Funky

So, I have been in a funk this week. I am lacking in the motivation department, big time. I have an exhaustive to do list, and I woke up Monday morning, ready to get started on it. Then, life happened. I really enjoy having Sunday be a day of rest, and I really try to not do too much housework on Sunday. However, waking up Monday can be depressing when the dishes are piled high, and I am rushing to finish them before Chase wakes up. Then, there's all the stuff that has been strewn around the house from a busy (and fun) weekend with very little time to pick up after one's self. So, we started Monday ready to get the house all clean from the weekend. However, because small children make it difficult to do anything efficiently, I only got about 1/8 of the things I was planning on doing, which means it carries over into the following day. Yesterday, I again had grand ambitions to get caught up (why do I do that to myself?) but I ended up hosting the Jehovah's Witnesses (that's a post for another day, can I just say, now I know what it's like to be on the other side of the door from the missionaries), and having a son that would not sleep anywhere but in his wrap. I had my visiting teachers over, and thought I had him to sleep at least three times, but after ten minutes, he'd be crying and I'd have to go console him yet again. I am grateful for my wrap. It makes life a lot easier in so many ways. However, there are still a lot of things I can't do with my child strapped to me, like scrub bathrooms, steam vac the carpet, sew, etc. Chase really did not want to be put down all day yesterday. I am pretty sure it's because he wasn't feeling well since he had immunizations last week. So, after two days of getting so little done on my to do list, I am just feeling like there is little point in having a to do list unless there are items on there that are of critical importance, like feeding myself and family.

I know we all get in these funks. What is your strategy, dear readership, for pulling yourself out of them?

Football

So, BYU's been playing relatively well as of late. The offense at least. I find myself quite frustrated by the defense. But they've been beating everyone (except that darn FSU game) so I can't complain too much.

This last week was no exception. BYU played a tough SDSU team and came out with a 10 point victory. The only problem was we made their quarterback look like a Heisman contender. SDSU looked much improved (or was that BYU not being great?) and I anticipate them rising up the conference ranks over the next few years. They brought in a great coaching staff that I have to believe will motivate the team.

The defense didn't look like it had any fire until the last quarter of the game. If they don't bring intensity the full 4 quarters of the TCU game, BYU will lose. The offense has been looking good lately. Aside from the fact that Max Hall still locks in on his receivers, the offense is firing on all cylinders.

Now, to my biggest beef. The MTN commentators. Seriously, where did we find these guys? In particular, I refer to James Bates and Todd Christensen. Fortunately, for the last two weeks they've been calling the Utah game, but as Sabrina is a big Utah fan, we end up watching these games as well. For the BYU game I'd love to turn down the commentators and just listen to the internet radio broadcast for KSL, but I usually DVR the game, so that's not really an option.

I don't know what it is about the two previously mentioned commentators, aside from the fact that they're awful, that I don't like. It could be things like "They got it to the O.C. and the O.C. goes down near midfield." Excuse me, the O.C.? Who is the O.C.? Does he regularly go by that nickname (no). Don't be making up nicknames for players. You're not that cool. Another thing that's bugging is Todd Christensen and his crusade against the helmet to helmet penalty. Every week, every chance he gets, he complains about it and that the officials call it. I can understand you personally not liking a call/penalty. But TV is not your soapbox (contrary to popular belief) so don't complain every week about the same thing. Oh, and who came up with the idea to have a commercial of them riding a scooter together? What the heck is that all about? (I'm sorry if any of my readers was the one who actually came up with it, I think it's an awfully dumb idea.) If you haven't seen it, you're not missing out.

Anyway, football's great, I just hope that James and Todd don't call this week's BYU game. Oh, and if you live within driving distance of BYU, make the drive to Provo this weekend and represent at espn college gameday! First time ever in Provo. Go Cougars!

2 Months

Chase is now 2 months. It's so true what they say about time flying by and kids growing up quickly. I am not sure I remember there being a September this year. It was all one big haze of no sleep, feeding, trying to establish routines, tantrums, etc. I feel more grounded now (getting better sleep helps) and now I am itching to do the many projects in my queue. The problem is, my 24 hours each day still go by far too quickly. All of the sudden, I realize I have a giant 2-month-old. I know, shocking! Chase's 2 month check-up was today. I know you are all dying to know how big he is. First, let's review.

At birth:

Weight: 7 lbs 14 oz
Length: 19 in (although at the doc's office a few days later he was 20.5, so we are more inclined to believe that)

At 2 weeks:

Weight: 8 lbs 2 oz (I think, can't remember the oz for sure)
Length: 21 in

At 1 month:

Weight: 11 lbs 4 oz
Length: 23.5 in

At 2 months:

Weight: 14 lbs 1 oz
Length: 25 inches

Depending on what growth chart calculator you look at, he falls in the 90 some odd percentile or off the charts for both height and weight now. It took Adie 4 months to reach that milestone.

Now, let's compare:

Adie at birth:

Weight: 6 lbs 10 oz
Length: 19.5 in

Adie at 2 weeks:

Weight: 6 lbs 13 oz
Length: 20.5 in

(Adie didn't have a 1 month check-up so I have no comparison here)

Adie at 2 months:

Weight: 12 lbs 3 oz
Length: 23.5 in

So, Chase is beating Adie in the growth department. Granted, he is a boy and was in utero a week and a half extra. The fact of the matter remains, we produce large children who grow quickly. Adie is still going strong. I measured her the other day at a friend's house, who had a growth chart on the wall, and then again today on the paper on the table at the doc's office and came up with about 40 inches both times. That is extremely tall for a not even 3-year-old. She weighs about 36 lbs, which is also quite heavy for a girl her age. However, she seems to be proportionate, off the charts for everything!

Go to Starbucks, NOW!

Holy cow! Adie and I had the most delicious drink today. Remember how I was having a mini crisis about the canned pumpkin shortage? (Thank you, btw, to all of you who let me know where I could stock up. That crisis has now been averted.) Well, obviously, I am a pumpkin flavor fan. Today, while shopping at our local Fry's grocery store, which has a Starbuck's inside, we were offered a free sample of Starbuck's pumpkin spice frappacino (no idea how to spell that). Before taking some they assured me it had no coffee, or even caffeine in it. It was soooooo delicious. Adie and I both thoroughly enjoyed our small cups. I will be going back for a full size one one of these days in the near future. So, if you like pumpkin spice flavored things, this is a drink you absolutely must try.

Kids

The sad reality of life is that we all too often get caught up in the day to day events of life and don't take the time to realize how quickly our children grow up. As I talked with my brother tonight, I was reminded of how few pictures we've taken in the last few months. That, along with some coaxing from Sabrina, was enough to bring the camera out and for us to do a full on photo shoot with the kids. While we've attempt it before, this is the first time we've gotten pictures we (and by we I mean me) are willing to put on the blog. Here's a few of the favorites.

What the...?

This is not an Obama bashing post. You all know how much I dislike pretty much every mainstream politician, so I am not singling him out because I abhor his policies (which I do, but I do most others' as well). However, what in the world has Obama done to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize? Since he was put in office, there has been no decrease in our military presence or aggression around the world. In fact, it has increased.

In this article it states:

"Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said their choice could be seen as an early vote of confidence in Obama intended to build global support for his policies. They lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation, and praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen the U.S. role in combating climate change."

Guess what, intentions are far different than actions. There are lots of things I would like to do to make this world a better place too, and I can also talk about until I am blue in the face. Until he actually DOES something, this is absolutely ridiculous. Not only that, he really can't do a lot of these things that he claims he wants to do to make the world more peaceful. He doesn't have that much authority given to him in the Constitution, not that that matters to him.

Anyway, this has just diminished, in my eyes, the importance of the Nobel Peace Prize. If they are awarding people who have good intentions, but haven't shown any fruits of their intentions, it's nothing more than fluff. Sad, really.

In Search of Fall

After spending the entire day indoors listening to General Conference (which was, of course, wonderful), I felt we needed to get out of the house for a bit. Madera Canyon is only about a half hour drive southeast of us, so we decided to go on a drive there in search of something that indicated it was fall. I am extremely jealous of all you living in 4 season climates right now. Fall is one of my very favorite times of the year and it doesn't much exist down here. I thought maybe we'd have a shot if we went up into the mountains. Here's what we found:

Lots of turkeys roaming the streets. This wasn't even all of them. I think they're getting ready for Thanksgiving :D (Not a great photo as it was shot from inside the car window. They were crossing the road when Brett took this).

A lone tree whose leaves are changing color. (An even worse photo as it was taken by me, the non-photographer, from inside the car as we were quickly driving past).

And, that's it! Nothing else really indicated it was fall. However, the weather has cooled a lot. The highs are in the 90's, or even the 80's some days, and the nights are wonderful. It gets down to the 60's. Hooray! Still not sweater weather though. We might get some of that in January. Fingers crossed.

Although we didn't get to see spectacular bursts of fall color from changing leaves, we were graced with these beautiful views as we drove home:

This was taken just as the sun starting setting.

And then there was this one! We had been driving north with some pecan groves to the west of us, so we only saw the top of the sky. Then, we turned west and BAM! we were suddenly hit by this brilliant sunset that totally lit up the whole sky (the photo hardly does it justice). It was pretty windy yesterday so the dust that was kicked up created a magnificent colorful sunset for us. It made up for the lack of fall colors anywhere else. The sunsets are one of my favorite things about living down here.

All of you bloggers out there who are experiencing true fall weather, please post lots and lots of pictures so I can continue to be envious ;) or just live vicariously through you. If you bought a new sweater for the season, I want to see that too. I think sweaters are my favorite type of clothing. Eat lots of donuts and cider too (yes, Karen B., that especially means you) and enjoy fall!