Howell Said

Howell Said has moved.

2009-06-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

New blog address.

Visitors will be redirected automatically to the new site in 5 seconds.

Otherwise, update your bookmarks and links to

http://howellsaid.indestree.com

The rss feed for the new blog is:

http://howellsaid.indestree.com/?feed=rss2

100 Things That Make Me Happy

2009-06-06T08:16:00.001-07:00

I've been setting goals this morning. One of them was to write down 100 things that make me happy. I thought it would be good to share. Hopefully it will give you ideas about what makes you happy too.

1. reading a good book

2. being listened to

3. playing piano

4. a clean house

5. a good meal (preferrably cooked by someone else)

6. crisp morning air

7. country love songs

8. accomplishing a goal

9. head rubs

10. back rubs

11. swimming

12. running

13. chasing/hiding with James

14. seeing friends at the temple

15. the smell of a clean baby after a bath

16. snuggling on the couch with family

17. homemade popcorn and a good show

18. Good Eats (the show)

19. talking with my sisters

20. going to the temple

21. having a clear conscience

22. a soak in the tub

23. pretty music

24. genuine compliments

25. when James listens/obeys

26. my Mama

27. good literature

28. hymns

29. James sharing food with me

30. the baby kicking

31. a new hair cut

32. pedicure

33. home applied facial (preferrably with help of friends or at a sleepover)

34. new sprouts/green leaves in sunlight

35. being recognized for something I'm proud of

36. sleeping in peacefully

37. cool crisp sheets

38. learning something new/interesting

39. stimulating conversation

40. swinging on a swingset

41. playing in the ocean

42. naptime

43. big pretzel sticks

44. a happy baby

45. throwing things away

46. quilting

47. crochet

48. foot rubs

49. Olive Garden (soup and salad) lunch

50. Chinese takeout

51. boxes from Mama

52. reading books aloud with others

53. my wedding ring

54. primary songs

55. typing

56. singing

57. Christmas music

58. traveling/sightseeing with family

59. clean hair

60. clean teeth

61. serving others

62. hugs

63. setting goals

64. making charts/graphs/progress reports

65. a baby heartbeat

66. James talking/singing to himself

67. dancing with James

68. a checked off to-do list

69. learning a word a day

70. sharing knowledge with others

71. getting emails (not junk mail)

72. driving in a car by myself

73. walks

74. hiding in the couch cushions

75. daydreaming

76. reading updated blogs

77. creating spreadsheets

78. being within budget

79. paying tithing

80. missionary work

81. a clean floor

82. vegetable sushi with pickled ginger, wasabi, and soy sauce

83. a good salad

84. uncluttered surfaces

85. bike riding

86. a camp fire (w/ marshmallows and hotdogs)

87. candlelight

88. thrift store window shopping

89. pretty food

90. a good steak

91. rafting/canoeing

92. hiking

93. floating in water

94. having food storage

95. living near a temple

96. indoor plumbing

97. air conditioning/central air

98. beading

99. a full fridge/freezer

100. Life cereal

Memorial Day Trips

2009-06-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

Daniel:This last week we traveled down to Virginia and Maryland for my niece Margaret's blessing. The Chau's, The Chin's, and Several Howell's all converged on Baltimore for the very nice occasion.
Margaret is adorable.
Even with all the excitement, Moomers finds time to get her beauty sleep.

During the week, I was able to help my parents with a few chores. I helped re-route an exhaust pipe in the attic, placed a seal around some fixtures on the roof, and helped plant a new peach tree for my mom.

James "helped" too. He loved walking around barefoot in the grass. When we came in, grandma was quick to ask if James had washed his feet. I remember hearing that question a thousand times when I was younger.

As a side note, grandpa would occasionally call out "NO!" to James as he was about to get into something. It was the same pitch and tone that struck fear in me many many years ago. Even though he was talking to James, I found myself looking around to see if I were the one in trouble. I know that "NO!" from before.

Charity then departed on a business trip to Kansas City. I got to keep the camera as James and I went back to Baltimore to my brother Ben's house. He took Angela, Jon, James, and me to Famous Dave's. Margaret was at the head of the table looking rather stately:

Jon and Angela

Ben and JosieMyself and James, who is brandishing a knife.

Afterward, Josie, Jon, and Angela watched James while Ben took me to see Star Trek. (Dinner and a movie, like a date, except not.) There are some holes in the plot, but it was pretty good. Apparently, James had a huge diaper while we were gone. Sorry about that Josie and Angela!

Charity:

My trip to Kansas City went well. We have a clinical study going on with two of our centers there. The people were really nice, I learned a lot, and we accomplished everything we set out to do. Plus, the food was great. If you are ever in the area I would recommend visiting the Hereford House. Expensive but worth every bite of succulent steak. I had the Blackened Flat Iron Steak (with garlic and cajun seasonings) and I chose to have cooked squash and zuchini on the side. It's the best steak I've ever eaten. No kidding. I salivate as I write this.

I would also recommend Stroud's. It is a restaurant that is set on an old country farm. Rustic and homey, it makes a nice setting for a good home-cooked style meal. Except I never cook that much food for one meal. Wow.
Baby and I also visited a modern art museum (free) while we were there. I wasn't sure what to make of it. Some of it I liked and some was garish and disturbing, to me at least. I imagine the inside of the womb might resemble some of the pieces there (the nice comforting ones) and so I know Baby is getting culture already. If he's like his daddy he will be able to put this creative opportunity to good use.... Or maybe that's what he's been doing already when he's squirming around in there.
Needless to say, the baby and I enjoyed our trip very much. Baby had a huge growth spurt during my trip, which I think is directly related to all the good food. We were only sad that Daniel and James couldn't have been there. It's nice to be home.

Spelunking in the kitchen

2009-05-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

We've moved our pots and pans to higher ground to save our downstairs neighbors from the percussion section. James discovered the evacuated 'caves' in the kitchen and now loves to climb in, shut the door, and explore. I wish I could fit too, that looks like fun.

Our Anniversary

2009-05-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, on May 11th, we got married for time and all eternity in the Washington D.C Temple. It feels like yesterday. We both can't believe how quickly the time has passed. The past two years have been full years and we are happy to have even more ahead of us.

We celebrated by going to dinner with our friend, Alana. James decided he wanted the attention of every customer and he got it. When we left, the people at the next table thanked us for the entertainment. Funny, I wasn't that entertained. Nevertheless, we celebrated and now have this memory to add to our collection.

Family Portraits Circa 2008

2009-05-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

We had some computer troubles that caused our pictures to be inaccessible from the hard drive. Five months ago. We just resolved the problem and backed-up our pictures.

Melissa, our talented sister-in-law, had taken family portraits of us which we promised to post. So here they are finally.

23-24 Weeks

2009-05-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

So far, this baby has treated me extremely well. I only threw up a handful of time during the first trimester and have been able to do a lot more than I could when James was incubating. I've had the usual fatigue but overall have felt pretty good. This little guy kicks and squirms, but not so much that I am uncomfortable. At least, not yet anyway. He just nudges his confines and reminds me he's there. I love that.
Judging by how I've been feeling, this little guy seems to have an easy-going personality. I'm looking forward to meeting him and hope James learns quickly the 'baby rules'. Things like: 'Don't poke your brother's eyes' or 'Don't drop toys on your brother' or 'Let the baby sleep'. Fun will be had by all.

82nd Annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival or Daniel's 30th Birthday Parade

2009-05-06T09:04:00.001-07:00

My home town has a parade everytime I have a birthday. I am not lying. See:

But, being the modest person I am, I rarely tell anyone that it is my birthday. In fact, I do such a good job, I would be surprised if anyone at the parade would even know they were celebrating my birthday.

We packed up the family to go downtown to see the parade. Grandpa helped James to see over the crowd, but James seemed to be more interested in a Thomas the Tank Engine balloon over in the Midway.

I told Charity how I always wanted a funnel cake, but never got one. This year was no exception. Maybe I should learn to make it at home...

We all had a real nice time. I love family.

Baby Maggie definitely had the best seat. Drums and Trumpets didn't phase her. She is so Cute!

Catching Up

2009-05-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

I've been very slowly working on a quilt. James has been helping me. Hence, the slowly part.:)
After a day of running around Grandma's house James decided to eat something to gain his strength back. He went back to exploring cupboards and drawers soon after but we were all happy he had finally eaten. He was so busy that he didn't eat much when we were there.

We had a lot of fun at Grandma's house. I read a western and relaxed. This was made possible by Grandma and the Howell contingent who kept James from unloading all the cabinets. I also got to think a good deal about the next Howell baby as he kept kicking my book. Thanks for giving me a real vacation and a break, Grandma Howell! I only hope the weekend wasn't too tiring for you and Josie.

Little Margaret melted our hearts. I got to hold her on Sunday. I felt her sweet spirit and her newness of life and couldn't help getting teary eyed. What a beautiful little girl.

Daniel had his birthday this weekend. Grandma Howell made him a delicious chocolate cake with a peanut butter topping. It was great. Daniel felt loved. He got cake, beans and chips, and then the next day stuffed shells....plus his regular presents. Heaven.

Ahhhhh....... She is so cute!

In other news, Daniel has perfected the art of bagel making. James loves them because he's teething and they are better for chewing than bread. We love them because they make less crumbs for us to clean up.

James continues happy and healthy. We sure love him.

Car Inspection

2009-04-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

I have been worrying about getting my car inspected since the beginning of the year. I even calendared in to take it to a mechanic in March because I was sure that it would take at least a month to get the car up to snuff for the April inspection. What with life happening, the car checkup did not happen and the month of April is almost over.

Daniel, knowing of my worry, for the car and for the budget, decided to try his hand at fixing the car. I've had the indicator light on for my backup lights for some time. He did some research and after getting past a couple of layers of grime, was able to find the connector that needed to be checked. No luck with the indicator light, but the connector is now cleaner.

He then checked the wiring through my trunk and discovered that I needed new lights for my license plate. The indicator light was still on but only came on with a change in gears.

So, having determined that all my lights are in working order he did some further investigation to see why my indicator wasn't off. Apparently, any voltage change of the back lights causes it to go off if there is resistance in the wires. Hence, he had to do some re-wiring.

Daniel took my car to get it inspected today. It passed. Yippeee!

I am SO grateful to have a husband that can fix my car. I love that! I admit I was skeptical in the beginning when he said he would try to fix it, since earlier last year my dad tried unsuccessfully. Imagine my amazement and hero-worship that Daniel was able to fix it, especially when Daddy is one of the best mechanics I know. In addition to fixing it, Daniel did it all for under six dollars. Wow! Go Daniel!

Spring has arrived

2009-04-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

It was much too nice of a day to stay indoors. James and I took a walk. It was hot and there was a nice steady breeze. James was happy to be out and so was I.
He wasn't too sure about the feel of grass on his feet and decided to survey the land from the comfort of my lap. This was fine by me. We relaxed, watched the wind blow the water, saw some birds, and explored the area around us in the shade. We even had some yummy apple sauce.
It was a idyllic.

Happy 1st Birthday, James!

2009-04-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

We celebrated James first birthday today. I am so happy we have him. Here are some pictures from his special day.

I showed James two cake mixes and he picked the Devil's Food Cake. Nice choice. I baked it and cut out a stencil to dust the top with cocoa powder.

We tried to pose for a family picture, but James was eying the cake the whole time. In this picture James is checking for done-ness. "Ok," I said, "we know that is your side of the cake now."
James's birthday dinner was one of his favorites, mac and cheese. He has recently started to use the spoon, but not necessarily for transporting food from the bowl to his mouth. Rather he bludgeons his dinner to make sure it is nice and tender (or dead) before he has to chew it.

Wearing a new shirt with a little less mac and cheese on it, James investigates his presents. We got a surprise package from Grandma and Grandpa Howell in the mail. Josie and Ben and Grandma Chapin also sent packages. James even got a gift from our Sister Missionaries. James sure knows how to work the crowds!

James is teaching Mama out of his book he got from Aunt Josie and Uncle Ben.

Wow! These toys are so cool!

We sang to James and gave him his cake. At first James sampled the frosting to make sure it was of the highest quality. He then began beating the cake with his palms (which we interpret as acceptance of our offering).

What is cake without milk? James showed us his approval by beating the cake with his milk bottle too.
After he caked his clothes with cake, James got a birthday suit bath. He is our little angel and we love him so much!

Happy Birthday James. I have to go clean the cake off the floor now.

The Easter Bunny Delivers

2009-04-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

The Easter Bunny sent us a box this year. It contained goodies like chocolate, fabric, and books. We got it in the mail a few days early because I'm sure the Easter Bunny didn't want to forget and miss our house.

James loved his chocolate bunny. He shared most of it with Daddy. Mama didn't share hers. Except with the baby, of course.

We have a tradition to rise and watch the sunrise on Easter morning, to remember the Savior, and to contemplate. This year we woke just in time to step on the balcony and see the rays of the sun touch the flag that stands outside our complex.

What a beautiful morning and a wonderful opportunity to remember the Savior. We are grateful to be a family and to know that death has been overcome in Christ's resurrection. We hope that each of you also enjoyed your Easter; chocolate, family, and the sweet remembrance of the goodness of the Lord.

The best...

2009-04-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

We checked a book out from the library a few weeks ago. It was called 'The Fast Food Fix'. It gives recipes for fast food and tips on how to make it at home for less, (healthier too if you wish). We do.
Daniel made a $6 Big Mac Meal with a homemade Strawberry MilkShake. It was the best. He even cut fresh potatoes (they were oven baked), shredded pickles for the relish in the sauce, sliced tomatoes, hand made the patties, and toasted the buns. Wow.

My chapped lips cracked as I opened wide to take this bite. So good!

Thanks, Daniel.

Half-Way Baby Bump

2009-04-10T04:26:00.000-07:00

4 months, three weeks, and two days along.

So I have 4 months, three weeks, and 3 days left. Woo hoo!

Oh boy, oh boy...

2009-04-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

So if you have been wondering, or even if you haven't, now you know.

After being prodded and trying not to giggle all over the ultrasound table, I discovered why I endured when I saw my baby for the first time. A definite baby boy. We are very excited to finally get to see him. He has been kicking and squirming for the last month and helping his brother keep me up at nights. They take turns already. :)

This time Daniel couldn't come into the ultrasound room until the end because this office has different polices than the last one we went to. So we were a little disgruntled. But I forgave the technician when she said 'Ooooo, what a cute profile' and took this picture. Daniel was kept busy during this time getting his exercise.....chasing James up and down the office halls. He did get to see the little guy kick and move around at the end, when the technician had finished with her measurements and invited him in.

We celebrated by getting, and sharing, some powdered donuts and vegetable sushi. Sounds good, huh?

James wanted to share his donut with his little brother.

April Conference 2009

2009-04-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

Conference has been spiritually uplifiting. The messages were of hope and faithfulness to me. I particularly liked Elder Holland's talk. He spoke of the Savior, what the Savior went through to understand our darkest moments, and how because of Him we do not have to face our trials alone. I also will remember Pres. Monson's talk where he shared examples of faithful endurance. The German mother will remind me what is truly important and what is not in the struggle of life. Elder Perry spoke on being good shepherds and offering the gospel to those we know. From all of these I have been instructed and edified.

How can I be better? These talks point to faithfulness, patience, and endurance with the small things; scripture study, prayer, magnifying my callings, and sharing the truths that give happiness, to name a few. As Pres. Uchtdorf said (paraphrased), exaltation is not reached in a sprint, it is a race of endurance and continued effort. - Charity

I have noticed a pattern of council from Presidents Uchtdorf and Packer in the General Priesthood Meeting. President Packer advised us to not immerse ourselves in gaining technical skills so much that we neglect optaining practical ones. President Uchtdorf also talked about doing what matters most. This is wise council for me as I try to figure out what I need to do in terms of education and skills so that the needs of the family are fully met. It also makes sense in light of the many comments on putting our faith in the Lord even when our socio-economic conditions may change and we have to do with less. -Daniel

For my newest niece

2009-04-05T02:00:00.000-07:00

After a few false starts, I finished a baby quilt I've been thinking about since we heard the good news. Since my niece will be born in the year of the ox, and is part Chinese, I had Daniel draw me up a cute ox. We printed it out, ironed it to fabric, and I sewed it to the back. I think it turned out well. Her parents were born in the year of the monkey and in the year of the dragon. Hence the adorable monkey and dragon watching over their new baby ox.

We are really excited to meet the newest addition to the Howell family.

Furniture from Heaven

2009-04-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

We have received some more blessings recently... in the form of furniture. We found a bed frame and table top near the dumpster outstide our apartment complex. Soon after that, one of the guys from work was looking to get rid of some of his furniture he no longer had room for. We gladly helped him with his problem. What altruism.

Dan impressed him by fitting all of it in and on his Subaru, which was no mean feat. In addition to proving his manliness by securing and then hauling this load, he was happy have a use for some of his Scout knots. Then we arranged and rearranged the apartment to fit the following:

A bookshelf. We now have more room for our books near the nightstand. A bed for James to grow into or for a guest to use.A new desk (aka fabric cutting and ironing station). This table top had only two legs when we found it but the filing cabinet is a perfect stand-in for the two missing legs. A bookshelf and toy nook for James. And a dresser (not pictured) for his clothes at some future time.

We will soon be at the point that 'there shall not be room enough to receive' anymore of these blessings. Guess we had better get a house.

Our Sasquatch enters the Marines

2009-03-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

Daniel has been asking for a haircut for...oh... about a month and a half.

Unfortunately for him, I like his hair longer (it waves and curls adorably) and am also a very reluctant barber. Mostly, I am reluctant because I don't have much experience and am not confident what the results will be; which doesn't help make me enthusiastic at the prospect of another haircut. I also know that when I finish, Dan will very kindly and politely point out where I can improve. If possible, I do so on the spot... leading to much mental conflict on my part as I fight with myself to not get defensive because I can see his point (or points)..... but don't like having them stated out loud like that. It's a good exercise in self control, patience, and kindness (for both of us).

In addition to these reasons, the haircuts I administer usually reflect the mood I am in when I give them. Daniel has learned to always check how I am feeling emotionally with him before he asks for a haircut. Smart man.

So enough background info. Here are the pics.

Before (Sasquatch Extraordinaire):

After (Macho Marine):

Short = greater time before another haircut is needed = I like it!

Un-edentulous to the eighth degree

2009-03-25T04:05:00.000-07:00

James has finally sprouted his eighth tooth. We wondered why he was more needy than usual on Monday but chalked it up to the general Monday-ness of the day. We gave him lots of love and attention and that seemed to do the trick. Then yesterday, Alana pointed out to us that he has eight teeth. The eighth is freshly cut and not as tall as the others but it is definitely there. I'm not sure we would have noticed if she hadn't been so observant. Bad parents! Thanks, Alana.

In addition to now having a matching set of bottom and top teeth, James has been learning to talk and gesture. He has been pointing for some time and we encourage by repeating words and pointing too. He has now said Daddy (daa-deeee), Mama, Hello (hi-o), and Bye (ba-ee). Daniel got a thrill when James pointed directly at him and said 'Daa-deeee'. We are now working on animals, animal sounds, and the parts of the body. He seems to be a little confused when we say 'nose'. I guess it looks like we are telling our face 'No!', a word James is becoming familiar with, especially as he has learned to climb on top of my sewing table. Sigh.....

For those who might be wondering, 'edentulous' means toothless.

A treat for Daniel

2009-03-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

A flood of work and a notice that a special offer was about to expire soon caused me to request a purchase order from Charity to get Adobe CS4. It just came in the mail today and I am so excited. I think I am more excited than when I got Starcraft back in 199somethingorother. I use PS/AI/Dreamweaver daily. I don't know where my copy of Starcraft is, but I hear there's a sequel.

I must admit, part of my motive for this post is to show off to my sister-in-law Melissa, who is a very gifted photographer and has an awesome DSLR that I've been pining over for years. Here is a free plug for her site, Blueprints Photography, so that she doesn't think I am rubbing it in too much.

Now back to work...

Growth Spurt

2009-03-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

James must be growing. He has been sleeping more. Yesterday was a day of rest indeed.

Lost (again) in NJ

2009-03-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

The last detour sign I saw happened to be the very first, which said, "Bridge out, follow Amwell Rd detour signs", with an arrow turning right. So right I went. Wrong!

I think there are only two compass headings in NJ. There are roads that lead to New York City, and roads that form concentric circles around New York City. I thought if I drive long enough, I would run into one of New Jersey's 13.2 billion miles of interstate highways (and parking lots). I am still trying to wrap my brain around this one: I was heading due east, made a right hand turn, and then made a left to end up going west.

So I tried to call Charity to see if she could lo-jack me.

I say , "I am on route 602." She replies, "There are no numbered roads on the map." I discover that the major road up ahead has no street name like the other five before it. Then my call is dropped and I start the cycle all over.

Most fortunately, James was asleep for the hour long tour.

Finally, I see a road sign and discover that I was heading in the exact direction away from home, well, I should say the exact direction away from New York, which happened to be on the far side of home. So, Charity was my lifeline and told me how to shimmy across the back roads to get to the one special highway that was paved through my neck of the woods.

I am beginning to think that the whole purpose of Jersey "jug handles" is to create a place for lost and out of state drivers to burn gas and wait for divine intervention--kind of like those frogs in a shallow tide pool waiting for the rainy season. But I digress.

So, I got home and Charity had a wonderful dinner waiting for me. She is the best. Lessons learned: When lost, Charity makes all wrong turns right.

Green monster

2009-03-05T04:05:00.001-08:00

James is learning to reach for things that we thought were out of his reach. Yesterday was one of those days where I turned my back for a second and James begins massacring defenseless green peas in his highchair. And while I was attending to him, the butternut squash soup started to scorch And when I attended to that, James one upped and decided he needed a rather expedient diaper change. And when I was doing hazmat containment in the bathroom, my client calls and wants an engineering drawing made. And so it went ... 'til about 2 am for me.

But he sure is cute, isn't he-

Hiking NJ

2009-03-01T16:37:00.000-08:00

We decided to go hiking this weekend. A friend of ours knows the trails and offered to show us the way, so we bundled James up and set off around noon yesterday. We had thought to put James in his cocoon of a stroller but he would have none of it.
So out of the stroller he came and we carried him. I had the song from 'Sound of Music' playing in my head as we hiked as a family; one pushing the stroller with diaper bag and the other carrying the heavy child. "Over every mountain, cross every stream, follow every rainbow....." Except this is New Jersey and although where we hiked IS considered a 'mountain' I don't think it really counts after having lived near the Rockies. It did have some nice swinging vines though and I made Daniel try one out for good measure.

Despite not being a mountain, I did get a nice workout going up and down the hills. On the biggest, I was carrying James and giving myself a mental pep-talk to make it to the crest of the hill from which, supposedly, you can see the skyline of New York City. I made it to the crest to discover it was only a dip and there was a good deal more hill to go. Mentally crushed, I traded James for a stroller; which doesn't usually spontaneously throw its weight to one side and is therefore easier to take up any size hill.

It was steeper than it looks!

We made it to the top of the hill and enjoyed the view and the rest. James received his first diaper change in the wild where the wind blows cold. It was traumatic for all concerned but happily he will not remember it and stroller fabric can be washed. Ahhhhh.... nature.

By the end of our hike James had fallen asleep in my arms and didn't even wake up upon being deposited in his car seat.

Our friend, Reed, showed us some more trails close by which we are planning to try soon.

Up, Down, Up, Down.....

2009-02-26T09:01:00.000-08:00

James has figured out how to climb onto the couch and, more importantly, how to get down from the couch. He's developed his own routine around this new talent. He climbs on the couch, crawls really fast back and forth on it, climbs off, spins in circles in the middle of the room (until he falls down), and repeats the sequence.

James did take a few breaks from his exercise. Daniel was watching the presidential address and James would stop to clap with the the congressmen during the pauses.

He is growing up so fast!

The Week Before Valentine's

2009-02-24T13:55:00.000-08:00

Daniel really treated me well the week before Valentine's Day. He had dinner ready every night by the time I got home. I was treated to delicious pizza, stewed vegetables, curried chicken, white chicken chili, and pasta primavera. Yummm.....

I took a picture of the pizza it looked so good. The other days I was too hungry to remember the camera but they looked equally good.

Considering all that he had done for me I did not expect anything more for Valentine's Day itself. To tell the truth, I forgot that it was Valentine's Day when it finally came around. Around midday I took a much needed nap and I awoke certain that Valentine's had been the day before. Happily, I fixed a nice dinner (grilled chicken wraps with rice) for Daniel that night, so when he came home from the temple bearing gifts, I wasn't caught totally unprepared.

He had gotten roses and some delicious chocolate mousse from a cafe near the Manhattan Temple. Although one of them jumped from his hand when he came into the living room, its taste wasn't in the least affected. (You can see it hiding under the corner of the couch still in it's cup.)

In other news, that was also the week Daniel figured out how to hang our TV on the wall of the living room... by himself. Another tribute to his manliness.

This is a lot more convenient for keeping James penned in when we want to watch something and better for entertaining guests, although I think it looks sort of funny right above the piano.

Soon after moving the TV, Daniel hooked up the Wii and we played some MarioKart, which was fun for everyone. James spent his time trying to get the remotes from us and we spent the time trying to avoid his atttempts and still win.

Piano

2009-02-21T05:21:00.000-08:00

Last year Daniel and his parents got me a piano. It has been a wonderful gift. I play it almost every day and realized recently that I am better than I was a year ago. I can now play most of the hymns and songs from the Children's Songbook. In addition to this, I have been learning the first five classical pieces from the book that came with the piano. The piano has these pieces in its memory so I can listen as I play and see where I need work. I listen, learn, and slowly it all comes together. (This has been invaluable to me because I never learned how to count and am not sure what all the different note squiqqlies mean.)

My piano practice is also one of the few things that James doesn't mind me doing without him. He usually plays a few notes with me and then toddles around the room crooning with the music and exploring under the couch. He feels I'm making music to accompany his play and I get to do something I enjoy. It's a win-win situation. I hope he is subconsiously learning the way notes go together and that it will help him when I try to teach him piano later on.

I wanted to share my musical happiness, so I thought I would put it on the blog and dedicate it to Daniel, and Mom & Dad Howell. Thank you for the piano!

P.S. This is the shortened version of the song since I didn't want to put a really long video on here. I hope no one minds.:)

Winter Emergency Survival

2009-02-17T12:50:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, the scouts and I went on a winter camp out. We were originally scheduled to go to the Klondike Dirby, but since they wanted only ex-marines to attend in terms of skills, we didn't qualify. So we decided to make our boys men in our own way.

We got a cabin up at camp No Be Bo Sco to serve as our base camp. But since the purpose of this trip was to survive, we had the scouts immediately start building emergency snow shelters when we arrived that night.

This scout is piling snow onto his shelter because it is an excellent insulator. The outdoor temperature got down to about 10 degrees overnight. But under several inches of snow, the temperature didn't drop much below 30 degrees. That is a big difference that your body can appreciate. One scout was so comfortable, he overslept.

In the morning we had breakfast and then started on our orienteering hike. We went straight up a 400 foot slope to intersect the Appalachian trail up in the Delaware Water Gap. The climb was tiring. The scouts dragged their feet almost the entire 2.5 miles back to the cabin. Every time we stopped to look at our maps, they would all flop in the snow and lazily lob snowballs at each other and hoped they wouldn't have to move to avoid being hit by them.

This was the view from the trail. At the base of this slope was our cabin. When we got back we had a leaders versus scouts snow ball fight. The spent a while building a rather impressive fortress from which to launch their barrage of snowballs. But when we arrived, the other leaders and I split up, out-flanked them, and stormed their fortress from higher ground in a matter of minutes. It was a lot of fun.

This was the general condition of the scouts on the drive back. Mission accomplished. We now have some real men in the troop.

Back to Normal

2009-02-16T06:58:00.000-08:00

James is back to his normal happy self. We are extremely happy to have him restored to health.

He had roseola, a virus which leads to a rosy rash all over the neck and trunk once the fever has broken. I'm glad it was that, as to begin with we thought he'd developed an allergy to something he'd eaten.

Hooray for health!

Thank you for your prayers and concern.

Sick

2009-02-10T04:20:00.000-08:00

On Sunday James exploded out his diaper on Dan. (Ewwwww! Dan gets extra manliness points for bearing up well under the onslaught, getting home quickly, getting his clothes soaking, and starting dinner before I got home. Wow!)

Since his Sunday episode, James has been having tummy troubles. He has had a fever and is not his usual happy self. He prefers to spend most of his day in a lap. He's been lethargic and it is just pitiful.

We are praying our little man will get back to normal soon. He does seem a little better today but we are sure he could use your prayers too. Thanks.

Holy Guacamole

2009-02-05T05:54:00.000-08:00

Before I left to run some errands, my wife said that she wasn't going to eat the last two avocados. Later, when I got home, I noticed that Charity had made me some guacamole and put it in the fridge. In my bliss, I tore open a bag of tortilla chips and took a nice heaping dollop of green goodness. I thought it tasted rather sweet and assumed that she forgot to add the seasonings. As I reached for a salt shaker I realized what had just happened. I should have been clued in by the confused look James was giving me, as I was actually eating his puréed peas. The lesson I learned: Puréed peas and guacamole actually look and taste nothing like each other upon close examination.

So, now I had an open bag of chips to go along with a hungry son who felt betrayed. The solution: I just have to make my favorite guacamole recipe and share it with James.

INGREDIENTS

2 avocados - peeled, pitted, and mashed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup diced onion
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl, mash together the avocados, salt, onion, and garlic. Serve immediately. That's it. Nada mas. The taste will surpass anything in a jar. At least, it's guaranteed to be better than peas. And James likes it too.

Sly, Devious, and Bears Close Watching

2009-01-31T10:06:00.000-08:00

James is ratcheting up his cognitive abilities. For the last week he has been trying to carry his daddy's scripture case around the house. It is about as heavy as he can move and he carries it between his knees as he wobbles along. We found out today why he has been doing this strength training.
This morning he picked his toy box up, walked across the room, set it down, stepped up onto it, and was able to get his daddy's cell phone from the back corner of the desk. There was no hesitation or apparent effort as he did this. It was as though he realized he could and just did. We watched in morbid fascination as we realized what he was doing. No longer is the desk safe or any surface that can be climbed to. Another epoch has begun.

We will definitely have to keep a closer eye on this little man. To follow that up, he found a crate to drag over to the piano so he could play piano with me, which wasn't so bad except for the fact that he got too excited and toppled off after a few very good bass chords. So if you see him with more bumps and scrapes you know why.

James: Oooo.... the gate is open. Better run over and see what I can get in to....

You can be sure that he watches all points of entrance closely and will quickly move if you forget to close one.

Working from Wales

2009-01-30T06:04:00.000-08:00

This week I went to the United Kingdom on a business trip. It was a good opportunity to experience more of England but it would have been better if Daniel and James could have come. Traveling isn't as much fun alone. Despite this, I did enjoy my trip and learned a lot.

I stayed in England, worked just inside the border of Wales, and on my way back stopped over in Dublin, Ireland. I even got to see more of Wales than I planned as I got lost driving around trying to find our manufacturing plant. (Incidentally, I learned that 'skgol' is school in Welsh and that 'll' is pronounced 'sthh'. So, now you know this trivia too.)

I arrived in Manchester on Monday (after a layover in London) and then drove to Chester where I stayed at the Crowne Plaza; a posh hotel in the center of the city. (In case anyone was wondering, by 'drove' I mean I got a taxi to take me. Although I learned a lot about British traffic conventions I'd be in real trouble if I tried them on my own.)

Chester is a pretty historic place. It is one of the only cities that still has an intact wall around it from the Roman Empire. I found this picture of what it used to look like.

Chester has a medieval cathedral, the Rows (an old shopping district), a Roman amphitheater, a castle, a famous old clock, ice caverns, and many other cool historic sites that I didn't learn about. The large square tower on the left of the above picture is the cathedral. My hotel was a block away from it in the middle of the city. Below is a picture of where I stayed.

It had a nice chandelier in the entrance with a mirrored wall that I thought was pretty.

After work on Wednesday I had a little time to explore and take some pictures. I got some really nice ones of the cathedral as the sun was setting. I really like the way it made the stones glow.

Below is a picture of 'The Rows'. I window shopped and enjoyed the detailed architecture. You can't see it very well in this picture but some of the white portions of the buildings have intricate etchings of flowers, crests, and the like. The many chimneys all over the city reminded me of Mary Poppins and I couldn't help having Chim-Chiminy Chim-Chiminy Chim-Chim-Cherooo stuck in my head. I almost expected to see chimney sweeps pop out singing and dancing. I know, I know....silly American.:)

This a door that I took a fancy too. I liked the iron worked hinges, the way the moss had grown, and the patina of the old gutter. It is obviously old but I couldn't tell if it is still used. It was on the side of a bank so I would guess not unless it's the secret entrance to the vault.

Below is an old cottage home that wasn't far from the hotel. Although this isn't one of them, many of the buildings similar to this one along the city wall are built upon foundations that used to support the old Roman fort. A bay used to come all the way to that side of the city wall. I drove along Watergate street (where the bay used to be before it dried up) which leads to the original port entrance of the city. The bay wall still stands and it is amazing to see how modern life has adapted around it.

One of the toughest parts of this trip was not being able to contact or talk to Daniel as much as I would have liked. Happily I found some red telephone booths not far from the hotel and was able to call from there. It was a little pricey but completely worth it.

Below are my two best friends during this trip. Mr. Kleenex and Mr. Highland Springs Still Water. I caught a pretty vicious throat and nose cold from traveling and kept both these friends close at hand to stave it off.

It has been a full and tiring week. I'm glad to be home.

James' Photoshoot

2009-01-22T05:55:00.001-08:00

Over Christmas break Melissa, our extremely talented sister-in-law, did a photoshoot of James. She did a great job. Thanks, Melissa!

Angelic Music

2009-01-19T18:16:00.000-08:00

Nine Months Old

2009-01-14T13:46:00.001-08:00

Yesterday marks James' nine month birthday. Today we went to the pediatrician for his check up. He flirted with all the nurses and was amazed at the fish swimming in the waiting area fish tank. He explored most of the waiting area and then would have gone into the receptionist area if his dad hadn't snagged him. His increased mobility is definitely keeping us on our toes.

James weighed in at 24lbs 1.5oz and is 30 inches tall. He didn't like getting measured and afterwards ran back to me when it was over. It made my heart melt. Aaaaahhhh...

While we waited for the doctor, James managed to shut his fingers in a couple of supply drawers. He can open drawers and cabinets but hasn't figured out that he shouldn't shut the drawer when his other hand is still in it. Ouch. The bigger ouch came later when he got his two vaccines and had a blood draw. I felt like such a traitor holding him so he could get them. He had them in his arms this time and he cried mightily. Happily, he forgot the pain once he saw the fish tank in the waiting room on our way out.

He has also begun to recognize when we are talking to him. Specifically, he knows when we are telling him not to do something. For instance, if we tell him not to play with the trash can, or to leave the books alone, he smiles at us, waits a second, and then inches toward whatever is forbidden beaming cute rays at us the entire time. With his new found mobility he is definitely pushing the limits more and requires us to get up to implement any of our nay saying.

Although he doesn't yet speak he has a wide repertoire of noises and sounds he likes. We hope that he will be able to learn some sign language to help him communicate more with us in the meantime.

If James gave you a tour of our apartment...

2009-01-12T07:10:00.001-08:00

Oooooo, here's the paper shredder in the kitchen. Isn't this fascinating? It's some kind of electronic covered trash can. There has to be a way to open it.... somehow.

We're walking, we're walking....

And, here is the diaper pail next to my changing table. This doubles as my favorite drum. Not only does it make for good percussion, I get a great reaction from my parents when I get the top to spring open. Eau de James, what could be more sweet?

Oh, and look over here, it's the carbon monoxide detector. See that blinking light? If you're coordinated enough you can wrest it from the wall and hear its screech. Mom and Dad are sure to come running to save it.

We're walking, we're walking....

The toilet bowl. Splish, splash I was taking a bath.... what??? You're acting just like my parents. Nobody knows fun like me, I guess.

We're walking, we're stopping....

The furnace vent. For those of you musicians, like me, this is percussion with a nice wind-rain option. You can hit it to get a pleasant 'fooom' and or scratch the vents to get 'cric-cric-cric-cric'. Then you can 'fooom' again. Endless fun.

We're walking, we're checking the door...ah, it's open.

Here are the bookshelves in the master bedroom. I always think the books need to be re-arranged so I pull them all out. Too bad they are too heavy for me to put back.

We're walking, we're walking, hmmmm.... a cheerio.

Ah, here we are. The shoe rack. You have to stretch a little but if you are persistent you can reach a shoe through the bars of the gate. They always keep the best toys behind the gates I've noticed.

But our tour would not be complete with out mentioning The Remotes. These must be important judging by how closely my parents guard them. They fall in the same category at The Cellphones. Lights, sounds, and small enough I can hold onto, these are constantly out of my reach but I have my eyes open for my chance. Hee hee, they won't know what hit them.

First circannual cheese review

2009-01-06T04:24:00.000-08:00

We have started a New Year's Eve tradition of buying some nice cheeses and enjoying the night in. It is better than going to someplace noisy, cold, and crowded. So this year we tried out some of the following cheeses and have reviewed them for your enlightenment:

Havarti

Havarti is a washed curd cheese, which contributes to the subtle flavor of the cheese. It has very small and irregular openings ("eyes") distributed in the mass. Havarti has a buttery aroma and taste, and is somewhat sweet and slightly acidic. Charity and I first tasted this cheese last New Year's Eve and wanted to have it again. The mild block we bought was easily overpowered in its taste, so it should be used with neutral flavors. For example, I could not taste it at all when I placed it on a Nacho Cheese Doritos Chip. I know, that was really classy...

Verdict:

Yum

Smoked Gouda

This cheese is cultured and heated until the curd is separate from the whey. Some of the whey is then drained, and water is added. This is called "washing the curd", and creates a sweeter cheese. The cheese is then soaked in a brine solution which gives the cheese its rind and distinctive taste. The cheese is then dried for a couple of days before being coated to prevent it from drying out, then it is aged. This cheese reminds us of the Budge family, who are also fans of Gouda. The taste is strong and complete and is not easily overpowered by competing flavors. I recommend having this cheese along side grapes. The two flavors together are quite exotic and complimentary.

Verdict:

Good-ah
real cheesy, I know ;)

Horseradish Cheese

This is a natural American Cheese with a natural horseradish flavoring. The gourmet variant, Harlech is made from a mild and creamy cheddar with parsley and horseradish. Charity and I are big fans of horseradish (and wasabe). The flavor starts fairly mild and ends with a small kick that doesn't overwhelm. I think this might be my new favorite cheese. This cheese's smooth texture is perfect for crackers or other foods that won't overpower the mild spiciness. It is also good for melting into pasta or rice.

Verdict:

Tasty

So there you have our review. Now go sweet talk your spouse into procuring a platter of these dairy delectables for you to nibble on while you read a book and relax in your favorite chair (or bed in my case).

In Memorium

2009-01-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

My Grandpa Chapin passed away last Wednesday. Grandma just sent me his obituary and I have posted it below.

WALTER HAYDEN CHAPIN

1932 - 2008

Walter Hayden Chapin died December 31, 2008 at the Saint Thomas Moore Hospital in Canon City, Colorado.

He was born February 4, 1932 in Pocatello, Banock, Idaho. The son of Perry (Harry or Bud) Chapin and Emma Elenora Hayden. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters: Neva Jean Chapin Krahmer and Gleora Kaye Chapin.

He was married on May 3, 1952 in Provo, Utah, to Norma Jean Hall, who survives him. This union was blessed with the following children: Kathleen Chapin Day (Anthony), Norman Hall Chapin (Rebecca ), Jean Marie Chapin Seifert (Edward), Sally Jo Chapin Henrie (Gregory) and Thomas Burk Chapin.

He is survived by nineteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Jan 7, 2009 at 10 o'clock AM at the Church of Christ in Florence, Colorado.

Walter loved the military. He was called to active duty in 1952 serving with the Navy in the Korean Conflict. After returning home he remained in the Naval Reserves until he retired from the Navy. He lived in El Paso, Texas for a short time following his discharge from active service then he and his family moved to Las Animas, Colorado. He lived in Ulysses, Kansas and then moved to Canon City, Colorado where he spent most of his remaining life.

Walter was trained as a newspaper printer in Las Animas, Colorado at the Las Animas Leader. In 1957 the family moved to Canon City, Colorado where he worked as a printer at the Daily Record for twenty-three years. He later worked for the E. B. Typecrafters in Denver, Colorado for nine years until returning to Canon City to live for the rest of his life.

Walter loved to hunt and spent many happy days wandering the foothills and mountains of Colorado hunting for deer, elk and antelope. He was a good gun smith doing most of the repair work on his own guns and reloading ammunition etc. He was a gifted wood worker and fashioned many beautiful stocks for some of his rifles. He was a long time member of the Church of Christ. Walter loved his family and was a lifetime learner. He will be sorely missed by his family and many friends.

A Running Start

2009-01-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

We ran a 5k this morning to start off our new year.

Daniel came in first in the race ... for the baby stroller pushing category.

James fussed a little while we waited for the race to start but as soon as we began running he quieted. With the rythmic sound of our feet hitting the pavement and the gentle sway of the stroller he was quickly lulled to sleep in his little cocoon. He was bundled in his jacket, two blankets, and protected from the wind by his rain cover. He had the easy part of the race.

I should note here that I only pushed the stroller when Daniel was taking pictures. Daniel was my hero and pushed the stroller the rest of the time.
I would also like to state for the record that Daniel could have run it a lot faster if I hadn't insisted on the slow and steady method. He kept having to look back, slow down, and encourage me on because I wasn't feeling so well this morning.

Although it was our slowest time ever (35 minutes) we feel pretty good for having done it. Plus we got some nice hoodies as souvenirs to remind us how cool we are... or maybe how cold we were. It was a whopping 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Happy New Year!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

We are grateful for the time of year that directs our thoughts to the Savior and His birth. We hope we can carry the spirit of this season throughout the year.

We had a lovely Christmas in Virginia. It was a full house with four kids and eight adults. Everyone brought gifts with them and it made for a very full living room come Christmas morning. James seemed impressed.

James got to know his cousins this trip. In the beginning he followed them around and tried to grab their hair (or their hands ... or their eyes). After that he spent the majority of the time trying to eat, or at least drool on, all of their markers, princess dolls, or horsies.

Kate wasn't too sure about James, or us, when she met us. She is teething, so one of her favorite sounds is AAaaaaAAAAaaaaaa! We figured that it was in part because of her teeth and in part because of all these weird people (and there persistent hair-grabbing son). By the end of the visit she seemed to have decided that we passed muster though. She let James hold her hand on the way to church and even let Daniel and I hold her.

The girls had fun getting tickled and picked up by Grandpa and their uncles. So did James.

James loved all the attention he got.

We are glad we could spend time with family and we value the joy they bring us. We hope this Christmas season brought you an equal measure of joy and peace.

Have a happy New Year!

P.S. Melissa took some family pictures and some adorable James portraits so stay tuned for those.

Some Projects...

2008-12-30T07:01:00.000-08:00

Last Christmas my mama gave me a Bernina. It really has been the gift that keeps on giving. Now that I won't ruin anyone's Christmas surprise, I can share what I've beeing using it for.
This is a quilt I made for Melissa and Jacob. Designed in Illustrator, of course.:)

The quilt below was a baby quilt that spoke to me and said it really wanted to be full-sized. So it grew up into a full-sized quilt for Ben and Josie.

I'm particularly proud of how the piecing on this one went. I took this picture of the back so I could bask in the straightness and flatness of the seams.

You won't see the final border of the quilt because I forgot to take a final picture after binding and quilting. This may be because the border was where the karma ran out. It was less than perfect (not square or as flat as I would have liked).

The next quilt shows that I can learn from my mistakes. I think this is the most technically perfect quilt I've ever made. It was a baby quilt for a friend of mine.

See how square, flat, and unpuckered? What was even better was the heartfelt reaction Meg gave when she got it. I love making and giving to good people.

This is a baby blanket I made for Lisa. I made it big enough that her little boy should be able to enjoy it well into childhood.

I am proud of how I balanced the color in this one. You can't see it very well in these pictures but the fabrics and the layout compement each other.

I also made six aprons for my Budge nieces and nephews for Christmas. Unfortunately, I just realized that I forgot to take any pictures before I mailed them. You'll just have to believe me that they are really cute.

And of course, I have more projects hatching in my brain, in my documents file, and waiting for the right fabrics to be chosen. Speaking of which, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mama for sharing her fabric stash with me. Thank you, Mama!

December-at-a-glance

2008-12-23T08:51:00.001-08:00

We've been busy getting ready for Christmas and have neglected our blog. Here are some pictures and random thoughts to fill in the gap.

James is our happy elf. He makes us smile with his antics and his joy. We are looking forward to sharing Christmas with him and spending time with all the Howells in VA.

Daniel has been spoiling me as we await Christmas. In the background of the above picture you can almost see the Christmas chart that we got last year for Christmas (it's on the wall above the piano). Each day I pull a piece of paper from that day on the chart and there on the paper is written something nice that he will do for me. So far I have accumulated back rubs, a clean house, scrubbed toilets, a fancy dinner, and books read to me while I work on things around the house. Thank you, Daniel!

In early December, we had a second Thanksgiving with some friends of ours in New York. They were cooking a turkey and the fixings and invited us over to enjoy it with them. It was a lovely evening with good talk, food, and friends.

I have to blockade the treadmill while I use it because James is fascinated by it. Dan thought it would be fun to see how he would do.... maybe now we have a way to get some of James's energy out.

Not that he needs it much. When he wants to, James can sleep like a rock. Aaaahhhhh...... my heart melts.

We went to the Christmas party for my department at work last week. It was interesting. They had an entertainer singing songs with the kids and telling knock-knock jokes. I learned some really good ones. Just ask me and I'll happily inflict them on you.

James was enthralled by a six-foot plus Frosty. He kept trying to get to him. In this picture, I'm trying to get him to turn around to look at the camera. No such luck, Frosty is just too interesting.

J-walking

2008-12-12T16:57:00.000-08:00

James officially walks. They grow up fast... or so everyone keeps telling us. We believe it. His 8 month birthday is tomorrow and his 8th tooth is coming soon. We can't believe it. We are amazed, awed, and, of course, extremely proud.

ABC's

2008-12-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

The other day, I was spelling my last name over the phone. Charity and I got to thinking how we might spell our name in a way that would not be helpful at all. Today on the radio, I learned how from this song:

I just hope this doesn't affect James to0 much.... ;)

Elven folk

2008-12-09T09:24:00.001-08:00

It must be that season... Just the other day I saw one of Santa's elves snooping around our living room, obviously scouting out where Santa will need to put the presents. I had my camera handy and managed to take a picture of the elf while his back was turned...and before he vanished in a twinkling, with a wiggle of a nose, or whatever they do to teleport. For as much fame as Saint Nick's henchmen seem to command, I thought they would be a little bit taller in person.

High chair

2008-12-08T04:58:00.000-08:00

We inherited a high chair from a good friend, but it didn't have a tray attached to it. Over the past few months, we have been trying to find a cheap alternative. Apparently, they don't sell baby tray liners individually at the stores. So we looked at storage box lids, dinner trays, Tupperware accessories, utensil organizers, plastic storage boxes, trashcan lids, paint roller trays, cookie sheets and lunch trays to no avail. Finally, we just bought a board of oak and some edging and I made one myself.

I think it looks nice, even if it is a bit squarish and big. It reminds me of the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. It would have been nice to have a tool shop with a band saw and a mouse sander to make the tray look a little more like the chair. But, alas, that tool shop has to wait for my dream house.

James has taken a liking to it despite its appearances and has ground a lot of his food into the wood as a token of his appreciation. Bon appetite, little buddy!

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-30T06:48:00.000-08:00

We went down to Virginia for Thanksgiving. We have so much to be grateful for. Family, health, the gospel.... the list goes on. It is humbling to remember how much we have been given.

James enjoyed his first Thanksgiving. He tried new foods and had fun playing with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Josie, and Uncle Ben (and us too, of course).

To commemorate the day, James got his fifth tooth on Thanksgiving Day. He has continued to gnaw and drool since then, so we know there are more teeth in the offing. Or maybe he just likes the look of all that good food.:)

Grandpa showed James how to play a piano that is more James-sized. Because of the electronic quality of the sound and his tendency to lean on the keys with his elbows as he reached for the knobs, his music sounded a little dirge-like.

The Howell boys went window shopping at the electronic gadget stores. Fun was had by all.

We found a cart for James to sit in and he loved it. He was amazed at the glow and allure of all the big screens and wires at the store. We think he has been officially indoctrinated into the Howell Gadget Club.

P.S. James just sprouted his sixth tooth this morning. Number seven looks pretty close too. The poor little man is not feeling well, what with all those teeth trying to come.

For those who want to make turkey the easy way...

2008-11-23T05:35:00.000-08:00

This is how to make 'em:
1.Make rice crispie treats,
2.Roll them into balls.
3.Open a sandwich cookie,
4.Stick the ball to the cookie bottom with a dab of frosting,
5.Stick the cookie top to the back of the crispie ball with frosting
6.Place candy corn 'feathers' between the sandwich back and crispie ball with frosting
7.Place a candy corn on the front with yet another dab of frosting

Voila! Sweet turkeys!

And for good measure here are some good Thanksgiving jokes. Hee hee. Enjoy!

Q. What happened to the turkey that got in a fight?
A: He got the stuffing knocked out of him!

Q. What goes “gobble, gobble, ha-ha-ha, plop”?
A. A turkey laughing its head off.

Q. How many cooks does it take to stuff a turkey?
A. One, but you really have to squeeze him in!

Q. What would you get if you crossed a turkey with an evil spirit?
A. A poultrygeist!

Q. What do you get after eating way too much turkey and dressing?
A. Dessert, of course!

James advances

2008-11-21T07:36:00.000-08:00

James has been making some more developmental advances. He has started to practice balancing. He is so cute. Don't mind my messed up hair in this video. It was one of those days...

His most recent is his ability to clap. I love the sense of accomplishment he exhibits. Charity, by the way, is extremely adorable in this video as well. ;)

Today we went and got a flu shot for James. He is such a little man. He did not peep nor cry nor even grimace when he was stuck with the needle. Just a 'what's going on' look, and a rapid return back to his pleasant state. I think James is a perfect baby.

Sleeping in...

2008-11-15T17:03:00.000-08:00

Get to know you questions....

2008-11-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

We had an enrichment awhile back that was aimed at helping everyone get to know each other. They put a lot of questions in a bag and had us pass them around the table to answer one question at a time. I liked the questions and thought you all might too. Perhaps you can use them on your blog or just use them to give you ideas for what to write in your journal tonight.

If I had more time, I would.... Read more of my books, get back to studying Hindi, learn, learn, learn....

What's one thing for which you'd like to be remembered? I don't know.

It's Monday morning at 7AM. You'll find me... on my way out the door to work.

My favorite cookie is... oatmeal raisin or peanut butter.

I wanted to be a ____ when I grew up. (Chemical Engineer and Linguist)

A fun or interesting experience that I had this past month was when... I went shoe shopping at the mall. We were able to try shoes on, discuss pricing, benefits, costs and then go to the Apple store to do more research online. It is amazing how much information is at our fingertips almost anywhere now. It would be interesting to see how that is affecting today's business models.

If you could take a trip to any place in the world, where would you go? India or the Philipines

What living person, other than family members, do you admire most? I don't know.

Do you have a favorite sport? If yes, what is it? Swimming.

If the TV is on, I'm watching... MASH or Good Eats.

What would you rather do, give a talk in church or bungee jump? Both sound fun.

If you could only eat one food, and nothing else, for three days in a row, what would it be? cold cereal.

Where did you grow up? Here goes.... Wyoming, Kansas, Utah, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California, Colorado, Brasil, and, most recently, New Jersey.

If the refridgerator is open, I'm grabbing.. soy milk for cereal.

What was your favorite childhood toy? Tommy (I'll post more about him later)

What is the best book you've read lately? Made to Stick

What is a favorite pastime of yours? Reading.

What is your most treasured posession? James.

Would you rather live in the country or the city? City with a car to see the country when I want.

Name a goal on your life's to-do list. Run a marathon.

Baking

2008-11-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

The other day, I went to the temple to work. Little did I know that Charity had it in her plans to make tons of yummy food. I didn't have any dinner, so when I came home late Saturday, I found all this waiting for me. Needless to say, I spoiled my appetite for several days...

Cinnabonn Clones

Super easy Peanut Butter Cookies: Yellow Cake Mix, 2 eggs, 1/4 C peanut butter, 1/4 Oil. Thats it!

Super easy chocolate cookies: Fudge Marble cake mix, 2 eggs, 1 c Oil.

Let's Dance

2008-11-04T19:03:00.000-08:00

Hope this makes your day:

Bedtime

2008-11-03T13:25:00.000-08:00

Daniel made the bed with James in it the other day. James absolutely loved it.

If he is anything like me, he will quickly steal all the covers and lay in such a way as to monopolize the sleepable real estate.

Good thing he has his own crib.

Bathtime

2008-11-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

James has decided that he is okay with taking baths. Now that he sits up really well it is a lot easier on us too. This is especially good since he has started eating solid foods; smearing food all over his face, squishing food in his palms and between his fingers, and caking food on his clothes (under the bib, somehow). He likes to splash in his bath and is generally very good about letting us clean his hair, what there is of it.:)

He also has serious moments as he talks with his bath toy.

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest. . .

james-o'-lantern

2008-10-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

We've had this outfit since James was born. When we got it we thought it was huge but we were lucky to be able to sqeeze James into it today. It probably won't fit tomorrow.

So of course we took the opportunity to get as many pictures as possible before he outgrows it.

We hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween!

Behind Bars

2008-10-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

Meet our favorite inmate, James.

We got gates last weekend and it wasn't a day too soon. He's cruising around the apartment, pulling himself up on anything he can reach and walking along it as far as he can. He's happy about it as long as he has company and attention. At this point, he probably thinks the gates are just something nice to hold onto. Soon, he is sure to figure out that behind them lies untouchable (for him) treasure.

Daniel was inventive and found a magnetic latch that holds the gate to the wall when it is open. So we don't run into it when it is opened. Very clever!

In addition to getting the gates installed, Daniel also rearranged the furniture in the livingroom. He moved all the bookcases to the office and the bedroom. Managing to make it all fit and look good too.

Since the TV was on the bookcases, it has moved too and as a result I am less tempted to vegetate after work. A side-benefit that I appreciate since it can be hard to keep my momentum going when I get home. I also like the fact that this means the piano is the central piece in the living room and I have gotten more practice in lately.

Thanks, Daniel!

Random Factoids for Daniel

2008-10-29T08:28:00.001-07:00

I stole this off my aunt Gayle's blog. I hope she doesn't mind.

1. Where is your cell phone? Under the computer monitor
2. Where is your significant other? Making money.
3. Your hair color? brown
4. Your mother? Gayle's sister
5. Your father? a Professional Electrical Engineer
6. Your favorite thing? Dreaming
7. Your dream last night? I dreamed I invented a draftsman's square that was expandable and used a parallel linkage system so that you could adjust it to any angle and any length. Cool, huh?
8. Your dream/goal? Have a nicely designed house full of family.
9. The room you're in? The kitchen
10. Your hobby? Drawing
11. Your fear? Failing in what I am passionate about.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Accomplished in my profession wherever that is.
13. Where were you last night? In my part of the bed.
14. What you're not? Dead
15. One of you're wish-list items? 21" Wacom Cintiq Tablet (forget it--its $2k)
16. Where you grew up? Winchester, VA
17. Last thing you did? Steal this list
18. What are you wearing? 1997 BYU Bike Rally long sleeve T and Worn-out cargo pants.
19. Your TV? Recently moved to our master suite...mu-hah hah hah
20. Your pet? Various fruit flies, at the moment.
21. Your computer? Custom built Athlon 64 X2 3800+ on an Asus A8n-SLI Premium Mobo. Want more specs? I can spout them off if you want...
22. Your mood? Pretty good.
23. Missing someone? Yup: Charity, who is only a mile or two away at work.
24. Your car? Subaru Legacy SUS
25. Something you're not wearing? Top Hat
26. Favorite store? I suppose Fry's Electronics, but there are none here in the east. :(
27. Your summer? Is after Spring
28. Love someone? James and Charity
29. Your favorite color? - The color of freshly sprouted leaves on a grove of maple trees in the spring back lit by a partly clouded sky.
30. Last time you laughed? When Charity gave me a back rub that tickled more than it rubbed.
31. Last time you cried? When I was last sad, of course. I just don't know when that was exactly.

Hope

2008-10-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

My family. I love them. They are my people; comfortable, right, and known. We all came together to be there for Cryssy at Matt's funeral. It was a Spirit-filled occasion and a wonderful testament to the truthfulness of the gospel. I look forward to the day when I can be with all of my family and friends. When distance and death no longer separate.

Running Partners

2008-10-23T10:20:00.000-07:00

Do you know how good it feels to have a wife who likes to take care of herself and us by extension? We feel that James is old enough to go running with us (er, well, riding in a stroller while we are running, that is). So Charity and I have started to go jogging again. I must admit it feels great to run as a family for two reasons. First, of course, is the health benefit. Second, is that James looks so adorable in his outfit (thank you Kristen Crate!).

p.s. I think I look kind of fat in the last picture...

James is no couch potato

2008-10-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

James had his six month (and a little bit) check-up today. He weighed in at 20 lbs 2.5 oz and is 28.5 inches long. The doctor was impressed by his ability to pull himself up to a standing position and his ability to crawl. She recommended getting baby gates, baby door locks, and plastic covers for our power sockets since she doesn't think it will be long before he's into everything.

Bottom's up

2008-10-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

James has been learning to crawl and now spends most of his floor time on his hands and knees. He really wants to walk and skip the whole crawling thing so he isn't happy about it most of the time.

When he wakes up in his crib he cries from hands and knees to get our attention, even when he is half asleep. So it isn't surprising that we found him asleep with his rear in the air. He must have decided to take a short break from the crying and fell asleep. Too cute.

Incidentally, we have had to lower his crib mattress down a notch since he was the height of the crib railing when he was up on all fours. I was worried that he would launch himself over the side. Instead, every once in a while I hear thunks coming from his room has he rams his head into the crib bars (sometimes through the bumper, sometimes not). Ouch. Hopefully he will decide that isn't going to work and try a different tack soon.

Brunette

2008-10-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

When I was little girl I had super blond hair. It gradually darkened to a honey color during my teen years but not enough for me to not be blond. So I've heard quite a few blond jokes...

Through college I dyed my hair to brunette, red, and many different blond shades and since then have continued the pattern of trying a new color every six months or so. (Nothing extreme, mind you.) When I found out that I was expecting James, I decided to leave off coloring my hair for awhile, just in case.

Two days ago, the last of my blond-dyed tips were trimmed off and I saw my natural color in all its natural beauty. Brunette at last! Thanks for the genes, Mama! Now I am officially brunette and can tell blond jokes with impunity. :) Hee hee!

Me before the trim. It was getting unmanageable!

After my trim (al naturale):
So do you want to hear a good blond joke?
How do a blond's brain cells die? See the comments section for the answer. Hee hee

Daniel and Charity's Wishlist

2008-10-17T06:21:00.000-07:00

The following items represent some of the things we have talked about getting some day. Some of them are very reasonable (such as the grain mills), some are not so (such as the Aston Martin DB9). If you feel so inclined to get something for us this holiday season, you can use this list as a reference. Just click on the lock item to reserve it (thus keeping us from receiving 100 hair clips for Christmas).

More importantly, if any of you would be interested in making your own wishlist, I can create a site that allows family or friends to create their own wish lists and go shopping for others. Would you like me to set this up? Let me know in the comments if you are interested in this.

*Edit Oct 19, 2008:
The list apparently doesn't work on everyone's computer, so back to the drawing board...

6 Months Old

2008-10-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

James will be six months old on Monday. In some ways it feels like we have always had him as a part of our lives and yet it still surprises me that he is getting so big, so quickly. He is a joy to us and a very happy reason to be better people.

In these six months James learned to smile, to roll over (in both directions), to laugh, to sit up by himself, to eat solid foods, to 'talk' and 'sing' to himself and occasionally to us, to stand next to the couch, to slap the table top with both hands, to 'walk' with help, and to feed himself with a bottle. He also surprised us by getting his first two teeth in earlier than we expected.

We see James growing into a happy active boy and feel very blessed to have him in our family.

James, Conference Weekend, and more...

2008-10-09T14:32:00.000-07:00

James is thinking more and more about crawling. His latest trick is to get up on his hands and knees to get our attention and then cry to let us know he wants us to help him up. He rocks back and forth, pauses, and begins again as if saying in his head 'Get ready, get set.....wait no, I'm not ready..... Get ready, get set....'. We have high hopes that James will like reading when he gets older. He seems to enjoy 'reading' with us even when we aren't reading to him. He's seen many books in both our hands and has come to accept that they are a part of life for us big kids.
We had a lovely time visiting Daniel's family for conference weekend. James renewed his acquaintance with Josie's tryptophan aura, calmed, and slept when she held him. He adores his Aunt Josie.
Conference was inspirational. I feel the desire to be better and have felt the influence of the Spirit more strongly during this week because of it.

Pres. Monson's talk about using our time well and finding joy felt timely as I have been thinking a lot recently about the briefness of mortality. There were also many talks speaking on the hope we have in gospel truths and the safety in keeping covenants. Gratitude was another theme that was repeated. Elder Bednar's talk was on prayer and his example of a prayer of gratitude was a lesson worthy of more thought.

James is sitting up without any trouble now. He likes to look up to his daddy. I'm glad he has a good example to learn from.

This last picture is being included because I thought it was too cute not to post. I can just see James thinking and figuring out what a phone is.

Typing

2008-10-07T14:41:00.000-07:00

I took this typing test that I found on a friend's blog. I was so disappointed that my typing has slipped from where I remember it being. (I won a large lollipop in grade school for typing above a hundred words per minute.)

It was fun to take the test...then re-take it again...and again. It has the same magnetic appeal that I imagine slot machines have for gambling addicts. "Maybe this time I'll get it..." I think as I click the link one more time. I even thought about hacking the code of the test to give me a more favorable score...... but resisted the temptation.

Try your luck.:)

79 words

Typing Test

Doin some computin'

2008-10-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

James is ready for mass communicating. So without further ado:

I think that speaks for itself, but here is a word from the Editor himself:

d xffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffca8-;.htgjl,kde .Qsd01 fe67hyter
\\ xdx1f[];9sedr4fgsd loikllkilik,m dfgdfsgdfgsdf
tyutyurtutrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee e ewre ww554444er44r4re44er4w2e3rwe3r ez rre4f nb nbnb vb nb jh uyv ytfgf xzcv fxdcsedwesersd vbyuhii8hgvb cv nbnb nb vvvvvvvvvvvvv b nnFDFDFFDFD V VC

Let us all take this advice to heart, people.

We're back

2008-10-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

We got back from Utah yesterday evening. Today was spent recuperating from the trip. I discovered that there is something growing in Utah that does not agree with my nose. My allergies were horrendous and they turned into a terrible throat cold when I got home. I took today to sleep, as much as possible with a healthy James still needing attention, and Daniel did the same. Daniel seems to have finally caught whatever I had. He was really great about making sure I got enough tissues and allergy meds while we were out. Hopefully what he has will go away soon.

James is oblivious to it all, of course.

James seems to be growing, or we are getting lazy, because he is getting heavier and heavier. He is also sleeping more. He is adorable.

He's seems to understand about books and will sit with me while I read when he just wants company. He knows that as soon as he lunges for the pages it's floor time.

He and Daniel both fall asleep at the drop of hat still. It is a talent I envy. I've been considering putting goals in place to try and get more sleep. My not sleeping has become a very bad habit. Maybe I can learn something from the good examples of my husband and son.
James now knows what he looks like and he likes it. I think these pictures are great. It is obvious that he has figured out the mirror and likes what he sees.

On a final note, James has gotten his first and his second tooth in. He got the first one last Monday and the second one came in this weekend while we were in Utah. He is a dangerous chomper now with those little incisors. Piranha. He's still drooling and chomping so we are keeping an eye out for any additional teeth.

Thank You

2008-09-25T15:21:00.000-07:00

We appreciate the love and concern that many of you have shown. We are posting this in the hopes that it will allow you to be involved during this time without having to call the Budges personally for the information you need to do so.

There will be a viewing Sunday night from 6 to 8 pm. There will be a second viewing at the church from 8:30-9:30am on Monday, the funeral to start at 10 am. The services will be 10 to 11:30, followed by going to the cemetery for the grave dedication. The Lehi 34th Ward Chapel is located at 1631 E 900 N, Lehi, Utah, 84043.

If you would like to help out, Cryssy says that donations to their website will be used to put together an education fund for the kids and would be of the most use.

Any flowers sent, should go to the funeral home so the staff there can arrange them for the funeral.

Holladay Brown Funeral Home
P. Mark Brown
66 S. 300 E.
Santaquin, UT 84655

Cryssy has posted an update.

Once again, thank you. Your prayers and support are much appreciated.

The Post I Never Wanted to Post

2008-09-25T00:47:00.000-07:00

Matt passed away a few hours ago. His funeral will be on Monday. Please pray for my sister and their children.

Personality Portraits Caption Contest!

2008-09-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures of James, of course. His great personality is really starting to show through, don't you think? We would love to have everyone come up with some captions for these adorable photos below. This is your chance to be really creative! Just add a comment and number your captions to correspond with each photo. If you don't want to sign in to Blogger, you can just leave an 'anonymous' comment. We will be giving a small prize to the winner! ;)

4:5:

Crawling? Not yet... but soon.

2008-09-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

An Ode to My Mom

2008-09-20T08:54:00.000-07:00

I just woke from the most delicious nap. James had fallen asleep, things were relatively picked up, and it is Saturday morning so nothing was too terribly pressing. I asked Daniel to put on David Attenborough and I tucked myself into the couch. Settling in, I focused on the smooth voice of David and the soothing background music. French horns, a drumbeat. Yes, that is how snowflakes are formed. Red snow algae. Mountain goats butting heads and jumping nimbly. That's as far as I made it when I fell deeply asleep.

So why is this an ode to my mama? Well, I awoke refreshed and to the sound of David explaining that hot molten lava rises to the surface and becomes basalt, forming many different landmarks across the world. I relaxed, remembering the many happy times during my childhood and how my mama made them happen for me. (Coincidentally, she is also the person who has always known how to get me to take a nap.) I realized how blessed I am and wanted to put it down on paper, as it were.

So here's to my mama and the childhood she gave me:

Chocolate milk, deli meat and dinners rolls,

Eaten before playing standing up seesaws at the park.

Chasing us around the house with a rolled up towel ,

Giving us reasons to scream and giggle.

Spraying us down with the garden hose.

Singing.

Holding us when we were hurt, making it okay.

Frog races on the picnic table.

Snowmen, snow locomotives, snow tunnels and forts.

Woken in the night to watch the comets fall,

Warm cookies in the crisp evening air.

Hiding in the fabric racks at the fabric store.

Playing tag the trees.

Picking me up from school when I was sick,

tucking me in with a Sprite,

making me feel secure just by being nearby.

Listening to her talk on the phone, laugh on the phone,

and the snap her fingers at us when we tried stuff.

Saving, or trying to, baby birds,

knowing what to say when it didn't work out.

Listening to me,

putting down what she was doing to do so.

Quietly stroking my head when I had no words.

Forgiving me for mistakes,

teaching the benefit of honesty.

Believing in me.

There is so much more. To all mom's out there. You are doing a good job. Your best will be enough. I know this because just having my mama's love made my childhood magical, even when, looking back as an adult, I see realities that could have easily colored my memories more negatively. They didn't though, and I am grateful. More than anything, this is also a pep-talk to myself too. I have such a good example to follow and so I know what I have to do.

I know that many people have less than ideal childhoods for one reason or another. I am so sorry. I hope you will take this post as a sign that there is hope in this crazy world and an opportunity to try to make it better.

The Eating Montage

2008-09-17T04:42:00.000-07:00

We are not alone. At the dinner table, that is. Gone are the days when dinners at home felt like a nice private date sans the restaurant. Someone we know has become extremely interested in this stuff that we grown-ups seem to put in our mouths a lot. So before he tries to stake a claim on our steaks (rubbed with seasonings then pan-seared with sauteed mushrooms and onions and served with a side of hash browns, no less), we decided to let the little man try some rice cereal.

Yum... James is excited to be eating solids. He waves his hands and wiggles his legs with a joy that is proportionate to the size of his puppy-dog eyes. He is so happy, that he tries to grab the spoon and its precious contents before it lands in his mouth (effectively thwarting the landing of any plane into its hanger). I guess this makes sense biologically, because his saliva-laden hands technically start to pre-digest the food, right? He has been an efficient eater so far, after all.

So let's review, shall we, James? Rice Cereal is YUMMY! Beef steaks rubbed with a special blend of seasonings then pan-seared with sauteed mushrooms and onions and served with a side of home-style red potato hash browns are not so good. Got it? Good. Now we all can have a nice date.

James and the Giant Peach Head

2008-09-12T06:56:00.000-07:00

James continues to be big. His head is fuzzy and perfectly round and he has a piercingly cute gaze about him. The other day I was asked to hold a baby who was roughly the same age as James. Have you ever tried to lift something you thought was heavy but wasn't, so you ended up almost launching it into the air? Well, luckily I didn't toss the baby. But soon afterward, I picked up James again and thought, "Wow, he is definitely a solid kid." Charity claims it's a Chapin attribute, so I'll blame her side of the family for any chronic back pain.

I ran some errands around town and decided to sport James in my arms instead of in the carrier. I can honestly say that I have never received better customer service. Everyone I talked to seemed to stop mid sentence and be compelled to tell James how adorable he is (with puckered lips and bobbling heads, no less). One even suggested I look into baby modeling. Later, when I checked out some books at the library, I discovered that the entire time I was there, the ladies behind the check-out desk were betting on his age. They all guessed older than he is (by the way his 5 month mark is tomorrow!).

James truly has a gift of loving people. He likes to smile and interact with anybody at anytime. He seems to brighten the day for those around him (in addition to giving free strength training for anyone who wants to hold him).

James decides he'd like a drink.

2008-09-11T05:56:00.000-07:00

While we were in Utah, we sat down with our friends for a nice chat. While talking, we noticed that James was fixated on Charity's glass and kept reaching for it. So, we decided to see what would happen if we let him drink:

New Jersey Traffic

2008-09-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

I have a theory about New Jersey traffic. At any given time I would guess that about 20% of the people on the road are lost. Lost people speed up and slow down because they don't know where they are and are trying to read the signs. New Jersey puts their signs up according to the township that you are currently driving through, no matter that some townships are only a few feet accross. If that weren't bad enough, some roads go from one lane then to two lanes, then to one lane roads within a 400 feet distance. Oh, and the left hand turns are really jug handles; not the kind you hold onto to drink but the kind that make you stop three times, and be three times as likely to have an accident, when you are trying to turn left.

To add to the confusion, New Jersey has round-abouts sprinkled around any major traffic hub. Oh, and if you are stuck in traffic, anything goes to get out of it. Even the police have had to adapt and rarely pull people over for small infractions. They must understand that a good number of people on the road are lost and they'd have to give directions if they pull too many people over (which they don't have because they don't know the roads either). They have a polite 'bree-ur-bree-ur' when they want you to pull over so they can pass you and get on with life.

What does this all add up to? Craziness. Stop-and-go traffic and swerving, sweating, and sometimes swearing drivers. Oh yes, and honking too. Honking is an art in New Jersey. There is the polite millisecond honk that lets you know that you haven't hit the gas and the light turned green a millisecond ago. There is the second-long honk that says 'Get out of the way' or 'What do you think you are doing?'. And there is the loud drawn out honk that can mean, 'You idiot! How dare you cut me off first?' or it could be teenagers just scaring their fellow Jersey driver friends for fun. If they are really upset there is a combination of the three. It can sound like 'Beeeeeep beep beeeeep beeeeep bep beeeeep'. If you are not a veteran of the New Jersey traffic it can be a whole new world, one that reduces you to a puddle of anxiety every time you think about leaving the house.

Fortunately, I am now a veteran. Like all other New Jersey-ians I know that the fast lane is really on the right, that the turning lane is in the middle (because it could really go either way), and the best way to cut in is to just do it and then wave courteously because you won't go anywhere if you wait for an opening. I've also learned to pass on the right or you will get stuck behind a turning car and everyone will pass you. I don't even notice the honking anymore.

Chores Bingo

2008-09-07T06:16:00.000-07:00

My hardworking wife asked me this morning at around 5 to go and see what James wanted. I, of course, did not hesitate because Charity rarely lets me in on the all-night fun. So I went in and picked up James, made a bottle, walked back to the crib, and when I set James down, he had already fallen back asleep. Knowing that if I went back to bed, I would wake Charity from her rare intermission of sleep, I stayed up and wrote (or rather hacked) a javascript bingo game and turned it into a household chore manager.

The rules are simple. The kids compete with the same board and whoever can do a row of five chores first gets a prize (clicking on the chore turns the square blue). Of course, that prize depends on the chore being checked-off by the parents. There are two "Freebees" on the board that will help even out the varying difficulties of a particular row, column or diagonal.

There are certainly revisions and tweaks that will need to be made in order to accommodate "fairness" disputes by the children. My reply will be that if they didn't wake us up so early in the morning, maybe I could have done a better job. ;)

Labor Day Weekend

2008-09-05T04:51:00.000-07:00

WARNING: This is a large, unwieldy, stream of consciousness post. Please do not expect it to have smooth transitions or an overall theme. I pretty much just typed what I wanted around the pictures, which were taken in chronological order. Enjoy!

James flew for the first time this last Friday. I was really anxious about how it would go and was relieved when it went better than I had imagined. We arrived early in the morning at Newark airport and made it through security without a problem. James got a lot of smiles and enjoyed charming his public. We were surprised by how many people were willing to strike up conversations with us because of James. It was nice but a little unnerving.

We let James try out a hard cookie on the plane ride to Utah. He was awe struck by the flavors and seemed to analyze the chemical makeup of the cookie as he slobbered away, gumming it with an intent expression on his face. Since then he focuses right in on food, especially once he sees me eating it.

James did pretty well although he did fuss a little in the middle of the flight. He was rescued by Sister Kelly, who is in our ward and was also on the flight. (It's a small world after all....) The descent was hard on his ears but he only cried for a short time and then was his normal happy self. Pheww! We were glad to have arrived.

We picked up our rental car... or should I say minivan? We had requested a compact car but got upgraded to a minivan because the compact cars were all out. We felt like an established family driving around in it. Fun.

This is us in front of Sizzler. We were very hungry after our trip and it was great to eat and see friends.
From Left to Right: Daniel, Charity, James (A-1 bottle), Margaret, Renae
We were amazed at how much the Budge kids have grown! They seem to have become miniature teenagers overnight. They are all taller and have each developed more individual personality. It was nice to see them. James was in awe of all the big kids. Caleb took a shine to him on the first day and started bringing him Lego blocks to play with. The rest of the kids commented on how cute he was and on how sad it was that he 'can't do anything' yet.

Grandma Chapin was also there, taking care of all the important details like food and laundry. She was happy to see James, and us too. She took very good care of us and it was such a nice visit. We stayed with her in a camping trailer in the side yard and had a great time catching up. It was a really nice camper and now Daniel and I are dreaming up our own 'dream trailer'. Hee hee.

Here's our baby basket case.
In the trailer, relaxing.
We were pleased to have James meet Matt and Cryssy. Matt says that James took a shine to him because they both have the same hair cut. Cryssy was able to get a lot of 'baby-therapy' because James was very happy to have her hold him.

Tall, dark, and handsome.... Daniel was an immediate hit with all the girls.
James took a page from his cousins and got very much more coordinated over the weekend. So much so, that he was able to wrestle some with his dad.

Once we booked our trip we began to realize how many other people we know who live in Utah. During our weekend we were able to meet up with a few of them. I was happy to see Renae, Margaret, Wendy, and Christie.... and to have them meet Daniel and James. We had such a good time catching up that I didn't want to leave. It was nice to hang out with them and to visit. We only wish we could have seen everyone. Friends are truly precious.

How big is James? This big....

Despite his intriguing encounter with his hard cookie, James is still averse to some solid foods-

Die banana!
We also got to see Cameron, one of Daniel's school buddies. He and Daniel had fun talking about design, school, old friends, etc. Apparently, he was really happy to see Daniel...

This is us with my friend, Christie. She's the programmer that I want to be like when I grow up. Her recipe program is amazing!

Me and Renae:
Renae, Charity, Margaret, James:

We took a driving tour of Provo on Monday. Here is the house that Daniel lived in during college:

The beautiful Provo temple:

Here's Hurricane Hannah tearing through breakfast: The Howell's and the Budge Parents:
We arrived at the end of the second week of school for the Budges. Nathanael is in the 6th grade, Sari is in the 5th grade, Bekah is in the 3rd grade, and Rachel is in 1st grade, and Cryssy is in the 7th to 8th grade (as the teacher!). Cryssy is one of the math teachers at the charter school that the kids are going to. I am very proud of her. She is getting her certificate at the same time that she is teaching. The school administrators were impressed with her resume and, no fools, offered her a job when she applied this summer. She is loving teaching and sharing one of her favorite subjects, math, with kids. Although there are many more meetings than she is used to, the job is a blessing to her and her family.

Cryssy and the kids going off to school. Bye! We'll miss you!

We had a very very very long day of travel on Tuesday to get home. It really made us appreciate being home when we finally go here. We left Tuesday morning, got through security, and got on our plane. Unfortunately, our plane never left SLC. We sat during the flight check, and then another flight check because it had failed the first brake check. Then we waited for the mechanics to come and do a manual check. Which it failed. Then we waited while they did three more different tests, to make sure it had really failed. People were leaving the plane like rats jumping ship. Daniel was one of those rats. He got us on another later flight so when the flight attendants said to get off the plane (without admitting that they were cancelling the flight) we had a plan 'B'. We had hoped that the delay would mean that we could see my sister in Dallas during the layover but that time got eaten up by the many failed brake checks.

James was a very good baby during this time. We, and everyone around us, kept him entertained. The only problem was that he did not get any sleep during our three hour sit. We trooped off and got on our second flight ......and then our third flight. When we arrived in Newark our little guy was limp and sleepy in my arms. Poor baby. He seemed very happy to finally be in his car carrier and then home when we got there. It was 3am. He's been making up on his sleep during the day since then.

Award

2008-09-04T14:44:00.001-07:00

I am pleased to share an award that I received today for one of the projects that I was a part of at work. The President's award was given to my team and to one other team for excellence in the workplace and for adding value to the company. Last year we worked very hard to get a product ready for a large clinical trial and were able to deliver against all odds. I feel proud to have been a part of it and am pleased that our executives were willing to recognize our work. They presented us with this award at the Jasna Polana Resort. Very posh.

In addition to this crystal plaque, I received a congratulatory letter, and a monetary award. I feel very blessed as this award came in time to fund our trip to visit the Budges over Labor Day Weekend.

More on our trip to follow...

Travel advice anyone?

2008-08-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

We are going on an airplane soon, and I was wondering if I could solicit advice from any of you about traveling with a baby. Any methods, drugs, or a combination of the two work for any of you?

Our Walk Through the Mall

2008-08-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

I knew Daniel had been thinking about electronics again when he suggested that we take our evening walk at the mall and check out the Mac book Air at the same time. It's my job to be the heavy when it comes to spending money so I played my part. Grumbling internally but knowing it would make him happy, I agreed, a little grumpily. (It's dangerous business getting close to electronics with Daniel around, he starts getting this very hopeful look that I find very hard to resist. Don't believe me? How do you think he managed me letting him get a Wii?)

I also tend to avoid the mall in anycase because I find it a disturbing and dangerous place to be. It's dangerous walking through the mall for a couple reasons. One, there are people there. Those people either want to a.) sell you something or b.) stare at you and maybe even talk to you. Antisocial that I sometimes am, this is a terrifying prospect. Two, you might buy something that you don't need, you can't afford, is fattening/unhealthy, or all of the above. Three, you may leave there completely depressed because of the state of the world. (i.e. the way teenagers dress and act, the things people spend money on, the offensive advertising, or the unbelievably thin/emaciated mannequins)

So, when I was accosted by one of the stand vendors I was not surprised. They must smell fear or maybe they can just tell I know what a hard lot they have and hate saying no. In any case, Daniel saved me from the natural nails product vendor and we then stepped into the Apple store to look at the Macbook Air that he has been dreaming of. He lifted it up, looked at the ports, and was trying to figure it out when one of the sales people came over. The sales guy said that it is 'gimped' because it doesn't do anything except take notes. He let Daniel know that the Macbook Air can only download systems from another Mac or from the CD drive that you have to buy to go with it; expensive and impractical. Daniel chewed on this new information as we continued our stroll. I was relieved to have escaped intact from two money-losing encounters.

Then we found something inexpensive and fun. We found the Reactrix floor screen. We played a few games. I had fun stomping butterflies, playing soccer, and making firework explode over the NYC skyline. I'm sure we looked sort of funny hopping around on the board, grown-ups that we are supposed to be, but it was a lot of fun. I decided to let the little kids have a turn when a group of them showed up and their parents were watching us.

If any of you want a cheap date idea, I'd suggest going to the mall and playing on the Reactrix screen. Fun.

Loosened up from our workout, we continued our walk through the mall when we saw a costume jewelry store. I love things that sparkle so Daniel suggested we go and look. He promised to keep me from buying anything and I wasn't too worried about it anyway since my idea of expensive is most peoples idea of cheap.

What we didn't know was that this particular store was having a closeout sale. After we entered the store and my eyes lighted on the sparklies and great deals, it was all over. Daniel talked me into letting him get me a matched earrings and necklace set for a large discount. They match my wedding ring and are beautiful. Thank you, Daniel! (If any of you are also attracted to shiny objects and low prices, I would recommend visiting Landau's costume jewelry shop at Bridgewater Commons Mall.) In appreciation, I got Daniel a strawberry creme frappacino (no coffee!) grande from Starbucks. It was surprisingly good...he let me snitch some, so I know.

You see why the mall is so dangerous?

Whistle While You Work

2008-08-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I work during the day. I feel very blessed to be able to work at a job I enjoy and to know that James is well taken care of too. The reaction I have received has been mixed. Some see me as a feminist out to take over the world.(I'm not, by the way.) But most assume that I am somehow the slave of the housework, dragging myself out of bed to work, and then coming home to my second job of cooking, cleaning, caring for James, and general house stuff. Their unspoken reaction is more along the lines of 'You poor dear...'. The truth of it is, yes, I do stay up most nights with James and am often tired in the morning. Although I admit to complaining every once in awhile, I really don't mind as long as I get at least a few hours sleep. I love James and it is a great chance to snuggle. The other reason why I am not the picture of a haggard, overworked mother? Daniel.

Daniel does a phenomenal job juggling his studies, freelance work, the apartment, and James. James is always well fed and happy when I arrive. It is not unusual for him, Daniel that is, to have done some of the laundry or picked up the living room or done the dishes before I get home. He even experiments with different foods in-between practice tests, taking care of James, and filling out applications, so that I walk into an aroma-ful house. When he hasn't made food he never pressures me to make something but enjoys the hodge-podge meals we throw together as we talk about our day.

Daniel says he has learned to value what his mom did for him and what many, many moms do each day. We both know that our situation is unusual and are grateful for the guidance of the Spirit in our decision making.

There are many dads out there who work outside of the home; indeed, this is where Daniel's studying is preparing to take him. When that happens I'm sure he will put in a great deal of effort, earn promotions, and earn the approbation of his colleagues. I will be very proud. However, not any more proud than I already am. To my mind, it is infinitely more work to be diligent when no one is watching. To spend the day working hard studying, taking care of a son, and then to still be cheerful at the end of the day is something I know I would have a difficult time doing. In fact, he is doing such a good job that the bar has been raised and it helps me (and will continue to help me) to do my best at tasks I sometimes find menial and demeaning. If he can do it and smile, so can I! :)

Solid Food

2008-08-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

4 Month Checkup

2008-08-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

James if four months old this week. He went to the pediatrician's today and got his stats. He's 18lbs 2.5oz and 27 inches long. He took his shots like a man and only cried a little bit this time. We sure love this little big guy.

Why haven't I been posting as much?

2008-08-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

You know that critical point where sleep deprivation begins to have velocity of its own until it snowballs into an enveloping exhaustion and you're squashed by it? That's why.

Thank Heaven it's Friday tomorrow and I'm not working.

Portfolio Site

2008-08-07T05:04:00.000-07:00

I updated several things on my professional site. I replaced a few images (sorry, there are no new projects), recycled the wallpaper from this blog, and made thumbnail viewing a little slicker with some Asynchronous Java and XML (AJAX). If you haven't seen the site, you can check it out at www.howellcreative.com. I am quite happy with how it has turned.

If you are looking to develop your own portfolio page or gallery and think this design might work for you, I would be happy to talk about turning this page into a template.

James' Space-Time Continuum

2008-08-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

We are geniuses...genii....whatever. We're amazing and sure to win the Nobel Prize for this one. We have discovered a hole in the space time continuum. It's James. He bends space and time. Let me explain, for all you skeptics.

In the morning James is a pleasant bundle to hold. He is usually happy with his world, gurgling, cooing, rolling, and kicking. Being adorable, in other words. Time flies by quickly during this time. As the day goes by he begins to throw his weight around, literally, and as he does his weight increases. We pick him up and he is heavier... and then heavier still. By night time he is unbelievably heavy. Much heavier than the morning.

For another thing, we are sure that he bent time yesterday. We had put him down for bed because our arms (and our backs) were going to give out under his increase when he decided to slow time down. We hereby witness that he stopped time so we could suffer through his crying a little longer. The minutes dragged and he only released his hold on time when he decided to fall asleep. We looked up to see that it had only been a few minutes by the clock but we know better.

Although, we do not have any hard evidence yet of this phenomenon we will continue our observations and await our Nobel Prize nomination. We are honest people and will put the prize money to good use. And don't worry, we won't forget all the little people who helped us here.

What's that? How does this discovery help humanity?

Pish, posh....let's just leave that for us genii to figure out, shall we?

Our Palmyra Daycation

2008-08-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

We went on a vacation to Palmyra, NY yesterday.

We went to the Palmyra temple first. The grounds and the temple itself were beautiful. We then visited the Joseph Smith Farm. It was amazing to see how small the log cabin was and how big the frame house was in comparison. It really put some perspective on the early history of Joseph Smith, Jr. Although small and rustic, both houses felt like homes. The missionaries that lead our tour were right, you could easily imagine the family gathering there for scripture study.

We then hiked into the Sacred Grove. James was ecstatic to be there. It was perfect. There weren't hardly any other visitors and we were able to enjoy the peace and beauty.

We were pretty tired after that so we were very happy to sit through the movie about the life of Joseph Smith at The Hill Cumorah Visitors Center.

We then went to The Grandin Publishing Building and learned some interesting facts about how they printed and bound books in the early 1800's. We were given a signature page (the large page of printing that they would cut to produce sixteen pages at a time) as a souvenir.

On the way home we stopped at Arbies. This is note worthy because they have new milkshakes and we tried them; berry swirl and orange creme...yum.

Tired but happy we got home late last night after our first family vacation.

Scriptures of the Month

2008-08-02T07:19:00.000-07:00

We know that the Book of Mormon is true and we wanted to share with you some of our family's favorite scriptures. Each month we will add a new scripture to the list. If you seek guidance from the Holy Ghost, we are sure you will benefit from these spiritual gems as we have.

July, 2008:
2 Nephi 2:25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

August, 2008:
Alma 32:22 And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word.

September, 2008:
Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

October, 2008:
Enos 1:27And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.

November, 2008:
Mormon 9:31 Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been.

December, 2008:
2 Nephi 25:26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

January, 2009:
Alma 18:32
And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning.

February, 2009:
Moroni 7:13
But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

April, 2009:
2 Nephi 32:3
Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

May, 2009:
Jacob 4:10
Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.

June, 2009:

Mosiah 7:33

But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.

Quilting Table

2008-07-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

After taking over the kitchen table for a few weeks with my sewing machine and quilting paraphernalia, we decided it was time to set up a dedicated space for my work. Preferably a space that is not in close contact with food or where food should be eaten. In addition, this space should be in the living area so I don't have to keep asking, "What's happening? What did he say?" because we have a show on that we are watching. I tend to read, iron, pin, sew, and feed James during our time to watch shows together and it's sort of hard to follow the storyline when you don't stay in the room for more than a couple minutes at a time.

I'm happy to say that with this new arrangement I can pin, sew, and iron from the same place that I use to watch/listen to our shows. Both Daniel and James are now used to this arrangement. James will watch contentedly from his bouncy seat while I mumble to myself about difficult points and rippling seam lines and Daniel will turn the volume up when I'm sewing and down when I'm not. What a team!

I had a machine, a box of fabric, pins, and many, many ideas when I started but now I have space to implement them! Bwa ha ha ha hah. (and you thought that laugh was only for mad scientists)

Maestro

2008-07-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

I'm starting up a goal to practice the piano more. During FHE I realized just how rusty my piano is as I stumbled through a simple primary song. But no more.

One of the beautiful things about our digital piano is that it has headphones so I need not disturb the neighbors with my playing; especially since I usually don't have time to play until late at night.

James enjoys the piano. He's figured out that it makes noise and seems to take this music-making business pretty seriously. I'm looking forward to teaching him the basics when he is a little older. Hopefully by then I will have gotten them down a little better myself.

On A Roll

2008-07-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

We were very proud when James discovered how to roll onto his back. Our joy was short lived, however, when we realized that he did not yet know how to roll back. James tends to frown upon being in positions that he doesn't like, especially when he cannot get out of those positions. As we realized this, visions of our Little Mercury Switch going off in the middle of the night tugged at the edges of our smiles. Since then, James has only needed a roll-assist every now and then, and luckily not in the middle of the night.

This afternoon, I put him on his back while I watched him from the kitchen because I was busy making some cookies for FHE. The next thing I know, he had rolled over on his belly and stuck his head and shoulders up to watch me. Of course, I had to get a shot of how cute he looked, especially in his little muscle shirt. I went back to cooking, and when I next looked over, he was back on his back again. It took me a second to realize that he had accomplished. James is now an ambi-roller!

My joy was again short lived as my imagination began drumming up worse-case scenarios involving an ever-increasingly mobile baby. Pins on the floor, dust bunnies in the corners, books teetering on the edges of end-tables. Yikes! I think I should go research child-proofing the home now.... Until next time!

Kate's Visit

2008-07-28T07:34:00.000-07:00

My good friend Kate came to visit this weekend. I braved the terrible weekend traffic (and saw some crazy drivers) to get to see her at the BBQ put together in her honor. She's awesome and I'd do it again in a minute.

Let me tell you about my friend Kate. She is a lot of fun to be around because of her very happy personality. When she first moved to New Jersey we had a great time going on walks together. We both had a lot going on at the time and it was great to have someone to talk to. Later, life got crazy for both of us and although we didn't walk as much, we continued to value the other's input. With her help, I was able to gain valuable insight and perspective on the guys I was seeing at the time. Indeed, because of her, I was encouraged to continue dating Daniel. Bless you, Kate!

It was great to have her meet James. I only wish I had remembered to get a picture of them together with my camera.

Bread of Life

2008-07-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Nohreen brought us dinner about a month ago. It had the best bread I have ever eaten. We dreamed of this divine bread. We invited her family over for Family Home Evening and when she asked what she could bring there was no hesitation on our part. We asked for her to please bring her bread and the recipe.

She did. We got all the ingredients and Daniel followed the recipe to the T. It turned out great. Thanks, Nohreen!

2 (.25 oz) package rapid rise yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 (12 fluid oz) can evaporated milk
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons salt
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour)

1. Dissolve yeast and sugar in 1/2 cup warm water. Let stand until yeast becomes frothy, about 6 minutes. While waiting for yeast to grow, proceed to step 2.

2. In a large bowl; combine milk, 1/4 cup water, melted butter, honey, and salt. Mix well. Add wheat flour one cup at a time, mixing well with a wooden spoon. Mix the yeast mixture to the flour mixture, and let it rest 15 minutes. Add white flour one cup at a time, mix and knead. Knead by hand for about 10 minutes or with mixer for 8 minutes. Keep adding flour while kneading until dough is not too sticky. I usually add about 1/2c to 1 c more. Place the dough in a greased bowl, and turn to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel. Let dough rise for 2 hours, or until doubled.

3. Punch down and divide dough in half. Roll out each half and knead a little with flour. Form into 2 loaves, and place in 2 greased 9x5 inch bread pans,. Let rise in a warm area until doubled; second rise should take about 1 hour.

4. Place a small pan of water on the bottom shelf of oven. This is very important ! Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

5. Bake 25 to 35 minutes, or until tops are dark golden brown. Another way to test doneness is by tapping the top of bread. A hollow sound means it is done. Slice when cool. Keep in refrigerator if not eating right away (this also makes bread easier to slice). Freezes well.

Editor in Chief

2008-07-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have noticed the new look of our blog. The sophisticated and elegant formatting; so well put together and easy to read. The colors are crisp and everything lines up. And, of course, the posts on this blog are absolutely phenomenal. The topics are engaging and fun.

I'd like to take credit for the amazing-ness of this blog but I can't. This has been a joint effort. Daniel has spent time working his formatting magic and I am constantly on the look out as the camera-woman/writer.

But we couldn't do it without our Editor in Chief, James. He is constantly critiquing our articles and the blog setup. After all, he is the star of the blog and he has to make sure he isn't misrepresented.

So, here's to you , Big Man on the blog.

For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good felloooooo, and nobody can deny.....