...we are having a baby!

We wanted to find out what we're having so to make it fun we had a bakery make us a surprise cake. The doctor sealed up the gender in an envelope and we took it straight to the bakery.

To keep it festive and secret, they frosted it pink and blue so we couldn't tell what color the inside was.

We decided to cut into it at the same time.

It's a BOY!

we began our summer break with a trip to Moab. Spectacular! Utah just keeps luring me in. We got to go "Jeeping", tour the arches, and mountain bike. It was my first time mountain biking and it was awesome. Can't wait to go again.

Pondering life on a rock.


A view from the Jeep.


The classic, Delicate Arch.

I just finished the big, year long class called Mechatronics (combining mechanisms with electronics). The end goal is to build a completely autonomous robot (turn it on and it does it's thing without any further involvement) to preform some task. This years task was to navigate the aisles of a course, pick up specific crates, and deliver them to one of the home bases. Two of the crates give off infrared light, one has a magnet inside, you get point deductions for messing with the other crates, and two teams run at once so you have to avoid the other robot (no robot wars allowed). I'll spare you all the other details.
Suffice it to say that this was REALLY hard. We used motors, servos, a bunch of sensors, built circuits, designed lots of different mechanisms with strength analysis, made lots of SolidWorks drawings (CAD), and wrote SO MUCH CODE to run the dang thing. And in the end, we got first place. I'm so stoked on this. It's an amazing feeling to have all that hard work come to fruition. It feels especially good because we actually engineered this thing. By that I mean we didn't just make a ton of prototypes trying out different ideas. We actually did our math and came to solid conclusions before we spent money. Only a few things had to be changed after an initial prototype. The code is a real high point for me too. I spent a long time writing different algorithms for navigation and seeing the robot travel down the different aisles making decisions on the fly of where to go next was an awesome feeling. It was socially awkward nerd joy I think.


Here's a pic of the course to give you a visual.

We went to our first Real game and I don't think there could have been a better game to commence our professional soccer watching career. The players rocked, the new stadium is awesome, and the company was entertaining. The weather was cold so hopefully the next time we go it will be an afternoon game where we can soak up some sun.


Notice Chad's scarf. I had no idea that he would end up waving it in the air singing out ole, ole, ole, ole, ole. Soccer is so much better when you are with enthusiasts!

It just keeps getting closer.

*Update: We loved it! It was wicked awesome!

We flew in to Baltimore, stayed in Rockville, and walked all over DC. We drove back and forth, round and round, and to and from each city pretty much daily. There were bachelor and bachelorette parties to attend, dinners to go to, monuments to see and museums to visit all in four days. It was a great trip and celebration for Kevin and Lea's wedding and Josh's sealing and blessing. I am so glad that most everyone was able to make it and that we were able to be a part of such a wonderful time. I shamefully took no pictures of the bride and groom so you will have to check back here for the professional ones. Once I realized that there were about five or so nice big cameras and a video camera being used to capture the moment I put away our pitiful point and shoot. Here is the extent of what was on our camera.

The proud son and father of the groom. They are so handsome!



k3 and I looking lovely in front of the DC temple






Tomb of the unknown soldiers


Me in some sweet amphitheater next to the tomb of the unknown.

We can't wait to go back to see the things that we missed.

K3 and I have been watching the gourmet cupcake frenzy grow for awhile now and decided to join in yesterday evening. We visited Mini's in SLC and wow, the chocolate cupcakes are heaven! Cupcakes have seriously turned into the dessert of the year (even the last couple years) and we are all for it.


(Picture from YHO)

I enjoyed this book so much that I stayed up late (past midnight!) just to finish it. While I want to recommend this book to you, I also want to warn you that it is the first book in a series that has yet to be completed. I naively expected that I would turn the last page and be satisfied with a complete story and would be done with it. I believed I could just walk away but now I have found myself counting down the months before the next book is to be released. So, if you are like me and are willing to wait until the season of your favorite TV show is over before you begin watching it just so you can enjoy it all at once, you may want to wait until this series has been concluded before you pick up this book.



But, if you are the type that enjoys the agony of waiting for a story to continue then I am more than happy to let you borrow my copy of this book and anxiously wait with me. Let me know what you decide.

Someone put gum on our car! This is not its first gum experience either. I think someone has it out for us (or our car).

I just saw this list of rules that this guy started for his unborn son and I love it!

Here are some of my favorites that I will be teaching my own kids someday

22. Girls like boys who shower.
43. Don't litter. Ever.
71. Don't spend too much money on a haircut. They don't last.
120. Spend time with your mother. She's cooler than you think.
187. Smile at pretty girls
321. When it comes to opening presents, no one likes a good guesser.

I don't know if I approve of this one but I know k3 would.
59. Socks are not necessary in the summer, no matter how formal the occasion.

to



january 28, 2005 + 1461 days = bliss

Why are there so many cool cars sold in Europe and Japan that never make it over here? I don't mean exotics, we get most of those and at this point in my life I couldn't care less. I'm thinking of things like the Ford Focus (British version), Fiesta, and Mazda 2. You know, cars that weren't designed from tank chassis.

Answer: 'Cause auto makers don't really care what Kenny likes and building/importing cars he thinks are cool would probably drive them out of business.

Well, seeing as they're already going out of business what's the difference? It seems Fiat might buy at least a portion of Chrysler which has me stoked for two reasons.

1. Alfas might be back!
Isn't a rule that you have to have owned an Alfa if you're into cars?

2. The Fiat 500.
The 500 is my everyday hero car. Italian auto's don't have much of a reliability reputation but I've loved this car since I first saw it and the new model has gotten really good reviews. The only damper on my fun would be the problem of fitting two Americans abreast in it. So, the chances of Fiat bringing over the 500 unmolested are slim but I'll keep hoping.

I've heard people mention TED over the last few years and they always talk about what an amazing conference it is.
I finally checked out some of the videos and I'm completely hooked. I just subscribed via iTunes. There's also an iPhone app that streams audio or video.

Here's a good one I watched the other day.

One of the projects I added to my lonely day. Find it here if you want to make your own for your desk. Maybe I should have colored it.

I have the duty of working the whole day today so that there can be office coverage for the patrons that will be visiting/calling us. Bummer. This sacrifice means that I get to take Friday off. At least there is some sort of reward. I am filling my time with listening to Christmas music, cleaning my desk, internet surfing, and playing some games. I was even considering bringing in presents to wrap. Have a Merry Christmas!

I got my first subpoena today! I am kind of excited about it. I don't really know what I will have to say or do for it yet but I am excited to go to court. My job just keeps getting more and more interesting. I love it!

The hunt for the first pup continues... I just saw this on yahoo and could not help but feel sorry and laugh at this poor creature. The article I read describes this Peruvian dog as “a bald and often toothless breed.” EWWW.

Bailey tagged me a little bit ago but I figured I was still within a reasonable time to justify posting. I will be omitting people from this list and just focusing on the things in my life.

#1 Flat Iron: My hair is pretty unruly so a tool to smooth it out naturally becomes my best friend.

#2 Washing machine: This is the one thing that I really wanted when I got married. I have always loved freshly washed clothes, sheets and towels. It took me going to college and being broke before I ever used a towel more than once.

#3 Computer/Internet: My computer is my lifeline to the world. I hardly go a day with out using it.

#4 A good book: (I stole this idea from Bailey who apparently stole it from her friend) Although I have been in a reading slump I look forward to getting good book recommendations. If any of you need a good classic book to read, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of my favorites.

#5 Ice Cream: Yum!

#6 Face Lotion(with SPF15): Did you know that Utah is the second most arid state in the country and has sunny skies the majority of the year?

#7 Electric Blanket: This has already been on my bed for at least three weeks.

#8 Planner: I love making lists and having a planner lets me keep an ongoing check off list. Even if I don’t have anything written/scheduled on a day I just find joy in crossing off that the day is done so bring on the next.

#9 Cute Shoes: There is nothing like a pair of cute, new shoes to revive an old outfit.

#10 Watch: I have never been good at wearing a watch but K3 got me a pretty one for graduation and I never forget to wear it. It makes me feel all grown up.

I tag Ashlyn, Brittany, Nora, Josh, and Lauren F.

when we've got UMFA

.

We finally made it to see the Monet to Picasso exhibit. This was one of the famous favorites.