p.s. We're Freeezing!

so, our heater died last night. I guess that is one perk to living in an apt- we dont have to do anything! No dropping a couple hundred (or however much it costs for a new/fixed one), we just sit around and wait for somebody to come and fix it. Which, is also maybe one of the un-perks of living in an apt....we've been freezing our tushies off waiting for the fix-it man. and the boys and I are sick, so i dont feel very good about crashing someone else's house.... Yay for the library! :)

in other news:

CHAN MAN iS 6 MONTHS!! (okay- now he's almost seven months, but our computer is stinky and so is our internet...)

at our WIC appt, the informed us he is quite underweight- he was supposed to have gained 7lbs btwn appts and only gained 4- which 3lbs off doesnt sound like that much, but i guess when it's 1/4 of your body weight it's a pretty big deal. thats like being 40 lbs or so underweight for a 150 lb adult. ouch. anyways.

So- we've been cranking up the food intake and adding olive oil (per dr's orders) to his cereal to help fatten him up. He has an appt. tomorrow, so we'll see what the doc says.

ANYWAYS.

HERE IS THE CUTEST, SMILIEST guy EVER. seriously. this kid smiles like you've never seen before.

When it Rains, It Pours.

I can not let another day go by without expressing my tremendous gratitude to all the wonderful souls who have given us 'Christmas' this year.

I have posted on this before, but occasion calls for it again.

We live a fairly typical life of college students struggling to make it with the added excitement and joy of two little angels residing with us. This last block of classes have been extra tight as patrick has not been able to work a full part-time schedule due to his class load.

I am reminded of several teachings, sayings, and principles.

Thanks to Patrick's incredibly strong testimony of paying tithing, we have been faithful tithe-payers. There have been a few times when I felt pretty strongly that if we would simply have faith and pay a full tithe, the Lord would bless us, that the 'windows of heaven would open and we would not have room enough to receive it'. I have not been mistaken.

I am then reminded of 2007's Visiting Teaching lessons- of being an instrument in God's hands. It is amazing to observe how the Lord works his mighty miracles. I believe that he has used our friends and family as his instruments and blessed our lives through them.

So, whether they read this or not, Thank you. Thank you so much to those who have helped us through this time, whether realizing our struggles or not. Thank you for being the Lord's hands on earth. Thank you for filling our lives and helping us remember we are not alone, that Heavenly Father is mindful of us.

When we were pretty low and not sure how we'd make it...

Thank you for filling our fridge, freezer, and pantry. (again.) Thank you for the 'belated birthday' checks. Thank you for helping me to go to the doctor when I was so sick. Thank you for the 'extra' turkey, the homemade soup, bread, and the veggies. Thank you for opening your homes to us. Thank you for the gift card for Channing's birth that made it possible for us to have something for our kiddos to open Christmas morning. Thank you for the anonymous diapers,wipes,baby food,granola bars, and generous 'donation'. Thank you for watching our kids. Thank you for the love, the hugs, the laughs, the dinners, the company, the friendship.

Please feel our tremendous gratitude, our overwhelming feelings of love for you who have helped us in our times of need- please receive the deepest meaning of these simple words:

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

"For when ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

COUGAR MANIA

Patrick left this morning to bolster the musical efforts of the BYU Cougar Marching Band as they attend the Las Vegas Bowl game.

We are very. big. BYU. fans. it's true.

exhibit A:
Christian heard the fight song many, many times while still in the womb.

Minutes after Channing's birth, patrick started to sing a soft lullaby, then stopped. "Wait! What am I thinking?! ..."Rise all Loyal cougars!...etc. " much to the amusement of the fellow BYU fan nurse. :)

exhibit B:
BYU COUGAR MARCHING BAND DRUMS SHOW is the #1 most requested item of entertainment at our house.
Christian could watch said dvd 54983 times in a row. and still be happy. trust me on this one.

exhibit C:
Most used 'toy' in our house: a tin can with a plastic lid accompanied by a plastic cooking spoon, which together creates a very beloved COUGAR MARCHING BAND DRUM.

exhibit D:
two of the 3 most requested 'bedtime' songs: Go Mighty Cougar Song and Rah Rah Rah Song. (the other is Temple Song. So Im doing SOMETHING right here, people. :) )

exhibit E:
Other than the moon, the most looked for and exciting outside object to be found:
the BYU COUGARS Y on the mountain.

There are many other exhibits, however, I think exhibits A-E will provide substantial evidence.

But just in case....

in honor of said cougarness, i would like to post one of the worlds greatest School Spirit pictures. which is several months old. Sue me. (not really, please. on second thought, go right ahead, but it REALLY is not worth your time. Trust me, people. there are richer people to sue.)

Exhibit F:


GOOOOOOOO COUGARS!!!!

p.s. as I type this, Christian is whacking a ruler against an empty calculator case saying "go mighty cougars! Go team! Go BYU! BYU COUGARS! come on cougars! Rise and shout! rise and shout! Rah rah rahrahrah!" (that is typed verbatium).

point proven?

So, last week we ran out of flour.


And Christian wants a sandbox.


And yes, the two are directly related.





Note to Self:

2.3 minutes of quiet = T.R.O.U.B.L.E.

5 months

Okay- so, we've been in TX for the last month having a Blast at the Hadfield Family reunion. Thanks Mom and Dad for hosting us, and for helping (with Nate and Molly) to get us out there! It was super awesome and I plan on writing more on it later.

In other words- while we were away, the Great Chan Man turned 5 months. (on Nov. 11.) (yes, yes, it was awhile ago. Hush.)

HOW HANDSOME IS HE?!?!

SUPER, That's How.

woah. Seriously. What a Hunk.

Stats at his 4 month appt:
head size: 7%
Weight: 28%
Height: Off the Charts(way Tall!)

hmmm.....sound like a grown man I know? I think so!

Patrick's Post: Bachin' It

I managed to dig myself out from underneath my textbooks to give all you faithful blog readers an update. Just to give you an idea of my current load try these subjects on for size: Multiculturalism and its social justice agenda (I'm not racist in any shape or form, that is just the topic of the week), Italian, French, and German Romantic Opera, tightening up your Jazz ensemble, rhythm worksheets and games for beginning band, changes in cognition during adolescence, and soccer skills development (the easy part). Don't forgot the 10 hours a week (including game time) I spend in marching band.

I am taking this blogging moment in time not to provide another injection of testosterone (is this blog on steroids or what?) but to give a shout out to my posse down in the lone-star state. I have felt many pangs of loneliness without my gorgeous gal and my two munchkins. Here are a few of the scenes from this week which found me longing for my companion: walking into the bathroom to brush my teeth to find a single toothbrush in the cup by the sink instead of three, hanging up the phone with various family members who need to get on with their lives and turning to face an empty room, and opening up my apartment door late at night and flicking on the light switch to find everything in exactly the same place as when I left. For someone who is wired for showing and receiving affection and love through touch, this has been a very lonely week.

This sheds light on a few things that I want to make public. First, this woman (the one I am
planting a big smooch on) is my best. Best what, you ask? I'm glad you asked. She's the best cook. I can cook, but I specialize in one meal: breakfast. That is 14 times I have missed her this week. She's the best greeter after coming home from a long day of school. She's there to give me a big hug and a kiss almost every time I set foot in the house. That is 14 more times this week I have missed her. She's the best listener when I need to vent, brag, or tell jokes. I can't count the times that adds, and no, I can't just call her up to talk any old time like you would expect. She's the best household manager/schedule juggler. She manages to keep things running and give time and attention to our developing munchkins who need interaction and stimulation that cannot be provided by the BYU Cougar Marching Band Drums Show, the Letter Factory, Baby Signing Time, or Finding Nemo Show. She keeps the sink empty of dishes (I am really failing there so far) and she keeps the floors vacuumed and swept, the munchkin toys tidied, and she even picks me up from late band rehearsals frequently. OH! I can't forget that she makes my lunch every day. That is 7+ more times I have missed her this week. She does the grocery shopping, the laundry, and on and on. Wow. What a woman (and a slacker of a husband--what does he DO all day!?). She allows me to meet the demands of school and keep the narrow focus my studies require. She personally prioritizes daddy play time over helping out with the household chores on the weeknights.

I have to run, but expect a more final conclusion after the BYU Cougars whoop on the LBSU 49ers tonight in the Marriott Center. Ciao!

And now... the highly anticipated conclusion.

After a weekend of Cougar dominance, I return to the subject of my best girl. The main thing I want to add came to me about an hour ago. I spent most of the 11 o'clock hour looking at pictures of Tawna, and she looks dang good! In fact, right now she looks the best she has since I've known her. I hope she isn't embarrassed by my saying this, but she is looking mighty fine. I will also add that I find her very attractive in all times and seasons of life. Even when she is 9 months pregnant, she is still a major babe. To Tawna I say, "Here's lookin' at you, Babe."

Overheard at our House

my sisters do these posts, and I think they're great.

Several weeks ago:
Setting: All dressed up and ready for church
Christian comes up and puts his arm around my leg
C: Hey Babe.


:) Im okay with that. Yeah, Im okay with that.:)