Go Huskies!

Although the game was ultimately lost, Jasper sure looks good out there, doesn't he?

He is #51.

Here he is tackling. . .




And tackling some more. . .

And taking a drink . . .

And running.

Better luck next game!

Pregnancy Update

How is my pregnancy going? I'm not a fan of this last trimester. I had no idea moving around would be so hard. Basic things like putting on shoes (yeah slip ons!), turning in bed and walking have become huge undtertakings. Working fulltime while pregnant is really hard too. I can see why many women take their maternity leave a few weeks before their due date. I'm gonna try and stick it out until the very end though. As for the baby name, we still aren't 100%, although we have a name we both like. I think I'm gonna keep it a secret though.

Oh, and I'm suffering from a huge case of water retention. Isn't it lovely?

Sad thing is, these pictures don't even do justice to the way my feet, ankles and hands are swollen.

I have 6 weeks left, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but man, I'm getting ready for this to be done!

Horses and a Haircut

On Monday we buzzed off Jasper's hair (so handsome!) and went to Clinton and rode my parent's horses. I got to watch from the sidelines and it was a perfect day for riding. It had rained pretty hard early in the morning, but by the time we rode it was just right.

David and I were the last ones in at the barn, and unfortunately neither of us tied up the gate behind us. Jasper was up helping my dad with some hay in the loft and looked out and saw all the horses running away. "Are they supposed to be out of the gate?" he asked my dad. "WHOA get the horses!" Dad yelled. Running and panic ensued. Heather, Anne-Marie, Staci and David ran after them with some enticing oats, Heather tried to cut them off before they got to the highway, and Jasper's and my job was to stand by the gate cutting off the other road to the highway and to hold our arms out.

Eventually they finally got the horses rounded up and we got them back in the corral. Pedro the goat followed them their whole journey because he thinks he is a horse. The run was a bit too much for him, and he got back to the barn panting.

In all the excitement, Heather cursed mildly and it did not escape Jasper's attention.

Jasper: Heather, you said a curse word.

Heather: I know, oops.

Jasper: That means you have to lick a bar of soap.

Heather: Um, nope.

I don't have any pictures (of course) of the escape, but I do have some of Jasper riding after all the horses had calmed down.

Happy Birthday Ree!

It's Anne-Marie's Birthday!

Ree loves:

Jason Castro of American Idol fame

The Utah Jazz

Go Boozer!

Mulder and Scully

Shopping. . .

Just kidding. I don't know many people who hate to shop worse than Anne-Marie.

And of course. .

HOT POCKETS!

Happy Birthday, I love you little sis!

I'm Magic!

Yesterday I was cutting two pieces of homemade bread as late night snacks for me and David (I fondly call it homemade bread when it is actually Rhodes Bake-N-Serve, but let's face it, that is the closest to homemade as I'll ever be baking). As I cut the bread I turned my body to the left and I suddenly heard this "click click click" sound. I looked down and saw that my huge tummy had magically turned the knob on the self-igniting gas range, and the flame took off ready to cook. Pregnancy is helpful in so many ways!

Toots

Jasper: "I think I know why I am constipated."
Me: "Oh yeah, why?"
Jasper: "Cause you won't let me toot. You won't let me or Dave toot in the house or in the car."
Me: "Um. . . I don't think that makes you constipated."
Jasper: "Uh-huh. Because if you hold it in, it makes you all stuffed up."
Me: "Well, I don't say you can't toot EVER, just not all over the house or in the car. You can toot in the bathroom anytime you want."
Jasper: "Well, just letting you know that that's the reason I'm constipated."

Later after I told David of Jasper's funny theory, he said

"Well, he does have a good point." Why are boys so gross and fart happy?


While I'm on the subject, I think it is funny that when I was growing up, my mom wouldn't let us say the word "fart." We had to use the word "windy." Hilarious.

Put your toys away

How to tell if a 9 year old boy doesn't really care about a toy:

Me: Jasper, this toy thingy here (some kind of playdough mush he made at summer camp)? I'm throwing it away.

Jasper: NO! PLEASE!

David: Okay, but you have to put it away then.

Jasper: Uh, okay - you can just throw it away.

Scary and Sad

What's scary?

Shucking corn. You never know what you are going to find when you get down to the kernels.

What's sad?

After shucking all the corn (corn you picked from the garden in your backyard), cooking it, buttering, salting and peppering it, you take a big bite and it is like mush. I think we waited too long before we picked it. That is sad.

Observations at Practices and Preseason Games

Friday David and I went to Jasper's football practice, and today was his first game. It was a preseason game, and his first game that counts is next Saturday. He is so excited. The practices are long and hot but he loves them. It is fun to watch all the 8-9 year old boys, and how much fun they are having. Kid watching can be the most entertaining form of people watching there is.



Since their game was the next day, their coach kept going over plays again and again. It would be so hard to coach kids Jasper's age, they lose interest quickly and are so easily distracted. When the coach catches someone talking when he's supposed to be listening, or goofing off, he yells "Drop and give me 5 push ups!" and the kid quickly obeys. I've about doing that at home, but somehow I doubt I would get such an obedient and willing response out of Jasper at home.



Anyway, as I was watching the practice I noticed some pretty funny things.



As the coach was going over a play, a few kids that were on the sidelines but were still supposed to be paying attention, started talking smack and telling "Yo mama's so ugly" jokes. Most of them were actually, "yo mama's so hairy" jokes instead.



When there were still about 20 minutes left of practice, the "coach mother" pulled out some treats that she'd be giving each kid as they left, some oversized pixy stix. I heard one boy tell another "PIXY STIX, LOOK!" And then the field was a buzz with every kid telling the other that they'd get pixy stix soon. They missed everything the coach said and had to drop and give 5 push ups.



My favorite part of the practice came as the coach was giving his final huddle pep talk.



Coach: "The game starts tomorrow morning at 9 am. You must all be here at 8 am!"

Kid 1: "What if we're here at 8:30?"

Kid 2: "I usually sleep in until 10:40."

Kid 3: "What if we forget and sleep in?"

Frustrated Coach: "If you aren't here at 8, you won't play! If you sleep in until 10:40, you won't play, if you forget, you won't play!"

Kid 4: "What time again?"





Last night as Jasper was getting ready for bed, he came into my room brushing his teeth. He was so excited for today's game he was dancing and singing. He said to me (somehow I was able to decipher it though his mouth was filled with toothpaste) "I can't wait for tomorrow, we're gonna KILL Cottonwood!" I gave him five and then he tried to fist bump me, but I totally missed the fist.



The game came and went. Jasper's team was amazing and won 19-0. They were all so happy! Jasper played well and even tackled the running back twice! Watching kids play football is much more entertaining than watching the NFL. I even enjoyed it!



I promise I'll fix my camera soon. It won't upload, but I got some great action shots.

1970s photos

My friend Em had this on her blog, and I died laughing. So I thought I would steal her idea. You can do this yourself at http://www.yearbookyourself.com/.




David's photo is set in 1970,











While mine is in 1976.

Ugly Photo Tag

There are some things that no amount of photoshopping can fix.

This is an Ugly Photo Tag. I dare you all to post an ugly picture of yourself. C'mon, it'll be fun. :)

Girls Camp

So my friend Heidi was going through some old pictures, and found this gem of me at girls camp circa 1990. I thought it was funny. I must be thinking something like "whose comb is this?"

Synchronized Diving

Is anyone else watching the synchronized diving in the Olympics?

They are pretty cool. But the lady commentator for this event is very annoying. She sounds like Nancy Grace. I wish I could mute the commentators sometimes, without turning off all of the sound.

The Olympics have begun!

How comfortable would you feel dressed like this playing beach volleyball for all the world to see? Maybe if I had a body like theirs I'd feel comfortable, but somehow I still doubt it. I'd be too worried about making sure that all my body parts stayed covered. It doesn't seem to bother them much though. Go team USA!

Worrie Wart

Jasper: "I stink real bad. Can I take a shower?"

Me: "Um. . . yes please!"

Jasper: "I smell like this friend I use to have's house."

Me: "What did your friend's house smell like?"

Jasper: "Well, they use to barf in their house and not clean it up."

Me: "Hurry quickly and take a shower NOW!"

So I'm now 29 weeks pregnant, 7 months and in my third trimester. I'm in the homestretch and getting more and more nervous. I now meet with my doctor every two weeks. I keep thinking of all the horrible things that could happen. I've had friends and family, and ward members who have had really sad things happen to them and their babies in this third trimester, and my mind keeps racing and imagining up all sorts of "what-ifs". What if I go into labor prematurely? What if my baby dies? What if for some reason I can't have an epidural and I have to have an insane labor without meds? What if my ankles swell even more, and I have to be wheelchair bound for the remaining pregnancy? What if we never finish the basement, and the baby's nursery is permanently in the living room? What if he comes out an octopus (he already feels like he has 8 legs with the amount of kicking and bouncing that goes on in my engorged tummy)?

I know that most of the above is out of my hands and I need to think positively and not about all the things that could go wrong, but sometimes that is easier said than done.

Thank goodness Jasper is good for a laugh!

Garage Sale-ing and stuff

Staci and Anne-Marie came down to my house to help me go garage sale-ing for some baby stuff. We set an ambitious goal to leave my house by 7 am, but of course this really turned to close to 9. I got to drive our new (new for us) '93 GMC, in case we found anything good so we could just stick it in back of the truck. One of the fun quirks about our truck is the power steering. The steering works just great while I am pushing hard on the gas pedal. But as soon as I have my foot off the gas (like to turn into a parking space or back out of one, or turn a sharp corner) - the power steering disappears and I have to use my mighty strength. Staci was the photographer for our outing and snapped a few pics.

Here I am starting the car:

Here is Anne-Marie, afraid of my driving:


We found parking quickly at Harmon's



Some pregnant pictures:

A couple of our finds:

This 1 year old Peg-Pérego stroller was quite a steal. I had never hear of the brand and came upon this stroller at our first garage sale stop. The lady selling them had everything Peg-Pérego and loved the brand. She first offered it to me for $100 and in my mind I thought "lame! I hate it at garage sales when they are trying to make a ton of money. I'm not buying this for $100." I should have done my research. Luckily Staci took over and looked at this one, and had the lady show us all its amazing features. Then the lady offered it, and a bassinette for $75, because she said I had "good energy."

I didn't want to buy it right then, so we drove off saying we'd probably be back. We quickly called my sister Becky in Seattle and she said "What! Go back NOW. That is such a steal. The Peg-Pérego brand is like the Mercedes Benz of strollers. My crap stroller from Target even cost $100 - you need to go back and get it!" So, now panicked, I tried to do a U-turn in my non-power steering vehicle and ended up causing a traffic jam as I made a 6 point turn on a narrow road. We made it back and I paid $80, since I had no smaller bills. I think I made out well though.

We probably would have found more bargains, except Staci got sick. She puked across the street from our next garage sale stop, and we quickly drove away. She felt fine afterwards and it was probably from downing a Jamba Juice in 10 seconds flat.

Afterwards, relaxing at home.

And a picture of Jasper in his new football pads and helmet. Go Gremlins!

Gremlin Football

Jasper is now officially a Gremlin. . . in football. We finalized his registration today for Hillcrest Football, and his age group is called the Gremlins. He had to weigh in, and then they gave him his helmet and pads, pants and shin things (whatever they are called). I've hardly seen him so excited. He tried on his shoulder pads and helmet, and his coach said to him "now do you want to hit something real bad?" "Uh-huh," Jasper said while nodding. Then his coach asked him if he'd been practicing, running and biking all summer to prepare for football. "Uh-huh" he nodded. In my mind I thought "running? hmm, I don't think so." I think his coach figured most kids his age don't go out running regularly - besides around the yard with their friends. So he told him it wasn't too late to start and to start running and biking everyday. "Okay" Jasper agreed.

This football program seems intense! His practices will start out 5 days a week, a couple of hours a day. Then when school starts he will practice 3 times a week after school. He needs cleats, a mouth guard, and a cup. Since Jasper is so big for his age, he will be a line man, and he is pretty excited about that.

Today when I got home from work he was at a pool with some friends. When he got home, he quickly changed out of his wet clothes, and into dry clothes, as well as into his helmet and pads. He said he needed to get used to wearing them. He's probably right. I think David and I are almost as excited about football as he is.

One Year

We got married one year ago today. I can't believe it. So much has happened in one year, but it still went by so fast. I'm a lucky gal!

Button-misser

David and I just got back from The Cheesecake Factory. The franchise arrived in Salt Lake not too long ago, and the waiting times are usually ridiculous. But today we got there before 6, and our wait was only about 1/2 hour. . . much better than the 3 hour wait my friends and I endured last time. It sure is good food.

I had just about finished my meal, and as I am huge and pregnant, I had to use the bathroom suddenly and urgently. So I struggled up from my seat (I am exaggerating a bit, but I feel so huge right now . . . pregnant pictures to come soon), and waddled off to the restroom.

Later as was washing my hands I glanced over at myself in the full length mirror. What did I see? All my buttons were completely mismatched and my shirt was noticeably crooked. I was wearing one of those empire waist pregnancy shirts, so the empire waist tie thing was completely crooked, and one of my shirt tails was significantly longer than the other. I just burst out laughing.

Then I remembered all the places I'd been today with my mis-buttoned shirt. . . well - all over the cheesecake factory, wandering around to find the bathroom, the mall next door while we were waiting to be seated, blah blah blah. Oh well!

Everyone at work can't stop commenting on how HUGE I look. Especially the claimants I am helping, who are complete strangers. As soon as they realize I'm pregnant, they love to comment on it and ask me when I'm due, what I'm having, etc. Sometimes they ask if I've gotten all the baby stuff I need yet. Um. . . not at all. I figure I'll get it eventually. All he needs is milk and diapers right? Kidding. So Thursday, this lady asked me:

Lady: "Are you due any day now?"

Me: "no actually, I'm not due until October."

Shocked lady: "You're kidding! Are you having twins?"

Me: "nope."

What makes you say that to someone? Especially a stranger? If a friend or relative asked me that it would be nothing, but to a stranger? I just think that's weird.

I ♥ the Olympics

David and I have been watching the US Olympic trials for the last couple of weeks, and I have to say, I just LOVE the Olympics. I love watching the trials, the competitions, the wins, the losses, the tears. The Olympics are amazing!

This girl is Shannon Rowbury, and the winner of the 1500 m (1 mile). Her time was 3 minutes something, and it was so amazing to watch. She burst through the pack of runners, and as she won the expression on her face was full of so much joy. I cried. I cry watching most Olympic events - because I'm a geek like that.

This girl was in the same race as Shannon above, but didn't qualify for the Beijing. But she was amazing because - look at her! She is 16 years old and she was so fun to watch.

And then . . . there's Dara Torres. She qualified at 41 to go to her 5th Olympics. During the trials she broke multiple American records, including her own. Her first Olympics were in 1984 and she was 15. Can you imagine? 41 isn't that old - but compared to the rest of the competitors who are 16, 17, 20, it must really feel old. She is so inspiring.

Mismatched

While we were at church yesterday, I looked over at Dave and couldn't believe what I saw.

First, his suit buttons. I took his suit to the dry cleaners over a month ago, and while there the cleaners guy didn't want his buttons to fall off so he put those one plastic things through the button holes to keep them in place. You know, those plastic fastener things that connect a price tag to a shirt you want to buy? I don't know what they're called, but he used those to temporarily prevent his buttons from getting torn off while being dry cleaned.

Anyway, I looked over at him and he had two or three plastic fasteners in every single button of his suit, including the buttons on his coat sleeves, and the button on his pants above the zipper.

*Picture I borrowed from the Internet.

Then, I saw that he was wearing mismatched socks. Not only mismatched, but MINE. One of my brown and white striped socks (his suit is dark gray), and one of my pale purplish gray socks.

Ahh!

I felt bad, because obviously this means I am way behind with the laundry, especially with the sock laundry. And it also means that I need to remove the temporary plastic tags as soon as I get back from the cleaners, because David surely won't be removing them from his buttons on his own. He didn't even care - or know what they were.

It did give me a good laugh though, and I was alert through the rest of Sunday school.

:)

Family Reunion

Last weekend the McKinnon family had a reunion at Jacob Lake, Arizona. It was the perfect place for a reunion, and the perfect camping spot for 50+ people and 2 dogs. I don't have any pictures though. I let my sister and mom and cousins do all of the picture taking for me. We camped and talked and ate, and had a quick look at the north rim of the grand canyon. It was so good to see all the family. Normally we only get together for weddings, funerals, or mission farewells, so this was a treat. There were a few families that couldn't make it, and we missed them. We'll have to have another reunion soon (I'm not volunteering to plan it).



A couple days before Dave and I left for the reunion, we cleaned out our shed (that is a picture of it to the left - it looks like a mini barn) and reorganized everything in it. We found so much camping stuff! Between the two of us, we have about 8 sleeping bags + 1 of Jasper's. We have 2 tents, 2 frame packs, 3 coolers, and 8 lanterns. You'd think that means we've been camping a ton. But this last weekend was the first time we've been camping together. David use to camp all the time a few years back and I camped much more often as well. This camping trip - and the realization of how much camping stuff we have - has given us the camping bug. Sleeping is a little uncomfortable camping right now for me and my huge belly - but it is uncomfortable for me at home too. When Jasper gets back we plan on going camping a bunch this summer. There are so many places around us to go.

Jasper has been having fun in Ohio. He's visited Lake Eerie, and just went to Cedar Point. Apparently Cedar Point is a fantastic amusement park, and makes Lagoon look like nothing.
Cedar point currently holds the world record for most roller coasters with 17, one of them being the world's second tallest and second fastest roller coaster. It also is the only park in the world with 75 rides (the most). In comparison, Lagoon has 8 roller coasters. :)


We miss you jasper and I'm jealous you got to go to Cedar Point.


Not much else is new - David is still working on the house. I pulled some weeds the other day, and helped him hold a board up so he could nail it. Oh, and I also held a board while he sawed it, and told him where I'd like the power outlets to be. I'm such a great help!

Fruity Pebbles

Dear Jasper,

Today I ate the rest of your favorite cereal, Fruity Pebbles. It did not live up to my expectations! This is your favorite cereal and you would have it for breakfast every morning if you could. But I have to say, I think it tastes like mush and is pretty much just gross. But I love you anyway.

Michelle