Hair

After our week long vacation last week, I didn't really feel like shaving. I kept it up for another week until my facial hair was getting long and itchy. Lexi hardly kissed me and when she did, they were little pecks with her lips stretched out like in "The Little Rascals" so she wouldn't touch my pokey hairs. So last night I shaved it. Here's the before:

The During:

I wanted to only cut a little at first to be a little more conservative for church, but I think that an Amish or Brigham Young look was a little too churchy:

So I decided to just shave it all. Here's the after: (I only cut myself once or twice)

That's better:

A couple weeks ago Lexi got the courage to chop her hair, no not her facial hair, her head hair (JK, she doesn't have any facial hair, that was close). This is something she had been thinking about doing for over a year now. Here's the before:

And the After: (Good job Cami!)

I think it looks great! Lexi is so stylish she is able to make everything flow with her outfits also. She is also very observant and is talented enough to do different types of hairstyles almost everyday. We were both very happy with the end results and got used to it quickly.

Gavin's 1st Birthday

On our 2 year anniversary we celebrated Gavin's 1 year birthday. I like that, less dates to have to remember (This is Todd posting, btw).

No, we didn't procrastinate updating the blog for a few months, this only happened a week ago. You've gotta love Utah weather in May. It was windy and a little cold.All of both our families came to help celebrate (minus those who live out of state, plus Shelbie and her boys)

Some of the gifts: (Thanks everyone!)

Ummm, Kim? What's wrong with this picture?

That's right, I don't think the thumb is supposed to be extended. You're teaching it to him all wrong. (Maybe it is, I don't know)

The Cake:

I can't believe he is a year already. Lexi and I have loved watching him grow and look forward to more. Thanks to everyone who came. It was fun!

Addition to post:

I just realized that Lexi already started a post on Gavin's bday but didn't finish because of the pictures (we need to communicate more, I guess) So here is what she had written:

Title: Gavin 2, Us 1

Gavin is ONE! We had a "little" party for him at the park with about 40 people there, that was just my and Todd's siblings and their children as well as our parents oh and "uncle" Manookin. Gavin opened gifts (thanks to all you sweet people who gave him gifts), devoured his cake and played with toys! It was really cold for May 16th, but turned out to be a fun party despite the weather!

For those who don't know, Gavin came on our one year anniversary, which I was grateful because he was four days early. So we get to share two amazing days. Two years have flown by. I can't believe that we've been married that long! It makes me excited for the coming years as I look around and see those who've been married longer than us and their happiness as more children and other events arise that bring them close together. Todd and I went out to eat the weekend before our anniversary at the wonderful Olive Garden. I told Todd I want to go somewhere that we don't have a coupon for, since we usually will only go out to eat if we have a coupon. After Gavin's party we shared gifts. I gave Todd a gift certificate to one of his favorite "hole in the wall" Mexican restaurant, El Gillo Gello ("El Gallo Giro", sorry this is Todd again, just editing) and some mango pop. Todd is the thoughtful one in our relationship and gave me a cute necklace (which he put on me...dream come true...sorry for the cheesiness, can't help it) as well as Mancala and a new game called Pepper.

Birthday Zoo Trip

I know, we need to update the blog more. Here is our adventure yesterday at the Zoo on Lexi's Bday. And I'll throw in some other stuff that's we've missed:

He does this new thing where he smiles with his mouth wide open, pretty cute:

On the train at the zoo:

Here's the Birthday girl, Gavin and the elephants:

The 2 Monkeys:

(Pretend this is another post:)

Now that the G-Man is mobile, he's a little more curious (mischievous?):

Helping load the dishwasher:

Turning the TV off and changing the channels:

Reading books under the table:

Opening cupboards and organizing the zip-loc bags:

Gotta keep our eyes on him (as hard as that could be, can't really help it anyway)

Birthdays and Teeth!

Todd's birthday was celebrated over several days, that's the way to do it! We went down to Kanab, Ut to celebrate Todd's nephew Lex's first birthday and Todd's also. Then me and Todd celebrated at home then my family had a gathering to celebrate all those who have birthdays in that month. 

Todd really wanted this harmonica and he is really good at it!

With a special request his mom made his favorite yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

Todd grew up with this Pampered Chef juice mixer which he has missed dearly, so i here it is.

3 ties for under $20! Guess where two of them came from...

Todd and his manly drill!

Well Gavin is growing right before our eyes! He is army crawling with a few "real" crawls to start off. He now has 4 teeth and 2 more coming in! He got his first 2 teeth then 8 days later the top two teeth came in! He's a doll with 0,2,4, or six teeth!

Fat Lip

A few weeks ago we gave Gavin some pineapple. I'm not sure why, it must've been the only fruit we had. Well, I guess citrus isn't the best thing to give to a baby. A few hours later his top lip looked like this:A little scary and pretty sad. We watched to make sure nothing else was affected. I made a midnight Wal-Mart/Walgreens/Rite Aide/Macey's run to try to find what the doctor recommended. By the time I got home it had gone down and almost all of it was gone by morning.

Update of the Decade

I've noticed that some of you made blog posts on 2010 in review. Well here's our DECADE in review (for lack of digital pictures the first few years will be very general)

2000-2003

I lived in Costa Rica:

Lexi danced in high school:

2005-2007:

I went on a mission to Spain:

Lexi attended BYU-Idaho:

2008:

Lexi and I went on our first date:

2009:

Lexi graduated from BYU-I in Early Childhood/Special Ed:

(couldn't find pic, but she looks pretty darn good in that graduation outfit)

We got married May 16th in the Draper Temple:

2010:

I graduated from UVU in Spanish Education:

Gavin Ryan was born on our 1 year anniversary:

Not a bad decade!

Youtube

A few days after I got home from my mission, Cara and Jonny wanted me to listen to a song that had just come out. Cara suggested that Jonny "Youtube" it. "Oh, the band is 'U2'?" I thought, since I had never heard of "Youtube" before!

Sometimes when we're at Kim's house, we just sit around and just watch YouTube videos.

Every once in a while I need to spend a few minutes looking up videos, just to relax sometimes.

Here are some of my favorites (sorry part of the video is cut off, not really sure how to fix that. Just click on the video to go to the actual page to better enjoy.)

The Happiest DJ in the World:

Apple Meets Mr. Bean:

First Semester of Spanish Love Song:

Then there are the classics like Hide You' Kids, The Evolution of Dance, After the Dentist, The Sneezing Panda, Numa Numa, etc.

I also have to take time to see some reporter bloopers:

Reporters laugh at model falling, twice:

Here are some other reporter classics: Reporter gets hit by tube, Bird poops on reporter, Soccer ball hits reporter,

Then there are the classic Music Videos. Anything by Michael Jackson, especially Thriller. "Okay Go" has some pretty good music videos, such as the Tread Mill MV, and both versions of their This too shall pass. Then there's the backward MV. Oh, don't forget the literal music videos.

Sports are fun to watch, especially soccer Bloopers.

Destroyed in Seconds is cool.

Slow mo is pretty fun.

Deer gets hit by fast car is good.

Speaking of cars:

Here are some of Lexi's Favs:

Well I think this list is quite extensive and should keep you busy for a few days. Thanks YouTube for endless hours of video watching fun!

What are some of your favorite YouTube videos? Please share.

Little Hollywood, BOO & Grin

For UEA break we got to get away to "Little Hollywood" Kanab, Utah. I'll be honest I loved it. It is always fun to somewhere you've never been before. We went down with Todd's family. The family did some walks, hikes, swimming, caving, went to some narrows, and ate some yummy food!

 This cave is called the Moqui Cave and is owned by my sister-in-law's family, the Chamberlain's. It is an awesome little cave. I've always enjoyed museums and other educational places, which I give credit to my father who loves history. He was constantly telling me fascinating things about the world around me especially on family trips. 

Happy Halloween!We went to our ward Halloween party and had a blast! I farm handsome bananas and the cutest red chiles you've ever seen! 

My close are legit. All but the shirt are from my father's wardrobe, but my shirt was a wranglers, probably my mothers! Dad grew up on a farm and loves the cowboy boots, hats, galoshes, overalls, jumpsuits, handkerchief...all the essentials and I get to benefit from them! Warning! Warning! Overalls may make you appear larger than you are!

Okay this is officially Halloween. We had a great dinner at Todd's parent's house then hung out at my patent's house. Gavin was a sweet little skeleton. My brother Kameron and his wife Abby were a creative chicken and the egg! 

 I learned how to make these greats glitter pumpkins at Kim's house and loved them!! They were so easy to make and beautiful! She made these amazing....

Carmel Apples....yum one of my favorites of the season. We then.....

wrapped in brown paper sacks to make them look like old fashioned brooms. I loved this idea too!

Cute Gav and his little grin. He is already 6 months!!

Awkward Jr High Notes - Edition #1

Why would anyone ever go back to Jr High? I don't know about you, but those years were my most awkward, looked down upon years of my life. So I ask again, why would anyone ever want to go back to Jr. High? To observe all the awkwardness, of course!
In my few months of working there, I've confiscated (collected) a few notes students have passed around in my class. I take them home and enjoy them with Lexi. Let me share a few with you (please note that these are in no way embellished. All grammar, spelling and punctuation have not been altered in anyway):

Note #1:
Student 1: OMG! Yesterday, I was making a top 10 list, and Kevin was on it, and Steven saw, and he told Kevin!
Student 2: Wait, Kevin knows you like him? What did he do when he found out?!
Student 1: Well, I don't like him a TON, he's just on my top ten, and I don't know, I didn't hear.
Student 2: Crap that sucks! Hey, now I want to know your top 10! Tell me, pleeeeeeese?

Note #2:
Jessica, So I couldn't find a pen or pencil, so...I am writing in colored pencils! LOL! [student writes in blue colored pencil] So what's up girl?! I fricken love your guts! Who do you think is cute? I think ALOT of guys are cute! What class are you in?
TTYL
Write back
Susan

Note #3:
Student 1:Dear Brittany, So what are we going to do about Joe? I mean something that is reallistic! (Not war or killing him!) OK so you have to write back this time ok! See you later! Have a good day!
Student 2: I don't know, we can't get him to go out with Ryan 'cuase when they break up - I don't think it will end well. We might just have to wait it out and hope for the best.
Student 1: Hey we can not tell them to go out they have to wait till they are sixteen! Just kidding! I think that they will ne [at this point I saw the note and took it away before Student 1 could finish her word]

Note #4: This note was folded in its regular manner, with the words "Read & Write back"
Student 1: Do you like me at all? Yes or no (Circle one!)
Student 2: [circles "yes"]
Student 1: More than a friend?
Student 2: kinda
Student 1: Why did you dump me?
Student 2: I don't really know, you and me never get to hangout
Student 1: Sad
Student 2: Sad but true
Student 1: ?
Student 2: ok
[At this point it looks like the friend of student 1 intercepted the note on its way to the desired recipient and added a note of their own]
Student 3: I love you soooooo much - from Melanie AKA - Barbara

Note #5: This note was labeled "To mah lovely chika.!" [Yes, that is a period with an exclamation point, you'll see more to come]
Yo chika ((I don't know how to spell your name))
Buh; school is school...LOL =]
What about you.? How is school.?
Nah girl, we gottah go to Orem now.! Kuhz thats where mah babe is.. =]
LOL..
We do need to hang out.! Buh yes.! Who you lyking these days.?
Dude, i hecka want to meet valerias cuhzos...! [not sure what that is, cousins?]
Of course i'll introduce you.!
Love;
((Jane)) =]


LOL, good times. Hope you've enjoyed this, the first, edition of awkward notes of Jr High Students. OMG, I can't wait until I get my next fricken note to share with you! Buh anyway, gotta go see mah girl. Im gonna ask her to go out with me. She's so hot, we might even hold hands! Oh sorry, TMI!