Happy Birthday Cole!

On Saturday, September 13, we celebrated Cole's first birthday. It's hard to believe that we have gone a whole year with him in our life. Looking back, time has gone by so fast, and yet, it is really easy to see how much things have changed with him around.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that his sleeping habits are entirely different than Teanna's. We struggled a lot more with him at night. And until the last two months or so, we've spent time up with him almost 3-4 times per week. In fact for a while there, we were taking turns sleeping on the couch with him, because that was the only way he'd fall asleep. Ahhhh, the good old days...

Then of course, there is the obvious boy/girl differences between him and Teanna. He likes to bang toys, hit things, jump on things, run around and so on and so forth. Stuff we were never prepared for.

He thinks differently too. He can figure out how to operate almost any toy and he really doesn't like books. Whereas his sister was exactly the opposite. In fact, I think she still can't figure out some of the toys that Cole plays with.

He's mister smiley and we love him. His presence in our house has been purely joyful for the last year. Our life has changed a lot since we had him - new basement, then a new house, Teanna starting school, Dad trying to finish school, Mom breaking her arm (more on that later) - and we can hardly wait to continue watching him grow and learn.

Happy Birthday Coley-o. We love you. Enjoy the slideshow of Cole's first year with us.

Teanna's Back to School

It's rather belated, but late is better than never. I have a lot to catch up on, so we'll start with Teanna. She has started preschool. She loves it. Every day she doesn't want to tell us what she learned or what she did at school, but inevitably, she starts to sing new songs and let slip something that she learned.

Each Thursday she brings home some homework - I know! Already!? - which we help her do over the weekend. She is getting really good at writing her name. And although she is the youngest in her class, her teacher - Miss Joey - says she is doing very well. In fact, she said that all the girls are way into school. The boys just want to wrestle. I'm not so sure I'll be paying money to send Cole to wrestling school...

Here's pics from Teanna's first day of school. We love her and are so proud of her. She is a joy to be around and is learning so much, we can barely keep up with her.

This is her back to school outfit. She was so excited!

What am I thinking?

Well, today is the day. You know, the same day that happened for kids all over the place yesterday or last week or next week. That's right. The dreaded day of - gasp! - "BACK TO SCHOOL!"

The only problem is that I'm 28! What in the world am I doing being back in school? I've thought long and hard about this and I've realized that since I was 4 and going to preschool in our neighborhood in South Jordan, I've been a student with only two real breaks - when I went on my mission 1999-2001 (which could be argued as a different type of schooling) and when I graduated with my undergraduate degree in 2004 until I started working on my MBA in 2006.

So for 20 years of my existence, I've been in school. Some of it was natural and inevitable. There was no way, no matter how hard I tried, that I'd talk my way out of elementary through high school. Although I'm sure I tried. And sometimes I didn't try to talk my way out of it, I just sluffed. (Yes my wonderful children and nieces and nephew - I did. Don't do it. Or else.)

But since 1998 when I started my freshman year at Snow College, I've CHOSEN to go to school!! What is wrong with me? I've honestly chosen to burden myself with homework, term papers, research, dreaded group work and trying to get a grade!?

And so, here I sit this morning, contemplating the fact that in 45 minutes, I'll be starting a class that I CHOSE to take. Somehow, I've got to learn to make better choices. I'm also contemplating the fact that my beautiful daughter who is almost 3 will be starting preschool next week. That's kind of ironic, eh? Here I am lamenting the fact that I have been in school for 20 years of my meager existence, and she's at home, probably dreaming about going to school (I wonder what that is like in the imagination of an almost 3 year old), her lunchbox - which sadly to say she was broken-hearted to learn that she doesn't get to eat lunch at school and use a lunchbox - and the new outfit she gets to wear.

I hate to say I'm having one of those "life has come full circle" moments, but I think I am. So, today I offer a little advice to Teanna after 20 years of schooling experience:

1) Don't sniff the glue. It may sound fun at first, but trust me, the after effects are certainly not worth it.

2) Don't pull the chair out from under the person you like when you're in 1st grade. He'll never treat you the same.

3) Be yourself and forget about what other people think about you. What's important is how you feel about yourself. Always know that somewhere, people love you for who you are and who you can become, not for who they want you to be.

4) Be the class clown. Within reason. Don't think that your uncle Spencer dressing like a girl was a worthy example to follow...

5) Be the class bookworm. Your mom and I think you're the smartest kid in the world. Don't fail us. Just kidding. But it doesn't hurt to also be as studious as you can.

6) Don't fall in love before you graduate and experience life after high school. Trust me. It's totally not worth it. I know you might not have problems with this, but I feel bad for all those little boys whose hearts you'll be breaking for the next 20 years. That's the curse of inheriting your mother's beauty.

7) Stand up for what is right, the picked on, the loners and be a friend to everyone. I may not remember much of first grade math, but I remember who my friends were and weren't.

8) And finally, remember to enjoy your time in school. It won't last forever - only another 20 odd years or so!

I love you,

Dad