Weather Musings by Christopher

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" was going through my head this morning on my way to take Gavin to school.

The community gardens were a cold and dreary sight. Unfortunately, so is Caden's watermelon.

Had to bust out all of Gavin's winter clothing and jackets, boots, snow pants, etc for school UGH!

Just heard on the news, more (direct quote) "winter storm advisory" until tomorrow.

Spring thought she might take a chance and bloom for me and my trees...hope she survives, like myself.

And finally, I was lamenting with Christopher on the phone this morning and he shared with me this email he sent to his brother, Tyler, in Texas:

Ya, it’s still snowing here. People are telling me it’s Spring snow because it doesn’t stick to the streets. I tell them this is the Winter I normally have. Which is basically fluctuations between the upper 60s and lower 40s with a few slushy rain days and lots of wind. So basically for me in Utah is November – March was like living in Alaska and April-June will be like living back in Texas during late November – February. So while living here in Utah I get to have the following seasons: Summer followed by Winter followed by Hell-Winter followed by Winter and back to Summer.

He just may be right. I'm hoping he's wrong, but so far he's been dead on. Everyone keeps saying..."oh, just wait until summer though, it's sooo worth the wait." I'm afraid my patience is waning. Who am I kidding, patience has never been my strong suit.

Merry Christmas! - UPDATE

Woke up to snow this morning! Don't be jealous that we woke up thinking it was Christmas this morning. We were a little confused thinking it was almost May, but thank goodness the weather set us straight. Christopher, I need my present from Santa...a trip somewhere WARM.

I think our Long Horn "bone head" (thank you Nathan M.) wont survive much longer outside in these extremes. I don't think I will either...isn't it MAY in two days?

Update: It's 11:13 am and it is still snowing...HARD. Caden is in heaven, I however, am not. Time to go pick up Reese. I wonder if Gavin will still have his game tonight. We did during a massive dirt storm (got the dirty boogers too)...

B4B: First Game

Gavin had his first baseball game last Tuesday, and another tomorrow! The weather was horrendous but they played anyway and did well. It was so windy that you can't see the mountains in the background b.c of DIRT blowing in the air. You couldn't even see a few blocks over b.c of so much dirt in the air! I've never seen anything like it!

Gavin got not one but TWO home runs at bat! Way to go, Gavin!

Can you see what should be mountains in the background? It was so bad! Anyway. This years team for Gavin is perfect. It's very low key, coach pitch and they don't keep score (at least officially, I know the kids and the parents were, lol). It is the perfect match being that this is Gavin's first year and experience with baseball and no pressure.

I'm told that they had the most runs. I can't believe myself but I was having so much fun talking with my old friend Cydnee that we weren't really watching the boys! And that left Christopher to do all the picture taking, hence the lack of anything interesting. Gavin had fun though and it ready for tomorrows game. Let's just hope the SNOW that we had earlier today stays away. Geeeeeez!

Gavin's Great Brain

Gavin presented his "Great Brain Project" yesterday to his class. He decided his topic would be Lego. Can't go wrong with that being that this kids has had an obsession with Lego's since he was 3 years old!

I was lucky to be able to attend his class oral presentation. It must be the age but he wasn't nervous at all and presented well to his peers. I think I was more nervous for him as if I were giving the presentation in one of my college classes.

The class was captivated and asked lots of great questions that Gavin knew all but one answer. Great job, Gman! We're so proud of your work!

He was the first to give his presentation and his teacher told him he had set a high standard. I took a short (and when I mean short, I mean his presentation was about 10 minutes total) of the first half of his presentation. His back was facing me the whole time but we gotta have something for history sake!

Playing Dirty

This is how dirty Reese's feet were with shoes on but no socks. What does she do out there?

It took just one foot to do this to a baby wipe. GROSS! And yes, I still use/buy baby wipes for cleaning up the kids despite not having a kid in diapers for over a year. I'm not sure when I'll break that habit.

Reese Funnies

The other day Christopher and I were talking about all the funny ways Reese still to this day, says certain words. These are words she's used since she first learned them and for some reason will not correct herself.

**Lucky Charms Cereal = Yucky Charms. (She explains the marshmallows are the "charms" and the actual cereal pieces are the "yuckies".)
**Lunch = Munch (As in, can I have Yucky Charms for Munch.)
**Midnight = Bednight (I need a bednight snack.)

See, I know there are more, and I've already forgotten. This is why I need to be better at writing them down. It's just funny b.c I would expect these from my 3.5 year old, not my 5.5 year old!

Hooked on the Brothas

OK, so my kids are in love with Super Mario Bro.s for the Wii and watching them as been deja vu from my own childhood. My kids find ways to "play Mario" in everyday life. It's crazy. Guess what's for Halloween? A family of Mario characters.

While surfing movies to watch over the xbox/wii for Netflix streaming the kids came across an old school Super Mario Super Show season. Christopher grew up watching this show and the kids fell in love. Unfortunately for me, I've had to listen to the into song too many times (they are watching all seasons) and now I'm "hooked on the brothers". It's a phrase they use in their late 80's rap theme song.

Intro:

Hey, paesanos! It's The Super Mario Brothers Super Show! We're the Mario Brothers, and plumbing's our game, we're not like the others who get all the fame. If your sink is in trouble, you can call us on the double, we're faster than the others, you'll be hooked on the Brothers! Uh! You'll be hooked on the Brothers Gimme gimme, gimme gimme! You're in for a treat, so hang on to your seat. Get ready for adventures and remarkable feats. You'll meet Koopas, the Troopas, the Princess, and the others, hangin' with the plumbers, you'll be hooked on the Brothers! To the brink! Uh! Uh! Huh, huh, I said hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hooked on the Brothers!

Credit song:

Do the Mario! Swing your arms from side to side. Come on, it's time to go. Do the Mario! Take one step, and then again. Let's do the Mario, all together now! You got it! It's the Mario! Do the Mario! Swing your arms from side to side. Come on, it's time to go. Do the Mario! Take one step, and then again. Let's do the Mario, all together now! Come on now. Just like that!

Any because I want you to see for yourself how HILARIOUSLY 80's this show is AND to begin to see how you too can get "hooked on the brothas" replayed over and over in your head:

The original.

And the NEW show.

"DO THE MARIO" credit.

Am I Crazy?

Am I crazy or do other Stakes around the country/world send out post cards in the mail to remind you of your next conference date and times? I about fell over when I got this in the mail today. Nice paper and picture. Another perk to living behind the Zion curtain no doubt! It was actually a welcome surprise b.c I was just about to plan my Primary lesson until I was reminded about conference. YAHOO!

B4B: Baseball Clinic

Gavin had his first Baseball clinic this past week. He was bouncing off the walls...but when is that something new or different. He's wearing the yellow rain jacket as it was in the 40's and wet.

Gavin and his good friend AJ. Their team this year is called the Angels.

Gavin's coach is Coach "Cheese" as in Swiss. Here he was introduced to his new team which is co-ed with one lone star little girl. My bet is on her rockin' these boys!

Gavin was selected for first base. Guess all that playing catch practice with dad paid off. Gonna see a lot of action with that position, hope he can manage.

Because just look at him standing there as the ball was hit.

Up for bat!

He didn't make a hit in this shot, but surprisingly made a hit each time at bat. Long live the t-ball plastic bat at home practice!

GO ANGELS!

First game, this Tuesday the 27th! Let the fun begin my B4B boy! Love you and love watching you have fun with your friends!

Hoogle Zoo - SLC

We bought our annual Zoo pass in Texas in June. Little did we know that in August we would learn that we were to move to Utah. Unfortunately the Zoo's don't give the same generous reciprocity as the Children's Museums, however, they do give a 50% discount. We decided to give Hoggle Zoo a try before Gavin had to go back to school from his 3 week Spring Break...thank you year round school...blah. AND it was one of 3 whole days that it was not snowing or freezing or raining during that time. YAY!

The boys loved the larger than life wooden elephant that speaks to you when the wind blows.

Reese didn't want to have anything to do with it. Only pose underneath it...oooook.

This elephant is a pro at nursing in public. Hoggle recently had a baby elephant and we got to she her. She never stopped nursing...even to breathe, which I found fascinating. I never thought of elephants having that kind of equipment, but of course they do!

Unfortunately, yes. But I'll take my chances with an unlikely cougar encounter rather than a more possible snake encounter in Texas. I mean, Reese was almost bitten by a rattler if it hadn't been for Christopher's quick thinking and reflexes. The rattlers head was smashed by a well placed/thrown rock!

Caden loves Tigers (and dinosaurs, sharks, snakes, cars and chapstick). He loves his little Tiger shirt and was only too pleased to get a glimpse of them at the zoo. Even if they were sleeping the entire time.

Caden also like this stick bug that he called an "awesome stick in your eye bug".

Much to my displeasure, Snakes are one of Caden's favorite things to see at the zoo. Forget the large or exotic animals, let him see snakes! It was feeding time while we were there and Caden watched, literally sat 10 minutes and watched, a boa tree snake eat a whole rat.

This turtle was just HUGE and I had to post a picture to remind me of how Christopher and I watched this turtle for 5 minutes squeeze between and over that rock and a "hard place".

This must be Bear's Zoo "thing" to do. Because I found this zoo post with him doing the same. That post also just happens to talk about Reese's near rattler attack AND it was feeding time with the snakes there then too! All zoo posts are the same, let's face it. But it's fun to look at how young they were and how they've changed.

The kids got a little wet on our way out despite the wind making it a bit nippy outside. Can you find Christopher in this shot?

Our thoughts on the Zoo? Two thumbs up, (b.c we love going to ANY zoo...remember Austins "zoo") but it's debatable whether or not we will get a Hoggle annual pass come time for ours to expire.

Della Cruz N Bear

We aren't in flat Texas country anymore (*sniff*) and our neighborhood here in Utah has great hilly bike and walking trails. So, that means that my little Della Cruz beach cruiser is gonna need to be traded in for an upgrade with gears.

Bear was only more then happy to get her spruced up for pictures for our add.

Such a goof-ball. Just like his dad! Love the soap dud in the middle of his forehead.

Born for Baseball

Gavin has had no interest in playing sports. Ever. Reese has been our extra curricular activity girl, sports wise. However, when my cute friend Cydnee (who just happens to be and old missionary companion AND happens to be in my ward here in Utah...seriously, the Lord knew where to place me here in Utah) mentioned her boys and their friends were putting together a baseball team and wondered if Gavin might be interested, Gavin jumped at it! Go figure.

We might have only had a t-ball plastic bat and ball, but we got outside and played ball to teach him a little about the sport.

Gavin caught on pretty quick and was soon hitting pitches right at Christopher! He had to back it up a bit.

It's definitely becoming a family favorite. What? Soccer demoted? Maybe just for the season.

Gavin has become quite the ball catcher.

His throw isn't too shabby either.

Just after the rain started a down pour on our family practice, Gavin excitedly exclaimed, "I was born for baseball"! We'll see come next week's first game. B4B=Born for Baseball