fun can obviously change behavior for the better

I saw this video this morning and had an aha moment when I read the line "fun can obviously change behavior for the better"  It's true...think about it in relation to work, parenting, relationships, chores, learning, etc.

After watching the stair video I watched the rest of the "fun theory" videos.  I think they're brilliant!

updates...slowly

I'm trying to update for the sake of my posterity :)  It'll probably be slow going but slow and steady wins the race, right?

christmas shopping made better

I hate to shop (it's so not my thing) but Christmas shopping was a lot more fun with these two. 

I'm not sure how we got to the young women in the above picture when it seems as if just a few Christmases ago they were these two pip squeaks...

They are growing up into beautiful, kind, caring women that I am proud of but I sure do miss them as little people.  

sing, sing a song

Derek has a great singing voice.  He enjoys opportunities to sing and when time allows he participates in ward and stake choirs at church as well as church productions our stake puts on.  One of his most enjoyable singing opportunities was singing as part of the cornerstone choir for the dedication of the Newport Beach Temple.

Locally we have an amazing choir group - OCMCO the Orange County Mormon Choral Organization.  You can read about them here.  A few times a year they perform at Segerstrom Hall.  I have tried on occasion to get Derek to get tickets so that we could go see them perform but he has always decline.  The reason..."if I go I know I'll want to be in it" and he was unsure if he could invest time in the choir (not to mention, you have to audition and perhaps he may not make it) so we've never been to see the choir but we've always heard great things.

Just recently a friend of Derek's sent him an email letting him know that auditions for OCMCO were taking place.  I encouraged Derek to audition but he wavered back and forth.  Finally he decided to audition and last week found out he made it.  

I am so excited for him!  I look forward to seeing/hearing him perform at concerts similar to this one.

family fun with the flip

3 cousins (Michelle, Megan and Emily) + sunday dinner at grammy's + grammy's abundance of toys + unscripted dialogue + a weird sense of humor + a flip camera = this fine piece of cinematic greatness

We had lots of fun visiting with Ann, Phil (& his new wife Megan), Michelle and Scott over Christmas break. We also got to spend some time with Dave's family and Gail's family - both of whom we don't see often enough even though we live close by.  Some of our activities for those days...

we got to hear great stories (Shady Nasty - thanks Lyndi)

watched old family videos ("Dad, dad, dad, dad" - Dusty)

did some pimple popping via iPhone as well as watched some pimple popping - GROSS!! I couldn't get past a second of the video - Cassidy on the other hand enjoyed every minute of it :)

hammered silver quarters until our ears hurt to make rings - thanks for the idea Josh

had a text war with Cassidy and Mandi - which I totally dominated in case anyone is curious

oohh'ed and aahhh'ed over Chelsea's amazing crafting abilities and criticized Carly's lack of them :) In all honesty the cubes were adorable Carly

ate grammy rolls until we wanted to burst

played games

took no pictures - what's that about?

missed the rest of the family - somehow we need to get all the Baker's in California at one time