Baby Kimball is Here!

Baby Kimball was born last night at 7:51 p.m. weighing in at a whopping 8 lb. 12 oz. and measuring 20 1/2" long. Ashley and Jordan are giddy with happiness, as am I! Isn't he beautiful! More details and pictures to come . . .

A Very, Very Wise Man

Wise beyond his years. Mature beyond his years. And he looks adorable in a crown!

Counting Down the Hours . . .

Doesn't Ash look so darling! I think that being pregnant has totally agreed with her. She has been glowing and looking so radiant throughout the entire nine months. But now I'm ready to get this show on the road, although I'm still gunning for December 30. If you haven't placed your bets about the delivery date, there is still time, but you better do it soon (obviously)! Remember, this lovely prize or this lovely prize awaits the winner.

I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!

For that Special Someone on Your List

Yay! I know all of you have that one person on your list that is sooooooo difficult to buy for either because you don't dare guess their size (major offenses could be given and/or taken), or they are so crazy picky about their stuff that even a darling trinket arriving in the famous pale blue box from Tiffany & Co. wouldn't satisfy. Your troubles are over, my friend, because have I got just the thing for you (and your impossible-to-buy-for special someone)!

My local newspaper basically did my shopping for me when it recently ran this advertisement for . . . are you ready? . . . "A Thoughtful Gift--Give someone you love the added comfort of an extra tall toilet with the beauty of fine European design." SOLD! Say no more! This item just screams "thoughtful gift," does it not? I especially like the "elongated seat design" feature. Nice. Ooo and looky! It comes with a beautiful red bow perched right on top so your gift wrapping chore is done. What more could anyone ask for? You give this little beauty away, and you and your gift will be the talk of the family for years, guar-an-teed!

16 Has Never Been Sweeter!

CHRISTIAN IS 16!!!!!!

BRING IT ON!

BRING ON THE DRIVING!

BRING ON THE DATING

BRING ON THE CRAZINESS!

BRING IT ALL ON!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANDSOME, HANDSOME PRINCE!

Can I just say for the record that I must be the luckiest, most blessed, and certainly the most grateful mom in the whole universe! It is a PRIVILEGE to be the mom of Christian--to be able to learn from his steady and mature example, to watch him grow in his faith and abilities, to see his compassion and care for others, to observe his natural leadership in action, to have the unbelievable joy of being with him and his happy personality every day. It is almost too much to take in and certainly more than I deserve, but I'll take it, for sure. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for my sweet Christian whom I absolutely adore with all of my heart.

I LOOOOOOOVVVE YOU!!!!!!!

Quote of the Week

As we walked into the room and greeted my mom, she thoroughly and deliberately looked Christian up and down and authoritatively declared that he wasn't completely dressed. My head immediately whipped around, and I glared at Christian to see if by some chance he had missed something when we left the house: Shoes? Check. Shirt? Check. PANTS?!!!! Thank goodness, this time, check.

We both looked back at my mom and at the same time said something really intelligent like, "huh?" She grinned back at us and said, "Well, Christian, you aren't fully dressed without a girl on each arm!" She is a master of the bon mot, my mom!

Epilogue: What makes this hilarious is that we had met my mom for a BYU basketball game the night prior and yes, you guessed it--Christian had a girl on each arm!

Dear Santa

Dear O Mighty One, Deliverer of Many Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifles (you'll shoot your eye out, kid), and Wetsy Betsy Dolls, and Mercedes SLKs, O Supreme Ho, Ho, Ho-er, and Master of the Twinkley Eye and Finger Aside One's Nose:

What was I thinking with it being so close to Christmas and all?! Mr. Santa, you know that I was just kidding! about the bowling lawsuit that I blogged about in my previous post, don't you? I mean, seriously. Jk there! Heehee! Good one! You know that there never was a "Wally Griswold v. Bowler #2" Complaint No. 19043 filed with The Fourth District Court to be heard before the Honorable Judge David Sam, don't you??? Please don't put us on your naughty list. Please don't put us on your naughty list. Please don't put us on your naughty . . .

She Puts Me to Shame

Can you believe this woman? Mom is about two months shy of being 91 years old (or young!), and yet she keeps up with the perkiest of us. As is our tradition, we went bowling over the Thanksgiving weekend to work off the thigh-clinging whip cream and the gut-busting gravy, and Mom wasn't about to be left out of that classy activity! She is one amazing gal, let me tell you: after bowling, we went over to her house where she soundly beat everyone at the table at Yahtzee, and she didn't even cheat (as far as I could see . . . although we played with her dice, and her dice had some holes drilled in them . . . is that something we should be concerned about? holes in the dice? . . . maybe that's why Mom has suddenly been driving off to Las Vegas a lot . . . and maybe that explains the new 62" flat screen she has hanging on the wall in her bedroom . . . jk about the 62-incher, but not about the holes in the dice . . . .) She even scored a Yahtzee while the rest of us had to fill in with great big bloby ZEROS. And so the thing about it is, that she doesn't even realize how phenominal she is. She just continues on her cheery way cruising around like she was a spring chicken of 65. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, pleeeeeeze, I beg of you, for the love of Pete, let me have her genes!

The girl in the background is totally trying to memorize Mom's technique

Christian was the big bowling Kahuna, outscoring us by almost double--and he didn't even need the bumpers this week!

Look at the twinkle in Jordan's eyes--he can't wait for baby Kimball to pop out and join the Professional Bowling Tour for 2009

Heehee. It looks like Ashley accidentally swallowed one of the bowling balls Check it out: they're identical in size, about the same weight, . . . hmmm . . . oh my . . .one of the balls did turn up missing. Waaaaaite a minute . . . wha . . . "Calling Dr. Bombay! Calling Dr. Bombay! Emergency! Come right away!"Marian makes any occasion a reason to laugh and be merry ("Merry-an!)In an effort to avoid another lame-O lawsuit (so annoying), Dave has started taking the precaution of bellowing, "FORE!" as he hurls his ball down the lane with enough force to bust through the wall and pin down one of the food court workers by her hairnet on the other side I'm not telling my score. But please note the darling hot pink ball I'm heave-ho-ing, so no worries.

MoMS

While acknowledging that I totally ripped off this idea from a friend who lives out of state (thanks!), I decided to form my own little support group of moms who have children serving LDS missions or serving in the military. Hence, MoMS: Mothers of Missionaries and Servicemen. My goal is to have a blast. Oh. And to also share stories and ideas, eat, hang out, commiserate, boast, rejoice, party hearty, and help each other as we navigate our way through the years that our kids are off serving.

We had our first lunch n' gab at Barbacoa. It was WAY fun as most of the moms had pictures or emails or stories to share from their kids. I've decided that being able to blab, blab, blab until our tongues nearly freeze up is kind of a woman's thing, but as Martha Stewart would say, "It's a good thing."

Little Drummer Boy

Christian was named "Rookie of the Year" for the percussion section at the Marching Band Awards Banquet a week or so ago. What an honor!--especially since Christian's percussion director is extremely picky and extremely demanding and extremely good at what he does. He called Christian "extraordinary" and spoke very highly of him during the presentation. Needless to say, Dave and I were standing there like peacocks: all proud and stuff. Christian was Mr. Mellow just taking it all in stride. Charmer. The percussion section with their fearless leader, Mike Huestis

Christian doing what he does so well

Christian (center) always hitting his mark

To update you about the Bands of America Grand National Competition, American Fork placed 14th out of 92! Totally awesome! The band missed being in the top 12 finals by eight-tenths of a point. Crazy, huh. The band played the best show they ever have, and they should be nothing but proud of themselves. They were only one of two bands at the competition from the western part of the country. The styles between the east and west are way different, and it was obvious that the judges were not quite sure what to do with this exceptional band from AF who displayed a ton of musicality, precision, and discipline, as opposed to the more Broadway-ish, dramatic, and theatrical stylings of the eastern bands. In any event, AF totally rocked our world! GO CAVEMEN!!!!! GO CHRISTIAN!!!!!!!!!

New Product From Pepperidge Farms!

It comes six to a box.

Waaaaaaayyyy more than enough, don't ya think?

Utah 48, BYU 24

Dear Utes,

I'll admit it: you win.

Somebody Has a Birthday Today!

She is very beautiful

She is very smart

She likes Thai food and cheesecake

She hates wasabi and soda pop

She is a published author and a produced playwright

She loves foreign films

She hates rap

She would rather cook than go shopping

She would rather read than go shopping

She would rather jump off of a cliff than go shopping

She has a big heart for the underdog and those in need

She has a stunning smile and an easy laugh

She is a caring, loving wife

She is soon to be a tender and devoted mother

Who is this amazing person?

SHE IS MY BEAUTIFUL, SMART, CARING, LOVING, TENDER, DEVOTED, AMAZING DAUGHTER,

THAT'S WHO!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEY!

I LOVE YOU!!!

You can barely see it, but please take note of the ever-present bow squished onto the left side of Ashley's bald little head. It was the bane of Dave's existence whenever he pulled dressing and grooming duty.

"How much longer do we need to glue this thing onto her SKULL???"

"As long as it takes for her to grow some hair."

"I hate to break it to you, but by the look of things she'll be twenty years old and I'll still be sticking this pitiful little bow onto her head."

"Now you're just being ridiculous. I'll have made some new bows by that time!"

"Well, I'm sorry but I'm putting my foot down--I don't want my daughter resenting me in the future for applying potential toxins to her hairless head every day."

"Okay. But I'll just warn you that those old men at church will start calling her an unusually beautiful little boy again, even when she does wear lace. It's your call."

"Fine. Hand me the Epoxy."

Baby Love

Ashley was showered with darling and thoughtful gifts for Baby Kimball at an awesome party my sister Marian so kindly threw for her. We have about six weeks to go until we get to see and hear the little guy. Ashley looks beautiful--she will make the sweetest mommy, and Kimball Jordan is going to be the CUTEST grandchild ever! (Sorry to you other grandmas out there, but it is what it is . . .) Ashley with Grandma Pauline

Ashley's former roommate, Rose

Emily, Bethany, Ashley and Judy (the aunts-to-be, mommy-to-be and grandma-to-be)

Grandma Bea, Rexine (in the back), Marian (greatgrandma-to-be and great aunts-to-be)

Aunt Gail, Zebediah, Rachel and Alison (great aunt-to-be, 2nd cousin once removed on the paternal side once removed from the great uncle's great great grandnephew's 3rd niece with a little salt and pepper thrown in for good measure, and so, yeah. And Rachel and Alison are 2nd cousins or great-aunts-to-be or whatever, I DON'T KNOW! You expect a lot of me. (I hate genealogy . . .)

Ashley is holding an outfit Jordan wore as a baby. Can't you just see him in this?

Tons of darling outfits were given to Baby Kimball by Grandma Judy

Yeah! A stroller and carseat all in one nifty box!

Baby Kimball gets to bounce and swing while mommy studies

A surprise for Ashley! Her dear, dear friends Rachel, Christine and Tina, living in Wisconsin, Indiana and New York City, respectively, sent a gift to me to take to the shower for them. So very thoughtful and kind!
Yeah! It's a play gym that Kimball will absolutely love! Those friends are the best!

I am getting so excited for the baby to come! When will he come, you ask? Ashley has been told by her doctors that it could be December 26 or January 3. So, I'm taking bets. We're going to play, "Guess the Day of the Marvelousness and Amazingness and Wonderfulness." My guess is December 30. Cm'on and chime in! If you're the winner you will receive a delicious chocolate cigar. Or a live puppy. Your choice.

Sean is Looking Paper Thin These Days . . .

Wow! Are they feeding those missionaries in the MTC enough food? Sean looks like he could blow away in the wind, don't you think? I mean, look at those abs--as flat as a pancake! And he looks ready for a shootout with Doc Holliday on Main Street in Dodge City. "Ready? Draw!" Do they allow that sort of thing in the MTC these days? Who knew?

So The Cookie Posse asked to come over to make brownies with me the other day, and while the brownies were baking, I cracked the whip and made them, er, invited them to make some cards and notes to send to Elder Sean in the MTC. Pretty darn cute.

By the time we divided the brownies up among us, there was nary a crumb left for Sean. BUT DON'T PANIC!--I whipped up a batch of fudge with white chocolate chunks (which wasn't nearly as good as the brownies, but, it was chocolate nevertheless) and sent that off to Sean along with these darling best wishes from The Posse. And I'm pretty sure that if he takes the time to read through all of these notes and cards, Sean's amusement quotient should be satisfied for quite a while. Some of them are pretty hilarious.

BOA Champs!

The mighty American Fork High School Marching Band competed in a regional Bands of America competition in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago and came away the CHAMPIONS!!!!! Their history as winners is stellar; for the past decade or so the band has dominated all of the state competitions quite easily. However, they have never placed higher than second place in a regional BOA competition, so this is humongously ginormous!





Christian is the third drummer from the left. Look at him. Isn't he so darling! Yay Christian!









This is Christian with his friend Andrew. Andrew's mom and dad went to the competition, and his mom took these awesome pictures. Thanks, Ellen! (I would have gone too if I didn't have a big hunkin' primary program to direct. But it's all good. Ellen and Rick delivered our hoohas and screams pretty well I think!)


Mr. Miller looks on with great pride. In the background, you can see Sean's close friend Parker who is an assistant to the band.







This is the entire drumline. Left click on the picture to play, "Where's Christian?" A crazy bunch, they are!















They will soon be off to the Grand National Bands of America Competition in Indianalopis, Indiana. This one is the superbowl of all competitions, the world series, the BIG KAHUNA. The awesome director of bands, Mr. Miller, says he is gunning for a top twelve finish. I think they have a great shot at making that goal! GO AMERICAN FORK!!!!!


The kids were pretty proud of their medals, and rightly so! Hundreds and hundreds of hours have been devoted to the band, so this win is very much deserved. AWESOME!