Things You Thought You'd Never See . . .

Angelic Jill.


Tiki eating Justin.


Jill kissing Tiki.


Oh, have you met my husband, the pimp?


Jill fully clothed and completely drenched at the Polynesian Cultural Center.


Jill having a blast in a helicopter.


Justin getting Jill in the deep blue sea!


Jill in a kayak!! in the ocean!!


Jill in an Anne Geddes Photo.


. . . and finally . . . Jill going on a zipline - yes, I am a goober.
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THINGS THAT DON'T REALLY SURPRISE YOU . . .

Gorgeous black sand beach on Maui.


Justin swinging on a tarzan vine in the rain forest.


Justin getting "poo stains" on his pants . . .

. . . like every day of the trip.


The humidity doing wonders for Jill's skin.
Beautiful scenery in Kauai.

The natural born surfer.


Justin playing "shoot 'em up!" at Pearl Harbor.


Justin showing off his skills on the rope swing.


Beautiful beach in Oahu.

Just for the Record

Just for the record . . . I'm not pregnant - - - not that I'm trying to be either. It was a relatively routine blood test. Nothing weird. :)

Bowen the Sniper

Do you think anyone was scared of us on the way home from the dollar store?

Blood Test - This One goes Out to You Ms. JMD . . . You Know Who You Are

I've been a bit of an anti-blogger lately. Okay, I realize that's an understatment, and I'm going to be better. I'm even going to put some of our Hawaii pics on here. . . eventually. But, I thought I put down one of Bowen's latest . . .

I had to get my blood drawn the other day and Bowen was coming with me. I told him it would be kind of cool and he could watch if he wanted but he didn't have to. He was very inquisitive about why they were taking my blood. I had to explain that the doctors test and look closely at your blood to learn things about your body. He then proceded to tell me that they wouldn't even have to take blood out of Great Grandpa's arm because you can already see it! Justin's Grandpa is 88 and apparently Bowen has taken note of his transparent skin. Good thing it will save him from all those blood draws!

Future Life of Crime

Bowen and I were driving in the car yesterday when he informed me that I needed to go faster. I told him I was going the speed limit and couldn't go faster because I didn't want to get a ticket. His response was, "Well Mom, don't you just have any money right now?" Apparently he thinks you can simply go as fast as you would like as long as you have the money to pay for it. Hopefully he doesn't have a future in bribing the police! Hmmm, could this have anything to do with the speeding ticket Daddy got while Bowen was in the car?

The Opportunity

Bowen certainly has his issues and drives me crazy more often than not. Gratefully, he has a very sweet side to him that just melts my heart and keeps me from sending him home with the gypsies. (Just in case someone reading this does not catch me sarcastic sense of humor, I would never actually give my child away to anyone -- unless he was being really naughty. Again, I'm not serious.) For the last several months, every time Bo would say a meal prayer or family prayer he would say, "we are thankful for the opportunity" or, "please bless the opportunity." That was it, not the opportunity for anything, just the opportunity. It became an ongoing joke between Justin and I, and we would always look at each other and smile each time he'd say "the opportunity."

Several weeks ago, much to our relief, Justin's grandpa was removed from an awful and potentially dangerous situation. Without fail, every prayer Bowen now says includes, "please bless the opportunity that Grandpa R can be safe." It is so sweet, it absolutely melts my heart every time. It is interesting how "clued-in" he is to things that are going on around him, because we are all so thankful for the "opportunity that Grandpa R can be safe." This is why I can still call him Precious Pants, even through all the mischief.

Hot Dogs

Bowen: Mom, I like the hot dogs at Grandma's house.
Mom: What do you like about Grandma's hot dogs?
Bowen: (As he feels a big scab on his knee) Well, they are kind of like my scabs.

FYI: Grandma always fries his hot dogs in a pan, I always warm them in the microwave. Now I know, he likes hot dogs with frying pan scabs on them. Grandma's sometimes do know best!

When Nature Calls . . .

. . . Why bother going inside to use the toilet. I mean, really, what's the point?

Broke Bach Mountain

That's right, we went with the gay cowboy. I'm sure Bach is turning over in his grave! Justin's mom said he looks creepy, but don't ya think he's kinda cute? Okay, maybe if he didn't look so angry . . . Lindsay (the lucky co-worker that got "Bached") wondered why I chose her as the recipient of the gay cowboy. I assured her it was nothing personal, she just hadn't been "Bached" in a while. We all need to be "Bached" now and then.

The Big Surgery!

We got home from the hospital this morning and we're in full recovery mode! Here's Bo's overview of his surgery:

Doctor Bowen a week before the surgery . . . I'm thinking this surgery thing is gonna be fun!


Getting into hospital jammmies before the surgery . . . feelin' a little nervous . .


Nuggin' with Dad and eatin' Popsicles after surgery . . . tryin' to smile and be happy . . . it's not as fun as I thought is was gonna be!


But, Spiderman was there . . .


And I got lots of wagon rides . . .


Mom and I think the BEST part is that we got to come home today!! Sleepovers in the hospital are actually not that fun. Here are my battle wounds. I'm pretty tough about it, though, I just don't like to take my medicine. I think Mom has some recovering to do, as well. She's tired. I've been telling her lots of times that I love her. She says I'm sweet and that I'm a good boy.

I've Been Bached!

It all started at my office Christmas party when Brandie got this Bach as a white elephant and he began circulating around the office in many different forms, from "Bach" Obama to Captain "Bach" Sparrow, and he's even been seen wearing the infamous "Bach" Strap. I was "Bached" on Thursday with the Plague of the "Smallbachs." (Everyone thinks it's especially funny that he has sores all over his face after my MRSA fiasco last year. Ask me to tell you the story if you haven't heard it.) This is what the office is like when you work for attorneys that behave like 14 year old boys. It's a good time - - most of the time! Stay tuned to see what form Bach takes on next week (according to the Baching Committee, yes there's a committee, I have one week to fulfill my Baching responsibility or Bach will be taken from me). . . I know, the suspense is killing you.

The Recap

The Easter Festivities consisted of . . .



Justin going "ape" . . . (and yes, ladies, unfortunately he's taken)



Summoning the Easter Bunny through an ear candling seance . . . (thanks for your services Jack!)



Helping Great Grandpa find joy and rejoicing in his posterity . . . (is that what joy is?)



Letting the men feel all macho shooting their guns . . . (until we forced them to watch Twilight the next day) . . .


And last but not least . . .

Pictures with the whole fam damily!!

What the Fruit Cake?!?!?!?

Seriously, this is in style, and I am supposed to wear this? I found these shopping at Kohl's the other day. I was quite appalled. Bowen summed in all up when he said, "Mama, those are circus clothes!" Need I say more! Does anyone else feel as freaked out as me. It's like the 80's - - only worse . . .

I Guess It's Not an Adam's Apple . . .

So, this is what Bowen looked like when I woke up two weeks ago. He had grown a double chin overnight. Many a hour at the doctors and hospitals and a long story short, he has a little birth defect called a thyroglossal duct cyst. Being the clueless parents that we are, we thought the little lump in his neck was an Adam's apple. Right, a four year old with an Adam's apple. That makes total sense! Cut us some slack, this is our first time as parents! Never mind the night before he was complaining that his neck was hurting. Those darn kids always just wanting attention. Oops. Guess we shouldn't have overlooked that one. I have to add that on that morning I was getting ready to take him to the doctor and he came into the bathroom and informed me that his neck was all better (he didn't want to go to the doctor). I informed him we were still going to the doctor, got my hand mirror and told him to look at his neck in the mirror. He said, "What mama, I don't see any sing." Apparently he's used to seeing an obese child when he looks in the mirror.


This was him a week ago last Tuesday. After a second visit to the ER and a night in the hospital (and several thousand dollars later!) he is doing much better. His cyst apparently became infected and that's why it looked so awful. He still has to have surgery once the infection is gone, poor guy. Don't worry, we have already bought him moon sand and a new transformer to make up for our lack in parenting skills. Oh, and that is my finger at the bottom of the picture. Not only am I a skilled parent, but I have also spent hours studying photography so I could take expert pictures like the one you are currently viewing.

Needless to say, the last couple of weeks have been a little crazy, but I have definitely learned a few important lessons:
1. If your four year old has a strange lump in their neck, it most likely isn't an Adam's apple and you should have it checked out by their doctor. :)
2. If you child complains incessantly that their neck is hurting, maybe they are not just trying to get attention. It could be possible that they are actually in pain. I know this is shocking information.
3. If you are going to take a picture, always include your finger in the bottom of picture. That way, you will get a better perspective of what you are taking a picture of.

My New "To Do" List

I am a big list person. I make lists for everything. I always have a "To Do" list for the day, and it usually involves something like conquering the world. I obviously am a failure everyday. Justin emailed me my new "To Do" List. I love that the character is crossing "Nothing" off the list! Ha, ha, ha! Thought some fellow list makers might appreciate this!!! It's my new fantasy "To Do" list.

It's My Money and I Need It Now!!!!

I was on the phone the other day when I heard Bowen open the front door and yell, "It's my money and I need it now!" He'd just seen this JG Wentworth commercial on the TV and it apparently really meant something to him. I'd worry about what the neighbors would think of me but luckily it's just Karin and RaNae!

I Will Never be Bowen

The other night Bowen and I were eating dinner and he informed me after a couple of bites that he was done. This is not unusual, and of course, I know when bedtime rolls around, he will complain of being hungry. So I said to Bowen, "If I were you, I would eat a little bit more, because this is all you are going to get to eat before bed." His reply was, "Oh, Mom, you're never going to be me." How silly of me to say such an absurd thing!!

A Little Naughty Every Day

Well, it has been an interesting holiday season this year. Things certainly did not go as I would have planned, and I'm very slow posting anything about Christmas. Even when things going on in life seem quite serious, Bowen always keeps us laughing. We made it through Christmas and Bowen said a funny thing to Justin afterwards, "How come Santa still came when a was a little bit bad every day?" I can't remember what Justin's explanation was but in my head I was thinking that I'm a little bit bad everyday, too! Some days I'm more that a little bit bad, especially lately. Then when his cousin Emma came over the other day he told her, "I want to show you want Santa brought me even though I was a little naughty every day." What this says about me as a parent, I'm not sure I want to know, but I think I'm doing the best I can, I hope . . .

UTAH SUGAR BOWL CHAMPS

Sugar Bowl
No. 6 Utah 31, No. 4 Alabama 17


Sorry, I am hijacking my wife's blog for 1 post. I just wanted to say how proud I am to be a Utah fan. What a good showing for all non BCS schools. GO UTES!!!!!!!