Bloggie Style

Super long flights?

2012-02-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

Never really ever been m'thang ;)

A Letter to Baby Bee: 26 weeks and growing

2012-02-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Baby Bee,
Well, look at us now! When people ask me how far along I am in this pregnancy, I have to catch my breath before I broadcast the words six and a half months and pretend like it's no big deal. There is no question these days about whether I'm expecting: my rounding belly is clearly an indication that a little one is on the way. I've started to receive smiles and even an occasional wink from strangers at the grocery store who all seem to be saying "you go girl!" As I was standing in a waiting room lobby the other day, a very nice man piped up and asked me when I was due. In May, I beamed, rubbing one hand on my belly (because honestly what else are my hands supposed to do?). He congratulated me several times and talked wistfully of his own 5 kids, his baby now 12 years old. It goes by so fast, he said, and those years are hard but you'll find you won't trade them for anything. You know, I think he's right.

The added attention you bring sometimes makes me feel silly, sure, but all the same it's just one more indication that carrying a baby is a real honor. I feel genuinely supported about bringing you into the world from family, friends, co-workers, ward members, and even strangers no less. But none more-so than your sweet dad. In my opinion he's already won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. I'm prematurely nominating him for Father of the Year. You'll see.

But while we're on the topic, you and him had a special moment the other morning as he was laying his face on my belly and you seemed to be responding on queue. He would say, can you have a good day Little Bee? and you would kick! Then he would say, take care of your momma for me, and you would kick!! Then he would laugh and say, don't kick me in the face! only to get a huge round-house kick to the face :). Your timing was perfect and you filled his day with joy.

Believe it or not, we are gearing up for a big trip to Australia in just a few days, which seems to have taken precedence over painting your nursery. But don't worry, that will get done soon enough. And if your dad doesn't do it, your Aunt Jen surely will. We figure this will be the last stamp in our passports for a good long while. I'm very much looking forward to meeting long-time colleagues in the Brisbane office, but I'm more so looking forward to spending time away with your father. After this trip, our next family vacation will be with you. And it might be as exciting as driving 40 miles south to visit grandma and grandpa. But still, we will be a family of three before long. And that alone is going to be the adventure of a lifetime we've been waiting for.

Also this week, your momma is turning 30! I must say that the very best thing, by far, about turning 30 is knowing that you'll come into my life this very same year. Thirty all of a sudden doesn't seem so old and scary. I'll be experiencing many "firsts" this year, which will reset the needle for basically everything I know about life. Thirty is now this magical number that I'll always associate with this beautiful time of life when I became your mother. Which is exactly what I've always meant to be.

Love,
Momma

A Valentine's Day Post

2012-02-15T17:06:00.001-07:00

Oh boy. How can February possibly be half way over? Between trying to keep up with the demands of a full time job and preparing for baby, I can hardly find time to think about painting my toes. That is, if my toes are still there. With this belly in the way I don't see much of those piggies these days. I'm slowly and stubbornly coming to terms that being 6.5 months pregnant does create some limitations on what I am able to accomplish. Go. Figure.
I'm constantly reminding myself that the important things will get done. Just maybe not how I'm used to. Still, everything is going to be alright. If I don't send out handmade Valentine's to all my family and friends, they will forgive me, or not even notice. And if I need to allow myself a few extra minutes of sleep in the morning and maybe pick up donuts for the office on the way into work, that's ok too. I'm finding it hard to let those things go. I'm also surprised that the nursery wasn't done 3 months ago and is nowhere near being done today. What has happened to me? Haha, sigh.
We've been working feverishly the last few Saturday's trying to fit in a trillion little errands in preparation for a business trip/vacation. I've been doing a pretty good job at over-planning, over-analyzing, and over-worrying about it. Ah, that's the me I recognize! I had ordered BD some new sneakers but low and behold they wouldn't arrive in time for Valentine's Day. Wifey fail.
Luckily, BD was all over Valentine's Day this year. I came waddling home from work yesterday, about an hour late of course, to a house smelling deliciously of garlic and cilantro and found him chopping vegetables for fajitas. Table set with fancy glasses and everything. He had found his own recipe online and was determined to make them just right. I fell in love with him just a little bit more when he asked how to chop an onion the "fajita" way. Honestly, that man. Dinner would have been more than enough, but he had big surprises for me all night. One of them being this whole blog printed into 3 volumes of books! I loved being able to flip through the pages of the last 6+ years of our life together. Plus, a new set of cooking pans that are almost too pretty to cook with. Momma and baby felt spoiled to the very core. Sometimes, he just nails it.
*We had a good chuckle about how this is our last Valentine's Day before we'll need a babysitter. And yet, we decided to stay home and cook dinner ourselves anyway ;). It's so much better that way. After dinner and clean up I gave BD a back rub and all of a sudden realized he was asleep at 9:30 pm. ASLEEP! Boy needs himself a vacation.

Happiness is

2012-02-02T12:22:00.001-07:00

Being told you waddle, and learning to embrace it! ;)

(6 month bump)

A Letter to Baby Bee: 22 Weeks and counting

2012-01-18T18:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Baby Bee,
Sometimes we call you that, Baby Bee, among plenty of other ridiculous and equally embarrassing cutesy names too. No matter what we name you, I think you'll always be our Baby Bee. The first in our hive. Newsflash to mom and dad: you're hardly a little bee anymore. At 22 weeks all the pregnancy books say you weigh nearly one whole pound. Hard to imagine you were ever that microscopic blastocyst introduced to us in the fertility lab. You are now a constant part of my every day, we are officially a party of two, where everything about me has suddenly become about we.

I love feeling your every move. There is really nothing like it in the world. Just this morning in the parking garage I couldn't quite bring myself to go inside and run the risk of interrupting the boxing match you had begun. Each little kick and somersault you make quietly reassures me that you are there and reminds me that life for both of us is ever changing. I find my hands are more and more comfortable resting on my belly, sometimes I don't even realize I'm rubbing it. Or I'll catch myself swaying side to side if I happen to be thinking about you. I've always wondered why pregnant woman do silly things like that. Now I know.

Your father has started to feel you move too, which is all very exciting. I wish you could see the way his eyes light up when he feels you kicking. The first thing he wants to do when he gets home is peel through the layers of my clothes so he can see you up close. For some unknown reason he finds the full panel maternity pants to be uproariously hilarious. This coming from someone who wears full body spandex. "I need to see my baby girl," he'll request and then press a whiskered cheek to my stomach. He continues to be fascinated by all these sudden changes to my body, especially my protruding belly, which every day seems to poke out a little bit further. No doubt, a good sign you are making yourself right at home in there. And just because he knows it'll warrant an overreaction from me, he loves to stick a wiggling finger right into my belly button claiming that's how he is able to be closest to you. I roll my eyes of course, but in truth I couldn't be happier that he is infatuated with you. With us. I certainly can't argue with his intentions.

Often at night when we are winding down in bed and talking about our days, I turn on a Mozart playlist on my iPhone and let it rest on top of my baby bump. We pretend to think this is going to make you a brilliant genius. In fact, we have countless hopes and dreams for you. But I won't tell you what they are. You will have hopes and dreams all your own, and those are the ones you should follow. Although, I know it wouldn't hurt your dad's feelings if you happen to love a good road trip. I certainly wouldn't mind if you developed a penchant for taking long Sunday naps snuggled with me.

In so many ways this pregnancy is moving all too quickly. I often wonder if I am enjoying it enough, or appreciating this moment knowing that the three of us will never have it again. Everything about pregnancy continues to mystify me, even I catch glimpses of my belly in the mirror and think, who is this pregnant woman? One thing I do know through all the blood, sweat, and tears: it's been well worth the fight. Happy to have you on board here my little one, our precious Baby Bee.

Love,
Momma

A note from management

2012-01-17T23:47:00.000-07:00

Dude. As pregnancy and infertility related drafts pile up in my blog list I struggle to know what's appropriate to publish here. I wonder if anyone actually wants to know these things or is this about me sorting out my life changes through writing? As a blog reader myself, I've spent years reading about others' infertility and pregnancy journeys. From adoption to pregnancy announcements to birth stories to baby's first blow out, I eat it up. My very favorite stories to read have been Design Mom's series on pregnancy, childbirth, adoption and growing a family. But I'm shamelessly shy about my own story. Maybe it's because it has been such a private and painful part of my life. It's a bit daunting to open the doors even a wee bit on this chapter of our lives. I do find that my journal writing is much much better when I know an audience, albeit small and mostly family and close friends, will be reading it. So there's the struggle. Woe is the life of an emotional pregnant woman, I tell you what.

"A Pink Baby"

2012-01-04T18:50:00.001-07:00

Surprise: It's a girl!

My niece Ellie predicted that we were having "a pink baby" and sure enough, she was right! Last week Baby Duncan was upgraded to Baby GIRL Duncan via ultrasound. BD and I were shocked. "I can't believe it's a girl!" I kept saying over and over. We had thoroughly been anticipating a boy due to a tip in that direction from an earlier ultrasound. But it appears she is all girl. I honestly can't get over it. "A pink baby!"

First purchase: pink tiny Tom's from Babinski's

I was completely giddy that day and haven't been able to think of anything other than pink for days on end. Suddenly this little flutterbug has taken on a giant piece of her identity, given us one more clue into her premature world. So what does dad think? Well, I'm pretty sure BD's heart grew three times that day :). I'm just passing 20 weeks, the halfway point, so they say. And while I can't wait to meet her face to face, I'm surprised at how fast this is all happening. Slow down baby girl, I want to say, I've only just begun to feel you move.

My love for this baby girl knows no bounds.

PS - the picture above is of me, 2 maybe 3 years old I'm guessing? I just noticed that I'm not wearing a stitch of pink! Ha. Such a tomboy I was. I suppose that can easily happen when you are the youngest of six and your next sibling up was a boy.

The Holidays: a big long catch up post

2011-12-31T23:59:00.000-07:00

The end of 2011 just flew right by, didn't it? We celebrated the merry and bright of the Holidays surrounded with family. It was wonderful to be close to our loved ones this year. BD and I didn't quite make it through all of our 12 Dates of Christmas, but even still we were able to take our Holiday Togetherness to a whole new level. Worth it, I say! Here's a bit of a catch up post, mostly so I can record that these things happened.

Christmas Eve at the Richman Home

This will likely be the last Christmas Eve at the home of my childhood. Sometimes change is good, but sometimes change makes me weepy. This is the home where I crept up the stairs to discover the magic of Santa Claus. This is the home where my Grandmother sat in the rocking chair and recited Luke II from memory every Christmas Eve. This is the home where we have chocolate fondue and listen to Mannheim Steamroller's Silent Night by the twinkle of white Christmas tree lights. This year we admired new tattoos on our very own Marine, read aloud a new Christmas book from Mom, performed our own choral of the bells, had a surprise visit from a long lost brother :), and snuggled on the couch next to the fire.

Christmas Day at the Duncan's

We started our Christmas morning by attending a beautiful music worship service in the Avenue's. We then headed straight to the Duncan's for a yummy brunch. As a family we attended church together and then came home to open presents. Watching Cody and Ellie open gifts was really the highlight of our whole Christmas. They were darling! We gave them each their own Tickle Monster kit. Cody was the first to try it and he giggled sweetly as his dad tickled him, just as we hoped he would. Oh, to hear a child laugh! Ellie was all business about opening presents. She wore a furrowed brow and tore through each present with serious intent. She would sweep it off the table and was ready for the next. We could hardly get her to crack a smile in between. That girl was on a Christmas mission. It was adorable!

Russ & Jana's Wedding

Over the Christmas break BD's little brother was married to his sweetheart Jana. It made for a cRaZy Christmas vacation, but was really the perfect day in the end. BD keeps saying, "I can't believe Rusty is married!" We're entirely happy for these two. They are the perfect compliment to one another. Grandma and Amy came for the wedding and we loved spending time with them. It was wonderful to finally meet Jana's family and share this event all together. The whole day was beautiful. Russ made his own Lego cake topper which totally redeemed my second (and maybe last) feeble attempt at a wedding cake. Dan played his guitar and harmonica and sang at the reception. We ate it up, and love to hear him play. I completely teared up when Russ and Jana waltzed together while her family serenaded them.*sigh*

New Year's Eve

A totally low-key night in my pajamas, and just what we needed. I even took a long nap in the afternoon to ensure I could last until midnight :). Tom and Todd came up and we ordered Indian take out from Bombay House. I'm so happy this baby loves Indian food. Then we played Monopoly! Tom bankrupted us all. No surprise. I've never played Monopoly with Tom when he hasn't bankrupted me. BD whipped up some mocktails which reminded us of yester-years when we loved to host a big New Year's Eve bash. Moving into a new chapter of life, we went to bed that night in the wee hours of the brand new year, each of us with a hand on my growing belly and whispered our love to this baby girl. 2012 really is the year of the baby. Pinch me.

I think we're supposed to be making a "12" here. But clearly, we've had too much to drink ;)

What's in a Year?

2011-12-31T20:20:00.000-07:00

On January 1, 2011 we arrived back home after spending two beautiful weeks in Brazil. The following 364 days have been some of the most exciting, devastating, and yet blessed days of my whole life. This entire year has been focused around nothing other than getting pregnant. Let's recap shall we? This is my cliff notes version of how I got pregnant. But for the record, I could write a novel.

On January 2nd we started our first round of IVF with daily injections. Ouch! I must really want to get pregnant. We blogged about Brazil. I traveled for work and by some miracle was able to give myself 6 shots. I really wanted a medal for that. Three weeks later we had to cancel that cycle because my body did not respond to the hormone treatment. I cursed my stupid body. I was released from Young Womens and called to teach Relief Society. I cried some.
In February I tried to relax, focus on early morning piano lessons, and just be present in what was happening in the world around me. I was desperately trying to catch myself from slipping further into depression. I turned 29 and tried not to think about it. BD surprised me with a new oven! I dove headstrong into work. Harder. Faster. Longer. BD was a trooper.
In March I baked up a storm. It was therapeutic. March was also all about second chances and we tried our hand at another round of IVF. BD had to travel for work and I volunteered my neighbor friend (bless her!) to give me daily injections. Different protocol. I went batsh*t crazy from the hormones. Don't pretend you didn't notice. On the last day of the month we had two surviving embryos implanted. We were 100% certain this was going to work.

In April Tom and Todd stayed with us and pampered me on my sick days. The pregnancy did not take. We were devastated. Everyone was devastated. I cursed my stupid body, again. BD biked a lot. I cried a lot. We got sucked into the Royal Wedding, if only for something to take our minds away. We heavily grieved the loss of an expectation. It was not the funnest month, per say.
In May BD whisked me away to Deer Valley over Mother's Day weekend for some R&R. I started tennis lessons with friends. BD traveled lots for work. We saw Les Miserables. We focused on each other and did things that made us happy. I walked every morning with friends and it felt good. My body was slowly returning to normal. My emotional state was beginning to heal.

In June we went to San Diego and drove Bruce home. BD loves Bruce. It was a treat to sit by the ocean and hear the waves crash. BD went to Youth Conference and rafted the Bear River. Not quite ready to open ourselves up again to IVF just yet, we embraced Summerness in all it's glory.
In July we hosted a BBQ and it rained. BD ran the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon with his siblings and rocked it. We spent a weekend in Park City with friends and loved on their baby girl. It opened our hearts to think about IVF again. I started being aware of all the things that truly make me happy. It always helps to count your blessings.
In August BD went on the Scout 50 Miler and I prayed they wouldn't get struck by lightning. I started an acupuncture regimen for fertility. BD glued himself to everything Tour of Utah. Big sister got married, I made a wedding cake! We started round 3 of IVF. More hormones. More injections. More crazy. More mula. More hope, though.

On Labor Day, September 5th, we had another two embryos implanted. We were hopeful, of course, but more so certain that we were doing the right thing whatever the outcome would be. It is surreal to see your potential children through a microscope. You can't imagine how much love you feel for something you can barely see with a naked eye. On September 17th we received a call from the clinic confirming that I was pregnant. We couldn't believe it. In fact, I challenged the nurse on this fact and she had to reassure me several times that I really was pregnant. The numbers don't lie! In an instant our whole paradigm changed.
In October BD turned 30, we had visitors from Germany, watched Ellie for a weekend, enjoyed campfires up the canyon, and celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. But mostly we did nothing but think about, talk about, and revel in the newness of this pregnancy. BD became very protective of his new little family. I was tired and nauseous and doing my best to finish a full day of work. But we were oh so happy.
In November I spent a weekend at Sundance with girlfriends. We passed the 13 week mark and our Dr. gave us a thumbs up, the baby is strong, the pregnancy viable. I thank God everyday for my beautiful body and it's ability to sustain this little life. I love to check every pregnancy symptom off my list with pride. I want to feel it all. I don't take any of it for granted. We celebrated Thanksgiving with my family. We are indeed thankful for a miracle.

In December my belly started to pop out and I embrace my new curvier curves. BD is obsessed and wants to be touching my stomach at all times and in all places. I'm learning to embrace that, too. News of the baby is reaching far and wide, which is fun. We're happy to be spreading good cheer. It's only starting to become real. I began to feel the baby kicking and poking around inside. I love this feeling more than anything in the world. On December 30th at 19.5 weeks we found out the gender of Baby Duncan. We are thoroughly shocked, but elated just the same. Not that we wouldn't have been either way...

And that pretty much sums up our year. Two-thousand Eleven. The year of the pregnancy.

All I want for Christmas...

2011-12-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

...Is to feel this baby kick! And indeed I am feeling soft little kicks and pokes and ripples from my very own belly. It is unlike anything I have ever known before, yet so much better than anything I could have dreamed. I am so very much in love.

Christmas Morning, an attempt at a family portrait before church

TheBradleeDuncan's are thrilled beyond words to be expecting our first baby in May. [Pause] I need a second for that sink in. [Play] Yes, a baby! In May! We are quite literally over the moon about this pregnancy. It is a miracle, a blessing, and without a doubt the greatest gift we've ever been given. For us, this Christmas feels especially sweet. Hope you don't mind, but there's about to be a whole lotta baby up in here. I have so much to say. Finally :). But first, we wish you a very Merry Christmas from our (growing) family to yours!

Twelve dates of Christmas: On our ninth date of Christmas...

2011-12-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

...We had a Christmas Wrapping Party. Whether it was actually a party could be argued. I tend to make everything into a party to make it more appealing. Laundry folding parties. Paper organizing parties. We are all kinds of fun at our house :). Our Christmas Wrapping Party was a total success, in that all the presents got wrapped and BD got a treat at the end. Wrapping the gift is my favorite part of gift giving.

Happiness is

2011-12-21T17:17:00.001-07:00

Watching the little ice skaters at Gallivan Center from my office window all day.
Not at all distracting, only a teensy bit adorable ;).

Twelve dates of Christmas: On our eighth date of Christmas...

2011-12-20T21:52:00.001-07:00

...We did a hot chocolate crawl in search of SLC's finest. We only made it to three places because after three cups of hot cocoa we were surprisingly hot-chocolated out. Who knew?

First stop, Nostalia Cafe. We ran into BD's car pool companion and he spotted us our first cup of the night, bonus. The atmosphere is pretty up-hippity, but they scored points for having the puuuurfect temperature of hot chocolate. Meaning no tongue scalding. They use real milk steamed with a sweetened cocoa powder, but the real upside was a shot of butterscotch. Overall a decent cup.

Next up we hit Caffe Niche. Hands down, they won the contest on presentation: a wide latte mug topped with whipped cream and a pretty chocolate syrup design. It was extra frothy too! I do love froth. Our waiter made a point to tell us they use Ghirardelli chocolate sauce. And actually, you could really taste a strong chocolate flavor. Overall, very very good.

Our last stop was Hatch Family Chocolates, which we expected to be our favorite and it indeed was. Their new digs are nice, but I actually think I prefer their former more cozy, impossibly crowded location. Nevertheless, the hot chocolate is pretty awesome. Zero points on presentation for a plain white paper cup and plastic lid, even for sit-down customers. But the taste was "silky and smooth" according to BD. I think I spotted a Guittard Chocolate syrup container behind the counter, evidence that they use a high quality product. Regardless, it was really delicious, perfectly warm, extra creamy, and ultra chocolatey. Ding ding ding!

Twelve dates of Christmas: On our seventh date of Christmas...

2011-12-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

...We spent a beautiful evening at Sundance with NetDocuments. It's sort of like a second family, well, because lots of BD's co-workers are actual family! Right now, BD has the amazing privilege to work with his dad, and all his siblings. Yep, all three of them. Can you imagine? To top it off, he also gets to work with his uncle and numerous cousins. Oh, and also his best friend. Yeah. Plus, there are partners and other long time employees at ND that have known him practically his whole life, so they feel like uncles, or maybe just really big brothers :). I love to remind him how lucky he is!

Kissy face? Sure, let's roll with it.

Normally, we have a long and late night drive ahead of us after anything we attend down in the UC (Utah County, for those in the know). This time however, BD surprised me with a night at Sundance so we could stay put and extend our lovely evening up the canyon in a cozy cabin for two. He even started a real crackling wood fire that lulled me right off to sleepy land. He is simply the best. I repeat, THE BEST. This Christmas dating thing has turned out better than I could have imagined.

Twelve dates of Christmas: On our sixth date of Christmas...

2011-12-14T22:51:00.000-07:00

...We celebrated Dan's December birthday at Moochie's along with the whole Duncan clan! The man loves his Philly cheese steaks, and you can't blame him, they are pretty darn delicious at this little local sandwich dive. BD's family is growing so quickly, we don't even fit at one table any more. Happy Birthday Dan!

The Birthday boy Dan & his beauty Alli

Everybody else + Jana's sister visiting from Virginia. Something about a wedding coming up ;)

No comment.

These two cousins love to give kisses, but it's impossible to photograph!

After the heartburn had settled, we then ventured over to The Grand America's toy store Jou Jou. It did not disappoint. The littles loved it sure enough, but so did the adults just the same. I was mesmerized at their amazing children's book collection and giddy about the unique toys and stuffed animals. If I'm ever having a bad day, I'll know straight where to head to cheer me up in a flash. The boys got sucked into a handheld game and it kept them occupied for a surprisingly looooong time. I need to tuck one of these into my purse for shopping excursions. That game, plus a little snack, could buy me an extra hour.

Big kids.

BD finally gets a win! ...as Ryan looks on in envy.

I should also mention the gelato from La Bonne Vie, because, um...YUM. Sweet tooth is back!

My favorite moment of the night, watching Ellie and Cody completely enchanted by the display windows. Cody kept looking back at us, like, are you guys seeing this?? Also, can you even handle Ellie's chubby thighs? I simply cannot.

Twelve dates of Christmas: On our fifth date of Christmas...

2011-12-11T22:35:00.000-07:00

...We took a wintry Sunday drive up Wolf Creek Pass. This is BD's happy place.

Twelve dates of Christmas: On our fourth date of Christmas...

2011-12-10T23:30:00.000-07:00

...We fancied up for an evening at my work Christmas Party at Zermatt in Midway. It's not often that we attend events that request cocktail attire and the pleasure of our company to order pretty drinks from the bar, but it's real fun when we do!

And after two late nights in a row, this party animal could not keep her eyes open to save her life the following day.

Twelve dates of Christmas: On our third date of Christmas...

2011-12-07T22:10:00.000-07:00

...We bundled up for the Nativity in the Glen, which is fast becoming a favorite neighborhood tradition.

We walked down the candle lit path into Bethlehem,

heard a choir of angels sing,

saw (and smelled) camels, donkeys, sheep, and goats,

smiled awkwardly from the side,

witnessed the wise men bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh,

and beheld Baby Jesus (or baby cheeses, whichever).

It was beautiful!

Twelve dates of Christmas: One our second date of Christmas...

2011-12-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

...We put together Christmas packages for some dear friends in Brazil. Sometimes I still can't believe that we were able to go on that trip. I also can't believe nearly one whole year has passed since then. When I think about all the incredible, inspiring, and sometimes horrifying things we saw, I am reminded of how lucky I am. But nothing tops the people that we met. I am forever humbled by the love and friendship we encountered while there. My memories of those sweet people will be with me forever and I hope we get to see them again. In the meantime, we send them our love with things like peanut butter.

One quick memory: Jailson took us to his home, and Brad told me that he lived in a really nice place which was more or less near a favela (shanty-town) but not in a favela. When we drove onto the bumpy dirt road leading to his building, I could see that his apartment was set aside from the dense favela and away from the main traffic road. However, my perception of the neighborhood didn't fully convince me that we were in a really nice place.

Jailson, with a fair amount of pride, gestured to a stray donkey grazing in the tall weeds and said "see, even the donkey thinks it's peaceful here." It was as if he had said, this place is so wonderful it is even good enough for donkeys. But all I could see was that a stray donkey was grazing on weeds in what was supposed to be a really nice place! My perception of the world as I saw it and my perception of the world as it really was received a huge wake up call that day.

Twelve dates of Christmas: On our first date of Christmas...

2011-12-02T23:00:00.000-07:00

...We ordered Chinese take-out and decorated our Christmas tree(s). We tend to prefer spending Friday nights in, it's just our thing after a long work week. I became a little sentimental while unboxing our three little trees this year. Years ago we had purchased them in a trio from the clearance rack at Shopko on the day before Christmas because we suddenly realized we didn't have a tree. Such a newlywed thing to do, pshaw. I grew up always having a real pine tree in the house for Christmas, but living in an old high rise condo you learn to adapt to a few things like quirky electrical problems and elderly intolerance for pine needles in the elevator. I do love these little trees. Now our house feels warm and bright (and also smells like cashew chicken).

**Thank you to Naomi of The Rockstar Diaries for the Twelve Dates of Christmas idea which has provided a creative way to be intentional about our marriage this month. I'm thinking this is a new holiday tradition (but don't hold me to it). Sometimes I love blogland so much I want to hug it, this is one of those times.

Here we come a Christmasing

2011-11-28T13:53:00.001-07:00

BD's phone was a bit broken this weekend, and shhhhhhh, but it was kinda the best thing ever! I practically had his full and undivided attention for a few days straight. Not that he isn't always and constantly and nonstop to the point of annoying giving me that kind of husbandly attention, I mean, what kind of blog do you think this is anyway? Ahem.
ANYWAY. The long weekend, was awesome. Four straight days of sleeping in, plus naps? Gimme. Last year we were busy planning and stressing about our big adventure in Brazil and we didn't even attempt to deck the halls knowing we wouldn't be around to enjoy it. Instead I was overly stressed about leaving behind a living will so that my family would know where to bury me (thanks for that, mom!). Last year on Christmas day I drank cocoa juice for breakfast and spent the day in the Bahian sun next to an infinity pool under a palm tree listening to waves crash below. Spoiled brat alert. This year I'm content to be home, embrace the winter wonderland, and rub Christmas glitter all over myself.

All in one day we had lunch and dinner with friends, and let me tell you we felt super popular. Like, high school popular, except less Abercrombie. Sometimes it seems we go months without doubling. But I guess we secretly like it that way too. Our double dating adventures ultimately brought us to see the lights on Temple Square. I'm usually not one for big crowds and freezing my tush off, but for this one special tradition there is always time and place. This year I especially enjoyed the nativities from around the world on the East side. Just sayin', the Japanese baby Jesus is ta-die for cute.

You know who else is cute? That little munchkin, Leah. She was a perfect angel that night all bundled up in the cold, not exactly sure what to make of all the lights and people, but nevertheless seemed thrilled to be part of it. When I'm not sitting next to her at church, she blows me kisses from her bench. Heart melt, big time. We're pretty lucky to have friends who will hang out with us, and equally impressed that their kids are impeccably adorable and perfectly behaved, even in a toy store. Sheesh.

The best Thanksgiving ever

2011-11-27T11:26:00.001-07:00

It all started Thanksgiving morning when I woke up with a giant raspberry being blown on my stomach courtesy of the Mr. He thinks he's so cute sometimes. We stayed in our warm cozy bed for a while and recognized the many ways in which we are blessed and all the who's and what's that we are thankful for. And because we had already declared this the best Thanksgiving ever, BD got up first and started making breakfast burritos (score!) while I stayed in bed for one more round of solitaire (double score!). I was on a pretty impressive winning streak, after all. Before long, BD was spandexed-up and headed out on a brisk bike ride and I prepped my kitchen for pie making with the Thanksgiving Day Parade turned on in the background. We set the DVR to record the National Dog Show, because duh, cute doggies. With the Mr. exercised, showered, and shaved and all the food prepped, baked, and bagged we set out for Mom and Papa Ed's.

I am of the opinion that the best part of large family gatherings is the symphony of chaos that occurs in the kitchen right before. There's nothing like a warm, crowded kitchen with busy bodies everywhere, catching up on this and that, tasting and stirring, rolls in the oven, rolls that won't rise, turkey shrapnel flying, gravy that needs salting, appetizers that need eating, everyone happy and hungry and stepping on one another trying not to get burned or doused or otherwise. A blessing on the food and somehow, miraculously, everything makes it to the table warm and perfect and tasting like Thanksgiving should. Then the pies come out, and well, that is why it was the best Thanksgiving ever.

Our families, both sides, are ever changing. There is a cute new boyfriend on the scene, a soldier still away from home, newlyweds with big smiles and unshaven beards, newly engaged couples with sparkly rings, babies on the way, babies hoped to be on the way, a surprise visit from the great nieces and nephew, new ballroom dance shoes, others on the road away from home, talk of new jobs, new gadgets, a call from T&T, and of course the WHATTHEWHAT?! revelation of the day. Gotta have that. We love and cherish our families and all the crazy they bring into our lives. And we very much appreciate them accepting the crazy that we likewise bring into theirs.

Hugs and kisses and just like that we were back in the car headed home sweet home. Only, we ran into horrible stand still traffic on the north bound freeway, which is never fun. But since this was the best Thanksgiving ever we squashed our complaints and instead prayed for the families that were affected by whatever it was that had shut down the freeway. They were most likely not having the best Thanksgiving ever and if I could have I would have given them my leftover pumpkin pie. By the time we arrived home we were so full that we vowed to never eat again, and so tired that we vowed to sleep forever, and ultimately so thankful that we vowed to never forget our blessings, which are many.

A Girly Girls Weekend

2011-11-06T22:04:00.001-07:00

I've just spent a most cozy and snowy weekend at Sundance with my girlfriends. We mostly huddled around the fire and dished about babies and botox and blogging. Hello 30. We stayed in our pajamas. We finally remembered the name of that one prehistoric Will Smith rap song. Impressive. We shopped some. We slept some. We confided one with another. I ate a chocolate donut. It was delightfully relaxing indeed. I'm not supposed to, but I will tell you anyway, that at least one of us waded naked into Deer Creek, up to the chin, at dusk, and with snow on the ground mind you, all for a dare of $35. I won't say who, but she is mommy to my absolute favorite little toe-heads, one with the most adorable lisp your ears will ever hear, and another who calls me Jenny with so much sincere enthusiasm that I've had no choice but to adopt my new name. Turning 30 will not slow (her) us down. Hugs and kisses to all who came and made it a memory.

Eight is Great (and getting even better!)

2011-10-30T21:29:00.007-06:00

Aw, shucks

Just so you know, I don't particularly love these pictures of us but sometimes being picky is only going to make matters worse and will never make matters skinnier. So. This particularly beautiful fall evening we were up Millcreek Canyon taking Russ & Jana's engagement photos and Jana-bless her-insisted on snapping a few of us. After all, it was the day before our anniversary. The kissing photo? Well, that was because as 8 year veterans we felt obligated to show the rookie newlywedstobe how it is done properly. Like this. You see? Instructional purposes only. Plus, I love him, so it was an easy sell.
Eight years ago I would not have been able to guess even one single detail about our life together today. It is nothing how I imagined it would be. Literally everything from where we live, where he works, where I work, (and don't get me started on my hair) is completely different than what we had envisioned. Spoiler: it's actually better. (Not necessarily my hair but we're working on that, too). Because 8 years after the cake and the honeymoon when you're holding sweaty, nervous hands with someone in the Dr.'s office you'd better be sure it's someone who is willing to fight in the trenches of life with you. Sometimes it is the surprises that make life better and even BEST.
Now, he will probably always set multiple alarm clocks separately to randomly odd times (like 6:13 and 6:26 am-I.am.not.joking) and I will probably never be willing to iron his dress shirts, let alone be able to do it correctly. Yet, this thing this we do every day called marriage somehow works. Because when we need it most, he will carry my rock of burden and I will carry his. We're both learning how best not to drop it on each others toes. This makes the plenitude of sweet moments, big triumphs, and even small victories that we share all the more treasured. He's my lobster. Need I say more?
Of course I do. We did take a day last weekend to slip away and spend some time together. Although, ahem, he did work for most of it. Come to think of it, lounging alone in bed all morning watching the Food Network didn't seem to bother me much. He gets a free pass. BD ordered room service for breakfast because when BD's on vacation BD gets spendy, folks! This is what I found when I did finally emerge from bed: a 60 year old version of my husband, clad in white robe, reading the newspaper, and waiting patiently to eat his spicy man breakfast complete with hash browns and sausage and a whole side of Tobasco. Flash back to present day and if in 30 years I happen find this exact situation again, I'll consider myself the luckiest lady (or grandma?) that ever kept a man from his breakfast.

xoxo

Happiness is

2011-10-30T21:08:00.000-06:00

watching paper lanterns disappear into the night sky.

A Weekend with Ellie

2011-10-17T21:16:00.002-06:00

We had the pleasure of having our sweet niece Ellie stay with us last weekend and we learned a few things. First, two-year olds are smart. Waaaaaaaay smart. Smarter than us to be certain. She was constantly wowing us with her brilliance. Second, two-year olds are sweet. We each received an over abundance of hugs and sweet slobbery kisses all weekend. We loved it :). On Saturday the three of us hit up the zoo. Stroller, diaper bag, sippy cup, check. We did our best to look like competent caregivers the entire time. It was possibly 100% more fun for us than for her. We anxiously awaited her reaction to everything we did and saw. The BEBE ELFANT was a big hit! So were the monkeys, giraffes, sheeps, and the whoot whoot train. We loved having a little sidekick with us for a few days, it made life a little more colorful and a lot more lovable.

Visitors from Germany

2011-10-15T20:09:00.000-06:00

For a few weeks during the end of September and first of October we had the privilege of hosting Julia and Michaela Habermann from Munich Germany. The family friendship and connection goes back to when their dad and BD's dad served as missionary companions in the Swiss/Germany mission way back when. We have all been to Germany to visit them, and likewise they have come to visit the Duncans here in Utah. This was Michaela's first time to the States and upon landing in Salt Lake she wanted to go straight to Temple Square before eating, sleeping, or anything else. BD was an especially good tour guide and in one day they visited 6 temples. We took them to do Baptisms in the Salt Lake Temple and it was a particularly sweet experience. They saw all the sights around Utah and even went shooting with BD's brothers, took a road trip to Las Vegas and The Grand Canyon, bought sweatshirts from the BYU bookstore, and even ate my food :).

A big one: BD's 30!

2011-10-14T20:58:00.000-06:00

Someone had a birthday this past weekend. We started the day with toasted pumpkin bagels smeared with whipped pumpkin cream cheese, because it seemed very very necessary for a fall birthday breakfast. Is it just me or do some men become more attractive as they age? Seems unfair. Then again, I don't have to change the oil. So. We finished the day with a beautiful dinner at Sundance accompanied by BD's family-we were late-but it was his birthday after all so no one seemed too upset. Whew! I was almost able to surprise him. But, no. He's more observant of my quirky behavior than I could ever give him credit for. As we were driving to dinner and I uncharacteristically wasn't having an ever-loving meltdown about the possibility of being late to a scheduled event and did not even attempt to call the restaurant and rearrange our romantic dinner reservation for two: he was totally on to me. It was also the twins birthday this week so we celebrated everyone together with rounds of apple pie and peach cobbler. Perfect company, perfectly fall.

On the way home I asked him what he wanted to do with his next thirty years.
Raise a family with you, of course!
And so I say, he's a good man this birthday boy. One of the best, I think.

I've been working on another picture book filled with our traditional one handed self-portrait snapshots. It arrived just in time to justify it as pre-birthday gift. I must say, through all the ups and downs that were our twenties, we have had some fun, he and I.

Happy Birthday BD!!

'Round Here

2011-10-13T19:00:00.003-06:00

...are whisperings of a winter wedding - russ is engaged to the beautiful jana!..

...i'm dusting off the 'ol boots and sweaters to help cut the chill in the air...

...we're eating lots of hearty fall salads and meals with root vegetables...

...i love walking in the mornings with friends, when the weather permits...

...we're babysitting a busy bee toddler this weekend, please wish us luck ;)...

...it's all about coming home to sweatpants after work, i tell you what...
...i'm growing more and more excited for the holidays than ever before...
...we're ever inspired knowing others are making the impossible, possible...

September

2011-09-30T19:06:00.010-06:00

Oh September. That was awful fast of you. And yet, your days were the longest I may have ever lived. Tick. Tock. Today then tomorrow. I remember thinking, is it still only Wednesday today? It was. Everything in limbo. Not quite summer, not yet fall. But now that you're gone, in the blink of an eye, I wonder where you went. Will I remember every silent prayer? All month long we hoped, we wished, we dreamed, the Mr. and me together. I wonder. Did you even happen at all? You did. I know now. How much difference a year makes, a month, a day even. In September.

Life in iPhone pics

2011-09-29T13:00:00.000-06:00

This has been stuck in my draft folder nearly all summer. Not sure what fancy-pants occasion I've been waiting for to post it, but since it is cold and rainy today I suppose it's acceptable to wrap up the last of our summer with some random phone pics.

6.30 Prototype: mini wedding cupcakes, 600!

7.12 Making stuff, neighborhood humanitarian day

7.22 Bonafied HOODLUMS, Deer Valley Outdoor Concert

7.23 Best $7.50 date night, State Street taco stand

7.28 Deedee the magical tennis ballerina

8.11 Richman Sisters and Aunt Polly

8.28 Tramp time at grandpa's

8.31 Loves it when I'm sick and cuddly

via Instagram

Happiness is

2011-09-22T15:55:00.002-06:00

...seeing my family grow! {Congratulations to Haley & Korbin}

Some habits never die

2011-09-16T00:21:00.013-06:00

Circa 2001? Note: Zigzag hair part, metallic "puffy" jean jacket, keyboard/monitor, baby face

This morning I answered my office phone and habitually announced "NetDocuments, this is Gina."
Then, I died.
Because I don't work at NetDocuments. In fact it's been over 7 years since I worked there. People, I do this ALL THE TIME. Even though I've worked other jobs in between, it's always "NetDocuments" that rolls off my tongue. Luckily this time me and the caller had a good hardy chuckle about my innocent slip before we moved on to other business. People are nice.
I'll never forget my first real job, working for my future father-in-law, studying for college (or, writing my missionary), switching shifts with Linds, watching "Elimidate" with my bff Ali during lunch hour, and generally just trying to keep my act together post high school, pre real world. That job taught me invaluable life lessons and skills that prepared me, in some way, for all the jobs I've had since. No wonder it's still ingrained. Sacred ground, that front desk.

Photo credit: courtesy of Alan Landes, current Director of QA for ND, who pulled this gem from the archives earlier this year.

'Round Here

2011-09-10T09:34:00.002-06:00

...i've had a lot of down time, but you won't hear me complaining...

...bd loves to steal kisses in the elevator, sometimes we get caught...
...a hidden stash of cadbury mini eggs was found, it's been a good week...
...i've been listening to jack and white's gemini ep, i pretty much dig it...
...there is a fall crisp in the air, sleeping with windows open is a must...
...pumpkin cookies are a suitable vegetable side dish for any given meal...
...i'm trying to figure out the best/easiest way to cook a whole chicken...
...we're often amazed when things miraculously just come together...
...i'm preparing myself for the best-and the worst-but mostly the best...

Happiness is

2011-09-03T21:13:00.002-06:00

when broiler s'mores just sort of happen on accident.

Millcreek Canyon 'Mallow Roast Extravaganza

2011-08-30T18:22:00.005-06:00

Nothing says summertime like a weenie roast up the canyon. Nothing says summer tradition like a roasted chocolate banana boat. Nothing says summer nights like roasted marshmallows, or 5. Nothing says summer fun like an evening outdoors with friends. Which is why nothing less than the word EXTRAVAGANZA would do. I promise, there were actual people there who claim us as actual friends (and even two brand new squishy sleepy-drunk-off-milk babies), not that I took any pictures for proof because the real stars, and frankly the whole point of the night, was the simple food cooked over a simple fire. It was one of those nights I won't soon forget. The people. The kids. The babies. The dog. The laughs. The love. Summerness at its very very best.

xo

Q: how many grown-up boy scouts does it take to start a fire?
A: like 5.

Reason #1001 that I love my neighborhood

2011-08-24T22:05:00.001-06:00

Wanna know what's fun? A back-to-school street party where the little kids can color on the pavement, the bigger kids take full-reign of the street on scooters, the adults stand around and do whatever adults do, and everyone gets ice cream cones!

Tour of Utah, America's Toughest Stage Race

2011-08-17T19:38:00.015-06:00

I couldn't attempt to document the rest of our summer without plugging the Tour of Utah. BD gets so. very. excited. for this race each summer, and this year was the most excited I've ever seen him. Few things in life get him this pumped. He talked non-stop about "the Tour" for weeks leading up to the race, and well, the cycling chatter didn't exactly slow down during the race itself. There were some big names in the field this year, many of these guys had just been at the Tour de France. Fun to see a small race grow in our backyard. We saw as much as we could live, and BD was glued to his phone or computer otherwise. Admittedly, I did a lot of eye-rolling during the event but truthfully I love that he is so passionate for this sport. The final stage was my favorite, with a big mountain loop and hill climb finish to Snowbird. There were hundreds of screaming crazy cycling fans at Tanner Flats up Little Cottonwood Canyon cheering on the riders as they passed. Go Levi!

Let's pretend my face isn't that chubby normally, mmmkay?

Big Sister's Wedding / Catching up

2011-08-16T19:33:00.029-06:00

Sometimes I blog. And sometimes I don't. But I always catch up! I'm releasing some drafts that have been sitting idle for weeks now, waiting for final touches that they'll never get. At least it's something. Don't worry BD will edit them for grammar and spelling later. This summer has been b-u-s-y and with all the wedding excitement happening in my family BD has been hogging the computer for editing photos and such.

The Mr. & Mrs.

My biggest (yet littlest) sister Jody was married on August 11th to a handsome Mark Covington. We are so happy for her, for them, and for our family to grow in this way. Jodz was stunning and gorgeous, like a Spanish Senorita with her dark hair curled around her face and that fancy ruffly dress. Congratulations Jody and Mark! All the best, and stuff.

Mom and Mr. Ed were still on their summer hiatus somewhere on the East Coast, so Ed's daughter (bless her) was assigned to walk around with an iPhone so they wouldn't miss one single second of the action. Also, it was about 450 degrees inside the "shed" where we were prepping food. Because of the heat I have totally forgiven my brother-in-law for fake killing me with his fake knife.

There are so many more pictures to post from the wedding, but this will have to do! BD has yet to edit most of them. I kind of panicked right before the wedding started. Jody, Marci, and Brook had all been there prepping during they day, while I was home doing the wedding cake. When I finally showed up with the cake, they all left to go home and ready themselves. Then people started showing up asking to help and where does this go? and whatnot. I'm the youngest! I'm not supposed to be in charge, I'm supposed to show up and take orders from my sisters: that's my job. Also, I have the uncanny ability to turn every situation into drama, and I'm talking comedy and tragedy all at once. I just love my sisters, Muah! to each of you.

Marce, Jodz, G, Cookie

Evolution of a Wedding Cake

2011-08-15T19:21:00.000-06:00

My first wedding cake, so it were. The fact that it didn't fall apart during transport + tasted pretty good + made the bride smile all contributed to a big moment for this amateur hack baker. When my darling 12 year old niece Maddy saw the cake she said "Brook is going to be so proud of Gina for making that." Love her. During the reception my aunt Polly came up to me with fork in hand, cake in mouth, and pointed at the slice on her plate. "You know what you are? A perfectionist!" I laughed out loud. If only to avoid crying. And now I can't decide if she's right or way way wrong. After all of the self-induced stress and nerves and frosting taste-testing I didn't think I would ever eat cake again. And yet. I woke up the next morning and ate wedding cake for breakfast.

Happiness is

2011-08-14T19:43:00.004-06:00

watching BD blow that blasted plastic vuvuzela like it's his job, and it basically was this weekend at the TofU!

'Round Here

2011-08-02T18:01:00.006-06:00

cake inspiration

...the house is too quiet and clean with bd off scouting in the mountains...

...i'm throwing acupuncture into the mix, because what can it hurt?...

...we're getting excited about big sister's wedding bells coming up...

...i've been sweet-dreaming in wedding cakes and cupcakes and whatnot...

...shark week dominates; i can't stand to watch yet can't turn away...

...i'm loving the summer rainstorms and the green hills notsofar away...

...we're desperate for a canyon campfire and some roasted bananas too...

...i'm learning lessons on self-compassion and how i need more...

...the goodness and grace of our father in heaven humbles us daily...

Staycationing 101

2011-07-27T21:04:00.006-06:00

Oh Summerness, how I love thee. We spent last weekend tucked away in Deer Valley with friends. It was one of those off-the-diet-hair-in-a-bun all weekend treasures! This time of year the mountains are nothing short of glorious, and you can't beat only 45 minutes in the car to feel like you're a world away. I must have been overly excited to be on vacation because I failed to sleep past 7:00 am on the first morning. Apparently BD was even more pumped because he nearly jumped for joy when I finnnnally started stirring around 6:30 am. Such a vacation no-no.

Friday night we went to the Deer Valley Music Festival and heard The Von Trapp Children with the Utah Symphony. Perched on blankets in the snow park amphitheater we shared a beautiful picnic and I was introduced to cranberry mustard and now I can never go back. Me and cranberry mustard must never be separated again. The Von Trapp's were delightful and fun to sing along in such a pristine Sound-of-Music-y setting. I loved every Dirndl minute of it.

I smothered little ellejay with no less than 10,000 kisses. The look on her face really says it all. I'm sorry littlemiss, but aunt G has her needs. Someday I will sneak you gum, k? Maybe it's because I adore her mother to no end. Maybe it's because she is a miracle baby that was never meant to be, and yet is. Maybe it's her sweet mohawk. Maybe it's because at 9 months she's oodles of fun and yes, that stinkin' cute. Whatever it is, this littlemiss fills us both with so much hope. She tugs at my heart!

The rest of the weekend included a scenic drive to Oakley for lunch and a caramel-Oreo malt at the Road Island Diner, a little baby buffalo {swooooon} and a never-ending rendition of "The Wheels on the Bus" because Leah would cry when mom stopped singing. Oh so cute. Kim had that bus doing things I didn't know buses could do! Superb Mommy skills.

We also spent some time poolside where I somehow managed to unevenly burn the left side of my body to an indelicate crisp. I'm so over being tan. There was nap time, not just for the babe. Come dinner time we ate an elegant meal on the outside patio; I am of the opinion that in the summer it is an absolute treat to dine outdoors. Come bed time I knew we wouldn't have any trouble sleeping in after such a full day. And we didn't. I also didn't want to go home. But we did. Thoughts of chips and salsa at the Loco Lizard certainly helped pry us out of bed and in the right direction. Rough weekend, you see?

P.S. I'm not about to let my passport expire, but I think we're enjoying the staycation thing more than we ever thought possible. If BD were writing this he'd boast "Utah is just a giant playground." My somewhat obvious, unsolicited and non-expert advice is to take advantage of local off-season deals where you can get way more bang for your buck. Oh, and make sure to go with friends, especially if they have a cute baby to munch on. Class dismissed ;).

Happiness is

2011-07-27T11:21:00.001-06:00

a silhouetted sunset

Actually, it never gets old

2011-07-22T15:12:00.003-06:00

member?

Bryce Canyon Half Marathon

2011-07-20T19:48:00.012-06:00

BD's family is full of running fools. Two weeks ago, after not having run for like, ever, BD decides that he'll up and run the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon with Russ, Michelle and Alli. Is it just me, or do men seem to have this ability to just do stuff like this on a whim? I'm going with, yeah. The injustice of it all bewilders me. Regardless, it was a perfect excuse to tag along on a little road trip with the Duncan family (minus Ellie who stayed home for some precious daddy-daughter time and was missed enormously). All the runners did superb! I was proud of each of them. Not sure if you knew this, but running is hard. I have such great respect for anyone who can run past the end of my street, because that is usually where I succumb and die a very horrible death.

Sojourners: Michelle, Russ, BD, Alli, Heather, Jenny

Surprise, surprise cousins Jenny and Heather ran as well. On the sidelines we visited with Stu and Helen who always give big giant hugs and make you feel warm and fuzzy from head to toe.
We took the long way home - because that's what Duncan's do - and I finished my book. Hooray for summer reading! Also, I did pay very close attention to the beautiful scenery surrounding us. Especially the full-to-the-brim golden moon that hovered so handsomely over the mountains that first night. My lawsie, was that ever a site to behold. We drank cold sarsaparilla and inhaled giant ginger molasses cookies at the Burr Trail Grill in Boulder. Totally worth going back for.

Plenty of little stops along the way helped so that the runners and little Cody could get out and stretch their legs. That boy, he's a charmer. Such a darling and good natured little rascal. But hello, look at his parents. They take easy street to a whole new level. I could just squish him.

Twins. Aren't these two adorable? Indeed. Besties through and through. Notice how their stride is exactly the same! Like I said, adorable.

Russ & Michelle, Besties

I'm not sure I can take this post to any greater heights than this. It's taken me no less than 6 blog sessions to finally finish it without being interrupted, side-tracked or distracted by something else. Have a lovely weekend! We'll be picnicking and lovin' us some Von Trapp Children in Deer Valley tonight. Feel the joy people :)

This guy, we love

2011-07-20T19:11:00.004-06:00

On the way down to Bryce Canyon last weekend we pit-stopped at the Scipio (love that word) gas station / Dairy Queen to fill up the cars and indulge our road trippin' bellies with a frozen treat. It had been far too long since my last chocolate dipped cone. {insert wistful sigh}
Anyway, moving on.
While pumping our gas a Mercedes Sprinter Van pulls forward at the adjacent pump. The Duncan men pay notice. The Duncan women pay notice to the Duncan men paying notice to a camping van and wonder why they even put on makeup that morning. {insert beleaguered sigh}
Anyway, moving on.
By this point the clan has migrated inside and in line to order their dinner and guilty pleasures, as they may be. But not my father-in-law Lee. Nope. He is outside saddled up to the van chewing the cud with three ladies (ahem) who, come to find out, are en-route from Glacier National Park to home in the South. And he's washing their windows. 'Cause he's just that guy. I couldn't love him more. {insert affectionate sigh}

Hit the road, Jack

2011-07-15T13:50:00.004-06:00

via

Summerness is well under tow / my list is shrinking just as the days
Oh boy, this week has been busy / Oh girl, next week looks busier
You must know I love it when / my old boss is back in town
Lyrics on repeat / streets are uneven when you are down
Today is my Grandma R's birthday / I miss her so much it hurts
BD is a cyclist / masquerading as a runner for the weekend
My tennis game is seeing improvement / am so happy about it
On the other hand / my piano practicing has taken a huge hit
Root beer popsicles / are keeping this girl ~~nourished~~ happy
Did you know / most of the world thinks root beer is disgusting?
I have the travel bug / also known as running from my problems
Am scared out-of-my-mind / as to what the rest of this year holds
But this weekend / I'm excited to road trip with some cool cats
Last weekend / I made a strawberry-rhubarb pie from scratch
Further evidence that I am becoming my mother / it's not so bad

Happy Friday!

Being Uncle Brad

2011-07-11T19:07:00.015-06:00

7.4.11

After all the Fourth of July hype of the slip 'n slide, swimming, elevator rides, lunch, and a way-too-short-for-mom nap in the car seat Ellie cuddled up to Brad with binky and blankie while we watched the Tour. She kept still for a solid half hour or so. A rare occasion, you could imagine, for a perpetually busy and curious little toddler. Ellie would pat his hand softly with one hand and twirl her hair with the other. A beautiful sweet moment, forever imprinted in my mind. I think Brad's heart grew three sizes that day. There's something to be said about being an aunt or an uncle that allows for a little reprieve for mom or dad and where there's no guilt in sneaking extra bites of ice cream from the kitchen.

29 going on 80 and other holiday weekend highlights

2011-07-11T19:05:00.000-06:00

I'm not joking when I say we packed our Fourth of July weekend pretty solid. It caused my body to ache all over from the intense amount of fun we had. BBQ at mom's. Dinner with the Duncan's. Bike races. Hayley and Jody's engagement photos. Patriotic choir performances. More family togetherness. More eating. More fun. More fireworks. More fun I tell you!

BD's bubble-blowing cheer section

My boss passed me his tickets to The Stadium of Fire last minute and we couldn't turn them down, being that we're all about fun. Country music and fireworks in your home town is as patriotic as it gets. I'm hesitant to admit that we did wear ear-plugs and had every intention of leaving before the fireworks ended if it were not for being stuck in the middle of a very long row. We didn't want to be those people. You know. So we took one for the team and stuck it out through all the fun. Because we are 29 going on 30, not 80.

On the way home we had a lengthy discussion about whether having kids makes you more fun. I'm not sure what the consensus was, because I fell asleep.

Breakfast in the Park

2011-07-05T14:25:00.006-06:00

We invited BD's family to join us this year for our neighborhood Fourth of July Breakfast in the Park. I love this tradition just as much as I love my neighbors and neighborhood. We really hope to not get kicked out, ever. But if we do, we're coming for your basement (you know who you are!). Even on a slightly chilly, overcast and muggy Independence Day, the 200 foot slip 'n slide is always a crowd pleaser. With our hillside scorched by fire just the day before, I was nervous the fire department wouldn't have enough trucks or manpower to spare. But they came, and with two trucks! Which made the whole shebang perfect.

BD and CJ did a knock out job of manning the top deck again. The slip 'n slide is pure entertainment: steep hill + fire hose + baby bubble bath = a seriously slippery situation. Michelle and Alli proved to be the only rock star moms who dared take their babies down. They got a big fat KU-DOS from me that day. I'm not sure Cody and Ellie could quite appreciate the awesomeness of it all.

We were thrilled to introduce our family to some of our very favorite people.

Behold...our beloved park with a view. A bubble bath beard. Toddling toddlers with cute bums. And babies with twirly feet. Babies with twirly feet make my heart stop.

Afterwards we took a chilly, short lived dip in the pool, followed by sandwiches, watching the Tour de France (which is airing non-stop at my house these days), and homemade strawberry ice cream.

BD shuttled off for his third bike race of the weekend, and I opted to stay home. To nap. It had been a solid 3 day weekend and sometimes I think I'm not built for that amount of fun. That evening we both had a hard time keeping our eyes awake watching the fireworks from our balcony. The new aerial fireworks were clearly a big hit, every neighborhood in the valley was lighting up in perfect style.

Until next year: may the fourth be with you!

Summerness

2011-06-29T07:05:00.006-06:00

This summer would usually be all about a big trip with my family off sailing somewhere fabulously exotic. But life doesn't always turn out as planned (newsflash! sponsored by me), so we're rolling with it. We've been pouring our pennies into other adventures equally exciting and scary but not nearly as scenic or relaxing. Even though we're sticking close to home I haven't given up on summer fun completely. My bucket list is growing fast; time to put the Go/Make/Try/Learn/Do of summerness into action.* It already feels like the warm days are fleeting, doesn't it? I figure if I check off even 1/4 of these things come September it will have been the most fantastic summer ever.

Summerness 2011

Try a new flavor of shaved ice/beyond coconut/really, you can do it!
~~Take a day off of work, and do nothing~~
~~Make homemade strawberry ice cream~~
~~Sit and relax by the pool at least three times/don't be intimidated by bikini bodies~~
~~Enjoy a campfire up the canyon~~
~~Roast marshmallows and of course make s'mores~~
Play bocce ball/win
~~H-Rock walks every mornin~~
Take a day trip to Eden, visit the Trappist Monastery
Host a Sunday Brunch
Take a cooking class
~~Spend an entire weekend in Park City~~
~~Try a new restaurant, or five~~
~~Eat outside as much as possible~~
~~Make homemade salsa/eat the whole bowl~~
Paint the bedrooms/or hire someone to do it for you
Eat squeaky cheese
~~Get a little tiny bit tan/but never sun burned~~
Try wearing hats more?
Learn two new pieces on the piano/practice the piano
~~Perfect the Swiss-meringue buttercream~~
Write postcards from Salt Lake to friends who live elsewhere
~~Take a drive to Oakley and stop for onion rings at the Road Island Diner~~
Jump in a mountain lake/clothing optional
Go on a long bike ride with BD
~~Have a Sunday picnic in the park~~
~~Wear skirts to work~~
~~Read/listen to~~ ~~Water for Elephants~~
~~Splurge on good sushi~~
Drive out to the Spiral Jetty
~~Walk to church~~
Throw a frisbee
~~Go to an outdoor concert or play~~
~~Make 600 mini wedding cupcakes with Brook~~
~~Play tennis/make Coach proud!~~
~~See the movie "Super 8" in a theater~~
Shop at the farmers market
Go camping or backpacking/don't forget Advil PM
Go hiking in Big Cottonwood Canyon
~~Bake chocolate chip cookies/eat cookie dough~~
Organize your recipe collection into three-ringed binders
~~Sleep with the windows open~~
~~Always have berries in your fridge~~
Or watermelon
~~Host a BBQ on the patio/eat a cheeseburger without guilt~~
Find the most comfy pair of flip-flops and buy them
~~Watch "Friday Night Lights" on Saturday mornings~~

*I'm happy to report that since I started this list several weeks ago I've nibbled off at least eight chunks of summerness already. Life is beautiful. Especially when bullet-pointed.

San Diego & BD's New/Old Benz

2011-06-18T19:00:00.006-06:00

BD has been on the hunt for a cheap commuter car that can get him to work and back a few times per week. You know, for those days when cycling 45 miles to the office just isn't convenient. I knew he had found the one when I received a g-chat that simply read:
"we need to talk"
{long pause}
"it's about a car"
A few days later we were in San Diago and ready to drive it home! And well, since it was in San Diego, CA and not Nowheresville, USA I tagged along for some weekend adventure. Meet Bruce.

1984 Mercedez-Benz 190d ("d" stands for diesel and for duh! that is all BD will drive)

You see that? That is the face of a happy boy with a new toy. That is also the face of an embarrassed man whose wife is standing smack in the middle of a busy road taking a picture of him leaning against an old car. Wait, would I get more blog-cred if I used the word "vintage" instead? Bruce is nearly as vintage as we are and surprisingly needs minimal work, but has enough small projects to keep BD thoroughly occupied and happily tinkering.
Once the car was officially ours it became clear after just a few hours that this vehicle was, for sure, a male. You just know. We threw around some names, but Bruce has ultimately stuck. (runner up: Run-DMC). Why Bruce? Let me break it down:

Bruce is a classy name; fit only for classy guys (my Uncle Bruce!) or in this case, a classy car.
Bruce was kindofabigdeal in 1984! Not unlike a certain Bruce Springsteen.
If Bruce could he would be sporting a knit square-end tie and wayfarers (both items I believe BD should incorporate into his wardrobe asap) to coordinate with those tan pleather seats.
Bruce's personality is clearly laid-back and practical, which is easy to be when your automatic sunroof still works and you squeeze an impressive 40 mpg. Nicely done Bruce, nicely done.

6.11.11 Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA

The name fits, doesn't it? We spent our weekend in San Diego getting to know Bruce and sourcing out the best fish tacos. When in Rome, right? We also went running along the Sunset Cliffs, watched a paddle-surfing competition, devoured banana bread french toast, played a bit of tennis, and utilized all the free stuff our hotel could offer. The trip home was interesting without A/C. I assure you that chocolate milkshake from In-n-Out was for my survival only. Nothing like a drive through the desert with the windows down to remind you of just how high-maintenance you really are.

My New Favorite Thing?

2011-06-18T18:45:00.001-06:00

Custom-created trail-mix! Thanks to Sunflower Markets for having a huge array of bulk goodies to choose from. Perfect for a quick gift that you can customize to someone's personal tastes. Start with your basic nut and/or fruit blend, then add those specialty items you know they'll die for. Chocolate cinnamon bears for her, peanut butter pretzels for him, chocolate cherry sours for you, yogurt chips for everyone! Mix it up, bag it up, and then give it away. Because as it turns out this stuff is not low cal.

Sweet Exchange

2011-06-06T17:48:00.004-06:00

This morning a friend and fellow orchid lover sent me a picture with simple text: thinking of you. Three words embedded with a thousand more considering the bittersweet history of our connection. We've exchanged love stories of our potted plants before, how they brighten our soul and so forth. I replied with a picture. We do this every bloom. It was such a sweet gesture and took the sting out of Monday.

J's Orchid

G's Orchid

Yes, totally obsessing with Instagram at the moment. Really fun. Really addicting. Really. Really. Really.

Her life in iPhone pics

2011-06-04T19:26:00.000-06:00

5.4.11 Street Tacos are back

5.4.11 Spring lunch time walks

5.7.11 Midway Family Bonner Home (for sale)

5.13.11 barefoot on green grass

5.26.11 Afternoon at the theater-marvelous!

5.30.11 Specs

6.2.11 Pool's open! Waiting for sunshine

6.4.11 First snow cones of the season

His life in Android (traitor) pics

2011-06-04T19:25:00.000-06:00

4.9.11 The Fiat in the US!

5.2.11 Jetta hit 200k miles

5.6.11 Rover Land

5.11.11 Vintage Benz

5.19.11 Deuce and a half

5.21.11 Glitretind, mmmm

5.22.11 Hotel hopping

6.4.11 Boys love trains

Refreshing: Janelle Monáe

2011-06-01T17:39:00.010-06:00

This is a brief pause from our regularly scheduled programming. As a rule, I don't use this site for pimping out anyone (besides me! duh) or any thing but now and again something comes along that requires it some pimping. Like her.

photo

I'm totally loving on Janelle Monáe. Her sound is smart and the content is original; it's about something. Her style is all her own. And the girl can mooooove. This video is my favorite. Please watch it; 5 million other people have. I tried some of those moves this afternoon. in my office. with the door closed. but with my chunky Frye heels on the tightrope didn't work out so smooth. Yeah, we all know it wasn't just the shoes, but...it was worth a shot. I'll stick to shuffling paper around my desk for now.

I'm typically a day late keeping up with the what-y-whats and who-de-whos (cue Jen!) in the world of HIP* and I know she's been around. You might remember her (or the hair) from the Grammy's. But she's new to me! And if she's new to you too, dive in my friend. By that I mean download.

*It's probably totally un-hip to even use the word hip. Like, if you're HIP you wouldn't demean the image by saying it because to be effectively un-hip is really to be decidedly hip? It's so confusing to be cool! If anyone knows, fill me in.

A long (rainy) weekend

2011-05-30T11:00:00.002-06:00

Red roses, purple peonies, white as love

We continue to have a cold, wet spring as evidenced by the skiff of snow on the rooftops this morning. But inclement weather and all, I love a long weekend, rain, shine, or otherwise. Say no to the Sunday night blues. Say yes to sleeping in and sharing the last piece of banana bread for breakfast. Today we remember those who have gone before us, in battle, in sickness, in tragedy, in youth. We remember them all. And miss her too.

The sun did make an appearance on Saturday and BD and I played a bit of tennis and ran a million errands. We made it home just as heavy clouds rolled across the valley. What do to but watch a movie and fall asleep to the sound of rain falling outside open windows. On Sunday we ate salted baked potatoes with BD's family and tart rhubarb pie with mine. We were delighted to met Jody's new fiancé Mark and see the wing. Even though he still uses a hotmail email account the sisters and I decided we can work around that. He's in.

A few weeks ago

2011-05-22T19:36:00.000-06:00

I need to play a bit of catch up. Earlier this month we spent a weekend in Deer Valley: it was a dreamy slice of staycation pie. I particularly love the off season. Not just because the hotel staff is embarrassingly attentive, but because the whole area is nearly deserted and you feel as though you have it all to yourself.

BD already mentioned that we enjoyed a Sunday brunch and two weeks later I'm still thinking about it. I'm telling you, the Glitretend is my most favorite place to eat brunch. The last time we had brunch there was on our first wedding anniversary. Aw, nostalgia. The food is so good you need a cigarette afterwards.

Knox Blox Rainbow Jello Kabobs / Glitretind Restaurant

You shouldn't be surprised to know that my favorite part was the dessert room. I fell in love with these Knox Blox rainbow jello kabobs. I mean really, aren't they perfect? They made my whole weekend. Well actually, big white fluffy robes, a hot tub soak, and dinner with friends also had something to do with it.

I am: trying new things, like tennis

2011-05-13T16:00:00.032-06:00

For the record, I am not a highly coordinated or sporty individual. I've proven this to myself time and time again. Flash back to Jr. High during a Jr. Jazz (city basketball league) game where I caught a rebound much to the shock of myself and team mates and in a total anxious panic I threw the ball back up in the air and SCORED A BASKET FOR THE OTHER TEAM. I kid you not. The shame of that moment has been with me for an eternity until recently when I realized that hey! I made a basket! In a basketball game! With people watching! There's a really good possibility that was the only basket I made the entire season and I will cherish those two points forever and ever amen.
Fast forward 15 years and the competitive drive is still very much lacking (except for annual Speed Championships with the family: watch out). And the anxiety of being in front of people is still very much present. I am no stinky cheese because it is clear that coordination does not get better with age. However, the only sports I've ever, and I mean EVER squeaked out a win against BD are racquetball and tennis. So obviously this is something I feel very obligated to pursue so that he is never allowed a leg up. Our marriage depends on it.

{Bethany, Dani, Nerd, Jane, DeeDee, and Kim @ Coach Mike's} Photo courtesy of sweet Jane

This week I started TENNIS LESSONS. Somehow I miraculously convinced 5 other women that this was a good idea, and they started with me. BD had to push me out the door that first night because I was so nervous. But in the end, it was the most fun I've had in a good long while. Once we had been chastised for not having the right shoes or the right equipment Coach Karl initiated us to the court and while observing us giggling and high-fiving each other said "I have a feeling this is going to be 50% tennis and 50% ... something else." That remaining 50% is yet to be determined, but we sure did laugh a lot. Coach Karl should be knighted for his valiant effort spending over an hour with the 6 of us delinquents. I'm looking forward to spending Thursday evenings with these beautiful ladies out in the sun, out on the court. Here's to trying new things, like tennis.

Congratulations to Bethany who is graduating from Law School today. Huzzah! I'm proud of her to the point of tears. Plus she ends emails with the words like, "Also, I think you're very good looking."

So naturally, I love her.

Here's to a rainy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T19:25:00.002-06:00

BD here. We just got home from a relaxing weekend away where there were no alarm clocks. I made sure of that. It was just what we needed. Although, there was that incident with the toilet...

While every day holds something that reminds me of my mom, Mother's Day is a great time to actively remember her on my terms because I don't do it enough in the hustle-bustle of everyday life. Gina and I reminisced about both of our mothers at various times throughout the weekend. Driving down the canyon today I remembered with shock that she's been gone nearly 8 years next month. For Mother's Day 8 Years ago my siblings and I went to Color-Me-Mine and each designed a plate for her, then presented them while she was in the hospital. They are still hanging in my dad's kitchen.

Mom and Grandma in the kitchen - ca. 2001

When I actively remember her, there are some things that I particularly cherish:

She had as much influence on me marrying Gina as I did. Seriously.
She slept in a hotel one night because we had a fugitive snake loose in the house. (OK, it was probably my brother or me that left the cage door slightly ajar)
She once traded a house.
She and my grandma had a wonderfully close relationship; that must be why I love talking with my grandma.
She trucked me around the Intermountain West to appease my crazy mountain biking addiction throughout my adolescence.
In fact she eagerly supported every whim, interest, or talent that I ever had.
She teased me because Gina had a bike before she had "the ring."
The wing.
Taking walks in the woods on family camping trips.
She never forgot anything, especially the important stuff... right down to the hour of the day it happened.
She made everything special with her "touch."
She had a heart that didn't fit in her body.
After she was gone we found out hundreds of small acts of kindness that she had done for people that no one in the family knew anything about.
She had to wait nearly 10 years before having her first child (me!) which is now something I know a little about and will forever honor the pain and desire she felt to be a parent.
I love her for not giving up.

The MOST Important Women in my life (Leaving for Brazil - ca. 2001)

Lastly, I vividly remember that she loved Sunday Brunch. Gina and I were luckily able to carry on the legacy of the family Sunday Brunch today and I'm sure we'll continue it far into the years to come with our own family. While I skipped the State Crit championships at Pioneer Park, it was much better to get away and spend some quality time with the Mrs. and without the bike.

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." - Abraham Lincoln

Thanks for letting me indulge here.

Color (ish)

2011-05-06T15:10:00.005-06:00

Tulips / Temple Square / May 4th

One of the best things about the warmer (ish) weather this week is that I've resumed taking short walks during the work day. It's a whole new world out there! With people! And street tacos! I no longer dread having to walk across the street to the bank or even 3 blocks to the post office. Any excuse is a good excuse to experience spring. And smell the flowers, as they say. This weekend I'm excited to spend a couple days away (ish). Even though we're not going far it feels like a real vacation when someone makes the bed for you. Oh yes, there is a bubble bath in my near future. I can tell BD's having a loooong hard (ish) day at work. I offered to fake an apendicitis to give us both an early out day. He declined my theatrics but I think it made him smile. Worth it.

Mom's 60 (ish) Birthday

Also today ... Happy Birthday MOM! You da bestest momma. I'm certainly glad you squeaked me in as your #6. Now give Zoee some cake.

As always, thanks for reading. Avaniceweekend!

Dang those Beautiful Royals

2011-04-28T17:30:00.020-06:00

I've been avoiding the whole Royal Wedding over-hype like the plague. That is, until this week. I'll admit it: I've caved. Like, fallen into some deep crevasse of Royal Wedding mania where now I kind of want a commemorative mug. I'm not joking. Aside from the irresistible kitsch, what is the deal with this wedding anyway? Americans abhor this kind of pompous ruckus. Don't we? Clearly not. By admitting this I've fallen suspect to all manner of unpatriatisms. Easy now, it's been only 6 short generations since my ancestors left England, maybe it just hasn't been bred out yet.

Why does Kate Middleton have to appear so dang likable?

Even in those absurdly ridiculous hats (that I want to play dress-ups with).

This is really all her fault. (William who?)

I can't figure out exactly what about her draws me in. I suppose with all the nasty fashion that I see in magazines, blogs and TV every day, it's refreshing to see her sense of modern modest style. I wouldn't mind my daughters looking to her as a role model. Maybe it's because she was an Art History major so I can't deny for one second that we aren't kindred spirits on some fundamental nerd level. Or maybe it's because she comes from a small town in the charming English countryside called Bucklebury. Go ahead, try not to smile while saying the word Bucklebury. I wonder, does everyone from Bucklebury have sparkly eyes even in the rain? (And I don't mean the reflection of her engagement ring, even though that is a situation in and of itself that we should definitely talk about later). I'll go further out on a limb here and say that maybe I'm drawn to all of this because there is still that little girl inside of me who loves the fairy tale of happily ever after.

So kill me.

I have no answers or suitable justification for any of this obnoxious addition to the Royal Wedding fodder other than, ... she's lovely.

Oh and,

I can. not. WAIT to see the dress! squeeeeee

Images via here and here.

Robin Egg Nests

2011-04-24T23:26:00.002-06:00

Coconut Cupcakes / Cream Cheese White Chocolate Frosting / Marshmallow Filling / Gingham Cupcake Liners

It's a Good Friday

2011-04-22T15:27:00.009-06:00

pinned

It's a Good Friday because the sun is out, meaning it was necessary to ditch work early, you know to test the sun roof, and that reminded me to pick up some shredded coconut, and bingo! my weekend baking extravaganza has begun! Last week I was reassured in a blessing that I am surrounded by angels who love me. Amazing. It was something I needed to hear and keeps me looking up. Even still I can't help but wonder...

If my grandmother Richman were here she'd share an Eskimo Pie on her back patio and go to work clipping newspaper articles for me
If my grandmother Muir were here she'd pat her soft blue couch and say come sit by me, then hold my hands and listen ever so close
If my mother-in-law Judy were here she'd hug me too tight, cry right along with me, and eventually we'd both be laughing

Do you know who your angels are? I hope your Easter weekend is a special happy one. I am planning to bake up a storm and rain powdered sugar all over my kitchen. BD is racing his bicycle, somewhere, sometime, and with a smile on his face. And of course, we are celebrating Easter in every way we know how. Happy Good Friday!

Thoughts on Date Night

2011-04-10T21:26:00.004-06:00

This is certain to be an over-share, but one of the things we put a lot of focus on in our marriage are Date Nights. With no need for a babysitter every night is date night! Right? Wrong. We can be in the same room at the same time but not exactly on the same planet. My favorite scenario is when we're snuggling on the couch seemingly spending quality time together but simultaneously both of us are thumbing away on our phones pretending not to work with the TV singing in the background and you know what? I've never really noticed how boney your elbow has become, please remove it from my ribcage before I remove it from your body.
We're getting better at scheduling "us" time but it does take a valiant effort. Courtesy of a smart husband, I have tickets to the theatre pinned to my refrigerator right this very minute. He gets me - I need good stuff to look forward to. But it doesn't always require reservations or cost money. Recently a perfect date night involved finding $7 pajamas at Old Navy and stopping for a frozen yogurt on the way home. I've found that by simply calling it 'date night' we become unintentionally tuned in to each others needs. He's less likely to numb out while I spend an obscene amount of time deliberating over what is sure to be the wrong size. I'm less likely to publicly object with a gagging reflex when he tops his yogurt with disgusting flavor combination's. WINNING!

It was cold and snowy all weekend and I instinctively knew that we'd burrow in at home Friday night, fish something to eat from the recesses of the freezer, and I'd be dead to the world in my $7 pajamas before 9 pm. So earlier that day I emailed BD an official invitation to Date Night with instructions that we each needed to prepare 10 interview questions for each other. I could tell he was skeptical, but he obliged. BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU SEE. Sometime that evening we unplugged from everything and commenced the interviews. For added drama, I placed a pencil behind my ear. It felt great to have each others' full attention and we laughed and even cried through some of the questions. Ok, I cried. There. The questions spurred more questions, which then became the topics of Saturday morning brunch over mile high biscuits. My point is, I feel really lucky to share my life with someone.

I've got chills, they're multiplying

2011-04-07T13:25:00.001-06:00

pinned

"It's Spring Fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want- oh, you don't know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"

-Mark Twain

Visitors

2011-04-06T20:08:00.011-06:00

ast week we were lucky enough to have Tom and Todd in town and staying with us. Which meant that I scored a little one-on-one Illustrator lesson from the Master, we broke into Todd's unmatched Dolly Parton collection, set up a 4 man tent in our guest bedroom (a first!), and had big cups of frothy hot chocolate. Their presence even managed to lure mom and Ed all the way to SLC for a meal at Ruth's Diner. I proved to be a less than stellar hostess being a bit under the weather much of their stay. I didn't even play April Fool's jokes on them. But they didn't seem to mind. In true form they took over the dining room with laptops and gear where they worked and strategically planned their next 6 weeks in the Grand Canyon. They are now on their way to Arizona for their Spring round of backpack guiding tours on the South Rim. Good luck boys! We miss you heaps already...
Oh, and I think it's pretty clear Tom and I came from the same womb. No?

His life in iPhone pics

2011-04-04T19:30:00.002-06:00

1.3.11 Spotted: Lamborghini Murcielago

2.8.11 Brrrrrr, Business Trip

3.7.11 Rescued by Wifey

3.8.11 Driveable Igloo

3.16.11 Real v. Saprissa

3.16.11 Ellie Time

3.22.11 Virtual Shopping for G

3.29.11 Sick Day at Alta

Her life in iPhone pics

2011-04-04T19:27:00.001-06:00

1.15.11 LJ Snuggles

1.24.11 He Shouldn't Have

1.26.11 I'm Married to Clark Kent

2.15.11 Welcome Baby Ny

2.21.11 Beautiful Winter Day

2.23.11 Work Birthday Cake

3.25.11 Yogurt Stop

4.2.11 Marci's Birthday Cupcakes

I am: ready

2011-03-25T17:31:00.011-06:00

pinned

i am: ready which is

a rare state of mind

where things are ok

even as they be

open for anything

whatever that brings

because I feel peace

throughout my soul

all is quiet in me

being guided from above

which is not very far
if you stop to think

and not out of reach

even for me

i'd like to remember

this day tomorrow

and the next

and the next still

that for once i am:

not freaking out

:-) Happy Friday!

A good indicator that spring is coming wherein I seek elastic-waisted pants

2011-03-20T09:08:00.002-06:00

Cadbury Mini Egg Season

...also known as a busta...

2011-03-18T17:05:00.016-06:00

Trolley Square, SLC

At lunch LP and I attempted our monthly catch up/chow down at the schmancy new Whole Foods at Trolley Square. It's gorgeous, as all the hype suggests. But I say 'attempted' because the crowds were a bit too chaotic to really sink your teeth into someone's life or their yummy Thai beef dish. I'll wait to go back after everyone in the valley has been there done that and I can peacefully get on with {what BD calls} lallygagging at the grocery store. He only means that it takes me 90 minutes to buy milk and cheese; he could have milked his own cow by now, woman.
When I got back to the car my eyes caught the landmark water-tower which appeared particularly graceful against the sea of gray clouds shrouded behind it. I jumped out with iPhone in hand to snap a picture, then turned around to jump back in. The doors had locked. The key laughed at me from the passenger seat. Just then LP, who should have been half way home by now, pulled up behind me, saw the look of panic on my face and said "get in." She's wizardly like that. In one swoosh of her wand I was back at my car with valet key in tow ready to move on with the rest of my day as if the whole thing never happened.
My mind has been heavy this week. Lots to think about. Lots to stress about. Lots of decisions ahead. Yet, lots to look forward to. I was thankful a friend was there to rescue me from myself at a time when something as silly as locking my keys in the car could have put me right over edge. A tender mercy.
Happy Friday! BD is halfway up a mountain by now on his way to build snow caves with the Scouts. I'm really hoping to not be a widow in the morning. To get my mind off it, I've been playing this rad mash-up (via Dooce) of TLC's No Scrubs v. The Cure's Close To Me on repeat, on repeat, on repeat. It's working too. I've been practicing that head-jerk-flirty-shut-eye thing Left Eye does right at about :30 all afternoon. How does she do that? She's seriously so cool.

Grand Finales

2011-03-16T15:19:00.005-06:00

This video my brother made contributed to the most peaceful and awe-inspiring 7 minutes of my day. I thought I'd share it here. Not only is the footage absolutely gorgeous, but it reminds me that we are so fortunate nothing worse happened to our Toddy. 'Cause we like 'im.

Grande Finales from T - N - T on Vimeo.

Oh, and while I was on T's Vimeo page I was reminded of the video he made from our Grand Canyon 2010 trip.

You guys.

I don't think I posted it here because at the time I was far too embarrassed of how hilarious I was. The word "hilarious" being the nicest thing I could say. I am so embarrassing. I don't know why my family even speaks to me. But 7 months later, I don't care. Time heals all. The part at the end where I twirl my hat and give a very pathetic "whooo" has me and BD cracking up hysterically. I really almost died that day. You can also watch me being guided to my almost death across a ledge, slipping down natural water slides on my bum, and generally being my awkward self. Awesome. You can laugh with me here.
P.S. you'll notice that Jody looks perfect the WHOLE time and RUNS to the top. She is officially out of my will.

100% chance of Sunday afternoon sprinkles

2011-03-13T21:26:00.000-06:00

One thing I especially love about traveling abroad is grocery shopping. I found these sprinkles at the Hiper Bompreço (= Super Good Price) while in Brazil. The bright colors remind me of Salvador streets. They are the happiest sprinkles I've ever seen.

Blooming, again

2011-03-04T07:30:00.029-07:00

Been loving how the $13 spent on this orchid was possibly the best money I've ever spent. She's blooming again for the third time! It's been just what I needed lately.
Been smiling about my 3.5 year old nephew and his love crush on Ariel. His mom fixed pasta shells for dinner one evening. Later, when being tucked into bed he told her with a big frown that the worst part of his day was eating all of Ariel's shells. ... :-)
Been praying for a family member who has just survived something unimaginably horrific.
Been pinning away over at Pinterest. It's addicting, I'm loving it, I can't stop and I don't care to. A genius way for me to organize everything I find on the web. Virtual collages? Brilliant. I'll be pinning all weekend, no doubt, and creating new idea boards.
Been thinking about that half piece of coconut cream cheesecake in my fridge that I'm going to eat for dinner tonight.
Been counting down the minutes until the weekend so I can sleep for 2 straight days.
Been craving old-timey homemade popcorn made with real coconut oil. If I wake up, it will be for that.

Happy Friday! It really is the best day of the week. Besides Tuesday, of course.

Breaking Her In

2011-03-02T19:50:00.003-07:00

Or more appropriately, she's breaking me in. Isn't it funny how inanimate objects can adopt a gender role? My new oven is definitely female. Can't really explain it, but she is, and I'm hoping that we'll become BFF while keeping the drama to a minimum. Nothing worse than your oven going all Mariah Carey in Glitter all over your whoopie pies. I should know. On Sunday I made Rachel Manley's Almond Yogurt Cake as featured on Design Sponge last week. Now, I could fill a dump truck with all the recipes I've printed off the web with every intention of making, but never do. Perhaps this is why I feel obligated to blog this one. That, and because BD took this beautiful shot of the cake right before I stuck out my tongue and licked up that lemon curd. What? Wouldn't you?

I'm guessing my self-rising flour had passed it's prime because the cakes did not self-rise. Sigh. The recipe actually called for blood orange curd, but my first attempt failed big time. I must have had two very bloody blood oranges because my curd never turned to custard. Or is it that my custard never turned to curd? Either way, the recipe doesn't specify the amount of juice. That's a bad dog recipe. No biggie, I defaulted to a trusty Martha Stewart lemon curd recipe that has never failed me and used the Meyer lemons I couldn't pass up from Whole Foods. Whole Foods did not pay me to say that.

Fact: Meyer lemons are a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange. In other words they are lemons with a little less pucker factor. Which makes them perfect.

I made this cake in part for my sister's birthday and I knew she would appreciate that it contained ingredients such as Greek yogurt, sunflower oil, and ground almonds. She's healthy like that. Maybe that's why she looks 22 and has 3 grand kids. Jody did pay me to say that. Happy Birthday sis! Lastly, I got to use some of my favorite kitchen gadgets like a food processor, sieve, and citrus reamer. Sometimes, it just feels soooo good to dirty an apron.

I am: Gaining Perspective

2011-03-01T18:14:00.002-07:00

...on my way home...

Something you love + mini = pure joy

2011-02-23T21:30:00.001-07:00

Coming home to this gorgeous package from Olive and Cocoa waiting on my door step was certainly a major highlight of my birthday weekend. The women in my family have scored some major ~~brownie~~ cupcake points with this one. Thank you for enabling my cake stand fetish and bringing my collection to a whole new (mini) level. xoxo.

Vintage Me

2011-02-21T21:09:00.004-07:00

I just want to wrap my arms lovingly around this little girl and say to her... someday you will have to teach Relief Society, the good news is that you can cut your own piece of birthday cake.

I am: Twenty-Nine, a Weekend Birthday Recap

2011-02-21T20:54:00.010-07:00

Someone had a birthday this weekend and I'm pretty much exhausted from all the celebrating. Not that I wouldn't mind dragging it out a few more weeks. I'm eagerly embracing the last year of my twenties, and the crows feet. It was a beautiful snowy long holiday weekend and I've been completely spoiled by family and friends. Thank you all (for the sweet phone calls, texts, drop-by's, and even the FB shout-outs).

A Long-Weekend Birthday Recap:

L & T surprised me with a power-lunch at Bambara. It was sheer heaven to fine dine with two of my faves. You know your best friend loves you when she drives all the way up to the big city just for you. We three could have stayed all afternoon nestled in that houndstooth booth just talking. Or whatever.
Another surprise lunch with LtB who happened to be in town and happened to be right in my neighborhood at just the right moment. Serendipitous I tell you! French Onion soup at Goumandise, please.
A date night with my beau. He gets triple extra points for making reservations and planning a very special evening for the two of us. Not just dinner, but a true culinary experience at Forage. We're now totally broke, but it was worth it.
A foot rub and breakfast in bed: BD can make a mean bowl of porridge. Never underestimate a man with a whisk.

Lunch with mom and sisters, and the best burger I've had in a good long while. I keep waiting to grow out of my cheeseburger and fries phase, but there's always my thirties, right?
Treats from La Bonne Vie at The Grand America. I'm trying really really hard to embrace macaroons like the rest of the world, but I just can't do it. I have yet to eat one that I'm even remotely excited about.
A new stove!! Miracles. I guess BD was starting to notice the lack of culinary goods being produced from our kitchen. He's no dummy.
They hauled THE BEAST away. I did not shed a tear. There was no moment of silence.
It's possible that I've kissed my new stove several hundred times. Thankyouthankyouthankyou.
A successful lesson on Sacrifice taught in church. Successful in that it's over, and that feels really good.
No Sunday night blues! Just a Sunday afternoon spent lounging in my yellow ice-cream cone pajama pants. You know you want some.
And because this weekend was not food-centric or caloric enough, a liege waffle with crème fraîche and strawberries from Bruges. I thoroughly enjoyed watching my friend J's first experience with a Belgian waffle.You never forget your first time.
A whole day spent with BD running errands, carefully selecting items for care-packages to Brazil, neighborhood house gawking, and trying fun new drinks. I love that he's always up for an adventure.

Whew! I need an extra day just to sleep it off. Truly, I have the best, most thoughtful family and friends. I love you all. Thank you for making me feel good-enough, and young-enough, and simply loved-enough.

Map Your Valentine

2011-02-14T11:58:00.002-07:00

OK, one more Valentines post for the die-hards out there. Check out Map Your Valentine. How ridiculously clever and adorable is that?! I can think of hundreds of places to send BD...

I sent him to The Eiffel Tower in Paris and he sent me to the Comtemporary Museum of Art in Rio. Aw. Both places I'd love to be. If only I had some ruby red slippers to click.

Lovely

2011-02-14T00:02:00.001-07:00

"I have since come to know that love is more than a paper heart. Love is of the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yet it is more than the end of the rainbow. Love is at the beginning also, and from it springs the beauty that arches across the sky on a stormy day."
-Gordon B. Hinckley, February 14, 1978

There are two types of people in this world. I am the other one, the one who loves Valentine's Day. Not so much the part that demands red roses and heart shaped boxes of bad chocolate. I dig the actual Valentine element - where you write little notes and send them to the people you love. Plus, candy! BD was traveling for work (boo to the hoo) part of last week, which provided some free time to create his perfect Valentine card. A little inside joke between us, if you will. I'm still such a novice at Illustrator, but thank heavens for Skype and a patient older brother who has skills and could talk me through some minor formatting issues. I had the cards printed at a local print shop so they looked legit.

While on my Valentine-making kick I made a separate card with "I love you more than " so I could spread the love to family and friends. I gave all my extras away so others could spread their Valentine love as well. It was a total blast filling in the blanks and sending my Valentines in the mail. Turns out I love them all more than dark chocolate, Bono, new boots, Photoshop, Paris, salt & vins, Bones and even cupcakes. Get this, I told each of my sisters that I love them more than another sister. Sometimes I think I'm so funny.

Happy Valentines Day!

I love you, too

2011-02-14T00:01:00.010-07:00

I love you because you iron my skirts on Sunday morning
I love you because you buckle my snow boots
and change my flat tires
and glue the soles of my shoes back together when they start to flap around
I love you because you kiss me goodbye in the morning
and you never forget to kiss me hello in the evening
I love you because you are deeply passionate about heaps of things
like your work, and cycling, and perfecting the homemade cheese quesadilla
I love you because you care a lot about the world in which we live
and I know that because you write to the governor, senator, and mayor on a regular basis
I think it's rather cute
I love you because you are the worlds greatest researcher
driven by facts, you are
I love you because you make riding public transportation cool(er)
I love you because you eat everything I cook
and pretend like it's the best thing you've ever put in your mouth
even when we both know it's not
I love you because you are not afraid of little tiny infant babies
or the bigger walking talking babies either
I love you because you are genuine
I love you because you are forgiving
funny thing,
I love you because you are strangely picky about the clothes you wear
which makes shopping with you extra fun
but only when you have a specific item that you need
otherwise you require a lot of treats
I love you because you have really big ideas
and I'm sorry when I roll my eyes
I don't meant it
I love you because you ask me everyday have I told you that I love you today?
and I sheepishly respond no because I want to hear you say it again
everyone likes to hear that they are loved
especially me
and that's why today
I wanted to be the first to say
I love you, too

*This has been sitting in my drafts pile for several months now, waiting for an opportunity to publish. I began writing it right after watching BD glue my running shoes back together so carefully. I remember feeling incredibly grateful for all those little things that over time become hugely important to a committed relationship. I give myself leave to write something for BD a few times a year, Birthday's, Anniversary's and Valentine's. On this blog, sap happens. Thanks for reading anyway!

I am: An Art Lover

2011-02-05T00:55:00.006-07:00

We're having something of a lazy Saturday, both of us catching up on some work while still in our pajamas, eating leftover chocolate cake for breakfast and breakfast burritos for lunch. We've watched this commercial about 7 times already. Cutest thing I've ever seen. I couldn't be happier bundled up on the couch listening to MJ hits, watching BD furrow his brow at giant spreadsheets. You know, he has a post-grad degree now so technically I should be referring to him as Master BD. He just rolled his eyes at me.

At the MoMa, 2008

Anyway! This week Google announced the Google Art Project which is a street-view take on art museums all over the world. Genius, right? I don't even have to tell you how amazing it is or how much I love it, but I'm going to anyway. Just know that if I were explaining this in person I would be talking in my one octave too high excited voice and flailing my arms a lot. I love art. I love what art teaches us about our past. I'm fascinated about what influenced the artists and the ways in which they pushed political, religious, and social boundaries through art. If I'm not careful, I can become really geeked out about art. Today as I'm looking out at the cold gray hillside I'm also taking a stroll around the Met. Yesterday when I needed a 5 (or so?) minute break from work I went to Florence and stood in front of "The Birth of Venus" at the Uffizi Gallery. You can even zoom in really tight to see every brush stroke. If you're into that kind of thing ;). No doubt I'll be following this project closely to see what museums and what art pieces they continue to add to the collection. I love it, because I am an art lover.

Detail of "The Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh

Because it's right on topic I'll leave you with one of the best movie lines of all time from Clueless:
Tai: Do you think she's pretty?
Cher: No, she's a full-on Monet.
Tai: What's a monet?
Cher: It's like a painting, see? From far away, it's OK, but up close, it's a big old mess.

I am enough

2011-02-02T19:05:00.011-07:00

February is pink and red and heart shaped. As if that's not fabulous enough, February is also my birthday month and therefore becomes saturated with excuses to pamper myself and eat copious amounts of cake. I can handle that. Not that I've ever required an excuse to eat cake, but once a year it's nice to actually have a reason. Fact: I grew up with a girl named January and always wondered why I wasn't named February. It made so much sense at the time. Life as a 7 year-old was ridiculously unfair.

[Enter 100 self-deprecating comments about this photo]. Image courtesy of my amazing, ever-talented and dearest friend Jessie.

January came and left and I didn't even give a smidgen of a thought to producing New Year's Resolutions of any kind. Been there. Done that. Failed at most. I'm, like, so cliché. I'd like twenty-eleven to be the year I stop trying to change. This is the year I celebrate who I am right now. The best part is that it doesn't require a gym membership, a big fat mortgage, or septuplets. Take THAT 2010. I'm going to give myself a break this year and just be me. I am enough.* The catch though, because there is always a catch, is that this concept is a hazy camouflaged kind of sort of resolution. Just by typing "I am enough" I nearly choked on my own inadequacies. It is much easier to think of all the things I am NOT. The real trick is to focus on all the things that I AM. That's the goal.

via

Recently someone gently reminded me that the infinite Atonement is not just for sins. The Atonement also covers our heavy emotional burdens such as sorrow, disappointment, fear. And it instantly clicked with me. I am enough, because He can make me whole again. Jesus is totally invited to my birthday party! I'm admitting to myself right now, upfront, that this could be at least a year-long process. Just as I'm about to hit publish on this post I'm fighting the urge to call a friend to have her read it first. Is it dumb? Do you hate it? VALIDATE MY CRAZY!! I'm a work in progress people.

Comments Off because now I'm feeling vulnerable :).

*The concept "I am enough" is taken from Brené Brown's 2010 TED speech The Power of Vulnerability, I highly recommend you take 20 minutes for yourself and watch the whole thing.

Swing

2011-01-29T09:43:00.006-07:00

Sometimes, I write poems

Because BD and I were traveling during the holidays and because it's becoming just impossible to successfully schedule time with family, this past weekend I was finally able to give my mom her Christmas present. 2010 brought about some big changes for my family. Big as in, my mom got remarried. Big as in, that changed everything. Big as in, I'm the last and slowest to adjust. As a result, 2011 will bring about even more big changes, such as my mom selling our family home. The goal this year was to give her something relevant to the house, something timeless, something that would evoke positive memories. Plus, it seems we are approaching that time when it becomes suitable to give your parents things you want to inherit. It was an obvious choice once I discovered San Francisco artist Paul Ferney's Commission Project. The result is a small 5 x 7 inch oil painting of our backyard swing. I couldn't be more pleased with it.

The original photograph taken by BD, winter 2009.

The Swing. Constructed of 20 foot high telephone poles, the swing had a direct impact on the geography of our neighborhood. It was hard to miss. Ours became the home with the swing. And we were proud of that. Above all, the swing was my imagination station. The place where I could become anything at all. I could swing really high, stand up, close my eyes and pretend I was flying on a magic carpet. I could straddle the bench and pretend I was riding a horse so fast I might get bucked off. Sometimes I did get bucked off.

A little Gina Bina about 10 years old, swinging side saddle like a pro

I wouldn't even know how to calculate how many times I saddled up to that swing. But if it were possible, I think the number would be somewhere in the ca-billions. Or thereabouts. I would swing when I was happy and care free. I would swing when I was upset or needed time alone. I would swing my niece Marley to sleep while humming Dave's Satellite when she was just a tiny babe. That girl loved to swing.

My darling nieces Marley and Shelby share a best friend swing

Alicia and Kyle swingin' August 1993. Kyle is not too sure about this quality time with his precious sister.

On summer days Dane and I would fill the run track with hose water, hold tight to the bench, back way way up, and jump! to let the swing carry us splashing through the water feet first. We called it water skiing. My parents called it babysitting. My brother Tom and the older cousins would climb all the way to the tippy top and line up like birds on a wire. Jody and Marci would stand on each others shoulders and swing. Brook would climb up the chains and twist and flip herself between them like an Olympic gymnast on rings. On summer nights we slept outside under the shadow of the swing and in the morning would pile all the blankets and sleeping bags together and jump off into them. As a family we played bocce ball up and down the yard and in between the telephone poles, taking turns giving underdogs when it wasn't our throw.

Gladiators of the Swing: Brook, Christian Hurst (we think ?), and Tom, 1980-something.

I smile big when the grand kids come crashing through the patio door, breathless, panting "someone come push me!" It's true, there is nothing more validating than getting a big push from a bigger kid. I could certainly use more underdogs in life. Reminds me of being so young, knowing there's a view of the swing from the kitchen sink window, "Mom! Look at me!" I would holler kicking bare feet straight up, just swinging my little heart out.

My nephew Jackson swing jumping after a backyard sleep over, August 2008

It's always been there, the swing. Despite having survived 30 plus winters and three generations of Richman offspring, it is getting old. The wood has rotted in spots around the base. The nails are rusty and popping out. I know it won't stand forever. It's a little rickety, but it still swings. When the house sells, the new owners may choose to take it down to make room for a hot tub or fancy jungle gym with a rock climbing wall. Someday I know it may end up as firewood. I'm secretly hoping, secretly praying, that it will stay up long enough for me to swing holding my own little one, humming Taylor's Never Grow Up, and dreaming of everything they will be.

Somebody tase that momma-bear

2011-01-21T17:11:00.002-07:00

The Protector via bear.org

In case there was ever any question, let the record show that my momma-bear instincts are intact. Hooey. It's comforting to know that they won't expire if I don't use them, but it's also evident that they can creep up in unexpected places. Like this blog. BD was so astonished (yet supportive) at my little outburst yesterday that he threatened to use a Wildlife Taser on me to help calm the momma-bear situation. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a wildlife taser. But there is. And BD ~~wants~~ needs one. Thank you for all the off-line support. I hit a nerve out there in blog-land, and I think by and large people just want to feel respected. I've made my peace and now I'll shut up about it.
Also. There's a slight possibility I may have overreacted. Key word: slight. In coming up with excuses, here's what I have so far:

I was released from my church calling on Sunday and emotionally speaking it's been a little hit or miss this week
I must have more hormones pumping through me than a dairy cow
I burned the roof of my mouth on a piece of hot pizza, it hurts real bad, and somebody has to pay
My car battery died and left me stranded with BD 40 miles away. For me, this is real trauma
BD and I had a planning and budgeting session for our 2011 financial goals. Need I say more?
Side bar: I'm addicted to bullet listing right now

Lucky for me, it's Friday! I have all weekend to pull myself out of victim mode. We've received a very special dinner invitation to a friend's house tonight. There is nothing better than having someone offer to cook for you. Twice in one week! Total score. Tomorrow I get my hair cut. Funny how something so simple can completely transform you. Also squeezing in lunch with my BFF before she has her first tiny precious baby girl that I already love and adore, plus dinner with family to finally bear gifts from Brazil. Can't hardly wait!

P.S. Feeling especially grateful for good friends. Late last night I laughed so hard I think I broke an ab.

A note from management about stealing content from this site

2011-01-20T06:17:00.058-07:00

Hi. This is a bit out of my normal sphere of topics, but I'm miffed, and so it must be said. This blog is public. I am fully aware of the risks associated with having a public blog. Yesterday one of them caught me off guard. Sort of like when the hot water suddenly disappears and you're left standing in a cold shower with a head full of shampoo and only one shaved leg going, now what? You know that what you're about to do will be unpleasant, so you'll do it fast and get it over with quickly so you can go about your day. There are people looking in on us that I don't know, people from far off places around the world, but mostly people connected to people connected to people I know. I'm OK with that. I welcome you with fuzzy slippers and hot cocoa with mallows. I hope you're cozy. I generally write about things on this blog that I would tell BD's aunt (hi Helen!) or the nice women sitting next to me at the Dr.'s office (Sharon, was it?). Anyway, sometimes, or perhaps someday, I may write about the harder stuff when I'm ready. Which leads me to...

This blog is private. Meaning that the content published on this site is mine. And because this blog contains original work by me, the creator, it is subject to a set of exclusive laws called Copyright. It also means that no one but me can copy, distribute, or adapt any content posted here without my express written consent. Let me be specific: if I have never lived with you, smoked anything organic with you, or jumped naked off a house boat with you, you do not have permission to copy my work. That narrows it down quite a bit. I never inhaled. As blogging etiquette dictates, anyone can to link to this site, as long as proper attribution is given. {end rant}

{begin rant} Here's the thing. I love to write, and this is where I write. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not, but it's my writing so I'll own up to all of it. I harbor insecurities, just like anyone else, but by and large I retain a certain amount of pride for the way I record my history. Because that's what this has become to me, my personal folklore. And that's just it: this blog is personal. Everything I write on here is personal, to me.

I cannot believe I'm not done yet, but there's more. If you have used pictures or words from the original content of this site please take it down and replace it with something that you created, from your heart. Even if you've tweaked it ever so slightly to make it feel a little more you. It's still me. Slathered all over your stuff. No need to comment here people, just please, take it down.

Or else.

IMA GET YOU.

-kisses!

Ride, Sally, Ride

2011-01-14T17:32:00.004-07:00

I spent much of this week in the cold and drizzly Northeast working on an exciting new project for my company. It would be my luck that the rental car agency at PDX was sold-out of the standard size class I had reserved online, and no 'mam, they didn't have anything to offer me at this time of night except a convertible sports car. Perfect. Anyone that knows me would agree that I have no business driving any such thing. I would feel more at ease shifting an excavator up the I-5 than a lip-stick red V8. And because this is so far removed from the conservative, efficient, work comes first because I have no family vibe I give off at the office, you can only imagine the amount teasing I've endured the last couple of days. I love my job.

What they don't know is that the radio dials were conveniently programmed to only the best monster jam stations I've ever heard. And that having stripes on your car really does make it go faster. And that embracing my inner f-chick was the best thing that's happened to me all year. If I'm not mistaken, my bestie TF just raised her first in the air and yelled S!#% yeah! Those of you who have a little southcounty in you know what we mean. Those of you who don't, need to look a little deeper 'cause you are missing out.
Happy weekend! I'm so looking forward to some down-time with the beau. I'm talking veg. out. take. out. sleep. in. I'll sign off now with my best knee up - air guitar strum - head bang - pow!

The rest of Rio, New Year's Eve Day

2011-01-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

It seems that every where we looked in Brazil there was some sort of graffiti or street art. If there's a wall, it has paint on it. As you can see, some of it is quite good. You can tell a lot about the neighborhood you're in based on the street art nearby. We saw everything from soccer to politics to religion to famous icons.

As much as we would have loved to stay for just one more day in Rio to be there during New Year's Eve, we couldn't justify another $3000+ in airfare and hotel for just one more night. Today we found out Madonna performed that night and we've been crying in our room ever since.

Because we weren't headed to Copacabana for the actual big bash, we found ourselves in the Centro district again after visiting Niterói across the bay. Having been to the Centro on a previous day, to say we were shocked at the lack of people would be an understatement. Here are two pictures of the same road, the one on the left is Wednesday at 3pm, the one on the right is Friday (New Year's Eve) at 3pm. The city literally just died.

We felt like we had the entire city to ourselves. It was a little bit eerie but we noticed things like the beautiful cobblestone sidewalks a little bit more. We were able to snap a few photos that would normally have hundreds of people walking by in the background.

Rio Branco Avenue

In front of the Municipal Theatre

Seemingly deserted street

Even though our time in Rio was short, we saw everything we wanted to. On that last day, all of our clothes were dirty, we were exhausted and a little sunburned, but satisfied and ready to be home. We lucked out and were able to find a taxi to the airport and while THIS was going on at Copacabana, we had our own little celebration on the plane somewhere over South America. Take that Madonna.

Petrópolis with the Mattos Family

2011-01-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

During my 9 months in the mission office I worked and lived with this elder, Rafael Mattos. We became great friends and he represents such a memorable time in my life, I have fond memories of living with and serving with him. He lives in Petrópolis which is about an hour from Rio high up in the mountains, and at 28 he serves on the Stake High Council. He's a rock. Mattos picked us up in Rio and took us up the spectacularly twisty road to Petrópolis to spend the day with his family. On a clear day you'd be able to see all the way to Rio from this scenic lookout. Once again, the clouds had other plans.

Mattos and Me

Asa-delta?

Even shrouded in the rain and clouds, Petrópolis felt like a breath of fresh air because it was a slower paced, smaller city high up in the mountains where it was quite a bit cooler. The clouds were so low and thick that you could see the tiny droplets of water hanging motionless in the air, it was like walking through a spray of mist. You can certainly see the German influence in this Quitandinha Palace Hotel.

Mattos and his wife, Debora, spent the day showing us around Petrópolis. It is such a beautiful city and felt like many cities Gina and I have been to in Europe, just a little more tropical. Here's the famous cathedral San Pedro of Alcantara where Dom Pedro II, the last ruler of the Empire of Brazil is buried with his wife, Teresa Christina.

We also went through the Imperial Museum of Brazil (the old royal family palace) and saw Dom Pedro's crown, complete with 91,000+ carats of precious stones including 639 white diamonds, 77 pearls, and nearly 5 lbs worth of 18k gold. I had to wipe the drool off Gina's chin.

Palácio Imperial

After our private guided tour around the old Royal city Mattos took us back to Debora's parents' house. Debora's brothers speak very good English and the younger one is currently attending LDS Business College and lives in Provo but was home for the holidays. Believe it or not, this was the best picture of several attempts with the camera timer. Thank you very much Mattos and Recordon families for making our day wonderful! It was hard for me to say goodbye to Mattos at the bus station that evening, I loved being able to meet his wife and two beautiful children. Gina even tried to smuggle little Lívia home with us.

Mattos, Recordon, and Duncan Families

More highlights from Rio

2011-01-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

One of the things that Gina wanted to do the most was take a helicopter ride around Rio, particularly around Christ the Redeemer. That was our big splurge for the vacation and it was totally worth every penny. We'll have a video coming soon with footage from us in the air, but in the meantime, here are two of us with our feet still on the ground.

O Cristo Redentor

Gina was so excited she almost wet herself

One of the things that I miss most about Brazil is the fresh juices of every kind. Restaurants, bars, botecos (see below), beach huts, etc. all serve fresh juice. They simply add fruit, water (or milk), sometimes a little cane sugar and blend. I was so proud of Gina, she tried as many different kinds of juice as possible and loved most of them. This juice below was one of Gina's favorites. It's pineapple blended with milk and a bit of fresh mint leaves - served ice cold.

Enjoying suco on Copacabana

Rio is known for it's Botecos - tiny restaurant/bars scattered all over the city but particularly in our neighborhood of Santa Teresa and the nearby Lapa neighborhood. They typically started out many decades ago as bars with a bit of live music (usually samba, boss nova, etc.) but have now converted to be more of quaint little restaurants with a few tables inside. People drink too much and sing too loud, but a good time is had by all. One evening we walked down the street to a boteco hot-spot in our neighborhood and found this little gem, Marcô, where we had authentic Rio-style Feijoada (black bean stew with pork and beef, collard greens, rice, and farofa).

No meal in Brazil is complete without Guaraná

The breakfast at Birgit's house nearly made it worth it. Since we're not coffee drinkers, Birgit's maid Nice (pronounced Neecee) made Gina fresh lemongrass tea each morning and it became Gina's favorite part of Rio. She even cut some from their bush for us to take home. Don't tell customs.

Morning tea

Another can't-miss in Rio was the Contemporary Museum of Art in Niterói, across the bay. You know Gina and her museums, she can't come within 100 miles of a famous museum without visiting it. Because it was New Year's Eve day the museum was closed for a private function so we didn't even make it inside. We've read that the art collection isn't anything spectacular and the best thing to see there is the building itself, or at least that's what we're telling ourselves.

UFO sighting

The famous architect, Oscar Niemeyer had it easy here, he just had to design it. I feel bad for those poor engineers that had to figure out how to make it stand up on its own.

Contemporary Museum of Art - Niterói

We might have made one more trip to the Confeitaria Colombo, and it might have something to do with a certain waffle drowned in chocolate, topped with ice cream.

I honestly have no idea how I gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks...

The first time we rode the bonde over the famous Lapa viaduct we actually had no idea that we were on it. We just thought we were on a really high bridge since we couldn't see it from our vantage point inside the bonde car. We had to go back and investigate to ease Gina's acrophobic tendencies.

Bonde car on the Lapa Viaduct

Don't you worry, as with any trip we've ever been on, I did a fair amount of Landy stalking. Here we find a beautiful South American variety nestled below the neighborhood castle. Sleeping under her hood is a 300 tdi 4 cylinder turbodiesel engine. I want that.

Gina says I'm worse than the paparazzi

Sugarloaf

2011-01-08T09:59:00.003-07:00

We've been home for a week now and it's unbelievable how life manages to fill any extra time that I might otherwise have. I'm determined to finish blogging about the rest of our trip to help me remember the amazing things we saw and did. We wanted to be at the top of Sugarloaf mountain around sunset time but part of the view was impeded by low-lying clouds which shrouded the Christ the Redeemer statue most of this particular afternoon. Even still, Sugarloaf offers the most complete view of all of Rio's eclectic mix of neighborhoods, skyscrapers, favelas, beaches, etc. With only a few makeovers, the "bondinho" has been taking tourists to the top of Sugarloaf mountain since 1912. Ninety-eight years later, here we are. Sugarloaf is certainly a Rio must-see.

At the bottom

O Bondinho

Looking towards the centro - we may look goofy, but the views are unbelievable

Copacabana in the distance

When we were leaving, unbeknownst to each other, Gina and I simultaneously hailed two different taxis. In retrospect, we learned that wasn't such a good idea. The two taxi drivers got out of their cars and started yelling and cussing at each other fighting over which one would give us a ride. One of the taxi drivers finally gave up and the other proceeded to tell us that he wanted R$40 for a R$15 taxi ride. We walked away and got another taxi down the street for a total of R$14.80. I gave him R$20 just because he was honest.

Rio in the Rain

2011-01-01T08:33:00.005-07:00

We left sunny Salvador on Monday evening and were welcomed in Rio de Janeiro that night by a heavy rainstorm and suffocating humidity. After an animated discussion with a few cabbies about outrageously priced taxi rides, we were able to split a more reasonable taxi with a local headed in our same direction. On the way to our Bed & Breakfast the taxi broke down with a clutch problem. Did I mention it was pouring? We waited until another taxi would stop and take us the rest of the way to our destination perched high among the steep hills of Santa Teresa. It was late and had been a long travel day and we found our accommodations less than desirable, which added to the exhaustion. I teased Gina that she has lost her dare-devil backpacking spirit. She didn't argue. The next morning after a shower and breakfast we were determined to put Rio to the test.

Our first outing in Rio was to take the trolley car or bonde (pronounced BON-jee) to the Centro. In all seriousness, it felt like a Disneyland ride complete with all the sharp jerks and squeaks and bumps (excluding the warning to keep your hands inside the ride). Good times.

It rained on and off during the 4 days we spent in Rio which thankfully helped to keep temperatures down. We purchased a cheap R$5 umbrella off the street and didn't let the rain stop us from doing everything on our must-see list. The umbrella lasted exactly 4 days and broke just before we left.
We headed first to the beach to walk along the Ipanema boardwalk and get our feet wet. Even on an overcast day the beaches here draw huge crowds. I love being in Brazil as a non-missionary with my sweetheart.

@ "The Girl from Ipanema" Park, Ipanema Beach

That afternoon we went to the Confeiteria Colombo for tea and scrumpets. Seriously, we had tea and scrumpets. And the more times I can say tea and scrumpets, the better. I think this was a highlight for both of us, but in particular Gina. It's basically a giant specialty bakery with glass cases filled with every kind of yummy thing imaginable. It's in a beautiful old building with huge framed mirrors and a stained glass ceiling. Gina loved everything from the design of the menu to the black and white gingham aprons the waiters wear, and of course the scrumpets.

Later in the afternoon it began to rain again and didn't let up the rest of the night. We mostly stayed in the Centro and hopped from store to store in the shopping district. Eventually we found ourselves at a McDonalds where we could sit for a while and plan out the next few days over a shared McFlurry (pronounced McFlu-hee). Seriously, anywhere in the world McDonalds is often the saving grace for simply a clean place to sit and use a bathroom. That night we took the bus back to Santa Teresa, another adventure. Everything is an adventure here. Sometimes the busses stop, sometimes they don't, and the drivers in Rio are absolutely no help with directions.

Happy New Year from Copacabana

2010-12-31T13:26:00.000-07:00

The rest of Salvador

2010-12-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

I didn’t know Juliano on my mission, but he drives a taxi for Jailson, and thus we had the pleasure to meet him and his family. We immediately had a great connection with them and felt like we’ve been friends forever. Having Juliano as our personal tour guide helped ease my worries about getting around Salvador. He was fantastic. His wife makes chocolate bon-bons and you can imagine that Gina was quick to put in a large order. She and Gina seemed to make a great connection. She also made Gina a beautiful doll and wrapped it as a Christmas gift. Gina can’t wait to someday put the doll in a nursery. We have been blown away by the generosity of the people and members here.

Before a few months ago, I had practically written off tasting acarajé for a long, long time, but on this trip my wish came true. Here I am about to dig into a nice palm-oil-deep-fried acarajé, complete with vatapá and shrimp. You just can’t get this taste anywhere else in the world. Gina ate it and claimed to have liked it. She’s pretty much a miracle.

Jailson took us out to the Praia do Forte which is the world headquarters for the TAMAR project, specializing in the revitalization and protection of the various marine sea turtles. I got to hold a sea cucumber, take a dip in the ocean, and talk about science. I love this place.

While I didn’t think to take a picture of it, Gina slept the entire way back to Salvador. Jailson kept thundering in his trademark low voice “A mulher se quebrou na Bahia! A mulher ‘ta quebrada,” which roughly translates to “Bahia rocked her world.” He couldn’t be more right.

After the rocking of Gina’s world and a wonderful night at the Da Silva’s house, we had a very relaxing Christmas Day and for the first time it finally felt like we were truly on vacation. We got to talk to both of our families via Skype which made being in Brazil feel not quite so far away.

Gina's Christmas Day 2010

BD's Christmas Day 2010

Feliz Natal 2010

Gina woke up early one morning (yes, you read that right) and luckily I heard her say, “wow, look at that amazing sunrise.” I jumped up and had to snap a few quick photos. What a beautiful way to start the day.

Bahian Sunrise

We took the long way to the airport and drove along the coast to the Faról de Itapuã. This quaint little candy-cane lighthouse is a little bit away from the city. I was glad we could cap off our Salvador trip with a quick stop here. It was certainly hard to say goodbye to Jailson at the airport. I don’t know when I’ll see him or Bahia again.

Itapuã Lighthouse

Sunday in São Caetano

2010-12-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

We are only in Salvador for one Sunday but I knew exactly which ward I wanted to attend. There is one very special family in São Caetano that I absolutely needed to see, hug, and spend time with. First, it's such a small world, the driver of the taxi that we took to church has a sister that lives in Provo and served a mission. Furthermore, he's lived in the same condo complex as Jailson for some time now. Here we are headed to church in São Caetano.

The church building has been remodeled since I was there last, and maybe one day they'll even get air conditioning :-). The ward and stake has since split and there is now a branch for a part of the ward that was pretty far from the chapel. The members were singing Christmas hymns out in front of the church when we arrived, and we were invited to join in. They were so welcoming and all the women hugged and kissed Gina. She's getting really good at the double-cheek-kissing greetings. It was good to see some familiar faces.

São Caetano chapel

One major reason to attend church in São Caetano was the Reis family. This family was baptized almost exactly 9 years ago on the 30th of December 2001. The following picture shows Eronildes (dad), Marcos, and Rafael (kneeling). The mom and the oldest son couldn't make it today because of some health problems. So far, Hebert (the oldest son), and Marcos have both served missions in Brazil. They were so excited to show me pictures of the people they baptized who are now serving their own missions. Rafael was 10 when we first clapped at their door and he'll be turning in his mission papers in January. We're secretly praying that he is called to Utah.

The Reis (Reis translates to "Kings" - very fitting)

After church they invited us to their house to see Luzinete (mom) and Hebert with his wife. It was so great to be walking the same streets here in Salvador with my friends. Brother Eronildes plays soccer each week at 67 years old with all the young kids out in the back of the church since he's been the Young Men's president in the past few years. The streets haven't changed all that much and I could almost find my way straight to their house.

The streets of São Caetano

View off the Reis' back porch

They were so kind to serve us lunch after church. We sat and chatted for much longer than Gina ever thought possible. It was awesome to reminisce about the first days when Elder Castro and I met them and when Elder Almeida and I taught them. The oldest boy, Hebert had prayed that God would help him find the truth among all the churches. Because of his prayer, my companion and I were in his living room the very next day reciting the first vision. It's amazing to look back at that day and see why we were working late in that area even though we hadn't worked anywhere near their street before. Previous missionaries had told us that they'd knocked (clapped) all the doors over there. That day we actually passed by their house without clapping and we now realize it was because Hebert wasn't actually home. When we came by later we decided to stop and clap at their door. The dad let us in and Hebert came home from running errands a few minutes later. The three boys are spiritual giants in my eyes. They read the Book of Mormon, prayed, found out the truth, and wanted to be baptized. The parents were a bit hesitant but the boys already had their own testimonies. The parents began to read and pray with the boys and soon they all decided to be baptized. The rest is history and they're still going strong today. I definitely came to tears a few times while in their home again. There is such a strong spirit there. True Christians.

From left: Luzinete, Marcos, Rafael, Eronildes, Hebert, Rose, Gina, me

Christmas Eve

2010-12-26T16:52:00.000-07:00

Once again, Jailson, Jacira, and their family were amazingly nice to us and invited us over to their house for Christmas Eve. They made up a great Christmas feast complete with turkey, potato salad, cake, and a few things I don't know how to describe. Gina was a good sport and tried everything that was new to her. I only had to sneak one thing off her plate that she couldn't finish. In their apartment tucked into the corner of the Cabula neighborhood, we felt the Christmas spirit as we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. Jailson gave a wonderful speech and bore his testimony of our Savior to his family before we started dinner. They also have Jacira's mother living with them who is 94 years old. You can see her in this picture with Gina, and little Francisco with his mom Carla. Grandma really loved Gina and sat holding her hand for much of the night talking to her about babies. Francisco is Jailson and Jacira's first and only grandchild and they affectionately refer to him as o gordinho which directly translated means the little fat one. (Brazilians are very direct in how they refer to people.)

Speaking of o gordinho, we have never seen a child so happy to get a single present from his grandparents. He immediately opened this box of Legos and played with them all night long until they had to leave. He's amazingly smart and knows all of his colors in English as well as numbers and animals. He speaks Portuguese... better than I do :-)

Finally, here is this wonderful, Christ-like family that doesn't hesitate to give of themselves to anyone and everyone. From the left, Jailson, Jacira, Grandma, Júnior, Carla, Fransisco, and Janaína. They will always mean so much to us. I'm so proud to know them and be associated with such wonderful members of the Church.