Binky Bliss

The picture is dark, but if you look close you can see why. I took this while Jack was asleep and I didn't want to wake him. Needless to say, he likes to have his Binky's while he sleeps. I think the one balanced on his head is pretty funny. I've come in to find him with a Binky covering each eye and one in each hand and of course one in his mouth. Life with Jack is never dull, even when it's naptime!

Fun in the Sun in AZ!

Jack and I took a little vacay to visit our family in Arizona last weekend. We had such a FANTASTIC time! We went with my parents and brother Jeremy to visit our other brother Josh and his family. The time was short but packed full of fun! We started off the festivities by running a 5K (my first one ever...it was fun, thanks Cheryl!) We made lots of great food, ate way too much of that food. We played in the park, played outside, and played, played, played. Thank you once again Josh and Cheryl for being wonderful hosts and exceptional chefs! We are still going through with drawls. Here are some pics for your enjoyment.

ON A SIDE NOTE: Just in case anyone is traveling on an airline with a "Lap Child" that doesn't quite look under two- here's a story for you. The night before we left to fly down to PHX, I checked our airlines website to make sure I didn't need any specific information for the "baby" that I was traveling with. No identification needed the website said. So, we get to the airport at O'Dark Thirty and I look at the line to check-in- LONG! We get in line, but it isn't moving very fast. Rob stayed with me to help me carry all the copious amounts of luggage I had. The sky cap guy came out and said the line wasn't very long outside, so Rob and my Dad went to check luggage. Shortly after I get a call from Rob saying that they need to see Jack so they can make sure he is under two. For being as early as Jack was when he was born, he is really tall...he looks like a two year old at least. Anyhow...the sky cap guy needed a copy of his birth certificate to verify his age. WHAT! Okay, I understand that, but come on our flight is leaving in just a couple minutes, we haven't made it through security yet and YOUR WEBSITE said I didn't need any identification for him. I would have gladly provided it, had I been properly informed! CRISIS- Option #1 send Rob home to get the birth certificate (if he speeds he can make it back in time and we can run to make the plane). Option #2 send my Dad through security and see if the gate agents can help. Meanwhile I am standing in the HUGE line to the check-out counter. Someone has to see that this child is only 20 months and he is sitting on my lap! After a couple minutes of chaos, I get a call from my Dad telling me that he has purchased Jack a refundable ticket. Okay, call Rob, tell him not to rush back to the airport...get out of the ticket counter line and head over to the security line. PROBLEM, I don't have the boarding ticket for Jack. I get a call from my Dad telling me they are printing the ticket and he is going to run it back to me in the security line. Hello people! This is not fun! I get though the security line a little fast and I have to wait there until the boarding pass comes...meanwhile it is 10 min to our plane leaving (this means most people have boarded the plane already). I see my Dad's red hair bobbing down the escalator- saved, or not! They wouldn't let him back through security. I had to sit there and waive my arm to an airport policeman that had to ESCORT Jack's boarding pass thorough security. Rush through security, run to the plane, get the last three seats on the plane! MADE IT! PHEW! Lesson learned, I will always, no matter what the website says, carry identification for my "Lap Child"!

Baby Jill
G-Pa an Jill

G-Ma and Jill

The Boyz!

Coloring!

Race Time!

Guest blogger thoughts on the Sugar Bowl

There is an old saying that happiness is a journey, not a destination. In this case both are true. The destination New Orleans and the journey a step that began with a surprising win in Michigan and ended with a shock to the college football world at the Sugar Bowl. A little more than 2 months ago immediately following the bowl selection show, I was on a conference call with several friends trying to get flights to NOLA. As we hammered out the details of our trip and finalized the headcount the prices for plane tickets tripled right before our eyes. We all hit the refresh button on our computers but to no avail, the price for a flight from SLC to NOLA now started at $1,200.
The following weeks were filled by visiting utefans.net for the latest smack. My good friend Mike ordered high def and Costco sized goodies for the game but in the back of my mind I couldn’t get past the idea that we wouldn’t be supporting our Utes as they played one of the most historic programs in football history.
On the Wednesday prior Friday’s game I woke with a sense of conviction. I felt compelled to try one last time to figure out how to get to New Orleans. I called Mike and told him that this game, in which we were picked to lose big, a game where the cream of the SEC crop would teach us how football is really played, would be historic and we could be a part of it. I told my good friend that going to this game would be a story that we would tell to our grandchildren. I think that was the key selling point because 2 hrs later we were on the road, headed to Las Vegas on New Years Eve to catch a flight the next morning to Baton Rouge. We had no hotel reservations, no car rental or even tickets to the game, just the confidence that our loyalty and determination would be rewarded. As we journeyed south another good friend offered his condo in Vegas which saved us from spending the night in the Wal-Mart parking lot. It was a sign of good things to come. Our journey was replete with signs of good fortune. That night instead of partying with thousands of inebriated heathens on the strip of Las Vegas we worked to secure a hotel room in Baton Rouge and contact potential Ute fans with extra tickets. I think the adrenaline kicked in because neither of us slept very well.
A few short hours later we headed to the airport. As we pulled up I got a text that I had been upgraded to first class. Sweet! That extra 18 inches and moist towelette make all the difference in the world. Mike on the other hand was seated in coach next to a high school beauty contestant and her idiot boyfriend, there’s 5 hrs of his life he will never recover. They can only be described as a first day eliminated contestant of American Idol and Kevin Federline. The best part of the flight was the last two guys to board the plan. They were both dressed like they stepped out of a Miami Vice series and held up our take off as they were trying phone a friend they had abandoned unconscious who was supposed to be on the flight.
We arrived in Baton Rouge late that night and turned in for what would be another short night. You really know you’re staying in a quality place when the hotel concierge suggests Sonic as the best place for good local cuisine. The next morning was game day and we were off to New Orleans. The drive there was almost entirely over bridges through the Louisiana swampland. You could feel the southern football pride. We had arraigned to meet some Utah fans with extra tickets that morning, which actually went extremely smoothly. They had tickets closer to some friends but didn’t want to sell theirs to Bama fans so they gave them to us for face value.
With tickets in hand we had about 8 hrs to kill before kickoff. So where do two guys who don’t drink, smoke or cavort with transvestite strippers go to enjoy the sights of New Orleans? I believe the answer is Bourbon Street. This infamous section of the French Quarter was already full of Utah and Alabama fans alike milling about shops and restaurants. We ate lunch at a place called the Red Fish Grille, where the special is the Red fish. Awesome! As we walked around and talked to Alabama fans the enormity of the game became more apparent. There was a Utah student walking down the street holding a sign high above his head that read, “Low Tide, Go Utes!” He would walk into every bar and proudly displayed his sign which received resounding boos from Tide fans. As he passed us on his quest to piss off every Alabama fan in sight we heard one of them say, “som body’s gonna nawk is head oaf”, in the most southern accent possible. Classic! Several Bama fans stopped us to ask us questions about our conference and Utah in general. One group even told us this was a classic David vs Goliath match to which we responded, “and we all know how that turned out.” You know I’ve learned a few things about the Crimson Tide fans, they are extremely gracious…in the most condescending way possible, they dress to the nines for football games and some of them think it necessary to use their pant belt loops to hang water bottles, cameras, assorted foods and every key they own. Batman himself would be proud.
Before heading to the Stadium we went to the hotel where the team was staying and watched them board the bus. There was no doubt that Kyle had the team ready and focused. You could feel the intensity from both the players and coaching staff. As we made our way to our seats you could tell both sets of fans were excited for the game to start but anxious to see how their respective teams would match up. Kickoff was finally here. The next 12 minutes can only be described as the most euphoric experience in Utah sports history. Our University of Utah Utes, the underdogs, labeled pretenders, the little guys, the irrelevant, this years Hawaii had jumped out to a 21-0 lead. Utah was dominating the anointed next college dynasty and their arrogant fans and smug coach were visibly unsettled. Instantaneously we had become relevant, the announcers stated it perfectly in saying, “wow…wow…wow!” Our Utes never let off the gas charging to a 14 point victory that wasn’t as close as the final score. In one evening had become Hickory High, Rocky Balboa and the U.S. Hockey team all at once. ESPN would later call us America's darling. The reaction of the Alabama fans was of complete shock and utter disbelief. How could this have happened? How could this team, that was 4 minutes from the championship game, have been so completely conquered? As we left the stadium throngs of Utah fans marched on the city of New Orleans, we walked through the streets cheering and celebrating as the traffic and motion of the city stood still in awe. The journey home was difficult as we drove back to Baton Rouge that night and boarded a plane 2 hours later to Las Vegas. It was made easier every time someone in the airport congratulated us on the victory. It took an unusual turn when I introduced Mike to a synthetic stimulant known as Red Bull so we wouldn’t fall asleep on the drive home. Something I can never speak of again. I think one day after the parades and celebration, after all the articles are written, after the debates both for and against us are made, that this win will find its true place in all of sports history.

Happy Birthday Rob!!

So it's a little late, but Happy Birthday, Rob! We sure are grateful to have you in our lives! Thanks for the fun party weekend. We had great food, fantastic company and lot and lots of fun. Here are a couple pics of our "band practice". Happy Birthday, babe!