Trent got an iphone!

Our engagement photo

15 years ago, right around this time of year Trent and I got engaged. (we "unofficially" got engaged around March 21 and "officiallly" got engaged April 5th).

I have been preparing all of my old negatives to send off and be scanned when I came across this image on a Kodak photo cd (in a .pcd file format -- which is not supported at all in today's programs like cs5). So I found a program to convert it to .jpg and discovered it was the original (we had had some edits on it made) so I have re-made the edits and here it is. Memory Lane -- it is so fun. I can hardly wait to get all the rest of my negatives scanned in -- and redo this one (since the conversion from .pcd to .jpg doesn't keep the resolution very high) Technology keeps changing. I wonder how many years will pass before even .jpg is obsolete and I wonder what file format will replace it!

Happy Birthday Trent!

37 years old today! We had a pretty low key day. Trent went to work. The kids were at school. I made cupcakes and as soon as the kids got home we headed up to Trent's work at the FASB and we surprised him again. He is such a great husband and father.

Things they love --

Today I am documenting some of the things my kids love so that I will always remember them when they outgrow them.

First, Julianne -- she loves bunny. This bunny was a gift from Deann and Jason Moore when Julianne was born. For about 2 years it sat on a shelf in her room and went relatively unnoticed. But then one day, she just had to sleep with it. . . and she has slept with it ever since. She loves it. One day while walking through town she spied an identical bunny in the windows of the whitney store only it was 10 times larger. She has said she would never replace bunny -- but that she wouldn't mind if bunny had BIG bunny around too!




Next, Catherine. She loves stuffed animals and books. She has never been able to settle on just one favorite. Her bed is a constantly shifting arrangement of as many stuffed animals as her mother will tolerate. These ones have been there since Christmas and her birthday. The pillow pet dog, the porcupine webkinz, and the fureal penguin.



Then, there is Madelyn. She has had this littlest pet shop stuffed penguin on her bed for a couple of years. But the newest addition to her favorite things is the silly yellow minnion from Despicable Me. She loves the movie and loves this plastic blow up minnion.




Adam is the first of our children to become attached to a blanket. His original blankie was finally moved to "museum" status (meaning it resides in a drawer for safekeeping and emergencies. We have been able to find acceptable replacements so that blankie can be appropriately cared for (laundered). It never goes anywhere with him, but always resides on his bed, crumpled by his pillow waiting for bedtime. Adam also has a new love -- DINO DAN on nickjr.com. HE IS OBSESSED. He watches the webisodes, prints out the pages, draws and tracks imaginary dinosaurs all over. He doesn't however appreciate me calling him DINO ADAM.





Owen, is just getting into favorite things. His first toy that he shows any interest in are these little linkies that I can hook on his car seat, swing, stroller, etc. . . He loves to eat them. I even keep a pacifier hooked on -- but don't be fooled he DOES NOT like his pacifier. If you try to give it to him, he will get mad. REALLY MAD. Just ask the ladies at the gym this morning who tried. Now if he puts the binkie in his mouth all on his own he is happy as can be just chewing all over it (but not sucking on it).





Next, there is me. I am loving my new lens -- a 50 mm f/1.4. I traded my 35 mm f/1.8 for this one (and some change) and I am loving it!!!!




Last of all is Trent. He currently is loving the sun. He has gone 7 days without shoveling snow. I found him on google the other day looking up "how long does it take for snow to melt" Our 10 day forecast does not predict any snow. So he may have time to pursue some other things. He is also loving BYU basketball games with Jimmer Fredette and reading articles like this one.

Another fun filled snowy day

The kids headed off to school this morning with the BIG storm looming. It was supposed to start around 4:00 this afternoon. Imagine all of our surprise when it started snowing heavily around 9 am. I abandoned hope of making it to the gym and headed down to the basement for some quality treadmill time. By the time I got back upstairs (exactly 42 minutes later -- which is the length of one episode of 24 that I watch on my iphone's netflix app while on the treadmill) it was apparent that the snow was not going to stop for a while. The phone quickly range informing me of an early dismissal day. I don't mind delayed starts or early dismissals because those don't eat away my summer days.

The boys and I hung out at home. Owen was so cute. He was so smiley and happy that I just had to take his picture. Adam thought he was so cute too and would lean in to kiss him. As soon as Adam got a little close to Owen, Owen would start to cry. It was so cute. Adam tends to be a little "in your face" with Owen. We are working on helping Adam understand boundaries a little better.







The girls got home and we just hung out. I saw the mailman drive by so I sent them out to get the mail. It was already starting to get dark so I sent both Julianne and Catherine. They quickly brought me the mail and then went right back outside. They had decided to surprise their dad by doing all the shoveling. Madelyn was not about to miss out on the shoveling fun. All 3 girls shoveled for nearly 2 hours. Trent was so happy for all their help. He got home around 7:30 and the girls were so excited for him to see all their work.













Of course by 7:00, the "big" storm had finally arrived. All their shoveling efforts have now been sufficiently undone by mother nature.

The only question that remains . . . will we have school in the morning?

this feeling that I am getting old (er)

I am walking down memory lane lately -- so here is a photo right after Julianne was born. She was born in June. I made both her and I these matching dresses for Trent's sister's wedding in August (back when I had time to sew???). I really do like sewing, I just don't seem to have the time, energy, or . . . fabric stores around me to inspire me to do any of it. I have some high ambitions for a crazy quilt or two -- hopefully soon.

I laugh at the picture -- first, I had bangs back when bangs weren't "in". And now that bangs are "in" I don't have them -- I suppose I will always be trend "reversed".

August 8, 2010 -- Our 14th Anniversary

Trent and I celebrated our 14th anniversary this past week. Time certainly puts a fun perspective on things. On the one hand 14 seems like a big number. (Am I really old enough to have been married 14 years??? It can't be true because I feel like I am 25 and I didn't get married at age 9!) But then I remember my real age (34) and then think, "Wow, I got married at age 20???? that seems so young"

On the other hand -- if 14 years can fly by so fast it is scary to think what will happen over the next 14 years with our kids growing up and stuff.

I should really dig out our wedding photos (and convert them to digital) and post them but right now that seems like too big of a project to start . . . so sorry not this year (maybe for our 15th anniversary???)

In the past 14 years, we have seen together. . .

• Jamie finishing college and grad school (1997 and 1999)
• Trent doing the same (1999)
• Moving from Provo, Utah to an apartment in Stafford TX (1999)
• Trent starting to work for Ernst & Young (1999)
• Jamie teaching school at Stafford Middle School (1999-2000)
• Our first child (Julianne) born in 2000
• Buying our first home in Missouri City (2001)
• Our second child (Catherine) born in 2002
• Our first miscarriage in 2003
• Our third daughter (Madelyn) in 2004
• Our first son (Adam) in 2006
• Building and moving into our second home in Katy TX (2007)
• Our second miscarriage (2008)
• Moving to New Canaan, CT so Trent could work in Ernst & Youngs National office in Manhattan (2008)
• Our third miscarriage (2009)
• Trent starting to work for 2 years at the Financial Accounting Standards Board in CT (2010)
• And now less than 2 months until our second son and fifth child is born (2010)

We have had highs and lows, but have always been there for each other.  In these 14 years we have seen one set of our parents become empty nesters and the other set of parents start all over (having a baby 13 years ago).  We have seen 9 (of 10) siblings graduate high school and college and 4 of them complete graduate school.  (the one born just 13 years ago obviously has not graduated high school or college yet!).  We have seen 7 of them married.  We have become aunts and uncles 14 times. 

So much has changed over the years and yet so much is still the same.

To celebrate -- we bought a new table and chairs set for our breakfast room.  (We are just so romantic that way!!!!). 



And tonight we are going out to dinner and a movie.  It may not be the most glamourous celebration, but it is the kind of low key celebration that we enjoy most-- just hanging out together!

Spring Soccer

3 kids playing.
4 practices a week.
3 games each Saturday.
. . . and the kids love it!!!!

April 22nd -- Bring your daddy home early from work day!!!

also known as "Take your daughters to work day"

This year both Julianne and Catherine were old enough to attend the program. This year the "official" program started at 9 and ended at noon. So Trent took the girls in to the city on the 7:09 train (later than his usual 6:21 train) took them to work, took them to the "official" program, picked them up at noon, grabbed some lunch, ate at Bryant Park, enjoyed the beautiful spring weather we have been having and were headed home on the 2:07 train.

Catherine even made it to her afternoon soccer practice! We loved having Daddy home early!!!

Like Father, Like Son

Adam awoke last Saturday and came into our bedroom with a plan. He got himself and his daddy dressed.

The NFL Preseason Game

Trent and I had the opportunity to hire a babysitter for 10 hours so that we could go to the NY Jets vs. the NY Giants preseason football game. We were excited to check it out as neither of us had ever been to an NFL game of any kind. We packed lightly -- something we are not used to as we are usually hauling kids and all their stuff. We each took a backpack with 1 book to read on the train and our rain gear (rain coat, rain pants, and rain boots). It had been raining all day and the forecast was for 50% rain through the whole game. Once we got there, we found out you cannot take backpacks into the stadium. (Now, you can take any other kind of bag . . . they did not seem to care about the size) We saw some people take their backpacks, empty them and stuff them into a purse and then they could get in. The one lady at the check point even suggested we could hide our backpack somewhere outside.

Now, does that sound like a good idea to you? Couldn't that create a bomb scare? Lets have all the fans just drop their bags in random places????

We were glad that my cousin Jessica had driven to the game as she kindly put our bags in her car. Plus it was fun to watch her get the "royal" treatment. She was on the inside of the park and we were on the outside and she explained that she needed to take our bags into the park (which we could not do) and go put them in her car. They gladly let her take the bags in and even provided a golf cart to race her quickly to her car and back!

National Take your (son or) daughter to work day

The fourth Thursday of April is designated as "Take your daughter to work day". At Ernst & Young, the participants must be at least 8 years old -- so this is the first time any of our kids have gotten to do this! Julianne was as excited last night as she is on Christmas eve. We had picked her outfit and had it all laid out. Her bag was packed. She took a few books to read on the train, gum (for her and daddy), and breakfast. She was up at 6 a.m. and ready by 6:09 a.m. (bed made and everything!) Trent was ready a little while later (he got to sleep in a little -- he didn't think Julianne would enjoy leaving the house at 6:00 am to take the early train. )

Every morning here at home, we call Trent's office at 8:20 a.m. so that he can join us via speaker phone for family prayer. It was pretty fun to call and have Julianne be on the other end of the conversation. They were still at Grand Central terminal having just arrived and were making their way to the office.

They have a bunch of fun things planned for Julianne. She doesn't stay with Trent at all -- her program starts at 9 am and then goes to 3:30. They get to play Bingo (with their bingo cards being logos of clients), they have a philanthropy project, lunch, a couple of workshops and a speaker or 2. I can't wait to hear all about it.

The best part about this day is that Trent will be taking an early train home. I think they should rename it "Bring your daddy in to work late and back home early" day.

My little girl is sure growing up fast.

Trent turned 35!

Trent had a great 35th birthday. He got to wake up early and go to work. (My kids really think that things like school and work ought to be suspended on birthdays!). His co-workers provided some great humor by copying some of Dwight and Jim's birthday celebration ideas from the office.

When he got home he got to blow out the candles with the kids!

Julianne had made him a nice card.

And Catherine had made him a birthday necklace. I love it. Don't you love how she added inspirational thought on it?

Valentine's Date

For Valentine's (technically the day before), I went into the city on Friday to meet Trent after work. We had a delicious dinner at "The Brooklyn Diner" and then went to see "Guys and Dolls" It was AWESOME!

Trent and Jamie

When it comes to certain things in life, we have very different points of view.

For instance -- once while driving our trusty green cavalier a piece of scaffolding fell off a truck in front of us on the freeway-- the scaffolding hit the front left tire and blew it completely out and somehow I managed to get over to the shoulder of 610 just before the big ship channel bridge (we were on our way to Kemah). My brother Shad and Trent managed to put on the spare and we headed to get a new tire.

WE CAME HOME WITH 4 NEW TIRES -- and why???? so they would match. Not because the others were worn or old, but so they would match. Trent COULD NOT drive in a car whose tires did not match. I told him, that I would notice if a rim or hubcap did not match but that never -- NEVER -- once in my life would I ever notice the actual tire, the black part not matching. (and yes, I would have bought 2 tires so that the 2 front tires would be the same -- so that the wear would be even and not cause the alignment to be all screwy) but 4 tires was a bit much for me -- (and also a bit much more money!)

But that is just how we are . . . Jamie is not at all in the minute details -- Trent lives in the details. And if the saying is "God is in the details ". . . well then Trent is well on his way to meeting him!

So fast forward to 2009. Trent has been needing new dress pants for work . . . for some time. He has been shopping and shopping and shopping -- but none of them are right.

My perspective is this -- THEY ARE PANTS! How hard can it be? They all look the same. They are darkish or grayish and they either have cuffs or they don't and they are either pleated or not and they all end up looking pretty much the same so it should not be so hard to find pants.

But Trent is on a mission. See, he found the perfect, PERFECT pants/trouser/slacks/dress pants/whatever you call them two years ago at Macy's. He loves them. They are the perfect cut for his tastes, they are superfine gabardine wool, they are lined to the knees, the pockets are black, there is a notch in the back, they have pleats and a cuff and HE LOVES THEM. And no matter where he looks he cannot find them, nor can he find anything that compares. So he shops and shops and comes home frustrated.

I have been frustrated that he can't find these pants because I don't want to hear about it anymore and I don't want to go shopping with him for pants anymore. I started asking, "Are you sure they still make them? ("Well, no I am not sure) Did you look on ebay? ("I am not buying these on ebay!) Did you look up the label and see if they are even still in business?

And then my phone rang last Thursday. It was Trent. He was at work. He had been stewing about this pants thing and finally called the designers offices. He found out where they are being sold. (The closest place to CT was in Atlanta). He called there and ordered his pants over the phone. They arrived yesterday. I don't know if I have ever seen him so happy. As he tried each pair on he was lauding all their merits, their comfort. . . And I think it is the HUNTER in him (and in every man)-- It is like he finally caught Moby dick, finally shot the elusive buck. He was happy because he tracked those pants all over the country and finally they were no match for his skills.

And I think they look like pants.

The Saturday Car Washing Ritual -- New England Style

As those of you who know Trent are keenly aware, he loves to wash the cars every Saturday morning. He loves a clean car and he loves the physical effort to do it. In Houston, he rarely missed a Saturday -- here in New England things haven't been quite as routine. Many a Saturday has passed without him washing the cars. Most often it has been because it is raining. Sometimes he has just been too exhausted from a long week. Lucky for him we don't do near as much driving so the cars have not needed it as badly.

But today was gonna be the day. It has been 3 weeks since they were washed and Trent had no choice at the Train station this week but to park under a tree and his car is completely covered with bird poop.

He said last night, "I'm just gonna get up early and get it done and out of the way."

The trouble this morning is that it was 18 degrees and windy when he got up and was gonna head out. He waited 4 hours (a warm and balmy 23.7 degrees) and then headed out. Now in the winter here, you turn off the outside hose bibs so they don't freeze, so he turned them on and water came right out. Then he connected the hose and turned it on. No water came out of the hose.

Us Texans never once thought about taking the hoses themselves inside. And so he is out there with 100 yards of frozen hose. (and I am inside trying not to laugh too hard and researching car wash locations). Now, there's a lesson you just won't ever learn in Houston. But now (once they are unfrozen) our hoses will have a new warm special place in the garage.

Julianne's Baptism

Like Father, Like Son

Adam loves to shave.

Adam loves to clean (by clean I mean spray the spray bottles everywhere while holding onto a rag and ultimately creating a mess where none had previously been)

I wonder where he gets it from??????

Memorial Morning

On Memorial day we headed out to our neighborhood pool in the morning to enjoy the water before it got too hot (and also just in case it rained in the afternoon -- like it has every Memorial day for 9 years). Adam loved swimming but also loved getting wrapped up in his towel!!!Madelyn was cute with her towel too! Here is Catherine giving her sweet and innocent smile!Followed by the "REAL" smile that has 1 part fun, 1 part prank, and 1 part humor all wrapped up in one. . . (Can you see that in her smile, or is it just me?)And then we have Julianne, growing up, growing tall, losing teeth, and having fun!
And last of all Trent -- the reluctant participant in my photographic forays. Thank goodness for telephoto lenses so I can get a photo or two from a distance! He sure has lots of fun with our kids. We LOVE holidays!!!!