Easter 2009

Happy Anniversay!!

For our 7 year anniversary (June 8th) we had Tim & Kim Shirley take pictures of just US. I know, a little weird! The last time we had just pictures of us was 7 years ago at our wedding but, we had a lot of fun. Thanks Tim & Kim!

Fun with Smoke Alarms

So in our three years of living in our neighborhood we've never really done anything to embarrass ourselves. Sure we've lost the kids only to find them either hiding or asleep in the house, but nothing to outwardly embarrass us. Well, with Michelle and the boys out of town, it's safe to say I finally did it! Here's what happened.

When I got home from my long weekend in Palm Springs (we were down there for her cousin's wedding--shout out to Melissa and Daniel Lake!) it was late Monday night. I was tired, but all of the fire alarms in the house were beeping. Note: They were not going off, just beeping, like the battery was dead. So off I went to check on all of the smoke detectors and replace all of the batteries. Batteries are easy to find since we keep all of our good ones in a box in the garage. Actually, scratch that. "I" keep all of the fresh batteries in a box in the garage.

I replaced all the batteries in all four smoke detectors, but to no avail as the beeping kept going. By this point it was after 1 a.m., and coupled with my ear ache, an early morning in Palm Springs (for golf! ;-) and knowing I had work to do the next day, I went to bed.

The next day when I got home from work the alarms were still beeping (the beeping went on every minute or so and cycled through each alarm). By this point though I'd gotten used to it and it didn't really bug me. When I spoke with Michelle that night I told her about the beeping continuing even after pushing all the buttons and replacing all of the batteries and that it was kind of annoying. Michelle had the nerve to ask me if all of the batteries were new or old. I replied, "Well I got them from the box in the garage so the must be new." She then went on to tell me how this had happened before and she called the station, which then sent someone (1 person--singular) out to check on it and reset the alarms.

Well, seeing as it was late Tuesday by this point I just figured I'd call tomorrow. So now it's tomorrow, and I'm home after work, running errands and finally sitting down to watch the Manchester United vs. Barcelona game--when I hear the beeping (seriously, I'd gotten so used to it I only heard it every now and then). Being the proud man that I am, I figured there was no need to double check the batteries... it seemed like too much trouble. Afterall, I had just replaced them with the NEW batteries in my BOX in the garage!

I went online and found the AFTER HOURS NON-EMERGENCY number for the Lehi Fire Department. I called the dispatch and explained the situation. A red flag went up when the lady on the other end told me to evacuate everyone out of the house. I explained to her that my family was out of town and that I'd been sleeping in the house for two days now (meaning--if there was a leak, I'd already be dead!), and that it wasn't an emergency. She said she'd send someone over to check on it. I thought nothing of it and went back to my game (Barcelona was now up 1-0).

Here's where I managed to embarrass myself. A few minutes later I heard what sounded like a truck pull up out front my house. The first thought in my head: "Oh no they didn't!!" When I walked up to look out the front window and to my surprise a big red fire truck was parked out front the house with 5-6 firefighters getting suited up with gas tanks and all. I walked out and tried to explain the same thing I explained on the phone: "it's just the smoke alarms beeping like the batteries dead. It's not an emergency."

He replied, "Please step out of the house sir and get anyone else out if they are home." I laughed and said to myself "please don't be the stupid batteries!" Did I mention there was also an ambulance and a police car?! Oh, and every neighbor on the street was out on their driveway looking down at the spectacle and wondering what was going on. I explained the situation to one and he said he'd tell everyone not to worry.

A couple minutes later a cop comes up to me to take down my information. I explained what I did and that all of this (a full fire truck, ambulance and police car) were not necessary. He said, "well that's what happens when you call 911." But alas, I didn't call 911. I explained that I called the after-hours NON-EMERGENCY number for the department. He said this was just protocol. All I could think was that this was not what Michelle said happened last time. One person came. Small pick-up truck (owned by the FD).

When I was allowed back in my house (about 5 minutes), I asked what had happened and if they were able to reset the alarms. Can you guess what it was? Yup, the "new" batteries I replaced in the fire detectors were not so new afterall (expiration said 2006--who knew to read those things!?). Well, at least I gave the guys at the station something to do. Only, I'm sure they weren't that impressed that the damsel in distress was a 31 year-old man. :-)

Oh, did I mention they replaced all the batteries (with fresh-out-of-the-package batteries) and the alarms finally stopped beeping.

Say hello to...

BABY GIRL BACON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What can I say!?! When the technician first told us it was a girl I didn't believe her. We had her check 2 more times just to make sure - by the third time she said she was pretty sure it was a girl!! I was astonished. I had told myself that it was going to be a boy and that was that. I was totally taken by surprise. We are so excited.

Our Turn

Simple post. Jon's guess (which he argues is the correct guess), is a boy. Michelle's guess (which Jon argues is the wrong guess), is a girl. We'll see who's right in about 18 hours! :-)

The Big Question: Girl or Boy?

(It's Jon stepping in for a turn!) We found out today that May 18th at 10 a.m. we'll find out what we're having. The question for all you readers (if there are still readers out there since it's been so long since we posted anything!!), what will it be? I've got my ideas, but I'll save them till we find out. Let's just say that Michelle thinks it's the opposite. 

(No, this is not Michelle posing... she's still not showing!)

So family & friends... what say you? Boy? Girl? Both? Or is she the next octo-mom? ;-)

Mancation 2009

I added the pictures, Jon wil have to add the commentary

Jon's 31st Birthday

Jon on the phone getting birthday wishes form all of you.

Jon had a dinosaur themed birthday party - Marcus wanted to do another pinata and the dinosaur was the most grown-up pinata the store had!

This being their 2nd pinata Addison and Ally were not so scared to try knocking out the candy!

Earlier that week Marucs, Jon & Seth had destroyed the transformer/lion pinata. I really think Jon was just letting out some aggression... It wasn't the best actual birthday day. But we made up for it...

...for the 1st time in 7 years I got the right kind of ice cream cake!!! Don't ask me what it is, I have forgotten already... Good thing I have great friends who keep up on that for me! (Thanks to Chad & Amy and Tim & Kim for all the text's and messages about the kind of ice cream Jon likes!) wait... world class chocolate!?! Is that right?
Happy Birthday Jon!

Seth's 2nd Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Seth!
No cake - we had mini cupcakes, they were the perfect size.

I transformed the transformer pinata into a Lion pinata form Madagascar. The kids had a great time hitting it and grabbing all the candy.

This video might need to go to funniest home videos!

Thank you to all our friends for the fun presents.

Trip To Palm Springs

We drove down to Palm Springs to return my mom's minivan that she let us borrow for a few months. The boys did really well on the drive - no one threw-up - and we got to stop in Las Vegas at Aunt Jody's house to see here family and dogs. Marcus had to take pictures of Chole their dog.




As soon as we got to Palm Springs Grandma and Grandpa took us to our favorite restaurant for Jon's Birthday celebration, Kobe's. Marcus and Seth got to come along too. Marcus had been before when he was about 2 months old and they was Seth's first time. They were thoroughly entertained by the man in the funny hat making fire in front of us. Of course when that stopped Seth was ready to go! And FYI - this is the only restaurant where I can eat a California roll.

After dinner we went home and sang Happy Birthday to Jon and Seth . Erin had a friend at work who is a pastry chef make this chocolate chocolate cake for Jon. It was very yummy. It was flavored with fresh blueberries in the frosting which was nice and light compared to the chocolate. Needless to say most of the cake was gone by the time we left...


The most important reason we went down to California: My cousin Jessica's Wedding.


Her dad brought her to the aisle on a golf cart.

She looked beautiful, it was a beautiful wedding and reception.
Congratulations Jessica and Landon!

And we cannot forget the train track that Grandpa Lake built for Marcus and Seth. They had been in storage for years and it was a bit of a trick trying to get it together but Grandpa did and the boys and a great time playing with it.