Happy Early Valentines Day!

I know we're still two weeks out, but here's a little something to get the romance building.  Love this short.  It is actually the story of how Amy and I met.  So romantic, so magical, so lovely.  Go watch it here.

Atticus the Wounded

Remember back in November at Kinring's baby blessing (Matt and Denice's 6th) when Atticus fell outside while playing with his cousins and hit his head on something... and then we rushed him to the emergency room because there was a lot of blood everywhere... and then he started telling everyone about wolfkin and grax and remicon and forgot he was getting 13 sitches? 

He loved the attention. Best ER trip EVER. Probably in the history of the world:).

Remember, also, how I got all the blood out of his white shirt? Hydrogen peroxide is so good to me.

Atticus's 4th Birthday

I was so sad because most of Tic's birthday pictures got deleted on accident. I thought all of them had. But we found a few that survived- not great- but something. For his birthday we went with a couple of cousins to the Provo Beach where they have a ginormous play area (climbing walls, tunnels, slides, etc.). They had a blast. 

And here we see Tic enjoying his presents. This knight armor is from my parents. We got him some dragons. They have since eaten, burned, and killed many many things in our home.

Cake and ice cream. It's not a birthday without 'em. DRAGON. It was a tricky cake to eat because you had to be quick. Had to eat the dragon before he ate you.

They did alright- attacking from all angles with forks. Here lies his remains.

We love our Atticus so much. He's turning into a very polite- but still intense - little boy.

Jo's first day of Kindergarten

I just imported like 300 photos off our camera! So get ready for many posts of old events.

Look how cute Jo was back in August. She loves school. Very shy, but loves it.

Member how her bag is as big as she is? (Definitely picked that one out herself.)

So excited and so nervous! First day of school is so exciting!

It's still a little strange to me that she goes to the same school I went to for 4th and 5th grade.

Here's where I tried to bribe Jo with a cupcake to tell me how everything went. 

 Yesterday when I picked Jo up from kindergarten I said, "Hooray! It's Friday! That means tomorrow you are home all day and so is Dad!"

She replied, "I like days when I get to stay home... but I like going to school more!"

Movie Review from Ryan

Movie: Unicorn City
Review: It's good
Recommendation: Go watch it. Don't talk to anyone about it, don't read the synopsis, just pop some corn, go to Netflix streaming, click-it, watch it.

Marriage Advice

It was a good Christmas. A very good Christmas. We were all spoiled... and I will delve into that subject later. But right now I'm just focusing on my favorite Christmas gift Ryan gave me- he tracked down a little video of our engagement and our wedding day! Hazzah! Steph and Paul were going to video our wedding but I had understood that the battery to their camera was accidentally dead and so we hadn't had anything recorded. In actuality the camera battery didn't last long, but a little of that day was captured!!!!! It's been so fun to watch. So so fun. I thought you might benefit from the advice everyone gave us that day. Maybe try the advice out in your own marriage. It's important stuff!

Matt Wood: "I got nothing. Sorry."... "Don't use the diving apparatus that Josh and I made."

Josh Wood: "Wedding, what?"

Jenny Wood: "Sorry, nothing."

Tam Wood: "Just keep happy, be nice to each other, tell jokes. Don't let your children tie you up."

Jessica McGhie: "Ryan, give Amy a hug everytime you come home from work. And a kiss."

Chelsi McGhie: "Be nice to each other. Don't get in fights and don't get a divorce."

Jessica and Chelsi together: "Always change your babies. Don't let it (the poop) stay."

Matt Strong: "Pudding. Lots of pudding. Chocolate.... Vanilla.... Butterscotch..."

Jason Strong: broke into song instead of advice, "I've seen that smile somewhere before..." this turned into a duet with Matt... and continued in to further advice about pudding... Chocolate Vanilla Mix.

Casey Strong: "Keep each other laughing. A home without laughter just isn't fun."

Grandma Challis: "Just love each other dearly. Just be good to each other all the time."

Brittney Strong: "Pay for it with cash- then you can't track it- then you won't know where it goes. Have a baby soon."

Me: "The Sealer talked a lot about studying the Proclamation to the Family so we need to make sure and do that."

Ryan: "If I always put Amy first then I'll always be happy- so always focus on serving her."

That was all the technical advice. There was a lot of other really important commentary though. Like Chris and Tom commenting on how beautiful the sealing was... but their's was better. Like Andrew saying that my Dad often lies just after he'd said Ryan and I make a great couple. Like Danny thanking Ryan for marrying me... he said he was getting worried for me. Like Steph, the one working the camera, zooming in on her husband. Like Jessica and Chelsi singing us a song about their stinky baby brother. Like the camera scanning Ryan's Mom from head to toe 3 times. So fun to remember that first day of our freaking awesome marriage and family. Thanks everyone who helped make April 28th, 2006 so wonderful.

They Must Be South Pole Elves

We know we know, but it's sort of become a tradition. Deal with it.