Happy 30th!

Today Chase turns the big 3-0! In honor of the occasion, here are 30 little known facts about Chase.

1. He can play Ode to Joy on virtually any wind instrument. Including the nose flute.
2. In the car he only ever listens to NPR or classical music.
3. He is deathly afraid of snakes.
4. He is incredibly thorough when ironing. I don't even bother ironing his clothes anymore...apparently I need to work on my creases.
5. He always claims I'm smarter than him, but in the one class we both took, he got 100% on all the tests, and I kept getting 99%.
6. His favorite sports include skiing, rock climbing, and cycling.

7. He does the best chimpanzee impression around. Ask him about it sometime.
8. All time favorite candy? Swedish fish.
9. He always planned on being a fighter pilot when he was growing up, but a problem with his eyes prevented it.
10. He has a gimpy rib from when he broke it playing lacrosse in high school.
11. He can carry a conversation on virtually any topic. That was one of the very first things I liked about him, and we still stay up late just talking all the time.
12. He falls asleep in random places and positions more often than he'd like to admit.

13. He has held a plethora of odd jobs over the course of his life. One included transferring dead bugs for a scientist, but his worst was a temp position that had him calling up gas stations to verify information. All day. Every day.

14. He is a great cook and makes particularly good pies.

15. Star Wars is his all-time favorite movie. If we ever have a son he wants to name him Luke. And I'm strangely okay with that.

16. He served his mission in Manaus, Brazil...in the middle of the Amazon where yes, there were plenty of those snakes that so terrify him, among other creatures.

17. He once sliced a couch playing with a samurai sword. At age 22.

18. He teaches the 14-15 year old Sunday School at our church. 

19. He was one of those really annoying students in high school who goofed off and never did their homework, but still aced every test.

20. He is really quite neat. I rarely have to clean up after Chase, bless him.

21. Unconsciously tries not to step on cracks in the sidewalk, and can always tell you how many steps are in any given staircase he's climbed.

22. He has a great gift for perseverance and dependability.

23. Someone told him when he was a kid that snow sparkles because all the little snowflakes are exploding. And he believed it. For a long time.

24. The pets he has owned consist entirely of an art farm, goldfish, and venus fly trap. No wonder he keeps asking for a puppy.

25. His favorite dessert flavor is dark chocolate with orange. If that is an option he will pick it every time.

26. He is able to find humor in virtually every situation, and I love that he can always make me laugh. Situational irony is his favorite.

27. He was under the impression--until college, mind you--that goats were male sheep. 

28. He is a bit of an adrenaline junkie, and loves to do all the things that would scare me out of my mind. Including skydiving in Dallas last weekend with some of his best friends. This may have been my surprise birthday gift to him. And it may have been completely perfect. Ü

29. If I had to choose a doppleganger for him, it would be Brad Pitt.

30. He will voluntarily watch Pride and Prejudice with me. Just when you thought he couldn't get more perfect for me, right? Love him.

So, an incredibly happy birthday to you, Chase! 30's not so very old, is it?

September so far

Often, after bath time, my girls will put on their superhero capes and race around the house. It's kind of adorable.

I have been hard at work on achieving some of my goals! It took me three weeks, but finally this...

 ...turned into this. #16 Do a puzzle (500+ pieces) 

 I usually enjoy puzzles, but doing one with a toddler in the house is rather stressful. You have no idea how many times I had to redo the border, or would find pieces wedged in where they didn't really fit. And I did my best to keep my door shut so she wouldn't even be tempted!

I also completed #84 Plan a date night with Chase every week for a month

as well as #3 Make my own pasta from scratch
This one was a pretty big failure. It was my first ever attempt, and I think if I tried again it would turn out a lot better. However, the Milk Pail sells fresh pasta for pretty cheap, so considering the work involved in making your own, I think I'll just buy it there from now on.

Oh, and I did #47 Lay in the grass and find shapes in the clouds, though okay, I admit I just sat in the grass, because it was in a neighboring complex's yard, and it seemed weird to get too comfortable. The girls and I were just out on a walk at sunset and there were so many beautiful clouds we had to stop and really look at them.

This past Saturday I ran a 5K with these lovely ladies. Although Julianne and April opted for the 10K version, and finished only slightly behind me because I'm such a great runner. Ha!

And with that, I also finished up #72 Blog once a week for two months.

In case you were curious, that puts me at 34/101, though I confess I've done a lot of the easy ones first. Ü

A sweet moment

Each week in church one child is asked to share a reason why they know Heavenly Father loves them.

Last week it was Livia's turn, and the night before I asked her what she wanted to say.

Silence.

"Let me put it this way," I began again, "Does Heavenly Father love you?"

"Yes," Livia replied.

"How do you know?"

She was quiet for a moment and I could tell she was thinking. Then her eyes lit up, "Because of the atonement!"

Yes, my child. Yes.

101

I was lucky enough to be able to cross off two goals for my birthday.

101. Buy 10 songs that are on my itunes wish list

        Thanks Laura!!

20. Buy a piano

I have been saving up for a digital piano for years now, and Chase chipped in the rest as a birthday surprise. Eek!

48. Go to a trampoline gym

I went to an "airobics" class at a local trampoline gym. I have not been that tired in a very long time.

34. Read a non-fiction book

Parenting books count, right?

79. Get my ring re-plated

Hadn't had this done since we got married. It was way past due.

Summer catch-up

What was that? You wanted a really long post about our whole entire summer??

Coming right up!

A few days after we got back from our trip Chase's parents came to visit for the 4th of July. We hit up the beach...

 and then headed to Shoreline Park to watch the fireworks.

Jane was hilarious. She was so excited for the fireworks, and when they finally began she dove to the ground as fast as she could, barely summoning up the courage to peek every now and then. At one point she did climb into my lap and that made her feel brave enough to watch for 10-15 seconds. After the finale we all began to clap, and Jane leaped into the air, crying "I did it!" then immediately hit the deck as a few rogue fireworks went off. The next day she couldn't stop talking about the "pretty fireworks in the sky" and how much she liked them. Ü

 The next day I was so, so lucky to get to attend a wedding with my sister!

The venue was up near Napa, which made me wonder if I could cross off 21. Visit Napa, but I'm going to hold off and see if I can't get up there again to see more of it.

It was so beautiful...

 ...and so was the bride. Sydney was one of our greatest friends in high school, and we couldn't be more thrilled for her!

This summer we went berry picking at Gizdich Ranch, as tradition dictates.

It was Jane's first time getting to pick berries. You can see that she ate almost everything that she picked, and you can also see why she's earned the nickname "Shaggy J." Her bangs drive me nuts, but they're almost grown out!! And I did have a clip in there originally.

 My friend Amanda came to visit, and we went (along with Livia) to a production of Annie Get Your Gun.
37. Go see a musical or play
Livia has been singing "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" ever since.

One day Livia asked if I would teach her how to stitch. 

How could I say no??

 Not bad for a first attempt at a running stitch! I was a little nervous to put a needle in her hand, but she did great! And she's asked me to help her stitch some more a few times since.

 One Saturday we took the girls bowling. Jane kept trying to kick it.

 Proof that I beat Chase! I may or may not have only won because we had bumpers, but hey, I was just utilizing all available resources! We both took turns letting Jane bowl for us, too.

Then I took Livia to a birthday party where the highlight of her life was getting her face painted.

 Chase and I went on a date night to an Earthquakes game
#70 Attend a professional soccer game

Livia took gymnastics this summer with her friend Ally, and really loved it.

 I had a birthday

We went to Happy Hollow

 and saw a great animal show that included a trained alligator (brought out without a leash or muzzle or anything), a hawk that swooped centimeters above Jane's head and scared her half to death, and this cute little Joey and magnificent (though injured) bald eagle.

 Chase convinced Liv to go on the roller coaster with him. She tries it about once a year. Still not a fan.

 On another date night Chase and I went to the Santa Clara county fair. We decided to go on one crazy ride. Apparently I'm too old for crazy rides. Yeesh.

Chase kept saying how he wanted to win me a stuffed animal and watch me take it back to the car. I told him he could play one game if he wanted...

 Dream fulfilled!

 Both girls wanetd to wear tiaras on a walk one evening.

 Livia has also been doing soccer this summer. Jane's a good spectator.

Weekly play date with these cuties! (Notice the amount of art projects that Livia did one week and hung up herself all over the house. School could not come soon enough!)

 Cheese!

 Linkedin had a "bring your child to work day"

 Both girls had a blast, and Jane surprised us by not being at all bothered by all the bigger kids on the bounce house and tackling the giant inflatable slides with no problem.

 Jane's favorite thing to do in the morning

 More soccer. Jane did her own accessorizing that day.

We also had swimming lessons and lots of play dates with friends. It was a great summer!