We've Been Elfed

We thought you might enjoy this show. I have to say that I look pretty good in green velvet. http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9570082017
Enjoy and Merry Christmas!!!

Comfortable in My Skin

I, like Bill Cosby, have discovered that I am not the boss of this house. Mr. Cosby alluded to his wife being the boss. However, currently it seems like there is a new sheriff in our town. Kierra has mad all sorts of rules. Playing in the dryer is acceptable. Coming to mom and dad's bed is allowed. Smeering diaper cream all over your body and your bed is okay, too. The list goes on, but there is one rule that I do not understand. It now appears that clothes are optional in our home. Kierra takes any chance she can get to take off her clothes. I found her bathing herself in the sink. I found her walking a fake dog wearing nothing but mittens. I found her showing some of our friends' kids how to use the restroom (which, of course, entails wearing no clothes). I am starting to seriously consider a suggestion from a friend that seems a little primative. I won't tell you exactly what it is, but, just a bonus, I am recommending you buy stock in duct tape. Thinking about this, though, has really made me think about Kierra's approach to life. She is, to this point, uninhibited by what others think. She seems to be (literally) comfortable in her own skin. Maybe there is something we can learn from Kierra. Now, before you write me off as a nut, I am not suggesting that we all join a clothes optional club. I do think, however, that we hide who we really are with who we think people want us to be. I am not going too deep, but my streaking daughter has made me think that we, as adults, might not be as comfortable in our skin as we used to be.

I am very excited for Christmas. We put up our tree yesterday. Kierra was so excited. She repeatedly said, "It is going to be Christmas today." We also watched a movie representing the birth of Christ. This has become a special tradition for our little family. I love the mood that Christmas puts most people in. I love the thought that goes into other people. I love biscuits and gravy on Christmas morning. I love seeing the excitement in Kierra. And I love the meaning of Christmas.

Let Life Come

I am starting to learn to let life come, to enjoy the moment. Kierra has done a very good job of teaching me. I remember when she was first born. She was so cute...but I just couldn't wait for her to be able to crawl or walk. She would be able to get whatever she needed on her own. Then it happened. I hadn't thought that she might be able to also get things that I didn't want her to get. Then my thoughts turned to how great it would be when she could talk. Then I could explain to her what she was allowed to play with. Then it happened. For some reason I never imagined the "no's" and the "mine's" and the "I'm not listening's." Yesterday I almost got caught up in the same trap. Due to digestive problems we have not pushed potty training yet. Yesterday, Kierra came in to me stark naked and said, "I want to go pee on the toilet." I thought, "This is great! Kierra is potty trained and I didn't have to buy her new Disney Princess undies or a wet n' wipe Sally doll or a copy of The Potty is Our Friend Book." Then it happened. Three more times that night she wanted to go because we made such a big deal of how proud we were of her. It slowly dawned on me how nice diapers are. Sure they are expensive and messy. However, they wait for you. Potty trained kids do not. Kierra has shown no signs of wanting to go on the pot today, and I am perfectly happy with that. I am also perfectly happy that the only trick Ariana knows is how to smile. I enjoy the fact that she is mute and immobile. I am not going to long for the day when I am done with grad school and out of debt because it might happen, along with a mortgage and dance practice and school for kids. I am not going to long for retirement because it might happen along with arthritis and depends for men and Nivea. I am going to enjoy the now because the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side.

Okay, I am done philosophizing. Now it is on to what you all came to read: quotes from Kierra. This time I will post two conversations we had.

The first conversation happened while we were at the church playing in the grass. Kierra started the conversation while looking at the steeple.
Kierra: Dad, where is the statue of Angel Moroni?
Me: It is on the temple, not the church.
Kierra: Dad, Angel Moroni...she looks like a man.
Me: Kierra, Moroni is a man.
Kierra: Dad, Angel Moroni...he looks like a woman

The next experience happened while I was home alone with Kierra and had to go to the bathroom.
Kierra (through the bathroom door): Dad, I brought you the scissors.
Me: Thanks, will you put them on the counter. I will be out in a minute.
Kierra: Okay...dad, I'm not bleeding.
Me: You're not bleeding? Did you get hurt?
Kierra: No, I didn't get hurt, and I am not bleeding.
Me: Are you sure you didn't get hurt?
Kierra: Only a little bit, but I am not bleeding. I am not going to play with scissors anymore...only toy scissors.
(She really was NOT bleeding, and I typically do an okay job of keeping an eye on her.)

Crazy Nights

Being a student and new father is catching up to me. I have some short nights which have really thrown off my sleeping habits. The other night I woke at 3 in the morning. That is not out of the ordinary for me. What made it wierd was that I was sitting in the living room, eating yogurt, and watching a rerun of the news when I woke up. I have no recollection of getting out of bed, getting the yogurt, or turning on the TV. Kindra wonders why I eat and watch TV in my sleep instead of mowing the lawn or fixing something around the house. Well, the story makes it in to my top three sleep stories along with the time my freshman year of high school when I feel asleep on the first day of school (who does that?) and the time I was trying to give up eating candy and I woke up from a dream of eating a Laffy Taffy to find a book in my mouth. Ariana is getting bigger. She is starting to cooo and sleeping a little bit better. Kierra is as fun as ever (see below). One of my freinds wrote after the last blog to tell me that he could tell me how old my oldest daughter is because of the clothes that I am wearing in my pictures. He says he has noticed dads just stop updating. Sounds like bologna, but, unfortunately it is pretty accurate. Try it on yourself dads. Well, it is back to another week at it. I will close again with Kierra's thoughts:
3) 'I am laying on your pillow dad. Maybe when you get older, you can lay on mom's pillow.'
2) 'Everyone likes me. Especially all of the grandmas.'
1) Kindra (on seeing Kierra's picture from nursery) - 'Oh, you learned about sacrament meeting today?!'
Kierra - 'No I didn't.'
Kindra - 'What did you learning about?'
Kierra - 'I didn't learn about anysing!'

Pandemonium

So, the past few weeks in our house have been a little crazy. I am still being acclimated to the life of a graduate student. There are some great benefits such as a great faculty and curriculum, great people to work with, a recent #1 rating of regional MBA programs, many recruiting companies, and a little time each night to see my family. There are a few downsides such as not feeling like you can help your wife and daughter when they get the puke flu within a week of each other. Somehow we should get sick days. It is also very emotionally draining, and, for those of you who think like my sister, that doesn't mean I cry a lot. There are just a lot of emotions, good and bad, each day. From feeling excited about new opportunities to feeling overwhelmed by all of the work to feeling grateful for the help of others, to feeling exhausted at the end of the day, to feeling frustrated that you spent an entire day doing homework and didn't take any time to make contacts for an internship (but never, ever crying). In the end, I get a great sense of fulfillment by what I am doing. Kierra asks me each day if I had fun at BYU Cougars. It seems to me that she might think I am on the football team. I am okay with her thinking that...as long as she doesn't mistake me for one of the Cougars' offensive lineman. Kindra has been great with Ariana. She has healed quickly, and she does a great job of holding down the fort. So, at this pace I will 'blog it up' every six weeks, so you might hear from me some time in November. I will end with my favorite recent Kierra sayings:
4. "Don't Worry Dad. I will betect Ariana."
3. "We're going to Uncle Caleb and Aunt Jessica's house. Jessica is really excited to see me."
2. "Can we have family home evening again, so I can have another treat?"
1. "Mom, I want to get out of the shower. It is too watery."

Three Becomes Four

We have finally decided to join the blogging world. I know, I know it is about time. Someday we might upgrade to other modern technology such as a dishwasher, internet at home, ipods, cable television, or air conditioning. For now, we are very happy being a modern, stone-aged family. Right now I am waiting patiently for labor and delivery to call us so Kindra and I can start the process of having our second daughter. We could be using the time to pin down a name, but instead Kindra is getting some well-needed rest and I, for some reason, have chosen this time to become a blogger. We have a few major changes happening all this week. The biggest will be the birth of 'she who has not been named.' Friday is my last day working for the State of Utah. This comes with mixed emotions. I have enjoyed the people there and the stability of a decent paying job with good benefits. Working as a sales tax auditor is intriguing at times and frustrating at others, so there are some aspects I won't miss. I start the masters of business administration program next week. We have been planning on this for two years. We have saved a little nest egg, but will enter the world of big debt. We both (Kindra and I) feel that is will be worthwhile venture. I better be off to big event #1. The next time you read this I will most likely be an unemployed student and father of two...at least you won't be able to see my receding hairline!!!