DAVE FEST 2008

DAVE FEST 2002 was the first one. Mr. Jeff Jordan himself started the whole thing. We plastered Provo's 800 North with Dave Fest posters, I made a cake and Aberdine played a rockin show. I'm still not quite sure how it all fit in that bachelor apartment, but it did. Complete with a happy crowd surfing Dave as Jeff wailed out 'Happy Birthday to you.'

Since then we've done DAVE FEST every year. And its been so much fun. I can't tell you how much I wish Aberdine could have played for us this year. This was big. Dave turned 30!

We went with the OLD MAN theme. Our friends came dressed like their grandpas, we had good food, good cake, a little Dave Trivia, and pinata of course.

Here's Noah stuffing the pinata for the kids. We also hired a couple babysitters to play with the kids and our friends' kids upstairs so we could talk about politics and the weather, you know, stuff 30 year olds talk about.

Party drinks

A few of Dave's favorite things. Prizes for Dave Trivia. How would you do?


Question 4

Dave is a dissertation away from earning his PhD in Organizational Behavior. What does Organizational Behavior mean?

1. being organized
2. studying people who are organized
3. studying people in business organizations
4. organizing closets

My sweet Emily friend put together a DVD with all the questions on it so we could see them on the TV screen at the party.

30 candles on Dave's Boston Cream Pie. Don't you love my shawl? I'm sad I didn't get a picture of my gray wig and fabulous antique purse I carried my party tools around in.

Dave Hall walked away with the prize for best dressed - I really hope he had to stop at the grocery store on the way home that night, the cashier would have loved it - Hawiian shirt, tie, hat, shorts with belt and the black Oxford shoes with high white socks to top it off.

Happy DAVE FEST everyone!

Answer to Dave Trivia Question 4
c. studying people in business organizations

I Love the Madness!!!!

March is such a glorious month. March means the start of spring, general conference on the way, the snow is starting to melt, and of course Dave*Fest, just to name a few. But the best thing about March is THE MADNESS!!! I love NCAA hoops and this year has been a little more special.

I spent Friday night with two good friends in Detroit watching a double header, including the Davidson upset of Wisconsin in the Midwestern regionals. I loved it! We were sitting at the 50-yard line (translation: midcourt), albeit in the upper bowl.

Stephen Curry was on fire (I under-predicted his 33 points by one) and it was an unusual joy to cheer against the Big Ten. Usually this would be a no-no, and a no-brainer, but I'm a sucker for the underdog and Curry looked like him, cape flying in the wind as he slashed, jumped, and dumped the threes. It was amazing.

I don't even mind that I paid $7 for nachos and $6 for a smoothie. Some things you can't put a price on. Oh, and did I mention that LeBron was there? He was cheering on Curry too . And when LBJ was on the big screen the Pistoncentric crowd booed the potential MVP-to-be. Beautiful. Gotta love the motorcity sports fans.

So, how's life in Michigan, you ask? Fantastic--especially when lived in Madness!

Oh, and to add insult to injury, I saw some of those "Witness" Ts around the stadium (usually associated with witnessing LeBron's greatness). I thought they for the W in Wisconsin, but it turns out I was wrong. They were for the Wildcats. Not so ironic, then, that The King stood up to praise the Badger's foe. Poor Wisconsin. I guess they'll have to take solace in another Big Ten championship. As for Davidson, they're still dancing. And still living the dream. And I am too. Thanks Underdog!

Happy Easter

I really miss my Grandma's grape juice punch on holidays like this; homemade grape juice with lemonade and Sprite. So good. One of these days I'll remember early enough that I can make it on my own. It's amazing the number of little things you have to keep track of as a grown-up. I'm still getting used to this idea that I am the one in charge of the holidays. I love making them my own, and I'm sure my sisters will smile when I admit that I actually like being in charge. But I still feel a little nostalgia and sadness each holiday that we are 'away'. Sometimes Michigan feels very far away. It's a good thing I have such cute boys to prepare memories for.

And I do find that when I focus more on the religious nature of Easter I am more centered. I remember what Christ did for us and I remember what the atonement does for me every day. I feel strength from that testimony. And in a strange way knowing that my Grandma has that testimony, and my mom, and my dad, and everyone else, seems to fill up the sadness that was there. The strength from all those testimonies adds up. Until my kitchen is full. And we are all crammed around Greg and Lisa's old table sipping our grape juice punch together.

Ok, probably more than you wanted to hear, but this is my blog right? Here are the highlights from our Easter weekend...
Two little Easter baskets. One hidden behind the big red chair. One hidden under the kitchen table. Noah is still talking about the Easter Bunny's hiding abilities when toys are missing.

Easter egg hunt in the snow.
Easter Sunday Dave sang some BEAUTIFUL numbers with the church choir and Noah was very excited to wear his Easter tie just like his dad.
We also had a great ham dinner and read the Easter story together. 12 eggs, each with a scripture and an object inside that tells the story of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.

I only put one tiny jelly bean in each plastic Easter egg for a good reason. Happy Easter everyone!

Happy Birthday Dave!

Reasons why I love Dave:

He breaks into a dance whenever he hears music
He is always trying to be a better person
He'll hold and swaddle and rock a baby
He makes me happy when I'm around him
He changes the diapers when we're watching other people's kids
He makes Wednesday Waffles with Noah
He likes gourmet food
He gets excited with me when I'm excited
He lets me talk about the books I'm reading
and He's hot

and he likes it when I say that.

Happy Birthday Dave! I love you. And we are so excited about this...

Everyone's invited!

We heart soccer

Dave plays on an indoor soccer team for MSU's intramurals. They play in this big creaky building on campus. Dave is big and strong and fast with a championship title from last outdoor season to prove it. Noah loves to watch...well, he loves to climb up and down the benches, run around and around the field? court? rink? , and play with the goal nets. I watch my hot husband score goals with one eye and spot the bench climbing with the other. But Noah's favorite part, the part that we watch the clock for, is when the game is over and Noah can run out onto the field? court? rink? and play soccer with his Daddy.

Gage is a good little fan. This 8 month old watches his brother mostly. He's gotta know what that big boy is up to. He kicks his little fast feet, will chew on anything he can get his little fingers on and giggles in all the right places.

The sun was out today

The sun was out today. We went for a walk. Noah on the bike and Gage in the stroller all bundled up.

"Mom, it's winter with a libble bit spring" says Noah.

"You're right, bud, spring is coming"

"The snow is melting, its getting warmer, and the water in Lake Lansing is getting warmer, and then we'll have my birthday and go swimming and I'll be three. And then I'll know to use the potty" says Noah.

"That's right"

Noah kept up the chatter the whole way around the block. He drives his big wheel like a snowmobile. Up and over big snow piles, over curbs and through puddles. Always running his feet like Fred Flinstone, never using his pedals. We drew long lines in the snow with big sticks, tried to jump off our shadows, threw rocks at the brick wall and did other very boy activities.

Gage kick kicked his feet everytime he saw his brother doing something exciting. "Ma ma ma" he would say when things were more mellow. He seemed happy to see the sun and was content to watch the season changing from his seat in the stroller.

It's fun to stay at the...

Our YMCA membership started this week. There is a lot of excitement at our house for this. I can go work out AND take my kids?! A whole new world.

So far the 2 year old likes the tot watch. He never wants to leave. His favorite part: crashing Charlie's firetruck. "What does Charlie say when you do that" "He says STOP IT" "And do you stop?" "No, I bonk it again and Charlie says STOP IT, and then I took a toy from that girl" So begins our hourly conversation about sharing and listening to your friends. Hmmm.... we'll have to work on this one some more. But thanks for the confessions, Noah.

The 7 month old is just sad sad sad. As soon as we walk into the room. He's not hungry, he's not tired, he doesn't like that swing, and no he does not want to play with those toys. He wants to be held. By her? NO! By his mom. So, we've got to work on this one some more too.

Me? Oh, I can't get enough. 1-2-3-4 hamstring curls 5-6-7-8 grapevine right 1-2-3-4 lunge left 5-6-7-8 Bring it on! Treadmills, elliptical machines, big bouncy balls...man, it's been too long. I'm having flashbacks of 6am BYU aerobics or Lacie's intense kick boxing class. Hopefully the enthusiasm won't wear off too quickly because right now I am excited to tighten up my laces, grab my water bottle, pop in my earphones and join The Village People.