Team Adams

The Bump

2012-01-24T16:19:00.000-08:00

I finally have a baby bump...

It took 7 months and 1 week to get to this point, but there it is.

I hit 8 months next week - only 2 more to go until our wee one arrives.

We can't wait.

Quality Time

2012-01-15T12:36:00.000-08:00

Holidays = Quality time with family

We're a little behind with this recap of the holidays, but here it goes:

We headed to Utah on the 9th in order to be there for a special occasion on December 10th - a surprise birthday party for my grandmother, who turned 90 years old. The ENTIRE family was there, plus lots of good friends. This never happens. To explain how big this was, I finally met two cousins who I've never met...I'm 27, they are in their mid and early-20s. Despite the progress, I still have one cousin who I've never met. One of these days...

Here's the Irvine crew, minus Natalia, with my Grandma Chary.

Happy birthday, Grandma!

Parties last a few hours, but memories/photos last much longer. Steve was assigned photo duty for part of the party, and captured every person/couple that came to the party in the following pose:

Because we got to Utah so early, there was still lots of work to be done before the holiday merriment took over. Nathan and I with our computers - technological analysis for him, Ph.D. applications for me.

Trip to the Logan temple with Steve's family - it was a freezing cold night, but really nice to be together.

Our much anticipated visit to Doodlebug Preschool to see Miss Sara in action. We caught her on the day of her Christmas party - Polar Express pj party. We love what she's done with her preschool, and it was really fun for Steve and Sara to re-live some of the Taiwan kindergarten madness.

I have a sneaking suspicion that our little one might turn into a bookworm...we may need to invest in Sara's awesome library design wherever we end up come summertime.

We were lucky enough to spend an afternoon with Steve's aunt, Jamie, who kindly walked through Target with us, aisle by aisle, to tell us what we actually need for baby instead of what you think you need. Best outing ever. We got to spend a couple minutes with some of her family before we had to head out.

Steve and Dax on the drive up to Hardware Ranch to check out the elk.

Checking out the elk.

Getting ready to hunt the elk?

A big thanks to Miss Katie Van Ausdal for inviting us to attend Music and the Spoken Word with her to enjoy the Christmas concert put on by the Tabernacle choir with Jane Seymour and Nathan Gunn.

Loved it!

A couple more pictures from the baby shower.

Here we have Steve and Juli - second cousins and really good friends. Juli is due in February, and we're excited to have little ones running around that will be one month apart, just like Steve and Juli are.

Like mother, like daughter...

If I'm half the mother that my mom has been to me, Ainsley Jane will be a very lucky lady.

Sharing dessert at The Bakery (Gourmandise)...let me repeat... THE bakery - with Jon and Sarah Casper after the Mannheim Steamroller concert. Loved the music, loved the food, and especially loved the company after the show.

Before the concert started, we walked around temple square and stopped in at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to get warm. It's still weird to think that I worked there, but as always, it was as beautiful as ever.

Steve was practicing with the new camera that Santa brought us for Christmas.

Not too shabby, eh?

We spent Christmas in Logan with Steve's family this year, and here we have the Nesbit's playing around with some colorful shapes.

I love this picture of Julie and Derrall -- I have the best in-laws!

The Irvine family Christmas party took place after Christmas, and we're glad we got to be there before flying home to Ohio the next day.

One of my favorite parts is hearing my dad and Karen talk about memories they have of my extended family members who were alive when I was really young, but who I don't remember much about, except for hearing these stories.

A few of Karen and Paul's grandkids - they keep getting cuter and cuter.

Stevens family

Part of the Irvine family

It was a really great holiday season.

Best Of...

2011-12-29T20:30:00.000-08:00

Many of you already know this, but for those of you who don't know...

We're having a baby!

We have been keeping our fun news off of the internet because there were lots of people that we wanted to tell, but in a unique and personal way, and in our own time. With news this exciting, it was way more fun to spread it out over months and get fresh reactions each time. The blog and facebook (especially the latter) would have ruined our plans....hence the silence. However, while we were in Utah over the holidays, we were able to see/tell the final three people we were waiting to tell in person - Daniel, Camille, and Olivia - so now we're going to elaborate on how we shared the news with friends and family. The following documentation is my "best of" list for the announcement/reactions.

The very best have to be the times that we got to share the news in person. These were few seeing as we live in Ohio, but they are gems!

Telling my parentals:

[September]

They visited Russia earlier this year, so we thought a Matryoshka theme would be fitting. I used four nesting dolls and started with my grandmother's birthday, then my mom's, then mine, with the announcement wrapped up inside the smallest doll. My mom had to guess what each date represented (she passed with flying colors) before she could open the doll.

The slip of paper is an inside joke I've had going with my dad for years, so those aren't actually names we considered, but my parents loved the announcement. The date is slightly off as well - baby Adams is due to arrive on 24 March 2012.

I can't wait to see my parents as grandparents - they will be amazing!

To go along with the announcement, I made my parents this certificate. If you received our Christmas letter, this is the promotion I was referring to - hopefully it made sense. This will be the first grandchild for my parents, so we figured we'd go all out with the certificate.

Next up: telling Uncle Joey.

[October]

We invited him over for dinner (I think), but it was really all about the dessert - a scrumptious chocolate cake with the best frosting/icing I've ever tasted.

Joe also received a promotion, as you can see:

It took him no time at all to figure out our happy news. His reaction was priceless, even considering he'd have to convert if he really wanted to become a godfather. =) We had lots of fun that night calling fellow Berhaners to announce another addition to the next Taiwan generation (ours is baby #3 in that group).

Final in-person announcement - telling Liz Weinberg, one of my dearest roommates from BYU:

[November]

We were fortunate to meet up with the Weinbergs over Thanksgiving weekend in NYC, and we had a delightful Thai dinner together. Liz was thrilled, and I was so happy I got to share the news with her in person!

Next up on the "best of" category list - those we told over the phone and through the mail.

If I had actual awards to give out for the best responses, they would have to go to Penny Yarbrough and Ann Odom - hands down.

First up: Penn.

[October]

This picture should look familiar to many of you - including Penn. I sent this to her (and others) in the mail with a note on the back saying only, "We have an announcement to make!" Short and sweet, but totally worth the wait to have it arrive in the mail as a surprise. I will never forget the phone conversation we had when she received it...one of those "hot of the press" moments.

Ann Odom also needs to be mentioned due to the timing of the announcement. I won't go into all the details, but I sent a rather facetious text to her that arrived at the perfect moment, which truly can only be described in person. I was planning on telling her the same way I told Penn, but then randomly felt an urge one particular night to just tell her right away via text. Her explanation of the events made the timing/spontaneity crystal clear. =)

So those are the announcements that made the "best of" list, and the following pictures are some additional pieces of the puzzle that you may or may not be wondering about.

We found out at the beginning of November that we are having a girl! This is how we told our fellow temple workers on the Saturday afternoon shift - an offering of sugar cookies covered with pink sprinkles. My days serving in the temple with Steve are numbered, but I was still excited to share the news with the great friends we've made there.

As soon as we found it was a girl, we immediately knew her name:

Ainsley Jane Adams

Unique. Classy. Scottish.

My parents sent flowers the day after we found out the gender, and I was welcomed into the world of grandparenthood when I called to thank my mom for sending the beautiful flowers, and received the following reply, "the flowers aren't for you - they're for Ainsley." Awesome. That cracked me up.

The last two pictures are from the baby shower that Jamie Benich and Steve's mom threw for us over the holidays. Steve and I got to spend an evening surrounded by family, as well as Penn, Ann, and Savannah. I'm so glad these three could make it!

We received so many generous gifts from those who came, and we're so grateful for all the love and support we felt. Even though family is very far these days, we wanted to put up a picture of this gift from Christie Hardey because it perfectly captures how we feel. We're in Ohio, my parents are in Utah, and Steve's are now living in Peru, but when it comes to family, distance doesn't matter.

So there it is.

Ainsley Jane Adams - coming our way on 24 March 2012!

Bookworm

2011-11-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

I married a bookworm...
Part I

Part II

Part III

A non-fiction-loving bookworm.

Diabetes

2011-11-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

It's November.

It's also Diabetes Awareness Month.

I've never done much to spread information about diabetes besides answering questions people ask me. That's pretty lame considering I've had diabetes my entire life (I was diagnosed at 18 months). I really love answering questions by the way, but since I can't read minds, I don't know who has questions in the first place.

My friend, Erin C., is an amazing advocate for diabetes awareness. Since she blogs regularly (I don't), posts fb updates frequently (I don't), and does online research about advancements (I don't), she's inspired me to at least share a little about the disease, and my experience living with it. Here are the main points to tell my story:

1. I have Type I Diabetes. This is different from Type II. I'm not going to discuss Type II at all since I'm not an expert on it. Type I used to be called Juvenile On-set diabetes because they saw it crop up in young patients. That's a misnomer these days, and rarely used anymore, since young children fall into both categories of diabetes - type I and type II.

2. Type I Diabetes is an auto-immune disease. If you don't know what that means, in a nutshell, my own immune system attacked my own body.

Case in point: How I landed this disease.

I was 18 months when I was diagnosed, and the precursor to my problem started when I was exposed to the measles (yes, my parents were on top of vaccinations!). The measles antibody and the Islets of Langerhans - regions in the pancreas responsible for hormone production - look very similar. Do you see where I'm going here? My own immune system mistook my own cells - the beta cells that produce insulin (a hormone) inside the Islets of Langerhans - for the measles they were combating, and started to attack and destroy my own system, as well as the foreign bodies. No beta cells? No insulin. No insulin? No way to transport the glucose (from the food you eat) in the bloodstream into the actual cells, thereby depriving cells of energy and resulting in excessive amounts of sugar in the bloodstream.

3. You cannot get Type I Diabetes by eating too much sugar or by not exercising. This is a MYTH! Type II is a different story. Eating too many Snickers bars is not going to cause the reaction I mentioned above.

4. Currently, there is no cure for Type I Diabetes, however, there are technologies that make it one of the best illnesses to live with and still maintain a normal life - insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, insulin pens, etc. The following picture is sort of what my stomach looks like, only mine is less curvy, much whiter and also has scar tissue. =)

A) Minimed Insulin Pump

B) Pump insertion site (changed every 3-4 days)

C) Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) sensor (changed every 3-6 days)

D) CGM receiver (relays information to the insulin pump)

5. For Type I diabetics, insulin must be injected into the body by means of a syringe or an insulin pump. You cannot take an oral form of the medication (again, that's Type II stuff). I use an insulin pump - it's my third arm. I wear it 24/7 except when I shower or scuba dive. I've been on a pump since I was twelve.

6. I never go anywhere without my blood glucose meter. I use this to test my sugars (finger pricks) throughout the day to see how I'm doing, i.e. whether my sugars are too high, too low, or in the normal range. And what is the normal range? 80-120 mg/dl. On average, I test my blood eight times a day.

7. Aside from my pump and my meter, I always have sugar on me in the form of juice, glucose tablets (the two best sources for diabetics), or candy (not the best source because candy causes sugars to spike and then crash, but in a jam, it gets the job done).

8. My parents and Steve are the people that truly understand from experience how serious high and low blood sugars can be. I am literally not myself if my sugars go too high or too low. Extreme highs are bad, but extreme lows are incredibly dangerous if not treated immediately. Here are the symptoms (mine, at least) in case you come across a diabetic acting funny:

High: I cannot concentrate. My brain cannot respond to tasks that are normally easy. Ask me to figure out a complex equation? Impossible - I won't be able to do it. I'm hungry. I'm very thirsty. I don't move as quickly as I normally do. I'm really tired, and thanks to all the water I have to drink, I have to pee a lot too. This is the primary symptom that my mom noticed that made her aware something might be wrong with me when I was still in diapers. Solution: take insulin.

Low: I shake. I sweat. My eyes glaze over and you could be carrying on a conversation with me, but I will have no idea what you said. I don't respond quickly. I'm tired. I have no energy. Unfortunately, and my mother can attest to this, my inability to function well means that I can't swallow very easily. I remember a number of occasions when my mom had to raise her voice to get my attention while I was sitting on the countertop right in front of her while she was helping me to swallow sugar since I couldn't do it on my own. It's usually low blood sugar reactions that freak people out. Luckily, I catch myself 95% of the time before it becomes a crisis, but there have been times when I've needed others' help. Solution: Get any source of sugar into me as fast as possible.

9. Insurance is absolutely necessary. Without insurance, diabetes cannot be managed properly. Without proper management, that's when you deal with loss of eyesight, kidney failure, heart disease, amputation and all sorts of complications that then require huge sums of money that burden taxpayers. I love it when people complain about Obamacare. I love it when they only see the bad and refuse to acknowledge the good (both exist). I really wish they'd do some in-depth research to learn about dealing with insurance while having a "pre-existing condition." Obamacare will radically alter these difficulties, and I am grateful for that. Good insurance is vital.

The numbers (that I deal with, though each diabetic is different) speak for themselves.

Supplies (costs per year without insurance):

Insulin: $5,400

Strips: $3,504

Pump insertion sites: $1,040

Pump reservoirs: $270

CGM sensors: $1,820

One-time costs:

Meter: $65

Insulin pump: $6,000

CGM receiver: $1,300

I'm not including the cost for doctor's visits and lab work that is required - I don't have the numbers nearby....

Total: just shy of $20,000 including one-time fees for equipment, $12,000 per year if you only include costs for on-going care.

There are many other diseases that fall under the label of "pre-existing conditions" and I'm sure those diseases have high costs of their own. Like I said, good insurance is what keeps me going.

10. Diabetes is manageable! I've never felt that I wasn't a normal person, or that I couldn't do exactly the same things all of my friends were doing just because I have diabetes. If you are responsible and take care of yourself, you can lead a very healthy lifestyle and do everything you want/dream to do. My parents always reminded me growing up that others had it far worse than I did - others had diseases that were much more devastating than diabetes. I thank them for the perspective they drilled into me.

And there you have it. This is probably way more information than you've ever cared to know about Type I Diabetes, but hopefully it will come in handy some day if you ever come across someone with this disease that needs your help, or at least some understanding.

Happy November.

Irish and Awesome

2011-10-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

And to think that I spent years attempting the very same, only with my feet...

Click here.

Simply amazing (though Irish music is way cooler).

Chicago Style

2011-10-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

We love Chicago.

I haven't felt this way about a city since Edinburgh. Five minutes after arriving in Scotland's capital, I was in love.

Same thing with Chicago.

Even though our recent adventure over Columbus Day weekend wasn't my first time visiting this fabulous spot, it was the first time that I got a good feel for the city and all its treasures.

If work or school takes us there, we'll be happy as clams. No matter where work or school takes us, we'll still be happy as clams, but Chicago is incredibly cool.

So here's a look at the Chicago style adventures we had this last weekend.

We started out at the Art Institute of Chicago.

A little art humor presented by Steve.

Treasures in the Art Institute - Grant Wood's American Gothic and George Seurat's Sunday Afternoon on the Island of la Grande Jatte.

When I teach about these paintings I have an extremely hard time not getting distracted by the following connections:

President Eyring and Cameron Frye

Can anyone else relate?

Totally missed this part of the Institute last time I was here, and this is probably my favorite section - the Thorne Miniature rooms.

Next stop: Shedd Aquarium

Coolest jellyfish exhibit ever! Aren't they pretty?

More cool creatures - we were mesmerized.

After seeing live animals at the aquarium, we saw some dead ones next door at the Field Museum.

Meet Sue and Pumbaa.

One of the marinas off of Michigan Lake.

We caught a trolley and headed up North to explore the Magnificent Mile where we saw the following attractions:

This is close to the Chicago Water Tower building - in the heart of the Mile.

And not far away is the John Hancock Tower - Chicago's 4th tallest building, which has the best views of the surrounding areas.

Looking North...

A candy shop along the Magnificent Mall with some amazing displays.

Fruity candy is way better than chocolate candy. If taste wasn't evidence enough, here's fashion that also supports my claim.

Winding up our walk down the mile, we came to some fabulous river scenery.

Then we finished the day at Millenium Park.

Had to take pictures at Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate.

And some more pictures at the nearby fountains.

Favorite photo from the trip.

The next day found us at Navy Pier.

Carousels and Swings. Please make note of Steve's pose in the airborne pic - classic Adams.

What's a trip to Chicago without a stop at Sears Tower?

From what we understand, the locals prefer not to refer to this building by its official name - Willis Tower.

Another view of a marina. Pretty at dusk, eh?

The following pictures show the amazing architecture that characterizes the city as seen from our cruise on the Chicago River.

Back to the Pier for some cool evening shots.

This is a picture where we stayed (the gate, anyway) - a gorgeous home belonging to Steve's relatives who were kind enough to let us stay even though all the family was away for the weekend.

On our way out we stopped by the Chicago Illinois LDS Temple to check it out since we were so close.

Then we headed home.

Some gorgeous scenery to welcome us back to Ohio.

Autumn is the best.

Follow Up

2011-09-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

Steve and I used to take lots of pictures on trips.

Not so much anymore.

We got to see a lot of great people while we were in Utah earlier this month, but we didn't take many pictures. Here is what actually got documented.

We...

Met Evan Casper - 9 days old at this point. He is super cute. And if I have my facts straight, he was named after my piano teacher from way back when - Evan Allred. Small world.

Celebrated our second anniversary. I've never completed a detailed post about our wedding - maybe someday - but it was a fabulous day and it's always fun to look back on and remember. The best part of it all is that we've had many "best" days since 09/03/09.

Hung out with family, which is always a highlight of trips to Utah. Steve and Lindsey graced us with lovely, often humorous, duets.

Took a leisurely stroll around Silver Lake with my brother, Cullen. We've grown accustomed to the rivers of Ohio (Autumn is insanely pretty here - dare I say even prettier than Utah - gasp!), but the mountains will always hold a special place in my heart.

Partied with the Berhan Bunch - Steve's friends from their glory days in Taiwan. Pretty cool that all of them have remained good friends three years later.

Toured the Nebraska state capitol on the road trip back to Ohio.

Stopped at some church history sites (Liberty jail was very cool). This picture is taken from the LDS Visitor's Center in Independence, MO of the Community of Christ's temple across the street. Our lack of time didn't allow a peek inside.

Visited President Truman's home, also in Independence, MO.

And that, in a very tiny nutshell, is a glimpse of our recent adventures in Utah (and Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio).

On Utah

2011-08-29T06:17:00.000-07:00

A couple things on Utah.

*FIRST*

With school starting around the country, except in Ohio, I've been thinking about my time at college. A friend of mine recently moved to Provo to start her adventure at BYU and I could feel the excitement she has about the next four years of her life.

I figured I'd give her some advice, but it didn't include any of the following:

Frequent the International Cinema for quality films with quality people

Watch a star show in the planetarium

Take folk dance, or at least go to a Rec night on occasion

Where to study in the HBLL to actually study, rather than see/be seen

Fun places to live after you survive Heritage or Helaman Halls

Avoid the Wilk and opt for the Pendulum Court or MOA cafe for lunch

You don't have to physically go to the Marriott Center for Devotionals and Forums - it's broadcast all over campus. Good to know if your next class is in the Benson.

Cool teachers for the mandatory classes taken by all (hello, American Heritage and Book of Mormon)

Not-so-cool teachers for the same

Must see shows such as World of Dance, Christmas Around the World, and yes, even the Cougarette showcase

Go to a football game, even in you have no interest whatsoever in the sport - it builds character

etc.

So what did I tell her?

Unpack your bags. Make a friend. Take that friend to J-Dawgs.

5.5 years at BYU and that is the one piece of advice I have to share with a fellow Cougar.

I just found a recipe on Pinterest for the sauce, so maybe I won't have to find an excuse to travel to Provo this week. Keyword: maybe.

*SECOND*

I knew this day would come sooner or later.

We finally registered our car here in Ohio.

Rest in peace, BLUIDQT.

Some people got it and some people didn't, but either way, gone are the days of providing free entertainment at red lights. No more random conversations in parking lots with people headed to the same place who had figured it out and wanted to tell me so.

Blah.

*THIRD*

The owner of Cafe Rio is now the Mission President of the Ohio Columbus Mission. After eating at Chipotle, he ordered cafe rio for zone conference - from Maryland!

I realize MP's have better things to do with their time than worry about the dearth of Cafe Rio in the Midwest, but what do you think the chances are that Cafe Rio will make its way to the Ohio before we move somewhere else?

A real quandary.

And on that happy note, Utah, here we come.

Hocking Hills

2011-08-13T16:41:00.001-07:00

One perfect Saturday. Two gorgeous hikes.

Hocking Hills State Park

Old Man's Cave & Rock House

Autumn will see us back again.

Scofflaw

2011-07-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

It seems we have some catching up to do.

Steve mentioned the visit from the Riggs family - it was completely awesome - so that brings us to our trip to Texas to see family, friends, and my old stomping grounds while I was a missionary in San Antonio.

We've already shared a bunch of pics on facebook, but for you non-fb peoples, here is the link to see the documentation.

Click here

The photos give a pretty good play-by-play of the trip, though some highlights from the trip are conspicuously missing. I might have been pulled over by a cop within an hour of arriving in San Antonio. As I'm writing this, I'm imagining what members of my family will say when they see this. I'm not going to name names, but here's what they'd say:

"Were you at least wearing your seat-belt?"

(just for the record, I ALWAYS wear a seat-belt...)

"Rum-dumb little kid!"

"That lead foot doesn't come from my side of the family."

"Amateur."

Each response would, in fact, be justified if I had been pulled over for speeding. But I wasn't - I'm not a total scofflaw. The officer and I chalked it up to technical malfunctions of the vehicle I was operating, so he sent me on my merry way with a warning. It sure was an exciting way to kick off our Texas adventures. The rest is history.

Recovering from Grad School

2011-07-17T18:29:00.000-07:00

I finished my first year of graduate school. It took me a few days to recover from the strains of the year and I continue to spend many hours on this couch. Some hours are spent sleeping stomach down and some are spent back down, with a pile of books. Speaking of books, I am pleased to announce that this week I will be maxing out my library card! That's right people, in a quest to read one book per week this year I have checked out 50 books for the summer. I should be able to pull off the quest no problem as I only have to read 15 more and I've got 5 months left.

Besides all the reading, we started off our summer with a visit from one of my favorite cousins.

Juli Riggs and her family came out to visit her husband's mission and they were kind enough to spend an entire day with us and also treated us to some tasty eats and sweets.

We spent the evening at Schmidt's, one of the local favorites, down in German Village. The bratwursts, cream pastries, and company were awesome. We had such a good time at dinner that we decided to extend the evening and play a round of Dominion. As luck would have it Tyler and I won. Going clockwise around the table starting from me we have Brannick, Juli, Parker, Saskya, and Tyler. (At this point in the game no one had pulled ahead yet, so everybody was pretty happy.) The morning after our visit from the Riggs we took off to Texas to visit Kristen's mission and see more family and friends (Kristen promised to blog about Texas after I blogged so make sure you hold her to it).

Following the trip to Texas I started an internship at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. I was hired to work on the energy assurance plan (EAP) for the state. I have learned a lot about energy assurance and Smart Grid and have used tons of tools I learned during this year of grad school. I am pleased to say that the time I have devoted to my education has already been paying off with rich dividends. But what is work without fire? No summer would be complete without fireworks. This year we decided to celebrate Independence Day in America, rather than London, and we got to experience one of the best firework shows in the Midwest.

Nick and Dorsia invited us to Red, White and Boom, and they were kind enough to show up six hours early to stake out excellent seats. The seats were so good that we got to see Mayor Coleman ride by in his golf cart. Right before the fireworks started hundreds of teenagers showed up to hang out right in front of us. The build up to the show did not disapoint.

Sometime during the evening a group of Asians showed up and I couldn't help but take a photo of them enjoying our national holiday. I got the feeling that they were enjoying the festivities even more than the Americans.

After going through a year of graduate school Kristen and I have made some great friends in the John Glenn School of Public Affairs. Who knew that after a year in classes together we would still want to hang out with each other? We got to celebrate Abigail Rhodebeck's 26th birthday with a surprise party at her parents house.

We have a few other brillant plans for the summer and we will be sure to keep everyone posted on our adventures. We are heading out to Utah in September to pick up my parents' car to use while they take off on their adventure to Peru - hopefully we'll get to see many of you.

Under the Sea

2011-06-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

May and June (thus far) have been CrAzY fun.

There are a bazillion pictures to share of the latest and greatest adventures, but it all starts with COZUMEL.

After a ten year hiatus, I finally made it back. Some things are completely different and some things are exactly the same. Steve was stuck in Ohio gearing up for finals week so he couldn't be my dive buddy, but I made a slideshow for him that I want to share with the rest of our family and friends. I hope you like my underwater message, Steve!

Speaking of family and friends - it has come to our attention that a few of our VIP's (as in, the people who make this blog necessary) can no longer access our blog since they are not gmail groupies. Hoping that we won't get too many random, strange visitors who leave random, strange comments, we've decided to make it public once again. A big thanks to those of you that followed us through what we'll call the Team Adams Underground.

Now, a couple things about the slideshow:

1) I compressed the images to upload it onto youtube, so you have to watch it at 240p instead of 360p - the quality isn't great at this setting, but you'll still see pure awesome-ness. Just wait until you see the turtles.

2) All of the skewered lionfish that were documented? Result of dive masters being instructed to kill all lionfish they find along the reefs in Cozumel - an endangered species in reverse. They are taking over and don't have any predators (spiky, poisonous little creatures). Our dive guide, Alberto, killed a good number of lionfish with his skewer/rubberband contraption, promptly cut off the poisonous projections, and then fed the carcasses to other fish happy to find lunch with little or no effort. Yours truly captured it on camera.

3) I really hope you appreciate the pictures of the squid - I sucked air to chase after that thing once my dad got my attention. It was totally worth it. Verne and Melville would be proud.

4) I also hope you enjoy the jackknife/drumfish photos. It's an ongoing debate in the Irvine household whether we were looking at a jackknife or a drumfish. I said jackknife. Lindsay said jackknife. Dad said drumfish. Alberto (dive master knows best!) said jackknife. So....

5) All but four dives were documented - all the weird names you see (if not referring to a sea creature) are the names of the reefs. The bright turquoise things on the night dive - octopi! Didn't get around to labeling those, but that's what you're looking at.

I think that's everything.

Hope you like the slideshow.

Oh, and the music is brought to you by Florence and the Machine, and Eva Cassidy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjbOAvGA9bk

BiRtHdaY MaDNesS!

2011-05-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, it was birthday madness!

I am a big fan of turning 27.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love, love, LOVE surprises - especially planning them for others. It's rather ironic then that when it comes to being the recipient of surprises, I'm totally oblivious.

Steve loves to exploit this fact.

Read on to see how the birthday festivities went down.

We finished our shift at the temple early on Saturday evening (few patrons means an early night) and Steve offhandedly asked if I wanted to go out to dinner for my birthday since I would be working the following Monday (my actual birthday).

Complete spontaneity, right?

Nope!

Turns out, Steve planned a surprise party for me at Thai Orchid with some of our very favorite people here in Columbus! My reaction to the surprise did not disappoint - huge smile, lots of laughter, and even some bouncing up an down when I finally put two and two together inside the restaurant when I rounded the corner and saw the faces of dear friends. Quality time with quality people - best birthday gift ever.

And yet, the fun had only just begun...

Then came Monday, May 23, 2011 - my official day of birth.

I got home from class at 8:00 p.m. and Steve once again surprised me with a spontaneous desire to go out for dessert at a place we've been meaning to try for months now:

The Chocolate Cafe.

If any of you come to visit us here in Columbus, you can pretty much count on doing three things.

1) Visit Kirtland

2) Attend an OSU football game -OR- a bike ride along the Olentangy River trail

3) Dinner & dessert at the Chocolate Cafe

These three things capture the essence of Ohio.

We were intending on getting only dessert, but the lobster bisque was too irresistible to pass up.

So that you understand how crazy it is to live in the Midwest, picture this.

We drove to the cafe, walked inside, perused the menu, and finally decided what we wanted in about the space of 25 minutes. Weather was just fine.

As soon as we were placing our order - which takes what, 30 seconds? - Steve looked outside to see a torrential downpour and freaked everyone out by saying, "Whoa! Check it out!"

We literally thought the wind and rain was going to cause our car to flip over in the parking lot.

Not too many things freak me out, but Mother Nature is not to be taken lightly.

Tornado warnings kept us company for the remainder of the evening.

We were a little hesitant to stick around for too long, especially considering that 3/4 of the cafe was glass...

So we ordered dessert to go.

Godiva chocolate cheesecake...

The Mr. says: Got milk?

The Mrs. says: Got insulin?

Best part was when we got home, walked in our back door and into our living room, only to find our front door WIDE OPEN! YIKES! I'm not sure what it is with that door and birthdays, but the two do not seem to be getting along.

Steve didn't lock the deadbolt when we left, and the winds were so strong that they blew our front door open.

May 23rd will not be easily forgotten.

We finished off birthday week yesterday at Franklin Park Conservatory to hit up the Asian Festival and see the butterfly release at the conservatory.

What you see above is about to become the best Thai food you've ever had - aka - chicken satay.

Wandering through the butterfly house at the conservatory - to our right is a pond filled with huge coy fish that swim amongst some amazing glass orb creations by Dale Chihuly.

Reminds me of Abravanel Hall - plus a tropical forest.

Does anyone else suffer from butterfly envy? They have impeccable taste in decor.

Our favorite butterfly.

Nice shot, Steve!

We might have to take the glass-blowing classes at the Conservatory...

This place was awesome.

Thanks for the fantastic birthday wishes from near and far - it made my day hearing from so many of you!

Q&A

2011-04-27T18:56:00.001-07:00

Question: How does one become the happiest woman alive?

Answer: By saying yes when your best friend asks if you will spend the rest of eternity with him.

Steve popped the question two years ago today. My answer was the best and easiest decision I've ever made.

Love you, Mister.

Easter

2011-04-24T20:11:00.001-07:00

This has been a wonderful Easter weekend.

We're far from family, yet we spent time with loved ones who have become like family.

As we sat with friends tonight and spoke of the significance of the Easter season, I couldn't help but think of Jerusalem.

On one of our last nights at the Jerusalem Center, the program directors arranged a mock "Last Supper" event to walk us through the traditional Passover feast and the particular events of Christ's last supper with the apostles. It was unforgettable to read passages from the New Testament and then look out the window and see Jerusalem at my fingertips, and realize that there I was, sitting on the Mount of Olives...

We know that He lives, loves, and leads us today.

I first saw this slideshow in 2008 at a time when I really needed some perspective. Many of you may have seen the book it is based on, and maybe even this slideshow, but it has remained one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it.

Click here

Happy Easter

Dispatch

2011-04-17T19:53:00.001-07:00

About those museum posts I promised...

Not going to happen.

While I've thoroughly enjoyed the presentations in all my classes, there is no way I'm going to get everything onto the blog the way I would like. My sincerest apologies.

In other news, Team Adams took one more step towards adulthood this week...

We are now subscribers to the Columbus Dispatch - that makes us magazine and newspaper people. Never thought I'd see the day.

Museum Project - Instructor Adams style

2011-04-02T19:39:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had an epiphany. Since I can't concentrate on the lesson plans that I should be preparing right now, I decided to pay a visit to Team Adams and share the result of said epiphany.

What is that?

The Museum Project

Instead of assigning a research paper that will be written and then promptly forgotten for my Art History courses this quarter, each student has to give a presentation on a specific museum. They have to tell us about its history, design, architect, etc. Most importantly, they need to share information about ten famous artworks from the permanent collection, all in a concise, yet creative way (stay tuned and you'll see what I mean). Students will keep a journal/notebook of the presentations and by the end of the quarter, they'll have their very own catalog of the world's best art - in one location - that can be tossed in a purse or man-bag the next time they travel. Oh how I wish I'd had that on so many occasions!

I don't know how many of you enjoy museums, or even art for that matter, but I figured I'd share the wealth from this project with any interested party. I'll base my posts around the presentations given by my students, with a few extra tidbits thrown in from my own experience.

Here's what you have to look forward to in the next 10-11 weeks:

Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, Cairo, EGYPT*

National Archeological Museum, Athens, GREECE*

British Museum, London, UNITED KINGDOM*

J Paul Getty Center, Los Angeles, USA**

National Palace Museum, Taipei TAIWAN R.O.C.***

Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Rome, ITALY*

Uffizi Gallery, Florence, ITALY*

Musee du Louvre, Paris, FRANCE*

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS*

Borghese Gallery, Rome, ITALY*

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA*

Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, AUSTRIA*

Albertina Museum, Vienna, AUSTRIA*

Alte Pinakothek, Munich, GERMANY*

The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, RUSSIA**

National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh, UNITED KINGDOM*

Museo del Prado, Madrid, SPAIN**

Musee d'Orsay, Paris, FRANCE*

Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS*

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, USA**

The Frick Collection, New York, USA*

National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., USA*

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, USA

National Gallery of London, London, UNITED KINGDOM*

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, USA

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, USA*

Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, FRANCE*

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, SPAIN (pictured above)**

Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York, USA*

Tate Modern, London, UNITED KINGDOM

*Been there, loved it, highly recommend it.

**Never been, can't wait to see it.

***Came close, missed it, means I'll have to go back.

Although there are many more museums to choose from, keep in mind that I have only eleven weeks to work with each quarter, so these are the top 30 museums that made the cut.

Cherry Blossoms

2011-03-27T10:23:00.001-07:00

Steve and I head back into the educational vortex tomorrow, so I figured I'd give a quick update on our lives. Turns out, Team Adams is taking a minimalist approach to blogging in 2011...

First exciting event:

Our new piano.

Thank you, Craigslist.

Next exciting event:

Witnessing Miss Marshall become Mrs. Odom at the Salt Lake temple on 8 March 2011. Fastest trip of my life (16 hours on Utah soil...or snow), but absolutely worth it. Thank heavens for the EST and MDT time zone difference that worked in my favor, otherwise, I would have missed it.

The wedding was a wonderful reunion of dear friends from high school and we could finally see if our marriage predictions that we started in high school were correct - as in, who got married in what order. Here's how it actually turned out:

Savannah (2006)

Holly (2007)

Kristen (2009)

Penny (2010)

Ann (2011)

Pretty sure all of our projections were wrong, but it's pretty cool to realize that we've all found incredible spouses regardless of the timing.

Exciting event #3:

ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Lots of green. Lots of orange. Lots of fun.

Waiting for the parade to start by exploring an old cemetery.

Even though the bagpipes are associated with Scotland, the pipers were the coolest participants in the parade. We miss Scotland like crazy, but seeing a few pipe bands brought it all back for a few moments.

Final exciting event this month:

Spring Break in D.C.

We both had the week off between quarters and the Glenn School at OSU arranged a networking week for all MPA students that wanted to attend. We figured we'd spend time with family and start networking in the DC area at the same time.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival started this weekend in D.C. and I must say, D.C. during the cherry blossom season (late March to mid-April) is stunning. I took this picture while meandering in the Dupont Circle area en-route to the Textile museum. It is now second in the "From picture to painting" queue.

The Tidal Basin.

3,750 Cherry Trees.

Started out as a gift of friendship from Japan in 1912.

Don't they provide a beautiful backdrop for the Jefferson Memorial?

Happy Spring.

Facets

2011-02-15T12:24:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe that Steve's birthday has already come and gone, but wow, it was a fabulous adventure. This is mostly due to some serious creativity and covert contributions from dear friends and family members from around the globe.

In a perfect world, the surprises I planned for February 12, 2011 would have been executed with precision and without flaws.

Totally didn't happen that way...

Why?

I am married to the MOST CURIOUS person I have ever met, and it takes every ounce of trickery, subtlety, and flat out deception (lies, people, big ones!) to pull anything off, especially on a Saturday when he's not in class half the day like he is during the week. And I might have made a serious mistake at a pivotal moment...

Read on.

Plan A consisted of Steve and I going out to dinner at the Olive Garden around 6:30pm, then returning home around 7:45pm to enjoy a quiet, peaceful evening. Thanks to the lovely but completely absurd "call ahead seating" policy at Olive Garden, we were looking at an 80-minute wait even after calling ahead. Plan B? Find a yummy Thai restaurant somewhere nearby. After driving around for 15 minutes, we opted for Plan C (much better than Plan B anyway) - dinner at Noodles & Co.

Now, unbeknownst to Steve, Joe and Jacob were supposed to arrive at our townhouse just after we left for dinner to spruce up the place for the surprise party I had planned with friends from church, school, and the neighborhood. Here's where my tiny oversight could have been a huge disaster...

After delivering balloons to Joe and Jacob earlier that afternoon (Steve thought I was immersed in a Cricut machine demonstration at a local Michael's craft store. Ha! Right.) and promising them that I would leave the front door unlocked for them to get in without breaking and entering, I FAILED!

Why?

First of all, my blood sugar was 48 at the time we were leaving for dinner. All normal functioning power was shot - I was in survival mode, which means I basically find sugar and try to recover. Awesome. In my attempt to get out of the house for dinner and make sure that the door was unlocked, I only unlocked the dead bolt. DANG IT! I didn't realize that Steve had locked both locks, and when I turned the handle to check the second lock, it seemed fine (again, I was probably experiencing a no-sugar-induced-hallucination).

So, while we were putting Plan C into action, I notice that a text from Joe pops up on my cell phone.

It reads:

"The door is locked. What now? Is there a spare key somewhere?"

Of course not.

Insert Plan D on the fly - making up more lies in my head and keeping my cool so as not to blow the whole thing. Fifteen minutes pass, all of which are spent figuring out the next step, while trying to be my usual witty conversationalist self with Steve. I figure out the solution for Plan D, but Joe was also quick on his feet, and now we come to Plan E. His next text informs me that everyone is camping out at our neighbor's house and we should show up there for the surprise, and then head over to our place afterward.

[INSERT HALLELUJAH CHORUS HERE]

I acted surprised all of the sudden and pretended that a text came from Jenni (neighbor who saved the night) inviting us over for pie. Was I lying? Sort of...? Did Steve buy it?

You bet he did.

We drove home, got inside our townhouse, walked out the front door (curse that door!), and then knocked on Ross and Jenni's door. We walked back into the kitchen, and SURPRISE!

Everyone was waiting there, totally going along with the crazy turn of events, and kicked off the party with a bang.

SUCCESS! STEVE WAS TOTALLY SURPRISED!

Everyone then headed to our place where we enjoyed a fabulous party.

The goodies - drinks, choc/caramel brownies, chips and salsa, veggies & dip, lemon roll cake thing, and the following:

Steve thought I was making this for my students for Valentine's day.

Ha! Guess again.

[If you want the recipe, just ask. It's super easy, and totally scrumptious.]

The gang.

More gang.

No surprise party is complete without a few rounds of Telephone Charades.

Hilarious.

After all the guests had gone home, Steve had a chance to read all the surprise notes we posted all over the townhouse.

And here's where many of you come in!

I asked a bunch of family members and friends to describe Steve in one word, and to share a story or memory that describes why they chose that particular word.

I was shooting for 28 of these "facets" of Steve in honor of his 28th birthday, but ended up with 30. Cool!

[does that mean this counts for the next two birthdays as well? =) ]

Steve definitely felt the love.

We both want to say thanks to everyone who helped make this a fantastic birthday. I put everything together in a slideshow that I showed him at the end of the night, but it would take too long to upload on the blog, so I've posted the pictures on here in the order they appear in the slideshow instead. I've only included a few of the word descriptions to save time and space, but they were all perfect. It was fun for both of us to see Steve through 30 pairs of eyes.

special

One of the many words that describe Steven is "SPECIAL". From the first day I met him he was SPECIAL and quite unique for a young man. He was always smiling, loving, caring, a listener, and interested in what I had to say. We kind of adopted each other almost from the first minute we met. I said that I would have loved to have had him as my grandson and he said that he would adopt me as his Scottish grandma, how unique and unusual is that in a young man. It was obvious that he came from a loving family and his love for his wife Kristen shone brightly from his eyes. He never missed greeting me each time I saw him with a hug to show that he cared, again quite unusual, but that was Steven. He loved Scotland - cold as it was, especially Edinburgh. He loved the people, our culture and all it had to offer in the four seasons he was here. He was never critical of anything. He was very popular with the young people in our ward and mixed well. I loved him when he was here and love him still and have the very best of memories of him and his lovely wife - our Kristen. Boy did they love each other, it was very obvious in their actions to each other.

-Rita McGuire

banana

Banana (or mango, apple, orange, etc.) - One day, there were a few of us sitting around before class and Steven told us about this game where you "glue" your upper lip to your teeth and try to say the names of fruits. Each fruit represents a person so you pass the game along ("banana to mango"). Needless to say, I spent the next 10 minutes of class time silently trying to do this with as many fruits as I could think of and in the process, made a fool of myself I'm sure in front of classmates and our professor.

- Tal Sack

steve-o-licious!

After hours and hours of contemplation, a little fasting, sleep and daydreaming the only logical single word description i think even comes remotely close to describing steve is:

STEVE-O-LICIOUS!!!!!!!!

I know, I know....at first blush it sounds a little too calm to describe Steve accurately. but the reason I chose this word is because steve is the Man!!! He's got it all! He's got the looks, he's got the voice, the charm, the biceps, the poise and even the lady! He's the type of guy that doesn't openly advertise his awesomeness, but those that take the time to get to know him become better from having known him. He's an example of how men should be. He's a loyal friend, and he makes those around him feel special. Plus, he's a crazy party animal, and he can make you laugh like nobody's business. and those are a few of the millions of reasons I chose the word Steve-o-licious. I love ya bro!

- Jared Perkins

open

If I had to choose only *one* word to describe Steve, I would choose “open”.

Steve is open to new ideas. He listens, he reads (a lot!!), and he thinks. I’ve seen him reconsider his opinion after receiving additional information on a topic, which I think is a wonderful ability. It gives him power to constantly reevaluate himself, and strive for being the best he can be.

Steve is open to new experiences (I would even say he seeks them out!). As attested by your constant world-traveling, Steve is excited to be in new places (or places that were once new, and have become cherished) and to experience the differences in culture and perspective there. I believe he enjoys being shaped by these experiences, and comes away a better person afterward. Even if the experience doesn’t appear to be all that awesome (like hiking 10 minutes up Penny Hill for a minute-and-a-half ride down) he is still open to trying it.

Steve is open to people. He shares his sense of humor, his experiences, his time. As I write this, I try to imagine Steve in a “clique” . . . and I can’t force those ideas together. I feel that Steve is all about including people, and drawing them in to what is happening. While you two were dating, it took almost no time at all for Steve to win my love and trust.

It’s very hard to choose only one word to describe Steve (as there are a lot of good words to choose from). But since the assignment said only one, I have to go with “open”.

- Cullen Irvine

Sourish

Okay Steve in one word..SOURISH ;-)

This with a story that goes something like this...

A funny memory I have of my cousin is from when he visited us in Sweden. After a day full of experiences we finally sat down on the couch at my house. We turned on the computer and Steve phoned Kristen via skype for a while. In front of Steve, I put down a big bowl of mixed candy. At that time we were very tired and it was quite late, I could tell you.

After a while Kristen and I talked, but at the same time I can see in the corner of my eyes that Steve has started to eat the candy. He eats with a smile, but right as he is, I see how his face changes. Steve starts to make weird faces! I can´t stop laughing at him because I start to realize what kind of candy he has put into his mouth. It is a small pink candy that is super-sour!..in the beginning ;-)

After a while Steve starts to think that the candy is okay but before he can say this, he loses his face again! The sour candy alters the taste to sweet after a while, but inside this little pink candy awaits another surprise: a super-salty surprise! Steve is not prepared for this and doesn't like it at all!!! He does not know whether he'll spit it out. or what to do! On the other couch I sit and I have such a stomach ache from laughing!

This is a happy memory and every time I'm in the supermarket and see those little pink candies, I think of you, Steve! Happy Birthday, I Love u cuz!

- Filippa Fröling

unpredictable

The word I would use to describe Steve is "Unpredictable". From high school through college he surprised me in many of the decisions that he made. These ranged from going off to Taiwan to teach English, to the intensity in which he plays games (especially Nertz). One specific time that I remember was when Steve and I went on a double date out to Jordan Commons. On the ride out there he told a story about how when he was a kid he would get sent to his room. In his room he had some rope and he concocted an idea that if part of the rope was in the room and he was touching the rope, he was still in the room. So he went around the house holding the rope in which the other end of the rope was in his room. Everyone in the car burst out laughing.

- Kyle Turner

We wanted to share some of the Telephone Charade madness with all of you in the following videos. There were some Oscar-worthy performances for sure. First up, you'll see Joseph Castleton reenacting the warehouse scene from Footloose. Next, you'll watch Tricia McKean acting out Mubarak's demise. And the grand finale, we have Jacob Smith capturing the essence of Luke Skywalker. Enjoy.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

2011-01-23T15:06:00.000-08:00

We're late posting the pics from our MLK holiday weekend adventures, but we hope you'll ignore our tardiness.

How could you not when you see the bundle of cuteness we were getting to know?

This is Miss Livvy.

Daughter of Savannah and Matt Hansen - friends of ours who are currently residing in Indianapolis, IN.

All I can say is, this little lady has fabulous taste. Are you seeing how she's working the Madden heels?

Diva in the making and she's not even two.

We had a blast spending time with the Hansens, and for .00035% of the time when we weren't being lazy and spending time indoors, we bundled up to go and explore the sights of Indy.

(The tragic thing about being a child is that the adults around you force you to wear clothing that you would never choose on your own. We wanted to see how Livvy liked Steve's scarf and gloves. Pretty sure she loathed it. Who wouldn't when it's up against pink and purple accessories that actually match AND fit?!? Go figure.)

What sights did we see?

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

Home of the Indy 500.

This place is gigantic.

Part of a golf course is placed in the interior portion of the speedway.

For you racing buffs out there...

Matt and Savannah.

Hosts extraordinaire.

We are not even remotely into cars.

But we still thought they looked cool enough for a few pictures.

Having said that last statement, I was genuinely intrigued by a few vehicles (if you can call this contraption a vehicle). Cool, eh?

This was my favorite car in the museum.

Cool shape and very cool color.

That is the extent of my knowledge about this car.

Favorite picture of the trip - Savannah behind the wheel.

Her expression is priceless!

The other 99.99965% of the time in Indy was spent talking, relaxing, eating delicious food, and playing games. We love playing Dominion, and had a blast introducing it to the Hansens.

In case you're not convinced that Matt, Savannah and Livvy are some of the coolest people on the planet, I thought I'd share a few pics that explain just how fun they really are.

I came across these pictures (taken by my brother, Cullen) over Christmas break, and they brought back so many fabulous memories with Savannah.

Evidence of our insanity dating back to August 2005:

Yup. Savannah convinced me to JUMP OUT OF AN AIRPLANE!

(Or maybe it was vice versa? I can't remember the specifics of how it came about...)

Here we are, contemplating our decision to strap ourselves to instructors that instructed for 3 minutes tops, and jump out of a moving airplane at 13,000 feet.

Please notice the body language here - total composure.

(That might have changed when I heard my instructor shout, "3...2...1...JUMP!!!")

One of the craziest and most exhilarating things I've ever done.

So glad I could share the experience with a friend.

It's wonderful when you move out of your home state and realize that you're only 3.2 hours away from good friends who are willing to do crazy things. I'm sure Savannah and I could conjure up more exciting adventures, only this time, the husbands can accompany us.

Even better.

Thanks for a fabulous visit to Indy you guys!

5 Years Ago

2011-01-18T17:19:00.000-08:00

I couldn't let today slip by without sharing a few thoughts.

Five years ago - 18 January 2006 - I found myself in the Provo Missionary Training Center embarking on one of the wildest rides of my life - an LDS mission to the Texas San Antonio Mission.

Nine weeks after that and with a little Spanish under my belt, I found myself in the heart of the TSAM. I had no idea then how much the next sixteen months would shape the rest of my life.

Five years later - 18 January 2011 - I still think about my mission on a regular basis - the people, the land, the lessons, the challenges, the hysterical moments, the mistakes, the lack of sleep (or so it felt), the miracles, coming to know and feel pure joy, pure love and so much more. Words are inadequate to capture it all.

I loved my mission and I cherish its ongoing effects.

For all of you TSAMers out there...

les amo

***

The 2011 list

2011-01-09T13:05:00.001-08:00

New year = new book list!

Many moons ago (Summer 2008), Steve and I "encouraged" one another to read our respective favorite books.

His recommendation to me:

John Adams by David McCullough

My recommendation to him:

Advise and Consent by Allen Drury

It didn't take long for either of us to decide that we like each other's taste in books.

Both are excellent.

Instead of making traditional new year resolutions, we've created a book list for each other with books we've either read ourselves and loved, or books we'd like to read, but we want the other person to find out if they're worth reading.

hehehe...

For the Mr.

I have assigned Steve the following books to read, which fall under three periods of world history: Classical antiquity, the Renaissance, and the U.S. Civil War era.

1. One of three books I've selected from classical antiquity: The Iliad, The Odyssey or The Aeneid. It's poetry and prose, so he can pick one of these three. My guess is that Steve will breeze through the other two assigned books, but it may take him a while to get through Homer or Virgil, depending on which he chooses.

2. Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - a play based on two lesser figures from Shakespeare's Hamlet, so...in a very roundabout way...a selection from the Renaissance/Humanist movement in 16th century England even though it was written in the 20th century.

3. One of the greatest books I've ever read about the American Civil War - The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. The title comes from a poignant conversation between Sgt. Kilrain and Col. Chamberlain fighting together for the Union. If you don't feel like reading the book, I'd highly recommend the movie Gettysburg, which is based on Killer Angels. Be warned though, it is a real tear jerker.

For the Mrs.

Steve gave me a little more freedom in choosing the books I'll be reading by offering only the following guidelines. One of the books must be:

1. A Pulitzer prize winner

2. A biography about a head of state

3. A book about a thing

So, I've got the second one covered (it falls under two categories, but I am counting it as the head of state). My dad gave me Cleopatra, which I am thoroughly enjoying, but if you have any suggestions about a favorite pulitzer prize-winning book, or a book about some fascinating thing, please, do tell! I'm always up for good book suggestions.

Happy reading.

2010 Finale

2011-01-02T18:16:00.000-08:00

2010

It was a year like no other, and both started and ended with a bang.

Here's a looksie at how we bid adieu to a fabulous year, and welcomed in a new one during the holiday season.

Synchronized snowplows.

This is what Columbus looked like out of the window of the plane on the day we flew to Utah. A huge storm hit the East Coast, but we made it out before things got too ugly.

An on-time arrival was crucial since I was responsible for the flowers for a friend's wedding as soon as we got home. Steve was a fabulous assistant from start to finish.

Sea of gerber stems - I couldn't have asked for prettier flowers when I went to pick them up. They turned out great.

The bridal bouquet.

Kirsten's colors were pink, silver, and black - pretty fun for a winter wedding.

One of the best moments of our entire trip - attending the sealing of Kennedy Ann to her amazing parents, Kyle and Jessica Turner.

It was the coolest experience, and we're so glad we got to share in this special event.

I have the coolest in-laws. I brought these bouquets to Natalie, Lindsey and Julie on the day we celebrated Christmas with Steve's family, and we had some fun with the flowers before putting them back in vases.

Both flowers and family are lovely.

The breakfast Claw.

It's tradition on Christmas.

Enough said.

And here is little Dax - cute as ever - getting comfortable on his new train from Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Tyler.

One of many awesome games that we played over the holidays - Settlers of America: From Trails to Rails.

Even better than Catan.

We got to see the Mitchell crew one afternoon and helped the kiddos put together a puzzle.

Playing games with the Turner and Hess families - good friends from high school.

John and Sara got married while we were in Scotland, so this was really fun because it was the first time we got to meet and spend time with Sara, and see them together.

Christmas found the Irvines in Sun Valley this year to visit my brother, Scott, who couldn't get away from work.

Cullen and Steve halfway up Penny Hill - a fabulous sledding hill near the Sun Valley lodge.

Too bad I didn't flip around sooner to see Steve fly off his saucer.

Tandem sledding = a really good time.

After we trudged up the huge hill to sled on some amazing powder, we called it a day. The video at the bottom of the post will give you an idea of the hike.

We came.

We saw.

We conquered.

Cullen and Myca.

They're checking out new furniture.

Oh Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,

How see-through are your branches...

Making sure Santa's sleigh is in working order...

On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer, on Vixen...

On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen!

Perfect timing, Steve.

Gearing up for the sleigh ride we had booked later that evening.

Post-sleigh ride - the Irvine family, minus one. Natalia spent Christmas on tour with Disney on Ice in Dublin, Ireland.

As for the sleigh ride at dusk, it was the real deal - horses, pine trees, snow, carols, and a beautiful blanket of stars overhead.

My dad and sister went skiing.

Nathan and I went snowboarding.

After skiing for 20+ years, I've decided it's time to move on.

Waiting for Nutcracker on Ice to start on Christmas Eve.

Scott designed the set and organized this popular production, which was followed by a torch-light parade down Dollar mountain and a spectacular fireworks display.

Skating on Christmas day with a special guest to Sun Valley.

No clue who that is on the right?

Click here.

He performed in the ice shows earlier that week, and also skated on a public session on Christmas, which happened to be the same session we decided to skate on as well. He is the most gracious Olympian (and only Olympian) I've ever met.

Christmas dinner with the family.

Adams family White Elephant party. This white elephant gift exchange is serious business.

The infamous turtle that reappears every year assured the Team Adams marriage in 2009 (Steve got the turtle Christmas 2008 - the owner will either get married or have a baby the following year), and this year, it went to Leah. She was the first person to choose a present and it just happened to be the turtle.

The Irvine extended family party took place after Christmas, but Santa still made a visit to make sure the kids got what they asked for.

I must say, Hayden is the cutest little guy on the planet.

I was reprimanded for not leaving any cookies these past few years...

We went to see The Nutcracker at the Capitol Theater on the last night of the production, which means we really saw, The Nutty Nutcracker (tribute to Hollywood).

The following individuals were sighted:

Luke Skywalker

Darth Vader

Willie Nelson

Marilyn Monroe

Dracula

Frankenstein

Gene Kelly

Ginger Rogers & Fred Astaire

Beyonce

Lady Gaga

Cher

Captain Jack Sparrow

Dorothy

and last but not least, stepping in for the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier: James Bond with his Bond girl.

It was hysterical.

New Year's Eve day - one of the greatest days of the trip - getting together with dear friends and sharing fabulous announcements. 2011 is going to be an exciting year for this bunch.

Couldn't miss the lights at Temple Square so we strolled the walks on New Year's Eve.

Amazing photography brought to you by Steve.

Fireworks at the Andershall residence on New Year's Eve with Ann and Ryan, plus a bunch of other friends from Texas. Ryan proposed to Ann the previous evening. The coolest thing when a best friend gets married? Besides seeing her happiness, we acquire an additional friend. Ryan is wonderful, and we're so happy these two have found each other.

And the fireworks were spectacular.

Happy New Year!

It's gonna be grand.

A few videos that we wanted to share:

1) What happens when you're not a believer quite yet.

2) Taking on a hill of pristine powder.

3) Taking on a hill of packed snow.

Festivities

2010-12-11T12:01:00.000-08:00

We want to share some pictures of holiday festivities that we've thoroughly enjoyed.

First up, Thanksgiving in Buffalo, New York

We got to hang out with Amy, Ariel and Austin Swensen over Thanksgiving break, and it was wonderful being with family.

We had dinner with some ward members and this little chica (Nora) was entertained by Steve for at least an hour. Even after she caused a glass of grape juice to spill all over me (yes, I was lucky enough to be wearing a white blouse that day), I still thought she was the cutest little girl on the planet.

My first attempt at a pumpkin cheesecake.

We got to spend a day sightseeing in Palmyra to visit the Church history sites and catch a session at the Palmyra temple.

E.B. Grandin Press - this was one of our favorite places.

The Sacred Grove

We basically had it to ourselves, which was amazing.

Freezing, but wonderful.

Making ourselves at home in the Smith family log house in Palmyra.

Gorgeous scenery in the late afternoon.

And to welcome in the Christmas season?

A ukelele concert.

Because who doesn't love a good ukelele concert?

Steve's friend Alex graced us with a lovely rendition of The Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.

It was awesome.

And we decided to jump on the tradition bandwagon by making gingerbread houses with friends.

Evidence that the gingerbread houses were made from scratch.

It was quite the undertaking.

Frosting preparation

Spiced gumdrops - essential components of any gingerbread creation.

The houses in the forefront were homemade, while the one in the back came in a kit. I got lazy. I called my friend Ann to find out how to make stained-glass windows since her family members are expert gingerbread architects, and the windows turned out pretty well. Thanks Ann!

Jeremiah and Abby at the outset.

The finished project - I loved their lattice roof and m&m walkway.

Brianna & Uncle Joey in the thick of it.

They claim they made an Ewok farm. We have no idea what that means, but it was sure fun to see their creativity come to life.

The Mr. & Mrs.

The finished product.

Those might be gummy bears sneaking a holiday kiss under the mistletoe.

These gingerbread houses had stories to tell, that's for sure.

It was a hit - we already have a waiting list for Gingerbreadfest 2011.

The New Digs

2010-12-01T12:11:00.000-08:00

We've been in Columbus just over two months now so we figured it's time to post about our lovely little townhouse since everything is finally put together. This post will hopefully convince my family that we're not using cardboard boxes as furniture (which we were for a time).

I love our blue door. It's friendly.

The Kitchen:

BEFORE

I'm not sure why we didn't move the bike earlier, but we weren't using the dining area so I guess we figured something should enjoy the space.

AFTER

The flowers add a nice touch, but they aren't usually there. I bought some roses and gerber daisies to inspire me for an upcoming wedding I'm doing in December, but it was really nice to have them around for so long.

One of the best parts of moving to Ohio has been using all the wonderful kitchen appliances/gadgets that we received as wedding gifts that were kept in storage while we lived in Scotland. It was a Beauty and the Beast moment (think Be Our Guest) when we finally unpacked and used everything. The rice cooker is my culinary bff.

The Pantry

Still in a chaotic state, but we love it.

It's family and friends that make a house a home. This picture is evidence of my love of Saturday mornings - waffles and crazy friend sightings. HA! Joe didn't want to feel left out of the kitchen/cooking madness so we let him wear an apron too.

Downstairs bathroom

And now that brings us to the family room:

BEFORE

That cardboard box was our dinner table before the real one arrived from D.C. We had lots of fun with dinners those first couple weeks.

TOTAL CHAOS

This is the day all our stuff arrived. I don't think I touched any of it for two days due to the sheer overwhelming-ness of the situation that was our living room.

MORE CHAOS

But funny chaos.

We received a gift-card to Walmart (also from the wedding) and figured we'd use it to print off photographs that we wanted to hang up on the walls. Walmart messed up our order a couple times and ended up giving it to us for free. SCORE! I thought they had to be joking considering how many pictures we were printing off, but they weren't. It took us forever to figure out what to put where.

AFTER

MORE AFTER from a different angle.

I found Steve like this one evening and couldn't help but laugh.

Pretty sure it takes some serious skill in order to study in that position.

Another fun thing about our place is having room to hang up paintings I finished a few years ago.

The door on the right side leads down to the basement, but I didn't take any pictures...

Upstairs bathroom - very exciting.

Joe made this sign, which will remain on the door until a new visitor occupies our spare bedroom. And even then, we'll likely refer to it as Uncle Joey's room...

BEFORE

AFTER

Steve totally lucked out when he married me. Why? Because of the sweet desk I brought into the marriage. That, my friends, is my favorite desk from my days at BYU. I've been excited for five years to put it back together again, and I'm glad Steve puts it to such good use.

Girly? Yes. Super comfortable? Yes, yes.

And, even better than all that - it's a trundle bed! The more the merrier in these parts.

Master Bedroom.

That's the tour!

We hope you've enjoyed a glimpse of our lives here in Ohio.

And since it's now December, I figured I'd include some pics of the Christmas decorations that are making debut appearances at the Adams residence this year.

Wha-lah!

The tree.

We put up Christmas decorations a week and a half before Thanksgiving because we only get to enjoy them for about three weeks since we'll be heading to Utah in no time at all.

However...

Three days after putting everything up, my visiting teachers came over to visit and that's when I realized that our townhouse is NOT kid-proof. Both women brought wee ones that loved to touch, squeeze, and likely, lick everything that looked sparkly, shiny, or fragile.

Yikes.

Here's our brilliant plan to child-proof our decorations for our own kiddos:

We took pictures of some the ornaments that we acquired over the last year so that we can print them out and either: a) do something easy with hodge-podge and a backing of some sort, or b) stick with time-tested cardboard and glue. It depends on how ambitious I'm feeling when that time comes.

So...the following ornaments are temporarily comfortable on the Christmas tree, but in future years we'll opt for the replaceable/bendable/tearable versions so as to protect the originals until the little munchkins won't destroy them:

Vienna, AUSTRIA

Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS

Coolest Santa I've ever seen.

Edinburgh, SCOTLAND

Paris, FRANCE

Florence, ITALY

Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS again

London, ENGLAND

Innsbruck, AUSTRIA

Cinque Terre, ITALY

Hong Kong, CHINA

Inverness, SCOTLAND

Marrakech, MOROCCO

And since we haven't found a cool tree-topper yet, Frosty the OSU-man is proudly adorning the top of our tree.

In other completely random but fantastic news:

1) Steve's last day of class is TOMORROW! Where, oh where, does the time go? I'm so proud of how he's done this quarter.

2) I officially graduated last Friday (in absentia) as "Kristen Kathleen Irvine" (too many hoops to jump through to get U of E to let me graduate with my married name on the diploma. Sad.), but....

3) I officially became "Kristen Kathleen Adams" TODAY!

(I finally made the name change official on government documents...it only took 15 months.)

4) It finally SNOWED here today! It made me so happy.

Just wanted to say...

2010-11-21T16:33:00.000-08:00

THANKS!

With Thanksgiving upon us this week, we wanted to share some things we are very thankful for. Hope you enjoy the list (in no particular order).*

Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.

- Martin Luther

A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.

- Henry David Thoreau

To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.

- Aldous Huxley

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.

- John Ruskin

Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.

- Pablo Picasso

Music is the shorthand of emotion.

- Leo Tolstoy

There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.

- Thomas Aquinas

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.

- Buddha

I have a lot of great memories, but I can't imagine anything more exciting than the life I have now.

- Rob Lowe

I perceived how that it was impossible to establish the lay people in any truth except the Scripture were plainly laid before their eyes in their mother tongue.

- William Tyndale

Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.

- Walter Bagehot

Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.

- Thomas Jefferson

Hearty laughter is a good way to jog internally without having to go outdoors.

- Norman Cousins

Sister is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship.

- Margaret Mead

What I've enjoyed most, though, is meeting people who have a real interest in food and sharing ideas with them. Good food is a global thing and I find that there is always something new and amazing to learn - I love it!

- Jamie Oliver

A story to me means a plot where there is some surprise. Because that is how life is - full of surprises.

- Isaac Bashevis Singer

Letters are among the most significant memorial a person can leave behind them.

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Testimony is as elusive as a moonbeam; it's as fragile as an orchid; you have to recapture it every morning of your life. You have to hold on by study, and by faith, and by prayer.

- Harold B. Lee

Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable...Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sunlight is painting.

- Nathaniel Hawthorne

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

- Mary Poppins

A happy family is but an earlier heaven.

- George Bernard Shaw

Education comes from within; you get it by struggle and effort and thought.

- Napoleon Hill

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

- C.S. Lewis

I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.

- Claude Monet

I don't know if it's just me or everyone, but the whole vibe with skiing is not so much thriving on competition against others as it is against myself and the clock.

- Picabo Street

A photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into.

- Ansel Adams

My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

- Langston Hughes

It is difficult to know at what moment love begins; it is less difficult to know that it has begun.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

*This list could go on and on, but we are so very thankful for life and everything that comes with it. We hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

the district

2010-11-15T12:00:00.000-08:00

One reason why we love Columbus?

Its proximity to a bunch of fabulous places, including:

Washington D.C.

We decided to take a road trip over Veteran's Day weekend to go and hang out with my sister and her husband. The time passed much too quickly, but we loved every minute we got to spend in such a great place with awesome people.

Playing Settlers

Lindsay is on the phone with my dad in this picture. Turns out, I forgot to tell him that we were going to D.C. for the weekend, and he called my cell phone to find out some info about my sister since she's as terrible at answering her phone as I am. Since I was sitting across the table from her when he called, I handed over the phone straightaway. Needless to say, my dad was surprised.

East doors of the D.C. temple.

Most of the leaves have fallen in Columbus, but we saw gorgeous Autumn scenery the whole weekend in D.C. This is the bridge connecting the entrance/waiting area to the rest of the temple.

Tallest LDS temple from ground to spire.

A lovely way to start the day.

After the temple, we met up with Dave and Jen Holtkamp for lunch at Old Ebbit's. We met them in Scotland last year and love hearing of their adventures now that they live in D.C. while Dave gets his Master's from GMU. Not sure why we didn't take a picture with them, but we loved getting together.

After that? The Mall.

Steve told me to think tall.

So this is me, thinking tall.

And here we are at the WWII memorial between the Washington monument and Lincoln memorial.

More of the WWII memorial.

And some more. We loved the fountains (that's the Lincoln memorial in the background).

My wonderful Buckeye

The monument includes a pillar for each state and U.S. territory involved in the conflict, all of which surround a beautiful central fountain.

Washington monument from the Lincoln memorial.

The Adamses visiting Mr. Lincoln.

Whenever I read or think about the Gettysburg Address, I remember an excellent book that I was introduced to in the 8th grade - Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. If you haven't read it, you really should.

There is a picture like this of me and my siblings when we're all little kids sitting on these very steps. Here's to you Scott, Cullen and Lindsay. Wish we all could have been here together this time too.

Explanation of the Mister's face: Missus' first time cutting hair.

HA!

Nathan was nice enough to show me how to do it, since I'll likely be cutting it from now on and need to know what I'm doing.

A view from the George Washington Parkway, en-route to Clifton for some spectacular scenery.

Here I am, goofing around on the train tracks in Clifton, minding my own business...

And there's Nathan, also goofing around on the train tracks, definitely not minding his own business. He knocked me off at the perfect moment, but unfortunately, Lindsay didn't capture his scheming maneuvers fast enough.

He doesn't know who he's messing with apparently. Christmas break, here we come.

I don't think we've ever mentioned where the name "Team Adams" came from for our blog. Steve came up with it, and I was very impressed with his inspiration. For years and years, my dad has been trying to persuade his daughters to jump on the "Team Irvine" bandwagon: an Irvine pairs/ice-dancing/daddy-daughter ice-skating team. Steve picked up on the Team Irvine references while we were dating and decided Team Adams would be a fitting title for the blog documenting our adventures.

If we can balance this well on train tracks, who knows what we can do on the ice with a little practice...

Maybe a synchronized waltz jump.

Maybe.

Gorgeous Clifton scenery.

Enjoying a raspberry concrete on the way back into D.C.

Yes, that's right, a concrete.

Lindsay and Nathan took us to the Nielson's Frozen Custard Virginia branch - just as good as the Bountiful headquarters. Lindsay explained the family connections and how everything ties together, but all I know is that we enjoyed one tasty concrete in Virginia.

That's me and my sister at the foot of the Jefferson Memorial. A little off the beaten path of the Mall, but always worth a visit.

The memorial is based on Jefferson's design for his home at Monticello, which in turn, was based upon the architecture of the Pantheon in Rome.

The sculpture of Jefferson is cool, but the inscription around the dome (what I was reading when Steve snapped the picture) is even cooler:

"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

-Thomas Jefferson

It was a fantastic weekend and we can't wait to go back.

Happenings

2010-11-07T15:36:00.000-08:00

Here are the latest happenings from Ohio:

First stop: The Book Loft in German Village

Steve was antsy to get out of the house one night so we decided to go see some random, 32-room bookstore in German Village to check out the selection and see if there is anything we had to have to expand the Adams' library.

A little chaotic, but a really fun place to explore for a couple hours...

No books, but one KKA to go, please.

It was raining pretty hard when we decided to leave, and the friendly cashier offered each of us (myself, Steve, Joe and Jacob) a plastic bag to get from the store to our car.

Next stop: AMISH COUNTRY!

Woot woot!

I was really excited to go visit our friendly neighbors, especially when I got to see a gigantic picnic basket on the side of the road on the way there...

How cool is that?!?!? We had just browsed through a book (at the Book Loft, two days prior) about funny landmarks one can see while driving across the U S of A. Didn't see this one in the book, but I laughed when we saw it en-route to visit the Amish.

Welcome to Amish country!

We didn't keep a tally, but I believe we saw at least twenty buggies being pulled by horses in and around Walnut Creek, OH.

Most people we saw were really friendly and waved back at us as we passed by. Couldn't help but think of Pres. Faust's Conference address in 2007 about the Amish (the one about forgiveness).

A peek into their world.

Steve was hoping we'd get stuck behind a buggy, which we did (multiple times). For some reason, getting stuck behind a horse and carriage in downtown SLC drives me nuts, but being stuck behind a horse and buggy in Ohio's Amish Country was the coolest thing ever.

Go figure.

We had to check out the local library. From the little that I know about this culture, they strive to keep the outside world at a distance, and stay close to home. I read a handbook on Amish culture and remember three rules that (generally) determine their behavior:

1) Does this keep me apart from the world?

2) Will this divide my family in any way?

3) Will this take me far from home?

An interesting sight in the library that caught my attention was seeing the Amish with the world at their fingertips, thanks to the internet. The 12.5 mile radius (horses can travel 25 miles in a day - another piece of info in my Amish handbook) that constitutes the normal boundaries of the Amish isn't as restrictive as one might think.

A paradox?

Steve really liked these. All that stuff in there...

Corn!

This was in the late afternoon, so I assume this nice woman was heading home.

Last stop: The Gallery Hop

The first Saturday of every month is set aside as a gallery hop - all the galleries in the Short North stay open until 10:00pm. Steve planned the evening, and we ended up spending time with some friends from the Glenn school for dinner and a night of gallery hopping.

Future city managers, agency administrators, public policy analysts...

This is Alex.

As you might imagine, he always makes us laugh.

Not exactly sure what is on top of my head, but I couldn't resist trying it on. I may have to come back to this vintage shop next October when I'm coming up with my Halloween 2011 attire. Speaking of that, congrats to Alisha Clark for guessing the identity and context of my Halloween 2010 costume - Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady) at the Ascot Races.

"C'mon, Dover!"

A very funny scene...

Art lovers (or pseudo art lovers) trying to figure out what they're looking at.

Ha!

I don't pretend to understand Contemporary art.

We stopped in a little shop and struck up a fun conversation with the owner/shop designer. I saw this decoration on the window ledge and asked how much it cost. Officially, it wasn't for sale, but the owner said he'd let me have it for 5 bucks.

Nice.

We didn't have any cash on us, but told him we'd be back. We came back about 40 minutes later and he said that right after we left, another person came in and had their eye on the same decoration. They said that if it was still there at 9:40pm, they were buying it.

We went back at 9:30pm.

Score.

It reminds me of something I'd find at the Kimball Art Center in Park City, and if you haven't been there, you should definitely go. Park City also has a gallery stroll - it's on the last Friday of every month. The Kimball should have their annual glass Christmas ornament exhibition up right now, and if you find an ornament you like, you can purchase it on the spot.

Happy hopping/strolling.

Election Day

2010-11-03T07:45:00.000-07:00

I failed in my civic responsibility this year and am quite ashamed of myself.

Two reasons for this: I am not registered to vote in Ohio, nor did I request an absentee ballot in enough time to have my vote count in the Utah election. It won't be happening again, that's for sure.

Joe, Steve and I decided to go and hit up the dollar theater for some cheap entertainment because we figured we'd watch the returns after the movie ended when there was actually something to say rather than mere speculation. We didn't participate, but we figured we'd at least celebrate (or cry).

First movie: Eat Pray Love

(We saw this last Saturday, but I wanted to share a few thoughts)

Loved it!

Some people have gotten carried away with the book and have tried to copy Ms. Gilbert's journey of discovery. Sad, but true. I must say, however, that there are some very valuable lessons to be learned from the author's experiences.

One of my favorite parts of the movie happened to take place in Italy. After seeing the trailer for this movie I knew the cinematography would be fantastic, and I was not disappointed. An awesome moment is captured when the friends are gathered together eating Italian food, and there is a huge plate of spaghetti (seen above) with the parmesan cheese being sprinkled on top of it in slow motion while the Queen of the Night aria plays in the background. It is absolutely brilliant.

Second Movie: Inception

We saw this last night while the votes were being counted.

It blew my mind.

I'm definitely going to need to see this a few more times. The story line is still working itself out in my head. Most people I've talked to say that you should plan to see it more than once to catch all the details you missed the first time.

Done deal.

And that was how we spent Election Day 2010. Though I shirked my civic duty, I participated in some good 'ole American entertainment at the dollar theater. After the movie ended we came home and checked out the election returns to see what's going to happen to our country over the next two years...

SHOCK!

2010-11-01T09:24:00.001-07:00

Shock, n. [shok]

a sudden or violent disturbance of the mind, emotions, or sensibilities.

I am still in shock today.

Why?

I got the mark for my dissertation yesterday.

During an Orientation meeting in September 2009, the first piece of information I heard regarding the dissertation that would be required to complete my degree:

Don't expect a mark of 80 or above - that's impossible for anything less than exceptional work produced by PhD candidates.

Great. The director speaking to us must have felt our dismay because she quickly asked, "how many of you are from the United States?"

I raised my hand (along with 30 or so other people at the meeting).

She then said, "How does a score of 80 look on an American transcript? Pretty mediocre, right?"

Indeed.

That's when I was introduced the craziness known as the UK marking system. Anything that falls between 70 and 100 is awarded a distinction. The reason we were not to expect 80 or higher is because professors and administrators feel that Masters' students do not have the background, research experience or adequate time to spend on one topic to deserve such a high mark - it's pretty much an exclusive privilege of PhD students. So anything over 80 was non-existent, and anything over 70 was still pretty rare.

The grading scale we came to know and love pretty much looked like this:

40-49: Thanks for trying

50-59: Good

60-69: Great

70 and above: Distinction - we think you're awesome.

Somewhat comical, but true. Average marks usually fell somewhere between 58-66 for students in my program.

26 March 2010 - the day I promised myself I'd do whatever it takes to earn a distinction - no pleasure reading, no facebook, no wasting time, constantly research new sources, take tons of notes, question every argument, cite every source, etc. etc. etc. A quote I have come to love, which truly captures the essence of my dissertation experience is by Jim Rohn:

"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment."

Here's what that looked like:

This is on a light day - usually our front room looked like a tornado had hit Piersfield Terrace, leaving books, papers, post-it notes, etc. strewn about the room.

16 August 2010: I turned in two copies of my completed dissertation, flew back to the States the next day, and started the waiting game to receive my final mark.

Not a big fan of that game, but at least I kept myself really busy.

31 October 2010: Halloween just got even better.

I got a 79.

I am truly stunned. I felt really good about this paper and know I gave it everything I had, but a 79 far exceeded my expectations. I was shooting for 80 or above - even though I was told it was impossible I still worked to the grading rubric that qualified for that score - all the while thinking that it would likely end up in the high 60s, maybe low 70s.

Was it all worth it?

Absolutely. I can't keep from smiling.

I know I've already thanked you a bazillion times, but to my amazing editors - DRI and LIR - I couldn't have achieved this without you. Thank you. And a big thanks as well to all of you who sent lovely thoughts and prayers on my behalf - they were felt and answered.

All Hallow's Eve

2010-10-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Beautiful weather, creative costumes and sweet treats - just some of the reasons why I love this holiday.

Here's a look at what went down in Ohio this week:

Lovely weather that included some spectacular sunsets

Creative costumes at the University Ward party

A bee, a bear and a bee keeper

(Jen, Brody and Tyson)

Dog and accompanying hydrant

(Angie & Scott*)

*Steve went to high school with Scott, who is the 2nd counselor in our bishopric...

Double Rainbow

(John & Trisha)

Catwoman & Robin

(Allison & Zach and their wee one)

French fries & Ice cream

(Rachael & Dan)

Hook, Peter, Tink & Wendy Lady

(The Christenson's)

Karl Malone & the Net

(Jacob & Becca*)

*Becca is due next month with their first of kin so, naturally, she got the award for "Best use of body"

Best costume of all...

Winner of the People's Choice Award:

Sushi & Soy Sauce

(Trevor & Emi)

As for our own costumes...

Some people figured Steve was William Wallace minus the blue face paint...

Little did they know, however, that he was actually a Scottish gnome!

(hehe...that's not true, but this picture makes me laugh)

And for the Mrs. - we have a little surprise for the person who correctly guesses my identity.

Here's the deal.

The FIRST person who correctly identifies my character AND the context (setting) of that character wins a delicious treat (see below). Hint: If you know the character, the context will be easy. Include your guess in the comment box and we'll let you know if you're the winner. =)

And here is the prize...

Trust us, it's worth a guess. We found these tea cakes in Scotland and can't get enough of them. World Market is nearby and just happens to keep these delectable treats on hand.

Lucky us.

And now, lucky you!

If you live in Columbus, you'll get them right away. If you live in Utah, we'll hire an elf to deliver them to you when we come into town for Christmas. If you live somewhere else, well, we'll hire an owl or something - you'll get your tea cakes though, guaranteed.

So there you have it - beautiful weather, creative costumes, and sweet treats.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

"I Married Adventure"

2010-10-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

I married adventure.

Indeed I did.

I know I promised to start blogging about our lives in Ohio, but a package in the mail today altered my plans.

We got a CD full of pictures taken last month by the talented Mrs. Taylor!

(You can check out her photography blog here)

When Jalene asked us what sort of "look" we were going for, this was the response: "We want to get back to our beginnings - simple yet fun." After a jam-packed year of work, graduate school, and some world travels, we just wanted to take a breath and remember how this whole thing - Team Adams - got started. So yes, this photo shoot was sentimental because it took me and Steve back to 1) where we went on our first date, 2) where we met, and 3) where we partied on 09/03/09 at our wedding reception - which happened to be at the same place as #2. We had five days together in Utah after getting back from Asia and it was nice to take an afternoon and forget about everything we had just done, everything we'd be doing shortly, to just enjoy the moment. A big thank-you to Jalene for working with our schedules in that small window of time before Steve left for Ohio.

Location #1: SLC Public Library

The last first date.

The title of this post comes from the book I'm holding - "I Married Adventure." Steve's holding a book about Scotland.

Marriage. Adventure. Scotland.

Who knew they were synonymous?

The funny thing is that we never ventured over to the library stacks on our first date. We spent most of the time along the North wall of the library (the cool slanting window with a great view and comfortable chairs) people-watching and talking about.....you guessed it, Taiwan.

Love the artistic shot from the roof.

People thought we were taking Engagement pictures - haha! Totally funny, but not too crazy an assumption.

Location #2: Fort Douglas (U of U campus, technically)

Where we met.

Steve thinks he looks like a grandpa. Pretty handsome grandpa if you ask me.

Dear Santa...

(hehehe - I really like this picture. so natural and fun.)

Love this one.

We were first introduced to this pose by our wedding photographer, Brody Dezember. He told Steve to stick his nose in my ear while whispering sweet nothings to me at the same time. Obedient as ever, Steve did as he was told. Only problem - I have really ticklish ears (a new discovery at the time), which means all we did was laugh. A year later and it's basically the same story. We're glad Jalene uses it too.

This is where our EFY company "Turn Away" met for all lessons, activities, study sessions, etc. I included this particular shot because we both cracked up at the Mister's facial expression. Not even sure how to describe it, but we both think it's hilarious.

Just imagine sixteen teenagers by our sides...

Another fave, for sure.

Something Jalene is really good at is capturing people in positions that highlight natural interactions and emotions.

The last time we were in this particular spot, I was in a beautiful gown and Steve was looking sharp in his tuxedo - even after he got nailed by the sprinklers. This is on the North side of the Officer's Club, also at Fort Douglas, which is where we had our wedding reception. Such sweet memories that we'll never forget.

Thanks again Jalene!

And for the rest of you, if you haven't already, you really should go and check out her blog.