Big City

All I know is that Lucy Moderatz works in a real, real big city. Yes, I know that. I was there this last weekend. I couldn't help but think about her and Peter and Jack. Oh, and of course Elsie.  Peter is one lucky guy because those trains come fast. I saw them. Here's proof of our delightful weekend.  

 Janie, Dennis and Lucas in a Chicago pizza restaurant. The sausage on the pizza was unreal, not to mention the buffalo wings, breadsticks that were better than Little Ceasars and root beer better than Brick Oven.

 Roaming and shopping the streets. We saw every type of person, except Jo Jr..

I don't think he'll ever go back to his travel size pack n' play.

 View of Chicago  skyline from our dinner cruise boat. 

Hey boys, nice uh, sweater.

20th floor of the Marriot. He loved the lights and the sirens.

 The single picture Tyler wanted. Him in front of Touchdown Jesus. Apparently it's a big landmark in college football.

The weekend ended too quickly. We're back to reality without family around. Ty is back at school, Lucas is sleeping and I'm off to watch While You Were Sleeping. Thank you Janie and Dennis for the luxurious weekend and reminding us that there is nothing better than being with the one's we love.

Now Showing...

Lucas has decided that it is fun to stomp his foot when he wants something. He first started doing it when he saw his little blue sippy cup and continued on to stomping when he saw us eating food he wanted. Now he stomps to Rocky Top. I showed this to my Biomechanics class and they loved the video, said I was the best teacher ever. Go Vols!

So for those of you who remember the screams and sadness in Utah we wanted to share a little bit of Lucas and his new disposition. He is just so happy and it is so fun for us to watch. He finally got a ball the other day and he loves it!

Lucas now shakes his head to any question that we ask him. We can ask him if he loves mom, dad or Jesus and he just shakes his head no. The other day Ash was talking to her mom and told her about it, she said "I don't think he really knows what he is doing but it is pretty cute" just at that time he started shaking his head to say no. During How Firm a Foundation in conference he shook his head during the verse that said "I'll never no never no never forsake" Maybe he does know what he is doing after all.

The New Place

Here is a tour of our new home. We're starting to like it quite a bit. As you watch, look for ideas to help me decorate. I'm in serious need of Rod Works, Mom and Nicole to help me out.

T-Vols

Game day here in Knoxville is no joke. I thought I was a pretty devoted BYU fan, but no-sir-ree. Luckily we bought our orange this week so that when we went into town on game day people didn't look at us like traders. every. single. person. was in some sort of orange. AND, it's not even a flattering color.

Our new paraphernalia

 Even the furniture stores follow the dress code

 Just a few of the mildly devoted fan cars. (Notice the car dealership sign, too)

Here are a few of my favorite quotes heard on game day:

*"Welcome to Tailgate Tunes on 93.1" (Whaat? They have a station just for tailgaters?)

*"It's football time in Tennessee!"

*The Rocky Top fight song playing every hour before kickoff. 

*"Go Vols. From 93.1"

*A song on the radio, "Game day, sit your Bu** on my tailgate."

*"Kickoff in 5 hours. Are you excited, Ash?"

*"You better have orange on that little boy!"

Not only am I in a new state, I need to have a new state of mind if I hope to have a chance here in the home of the bright, orange Volunteers. 

Tennessee so far

I know we said we were moving away from family, but really we were just moving closer to other family. Thanks to the Georgia Guymon's we can fix our family cravings in just 3 hours. So we did. Our cravings were met and we celebrated Ty and Rachelle's birthday... with family.

The birthday kids

 Lucas with cousin Brayden, or maybe  Connor. I can't see the birthmark to determine which kid it is.

   Two happy boys!

                 Rachelle introduced us to banana boats. A perfect birthday cake substitute.

 Becca let me do here hair for 3 days straight. I loved it!

 We ended their birthday evening at Stone Mountain. They even had fireworks to celebrate the big day.

The good lookin' group atop Stone Mountain. I kind of, actually, really had a hard time getting to the top, but Ron and Rachelle held a 25 lb twin for the entire mile up. Sheesh!

 Sorry for the graphic photo, but this is how I found him after his nap. Just real happy to be nappin' naked.

 Thanks Jason and Michelle for the exersaucer. Obviously, he loves it!

 Humid, frizzy hair. 

A Whole Lot of Firsts

First realization of how I got my mother's skin coloring

 First facial hair

 First time running with mom and dad

 First priesthood blessing from dad

 First time meeting my great-grandma and grandpa Goodell

 First time swimming

 First, and definitely not last, nine-hole golf outing