it's been much too long

We know. I imagine our readership is very small, and our 2-3 faithfuls have now probably left us entirely, but we're back. I hope.

Our little blog was not abandoned as it might have seemed to be, we just had to come to terms, the blog and I. The terms were nothing more than the fact that I LOVE summer, and therefore, a summer break had to be claimed. We've been playing. From the day he was born, Van's breathed easier the second we walk out the door––as if he knows he's escaped.

So we've escaped for a season.

Token summer trips have been taken, summer photos have piled up all orderly-like in our archives, hints of summer skin have dared to hide our whiteness (hints I said, not real-to-goodness tans, how lovely that would be...), and now Van's all but left his baby face behind and traded it in for a little boy mug.

Jon says I need to just move on, but I don't have the heart, and cutting things out has never been a skill of mine. Therefore, I am attempting to catch up unfiltered and unabridged (as always) from where we dropped off the blogosphere in May. All fun and games until I actually realize how much work it will be and I opt for plan b: abandon blog again, but I'll just try to act like that's not allowed and go big or go home.

azaleas abloom {4.29.09}

In a classic case of backblogging, the following is our collection of photos from the azalea walk 2 months ago at the National Arboretum in DC. This is apparently a big deal, and we of course went when everyone else was going on a Saturday, so it was packed, but the flowers were blooming everywhere, and we took the entire trail around the "walk" and loved it. There were so many colors in every direction. It was a little overcast, but we still managed to get some fun pics.









I love how Van is lifting up his binky triumphantly in this photo. So cute.


And this is probably one of my favorite Van-faces documented to date (the one on the left)


This had to be posted. This is why we are hesitant to agree when strangers offer to take a photo of all of us together. :)


This was right before he tried to eat the grass.









Secret lovers...we totally snuck a picture of them, is that messed up?

ferry, harper's {May 9-10, 2009}

quaint + historic = anniversary celebrating worthy.

Not that it we have to have those things wrapped up into a fancy location to celebrate our years (we can say years now) of marriage, but it sure makes it fun if we do. I imagine this could be the last year in a while that we'll be able to just take off to some random place to soak up charming streets and each other, seeing as children probably cause some alterations to those plans as they get older, but since Van is still a wee one, we just toted him along and made it a family celebration. And how could we not want to? Look at this guy!




Harper's Ferry is a darling little historic town, built on a hillside with sharp inclines, and based on a small outreaching peninsula bordered by the Shenandoah on one side, and the Potomac on the other. The town was an industrial town chosen for its unique location at the joining of the 2 rivers. It's in West Virginia, but from its shore you can see both Virginia and Maryland. Est. 1763. Current population: 307. It has a lot of industrialization and Civil war history, which you can read more about here. We tried to catch up a little on our history, but we didn't do our usual "print off the important stuff to read on the drive so as to be well-versed in all aspects upon arrival" routine, and therefore the history kind of got muddled in our heads, but we certainly appreciated the picturesque streets and homes, shops and views. :) It was kind of a spontaneous trip decided the day of, so we took the spontaneity theme and went with it.








Check this dog out with his own personal peep-hole/arm-rest from the deck.


We ate dinner at a fun rustic restaurant where many an Appalachian trail hikers had stopped to eat (we knew this per their clothing, facial hair and trail talk) and an Irishman belted out old folklore songs. Following our fitting dinner, we stayed at a nice hotel, (by nice I mean Holiday Inn, but who doesn't want an awesome continental breakfast?) and another day full of a genuine West Virginia flea market experience, nailing Harper's Ferry history hot spots, photo taking, and ice cream eating (twice). If you have yet to be to a West Virginia flea market, you should probably put it on your list. It's a funny culture that we got the feeling many people dedicate a good portion of their life to there. We were completely entertained. We walked away with a sweet hand carved little wooden trunk and an old OLD camera, missing the lens, but complete with the billows (comparable to this) for $1. A steal. Annual anniversary weird purchase: check.

We couldn't get enough of the town. I especially loved the old signage, Jon loved the rocks, stones, and ivy that reminded him of Switzerland, and Van especially loved the ice cream. Looks like addiction genes run high in this family when it comes to frozen sugarized milk.








A remaining hint of the industrial hub it used to be (apparently many locals commute daily to DC from here for work via train...who knew?)




And a visit to the town cemetery at the very top of the hill, wherein lies the grave of the town founder, Robert Harper. Nearby are old church ruins and fantastic views of the river.







This one (Harper's Ferry) has been on our list for some time now, so I'm glad we've conquered it at long last. I'm torn between thinking it would be dreamy and freaky to live here. But it's simply lovely to visit.

we heart Coldplay — LIVE (Nissan Pavillion)

Date #4
{May 18, 2009}


(photo from us. point-and-shoot Casio, baby. rock it.)

our reviews: 10 Stars. if all the below events/dates were amazing, awesome, incredible, and 5 stars, then this could deserve no less than double that, because we were wowed beyond wowing. We'd been talking about how if we could go to any concert, Coldplay and Death Cab would be our top options, but I didn't think much of it, because the few times my curiosity had led me to their websites seeking tour dates, I was of course not thrilled by the $120-etc tickets. So you can imagine my surprise and EXCITEMENT when on our anniversary Jon told me I wouldn't get my gift until the next week, hinted that he got tickets to a concert, and I was floored when I guessed Coldplay and he smiled. I'm pretty sure I said shut up. Just like a valley girl. And then he told me he got them for $25 each, and I knew I married the right man.

We had lawn tickets so we tried to get there early, but traffic wouldn't have it. We missed the openers but didn't really care, and we still managed to get pretty good seats/grass spots hanging out with all the college folk. I like to think the lawn people are really the diehards. The ones that can't afford a front row ticket and shouldn't be splurging on the back either, but willing to sacrifice and pay what we can to get our piece of the action, as little as that piece may be. See view here: (p.s. all the photos were taken with our point and shoot since we didn't want to pack the good camera and we have no zoom lens anyway)



When they came running on the stage everyone was so excited, we all stood up and no one on the lawn sat for the entire concert. We rocked out like a bunch of schoolgirls and boys, and I felt like a teenager all over again because I was so giddy. They sound JUST like their CD when they're live, and we know they were live because at one point Chris Martin coughed between lines, followed one line later by an "excuse me" squeezed between lyrics. Love it. His voice was flawless. Effortless. This is his groove and he knows how to groove it.

During Yellow they dropped huge yellow beach balls from the rafters that bounced all over the crowd, during Lovers In Japan they shot pink and white confetti everywhere reminding me of cherry blossoms, and during the entire concert the band was obviously in their element, doing what they do best and loving it. Chris Martin introduced the guitarist as "Johnny, my best friend, who also happens to play the guitar really really well" (but oh, imagine this with a British accent, and now it's funny). He made shout outs to students with finals that week and commuters who faced the nasty traffic to get there. He whipped out an incredible piano solo during The Hardest Part, giving yet another glimpse of just how talented this band is. He's a closet concert pianist. How did we not know this.

When the band ran halfway through the crowd and stopped to play on a little stage out there, we watched in envy as people got an unexpected closeup of Coldplay, but still thought it was awesome the band would do that. A little later in the concert all 4 of them started running up the opposite side of the amphitheater, and they just kept running, and running, and then we didn't see them....and then all the sudden they were on THE LAWN!!! We screamed (okay I screamed) and Jon hesitated because he'd taken his shoes off and wasn't sure about leaving our stuff, but when he saw my face, he said "You wanna go? Okay, let's go." and before he got to the end of his sentence I was gone. We ran like the rest of the crazies on the lawn over everyone's blankets and chairs and stormed the field like we'd just won the homecoming game or something. We didn't think we'd get that close, but when we couldn't push any closer, we looked up and we were seriously 20 feet away, max. And there they were. Colplay. Real, ordinary, incredibly talented people. Right there. Practically in our face.





Chris Martin joked around and made some rhymey song about how the people on the lawn are just as nice even if they paid just a fraction of the price. Then he busted out the harmonica. What doesn't he play? We were in complete disbelief that we got that close of a view, and I was so bummed that I only remembered AFTER they went back up front that our cheapo camera in my hands actually has video. So timely, Melissa. Albeit sans video documentation, it was definitely the best moment of the night.

During their encore they announced that everyone would be getting a free CD at the gates that night called leftrightleftrightleft (which you can download for free here, and btw, that's probably our most quoted line from the night, saying leftrightleftrightleft with an english accent). Oh how they know what makes fans happy.

We love you Coldplay. Long may you live.



p.s. Thanks so so so much for the surprise tickets honey, I LOVED it!!

BYU Ballroom Show

Date #3.
{May 17, 2009}

our reviews: 5 stars. The first number was a little show-choir-y for us, but it got much better after that, with elaborate costumes, ridiculously fast costume changes (lights off, 5 second pause, lights back on with new costumes. Everyone. What??) and amazing dance skills. This has to be their life to remember all that choreography. I especially like the big band swing songs since Jon and I love to go swing dancing, but wow, it's nothing like that. The Pirates of the Caribbean was one of our favorite performances, and the black light one with all the neon costumes was definitely the funniest. I loved any throwing and lifting they did, they make it seem like it's the easiest thing ever. Sure, I can totally do that. You better be practiced up Jon, because I'm ready to fly!

Jon did a lot of swing and ballroom dancing in college, so it was pretty easy for me to recognize where he learned to move his hips like a native when he whips out some latin salsa dancing at home. :) We took my friend Georgia and her fiance Nikone, and Georgia was also a dancer growing up, so they loved it as much as we did. Thanks for coming with us, guys!

(photos from travelfairfieldiowa.com/blog)

DC Tango Festival

Date #2.
{May 2, 2009}
(image from visitdublin.com)

our reviews: 5 stars. AWESOME. Serving my mission in Argentina made me love the people, but I never really got to see their culture the way normal tourists would experience it on a trip there. Not that a tango show in DC is the full version of an Argentine cultural experience, but I feel like it was definitely a taste of things I had missed. There were performers dancing in front of a complete Pan-American orchestra, and it rocked. When I saw the orchestra as we were getting into our seats I was totally bummed, because I had not expected a boring symphony concert. But I quickly learned that a South American orchestra is NOT like a North American one. Picture street music in Europe, complete with an accordian, an amazing solo violinist, and incredible solo pianist, combined with some sweet latin folklore and 2 fabulous renowned tango vocalists, and then you might have the idea. The conductor, violinist, pianist, and most of the orchestra were from Argentina, and knowing the conditions for many people there, I couldn't imagine how proud their families must have been of them that night, when they played for a packed crowd in the capital of the United States, where they got so many standing ovations they ran out of music and had to replay a piece from earlier that night.

I fell in love with Argentina all over, and when we found out that the cute little old woman just 3 rows in front of us clapping enthusiastically and shouting "Bravo! Bravo!" was the conductor's mother visiting from Argentina that night, it was the icing on the cake. What a beautiful culture, what amazing talent, and que lastima that I waited so long to experience this part of it for myself (since Tango shows weren't allowed on the mission, clearly). Jon and I loved it, took no photos, and just lived in the moment of soaking in another nation's talents.

U2 3D

Date #1.
{some Friday night in April}
(image from sinemag.com)

our reviews: 5 stars. Go. No, really. I was skeptical when I thought of watching a movie of a concert, since the whole reason people go to concerts is to be there in person and, you know, SEE the band. But seriously, if you want to SEE U2, see this. Because there's no way you're gonna get these views in any live concert. You're not going to have Bono in your face or The Edge's guitar in your reach, or have an aerial view 5 feet above the drummer where you can see his tissues and glass of water. You're won't get all the different angles that this awesome videography throws at you.

We had SO much fun, and we appreciated the band so much more after that. There's just 4 of them, and they make all that sound on their own. All of it. I always thought it was some crazy synthesized stuff going on in the background, but it turns out it's just the killer lead guitar. Bono really connects with the audience and makes them feel like a million bucks, and I was even happier when we realized the concert used in the movie was in Buenos Aires. Aguante Argentina!!

I think it's awesome that Bono really does want to make the world a better place, and he uses his fame to do just that, at least the best he can. It made me want to go green, build homes in third world countries, and love all religions just for doing the best they can. (love the "coexist" logo and U2's use of it. The founder of the logo said, "Bono is the Mother Teresa of Rock & Roll", in reference to him doing the most to promote the logo, and therefore the coexistence of all religions).

You can tell he loves what he does, and he's soooo good at it. 49 years old, and still rocking out with an amazing voice. And he's got a wicked good lead guitarist. Clearly, I left a bigger U2 fan than I came. (2nd image from http://cvergini.alter vista.org/_altervista_ht/coexist.jpg)

let's pretend...

...that maybe it hasn't been over a month since we've updated, that everything I'm posting now is current, and then promptly move on with summer. How we love summer. And let's be honest, who wants to blog when you can go play outside instead?

What we've been up to:

Getting out and getting ourselves cultured. Van's getting pretty good at the whole babysitting thing, so Jon and I kind of went on a date-night craze for a while, mostly because there were several events we really wanted to go to that were not exactly baby-friendly, so instead he's been playing with his friends Ashlee & Nate, Kami, Tyson & Laura, and Tracy & Odie. :) {thanks you guys for all your help!!} Each date night was so good and unique that I think they each deserve their own post, so scroll on up for the reviews.

van goes mobile

{6 months}



I'm behind, so Van actually hit 6 months 2 weeks ago, but I realized I haven't given an update an him for some time, so here's the rundown.

Our son, it turns out, is a very very active boy. He has more energy than we can sometimes understand or know what to do with! He never stopped moving in my belly, and he hasn't stopped moving since! (we can all guess which one of his parents he gets the wiggles from....)

This kid is nonstop going going going, and he gets bored with any activity within 3 minutes. He's got a chronic case of the jitters, comparable to a constant caffeine rush, without the caffeine. Changing his diaper has become nearly impossible as we find ourselves in a constant wrestling match with a little rolling, twisting, turning body. Although, he has started holding his toes up for us when we change him as soon as we say "hold your toes!," and I have to say, it's the cutest thing ever.



Bathtime, which used to be calming, is now his time to splash, squeal, and grab for everything in sight, and wiggle like maniac. Mealtime can often involve one of us being a one-man circus while the other double crosses the baby by sneaking bites into his mouth while he's distracted. (His weight had dropped from the 50th to 25th percentile at his 6 months appointment, so we have him on the new 'shove-as-much-food-in-your-baby's-head-as-possible' diet.' So far so good.) The good news is Van will eat pretty much whatever we give him, and he is getting better about not having to be quite so entertained while he eats. I've started making some of my own baby food, and he loves that too. It's super easy, and a lot cheaper, so I'm excited to do more (thanks for the inspiration Jami!).

Van's most hated moment in the day when we get him dressed and have to put his hands through his sleeves, I think it's kind of funny but I think he would get even more mad if I laughed. The most commonly used words we use to describe him in our house (besides cute of course, which is our #1 adjective for him, so don't worry, we give him positive reinforcement too) are crazy and insane. The only things that seem to put this boy in a trance are the outdoors, and watching me straighten my hair (so weird, and so funny to watch him stare like that). If we go outside, he can be quiet and good and happy for hours on end.

Oh, and sleep. SLEEP. If there were one unspoken rule of thumb in our house, it would be "play hard, sleep hard", and this kid ROCKS that rule out of the ballpark. After bathtime and storytime, we drop him in the crib at about 8 pm, and don't see his cute little bleary-eyed bed-head face again for 12 hours. It's a beautiful thing. Jon and I have a new wallchatter quote above our bed that says "a day well spent brings happy sleep", and we're ecastatic that Van agrees. He's down to 2 regular naps during the day, with the occasional power nap in the early evening, but he still plays hard enough to tucker himself right out. I tell Jon that all Van does is work out all day long since he just moves nonstop. No wonder he sleeps so well!



When he's asleep, he's the complete opposite of himself at any other time during the day. We swear he looks like a totally different baby...he's so...calm. :) I could stare at my sleeping baby all day long.


And then when he wakes up, his knees are all red from sleeping on them all night long—with his little bum straight in the air. He automatically sleeps that way, no matter what position we lay him down in. It's so dang cute and baffling all at the same time.


He's also been owning the remote control (one of his favorite 'toys that's not a toy', unfortunately one of many, including plugs, cords, electric sockets, flat irons, flashlights, and pretty much anything that's shiny, metal, or glass. Really, how does he know what he's not supposed to touch and go straight for it??) and yes, giving his mother hickies. No joke. I had to explain it to almost everyone who saw me because they all thought it was from Jon. haha


He makes the cutest faces.


Even if sometimes it looks more like he's grimacing. :)


I love these litte pj's, so even though this is like the 5th photo of him in them this post, here is yet another, this one's for my mom so she can see the whole little bodysuit. And check out that bottom lip!


Van's been getting much better at sitting up. He can't get there on his own, but if I put him there, he stay there really well without leaning on anything now. It's so cute and makes him look so much older! And despite the lack of photos showing us outdoors, we have in fact been going out more, thanks to the beautiful weather, and Van has loved being in his baby carrier. He's so good when we put him in that thing.


And now for the most the exciting news....he's crawling!! Well, army crawling. He's got some quick killer moves on his tummy as he yanks himself forward with his elbows and kicks off the ground with his little toes. The video below was taken on the very first night was actually saw him crawling from point A to point B to get something, which was 3 weeks ago today. I thought it was real fun until I put him on the floor between pews at church, looked at him, and 10 seconds later when I looked back he was gone...and already on the laps of the people behind us. Oh boy.

Since then he's sped up and taken over our house, making me much more self conscious about sweeping and vacuuming after I see the things he drags around with his hands and stomach like our own personal mop. He's been getting up on his hands and knees on his own and rocking back and forth, so he might just surprise us and take off for real one day soon.

Wild energy and all, we couldn't love Van more! We love him just the way he is, craziness included. :) He's the funnest little person that we just get to take around with us, and it's so fun to see him growing up, learning, moving, and bursting with curiosity about everything around him. I especially love when he looks up at us with his big blue eyes like he knows that his whole life depends on us right now, followed by a big crazy grin and a squeal like he knows life is supposed to be fun.

The video is mostly for our parents to get to watch his latest moves, it would probably be boring to a general audience. (I made sure to include the last clip so you guys could see what he sounds like when he crawls around in church, oh so reverently.)