Funny Friday

The good thing about bangs is that they look cute; the bad thing is that while you sleep they tickle your face and are quite troublesome. This is easily remedied by two bobby pins...if you have them.

This past Monday night Terri and I were up in Salt Lake and at bedtime she discovered that she was bobby pin-less. Not a big deal, nothing a quick trip to Smith's Marketplace could not fix. The only problem was that, as you may know by now, I have a nasty habit of forgetting my wallet. $1.38 was all that the self checkout kiosk requested. Terri was a good sport and ran out to the car to raid the ashtray while I stayed there avoiding the annoyed looks of the people waiting in line. When Terri returned with only 93 cents we weighed our options.

First we discussed how probably nobody would notice if their pack of pin shad was missing two bobby pins, but quickly decided not to use the five finger discount. For some reason driving all the way back to the hotel (three blocks???) seemed quite unappealing, and so we were left with one final option; spend the next hour walking up and down every aisle and all around the parking lot looking for loose change. At first we were mostly joking, but when I spotted that first dime under the Doritos display at the end of the greeting card aisle something changed (no pun attended). We were starting to become discouraged 21 cents later and we were running out of our scavengers drive when we found the quarter that made our bobby pin dreams a reality.

Anniversary: Take Two

Our two year anniversary definitely came up quick. I can't believe it has been two years (but I also have a tough time believing I can be tried as an adult, vote, and drive, so my judgment is a little off).

We started our little adventure on Monday afternoon. After a relaxing morning we got ready and headed up to Salt Lake City. We checked into our hotel room at the Little America and then walked downtown to the Melting Pot for dinner. We were a little early (and very hungry) so to preoccupy our attention we played a little game, and all that needs to be remembered is that I won :)

Dinner was delicious, and worth the year that Sam made me wait to eat there...

Unfortunately, after we were done eating, I felt like I was going to die. Way too much food.

I literally gained three pounds. Our hotel room had a scale in it so I weighed myself before dinner. After dinner we walked around temple square and downtown for almost three hours, and when we finally made it back to our room I weighed myself again and I was three pounds heavier; even after all that walking. Oh well, I still weigh less than Sam and that is all that matters.

The next morning, our real anniversary, Sam was a gem and packed up our room.

And then so lovingly agreed on taking me to Cheesecake Factory for lunch instead of his world famous Jim's Restaurant for delicious pancakes. Thanks Sam, Love You.

The remainder of the day was spent writing a paper and attending institute, a little bit of Yoga, some television (I had to catch up on what was going on with Jon and Kate Plus 8 and the bachelorette) and then we ended the day with a red box movie: He is Just Not That Into You.


Sam, thanks for always being patient, loving and the best person that I know. You are so good at always keeping up on your ONE JOB (you know: the dishes, trashes, turning off the lights and locking the doors, cleaning the bathrooms, as well as anything else that makes me gag for that matter, fetching things either upstairs or downstairs, searching for my cell phone, and all of those other things that I think of). You have me constantly laughing, and I could not have asked for someone more perfect for me.

Love you forever. Happy Anniversary.

Jana's and Wilbur's and Clyde's: Oh My!

We had a fantastic few days last weekend when the Izatt's came to visit. We started the fun off by meeting Jana and the boys up in Alpine to finish off the parade of homes tour. We chased babies around the crowded home and even made it to the garage before one of them threw up. That was some fast running Jana! After the tour we drove up to Salt Lake for a Shannon Hale book signing. There was pie (which kept Sam extremely happy), authors (which kept Jana very happy), and cute nephews (which kept me happy).

Here is Sam paying more attention to his pie than the kids...

after five pieces I would have thought he would stop going back for more, but he didn't.

A little bit of off roading in the double stroller...

I guess whatever makes the babies laugh, right?

And you would never believe how much a little snail could entertain even the grumpiest of kids...

We even found a few more kids along the way and their mom was thrilled they were playing with it, oops. Its a good thing that she didn't hear Sam saying how soft it was to pet.

After the book signing, Saturday night turned into a late nighter. Sam had to give a talk in church the next day and enlisted Jana's help in writing the talk (and by enlisting her help I mean she wrote about 90% of it). He did a very good job and the babies were half cooperative with letting us listen to it.

The rest of Sunday was spent making/eating these:

And taking rides on this:


On Monday we spent the morning hanging out (aka I slept in while Jana woke up at 6 am with the kids) and then headed off to Hogel Zoo.

We looked at lots of animals

And despite all the signs telling the patrons not to feed them, Sam thought it would be funny to pull a little "Steve Irwin."

The group walking away from our favorite friends, the giraffes.

We popped our heads into the gopher cage and if I thought it was claustrophobic at this point...

I should have waited until we all tried to squish in.

We rode the little train around the park.

And here we are growing old together in our little rocking chairs.

Finally, for once, my eyes are open and his aren't.

On Tuesday we headed up the canyon to bridal veil falls...

Sam and Wilbur trekked up closer to the waterfall. I stayed behind because the water was freezing and I hate getting wet.

And Jana was kind enough to take this picture of us in front of the pretty landscape.

It was quite impressive to see her take the picture while holding one baby and trying to keep the other one out of the flowing river. Mother of the Year.

Thanks so much for driving down to visit us. We had tons of fun and can't wait to do it again.

Happy Birthday Quinner Binner

Today Elder Quinnton is no longer a teenager (because he turned twenty). Quinn is the youngest child and is generally agreed to be the favorite.

Quinn was always a cute little fellow...

...but he could be dangerous too.

He has cat-like attributes, like for instance the ability sleep for hours and hours on end, pretty much anywhere he can find the space.

In his spare time he enjoys helping old ladies...

...and playing scrabble.

He has always been known to keep handsome company...

...and these days he is sweating it out in southern california working as a missionary.


Quinn is a son to be proud of, a sibling to admire, and a friend to treasure. We hope you had a nice birthday young quinnton, we love you!

Funny Friday

We had just gotten married and finished the luncheon at a cute beachfront restaurant. We were gearing up to take the three hour drive back to Thousand Oaks from San Diego (because I was a brat and picked the furthest away temple ever, sorry Mom). Sam and I were in Grandma's old benz following closely behind the van full of Galerias. We were all very nervous that we weren't going to make it on time to our 7:00pm reception (and by we I mean me because I was told if I was late I was going to be writing apology notes to everyone that was invited = not fun). Traffic was miraculously non existent for the first leg of the trip (weird) and before we knew it we were quickly approaching Los Angeles, which basically means bumper to bumper driving. Since we were making such excellent time we began relaxing, and then the worst possible thing happened.

We had come to a complete stop behind the van because of stop and go traffic, and then as the van continued on, we stayed at a complete stop. The car broke down. We honked the horn to try to get my Dad's attention, but to no avail and we watched them leave in a helpless panic. I grabbed my phone as we looked at each other and tried to restart the car, step on the gas, or do anything we could think to get it to go forward. I looked behind us as people we trying to switch lanes and get past us. We started nervous laughing as we tried to figure out what to do (after all we were in the fast lane with no shoulder in bumper to bumper traffic, which is basically a death wish). The only bright side was that since traffic was at a crawl there weren't cars coming up on us at 80 mph. What seemed like seconds later a tow truck appeared from nowhere (maybe heaven???) and started hooking up the mercedes and then dragged us off the freeway. He didn't even get out, he just pulled in front of us and backed his crafty little hook under us and pulled us to the closest exit where he gave us some free gas and then drove off into the horizon.(probably to join the other two nephites somewhere)

Happy Sumo Tales

You know you are a disgusting person when:

after not working for five days you remember you forgot to wash your work clothes and have to be at work in fifteen minutes. And since you don't want every black piece of clothing you own to smell like soy sauce you only have one designated work outfit, so you pick your clothes out of the dirty hamper and put them on.

The icing on the cake:

in order to not throw up from the smell of my own clothing I febreezed myself.

I have officially hit an all time low.

Parade of Tears

I think every now and again its ok to sit back and have a bit of a covet. Nothing too serious, just a little, "man I could go for one of those...or a...I wish I could have that instead of them having that." You know? I'm not talking like armed robbery or anything, maybe just more of a "hey, I'll give you double what they're paying you." My now and again came this past weekend when Terri told me we were going to a parade. I was down because parades are fun and sometimes they fling candy at you, but then I found out it was a house parade. Terri dragged me to the first home and then I dragged her to the rest.

I don't know if it was the indoor heated pools, the home theaters, or the elevators that most ignited my covetous yearnings, but what I do know is that despite the wonders I saw there is a part of me that wishes I could take it back. Because now I have to live the rest of my days knowing that those homes, and others like them exist, and that I do not live in them.

Funny Friday

The first time this happened we were dating. This particular night we were on a group date with Sam's roommates at their place. The pizza was ordered and there were no drinks. Since Sam and I were involved with part of the set up (little Quinner Binner with a much taller girl, oops) we decided to run to the store while the others mingled. As we were walking out the door I asked Sam if he had his wallet. He immediately answered yes. I then responded with "are you sure, I am leaving my purse here so I don't have any money with me." He assured me he had sufficient funds and we were off. As we are checking out the teller scanned our items and then announced our total. I turn to Sam who had a blank stare on his face, like he was deep in thought. He turned to me and said he didn't have his wallet. Are you kidding me?

Lucky me got left behind at the store, sitting there with our groceries, as Sam ran back home to get his wallet. Why he had to run all the way home? Because the emergency stash of cash I keep in my ash tray was lovingly spent on "emergency donuts and slurpees at 7-11." Some of the most humiliating minutes of my life. Why I was the one that got to stay behind, I am still not sure.

This past Wednesday afternoon I was feeling hungry. Sam was approaching his break time at work, so I decided to visit him so he could keep me company while I ate. As I was driving to him he told me to pick up some food so I could eat with him while in the car. I declined his offer with a new proposition for him to come with me to get food so he could pay for my sandwich. He accepted, and next thing I knew I was ordering my 5 dollar foot long. As the girl is ringing up my order I once again turned to Sam who had that all too familiar blank stare while deep in thought. Unfortunately yes, he did it to me again, and once again I got left behind in the ghetto subway on 9th east while he ran back to his work van to get his wallet.

And he wonders why I often force him to show me his wallet as we are walking out the door...
Sam, it is because your word of having it is just not good enough for me anymore.

Happy Sumo Tales

The most eventful thing that has happened at work in a long time?

I was minding my own business serving some sushi when a little baby squirrel snuck into the open patio door and hopped/ran around the restaurant. It took ten minutes to get the brave little guy back out the door. Who would have guessed that squirrels love sushi too?

Funny Friday

Today's post comes as a plea for help to all you husband closet blog readers out there (you know who you are). I need some advice on an escalating situation. Terri started doing this p90x thing a few weeks ago and it was all fun and games at first, but on Saturdays she does this kenbo or kimpo or whatever workout and it involves a lot of punching. Before when she used to slug me playfully it was no big deal, but lately its been starting to hurt, real bad! I don't know what to do. I am conflicted between living in a society that teaches men to be strong and to ignore pain, but sometimes I feel like the charlie horses are more than I can bare - especially since she has like 10 more weeks to go and I know her judo punches are only going to get harder and harder. I can hear her downstairs right now and I swear the guy just said, "okay, now in the face and gut. HIGH-YAW." What should I do? Please help me!