we made it to bed Tuesday night, I wasn't feeling so hot. I figured it was just from having such an eventful day and didn't think much more about it.

Earlier in the week, we learned that some friends were offering us free tickets to see the Radio city Christmas Spectacular in New York City Thursday night. Originally, we weren't going to do it because there were only two tickets and Kayli would miss ballet lessons and I would miss my friend's baby shower. But then I realized that this was probably an opportunity we shouldn't pass up on. So, the kids and I went to my parents house Thursday. We left Bryce with my mom and Kayli and I met our friends and then headed down to the city.

Standing out in front before the show

It's a long story, but we parked pretty far away--my friend estimated that it was probably two miles. So, we were running behind after the long walk and this was the only picture we got, unfortunately. I was feeling a little unwell on the drive down and even worse after carrying Kayli for about half of the walk there, but we were excited for this fun opportunity.

The show started with the Rockettes dressed as reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh. We put on some 3-D glasses and followed Santa and his sleigh as he flew to Radio City in NYC. We thought that was fun. We were kind of in the back and I struggled to find the right setting with the camera, so the pictures were not fantastic, but here a couple of the better ones.

Their "Toy Soldier" act was the most impressive. They were perfectly in line as they went through their formations. Then near the end, they did this. They were supposed to be wind up soldiers and I guess they were winding down. They fell back in really slow motion and each one stayed perfectly straight through the whole process. They didn't look human at all. They must be incredibly strong. It was very impressive. Kayli mostly liked the big feathers on their hats.

Moments before this they were doing the Can-Can. I wanted a picture of them doing what they're famous for, but when I pulled out the camera, Kayli asked if she could take the picture. And we missed it. But her picture still turned out a lot better than many of mine. Here they are dressed as toy dolls in Santa's Workshop.

The neatest part was the live Nativity. It was really dark but if you look closely, you can see one of the camels in the back on the left. They had two camels, a donkey, and some sheep. It was very beautiful. And I'm glad that they still included the true meaning and reason for Christmas when it seems like the rest of the world is trying to cut that part out.

Part way through the show I realized that it was very painful for me to breathe. I was still feeling pretty sick too, but I hadn't eaten much for dinner so I assumed it was just weird side effects of being really hungry. I tried to just relax and not worry about it.

Kayli was too tired to walk home so I carried her pretty much the whole way. This shouldn't have been that big of a deal for someone who works out pretty intensely every day. But my workouts had felt more challenging this week and carrying her back to the car was really a struggle. It was getting more and more painful to breathe and I was beginning to feel a little alarmed. It was a rough night. It hurt too bad to sleep. So, I went to my mom's doctor Friday morning and they diagnosed me with pneumotitis, or early stage pneumonia. What?! I kept telling her that I never really felt that sick. But she still maintained her diagnosis. I'm guessing it's because I kept working out. Oops. The good news is, she said I'm not contagious. Yay. I'm feeling a lot better, just really tired. But I'm guessing that's from the super powered antibiotic they've got me on.

We finally made it home yesterday afternoon and poor Blake has been busy trying to take care of me and do my job ever since.

It was, for the most part, a fun and busy week. But I'm hoping for a very laid back and uneventful week this time around.

Wiped Out Wednesday

Anyone else need a break from the high intensity of the last couple days? Well, here's some lighter entertainment where everyone wins!

*Correction to last week’s edition. This is an exerpt from my journal:

“I still had to bake my cinnamon rolls. So I took one over to Blake just before midnight. My roommates wanted me to invite him to the ballet I was going to on Saturday, so I did but he was saying something else at the same time and didn’t answer. I wasn’t sure if he’d heard but I wasn’t brave enough to ask again so I let it go. I also apologized for being grumpy on our date. But then it was 12 so I had to go (BYU has a rule that members of the opposite sex are not allowed in your apartment after midnight). On my way out he asked me for a hug. So, I decided to not give up on him completely. Then Linsey (my roommate) had me go with her to their apartment the next night because she had to talk to him and Cody (Blake’s roommate) about singing in Sacrament meeting. Blake invited himself to come with me to the ballet. That was exciting.” So, I wasn’t all that brave after all.

Dates 3 & 4

We hung out almost every day of the week leading up to the ballet. My friend that was in the ballet was from my home town, so her mom had driven up to see her performance. We sat next to her and unfortunately for Blake, she and I talked pretty much the whole time before the show. I was glad she was there though, because she’s a family friend and I knew she would be able to take back a positive report to my parents. This came up while I was having lunch with her last week and she said she remembered being impressed by Blake.

After the ballet, we got ice cream and went back to his apartment. He wanted to teach me a card game that his family plays called “Nerts”. As he explained it, I realized that it was the same game that my family loves to play, only we call it “Snar”. And I totally schooled him in it! As we said good night, he asked me to save a seat for him in church the next day.

Date 3 happened the weekend before Thanksgiving. I was driving up to northern Idaho with my brother David and his wife to spend Thanksgiving with my oldest brother Ryan and his family. So, Blake took me out the night before I left. We decided to go jogging together and then to a movie. We were only able to jog one lap before they told us it was closed for a volleyball game. So, we parted ways, got cleaned up and then reconvened to go see “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”.

I had a long history of commitment issues, so I was beginning to get a little nervous and unsure about where this was heading. So, unlike our second date, I kept my hands very occupied this time, mostly playing with my earring or in the pockets of my jacket, I think. But that didn’t stop Blake from trying to hold them anyway. At one point he was brave enough to reach over and grab a hold of something but it’s never a good sign when your date has to ask “Is that your finger?” It was the zipper to my jacket. I never have been able to understand how that might have felt even remotely like my finger, but I think he was getting a little desperate. However, since I was unsure what direction I wanted this to go, I stayed firm in not letting him hold my hand that night. I still really enjoyed the evening and was just as confused when the date ended as when it began.

Before Blake, I was a bit of an expert at the flirting and dating game. And the last couple dates helped me get back into that mode. So I had to go to work before leaving town the next morning. I knew Blake would be at least a little disappointed at how the evening had gone and since I wasn’t yet ready to give up on what might be, I couldn’t have him dwelling on that disappointment over the long weekend. So, I decided to leave him a little note. I made very careful to give him just the right amount of hope to coast us through the holiday, without having him give up or be overly eager upon my return. I left early the next morning, so I attached the note to his car door handle for him to find when he headed home for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving was excellent. My sister-in-law cooks food that is both delicious and beautiful. And I absolutely LOVE my family, so being together with half of them was fabulous. Everyone kept asking about my love life since it was usually pretty colorful. But I was leaning toward NOT continuing with Blake, so I didn’t play it up very much. My parents called the day after Thanksgiving and I had a very long chat with my dad. Here is more from my journal regarding that conversation:

“For the first time ever Dad is interested in knowing about the guy I’m dating. So we talked for a little while about Blake. He told me to let him know if things start to get more serious. Why is everyone treating this relationship so different from the others?”

Up to this point, my dad generally referred to the guys I dated as “scum” and “low-lifes”. I dated some really great guys, so I know that was simply him being an adoring and protective father. But this was the first time my dad ever treated a relationship of mine with any seriousness—including my missionary. It was very shocking and unsettling for me at the time. He didn’t even know Blake!

I was very sick on Sunday when we drove back, so I didn’t spend much time reconsidering my feelings for Blake. I was still thinking I didn’t want to get into a relationship at the time. But by Monday night I was feeling better and I realized that I missed Blake, so I decided to drop by his apartment. He said he’d been about to come see me.

More from my journal: “Pretty much since that night I’ve decided to stop fighting it and just let myself like him. He invited me to go to the devotional with him the next day… It was also really good because Blake played with my hair. It’s kind of silly but I always wanted to be with someone who loved my hair and liked to play with it.”

My talented friend Laura after an excellent ballet performance! (Pay no attention to the incorrect date stamp from my camera)

Dates 3 & 4

I was pretty excited for my third date with Cheryl. Here’s a little excerpt from my journal dated November 24, 2002. “Saturday evening I came back down to Provo for the big date with Cheryl. The ballet went really well. I enjoy going to those types of events because I feel so cultured afterward. Plus, Cheryl and I got to talk quite a bit. I found out that she was going to ask me to Preference for the night that I first asked her out. That’s definitely good news. She chickened out so I’m really glad I called.

“We got ice cream at the creamery following the ballet. We then tried to go to the movies, but they were packed. We ended up coming back and playing nerts/snar. Cheryl had played before and she whooped me pretty good. Man, I like that girl! She just has so many great qualities and I just want to be around her. Oh, I can’t let myself get jealous or try to make things happen too fast.”

And here is another entry from December 8, 2002. “Life has been really good lately. Cheryl and I went to the movies the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We went and saw My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I really wanted to hold her hand, but I got too scared. It was still a great night. We both laughed a lot and had fun. After the movie we came back to her place and had hot cocoa and played on the piano. However, when it was all over I came home somewhat depressed. I guess I was just confused and wanting things to happen too fast.

“The next morning I found a note out on my car. It was from Cheryl. She had already taken off for Thanksgiving, but she just wanted to thank me for making her smile, etc. That little note totally made my day. I probably read it 5-6 times! The note really made me look forward to seeing Cheryl when I got back from the holiday”

I had my sister Kensey help me analyze the note over Thanksgiving break. We also went over the details of the first three dates. Thanks Kensey, for your good advice to keep plugging away and be patient! Here’s a little more from my journal entry.

“Well, I didn’t get home until late on Sunday night so I didn’t see Cheryl. Monday was super hectic. I was totally planning on going to see Cheryl after I finished my homework. However, just as I finished guess who knocks on the door? Cheryl! I was stoked! Well, we talked for nearly an hour and I was really happy to see her. We made plans to go to the devotional the next day.

The devotional went very well. Unfortunately, I was coming off only 3 ½ hours of sleep the night before. I was up super late working on my final FSA project for Financial. Killer! Well, I was able to put my arm around Cheryl during the devotional. Plus, we did give each other a good back scratching. All things considered, I was pretty happy. Later that evening I stopped by and hung out for an hour or so.”

Ok, the back scratching part sounds really weird, but the key here is physical touch, a good love language!

Do I Really Have to Put My Halloween Decorations Away Already?

Is anyone else having weird problems with posting photos? While I'm creating the post, the photos show up as code, not as actual pics. Very frustrating. And I no longer have the option to center my captions. Am I the only one?

So, our week leading up to Halloween was pretty eventful. We started of last Saturday with a Cub Scout activity dedicated to flag ceremonies, folding, and the like. For a bunch of 8-year old boys, it went fantastically.

We came home from that and put the kids to bed and I headed over to the reservoir near our house for a 25K bike ride. It was threatening to storm, but held off until the end. It was so fun! But I had to hurry home to make cornbread for our Church Harvest Festival that night. It started of with a chili and cornbread dinner. I absolutely fell in love with the chili I tried. Alas, it was too spicy for me to ever make for my gringo family. But my cornbread was all gone before we made it back for seconds. Blake was sad because he did want to try any other kind. It really is a great recipe! Next they had a talent show with the girls ages 8-12 (I think). For the most part, it was impressive and very cute. Then they had games and activities for the kids.

Blake and Bryce doing the Cookie Walk. It takes a lot of fierce determination--just look at Bryce's face.

Every little brother needs a good role model to look up to

Kayli and her best friend. These two have way too much fun together.

Bryce couldn't figure out why everyone else stood so far back to do the bean bag toss

On Sunday, my parents came out for a quick visit. It was a beautiful day, so we took a walk around the reservoir. Bryce was so delighted to be with Bappa that he couldn't stand being separated from him at all. We drove over in separate cars and he kept saying, "Gone, gone" in a very sad voice. I asked him what was gone and he said, "Bappa," even sadder. So I told him that Bappa was right behind us and he said, "Oooh, " as if he understood. But we repeated this conversation several times on the short drive over, so I'm pretty sure he didn't. When he was finally reunited with Bappa, he was very upset that we put him in the stroller--so far from Bappa. So, Bappa held his hand while we walked. Kayli thought that was a great idea and joined in.

How sweet is that?

Now Bryce says "Nigh, nigh, Bappa" every night as he passes their picture on the wall on his way to bed. And last night he started blowing kisses.

You all know what happened Monday.

We were able to find time to paint the pumpkins Tuesday. The kids really enjoyed that.

This is Kayli's third year, so she knows what she's doing

Bryce took a little while to figure out that he was supposed to paint the pumpkin and not his chair, but then he had a lot of fun.

I always give them a bunch of colors and Kayli always mixes them all together. We don't usually dress Bryce in off-the-shoulder numbers, the kids are wearing my old shirts so they don't ruin their clothes.

This is me putting cornstarch in Kayli's hair. That took all the grease out for both kids. I'm still working on their clothes though. Cross your fingers!

I never do caramel apples because I think they are so sticky and messy and unhealthy, but we picked these little tiny apples at the orchard the other day. So, I decided to loosen up and let my kids enjoy this fun treat, at least once. .

And they were a big hit!

Halloween night went pretty perfectly--besides Blake, Kayli, and me being sick. We ate an early dinner, so we could be among the first out trick-or-treating, so we could make it back in time to pass out our own candy.

We had "Bone Bread sticks". This was my first attempt at making these. I hope they look better next year, but we had fun with them anyway

And this year we decided to have spiders and worms in our soup instead of the rats. It seemed like the spiders were less toxic than the rats, but next year we might just stick with the "worms", unless I figure out how to make edible spiders too.

We started trick-or-treating at about 6:30 and just went around the block. We live in a neighborhood full of duplexes, so we still had more candy than we know what to do with. We kept having to empty the kids bags into our pockets because they were too heavy for them to carry. Bryce would start to give me his bag, but then immediately take it back--he'd rather struggle with the load than give up his treats. Instead of holding his pumpkin out for the people to drop the candy in, he would stick his hand out as soon as they answered the door. So, they'd lean way out to drop the candy in the pumpkin, then notice his still-out-stretched hand and give him some more. And nobody listened to me protesting that a baby doesn't really need any candy. We were just letting him enjoy the experience. And we all had a lot of fun.

I came home a little early to start handing out candy. Once the kids got home, Kayli made sure to be the one to hand it out though. She might have enjoyed this almost as much as getting her own candy. We let them eat a few pieces and then had them in bed before 8 PM. On Halloween! I was so proud of us. We ran out of candy pretty quickly because people were busing kids in to our neighborhood in big vans and suburbans. But the biggest shocker of the night were the two DADS that were trick-or-treating with their own bags! I couldn't believe it. I went t-o-t my Senior year of high school, so I don't mind giving it to older kids. But parents? Seriously? Like they wouldn't be stealing their toddler's candy anyway?

Anyway, it was a very fun evening. After the kids went to bed, Blake and I watched a movie that wasn't scary at all. I can't do horror.