Not so vicious

We have always said that our kids are going to beat up Russell's kids (when he gets some). I mean, look at Marshall and myself. Have you ever seen two more vicious people in your life? Yeah, pretty scary. So no doubt our kids would be just as intimidating.

So our sweet little Carly got in her first fight on Sunday. She decided to take on this little guy, our upstairs neighbor. We thought it was a fair match; he is 2 weeks older, but she has 1 lb on him. I have to say that it was quite pitiful to watch her curl into a little crying ball while he jumped up and down on her. He's not even all that scary! I guess the vicious nature skips a generation. This makes us seriously question all of the threats we have put out on Russ's future kids. Hopefully our boys will still be able to take them.

I never knew clapping could be so funny.

Carly thinks it is pretty funny!

0-5 months in the blink of an eye

Watch if you have a moment to spare... We love this baby!!

Silly Boy

So when I got out of the shower this morning, I heard a sawing noise. I stood still for a minute trying to determine which neighbors were doing light construction (yes, our walls are that thin), when I realized the sawing was coming from my own hallway. I opened the door to see a guilty looking Marshall standing next to our linens/games cupboard. He had a hacksaw in his hand. When I finally get him to tell me what he is doing, I discover that my dear, sweet husband has been trying to wrestle the monopoly game out of the cupboard (you have to turn it diagonally to get it to fit). But, failing in his attemps, he decided the next logical step would be to simply saw through the wood frame of the cupboard to make it big enough to get the game out. Luckily I stopped him (and got the game out) before he did enough damage that the landlord would notice. But this makes me seriously question his critical thinking abilities.

Butterflies

I was looking through some old photos on our computer, and I came across this picture taken in Las Vegas on that fateful trip where Marshall and I began dating. I love this picture. I had no idea at the time it was taken that I would be marrying the guy I was sitting next to; I just remember the intense butterflies in my stomach because he had his arm around my waist.

BYU vs. UCLA

Marshall and I decided to go to the game during his 4 days off. We drove down, but Russ flew in the day of the game to go with us and then catch a ride back. We went to the BYU tailgate after picking Russ up at the airport. It was held on the golf course next to the Rose Bowl. It was grassy and cool and beautiful. I took pictures, but of course, they are all of Carly.

I do have one picture of Russ and Marshall at the actual game. It shows our excellent seats.

**Notice the UCLA student section right behind us.

Yeah, it was an interesting game. That chain link fence was up to separate the BYU fans from the UCLA students. We even had a guard assigned to stand at the gap in the fence. The UCLA students still managed to steal Russ's hat and pass it up the section before game's end. And we got he hear some creative chants. They started with the cliche "Stupid Mormons." But quickly moved on when I reminded them that their quarterback was a "stupid Mormon." By the end of the game, they began chanting "We can drink," followed soon after by "We're not that drunk." These were my favorite, because it was kinda slurred, and from a distance it sounded a lot like "We can read, we're not that dumb." LOL. Ahhh, UCLA. It was a fun trip.

Carly and Cosmo and Ty, Oh My!

So on Saturday, I took Carly to her first BYU football game (first of MANY, I'm sure). We went with Russ and Star and even though we only stayed until half time, we had a very nice time. The only thing missing was Marshall. He, being the biggest BYU football fan ever, was super happy his daughter was getting to go to the opening game. And so when I saw Cosmo, I knew that he would be the proudest papa if I could get a picture of Carly with him.

At half time, we sat through the half time show so that we didn't have to battle the crowds on the main level as we tried to leave. This was actually pretty cool, because we got to see the ceremony to retire Ty Detmer's number. We were walking down the west side of the stadium by the cougar statue as the 3rd quarter started. And who did I happen to see? Ty Detmer and his family taking press photos in front of the statue. So being the devoted football wife that I am, I quickly called Marshall and asked if I should chase him down to take a picture with Carly, or if that would be too psycho intrusive. He was, afterall, with his family. Marshall told me to go ahead and be psycho. So I parked the stroller, grabbed the baby, and started running across the grass yelling, "Mr. Detmer! Mr. Detmer! Will you take a picture with my baby?!!" Of course he obliged; he was such a nice guy.

So Carly may never remember her first BYU game, but we sure will. And we have the super great pictures to remind us. The pictures, for Marshall, almost make up for not being there. Almost.

Freecycle and Me

Okay, so I LOVE to freecycle. I give a lot more stuff away than I actually find to take. I think this is because most of the stuff on freecycle is so rediculously cheap, that I would rather go to Smith's and pay 4 dollars instead of driving around the surrounding cities searching for a random address to pick up 20 diapers. But I love giving stuff away. I hate clutter and I think I may be slightly addicted to posting things, to the point that I find myself looking around my house to find things to give away.

There are however a few things about posting on freecycle that annoy me:

1) The first person I contact to come claim that prize inevitably never shows up and I have to set up a new time with someone else.

2) The same 3 or 4 people respond to EVERY post. I bet they have ebay businesses and seriously just drive around picking up free stuff all day.

3) I always tell the people that the items are on the front porch. This is because I do not like to open my door to strangers. If I wanted to talk to or meet them, I wouldn't specifically leave the item on the front porch. Yet each time someone picks something up, they still knock on my door just to let me know they took the item, thus forcing me to put on a shirt and answer the door in case it is a neighbor or delivery man.

4) They also ALWAYS ask if the other items on my front porch are also free. No, you cannot have my BBQ. Sorry.

Yet I still search daily for items (expiring food, coupons, old shampoo, outgrown clothes, etc) to list. So if you are ever on Provo's Freecycle board, look for me. And if you see something you need, try not to be annoying about it.

Bringing Sexy Back

Okay, so leg warmers were never sexy.

But they sure are cute on a 3 month old!!!

Rolling Over

1st try....

2nd try...

3rd times...

The Charm!!!

Marshall and Prenatal Class

So last night we had our first prenatal class at the hospital. The nurse/instructor was really funny and had a lot of visual aids, etc. We heard a lot of incredible stories and saw a cabbage patch doll shoved, in a variety of ways, through a set of skeleton hips. We were shown various medical supplies such as cathetors, internal monitors, and breathing masks. We saw a lot of charts and drawings accompanied by the common (and often unbelievable) phrase, "Yes, that is actual size."

I left feeling a little overwhelmed with all the new information and scenarios I had never even considered. I turned to Marshall to see what he thought of the class. His response: "It was pretty boring; I didn't learn anything new."

Incredible. I've married a genius. Why are we even paying for prenatal care? He's a natural born OB. I can tell you one thing, all the other expectant mothers in my class (whose husband's actually learned something) should be jealous. Because I'll be the luckiest woman to ever give birth, with Marshall as my coach in the delivery room. /sarcasm.

fire + marshall - helmet =

At academy last night, Marshall got too close to the fire without wearing his protective gear. Result? Singed eyelashes. Pretty cool looking, but I wish he wouldn't scare me like that.

Hard day

So yesterday I had to work a 15 hour shift at the boys' ranch. I had only gotten 2 hours of sleep the night before (pregnancy means you are never comfortable). I also got bad heartburn from the healthy breakfast of hashbrowns and sausage they served at the ranch that morning. At lunch I drove to the nearby Smith's in search of Tums (you can have 6 a day while pregnant!), and while I was in the antacid aisle, Marshall called on his lunch break. Tired, hormonal, overwhelmed by my long shift, and in severe digestional pain, I started crying immediately when I heard his voice.

So I'm standing in the middle of the store, Tums in one hand, phone in the other, obviously pregnant, and bawling. Then my nose starts bleeding. Seriously. This little old lady walks up to me after I collect myself and asks sweetly, "How much longer do you have left?"

You know you look bad when questions about your due date start to sound like questions about a prison term.

hooked on phonics...

Marshall and I like to read together in bed at night, mostly Michael Crichton books. Well, usually it is Marshall reading and me listening because I am really self conscious of my ability to read aloud (trauma dating back to elementary school). Last night, however, he put his foot down and said that I had to read the first chapter before he took over. No biggie.

I didn't even get half way into the chapter before he took it from me, insisting that I let him finish. "Why?" I ask, "are you getting tired?" "No" he says, "you just suck at reading."

Ouch.

Baby of Ours

So life has been pretty hectic the last few months, and I have neglected my blog. This is unfortunate, and want to start writing again. But first I should probably catch everyone up to speed.

We are expecting our first child, a daughter, to be born sometime around June 7th. Yay!! Pretty exciting stuff. The first few months of pregnancy were no fun, but I feel much better now, and the whole thing just seems more real now that she kicks me constantly.

We have started pulling together our nursery and finalizing the names that we like. During this process I am starting to have flashbacks to our wedding planning. Marshall isn't your typical guy. He cares about details, he wants to be involved in the planning, and he makes his opinions known. This is great, except when we don't agree. For instance, we both like the name "Carly." Only, he only likes the spelling "Carli." I dunno about this. I have never met a girl (that I can remember) that has a name ending in an "I" that has been respectable. The spelling seems either too cutesy or too destined to belong to a stripper. Am I overreacting? Probably; I'm pregnant. I overreact to most everything. Also, he won't let me pick the nursery theme. I guess I didn't expect him to care so much. I should have known better. Every pattern or color I like, he hates. Does he have a tangible reason? No. He "just doesn't like it." Compromise is so difficult for me! I guess this is one way to learn it.

Anyways, we both kinda like this one. What do you think? Opinions are appreciated (as long as they happen to agree with mine; just kidding).

sleepless night #93

so when you get married, you have to learn how to sleep with someone in your bed. you have to learn bed etiquette- sharing the bedspread and not kicking- etc. marshall, for instance, is a blanket thief. he sleeps with his eyes half open too (i know, weird!). it can take a while for newlyweds to get used to.

but i think it is even harder to re-learn how to fall asleep without that person once you are used to having him there. an empty bed is more distracting than anything.

"religion" professors

i have to vent....they think they know everything. you are not allowed to disagree. i think this is the reason i haven't taken a religion class at byu in 2 years.

today my religion professor told us that we are not allowed to be sad. never. happiness is a commandment and to be sad is a sin. he related a story where he had a trial and took it to the Lord and felt the distinct impression that God said "you think you have it rough? look at what i have to deal with." the story goes on that he felt impressed that God complained to him about all the trials He has to deal with as God of many worlds. he said that if God can deal with everything, the condescension of His son, everything, and still be happy and jovial, that to be sad in our own trials is a sin.

now, i felt the spirit leave when he said this. i mean, we read in the scriptures that Christ weeps and even God mourns for/with us at times. in the book of mormon we are taught to mourn with those that mourn. as i understand it, Christ felt all of our infirmities and heartache to better succor us. i think that we should be happy because we have the gospel, and yada yada, but sorrow is not a sin. maybe it is the social worker in me, the side that tells my clients that they have every right to feel how they feel, but i do not believe that grief, sorrow, or sadness are sins. especially not in our trials.

the worst part of all, this was a mission prep class. the kids in this class are all freshmen who don't yet know that religion teachers at byu are mostly full of it. the worst thing that teacher could have done was tell these 18 year old boys that taking their struggles and trials to the Lord is a sin, or that they should feel guilty for "bothering" the Lord with their heartache. not only was this professor wrong, he was irresponsible.

take that byu

i just have to say that one of the most awesome feelings is finding a textbook that is sold for $66 at the bookstore for $8 on ebay. booyah.

Migraine Headaches

make me want to hurt myself.

Russ' (Ex)Wife?

so some of you are probably confused. i thought i should probably address bryant's creative naming of my blog.

when marshall and i went to get our temple recommends when we were engaged, the bishop put russ' member number on marshall's recommend. this wasn't caught until we moved into our new ward as newlyweds and marshall tried to transfer his records in, and russ' showed up instead. understandably, the bishop was concerned and called us into his office. we determined that the mistake meant that my member number was married to russ' member number. the bishop gave marshall a new recommend with his real number and had to contact salt lake to fix the marriage record. hence, i am russ' ex wife.

the biggest lesson learned in my short marriage to russ would have to be to not get engaged to a guy who lives in the same ward as his twin. life is confusing enough without all that mess.

oh, and we probably shouldn't live in the same ward as russ in the future. i can only imagine him being listed as my children's father on baptism and blessing records...