Another Interview with Abby

Q: How are things?
A: Good, with this ring that I'm sucking on. (a ring pop)

Q: What did you do last night?
A: Went to a fun place. Um, I played games and went on a ride but I don't know which ride. An animal ride and the spiderman car. Last night on the spiderman car there's a red moving thing in the car. That thing, I like that thing that's in there.

Q: What prizes did you get?
A: I got this one (showing her ring pop) if you touch it with your hand, it's all sticky.

Q: Did you call a boy this week?
A: Hunter. I called Hunter.

Q: Why did you call Hunter?
A: Because I wanted to say I'm marrying him.

Q: Did you learn any new songs this week?
A: (singing) Rain come, rain come, down down down come play and I really love you and come to my birthday and I'll ask my mom and you can ask your mom?

Q: Wow! Did you just barely make up that song?
A: Yeah.

Q: Do you know you're really good at making up songs?
A: Well, I kind of don't.

Interview with Abby: Christmas Edition

Abby: Knock knock
me: Whose there?
Abby: Orange
me: Orange who?
Abby: Orange you say banana

Q: How was your Thanksgiving trip?
A: Good

Q: What did you do?
A: Play with my friends. Seth said to go downstairs because there was a bad guy there so I killed him with Ollie's gun.

Q: What else did you do?
A: Play with Brianna. Hey, I drinked my chocolate milk all gone. (Speaking to Mom) He's making letters huh? (points to the computer) That thing is making letters.

Q: What do you want for Christmas?
A: Some baby clothes and a barbie.

Q: What does Santa do?
A: (laughs) Plays with kids.

Q: What are you learning in school?
A: Sings ABC song while shaking a maraca wildly.

Q: When is Christmas?
A: In five weeks.

Q: What do we do on Christmas
A: Put up our decorations. (Sings Santa Clause is Coming to Town)

Q: What are you getting Mom for Christmas?
A:  I will let her have a angel. Mommy, you're going to get an angel for Christmas.

Q: What do you want to get Dad for Christmas?
A: Uh ahh. A singing trumpet.

Q and A with Abby

Q: How old are you?
A: "Two. I was two and a half, and then I'm three now."

Q: What is you favorite thing to do at school?
A: "I like to play house."

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: "My favorite food is fruit snacks."

Q: What did you do with daddy yesterday?
A: "I stayed with you when mommy left and we played the play dough robot game." (cranium)

Q: What is your favorite thing about church?
A: "My favorite thing likes to color at church."

Q: Who is your best friend?
A: "My best friend is Lexi."

Q: Best friend at school?
A: "McKenna"

Q: What is your favorite thing do with Mom and Dad?
A: "I... My favorite thing is doing... doing... doing... I don't know. Favorite thing, I don't know, I don't know. (singing) I don't know I don't know. Washhu Wasshu. Naaae."

Q: What is your favorite (FHE) Lesson?
A: Uh, my favorite lesson is... uh I don't know.

Q: What happens in your princess dreams?
A: (baking pretend cookies) "I need to go potty." (runs up stairs)

Q: What do you dream about last night?
A: "I had a Belle one."

Q: What did you do in your dream?
A: "I spinned with Beast."

It's Alive!

This blog has been mostly dead for a few consecutive months now, I'm sorry to say. It just seemed like I needed a big reason to blog again because it had been so long. Well big reasons have come and gone and I continued my neglect of this digital space. Life is good, and life is busy. There have been ups and downs, but mostly ups.

Lately, some people who I care about deeply are in the midst of incredibly trying times. It brings me down when I think about it, and I've had a heavy heart for a couple of weeks now. With the sadness though comes more reliance on faith and a greater desire to help and support where I can. We certainly are never helpless, never comfortless, and never without a friend.

There is incredible strength in the bonds that we share with our family and friends. Courage and hope can be drawn from the most simple of gestures and connections. I recognize the need in myself to improve in my ability and willingness to act.

I've learned that gratitude is the most effective remedy for sadness and sorrow. Everyday I'm more and more grateful for my family. Natalie is an absolute rock. The best partner I could ever wish for in this life. Abby is the most fun person I've ever met. She is so full of life and energy. She amazes and inspires me every day, and she makes me laugh constantly. From her lips have been uttered some of the most pure and sincere and beautiful prayers I've ever heard.

Huntington Beach

On our way to the airport after our Disneyland adventure, we stopped at Huntington Beach to play on the beach and see the ocean. It was just before dusk and the light was really amazing. I grabbed the camera and started snapping photo after photo. Abby was so mesmerized by the waves and the sea shells that she was almost completely oblivious to me. It was really fun to see her experience the ocean for the first time, and I think these photos do a pretty good job of capturing the moments.

The Magic Kingdom - Part 1

 Disneyland was amazing. Here is some photographic evidence.

Brianna (Abby's BFF all weekend) and Leslie.

Natalie somehow caught this amazing picture of us flying by on Thunder Mountain. Just don't ask her for a good carousel shot.

Tiffany, Ryan, Mr Blue Shades

How can you not love these girls?

Jasmine pinching Aladdin's hind quarters.

The Fam on Small World

Abby LOVED the carousels.

Lady in background did NOT LOVE me taking this picture.

Huntington Beach. Abby was obsessed with the sea shells.

Cousins!

So far the babysitting exchange has been a lot of fun. Here is some evidence.

Randomizations

• I've been thinking about doing a "life lessons from solitaire" post.
• Abby makes us laugh out loud multiple times a day. I am so lucky to have the family I do.
• I had a lot of fun coaching a co-ed middle school aged soccer team this fall. We did pretty well, and I gained a much greater appreciation for coaches.
• Construction is driving me batty. 7800 South has been torn up since the beginning of summer. I've heard from a reliable source that the sewer pipe they just finished installing was an experimental material and it failed so they are digging it all up and replacing it. Awesome. I feel like a lab rat every time I head home. UDOT is watching to see how creative I can be when finding cheese home.
• I'm sad that County Cup did not happen again, but if you really don't have the time and means then you just don't have it. Sorry guys.
• Real Salt Lake are a really fun team to watch. Every time I leave a game, I think how incredible it is that we have a team, a stadium, and that they are both excellent.
• I've had a handful of people ask, and yes, Herod the Fink is looking to play some shows in November and December. Our set will probably run from 45 minutes to an hour. We will just play acoustic so it won't be terribly loud. We are thinking "living room" type shows. Low lights, some egg nog, some fun original Christmas tunes, with some covers thrown in. Contact me if you want to set one up.

Abby 2.0 + Blog Theory

I received a gentle reminder today from mi amigo Jeremy that I hadn't blogged in a long time. I had planned on posting this video I made for Abby's 2nd birthday, and I decided now would be a good time.

Lately, I just get the feeling that blogs for a lot of people are "so last year." Facebook seems to have overtaken blogging lately. I'm not complaining, I enjoy Facebook. It is an interesting way to keep tabs on friends and acquaintances from pretty much any period of life you could imagine. It just seems to be a little more superficial. Blogging has a tendency to draw a little more depth from the poster and the reader/commenter. 

For me, blogging has become a bit of a conundrum. I like love being creative. There are no less than 10 creative activities on my mental wish list at any one time, and while I enjoy writing it doesn't come as naturally as some other things.

In my mind, writing takes away from music/painting time. I'm sure that is not exactly the case. My blog can be a means of sharing such creative activities. Rather than hindering them, it could be an added motivation to complete said projects. In summation, I will attempt to blog meaningfully more often.

Somebody is Excited for the Home Opener

Diva

We were treated to a lovely rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" this morning, sung by Abby. Apparently she learned it at Blanca's house because we haven't taught it to her. The only bad part she will probably be too shy to perform it to anyone besides Natalie and me, so you'll just have to take our word for it. It is pretty amazing.

Posers

(This doesn't count as my next post, just my next picture.)

Really Growing Up

I swear she looks older every day when I get home from work. It's kind of scary how fast it's happening.

The Kid Cracks us Up

I realize the lack of Abby posts over the last few months. I apologize. She is growing up so fast, and I don't have time to fully document at the moment. I do have time to briefly address her fun personality. She makes us laugh out loud every day without exception. Here are some examples.

1. She is very cute when she is looking for something. When she tries to find something on the floor, she will bend over so far that the top of her head is resting on the ground as she searches. Sometimes, by looking between her legs, she will then notice us on the other side of the room and chuckle to herself.

2. Natalie just bought a jump rope, and Abby has decided it is her microphone. She drags it around with her with the handle to her mouth and the cable dragging behind, "shuush, shuu, shuush, shush..."

3. She loves when we bless the food (and makes sure we do it even at restaurants.) Sometimes she will whisper some syllables. She loves the ending the most. She used to say "menmen" or something like it, but now "done" is the preferred ending word.

4. She helps conduct the music at church. She is very serious and deliberate in her motions.

5. She can already carry a tune. She has the ability to match a note we are singing, and sometimes even mimic a string of notes. I am a proud papa for sure.

Some of Abby's Latest Words

Abby has been saying a few words for a while, but lately her vocabulary and speech are developing very quickly. Here are a few words and phrases we have heard quite clearly from her.

What is this? (has ss his)
Thank You (shan oou)
Amen (men men)
Milk (me-ill)
Duck
Socks (ssokss)
Shoe

There's a few more that I can't think of right now. The point is, she is growing up so quickly it's kind of frightening.

At the Park, Grandmas

Impromptu Photoshoot at Dusk

A couple of weeks ago I was outside with Abby and Natalie. The light was so perfect and they looked so cute, I grabbed the camera and started snapping away. These were my 3 favorite.

World's Cutest Rocker

365 Days of Abby

Abby turned 1 last Friday. I made this movie for her, and I'm just getting around to posting it now.

Post Number 100: Doo-Wop on a Train

We were able to capture some video of one of my very favorite moments from our trip. We had just sat down on our seats in the subway when this group of guys started singing. I've always loved doo-wop music, and had considered it a dead genere, but for a few minutes on a train in New York it was alive and well. Abby's reaction was priceless, and the singers just loved her. This is a memory I will keep with me for a very long time.