Heard this week:
Andy asked Ben to apologize for something he'd said or done. Ben replied, "Dad, I don't have those words in my heart."
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Kira's Wedding
Kira's wedding day turned out to be very relaxing and fairly stress-free, as opposed to the days leading up to it. She and Nathan were married at 1 p.m. in the Draper LDS Temple, so we had plenty of time to get ready. The ceremony was one of the briefest I've attended, but very nice. We enjoyed chatting with far-flung relatives while we waited for Kira and Nathan to emerge for pictures and Andy was on his best behavior and gave all his requisite smiles.
The happy couple and the siblings. As I mentioned earlier, we were all in shades of gray.
Ben and Uncle Rikker patiently waiting for things to start happening. Many thanks to those who let us borrow a suit, tie, and shoes to outfit Ben. He felt very snappy in his fancy duds. Note: Half a bottle of chocolate milk spilled on my camera during our flight out to SLC, thus the misty haze on many of the pictures.
Kira looked gorgeous in her dress.
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan and Kira Burt
Andy humoring me with yet another photo. Notice the fake leaf that Ben plucked from a temple flower arrangement for Andy's pocket.
Exterior of the Draper Temple. We drove straight from the temple downtown to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for the family dinner, which was very nice. Andy and I held our wedding dinner there as well, but in a different room. I think I liked Kira's better with the high ceilings and ornate artwork and moulding.
Kira's wedding cake, which the picture does absolutely no justice. Not only was it delicious, but a work of art. Fondant with little dots on it. My friend Mandy made the cake from a picture off this website and it turned out almost identical. Quite a feat, considering she just had her third little boy and has to make the cakes at night after everyone goes to bed.
With the Cake Boss - the lovely and talented Mandy, one of my best friends and college roomie. I'm spoiled because she lives just up the road from Andy's parents so I can see her whenever we visit Utah. In college everyone thought we were sisters.
A not very good shot of the Empire Room where the dinner was held.
The dinner spread - very tasty!
Loved the candle centerpiece on the serving table. Must remember for future soiree.
Ben ready to eat!
Table setting.
Andy wrangling Ben after he finished his meal.
The happy couple and the siblings. As I mentioned earlier, we were all in shades of gray. 
Ben and Uncle Rikker patiently waiting for things to start happening. Many thanks to those who let us borrow a suit, tie, and shoes to outfit Ben. He felt very snappy in his fancy duds. Note: Half a bottle of chocolate milk spilled on my camera during our flight out to SLC, thus the misty haze on many of the pictures.
Kira looked gorgeous in her dress.
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan and Kira Burt
Andy humoring me with yet another photo. Notice the fake leaf that Ben plucked from a temple flower arrangement for Andy's pocket.
Exterior of the Draper Temple. We drove straight from the temple downtown to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for the family dinner, which was very nice. Andy and I held our wedding dinner there as well, but in a different room. I think I liked Kira's better with the high ceilings and ornate artwork and moulding.
Kira's wedding cake, which the picture does absolutely no justice. Not only was it delicious, but a work of art. Fondant with little dots on it. My friend Mandy made the cake from a picture off this website and it turned out almost identical. Quite a feat, considering she just had her third little boy and has to make the cakes at night after everyone goes to bed. 
With the Cake Boss - the lovely and talented Mandy, one of my best friends and college roomie. I'm spoiled because she lives just up the road from Andy's parents so I can see her whenever we visit Utah. In college everyone thought we were sisters.
A not very good shot of the Empire Room where the dinner was held.
The dinner spread - very tasty!
Loved the candle centerpiece on the serving table. Must remember for future soiree.
Ben ready to eat!
Table setting.
Andy wrangling Ben after he finished his meal.Monday, July 13, 2009
Ladies' Night
So a drunken night of carousing it was not, but we did get to celebrate Kira's last night of freedom with some delicious food and lots of good conversation and laughter. Ironically, even after soliciting a number of suggestings for good local eats, we ended up at the Cheesecake Factory, home of many a GNO. It ended up being the right combination of food options (have you ever seen a bigger menu?) and atmosphere.
The Dockum/Markle women on our way to dinner. Can you tell which one is not the Dockum sister? We love you Julie and missed you, Trisha! L to R: Nanette, Julie, Bekka (who is not the tallest BTW, just had the tallest shoes), Kaylee, Kira, Lori/Mom, and me.
Please ignore the frightening look on my face and feast your eyes on the delicious Vietnamese Summer Rolls. Highly recommended next time you're at the CF. The dipping sauces alone are amazing. Technically an appetizer, but big enough for a meal. Ben couldn't stop laughing when he saw this shot. And I quote: "Mom, you look crazy!" Truer words were never spoken.
In true Girls' Night fashion, Kaylee skipped over the "real" food and went straight to the cheesecake as main course. A woman after my own heart. Isn't dinner really just a technicality on your way to dessert? Kaylee, thanks for sharing bites - Tuxedo Cheesecake...mmmm.
The rest of us held off on cheesecake and we went to Red Mango for fro yo afterward, one of Kira's favorite treats.
What's a GNO without some fabulous drinks? Congrats Kira, and thanks to all the ladies for a fun night. I love hanging out with my sisters!
The Dockum/Markle women on our way to dinner. Can you tell which one is not the Dockum sister? We love you Julie and missed you, Trisha! L to R: Nanette, Julie, Bekka (who is not the tallest BTW, just had the tallest shoes), Kaylee, Kira, Lori/Mom, and me.
Please ignore the frightening look on my face and feast your eyes on the delicious Vietnamese Summer Rolls. Highly recommended next time you're at the CF. The dipping sauces alone are amazing. Technically an appetizer, but big enough for a meal. Ben couldn't stop laughing when he saw this shot. And I quote: "Mom, you look crazy!" Truer words were never spoken.
In true Girls' Night fashion, Kaylee skipped over the "real" food and went straight to the cheesecake as main course. A woman after my own heart. Isn't dinner really just a technicality on your way to dessert? Kaylee, thanks for sharing bites - Tuxedo Cheesecake...mmmm.
The rest of us held off on cheesecake and we went to Red Mango for fro yo afterward, one of Kira's favorite treats.
What's a GNO without some fabulous drinks? Congrats Kira, and thanks to all the ladies for a fun night. I love hanging out with my sisters! P.S. If you're feeling sorry for the boys, don't think they didn't have a little party of their own. They celebrated a concurrent manly bonding session over burgers and fries.
Tomorrow: The Big Day. A.K.A. Kira's wedding
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Any Dream Will Do
May I return (may I return), to the beginning? Of our trip to Utah, that is. We got back from our trip a week ago and there's lots to catch up on. We flew out on a Friday evening and got into Salt Lake really late, after a long layover in Dallas. We were not living the dream after Ben fell asleep on the plane, accidentally wet his pants because he was so tired, and we had to drag a crying child off the aircraft and through the concourse to get our luggage and meet Andy's dad. But that was the worst of it (see bottom picture for our much better flight home).
Whose dream isn't to jump out of a time machine in front of a group of unfamiliar children at church and pretend you're Joseph of Egypt from the Bible? That's exactly what Andy got to do at his mom's primary the Sunday after we arrived. She made a time machine out of a refrigerator box and every month invites another "visitor" from scriptural history to come and tell the kids their story. Anyone who knows Andy knows that he is a hesitant performer, but he pulled off the role splendidly. His mom even rented a Coat of Many Colors from a local theater's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I helped Andy put it on and let me tell you, that thing was heavy. I now have a new respect for Donny Osmond.
Andy's mom chose 12 little boys from the group who got to wear scarves on their heads and play Joseph's 11 other brothers. Ben volunteered and scored the coveted role of Benjamin, but got nervous and had to abdicate his part to an understudy. After Andy told the story of Joseph, he opened up the room for questions and Ben regained his courage. His little hand shot up and he blurted out, "DadI really like my seven iron."
If Ben's comment was Greek to you, let me elaborate. Ben got to live his dream when he got his own pint-sized golf bag, seven-iron, and putter and went to the driving range almost every day of our trip. He loved teeing up with Andy, Grandpa Charlie, and Uncle Randy, as well as the soda or Gatorade he got after every trip. He even got to hit the ceremonial first shot of the Randall Cup, Andy's family tournament in Logan, and rode for three holes in the golf cart following the adults.
Hitting off the mats.
Practicing his backswing. Oh, the beautiful mountains in the background. The gorgeous scenery and perfect weather (no humidity!) during our trip made me temporarily pine to live on the Wasatch Front.
I got to live my dream when we were assigned to the first class cabin on our flight home from Denver to Columbus. Not only did I get asked upon entering the plane if I wanted champagne or a mimosa (maybe the steward doesn't know pregnant people aren't supposed to drink), but we also received assiduously attentive service, the the seats were roomy with wonderful back support (vital when you're eight months prego), we enjoyed refreshing hot towels, and noshed on tasty snack boxes during our journey. Oh, to have a taste of how the other half lives. Someday I'd love to fly on one of the super-swanky international carriers (Emirates, Singapore Air, et al) and experience the lie-flat seats or suites on my way to an exotic destination.
Whose dream isn't to jump out of a time machine in front of a group of unfamiliar children at church and pretend you're Joseph of Egypt from the Bible? That's exactly what Andy got to do at his mom's primary the Sunday after we arrived. She made a time machine out of a refrigerator box and every month invites another "visitor" from scriptural history to come and tell the kids their story. Anyone who knows Andy knows that he is a hesitant performer, but he pulled off the role splendidly. His mom even rented a Coat of Many Colors from a local theater's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I helped Andy put it on and let me tell you, that thing was heavy. I now have a new respect for Donny Osmond.
Andy's mom chose 12 little boys from the group who got to wear scarves on their heads and play Joseph's 11 other brothers. Ben volunteered and scored the coveted role of Benjamin, but got nervous and had to abdicate his part to an understudy. After Andy told the story of Joseph, he opened up the room for questions and Ben regained his courage. His little hand shot up and he blurted out, "DadI really like my seven iron."
If Ben's comment was Greek to you, let me elaborate. Ben got to live his dream when he got his own pint-sized golf bag, seven-iron, and putter and went to the driving range almost every day of our trip. He loved teeing up with Andy, Grandpa Charlie, and Uncle Randy, as well as the soda or Gatorade he got after every trip. He even got to hit the ceremonial first shot of the Randall Cup, Andy's family tournament in Logan, and rode for three holes in the golf cart following the adults.
Hitting off the mats.
Practicing his backswing. Oh, the beautiful mountains in the background. The gorgeous scenery and perfect weather (no humidity!) during our trip made me temporarily pine to live on the Wasatch Front.
I got to live my dream when we were assigned to the first class cabin on our flight home from Denver to Columbus. Not only did I get asked upon entering the plane if I wanted champagne or a mimosa (maybe the steward doesn't know pregnant people aren't supposed to drink), but we also received assiduously attentive service, the the seats were roomy with wonderful back support (vital when you're eight months prego), we enjoyed refreshing hot towels, and noshed on tasty snack boxes during our journey. Oh, to have a taste of how the other half lives. Someday I'd love to fly on one of the super-swanky international carriers (Emirates, Singapore Air, et al) and experience the lie-flat seats or suites on my way to an exotic destination.What's your dream?
Tomorrow: Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters. (Five points if you can name the movie reference). A.K.A The pre-wedding Girls' Night Out.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
The Maternity Mug
My brother just gave me one of the best gifts I've ever received. Granted, it's kind of disturbing, but really funny. I can't wait to giggle as I drink my daily hot chocolate out of it. Kind of makes the stretch marks, waddling, constant bathroom breaks, and discomfort a little more bearable.
Here's the punny blurb from the back of the box:
"The Maternity Mug was created by a woman who was pregnant at the time she 'conceived' it. As she tells it, what started out as innocent fooling around soon grew into an idea of 'larger' proportions. Some nine months later the Maternity Mug burst into the world. Note that the Maternity Mug is light so as to cause no excess 'labor' using it. The drinking opening has been fully 'dilated' for easy 'delivery' of your beverage. The mother-to-be will certainly enjoy the mug for coffee breaks before her water breaks. The mothers-who-are will want to take a break from the duties of child rearing using the Maternity Mug for a 'pregnant pause." And even men can put their hands around the Maternity Mug and feel a real 'kick' themselves."
Cheers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)