What Have You Done?

I found this somewhere in the blog universe and thought it was fun to see the things I've done, and those that I'd still like to do. What have you done? The bolded lines are things that I've done...what have you done?

1. Started your own blog
2.Slept under the stars
3.Played in a band
4.Visited Hawaii
5.Watched a meteor shower
6.Given more than you can afford to charity
7.Been to Disneyland
8.Climbed a Mountain
9.Held a praying mantis
10.Sang a solo
11.Bungee jumped -- Although I really want to!
12.Visited Paris
13.Watched a lightning storm at sea
14.Taught yourself an art from scratch
15.Adopted a child
16.Had food poisoning
17.Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty -- Can you even still do that?
18.Grown your own vegetables
19.Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20.Slept on an overnight train
21.Had a pillow fight
22.Hitch hiked
23.Taken a sick day when you were not ill
24.Built a snow fort
25.Held a lamb
26.Gone skinny dipping
27.Run a Marathon
28.Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29.Seen a total eclipse
30.Watched a sunrise or sunset
31.Hit a home run
32.Been on a cruise
33.Seen Niagara Falls in person
34.Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35.Seen an Amish community
36.Taught yourself a new language
37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38.Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39.Gone rock climbing
40.Seen Michelangelo's David
41.Sung Karaoke
42.Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43.Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44.Visited Africa
45.Walked on a beach by moonlight
46.Been transported in an ambulance
47.Had your portrait painted
48.Gone deep sea fishing
49.Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50.Been to the top of the Eiffel tower in Paris
51.Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52.Kissed in the rain
53.Played in the mud
54.Gone to a drive-in theater
55.Been in a movie
56.Visited the Great Wall of China
57.Started a business
58.Taken a martial arts class
59.Visited Russia
60.Served at a soup kitchen
61.Sold girl scout cookies -- I bought plenty of them though
62.Gone whale watching
63.Got flowers for no reason
64.Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65.Gone sky diving -- Another one I really want to do
66.Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67.Bounced a check
68.Flown in a helicopter -- So close...too bad the Alaskan weather wouldn't cooperate!
69.Saved a favorite childhood toy
70.Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71.Eaten Caviar -- Not a fan
72.Pieced a quilt -- it's pieced, but still isn't a quilt
73.Stood in times square
74.Toured the Everglades
75.Been fired from a job
76.Seen the changing of the Guards in London
77.Broken a bone
78.Been on a speeding motorcycle
79.Seen the Grand Canyon in person --kinda
80.Published a book
81.Visited the Vatican
82.Bought a brand new car
83.Walked in Jerusalem
84.Had your picture in the newspaper
85.Read the entire Bible
86.Visited the White House
87.Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88.Had Chickenpox
89.Saved someones life
90.Sat on a jury -- don't think that'll ever happen.
91.Met someone famous
92.Joined a book club
93.Lost a loved one
94.Had a baby
95.Seen the Alamo in person
96.Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97.Been involved in a law suit
98.Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Our Phone Call from Jake Plummer

Tonight during dinner our phone rang and Todd went to answer it. He usually picks up the phone and immediately hits speaker phone so everyone in the room can hear. Tonight was no different.

As soon as Todd said hello, former ASU quarterback Jake Plummer started talking to us. He was hoping to convince Todd and I to renew our season tickets to ASU football. We'd made up our minds not to renew and the call from Jake wasn't going to change it. Todd handed the phone to Isaac so he could say hello.

Isaac listened to Jake, said hello here and there and enjoyed hearing what Jake had to offer. When he was done, in true Sun Devil fashion, Jake said "Go Devils!"

Dylan immediately piped in, "We don't say that, we say, 'Go Gators!'"

Take that Jake Plummer!

What is up with the zoo?

When I plan a visit to the zoo with my wife & kids I envision the kids running from exhibit to exhibit saying, "Look daddy elephants!," or "Lions, Tigers, Roaaarrrr!" Eat some cotton candy, ride on the merry-go-round, and basically wear the kids out by walking everywhere.

The past two times we've taken the kids to the zoo have been some of this and some of that. Honestly at times it has been absolutely scary. Who knew the zoo could be so harmful to minors? Just when Nicole and I relax a bit and take our eyes off of Dylan we find her stuck in the trance below...

Look for it. It is there. About 3 feet worth. Just to the right of Dylan's head. There is a reason I didn't make these pictures enlarge when clicked. Oh my gosh. The girl wouldn't look away. I was horrified (between my giggles). I'm just glad she didn't turn around and ask, "what is that daddy?"

Our most recent trip to the zoo found the turtles playing leap frog...

And being turtle speed it wasn't over quickly. The funniest part was Mr. Turtle moaned a bunch and then some. Dylan and Isaac started moaning back. I had to grab the kids and pull them away from that one (although my wife stayed behind and took several pictures for some reason). I'm afraid to ask what sound a turtle makes now. Dog says, "Woof," Cat says, "Meow." Turtle says, "Uhhhhhhh."

So Nicole and I have decided we can avoid the whole birds and the bees topic. By the time the kids are a few years older they will have seen and learned it all...at the zoo!

One Year Older...

And wiser too???

It was one year ago today that I created this list. I thought it was a good set of goals to start my "next 30 years." Since today I'm now 31, I figured I should check in to track my own personal progress. I have a feeling I won't feel very accomplished though. Let's find out...

personal

1. spend three hours once a week for a month on me and only me COMPLETED (thanks Diana) 2. go to bed by 10pm every night for a month
3. make a 101 list COMPLETED (this was a gimmie)
4. return all phone calls within 24 hours for a month
5. return all e-mails within 24 hours for a month
6. get a pedicure as needed for 6 months COMPLETED
7. have a meal with friends once a month for 6 months

marriage

8. talk without distraction each night for a week
9. say I love you every day for 6 months COMPLETED
10. give hugs and kisses every day for 6 months COMPLETED
11. celebrate anniversary somewhere other than home overnight
12. find one new thing we both enjoy doing together
13. laugh together each day for a month COMPLETED
14. have date night once a week for a month IN PROGRESS

spiritual

15. attend all HFPE meetings for a year IN PROGRESS
16. read scriptures personally every day for a month
17. attend all three meetings on Sunday for two months straight
18. have 100% visiting teaching for a year
19. read the book of mormon cover to cover
20. prepare Sunday lessons before the weekend starts IN PROGRESS
21. no caffeine for a month
22. watch all four conference sessions COMPLETED
23. say personal prayers each night for a month

health, beauty, and fitness

24. lose 15 lbs IN PROGRESS
25. ride the elliptical 3x’s a week for a month
26. go for a walk 3x’s a week for two months
27. don’t eat fast food for a month
28. make dinner every night for two weeks COMPLETED
29. stop biting my fingernails for at least one month COMPLETED
30. get LASIK
31. take a yoga class
32. drink only water for one week COMPLETED

for the house

33. get Dylan into a twin bed COMPLETED
34. organize the kid’s clothes and closets COMPLETED (although it needs doing again!)
35. keep the car clean for one month
36. organize craft room
37. keep craft room clean for two months
38. get Isaac into a twin bed
39. redo kids’ bedrooms HALF DONE
40. redo master bedroom
41. paint kitchen COMPLETED

travel

42. leave the country COMPLETED
43. visit a national park COMPLETED
44. see Wicked somewhere in the country IN PROGRESS (we have tickets for next July!)
45. stay at the Hotel Coronado in San Diego
46. visit a state I have never been to COMPLETED
47. visit a friend out of town COMPLETED
48. start an Italy fund

reading

49. read each day for at least 30 minutes for two weeks
50. read a book by a new author COMPLETED
51. go to the library twice a month for three months COMPLETED
52. start and finish a book in one day (at least 175 pages) COMPLETED
53. read the ensign every month for 6 months IN PROGRESS
54. read the entire book club book for six months IN PROGRESS

finances

55. put money in a travel fund for NY IN PROGRESS
56. put all spare change in jar for 3 months COMPLETED
57. make and keep a personal budget for two months
58. don’t use the credit card for a week other than necessities (food, gas, bills)
59. for one month spend money only on necessities

hobbies

60. use the camera everyday for a month COMPLETED
61. finish family cookbook COMPLETED
62. blog every day for one month COMPLETED
63. bake something new once a month for six months
64. be comfortable with and "get" my camera COMPLETED (although I can always learn more)
65. complete two Daily December Journals and have them printed
66. take a photography class COMPLETED
67. take a German class
68. be proficient in photoshop IN PROGRESS

crafts

69. complete three mini albums COMPLETED
70. complete two different knitting projects IN PROGRESS (one down, one to finish)
71. decorate the master bedroom IN PROGRESS
72. take a knitting class
73. complete a new sewing project once a month for 6 months COMPLETED
74. finish Dylan’s scrapbook
75. start Isaac’s scrapbook
76. finish Isaac’s scrapbook

for others

77. be a secret santa COMPLETED
78. donate clothing or other items COMPLETED
79. donate blood
80. do a random act of kindness for someone in the neighborhood

for dylan

81. hug her, kiss her, and tell her I love her everyday for a month COMPLETED
82. say prayers with her every night for a month COMPLETED
83. teach her to ride a bike
84. sign her up for soccer
85. enroll her in swim lessons COMPLETED
86. get her potty trained COMPLETED
87. teach her to do a somersault COMPLETED
88. read or sing to her every night for a month COMPLETED

for Isaac

89. teach him the ABCs and to count to 10 IN PROGRESS
90. take a mommy and me class COMPLETED
91. enroll him in swim lessons COMPLETED
92. get him potty trained IN PROGRESS
93. read or sing to him every night for a month COMPLETED
94. say prayers with him every night for a month COMPLETED
95. hug him, kiss him and tell him I love him everyday for a month COMPLETED

household chores

96. clean all the bathrooms once a week for a month (I hate this chore!)
97. get all the laundry and ironing done on Fridays for 3 months
98. wash and dry pots and pans each night for a month (no air drying!)

odds and ends

99. no tv on in the bedroom for a week
100. no computer for three days (at all) COMPLETED
101. no tv with the kids for a week

All in all, not bad for the first year, but I've sure got a ton of areas I need to work on. I guess it's time to focus on the next year and check off a few more things on my huge "to do" list.

President's Day

Driving in the car yesterday we had a funny conversation with our daughter. It went something like this...

Dylan: What is that? (pointing to the US Flag in front of our neighbor's house)

Mom & Dad: That's a flag.

D: Why

M&D: Because it is President's Day. We put out flags in honor of our presidents. Do you know what a president is?

D: No

M&D: He is the person who runs the country. George Washington was our very first president. Did you know that?

D: No! Jesus was our first president!

Amen?

Broken Wing

Early last year my sister wrote a post about her poor little girl falling at the park and breaking her arm. I remember thinking how awful it must have been for my sister to handle that and how it must have just broken her heart to see her daughter in pain. I also remember hoping that I never have to go through anything like that. Ever. And I remember knowing that it was bound to happen sooner or later. Little did I know that it would happen only four days later.

Someone once told me that the average ER visit for a little boy is once every six months. I have no idea if this is true or not, but I figured I was ahead of the game because Isaac had never been to the ER and in fact had never even been to Urgent Care. Luckily, that earlier incident with Isaac's bloody face didn't require either. We had a friend from our ward come over and butterfly him up.

Last week my college roommate was in town with her family and we had so much fun. She has two little boys the same ages as Dylan and Isaac and the kids always have so much fun playing together. Since they come to visit from Pennsylvania their only request is to spend plenty of time outside. I'll share more about their trip in another post, but suffice it to say, we spent a ton of time outside and at the park.

And that's where this story really begins.

On Thursday we were spending time at the park in our neighborhood with all the kids and enjoying the sunshine. Isaac wanted to climb up the ladder to the landing on the playground and he needed some help. I stood with him to help him keep his balance and he made it all the way up. He was holding on to the bars with two hands, both feet firmly planted on the landing and I drew my hand away so he could climb the step to the slide.

Here's where I decided that I'm a crappy mom. I know Jamie said she felt like a crappy mom, but the award has to go to me.

As I pulled my hand away, Isaac's left foot slipped backward, he let go of the bars and he fell flat on his back, hitting his head on the ladder on his way down. I was right there. I should have had faster reflexes to catch him. Instead I watched him fall just millimeters from my outstretched hands. It was awful.

He cried. A lot. I held him and he kept asking to go home. He was moving everything but kept pointing to his left forearm saying "hurt." We could move his arm, rotate everything squeeze and everything else we wanted to do and it wouldn't hurt, but he just wasn't the same. My little boy was hurting and I didn't know how to make it better.

I took Isaac home and gave him some Tylenol and he spent the next hour or so on my lap watching tv. He walked around with his arm hanging limply at his side. He would hold things in his left hand, but wouldn't raise his arm. If asked to give high fives or grab something, it was always with his right hand, never his left.

I decided to call our resident on call nurse. Our friend down the street is a nurse at a nearby Urgent Care and we've called her for fevers and any other concerns we may have. It's nice to know she's so close when we have a quick question. I called Katie to tell her the situation, and more to ask about the Urgent Care location and acceptable insurance options. Katie asked a few questions and was concerned about his collar bone so she wanted to see him. We walked him down the street and decided we should think about taking him in to see about his collar bone.

We went home, gave Isaac some Motrin and had dinner. Afterward the kids took a bath hoping Isaac would play in the water and not worry about his shoulder. It didn't happen. In fact, he almost drowned. He fell over and couldn't even support his body and lift himself up with his left arm. Luckily, Todd was there and pulled him out of the water.

After getting the kids ready for bed we sat in Dylan's room to read a story and say prayers. Whitney joined us and I started the story. Isaac was roaming around the room and wanted to climb onto a little step stool to sit. He was on all fours and every time he lifted his right arm to lift himself up, he'd fall flat on his face because his left arm couldn't support him. This happened three different times and it was so, so sad.

We decided it was time to take him to Urgent Care. We called Katie (who called ahead to warn them) and off we went. As soon as we arrived we were brought back into the triage room and initial tests and information was taken. Then X-Rays so they would be ready as soon as the doctor was ready to see us. We even had an early chat with the doctor and Isaac charmed the entire staff. They were wonderful. After waiting for about 15 minutes to see the doctor we found out that Isaac's shoulder and collar bone weren't broken, but there was a bad sprain. They gave him a tiny little sling to wear and told us he'd probably be sore for a few days.

not the best lighting, but it was late and he was so tired

his tiny little sling

All in all, not bad news, but to use Jamie's words again, I sure felt like a crappy mom.

The Campout

At the start of the new year Todd and I went out to dinner and decided that we needed to get out and do more as a family. Whether it was weekend trips here or there, or just doing something new, this was our New Year's Resolution. Last week, that resolution was put into action.

We've been having pretty good weather here for the last few weeks. Truth be told, we've had great weather for the last month. Because of this, last weekend, I needed a change. And I knew the kids did too. I wasn't in the mood to make dinner either. Partially because I really hate coming up with menu ideas, and mostly because we (meaning, I) really needed to go grocery shopping. Thursday night as I was laying in bed trying to settle my head down so I could relax and fall asleep, dinner options for the following night kept flying through my mind. Finally, I hit on a great idea. We were going to barbecue. But not on the grill. We were going to have a campout with our firepit in the backyard.

I knew we had hot dogs and hot dog buns, potato chips and drinks. I knew that since I had just cleaned out my closet that we had plenty of wire hangers to use as well. I sent Todd to the store on his way home from work to pick up all the fixins' for S'mores and that was going to be dinner. Todd thought it was a great idea and even decided to take it one step further. He set the tent up in the basement so we could all sleep downstairs. We decided to make this a trial run for an unknown future "real" camping trip.

We set up folding chairs in the backyard, brought out the fire pit and had a great time roasting hot dogs and eating dinner. The kids played and then we made dessert. There was so much leftover we invited the neighbors over to enjoy the fun.

Check out that marshmallow


I couldn't even snap a picture fast enough
with how quick Isaac ate his


Dylan enjoying her S'more

After dinner we set up the tent, turned off all the lights and watched a movie on the portable DVD player. Just like we would if we were really camping. This was when the real fun started. At 8pm, when it was dark, Todd fell asleep in the tent. Just like you would if you were really camping. I mean, after all, what can you do in the wilderness after dark?? Sleep, of course. Unfortunately, our kids didn't feel the same way.

I spent the next 3 hours trying to prevent Isaac from crawling on top of everyone as he wouldn't sit still, let alone lay down in the tent. I tried to convince Dylan that even though Isaac was crawling on top of her, that didn't allow her to kick and yell at him (especially since dad was still sleeping). I spent the better part of 45 minutes on my elbows because the kids decided they needed to each sleep at 45 degree angles with their heads consuming the area where my head and shoulders should have been resting (again, daddy's still sleeping). And finally at 10:45 I gave up. I told Dylan she could lay down and "camp" with daddy in the tent, but mommy and Isaac were going upstairs to our rooms.

I took Isaac upstairs, turned on his wave machine and put him in his crib. The kid didn't even move. Not even an inch. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the mattress.

*Note to self: when we try camping "for real" next time, make sure you bring the wave machine. Our kids are like Pavlov's dogs.

Saturday morning Dylan woke up, walked upstairs at about 7am and asked if she could keep camping, I told her to go back and sleep in the tent some more if she wanted too. She and daddy slept in the tent until I woke them up at 9:45.

For them, camping was sweet success. For me, it was heaven to have a king-sized bed all to myself, and for Isaac, well, 11 hours of sheer bliss in his own bed, with the crashing of waves as background noise.