Progress report on list - (post revised to add photos)

I revised this post to include pictures, per request from Adrian.

I am slowly but surely working on and/or accomplishing various items on my 101 list. I thought I would give a progress report, mostly to help me figure out where I stand.

#7 - Read scriptures daily: I am working on that. Sometimes are better than others but I'm making a conscious effort. I'm doing better than I've done in a long time and I'm already in Mosiah.

#9 - Walk or run 3 times per week: This is also a work in progress. I have good weeks and bad weeks. I can't run while I'm breastfeeding so it's all walking. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Christmas present, a brand new double jogging stroller. I believe that this new item will help motivate me to be more consistent.

#18 - Read scriptures with Grant: I continue to try to do this with him but he rebels. He does not want to read them with me. I have a board book Book of Mormon, which he'll never let me read to him. I just got the paperback, comic strip style Book of Mormon, for Christmas for him and tried to read it to him this morning without success. So, on this, I'm trying but running into 2-1/2 year old resistance.

#26 - Have a date night once per month: Chad and I have actually done this for November and December. Before that, Cole was too young to leave with a sitter. In November, Chad and I went to the opera and left the kids with my brother and sister. In December, we went to see Rain, a Beattles tribute band. Chad's co-residents, Rachael and Jessica, volunteered to babysit. I'm working on a date night for January to celebrate our anniversary. I'm hoping to keep this up.

#27 - Shift hair part to the right: I have actually started working on this and it's difficult and annoying. I now have hair in my eyes which I hate and somtimes I'm sure I look ridiculous with the way my bangs fall but I suppose eventually I will have success if I stick with it. That's what this about isn't it?

#30 - Collect all 50 state quarters: I had a good start to the collection before this list began. I am now trying to finish it and am about there. I need to talk with my sister to see about getting me quarters from the Philadelphia mint. You can only find those on the east coast. All of ours out here are from the Denver mint.

#53 - Explore Bisbee with Chad: Chad and I did this over Thanksgiving weekend with my brothers and sister. We had a good time and I wrote a previous blog post about it.

#54 - Say prayers daily: As with daily scripture study, success ebbs and flows but the main point is that I'm working on it and trying to be successful.

#55 - Finish Dallas TV series: I am through season 3 and anxiously awaiting the arrival of new episodes. Chad finally set it up so that Dallas alternates with his dumb horror movies rather than about 3 of his movies to one of mine. JR has been shot though but we don't know who did it. That's where season 3 left off.

#64 - Update blog weekly: I'm doing well at this, except for the month in which our computer didn't work. I've caught up though and will keep going with this.

#68 - Paint Grant's toy chest: I got this done at the beginning of December while Chad and Grant were away. It turned out really well. You can see pictures in an earlier blog post if you're interested.

#71 - Learn to make jam: As I posted in a previous blog, I tried to make prickly pear jelly but that did n't turn out. The sealed unset jars of jelly are still sitting on top of my refrigerator waiting for me to open them and make another attempt at getting them to set. In the meantime, I have learned how to make freezer jam correctly. Amy and I made an attempt in August with peaches we bought from Apple Annie's but it didn't set up. We learned later it was because the fruit shouldn't be pureed. Just last night, I made another batch of freezer jam, this time strawberry. I used two different brands of pectin so they were made differently. One I had to boil the pectin, the other I didn't. I am curious to see how each turns out and have marked the jars so I know which is which. Any guesses as to which will work?

#79 - Attend the temple 6 times in 12 months: I was able to go to the temple for the first time in ages with my brother Brad the weekend before Christmas. I am making it a goal to get back within the next two months and make this list item successful.

#84 - Get a massage: I did this one. I know you're all jealous. I bought Chad a gift certificate for a massage for his graduation but he never used it and it expired at the end of this year. He did not have any opportunity to use it before the expiration so I got to use it while Grant was up with sister ealier this month. It was so nice but wow was I in bad shape. I was sore for several days afterwards and so unbelievably tired after the massage. I think I need more.

#88 - Read the Book of Mormon all the way through: This goes hand in hand with reading daily and I will be done with the Book of Mormon before my time for this list expires.

#93 - Have two more children (including the one in utero): As of September 17, 2008, this one is half done. No plans to finish this one for awhile though. I'm still about 30 pounds and immeasureable amounts of sleep and sanity away from that.

#96 - Make a Halloween costume for Grant: I did this one this year and he was the most adorable clown I've ever seen. You can see cute pictures of him in a previous blog post or two.

#97 - Throw a baby shower: Amy Studley and I threw a baby shower for Adrian Sanders. We had a good time putting it together and I think Adrian enjoyed herself. Amy and I have different strengths and weaknesses so working together we were able to make it a good shower all around.

#99 - Get estate planning done: This is almost done. I met with the attorney and he drafted everything up. I now have the drafts printed and sitting on my counter to read. They ahve been there for a good 2-3 weeks. I need to review them and get it done. If anyone needs a good estate planner in Tucson go to Tim Struse. He's great and not too expensive.

#100 - Clean out and organize garage: I am almost done with this. Chad worked a few Saturdays ago so I had both boys in the garage hanging out while I cleaned, threw away, swept and organized. I only have to finish the tool table, which I'm putting off. The rest of the garage looks great and I'll post pictures when I finish the tool table.

Our Month of Christmas

Our family enjoyed a month long celebration of Christmas this year. We bought our tree early so that we could enjoy it for several weeks. Grant had a fun time learning about tree decorating. He wanted to try putting all of the ornaments on but then would get frustrated and have me do it. He loved looking at and playing with each of the ornaments. I always enjoying pulling out our Christmas ornaments because I get to remember all of the fun places Chad and I have traveled over the last many years. I buy an ornament from each place we travel and have done so since just before we were married. I love to remember our fun vacations and adventures.

(Grant helping to decorate the Christmas tree)

On December 2, Chad and I took the boys to our wonderful zoo for Zoo Lights member night. The entire zoo is decorated in lights and they give out free hot chocolate and cookies. They also have "snow" (a.k.a. bubble foam) by the polar bears every 10 minutes or so. Grant loves the zoo and had a wonderful time looking at the lights and eating cookies.

(Lindsay, Grant and Cole at Zoo Lights)

Aunt Kitty, always thinking of her nephews, found adorable Christmas pajamas during her early morning day after Thanksgiving Christmas exploits with Autumn. Grant loves his Snowman jammies and Cole doesn't have a choice.

(Grant and Cole in their new Christmas pajamas)

Every year, the neighborhood here in Tucson, known as Winterhaven is decorated in Christmas lights and is blocked off each night for the town to walk through and view. They take canned food and money donations for the Food Bank. This is their 58th year doing this. Chad and I took our family and a few of Chad's fellow residences from the VA to enjoy the lights. Grant loved all of the lights, particularly the house that had a giant Bellagio style fountain timed to Christmas music and the giant candy canes. The house was one of the first we saw and Grant repeatedly asked to go see that house again. Chad has made some great friends during his residency and it was fun to enjoy this activity with them, as they are from out of town.

(Chad, Lindsay, Grant and Cole at Winterhaven lights)

(Grant bundled up for Winterhaven -- it was Tucson cold this night)

(One of the many decorated Winterhaven houses)

(Grant looking at one of the giant candy canes)

The Saturday before Christmas, the boys and I went to Phoenix for the day to see Brad, David and Shelli. Brad and I did a session at the temple and then brought the boys back to the temple to view the lights. Grant had a great time and I tried to explain the nativity scene to him. I think he's starting to get it.

(The Mesa temple lights)

(Brad and Grant at the Mesa Temple)

(Lindsay, Grant and Cole at the Mesa Temple lights)

This year was the first year that Chad and I had Christmas at our house with no extended family. My family is spending the holidays in Costa Rica, where my brother Brad recently returned from his mission. Chad's family is in Utah, except his sister, who is with her family in Michigan. This year Utah was too far to drive with a 3 month old and limited time off and too expensive to fly, having to purchase 3 airline tickets on a resident's salary (if you can call it that). We enjoyed a fondue dinner on Christmas Eve, in keeping with the Mellen family tradition. My family never really had a consistent Christmas Eve or Day dinner tradition. We love fondue and Grant had a great time helping out with it this year. He loved putting the tempura on the skewers and even ate two skewers himself. Chad and I, of course, ate way too much but loved every minute of it.

After dinner, we read a board book version of Luke 2 and then Twas the Night Before Christmas. Grant and I had made sugar cookies earlier on Christmas Eve for Santa. We got the cookies out and put them on a plate for Santa. Grant put the cookies and a glass of milk on the ottoman for Santa. We also let Grant open one present before bed. He opened up some books from Granda Mellen, which we read a few times. After that it was bedtime for Grant abd present wrapping time for mommy. I finished wrapping presents and got everything ready for Christmas morning.

(Two skewers frying up)

(Lindsay's fondue skewers ready to go)

(Cole chilling out during fondue dinner)

(Grant putting tempura on the skewers)

(The fondue spread)

(Chad and Grant waiting for fondue)

(Lindsay and Cole)

(Santa's cookies and milk -- notice the missing stocking toe. Guess who ate that?)

Chad and I got up at 6:30 AM to put the presents under the tree and fill the stockings. We had the presents on top of our armoir to protect them from dogs and Grant. Grant, in his usual way, woke up just before 7 AM. We headed downstairs to see what Santa brought. We then moved on to the numerous gifts under the tree. Grant's first choice of presents to open was the "big one," the big present from Oma, containing a backpack and many more presents in the backpack. He had a fun time opening the big package. He also loved the fun Big Bug Book from Grandma Mellen. His favorite, however, was his Thomas the train set from mommy and daddy. He played with the train set all day Christmas day. We enjoyed an aebleskiver breakfast and a yummy turkey dinner. Overall, we relaxed all day long and enjoyed our quiet Christmas with our little family.

(Chad with his Aqua Globes from my mom)

(Cole with his new outfits from Oma)

(Cole and Grant playing trains)

(Grant with his gifts from Santa - a Thomas backpack, Lightning McQueen and Doc)

(Lindsay on Christmas morning - the only photo taken of her the whole day)

(Our Christmas tree)

(Our stockings hung on the bookcase with care)

(Grant's pile of presents)

Today, we went to a matinee showing of Madagascar 2. Grant loved it. He loves to get a big bag of popcorn and he eats it one piece at a time during the entire show. While Chad and I help him with the bag he eats quite a bit and doesn't stop putting it in one at a time until it's all gone. It has been raining all day. The rain may spoil our plan for tomorrow to go to the butterfly exhibit at the Botanical Gardens. I hope we can go next week if not tomorrow.

Thanksgiving weekend

Thanksgiving was quiet this year for our family. We had my brothers, David and Brad, in town for the weekend. My sister Shelli joined us on Friday and stayed until Saturday night. Shelli had to work Thanksgiving day. My brothers and I cooked a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I am really getting good at making turkey, if I do say so myself. We also had the traditional corn, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, jello, apple pie, pumpkin pie and pudding pie. The food was delicious. We took it easy on Thanksgiving day. Unfortunately, I forgot to take any pictures of the festivities on Thanksgiving day.

Friday Chad and my brothers went to the driving range and then we went out on Friday evening for some Black Friday shopping. It was not near as bad as I anticipated and always an adventure. Grant loves to ride with his aunts and uncles when they are here so he rode in "Shelli's truck" during all of our outings. It gave Chad and I some quiet time in the car with Cole. While we were out we went to Best Buy to purchase some additional Wii controllers so that Shelli and Chad could play Super Mario Brothers and Super Mario Brothers 3. We were able to download them onto our Wii. Many late hours were spent on Friday and Saturday playing those games (I went to bed).

Saturday we took a day trip to Bisbee to explore the town. The Old Bisbee resembles Prescott except that it's built in a canyon. I have been there before but just for court and never had the opportunity to explore the town. We walked up and down the main street and looked in the antique stores. It's also a pretty drive once you get past Sierra Vista. On the way home we drove through St. David and Tombstone. We had a good time but nothing too exciting happened during the weekend.

Shelli, Grant and Chad in Bisbee

Lindsay and Cole in Bisbee

Chad and Grant in Bisbee checking out an old train

David climbing some of the 1,000 stairs in Bisbee

Brad climbing some of the 1,000 stairs in Bisbee

Snow in Tucson?

On November 22, 2008, Amy and I took all four boys to Foothills Mall for a morning of playing in the snow. Both of our husbands were working this day. Foothills Mall hauled in 30 tons of snow from who knows where to welcome the arrival of Santa Clause to their mall. Grant was not too in to this concept of snow, mostly because of how many people were there I believe. I dug out his mittens and put a jacket on him and I tried to get him to touch the snow and throw a snowball. That didn't go over very well. He touched it a couple of times but then just cried and wanted to be held. He also got hit by several stray snowballs which just made things worse. I had Cole in the Bjorn and we too got hit by some snowballs. Cole was not happy about the whole thing. After that Amy and I took turns watching the little guys, Zach and Cole. When the boys were completely done with the snow we walked around the mall a bit then went to Brandi Fenton park for the boys to play and enjoy lunch. It was a fun Saturday activity.

Grant pouting about the snow

Grant trying out snowball making

Grant with a snowball


Amy and Nicholas having a snowball fight