Merry Christmas from Team Y!

Some random thoughts

I turned 25 two-ish weeks ago and all of my friends who turned 25 this year seemed to think it was a big deal. You know the whole "quarter of a century" thing. (yeah, big deal, the only thing special about being 25 is that it is a perfect square) In an attempt to lessen the cynicism that I look a life with, I am blogging about this monumental moment in my life.

If you have not noticed, I like list so I am going to celebrate my birthday by telling you 25 random facts about myself. I'll try to think of the most obscure things I can. If it bores you, too bad, it's my birthday and half my blog!:

1) I &hearts ice cream! Seriously and obsessively!
2) I am a Trekkie. It sad but true. For the record, Picard is a WAY better captain than Kirk.
3) I detest country music, to a point few would understand. Especially considering how much I love almost every other type of music.
4) I played the flute 10 years. I was once pretty good, I've been told it's like ridding a bike but I doubt it. I also took piano lessons for 15 years BUT Mary Had a Little Lamb is about as good as it gets. When your mommy tells you to practice you should listen.
5) When I was in high school I used to watch the Spiderman cartoon everyday. If I wasn't going to be home, I would record it. I might have been a little old for it and arguably the the wrong gender, but I LOVE SUPERHEROS! I even have some comic books.
6) I love going to the movies! I especially love midnight showings, even if I'm not that excited about the movie, it's worth it to see the freaks out in full force.
7) I went to BYU-Hawaii for all of 10 days, it was beautiful but not for me, the explanation would be too long for this blog.
8) I don't like to do trendy things, this has driven my mom crazy since I was a kid because she loves to shop for cute clothes. This is the main reason I will not read the twilight series, maybe when it is no longer the cool thing to do.
9) I only like the red skittles and the pink starburst.
10) I love to cook and bake. I have thought about starting a cooking blog but I have a hard enough time finding time for this blog.
11) I love celebrating heritage, it doesn't even have to be mine. Cultural traditions are so fun! I am quite proud of my own though, especially the Brazilian and Japanese parts.
12) I have ALL the episodes of Saved by the bell on both VHS and DVD. I recorded them myself as a kid and then bought the DVD's when they came out. It is the best show ever!
13) I do not wear white socks, if I have to wear socks there is no way they are going to be plain.
14) I have had the same hairstyle all my life. This may make me pathetic but I think it makes me awesome!
15) I like children's novels. Everything about them is just better than the adult variety.
16) I have been proposed to 3 times, I have only been engaged once though.
17) I have lived in three houses in the same city, and I have been in 4 wards in that city.
18) I have always been afraid of being a mother. Children have always frightened me to a certain extent, but now that I have Hailey I have no clue what I was so scared of. I LOVE being a mommy and I adore Hailey.
19) I do not like to wear black or white. I like to wear the brightest colors I can find. Happy colors make me feel happy.
20) I can wiggle my ears, it's pretty amazing. I used to also think it made me unique but when I met Alex I found out he can do it too.
21) I knew the night I met Alex that there was something extra special about him. My exact thoughts on meeting him where, "That is the boy I am going to marry." Followed by this thought, "Am I retarded!?! I haven't even talked to him yet! Am I becoming one of those kinds of girls?"
22) My high school nickname was Cowdog. I'm pretty sure it was the coolest nickname ever. I was also a vampire before vampires were cool, stupid twilight...
23) I still can't sleep at night if I know I am going to Disneyland the next day. I'm sure that must seem lame considering how often I get to go, but Disneyland will never lose the magic for me.
24) I hate breakfast! Morning is too early to be eating and breakfast foods are GROSS! It's been so hard to eat it since I was pregnant, when I stop nursing I will stop eating breakfast again.
25) I love numbers. I think about them all the time. I even have dreams about doing math homework. I'm also pretty good with computers. I can program fairly well in 4 languages and I also know a bit of html.

PS Some new Hailey pictures will be up in a few days!

Best Music Video #3!

Hopefully you've enjoyed such classic music videos with old dancing ladies and Nemoy Go-Go girls. You thought that such choreography could not be matched again. No need to be sad. It has been! And for quite some time. Maybe it's from the 60's or 70's. Who cares, anyways!
To add among the list of greats, we give you Armi and Danny

A Little Bit of Enlightenment

25...

Is how old I am now!

Hey Dad!

Alex has been teaching Hailey how to say, "Hey Dad!" It's more cuteness than your face can handle, so I got video of it. She would only do it once for the camera though. The rest of the video is Alex and I trying to get her to do it again. I would have edited that out but I can't get the editor to work right now, so enjoy.

The Corn Maze

A few weeks ago we went out to a corn maze and pumpkin patch in Apple Valley. It was pretty cool, I'd never been in one before.


Hailey seemed to enjoy herself, though she did seem weirded out that I put her on the ground *gasp* to take some pictures.

Being the amateur mom I am, I forgot to bring a hat for Hailey. So I decided to take some sage wisdom from Michael Scott and fashion her pants into a hat to keep her head from burning. Needless to say, she was not so happy about this.

But the baby pumpkins made her happy again.

I <3 California

Lately I have been asking myself this question, "Kristi, why are you SO obsessed with California?" Well, Kristi, here are some answers I have come up with:

-The Governator: What's one part Governor, one part Terminator, and six parts AWEsome? Arnold! I wonder if he will go back to acting when he finishes pretending he knows anything about politics and the English language.
-Police Helicopters: Tell me, how do you know your safe at night? Here we have the soothing hum of a helicopter flying over head to tell us we our safe. What does everyone else have? Silence. How will they even know that there is a man with a gun in the neighborhood?
-Smog: I do not have to take any mineral supplements, one breath does the job.
-Traffic: Why would anyone want to go 65 mph anyway? That does not sound at all safe to me. 15 mph will get you where you want to go quite safely.
-Gas Prices: If it would cheap everyone would buy more. Ever heard of going green?
-The dirty looks strangers give you if you make eye contact: I know I am suspicious of anyone who smiles at me.
-Rolling Blackouts: "What is a rolling blackout?" you ask. It is when the electric company decides that we, as a state, are using too much electricity and turn our power off. It's there way of solving the "energy crisis."
-Spanish: I have been to things where it is the ONLY language spoken, English is overrated anyway.
-Star Bucks: We may not be where it started but without us that chain would not exist. I really appreciate it when I have two star bucks to choose from in the same parking lot.

The Devil?

And Why, you ask, would you make your sweet little 7 month old the devil?
It runs in the family:


But she had an alternate costume for grandma's sake. (This pictures for you Rachers, since I know you will see this)

Hi!

Hailey waved for the first time last Wednesday. My Grandma was visiting and when I told Hailey to say goodbye to grandma she started to wave. She waves at anyone who will pay any attention to her now. She has also started to clap but I have not gotten any video of that yet. If you watch this keep in mind that I am terrible with the video camera. It's still adorable though!

Proposition 8

Alex and I are not political activist. In fact we are not any kind of activist. We like to keep to ourselves, I think mostly everyone knows that. These past couple of months have been different though. There is a proposition that California will soon be voting on that has changed this, proposition 8. I know that most people know that Alex and I will be voting yes, I would like to take a few moments to explain why.
We are not opposed to all people having rights and protection. Proposition 8 does not take away anyone’s rights. Same sex couples have the same rights through civil unions. We feel that marriage is something specific, different, and sacred. Marriage has been defined as being between a man and a woman since the beginning of known history. It is what marriage is.
Of even greater concern to us is the threat that this issue poses to our own rights. The right to teach our family what we feel is the best family make up should be taught in our home and not mandated by the government to be taught to our young children in our schools, especially without parental consent. This has already happened in the state of Massachusetts where children are being taught about same sex marriage as early as kindergarten. Not only are parents not informed, they are not even allowed to opt. their children out as parents can for sex education. This is a fundamental attack on parental rights.



Religious freedom is one of the most fundamental rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution. This freedom is also being attacked. Catholic Charities in Massachusetts stopped adoption services after more than 100 years when faced with the requirement that they adopt children to same sex couples. Religions should have the right to preserve the values that they teach. Moral beliefs should not be legislated by our government.
Being married in your church is very important to most religious people. It is very conceivable that with marriage redefined to include same sex couples, churches could be required by law to marry same sex couples, or face losing the right to perform marriages. In light of the Catholic Charities situation, it even seems very likely. This would severely infringe on our religious freedoms.



We hope you will join us in voting yes on prop 8. For more information you can visit:

protectmarriage.com

She Stands!

Hailey's been climbing on things and trying to get on her feet all week. She finally found something she could use to balance herself on this morning. YAY, for Hailey!

The original prodigy

I found this picture and thought the last blog could not be complete without it.

The Weekenders!

I thought I would put up some pictures of things we have been doing with our weekends for the past couple of months.

When we went to Utah Hailey got to play daddy's toy piano. Most of the Keys didn't work so I'm pretty sure Alex was a destructive child. :P

This is Alex and I In our Sumo Suits after I kicked his butt at my dad's company picnic:

I sure look good for an 800 pound woman:

I love this picture of Hailey's eyes:

Alex and Hailey LOVE to wrestle, look at the fear in her eyes:

Hailey wore daddy's hat at California Adventure so her scalp wouldn't burn:

One of Alex's students took this picture of us under the golden gate bridge at California adventure:

A creepy taxidermy bear:

Hailey obviously LOVES fish:

The Undertaker and his creepy wife, on the day of their child's christening:

Yep, that is my dad in William Shatner's actual chair. Alex and I are in the on the bridge of the enterprise. It was SHATASTIC!

Beam us up!

We actually got to see the Terracotta Warriors but they only let you take pictures with this fake one:

Kristi's Top Ten-ish

I love too many things, if I had time to bore you I would do my top 100. :D

10. The Office: I think I'm becoming an addict, I can't seem to get enough.
9. Music: The first 18 years of my life was pretty much devoted to music, now it's like a hobby that I don't have enough time for. :(
8. Traveling: I LOVE to travel, if we were independently wealthy we would be living out of a suitcase as we see the world.
7. Sarcasm: I promise I am not trying to be mean, it just comes out sometimes! I've gotten better...
6. Anything tropical: Someday we are going to have to live in Hawaii. I am pretty sure it's the perfect middle ground. Never too hot for Owlex, never too cold for me. Lot's of rain, no snow, lot's of sun and lot's of beaches.
5. Mathematics and learning: Matrices are my other love! Coding is pretty much the most awesome thing ever. I like it when my brain grows. I do not like abstract analysis or abstract geometry, a turtle woman ruined it for me.
4. The rain and the sun and any combination of the two: Sounds like a contradiction, I know, I just can't explain it. Walking in the rain is pretty much my favorite, I like to pretend I'm Gene Kelly.
3. Motherhood: Who would have thought? Being a mom is more awesomeness than your face can handle, seriously.
2. My friends: if you are cool enough for me to call you my friend you are pretty much family at this point. Except Ino, she is more like an evil stepsister. :P
1. The gospel, Alex, Marriage, Hailey, and the rest of our Family: The gospel and Alex are the real winners here but all these things are too inseparable in my mind.

Trick or Treat

Disney Magic at it's best! I love this cartoon!

Scotland the Brave!

A cheesy pictorial tour of our weekend:

This weekend we went to Ventura for the Scottish Games. Contrary to what all the people there wanted to believe, it was Hailey's second games. I think she is finally getting used to the pipes, except when grandpa is playing, but he's good now. So I'm pretty sure his playing only scares her because she thinks it is a beast attacking him. She is 1/8 Campbell and a something-ith MacDuff. Anyway, here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure: (Hailey is WAY too photogenic, I had trouble picking what to put on here!)

First we went to Salvang:
The games are right by the beach:

And it was SO COLD, even for Alex:
If we tell her to smile this is the face Hailey has started making this weekend:
It looks more like, "I'm gonna eat your face," than a smile, but it's so cute!
We got to visit the Campbell tent but the Macduff's weren't there this year. :( Notice the authentic Scotsman in the background:
Hailey loves grandpa's pipe band! Next time he will be marching kilt and all! :D
The weekend made Hailey very tired:
And this is the view from the car window on the drive home, gotta love the 101:
Hailey loved the games:
Now you should turn your head sideways and watch this awesome video of the sheave toss:

Alex's Bottom 10!

Kristi has been encouraging me to post my bottom 10. It really wasn't as hard to think of as I thought it was. Anywho, here you go!

#10. Getting sick (I think I might be sick of this one)
#9. Mayonnaise (Miracle Whip has the Tangy Zip!)
#8. Not having time to exercise (It truly is a favorite past-time of mine)
#7. Being away from Hailey (How can anyone resist that face?)
#6. So. California Weather (Hot, smoggy with a chance of being annoying)
#5. So. California Traffic (Rush Hour starts at 8am and ends 9am the next day)
#4. So. California Drivers (... who knew?)
#3. Being away from Kristi (She basically is the coolest woman I've met)
#2. 4/7th of California Supreme Court (Prop 8... yeah)

and the number one of Alex's Bottom Ten is...

#1. JERKS! (Especially those that keep me away from Kristi)

So there you have it, folks. Don't be a jerk!
Thanks

Alcohol and calculus don't mix: don't drink and derive

Find the next three numbers in the series:
1, 11, 21, 1211, 111221, 312211

Kristi's Bottom Ten

In no specific order:

10. Walking in the sand with tennis shoes on: It's just wrong. You need to be able to feel the sand between your toes.
9. Camping boogers: Is there anyone who likes these? I'm pretty sure that is a big fat NO!
8. Baby toe jam: Where does it even come from? Hailey doesn't even wear socks.
7. Snakes: Why does it always have to be snakes?
6. Melon: What is not a solid or a liquid? MELON! GROSS!
5. Snow: Poor Alex.
4. Purple: Poor Hailey.
3. When people call soda, "pop:" One of the reasons I prefer living in California.
2. Public restrooms: Why is there always mysterious liquids on the floor?
1. When strangers ask you personal questions: Seriously, do you think I want to tell you? Why are you even talking to me?

The Coolest Old Lady Ever!!!

This Lady is pretty much my hero:

Hailey's Six Month Pictures!

A few vacation pictures

The Grand Canyon was obviously a big deal to Hailey:
Hailey is not in this picture but pretty much the coolest place we went on vacation:
I'm pretty sure Hailey was asleep:
Hailey takes things VERY seriously:
Hailey used to like her car seat:
She's sleepy:
She only looks sweet:
Hailey's first ice cream (Can't leave her alone with Grandma Cheryl):In Daddy's hat:

Daddy and Hailey going on a hike:
Hailey After a swim: