Corned Beef and Cabbage

Corned beef and cabbage is good stuff. Especially with vinegar on top. Due to our irish heritage, my family always has corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day. I'm really bummed because although my mom awesomely made it for the fam on Sunday night, Ben, Spence, and Will were unable to attend (due to the ever present ex-factor). I was determined to make it yesterday and I didn't. As the fat guy in Fiddler on the Roof said, "Without tradition, we are as shaky as a fiddler on the roof." Hmmm. . . that makes me want a shake.

On second thought, I think the boys couldn't care less, they don't know what they're missing. Rather than obsess further, I shall eat me a shake today, and stress about it next year. Thanks for the idea fat guy.

Thank You, Molly Jackson!

March 7th is a special day.

A year ago, I nervously sat in my car in a crowded parking lot in Heber City, Utah. My great friend Molly Jackson had suggested that I go on a blind date with a terrific guy serving with her husband in the Prospector spanish speaking Branch. I did not know that the person I was about to meet didn't want to come. He was running late after a stressful day at work and due to a laundry shortage, he was wearing his least favorite outfit. I watched each car that passed by, wondering if the driver was the guy I was supposed to meet up with. The low point of the night was when I saw a scrawny hispanic guy with a mustache bigger than his face drive by in a clunky old truck. My breath caught in my throat as I wondered, "Is THAT him?" Soon I got a phonecall where an attractive voice said, "I think I see you right now." I looked out my left window and saw the most welcoming smile I've ever seen. I breathed a huge sigh of relief. . . it was not the mustache guy. Better yet, this guy was REALLY CUTE!!

We went to eat dinner at Fanny's Grill. He told me he liked me. He wasn't planning on attending it, but after meeting me he felt comfortable enough to invite me to attend a small wedding with him at the Branch. It was really cool. After congratulating the bride and groom, we went back to his place and ate vanilla ice cream while watching Live Free or Die Hard. We couldn't stop smiling, and haven't been able to stop since.

Right now, Alfonso and I are walking out the door to eat at Fanny's Grill. He is wearing that same outfit. :)

This is us in Disneyland last July

Molly, I will be eternally grateful to you. Thank you so much for being our matchmaker. I count having Alfonso in my life as one of the greatest blessings yet. I'll always have a special place for you in my heart!
And thank you, Alfonso, for showing up, even though you had to wear that grey striped shirt. And thank you, too, for not being the guy with a mustache.

Stork Visit Eminent

To some, it may seem a little too soon after our marraige (Sept. 9, 2008) to try for a baby - but Ben is 9, Spencer will be 8 and Will will be 5. The powers that be say it is time for another one. After some positive at-home pregnancy tests, one missed period, and a significant increase in my need to wee, it is confirmed that I am pregnant & we couldn't be more ecstatic!

Our little one is due (tentatively) on October 27th. Will it be a boy? Or a girl? Or will Alfonso get his wish of having one of each? Will I be able to buy little pink dresses and take comfort in knowing that the estrogen level in the house in on the rise? Will I have similar cravings like Kentucky Fried Chicken (Will) or Wendy's Frosties (Spencer)? Pray tell, will I be able to attend Witches Night Out this year? Will the baby have Alfonso's wonderful dark complexion or suffer Mom's white/transparent fate. I look forward to all of the little discoveries that lie ahead, but most of all I take comfort in knowing that whoever's in there, they're on their way.

Speaking of Which

The following conversation took place between Will and I this afternoon:

Me ". . . speaking of which, I need to take some meat out of the freezer."

Will "Speaking of witch, I don't like them because they're mean."

Me "Who's Mean?"

Will "Witches."

I just love that kid!

Thank You, Celine Dion!

 

I am an unapologetic Celine fan. I believe Celine is one of the last TRUE divas. She has a lot of class, an immense stash of talent, and she really knows how to make her fans feel important (all while wearing 6 inch stilletos). This is the second time I've seen her in concert, and I'm consistantly floored by her ability to hit every note right on, perfect pitch, whenever she sings live-it is with recording studio quality. This concert was FABULOUS!

Well, last March, when he and I had just started dating, Alfonso bought tickets to the November, Celine Dion concert. Time passed, we got engaged and then married, all while looking forward to attending the concert in November. Well, the concert was postponed. Boo hoo hoo. Perhaps Celine was waiting for the next milestone in our marraige. I say that because the concert took place on Sunday night, February 22nd which just so happens to be two days after we found out we're expecting our first baby together! Wow, a lot can happen in a year!

p.s. Check out her amazing knee high strapped shoes. She had a rockin' wardrobe!

Everything's Funner With Cousins

Ben and Allie demonstrate what scotch tape, a blue pen, just the right hat, and a little creativity can do. Spencer's sock puppet is shocked and impressed.


My super awesome neice, Megan turned 10 on Monday. We went bowling at Orchard Lanes.


Spencer's bumper-bowling, ramp technique earned him the highest score on the kids team!



We turned Will's room into a mega fort! It still stands today, well most of it. (We had to reclaim the kitchen chairs.)


Ben and Megan hide out in the most righteous of hide-outs.


Will and Allie enjoyed the crawl space behind our futon.


Peekaboo, you two!





California cousins: Brittany, Kaitlyn, Eric, Austin, and Tyler, we miss you! Come build a fort with us SOON!!!!

I Love Him!

We are so grateful to the doctors and staff at the University Neuropsychiatric Institute and the Kidstar program. It has now been a few weeks of testing, uncertainty, worst case scenarios, divorced parent disputes, blessings, and prayers. Yesterday Spencer was diagnosed with high functioning autism. Everyone had worked so hard to help Spencer learn and progress while at the same time, trying to pinpoint a diagnosis. I am so relieved because with all the troubling events that led up to our getting help, even contemplating the worst case scenarios terrified me. I was extremely worried about him, and I still am, but at least now I know what I can do to help him. They say Spence is "on the spectrum" of Autism. When they say he has "high funcitoning" Autism (from what I understood yesterday), it means he is able to perform day to day activities very well, some extremely well, with a few exceptions. It is essentially affecting him, or hurting him, socially. To those of you who know him, you'll agree that Spencer is a delightful and extremely bright and kid, but he oftentimes has difficulty making friends or knowing how to interact with them unless they are playing Starwars. He quickly withdraws in many social settings and feels lonely a great deal of the time. Especially in school and at church. What we are trying to do right now is teach him those crucial social skills that usually come naturally to people. That is the area that we need help. When you see him, put your arm around him and help him know you are his friend. If possible, go out of your way to include him in what you are doing. He may give you the cold shoulder. But don't take it personally, he certainly doesn't mean to offend or hurt anyone's feelings. . . he's just an extraordinary little boy who's going to need an extra hand from time to time. I love him!

Thank You, Ice Tree Makers. Sorry, Ice Tree

The ice tree. I don't know why they did it, whether they have a thing against trees, or whether they consulted their parents. But the kids who live in that one house on Center Street have created a bizarre spectacle in their front yard. We think that in the early winter months, they hosed it down nightly. A few branches have broken off, for obvious reasons. Since it is en route to our house, we drive by often, and every time we do, everyone yells, "THE ICE TREEEEE!"

So, ice-loving youth on Center Street, I salute you. And to the poor, poor innocent tree. . . get well soon.

The Post I've Been Putting Off

Last month Alfonso lost his job. He was unemployed for like two or three weeks and was able to land another job in record time. He is amazing. Spencer, our seven-year-old, spent a brief time in the hospital and is now temporarily attending a special school/program at the U of U for kids like him. This program allows him to do his schoolwork while working with excellent doctors and therapists. He is doing remarkably well. I'm very proud of him. Our objective is to find an accurate diagnosis and also learn to help him cope with whatever he's facing. So, needless to say, January really wasn't all sunshine and roses, but it could have been much worse. Phew. Having said that, February is going much better.

Here's an upper, I have a Valentine this year!!!! I feel like being cheesy for a minute. . . so beware, maybe just stop reading here if you have a sensitive stomach. My valentine is my most handsomest hero, my prince charming, and my best friend. If I have steam coming out of my ears, he helps relieve the pressure. If I'm crying he offers his shirt as a kleenex. If I'm beat, he lets me win.
Alfonso is very good at a great many things. Proof: Exhibit 1, in this picture he is fixing the VCR (yes, we still use ours now and then) while at the same time, telling the family and neighbor kids how it works.
Exhibit 2, being a passionate lover of cookies, Alfonso decided on a whim at 11:00 one night, to try his hand at baking them. They were DELICIOSAS!

So boooo to January, and hooray for February. Boo to the lousy economy which forces so many to sing the unemployment song, hooray for self starters and independent thinkers who get bucked off the pony and get right back on to ride. Yes, Alfonso, and Spencer I'm talking about you!!!

Thank You, Jim Henson

Mr. Henson, thank you for dreaming up these wonderful friends. You were a brilliantly creative man who changed the world using little more than fabric and string. They thoroughly entertained me as a child and even still, as an adult, there is no way that I can look at them and feel sad.

Kermit is one of my all-time favorites (especially when Jim Henson did the voice). Kermit is so sincere and likeable. Whenever I see him singing "Rainbow Connection" in the swamp whilst plunking away on his little banjo, I get teary eyed. And don't get me started on Cookie Monster; those bizarre googly eyes, the incurable cookie craving, the matted blue fur. What a cutie. Dear reader, who is your favorite Muppet/Sesame Street character? And why?

(john)Bytheway, I'm just getting started with these random and inconsequential pop culture commentaries.