Consider the Economy Stimulated

We have been talking about getting bikes ever since we got married. While we were dating there was a time that we rented a tandem bicycle and rode clear up Provo Canyon to Nuns Park. From then on we were hooked and planned several other bike rides around Provo. I remember feeling so refreshed taking those bike rides together. It was great to be outside so close to everything.

Well, it seems that all we needed to accomplish our desire for bikes was a crappy economy. We made some plans before we received the stimulus check to use it on food storage and bikes. Yahoo! (I'll spare you the details of my food storage shopping spree). We set out early this morning in search of the perfect bikes. We both wanted cruisers. My only specification was that it had to have a bell. I know, I'm petty.

After visiting hundreds (okay, like five) stores, we found the most amazing pair of matching cruisers at Kmart of all places. Jarom got a red vintage Schwin. I got a blue vintage Huffy. We knew they were perfect when we were walking them to the front of the store and a cute little man stopped us and reminisced about his first bike from 1940. He told us that our bikes were just like the ones they made back then. Mine didn't come with a bell, but I actually bought one at one of the first bike stores we visited. It's pink. It's perfect. (If you look closely, you can see me in this picture).

My bell

Jaroms with baby seat

Mine with matching bag

We couldn't wait to get them home and install the child seat we got for Cannon. We were giddy like little kids planning our first bike ride. We decided to go to a park and then on a tour of the neighborhood. We got home and took a few minutes to install the seat and we were off. Cannon loved his seat and grinned the entire way to the park. We played for a bit and took a long path back home. I thought I was in pretty good shape, but my quads and thighs were burning the whole way home.

He really did smile... I promise!

I think he likes it!

We had so much fun with these bikes. It's also nice to be able to spend some guilt-free money on something we really love. I think the best part is just being together. We are definitely not pros like Kendall, but you never know! Ride on!

Duncan

Erica asked me to take some pictures for Duncan's first birthday. Duncan was just born when they moved in and I was assigned to be her visiting teacher. We hit it off and we have been pretty close ever since. I did some pictures for them at Christmas time {click on the picture to see them clearly}. They are moving to Chicago in the next month or so and it makes me so sad. I had visions of Duncan and Cannon being buddies and growing up together. But, hey, it doesn't hurt to have friends in Chicago. We'll definitely be up for a fun trip out to visit them {Did I just invite myself? Haha!} Anyway, we had a picnic at the park yesterday and I've had some fun with these pictures. He wasn't exactly thrilled to be there, but we got some good ones anyway. It helps that this kid is CUTE!

Ah, Spring!

Life is good.

Family Party

Every few months my dad's side of the family gets together to celebrate. Wednesday, Jarom and I went to the Confirmation of my cousin in the Catholic Church. We had a dinner tonight to celebrate him. He's such a good kid. Too bad I didn't bust out the camera until after he was done opening cards. Nope, not a single picture of him. Oops.

But, I did get some of Cannon...

He really wanted to be picked up. Also, he still has a tremendous fear of grass and thinks it's pretty icky. He won't go near the stuff. So, he sat on the concrete and watched the big kids play swords. He wanted so badly to play. He would inch his way toward the grass and then chicken out as soon as it touched him.
This is Keo. He's a tough guy. Unlike his sweet little brother, Kobe, Keo does not shy away from confrontation. Can you just hear him saying "Bring It" in this photo. He cracks me up.
My sister, Tori, and cousin Jake fighting. Check out the rad spectacles they wore. Kids are so funny sometimes.
This is sweet little Kobe. Awww. He's just so darn cuddly. He's always up for a hug...

Or a picture with his cuz.
Tori adjusting her spectacles.
A pretty decent picture of Jarom and I. Well, okay, to be perfectly honest, I don't take many good pictures. I think this one is okay. I took it myself. My camera viewfinder thingy swivels so I can see it even from the front and I can take a pretty unblurry self-portrait. :) Also, there just are a very small number of pictures of me on this blog. So, here you go in case you forgot what I look like.

We always have fun with family. I've said it before, but I consider my family such a blessing. We did have a pretty heated debate about what to wear for our upcoming family pictures. Since Jarom's ideas included cutoffs and flip-flops, I'll be deciding what we'll wear. Although we had a pretty humorous discussion about the possibilities. I can't wait to get our first family pictures done at the end of the month.

Congrats Lucas! :)

Graduation Day(s)

Well, Jarom has finished his last semester of school and graduated with his Master's Degree this weekend. I don't know who is more relieved, but life is pretty happy at our house. No more long nights at school and driving to Provo and back every day. Jarom had fun with this group of fellow Master's students. They worked on projects together and had some pretty funny inside jokes. We got together with them on Tuesday for a BBQ. It was nice to meet some of the people that Jarom talks about (Michelle, Lois, Dave, Jethro, Jarom). Don't ask what Jarom is doing with his arm???We are so lucky to have such a great and supportive family. Jarom's Grammy and Papa came into town on Wednesday and we went to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner. Cannon loved every single minute there. He went on all the little kid rides and was fascinated. Not tears or tantrums. We were so impressed. He ESPECIALLY loved this monster truck:


The next day was the Convocation ceremony and Jarom's parents came for that. Most of my family was there for that as well. Cannon was a bit fussy. It was dinnertime and past bedtime. He did pretty well considering all that was going on. Here is Jarom sitting in the sea of graduates. He got to wear some pretty groovy apparel. Can you spot him? I gave you some help:This is my family and the graduate after the Convocation:Just the three of us:
After that we went to Red Robin for dinner. It was nice to get everyone together. My family and Jarom's family don't get to see one another very often. We chatted and laughed over some great food. Good times. On the way home, I didn't feel to great, but brushed it off as car sickness. When we pulled up to our home, I knew I was in trouble. Of course, I came down with the stomach flu. No fun. All night long, I got to spend time huddled over my porcelain friend. The next morning I was pretty devastated that I wouldn't be able to see Jarom receive his diploma at Commencement. I even tried to get up and go, but I was completely dizzy and nauseous. It was a no-go. Jarom was a trooper and got Cannon all ready to go and he and his grandparents left at 6:30 a.m. Thankfully, Cannon was a good boy and my sister, Megan, had the task of taking pictures with my camera. She did a great job. I hear it was a great ceremony. L. Tom Perry was the speaker and shook Jarom's hand after he received his diploma. He's the guy on the left:
This next picture is pretty special. I requested that Jarom get his picture by this sign. We have a picture of him when he was 10 by this sign. We also have one of the two of us when he got his Bachelor's. I will scan them and put them all together. Daddy and son:

My Grandma Stewart and sister, Megan:

Jarom's family:
I watched the video tonight and I'm feeling better. It figures that I was only really sick yesterday. All well. I'm still extremely happy for Jarom. We are so blessed.

Pardon My Grammar

I think there are some other teachers out there that will testify to this fact: Teaching made my grammar suck. I was once proud of my spelling/grammar/punctuation skills. After reading over 30 spelling tests and assignments, I would begin to rationalize certain spelling errors. I would have silent conversations in my mind that went something like: "Why ISN'T there a 'ch' at the beginning of the word truck. We say 'chruck' right?" After a year or two of making those excuses for my kids, I began to question all sorts of grammatical rules. Now it is nearly impossible to remember all the rules I knew before. Certain bad habits have been sneaking into my writing vocabulary. If it bothers you that I misplace a comma or vowel, please kindly excuse my mistakes. It is a sacrifice that I made to be a better teacher I suppose. It bothers me sometimes. I'll read through a post after hitting "publish" and I'll see a mistake and it will bug me, but not enough to change it (most of the time). I just figure that everyone knows what I mean and they'll forgive me.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is please don't judge me and think I'm a complete imbecile. I try. Thank you.

Oh, and please don't leave a rude comment about how many mistakes I made. I don't know you and you don't know me. I have deleted said rude comment. :) Have a nice day.

Happy Birthday Daddio

It's my dad's birthday and he turns 49. 49 sounds cool. He's not quite 50. That sounds distinguished. He's almost distinguished. :)

My dad is great. He knows how to have a good time. He likes to laugh at silly things. He likes to make other people laugh. Sometimes he dresses up like Fred Flintstone and jumps off a stage in front of Junior high kids. Sometimes he likes to dance like Micheal Flatley to Celtic music. It's not that funny when your dad is the Vice Principal of your school. But it is funny when you are almost 25 and you think back on it.

My dad is also pretty smart. He got his Master's degree when I was 10. He is going back to get his Doctorate this year. He is a math genius. We used to sit at the kitchen table and fight about math. He always knows a better way to solve a problem. I just want to do it the way my teacher taught me. He is usually right. But don't tell him I said that.

My dad is athletic. He taught me how to throw a softball like a boy. I still can. He coached baseball and loves football. He played on a Roy Hobbes (old man baseball) team and went to Florida to compete in a tournament as a pitcher. I think that's pretty cool.

My dad is spiritual. He loves the Lord. He loves his family. He loves the Gospel. He loves my mom. He still always knows a better way to solve my problems. I'm thankful for an amazing dad. Happy Birthday Daddio!

Just One More

I just played around with this one and I like how it turned out. I thought I'd share. :)