2015: A Snapshot

Some years are relatively uneventful. You work at the same place, do the same things, hang out with the same people. 2015 was not one of those years. Jason and I reached our "one year of dating" mark in April, got engaged in July, bought a house in November, and got married in December. I guess my "retroactive resolution" for 2015 would be to get married in the Bountiful Temple and buy a house on a cul-de-sac for a newly formed family of four. That was plenty for one year. On to 2016, where I will figure out how to magically make two kids and their Dad forget how much they love their stupid, smelly dog and find a new home for Rooney on a lovely farm in the countryside far, far away. Dream Big.

Countdown is On

25 days until Neil Diamond's 75th Birthday! What are YOU doing to prepare?

Also, thanks to Ashlee and Sara for coordinating their dresses and making this picture even more spectacular than it otherwise would have been.

2 Weeks!

In honor of our 2 week anniversary, here are a couple of pics from our honeymoon to the Oregon Coast.

We stayed at a condo at Cannon Beach. We were a short block west of the ocean and loved being able to stroll along the shore. (In the wind, but whatever. The waves in December are incredible.) Jason appreciated being able to take pictures at Goonies Rock or, as most of the world who isn't obsessed with 80's movies calls it, Haystack Rock. We were also able to visit Seaside and Astoria and saw some beautiful views.

I can't say enough about the food on this trip. We took an hour drive up (down?) the coast to Tillamook where I had a grilled cheese with tomato and bacon and Jason had a grilled cheese with more cheese. We both had ice cream cones and then popped down the road to the beef jerky outlet. So yummy. We had the best pizza on earth at  Pizza-a-fetta. Seriously, the tour books all make it sound like this place is the best pizza on earth and you say, sure, ok, we'll go. And then they bring out this amazing pizza and you can't believe you've gone your whole life without eating there. We had a Molta Carne (meat specialty) minus the red onions. Would make the trip again today for another slice.... Also had breakfast at the Pig-n-Pancake. Very delightful omelette. We had pegged this restaurant as somewhere we wanted to eat, but we learned our first morning that Cannon Beach cafes in the winter are kind of open when they feel like it. So we kept walking by and popped in the one morning on our trip that the Pig-n-Pancake was open. Very much worth the wait.

On the way back, we stopped at Multnomah Falls and the Portland Temple. We had intended to spend a couple of hours in Portland, but fortunately realized the day before that the city was prepping for their Jingle Bell Marathon that weekend. Portland is hard enough to navigate without adding in holiday traffic and marathon street closures. So we passed on that. But the beauty of Multnomah Falls certainly did not disappoint. I want to go back. Like now.

December Newlywed Bliss

I know I'm not the one you'll feel sorry for after hearing this story. But I really did feel bad waking Jason up early this morning to shovel 8 inches of snow from our driveway so I could get to work.


Also, I've been taking TRAX. If you know me at all, you know that I'm deathly afraid of public transportation. Yesterday I was crammed in a sardine can with everyone else who works downtown. This morning, the missionaries were caroling on the train. It's been a real trial for me.

12.1.2015

So this happened. And it was really fantastic. 

Oh Brother

Closed on our house yesterday. Got our marriage license. Had an amazing Spanish omelet at the Blue Plate Diner. And yet... all I really want to talk about is how much I hate this blanket.

Overbearing Bride Moments

A couple of the ridiculous things I've heard myself say this week:

• You're the one who will be wearing it every day. I want you to have a ring you like. Just not that horrible one you picked out. Or that other one.
• I feel like we really wouldn't even be married if we served red velvet cake at the reception. Do you not want to marry me, is that what you're saying?

Trick Or Treat

Post trick or treating, Carly explained the magic of Halloween to me this way: every house we went to, we got treats. You can see from her smile that she liked it.

 Lauren can look, but I'm pretty sure she won't find cuter kiddos anywhere...

 The cape on the matador just kills me.

GARTH BROOKS

Not to brag... But my cute fiance and I went to Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood on Saturday. And we sat in a suite with a private bathroom. And it was Halloween and Trisha Yearwood sang her set dressed as Elphaba from "Wicked." And they did one extra-extra encore number because it was their closing concert in Salt Lake City - and we got to see Tricia Yearwood in a hoodie and green make-up sing "Walkaway Joe" with only Garth Brooks playing guitar and singing backup. And it was awesome. Not to brag...

Kami Kuteness

If these pictures are not the sweetest thing you've ever seen, you are hereby uninvited to be a reader of this blog.

Kamryn Kate

If you've been paying any sort of attention over the past nine years, you will know that I adore my nieces and nephews more than anything. I'm so thrilled to welcome Kamryn Kate  to our family. Born October 20, 2015. 7 pounds 10 ounces. Practically perfect in every way... Except that I'm in Utah and she's in Wisconsin and Aunt Traci is struggling a bit with that. How am I supposed to be the favorite if I can't get in there right away and establish my position? Tell me that....

Proud Papa

Beautiful Mom (approx. 2 hours after giving birth, but don't think I'm angry about that or anything)

With Grandpa

Such a sweetheart. In a pink bow!

Pinewood Derby

And then one day you're giving "the seal clap" at the Pinewood Derby with all the other weirdos. 

Not quite sure how I got here. But we're having fun!

Pumpkin Patch

Nothing says fall quite like a pumpkin patch. I love the colors of fall, the crisp air and sunshine, the abundance of candy corn. 

Let me just say that Mickey is pickier about pumpkins than any kid in America. He prefers round, not tall, dark in color, with a substantial stem. Big - but small enough to still carve - and not so big that he can't carry it. And he needs to discover the pumpkin himself, not have someone else point out the perfect pumpkin to him. I thought we might have to set a timer and tell him whatever pumpkin was in the wheelbarrow when the buzzer went off was the pumpkin we were leaving with. But I think ultimately he was satisfied with his choice!

 We love pumpkin patches THIS much.

Goats, where they belong, in fenced in areas at pumpkin patches, with teenage boys standing guard outside the pen reminding people not to touch anything.

Someday I'd actually like to drive a tractor. In a dress, obviously, because I've just come from my day job. (But I'd make Dahlia hop down before I started the motor. Safety First.) Fun fall night!

Christmas Wish List

Mick and Dahlia discovered my first bike on Saturday. Now Dahlia thinks she needs a "banana bike" for Christmas. We'll see...

Adventures in House Hunting

Jason and I have been looking at our housing options. My two bedroom apartment doesn't seem quite right for us and Mickey and Dahlia- and as of yet I have been unsuccessful in convincing my Dad to sell his house to us for half price. (I'd also take his piano so he wouldn't have to worry about moving it - because I'm nice like that. You can see that this is a deal of a lifetime, for my Dad.)

So instead we've been working with a realtor to look at houses.

My favorite house-hunting moment so far was a house where each bedroom housed an animal of some kind. A cat, an iguana, a lizard etc. I wisely had second thoughts before opening the door to the backyard - and sent Jason out ahead to do some detective work. Good thing too - because his initial inspection revealed five goats. I started shrieking to our realtor, "I will not live in a goat house" and the showing quickly came to an end.

So the search continues...

Also, I recognize that I'm not a parent and have no business criticizing those valiant souls who participate in the noble work of parenting. BUT. Anyone who leaves their pre-teen children home alone knowing that two sets of realtors and various strangers are coming by to walk through their house, is an idiot.

Observation

It would appear that there's something about "look at each other and smile" that Jason refuses to understand.

Photo Dump

Remember how my nieces and nephews are the cutest ever? Here's some more photo proof:

 In Chicago with Grandpa

 Ready for Church.

Good Morning Sunshines!

First Day of School

Tummy Time

Bryce is excited for guitar lessons. But Aunt Traci may be the most excited.

Roasting Starburst around the fire for FHE. 

Lava Hot Springs

A long time ago, like WAAAAAAY back before school started, we took Mickey and Dahlia to Lava Hot Springs for a weekend adventure. We loved the hot springs and the water slides. We also loved camping - and Mickey proved me wrong by actually sleeping all night by himself in his own 2-man tent. (I thought he'd last about 12 minutes.) But mostly we loved floating the river, which we did not once, or twice, but three times. Note: the 4-people tubes were a lot sturdier and less nerve wracking for the kids than the 2-people tubes we tried on our last run. I'd stick with the bigger tubes if we were doing it again.

Another note. Something I've been meaning to research is what in the world the trains are hauling through Lava. Is Lava a hotbed for train travel? Every 20 minutes or so, all through the night (just ask Jason) there are trains passing through the area, horns blaring every single time. Where are they going? And why can't they invest in a flashing traffic arm rather than using their horns all the time? There simply HAS to be a better way.

Anyway... The other great find on this trip was the Lava Museum. You walk by the museum on the main street when you're walking from the hot springs on one end of town to the huge swimming pool on the other side of town. (It's also close to the ice cream/fudge store - so I've seen it a lot.) But I had no idea what wonders would await inside.

First, this pump organ, which the volunteers at the museum are more than happy to let you play if you actually seem to have some knowledge of what a pump organ might be. I got a real kick out of this.

What I couldn't believe was that, in addition to the organ, the museum housed a White House switchboard like the ones my Dad operated when he was in the army back in the day. An organ and a presidential switchboard? What are the odds?

To complete the Thomas Family History Museum Tour, was this display about the nearby Swan Lake community ("community" may be a bit of a stretch given the size of Swan Lake).

But the Thomas Brothers saddle-making business that they mention? And The Thomas Merc? That's totally my Grandpa Thomas's family. So we're pretty much famous. In Swan Lake.