Friday, July 2, 2010

Adam's New Do


Some people crave change. They change jobs every few years, switch out their wardrobe every other season, and rearrange the layout of their living room every few months. But not Adam. And his hair is a prime example. Recently he informed me that he has had two “major” changes in hairstyle over the past ten years. The first was on his mission when he began using gel to part his hair. And the second was when he succumbed to my feminine persuasions and grew sideburns while we were dating. Big changes indeed. (I guess like marries like: the last time I changed my hairstyle was right after high school.)

But this week Adam made the fourth and most drastic change of all...



...Before




Under the trimmer...





All done! No more hair!


People's reactions to Adam's summer cut varied, but the strongest was Allison's. Since I cut Adam's hair at night, and since he left for work before Allison woke up the next morning, she didn't get to see the new hair cut until the next evening, when we met Adam at a lab social event. Adam ran up to greet us and reached out to take Allison, but she would have nothing to do with him. She just scowled at him and clung tighter to me. Rejected by his own daughter. So that was the only downside of the hair cut. But since then Allison has gotten used to it, and now when Adam comes home from work she grins and pats her head. Then he bends down and she feels his hair and laughs.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Jared turns 3

Jared turned three this month, and we gave him a Lightening McQueen birthday party. We invited ten friends, all of whom were able to attend, and held the party in the Winfield Village community room. (Somehow the echoes and wide open spaces of that room inspire little kids with the irresistible desire to run, jump, and yell. Jared is a prime example. Thus it was the perfect place for an exciting--albeit somewhat crazy--birthday party.)


We started with a story, "Lightening McQueen Helps His Friends."


Then we did a bean bag toss and "obstacle course."



Next we got some dirty Hotwheels cars from Mater's junkyard and gave them a...


carwash!


(Allison enjoyed the car wash too.)



We concluded the games with a "Ghost Light" pinata.



Cake is always a winner (a little drippy from the humidity).



Jared had fun crawling in the bean bag toss. Happy 3rd birthday!






Friday, May 14, 2010

Mr. and Mrs. Yancey



On Friday, April 23, Lori and Matt got married! They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple and had a reception in Provo that evening. It was great to be there with Adam... thanks to his parents, who babysat our kids for three days while we were in Utah! We stayed at the Armstrong Mansion in Salt Lake City and walked to the temple for the sealing the next morning. (It was a great getaway... happy early fifth anniversary to us!)

Here are just a few of the many lovely wedding photos.

P.S. Note the amazing veil, bouquet, and wedding cake that my mom made. She's amazing!

























Friday, April 9, 2010

Easter, General Conference, and a Spice Rack



Our family enjoyed a great Easter/General Conference weekend in Bolingbrook with Adam's parents. The kids played with Grandma's toys, roasted marshmallows at the fire pit, rode bikes, found Easter baskets, and hunted for eggs! The warm weather was great, and Jared and Allison got along famously with their grandparents. Oh, and watching Conference was great too because the kids had lots of different toys to play with and a new play space, so that kept them entertained while we adults listened.

Another great surprise was that Adam made me a spice rack! Both he and his dad spent time between sessions in the basement workshop, and they emerged with an elegant and very useful spice rack. No more rifling through a hodge podge cupboard of spice bottles! Hooray!













Thursday, March 25, 2010

Scientist in the Making


It's a heartwarming and familiar scene: a father and son snuggled up a rocking chair, reading a bedtime story together. But Jared and Adam aren't read Goodnight Moon or the Three Little Bears or even Where the Wild Things Are. No, every night before bed Jared makes his familiar request and the two pour over their favorite bedtime story: The Elements.


Complete with high-gloss pages and detailed photography, The Elements presents a visual exploration of every known element--from hydrogen to neptunium. I bought the book as a gift for Adam (chemistry PhD candidate) last Christmas. But ever since Jared saw the cover and noticed that iodine bears a striking resemblance to strawberry yogurt, he's been hooked. And Daddy couldn't be more pleased. So, for the time being, my little two-year-old is content to slip into dreamworld each night with images of nickle, zync, and barium dancing through his head. A scientist in the making? Only time will tell.



Not to be outdone, Allison has been working on some tricks of her own--in the language department (winks from Mommy). She seems to have a natural knack for repeating sounds and picking up on words we say. Over the past three days she's learned to say "ball," "please," and "bubble." Add that to Mommy, Daddy, more, uh-oh, thank you, touch, and cracker, and she can say ten words! She's also learned her first color: purple. I taught her to say the word, and the same night at bedtime she crawled over to a pile of colored blocks, grabbed a purple one, held it out to us, and said, "pur-ple!" A linguist in the making? Mommy hopes so!

Allison is One!

Allison turned a year old on March 10th. Happy birthday to our special little girl!














Friday, February 19, 2010

Lori and Matt are Engaged!!

Congratulations to my twin sister, Lori, who got engaged to Matthew Yancey on February 8th! They are getting married at the end of April, in the Salt Lake Temple. Lori and Matt are a perfect couple--I'm so excited for you guys!