Best Christmas Present Ever!!!

So, this Christmas, Tyson completely surprised me by giving me a puppy! I seriously had no clue. We had spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with Tyson's family and then drove to my parent's house to spend the rest of Christmas day. We showed up and decided to open gifts first. My brother and Tyson jumped up and offered to get beverages for everyone. When they came back in the room, Tyson placed a super cute square box in the middle of the room and said it was my gift, and that it was fragile. At that point, I sort of thought it was a cake (I said I had no clue, right?). I untied the cute bows and lifted the top off and there she was - this super cute and really little puppy dog wrapped up in a soft blanket. We named her Frost.

Apparently, Tyson worked with my Brother and Sister-in-Law for a couple months to find her and get her to me for Christmas. They were the only three people who knew about it.

It has been funny to watch my Brother's dogs (Captain Jack Sparrow and Dixie - both the same type of dog as Frost) welcome their new baby into their home (my brother and sister-in-law just recently adopted a baby boy). Those dogs are so protective of and concerned with their baby, it is awesome. They stand guard over the nursery and get worried when he cries. I'm sure they will be great playmates as soon as he starts crawling around. I hope our little Frost is just as cute when we welcome a little baby into our home.

Here is a video of Frost really soon after I unwrapped her. The other dog running around is Dixie.

Here is a little info about her (based on her first 3 days at home):

Name: Frost (responds to Frost, Frostie, Baby Frost)

Breed: Mini-Dachshund (aka weiner dog)

Temperment: very playful and super snuggly, makes friends easily (she already has had friends stop by to meet and play with her)

Likes: watching Manchester United soccer on TV, curling up in our laps and taking a nap, chewing on her rope toy, helping me with the Soduku puzzle in the paper, being snuggled to sleep, racing back and forth between me and Tyson.

We are so excited to have her in our family!

Good News - a New Nephew!

We have some good news! My brother and his wife were able to adopt a super cute little baby boy. He was born in October. He was premature but has been a champ - gaining weight, staying healthy, sleeping well, and being an all-around awesome baby. This baby was the answer to many, many prayers (from us and from lots and lots of friends and family). His closet is already filled with lots of superhero and sports themed clothes. We all love him so much!

A little about us

Here are some of our likes and interests. (T = Tyson, S = Sara)

A book I highly recommend is:
T - Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy; Lord of the Rings; Harry Potter
S - The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch; the Fablehaven series; the giant library of children's books we can't wait to share!; Jane Eyre

My favorite flower is:
T - Tulip
S - Daisy

Here we are at Pikes Market in Seattle. While on a trip with Sara's brother and his wife and some friends, we visited Pikes Place Market, a famous place in Seattle, and got what Sara calls the "yummiest and biggest" donut ever. We also went to a football game and a couple Seattle Mariner's baseball games.

A game I like to play is:
T - Basketball, Golf, Trivial Pursuit, Starcraft
S - Just Dance 2, Volleyball, Jenga

The music I listen to most is:
T - Alternative / Indie Rock
S - Top 40
Both - lots and lots of Christmas music during December

Here we are bowling on New Year's day - our family tradition

 

We're not exactly sure how this came about but one day, we decided to go curling. Random. We know. We got a bunch of friends, signed up for a class, and had a great time. Just like the Olympics. We love doing random, fun things like this together.

My favorite band is:
T - Relient K
S - Dashboard Confessional, Taylor Swift

Sara love this picture of Tyson - we have been to Hawaii twice now, and both times have logged many miles in convertibles just driving from beach to beach. This is Tyson at Sunset Point (at sunset!).

A movie I watch over and over is:
T - Lord of the Rings
S - Legally Blonde, The Holiday, Leap Year

A TV show I watch regularly is:
T - The Big Bang Theory, Mythbusters, Deadliest Catch, Jeopardy
S - The Big Bang Theory, White Collar, Doctor Who, Jeopardy, The Office

While in Hawaii on our honeymoon, we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Although Tyson likes to "try" and play the guitar, Sara was definitely better on the ukulele. We're both huge music fans.

My favorite quote is:
T - Hard work is greater than talent.
S - Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. - Thoreau

Here we are at an outdoor concert. We enjoy going to a variety of events together (as you can see in our various pictures) and we look forward to family trips to parks, libraries, the zoo, and other fun places, near and far.

My favorite thing to buy is:
T - BYU gear - I've got to have something to wear to all those games
S - bags, coats, shoes

I love to collect:
T - baseball cards, books, BYU stuff
S - books, bags
Both - nativity sets (we display them at Christmas)

This is Tyson's family (minus Tyson's older sister's little girl). Tyson has an older sister, a younger brother, and a younger sister. The five crazy nephews (and new niece) keep everything fun and exciting. We are also expecting a new addition to the family - Tyson's brother and wife are expecting a little girl in January.

 

This is Sara's family. Sara and her brother have always been close. Sara's brother and sis-in-law were recently blessed to adopt a little boy! We all love him sooo much!

 

If I could afford anything at this moment, I would buy:
T - a ski resort
S - a big family vacation

If my house was burning down and I could only rescue three things, they would be:
T - my wife & puppy, my signed Jimmer jersey, my phone
S - my hubby & puppy, pictures/scrapbooks, my Halloween quilt

Not much to say about this picture other than it's us with Legolas from Lord of the Rings and Justin Bieber. Every year, on Christmas Eve, we invite a bunch of neighbors over for brunch (in pajamas of course). We also invite our famous cardboard friends.

A smell that makes me pause is:
T - fresh cut grass
S - outside right after it rains

As you know by now, Tyson is a big sports fan. More recently, both of us have gotten into soccer. We go to our friends' kids' games and even follow our own teams in the English Premier League. One day, we hope to go to England to watch a game in person.

Tyson loves this picture. We're just at a game, enjoying the evening. Nothing too exciting or special - just out having a good time. We can't wait to bring kids along (or attend their own events!).

My favorite sport to watch is:
T - college football
S - college basketball & British soccer & the Olympics

One of the things we love doing together is going to baseball games. Whenever we visit a different city or state, we make sure we get tickets to a game. Sara loves the hot dogs and Tyson grew up playing baseball so it works out great.

The city I would most like to visit is:
T - Anywhere in the Alps
S - London, Venice, and Rome

My favorite restaurant is:
T - Zupas, Olive Garden
S - Olive Garden, Mt. Fuji

Utah is a beautiful place and living near the mountains (and ski resorts) is awesome. A few hours south, you can find some breathtaking scenery. Here is Tyson sitting on a rock while Sara takes a picture (from an equally precarious position).

A moment when I achieved absolute happiness was:
T - when I was in waist-deep powder during a blizzard at Snowbird.
S - when I was resting on a beach on our honeymoon.

My favorite meal is:
T - King Crab & Pepsi
S - homemade lasagna, salad, homemade garlic bread and chocolate milk

Of the two of us, Sara is definitely the morning person. It's no surprise that she was the first one up when we were camping next to the Colorado River just outside Arches National Park in Southern Utah.

My earliest memory is:
T - chopping firewood with my dad.
S - goofing off with my brother.

My first paying job was:
T - an office manager
S - at a water park

One of Tyson's favorite holidays is Christmas. He particularly loves Christmas lights. He puts up a ton on our house and enjoys driving around to look at other's. Tyson's sister has 5 boys and a girl so you can imagine how crazy Christmas morning is!

The memory that still makes me laugh is:
T - the time we rolled a bunch of pumpkins down a hill--it was hilarious-good clean fun
S - being in Florence, Italy with my mom in a strange hotel and accidentally flooding the room ... no real damage, but we sat on the bed and laughed until we cried.

Both of our families have fun Easter egg hunts and keep it interesting for the adults by putting cash in some of the eggs. It's fun to watch the adults try and outrun the kids (it doesn't happen often).

My best birthday was:
T - 30th when my wife invited over tons of my friends and their kids and we just hung out and played games the whole night.
S - every year, but especially my 16th - my friends had planned surprises all day.

A smell that reminds me of my childhood is:
T - fresh baked bread
S - my grandpa's cologne

Tyson's little sister got married in Los Angeles, so we flew out to California. The reception was at the Santa Monica Pier; here we are, all dressed up, hanging out at the beach.

My favorite color to wear is:
T - blue
S - red
(you should see our closet - one side is all red/purple/pink ... the other is all blue - pretty funny!)

My strangest possession is:
T - a lucky stuffed animal
S - a crosswalk button

Sara is afraid of heights but that didn't stop her from jumping into a hot air balloon with Tyson. Tyson loves a good adventure and is always looking for someone to come with him. Skiing, bmx, hiking, whatever.

My favorite dessert is:
T - brownie and ice cream
S - gelato (Italian ice cream)

When I exercise, I like to:
T - run, cycle, sports (all of them)
S - zumba, yoga

Tyson planned this surprise birthday party for Sara; we went on a wagon ride with a group of friends. We've known these girls (and their sisters) basically since they were born; Tyson met their dad in law school and we've been close friends since.

My favorite thing to do on a date is:
T - go somewhere fun/special
S - laugh with my cute husband

The best vacation I ever had was:
T - my honeymoon and a trip to Dallas with my dad to see BYU play in the Cotton Bowl.
S - my trip to Europe with my mom and my honeymoon

We love traveling and being outside. This last summer we took a road trip with Tyson's parents to visit Yellowstone National Park. We look forward to many similar trips with our own family.

The thing I am most passionate about is:
T - BYU sports
S - family

My favorite season is:
T - Winter
S - Summer

We met in law school and are both practicing lawyers (although Sara does some computer programming too). A few years back, we went to Washington D.C. and were "sworn in" (admitted to practice) before the U.S. Supreme Court. It was a unique and special experience.

My favorite holiday is:
T - Christmas
S - Halloween and birthdays (and of course I love Christmas - how can you not?)

Sara loves Halloween; it is one of her favorite holidays. She always gets the house "spooked" out. In this picture, we went to a local corn maze with some family. And just FYI, the maze is David Archuleta.

My most hated household chore is:
T - scrapping ice off windshields or laundry
S - cleaning toilets (fortunately, Tyson always cleans 'em ... and I do the laundry)

Name an unusual talent you have:
T - riding BMX bikes, hula hooping
S - using power tools, licking my elbow (almost), hula hooping

Traditions

I've spent a lot of time thinking about traditions since we were married (almost 5 years ago). It is fun to get married and decide what traditions you want from each family .... and what new traditions to start. Often these traditions center around holidays. We are really busy around Christmas and I love it!

One tradition that Tyson and I started together is exchanging Christmas ornaments that have significance from the preceding year. Whenever we go on vacation, we often try to sneak away long enough to get a cute ornament that can be given to the other one in December. Last year, I almost missed seeing a couple of buffalo at Yellowstone National Park while standing in line to purchase a cute ornament. Fortunately, the buffalo were still around when I made it back to the group. I laugh when I think of that ornament. The year I re-built our deck, Tyson had an ornament specially made for me with a tool belt. Each year when we decorate our tree, it is fun to think back on all of the fun years we have had together and look forward to future years.

Mother's Day & the Best Card Ever!

This post is coming a week late, but I figure better late then never. For anyone wishing, praying, and hoping to add a little one to their family and having no luck, there are some holidays that can be tough. Mother's Day is one of those - and probably the hardest one for me.

This Mother's Day was still hard, but I had some wonderful support and love shown to me ... and some wonderful surprises. Tyson went out of his way to take care of me, to celebrate the mother I want to be, and to show how much he loves me. That was wonderful! He even surprised me with a yummy candy bouquet filled with my favorite candy bars. I have to admit that Tyson usually goes out of his way to do all of those things, but I could tell that he was trying extra hard all weekend - and it was very nice.

The most surprising part of the day came when we were leaving to drive to my parent's house for dinner and we found a bag on our porch. Inside was the sweetest Mother's Day card EVER! One of our dear friends - the best 8-year old around - had dropped off a hand-made card with a Snicker's candy bar taped to it.

Here's a picture of the inside:

In case you can't quite read the text, it goes something like this:
"Dear Sara I hope you have a very good mothers day and a very good sunday From Joey W. PS I think you will be a fabulous mom one day. PSS you will rock! PSSS you rock. PSSSS I hope you have the Best Day in The WORLD!"

He even drew some pictures that I love! I don't think he will ever know how much I appreciated that card - and the thought behind it. We really are blessed to live in a wonderful neighborhood with awesome friends (old and young). We have some really outstanding kids around (including Joey and all of his siblings) - and I can't wait until we have some kids of our own running around the neighborhood - playing with and looking up to these awesome friends! And hopefully sooner than later, I'll get my chance to be a "fabulous mom"!

Tyson's Tulip Festival

I know that we have explained elsewhere the wonderful area in which we live. Our house is surrounded by parks, churches, a library, and even a hospital within a couple of miles. But some of our favorite things about our house are our house itself. (I will have to post some pictures of our giant chalkboard wall and our playroom one of these days.) One of my personal favorite things about our house is our yard. Our backyard is big and wide open; lots of grass for whatever sort of sports or games might sound fun at the time. Our front yard is full of flowers. My (Tyson) personal favorite flower (yes, I have a favorite flower, go ahead, laugh if you want) is the tulip. So, of course, we have a ton of tulips. Here is how some of them look towards the end of April 2012:

There were only a few tulips when we moved in. My mom brought up the bulbs for the big red ones featured in the pictures. Our sister in law (thanks Jyllian!) brought us back some bulbs from Holland--those are the really cool looking ones. We have so many tulips at this point, it appears there is some serious cross-pollination going on and it seems like we have more and more tulips every year. 

Spring sure seems a lot more like spring with a bunch of bright flowers surrounding your front walk!

-Tyson & Sara-

Easter - Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces, Nephews...

You name it, we had it. The Easter Egg Hunt at my (Tyson) parents' house has become both epic and legendary. This year, my parents hid over 350 eggs. And fortunately, the "adults" get to participate! It is utter madness. The "adults" (older kids) take it pretty seriously because my parents will hide dollar bills in some of the eggs. But there is nothing more funny than watching a three-year-old almost burst into tears because his egg had a $1 bill in it instead of candy. It cracks me up every year (that, and when my nephews shout out "ka-ching" whenever they find an egg with money in it). Here is a quick slideshow of some of the pictures from the Easter extravaganza.

You will notice several pictures of Sara with our newest niece, Beth--my sister's first girl after having five boys. Beth actually goes by "Baby Bep" because several of my younger nephews haven't gotten the "th" sound down. Thus "Baby Beth" ends up being "Baby Bep." At this point, I just call her Bep. It will be interesting to see how long that lasts (and whether it sticks). I claim naming rights for the oldest of the boys (J-Dawg a/k/a Josh or Joshua) and it has survived for 12 years; maybe Bep will be Bep for a long time too!

We also had my cousin Blake, his wife Lindsey, and there three girls and brand new baby boy. Mix in my parents, my siblings, and my aunt and uncle and you have a true Easter celebration.

We're hoping that we'll soon have our own kid to race around my parents' yard, collecting eggs, and starting to cry when he or she (or both--let's hear it for twins!) cry uncontrollably because he/she found $9 in cash but no Cadbury Eggs.