on reading

Most weeks Dave has a day during the week where he is home. Whether it is because he is post-call or working the evening clinic, or gets a weekday off because he is working the weekend, he is around a lot more while the kids are at school.

He doesn't quite know what to do with himself. Years of having NO time for yourself sometimes means you forget what to do with yourself when you have a chance.

I went to bed sick on Monday, and he was on call that night. He was up at 5 a.m. with a call and stayed awake. He let me sleep and got the kids up and going to school and took care of Charlie. After school I took the cub scouts on a field trip and Ana had activity days so he took the younger kids to the store for a bit. That night he said to me "I feel like I didn't get anything done today."

I knew what he meant. That is how I feel most days. All the things I do get undone by the end of the day or need to be done again the next day. Some days it feels like I don't actually do anything. Because the work of a housewife is so much easier than in the past, sometimes it feels like I'm doing nothing at all. I load a dishwasher, or a washing machine. But I don't mend clothes or make butter. I don't often have a "product" at the end of the day. And I certainly don't have any sort of expertise that people need.  It can be frustrating and lonely and depressing.

But, I have read 42 books so far in 2017. I've read non-fiction and fiction - religion, social sciences, young adult and children's lit and classics and poetry. Not all the books I read are great. (I call those my "treat" or "junk food" books. Books that are just fun and light and easy and enjoyable, but not really substantial.)

People ask me how I have time to read so much. Now, four of those books were audio books and another 12 I read out loud to Dave. (We started doing that about a year ago and have really enjoyed our reading time together.) So 26 I have actually sat down and read by myself. That averages to 2.5 per month. I don't think that is all that much truthfully. But even if it seems like it, I make time because I need to read.

I make time to read because I love it. I make time to read because it uses my brain in a meaningful way.  I read to be entertained, to escape, to explore, and to learn. I read to know I am not alone,* to know that I am connected to a larger, intricate world. In reading I understand myself better, I find compassion for others, and I learn about God.

I read because it accomplishes something. It cannot be undone. At the end of the day, when there are dishes in the sink, and laundry in the baskets and toys on the floor, (even though I washed dishes and folded laundry and picked up toys), I finished something. Or at least got closer to finishing something.  I learned. I grew. My understanding of the world expanded just a bit. That's worth it to me. That's why I read.


*this idea is based off of a quote from the movie "Shadowlands" about CS Lewis. "We read to know we are not alone." I watched that movie years ago and I think about that idea often.

my family is a decade old

10 years of marriage
4 kids
7 years of school ( 3 diplomas)
4 major moves (8 different houses and thousands of miles)
3 surgeries (4 if you count Ana's teeth)

May 2005

When I met Dave I had no idea where it was going to lead. In fact, up until just before we started dating I had decided I wanted to serve a mission. I was ready to get my papers started so I could go as soon as I turned 21. After we started dating I still really wanted to go, but it just felt right and good and happy when we were together. We got married 4 weeks before my 21st birthday.

It has been a happy 10 years. Of course, there have been hard times. Times when money has been really tight and things have been stressful. Times when we drove each other crazy.  But overall, and perhaps because of those things, we have been happy. We haven't had many grand adventures. No excursions to other countries or anything like that. Our traveling has consisted of mini trips to places not far from home and a big move across the country for a few years.  Our adventures have been in studying science textbooks and chasing little feet. The last 10 years have been quite ordinary.

I am okay with ordinary. It is a wonderful, happy place to be. And I am so very, very grateful that we have had each other the last 10 years. I can't imagine anyone else putting up with me like he does. And I know he feels the same. We suit each other quite well. That doesn't mean we always agree. We have different ways of doing things. But we accept each other. He has never asked "what have you done all day?" when he comes home to a messy house. He doesn't think twice of holding down the fort for things like sister's weekends or even just a night out with girlfriends. He supports me in whatever endeavor I attempt and always tells me how smart and capable he thinks I am. He helps me to see when I am raising my voice because a lot of times I don't even realize I am doing it, I just get worked up or excited and it just happens. I don't always appreciate it in the moment, but I think I am getting better and a lot of that is because of him. And he is such a good, humble, faithful man. There have been so many times when people have told me how much it has meant to them when he has taken time to stop and visit with people or check in on them.  I am so very grateful for that quality.

2004

Engagement Photo: 2005

"studying" 2005

Wedding day 2005

Family Reunion 2005

Having kids definitely changed our relationship, but it has made it better. One of the things I love about him so much is how he is as a father. 

+ Ana 2006

+ Jack 2008

Dave is very good at making sure we take time just for us.  Almost every night seems like a mini "date." We talk about the day, watch TV or a movie, eat snacks and just be close and together. 

A little getaway to northern Idaho - summer 2009

+ Katie 2011

2011

+Charlie 2015

On Coronado, Spring Break 2015

We didn't have much of a celebration. Most years we go out to eat someplace nice but with Dave's schedule it hasn't happened yet. Dave worked today and I took the kids to church. I did make some yummy cake and then we sang happy birthday to our family. I like this idea because it helps the kids to see why this day is important.

 

10th anniversary selfie!

Here's to the next 10 years. I wonder what it will have in store.

a post about my resident spouse

On the Red Butte trail watching the sunset. 

Everyone told us residency would be hard. For both of us in different ways. So I started by lowering my expectations for myself, especially since I am pregnant. We are now nearing the end of Dave's 3rd rotation.

Just as an interjection for those who may not know exactly what it is Dave is doing - He is working primarily at Primary Children's Hospital. Every 4 weeks he rotates through a different branch of pediatrics - adolescent medicine, cardiology, etc. He also has outpatient clinic every week. At the end of 3 years, he will be a licensed pediatrician. Or he can continue on a do a 1-3 year fellowship in a specialty. He will apply for those during 2nd year if he wants to. Also sometime during this year, he has to take (and pass) Step 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam, which is a 2 day test. 

His first rotation was a pretty easy schedule, but he decided to get Step 3 out of the way right away so he was studying for that. We found out recently that he passed, which is awesome and he is glad to have it out of the way. The next rotation was "wards"  which is what most people generally think of as residency - long hours at the hospital almost every day. It was long and it was stressful, but I felt like I came through it all right.  Most of the time I felt like I played the role of the supportive wife pretty well. He worked hard and I did what I could to be his supporting cast.

I noticed something amazing about my husband too. When he had such limited time off, he wanted to make it count. He would take a kid to the library or to the store. He would come home for just a minute and ask if there was anything he could do for me. And even if he was really tired, he would curl up with the kids and watch a movie with them. It was amazing.

And then I got all full of myself and thought, "Okay, I have got this. I can do this resident wife stuff."

This rotation is split it two; the first two weeks were called Safe and Healthy Families which pretty much means you are dealing with families who are NOT safe and healthy. (Abuse, mostly.) But the schedule was pretty easy. The last two weeks are night shift at the hospital - just like wards but at night.

It has been rough. I don't do well with the night shift thing. Once I am asleep I am okay, but I am totally unmotivated to get myself there. And there is the what-to-do-during-the-day-while-daddy-is-sleeping issue. The older kids are in school, so that helps. Truth be told Dave is a pretty deep sleeper so that is good. Still it changes routines and schedules and trying to figure out when to eat dinner and what to fix and all of that stuff has been really stressful.

Then last night, while working his night shift, he started with some pain that got so bad that he ended up dragging himself to the ER. He has a fairly descent size kidney stone. They sent him home with some pain meds but he couldn't keep them down and when he did they didn't seem to be working. So tonight, though it was supposed to be his "night" off, he is up at the hospital again, as a patient.

Luckily for me, we landed ourselves in an amazing ward. We made one phone call and had someone over to give him a blessing.  My visiting teacher came to my rescue to watch my kids while I took Dave up AND fed us an amazing dinner. We are so lucky to be here.

As I sit here and type this all out, I feel really, amazingly blessed. Dave is such a smart, hardworking husband and I am so lucky to have him. He has such a strong desire to be a good dad and husband and to be an example of a Christian.  Even though the last couple days have been stressful and a little crazy, the Lord sends his tender mercies in simple things like a text from a sister saying that she understands, and the chance that my friend was home this evening when usually they eat Sunday dinner with extended family. God does not forget us.

Isaiah 49:15-16

 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Dr. Larsen

This month as been a big month for us.  We celebrated our 9th anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa came to Vermont, we packed, we moved across the country and to round it out, tomorrow is my 30th birthday. But of all of those things, the biggest and best day of them all was this day:

This was the reason we moved to Vermont in the first place, the reason we have so many wonderful friends, and came to love one of the most beautiful places on earth. We went so Dave could be a doctor. And now he is! I am so proud of him for all the work he did over the last 4 years. Time flew by. I always say that I am amazed at all the stuff he knows now that he didn't know 4 years ago. He was a stellar student, and yet still managed to be there for us as his family and for his friends and for our church family. I am so lucky to call him mine!

Congrats, Dr. Larsen!

use your words (and other stuff)

We often tell our kids "Use your words." Instead of whining, instead of hitting, instead of screaming. "Use words." I need to remind myself of that as well sometimes. Words save me. When I need to escape, I read. When I need to connect, I talk and listen. When I need to clear my head, I write. I write lists and I write in my journal and I write here.

The last few weeks have been a crazy emotional roller coaster and I read and I talked and I listened, but when I tried to write, I couldn't. The words wouldn't come. So I talked and listened and read some more. But I couldn't write.

This morning I woke up and decided that today I would write. I would force it to come. So, here I am writing. Let me write about the last 3 weeks.

1.) The kids and I got home from our fun trip. I was so glad to see so many great friends and it was good to be back in the groove. My wonderful friend (little Zach's mom) even had my house cleaned spotless for me when I returned which was such a blessing. I have great friends. Dave stayed behind in Utah for an extra two weeks while he finished his rotation, so I was on my own for a little while.

2.) A few days after returning home, some of our best friends moved. They were here when we got here and we (and our kids) grew to be such good friends. It was a sad day. I already miss them a ton.

3.) I managed to do 2 weeks in a row of sitting alone with my kids in church and didn't die. I even thought, "That wasn't too bad."

4.) We got water in our basement (see previous post). That was crazy for a minute. These pictures are from that day. The kids went out and played in the puddles before dinner.  The downpour happened after dinner. The last picture is right before I discovered water gushing into the basement.

5.) Our traditional Memorial Day BBQ was a hit. Somehow I returned home with more food than I took.

6.) Dave got home! And he had a few days off before returning to the hospital today, so that was awesome to have him home.

7.) Another family that we love moved. They were awesome and Vermont will not be the same without them.

8.) Saturday we went to a parade and a Super fun birthday party for our friend's daughter.  The kids came home with awesome Superman capes and they spent the rest of the evening running around in them. Katie wanted one too so we pulled out Dave's old one and she ran around saying "Superman!" On Sunday afternoon the kids put them on again with nothing else but their undies and ran around saying "I am Super Underpants Man!" Nothing like a cape to make a kid happy.

9.) Yesterday Dave was called to be a counselor to our Bishop. Crazy! It will make things a little bit more busy, especially on Sundays, but he is awesome and I know he'll be great.


So, there you have it. A glance at my roller coaster. I keep thinking things will settle down, but life doesn't really ever settle down does it?  I think as long as I keep using my words, I might be able to handle it.

random i love you

I have a couple posts sitting in the drafts because I didn't like how they came out of my brain. I feel a little foggy up there and I can't seem to form coherent sentences.

Having Ana home last week was wonderful. She was full of life and happiness (after she got over the barfs) and even when Friday was a totally disappointing day for her, she still managed to keep herself together. (That makes one of us.)

Last Thursday night Dave and I went to see They Might Be Giants in concert.  Weirdly enough, I was nervous. I have only been to a handful of concerts and they were all country and that was 10 years ago, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Plus, I wasn't sure how well Katie would go to bed for the babysitter, and that made me a little extra nervous. Everything was great, though and we had a lot of fun.

Although I get annoyed and grumpy and frustrated at him at times, the man I married is such an example to me. His confidence, his calmness, and his ability to live in the moment are such a complement to my self-doubt, intensity and anticipation for the next thing coming.  He teaches me so much. And the really wonderful thing is, he loves me just exactly as I am, from my most serious to my silliest moments, he accepts it all. I love him a lot.  So do the kids.

I just wanted to throw that out there. 

happy anniversary to us!

Photo by Heather Dahle

Dave and I have been married 7 years today!

That qualifies me as a marriage expert, I'd say.

No, not really. But since half of all marriages end in the first 7 years, it is somewhat of a landmark. Either way, over the last 7 years I've learned a thing or two about marriage. So I thought I would write them down. We'll call them my "rules."

7 Rules of Marriage:

1. Use discretion when sharing problems.

This was one of the first pieces of advice I got. In fact, I came into marriage feeling very strongly that this was something we needed to do. Perhaps it is because of my "heart on my sleeve" tendency that I felt like I needed to watch myself in this particular aspect of marriage.

The fact is, problems happen. As spouses, we don't always get along. Some things annoy us. Some things hurt us. But that does not mean everyone needs to know about it. In fact, usually NO ONE needs to know about it. Because when we have kissed and made up and I have moved on, other people do not. My relationship with Dave is between me and him and God. Of course, occasionally it helps to discuss little matters with a trusted sister or friend. It helps to know that things that bother me are usually just attributes of men in general and not Dave specifically. But I use discretion.

2. It is better to say "Yes!"

I have learned, that most of the time, it is better to say yes. When Dave makes a request, I try to find reasons to do it, and to be enthusiastic. Sometimes this is easier than at other times. But Dave is much more spontaneous than I am, and when I say yes, I rarely regret it. And it brings some great memories.

3. Be Loyal to each other.

Stand up for your spouse. Don't say something about them unless you would say it in front of them. Talk positively to others about him and think positive things about him. Along with this, I would say to respect their wishes, even when they are not around. Don't brush off their feelings. If it is important to them, it should be important to you.

4. Don't let the "d" word enter the equation.

Divorce is not an option. We made sacred covenants to love and care for each other. We are both doing our best to be faithful and loving. Everyone makes mistakes. We are committed and we both work to resolve issues because we are in it for the LONG HAUL (i.e. eternity).

5. Take time to connect.

For some people this means weekly dates. For us it means, often, sitting on the couch next to each other. Telling each other about our day. Calling throughout the day just to say hi. It makes a difference.

6. Be happy to see each other.

When I smile at Dave when he gets home, even (especially) when I don't feel like smiling, the evening goes much better. Besides, no matter how bad my day has been, I really am GLAD he is home.

7. "How can I help?" are magic words.

I like knowing that I am doing what I can to make Dave's life easier. So if that means picking up his socks and fixing dinner, then I am going to do it. Service in the home is the most important service we can do.



I am not a perfect spouse. I am still learning lots of things. Perhaps another 7 years will change some of these rules. Either way, I am so glad I am married to this man. These 7 years have been wonderful.

step 1 (of a million)

Right before we left to go home, Dave took a "big test." That's what we told the kids. Specifically it was USMLE Step 1.

He got his scores back this week and he did really well. Of course, this is just the first of a long line of exams and hoops to jump through prior to being a practicing physician. But it does put him in a competitive range for basically any specialty he could want. I am so proud of him.

In celebration of finishing the exam, we had a party of sorts. We took his Step 1 study guide, now completely useless and tore it to pieces. Jack thought this was great fun. Ana was a little concerned about destroying a book, until we told her that we would recycle the paper so it could make more books.

twenty-nine

I love this man! He is smart. He is funny. He is the world's best daddy. He doesn't care that I pick my toes or dance like a weirdo. I love his eyes and his smile.

I could go on, but he's not into that sort of cheesy stuff.


Happy Birthday to the love of my life.

in the last week....

*Dave finished his first year of med school!!!!! Dave now has 8 weeks off, which will be filled with scout camp (this week), an outreach project he's working on (2 weeks), a visit from his nephew, helping me "nest," taking Ana to swim lessons, and then cuddling a sweet new baby before starting school back up in August.

*Dave and I switched rooms with Ana.

*We painted the girls' room and the dresser we got for free to go in the girls' room and some thrifted frames we will hang up in the girls' room. I forgot before pics, but after pics are coming soon.

*We celebrated the FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!!! I love summer and THIS is what we did to celebrate:

white coat ceremony

Friday was Dave's white coat ceremony. I was a very proud wife-y seeing him wear a real white coat for the first time. Its a ceremony celebrating the transition into clinical studies. The speaker gave a really good address summarizing all the things they would see and experience in their white coats.

Interestingly enough, the ceremony was on the 6th anniversary of our engagement. I'll tell you I never thought then that I would be here in Vermont supporting Dave in his medical studies, but I am so glad we are here and am grateful for all the experiences that brought us here.

(UVM College of Medicine class of 2014)

For the local news coverage click here. (You can see me and my good friend Sara cheering from the balcony around 0:38. I'm in black; she's in red.)

life of a med school wife

I guess I'm going through a period of thoughtfulness. It seems I've been saying too much lately. But seeing as how I am sitting alone on a Friday night, repeatedly telling Ana to stay in her bed, and spending time reading a slew of med school wife blogs, thoughts came and I feel compelled to write them.

What's it like being a med student wife? I know that every wife will have a different experience than I do. Different schools have different schedules, husbands have different abilities, some wives work or don't have kids. So, I can tell you what its like for me. But I truly believe I am in the lucky few.

Dave has class from 8 to noon every day. Another 2 or 3 days a week he has a lecture or lab or small group in the afternoon, and most days he is done with class by 3. He stays on campus until 6 then comes home; so 5 days a week he gets between 2 and 5 hours of studying done.

On top of this very workable schedule, Dave has an amazing ability to retain things. He also is a very good guesser. (I know this because he gets tons of right answers on Sporcle quizzes simply by guessing. I do not have this gift.) These two things combined make him a phenomenal test taker. And its not just that he can spit out the answers and then forgets it. He remembers that stuff. Concepts go in his head, he understand them and they stay there. He still has to study, of course. He has to memorize all sorts of names for things. But the concepts click in his mind. I am in awe of this talent.

Early in the year we determined that it was important for him to have time with the family. From 6:30 to 8:30 is scheduled "family" time. We eat dinner together, then he plays with the kids for a while before they go to bed. After that he's free to study or do whatever else. But most nights we watch a movie or TV together. With the exception of a few days leading up to a test (like the one this coming Monday) and mutual nights on Wednesday night, we have stuck to this schedule. I think it has done wonderful things for our family. Having dinner together, reading scriptures and saying prayer together as a family, and spending time together is so important to the sanity of all 4 members of our family. On top of his gift of smarts, I know he is getting blessed academically by making family a priority.

So, what's it like being a med school wife? So far, it isn't much different than being any other kind of stay at home wife. I've been staying at home with kids since Ana was 6 months old. I think that winter was the hardest yet - all alone with a tiny baby, hardly any friends, nowhere to go, and no car to go in anyway. This winter I have wonderful friends, plenty to do if I feel like it, and a car at my disposal. And though its been freezing outside and we're getting a little stir crazy, I know that I can do something about it when I want to.

I'm sure that in another year when he's studying for the medical licensing exam, and starting rotations and what not I might be singing a different tune. But for now, life is good! We love Vermont, we love our little family and the experiences we are having, and I know we will look back on this time and think it was wonderful!

on what to watch

Dave and I have our differences.

There was a time about 6 years ago that we were counting our differences because we were oh, so much alike back in our dating year month.

Of course, over the years we've noticed a few more things that we don't quite see eye to eye on. I guess we don't ever see eye to eye unless I'm standing on a step stool, and even then I think he has a few inches on me. I'm sure I could draw a bunch on analogies on how our height difference can be a metaphor for marriage, but that's not where I was going with this.

There are some things that after all these years, we are still absolutely compatible.

1. Money. We are always on the same page.

2. Entertainment. Do you realize how awesome this is? We went through a 24 obsession, a Star Trek: the Original Series fling, NCIS marathons, and now Psych. We both like Nacho Libre-esque comedies, and we both hate horror movies. We like classic Jimmy Stewart movies and The Bourne series and college football. And with the occasional exception of some weirdo TV show that intrigues him and I have no interest in, we usually agree on what channel the TV is on in the evenings.

I like this. I would not have pegged Entertainment as a deal-breaker back when I was checking guys out, but man, I am glad we have that in common. It makes marriage happy.

daddy's little girl

Have you read Fancy Nancy?

Ana loves it. Lately she's been wanting to dress fancy.


She wanted to eat at a fancy restaurant, too, so we decided to do our own.

We dressed up and had a fancy dinner. (Well, we ate spaghetti, which Ana requested, even though its not really that fancy if you ask me.) Even Dave dressed up.

Come to think of it, Ana can get Dave to do lots of stuff I never can get him to do.

Like wear a halloween costume.

And dance.


Its amazing what the love of a little girl can do to a man. She's got it pretty good to have such a daddy.

need a laugh?

Rexburg is snowy. And ice-y. Dave and I spent a lot of time walking to and from class on snowy ice-y sidewalks during our time there.

One particular day the first winter after we were married (or maybe we were just engaged, but I think we were married) we were walking up such an ice-y sidewalk on our way to class.

(We were probably running late, because we usually were, but that's beside the point.)

Dave - in all his tall, lanky glory, - totally biffed it. (Do people still say that? "biffed it." "wiped out" maybe?)

Anyway, this was a feet-slid-out-from-under-him-and-he-caught-himself-with-his-face-and-all-his-stuff-went-flying kind of fall.

What is it about people falling that is so funny? I couldn't help myself. I stood there pointing and laughing hysterically while he picked himself, and all his stuff, up off the ground.

That was funny enough, but it was even more comical because while I was standing there laughing and pointing, a sweet girl came up behind us, asked Dave if he were okay, and handed him his cell phone.

Am I a mean wife?

Maybe... But it totally made up for the time he did this:






I miss that shirt...

the day we met

I've been feeling a bit nostalgic lately. Maybe its a little homesickness. Maybe its the changing seasons and the cooler weather. Either way, in the spirit of nostalgia, I thought I would write down a few memories this week. I'll begin with the day I met Dave.

To say I was boy-crazy would be the understatement of the century. I liked dating, and was more comfortable around boys than most girls, so naturally I was a flirt. And I liked it.

The Summer of 2004 would be my last summer at home, though I didn't know it at the time. It was an idyllic summer. I dated, worked, took an missionary prep course, and trained for a half marathon. I still had almost a year til I could serve a mission, but it was definitely something I wanted to do. I had life planned out: finish my associate's degree, serve a mission (Spanish speaking, preferably), transfer to BYU to finish my Bachelor's degree and buy a cell phone and a motorized scooter. Of course, marriage could find me after that. Perhaps one of my missionary friends who by then would have more schooling done.

I think God must laugh when we make plans for ourselves.

September took me back up to Rexburg. Then back down to Pocatello for my half marathon one weekend, then back up to Rexburg. One evening I walked into my apartment after a run, wearing, naturally, work out clothes with my hair in a pony-tail. I glanced around the room and spotted the only person I didn't know.

He was tall, cute, and seemed so at ease sitting in my roommate's burgundy corner chair.

"I don't know you!" I guess I like to state the obvious.

"I'm Dave," he said, with a smile. I instantly liked his easy manners. We spent a few minutes in small talk, which revealed that he served his mission in Chile.

He speaks Spanish

If ever there was a way for a guy to solidify himself into my memory it was to be Spanish-speaking returned missionary. But then I got a phone call from a friend and I flitted into the other room to chat. I flitted a lot those days. Though I didn't see much of him for a couple months, I definitely remembered him.

I guess the rest is history. Or a blog post for another day. We'll see.

dave's first day of school

And he has one proud little girl! And wifey. :)

mr. mom

Dave is an amazing dad. I'm sure I've mentioned that before. Seeing him with my kids melts my heart.

This picture was taken last week at the Boise Zoo.
They were watching penguins swim by.

But its a different experience watching him do everything! I am just sitting on the couch as he does the dishes, changes diapers, cleans up, disciplines, feeds the kids, and still finds time to take them for bike rides and get them ready to play in the pool outside. Phew! Its exhausting just watching him do it all.

Just tonight, I watched him clean up when Ana had an accident in the kitchen, then put her in the bath, scrub the tub when she couldn't quite get out of the tub fast enough to make it on the potty, and put her back in the tub. Upon discovery that Jack had a nasty poopy diaper, he declared with desperation (and a little smile), "I am tired of poop!"

I am bordering somewhere between empathy and laughing at him. (So far the latter is winning, and it really hurts to laugh.) I'm trying -without much success- not to turn this into a "see-what-I-do-all-day" sort of experience, so I help where I can.

He is amazing. And though I know its incredibly cheesy to publicly thank him for all he's done and will still do over the next 10 days (and 10 years), I'm going to anyway.

Thanks, Dave. You Rock!

time capsule - january 2010

I want to remember what I am doing at this time in our life....



I am reading: The Lord of the Rings, and A Joyful Mother of Children

I spend my free time: on the computer, reading, sewing and hanging out with Dave.

I want to change: how messy/disorganized my house is.

Dave and I like to watch: Star Trek: The Original Series, Community, and The Office (though its not as funny as previous seasons)

Dave: can't decide which med school to go to, is reading Elder Nelson's biography, traveled all the way from Seattle to Vermont and Philadelphia in one year, is awesome!


Ana loves: watching shows, (right now a favorite is "Here Comes Science") snuggling and talking, singing and dancing, playing with friends.

Ana doesn't like: quiet time, going to bed, leaving her friends' house, playing by herself.


Jack loves: talking (new words include puzzle "puh-puz" and toothbrush), reading books ("No, David" and "Pinkalicious" are favorites), giving hugs, juice

Jack doesn't like: when Ana takes away his toys (or threatens him in any way), anything when he is tired.

What will we be doing in 2020?