In the Words of Mark

Whit's still working at BYU a few times a week.  She's enjoying trying to help the nursing students catch the vision of what they're getting themselves in to.  Hard to teach not only the processes / documentation side of nursing but doing it under pressure.  

Our Valentine's was fun.  We met up with the Jonson's in Salt Lake to have dinner with them at The Cheesecake Factory.  We sold them our green Subaru (The Bean) and made the switch there.  I think it will be for Brad who comes home from Africa in 4 wks.  They're going out to pick him up.  (Mom & Dad, we'll meet up with them when you come out, not in Africa, in SLC).  They're doing well. 

Work at Action is still good.  Working on project for LAPD, Coast Guard (Portsmouth, VA),  and a bunch of commercial ranges scattered throughout the country.  Speaking of comfort zones - I feel out of my comfort zone on most jobs because I feel like I need to find out all of the bits and pieces of the ranges, because if I don't no one else will.  It's scary, and fun.  And at the end of the job, its always fulfilling.  My most proud projects are  always the hardest ones.  We got new management and they're really spending time trying to "update" the company.  Many of you know ours was stuck in 1986 for a looong time.  So that's fun.  

My voice over stuff is coming along.  I'm half way through my coaching sessions (via Skype for 1/2 each time w/ a lady from GA), and will now focus on recording the demos in a studio.  I will do 1 commercial demo (any ad selling something), and 1 narrative (anything not selling a product like tv show narration, audio books, etc).  They will serve as something an ad agency can listen to to see if I'm the right fit.  It's exciting and fun.  Someday you may hear that sweet old voice of mine comin acha from the tv or radio.  That's the goal anyway.  The idea is to start in small markets in Anytown USA doing radio or TV, and build from there.  

We're very excited about the wedding in April.  Staci - You're almost an official Reli!  We're glad for what you bring to the table.  Chris set the bar, Levi met it, and Whitney used the bar as a step to put it where it is now where B, T & mom are.  I'm sure you'll have no trouble (especially with those chocolate chip cookies of yours).  You complete such a good group of great women.

PS - B&L, M&D - are you going to be here Friday following the wedding and Saturday?  It'd be fun to plan something or go somewhere while we're all there.  

We had Elder Evans from the Seventy at our stake conf. this weekend.  He highlighted that if we always do what we've always been doing, we'll always be who we've always been.  

Mom & Dad, I'm especially proud of you for taking that leap of faith to join the church and be more than what you were - Just think, you have altered the eternities by what you did in faith.  I can't thank you enough for being brave and having faith.  And more recently, Dad for getting out of your comfort zone and being a good Bishop to those sons of guns in the NSP ward.  Way to go.

Owen Turns 1!!

From Mark:

Owen's 1 year bday party was really fun.  We had the Johnson's, the Call's and some of Whit's cousins all meet up in Lehi for a dinner.  Owen kind of picked at his cake we gave him.  He's a gentleman, I guess.  I would have pounded that thing.  His new things are hitting me or Whit in the face if we take him away from something.  I'm glad he'd learning that violence is one way to solve problems.  We'll have to show him other ways.   He's really starting to walk now and getting much better at it.  Today he walked off the couch and face planted, but didn't cry.  Not sure if he learned the great lesson to be learned from that.  He says "mama" and "dada" now, get's a ball if we tell him to go get it.  And a book.  He loves to read.  Loves to make a small "o" with his mouth, and loves to make a clicking sound now with his tongue.  

Snapshots of February 2015

Owen turned around in his car seat. He wasn't so sure at first but now loves looking out the window

Karlee is one day away from being induced in this pic. We got together for lunch with Sue in town! 

Eating escapades 

Family hockey game

Owen preferred way to shop...frontward facing 

Discovering the yard which includes eating dirt and rocks

Just one of the million reasons I love being home with Owen. 

His latest face he loves to make

And man entered the lone and dreary wilderness

Owen's best bud Ethan Hale

Evening jogs on the Bonneville shoreline trail...enjoying the warmest winter in Utah history. 

We sold the Bean....to my parents!!

Grandpa and Owen bonding on the escalator 

Bonneville shoreline hike with the Bridegans

Beautiful Valentine tulips from my man!

Owen's first birthday party!

We celebrated Owen's birthday with his neighbor friends....whose moms all happen to be my friends;). We laid out a big tarp in the kitchen and let all the kids go to town with cupcakes. Owen sat with his cupcake and daintily picked at and ate the frosting with his first two fingers. We tried for a group picture with all eight babies but was NOT going to happen!