Making History

Ash & I just got done watching Barack O-Fucking-Bama's presidential nomination acceptance speech. As cheesy as it is, I've gotta say that guy makes me tear up tear up a bit. Ash goes more of the goose bump route. But I think he hit that speech out of the park. So exciting. I'm going to be majorly depressed if he loses in November, but I've got a good feeling. The last two elections were so very depressing. Momentum is on our side.

And I know this might sound politically superficial, but how cute are his kids!?! I just love how they're on the world stage right now and are totally oblivious to it - yelling into microphones to talk to their dad via satellite, picking up streamers as they walk off the stage in front of 80,000 people...so great that they're able to keep on being real kids.

In keeping with the political spirit, here's a couple of articles and a website that are pretty funny. Feel free to discuss below! :)

www.thingsolderthanmccain.com - All I can really say is: So freaking hilarious.

This is a link to a top ten list of both Obama & McCain's favorite songs. Hopefully this isn't too old of a story...the lists came out a couple of weeks ago. The 'youngest' song McCain picks is over 30 years old. I hope when I'm 75 I can at least think of a song in the last, oh, DECADE that I really like enough to put a nationally publicized list. And Obama picks a song that was written about him. Even if you really like it, maybe pick something else for humility's sake? I wonder what Joe Biden's list looks like.

-Emily :)

Finicky...but Smart

Helena is currently getting four teeth all at once. I know, how efficient of her! Ash & I are trying to keep it together. Our normally calm, sweet, awesome kid is a bit more high maintenance these days. And that's putting it politely.

She's been systematically refusing vegetables and meat for a few weeks and has basically been subsisting on yogurt, applesauce, and a variety of crackers. Today for dinner, I mixed some peaches into a bowl with the yogurt (thinking it's more nutritious that way, right?). I start to try to feed it to her but she was HYSTERICAL about eating it. After thrashing and throwing a fit for a minute Ash says, "Put it back in the yogurt container!!" So we do...the tears automatically stop and magically she's fine. Ate the entire thing. Seriously, our 10-month old is differentiating between what comes out of a yogurt container versus a bowl...and having an opinion about it?

Next thing you know she'll be reading the ingredients on the baby food jars and refusing to eat something because it isn't completely organic.

-Emily :)

Almost drowned in Lake Woebegon

So last night I had to work an event my station was sponsoring - Garisson Keillor's Rhubarb Tour - a live rendition of his popular NPR show A Prairie Home Companion.

After 3 long hours in the sun and dust at the will-call ticket booth, I got to go into the amphitheatre to get the party started. I had a pretty good time thanks to some co-workers and I bonding over some very strong margaritas.

And while Mr. Keillor isn't exactly my speed, I did enjoy his co-headliner Suzy Boggus and some almost-forgotten country songs as well as Keillor singing 'Home on the Range'. And thanks to the aforementioned very strong margaritas, and the fact that I was supposed to be working, I honestly didn't pay too much attention to the show. Regardless of my personal preference, I do appreciate his talent after seeing him live. The guy played/sang/performed for three hours and does all of his monologues without notes. And I did get some good pictures....

OK, here's Garrison Keillor at our VIP event. I know, my camera was obviously acting up, but I thought it captured his demeanor and essence well: creepy.

For those of you who aren't familiar, another picture of him from his website. It's like Larry King mated with Austin Powers or something.

OK, sorry about that. I just couldn't help myself. And finally, me and my co-worker friend Ja'Naye taking a break from cutting rhubarb pies.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to get a picture of just him & I. I felt bad taking up his time when so many other people were really truly THRILLED to meet him. And he also kind of scares me.

-Emily :)

Olympians we are not...

We haven't been doing a whole lot besides watching the Olympics and working on the never ending shower retiling project.

I have to say the Olympics are especially entertaining to me this time around. I was talking about gymnastics with Ashford tonight and mentioned Mary Lou Retton and how a couple of younger girls I work with didn't know who she was. Then he admits he has no idea who I'm talking about. WHAT?!? Are you SERIOUS? I know we were only 4 when she won the gold medal, but good god, you should at least know who she is for Trivial Pursuit purposes! Pay attention!

OK, while I recover from Ashford's obvious '80's pop culture inadequacies, here are some recent pictures of me drinking martinis on our anniversary where, once you get past my boobs, you can also see my new very short haircut (not sure if I like it or not yet), and some pics of Helena doing what Helena does - eating, smiling, running around, falling, trying to eat the camera. It's good to be a kid. :)

-Emily :)

P.S. - I'm too tired to rewrite that last paragraph that I just realized is basically one very long run-on sentence. Please forgive me. :)

Playing on Wikipedia

A few things Wikipedia has taught me in the past day or so:

Steve Young (the retired football player) is the great-great-great grandson of Brigham Young. Weird!

There is a USS Thach. Cool! And it's currently in action! Dad, did you know that!?!

-Emily :)

Cinco de us!

This past weekend was Ash & I's 5th wedding anniversary. I have to say we celebrated with a bang...a little too many martinis, wine, sushi, and banana and nutella crepes. Yes, our celebrations are usually centered around gluttony. At one point I may have been too drunk to really be in public. But it was awesome. I feel like this past year has been the best year for us so far, despite all of the stress of moving, starting new jobs, and adding Helena to the mix. I think having a kid has only made us closer. Definitely the best decision we ever made.

I can't believe it's been almost eight years since we started dating. Eight years since we went to Java Break in Lawrence for our first coffee date and talked for over 3 hours. Eight years since we watched our first movie together while my roommates embarrassed me in front of Ash like they were my little sisters. Eight years since Ash met my parents with rainbow colored hair. Wow, how time flies.

Sweetie, thanks for making every day interesting and for always making me laugh - and for a million other things I'll keep between us. I love you!

-Emily :)

P.S. - Disclaimer: This is an old picture. I am no longer long-haired and pregnant, and Ash had to shave his goatee as a condition of being able to buy his iphone. Ha!

M.R.S. Degree

Ash is currently obsessed with THIS. He even printed the degree requirements out for me and everything to read when I got home today.

Yes, BYU has a Home and Family Living B.S. degree program. Ash is perplexed as to why it's a Bachelor of Science and not Arts. I think it's funny. And according to his Mormon office mate, this is a very popular major option at BYU among the female crowd. And evidently it's as desirable to the opposite sex as being a cheerleader is at a normal school. All the boys love them.

I also asked his office mate if BYU has cheerleaders and if so, what do they wear? Normal cheerleading outfits was the answer, although evidently they are highly controversial. I was really hoping for some uniqueness here, but alas, I'll have to find my entertainment elsewhere.

-Emily :)

4th of July Utah Style

I thought I'd post a couple of pics a little late of Ash & I celebrating Pioneer Day with a 4th of July-style fireworks show in our backyard.

I decided to don headphones because I hate the loud noises associated with fireworks. Scares me everytime. I know, I suck.

And even though we were shooting off 'illegal' fireworks from our Wyoming trip, Ash was very under control. I was proud of him...he didn't set one tree on fire or blow up any large melons or anything. And then our neighbors screamed at us anyway. Oh, just wait until next year, silly neighbors. It's ON now!

Here's a pic of Ash in action. Lighting fireworks is very serious business and absolutely requires the use of the infamous flashlight you can strap to your head.

-Emily :)

Did you wonder where I was?!?

I'm back! Spent a long weekend in Kansas with the fam...very relaxing and nice to see everyone and get a little lake time in. My new nephew looks EXACTLY like his dad. Can't stress EXACTLY enough. You'll see in the pictures. A rundown of notable events from the trip:

1. I drank too much at the annual Island Party at the lake. I may have mooched some vodka off my friend from high school (thanks Kelli!), shared some Jim Beam with my Dad, and tried to tackle my brother in law. All in good fun, of course. And how else are you supposed to celebrate the first time you've had a babysitter in over 2 months!?!

2. I got to see Erin & Tracee since they were in Hutch, too, for their 10 year high school reunion. After trying in vain to get a seat at a decent restaurant in Hutch during the 'after church' rush, we ended up having lunch at Taco Hut (and yes, it's everything you think it is). The best parts were Erin puking in the bathroom (from being hungover, not from the Mexican food) and the choco taco for dessert. Oh, and it was great to catch up. Erin was a lot more chatty after her purge.

3. Went on a little nature hunt with my niece Ellie. I joked with her that we were going to look for snakes thinking we wouldn't find one, but guess what, we did. I was scared, she wanted to go look at it closer. Ended up it was dead. :) We also found a big green frog and thousands of minuscule baby frogs jumping on the beach.

4. Everyone on our flights to & from Wichita was SO NICE and SO HELPFUL. Helena made friends with everyone on the plane...played peekaboo with people behind us, let the guy sitting beside us hold her...yeah, it was crazy. Someone helped me fold up the stroller multiple times, offered to help me change her diaper, and the list goes on. Hopefully I didn't look so stressed and frazzled that they felt like they HAD to help me...I'm sure they were just being really nice.

5. I saw nearly every member of my family, which was nice. I felt like I had the chance to spend quality time with everyone. See ya at Christmas! So sad...

Some pics from our trip....

-Emily :)