Christmas Traditions

We finally found our camera cord. It was actually right next to the computer where I thought it was. I guess that tells you how unorganized my computer desk is right now.

Christmas was great. I have wanted to post some pictures for a while. This Christmas I thought a lot about traditions; both the ones we already have and the ones I'd like to start.


Here are Luke and Andrew watching A Muppet Christmas Carol. Holiday movies are a great tradition (although I fell asleep during this one...falling asleep during Christmas movies might be a new tradition). Luke is also wearing his Christmas pajamas because it is Christmas Eve...another cool tradition.



My family likes to read through Luke 2 (the story of Christ's birth) on Christmas Eve. This year, Luke got the part of baby Jesus (the competition was slim). This is probably Alek and Dallyn's 11 or 12th time being Joseph and Mary. They are good sports. Luke really enjoyed his manger bed.



Luke also really enjoyed eating all of his presents.




It is important for us to be with family around Christmas (even though last year we went to Puerto Rico...sometimes tropical destinations in the winter trump the competition). Here is Luke with his two great-grandpas (he is named after them "William" + "Lynn" = "Wynn").


Here are more cousin pictures. Luke has been so lonely the last few weeks without his cousins' nonstop attention. I keep telling Alek that the ladies like a guy who is good with babies...he should post this picture on facebook.

When we go to Utah, we love to see the lights in Salem. This is the view from Andrew's grandparent's window. They light up the trees and put them on the pond. It's pretty cool. We also went to see the lights at Temple Square but forgot our camera.


A relatively new family tradition is to go tubing at Soldier's Hollow. This is my sister Erin, who is cute and available.

We always have a lot of fun at Soldier's Hollow and it is the only time I will get involved in snowball fights.

Luke didn't tube with us, much to the disappointment of his cousins...maybe next year.


Andrew really knows how to relate to 16 year olds. It just comes natural to him :). I guess that is why he was called to work with the Young Men in our ward (church).

Here is the whole family... minus Eric who stayed in Florida this year and Greg who had to work.

Here are some of my cute nieces and nephews.



Finally, Andrew and I really like to cook. It has started to become a tradition, the last few years, to make pizzas from scratch for the holidays. I can't take much credit, Andrew has a knack for Italian food.

So there are a few of our family traditions ...at least the ones we got pictures of (and not including the Stacey family traditions). I'm always looking for fun new traditions so let me know if you have any good ideas.

Waiting for Pictures

I'd like to post some pictures, but we currently cannot locate the cord that connects our camera with the computer. Hopefully we'll find it soon.

In the meantime, I wanted to welcome some of my family members to the blogging world. Over Christmas break, I set up blogs for Erin, Jerry and Melanie, and Michele and Randy. So far Erin is blogging like a pro, Melanie downloads cool songs (but that's about it), and Michele has yet to post anything. If you know any of my family members, you should check out their blogs and maybe it will motivate them to post (see blog list to left).



The other thing that I wanted to mention is the Freedom of Choice Act that President-elect Obama has said he will sign as soon as he becomes President. I know that I have some pro-choice readers out there, but take some time to look over the submitted proposal. A few points I agree with but a lot of points I do not agree with. I think it's important to be informed about what's going on and the future results of this kind of legislation.

http://change.gov/open_government/entry/advancing_reproductive_rights_and_health_in_a_new_administration

If you want to sign the petition against the act, go to

http://www.fightfoca.com/

I started writing a long blog about why I feel so strongly about this issue, but it became too overwhelming for me to tackle. So I decided to just sum up my reason for being pro-life with two simple (perhaps, over-simplified) statements.

1) Roe v. Wade was a decision made by Supreme Court judges. I believe that when we make laws, the people should decide. If we all voted and decided to make abortion legal, I wouldn't be happy, but I would respect the opinion of the majority. I don't believe a few people should make such a critical choice that affects everyone. Decisions about abortion "should be left with the people and to the political processes the people have devised to govern their affairs."

2) I don't know for sure when life begins. I have my opinions, but I'm not positive. However, if I'm going to err, I would rather err on the side of preserving life rather than err on the side of destroying it. I believe our nation will be blessed as our respect for life deepens.

I have more reasons other than those stated, but I just couldn't articulate them quite like I want to.

Interestingly, and something I just recently learned, "Roe" whose real name is Norma McCorvey, only brought up the issue because she was a rape victim (which she later said she lied about). She later became a pro-life activist and stated, "It was my pseudonym, Jane Roe, which had been used to create the 'right' to abortion out of legal thin air. But Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee never told me that what I was signing would allow women to come up to me 15, 20 years later and say, 'Thank you for allowing me to have my five or six abortions. Without you, it wouldn't have been possible.' Sarah never mentioned women using abortions as a form of birth control. We talked about truly desperate and needy women, not women already wearing maternity clothes".

Hopefully I'll have pictures from Christmas soon.

No man is an island

This is a few days late, but it was my friend, Janay's birthday and I've been thinking about my favorite Janay-memories lately. As one of my oldest friends, she has seen me through the good times and the bad. I thought I'd blog about one of my favorite stories (anyone who was a big fat nerd in middle school might also appreciate this).

I had known of Janay for a long time because she went to the same church as me, but she was a year older so I never really talked to her. It wasn't until I was in 7th grade and she was in 8th grade that we ever even spoke. In school, we ended up in the same drama class. We talked sometimes, but it was a big class and I was really shy. Then, a few weeks into the year, it happened... the most embarrasing moment of my life (up to that point. I've had way more since then).

In the drama class, we were required to do a voice audition by singing along to any song we wanted to. I was pretty worried about picking the wrong song...I had no idea what was cool. I ended up picking a song that my Mom and I thought was pretty cool (big mistake). You're listening to it right now (unless you've turned it off, wondering why I put that random song on my music mix). Our family has been huge ABBA fans since the 70's...how could I go wrong?.

Well, if you've ever seen "About a Boy" the scene that follows might best describe how the audition played out. The crowd was silent and confused, my faint voice shook as it tried to stay on key...I think I might have heard a kid say, "where in the world did you find this song?".



Now, Janay was no Hugh Grant. She didn't save me and walk on stage...I'm pretty sure she didn't know the song. But she could recognize a nerd's cry for help when she saw it. She became a great friend to me and even offered to give me a ride to the church youth choir practices (was that a hint?...I'm not sure).

The next year, the ABBA Gold CD came out and every popular kid in school was suddenly a big fan. I guess I was just cool before my time.

So thanks Janay for being a pal (and all others who knew me when I was "cool before my time").

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

-John Donne

Merry Christmas!!

We're in Utah for Christmas and having a great time. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Luke's First Laugh

Two posts in one day...I must be crazy! Sorry, but Luke had his first huge, hearty laugh tonight and we were too excited to wait. I have officially discovered my most favorite sound in the whole world.

Thanksgiving and The Big Apple

We were lucky enough this Thanksgiving to be with ALL of Andrew's immediate family members (that's quite a task seeing as how they are well spread out from Washington to Maryland). Andrew's parents used to live in Manhattan and, later, in New Jersey (they moved to Ohio when Andrew was about 8). It was a tradition for them to take their children to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade every year. This year the kids wanted to take their own children to see the parade and so the planning began. We stayed in the Poconos (about two hours away) and took some trips into NYC. We also were able to bless Luke at a small church building in Lehighton, Pennsylvania. It was a great week and we are so grateful that we were able to be with family.

Luke's first subway ride.


Here is Times Square. Both Andrew and I were reminded of our missions while we were in New York (I served in Tokyo, Japan and Andrew in Milan, Italy). I think it made us a little homesick.

Central Park

Here we are with Andrew's sister Jessica and her husband Doug.

We also stopped by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. My favorites were the Impressionists and the Rembrandts. Although, I have to admit I was a little distracted because Luke kept projectile-spitting-up all over the floor. In fact, I can still hear the horrifying "SPLAT" noise as it hit the nice wood surface. Sometimes I'd miss it and a sweet foreigner would come up and try to act out something that looked like throwing up while pointing at the ground. We didn't blend in very well.


Luke loved FAO Schwarz.

Luke's cousins had a blast on the famous giant piano.


I don't know what this is, but it was on the sidewalk and we think it is was meant for pictures.

We had dinner in "Little Italy" at Lombardi's. Andrew said it was very authentic.

And then, Thursday morning....there was....(drumroll please)


THE PARADE!


At first, our view wasn't so great. But who cares?! We're at the Macy's Parade! Here are Alexis and Karrine up in a window seal. They made sure to tell me when Hannah Montana was spotted.

It was the first time that I actually was glad to be the shortest person in Andrew's family...no one wanted to sit on my shoulders.


Eventually, we pushed and sweet talked our way into a better view.


Luke was obviously enthralled by the whole experience. But it's okay. We have pictures to prove he was there.


I love this picture because you can see the back of the parade going down Central Park West.


We enjoyed some "New York style" hotdogs. Very tasty.


I decided while we were in New York that I could TOTALLY live there. As long as we lived across from Central Park in one of these swank homes.


The LDS (Mormon) Temple in Manhattan was very close to where we watched the parade.


Andrew got some great pictures of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the New York skyline, etc.

As if the day wasn't exciting enough, Andrew and the guys drove down to Philly to watch the Eagles game. Andrew never misses an opportunity to show his true devotion to the Cougars. The ladies went back to the cabin and had a rockin' girls' night with mud masks and everything (sorry, no pictures).


At first, Luke wasn't sure what to think about all these new people in his life. But he warmed up to everyone eventually and now he seems lonely with just Mom and Dad around all day.


Luke and Ammon


Luke and Amber (it's too bad that Luke is crying in this picture because he actually grew quite fond of Amber).


Luke is REALLY starting to like books these days. He was probably staring at this book for 15 minutes while cousin Karrine read to him.


Saturday we had the annual Pinata event. The Stacey's have a tradition whenever they get together. They have to break the pinata but no blugeoning objects are allowed (this rule is sometimes bent a little). Instead, they have to think of creative ways to destroy the pinata. In the past, there have been blow torches, giant slingshots, spitballs, Coke bombs...you name it.


There was also a talent show. Here is an American Idol skit with Simon, Paula and a really little Randy.


Luke had a photo shoot with the other cousins (I don't have the pics with the other cousins but I can't wait to see how they turned out).

He already has a little gut.


And last, but definitely not least, we were really grateful to be surrounded by family (at least half of Luke's family) as he was given a blessing by his Dad. (For those of you who aren't familiar with our religion, it's basically a special prayer...we can tell you more about it anytime).

Luke's Grandma Stacey knitted this sweater for him to wear. She got the button for it while she was in Israel the week after he was born. Thanks Delta.

That's a wrap folks. We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. We definitely had time to think about all of our blessings and especially feel grateful for our family and friends who mean so much to us. I love reading your blogs (for those of you who are my blogging friends) and reading about the things you do and the things you care about. I admire how you look for the positive or at least laugh through the difficult times (as we all know, the blogging world is always rosier than real life). I love it even more when I get some real life contact with a good friend...I'll try to get better at that. I'm grateful that I'm surrounded by people who inspire me to be better. Thanks.

Catch Up

Sorry for those of you who, like me, felt mentally stymied after that last post about Bayesian statistics (I've been waiting since my high school sophomore English class to finally use the word "stymied"...only took a decade). Now we're back to mindless jabber. It feels like it has been forever. November was definitely a busy month for us. Due to the fact that this blog is also kind of like a journal for our family... I must go back and catch up on some of our most memorable moments of which there are many. This is only the first half of November. The next post will cover NYC and Thanksgiving.

First of all, Luke is making friends. If anything positive can be taken from the BYU v. Utah nightmare, it is that Luke and Will bonded during the rivalry game. Either that, or Will was just trying to figure out how to get Luke's fist in his mouth. Cute nonetheless.



My sister, Michele, and my nieces, Dallyn and Trestyn, came out to see Luke. We had a blast...lots of mini-road- trips and late night movies. I'm grateful that they came all the way to Ohio from California and Utah just for us!


Here is Dallyn with Luke. The girls made lots of presents for Luke including this cute little hat.

Michele and I in front of the Whitney home in Kirtland.

The girls show us how to dress like really hip pioneers.

We took a tour of the Kirtland Temple. Dallyn's picture-taking skills truly impressed me.

We also drove a few hours away so the out-of-staters could see Amish people. This picture makes me feel like we were undercover.

Here are Luke and Dad all dressed up for Church.

Luke is all smiles these days

I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted to, but thanks for a great week ladies!


We discovered something scary this month. As you can see in the picture, Luke has a mobile. It's actually the first toy we have ever purchased for him ($7.00 at Ikea...yes, we made ANOTHER Ikea trip...maybe we should just move to Cincinnati). Luke absolutely loves it. As we watched our little kiddo coo with delight, a scary reality began to set in....We LOVE buying toys for our little guy. It made us so happy. I don't know how I'm going to control myself from buying him everything! (Oh wait, we're poor med students...problem solved).