One Day

One Day Kerri and I will spend out anniversary at Eurovision.  Here are some of last year's performances ( You may need to fast forward 30 seconds to the actual song).

Finland


Hungary


Estonia (Pay attention to the magic trick at 1:11ish.  If you can tell me how it is done I would appreciate it).


And from previous years

France 2007 "L'amour a la francaise" 


Ukraine 2007 (this won second place)

Love you tender

I read an article about a town in NC (I think.  It could have been SC) that is recycling its waste water and sending it to a local community college to use in their toilets.  This is a fantastic way to reuse water because it will keep a lot of nitrates out of the local drinking supply.  However, I had to laugh when a representative from the community college noted that signs would be posted reminding people not to drink from the toilet.

Really?  Do we really need reminders not to drink from toilets?  I guess it is good advice for us all.


I was reminded of the following video today.  It always makes me smile.

Update

So I don't think it is in my best interest to be posting at 12:30 in the morning, especially because we have 9:00 church.  But if I don't post now, who knows when it will get done.

Not a whole lot has happened since October.  Ella turned 1.  We went to the zoo where she got surprised by a goat (you'd be surprised too if you turned around to see a goat looking you in the eye).  Chase had an extremely busy semester with classes that were needlessly hard, and Kerri kept working.  We had visitors for Thanksgiving, and we went on a trip over Christmas.  Chase started his last semester of graduate school and applied for graduation in May.  Chase started his job hunt in earnest.  Hopefully something will be lined up before the first week of may, but who knows.  One of his mentors told him not to settle for job, but to hold out for the right one, so we plan on doing that.

Ella keeps getting into drawers.  She discovered the toilet, so it is only a matter of time before she discovers it can flush.  She loves going up an down stairs, and thanks to cousins, she learned very quickly how to be proficient at climbing them.  She says some words, but don't ask to here them because she refuses to perform on command like a trained seal.

A Child's Prayer

I posted this on my facebook account last week, but I thought I would put it here.  This video is awesome.  We used to do stuff like this, but we never video taped it.
We are singing this song in the primary program next week, so it will be hard to refrain from some of the actions they added.

Enjoy

I miss my mission

Today has been one of those days.  My girls are visiting family in  Maryland, and I have been alone for a few days.  First, I need to say that I now have a new appreciation for everything that Kerri does around the house.  I didn't fully realize everything she does in the morning and evenings that make my life run smooth.  So, thank you  Kerri.  I'll do better.

Recently I've been thinking about my time in Tennessee and Kentucky, and how much I miss that part of the country, and how much I want to see some of my friends back there.  One of the people that I helped reactivate way back when was finally able to get sealed to her husband a couple of weeks ago.  I am so proud of her, and impressed by her determination to stay true to the gospel, even though life has been less than stellar for a few years.  I wanted so badly to go to the sealing, but I had just returned from Milwaukee that week, and couldn't make it.

To make matters worse, today at church there were quite a few moments that reminded me of moments I had while teaching investigators, contacting, and working with members, and goofing around with my companions, and other missionaries..  For some reason, my mission isn't far from my mind.  I miss it, and it was some of the best 2 years of my life.

That's all.

One year later

It's been one year since we moved to AZ.  All things considered, its been a pretty good year.  We were actually in Utah when the one year mark passed.  Who could pass up 11 days away from 115 degree weather to spend with family at a parade, Zion's, Snow Canyon, and lounging around doing nothing, while a whole slew of relatives doted on Ella's entertainment needs.  It was fun and we are grateful to my parents for making it happen.  Of course while we were gone we did miss one of the largest haboobs in AZ history.  I'm kind of sad about that.  My friend had to spend $12 to wash his car afterwards, and our apartment complex still has a fine layer of dust everywhere outside.  Thankfully non of the dust got inside out apartment.

So what have we been up to this past year?  Here is a list:

• Kerri got an awesome job as an analytical support specialist
• Chase started graduate school
• Ella was born
• Kerri got called to the Relief Society Presidency
• Chase got called to teach primary (They decided two priesthood holders were needed to gain control of the class and teach the 8 year olds how to behave)
• Ella learned how to sit up
• Ella learned how to clap
• Ella learned how to crawl
• Ella started to eat solid food
• Ella is experiences separation anxiety whenever Kerri is not holding her
• Chase got new tires on his car
• Chase finished 67% of his graduate work
• Chase went to two conference, one is Sedona AZ, and the other in Clearwater Beach FL
• Kerri was promoted to the position of analyst 3 (skipping the positions of analyst 1 and analyst 2) and received a raise
• Kerri received another raise
• The family left gorgeous 85 degree weather to spend a week in 40 degree weather for spring break (Still not sure about that one, but its fun to see family)
• Chase was published in the premier publication for the city management profession
• Kerri discovered she loves the vampire book genre (she had an idea she liked the stories from the Stephanie Meyer's series, but she is really into it now)
• Kerri was put on the party planning committee at work (anyone thinking of the The Office with this one?  I am)

I'm sure Kerri has been up to more than this.  I just can't think of anything.  School, work, and making sure Ella doesn't eat electric cords are keeping us busy.  We have one more year in AZ.  I am on track to graduate in May (on our anniversary to be exact (unless the school changes the date again), which is either really cool, or really crappy, depending on how you look at it) and then who knows where we will be.  It could be anywhere. 

So here's to another year of 100 degree weather, haboobs, and no snow.

Joyeux Quatorze Juillet

Although, I have never actually heard the salutation I put in the title of this post, I thought it was appropriate.  Today is Bastille Day, or France's national holiday. If I was on top of things this year, today would be a day of celebration at our house.

I'm kind of a big francophone, and when I was there a long time ago on the 14th of July I had a lot of fun.  We drove into the French Alps and I watched Le Tour De France.  It was the first year that Lance Armstrong won, and I have a picture of him leading the pack.  If you ever get to see the tour, expect to wait a long time, and for the actual event to be quite short.  Those riders ride really fast.   That night we watch a fireworks show and shot bottle rockets.  Of course, the bottle rockets weren't really aimed at the sky, but rather towards each other.

In other fun French news, I read in Le Parisien that an LDS temple will be built in Le Chesnay, which is a Paris suburb.  I haven't seen the official announcement from the LDS church, but I hope its true.

I leave you with the french national anthem:

Allons enfants de la patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! Contre nous de la tyrannie L'étendard sanglant est levé ! (bis) Entendez-vous dans les campagnes, Mugir ces féroces soldats ? Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras Égorger nos fils, nos compagnes ! Refrain Aux armes, citoyens ! Formez vos bataillons ! Marchons ! Marchons ! Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons !

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Que veut cette horde d'esclaves, De traîtres, de rois conjurés ? Pour qui ces ignobles entraves, Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis) Français ! pour nous, ah ! quel outrage ! Quels transports il doit exciter ! C'est nous qu'on ose méditer De rendre à l'antique esclavage ! Quoi ! ces cohortes étrangères Feraient la loi dans nos foyers ! Quoi ! ces phalanges mercenaires Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers ! (bis) Grand Dieu ! par des mains enchaînées Nos fronts sous le joug se ploiraient ! De vils despotes deviendraient Les maîtres de nos destinées ! Tremblez, tyrans ! et vous, perfides, L'opprobre de tous les partis, Tremblez ! vos projets parricides Vont enfin recevoir leur prix ! (bis) Tout est soldat pour vous combattre, S'ils tombent, nos jeunes héros, La France en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout prêts à se battre ! Français, en guerriers magnanimes, Portez ou retenez vos coups ! Épargnez ces tristes victimes, A regret s'armant contre nous. (bis) Mais ces despotes sanguinaires, Mais ces complices de Bouillé, Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié, Déchirent le sein de leur mère ! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Amour sacré de la patrie, Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs ! Liberté, Liberté chérie, Combats avec tes défenseurs ! (bis) Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire Accoure à tes mâles accents ! Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire ! Refrain Nous entrerons dans la carrière Quand nos aînés n'y seront plus ; Nous y trouverons leur poussière Et la trace de leurs vertus. (bis) Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Que de partager leur cercueil, Nous aurons le sublime orgueil De les venger ou de les suivre ! Refrain