Reduce Your Impact

OK, so this might be my only post that doesn't include a picture of Miles....James and I often talk about trying to do something to reduce the amount of waste we produce. We talk and talk and talk...and unfortunately rarely DO. A few months ago we finally made the decision to buy some reusable grocery bags. They were 1$ a bag at our local grocery store. When we bought them I think both of us thought they might rarely get used, but it truly has been such an easy thing to implement.
We just put the bags in our car after a trip to the grocery store, so they are there for our next trip. The amount they hold is amazing, and we believe it saves at least 10-20 plastic bags every time...which is the amount of groceries in three of the reusable bags.
For those of you who already do this....GREAT! For those of you who don't, just try it. I believe it really makes a difference, and it absolutely is easy.
Here are some fun facts to get you inspired....
1. Nearly 600 bags per SECOND are discarded in California—destined either for the landfill or our marine environment.
2. It's estimated that nearly 12 million barrels of oil are required to make the 100billion plastic shopping bags Americans go through annually.
3. Plastic bags have captured more than 80 percent of the supermarket and convenience store packaging market at a cost of $4 billion to U.S. retailers annually.
4. It takes 20 to 1,000 years for a plastic bag to break down in the environment.
5. In 1999, 14 million trees were cut to produce the 10 billion paper grocery bags used by Americans.

A New Expression

 
Miles now loves to scrunch up his nose. He gets really excited and breathes through is nose really loudly, and scrunches it up. This one was taken while he was eating some banana pieces, but the funniest is when he does it right before he lunges for something...it is almost ferocious. We experience something new everyday!

Dental School Basketball

James is on a basketball team with some of his friends from dental school,(and Dave from law school...Dave is really good, so he was a must have). The team is named "Rules of Occlusion" I think that my Dad may be the only one that gets that. This game was played against the "Stormin' Mormons"... it is pretty amazing how many LDS people are in graduate school out here. Unfortunately it was a loss. At some points it was close, but still a loss.
 
I love how mad that James looks in this picture. They haven't won a game yet, so every shot is a nail biter.
 
Miles has a blast at all the games. He loves the bouncing balls, and the attention he gets from James' teammates. He will make a great cheerleader one day... following in Mom's footsteps.
 
Danica and Carson also make great cheerleaders. Carson is much more interested in playing then watching, and he spent most of the game dribbling his own basketball all over the empty court next to ours. By the end of the game he was so sweaty and tired, but still adorable.
 

Look Alike Contest

So I am pretty sure that James wins hands down...but lets see what you think.

Miles and Mom...both big smiles and dark hair...

Miles and Dad...both big smiles, notice the same haircut, the same chin, the same way their nose looks when they smile...need I say more.

Chocolate Tasting

Here is the spread we walked into. Tons of chocolate and palate cleansers. That is really important...otherwise it all starts to taste the same.


So this weekend we went to the Romney's for a chocolate tasting extravaganza. It was a ton of fun. Everyone brought either an exotic bar of chocolate, or just their favorite bar and we had to rate it on a scale from one to ten. There were chocolates with very high percentages of cocoa all the way to milk chocolates. I felt that after eating a lot of the dark chocolate the milk chocolate started to taste really sugary and too sweet. But Zack stuck to his guns (I think he was the only Milk chocolate fan in the bunch) We also had to describe its' smell, the way it melted, the way it snapped, its flavor, and aftertaste. Some people had very advanced palates with lots of description and depth, whereas others were less accomplished.



James said that one tasted like "chocolate", and Spencer had one that faded in and out of flavors of woody-ness, fruity-ness, and every other -ness in between. One of my favorite comments had something to do with a Russian bar of chocolate. They really enjoyed it and so decided that communism must be fabulous as well. Zack was obsessed with the way the chocolate smelled, he described one as..."good smell, really good smell".


Needless to say we had a great time. And it is so fun to actually see what kind of chocolates you like. I did not like the one with Cayan and Chile pepper...yuck. A big THANKS! to the Romneys for hosting.

Just Thought I Would Share

OK, so the little boy in the video below was on Ellen last month. He was so annoying I could hardly stand it. Then last night James and I were watching American Idol and I found myself so annoyed with one of the contestants. I couldn't help but compare the two, and I feel like the similarities are hilarious and worthy of sharing.
The videos are a little long...sorry, but its good for a laugh I think.
Ellen...American Idol...I know...I watch too much TV.

Annoying Kid on Ellen

Yes, My Boy Wears Purple

Yep, thats Miles wearing a purple sleeper. He looks good in it though! :) It was a gift from Grandma and Grandpa Dayley...needless to say we were a little confused, but happy to get the free clothes. You should see him in the pink one they got him that has butterflies and flowers on it! Seriously...isn't that strange?

The other day a little boy kept insisting that Miles was a little girl even though my friend Amy kept reassuring him that Miles was a boy. The little boy just kept saying..."No, its a girl!' It was too funny. But that same day Amy's husband was wearing purple and I am pretty sure that James was wearing pink. I guess they are no longer "girl" colors.

So the reason I am posting my fashionable child, is that I wanted to take pictures of Miles this morning sitting up, but it is no suprise that he wouldn't sit still. He just kept coming after the camera (which is why we have so many extreme close-ups). Finally to appease him I gave him the lens cover the play with. I think after all was said and done, I got one shot of him sitting.

Valentines' Activity

Here is a slideshow of the kids at our Valentine's Day Activity. The kids in the branch are mostly Cambodian and Laotian. They are so sweet and of course energetic. We frosted and decorated heart shaped cookies (right up my alley) and made valentine's day cards.



These are the other teachers, and presidency members. I know we are a small group...but it works. And Amy is pregnant; that is why Sam is touching her stomach...its not that wierd I promise. :)

Valentine's Day Activity

This was hysterical. Vibol and Viret are brothers and apparently they did not want to leave without getting as much candy as possible. I was just laughing at how high thier mounds of candy were.



By the end of things I thought that the plate was going to break it was soooo heavy. Of course I drove them to and from the activity and had pieces of candy on the floor of my car after the ride. I guess they couldn't wait until they got home.

Miles' New Skills

 

We just started giving Miles little finger foods. He loves it! He has gotten so good at working his little fingers around them and picking them up. It can get really messy because they stick to his palm and he drools all over them until they turn to goo....but it is well worth it.

 

Miles loves his books. He of course tries to eat them, but he has started really looking at the pictures and will even sit with me while I read him his favorites. It is so amazing to watch him develop.

Apologies

Sorry I can't seem to get this video to work. I suppose you have been spared. :)

Miles' New Favorite Things

You can watch this video at your own risk.
It is loud and jumpy.

Miles has two new favorite things to do. He likes to brush his teeth (or at least chew on his little baby toothbrush) and he likes to scream like a banshee. It is hilarious! We had friends over last weekend and he wouldn't stop screaming! Our friends that were there had kids of their own, and they soon joined in. It was so loud I don't think any of us could hear eachother. Then we went to dinner on Sunday and during nice peaceful dinner conversation Miles was just squealing and squealing. He would smile and scream just to make sure we were paying attention to him. I was so happy that our friends thought it was funny and not annoying. At least they were nice enough to laugh instead of cringe. :) He is sooo much fun!

Rough Rider

James bought this scooter when we moved to our house 2&1/2 years ago. Ever since our trip to Utah over Thanksgiving it has been so cold that his scooter wouldn't start. He has been walking to and from school in the freezing cold weather (rain or snow). Sometimes he would get a ride, but most days Miles wouldn't allow it :).
Yesterday we had a great warm streak...it was a whopping 70 degrees here in the city and after many, many attempts the bike finally started and off he went! Whoopee! No more walks to school for James.

Congratulations Kelly!

Congratulations to Kelly!!! She just got accepted to a PhD program at the Univeristy of California Irvine. She is so amazing and smart and we couldn't be prouder and more excited! We love you Kelly...You're a student again!!!!!AHHHHH! I am sure this post will embarass her terribly...but I don't care. I have to brag.

Photo Shoot

Our friend Danica did a photo shoot with Miles the other day. She did such a great job, making him laugh...and somehow keeping him in frame of the camera. Seriously, I don't think he has ever looked cuter. Here is a selection of my favorites...if you are dying for more (Mom) there is a link to the whole session under photo albums. A great big THANKS to Danica for the great photos. I can't wait to get some more!

Ravioli Night

 
 
 
We have been making fresh pasta at home ever since Thanksgiving. My sister Jen had recently visited Italy and bought a Chittara (a really authentic pasta maker). She made the whole family fresh pasta while we were there and we got hooked. The other night we decided to try our hands at ravioli. It was James' first time...and he did excellent. Miles was so interested in the whole process, he had to watch the whole time.