Backwards Hat Guy

My mom sent Taft a UVU hat a while back. He loves it and especially likes wearing it backwards. Seth used to talk about a certain type of guy that he didn't really care for and would call them "Fitted-Hat Backwards Guys" Looks like Taft is a Backwards Hat guy. 

Seattle and Vancouver (finally)

We laughed when we read this sign. What does that even mean?

I started to blog this last weekend and I had written a ton about our trip, then somehow deleted half of it and then I was annoyed and haven't felt motivated to try it again until now. Even still, my motivation level is low so we'll see what we get.

Riding along the sea wall. Downtown Vancouver behind me.

Getting ready for the bike ride. We picked up Bob the Builder along for the ride.

This isn't the best picture, I just thought T-man looked really handsome this day.

Taft is becoming an official Herway boy and is not interested in being in pictures or smiling for pictures.

Hiking on Grouse Mountain

One of the views from our apartment

Seth let Taft play in this pond with all his clothes on. This is why dads are more fun than moms.

Bob the Builder looking less than thrilled to be on this trip.

First of all, Vancouver ROCKS. Prolly why they had the Olys there. Seth and I pretty much talked about how cool it would be to live there the entire time we were visiting. We tried to figure out what kind of job Seth could get (notice we didn't discuss that I could maybe help contribute financially. :)) to make it feasible to live there. Seth said he'd want to take up rowing if we moved there. Seth would also probably eat sushi every day because it's really affordable there. I would go to the public market on Granville Island every day and decide what to make for dinner while I was there. Or maybe I would just pick something up to-go because so many places looked scrumptious. And I would dress Taft in exclusively in H&M.

Vancouver is the perfect urban-mountain-ocean blend. While we were there we walked lots around the city, hiked a bit on Grouse Mountain, and rode bikes along the sea wall. My only concern about living in Vancouver would be a serious Vitamin D deficiency and a bad case of SAD (seasonal affective disorder). I'm all for a good rain storm but 90 straight days of rain and no sunshine might put me into a deep depression.

Also, Vancouver has a European vibe that makes you love it, but at the same time has great American amenities like fountain soda and English is the primary language spoken.

Before Vancouver we went to Seattle and stayed with Seth's BFF Jared (Jerry) and his wife, Jen, and their cute boys, Chase and Calvin. Chase is a year older than Taft and Taft had the time of his life playing with him. They got along so well and it was really fun watching them play together. We were really just in Seattle for a full day, so Taft, Seth, and I walked around Pike's Place, got clam chowder at the pier, and walked around Seattle a bit. It brought back memories of going to Seattle for Jerry and Jen's wedding when Seth and I were dating. One thing we did back then was get clam chowder at Ivar's at the pier and it was my top thing I wanted to do this time around. I love soup and I thought it would be fun for Taft to throw french fries to the seagulls that sit on the balcony squawking at people until they feed them. I told my mom about it and she said, "They sell that at Costco." Of course they do. Why does Costco have to take the fun out of everything? Actually, I love Costco. Who doesn't? Seth and I talk about what we're going to do when we have real money and one of the highest priorities will be to buy yummy fruit like pineapple, mango, etc. from Costco.

Later that night we met up with Jerry's little family and went to a Mariners v. Red Sox game. I don't think any of us caught a ton of the game but we did make it all the way to the 7th inning stretch with three kids under 3. We had great seats but ended up moving on account of our kids being a little too rambunctious for others to enjoy the game. Ironically, we moved to where no one was sitting except for one crotchety old couple who at different times told both Jerry and myself that "We can't SEE THROUGH you" when we stood up to deal with children. What is it with grumpy strangers lately?

Safeco Field

Chase and Taft entertaining themselves

On our way home from the trip we stopped off at Seth's friend's (Rock) parents' apple orchard/giant. farm. Rock's dad showed us all around the farm and explained how it all works. Turns out that it's harder than Johnny Appleseed made it seem. You don't just put an apple seed in the ground and get delicious apples eventually. It's actually quite involved. Then they let us pick TONS of apples and let us taste different apples that they were trying to make new breeds of. SO....yummy.

As always, Seth did a really good job planning all the details of the trip. We stayed in an apartment with a full kitchen and washer and dryer, so it was like we lived in Vancouver for a bit. The apartment had GREAT views, with floor to ceiling windows on three of the four sides of the apartment and was on the 23rd floor. It was awesome. It seems my only jobs on vacation are to make sure Taft and I have all the things we need (clothes, etc.) and for me to keep a good attitude. Pretty easy. 

So, that was our week vacation. Our next vacation won't be until we go look for apartments in San Diego in the Spring. That's kind of depressing. Luckily, later in October Seth's brother's family is coming, then my family comes from Thanksgiving, then a month later we'll have a new baby! Even though Seth has to work like a dog with no vacation for a while we still have lots to look forward to.

The GRE and how I ruined my chances in 7th grade

I am getting ready to take the GRE soon in hopes of getting accepted into a social work grad program. I am now seriously doubting what the heck I am thinking and want to turn back but I already paid 160 bucks to take the test so I kinda feel I gotta. Breathe. Let me paint a little picture for ya.

First grade: It's around Christmas time and Mrs. Magill is having everyone color giant elves that we will eventually hang around the classroom. The catch is you can't color your elf until you've solved all the addition and subtraction problems correctly that are all over the elf. It takes me days, DAYS to work on the elf. I just can't seem to get the answers right. Part of the problem might be that I confuse the numbers 11 and 12. I don't know if 11 is called "eleven" or if 12 is called "eleven". (That sounds so weird, but I really struggled with it.) Bottom line: I am the LAST one to put my elf up.

Summer after first grade: My mom must have caught wind of my math deficiency and I do math worksheets all summer long.

Second grade: I'm placed in the "Green Group" for math. You guys, this is the ADVANCED math group. Yep, the girl who didn't know the difference between 11 and 12 now is "advanced" mathematically for her age. It's a miracle and my mom deserves all the credit.

From 2nd grade on, I was on a very promising math trajectory. There was talk of Harvard. (I'm just sayin.) Fast forward to 7th grade and  the trajectory suddenly stops and I fall off the edge, crash, and burn. Apparently, in my fully developed 12 year old brain, I thought it would make me look like a loser if I actually did my math homework. This was only a problem in math class. You see, there were 8th and 9th graders in my math class and it was of the utmost importance for me to appear as cool as possible. My mental coolness checklist must have gone something like this:

1. Unionbay pants-adequate bagginess? Check.
2. Hang Ten shirt-or at least a really good look alike? Check.
3. Barrel curled bangs- barreled enough? Check.
4. Skipped math homework? Check.

8th grade didn't help things when I had to take geometry which still to this day is SO confusing to me. It didn't help that my geometry teacher had an extremely thick Japanese accent. My mom got me into another geometry class where I could understand the actual words spoken. That didn't help. Then my parents hired a tutor from the University of Utah who also had an accent. During our one tutoring session he said, "You undastand? Yes? Okey Tokey?" No okey tokey. That didn't help. Then they hired another who drew smiley and frowny faces instead of x's and y's. That didn't help. Then they hired my cousin, who was my SAME age. Embarrassment- accomplished, mastering of geometry-not accomplished.

Well, here I am a million years later trying to recall the things I was purposely trying to avoid during my 7th grade algebra class just to prove to a social work program (which involves ZERO math) that I am a smart, capable person deserving a masters degree. AND I AM STRESSING OUT.

 I feel like furthering my education is just really something I want to do, and I really do feel like I deserve to try it. I think I'm worried that I'll do horribly on the test and then not get into the program and then my life will be ruined forever and ever. Okay, not really, but I worry that if I don't get in then I'll never do much more with my career in social work and my brain will slowly turn to mush.

I doubt you've made it this far into my rant but just pray for me okay? Thanks. 'Preciate cha.


p.s. Seth just came home and asked, "Are you studying for the GRE". I said, "Nope, I'm blogging about how I'm stressed about the GRE."

Save The Music

I LOVE this teacher and these kids. I've watched a bunch of their YouTube videos. This teacher totally rocks and I love how into the music the kids get. I may or may not cry when these kids sing.

Here are some of my faves:

Gram and Pop Come to Spokane

Seth's parents made quite the trek from Belgium to Spokane over Labor Day weekend. They were actually out visiting the states and helping Aunt Colie move to San Diego. We were honored that they made the long drive from Utah to Spokane just to see us for a short weekend. We did our best to show them all the inland northwest has to offer in the short 48 hours they were visiting.

I didn't take many pictures. Seth's mom has a great new camera so she took most of the pictures.

The first night we ate at a restaurant called Anthony's, that has a great view of Spokane Falls. Some people had taken us to dinner there when we came up looking for apartments and we thought it was something Gram and Pop would appreciate. We sat outside and enjoyed the summer air, with a light breeze, and a great view.

The weekend they were here happened to be the same weekend as the "Pig Out" event at Riverfront Park. There were a ton of food vendors and live bands playing all weekend long. After dinner we headed over the listen to some of the music. Taft got his groove on.




Saturday morning we had breakfast at the hospital so Gram and Pop could see where Seth works. Taft pretty much just ate sugary thing after sugary thing for breakfast so he was a bit wired.

We then drove to Coeur d'Alene and rode bikes along the Centennial Trail, had lunch at the lake, and then hurried back for the first BYU game of the season and a BBQ with friends. Gram and Pop must be good luck because BYU hasn't won since they've been back in Europe. After the game Seth, Taft, and I were pooped and went to bed early. Gram and Pop are party animals and went back to the "Pig Out" event to listen to more music.

Sunday we went to church together and then while I made dinner Taft, Seth, Gram, and Pop went to Manito Park.

We loved having our first guests in Spokane, we just wish it could have been longer! Taft loved having his grandparents come play and cried when they got on the elevator to leave.

Taffy-Our Child's Namesake

The other day I was in Wal Mart and our cashier was taking an interest in Taft, you know, because he's just so darn cute. The guy asked what his name was and I told him.

Wal Mart employee: "Taff? Like Taffy?

Me: Blank stare with internal dialogue saying, "Yep. Just like Taffy. We're thinking of naming our next baby Toots. Like Tootsie Roll."

Me: "No, like the president, William Howard Taft, with a T."

Wal Mart employee: Blank stare

Don't get me wrong here, I didn't even know there was a President Taft until after we even chose the name.    If you were like me, embarrassingly uneducated about the Presidents of the United States, then here's some Billy Taft trivia for you:

1. He didn't like being president.
2. He later became a Supreme Court Justice (the only president to do so) and really liked that job.
3. He was so fat that he got stuck in the bathtub at the White House.

And another story...

We were having dinner at the hospital the other night (cuz it's free). A old couple was at the table next to us. I could tell the old lady was looking at Taft and I thought she was admiring him so I smiled at her and told Taft to say hi. Taft smiled at the lady but she didn't smile back. Instead:

Old Lady: "He needs his nose wiped"
Me: "Oh, thanks"I look at him and he has nothing on his face whatsoever. But I wipe anyway.
Old Lady: Leans over to her husband and does a whisper-yell (cuz she's old) "She didn't even get it"

Geez lady. Sorry I didn't get rid of the imaginary snot that is causing you to lose your appetite and therefore feel it necessary to tell a random stranger to wipe her son's nose.

People are weird.

More Pictures

My mom has a picture of me in this chair when I was Taft's age. He didn't want to sit it though.

I recently got the CD with all the pictures from Taft's one year photo shoot. I had to post some more because I think they turned out really cute. It's crazy how much he's changed in just six months! 

In other news....I am about 5 months pregnant now. I am no longer sick, hallelujah! I had an ultrasound this past week and baby is growing on track and weighs about as much as a grapefruit right now. :)