BYU Football

Two weekends ago, our little family meandered down to happy valley to celebrate BYU Homecoming. My oldest brother, Steve, and Travis both graduated in chemical engineering so we met them at their house and drove to BYU together. We met my mom on campus and she was going to take Ethan home and watch him while we all went to the chemical engineering banquet when the biggest celebrity appeared. We all gasped when we saw him and couldn't believe this was really happening. I mean, we're not big Hollywood watchers or anything, but I think everyone goes a little crazy whenever you stumble upon someone famous. I quickly alerted Travis, "Honey, hurry and get the camera. Maybe he'll take a picture with Ethan if he has time to stop." We asked, he kindly nodded that he would oblige, and since my mom was holding Ethan she jumped right next to him.

Can you believe we met Cosmo? As you can see Ethan was absolutely thrilled! Wait, no, that's the face of complete fear, perhaps terror. Ethan was curious in the beginning, but the minute Cosmos' furry little hand patted his head it was over. He was creeped right out and wanted nothing to do with him. Nothing like traumatizing your 1 year old.

Anyway, we went to the banquet which had surprisingly decent, borderline good food and enjoyed seeing Travis' teachers, particularly Dr. Pitt (who wishes you well Scott and Anne). Then we endured the speech from the alumni president which went a little like this:

"Aren't we blessed to be BYU graduates? Yes, yes we are and it's time you enabled others to have that blessing as well by giving us all your money. (Insert graph here) Don't you enjoy a good career? Others could too if you would give us some money. (Insert graph here)"

In the end it felt more like a fund raiser than a Homecoming/Reunion banquet. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about giving back and we do, but it's a little weird to sit there for 2 1/2 hours and be continually told, almost guilted, into giving money. Anyway, we did get a handsome picture of us together and it's been quite a while since we had a picture of just the two of us.

Then we strolled around BYU with Steve and Suzie, reminiscing of the days of yore when we were all dreamy, youthful college students. It was at this point that Travis interjected, "Wait, Kristin you haven't even graduated yet, you can't talk about it like it's the past." Sad and true. But in only 6 months I'll be done...

In any case, we all went back to my mom's and spent the night and then went to the BYU Homecoming game the next day. This was an especially big deal because it was my very first BYU football game. That's right, I'm graduating in 6 months and I'd never been to a game before. In fact, the only college football games I'd ever been to were the University of Oregon games that I worked at to earn money for choir field trips. The U of O games were fun, but everyone was drunk and crazy which tends to detract from the fun for me. Well, the BYU game was all the fun, hype and obsession without the alcohol. It was perfect! We took Ethan too, so he could also enjoy his first BYU game.
The game was awesome, we won, we dodged the rain for the most part and best of all we had a blast with Steve and Suzie. I think everyone should attend their first BYU game with Steve because he's such an enthusiastic, informed, intelligent fan. If I were blind, I still would have known everything that happened because Steve would mutter the play-by-play. This was highly useful because I really don't know too much about the rules of football. Here are the lovebirds rekindling their flame at the BYU game.

And a shot of the game from our seats.

It was a very fun weekend and a sweet break from all the work we've had going on. Not to mention that I got to cross one thing off my list of "To Do's" before we move from Utah. (Attend a BYU football game) Now I only have 12 more remaining...

There's A Mouse About the House

This morning when I was making treats for the people I visit teach, I left the kitchen to get an ingredient I'd forgotten. When I returned, I heard little squeaky noises coming from the cupboard where I keep all my grains and I saw this:


I thought about getting the house sprayed, but this little mouse is so cute. I think I'll let him stay. Perhaps I'll even feed him, bath him, make him a cozy bed, and love him. Yes, I think I'll do that.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

We're home! Hip, hip , hoo-ray! As soon as Ethan and I got home Travis took a week off work, we propped our feet up, watched fifteen movies in a row, ate copious amounts of ice cream and did no housework. Wait... that was just my dream. The reality is that Travis kept working, started his final class before he gets his Masters and I went crazy on house projects. Crazy meaning I demolished the basement. The walls are back up now and I almost have everything reorganized so there will be pictures in a couple weeks, but till then you'll just have to use your imagination.

Here's some fun pictures and quick updates of our happenings.

Ethan and I on the last day we were at my mom's.
Notice the lovely painted bedroom walls.




Ethan participating in his favorite pastime, talking on the phone.


Ethan and Daddy taking Lexie for a walk.
(My favorite)

Ethan and Grandma enjoying dinner at Zupa's.

Evidence of Ethan's newest trick, unscrewing lids. Yes folks, he opened my mascara and applied it to his forehead. But, no, his tricks don't stop at mascara; he also learned how to open "child-proof" medicine bottles. I used to let him play with his baby Motrin bottle because for some reason he finds it fascinating. But a couple days ago, I turned around and found the lid off the bottle as he was dumping it onto the floor and making swirls in the sticky, white liquid. Suffice it to say Ethan doesn't get to play with anything that screws on or off anymore.



Last, but certainly not least, I give to you the evidence of Ethan's first haircut with the hair clippers. I've trimmed it before with scissors, but this time I used the real deal and he loved it! He sat still on my lap and giggled when it got down close to his neck. However, I struggled with how short it was. Now I love it, but it was difficult for me because it made him look so much older and that is definitely a sad thing.

We're back in the saddle again and once more I'll be better at posting on the blog. Till next time, enjoy this lovely video of Ethan we made in August. He cracks me up.