Animal Lovers

Do you think being an animal lover is nature or nurture? Is it something you learn or something you're just born with?

My two boys are animal lovers. Whether they were born with it or learned it from Chad, one thing is for sure...it didn't come from me. Not that I dislike animals, I just don't like animals. I don't get them.

When we were dating, I bragged to Chad that I loved horseback riding. A few weeks later he showed up at my house for a morning date on horseback. I about died. We were going to go up the street from my house to a trail in the mountains that led to a beautiful waterfall.

We weren't a block away from my house when Chad realized his dream of me as a cowgirl just wasn't correct. He demanded an explanation and the truth finally came out: the only time I'd ever ridden a horse was in a field at girl's camp one year. I spent the morning on a beautiful hike about a hundred yards in front of Chad riding a horse and guiding another one (riderless) up the same trail.

Caden is an animal lover. When we went to the Thanksgiving Point farm last summer, he stuck his head into the pen, and the little pony came up and nuzzled him. (I know--what kind of a mother just snaps a picture when her son sticks his head in the pony enclosure?)

Most recently, Caden loved Lucy, a hamster my mom got for her classroom. Caden would carry Lucy all around the house, and all of the cousins would ask him to get Lucy out so they could pet her. Sadly, like most hamsters around our house, Lucy's life ended in tragedy. She was squished under the couch. Rest in peace, Lucy.

Anyway, it seems like there's going to be another animal lover in my family. And this is why I ask is it nature or nurture. Bryce has not been around animals very much. But when he saw the dogs at his Grandma and Grandpa Schow's house last month, he went crazy. He was squealing and giggling and trying to go after them. When Grandpa Schow called them over, Bryce was beside himself excited to be so close.

And it wasn't just the dogs. When our family met Mickey, Bryce couldn't get enough of the large Mouse. His face here shows utter awe:

And when we met a goat at the petting zoo, well, I think Bryce felt life was complete.

My boys...I love them and they love animals

.

I think I'm in for it.

Catch of my life

One night, when Chad and I were dating, I got home late from a date. My little brother Chris, who was 18 at the time, had also just got home and was eating a midnight snack, so I joined him. Chris had known Chad for years before I had. They had gone on camping and hunting trips together.

Chris asked me if I was going to marry Chad. I don't remember my answer, but I probably said "I don't know" or tried to change the subject.

Chris felt the need to put some perspective on the situation. He said to me, "Michelle, it is like you are fishing in a small pond. And you just reeled in an Alaskan king salmon...and you are thinking about throwing it back!! What exactly do you think you'll catch that will be better?"

Thanks, Chad, for staying on the line. Happy five year anniversary.

Bryce-6 months

Bryce is six months old! He looks so much like Caden, I better start labeling pictures so I know which is which when they're older. Bryce has a little bit more of Chad's look, though, which I love.


With Bryce being six months, I decided it was time to start some cereal. It was a little sad for me, as I love being the only one to feed him. It's like all through pregnancy and up to this point, I am the one who gives him all of his nourishment and this is the first small step in him not being so dependent on me anymore.
I shouldn't feel too bad, though. He isn't very proficient at eating solids so I'll probably be feeding him for awhile still!

It is amazing to me that such a little baby can already know how to purse his lips so tightly that nothing can get in. Until it's something he likes (bananas) on the spoon and suddenly he's all for it.


We love Bryce. At the end of our whirl-wind Thanksgiving week which included the beach, Disneyland, parks, shopping and something planned every day, he was nominated the MVP of the trip--he was just so good. He is pretty cheerful, good at going with whatever we're doing, and tolerant when Caden insists on helping do everything for him.


I was so scared for our drive to Utah over Christmas, but he and Caden were champs. Bryce just sat in the back seat and talked and played and slept the whole trip. I put his and Caden's carseats together and I LOVED watching Caden take care of Bryce-getting him toys or his binky.
Life is good with my little boys.

Pictures

Here are a few pictures from when Chad's parents were here.

Playing trains


Visiting Newport Beach Temple


Watching the garbage man


Caden waiting for his grandma and grandpa to wake-up so he could play with them.


New Year's Eve. Chad fried wings and Cindy made enough snacks and dips to feed us for days. We were pretty low-key playing games, watching movies, and of course, stuffing ourselves silly!

Rose Parade Float Party

Chad's parents came back with us to California after Christmas. One of the things we'd planned on doing all together was go to the Rose Parade. Apparently you have to sleep on the sidewalks the night before to get a seat to view the parade.

Chad was the first to drop out of the plan when he found out he had to be at the clinic at noon that day and I quickly followed. No way was I taking 2 boys to watch a parade with 700,000+ others without him!

Norm and Cindy decided to stay home with us, too, and we made it a party eating apple-spice filled ebelskievers while we watched it.

That afternoon, however, we decided to attend the float party where you get to see the floats up close. Norm served his mission in soCal, and although that was over 40 years ago, he is still so good at navigating around. Parking could have been a nightmare (the park and ride had a 2 hour wait) but Norm (somewhat unknowingly) found us a spot about 2 blocks from the event.
It was fascinating to see the float up close. I loved this dinosaur one that had artichokes for foliage


and brussel sprouts to give the texture.



We definitely weren't the only ones who had this idea (about 150,000 attend the float party).



One of my favorite things was afterwards, we drove down Colorado Blvd (the parade route) and practiced our waving--




The crews were already putting the city back together--here they are re-installing a street light.


Mounds of trash

Christmas

I hope you had a Merry Christmas! This was my favorite Christmas in recent years because of how much fun it was to have a child who finally got excited about the holiday. I loved attending church on Christmas morning as well.





Every time Caden saw Santa, he always asked for Nemo jammies and Star Wars undies. Do you know how hard it is to come by Nemo jammies right now? He couldn't go for Cars or Toy Story or any other movie that's currently popular. Good thing Santa knows how to use ebay.
Caden also got Star Wars toys, nerf guns, a remote control car, some books and treats. Bryce got a board book. That's what happens when you're the baby.


We got to talk to Chad's brother who is on his mission in London. It was a little sad because it is the last of the missionary phone calls in either of our families.

Chad got a wii. I think all of his dreams have now come true.

Nativity

Our ward had a great Christmas party. They had activities for the kids...cookie decorating, Santa, crafts, etc. One of the activities was to dress up as characters from the nativity. Caden said he wanted to be an angel (we couldn't find a halo, so a crown had to do. Chad informed me the angel didn't have a halo anyway) and Bryce was a shepherd.



When it was time to go, Caden gently put the baby Jesus back into the cradle, and got him all settled--covering him and tucking the doll in tight. Then he leaned in to give the baby a kiss good bye kiss.



That little boy melts my heart.