Noah's Slide show

Olivia's has been nagging me to get this up all week, but I've been a little busy at work till now. So enjoy the pictures of Noah.

Happy birthday, Noah!

Here are some pictures of Noah's birthday weekend. On Saturday our community had a birthday party for Noah complete with face painting, a BBQ, music, and balloon animals. Okay, it was really just a community party, but Noah doesn't have to know that. He also opened his presents he helped pick-out the day before. Today we had "Uncle Al" and Aunt Patrice over for birthday dinner and cupcakes. Noah loves all the backhoe stuff, and hasn't stopped cleaning yet! Oh, it is fun to see your kids get older, but hard to see them grow up.

If any of you are wondering why Olivia isn't posting and hasn't updated the blog lately, its because she's grounded from the computer. Last week we had a little incident with the Tahoe, see below, and if she can't be more careful she can't have the privilege of blogging. So, upon ungrounding she will resume her posting.

Jack's birth/Conference weekend

I thought we better join the picture posting of Jack's birth. We were very glad to be there for the birth and loved being with family. Although Jack wasn't ready to be born, we decided for conference weekend to drive up to LA Verkin and visit with Max and Chelsea. We were going on faith and thought that if Jack is accommodating, and a people pleaser like his mother, he would not make us drive to LA Verkin twice in one week. Thanks Jack you came through.

We spent the weekend watching conference waiting and hoping. Then came the castor oil. We couldn't convince Chelsea to drink it, as she wasn't sure it would work and was worried it would only produce bowel problems. We (Max, Olivia and myself) continued to encourage her to take it. Max and I even tasted it to see if it was bad. Honestly, not too bad by itself; however, the concoction created by Chelsea to drink it with orange juice was disgusting.

This was Chelsea's bravery and drinking of the concoction on Saturday night. Sorry for the poor video, it was with my phone, and note to self, must have phone upright for videos.

I'm not sure if the castor oil worked, but Jack showed up the next day. Good job Chels.

Noah was pretty excited to see Mia, and gave his usual hugs and kisses.

While waiting for the birth, we decided to head over to the Temple, which was next door to the hospital, and walk around the temple grounds with the boys. Olivia wanted to take a couple of pictures with the boys in the flowers surrounding the temple, and Noah thought it his responsibility to pick one of the flowers and bring it back to Chelsea.

And finally Jack arrived late Sunday night. Luke was sleeping and could not wake up to see Jack much, but Noah was still going strong. We were so happy to see Jack before we had to leave, but shortly after holding Jack we had to get on the road and drive back to Las Vegas so that we could get to work and school on Monday.

A day in the life. . .

So, everyone wants me to post more often on my blog. I wish I could too. Two things often stop me. First, I don't have the internet at home, so I only post on the weekends. Second, my life just isn't that exciting! To give you a taste of what you would get if I posted everyday, I decided to do a "day in the life of mom and boys". Hope you enjoy.

3:30 a.m. My super mom ears hear Noah whimper and I get out of bed to put his blanket on him and rub his back.

3:41 a.m. Super mom ears again. This time I nudge Rick and make him go.

6:21 a.m. Noah is awake for the day. Yeah, he has slept in 10 minutes long today. I am so tired from my interrupted night that I am glad it is Rick's turn to take Noah in the jogger this morning. (We trade off mornings that we get up and take Noah while we run or walk; guess who does it most of the time!)

7:15 a.m. Rick and Noah are back from their morning jog and it's Noah 1st trip to the potty today. Yeah! He is successful with both #1 and #2. What a smartie.

7:30 a.m. I get breakfast for Luke and Noah (pop tarts, banana, and milk) while put yesterday's dishes away, do dishes, and sweep the floor. Most of the time I really hate that my boys wake up so early, but it does help to be up and moving early so I can get things done in the morning.

8:20 a.m. One more trip to the potty before leaving home. More poop. I guess he didn't really empty out last time.

8:33 a.m. The boys and I are in the car furiously driving to the gym for my yoga class. We left a little late so now I am very impatient with traffic and those darn red lights.

9:00 a.m. Yoga Pump class at the gym. I am actually subbing at this gym today, but have a great class and we are headed back home by 10:10 a.m.

10:30 - 12:00 We are finally at home for a few hours and can spend time watching cartoons, reading books, another trip to the potty (just toots this time, but still a good try), and generally making a mess.

12:00 p.m. Lunch! The boys have melted cheese sandwiches and apples, I have candy.

12:23 p.m. Out the door for school. Luke is upset because if we don't leave right at 12:20 he isn't the first of his friends to get to school!

12:40 pm. Yes, another trip to the potty before nap time. Man, I forgot how time consuming this potty training thing is!

1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Me time! This is usually my time of the day when Luke is at school and Noah is having his nap so I can just do ME stuff. Today, I am making pumpkin soup and beef stew in a pumpkin for a girls night with some friends. I like cooking, so it is still "me time" but now I have a big mess to clean up. Also, Noah woke up 20 minutes early. Doesn't he know it's "me time"?

3:00 p.m. Back out the door to get Luke from school. It takes about 7 minutes each way to walk to the school and I am glad for the exercise added into my day.

3:30 p.m. Another trip to the potty and still more poop and pee. Noah either really is catching on, or really loves flushing the toilet, making bubbles in the sink, and getting candy. I am worried that he is going to get baby hemorrhoids from pushing so hard.

3:55 p.m Rushing out the door to get to piano lessons on time. I should really work on leaving 5 minutes early so I am not always in a rush! I think it would make my life less stressful.

4:05 -4:25 p.m. Noah and I make a very quick trip to the grocery store to get a couple of things while Luke is at piano lessons. Noah is helping me get a pumpkin for my beef stew.

4:30 p.m. We pick Luke up from piano lessons and hear what an amazing student he is. Really, his teacher is so excited to have him because she thinks he is very smart, talented, and has amazing potential. Of course, I am so proud of him.

5:00 p.m. The boys and I make some fun halloween sugar cookies for our family home evening treat. We made bats, jack-o-lanterns, and ghosts. I don't know why I ever bake the cookies because I really only like the dough. (I am sure there is another trip to the potty sometime between now and dinner, but seriously I can't keep track of it all!)

6:00 p.m. Yeah, daddy is finally home. They boys love when daddy gets home and they have someone else to play with. Rick is a GREAT dad to the boys and they totally love him.

6:10 p.m. Dinner of chicken and broccoli alfredo. Thank-you freezer group. Of course Luke only likes the noodles and Noah only likes the broccoli. At least they both eat something without having a MAJOR meltdown. Noah said the blessing for the first time tonight. Rick was helping, but the only thing Noah would say was Jeez. We think that he was saying Jesus, but it did sound remarkably similar to jeez (with a lowercase j) which is Noah's word for cheese.

7:00 p.m. With dinner cleaned up we can get to family home evening. Rick conducted, Noah led the music, Luke did the lesson (reading a scripture story about John the Baptist), and I provided the treats.

7:30 p.m. Tub time. I am so lucky because Rick has always done the bed time bath for our boys. I get a little rest before getting them into bed.

Noah gets one last time on the potty before the tub. That makes about 6 potty trips today, and he has done a little business almost every time!

8:00 p.m. Bedtime. We are blessed that both of our boys have a great bedtime routine. We read a story, sing a song, and put them into bed. I think that if I had to have a fight about bedtime I would not be happy after a long and tiring day.

8:30 p.m. With both boys in bed, Rick and I get to do what we love to do together... watch Dancing With The Stars! I like Sabrina and Helio. Of course they are the best. I just wish that Sabrina was a little thinner. She looks as bad in her dress and Marie Osmond!

10:30 p.m. Finally, time for bed myself. It has been a long, busy, but fun day. I only have 8 hours before it starts again!

Tagged

Well, since Chelsea technically tagged everyone (even all you other spouses who look at blogs but rarely post or comment), and since Olivia has specifically told me I have to do it, I'll be a good husband and put up my answers.

Jobs I've had: (1) Grandpa Gunnerson’s yard cleaner (earned $.01 for every black walnut picked up); (2) Paperboy for D News and SL Trib. (getting up at 5:00 a.m. to fold and deliver papers on my bike caused me to rethink my choice to deliver the D News, so started with SL Trib.); (3) Entrepreneur – mowing neighborhood lawns, and babysitting ward member’s kids; (4) Janitor for elementary school (till I was fired for goofing around too much – I guess inviting friends over to play football down the halls, almost knocking over the large fish tank, throwing snowballs at passersby from the roof, and raiding the kitchen-ladies’ fridge wasn’t what they wanted in a janitor); (5) Waiter – Frontier Pies (only got this job because my girlfriend worked there as well, in fact she was my boss – and that’s the last time I’ll waiter in an old persons restaurant, never got more than a 3 dollar tip – of course, maybe that was just my magnetic personality); (6) Ranch hand – summer between high school and mission, up in Star Valley Wyoming – Afton (best summer ever); (7) Concrete Laborer – Layton Construction; (8) Car salesman – Ken Garff Ford (after coming home from my mission I was delusional enough to think I could sell anything – only lasted 2 months); (9) Capitol Glass – (as glass worker, accountant, and salesman – my personal experience with conditions similar to “The Office”); (10) Ice Cream Distributor Truck Loader – (a side job while working at Capitol Glass that I did for the summer after Olivia and I got married. With all the damaged ice cream we accidentally dropped our freezer was completely full – that was a good job); (11) Judicial Clerk for District Court Judge in Third District Court; (12) Law Clerk for Summit County Attorney’s office; (13) Law Clerk – Witt, Morley Anderson; and (14) Associate Attorney – Goodsell & Olsen.

Places I love to go for a weekend: Anywhere if I can go golfing. Maybe that’s why its been 5 ½ years since Olivia and I’ve been alone on vacation. Better work on that.

Guilty pleasures: I usually don’t feel guilty for doing things, unless I’ve got Olivia there telling me I’ll have to run 10 miles to work off that piece of cake. Others, in no particular order, are working in the wood shop, golfing with anyone, but especially Max when he does his famous back-nine collapse, and fishing with Tim. Hopefully, both my boys will enjoy the same things so I won’t feel guilty about leaving them with Olivia.

Places I have lived (in chronological order): Sandy, Indiana, South Jordan, South Salt Lake, Lelystad, Den Bosch, Rotterdam, Den Helder, Leiden, Den Haag, Groningen, Amsterdam, Layton, Murray, Woodland, Tulsa, back to Woodland, and Las Vegas.

First thing I thought when I saw Olivia: I was trying not to think of her, as I was trying to focus on being a gentleman with my date; however, after hours of Olivia’s flirting I couldn’t help but succumb to her beauty. (sorry Joni). And I don’t think Olivia had to do much finagling, Billie Sue, as the conversation between Dan and myself on the way home from the date was whether he would mind if we could switch dates next time, which awkwardly enough is what happened a few weekends later. (again, sorry Joni).

Places I've been on vacation: California (San Diego – loved visiting Spencer and family, Disneyland, Tijuana, Northern California as well), the Uintah Mountains frequently on camping trips, Yellowstone, Seattle, Phoenix, Ohio (Kings Island), Nauvoo, Vancouver, Chicago, Denver, Hawaii, Lava Hot Springs (fortunately – what a great place), Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Hong Kong, Rosarito Mexico.

Favorite Food: Olivia’s chicken pot pie, homemade Root Beer.

If I am in a jam with Olivia: I just apologize immediately and then spend the next two hours explaining to Olivia how the apology was sincere.

Best first kiss landmark: Not sure which to answer, the best or the first. Best was certainly just after our wedding ceremony when I knew this was the person I was going to spend eternity with. First, was as Olivia explained it, after the derby and linked to drinking, swearing and screaming fans, a little bit of a contrast.

Places I'd rather be: Anywhere, since I’m at work right now.