Christmas 2012

Fun day. Matt and Staci were here from Tuscon. Dad bought Dan Wilkinson's SuperCub. Mom crocheted hats for the kids that were adorable.

I'm hoping at some point that we all decide to eliminate gift giving all together and donate time to a shelter or something. I feel like such a consumer. Will my kids see value in anything since they're always given so much?

As much of a Scrooge as I pretend to be, I really do enjoy Christmas for about two days. Especially when Nicole wraps and buys all the gifts. Haha. Thanks sweetheart!

JJ- electric scooter. Practice for when he's a senior citizen. Also a pair of skis, boots, and bindings. Beads and bead craft books. Slylanders Wii game.

Cate - Barbie scooter. American Girl doll named McKenna and accessories. Lala Loopsy doll. Dora Mermaid doll.

Seth- plastic bike, car, basketball stand, and slide.

Nicole - manicure set. Car detail...which will last 3 days before the carpets once again have smooshed French fries in them. Bosch beater attachments, cinnamon shaker.

Me - Go Pro Video camera. Apple TV. Canvas family pictures.


12 more months to save up for next years financial beating.

Basketball Chaos

JJ birthday party is still a blur. Here's what I DO remember:

13 kids under 8 years old
3 adults
Vastly understaffed
Screaming. Lots of screaming.
Constant line to bathroom
$100 worth of snacks
Singalong in the car to We are Young by fun.
Didn't see one minute of basketball
One kid tried to negotiate with me to play games on my phone. I guess he was bored.
13 left and 13 came home. Victory for me. Even if the Jazz lost.

The great 2012 remodel

I thought an 8 year old house would be pretty current but according to many I am drastically wrong. Here's what needed updating:
Fireplace
Paint
Carpet
Entertainment center
Tv and stereo
Lockers in hallway instead of closet
Bookshelf in piano room.

$30k later. Here we are. House in shambles. Camping in the basement. Trying to find good ways to pay for it and be happy about the lost opportunity cost of that $30k.

I will say this. It really does look good. Nicole picked out great colors and the fireplace/entertainment center are first class.

So I will so my best to not think of the new airplane, car, or boat that is now a part of my home and simply enjoy my new abode.

Moab Triathlon

So I decided to run a triathlon. Just a sprint distance. Meaning...1/2 mile swim, 8 mile Mountain bike, and 5k run. Let's just say I was a tad out of my league.

For the swim... I came in 72nd place out of 74. But I did beat two swimmers. Hooray. Problem number 1: no wetsuit. It was 60 degree water temp. Not good for controlling your breathing. I was virtually the only one without a wetsuit. Problem number 2: wind. Blowing straight in my face on the final stretch. Not a great idea. Problem number 3: lack of training. I had trained for maybe a total of 3 hours in a pool. Never done an open water swim. Smart. Needless to say..I was cramping up, hanging on to rescue crew, and willing myself to finish the swim before I drowned.

The transitions were fine for my first time. The bike ride was extremely technical and I spent a lot of time walking the course. An old jeep trail called Steelbender. Very tough trail. But I finished in about the middle of the pack.

The run was tough too. Uphill to a waterfall, then back down and around Kens Lake. Running in sand the entire time. Finished in about the top 20%.

What an experience. Challenged me like I had never been challenged before and it taught me that procrastination and being unprepared can literally kill you.

The rest of the trip was a blast too. Hiking arches. Morning and evening bike rides on Slickrock trail. And Mike snorting BBQ sauce at the restaurant. Good stuff.

St John

The annual adults only trip to somewhere warm in the winter. This year: St John, USVI.

Absolutely stunning beaches and water. Snorkled every day. House was kind of a dump but it did the job. Food was pretty good but it was all bar/pub/grill food that was slowly killing us with calories and fat. We didn't have quite the navigational adventure like Costa Rica this time, but we did have an iguana in our pool, outdoor showers, skinny/steep/windy roads, and a mass mosquito migration that ate us alive one day. The rubber dingy rental was a kick, as was the power boat tour of the BVIs. Travis showed us a nice contrast between a purple sunburn and a celestially white butt, Teniel showed everyone her two friends that left the bikini top after a powerful wave, and I showed everyone my inability to manscape my armpits. Which I'm still defending as masculinity.

Overall it was a lot of fun as usual. Cinnamon Bay was the best beach. Willy T's the best floating restaurant and the soggy Dollar Bar was the epitome of Carribean relaxation. It's cold here. Why dont I live somewhere warm???

Fitness Pal

So since the beginning of the new year, Nicole as I have been trying to limit our calorie intake and lose weight. The biggest thing other than consistent exercise has been an app called My Fitness Pal. It's taken over our lives!! It's basically a journal of our food intake and exercise. For me, it's been helpful to see what the food I eat is "costing" me in terms of calories. Pretty scary. So far I've lost 12 pounds and I think another 5 and I will be about where I want to be. Although I'll be very hungry.

Resolutions for 2012

Today was the first day of 2012. Apparently it is supposed to be the end of the world this year. I'm not holding my breath. Although the December snowfall was the lowest on record ever. Maybe the doomsdayers were right.

This year, I have several goals. First; I would like to lose 20 pounds. I'm about 195 but that's about 20 pounds too heavy. I don't look that fat but my cheeks get chubby and I certainly could lose some around the middle.

Second; I would like to be a lot nicer to Nicole. What I mean by that is not that I am mean to her, but simply that I don't complement her often. She deserves much more attention and much more encouragement than I give her. That should be my number one priority.

Third; I need to yell at my kids less often. God knows they deserve it sometimes. But its not that I yell at them that often. It's just that when I do yell at them, they remember it. And then they yell at each other because they think that it's okay for dad to do it. We learn by example I guess.

Fourth, I would love to learn to play the guitar better. I need to learn at least one new song each month with both lyrics and guitar. Not that I want to run off and join a rock band. But, it would be nice to be able to break out the guitar and play a song or two for the kids or at a party. In fact, Seth absolutely adores music. Anytime a song comes on you should see the grin on his face and head movements and the dancing. He absolutely loves music. I want to be the source of his entertainment.

Fifth, I want to run a triathlon. The Xterra race is in August and I would love to compete in that. It's a mountain bike, swim, and Trailrun that has become very popular here in Utah.

Sixth, for personal development, I want to be more in control. I want to have more focus, and be less subject to distraction. I realize that this is a lofty goal however at least I can take baby steps.

Happy new year! Let's go get em in 2012.

Christmas 2011

Another Christmas in the books.  Christmas Eve at the Compton in MT Green.  Trip to St. Annes shelter to donate.  Too many gifts as usual.  Reminds me of a Bob and Tom sketch about the contrast between kids in Africa asking for a fork or a book and then spoiled US kids asking for a hundred different expensive electronic gadgets.  JJ got an iPod Touch.  Along with a double shot game and too many other gifts to remember.  I made a photo book his year for everyone that I hope they liked.

Now we are at the Skyline High School Alumni basketball tournament watching Devin play for the championship.  I've seen more basketball today than all the rest if the year combined.  But I am enjoying the Wood family yell and scream at the refs...very entertaining.

Wind-ageddon 2011

So...just when Nicole thought she could get on with her normal life after the never-ending vacation...mother nature decided to throw a curve ball.

Thursday morning around 3am the worst wind storm in two decades swept through Davis and Weber counties.  Gusts of 102 mph were recorded.  More than $30 million in damage was done.  I was committed to travel to Boise for the annual Christmas party and to meet with an important customer. 

I left around 630 am and the freeway was a mess.  There were more than ten semi trucks tipped over.  Debris was flying everywhere, and every once in a while, I could see the flash of a power transformer toppling over and flaming out.  It was nuts.  By noon, the power was out at our house and stayed out for 36 hours.  School was cancelled on Friday (a power line fell on the fence near the playground) so the kids were home bouncing around the house driving Nicole nuts.  And...there wasn't any power to cook anything so she used my backpack stove to cook soup.  At night, they all huddled around the fireplace and spent the night in the living room, where it was warm from the fire. 

Oh, the irony!  She would have been better off stuck in Hawaii!!  By the time I got back, everything was back to normal.  Not sure what all the fuss was about.  :-)

Update

Update on Hawaii...

Tried the Friday flights.  All oversold.  Told us not to come back until Monday.  So we got an extra weekend in Hawaii, which was nice (although out bags went to Los Angeles).  On Monday, we tried again.  Thought we'd be safe because the flight through San Francisco had 85 empty seats.  Unfortunately there were 115 standby travellers trying to get on the same flight.  So...Trevor was given a seat while the rest of the crew wasn't.

A decision was made based on work schedules that Trevor would fly home and then the rest of the family would fly back on Wednesday on Hawaiian Airlines on a full fare ticket.  The good news is that they made the flight (despite heavy Honolulu traffic).  The bad news is that she was left to go solo in terms of herding three kids under the age of 6 through two different airports.  Not pretty.  She pulled off a miracle, though, and made it home finally on Wednesday night.

Trevor had the house cleaned and laundry folded for her when she got home so she could relax a bit after the travel beatdown she took. 

Phew.  That was the never-ending vacation.

Sleeping in Seattle and Thanksgiving in Hawaii

Our 2011 Thanksgiving Hawaii trip started in Seattle.  $1200 Holiday airfare  necessitated  that we buy $200 Buddy Passes instead...which meant two nights in Seattle while we tried to make the list.  It was a lucky break even after two days of trying that finally allowed us to get a seat.  Nevertheless, we made it and we had a blast!

Things I will remember:

Nicole masterfully maneuvering the plush toy crane game at Dennys after a Thanksgiving Breakfast and winning a stuffed penguin for Cate.  JJ was more than a little jealous.

Cate devouring six sausage links at breakfast, 3 full hotdogs for dinner, and then throwing all 9 linked meats up on the bed right before she fell asleep.

Seth giggling and grinning anytime he touched the water.  And laughing like Beavis with a forced air chuckle.

JJ with no fear as he jumped in at Waimea Bay despite numerous warnings from the life guards about dangerous surf conditions.

Thanksgiving Dinner on the beach.  Bbq steaks, microwave veggies, salad, and pumpkin pie with ice cream  listening to the waves.

Definately one of the best Thanksgivings ever. 

Nichole V Photography

I know I haven't blogged forever...it is my new year's resolution to start blogging again, but I couldn't resist a great giveaway from one of my favorite websites and so I need to write about that right now. Nichole V Photography has some of the best tools possible to a photographer. I love them and wish I could buy everything out of her Flourish Emporium. She also teaches workshops...which I hope to win! The item at the top of my Christmas list this year is the Workshop in a Box. Hopefully I have dropped enough hints to my hubby so he will get it for me. If he doesn't, I might just have to buy it for myself. Do you think it is okay to buy yourself gifts? Check out her website here http://workshops.nicholeV.com

Thoughts While Driving

I didn't have any kids in the car today while I was driving, and so I was left to my own thoughts. I didn't have to answer any of J.J.'s questions (they number in the thousands), and so I was left to ask my own questions.

Am I too old to wear hot pink?

Why is The Book Thief so good? (reading it for the third time)

Why do I crave hamburgers? Why can't I crave broccoli? Isn't your body supposed to crave what it needs? I definitely don't need hamburgers.

Why does it take me 3 weeks to lose 5 pounds, but it can take me 3 hours to gain 5 pounds? I am being serious...this has happened before

Is bribery and threats the best way to parent? Why doesn't anything work?

Why is J.J. already embarrassed to hug me? (He made me hug him before JeNeal answered the door, so she wouldn't see us.)

Why don't I live in San Diego where it never snows?!

Why can't I be more motivated?

Why do I feel like I am always falling short?

What do I need to do to feel adequate?

Does anyone have the answers? I didn't have my mommy riding in the car with me to answer all my questions.

Happy Birthday, Cate!

Yesterday was Cate's birthday! I can't believe she is two. And she is sure acting like it. We went to the zoo and had a Cinderella birthday party for her. She kept singing Happy Birthday to Cate. I think she enjoyed herself. She adores her older brother and wants to do whatever he is doing. He is such a good big brother and is so gentle with her. Her favorite sayings are, "No way!", "I do it!", "Oh, no!". She has such a sassy attitude. I love it and hate it at the same time. She LOVES Cinderella and Dora. She goes around the house singing, "Cee-a-rellee, Cee-a-rellee," over and over and over. Here is what she got for her birthday. She has had it on ever since.
I don't know if she doesn't like me or if she absolutely loves her dad, but she could care less about me. Whenever I try to make her do something, she screams, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" She won't give me hugs but she will give Trevor the biggest loves. She always wants her dad to put her to sleep at night. I am trying to be okay with it, but sometimes it hurts my feelings. I keep telling myself that it is just a stage.

We love you sweetie!!!

I hope to have my Costa Rica pictures posted next week. We had an awesome time! Thanks Travis and Teniel, and Jeremy and Nichole for being awesome travel friends. I hope there are more vacations in the future.

10 Things Trevor Loves About Being a Dad

Good morning.

Trevor signing in.

It's early.

Before 5am.


I'm writing to you now because I can't sleep. I can't sleep because last night Nicole and I had a discussion (code for disagreement) about parenthood and how it consumes our lives and, for the moment, singularly defines us as people. We are no longer Trevor and Nicole...but...Mom and Dad. And because of that, we forget that for 30 years prior to being...Mom and Dad...we were individuals with needs, wants, personalities, dreams, and hopes. Our lives have in many ways become very routine and very focused on raising happy, healthy, and disciplined children and in some cases, what suffers is our relationship with each other.

Well, since that's what has been going through my head all night, and since we sometimes forget to pay attention to each other with everything else going on, I want Nicole to know that my relationship with her is just as important as my relationship with the kids. And at the risk of sounding like a cheap romance novel...I want to remind her here how much she means to me and how important she is in my life. I love you so much, Nicole!

I also need her to know that I love being a parent. Despite the loss of identity, lack of freedom, and postponement of dreams, I wouldn't trade my title of Dad for anything in the world. One of the things I look forward to every day is walking through the garage door and having both kids glad to see me. Sometimes they even open the door and run to my car excited to see me. So, because I write better than I talk, I'll put down here, as a reminder to all of my family, the top 10 things I love about being a Dad:

10. The kids thinking that I know everything in the world about every subject in the world. I feel like the smartest person in the world. But I already knew that. :-)
9. Family activities. Having everyone excited to go somewhere or do something energizes me.
8. Teaching life lessons. Trying to communicate lessons learned over 35 years to a child can be a challenge, but it's so fun when they remember the lesson you taught them and repeat it back to you when you least expect it. ("Never give up, remember Dad?")
7. Bath time. It's a nightly routine and I miss it terribly when I'm gone.
6. Reading to the kids. Especially Dr. Seuss Oh the Places You'll Go.
5. Seeing them learn to read, write, and draw. They want so much to make their mom and dad proud of them and I love that they do.
4. Tickle fights. Seeing them laugh is what I think is the best part.
3. The fact that they want me to play with them all the time. It can be exhausting, but it also helps put things in perspective when I get too wrapped up in work.
2. I already mentioned coming home every night to excited, smiling faces.
1. I know that whatever else happens in my day, that my kids still think that I'm the most important man in their lives.

JJ and Cate...you are two incredible people and I hope I can be who you need me to be for you. I love you both!

Where to begin...

...maybe with the new year. I have been walking around in a haze the last couple of days. Nothing to get done and nothing to do. I don't know what to do with myself after the craziness of Christmas and my sister's wedding. Just so I remember what has happened since Thanksgiving...I am going to digress.

Went to Maui with the kids and Clint and Christie!!! Had J.J.'s Star Wars Themed party with 19 kids (WHAT WAS I THINKING)...Best part, the Darth Vador Pinata. My birthday was uneventful this year and that was perfectly fine with me. Up to Idaho for Christmas and 8 days of getting everything ready for my sister's wedding. Sister's wedding on the 30th (I was the photographer). I think everything turned out great except for me trying to get used to my new flash. Drive home...new years eve was at home. I think I was asleep before the ball even dropped. The last week we have all been sick with the cold and flu. I think we are all starting to feel better. So, I am now ready to start the new year.

Here is what we sent home with the kids for a thank you. (of course with their own picture).

HAWAII!!

Mike and Saundra...aren't they adorable?

I looked over my New Year Resolutions from last year, and I accomplished all of them except one (lose weight). Why is this always the bane of my existence? So this year, it isn't even going to be a resolution. Of course I am still going to be healthy and try, but I am NOT making it a resolution. This year, only one resolution. Find Joy in everyday, no matter how crazy. So, since i am behind, I have a few for today...

1. old school Sarah Mclaughlin. It reminds me of making out with my husband in college. JOY!
2. Cate saying "cupcake". It is adorable. i always ask her to say it because it is so cute.
3. How do you find joy in sick kids...I think the joy is that they will cuddle with you. Cate does not like to snuggle and so that is the joy...she will snuggle with me.
4. instead of getting irritated that my husband doesn't replace the trash bag when he takes the trash out, I am going to be happy that I have a husband that will take the trash out. Thank you honey!
5. I am even going to be joyful about the cold weather...How? hmmm...I am joyful because I can stay inside and finish a really good book in less than 24 hours. There, I did it.
6. J.J. learning to spell. Whenever he wants me, he says M-O-M. It makes me smile. I am not going to be sad that he is growing up so fast. Well, maybe a little.

More tomorrow.

Naughty or Nice

I know I have been Naughty and have not posted in a few weeks or more. Naughty list for me! Everything is great. What has happened? Trevor's best friend got married, my sis is getting married, Trevor's step-grandma passed away, and J.J. and Cate are growing up. We had a great Halloween...Cate was a bumble bee and J.J. was Optimus Prime. Here is a little story that I do not want to forget that makes me smile.

One of J.J.'s friends was not sharing the other day, and after he went home he was complaining that his friend never shares and if it was his toy he would be nice and share. After explaining this to me he stood there for a second and let out a sigh and said very matter of factly, "I guess he is on the Naughty list." Then he shrugged his shoulders as if it was very sad that he was and there was nothing he could do about it. These are the moments that make all of the stressed-want-to-scream moments worth it.
Did I mention that Cate fell and hit her head again? Oi!

Same old, same old...

Did I really think I would change? I guess this is how my updating goes. All or nothing! So, here it goes. Here is my ode to summer. We already miss you!

J.J.

We spent most of our time at Cherry Hill water park...probably 1-2 times a week. You would think I had some pictures. Well, here is the only one I took all summer. I am such a slacker.

J.J. and Jack at Cherry Hill

We also went boating. Not as much as we wanted, but we did get out a few times. We are still hoping there is one day left in the boat.

J.J. again with Jack


This summer J.J. grew up! He would go outside at 9:30 am and play until bedtime playing with Jack, Cade, and Connor. They would ride bikes at the rally, go to the park, sell lemonade or ottor pops, and play basketball. He learned how to ride his bike. Thanks Jack! He had a blast! He would also go to the driving range with dad and go flying with dad. It was hard for me to let him be outside by himself, but he would stay in his boundaries, and I would check on him every 20 minutes. He loved it! Now, all of his friends are in school and he is getting really bored...any good ideas for indoor activities with mom???


He would also go to the driving range with dad and go flying with dad. To be a kid again...


Cate

She grew up too. She is now walking, talking, and dancing. She loves to dance and sing. She also LOVES puppies. In fact, that was her first word. She is always carrying a little puppy around, and we had to visit the next door neighbors dog every day this summer. She has quite a few words now that she says; puppy, mommy, daddy, j.j., baby, eye, nose, ear, mouth, fingers, dance, bottle. She loves her bigger brother and always wants to do what he is doing. She is still climbing everything (even after her skull fracture). Oi!



Trevor

I think he enjoyed his summer too. He was golfing and flying a lot. He even competed in a flying competition and did pretty good. I think his favorite part of summer was his trip to Alaska with the boys. (I know. I bet you thought I was going to say Paris). I am sure he loved that too. He spent a lot of the summer studying for the GRE. He passed and is now getting his MBA. He has school every Tuesday and Thursday nights. It's only for two years. Only.



If you look closely, there are two brown bears right across the river from them

Me

I have had a great summer as well. I checked a few things off of my life list. Go to a tennis open...check. I was able to go to two tennis opens (French, US). Travel the world...check. I went to France and NYC. Run a half marathon...check. I ran the Mesa Falls Half Marathon in August. It was probably the hardest thing that I have ever done. But, it was definitely worth it. Now, I have to get the mindset to run a marathon so I can check that off my life list. As for the rest of the time, I played mom. Good thing I like being a mom. Only drawback...sometimes I am so busy being mom, I forget how to be Nicole. So, I am glad that this summer reminded me a little bit of how to be me.

THANK YOU, Crystal. I couldn't of done it without you.

See the Tetons behind me.

French Open-Federer accepting the trophy, and Andre Agassi there to present it to him.I wish I could say that our lives are going to slow down, but they aren't. J.J. has started preschool and soccer. I am now on a tennis league. First one in my life. I love it! Trevor is busy with work and going to school. As quoted in Spaceballs and by J.J., we are traveling at "ludicrous speed!"