HOV's Lund Family Hospice Home

Mike has been working for his current company for about 2.5 years now. In case you don't know, he is a structural engineer. In case you don't know what that means, I'll explain: architects draw the plans for a building and then send them to a structural engineer. The engineer then does a whole bunch of math to design how the building will be made (materials, connections, etc.) these plans are sent to the city, and after approval are used by the architect and contractors for the construction of the building.

One of the things Mike has been looking forward to is seeing something he engineered completed. The following pictures are of one of the first of Mike's projects to be finished (besides the many remodels and little things he works on).

I'm really proud of the work Mike does and that in an economy that has been really bad for anyone tied to new buildings, Mike still has a job. Way to go Mike!

Pearly Whites

Ethan brushing his teeth with his new Cookie Monster toothbrush. After I clarified that it was for brushing his teeth, not his hair, he was an instant expert.

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Running

As I've posted before, I started running again this year. I run most mornings and go usually 3.5-4 miles. Now I have started registering for races to keep my motivation up. Last week was my first official 5K. The results still aren't up, but I finished at about 28:30. This included the time it took to get to the starting line from the back of the pack, so overall, I was pleased.

I learned a few important things about races:
1) They start late, so you probably have time to go to the bathroom, although they'll start as
soon as you do
2) Wear your number on the front of your shirt.
3) They take pictures as you cross the finish line, so don't look retarded--the picture of me on
the race website is terrible.

Look closely at the picture and check out the new running shoes my mom got me as an early birthday present--LOVE them!

Weight

Disclaimer: More information than you care to know, I'm sure, but I'm excited!

After I had Ethan I really thought that my pregnancy weight would come off pretty quickly. He was my first baby, and my twin sister loses pregnancy weight fast. So, when Ethan was 1.5-2 months old and I still had 20 lbs of baby weight, I was not happy (I only gained like 30 in the first place!). I decided to give myself until after the holidays, and then I was going to start losing the weight.

The day after Christmas I had 16 lbs of baby weight left to lose, so I set a goal to lose 26 lbs by July. My reward would be a trip to Utah to hike Timpanogos and see friends and family. Fortunately, this trip moved to the end of August so that we could see our nephew David when he returned from his mission, so I had a little more time to achieve my goal. I worked my tail off to lose the last couple pounds before our trip, but still came up 1/2 lb shy of my goal. Then, of course, I gained a few pounds on our wonderful trip. But today, I stepped on the scale, and wahoo!!! I've lost all the baby weight + 10!!! Hooray!

House plants and babies don't mix

I gave Ethan a bottle this afternoon and went to grab him a blanket. He was nice and quiet so I mistakenly assumed he was happily eating. I decided to do a few other things while he was eating. When I came back in I saw Ethan's bottle laying on the ground by itself... And where was Ethan? At the plant of course!

At least he wasn't eating the dirt this time, just taking it out one handful at a time. *sigh* I think this might be his way of telling me a sandbox would be a great birthday present. : )
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Laundry Day Fun

At least these were already dirty!
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Trying to buckle himself

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7

This is Joseph Jeppson I. My brother, Joseph Jeppson VI, and his wife, Lauren, are expecting 7 in February! We're so excited for them!

A Bit of Dancing

About a month ago I mentioned Ethan starting to dance, and I finally found the video!


His dancing (the little that he does) has changed. This is what it looks like now:

Holding hands

I finally got Ethan his own high chair, so until I return my mom's to her, I can feed both boys at the same time. All three of us are enjoying it! Here are the boys holding hands at lunch.
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Roomies

I said I was going to post old roomie pictures, so here they are. I couldn't find as many as I thought I had, but I had fun going for a quick walk down memory lane as I weeded out a few group shots. I was reminded of lots of crazy moments.

The caption on this one said "2 am workout sessions." I think that may be accurate...
Before Fall Fling (notice the banner we "acquired"):
80s themed Halloween ward chili cook off freshman year:

On the "Y" before going home after freshman year. Notice the Virgin Guadalupe candle--source of many fun times.
After church one day:

Sophomore year:

I know there were pictures taken later than this, but I can't find them...

Now:

Corn!

Last Saturday I got up early and planted a vegetable garden, and, look, corn! I wasn't expecting anything to sprout so soon. This is my first Fall garden and I'm hoping it goes much better than the Spring one we planted last year which didn't survive long in the Arizona heat.
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Fun with Hair Gel

Partners in Crime

Both giggling as they take turns shutting each other in Mike's bathroom cabinet.
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Cabinets

Ethan had lot of fun with our tupperware today. The best thing is that after he takes it out, he likes to put it all back. It isn't usually in the right place, but it is typically stacked. Ethan loves putting things away and always insists on putting lids back on containers as soon as I take them off. Maybe he'll be neat like his daddy.
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Football and Highchairs

I love football season!!! If you missed the amazing BYU victory last week, or just want to relive it a little, check out this highlight video my brother-in-law posted.

Also, I have not bought a high chair for Ethan yet. We have been borrowing one from my mom, or maybe it's Grammy's...Anyway, I need to get one for Ethan and I was wondering if any of you have advice on whether I should get a booster seat or a high chair and what kind. Thanks!

First picture

Ethan did the blue scribbles all by himself!
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Walking!

As previously mentioned, Ethan is walking! Here are a few clips of him walking towards Mike's laptop--it is very motivating for him! He has let go of surfaces to walk on his own a few times as well! Also, he has started signing the words drink, fan, and hi (waving) consistently, as well as pointing to a few things when we ask him to. He loves to go outside right now so he spends lots of time whining at the door. That nice Utah weather spoiled him!

(Excuse my "grungy-ness")


We turned on a video to see if that would keep him motivated to keep trying over and over while we taped, but it ended up being distracting--check out his balance!

Saturday in Ogden-Go Cougars!

Saturday morning we drove up to Ogden and visited my Great Grandma. I haven’t seen her in a few years, and was really glad I got the opportunity. She is a very talented, funny, and loving, almost 93 year old woman! She and her husband put on family reunions for their whole clan every other year while I was growing up, so I actually know her, and my family on her side, quite well. I am very grateful to her and Grandpa for providing us all the opportunity to get to know our family so well, and I am proud to have such great progenitors.

Then we went around the corner to our friends’ house. They ended up living like 2 minutes away from my Grandma. When we lived in Mississippi we spent one evening a week at the Lucas home playing games. We also watched any BYU game available at their house—including the “answered prayer” game. Last night we got to witness another amazing day in BYU football with them! I am still cheering internally!

Ethan and Tyler riding in the wagon. I couldn't get them both smiling at the same time. Tyler wasn't so sure about me, and Ethan wasn't so sure about the sounds Tyler's big brother Jacob was making to get Tyler to smile. :)

The standing made me nervous. Ethan has even figured out how to stand up in the highchairs at restaurants.

Can you tell who we wanted to win?

From the left: Rachel and Tyler, Tim, Jacob, me, Mike, Ethan.

I think this picture is slightly better, but it has that pesky spot on Time. I'm posting both so Rachel and Tim can choose which one they want.

Ok, now I have to say a little about the game. I hope you watched it! I got a work out that night from all the pacing and cheering and the heart-racing excitement! Some people may say the only reason we won was because Bradford got hurt, but it was 7-7 when he got hurt (they kicked a field goal on the next play). They did make a lot of mistakes, but so did we. In fact, I think most, if not all, of their points, were scored off of our mistakes. So, if you're going to say that OU would have done way better if they had been able to play cleanly and with their best players, which may be true, then you have to realize that BYU would have done much better if they had played cleanly and with their best players (especially Unga). I hope the cougars can keep up this level of play throughout the season, and I hope the rest of the country (BCS) has gained a little more respect for the Mountain West. Oh, and way to go Max Hall for keeping your cool through most of the game, that was new and definitely welcome, Stephenson (99) for the amazing punts, Kariya (33) for coming from nowhere to save us, and the whole defense for being awesome and stopping OU at the goal line for 5 or 6 plays in a row!

And in case you didn't hear, apparently there were hundreds (I heard up to a thousand) BYU fans celebrating in the streets of Provo near the stadium! :) I'm glad the BYU fans that had enough confidence in our team to make the trip to TX were rewarded so handsomely for their faith in the team!

Ethan was so tired on Saturday that he was nodding off in the highchair at lunch. Then he fell asleep on the way home and actually stayed asleep when I took him out of his car seat (which he never does). I put him in his bed and he slept all night!

GO COUGARS!!!!!

Friday Fun

On Friday we went out to lunch with Mike's mom and sisters.

Ethan and and his cousin Zach. Zach is about 3 months younger than Ethan and they have another cousin, Christian, about 3 months younger than Zach. They barely acknowledge each other now, but I foresee many fun times in the future.

Limes, yum!

A little sour at times.

Outside Bajio (my favorite):

Ethan loved pushing this chair around--anything to keep a tired baby entertained.

Mike with his mom and 4 out of 5 sisters.

The girls (and babies).

After lunch a few of us went over to the cemetery where Mike's dad is buried.

That evening we had dinner with our friends Leslie, Matthew, Emily, and Trevor--no picture--ARGHH! It was really fun to get to see them again. Thanks Bennetts for hosting--I miss you!

Then we headed over for the Mountain View High School football game. Our niece, Olivia, is a cheerleader for MVHS. We didn't get to see as much as we would have liked to, but it was a shut out, so not the worst game to miss. Olivia was fun to watch though!