Random Thoughts

I was thinking the other day about how I know so many people who are pregnant right now; many of you read this blog. When I was pregnant there was a website that really helped me: http://www.babycenter.com/. You can sign up for weekly newsletters that will tell you how your baby is developing week-by-week. There are also a bunch of message boards where you can post questions and talk to other pregnant women. I always had random questions about what was happening to my body and it was so nice to talk to women who were going through the same thing.

I had to post these photos of my little guy; isn't he cute! I never get tired of looking at him and he brightens my day. He is so close to crawling which is going to complicate our lives. It's so funny to watch him scoot around right now.

There has been a big change in my life but I'm going to make you wait until tomorrow to find out what it is - no I'm not pregnant so don't even think it!

Feeding Adventures

Gavin does not enjoy eating food. This is so surprising because he puts everything else in his mouth but he doesn't seem to like the things that should actually be in his mouth.

This is what happens when we try to feed him with a spoon.

Now we have started spreading the food on his tray and letting him put his hands in it. Eventually some of it makes it into his mouth but it mostly goes on his face. If any of you moms have advice about solid food I am all ears!

Check out his two teeth!

Celebration Parade

The Utah Parade was so much fun and a perfect way to end THE PERFECT SEASON! Jesse and I actually walked in the parade because we were both working. He was in charge of the Rice family and I was in charge of The MUSS.

I'm so sad this season is over; it has been unexpected and wonderful. Things start all over again in March; MUSS registration starts March 6th so I don't ever get a break. It's a good thing I absolutely love doing what I do. :)

GO UTES!!!!!!

My Wish List

Right now I have one big thing on my wish list: a new car! I've had my car (1998 Honda Civic) for about six years and it has been a great car. It has traveled to California numerous times, been to St. George a few times, carried me through college, lasted through three years of marriage and now transports me and Gavin around town. My car still runs great and we've never had any problems with it but I'm ready to graduate to a more grown-up car; no, that doesn't mean a mini-van! The car I want is a Honda CR-V. I think they are so cute and I've always wanted something a little bigger than a sedan. Plus my honda has no power-anything; that means no power-windows, no power-locks, NOTHING! I am ready for an upgrade!

Unfortunately I'm not sure if we can afford a new car right now. We need to do some budgeting and figure out if this is in the cards for us. Sometimes I hate being a grown-up! :)

We Are The Champions!

Yes, that is me and Cami with Jamal Anderson: former Ute and NFL player! He was at the pep rally so we had to get a picture with him.

The BCS Championship game is tonight and that is exactly what the winner of the game will be: BCS champion. Not national champion because technically there is no national champion in college football these days since no one from a non-BCS school can win a championship.

We all know who the real national champion is this year: THE UTES!!!!!!! For more on this argument check out this article from Rick Reilly: http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3815656

13-0!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sugar Bowl Champions!

I probably don't have to tell you how much fun our trip to New Orleans was! We walked the streets with thousands of Ute fans and of course capped the trip with an amazing win in the Sugar Bowl. We are so incredibly glad we decided to make the trip and we will have these wonderful memories forever.

The first night we were there (New Years Eve) there was a Utah Pep Rally going on and all the players were there. Marcus was very brave and got his photo taken with Brian Johnson, Louie Sakoda and Paul Kruger. Way to go Marcus!

Our hotel was located right in the French Quarter so we were close to all the action. We walked around Bourbon Street and that will be the last time I need to do that. :)

The next day we took a trolley ride through the Garden District. We got to see all the beautiful mansions and some pretty amazing architecture.

That night my office threw a pep rally at the team hotel. I was working so uncle James took care of Gavin.

The next morning we ate breakfast at a cute little cafe where we were scolded by a New Orleans local for not trying some authentic Louisiana cuisine. I'm sorry but catfish and oysters does not sound appealing for breakfast; we all stuck to scrambled eggs.

Here we are at the tailgate where we got to say 'hi' to Elise. They kept her very busy on the trip so unfortunately we didn't get to spend a lot of time with her but she had so much fun!

Finally we are at the Superdome! This facility was amazing. I loved being in an indoor stadium and I wish we had that here.

Gavin was an absolute angel during the game. He slept during the first quarter and then he was perfect the rest of the game, which was so surprising because it was way past his bedtime. He must have known how awesome it was to be there!

This season has been so amazing and very unexpected. We have been with our Utes every step of the way and it has been such a blast. I love that this game will be talked about for years to come and it is a great step to changing the very flawed BCS system. This team is definitely national champions in our eyes!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Our Christmas was great and the most relaxing holiday we have ever had! I'm so sad it's over but our big Christmas gift is yet to come - the Sugar Bowl!

Playing the bells on Christmas Eve. - This has been a tradition in my family since I was little. Even though the songs don't sound that great we have lots of fun!

Gavin loved opening all his gifts; he received lots of fun stuff! He was such a good boy all day long; I think he knew it was Christmas. :)

I hope everyone had an awesome holiday and continues to have a fantastic New Year! We leave for New Orleans on Wednesday and can't wait to cheer on our Utes on Friday!!!!!!!! I hope you will all be wearing RED on Friday!!

GO UTES!!!!!

6 months

Yesterday was Gavin's half-birthday! Look how much my little guy has changed. It makes me sad when I think of how fast time has passed but I love seeing the ways he develops and changes. We love our little baby G!!!!

Whale Away

If you have never heard of the show Whale Wars, take a look at the link above or this video below:



I think the clip is pretty compelling and I think that anyone who is passionate enough to volunteer their time in a potentially dangerous situation, without much, if any, preparation is probably much braver than I.

That's where my praise will end.

I'm obviously not passionate enough about the environment or as incensed by whaling to the same degree as the people on this show, but I think that most of them had no idea what they were getting themselves in to. The captain of the ship, and ex-Green Peace member/co-founder named Paul Walker (I think) is fanatical. He cares more about the lives of whales than he does the lives and safety of his crew members and without a doubt more than the lives of the whalers themselves. He expects his crew to be willing to sacrifice everything, including their lives to contaminate already harvested whale meat that is supposed being used for research. Whether or not that's true is very debatable. Even if it's not, is it worth endangering people to save whales?!

I'm sure a lot of people would answer yes to the previous question, but I am not one of them. I don't see a lot of arguments that could convince me otherwise.

On the episode I saw this week, Captain Paul Walker off-handedly accuses his crew of sabotaging their mission. This line infuriated me! They are volunteers with little to no experience at sea, in the Arctic ocean, operating foreign machinery, and being assigned to tasks in which few of them have any knowledge, let alone expertise. Yet he holds them responsible for not doing things properly. He did not take the time to train or teach them how not to die in freezing waters or how to properly handle the equipment. It would be like getting mad at a 16-year-old for not driving well or breaking traffic rules without taking the time to teach him or let him practice.

In my opinion his fanaticism stands in the way of his good judgment. I applaud his efforts to stop what he considers illegal whaling but I think the way he approaches his mission is irresponsible.

With that said, by all means watch the show and make your opinions. I watched it On Demand on Comcast (free). For me, it might be the new show that I love to hate.

The Hills - My Theories

Like an idiot I am completely addicted to 'The Hills.' I look forward to watching every week and rolling my eyes at the stupid things they say. The show drives me crazy but I absolutely LOVE it; I can't get enough.

I do have a couple theories about the show. I don't think it is scripted but I do think they put the characters in certain situations. Like Whitney getting a new job in NYC. I'm pretty sure they wanted to do a spin-off with her so they found her a job in New York. And hello, there are a million clubs in L.A. so why do all the cast members always end up in the same club on the same night. I think they are told where to go so there can be drama between everyone.

I also think MTV is paying Heidi to stay with that idiot Spencer. She seems miserable but she is trying to act like she loves him; sorry Heidi, you are not a very good actress. I really hope my theory is right otherwise she is the dumbest person on the planet to stay in a relationship with that jack-ass!

I hope some of you reading this are as addicted to 'The Hills' as I am. Please share your theories as well. I only wish my life was exciting as the beautiful people in L.A. :)