Charles in Charge

Ties and Diapers

2012-01-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Bret & Jen Rawson family for this adorable Daddy-Baby matching birthday present for our little, dapper man. All he needs is a tiny briefcase and he'll be ready for preschool...Can't you just picture it?

Both are wearing ties, but I'll let you decide which is also wearing a diaper...

Back to Bethlehem

2012-01-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

And finally, this is what Christmas evening looked like at the Chalet de Charles. If you ask a seven month pregnant lady to host her first Christmas dinner, then you'd better be up for anything...

These Charles folks were great sports, and they totally made this ancient feast come together with their period-perfect food contributions.

While some found the fare too exotic for 'merican tastebuds, I could eat this every day of my life and be a happy girl.

Dates, anyone?

Our little shepard boy sweetly served his two-minute time-out for touching Mamma's tripod after several warnings. It's very hard to discipline someone this cute, but it's for the greater good!

Liam is very excited that his baby brother will soon join the party, but he's not so excited about giving up "his" cradle.

We are very grateful to the late, great Steve Jobs, especially during important holidays...

Kevin won the best-dressed contest by a mile, complete with lamb and ski-pole/shepard-crook.

It doesn't take much to elicit these expressions from Liam...a simple "show me your teeth!" will do.

Many thanks to Autie Tracie for the great photography, because I was a bit, well, occupied.

At least for my immediate family, the Bethlehem Dinner will be a Christmas tradition. Christmas is becoming more and more about Santa, the mountains of gifts, stress...everything but Christ himself. It's time to backtrack. We have so much to be thankful for.

Speaking of being thankful, it was a Christmas miracle that I didn't collapse from exhaustion afterwards. Thanks for indulging me in my non-traditional (although quite traditional when you think about it) tradition, everyone!

On Christmas Morn

2012-01-15T17:57:00.000-07:00

Some rearranging of schedules was required this Christmas, as the big day fell on a Sunday. So, the three-point-five of us opened stockings from Santa around 9am after Liam woke up, enjoyed an hour of church and didn't get to the rest of the loot until late that evening because we hosted the Charles family for Christmas dinner (my first time hosting Christmas...lots of work...yikes.)

Wes and I sang in the ward choir Christmas day and the lovely bishop's wife was sweet enough to hang out with our boy during the two numbers. Liam loves to practice with us at home...

The best Christmas gift in the universe below...

I have so much to be grateful for in 2011, with these two handsome specimens topping the list.

Seriously, there is nothing I love more than my sweet boys.

Opening the rest of the gifts Christmas night was a little...confusing due to several Charles-kids-who-shall-remain-nameless. I think they saw a bunch of gifts under the tree and must have thought, "Hey, we should help out this poor family; they haven't even opened their gifts yet!" So, if we haven't thanked you for personally for your lovely gifts, it's probably because we have no idea who they are from...With that said, thanks so much to Maddie's family for the virtual schmorgesborg of presents for Liam! He's obsessed with all of his Thomas paraphenalia, and while we had to take back the computer (compoodle) and sherpa set because he already had them, he LOVES both of those as well (you have very good taste.) Thanks SO much to Grandpa and MoMo for the moolah which purchased a brand new Bluray player and digital camera for the Charles fam. What a wonderful treat! Liam also thanks you for the jammies and books, both totally essential to his happiness in life.

And it must be said, that Santa totally came through this year and brought Liam "paint" and a "Thomas movie", per his request. Great job, Santa! P.S. Mamma got some really cool galoshes and tall leather boots and Dadda got a tool set and matching Polo sweaters for he and Liam. Don't they look dapper? Dadda also gave Mommy a book of tickets good for various types of massages, courtesy of a loving hubby. Christmas morn + evening was a success!

Twas the Night Before...

2012-01-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

Christmas Eve was held at my parents' home this year, with no shortage of Rawsons. My mom decorated to the nines once again, and everyone was filled with the general merriment that this time of year always offers. Much to everyone's amazement, we were able to pull of a Rawson family picture (first since my wedding in 2008) with the help of the tripod and many bribes for Liam.

Yes, Weston, the preggo girl wore sparkly sequins to Christmas Eve dinner. Do you really think I can hide what's protruding from my knees to neck? Let's just embrace it, k? I love our little family of 3.5.

The Bret Rawson fam...Can I get a smile, Garrett? Teenagers. (sigh)

Surprisingly, the Daniel Rawson family was the most well-behaved during their family photo. I don't think it's due to experience...they don't do this very often. Well done, guys. Cheer up, Eli!

Papa with all of the boys...including the little teeny one in my belly, who will make the ninth grandchild (eight of which have both x and y chromosomes.)

I've always thought Wes looks great in red. And a red apron? Don't even get me started. Hubba-hubba.

Great job, Mamma! P.S. Can we make honey-baked ham a tradition? I'm a fan, and I think you're right about heating it past room temperature. Much better.

Mr. Liam left his mark on Christmas Eve. His mamma slaved over a delicious Apple-Pear Crisp (with the help of Dadda's peeling skills), but she waited to bake it until half-way through dinner so that it would be fresh out of the oven for dessert. About twenty minutes into baking it, Liam snuck into the kitchen and turned the dial up one hundred degrees to 475 F. Needless to say, my Crisp was a bit crispier than intended (black). Everyone was a good sport and told me how delicious the bottom half was (liars). Thanks for your contribution, stinker!

I have weird big brothers. If you don't know them, well, you really don't know them.

Lindsay had one too many Shirley Temples, methinks. College students. (sigh)

Because scissors just don't do the trick...

Thank you, Daniel & Linda, for the T.J. Maxx gift card...you know us too well. And Liam loves his Mr. Potato head! It's just like the one at nursery!

Grammy & Papa, you really know how to make a boy happy. School bus! It doesn't take much, does it? Good work! Wes and I can't WAIT to go to Fireside Dining next week with you. What a perfect Christmas present.

Thanks for the snowman kit, Bret, Jen and kids! Now if only Park City would get a storm or two...

I have a really good husband. He ate my blackened Apple-Pear Crisp.

And so did I, reluctantly. I'll eat anything my baby helped to make.

We were all so impressed by Isaac and Kaleb's musical talents. This little four year old treats his violin with so much maturity (he'd better; it's worth more than he can count...) and plays it like a pro! Only furthering the Asian-child stereotype ;-) Of course, we'll do the same with our kids so maybe it's more of a Rawson stereotype.

You would not believe Kaleb's piano prowess. I started piano at age 6, and Kaleb at 7 is playing what took me at least a couple of years to master. Great work, bud. Keep practicing!

Thanks to the Rawson clan for making yet another Christmas wonderful. The fact that we all gather under one roof only once or twice a year makes it all the more special. Anyone want to go to California this summer?

Family Ties

2011-12-31T15:50:00.000-07:00

This holiday season was filled with lots of Rawsons, including the Daniel and Linda Rawson family who flew in for ten days. It was so good to see the little Rawson boys and meet our 5-month old nephew, Eli Jeremiah (I want to steal him.) Rawsons make abnormally cute babies. Now, if only we could figure out how to make girls...

I had the whole crew over for a dinner on December 22 and while I may have overestimated my energy level for hosting multiple events in my third trimester (no more hosting at my place for at least half a year, thank you), it was amazing to have everyone under the same roof once again. Daniel's fam missed the photo op that night, but the dearth of Spaghetti alla Carbonara leftovers is proof that they were there.

Here is a random sampling of the cuteness we experienced over their visit. Did I mention that I love this baby to pieces? (I still fantasize about having an asian baby.)

Eli is such a good natured little cherub. He loves blowing raspberries, watching his brothers and cousins play, and is seriously offended if his mom walks by him without at least saying hello. And I would pay money to see this smile.

Isaac is growing up so fast! He and Kaleb attend a Lutheran school in Austin because the public options just aren't up to par. Occasionally, they come home with what can only be described as harmless "Lutheranisms" which Daniel tries his best to correct at home. One night, Isaac led family prayer and after the normal "we're thankful for Mamma and Dadda" stuff, he said "and we're thankful for Jesus, even though he's dead." Daniel interrupted the prayer and asked Isaac what he meant. Isaac repeated himself and Daniel said, "Actually, Jesus is not dead. He did die, but then he came back to life..." This was followed by a rather vociferous "HOW?" by both Kaleb and Isaac whose eyes were as big as saucers. Daniel explained that being resurrected in one of Jesus' powers, like walking on water and healing the sick. He can do all kinds of things! And one day we'll be resurrected just like Him...Isaac continued his prayer after this rather enlightening discussion and said, "and we're thankful for Jesus, who is NOT dead." Precious moments.

Happy 1st Christmas, Baby Eli!

Of course, Liam was in heaven being around all of these boys.

Possibly Liam's favorite guy in the world (besides Dadda)...

Daniel signed Kaleb and Isaac up for skiing lessons at Deer Valley for three days. Luckily, they still had energy to sled a few days later with Liam. Although nearly January, they experienced spring snow conditions during their stay (poor resorts.) Dang global warming.

Wes's war wound. He tried going down a slide head first after Liam and this was the result...We made him go home, ice it and take some Tylenol because he was a little loopier than normal.

Kaleb is the tallest seven year old I know! He towers over his peers (it must be all of that protein his mom cooks.) He is excelling at piano and soccer and is quite the perfectionist (runs in the family.) Eli is, by far, his biggest fan. Kaleb need just walk by the little guy and Eli will squeal with delight.

We miss not having these guys as neighbors. We'll always have these Christmas memories, like when Daniel squirted Diet Coke out of his nose and nearly wet himself after I called myself an Oomp-Loompa. (I was just trying to explain why Linda should feel obligated to have more children because she looks so good afterwards...and I, well, don't.) Let's all petition Dell to open up a Salt Lake branch!

Christmas Chalet de Charles

2011-12-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

Would it be inappropriate to keep the Christmas decor up all year long? It just makes the ambiance SO much better, don't you agree? I'm at least waiting until February to take it down (or hiring someone to do it seeing as how I'll be eight months preggo by then. Volunteers?)

This Is The Place!

2011-12-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

My request was simple. I wanted to do something Christmasy with my family that did not involve sweat labor (shopping for food, cooking it, wrapping presents, etc.) Molly and Vic suggested that we visit This Is The Place Heritage Park for a beautiful, simpler, antique Christmas. A small pioneer village decked out like a Currier & Ives card, complete with choo-choo, live nativity (in a real manger), live reindeer and of course, Father Christmas, the place did not disappoint. What a hidden treasure! I would love a trip to this park to become one of our family traditions.

Santa: Take Two. Still wary of the man with the bag, Liam reluctantly hopped up on the thinner-than-usual Santa's knee and with a little more gusto than before and told "Father Christmas" his Christmas wishes (paint/Thomas movie.) Maybe the result of a little case of being star-struck--he never quite looked the man in the eye.

The Huntsman Hotel

The Deseret News Printing Press (Liam was a good helper and assisted in making a reproduction of the very first Christmas card ever printed.)

Vintage Carolers. I want their job.

The most beautiful live nativity I've seen...in an authentic barn with sheep and goats. We got a private show with the carolers singing Silent Night softly in the background. You MUST see this!

Liam was in heaven at the live puppet show in the "Social Hall." I think Wes may have enjoyed himself as well.

Naturally, Wes and Liam sign the Nice list while I'm subjected to the Not-So-Nice one. Okay, so maybe I didn't immaculately conceive this child...sorry!

Santa's reindeer taking a much-needed break from their duties...

Most of the children lined up to watch the carolers sing, but not our Liam. He had his own private dance party.

It's a little pricy at $10/adult, but SO well-worth it. I was more than pleasantly surprised. The last day of Candlelight Christmas is December 27 (not open Christmas day), 6-9pm. Please don't miss it!

The Good Fight

2011-12-23T18:09:00.001-07:00

I can't hold back any longer. There is a soap box waiting, and I'm about to get on it.

Do you understand how anxious I am for the 2012 Election? I feel like the campaigns have been going on for years already, and it is insane to me that we're only going to be voting in the primaries in the coming months. This will have been the longest road back from lunacy that I have ever witnessed in this country.

A few thoughts (in no particular order) on last week's final debate before the Iowa caucus...(p.s. why does everyone put so much weight on what Iowa thinks anyway?)

Why did we have seven panelists this debate when this is really a two, maybe three man race? I like Santorum and all, but can he, Huntsman, Perry and Bachmann please acknowledge when to back down and let the guys who actually have a chance duke it out so I can have clarity?

On the other hand, it's fun when an outlier brings up something that we may never have known about, such as Michelle Bachmann drilling Newt Gingrich on his position on partial-birth abortion. While the truth may not have surfaced in three minutes, at least I am aware of the question.

I am totally on board with so much of what Ron Paul says, but he loses literally all credibility with me when he starts opining on foreign policy. Sit down and have a nice little conversation with Ahmadinejad? Please. The man is in crazy town. Stick with the federal reserve stuff.

I can't help but laugh out loud every time Perry speaks. I turn to Wes and go, "I mean, seriously??" Is it just me, or is he like a Saturday Night Live parody of himself? I don't know how any voter can take this guy seriously. It's not just bad debate skills; this goes much deeper. Sorry, Perry, but I don't think you're going to be the Tim Tebow of this election...the Lord is clearly on the side of the Mormons, don't you know that? ;-)

Speaking of Mormons, I think Huntsman is a robot. His single-lifted eyebrow is permanently stuck in an "I have indigestion" expression. The only things he has going for him is that Utah is one of the best places to start a business or get a job, buy health insurance and he speaks Mandarin. He just doesn't come across as a real person. Too bad.

I love Santorum's emphasis on the family and marriage as the fundamental units of a free society. He is constantly trying to elbow his way into the debate discussions, but when he does, I like what he has to say. He'd be a great president in 2040.

Michelle Bachmann probably is more adept at foreign policy than anyone else on the stage and she also has a great handle on taxation. My favorite Michelle Bachmann moment was a few debates ago when she opined that everyone living in this country and benefiting from its resources and services should have to pay something, even if just $1. So true. When did we become an entitlement society where those benefiting from handouts make up nearly half of the voting population? Is something wrong here? And I know this sounds trite, but I would probably respect her more if she didn't sound like the mom from Bobby's World, don'tcha know? That probably should not be a factor in determining her credibility as POTUS...or should it? Do Putin and Chavez know Bobby's World?

I love Newt's intelligence and respect for this country's history. I love that when he responds to a question, you are getting "the truth as Newt sees it at this given moment," as zany as it may seem. One of the criticisms of Mr. Speaker is his unpredictability, but I would suggest that it is more of an unrehearsed honesty which is, to me, quite refreshing in a world of politicians constantly weighing what groups A, B and C will think if I say this...(better stick with the canned American exceptionalism answer!) I never really worry that his unpredictability is going to result in some wacky out-of-left-field opinion (but perhaps a colorful soundbite). He has a set of principles and values and from them, he draws well-formed, logical conclusions. I can get on board with that. But I see some issues about to surface...

Newt's sudden rise in the polls has often been described as voters seeking an alternative to Mitt Romney. (A Real Clear Politics average poll has Gingrich leading by 3 points.) Here is my prediction. Now that Newt is the big shot on the block, I think American voters' recent enthusiasm will slowly dim and there will be a mass return to the Romney camp as an alternative to Newt Gingrich. Because, you see, in the end, character does matter (even in a crisis.) You just can't cheat on your wife without consequences.

Romney has been bombarded with questions regarding social policy and I believe he's handled them quite well. The dinosaur media has portrayed him as the guy who'll say anything to win a race. But let's take his stance on abortion. Massachusetts has a consistent, pro-choice history since Roe v. Wade in 1973. Romney ran for the office of governor and consistently has defended his decision to "keep the laws as they were on the books." But, when a piece of legislation passed his desk that would involve experimentation on live embryos, he was faced with a real choice that he simply could not get behind. I believe him, and so should you. What did you want the guy to do? "Hey voters, when I get into office, I'm really gonna shake things up and outlaw abortions, gay marriage, you name it!" He respects the voice of the people, but is guided by principles at the same time. The next doofus in office may fool around with the sanctity of human life, but not this guy.

I believe him when he says that one of his first orders of business will be to repeal Obamacare. I just wish someone would ask him what he intends to replace it with...He's a big states-rights guy, so it's not going to be anything mirroring Romneycare. But could he at least hint at tort reform, emphasizing preventative care, making HSAs/HRAs more advantageous, insurance sales across state lines, and regulation? The lack of clarity here makes me want to scratch my eyeballs out.

I wish Romney's response to his off-the-cuff $10,000 bet faux pas had been a part of the actual debate. Sean Hannity asked him about it later and he had a great response. He said, "After that debate, my wife Anne told me that she loved me and I did a great job. Then she said, 'There are a many things you are good at, but betting isn't one of them.'" Great response. Too bad no one heard it, He's good at brushing off things that rabid, salivating leftists might try to capitalize on...

And the scariest shock of all is that each one of these clowns is still behind Obama in the polls, even with Obama's 51% disapproval rating! How is that even possible? I'm trying to have faith in American voters, but with stats like that it's hard to stay strong. Do we really need to drift into another recession, go bankrupt, be downgraded again, lose the support of our allies, turn into Greece and face extinction before people get the point that whatever he is doing is NOT WORKING? Come on, people. This is just lunacy.

And thus concludes my rant.

Best Buddies

2011-12-17T21:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our backyard and to my boys making some good use out of it...

Do you think Wes is happy to finally have kids? Or do you think he is just happy to finally have a permanent playmate?

I think it is all of the above.

Santa Baby

2011-12-13T13:23:00.002-07:00

Turning two has been a game changer for Liam. He knows all about Santa, the reindeer, where snow comes from, and how toys get into his stocking. This past Saturday, we were able to enjoy our ward Christmas breakfast party. Liam is no fool, and I think he could tell this guy was one of Santa's "helpers" and not the real thing. Just watch his face as things progress...he's like "I know you're not the real guy, so just give me the candy cane. Oh, and tell the man I want paint."

The Write-a-Caption Contest begins NOW!

Let It Snow!

2011-12-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

Liam has had a change of heart since last winter. He is now a HUGE fan of the snow...touching it, throwing it, sledding, eating it, you name it, he is GAME. The days of indoor play are over. Liam is not afraid of the elements. Skiing, here we come. So, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Liam is a child of Park City!

Molly's Christmas Giveaway

2011-12-08T22:29:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you've heard, but I've been completely obsessed with genealogy lately. More specifically, with uncovering the mystery that is my mother's Puerto Rican extended family. (No one seemed to think keeping records on women back in the day was important...funny.) Anyway, this all started when Molly did a post about neat genealogy charts available on Etsy at i (chart) you. I kind of fell in love with them. I'm four names away from completing the fifth generation! This obsession has turned into something much more than a home decorating project and it feels incredible to feel a connection with my ancestors. You should try it. I know it seems like kind of an elderly person past-time, but if you wait too long, all of the people you need for information will be long gone! Get on it.

Hey, want to see my Great-Great-Great-Grandpa Horace Strong Rawson? He was a pioneer in the Wilford Woodruff Company...Quite the looker, eh?

Anyway, Molly is doing a fun Christmas giveaway on her blog and one of the gifts is a chart (the digital file). I want to do one for each of my children.

Go here to enter: http://jacksonparkcity.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-thank-you-giveaway.html

Do you love it?

I Love to See the Temple (Especially at Christmas)

2011-12-08T11:42:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I cajoled my family into a temple lights trip. I simply can't get enough of Temple Square this time of year! I did not, however, completely think through my plan. We went on opening night of the lights show and I swear to you that THE ENTIRE COUNTRY was there. After spending about an hour looking for a parking place, we finally were able to soak in the magic of this historic, sacred place.

We froze our patooties off, but I think we all concluded it was well worth the sacrifice...especially Liam, who has been talking non-stop about not the lights, but the ESCALATOR for the past few weeks. Okay, he also has been telling everyone he loves to go to the temple and see the statue of Jesus, but I think the escalator was really the highlight.

I kept thinking while I was there that I really thought my Liam was absolutely perfect when he was born, but how perfect must Mary have thought her little one, the Son of God, was when He was born.

It's like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, only better.

Watch out, Rach! You're about to get trampled by a stampede of temple tourists!

I was really missing my 18-55mm lens that day. I couldn't fit Jesus and Liam in the same frame! Santa, can you help a mama out?

And finally, here are some gorgeous shots courtesy of Tracie. These pictures are from a later trip, but I really love the grounds set against the sky at dusk. With the right lens, great lighting and a good eye, one can really capture the beauty that is the Salt Lake City Temple Square. Anyone want to go back with me?

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-29T14:36:00.000-07:00

Another split holiday down in 2011! This year, we spent the first half of Thanksgiving at the Charles home and the second half at the Rawson's. Great food, cute munchkins and excellent company at both made for a good time (until I got home and threw up everything from the entire day...thank you, pregnancy.) Now enjoy mostly kid-centered pictures from Turkey Day because, well, the kids are cuter than the adults. Especially the one below...isn't he gorgeous?

I stole the seven pics below from Tracie...With a family this big, you need at least a few photographers present.

Little rascals snooping around their Auntie's purse...

Dominic just keeps getting cuter and cuter, and he was happy to have a fellow baby there, Gavin Hatch!

Liam instructed all of the older kids that "a triangle has one, two, three sides." Genius.

And then I made out with my child... Hopefully, I don't get thrown in jail.

We were too busy eating our faces off (for the second time) and failing at starting a game, that I only got turkey-coma pictures of the Rawsons! I'll do better next year, guys.

And you only get to be the Hot-Grammy if you resist the delicious breads and desserts on holidays...I'm serious, not a bite. She is melting. I'm thankful my mom is healthier than she has been in years so that we can keep her around for a few more decades!

Happy Thanksgiving, all! I have so much to be thankful for this year, it would be too much to list. Let's just say, I love my sweet family more than the moon and the stars.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

2011-11-19T00:09:00.001-07:00

And to a Christmas near you (for 10 days!) I can't wait to get a hold of these cheeks...

You can take the kid out of Texas, but...

Eli is already dreading the trip back home...

We can't wait to see you guys!

Halloweenathon

2011-11-16T15:18:00.000-07:00

Somehow, between Liam's four birthday parties, we managed to fit in several Halloween-related events. (No wonder I feel like I need a month-long nap.) I think Liam felt similarly after we asked him to "be the sheriff" for the fourteenth time in a week. That much power comes with a price. To start things off and for the third year in a row, we visited the witches at Gardener Village where Liam would've happily danced on stage the entire evening if permitted.

Next up: trick-or-treating in Glenwild (the mansions). Seven munchkins and six adults packed A-Team-style into Uncle Kevin's Halloween Party Van and made the rounds. I was surprised that not one of the Glenwild homeowners passed out diamond necklaces! Lame. This was Liam's first trick-or-treating experience and he took to it like a champ, besides trying to move into every house on the route (smart man.)

Halloween on Main Street is a spectacle not to be missed. It's like the one-stop shopping of trick-or-treating. Liam's favorite part was watching the flash mob do Thriller (over and over and over). Of course, he joined in. And here you can see our nice little family: Lady Liberty, an illegal alien from outer space and Sheriff Arpaio of Maricopa County.

We wrapped things up with Jack O'latern making on Halloween night. Sticking to the pattern of the last few years, we received not one trick-or-treater, sadly. And that is the price of living on a mountaintop...I think we covered all of our bases this year, though, don't you?

Not-So-Terrible 2 Year Old

2011-11-14T15:16:00.002-07:00

Since we celebrated Liam's 2nd birthday FOUR TIMES this year...I'm worried he has developed a bit of a complex. I mistakenly assumed that breaking the celebrations into several smaller parties instead of one ginormous one like last year would be less stressful. Note to self: a party is a party and requires a lot of work no matter the size. Next time, just pack it in and call it a day. Oh well, I think Liam got the point that we are SO HAPPY to have a darling two year old boy!

Party #1: Charles Family Birthday Dinner

Complete with brain (tuna) casserole and body-part cupcakes, this was a great way to start of the week of festivities. Thanks Charles fam for loving Liam! He's obsessed with his new puzzles and I'm sure will be brainwashed into loving his new BYU warmups.

Party #2: Grammy and Papa's Delivery and Presents from Mamma/Dadda

Liam will be stoked when he actually figures out how to make his plasma car go without his feet! He's a huge fan of his new tunnel/tent combo, Leaptop ("Compooter"), and Playdough Tools.

Party #3: Birthday with Buddies!

What's a birthday without friends? We invited the Jacksons and Kimbles over for a non-stressful, low-key taco-night dinner/party. Liam loves Crew and Peter and is always excited to see them. The kiddos played trains, tunnel, Thomas the Train football (Thanks, Jacksons!) and bulldozer (Thanks, Kimbles!). Oh, and more body-part cupcakes. (The cake is merely a vehicle for the frosting.)

Party #4: Rawson Spooky Family Birthday Dinner

My Mom is sort of into Halloween...don't you love her table? The menu featured Witcher-Schnitzels with Super-Dead-Dog, Bat-Blood Chili and Krunchy-Kritter-Kraut toppings...among other delicious treats. I made Liam a special guitar cake to wrap up the week and we topped things off with a little game of Pin-the-Nose-on-the-Jack O'lantern.

Happy 2nd Birthday, sweet pumpkin! We are so proud of the big boy you are becoming and love you to pieces. And no, you won't have another birthday party for a whole year!

To Those Who Serve and Have Served

2011-11-11T20:58:00.001-07:00

Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day...they all hold a special place in my heart. I grew up in a military family and learned at an early age the price of freedom. I knew that my dad's job as a Marine Corps fighter pilot was different from other dad's jobs, and that it was dangerous. Moving every two years was hard. I watched my mother make every shoebox barracks a warm home and knew that though she put on the happy face, it was never easy. I knew all of the options both of my brothers were giving up as they went through OCS at Quantico. Why did they do it?

When I was in 8th grade in Columbus, Ohio, I won an essay contest and was selected as one of four students to lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. (My essay was entitled, "I Know the Unknown Soldier.") I'll never forget the reverent feeling I had as we honored those whose sacrifices will never be forgotten, though their names may be lost. I am grateful that I learned what patriotism really means and to respect what we have been given. I am thankful that I live in a country where I can promote my views and engage in the democratic process. And I'm grateful to the men, women and families who sacrifice more than most of us can imagine for these opportunities.

Though Wes and I are not active duty, we both grew up in the military. We hope to instill a great sense of love of country in our children. I think Liam is on the right track...he loves to sing the National Anthem!

Thank you Grandpa, Papa, Dad, Bret, Daniel, Papa John and everyone who has supported them in their service! Happy Veteran's Day. Now please respect the privileges you have as Americans, do the research, and VOTE (preferably for someone who is also proud of this country).

Locks of Love

2011-11-07T16:51:00.000-07:00

Well, all of you boys-with-long-hair haters will be happy. I finally bit the bullet and got Liam a haircut. I just knew he was going to throw a fit, so to minimize the behavioral code red, my mom and I took him to Cookie Cutters in Sandy. There was an indoor slide. There were movies. There were elevated cars instead of chairs. Lollipops. My little man was in heaven. He did not cry once and really can't wait to go back. We could've trimmed his nails and changed his diaper simultaneously and he wouldn't have noticed.

The stylist really beveled it in the back, and for awhile, I was sure that he looked more like a girl with this cut than with his "Samson hair", as my dad called it. In fact, I just about fell over when the day after this adventure, some women actually referred to Liam as "she!" Come on, people! I just can't win. I dress him in manly clothes, he has the shoulders of a linebacker and short hair. What do you want from me? I know, it's because he's just so dang beautiful, right?

It happened to be Bret's 39th (not 40th) birthday that day, so we swung by his office with a heap of cupcakes from The Sweet Tooth Fairy. He was fresh off the boat after vacationing in Mexico (don't ask him why he chose Mexico...he'll tell you all about his encounters with the cartels, etc) with a tan to prove it. Liam loves his Uncle Bret and was very happy to explore his office space. Happy "At Least You're Not 40", Bretski!

I don't care what people say, Liam is a beautiful boy with beautiful flowing McDreamy hair. And this time, I may just wait a little longer to go back to Cookie Cutters. We do live in Park City, afterall, where the winters are frigid...Long hair can do one good.

Wheeler Farm October 2011

2011-11-04T15:54:00.001-06:00

Liam was able to experience his first pumpkin patch, animal farm, hay maze and hayride this past October at the Historic Wheeler Farm in Murray. I am SO glad I brought my Nikon because some of these shots are just beyond words precious. Of course, Liam was decked out in his sheriff costume for the occasion. There is no better location to take adorable munchkin pictures (and adorable husband feeding a pony pictures.)

Happy Howl-oween!

2011-11-01T14:52:00.000-06:00

Me, circa 1986

My baby Liam, circa today

Fall Photo Shoot with The Colonel

2011-11-01T14:48:00.000-06:00

Just before the first winter storm in October, we did a little fall photo shoot with my dad to take advantage of a) beautiful Park City colors and b) the small window during which I am still small enough to fit in the frame. That window has now disappeared. Enjoy!

The Big Apple, September 2011

2011-11-01T14:32:00.000-06:00

I know you've been just dying to see pictures of my big husband/child-less trip to NYC, right? First of all, can we talk about the fact that I actually went on a husband/child-less trip all the way across the country? After Molly and I received about a million words of approval from everyone and their mom (except my mom), we pulled the trigger. I held Molly's hand and helped her do some deep breathing on the flights there and she carried the preggo girl's fifty pound bag up subway stairs in the city. We were a great team. I have to say, traveling together can make or break a friendship, and we are still talking. It was a total success! We were obliged to take a grimy subway shot when we finally made it into the city... Look how sweaty and dirty we are! Honestly, sweaty and dirty is pretty much how I felt the entire stay. And that is why when I tell people about it, I tell them it was both "awesome and awful."

The first two nights, we stayed with Molly's lovely friends on the Upper West Side. They have a toddler and the mom is due with baby #2 sometime around Thanksgiving. I don't know how people have children in the city. Seriously, everything seems so much harder (and not to mention, more expensive.) Try taking a stroller across town on a subway during rush hour. No, thank you. And how with more than one child? NYC moms are troupers. I was exhausted just carrying around a fetus.

Molly got us tickets to see three tapings of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and we were also able to audition to be contestants. To tell you the truth, I was pretty confident I would pass the audition test. We figured it would be some combination of personality interview and trivia knowledge. With Molly's and my collective world experience and sparkling charm, we were sure to get through! Not so much. Ever wonder why the only contestants you ever see are from NYC and the surrounding areas? It is most certainly because they visit the show often and repeatedly take the test. Study what you missed, come back in a month, and you're good to go, assuming you get the same test. We had ten minutes to answer thirty impossible answers, one of which was "After Napoleon was killed, his body was said to have returned to his home country buried in what? A) honey B) vinegar C) yogurt or D) olive oil. Ummm...yeah. They didn't teach me that one at Princeton.

Despite our apparent ignorance, I couldn't believe what happened next. We knew from watching the show that sometimes they pick someone from the audience to answer one question for a $1000 prize. Prior to the first taping, a young guy pointed at me and asked if he could speak to me down on the stage. He explained that he had chosen me to be the audience member question person if there was time at the end of an episode. I was not guaranteed a spot, but he told me there was a good chance I'd get on. Turns out, the guy's name was Logan and he was an LDS dude from Bountiful, Utah. I told him I must have had the Mormon sparkle in my eye! In the end, there was no time, but still weird and cool that I was picked out of 400+ audience members, eh? Maybe it was my red lips...

The LDS temple/meetinghouse had the nicest potty on the block. Fewer crazy armageddon protestors outside than when I was last there in 2005...

New Yorker friends, please don't hate me for saying this. Your "farmer's markets" looked lovely and all, but why does your produce and dairy have no taste whatsoever? I'm serious, the eggs tasted like watery air and the fruit not much better. Thanks, but I'll take Utah-grown apples over those any day. "Locally grown" takes on a less desirable meaning when you're in the middle of a concrete jungle. Don't let the higher price tags fool you into thinking you're getting something better.

One of my goals during our trip was to experience Katz's Deli. And DID we. We accidentally took an hour and a half bus ride to go all the way south to the Lower East Side. I was extremely cranky on the way there because my bullemic trucker of a baby boy was eating my insides. I needed food NOW. One might think my heavenly reaction to my Pastrami Reuben was due to my hunger pains, but I beg to differ. It really was that good. I dream about it frequently. If you haven't tasted one, you haven't lived.

We made some friends with some real NYC Italians in the outdoor market in Little Italy. We kind of wanted to take them home with us...move over Wes and Vic!

Thousands of veggie magnets!

We really started to feel like we were far from home when we stepped off of the Subway and onto Time Square for the first time since we arrived. When I'm there, I kind of feel like it's someplace really exotic, like Tokyo. And when they say that New York is the city that never sleeps, all of those non-sleepers are gathering around Time Square.

I don't care what Molly says, Memphis was AWESOME. I don't think she could truly appreciate it in her insomniac state...The lead guy, Chad Kimball, was one of the best actors I've seen on a live stage. And I'm not the only one who thinks so; he was nominated for a Tony! Too bad you won't be able to corroborate my opinion...his last performance in Memphis was October 23.

Of course, another goal and highlight was meeting up with Lydia after her Boards. We got to spend the last half of our trip with her, staying at her aunt and uncle's house in beautiful Brooklyn Heights. You wouldn't believe my description of their brownstone if I told you. It was glorious and has been featured in several decorating/architecture magazines.

I don't know why we all looked so tired/puffy this particular morning. Perhaps it was because Lydia just finished an insanely hard test, I was pretending like I wasn't preggo and walked 10+ miles/day and Molly hadn't slept since Utah...

Soho!

Oh my gosh, the FOOD. Fried eggs, hominy grits, chorizo, cornmeal flapjacks with salted butter and blueberries? I mean, really. I can't even talk about it. I'll cry. Maggie knows how to pick 'em (it's her job, actually. She works for Serious Eats.) It was so good to see our Roaring 20 buddy and eat an amazing brunch! And to top everything off? Pie for dessert. Wow.

Photo shoot in Soho, with a red door.

Little did we know that it was Broadway Week with 2-for-1 tickets! Had we known sooner, we probably couldn't gotten tickets to other shows we wanted to see for less...What's better is that students get $20 tickets to some shows and I just so happened to have my old Princeton ID! We showed it to the ticket lady at Jersey Boys and all three of us got front row $20 tickets (right corner, partial-ish view, but still awesome)!! We danced in the streets.

We took this picture for our babies, and only later realized that the guy was probably homeless and the costume had probably never been washed. Eww. You're welcome, Liam!

Oh, and we bought bright pink lipstick at the Mac counter at Macy's. Because we just had to...

And our lipstick matched this stretch-Mini.

Lydia and Molly entered the lottery for Book of Mormon Musical tickets, but no dice. I was tempted to show the managers my temple recommend to see if that would help, but decided they were probably the wrong crowd for that. I had made up my mind that I would see Wicked alone, since Molly and Lyd had both seen it before. I couldn't go to NYC and not see Wicked, right?

While waiting to hear on the lottery results, we attended a mass at "The Actor's Chapel" across the street. Ironic.

So good to see my old college buddy, Justin! (Lydia and he dated for like half a decade and remain good friends.) He bought us delicious Indian food because he's one of those evil rich Wall Street guys who takes money from you and me...just kidding...

I basically had a box seat for Wicked and it couldn't have been better. I felt like I was riding the musical. Do you see where the balcony comes to a point on the right against the wall? I was there, but on the left side. There were flying monkeys. There was amazing talent. I was transported.

I don't know what was wrong with me that night, but this is how I looked after Wicked. I basically balled my eyes out during all of the major numbers. I was overwhelmed with joy! The ladies surrounding me totally understood (while laughing at me.) I'm pregnant, okay! But really, I may never hear a voice like Elfaba's in person again in my life. It was that good.

6am taxi ride to 34th St. Penn Station. Thank you, Molly and Lyd for my taxi gift! I still don't think I would've made it carrying that suitcase through the subways...oy vey. Thank you, Molly for being a perfect travel partner. This was a trip I will treasure always (although I needed like two weeks to recover.)

Round Two

2011-10-19T14:01:00.000-06:00

Here we go again, folks! Baby #2 is on its way. Wes and I have been very lucky so far in our baby-producing attempts. This one took only about two months of trying (compared to Liam's one WEEK of trying...) I. am. baby-making-machine! Just kidding. Pregnancy does me no mercy. This time around, I have been sicker, fatter, and more exhausted-er than I ever was with Liam. We found out July 3rd, after taking my...oh, seventh test? I have a self-control problem. Rather, I am a planner. I want to have as much information as possible as early as possible in nearly every life situation. (Thus, I'm finding out the sex of the baby while Wes continues to protest.) Let me clarify; I like surprises, but only surprises for which I have absolutely NO foreknowledge. For example, I know I'm having a baby, so there is no sense in waiting to know what flavor. I know we all die one day, so it would be great if I could have all of the details regarding what that will be like as far in advance as possible. Get it?

To celebrate the big news, Wes and I had a romantic evening out on Main Street, Park City. I don't know if food tastes better when I'm preggo, but Wahso was De. Li. Cious. (Thanks Mom and Dad for the gift certificate!) We basically had the place to ourselves, which is typical in PC in the summers (you can barely get a table in the winter), so we got some great personal attention. The staff suggested baby names, and they even made us a special dessert. I bet you can figure out what their inspiration might have been...

I am a lucky girl. I have a perfect-in-every-way little boy and a sweet, empathetic and involved husband. This new little one is just going to be icing on a fantastic cake. We are totally excited, worried about money, full of questions about how Liam will deal with a sibling and virtually drunken with joy. I have no idea how to have two children at the same time, but we'll figure it out...I hope. I guess I'll have to get over some of my OCD because things will be less than orderly very soon.

Check out Wes after he ordered the only thing on the menu that featured his nemesis, onions, as a main meal component.

I felt the little guy (I'm going to refer to him as a guy because I am more than convinced he is a he) kick way earlier than with Liam...around twelve weeks. Wes hasn't felt him yet which makes him very jealous, but at the size of a large heirloom tomato, the time will come very soon. I love my new midwife, Danielle Demeter, although I miss Tina Fought terribly. I was looking forward to keeping her for all of my pregnancies the minute I gave birth to Liam and then she pulled a bait-and-switch on me and moved to West (Death) Valley. Lame. Danielle let me see the baby via internal ultrasound around 8 weeks and then again at 12 weeks (we couldn't find the heartbeat via Doppler, per usual.) Nearly everyone I know in Park City has gone to her and I have not heard one bad thing from anyone. Not one. I hope she's okay with a non-natural-birther, as I plan on not being stupid this time around, getting pitocin/epidural before it's too late and hopefully cutting my twenty-six hour marathon labor in half-ish...like less than thirteen hours would be nice, please?

Although I really don't need an ultrasound to tell me that this one's a boy, I find out today with Liam and my mom at St. Mark's Hospital. Wes is in California for work and we're both bummed he won't be there, but I'll just force him to come to a few of my upcoming monthly appointments. (Many thanks to the late Steve Jobs for FaceTime on the iPhone 4.) Until today, Wes has requested that I hide the gender from him until the birth, which I totally can do, but he caved today indicating that he would probably find out anyway...so...

Here is preggo-me at 8 weeks...

And at 13 weeks...

And at 16 weeks...

17, and growing!

I will be 20 weeks in five days. Wes thinks this all has gone by very quickly, but when you're throwing up nearly every night for a month and can't catch your breath because of acid reflux, time slows down a bit. I still have PTSD from Liam's birth, but I remember the awesome reward at the end of everything and I focus on that. We're going to have another one! I have to say, we make pretty cute babies, so I think we know to expect nothing less than heaven. Yay for babies!

Liam Lately

2011-10-06T15:16:00.001-06:00

In just a few short weeks, our Baby Liam will turn two. To me, that is incomprehensible. That's one fifth of the way to ten! Light speed, people. Liam is full of energy, personality, words, humor, light, curiosity and mischief. Enjoy a few updates on our favorite tiny dancer.

Liam weighs approximately thirty-six pounds. That is double...DOUBLE...the size of some of his peers. He wears 4T pants and 3T in everything else. It's not that he's fat...in fact, he is perfectly proportional. He looks like a normal toddler until you pick him up and realize he may be made of lead. That's a Rawson trait, I think. We tend to have healthy bone density.

Some of Liam's favorite activities include anything having to do with music, practicing jumping and throwing/kicking, coloring, playing with Play-Dough, climbing up to slides but not going down them, going to the "bouncy houses"/library/zoo/park/splash pad or "sprinklers"/pool or any place involving a new adventure...playing with his buddy, Peter and the cousins, hiking, taking baths and showers, eating fruit of any variety, playing trains, playing "Mangoes" (Leggos) and reading books. He also loves looking for animals in our yard, and sometimes we get lucky.

I am amazed at his aptitude for language. He is at least a year or more ahead of his age group, which bodes well for preschool in a couple of years. Everything that I have read indicates that he should be starting to put three and even four word simple sentences together. How about, "I want mama sit down with Liam and build blocks just for a minute." Fourteen! Seriously? We've also heard, "I want to do dishes with dada" (music to my ears) and "I'm gonna sit down for a little bit" (he knows his limits.) He understands more complex concepts as well, such as "I'm going backwards" and "We'll go outside later."

Some of my favorite moments are when he's trying to recall a new word he learned and he can't quite pinpoint what it was, so he associates it with something he already knows. For example, occasionally he refers to the library as the "strawberry," ice cream cone as "pine cone," pancake as "cupcake", etc. There is nothing cuter, I tell you.

Call me a bad mama, but some of my favorite Liam moments are time-outs. Our little one-year-old knows when he's in trouble and he couldn't be a cuter criminal. We will put him in time-out for a minute or so and if anyone tries to speak to him, he'll remind you "time-out..." in a defeated little voice. He'll stay seated the entire time and wait for mama or dada to rescue him. We ask him why he was in time-out and let him complete our sentences, like "You were in time-out because you opened mama's (drawer) and made a mess with her (mascara) ((see below)) when mama said (no)." Then, he'll say "I will listen. I'm sorry, mama." He wraps things up with the sweetest hug and kiss, it makes me want to put him in time-out all the time! Okay, I won't, I won't. He's a good boy! It's hard to discipline someone who spends most of his time melting you to mush...

Sometimes we catch Liam singing to himself in his crib, usually in the mornings. Just yesterday he was singing "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!" in near perfect pitch. I've even caught him playing peekaboo with himself in mirrors "I see you, Liam!" He can sing his ABC's with just four hints (A, H, Q,W). Liam is nearly ready for potty training, we think. Twice now, he has told us "have to go potty...need to take the diaper off" and has gone #1 and #2 by his own initiative. I don't want to rush things, but I think he's telling us that he may be ready!

And then, when he is just worn out from a good day's play, he'll put his head down on his arm or the floor and sigh, "So tired." Could it get any better than this? I can't see how. We love him to pieces. Happy almost birthday, sweet boy! Your mama and dada are SO proud of you!

Red, Orange and Gold

2011-10-04T13:55:00.001-06:00

Fall is here. I really don't know how it happened. I went to New York for a few days and came back to an incredibly colorful, and cooler, Park City. It happens every year, yet somehow I am consistently shocked at how quickly the seasons change here. One day, you're driving around with the windows down wearing a tank top stopping at a lemonade stand and the next, you're dusting off your ski gear because the forecast says "possible snow on Friday." In any event, here is a little farewell to a glorious summer.

In the summer of 2011, we hiked Pinebrook and the mid-mountain trail...

We spent time with friends, and some older ones...

We visited the dinosaurs at Zoorassic Park...

We cooled off at the Basin Rec Splash Pad (Liam's new favorite place)...

We appreciated the beauty of nature in the Uintas and caught our first fish with Papa (and got stung by a horsefly)...

We started a family tradition of having Sunday picnics at the lake...

We went on a canoeing/kayaking adventure with good friends...

We capsized...

And we played...

Happy end of summer, folks!

Bride to Be

2011-10-02T11:26:00.000-06:00

If you had trouble getting in touch with me in September, it was probably because I was spending as much time as humanly possible hanging out with my dear friend, Anne Schleiffarth (now Anne Sutherland...is that not the best name for a southern belle from Atlanta?) We hiked, swam, shopped, talked for hours and tried to enjoy every second of her last month as a single lady.

I planned her Bachelorette Party, sold her the wedding dress I didn't wear (now that's a story), gave her the honest low-down on marriage and attended her sealing in the Salt Lake temple. Everything culminated in her reception, held at her parents' house in Midway on September 17th. It was all perfect, from the gardenias to the light bulb strands set against a beautiful mountain dusk to the amazing food to the dancing to the beautiful couple. From there, she and John spent their honeymoon in Telluride, completed the Xterra Triathlon (hardcore? yes.) and moved to Minneapolis where John will complete his medical residency in surgery.

I had a hard time saying goodbye. Anne has been one of my closest friends over the past six years--the type that is tough to come by these days as a somewhat isolated stay-at-home mama. She loves my baby, has more history with my husband's family than I do, and is one of the best travel companions that I know.

She is a special girl, and I'm proud to say that her new hubbie totally recognizes her for the gem she is. I had high hopes for her and it truly seems like everything worked out better than I could have imagined. John is a winner.

There are few people in my life I would go clubbing with...pregnant. I'm telling you; it wasn't pretty. I felt slightly out of place...Anne did not, however, as she was accompanied by at least five other bachelorettes and their posses that night.

A thousand congratulations, Miss Anne! Get that guest room ready for me!

A Short but Sweet Willhite Visit

2011-10-02T10:34:00.000-06:00

Nanette and Bruce's visit in August was about a month too short, but it's always great to see them. They are family. We kicked off a week of serious eating with an evening at Ghidotti's. Soon after the Willhite's arrived, Bruce drove off with Dad to Montana for the week to fly-fish the Madison while the girls (and Liam) explored Park City and Sundance.

We enjoyed a fantastic brunch at Stein Eriksen Lodge (that you should really experience at least once in your life).

Come back, Mr. Bruce and Miss Nanette! We miss you!

Forty

2011-08-26T19:35:00.001-06:00

He did it! Wes turned the big 4-0 and didn't spontaneously combust! I don't know why he was so worried about this birthday. It's not that different than 39 which is not really that different than 28, right? His life is full, he will always be a big kid, and I love him to death. To celebrate, I made him a birthday breakfast, complete with candle-in-grapefruit, he opened a couple of presents and a couple days later, I slaved over Chocolate Graham Cracker Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Frosting (slaved, I tell you...blowtorch and all.) We'll continue the festivities by eating said cupcakes and hiking with a few friends tomorrow...

Liam did the birthday honors of presenting his dada with a very special gift. This year, since Wes was NOT excited about this particular birthday, I wanted to do something really special for him that didn't involve surprise parties or a cake full of four dozen blazing candles. So, I asked friends and family to send me comments that I would compile into a hardback book. I was floored by the response. People actually do really like him! There is no way I can do the book justice now, so you'll just have to come and see it. Wes was...prepare for cheese...moved, to say the least. He told me it was the best present he had ever received. Mission accomplished! Many thanks to all those who contributed.

And I got him some Bulgari cologne so that he can smell nice on our dates ;-)

Behold, the mother of all cupcakes. From bottom to top: a layer of graham cracker crust, layer of bittersweet chocolate, chocolate cake, another layer of chocolate and graham cracker, toasted Swiss meringue, weird candle. Courtesy of Jennifer Shea, owner of Trophy Cupcakes.

Happy birthday, sweatheart! May you have many many many more happy years ahead!

Liam's First Movie

2011-08-19T13:51:00.000-06:00

This past month, Wes and I braved the movie theater with a toddler! Other than an initial speedbump during the previews during which Liam got freaked out by a giant UFO-style Santa's sleigh, it was a total success. Liam thought he had been swallowed up into a real life Winnie the Pooh book and was riveted most of the hour and fourteen minutes. His dad had time-out duty, which he was forced to exercise once when Liam decided that kicking the chair in front of him was a fun way to pass time.

And of course, he had to bring along his Pooh friend to the Pooh movie...

What a big boy! We were so proud of our little guy. Next movie? Harry Potter! (just kidding)

Charles Family Reunion 2011

2011-08-09T12:27:00.000-06:00

Wes and I planned this year's Charles Week-o'-Fun in beautiful Park City, Utah. (I know, we're really branching out. We're in a recession, okay?) I had the difficult job of making sure Wes budgeted everyone a few hours of sleep in each 24 hour period. This family likes to really pack it in; seven days of concentrated Charles togetherness would certainly appeal to anyone, am I right? Or perhaps I wasn't the only one who wanted to sleep for the next seven days and go into hiding. But really, as you will see from the 70+ pictures, we created awesome memories that all began with dinner at Aunt Charlotte's house in South Jordan where we were able to ogle shamelessly over the brand new Baby Gavin Hatch. Congrats to Ambree and Derek who will make such loving parents!

Yes, there was some ogling over Baby Dominic, too.

And ogling over Uncle Wes who may be turning forty this month, but who has the energy of a twenty-something...

Midget Olympics 2011: Thank you, Uncle Mike, for organizing such a hilariously competitive event complete with a Bucket Toss, Foot Race, Human Hurdles, Egg & Spoon Race and Pool Kickball! No mercy from the leadership, I tell you.

Camping at Timpooneke: Okay, so maybe the weather report said to expect severe thunderstorms and maybe no one really listened to reason and maybe we barely got the tents set up before the Storm of the Century hit and maybe we all thought we were going to die... Priceless. Or maybe what was priceless was Liam screaming at 12am because he had never been camping and didn't understand sleeping in a tent with Mama and Dada and quietly packing up the small piece of dirt we were hoping to call home for the night and making the hour+ drive back to our comfy beds. I'm not sorry. Liam has plenty of years to adapt to the unforgiving wilderness.

Lagoon: I took a much-needed mid-week break from the festivities and let Dada take Liam on the Lagoon adventure. Although I wasn't there to witness it, I heard about the Dragon Rollercoaster from Liam for the next couple of weeks. He was in heaven.

Day at Jordanelle Resevoir: As close as one can get to a day at the beach in a landlocked state, Jordanelle did not disappoint. And as far as the kids were concerned, it was the beach. We wakeboarded, surfed, and tubed. Wes and I tubed together (is that what you call it?) and I may have laughed my liver and lungs out. Probably not the smartest thing to do in my delicate condition (more on that later.) Liam was not a fan of the boating experience. If we were not going fast, he made sure we knew he was unhappy. I think this week must have been all about expressing his individuality (does he get that from me?) because in the weeks following, he was an angel.

There are just so many things wrong with this picture, I don't know where to begin.

Singles Tennis Tourney 2011 and Wrap-Up: Could you just eat this face? Brooklyn stole everyone's hearts during the week, which made it impossibly hard to say goodbye. It is always such a treat to see the Travis Charles family; they are probably the biggest reason we subject ourselves to such close-quarters for long periods of time each year. Cute family! As Liam's closest-in-age cousin, Avery and he were able to bond over similar interests, language skills and bath routines. Wes wrapped up the week with a fantastic Charles Family History movie, Mike presented the midgets with medals for the Midget Olympics, Travis shared his Reunion 2011 Top Ten, and Papa John informed us of family plans for the next decade or so. There is no such thing as over-organization, is there?

Until next year, au revoir!

Liam's Prayer

2011-07-09T21:40:00.001-06:00

Dear Heavenly Father (Fodder),

Thank you for Mama. Thank you for Dada. Thank you for potty chair movie. Thank you for Grammy. Thank you for kids. Thank you for Dada.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

All of the italicized parts are pure Liam. After I put him down tonight, I heard him on the monitor continuing his prayer...I guess he just has a lot he's thankful for.

Could I possibly love this boy any more than I do?

4th of July Carlson Bash

2011-07-07T14:02:00.000-06:00

We concluded our 4th of July festivities at the Carlson's shindig down in Springville. If you're not Liam, the place is a magical wonderland. Maybe next year he'll be more into the slip-n-slide, trailor ride and lazy river. This year, he spent the afternoon bonding with little girls, playing baseball, and following puppies around. SO many people, SO much food, PERFECT weather. All in all, a great time.

July 4th PC Parade

2011-07-05T22:15:00.000-06:00

Park City on the 4th of July was one of my favorite places to visit as a kid. I remember staying in my Aunt Carol's condo near PCMR and melting in the summer heat all day. I would stay outside from dawn until dusk and end the festivities by watching the fireworks on a grassy mountainside. Magical. Who knew I would plant roots and raise my family here?

My Weston. I just want to eat that face!

After some adjusting, Liam was a fan of the parade scene. He talked about every single animal and vehicle that passed. Thank you to the Hanks' for the chairs and sidewalk space! The overcast made watching the parade much more enjoyable. It was the nicest 4th weather I've seen in years.

Sharing holidays with friends makes them So. Much. Better.

Our dear friends, the Allens, have moved to Laguna Beach and I'm mourning their departure. Dave Allen may look like a crazy homeless weirdo, but we love him! Allens: get the Charles Beach Room ready because we are SO THERE.

Coolest float I've ever seen in a parade in my life. EVER. These guys were already at least ten feet in the air on a truck, doing snowboard tricks another fifteen feet into the air off of a trampoline. You had to be there.

This has to be the only place in America where every float is dedicated to "Going Green" while put-putting along in huge exhaust-letting, carbon-emitting trucks. Gotta love the PC! Hey, they give a good show.

July 4th Park City Breakfast

2011-07-05T21:35:00.000-06:00

Every year, we attend the Park City Community Breakfast (and usually make it just before they start packing up. We are not morning people.) It really is a highlight of the year. While there were tons of overpriced kids activities, Wes once again proved to be the feature entertainment for the Charles and Wilton children. It's amazing that he has energy to spare after spending all day with a toddler. Enjoy the July 4th photo-thon. There are some keepers in this bunch.

July 4th on the 3rd

2011-07-05T19:45:00.000-06:00

Check out the 4th of July luminarias I made this year. Aren't I crafty? Unfortunately, the only time we saw them lit was in our kitchen after I made them. It was too windy at Pinebrook Park; children would've caught fire. There's just something about canning jars that says America, you know?

So I was attempting to make little patriotic pies for the picnic, but they turned out more like patriotic snowmen (two blueberry eyes and a raspberry nose.) Oh well, they're tasty.

4th of July is not complete without The Colonel. Semper Fi!

Now there's a good group of men. The Rawsons, Charles', Jacksons and Hardys showed up for the windy shindig.

This little guy LOVES his Grammy (Dammy). Can you tell?

This picture is only missing Lindsay, Kaleb and Isaac (and soon-to-be Rawson Baby Boy #3.) Seven and a half grandkids. Not bad!

America! America!

2011-07-05T15:59:00.001-06:00

I love Independence Day. These days, it's the one day a year where sporting red, white and blue, "Proud to be an American" bumper stickers and the American flag in excess is not seen as out of fashion. Why is that? What has happened to this country in the last decade that has made it "uncool" to openly express love of country? Is it because we're afraid we'll offend someone who is not from here? Or is it because we're actually not really that proud of what America stands for?

I, frankly, am exhausted with hearing how many mistakes America has made, how we would be better off if we were more like Europe, and how President Bush was more of a terrorist than Osama Bin Laden. Yes, America has made mistakes, as has every other country on earth. But at least in America, you don't get stoned to death as a rule of law for making them. At least in America, your vote actually counts unlike across the pond, where vote-ourselves-in-power Eurocrats think they know better than the hardworking common folk. At least in America, we have an inspired system of checks and balances so that one lunatic cannot hold his country hostage under the guise of social "justice." At least in America, we can choose to burn flags in protest, or raise them high in a show of unity and patriotism.

At least in America, we welcome all cultures, religions and creeds with open arms without threat of genocide. Hey, we'll even take you in illegally if you're willing to do our work for less (at least, that is what has transpired in the past.) At least in America, our freedom was not imposed on us by others. It was earned through the blood and tears of our forefathers and mothers who sacrificed more than we can possibly imagine for the right to be fairly represented and for all of the rights guaranteed to them by God, not by a power-hungry King thousands of miles away.

I am reminded of this every time someone tells me they didn't vote because it wouldn't make a difference. Tell that to Florida voters. Tell that to our first black president. Tell that to all of the immigrants who were never given the opportunity to choose their own leaders before arriving at Ellis Island. Tell that to the Tea Party movement.

To all those who seek to pigeon-hole me as a white-bread, red-neck, right-wing, nut-job Neanderthal...I graduated from Princeton with a degree in Politics. The title of my thesis was "Separation of Zion and State: The Effects of the 19th Century Mormon Polygamy Controversy on American Constitutional Jurisprudence." I have gay friends. My grandmother had four husbands, and married two of them twice (not all at the same time, mind you.) I'm a quarter Puerto-Rican, but hope I didn't get into Princeton because of it. I don't hate President Obama, but I want him out of office as soon as possible because I believe he is doing serious damage to our economy and foreign relations. I try to recycle as much as possible and believe in keeping my carbon footprint to a minimum, but I don't believe humans are the cause of global warming. I believe war should be a last result, but I also believe in a strong national defense. I am a supporter of the organic food movement and think the school lunch programs suck. Some of my best friends are liberal, which I believe is one thing that makes America beautiful.

So to all you America-haters, Uncle Sam wants YOU...to shut up. At least for one day. (Or leave. I hear Africa is looking for sex slaves and those willing to work for nothing. That could be fun!)

By the way, did you know that on average, liberals earn more but give less to charity than conservatives? So much for the "bleeding heart liberal" stereotype. Step it up, people! If you're going to whine that all of the rich people are evil, money-hungry Republicans, then the least you could do is not be giant hypocrites.

Wes, Liam and I were privileged to attend our nephew Dominic Kawika Wilton's baby blessing this past Sunday. The blessing was beautiful and perfect. Dominic did not make a sound. I think he was listening to his daddy's every word. It was a peaceful way to start off two days worth of extreme America-loving.

What struck me, though, was the near absence of spoken patriotism by the members during testimony meeting. As a Marine Corps brat, I grew up in military wards, where red-white-and-blue oozed out of every pore following each July 4th Sunday meeting. It meant something to hear someone say "I'm proud to be an American" and know that he is actually willing to die for it. My dad was one of them. God and Country is everything to military families, and they're not afraid to talk about it.

There was plenty of God, but where was Country July 3rd at the Silver Creek Ward? I hope it was in everyone's hearts and minds, as it was in mine that day. Thinking back, I should've gotten up to speak and disregarded my fear that I would be taking time from those in their home ward.

We sang America the Beautiful as the closing hymn, and I can never sing that song without choking up on the fourth verse:

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

Happy 4th, everyone. Be proud to be an American, and not afraid to say it. It will never be out of fashion to me. And whether you recognize it or not, we are all blessed to be citizens of this great country.

Now enjoy some good, American cuteness...

Don't Mess with the Hair

2011-07-05T14:00:00.000-06:00

I'm tired of people asking me when I'm going to cut Liam's hair. If I had hair like his, I wouldn't touch it for all of the tea in China! It's beautiful. Golden. Wheat. Soft as silk. We'll cut it when we're good and ready. I'm not really concerned with what is socially acceptable, so keep your judgements to yourself. And lady at the grocery store who keeps calling him a girl...You kind of look like a man. So there!

I Heart Food

2011-06-30T13:10:00.000-06:00

Baked Pear and Arugula Salad (Barefoot Contessa)

Baked pear halves stuffed with melted Stilton blue cheese, toasted walnuts and dried cranberries, drizzled with a Port wine, apple cider, olive oil, lemon and brown sugar vinaigrette. AKA heaven on a plate.

Did you know that I have a secret obsession with delicious food? Cooking it, eating it, photographing it, sharing it. I'm no pro, but it's true. I enjoy the art of presentation. I live for experiencing new tastes together that I never thought would work, i.e. roasted watermelon and cayenne pepper. This is sort of a new development and just another trait I'm pretty sure I inherited from my dad. I'll be honest, many nights end in Lean Cuisines or canned Lentil Soup, but when I have the time and energy, I find myself inspired to try something adventurous. Most of the dishes I try are not attempted in bulk; Wes is usually my guinea pig for a meal for two.

My go-to Caprese Salad. I LOVE a good salad. This one takes about 2 minutes to throw together: Artisan lettuce mix, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, Texas Toast croutons, Newman's Own Olive Oil and Vinegar dressing, cracked pepper. De-LISH.

Zucchini-Potato Pancakes with Prosciutto and Plain Yogurt (Williams-Sonoma) This one was a winner with Liam. So many great tastes together and great for breakfast or lunch.

Chicken and Artichoke with Garlic Sauce (Primal Blueprint Quick-and-Easy Cookbook)

With a prep and cook time of less than 30 minutes, you'll still have time to paint your nails and shave your legs before dinner time! The perfect grain-free/sugar-free dinner dish, or couple with some whole-wheat pasta or garlic bread if you're not into the primal thing.

While I love cooking, I don't have the same enthusiasm for baking. My family tries not to eat sugar anyway, so I guess we don't consider it a huge domestic loss. It's just that I've had SO many bad experiences baking at 7,000 feet; I can't seem to get the flour/water ratios to work! And if you don't get things right, you've just wasted a good one to two hours of your life. I'll leave the cupcakes and layer cakes to someone else. However, thanks to my mom, I do make a mean pie. Well, pie crust. ;-)

Bon appetit!

Third Anniversary

2011-06-14T14:06:00.000-06:00

Best. Decision. Ever.

Happy 3rd, baby! I'd do it again, you know.

Mad Hatter

2011-06-14T12:48:00.000-06:00

I've never seen a toddler so willing to keep a hat (or glasses) on. I knew we had a slightly metro fashionista on our hands when Liam took one long look at himself in the mirror with his new fedora on, slightly nodded like "yeah, I dig it" and went on with his business. He may look like Mr. Debonair, but don't tell him most of his get-ups come from garage sales...

I am in SOOO much trouble if we ever have a girl.

Rawson Reunion: Grammy's House

2011-06-10T21:20:00.000-06:00

As the Daniel Rawson's fam visit came to a close, the cousins enjoyed playing together at Grammy and Papa's house. If there is any indication from the way they interacted with Baby Liam, Kaleb and Isaac are going to be awesome big brothers.

Beautiful faces. Great camera work, Papa!

Until about last week, Liam was terrified of this elephant. We saw it nearly every time we visited T.J. Maxx (twice a week?) Liam would ask to see "el-phunt?", but then not want to get too close. It makes an elephant sound when you pet its back and moves its trunk around. To Liam, it is real. We would ask Liam if he wants us to "make it go" and he responds with a quick, short "No?", shaking his head. He's much braver now, and "makes it go" regularly. But Grammy hasn't taken it out of it's packaging, just in case he changes his mind...

Rawson Reunion: Uintas

2011-06-09T14:21:00.000-06:00

This is my idea of camping. Build a fire, go on walks, play ball, make s'mores. Who says camping has to involve actually sleeping with the bears?

Daniel made the Chicken-Cordon-Bleu of S'mores by craftily inserting Hershey's squares into a giant marshmallow and then roasting it. He was very proud.

The s'mores were SO worth going off of my no sugar/grains program. I enjoyed every particle.

Although some of it missed the target...

This little guy was a very happy camper. He loved the outdoors, especially collecting pine cones (side note: Liam also calls ice cream cones "pine cones.") I fear trying to actually camp with him...

So wrong, I know...but CLASSIC.

He's such a tender lil' guy, I mean trained killer.

We look forward to seeing the Daniel Rawson fam again soon, and next time with a new addition!