Ma Names Chubby

Ma Daddy's Chubby,
Ma Mamma's Chubby,
and My Dog's are Chubby.

One day my dad took me out for a motorcyle ride
and I said, "faster daddy, faster" and he went faster
and I said, "faster daddy, faster" and he went faster
and I said, "faster daddy, faster" and he went faster
and I said, "Slow down daddy!"

Tonight at dinner I was resting my jowls on my curled up fists and was just looking at my water glass for a minute. I look across the way of the table, which just happens to be the best view of Sam, and see Sam curl up his hands up to his cute chubby cheeks forcing his lips out.

I started to laugh and then launched in to my favorite story as a kid--"My name is Chubby." Sam started to laugh, so I started to laugh more and the story kept going, the motorcycle ride continued, until I was ultimately moving my chubby face to a stretched out face saying enthusiastically, "SlOWWW down Daddddy!" Laughing and laughing as a family I couldn't think of any place with any other people I'd rather be than right there with my family.

We've Gotta Hot Date

In a couple saturdays from now, Jake and I have a hot date, well to put it more specifically, hot dates...plural. We are heading out on the town with the Moms. Not only do we have a hot date, but great entertainment to boot. The Mom's have great taste in flicks so we're heading to see The Fantastic Mr Fox based on the book by Rhode Dahl here at our independent theatre in SLC.
Here's the trailer for The Fantastic Mr. Fox done by Wes Anderson and starring who?? George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartman, Bill Murray and Owen Wilson. Knock out cast right?

Tis The Season

It may be early but it's never to early to start getting in to the spirit of Christmas. This year, Jake and I decided we were going to turn our efforts and spirits outwards and give to our community rather than to ourselves. Often we look at all that we have which usually boils down to the fact that we have a roof over our heads, the opportunity to earn money to provide for our family, fresh and healthy food, transportation and simply feel overwhelmed and humbled. I started to do some research, since I know many organizations are starting their Christmas projects now, to see what I could find. Let's just say I feel like I found an absolute gem among gems (there are some incredible organizations out there!) that I am really excited to work with.

We are going to work with the 11-18 year olds in the Salt Lake County Youth Services home. These kids come from abusive or neglected homes and have usually been in-and-out of the foster care system hoping to find a permanent placement. While waiting for a placement these awesome group homes provide a place of safety and refuge while providing them with educational, therapeutic and social activities. Keep in mind, once these kids are 18, they "age out" of the system. So if they don't find a placement, they are left to their own because they no longer can be in the system. With that in mind, these homes may be the only "home" they experience. What really got me was this is a group that is often overlooked when it comes to Christmas donations and often times they don't receive any. Most people tend to think immediately of the homeless or little kids, which is fantastic, but wed' like for these kids to have one amazing Christmas experience.

This year we have A Night On The Town planned for these kids. Working with the professional, local dance company, Odyssey Dance, they will get to attend the final dress rehearsal for the Christmas show and then meet the dancers. Two of the dancers in the company have been in the So You Think You Can Dance top twenty, so that should be a blast! We are going to find a restaurant so they can have the experience of eating out beyond fast food and learn the art of etiquette. Most of them have never had the chance to experience "fine dining." They will be able to have a reason to get all dressed up and hopefully have a break from the reality of their day-to-day life.

Secondly, we are going to collect the gifts for their Christmas morning. I asked the Volunteer Coordinator at the youth homes to send me a "dream list" if they had a full budget. If it was possible, each teen would have $100 dollars worth of gifts for them ready to be opened Christmas morning. One of the gifts on the list was a $25 gift card to a place like WalMart where THEY could find things they wanted to buy for themselves, something that is rare for them. The total price to give these teens the best Christmas morning ever? $3000 total. 30 teens at $100 a piece to fulfill their dream list. In all of my hope and optimism, I think this goal can be met. Why? Because I know amazing people out there that often want to help but don't know who, where and how.

Here's your chance.

I will be posting the details so all of those who want to participate can. There is so much that can be done for both the Night On The Town and Christmas Morning that I'm sure there will be something for you. I know it's early, but I hope that maybe this will give everyone time to consider giving a small percentage of their Christmas to a teenager in need and spread the word.

Here's to kicking off the holiday season with a bang!

Oktoberfest

Always a family tradition for us, we spent the day in the mountains enjoying the German festivities of Snowbird's Oktoberfest. The leaves already showcasing their rich fall wardrobe and the air adorning it's crisp chill, it was one great way to spend an afternoon. Never to be missed are the German festivities in the main tent where the "chicken dance", liederhosen and brats are in abundance. Also, I heard you got a special prize if you have a real friend named Hans, which we do...but there was no prize. Actually, I think the story went that I thought there SHOULD have been a prize if you have a friend named Hans. Maybe I'll throw that out year for next year's festival. I'm sure they'll think I'm brilliant.

 

Lindsay Ross Photography

My friend and old soccer buddy, Lindsay Ross, took some Sam and family pictures a few weeks back. We were in a field right by the IFA in Draper which was a HUGE distraction for Sam. He was just so focused on the flowers and shrubbery around him he did not even know we were there. I didn't think he smiled even once the whole shoot but here's where a good photographer comes in and boy was I wrong. She did such a great job of capturing the spectrum of Sam! Thanks Lindsay for completely exceeding our expectations.

Day 3: Tide Pools, In N' Out and More

Today Sam for the most part spent his day crying, thinking about crying or trying to cry. Yep it was just one of those days which is why you will find there are basically no pictures of him. BUT beyond a sad boy, the highlights included heading to the tide pools and ocean preserve and exploring all the natural sea life. I love tide pools for the very fact that it is a very "hands on" experience. We found some sea cucumber type things that the kids loved touching squishing, little villages of crabs inside seashells, brightly colored starfish that Jack was convinced were octopus and more. Then above in the sky you would have thought there was a winged migration going on because droves of pelicans that kept making their way north. Just when I thought there couldn't be more, there would be dozens upon dozens. At the end of the day we had some shadow fun.
The kids also experience In N' Out for the first time. Forgot my camera for that one but just imagine the biggest burgers and fries coupled with hungry bellies and big smiles. Always good food and a great time.







From left to right: Syd, Addie, Krissie, Avery

Jack's Big Muscles

Sun Baked and Southern Fried--Day 2 Cont.

For dinner we had indulged ourselves in a Southern Shrimp Boil. You cook up corn, shrimp, red potatoes, onion, in a southern spice mix. When it's all ready to go you simply pour the food on the plastic and paper lined table and eat with your hands. For the clean up just wrap up the paper and throw away.




Can you believe how cute this little girl is?




So much beaching going on that come days end we had plenty of sun kissed and tired faces.

Swimming!

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sam and I had a nice break in the day yesterday and went swimming! It was so cute because his face was just like these pictures the entire time. His experience with water this far has been with the bath, with only me, before he goes to bed. So I had to think thoughts like this were going through his mind: Why are there so many people in my bath? This bath is huge! Mom, I am not ready for bed yet. His swim shorts draped him more like swim pants. I think all and all he had a good time and we will definitely be going back for more.

La Familia

So we have had an extravaganza of family photos these past two weekends. The photo taking itself is definitely not a favorite, but the photos afterward and forever-more definitely are. Here is the first batch of photos taken by Emelie. She did a fantastic job and was great to work with. If you remember she also took THESE

Croquet Anyone?

Sam has had a weekend full of family pictures and has more to come. He was a trooper at both occasions just chillin' and doing his little Sam thing.



This one he was one of 7 new great-grand babies for 2008. He is in the far left part of the couch...the one looking like the cutest little sausage you've ever seen. It was actually pretty funny trying to get all of these babies to smile, look at the camera, not fall over...the moms definitely got their Kiddie Kandid on!

Thank You Mother

Dear Mother Nature, thank you for all the wonderful gifts you give us. Millcreek Canyon was beautiful today.

Brrr (stomp, stomp) it's cold in here...

Must be some Samster in the Atmosphere!

Just Tootin' Around

(Sorry for the repeat if you saw this on Hodderthanever.blogspot.com Some people only check one or the other)
This weather is crazy beautiful! I finally had enough mother know-how AND energy to get myself and the wee one out there to enjoy. Yesterday was a trip to the mountains to relax at my mom's cabin and today we toured the LDS temple grounds and visited Jesus. What great ways to spend our time together :) OH AND CONGRATS LITTLE NIECE ON LOSING YOUR FIRST TOOTH!!!