Thanksgiving Update

I've been quiet this week on my blog because Mia and the boys have been out of town.  There hasn't really been much for me to say unless you want to hear about how boring the house is without any kids.

But, fortunately, the monotony was relieved yesterday when my Dad and I went down to have Thanksgiving with family in San Antonio.  It was very nice of them to invite us down, especially since we didn't have to bring anything!  (But we did bring some chips and dip to munch on during football.)

We have a very nice meal, delicious turkey and mashed potatoes and stuffing and green bean casserole and pie (lots of pie).  It was also nice to get to see my grandparents (maternal).  

I have a lot to be grateful for this year. 

My amazing family.

A safe move to Texas.

Finding a job now that we are here.

A house that is big enough to fit us all.

A yard behind the house.

A mild winter.

The list could go on and on.  

Audio: Dropping off the family at the airport

Mobile post sent by jljohansen using Utterli.  Replies.  mp3

Sleep-Over

I'm on my way to a sleep-over. It's with Ethan.

He's been asking me to sleep in his room for the last few nights, mostly because he doesn't want me to leave after the bedtime routine (a stall tactic). But, he's also been coming into our room early in the morning and lying down on the floor next to our bed.

So, I agreed to have a sleep over with him. He is on his air mattress (his typical bed when he's sleeping at someone's house) and I'm going to be on my air mattress.  Ethan said that when I came in, he wanted to hold my hand the whole night.

I'm really looking forward to this.

Ethan writing his name

3EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Commentary on the process included:

"Where is that silly H"

ccccccccc

yyyffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc

Fro-Go

I have had a few observations from the family on my goatee recently.

Mia told me that my goatee is "like a fro-goatee" because it's getting a little bushy and needs to be trimmed.  I've dubbed it a 'fro-go'.

Then, today she pointed out that "With your goatee like that, you notice your face." I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or what. So I asked for some clarification. It got complicated and went something like this:

Mia: "I don't know, you just don't notice your face when it's shorter."

John: "What? Like you don't see me at all, or my face is just too hideous to look at directly?"

Mia: "No! It's just that... the goatee doesn't seem out of place"

Which was actually the heart of it. She's gotten used to the goatee that it's not a separate feature of my face. But when it gets long, then it's like a chunk of hair stuck to the bottom of my face and you do notice it.

Following that conversation Ethan said: "You have a hairstyle on your chin Daddy."

My family is hilarious.

Isolated

We've done it. We have joined the time-shifting revolution. But... not with TiVO.

Nope, we did something even more drastic. We un-hooked our television set from the cable in the wall. It's now in our front-room where there are no wires to give it content-rich nourishment.  Now, unfortunately, the arrangement of our furniture hasn't altered our lives in any dramatic fashion. Mia and I are still both sitting on the couches with our laptops doing some blogging, uploading pictures, and watching TV.

Wait... what? This is where we come back around to time-shifting. We haven't completely given up on TV shows. Now we just watch them on Hulu.com.  In fact, we'll often be watching different shows while sitting in the same room.  We try not to turn up the volume in an audio version of mutually-assured destruction (though sometimes I'm tempted).  

Oddly, when I'm watching shows on my laptop, I feel more able to get other things done. I put the player window down in one corner and keep my other apps or sites open around it. Of course, it would be even better if I tore myself away from a screen of any variety and started going to the gym.

I wonder if there's a wire for that.

Bite-sized Love

Mia loves me. She went shopping yesterday and picked up a bunch of snacks for me to take to work. I've not been eating so well, so having these makes me feel happy.

It's the little things in life that keep us going.

Deep Thoughts

Tonight, Edward was talking in his sleep, saying "Da Da Da Da" over and over. I went upstairs, thinking he was awake. Fortunately, all I had to do was stick a pacifer back in his mouth.

Then I went in to check on Ethan. He had moved his pillow to the foot of his bed. It was propped up against the footboard. He was sitting up leaning against it.  His legs were crossed, and he had a finger up by the side of his head.

I asked what he was doing.

"Thinking," he said.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked.

"My halloween party," he said.

During the bedtime routine I had told him that he needed to get plenty of sleep to be ready for his party tomorrow. Apparently this was weighing heavily on his mind.

After collecting the ghosts from his room (he knew the specific places they were) I left him dusting the fan that acts as a side-table for his nightlight.

Yes, night's with Ethan are typically that random. Part of what makes them bearable... er I mean, so much fun.

Halloween -- All week long

We are in the middle of Halloween week. Yesterday was the ward Trunk-or-Treat (we all meet at the church, they have crafts and games inside, then trick-or-treating at the back of people's cars outside). 

Ethan was very excited to wear his Buzz Lightyear costume.

Tomorrow is Ethan's pre-school Halloween party, as well as my work Halloween party.

Oh, and finally on Friday, is Halloween.

P.S. On Saturday, Ethan will be going to a Halloween-themed birthday party.

I'm thinking we should just go all the way and wear our costumes to church on Sunday.

A First

I've led a very fortunate life. I'm 31 and never lost anyone in my immediate or extended family.

Until today.

Monica called me just a few minutes ago to tell me that our Grandpa Jo had passed away. Grandma Jo has been in and out of the hospital the last few weeks. We've all been so worried about her and praying for her so much.

Monica said that he was taken to the hospital for sudden chest pains, and shortly after that he passed away.

This was rather unexpected. Mia and I really wanted to have a chance to go down with Edward so they could meet both of their Great-Grandchildren.

I'm sad tonight. That's... an understatement but I can't really put better words on it.