My Valentine


Nothing says I love you more than standing on the rooftops and shouting "I LOVE YOU".  At least that was until they invented blogging.  So this is my modern equivalent of shouting from the rooftop why I love Shelly.
My Favorite things this last year:

We had our home videos converted to DVD and it was fun snuggling with Shelly and watching as we created our family together.  We have some great memories and I was reminded how lucky I am to be married to a hot wife.

Shelly learned how to arrange flowers and it’s been nice having her amazing arrangements around the house.  It’s also fun just watching her “in the act”.  She gets in the creative genius mode, zoned in on the flowers and then out pops pure beauty.  (We need to figure out how to have her make more arrangements this coming year.  Either we need to plant flowers at home that she can use or add trips to the flower mart to our budget).

This year we seemed to try and have more opportunities to go on meaningless outings.  Shelly will say “I need to run to the store” and I used to respond “OK, see you later”.  A little more often I say “Wait and I’ll go with you” because spending time with her is fun.  I enjoy our time in the grocery store, at Costco, or wherever it is.

Last month we splurged and got away for the weekend to Orange County.  Friday night we went to Corona Del Mar State Beach and watched the sun set over the ocean and Catalina Island.  Soon, another couple found our secluded area and sat on the bench next to us.  We all pretended like neither of us were there (awkward), but soon Shelly was cracking jokes and had the other couple laughing.  Like I said, spending time with Shelly is always fun.

We scanned in a bunch of old family photos and posted them on Facebook.  Once again, I am reminded of having a hot wife.

I never thought I would be a member of a Golden Retriever Meetup Group: going to a doggy Halloween party, watching Shelly march in the Escondido Grape Day parade or going to a doggy day retreat.  All of these are better with Shelly.

Going to youth conference with Shelly as chaperones and watching Shelly shot a bow and arrow.  I don’t think she has ever shot a bow and arrow before.  She didn’t look like she knew what she was doing, but she still shot a bull’s-eye!

Hollywood!!  Shelly talked us all into going to the Dr. Phil show in Hollywood.  Add another unforgettable memory to the list!

You probably didn’t know there was a Mormon Day at Magic Mountain last year, but somehow we found out about it and went.  Waiting in lines at amusement parks with Shelly are the best part!

If any foreign student wants to come to America and get a taste of American culture, they should come live with us.  Just ask Subaru, our house guest from Japan.  Shelly can always get him to smile.

When our son Zack was crowned homecoming king at high school, I felt way out of my comfort zone.  Luckily, he has Shelly as his mom and she more than filled the proud parent role.  She’s a mom that any kid would be proud to have and we know who can take the credit for Zack’s social success.

To top it all off, we found out that we are going to be grandparents.  I can't imagine anything funner than a "Grandma Shelly".
This year we will be together for 25 years and I have to say that my life is so much richer.  Shelly is my best friend.  She’s the most honest and real person I know and I’m glad she’s my Valentine.


Itty Bitty Hunt

We had an Itty Bitty Hunt for our combined youth activity at church this month. We made a collage of pictures of hard to find things at the church building. The kid's seemed to have a lot of fun. The original idea was from here.  If you're ever at the Borden building, see if what you can find.

Best Day at the Beach

Today was extra warm so we decided to go to the Beach.  The tide was the lowest I've ever seen, and the conditions were very nice.  When you first walk in the water, there were ridges in the sand about 2-3 feet apart and almost a foot high.  The water was crystal clear.  Then, the sand was very flat and the water was about 6 inches deep.  See how far out Zack and Subaru are and how shallow the water is.

Out further, the waves were glassy.  Normally we get pulled North by the current and would have to fight to stay in the same spot.  Today there was no current.   
Later I noticed the strangest thing. After the waves would break to the shore, it would then wash out and form a small wave going out towards the ocean. A wave coming in would then collide with the outgoing wave for a cool effect. See video.

Remembering Barbara Smith

I noticed in the news that Barbara Smith passed away.  She was the General Relief Society President for the LDS Church from 1974 to 1984.  When I was a missionary in São Paulo, Brazil, I worked in the mission office and had the opportunity to pick Sister Smith up from the airport.

I had no special feelings or admiration for her before this meeting since I wasn't personally interested in the Relief Society, however I vividly remember how I felt in her presence:  I felt a holiness that I had never experienced before or since.  I can't explain why I felt that way, but remembering it makes me want to be a better person.

Barona Raceway

We took our young men to the Barona Raceway in Ramona.  The boys seemed to enjoy it. 
Our Crew: Trevor, Erik, Scott, Leo, Jordan, Spencer, Eddie, Roman and Jared.
Burning rubber.
The Rocket Truck



Del Mar Fair

Last night Zack and I went to the Del Mar Fair. I got to see his entry that won Best in Class for student entries (category 4575).  He down-played the whole thing, but I remember thinking it was pretty clever.  His assignment was to merge the logos from two companies.  He merged "Pet's Mart" and "e-Harmony" to make "Pet-Harmony".  It says "Where the pets go...to find their true love".

We went on a crazy ride, had funnel cake, went to the Kenny Loggins concert.  It was nice spending the afternoon and evening with him.

I snapped this photo on our way out.

Getting hurt by things you love

I was walking up stairs as Zack yelled "ouch" and started rubbing his head. He was taking the guitar off and as he slipped the strap over his head he bumped heads with his guitar.

Later he came in a showed me a small welt. The first thing that came to my mind (and out my mouth) was "Zack, you always get hurt by things you love". I then showed him the scar on my forehead from when I was loading a computer in my car. I love the computer (though not as much as people).

He thought for a moment and then said "I never got hurt by the piano!". I asked, "Did you love the piano?" He responded sheepishly, "no". Then a light bulb went off and he said "Girls!! Basketball!!". I proudly said "See, I told you so."

Then I asked him if he's ever been hurt at the beach. He said yes.

Severe Weather

Kristy and Dalan are visiting from Rexburg before Blake leaves for the Army. It rained last night so I decided to look at the weather report. For some reason, there was a "Severe Weather Alert". Compare to Rexburg with no weather alert. Is an 63 degrees with an 80% chance of rain more severe than 37 degrees with a 60% chance of snow? Or are Southern Californians wimpier so it seems to like "Severe Weather"?




Animal Eye Care

We saw this last night. I had to take a picture. We love our pets, but I don't think we would go this far.

Junk Yard Wars


Our combined mutual (church youth group) activity was "Junk Yard Wars". We brought "clean junk" to our church cultural hall, then split into 5 teams. The teams had a relay race to collect their junk, were armed with a giant roll of duct tape and started creating.
The final creations were impressive considering what they started with and how little time they had.

Here are the results in no particular order:




Exciting Rice Palace

Awards: Most Intricate Detail and Best Special Effects (They popped a plastic bag before their presentation)























Leaning Tower of Love


Awards: Tallest, Most Romantic/Spirit















Bill Mormon and the Science Lab

Awards: Most Creative, Least Junky


















The Pei Wei Shelter

Awards: Most Useful and Most Charitable

















The Battle Car

Awards: Most Functional and Most Lethal


Mormon Riddle

An Elders Quorum President, Relief Society President and Primary President are at the church and need to attend a meeting at the Stake Center several miles away. They only have one car, and it only has two seats. This will take them more than one trip.

How do they get to their meeting without the Elders Quorum President riding alone in the car with one of the sisters?

Glossary for Non-Mormons:
Elders Quorum President - Men's worship group leader (A man)
Relief Society President - Women's worship group leader (A woman)
Primary President - Children's worship grou leader (A woman)
Stake Center - Church building with offices for leadership over multiple congregations (like a Diocese)
Sister - name or prefix used for women in the church, i.e., "Sister Jones"

Banana Pancakes and the Chipped Tooth

Shelly is in Utah visiting her mother, so of course something was bound to go wrong in her absence. It was Thursday and I got a phone call from Zack. He chipped his tooth.

It was hard getting the complete story on what happened, but I think it is Jack Johnson's fault. Zack and his friend's were listening to music and the song "Banana Pancakes" came on. They decided they had to have Banana Pancakes. I have to admit that Zack and his friend's are creative.

As Zack leaned over to lick the whip cream off, his friend pushed his face down into the plate, just at the wrong time and Zack's tooth chipped on the plate.

I was at work and our usual dentist was on vacation, so I couldn't do anything Thursday but make a couple of phone calls. I had Friday off, but Zack had a basketball tournament the next 2 days. I was hoping to wait till Shelly got home, but Friday morning I decided to be responsible. I found another dentist and I was quite impressed. I had to ask Zack which tooth was broken.

Good Job Dr. Chalk!