Jacob & Cari's new place

Ok, so when can we see a pic of your new place? Does it look a lot like the other Jacob's?

Desert Trip 2009

I know there has been some discussion (emails and whatnot) about this year's desert trip. Millie, Ellery and I would really like to make it to this one! We even have some new camping gear we bought last year (for the Havasupi trip) that we never got to use. Plus we went to Zion's Nat. Park a couple of weeks ago with Millie's parents (my first time, they've all been before) but now we REALLY want to go back... or at least do some camping just somewhere!

Here's the thing:

I'm considering participating in UVU's commencement for graduation, which will be held on May 1, 2009. That's a Friday. From what Jacob (Wall) has told me, the desert trip will probably be that same week/weekend. If the desert trip will be during the commencement, I will probably just do the trip and fore go "walking" until I finish my master's degree. If, however, the trip will be around that time, everyone who wants to can be here for the commencement!

What are your thoughts?

Pushups Update

OK, so I just finished my 4th week on the 100 pushups program. Last night I had to take a test to see where I am. I was able to do 50 pushups in a row. I'd say that I was surprised. My results after the 4th week were actually very good - in the highest level. This surprised me a little as I can't imagine being able to do double that many in just 2 weeks, but this week I see the program goes from 5 sets each day to 8 or 9. Wow! I must say I am already impressed with the results and look forward to finishing out the program. It has been fun. I'll let you know how it ends up.

Wii competition

Well, I finally remembered to try a few balance games this morning during my yoga routine.
One success and one failure to report:
I crossed the tightrope! First time ever! I usually fall at the jump.
But, I only got 27 points on the soccer thing. I still move my head instead of my feet, and keep getting pounded by sneakers. I only tried once and was so embarrassed, but I will try again some day.
I have to say, I have never seen a line be as steady as mine as far as weight goes...
I cannot seem to get it lower, and luckily, it is not going higher. It is straight as an arrow.

Wii competition

to spank or not to spank

So- the story goes that someone in our ward took their 2 yr old daughter into the bathroom this past Sunday during sacrament and spanked her for acting up. Someone else was in the bathroom, and told this young mother that that was illegal, and that she could get reported and arrested for that. The young mother took her things and her daughter and left church, quite upset. The person who said the remark, (and I don't know who it is), called and apologized, but ruined that young mother's entire day. She spent hours looking it up on line to see if she could be reported and to see what was legal.
Jacob, are you going to spank adorable little Hazel? I can't picture that at all in my mind. :)
I know for sure Monica Woodin spanks her little trouble makers, and so does their grandma!
I wouldn't spank any of your kids as grandma, but I don't think it is illegal.
I guess it depends on the kind of spanking.

What's been on my mind?

First, I love a new song. It is "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon. I haven't liked a song like this in a while (I think of "The Kill" by 30 Seconds to Mars). The lyrics are simple, but the emotion comes through. No bad words and sort of a love song. Take a listen at some point. Right now I have it on my playlist on favtape.com, which is the newest music streaming site I am trying out. Every time I find a good streaming site (think Finetune and Deezer) they eventually get too popular and then sued by somebody or other and then suck. I'm trying Favtape and a few others. Streaming songs for me is just much better since I'm still usually too cheap to buy the songs and if I do buy them I tend to get sick of them fairly quickly.

For Christmas I bought Tevia the Neutrogena Wave, which is kinda like a toned-down sandpaper machine for your face. It lightly vibrates with a soft pad that gets changed from time to time. Of course, I have taken the liberty to try it out and I can say that I absolutely love it. It works wonders on my face. I can only use it on the top of my face (read "the places with no hair) like my forehead and cheeks, and it leaves my skin incredibly soft and smooth. Not sure if it works on everyone, but I have found my face to be smoother, clearer, and glowing. I love it.

Last week they officially disconnected our cable. But no fear as we have our new antenna that brings in great quality HDTV and some new channels that we've never seen before (Qubo?). We haven't started watching a new show for a few years. I tried to watch Heroes and Fringe when they started, but wasn't drawn in after the initial show. Last week we decided to give Dollhouse a try. It is Joss Whedon's newest show (he did Buffy and Firefly/Serenity). Though I never really watched Buffy, I did enjoy the movie Serenity (Jacob hates this movie - it scares him). I enjoyed the show and look forward to the next. Maybe it will be our next fix as BSG ends its run this year. Speaking of BSG (which now we can't see on TV so have to watch online), this season has been awesome. More twists and turns and deep religious philosophy. This last week was great as one cylon, when confronted with the notion that he is evil, put it squarely back on his creator(s). "If I am evil, it is only because you created me to be so." His creator replies that no, he wasn't created to be evil, but rather to choose to be either good or evil - for only that can give you the fullness of your creation. Deep stuff. Great stuff.

Happy Valentines Day

Well I got Cari the Twilight Soundtrack today, and she got me my favorite painting by Carl Bloch. That was supposed to go in the new house, oh well. Anyway, our new condo(moving next week) dosen't allow for our computers to be next to our TV. This is a problem for us since we use the compy to play BluRays. Answer, we decided to upgrade out theater equipment a little. Most of it is still in the mail coming later next week but we got some of the speakers from Circuit City since they are 50% off out there. The new samsung stand-alone blu ray player can stream movies directly from Netflix and that makes me happy. I'll post specs next week but here is a little tase of my new sub, center, and floor standing speakers.

finding more hidden treasures

I am finally done painting Tom & Jacob's closet, and dad finally put the shelves back in, (they were too heavy for me). We didn't put the handmade makeshift shelf on the bottom, so that I can put totes in there.
So, I am having a fun morning reboxing things, and going through more of the boys stuff.
Which leads me to a new project. I love projects!
I found 4 Walkmans. And tapes from both Jacob and Bret's mission.
I will see which one works best, and send one to Tom for his August birthday. So if you want to make a tape for him, he will have a device to listen to it on.
I will bring some of Bret's tapes to listen to while I am in AZ. So cute!
Such great memories are in that room. Lots of bullet shells, golf balls, a taped-up black index card box which holds who knows what secrets, 4 broken watches, lots of wires and controller type things, coins, lego, scout stuff etc.
It is fun for me to see the pieces of my boys life.
Jacob, I will bring that special Book of Mormon to you when we come out in April.
You all have brought me so much joy, and still do!
Sorry Kathy, there is nothing of yours in that room! :) You have a whole room full of treasures and I love just going in there and seeing all the photos.
Bret- should I bring a cub scout shirt for Malik? It was used by all 3 of you guys.

Valentine dinner and a movie

After a delicious candle light salmon dinner, complete with chocolate covered strawberries, we went over to the cheap theater and dad treated me to the $2.00 version of Twilight. Dad fell asleep. Seriously.
Now, I had read the book, and wasn't all that thrilled with it; which people have told me shows my age, as they feel I can't seem to remember what first love feels like.
Oh, I remember it alright, watching Mark walk down the street in his leather coat, peering through the window, watching to see if he glances at my house.
I didn't think the movie did a good job of capturing that sense, that feeling, that emotion.
And, again, maybe I am just old, but the actor playing Edward did not make me swoon. I had a hard time figuring out why she would like him at all.
So, my original conclusion still stands, "who would be dumb enough to fall in love with a vampire?"
But- we had a fun date, and it was worth seeing for a few bucks. It was entertaining, and dad liked the fact that vampires play baseball.

Wii Fit, Healthy Competition!

I posted this on mine and Millie's blog too, but I know some of you don't check that one, and I wanted feedback from everyone using Wii fit.

One of the best things about being a part of three very competitive families (Webbs, Ropers and Walls) is that there is always incentive to do and be better (or the best) – regardless the subject.

Just after the marathon Millie and I bought Wii fit (so did the Ropers). The Walls have had it for some time and they really showed us a thing or two when we were staying with them that week of the marathon, and it set up a benchmark of what to shoot for – speaking strictly of the balance games. Sure Wii fit (aerobics, strength training and yoga) is really about personal development and betterment - competition against one's self only; but let’s be honest, the balance games are only there for fun, or in our families’ cases, competition!

Now that Millie and I will no longer be registered on the Roper’s Wii fit (to make room for Brandon and Katie – a major flaw in the fit, only eight can be registered at a time, lame-o!!!) I wanted to make sure my competition base stays broad and keeps pushing my limits! Thanks to Rob and Annie, and even Abbie in some games, I have been forced to shoot for perfection to remain on top! Thanks guys!

I don’t want to lose that edge, or competition, so I’ve decided to post where I stand on a few of my better performances (pictures are posted above their label):


Soccer Heading - Beginner setting


Soccer Heading - Advanced setting


Down hill ski - Advanced setting


Down hill ski - Beginner setting.


Ski jump


Table Tilt - Beginner setting


Tight Rope Walk - Advanced setting


Tight Rope Walk - Beginner setting


Balance Bubble - Advanced setting


Balance Bubble - Beginner setting


Snow Boarding - Beginner setting


Lotus Focus


Super Hula Hoop


The Ultimate Body Challenge

So... How do YOU stack up? :)

Beautiful Sunday

On this beautiful Sunday morning, where the rain is slowly falling and I listen to some songs written by an old friend from years ago, I can't help but be grateful for the life I have. Listening to this music reminds me of when I was young and my friend was in the hospital getting reconstructive heart surgery. I remember praying for him and hoping for him. And the Lord blessed him with many years on this earth - and hopefully many more.

It seems it has been a week of reflection as I have also had on my mind the death of my cousin Laura. She left behind a small family of two young boys - and I think that has been the hardest for me to think about. Having young boys myself, it is hard to imagine them go through life and miss out on the wonderful mother who gave birth the them and loved them more than any other person in this world. My memories of Laura are full of laughter and joy. She always seemed happy. I'm sure she is content to be where she is now, but I am sure she will also miss being at her husband and children's side as they pass through this life. I pray for her family. I am comforted by the thought that I know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ we truly can live together with out loved ones again in the next life. Can there be any greater gift?

More Ender

So I am correct in seeing the parallel between the book that the Speaker for the Dead writes, and the Book of Mormon, which comes forth from the dead to the living? Valentine says stuff like, it changes peoples lives, it can't be proved, but it feels right, and she believes it is true. Interesting.