Putting the Pieces Together

Shoes/Moved

2011-08-16T22:26:00.006-06:00

Lariah and I were looking at blogs. We had gotten to Cup of Jo and saw this picture

Lariah yelled "CUTE SHOES MOMMY!" Extremely surprised by her reaction I started to laugh and then she continued to say you should buy them. I said yes, those are cute and in my head I was thinking way out of my league (price) so for fun I looked up the price – $280. Although my sweetheart, the Diane von Furstenberg 'Roxanne' pumps are really cute and would look great with many of my pants and skirts, I will not be purchasing these lovely shoes EVER! However if you choose to have this great taste in shoes when you are older you are welcome to get a job, save your money and spend it on as many shoes as you like:)

In some new news we have been blessed with a new job that Chris loves down in the great south Salt Lake City. I am hoping to be all unpacked by the end of the month...we shall see.

Funny Windy Wedding

2011-06-17T08:00:00.011-06:00

Six years ago I was married forever to my favorite person

This picture is one of the perfect examples of our wedding day

We did get some great shots and they all make me laugh

Sometimes the wind makes you look like you're floating in air

which I was

I LOVE YOU CHRIS

Photo Booth Fun

2011-06-09T15:08:00.011-06:00

It was so much fun playing with Lariah in photo booth today.

She loves performing!

In the end she started licking me and saying she
was a dog. It was hilarious and of course I didn't get a photo.

For Grandpa and Grandma…

2011-04-16T14:34:00.007-06:00

It seems this blog has become dedicated to Lariah's growth so here is a montage of her first few times at gymnastics. We always planned on putting Lariah into gymnastics early on because of her desire to climb and hang on things, but never got around to it. So thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Landon who decided to give her an early start as a birthday gift…

We attend Airbound Gymnastics at the Mommy and Me classes once a week on Wednesday nights. Luckily they had this option so I could go with them and check it out after work. It is a nice break from our usual routine and hopefully will help Lariah to take some direction. Each kid takes turns going through an obstacle course doing somersaults hanging on bars walking the beam and Jumping on trampolines. She immediately wants to run around and play with everything but were trying to teach her to be patient, and share time and things with others. Her favorite things to do are the parachute and pit of soft squares, but her shining moments are while hanging on the bars…

Funny Girl

2011-03-28T16:16:00.004-06:00

I told Lariah to go get her clothes on....

this is what she put on

Not a Big Blogger

2011-01-25T15:31:00.005-07:00

This is Litte Lariah who loves her boots...

Halloween & Disneyland

2011-01-25T15:30:00.001-07:00

I love Halloween and going to Disneyland's Halloween party was the best Halloween ever!

Lariah didn't like him but I was totally starstruck

She ran right up to Tinker Bell and hugged her

Water Wonderland…

2010-03-08T22:21:00.005-07:00

Tiffiney's new dress for Sunday School. She loves this thing, so if anyone is willing to make it for us let me know!

This weekend Tiffiney decided we were due for a date night, just the two of us; Lariah hasn't been the best lately during our movie experiences. Anyway, being a fan of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp films, she knew I wanted to see the new Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" movie in theaters, so I got out of work early to see the 5:15 matinee. Although, she being a fan of Disney and Alice, it wasn't like she was against the idea. In fact in the end, although we both thought it was well done, she probably enjoyed it more than I did. After this, I plan on having some crazy tea parties with Lariah in the future.

Later we got a call from Tiffiney's sister to hang out up in Idaho at Lava Hot Springs. I don't recall ever going before, but I was happy to go, especially when I found out they had a rock climbing wall and indoor pool as well. It was pretty pricey for being a "natural" heated spring but we had a lot of fun. We left our camera in the car during the indoor part and missed out on some fun shots of Lariah but we have the memories and all summer to make up for it. Luckily she really enjoyed the water and had a lot of fun splashing, swimming and floating around on her blow-up turtle. Tiffiney wouldn't let me dunk her quite yet, but it won't be long. For those wondering, I made it to the top of the rock climbing wall; victory for me. I've decided I need to move to a place with a pool or near the ocean. I love swimming under water; it is so relaxing…

Lariah and I enjoying the Hot Springs. She was playing with cousin Araya's Star floater…

Bathroom

2010-02-11T12:29:00.007-07:00

Lariah is extremely fast and gets into everything. She especially loves paper, what's cooler then an endless roll of it.
We usually close the bathroom door...

A Little Lady – Growing Up Under A Lens…

2010-01-15T21:33:00.005-07:00

The other day Tiffiney and I were transferring photos to the computer from the camera and decided to take a stroll down memory lane. We were looking at Lariah as she has been growing up and we realized how much she has changed. Although her personality has stayed intact and her prominent features remain, she is changing and growing up to be a such a little lady. I love coming home everyday to see her smiling face and it always is disappointing when I hear she is down for a nap.

Something I wish I had more of, is candid photos of me when I was a child. I have a few shots here and there but most of them are from vacations and school portraits. I told Tiffiney to take as many pictures of Lariah as possible and get her on video as well because, while at work, I miss out on a lot. Plus something I have never had is video of me as a child. I am sure Lariah will love seeing her as a baby someday. Right now we have a lot of photos, but it is more likely to increase when I get my new camera. I am really excited for taxes this year. Getting out of debt and buying fun toys is going to feel oh so nice…

Above is a little video of Lariah and one of her toys she got for Christmas. She loves getting pushed around in it but it wears me out. I need to dance again, because that is the only self motivating means of exercise I'll get right now.

It's Me Again…

2010-01-08T11:09:00.002-07:00

I was going to use an image of the resurrected Christ or an empty tomb, but I figured it wouldn't be very appropriate, so you get this.

You would think that since my last post was shortly after the death of Michael Jackson, that I died as well. While a part of me did, the real reason for neglecting our blog was due to the loss of internet. We have been working hard to pay some bills off by the time the new year rolled around that we had to cut some costs in other areas. Luckily I have had FREE internet from neighbors to keep my sanity but the downfall is it is very unreliable and slow.

I have been meaning to write and have missed out on viewing blogs of friends and family as well, but when the internet is working I choose reading my news first. Anyway I feel like I can contribute once again and I sense internet will become a common thing once again in my home. Until then I will write things first in Word and then when the stars align I will upload for the world to read and see. I hope the Holidays were good for everyone and am glad that I was able to see many of you. I hope you didn't forget us within these last six months, but don't worry anymore, I'm Back…

TIMELESS…

2009-06-28T22:12:00.003-06:00

I am sure the entire world has already heard the news, but I am just barely coming to terms with the idea of a world without Michael Jackson. For those that have already spoken to me you are aware how funny it is to grieve for someone that I don't even know. After supporting and defending him and following his life and music for 10+ years however, I start to believe I did know him on a personal level. So may you rest in peace, Michael. Thanks for the music…

Saved By The Bell Reunion

2009-06-09T23:53:00.002-06:00

Zack Morris made an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and he hasn't aged a bit. For all the fans out there, Jimmy Fallon is attempting to reunite the class together again, and only Kelly and Screech are left to confirm their appearance. Check out the awesome video above for some SBTB memories. This is one reunion I support fully…

RECIPES: Asparagus Risotto…

2009-06-06T12:09:00.003-06:00

To add some variety to our blog, I thought I would share recipes every now and then. On occasion (usually Sundays) Tiffiney and I will set out to cook something new to eat. We have a few big cook books and try to add some spice into our meals by selecting a recipe, buying the ingredients the night before, and attempting to cook something good for dinner. We have had some successes in the past as well as some major fails, so I will also share what works and what didn't as well as tips that may help those who attempt to make these dishes. We will start out with a recent dish that was very successful. I was proud of how it turned out.

Asparagus Risotto:
1kg (2lb 4oz) asparagus
500ml (2cups) chicken stock
500ml (2 cups) vegetable stock
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
360g (1 2/3 cups) risotto rice (arborio, vialone nano or carnaroli)
70g (2 1/2 oz) Parmesan cheese, grated
3 tablespoons thick (double/heavy) cream

1. Wash the asparagus and remove the woody ends (hold each spear at both ends and bend it gently-it will snap at its natural breaking point). Separate the tender spear tips from the stems.

2. Cook the asparagus stems in boiling water for 8 minutes, or until very tender. Drain and place in a blender with the chicken and vegetable stocks. Blend for 1 minute, then put in a saucepan, bring to boil and maintain at a low simmer.

3. Cook the asparagus tips in boiling water for 1 minute, drain and refresh in iced water.

4. Heat the oil in a large wide heavy-based saucepan. Add the onion and cook until soft but not browned. Stir in the rice, season, and reduce the heat to low. Stir in a ladleful of the stock and cook over moderate heat, stirring continuously. When the stock has been absorbed, stir in another ladleful. Continue like this for about 20 minutes, until all the stock has been added and the rice is al dente. (You may not use all the stock, or you may need a little extra - every risotto will be slightly different.) Add the Parmesan and cream and gently stir in the asparagus tips. Season.

TIPS: Don't rush this meal, and give it the TLC that it needs. Tiffiney made fun of me because I kept picking out the brown onions so it would look perfect. The hardest part is making sure the rice cooks thoroughly and not burning it in the process.

PHOTOS- left: what the book showed, right: how it turned out

She's Growing Little By Little…

2009-06-01T19:20:00.003-06:00

So after graduating, quitting my job, and starting my new job, I think I can get back into the swing of things updating you with our lives. Right now the center of our attention is focused on little Lariah or, as our Sunday School class is calling her, La La Ri Ri. She is growing up now and she is letting us know by always wanting to be fed. Also, after some difficulty, she is learning to take the binky and comfort herself rather than always wanting to be held, in turn giving mom some free time to herself.

We recently went to Idaho Falls over Memorial Day Weekend and had a good cookout. Tiffiney's dad always spoils me knowing how little red meat I eat in our own home. We got to see Samantha's baby as well who was born shortly after Lariah. It will be fun having the two kids so close; Lariah and Araya will definitely be close cousins. It was a good time and we look forward to going back over the 4th of July weekend. Speaking of weekends, It is so nice to always have Saturdays and Sundays off, as well as having the nights off…

MOM…

2009-05-10T12:01:00.003-06:00

Celebrating the greatest new mom in the world…

DAD

2009-05-06T19:41:00.007-06:00

Dad your great!

Just too cute not to share!

Lariah Ann Saunders: Take Two…

2009-05-04T10:58:00.003-06:00

May 2, 2009
Weight: 6lbs 9oz
Length: 19.5 inches

Here's the official non-April Fool's Day Story:
Tiffiney told me early on that this baby wouldn't be coming until I got my homework done. By the time she had enough of the whole pregnancy, she was getting on my case about turning in my final essays so Lariah could be born. She was praying a lot that everything would go well, and it seems God was listening intently.

I was preparing for graduation and in order to do this required my procrastination skills to be put aside for a few days. I prepared and studied a little for my final on Monday and then I finished my website, printed my portfolio, and had my final BFA exhibition on Tuesday. The only thing holding me back were a few essays I had yet to finish in my Evolution class.

On Thursday Tiffiney's doctor swiped her membranes in hopes of progressing her more than she had been; she hadn't felt any contractions yet. Early that week I had the option of having a job interview on Thursday or Friday. Once again Tiffiney assumed that this baby's birthday relied on me getting my responsibilites in order and out of the way. She wanted the Thursday appointment, but as I didn't have school anymore I let the company decide on the best day; they chose Friday.

That afternoon, I ended up finalizing my essays and sending them in before heading to work. Friday morning came and I got dressed all fancy for my interview. It went well and I came home thinking that the membrane swipe wouldn't have much effect because she still hadn't felt anything. Tiffiney is not one to so easily give up, so she planned a short walk.

Well I have been eager to install the carseat, so if she felt there was still a chance I figured we should be prepared. As soon as the carseat was latched and tightened, Tiffiney gave a surprise "I think my water just broke." Since it was just a leak she didn't want to spend the whole day in the hospital so we began our walk. After we went around the block, and made a call to confirm the leakage, we went home and called the hospital. They told us to come right in and as for the rest of the story, well they lived happily ever after…

And The Countdown Begins…

2009-04-25T22:13:00.003-06:00

We are anticipating the arrival of our little daughter within the next few weeks, although the quicker the better as mommy has hit her breaking point. Above is a quick recap of what has happened so far. Hopefully we will be holding the baby in our arms soon instead of trying to give her affection through the belly…

Dreams Do Come True…

2009-04-12T13:51:00.005-06:00

I know many of you enjoy your American Idol and on occasion I enjoy catching up by watching YouTube clips of the contestants, but overall I think Britains Got Talent is a much better show. If any of you have watched it before you have probably seen a little girl named Connie that stunned the judges some time ago, but the story I want to share is on the other side of the spectrum with a woman almost in her 50s.

These are those moments where I really enjoy "reality" TV. Just like the sappy show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, I get so emotional about these types of stories. I make fun of it until they say "move that bus" and then it justs pulls me in. The same can be said about Susan Boyle. As soon as she sang the first line and the audience was blown away by her performance my heart melted. The song choice was perfect and I am glad that her dream came true, even if it wasn't on a Broadway stage…

*NOTE* YouTube is disabling the embed features so if the video above doesn't work you can check it out HERE

Lariah Ann Saunders…

2009-04-01T12:28:00.007-06:00

Weight: 5 lbs 3oz
Length: 18 inches

She is beautiful and everything is fine, but due to time I will tell the story later…

APRIL FOOLS!

Guess The Movie Game…

2009-03-30T23:51:00.005-06:00

My friend Ashley just finished her rendition of this game on her blog so I figured I would continue the trend. Anyway here are the rules if you want to do it yourself:

A-Pick 20 favorite movies
B-Go to IMDB and find a quote from each movie
C-Post them for others to guess
D-Include an actor's name as a hint and check off each quote when it's guessed correctly
E-Enjoy…

1. "You know what music is? God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe…" (Keri Russell)

2. "You always, always say 'Be true to yourself,' but you never say which part of yourself to be true to! Well, I finally figured out who I am: I am your ward." (Samuel L. Jackson)

3. "No one cares about the man in the box, the man who disappears." (Michael Caine)

4. "Me? I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It's the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never predict when they're going to do something incredibly... stupid." (Geoffrey Rush)

5. "It all makes sense! In a comic, you know how you can tell who the arch-villain's going to be? He's the exact opposite of the hero. And most times they're friends, like you and me!" (Bruce Willis)

6. "I don't exactly know what I am required to say in order for you to have intercourse with me. But could we assume that I said all that. I mean essentially we are talking about fluid exchange right? So could we go just straight to the sex." (Jennifer Connelly)

7. "The game starts now. You have to score one thousand points. If you do that, you take home a tank with a big gun. Each day we will announce the scores from that loudspeaker. The one who has the fewest points will have to wear a sign that says 'Jackass' on his back. There are three ways to lose points. One, turning into a big crybaby. Two, telling us you want to see your mommy. Three, saying you're hungry and want something to eat." (Roberto Benigni)

8. "You've heard of the golden rule, haven't you? Whoever has the gold makes the rules." (Robin Williams)

9. "It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is you. (Cate Blanchett)

10. "I fell so completely in love with these shoes, I bought enough pairs to last my whole lifetime. This is my last pair." (Natalie Portman)

11. "No, sir, I have no experience but I'm a big fan of money. I like it, I use it, I have a little. I keep it in a jar on top of my refrigerator. I'd like to put more in that jar. That's where you come in." (Drew Barrymore)

12. "It was Dad. I swear! Dressed like a homeless man. And you know what else was strange? A business man and a woman with a little dog came out of nowhere and forced him onto a bus." (Ed Harris)

13. "So the combination is... one, two, three, four, five? That's the stupidest combination I've ever heard in my life! The kind of thing an idiot would have on his luggage!" (John Candy)

14. "You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ha! You fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is this: never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!" (Cary Elwes)

15. "Yea, if I could just have the thing and give it to you now, I totally would. But I'm guessing it looks probably like a sea monkey right now and we should let it get a little cuter." (Michael Cera)

16. "I'll tell you what a paramecium is! That's the paramecium! It's a one-celled critter with no brain, that can't fly! Don't mess with me man, I'm a lawyer!" (Dustin Hoffman)

17. "Y'know, this was supposed to be my weekend off, but noooo. You got me out here draggin' your heavy ass through the burnin' desert with your dreadlocks stickin' out the back of my parachute. You gotta come down here with an attitude, actin' all big and bad..." (Jeff Goldblum)

18. "They say that the best weapon is the one you never have to fire. I respectfully disagree. I prefer the weapon you only have to fire once. That's how Dad did it, that's how America does it... and it's worked out pretty well so far." (Gwyneth Paltrow)

19. "Mind tricks don't work on me. Only money. No money, no parts, no deal!" (Liam Neeson)

20. "My balloons. Those are my balloons. He stole my balloons! Why didn't somebody tell me he had one of those... things?" (Michael Keaton)

There's One In All Of Us…

2009-03-27T11:39:00.004-06:00

I mentioned this before, but now the trailer has released and it looks amazing. They are turning one of the most simple beloved children's classics into a loving and moving movie. I hope it ends up as good as it looks. I love the design of this movie. You can check out the trailer HERE…

Tagged: Photophiles…

2009-03-17T10:12:00.005-06:00

Once again I have been tagged to share a photo from my many files. This time taking from the 6th folder and posting the 6th photo. I usually have a place for photos on my desktop, but since most of you don't care about my mission as much, I will post the 6th photo from the Pictures menu.

This was taken when Tiffiney's sister was visiting us and she wanted to update her Myspace page with more photos. So they got the camera turned on in Photo Booth and began their photoshoot. They had a lot of fun with changing the modes and filters and came out with a lot of good shots. If you look closely I was present, but obviously not as important to the final picture.
TAG, Cheez, Ashley, Julie, and Heather, YOU'RE IT…

*NOTE*
Here is the official 6th photo from the 6th file taken from my photos folder. I didn't take the photo, but I thought it was still kinda cool. My mission president sent it to us when it snowed in Madrid.

Mormon Temples…

2009-03-12T16:14:00.002-06:00

It has recently been announced that the HBO series Big Love will be showing what happens in a temple ceremony as well as displaying the ordinances and clothing. The episode is scheduled to be shown this Sunday. The Church has made their official statement HERE and I ask that you read it thoroughly before taking any action.

Being bombarded with a lot of crap on YouTube I was unware of the great things you could find there as well. Apparently The Church has an account and recently updated it with the following video. Rather than follow the negative rumors that will air during the HBO broadcast I felt it would be better to focus on the positive…

Baby Shower, Baby Bed, Baby Countdown…

2009-03-04T15:24:00.004-07:00

We recently went to Idaho Falls for a baby shower before the storm. Tiffiney originally didn't want to have one, but since her sister is also pregnant they agreed to have one together. We came away with a lot of cute clothing and a few essentials for the coming newborn. It was nice to get away but wasn't long enough.

After having already bought the crib and bedding we were eager to get home to organize everything the best we could. I say the 'the best we could' because obviously it is difficult to make an appropriate nursery when you live with me. I like to store everything and since I hold onto everything I buy, I tend to run out of space quickly; which is why Lariah will sleep next to the Guitar Hero, iMac, and TV boxes (seen below). Anyway we finally got the mattress and made the bed so we can patiently await our little one;

Everything's Amazing, Nobody's Happy…

2009-02-27T01:04:00.003-07:00

The best thing that will come out of the economic crash is this. It is funny how people take things for granted. The other day Tiffiney and I were discussing what to do about our phone bill because we have a good deal and yet we continue to run out of minutes. Should we upgrade the plan or not? Anyway we talked about going back to a house phone and laughed at the thought of it.

Technology is so great and once you have enjoyed something better it is difficult to go back. For this reason I love playing video games and watching HD television on my LCD screen. I lost my Digital SLR camera in Switzerland and am now saving up for a new one, but am getting a better model. I can't stand using the internet at my parent's house because it won't load YouTube videos fast enough. What has happened to us? Take a break from the world and relax…

Live Life To The Fullest…

2009-02-09T12:24:00.005-07:00

“Life can only be understood looking backward. It must be lived forward.”

Well Tiffiney and I finally got around to seeing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button this last Saturday after missing it when it first came out and then it being sold out on another occasion. We may be late to the party, but we saved money in the end by going to the Cinefour theater. Anyway I wanted to share this quote from the movie that is spoken near the end of the film. I really liked it and it puts the things that are important in life in perspective, at least for me anyway. It will definitely be a part of my life forever…
pause for a second and then read:

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be.
There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want.
You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing.
We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it.
And I hope you see things that startle you.
I hope you feel things you never felt before.
I hope you meet people with a different point of view.
I hope you live a life you’re proud of.
If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”

*NOTE it reminds me of Baz Luhrman's song/poem "Everbody's Free (o Wear Sunscreen)"

Tagged: Interesting and Random…

2009-01-29T13:53:00.003-07:00

So it has been quite some time since I was asked to do a tagged post and I never got around to it. Lately another friend invited me to do it and now I decided to finally get it accomplished. The first one, from Taryl, was "7 Interesting Things About Myself" and the other, from Jamie, was "6 Random Things About Me." Rather than separating them into two equal posts I combined them for one great one, so enjoy!

1. My name is Chris, and I am a Popcorn addict; I could live off of it if given the choice. I mainly stick to the buttery goodness of movie theater style but any flavor will grab my attention and have me coming back for more. Sometimes this addiction is a painful one because I normally don't like carmel popcorn, but by some strange phenomenon I would eat an entire bowl if placed in my site.

2. Along with popcorn, is an eventual movie. I love movies and would love to spend an entire day in the theaters checking out the newest flicks. Sadly I don't have that kind of money or that kind of time, and have had to choose more fulfilling vocations. Also most depressing is the fact that most great films are rated R and I have chosen not to view them. So you will find it even more sad that when a good film is released in a suitable rating my wife doesn't find it interesting and would rather avoid it. I love a thought provoking movie and often those are sad or sometimes depressing, and being the cheerful person she is, she tries to avoid disappointment. To her credit though, she has been more accepting lately.

3. There was a time when I loved to shop. I still do but not as much as I used to. This is mainly due to the fact that shopping isn't always fun when you know you can't buy anything. However I still find opportunities to pick up something for myself every now and then. In a world where women seem to be the dominant shoppers, I am proud to say that there have been days where even Tiffiney was tired by me taking her from store to store. Regardless of our agenda, she always allows me to visit the electronics section even though I have seen the stuff many times before.

4. In the electronics store I get to check out music, tvs, movies, and video games, but it is the latter where I spend most of my time. So interesting fact #4 goes to my hobby of gaming. It is no surprise that I enjoy video games, but the sad thing is that I spend more time reading about them than actually sitting down and enjoying the the game I purchased. I am always looking out for the next best thing.

5. I hate garnished food. I was spoiled with great food when I went on my mission to the Canary Islands. I didn't have a lot of free meals, but the ones I did have were an absolute dream. Because of this I have never been fond of Mexican food. It may be the American's interpretation of Mexico but I hate the extra garnish of guacamole and sour cream that is accompanied with every dish. I know it adds to the appeal when you add color to the plate, but couldn't you have just cooked it like that instead of adding it later. I believe a dish should be prepared, cooked, and served as it was initially planned. Anything else added leads me to believe that the food doesn't taste good. This also applies to those that add steak sauce to an already perfect seasoned sirloin.

6. Obviously I like food, but I usually hate taking the time to prepare it myself. On Sundays, Tiffiney and I like to grab one of our cook books and try out new recipes. This is fun when doing it together or preparing it for visiting guests, but throughout the rest of the week I am not so eager to spend the time. Rather than eating a well balanced meal, you will often find me eating ice cream, juice, a slice of bread, or other quick snacks; rarely will you find me eating a full meal in one sitting.

7. Oh and for those that don't know, I have seizures. Maybe it is my lack of diet, my sleep deprivation, internet obbession, or my already mentally challenged brain, but they have cost me a lot of money and grades. Thankfully I am on the road to recovery and the bills will soon be paid and graduation is on the horizon…

Life As A Musical…

2009-01-25T21:27:00.004-07:00

I have seen this T-Mobile ad a couple times the last few days I since I haven't updated my blog for some time, I decided to share it with you. Look how much fun life could be if we all just got along and enjoyed the moment. I have often dreamed of what life would be like as a musical, and this is about as close as it gets…

Blogging Addiction…

2009-01-09T10:52:00.002-07:00

I may not blog as much as some people in the world because of other responsibilities in my life, but I love doing so. I like to speak my mind and tell the few people that read my stuff about my life. Lately there has been a lot of things I have wanted to speak about and felt that it may interfere with my family blog so I quietly omit posting anything. Anyway to fix this situation I decided to start another blog. You can check it out HERE, if you want to hear my rants and opinions…

The Bell Still Rings For Me…

2008-12-30T23:02:00.002-07:00

Well the year is almost over, a chapter is about to end in the Saunders' house and a new one to begin. We just celebrated our last Christmas together as family with just the two of us. From here on out there will be starting our own family traditions as we welcome our baby girl into our home.

But for this year we have many memories to take with us. On my side of the family, we went down to Heber to ride on the Polar Express. We sang songs, drank hot chocolate, Stopped at the North Pole and picked up Santa and Mrs. Claus, and got bells from his sleigh. We then spent the night in a rented cabin for a huge slumber party as we unwrapped gifts and slept out on the floor. Luckily we were prepared and brought our air mattress. The weather was bad going south, but when we left the next morning the sky was beautiful.

We then headed up north to Idaho Falls and spent a few days with Tiffiney's family and friends. We didn't have much luck with the weather because Tiffiney's dad got snowed in at work on Christmas Eve and ended up working about 40 hours straight missing the morning of unwrapping gifts and all Christmas day. Before he showed up the next afternoon, we played board games, worked on anagrams on my new DS game, and then visited a few friends. I was upset from the crapping plowing job Idaho did, but we still managed to get the car from point A to B with only a few snow jams.

Even though the weather was miserable, we managed to have clear skies when we traveled blessing us to see both sides of the family in such a short time. I hope your holidays were good as well and that you all have a Happy New Year…

The Locks I Loved

2008-12-12T10:19:00.003-07:00

After a week or so I decided I really needed a change and no color was going to do it for me. Thursday I got home from work, looked in the mirror, and decided today was the day. Extremely nervous I made the appointment, went in, and had it chopped off! I was able to donate the locks I loved to Locks of Love!! I went home afterwards, washed and straightened my hair, and it was messed up. So the whole night I worried about my hair and how it needed to be fix immediately! Unfortunately I had to wait until morning, dragging my lovely Christopher out of bed for support, to go back and get it fix. It is fixed now and I love it!!

XX + XY = ??…

2008-12-04T15:24:00.005-07:00

So today was the day and the little one posed for us. Did the girl trend continue or did the males enter the ring once again? Click HERE to find out…

Birthday Wishes…

2008-11-29T18:48:00.002-07:00

Love you!
-Tiff

Free Christmas Downloads…

2008-11-26T14:44:00.003-07:00

Seeing that my birthday falls around Thanksgiving I am one who usually forbids the Christmas season entering my house before the previous holidays have taken place. But since I spend a lot of time looking for online deals I had to share this with everyone. Click HERE to download some great renditions of Holiday Classics legally and for FREE. Oprah apparently has friends in high places and she figured we all could use a boost in spirit during these economic times. I hope you enjoy them…
-Chris

It All Began With A Mouse…

2008-11-18T16:11:00.005-07:00

80 years ago Mickey Mouse made his debut and began the wonderful world of Disney. Today we celebrate his birthday! Leave your memories of the mouse and the empire his creator left for us to enjoy in the comments section…

-Chris

Re: Re: Re: Overdue Bill…

2008-11-13T23:07:00.003-07:00

Lately I have come across the blog Geekologie which covers innovative gadgets, bizarre gizmos, and nerdy awesome stuff. I enjoy the writers sarcastic and dumb humor, but I also enjoy some of the things he finds. Today I came across the following: A man trying to pay his bill with a drawing, which ensues into a nice comedic exchange of emails …

You must click HERE to see what happens next. This is too funny…

Tagged…

2008-11-11T11:16:00.004-07:00

So I got Tagged for the first time ever the other day by Taryl but have yet to post it! Mainly due to the fact that I am still coming up with the 7 Things. During that time I got tagged again and found this one to be a little easier to comply with. So thanks to Katy I am posting the 4th picture from the 4th album where I store pictures. Here it is:

Due to it being a more recent photo Tiffiney and I thought it wasn't fair. I don't rename photos but I reformat my memory cards, so the pictures aren't not always in the order of when they were originally taken unless I spend the time to organize them by date. That is something I may consider after today. Anyway here is the 4th picture by its chronological date:

So under the rules of being Tagged I believe I continue the process and tag others. TAG… Robyn and Matt, Cheez and Brianna, Jaime and Carson…YOU'RE IT!

*NOTE* Tammie made mention of how much things have changed, but if you take a close look at her husband in these pictures he hasn't changed a bit. By the way Jeff, my Mac & Cheese is still the creamiest…

FINALLY…

2008-11-05T14:13:00.004-07:00

The new me!
I LOVE IT! Thanks Chris!

After debating the decision for about a month I decided to chop off my gorgeous locks and put my rock star days behind me…
*NOTE* This post is a homage to Tammie…

My New Musical Obsession…

2008-11-03T10:43:00.003-07:00

So a few months ago I sat down to watch my favorite Late Night show with Conan O'Brian and the musical guest was Australian singer/songwriter Missy Higgins. I have never cared for any of the upcoming artists making their debuts on the Late Night shows before, but couldn't help falling in love with her and her music. I quickly bought her new album and found her on Myspace. As soon as I found out that she was going to be playing in Salt Lake and as soon as tickets went on sale I bought them.

So last Tuesday we traveled down to SLC to send Misty home to Virginia and spent the following day with the 3Balls before going to the show that night. The opener was a guy by the name of Joshua Radin who specializes in Whisper Rock. I really enjoyed his music, but each song sounded the same and both Tiffiney and I were getting tired of standing while listening to such calming music. Many of the songs that Missy sings are also very quiet so I expected the rest of the night to be pretty low key. I was excited when she finally took the stage because it was much more upbeat than what I had anticipated.

Joshua Radin is a pretty popular artist and I wish I would have taken a picture with him because he was so accessible and we were pretty sure that the majority of the people present were there to see him, but my main event was Missy Higgins. Tiffiney was in a hurry at midnight to get home so I didn't have the luck of meeting her, but I did end up getting her guitar pick after the show. Anyway check out the clips below for some of my favorite songs performed. I didn't get many of the songs in full recorded so these are taken from earlier shows and in better sound quality.

SCAR:

BEAUTIFUL MIND:

1 Man Thriller…

2008-10-31T14:24:00.003-06:00

In view of today being Halloween and me a fanatic of Michael Jackson I bring you a video made by the frenchman François Macré. Although the singing isn't top notch, this video ranks at the top of the genius poll…

Thanks to Jenny Blumberg for the link…

3 In 1 Party: Birthday/Farewell/Halloween…

2008-10-31T13:10:00.013-06:00

Last Saturday we had a farewell party to Tiffiney's sister who had been living with us since July. For those that weren't aware she came for vacation and ended up getting stranded due to certain complications. She attended school, got a job at Subway, and even made some new friends during her stay. On October 25th we celebrated her 18th birthday at my sister's house with food, games, and a movie. Tiffiney did a great job organizing the small event and prepared the activities for the night, while I made the food. The majority of the people who were invited showed up and we all had a great time, even when the girls got scared during the hit movie Poltergeist.

*NOTE* By the way Tiffiney and I dressed up as The Dread Pirate Roberts and Buttercup from The Princess Bride…

You Belong In…

2008-10-24T10:56:00.005-06:00

Tiffiney

You Belong in 1996

With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

Chris

You Belong in 1962

You are a free spirit with a huge heart. Love, peace, and happiness rule - oh, and drugs too.

What Year Do You Belong In?

Even The Very Elect…

2008-10-18T15:28:00.004-06:00

As many of you know on Nov. 4th elections will be held and you will be given a chance to vote for the next president, but another item of importance that has been getting a lot of press is Proposition 8. In California they are debating whether gay marriage should be banned in the state. I usually don't jump into political affairs nor have I ever condoned someone for standing up for their personal beliefs, but couldn't help myself after having read more about the issue. In fact the church has even made statements regarding it and have urged all members to support the proposition to ban same sex marriage.

I will admit that I was one who was thought it strange that the church would make an official statement regarding the situation. I have always felt that people should be given the right to act for themselves and be treated equal, regardless of my religious beliefs. Little did I know how much of an impact this could have if the moral issues of society were not controlled. After reading I was stunned by some of the remarks by members of our own church, who said "I think it's important that the leadership of the church knows that we have varying opinions within the church and that we're not all in lockstep behind them,"

Anyway just thought I would do my part and spread the news for those that may not be as up to date on this issue. I also got this video from Adelyn (Wimpy) Withers which puts this into perspective for the future of our own children…

Thank You Adelyn

Pregnancy Sucks!

2008-10-17T09:41:00.005-06:00

Don't get me wrong, I love that I am going to have a child. I also love that it was planned just right (we got blessed). But I don't love being pregnant. I feel like this poor child in the picture. I could pass out anywhere, anytime! Waiting to feel like myself again....
-Tiff

May 5, 2009…

2008-10-09T12:35:00.002-06:00

For all those that already know, assumed, or for those who have yet to find out, our first little baby is on its way! We posted the hint early on, but have yet to officially announce it until now. We are way excited to be adding to our family, and even more excited to know that he/she is healthy. Our favorite part was watching him move as we had the ultrasound. Maybe she will be able to dance like her old man. Also we got a special hello as he looked at us straight on…

*NOTE* Ignore the creepy looking photos! I wanted to have fun with the pictures but they turned out more disturbing than I had envisioned.
Oh and I am sorry to dissapoint, but Katy you guessed wrong…

Whatever You Like…

2008-10-08T14:47:00.002-06:00

"Weird Al" blesses us with a song for these difficult economic times, so enjoy…

Parody of T.I.'s song "Whatever You Like"

Coronado

2008-10-03T19:33:00.000-06:00

This is a tasty breakfast meal and I wanted all to enjoy! It is called a Coronado; it came from Center Street Grill. It normally comes in a huge tortilla with melted cheddar cheese, two eggs, bacon, avocado, tomato, cilantro, and a side of salsa; it is AMAZING! This delicious burrito is over five dollars. If you can afford it, try it! As for me I make it at home with sausage instead of bacon (I am not a big fan of bacon), small tortilla with melted cheese, two egg, lots of tomatoes, a half of an avocado, and a side of salsa. I love veggies! It really is easy to make and most of you probably have the items in your fridge just waiting to become a Coronado!
-Tiff
P.S. How I do it, makes for two, and I eat it whenever.

What A Golden Beak…

2008-09-30T13:19:00.000-06:00

In my Art History class we are currently studying Goya and his series of plates entitled Los Caprichos. Some of the art is interesting, but I have enjoyed the little thought provoking captions below each print more. Anyway I thought I would share these with you on a regular basis and my own interpretation on how I feel regarding them in today's society.

Plate #53

This looks a bit like an academic meeting. Perhaps the parrot is speaking about medicine? However, don't believe a word he says. There is many a doctor who has a "golden beak" when he is talking, but when he comes to prescriptions, he's a Herod; he can ramble on about pains, but can't cure them: he makes fools of sick people and fills the cemeteries with skulls.

During the next few months we will be listening to "parrots" in presidential debates. Sometimes they will use their "golden beak" to persuade you to vote one way or the other. In the past, I never had to pay so much attention as I do now. Not being happy with either of the candidates makes this election so much more difficult especially at a time when our nation is struggling through an economic crisis. I hope that if you vote you are educated enough to make the right decision and choose the parrot that can cure the pains…

The Frustration Of Rising To My Potential…

2008-09-25T20:24:00.000-06:00

On multiple occasions Tiffiney has stated that one of the reasons she married me was because of the potential she saw in me and although already great in her eyes she recognized the man I could become. Through my life I have always been below the standard of what I was capable of. Loving parents, a caring wife, great friends, and a powerful uplifting patriarchal blessing could never convince me to rise to the occasion. "Getting by" was the standard I placed upon myself, knowing deep down inside I could amount to great things if I truly applied myself. As the natural man has overcome the spirtual giant hidden within, some of my dreams have been placed on hold while I patiently await what the future holds.

What the future holds is finally graduating from college and entering the real world where adults feed. Having friends that are already successful in their fields, sometimes makes the future appear bleak. My friends chose to be doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers, etc. and many seem to have the coming times mapped out. I, on the other hand, chose to be an artist and in recent years I have become frustrated realizing that my former self of "getting by" would no longer work. My field is a lot more challenging than I had anticipated and the competition between each other can be daunting. I have come to recognize that I run rather than overcome, and now the end is nigh. The ledge is close and if I don't rise up to my potential I will fall as the world will continue to move around me…

NOTE: I originally wrote this post to ask for ideas about what makes me unique, but apparently my emotions took over. My assignment is to brand myself and I need help in coming up with a logo that stands for who I am and what I can contribute to the design world. Any help would be appreciated, because apparently my teacher hasn't liked any of my ideas so far. …

Where Are The Wild Things?

2008-09-18T11:45:00.000-06:00

With all the movies being made based off books, I could never understand why no one had ever got around to making a movie based of the children's book Where The Wild Things Are. After browsing through my Nintendo news I came across an article discussing a game in the works which was to be based off of the book AND movie.

So I quickly searched for the any news regarding the film and found out some interesting tidbits. It is being made and was supposed to come out this fall, but got pushed back due to the studio's interest in reshooting different shots than what the director originally envisioned. I also discovered that Disney had the rights to the film as early as 1983 but ended up losing them when nothing was developed. Check out the concept HERE

Anyway I guess movie studios have wanted to make the movie, but just never got around to it until now. Makes you wonder how many other of your most anticipated movie ideas are still in the concept phase. Below is an example of the direction that the director wants to go and I really like the simple style. It was used to basically get the studio behind him and get funding for the movie. I hope it comes to fruition this time and we don't have to wait for many more years…

????????…

2008-09-15T13:27:00.001-06:00

I Like To Singa…

2008-09-11T12:24:00.000-06:00

This is one of my favorite cartoons growing up and I still enjoy it today. The tune popped into my head the other day so I thought I would post it for you to enjoy as well…

-Chris

An Emotional Wreck…

2008-09-08T10:56:00.000-06:00

So let me first say that I have always enjoyed movies that pull at the heartstrings and touch us in ways that we normally wouldn't experience, but when I get emotional during an average movie such as Herbie: Fully Loaded something is seriously wrong with me. I have been watching a lot of movies lately and each one has almost brought a tear to my eye; not because they were overly dramatic, but for the little things embedded within that relates to everyday life or the simple hardships that mankind must overcome.

I don't get the option to see some of my favorite dramatic films lately because Tiffiney doesn't understand the enjoyment of crying during a theatrical production, so many of the movies I watch with her are comedies or action packed. I enjoy these just as much as the rest but to fill in the gap of the missing tear jerkers, it seems my mind is looking for that moral within the chaos to appreciate the little things. Although I complain about my wreck of emotions, it is the little things after all that matter most…

-Chris

50 Years of Magic...

2008-08-29T12:51:00.000-06:00

Today marks the 50th birthday of Michael Joseph Jackson, one of the all time greatest entertainers of the last century. You all know too well how much of a fan I am of MJ and his influence on some of my talents and hobbies and regardless of what you think of him now, there is no denying the impact he has made in the business and in the lives of millions of others.

I was going to write about how great he is as a person and musician, but most of you already have your minds made up and some can't look past the his personal appearance when it comes to making your opinions. I find it funny how we are told not to judge a book by its cover, and yet we do just that to each other. So rather than explain the man in the mirror or praise his thriller achievements, I thought instead you could just see a glimpse of how and why he became the King of Pop!

-Chris

p.s. Check out the first song on my playlist to hear his most recent vocals. The song is a collaboration with Akon which will be featured on Akon's upcoming album. The man still sings like an angel...

*NOTE* Thanks to bigdb2984 from YouTube for the great video.

A Wedding Weekend…

2008-08-12T09:28:00.000-06:00

This last weekend we went down to Salt Lake for "The Wedding of the Century". My sister Robyn went to the Bountiful temple to be sealed for all time an eternity to Matt Storms. We had a good time and it was nice to see everyone again. Their reception was held downtown Salt Lake at the Gallivan Center with dancing, punch, cake, and all you can eat ice cream with 15-20 different toppings. I was glad to participate and step out of the ordinary "Mormon" wedding with a meet and greet line and experience what we normally see in the movies, except not quite as glamorous.

Since we were staying the night at Jeff and Tammies we invited them over to enjoy the dance. Many of you know how Carter likes to shake his grove thing, and he ended up out dancing us all. Sadly he had to go to bed and was forced off the stage. In memory of the yummy ice cream Tiffiney and I took a quiz online about which flavor we are. I was pretty disappointed with my outcome, but I think Tiffiney's pretty much hit it right on. The only good thing I can think about being vanilla is that I mix well with all the other flavors…

*NOTE* Kim, Jennifer and the rest of the family were missed and we hope that all is still going good with the new baby…

Music and Me…

2008-08-05T10:14:00.000-06:00

We recently went to the new movie Mamma Mia based off of the Broadway musical and had a blast. I am one of the many that has enjoyed the slow comeback of musical films and look forward to more in the future. As odd as it may seem to some about breaking out in song, it is something that I have grown up with and continue to enjoy today. In fact I still sing at the top of my lungs while driving with the windows down and on occasion Tiffiney and I will sing and dance in the living room.

I believe somewhere early on in my life I was given the gift of music, although I don't have talent to play a musical instrument or carry a tune. It may have been my dad's random made up songs or it could be my families love for Disney cartoons, and I am sure a part of it could be my religious background of singing hymns. Whatever the reason, I am thankful for having this music in me. I believe most all music can move us to do good and it has helped me get through a lot of difficulties in my own life.

Memories…

2008-07-28T11:06:00.000-06:00

I decided to join in on the fun happening over at The Life and Times of the Wassom Clan and begin a memory game. Although I know few people actually check this blog it is always fun to reminisce. Anyway the rules are quite simple; respond in the comments section regarding a memory of you and I together and if you are up to the challenge repost this same game in your blog for me to respond…

-Chris

Hyde Park Celebration…

2008-07-23T12:55:00.000-06:00

I am playing catch up and one of the activities that we recently participated in was the infamous Hyde Park Celebration. I love this more than the Logan fireworks because everyone that I grew up with usually attends and there is free dancing included (check out The3Balls for the dance videos). We had a great time, but I realized how out of shape I was when trying to dance to a few songs in a row. My sister is getting married in a couple of weeks and I hope her shindig in Salt Lake will be as much as fun with all types of music, but what I really hope is that I will have the stamina to go all night…

***UPDATE: Tammie sent me a link to a video of Tiffiney and I dancing at the party and you can check it out HERE

Bear Lake Bash…

2008-07-19T10:28:00.000-06:00

Last Monday we finally got the chance to go to Bear Lake. Tiffiney is an amazing person and loves to go outside and experience the world, but often times her husband gets tired and stays in the house doing boring things. However with our new daughter things are a little different. Tiffiney's sister Misty is visiting us for a month and we are trying to make her feel as welcome as possible by giving her a good time. Sometimes it is difficult when we work opposite shifts, but at the request of my wife I got Monday off so we could hang out together. We had a day in the sun and the water was perfectly clear and warm. We bought us a water toy and finally used our life jackets we bought last year; I always plan on going outside by buying things, but I never use them. Tiffiney also packed us our lunch and treats and individually wrapped each made-to-order sandwich with our initials. Although I am hesitant about listening to the demands of my wife, in the end I am thankful I do. I always enjoy the activities we share and look forward to future experiences together…

-Chris

Sadly the fun ended as soon as we left the beach. Although we used sun tan lotion, apparently it wasn't enough. My back, Misty's legs and even Tiffiney's non-burnable skin received some UV damage. I don't care how water proof the lotion is I am reapplying it everytime I exit the water so I can avoid this happeing again…

Home Sweet Home…

2008-07-02T09:45:00.000-06:00

That isn't an actual picture of my house, but after spending one month abroad running from landmark to monument, it is really good to be home. I have decided that one month is about perfect for vacation if the finances allow it; any longer and I probably couldn't walk anymore. I wouldn't mind living in another country for an extended period of time and casually seeing the sites, but rushing from here to there really takes a toll on my body. Anyway now you can all call me again and hang out, cause I know how bad you have missed us…

-Chris

*SHOUT OUT* to Jeff B regarding the time trials; I already have 5 under my belt and it only took me 20 minutes…

Swiss Update #3…

2008-06-26T15:35:00.000-06:00
A wise man once said that there must need be opposition in all things. A more simpler guy probably said everyone has ups and downs. During our last week of the schooling session of Switzerland I managed to misplace my camera on train and ended up losing about 3-4 days worth of pictures. The pictures are a sad loss, but more depressing is the loss of the camera. Ryan and Mckenzie know too well how much Digital SLRs costs and I just hope we find it before the trip comes to an end. Luckily I bought Tiffiney a point-and-shoot before we left so we had means of taking photos for Paris and Belgium.

We'll always have Paris and after looking through our collection of pictures we'll always have plenty shots of the Eiffel Tower proving we were there. It was a hectic two days getting as much in as we could but Tiffiney kept up with me until we got to a more relaxed area with my parents in Belgium. As mentioned before we saw the Eiffel Tower but we also went to the Louvre museum, Notre Dame cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, etc. In Belgium we visited the Atomium, the small town of Brugge, and the Grand Plaza in Brussels.

Anyway enough with the chatter, just enjoy the pictures…

-Chris

Swiss Update #2

2008-06-15T10:05:00.000-06:00
Enjoy some more pictures! We have been all over the place and still have one more week of museums, cathedrals and then it is off to Paris...

Here are some video clips of our travels. First are the Cow Fights that take place up in the Alps. They gather muscled pregnant cows and they compete for their space with the others. It is somewhat of a hit and miss when they get upset enough to run down their competition, but Tiffiney got some good shots of a few that fought for quite some time. It is just another excuse to gather friends and have a barbeque cause I never found out which team won! The second clip is Tiffiney riding on our favorite park toy. It is like a merry-go-round, but with pedals so it is like riding a bike in circles until you throw up...

Swiss Update #1…

2008-06-08T00:01:00.000-06:00
Well the community computers are hard to get time on, especially since we are so busy traveling from place to place so many of updates will be brief, but the pictures should give you an idea of our travels. We arrived on the 2nd of June and in 5 days have already gone to 2 castles and some ancient ruins, lived with monks in the monastery, and snow shoed the Alps in both Switzerland and Italy. It has been a blast and very tiring but worth every moment. When I get more time I will tell you more, but enjoy the pictures for now…

Friend Fiesta…

2008-05-27T14:35:00.000-06:00
Last Saturday we had a little get-together with my friends down in Salt Lake and we went out to lunch at Biaggi's, a restaraunt suggested by my sister. The food was good, but spending time with friends made the experience. Afterwards we went to Hogle Zoo and checked out the depressed animals. I tried my best to take shots that improved their sad situations.

Finally we ended up at the Wassom's for the After Party playing Rock Band and eating popcorn. It was great to see everyone in person and spend some quality time. I mentioned before how my family often gets together but I also have been lucky to have good friends growing up who know how to have a good time without the negative influences of the world. It is something I appreciate more than they know and something I miss while everyone moves on with their personal families. Thanks for the good times…

-Chris

Grab Life

2008-05-22T22:19:00.000-06:00

As You Go Through Life
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Don’t look for the flaws as you go through life;
And even when you find them,
It is wise and kind to be somewhat blind
And look for the virtue behind them.
For the cloudiest night has a hint of light
Somewhere in its shadows hiding;
It is better by far to hunt for a star,
Than the spots on the sun abiding.

The current of life runs ever away
To the bosom of God’s great ocean.
Don’t set your force ‘gainst the river’s course
And think to alter its motion.
Don’t waste a curse on the universe –
Remember it lived before you.
Don’t butt at the storm with your puny form,
But bend and let it go o’er you.

The world will never adjust itself
To suit your whims to the letter.
Some things must go wrong your whole life long,
And the sooner you know it the better.
It is folly to fight with the Infinite,
And go under at last in the wrestle;
The wiser man shapes into God’s plan
As water shapes into a vessel.

I love this poem and I wanted everyone to enjoy it, mostly Chris ;)!

Life is wonderful if that is what you want, from the old saying life is what you make it. In life I find myself constantly looking towards the future. When Chris graduates, when I go to school, when I don't work so much, you get the idea. I have to remind myself that I am living right now, not in the future. I need to grab a hold of life! I love my life and from marrying Chris I have noticed I have a very good out look on life. He thinks I am more of a dreamer and he, more of a realist. But from my dreams I am now going to Europe. Who said dreams never come true?

Another dream coming true is my sister Misty who lives in Virginia is coming to see me for the summer. I have not seen her since I got married almost three years ago and I am really excited to share my life with her. I think it will be different for her especially religiously; she has no faith and I don't know how she will like going to church, but hopefully she will be able to at least feel the peace and happiness that the gospel brings into our hearts. Now that my sister is coming out I have a playmate so we will go hiking everywhere I can think of. I don't know why but seeing all of God's beautiful creations makes me feel so alive and reminds me of the most important things in life. It's funny to me that seeing dirt and plants brings pure happiness. Hopefully I'll get Chris to join me and my sister in life.

Grab life while you can!

-Tiff

Movie Magic…

2008-05-20T14:01:00.001-06:00
I love movies, but the majority of the movies that hit theaters are not worth the money that it now costs when I can rent them for a few dollars and watch it on the big screen in the comfort of my home. I am always looking up recently released trailers at the website Movie-List to help me decide what films deserve my money at the box office. Sadly by the time most of them are rated they get a big R slapped onto them which makes me miss out on a lot of great films.

I was looking forward to watching M. Night Shyamalan's new thriller The Happening and another comedy starring Jack Black, Ben Stiller, and Robert Downey Jr called Tropic Thunder but both were put on the Restricted list. This happens all too often but a couple days ago I was treated to a trailer of a film called Australia which takes place during World War II. It stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman and is directed by Baz Luhrmann (William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge, and Strictly Ballroom)

Granted I don't know much about the movie and I don't know if it will be a smash hit or miss, but it has definitely jumped to the top of my must sees this year. I have enjoyed his other movies but what really caught my attention was how well done the trailer was executed. It had the sense of a great classical film from the yesteryears. The type he used for the names and titles had a very classy touch, the way it was directed and shot had really eye-grabbing scenes and the music alone made me so emotional by capturing everything a movie should be about. Sure the trailer music won't be in the actual movie, but I hope it delivers on my own personal hype. There is too much crap in theaters now days and I hope this reclaims some of the forgotten movie magic…

-Chris

The Joys of Snail Mail…

2008-05-17T09:54:00.000-06:00

Lately I have decided that I am getting old. If any of you can think back to a time when your parents would complain about the bills they had that constantly came in the mail, well that is now happening to me. Before having responsibility, I would get marriage announcements, letters, magazine subscriptions, packages, etc. Basically anything that would arrive in the mailbox with my name on it was something to look forward to. My how times have changed; now it is either our wonderful monthly bills or invites to open another line of credit.

Luckily God knows how depressed I can get and offered us an easy solution: The Internet. For our trip to Switzerland, my professor decided it would be wise to invest in some good hiking shoes, storage devices for our photos, bags to carry stuff, power converters, etc. Since I live in the small region of Cache Valley my options are slim and sometimes expensive so I resorted to looking for things online. This isn't anything new to me as I often am looking for great deals on EBay and Amazon. So with all of these things we need to buy I have been shopping at multiple online outlets and my first purchase arrived yesterday.

This is the joy of snail mail. Amid all of the junk that arrives in the mailbox on a daily basis my pearl of great price outshines them all. It may be nothing more than a stupid item, but to have it show up at my house already paid in full and cheaper than retail brought a smile to my face. I love checking the mail and finding things of self-gratification rather than misery and endless woe.

-Chris

Note: My sister and her fiancé introduced me to Steep and Cheap where I managed to get some good hiking shoes for 60% off. They have a lot of outdoor equipment and sell one item at a time until it is sold out, so check it out…

It's Finally Arrived…

2008-05-07T07:27:00.000-06:00

So I woke up today feeling groggy and with a sore back due to our hike yesterday to the wind caves, and as I walked out to the living room I noticed that my Wii had a beautiful blue glow surrounding the disc slot. This is nothing new as I get messages from friends and notices from Nintendo all the time, but since Jeff was on vacation and his wife would kill him for taking the Wii with them I figured it would be a stupid message regarding another Mii contest on the Check Mii Out Channel. I would have ignored it, but every time that light pulls me toward it and I must view the message.

I was so glad I did, because it was the Nintendo Channel that I have been waiting for for quite some time. Japan saw its release awhile back and it is nice to be able to get it here in the states. It brings the DS download station to your home so I can play demos of games and also view movie clips of upcoming releases for the Wii. Yeah watching videos of other people playing games gives me the same joy as playing them myself; that's why my wife calls me a nerd. Anyway I am so excited for this thing and glad Nintendo made that light so tantalizing.

-Chris

By the way the light is so important to a Wii gamer that Jeff named his new Nintendo blog Wii Blue Light so check it out…

The Countdown Begins…

2008-05-05T14:01:00.000-06:00
Lately Tiffiney has been reminding me almost daily that next time this year I will FINALLY be graduated and moving on with life. It is about time, because mentally that is probably all I will be able to take. School is fun for the most part, but it will be nice to get paid doing the things I love rather than paying to learn them. This year should bring with it a lot of other things that I have been dreaming of as well, and so the countdown begins!

I thought I would share with you some of the things that I accomplished last semester with my artwork/design. I learned how to use Flash and improved my skills in Photoshop and Illustrator. You probably won't recognize great work due to my procrastination techniques, but I managed to pull off B grades while rushing to get these projects finished. However you only get a glimpse of the stuff I am proud of rather than the other work:)

These were done in Flash and require a fast connection. I didn't include a preloader so it may take some time to see it materialize. The first one is my game and in order for it to work properly you need to adjust your window to the width of the poles in the animation. The second one is my portfolio website and it may take some time before images start to appear and work properly. All of this could have been remedied with a simple preloader and better web pulishing but once again I rushed things…
Flash Game
Flash Portfolio

This is my magazine layout. I had to make a cover, contents and 4 page spread.

Debt End…

2008-04-24T16:51:00.000-06:00

Today I wrote two of the biggest checks that I have in my lifetime. They may not seem to big in the distant future, but for a guy still in school it was a pretty hefty sum of money. It is for our trip to Switzerland and I am hoping it will be worth all the toil that it was to save it up. Sadly a part of it was spent from student loans. Some of you live on student loans and it amazes me how cool and relaxed you are under such stress. Maybe behind the scenes your mind explodes like mine from the debt you owe, but in reality I guess it helps to know that you'll be making it all back as soon as you graduate. I, on the other hand, won't be making six figures!

The quote this week was chosen on purpose. I knew I was going to be spending all of this money and I thought it was interesting how the phrase had this deep dual meaning. Sure most of the romantics will see the beauty of being in debt to the one you love; when I showed Tiffiney her heart melted. As I thought of all of the debt I would be in for financial reasons, I thought about the corrupting aspect of the love of money. Even that evil convinces us to be in debt to it.

With all this said, I married an incredible person and she knows how to work hard and put money aside for a rainy day. Through it all she still knows how to spoil me and let me enjoy some of the finer things in life. I have a Wii and I get the games I "need" on a regular basis. My school is cheap for the most part, but all of my toys that come with the career choice tend to increase the price. The whole "I need it for school" has worked like a charm, but really I get things that I want because of my great wife. This is why I will be FOREVER in debt to her…

-Chris

Family Home Evening...

2008-04-14T11:22:00.001-06:00

Luckily I grew up in a family of siblings that can tolerate each other. Each month we get together for a big FHE and give a short spiritual thought. It was our turn this month and since our apartment isn't big enough to house everyone, we usually meet at Adam's Park in Logan.
Tiffiney and I made cupcakes and lemon bars for the snack and strangely enough she found an article in the Ensign that correlated with what I talked about in the last post. If you get a chance you should (re)read the article entitled Unplugged in the January issue. Also check out the following article in the same issue as it is something I believe everyone should work on as well.
My dad's family grew up very close and as often as time permitted (usually every month) they would also gather together for a dinner each month. It is something we as kids remembered and wanted to continue in our own family. Another one of those family blessings would be a yearly family trip. My parents weren't rich by any means, but we managed to travel to multiple states throughout my childhood and see a lot of interesting things which made me feel rich in other areas. Family togetherness has always been a key element in my life and even though we're loud, obnoxious, and rude at times, I know we love each other...

-Chris

Disconnected From The World...

2008-04-11T12:22:00.000-06:00
It's sad really, how we teach ourselves to rely so much on modern technology. There was a time when I didn't care if I had access to the Internet or if I could reach my friends 24/7 by phoning them on the go. Now people can't let a day go by without texting each other, updating them on their every move. I am victim as well, as many of you probably know I call you when I am driving to or coming home from work.

Recently we lost the Internet, due to us sharing with our neighbors. They moved out of our apartments, and now we are waiting and hoping that our new ones will be interested in sharing what we lost. I am studying to be a graphic designer and the Internet is one of my main sources especially when it comes to web design. Right now, I am barely getting through school as it is; imagine if I had to research my material in a book rather than using the web. Oh the agony!

As great as technology is, there are always downsides to it. Usually things are created for the use of man, and somehow another hand is right there to corrupt them. The ironic thing is that the things that are meant to connect us to the world are the same things that are secluding us from it. There are many things I could discuss, such as: iPods, television, video games, even this blog, etc., but I'll assume my point is made...

-Chris

178th Annual General Conference…

2008-04-05T12:10:00.000-06:00

I love General Conference and I always look forward to the talks given by the apostles of the Lord. I have recently been going through some hard times, but I am glad that the church has set up these conferences to keep me on the strait path and uplift my spirits. Although I will miss hearing the humble and optimistic teachings from Bro. Gordon, I am looking forward to what President Thomas S Monson will discuss as the mantle shifts to the new prophet…

-Chris

Joining the Bandwagon…

2008-04-01T23:00:00.000-06:00

Well I have a Myspace and a Facebook account, but seeing as Tiffiney and I don't share them and everyone else are starting blogs, we figured we would join in the fun! I was going to wait until I had something to talk about such as a baby or news that I am graduating, but neither seem to be coming any time soon. All of my friends seem to be leaving beautiful Cache Valley and my wife has family and friends in other parts of the country so we figured it was a good time to start regardless of the lack of exciting news.

I shouldn't pretend that our life is boring, because it isn't, but we work a lot and I am going to school. Tiffiney is hoping to start this fall as well. She is excited and wants to have a degree. The main reason we work so much is that we are spending mucho dinero to get me through school and part of that is a trip we will be taking in June to Switzerland. The nice thing is that it is a great double-up trip for our anniversary which we hope to celebrate in Paris. We figure we need to get our fantasies taken care of so we can begin the process of making other dreams come true(i.e. starting a family)

Since not much will be happening here, we will try to keep you entertained with news and videos of other internet garbage. However look forward to beautiful pictures of my wife and I and videos of our trips…