New Project

Ben teamed-up with Zach Jones and created this letterpressed "vintage" poster. It commemorates the release of Utah's newly minted quarter. I have to say, it's pretty amazing in person. The circles on the bottom are where the new quarters would go. I love it and wanted to show it to you guys too. You can find it at The Mandate Press or at Sam Weller's bookstore.

Thanksgiving

This holiday season thing seems to be flying. I feel so out-of-date already with Thanksgiving pictures. Time seems to be going quicker and quicker. We had 18 over for Thanksgiving and I couldn't have been happier. It is always so great to get everyone together. Ben's parents came down from Idaho, The Francis' came up from Vegas, The Hites came over with their tiny one and even Great-grandma Edie made the trek.

So, do you remember HATING being put at the notorious "Kid's Table"? Now I remember why, They had no clue though. Well, not yet anyway.


After dinner, the kids were a mess and Richard made the suggestion that it was time to go for a run in the sprinklers. It's 35 degrees outside. Well - Henry and Avery thought it was a great idea. As you can see, they realized it was 35 degrees outside too. They remembered to keep their shirts on.


It wouldn't be a family get-together without a swim. I think the kids enjoyed this more than anything else.


Where's Collin? (We miss you guys.)

Yes, The Reverend Rocco is Back.

I have been asked a lot lately if Rocco was back from boot camp. Yes yes he is, indeed. He was gone for 8 fun-filled weeks back in April and May.

He came back a different dog. I was convinced that the reason he was gone so long was to take the time needed for the lobotomy scars to heal. He went from a crazy freak, to a brain-dead couch potato (fabulous!).

Well, he must have just been tired because he is still the same crazy - sometimes inconceivably dumb - dog. I still catch him trying desperately to catch and chew dust particles, and he is still has irrational fears of alluminum cans and laundry baskets. It's just that now he knows some pretty serious commands and can actually walk the block without a leash. Impressive.

And we aren't afraid to use the shock-collar. Before anyone gets mad about that, don't. I felt bad too, but Ben went ahead and shocked me in the kitchen. Yes he did. It wasn't bad. But he did get my undivided attention.

For those of you who aren't familiar with my difficulties with this bulldog, you can go here to learn of my earlier sentiments.

He's also a great dog because he only sleeps here. He goes to work everyday with Ben which helps a ton.
Long live (the new) Rocco!

Our newest-newest nephew. . .

All of these babies! Cute babies. Roz and Richard had Grant on Friday. I held him for about 15 minutes on Sunday and said, "Yup, Ok I love him." I do.

Breakfast - the most important meal of the day.

I sleep in, Avery takes care of her own breakfast.
If you come over and sleep in, I am sure she will make some for you too. We may be out of jam by then, but we'll see. Don't worry, we'll get more pepperoni too.

Smart Thinker

Avery has found that if she puts on my boots, she can reach the TV buttons. I tried to explain to her that standing on her tippy toes does the same thing, but she won't hear it.

A little empathy here

My iPhoto is not letting me upload photos. I don't know what the problem is.
So let me just take this chance to share a little empathy I have with Ms. Marie. Not even having watched the show, I have watched her faint 18 times, on every network and every show. It's embarrassing enough to faint, but then to have it played over and over. . .

I found myself feeling bad for her. It's because I had an embarrassing faint, and it wasn't even recorded.
I was a Junior in college. It was my first week in my Anatomy Lab. New class, new cadaver. Three o'clock in the afternoon, no lunch yet. Bad bad combo.

The cadaver was on his stomach and the teacher was going over the muscles of the back. I was pinned between the cadaver and the wall. I was leaning OVER the body to get a better look, breathing in all that wonderful formaldehyde. Do you see where I'm going with this?? Luckily there was a girl leaning over next to me. The last thing I remember was looking over at her and saying,
"Uh, I think I'm going to pass out."
The next thing I feel is this girl's hand against my neck sliding me down the wall. She saved me from falling face-first into this poor guy's guts.

I never really got to know anyone in that lab. So it made it worse when I found out a few months later that my name was "THAT GIRL." That was my name. Even the lab tech admitted to it.
So embarrassing.

Halloween

We had a great night last night. We couldn't have asked for better weather. No snow!!! The computer is being weird. I can't upload half the photos. I will try again later.
Hope you had a great Halloween.