Elle's first pet!

Santa brought Elle a fish bowl,fish food, rocks, and a little plant, so we thought we'd better get her a fish to go with it!

His name is "X-Ray"

"Because when you look at him, his colors make it look like an X-ray of a spine and stuff"
She said.

a laugh at my expense

So, tonight, under the influence of sugar, I was thinking how stupid the comeback

"I know I am, but what are you?!" is.

For example, someone says, "You are a moron!" and the proper response is: "I know I am, but what are YOU?!"

Then, Chris pointed out that its' actually "I know YOU are, but what am I?"

I'm thinking I am a moron. Or Blonde, or I guess they go hand in hand.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Now I can show off Elle's Christmas dress. :)
Happily, it came with a dress for her doll too.
Elle fixed her doll and herself before we even woke up!

Elle's Baptism

I know. I know.

But, I finally did it!

Here are some of the highlights:

Elle's Baptism

What I did on my summer vacation

Elle and I went to CA to see her former orthodontist. He had placed a cemented upper expander on her about a year ago. We wanted him to finish the job.

Chris coldn't go with us because he had to work, and we needed four appointments and eleven days for all the orthodontist stuff.

Elle and I flew in on the 3rd and stayed with our good friends

Elle was glad to play with the boys again. I was happy to chat with BFF and very excited to hold the baby!

Elle and I had a FANTASTIC weekend with my bro. and his family.

We had delicious feasts for each meal that we enjoyed too much because we ate too much. (One cannot resist, you see)

We had tons of fun while in CA.

Elle and I went to Disneyland and CA advenure one day. Another day, we went to the beach.

While we were there, we saw a very strange thing.

A man wearing a wet suit, flippers, and goggles. He didn't jump in and swim like we expected. Insead, he lay on his stomach and impersonated a beached whale. He was part way in the water, with most of his body on the sand. He was flipping his flippers and had his arms pinned to his side. It was bizzare. The lifeguards ran down and "rescued" him as if he really were a beached what. Only in LA, huh?!

Earlier in the week, Elle and the boys were playing. Fletcher was pretending to be a dog and put a toy in his mouth. He wanted Elle to take the toy. She was a little too enthusiastic when she wrenched the toy from his mouth, and managed to rip his tooth right out!

On the 14th, we flew from CA to Utah to visit for a couple weeks.

American Fork was celebrating their founding day, so Elle and I went with Chris' mom to some of the activites. We went to a quilt show which Elle surprisingly really enjoyed.

Chris' siter lives in another town and they were also having their founding day. Elle and I spent a couple of days enjoying their festivites too.

Elle got to ride a razor scooter with her cousins in her first ever children's parade! Since it's Utah, the parade was separted by wards. Each ward had its own section of primary kids. I wonder what the few non-LDS kids do in they want to joing the parade.

Some of the wards even had little floats. They were usually church related, like one had a Lehi's dream float.

But the real excitement came later that morning when Elle had a chance to catch a fish with her bare hands! (gotta love small towns). I'm not sure why, but part of the festivities was this big make-shift pond made with tarps and sandbags. Then a big truck full of trout came and men poured big nets full of trout into the pond. Twenty or so kids were let in at a time and they had gallon size zip lock bags to put their fish in.

First, Elle wanted to keep her fish as a pet, then when it died a few minutes after naming it, she decided she'd like to eat it.

She had another fun, unique expereince by riding riding in the back of uncle Mark's truck. When we got back to their home, he helped her gut it (which she thought was way cool--she's the type of girl who likes to play with worms-- In fact, during recess in the Spring, she took on the job of worm rescuer and spent time picking up worms from the sidewalk and saving their lives by tossing them into the grass). Later that night, she proudly ate her fish!

We stayed at my parent's house the next week. Chris drove down and was there for the 24th of July party there. Lots of cousins with lots of girls came too. Elle loved being around so many little gilrs. I could barely drag her away when we had to go home.

We had a big picnic complete with hommade ice cream of course, then fireworks. My parents as usual, bought a ginormous box and so all the little boys took turns lighting them and almost burning themselves :) It was really fun.

We had been away from Chris for three weeks and we were anxious to be back together as a family. We drove home the next week. It was a 14 hour drive, but it wasn't so bad.

No, the bad part was coming home to 100 degree weather without AC for 2 weeks!

My parents came the week after the heat to visit us in our new home and I wore them out picking raspberries and blueberries. It was really fun though. I had never gone to a farm like that and picked fresh fruit! I highly recommend it.

Now you should get your jammies on since it's probably midnight now that you've finished reading all about my summer.

I'll have to update fall sometime next spring ;)

My Summer Vacation

Sunday dresses

Elle has been making dolls out of flowers, just like her grandma used to when she was a little girl

dressed and everything!

cool hair from last week

new Sunday Dress from
Targe'

Sunday Dress and hair 8-30-09

Elle surprised this morning by getting dressed, combing/fixing her hair, and putting on her locket.

AND

Putting on lipgloss

My baby is getting so grown up.

Art

What's this? Is Chris doing art?
Oh, Nan and Elle must be out of town, right?
What? They're not?
Wow!
Good for you, Chris :)

You can see more of Chris art
HERE!

Cool! (literally)

I remembered today (since it's uncharacteristically hot here, I don't know what happened to the whole "You'll LOVE summers here--they never get too hot! Ya, 90's today without AC--what's up with that?) that we used to keep cool by having a "healthy" cool snack besides otter pops:

Frozen Go-gurt.
(or the cheap knock off equivalent )
Love it.
Try it!

Be a Man!

Chris has officially arrived to suberbia.  

Why?

'Cause he has one of these babies:

(It's an early father's day gift). We decided we needed to BBQ to make Memorial Day offical.

In other news, Elle had a "show me how" project due in school.  She decided to do:

How to make an apple doll!  She carved up little apples and soaked them and made one a body and clothes all by herself :)

And this last picture? Ya, I'm not sure what that's all about.  She was pretty proud of herself, so I had to take a picture.

You social worker friends and brothers, don't even. . .

Lost

So, I had a doctor's appointment the other day.  I couldn't park in my usual spot in the parking garage, but I found a spot that close to the elevator, so I could find it easily.

Well, not so.

When I got off the elevator, I walked around to where my car was, but it wasn't there.  I used my key fob to honk the car. Didn't hear anything.  I thought maybe I was just on the wrong side of the elevator, so I walked around to the other side and honked again.  Nothing.  I tried walking down the nearest slope and honked a couple more times even though I was pretty sure I hadn't parked there. 

I knew the car close to the elevator, so I walked over there again and honked again.  And agian.

I was starting to get paniky by this point.  I realized I hadn't really paid attention to which floor I parked on, but I was pretty sure it was "baby deer" level again.  Just in case, I went up one level.  I couldn't see the car immediately, so I trid honking again.  Nothing.  Again.  I walked around the other side of the elevator. No car and no sound from the car.

I went back down to "baby deer" level becasue I was almost positive (just almost, 'cause only fools are positive) that I parked on that level.

No one was around to help (or to hear my honking  thank goodness) except an older couple that was leaving.

So, I'd walk a few steps in one direction and honk.  Then I'd go the other way. HONK. Nothing.

HONK. Nothing.

Of course I had already said several silent prayers for help, but still nothing.

Finally, FINALLY, I honked the car only a few feet away from the elevator and I HEARD IT!!!

 It  seemed a little far away, so I honked a couple more times on the  way.

Then I saw it!!! I was overjoyed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THEN. . .

I heard a voice. It said, "You finally found it, huh?" !!Ya. There was no one around!  Who had said that?

It was a man's voice, so I thought maybe it was my gardian angel.  But if it was, why didn't he help me all this time?

Then, as I was going to open the car door, I saw that there was a man sitting in a van reading a book!  I mean, who does that?!  Reading a book in your car in a dark parking garage?  Wierd.

I  hysterically, embarraingsgly  apoligetically said, "I couldn't hear it!" And got in my car.

Please tell my that YOU'VE gotten lost too!

Perspective

Apparently, some people don't think I did justice to our TV, so I'm giving you all some perspective on a plate:

First, you can see how ridiculous our couch looks in the tiny space by the TV. We are REALLY really close to the big screen.

Does this help put things into perspective now?
I hope so.

Baby Deer!

That's the level I parked on when I went to my appointment Thursday.

It is  appropriate that I parked on that level because instead of going home from my appointment, I was admitted to the hospital.  I  exclaimed, "Baby Deer!" 

 I went in for an appointment because my lab work said my kidney wasn't doing well.  I had furthere tests that showed why: my kidney wasn't draining properly. So, I now have a hole in my side(through my stomach and into the kidney) to drain it.

After a week, they'll take a look again to see just what's going on inside.

But I learned something VERY important while I was in the hospital.  A nurse told me that with this economy, hospitals aren't getting as many patients.  Her hospital wing was even threatening to shut down because of lack of business.

I have done my part in helping out this situation, and it's time you did yours.

The time has come.

If you want to help out then do your part by scheduling that elective surgery you've been putting off.

*Lipo

* Breast augmentation (and you know who you are!)

*face lift

*rhynoplasty

You name it.

Do it.

Your country needs you! ;)

Post overdose

I know, I know. I've been a blog slacker lately.
But, never fear! I will make up all that time with today's post!
Just you wait :)

First, I have pictures from our spring break trip to LA. It was totally fun!

Hannah and Tyler were kind enough to let us camp out in their office (Thanks again guys!)
It was a great vacation because it seemed like a week of Saturdays at home.
We just hung out a lot and Elle and I got a good dose of Vander holding.
You can see evidence of me here.

We went to Disneyland to try out Chris' new Silver pass plus three free park hopper tickets.
Ya. Well. Ha ha.
We invited Tyler, Craig and the boys. Fletcher had hives, but insisted on going anyway, so we picked up some Benadryl and headed out.
On the way, Craig called to say he had forgotten the tickets and had to go back.
Then when we got there we found out it was the one week of the whole year that was blocked out for Silver passes. Chris did get discount tickets though.
Poor Fletcher was so drugged up, I'm not sure he actually remembers much of the day. He even fell asleep at lunch.
Chris, Elle and I stayed a couple hours longer and headed over to CA adventure. We rode a few rides including our two favorites-- The tortilla factory and the Sour dough bread bakery for samples ;)
We spent the week mostly hanging out. Chris went to Dreamworks for three hours and chatted with friends while Elle and I went to the zoo. It happened to be Easter day there. Then we all went to the Griffeth Observatory. The view was awesome!
Then, of course, we had the Annual Easter picnic at "Bee Park" as the kids named it since four of them were stung a couple years ago there.
Here are the pics:



And here's a set of pictures that I call Connor and Elle's honeymoon 'cause that's totally what it looks like.
There's also the "nine months later" shot at the end ;)



The weather got better here and Elle used her new Easter chalk:













































And NOW for a little story.

A few months ago, I was watching Kung Fu Panda. I loved all the detail when I watched in the theater, but it just wasn't coming through on our screen. I texted (Is that really the past tense of text?) Chris and said, "We need a big screen TV" He told the guys at work who were dumbfounded. "How did you get your wife to want a big screen TV?!"
So Chris began the research of TV's. Which kind? How big? How far away should one sit for the different sizes? Should we mount or not?
We went to Costco Home, Fry's and other places looking at TV's.
But Chris couldn't decide what kind.
He tried to tell me we needed a 52" screen.
Ya. right!
That's WAY TOO BIG!
So, he showed me the VanDyke's TV.
"It'd just be a little bigger than theirs." He told me.
He tried to say how wonderful his uncle's TV was every time we went to their house.
Then on vacation, we watched Incredibles on Hannah and Tyler's huge TV.
It did look very cool, I must admit.
"We won't get a TV THIS big!"Chris assured me.
Time went by.
Chris still didn't know what kind to buy.
THEN
I went to a Relief Society activity for three hours last Saturday.
Before I went Chris said, "While you're gone, Elle and I are going to buy a big screen TV."
"Ok." I said 'cause I knew he never would.
Then I got home and Chris handed me a receipt with a very large price on it.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!!"
"I bought a plasma TV :) Brian is bringing it home right now." (It wouldn't fit in the Mini)
I was kinda surprised even though I knew we'd get one eventually.



















Chris was very excited waiting for it to come.
And come it did.
He and Brian hauled the 100 pound thing in together while Elle and I were shopping for a birthday party.
When we came back I thought, "Hmm. It seem so big! It actually seems A LOT bigger than the VanDyke's. I guess that's becasue I'm looking at it so close."
WRONG!





















It seems big because it's a freakin' 58" TV!! Which, by the way, is the same length as our dining room table. I'm just sayin'.
While I was coming out of shock, Chris quickly put in a DVD.
And ya know which one he put on?
That's right.
Kung Fu Pand.
The movie that started in all.
And it looks beautiful.
So, we sit on the hard floor and watch REALLY big images on our REALLY big TV.
Now we just need a sofa.

Quilting News

We didn't do much work on the quilt over the weekend--too busy Friday and Saturday, and of course, we don't want to be picking stitches out in the after life with our noses, so we didn't do any quilting Sunday ;)
(No, I didn't make that stitch saying up--learned it from Grandma)

Elle did start to pin

And sew!

And iron seams :)

She wanted me to take some video for your viewing pleasure :)

My man is so cool!

Yesterday, we went with Dave, Brian, Kim and girls to see
Monsters vs. Aliens.
It wasn't nearly as bad as we thought it'd be!
I even laughed!
B.O.B. was my favorite.
And "The Missing Link" totally reminded Chris and me of Mike W. :)

They even remembered to put Chris' name in the credits!!
He's under "Global Resources" on the right side.
There are only three names under it.
He said they should have put his name under
"surfacing" since that's what he did the most.
He's listed as "Chris Harvey" this time instead of
Christopher N. Harvey as not to be confused with his
Googleganger: Chris Harvey.
Oh well. We know who he is.
Chris and Chris actually met last year at Siggraph!
Thankfully, they are both good guys, and neither one is tainting the good name. :)

He worked on making the skin of the characters look awesome.
Check it out!!
That's my man's skin up there!!!
(unlike grandma's skin in Madagascar, or Shrek's which looks. . .
not as good)
He also worked on Dr. Cockroach and other surfaces.

Elle and I had the privilege of getting our picture taken with B.O.B.
last Halloween.
I'm pointing at the tiny kid trying to make off with B.O.B.
She was v cute.
Chris helped to make B.O.B. quit chattering.
"translation"= he made it so B.O.B's reflections would stay smooth and coherent.

So, go see how cool my man is and see
Monsters vs. Aliens.
(sorry the trailer is so lame, but at least you can see the skin up close) ;)

Quilt patterns

Chris spent about an hour one night making this nifty little program for us, so we could see all the different possibilities of quilt patterns.
(It's pretty handy having a talented programmer around :)
He's thinking about making a program for the G1 phone,
but he's not sure how many quilters out there own a G1.

The first is a randomly generated pattern.
Not so good.







Next, we have an interesting pattern, but as you can see, it doesn't quite match up there in the middle.
This can be reprogrammed to make a diamond shape or something like that.
He also suggested that we could make a big "E" with the purple floral pattern.
All too complicated.













Finally, we have a repeating abcde pattern.
This is the one we're going with.
Simple, yet appealing. :)
















In other news, I bought Elle a raincoat.
I thought it was high time she have one.
When she saw it, she hugged it and said,
"You didn't?!!!!"
It was v satisfying. :)

Quilt update and Elleisms

We decided to step back and practice sewing by making bean bags out of the extra fabric.
Elle pinned the squares then sewed then. . .

Had the fun of turning the darn thing

Inside out.
We stuffed it with rice. Then. . .

I taught her how to stitch up the side.
She did NOT like that part at ALL!
So, for the next bag, she just used the sewing machine.
Elleisms:
We were listening to music while we worked. I changed CD's and Elle noticed.
"You're very observant!" I told her.
"Aren't I my father's daughter?!"
She started to work on another bag right away.
I thought to myself, "If Chris were here, he'd say,
'Let's time her to see how long it takes to do one bag.' "
The next thing I knew, Elle said,
"Time me, Mom!"
I did.
20 min. per bag!
I had to go upstairs to do something, and when I came back down,
Elle had finished a whole bag by herself!
"You're amazing!" I told her.
"Of course I'm amazing." She told me, "I'm your daughter!"


She ended up making SEVEN bean bags!