Happy Valentine's Day

I can't believe it but this is our 6th Valentine's Day together. Actually, 2-14-2006 was our second date. I remember being so nervous because we were still getting to know each other. I didn't want Spencer to feel obligated or weird. But he took me out to the Blue Bird and we went back to his place to watch a movie. He gave me a card with a picture of a donkey on it that said something funny. I still have it somewhere. Everything was new and exciting- the way it is at the beginning of a relationship. Since our first date we have hardly gone more than a few days without seeing each other (except that first summer when I went home.) I think about the day we met, when he called to ask me out, our first date, our first kiss and I can remember so much about how I felt and how much I just enjoying being with him. It was definitely different and better then anything else I had ever felt and I knew from the beginning that it was different. Now, 5 years later, I still consider myself so lucky to have married that first date. It was my last first date, but I have never once been sad about that. Now I have the best partner in the world to share all the rest of my 'firsts' with. Including this one:

Reese is the second love of my life- Spencer's too. She makes me smile and laugh everyday. She has brought back that sense of newness because every day with her is new. She is learning and growing and changing. Our love for each other has grown through her and she makes both Spence and I better people.

So Happy Valentine's Day to all of you and especially to my two Valentines- I love you both!

Be Happy

That was one of my goals last week. I have just been struggling lately and I shouldn't be. I have a wonderful husband, a sweet daughter and family who lives close by. I have several great friends (well, I have many but several within a 30 mile radius.) I live in an apartment that is safe and warm. I have a car to drive and food to eat. Spence has a great job that allows me to stay home and be a mom. I have a strong testimony and relationship with my Savior. But I have just been bumming out.

So last week my goals were to stay busy and be happy. I love staying at home with Reese and most days I make really good use of my time- working out, reading scriptures, keeping the house (relatively) clean and organized and working toward personal goals. But sometimes I don't. It's weird how when you have a lot of time on your hands, sometimes you just don't do anything because you don't have to. Then when you don't do anything you feel totally unaccomplished and depressed. I wish I was better at self motivating- I'm working on it.

So all last week I was happy- each and every day I found a million things to be happy about. A bird landed on my balcony and I got to watch it = happy. Reese figured out how to drink out of my Camelbak = happy. Spence cleaned up all the Superbowl dishes (and there were a lot of them) = happy. Reese did awesome at church yesterday = double happy. Al took 3rd in KingCo for wrestling = happy. I finished a really great book (Half Broke Horses) = happy. The list goes on and on and it's growing everyday.

I'm feeling much better and I'm going to keep working on it.

January stinks

So I have decided that January is the lamest month of the year. Nothing left to look forward to now that Christmas and New Year's are over. It's cold and wet and where I live, it looks like this:

 Gray. All day. Every day.

I lived in Seattle for a while growing up and I didn't think it would bother me when we moved back but I am struggling. I need one of those UV happy lamps or something. I tell Spence every day that I wish tanning didn't give you cancer so I could go and get some vitamin D and some warmth (not to mention some color on my totally pastey legs.) I'll live through it- but this has definitely solidified my desire to go to grad school somewhere sunny and warm- Arizona, Texas, Florida, Hawaii.

Coming Home

When Spence and I were first married we met this awesome couple in our ward- Scott and Michelle Hart. They are great friends and they introduced us to rock climbing. There was a gym in Logan like 3 minutes from our house and we would go climbing 3-4 times a week. It is the best sport to do as couples because you can totally go at your own pace and skill level without slowing anyone else down (or making them feel bad because you are better at it than them.) When we were able to go that often we really saw ourselves improve. Of course, life changes and with a baby we have not exactly had the time to dedicate to this 'wholesome recreational activity.' But as part of our New Year's Resolutions we have decided to go rock climbing at least once a month. So yesterday we went with my mom and dad. Mom watched Reese while the other 3 of us climbed. I know this is going to sound way too deep for what I'm talking about but it was like coming home. I had the best time. Sure, I'm not nearly as good as I was before but it was so nice to be just me and my little muscles and the wall.

Spence aka Spider Man. He is just so tall he skips holds all the time and is up the wall before I can even blink.

My dad is 53 and totally keeps up with me. He and I were doing all the same climbs.

You can't see my face but it is beaming with joy.

Even Reese enjoyed herself. We will be getting her into a climbing harness as soon as possible.

It would have been so easy to be discouraged because it has been so long and I kind of have to start over. But kind of the opposite things happened- I want to go back as much as I can so I can work back up to it. I love it- and when you have something in your life that you enjoy that much you have to figure out a way to make it work.

Old habits die hard

So I went to the photo desk at Fred Meyer today to pick up some pictures that I had dropped off. They couldn't find them! They weren't in the drawer under "Watts." They weren't on the counter and they weren't in the machine. Turns out I had typed my last name in as "Thorpe." I have been married for over 4 years and I have never done that before. Kind of funny.

Another nap time gone

So Reese has been asleep for an hour. An hour ago I turned on my computer with full intentions of working on my talk I'm giving in church on Sunday. But here we are 60 minutes later and... no talk. I have spent the last hour looking at blogs, uploading pictures to facebook, reading people's walls on facebook, shopping for a new head band, eating a snack while I checked my favorite photographer's website and now writing a blog post about it. Social media got to me again... whoops.

I can't live without...

 If I could keep this in a holster on my belt- I would. Reese spits up regularly and almost always on the carpet... or my pants... or Spencer's shirt.

 Reese loves Elmo's World so much. She will not sit still on her own unless this is on. She is in love with Mr. Noodle- the second he comes on screen she laughs and laughs. This is how I get things done while she is awake. (I'm not a bad mom- she only gets 30 minutes a day.)

 The best high chair for apartment living. Plus, Reese is a social girl and wouldn't be happy unless she was at the table with us. This is also how we read books because she won't sit still if she isn't strapped in.

This is Lovey. If Reese has this little guy to suck on, she goes to sleep like a champ.

And of course, these two :)

The Christmas Tie

My Dad has a million ties. He has worn a tie to work everyday probably since before I was born. Some people in his office take a 'casual Friday.' Not my Dad- he still wears a tie. My Mom has offered to get him a nice rotating tie rack. He said no- he keeps them all on a wooden rack and he says he has a system. Some ties have been given to him as gifts. Some ties are from other countries. Some ties are really, really nice. Some ties are not. When my little brother was asked to describe our Dad for a Father's Day project, one of the first things he said was "my Dad wears a tie."

My Dad is a wonderful man. He has worked hard his whole life to support his family, to teach us the things we need to know about the gospel and the world. But he plays hard too. When I was little, he would come home from work and take his tie off- that meant he was ready to play. I know my Dad was busy with work and callings and personal interests but he took the time to play with us every night. He is my friend and he cares about me. When he gives me a hug it is never cursory- he means it every time.

 

I told my Dad once, probably a long time ago, that this is my favorite of his ties. I don't know where he bought it or who gave it to him. I don't even remember when I told him that. But every year at Christmas he saves this tie just for me. When I would come home from college for the holidays he would wear it to church for me. This tie is one of the many ways that he tells me how much he loves me. I live closer to him now and I get to see him more often, so you might think small gestures like this wouldn't need to happen any more. But last week when we went to have lunch with him at his office he wore this tie again- just for me.

Living Vicariously

So I didn't start dancing until high school but I loved ballet. I never got really good, so I have decided that Reese is going to be an amazing dancer so I can live vicariously through her. She has already started...

I'm pretty sure I saw a changement, a pas de chat and a petit jete in there. And check out that turn out! Swan Lake, here we come.

Carnival Splendor Wednesday and Thursday

So about this time on our trip Spence and I got tired of making the captains log and started journaling the way it really was.

*Wednesday November 10, 2010 4:00pm

It has been a better day. They started serving food in 3 places instead of 1 so the lines have been better but the caliber of food still isn't great. The weather has been a bit warmer so we spent a lot of time today out on deck. We both finally bit the bullet and took freezing cold showers with the door open so we could get some light. We saw some dolphins this morning which was fun. We are making good time and they say we will be in San Diego by noon on Thursday but we will still have to disembark. We finally got cell service and I called Mom. I couldn't talk long, but she did ask if I was eating Pop Tarts. I thought it was really weird she would ask me that. I found out later that we have been all over the news. They are saying all we have is Spam and Pop Tarts- I would love a pop tart but I haven't seen any. We did have a very nice fellow passenger give us a can of Pringles. He had waited in line for an hour when they opened the gift shop but somehow ended up getting more then he needed. It was so nice.

We thought this was so funny- they were on every floor by the elevators and almost all of them spelled vomit with a 'd'

Me and our delicious can of Pringles- what a treat

The pop tarts appeared Thursday morning at breakfast. Breakfast really was the best meal- cereal and yogurt as opposed to weird sandwiches and lettuce.

By Wednesday we were really getting bored. We also were really struggling with the smells of the ship. You pretty much had 4 choices: inside it smelled like spoiled and rotting food, outside it smelled like diesel from the emergency generator, many floors smelled like human waste (sorry that's gross) and lots of the common rooms smelled like cigarette smoke. We chose the cigarette smoke- we would sit in the smokers lounge and play cards because that was the smell we could stand the most. Our clothes reeked when I unpacked our suit cases. The rotting food smell was the worst and it was so hard to wait in line for food for an hour and smell it. By Wednesday night, I couldn't eat dinner because I was so tired of the food and it all reeked so bad. So like I said, those Pop Tarts Thursday morning were awesome.

Lucky for us we pulled into San Diego Thursday morning around 8:00am. We had no power still so that meant no propulsion and no steering. So we were so close for so long, but the tugs had to pull and push us in real slow. Then they had to hook up all the gang planks manually. By some divine providence, we were in the first disembarkation group- there were 30 groups I think. So we were one of the very first people off the boat. They had a tent set up with agents to help us with our travel arrangements- they had booked us a very nice room at the Westin in Los Angeles. They also provided buses for everyone.

San Diego

Doesn't Spence look happy in this picture?

Lucky for us, our good friends Scott and Meaghan Latimer were in San Diego, so they picked us up. However, in order to leave the dock and get to a place where we could meet up with them we had to/ got to walk through the media. There were vans and satellite trucks all over from all the major networks who wanted coverage on the story. Since we were some of the first people off both Spence and I were able to be interviews. Spence didn't love it but I thought it was a hoot. They were shoving cameras and microphones in my face and asking me all these questions. I got e-mails and text messages from people all over the place- Washington, Utah, Texas- who saw Spence and I on TV or read quotes from us in the paper. Here are a few links to our interviews:

http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/107287843.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/12/earlyshow/main7047942.shtml

On this one I am quoted in the written story and then if you watch the video we are at the 2 minute mark. We both kind of look like goons, but oh well.

So needless to say, we were glad it was over. We were tempted to fly home Friday night, but since the Latimer's were there and we had free hotel accommodations, we decided to stay until Sunday night and end our vacation on a high note with hot food, hot showers and Disneyland. Details to come!

Carnival Splendor- Monday afternoon and Tuesday

Sorry it took me so long to continue the epic saga- we moved this week! More on that later, but for now let me take you back to the Splendor.


Captain's Log Monday November 8th, 2010 1600 hours
Due to my forsight and many years as a seasoned sea captain I have just barely decided to contact the closest port- Ensanada Mexico. We are still unsure whether we can get our propulsion system running, so Ensanada has dispatched 2 tug boats in case we need to be towed in. Luckily it is a lovely 65 degrees, cloudy and windy so I'm sure the passengers will enjoy sun bathing out on deck.

1700 hours
I have just been informed that some passengers have the audacity to be worrying about how Carnival will be compensating them for this little speed bump. If it were up to me, the passengers would be grateful! It's not everyday you have a hero for a captain. I guess 15 hours without working toilets would make my 3374 passengers a little crabby.

* This was a the longest day EVER! We walked around, stood in line for food, read, played 2-person Yahtzee, Skipbo and Phase 10, laid in our room (it was impossible to nap as they were making announcements every 5 seconds.) We went on deck but it was cloudy and windy. It was not awesome. 

2200 hours
We just made the last announcement of the night, but I'm sure the passengers will hear my melodious voice even in their dreams. The toilets are working and we expect the tug boats between 1 and 4am. So all in all, not a bad day. I think I'll wear my Spongebob tie for Letterman.

Tuesday November 9th, 2010 0400 hours
The tugboats we expected by now have not arrived. Apparently they have all night Happy Hours in Ensanada and they won't be here until mid-day. It's just as well, because I am doing a great job in the mean time.

0600 hours
So I just got a call from the US Coastguard and the US Navy. Apparently they are sending a Coastguard boat and an aircraft carrier. It's completely unnecessary- I have it all under control. 

US Coastguard

USS Ronald Reagan

0800 hours
Uh Oh- we are running out of water and food. I guess it's good that the USS Ronald Reagan is here and it's helicopter can fly in some provisions. We thought we saw a huge piece of drift wood, but it turned out to be a Mexican Navy ship. I radioed over, but they didn't have any hot tacos on board. 

 The helicopter from the Ronald Reagan brought us 60 pallets of supplies.

 The ship from the Mexican Navy

* So today we really did see the Coast Guard, the Mexican Navy and the USS Ronald Reagan. That was probably the brightest spot in our trip so far. It's a good thing it wasn't the USS Jimmy Carter or Spence might have thrown himself overboard. 

The captain told us the plan was to be tugged to Ensanada and we would disembark there. I thought it sounded disastrous- how were they going to get all 3374 of us off the ship, through customs and border patrol and then into the US? So at 6:00pm on Tuesday he announced that we would be tugged to San Diego instead. This meant that we would be on the ship an extra day and a half- we would arrive in San Diego Thursday night. Throughout the day we went from having 1 tug boat to two to expecting 5 total but only ever ended up with three.

One of our tug boats- the Chihuahua

More to come soon!

Carnival Splendor- Sunday and Monday morning

Where to even start. I thought about doing this all in one post, but there is just too much, so this is going to be a series- something to look forward to, right? We have tried to make it a little funny, so you don't have to read us complaining so much. We were lucky enough to stumble across the 'captain's log' from our voyage, so you will be fortunate enough to hear this story from multiple perspectives.

Captain's Log Sunday November 7, 2010 1800 hours

The cruise is underway and only a mere 2 hours late. Today was our annual Coast Guard inspection. Even though the passengers had to wait outside in line for 2 extra hours, I'm sure it comforts them to know that we passed with flying colors.

* After a long day of flying, standing in line to check in for the ship, a safety orientation and a 2 hour delay we were excited to eat. We have heard how fun the cruise wait staff can be- ours was about as exciting as a rock. Our waiter- Innocenti- is from India. We called him Manmeet- but not to his face (anyone seen Outsourced?) After dinner we went to the "Welcome Show." After 1.5 hours of mediocre jokes from John, the British cruise director, we decided to leave when the passenger on stage was named Dick Little- you can imagine the jokes that came from that. We decided to hit the club to let loose and get our groove on. Just one problem- there was no one there! So we watched some drunken karaoke and headed off to bed, looking forward to a good night's sleep.

 Spencer looking very excited to go on our cruise

Captain's Log Monday November 8, 2010 0600 hours

Uh Oh- there seems to be quite a bit of smoke in the engine room. It must be a "flameless fire." Whoever said duct tape would fix anything was full of crap.

0700 hours

We have sounded the emergency alarm, woken up all the passengers and brought them to the top deck. Of course, the power is out and elevators don't work. But I'm sure 12 flights of stairs won't be a problem. I'm so excited! I'm going to be just like that guy who landed his plane on the Hudson. I'll be a hero. I wonder what I should wear on Letterman?

0800 hours

For the last hour we have been "dissassissapating" the smoke from the engine and aft cabins. We have instructed the passengers to return to their cabins.

0815 hours

Just kidding- they need to stay on the deck.

0830 hours

Actually those in the forward cabins can return to their rooms. People love a decisive leader. So far the only systems down are the elevators, cabin lights, cabin water, toilet suction, AC/ heating, all food prep areas propulsion and entertainment. Basically anything that needs electricity, so everything. We have received a few complaints, but it could be worse. They could be starving.

1200 Oh dear- they are starving. Luckily I had the crew whip up a delicious meal of kidney beans and shredded carrots. And for dessert- tortilla chips!

* Because we don't drink or gamble, we came on this cruise to eat and get tan. Since all the power was out they couldn't cook anything- so we really ate shredded veggies and canned meats. We both worked out and ate healthy to get in shape for this cruise but I'm pretty sure that we came home skinnier. This is a cruise Gandhi would be proud of. I'm so glad we didn't waste our money on Sketchers Shape-Ups because we took 12 flights of stairs at least 5 times a day. Our calves are looking pretty good.

Spencer looking less excited because our ship is broken

Stay tuned for the next installment :)

Dream Cruise 2010

We were on the Carnival Splendor. Stay tuned for details.

The Sweet Taste of Victory

So as we all know, having a baby changes your body... FOREVER! Well a few months ago Spence and I decided to set some goals to help us get in shape for our vacation. I don't like to set goals based solely on weight because I feel like it fluctuates so much. Also, my action plan included a fair amount of weight lifting, and muscle weighs more than fat, right? So I had a size- a pants size that I wanted to fit into before we left. Well last night we went to the mall and guess what... they fit! Not only did they fit, but they were comfortable and they looked good. And, there was actually one pair of pants that was even one size smaller that fit (I think they may have been miss marked but hey, I'll take it!) It is so nice when you work hard and it pays off. What have I been doing? P90X. I am not as crazy as they want you to be, but it's working for me and I kick my own trash every time I work out. I also did a little of this but not a lot because I hate it. I have done the full blown diet once before and it worked awesome but I was so miserable. I like to eat. Which leads me to my next thought... what does victory taste like?

It tastes like these- mellowcreme pumpkins. I love them so much. Each year I buy one bag and it has to last me all of autumn. Spencer hates them so I get them all to myself. Every morning after breakfast I count out 5 and that is my allotment for the day. They are delicious and totally worth the sugar. Yummy!

Yikes!

I was just checking the 10 day forcast and I saw this:

Fri
Nov 12

Rain / Snow Showers

Can you believe that? I'm not ready!