Whale Channel

I spent Fathers day with my with pops on a fishing trip near B.C. Canada. We stayed on a floating lodge tucked back in a remote channel NW of B.C. Canada. The catch was as fresh as it gets! We flew into Seattle and then bused up to Vancouver. From there we took a commuter plane to a little town called Bella Bella. We then flew a sea plane from there and landed right on the ocean and docked at our lodge. It was pretty crafty weather the first day, but made for some memorable stormy fishing. The next 3 days we were up at 4 a.m. to start fishing and would fish until about 10 p.m. with a break for some gourmet dinners: fillet mignon, giant prawns, halibut, and salmon! We had been staying at the lodge with some uncles, a cousin, and their business associates. We were paired up in boats to do as we pleased. Rod and I spent a good portion of our time testing out new cameras and lenses, but still managed to reel in some big suckers. It was awesome to see the wildlife right up near our boats. Eagles, whales, seals, sea lions, and many more. Uncle Richard reeled in an 88 lb. halibut from 450 ft below! We managed to catch a couple of halibut, some big salmon, and a lil' shark! GOOOOD Eating! I had a blast with my dad fishing over fathers day and look forward to another trip with him and little Emerson.

What's New

Emerson dipped his toes in the ocean for the first time a couple of weeks ago in San Diego. We followed JR there on a work trip. Unfortunately he had to work the entire time, but Emerson and I still had fun at the beach, shopping, and going to the Wild Animal Park with my mother-in-law Teresa.
This guy above reminded me of Emerson with his serious brow and big belly. I didn't feel too bad that JR couldn't visit the Wild Animal Park because the next week he traveled to British Columbia for some deep sea fishing (I will make him do a post with some cool pics). He saw many eagles, whales, and other sea creatures from his boat.


While he was away, my friend Rachel came into town from Dallas. She, Hailey, and I had so much fun hanging out in the valley and Park City. No matter how much time passes between visits we always pick up right where we left off. They are the greatest! (Thanks for the pics Rach).

This picture shows how our lifestyles have definitely changed since college and we continue to multiply! Emerson had fun swimming for the first time with his friends Gracie, Lucy, and Jack. We can't wait until the next visit girls!

Retrospect

Happy anniversary! Four years!

I think a great and healthy marriage makes you feel as if your wedding day was only yesterday and 100 years ago at the same time. Looking back on the last four years makes me appreciate all of our experiences, good and bad. I realize that I can appreciate those times because of who I was with. For our first wedding anniversary we took a trip to San Francisco. One night, after walking several blocks from a gym in
swim suits and shorts, we found ourselves stuck in a TINY old elevator for two hours! Can I say that two hours in a rickety two-person elevator seems more like two DAYS! When they finally got us out they found us laying on the floor laughing about the situation. We have both learned to appreciate new things about each other and live for
something more than ourselves.

I learned that marriage is hard work, but what I didn’t realize before was that it would be such physical hard work! We both appreciate the character of old homes and decided to look for an old jewel we could have some fun with. After searching Salt Lake, Sugar House, and Holladay for months, we finally found our little home just down the street. We began demolition immediately. We actually took sledge hammers and crowbars to the old fireplace in the living room on our way home from signing the closing papers. The next few months saw many cold, late nights tearing down brick walls, the staircase, taking up the floors, crumbling the old brick flue, and completely demolishing everything in the kitchen. It felt like we were peeling back every layer of the 100 year history of the house. We could pick out which era different wall papers were from as we uncovered old walls. We found comics from the 50’s, old books, and other random items within the walls. We found pieces to the original parlor doors in the flooring. The ceilings were returned to their original height
when we discovered they were ten feet high and lowered two feet in the 70’s. While the house started as an adventure we were undertaking together as a newlywed couple, it soon turned into the source of much contention, stress, and labor. I never thought I would actually say this, but I am now grateful for all of the adventures (no matter how painful) we gained from “this old house."

We were so anxious to move into our new house, or project, that we decided to complete the bedroom and consider it ready to move in (a bedroom is all you need when you are first married, right?). Let me paint a picture of what I mean by painful adventure: The bathroom was in the process of completion and we didn’t have the furnace hooked up, so we didn’t have any way to take a shower. Our options were to either go to the gym for a workout and shower, or brave ice cold water out of the tub faucet. To visit the toilet before bed, one had to put on shoes and take a flashlight through the unfinished house upstairs to the installed toilet. Mind you our upstairs was a big hollow shell with nothing but tools and construction garbage. We might as well have had an outhouse! We got really creative with cooking and food prep. The George Foreman grill got a lot of use. Our furnace and duct work was finally ready to give us heat in LATE NOVEMBER! WE lined our little room with space heaters. I can still remember waking up late one night to feel hot air blowing from the vents after JR got the furnace hooked up and going. I have a lot of friends that would say this sounds like hell. In fact, I think it sounds like hell. I actually laugh thinking about those times and can’t wait to tell little Emerson stories about our first house when he is older. We have to give our kids reasons they can’t complain to us right?

My disappointments, happiness, and accomplishments would be nothing without my husband. Yes, we can argue about ridiculous things, and make each other feel crazy, but there is no one in the world I would rather argue with more. There is no one I would rather chase trains with, buy furniture with, ride buses illegally with, drag to the ballet, snorkel with, get lost with, or do nothing with. I feel like we have reached the climax of our relationship with the birth of our new baby boy. It is hard to believe that we could experience anything higher. It feels as though everything in the last four years has been in preparation for the moment we became parents. I am excited for the future, and yet I hope that the present doesn’t fade away from us too quickly. My test is learning to seize each moment and make the most of every relationship, challenge, and experience. Here’s to four years and many more to come!

I still don't believe how fast our little boy grows and changes. He looks different day to day. I love spending time with him and seeing more of his personality come out!






Emerson's aunt Rachael made
him these little felt green shoes.
Thanks Zia Rach!




All bundled up for his first walk

100 List

I have been “tagged” as they say by my sister-in-law Rachael to write a 100 list. I didn’t want to rebel and ignore it, heaven forbid there be some sort of tagging police out there that will take away my blogging privileges if I don’t comply.

1. I am a brand new mommy and I love it

2. I love the concerned and angry faces my son makes

3. My husband and I always have do-it-yourself projects in the works

4. I love to decorate and wish I had more money for it

5. Even if I had loads of money I would still look for a good deal

6. I want to be a better cook

7. I love studying art and history

8. I love creating art, oil is my favorite medium

9. I am not very good at scrapbooking, so I don’t do it

10. I rafted the Nile

11. I have been on two safaris, one was a walking safari (kind of scary)

12. I am learning to sew

13. I wish I could sing

14. I like singing with JR in the car to Emerson (he doesn’t know we stink)

15. I love surprises

16. JR surprised me with skydiving on my 18^th birthday

17. I love seafood

18. I love dessert too much

19. I enjoy trying new things

20. I like to ski

21. I tore my ACL skiing a year ago

22. I love the feeling of not needing a jacket or shoes outside

23. I can’t get enough of a picnic on a beautiful day with family and friends

24. I love artichokes

25. I don’t like when animals wander too far from their natural habitat (fish out of water, ducks on the road. It grosses me out)

26. I can’t believe I am to the point in my life where I am subscribed to Parents magazine

27. I like to read

28. The last four books I have read were about pregnancy and babies (time for something new)

29. I love the character and charm in old homes

30. To earn money when I was 9 I started an art class called Arts for Starts with 15 students

31. I was blessed with amazing family and friends who do so much for me

32. I married my best friend

33. I can’t believe I am only at number 33!

34. Like most elementary school girls, I read all of The Babysitters’ Club series

35. I did a lot of babysitting in my younger years

36. My first job was at Audio Enhancement when I was 15

37. I am not impressed when people pay full price for designer clothes

38. I would love to live on a lake

39. If I lived on a lake I would learn to sail and dress my family in Nautica

40. I like those who know how to work hard

41. I love the creases in Emerson’s chubby arms

42. My favorite color is blue

43. My favorite number is 4

44. I’m not very good at doing my hair

45. I don’t get my nails done and very rarely have my fingers painted

46. I love spa treatments, but hate spending the money on them

47. The only known allergy I have is cat hair

48. I am not on any medications

49. I like to go to the ballet

50. I don’t think I have very much patience

51. I love to travel

52. I want to go on an English literature tour

53. I want to go to New Zealand

54. I enjoy watching The Office, Lost, and Flight of the Concords

55. I hate the idea of the McRib sandwich. It was once liquid!!!

56. I get pretty competitive playing games

57. I am married to someone who gets pretty competitive playing games

58. If I could choose one sport to be great at it would be soccer

59. I am not picky when it comes to food

60. I don’t, however, care for those orange puffy peanut candies

61. I appreciate a down-to-earth, genuine person

62. I don’t ever buy popcorn at a movie, but eat too much of it if someone else does

63. I graduated from BYU, go cougars!

64. I thought ward prayer was a ridiculous reason to get together in a singles ward

65. I was also always scared of the random food brought to “break the fast” potlucks

66. I was a big night person before I had a child

67. I love BIG libraries

68. I would love the time to get lost in a big library for hours and hours

69. I like dogs

70. I feel awkward holding small dogs

71. I can be a bossy person (I am an oldest child)

72. I love humor

73. I love the emotions music brings out

74. The easiest job I have had was in a tuxedo shop during High School

75. I think it is difficult to write 100 points about myself

76. I like when JR makes me dinner, he does a great job

77. I like sitting around with family and friends laughing about old times

78. I love new clothes

79. I love the smell of new clothes

80. I wish I had a personal stylist

81. Banana Republic makes great clothing

82. I like looking through boutiques, especially when traveling

83. My decorating style is eclectic with a classic and modern mix

84. I would love a lot of land

85. I wouldn’t love to maintain a lot of land

86. I love taking a well deserved nap

87. I usually feel like I’ve wasted time after a nap

88. I climbed a lot of trees when I was young

89. My brother and I enjoyed building forts together

90. I make a lot of To-Do lists

91. I once learned Italian . . . then forgot a lot of it

92. I asked JR to do this number: “independent”

93. Going to the grocery store usually feels like a hassle

94. I’m not very daring when it comes to haircuts

95. I love staying in a bed and breakfast when traveling

96. I have slept in a convent and was served breakfast by a nun

97. I don’t enjoy sleeping on the ground

98. I have been to several museums

99. I love the feeling after a good workout

100. I think babies grow way too fast!!!

I tag Rachel and Hailey (sorry girls!!!)

Emerson Maxwell Royce

He has finally arrived. He was born on April 28th at 11:35 pm. He weighed 9 lbs 2 oz, 20.5 inches long. Kristi went into labor Sunday the 27th at about midnight, as her contractions were about 4-5 minutes apart we left for the hospital Monday morning and checked her in. She was supposed to be induced that same day, so we were pretty excited when the contractions started to come on their own. The doctor and nurses were all very surprised at his 9 lb. 2 oz. , as they anticipated a 7 1/2 lb. baby. Kristi handled the birth phenomenally! With such a big guy, she did an awesome job. He came with plenty of light brown hair and big beautiful eyes. We didn't know it was possible to love someone so much! We could spend all day cuddling and staring at him!

Yes, I am still pregnant! I have to say that the whole due date thing is really overrated and completely anticlimactic. Our little boy is too comfortable to finally make his debut into this world. For the last nine months I haven't paid attention to anything past April 24th. I don't quite know what to do with myself after this date. Will life really go on?
My last post was quite some time ago. I will post some updated pictures of our remodel job. We now have walls, paint, and carpet. We can start moving things upstairs now!
I wish I had more exciting news to post! I will also get better at this blogging thing. Where do you find the time?