How could you not love this face?

okay, clare, now show me your smile.

even if you didn't go to byu

you might really enjoy this little video about president hinckly on the byu website.

Here is the link to the video.

If that doesn't work, just go to byu.edu and the link to the slide show is the cover story on the home page.

Missed Match

One year ago was our match time when we found out Dave would be part of the UCSD neurosurgery program. Dave spent the morning anxiously pacing around the house and held all the phones in his pocket (in case the call was to a cell phone or a home phone). He got a phone call at around 7:30am, I think, and from my side of the line, this is what I heard.

"Yes, this is David"
"Yes"
"Ohhhh, really (very surprised).....yes, that was one of my top choices . .. . .it was #4"

From then on I wasn't really listening because I knew it was SD and I was so happy. A week earlier the Petteys and Johnsons had both matched to their home towns and I was so disappointed to think that we would be going to some crazy cold place across the country (#1 and #2). We had a fun day and went out to ice cream to celebrate and then out to dinner later that night. It was one of the best days of 2007!

In the end we guess the match did choose better for us then we would have chosen for ourselves, as is sometimes said. We love being in SD, and Dave feels the program here will allow him to pursue his professional goals better than the other programs out there. We are still wondering what possessed us to rank it as low as we did.

The program here is pretty small. It is a 1 and then 2 year, meaning they match 2 new residents one year and then 1 the next and so on. Last year was a 2 year, so this year they're just taking one person. We have been anxious to hear how match went this year and wondered who UCSD got. Well this year, UCSD didn't match anyone. It was one of those fluke things that sometimes happens. I guess there were a couple of other programs that missed a match (Stanford, Chicago, Northwestern) and there were also a few good students who fell through the cracks, as there always are. It'll be interesting to see if they fill the spot or just leave it open until someone they really like comes along. There is always a fair amount of shuffle with NS residencies over the course of the years so I'm sure it'll all work out in the end.

A couple of books.

It is funny. I have been thinking about posting about a couple of books I read recently because I like to see Reba do that and today Krystal said the same thing, and started a book blog. It is a good idea. I'm sure I won't do as good a job as either one of them and I won't necessairily write about all the books I read, but here goes.

Call of the Wild by Jack London -- A good book. a story about dogs....at first I thought it was kind of weird to hear all the names of the characters, which are dogs, along with such detailed description of their personality. But, I learned to enjoy it and really came to love the main character, a dog named Buck. I even teared up at one point! I listened to this book instead of reading on paper.

The Death of Ivan Ilyich - Another good book. Leo Tolstoy is probably Dave's favorite author and War and Peace his favorite book, but I have been a little daunted to pick it up and try it as I prefer to read books that I can move through faster than that! Anyway, Death of Ivan Illich is a short book -- 100 pages or so and so I thought it'd be a good way to give Tolstoy a try. He is a good writer. The book is about a guy dying. That is all. It is not really sad because you don't grow to love the character. Mostly it is interesting. I think I would read it again if I had a close friend or family member dying because it really makes you think about what the dying person is suffering. It is amazing he could write such a detailed account without actually dying himself. Apparently he was fascinated with death. It makes me feel more compassionate towards people who are terminally ill and first come to face the reality of their own death and then suffer as such trivial life goes on about them and nobody can truly understand what they are going through (as everyone who already went through it is dead).

Stardust

This was a good movie and I'd recommend it. It was clean and not violent. It was kind of a fairy tale type show with witches, princes, magic, etc. It was light hearted and fun. It has been compared to princess bride. Dave heard people talking about it at work and so we gave it a try. He also suggested I mention it on the blog! It has Claire Daines, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert DiNero. Also, the hero of the story, a guy named Charlie Cox who I've never seen before, is very cute!

Beloved Church President, Gordon B. Hinckley, dies at 97

From the LDS website, news:

SALT LAKE CITY 27 January 2008 President Gordon B. Hinckley, who led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through twelve years of global expansion, has died at the age of 97.

President Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Church and had served as its president since 12 March 1995.

The Church president died at his apartment in downtown Salt Lake City at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night from cause’s incident to age. Member of his family were at his bedside. A successor is not expected to be formally chosen by the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until after President Hinckley’s funeral within the next few days

President Hinckley was known, even at the age of 95, as a tireless leader who always put in a full day at the office and traveled extensively around the world to mix with Church members, now numbering nearly 13 million in 171 nations.

His quick wit and humor, combined with an eloquent style at the pulpit, made him one of the most loved of modern Church leaders. A profoundly spiritual man, he had a great fondness for history and often peppered his sermons with stories from the Church’s pioneer past.

He was a popular interview subject with journalists, appearing on 60 Minutes with Mike Wallace and on CNN’s Larry King Live, as well as being quoted and featured in hundreds of newspapers and magazines over the years. During the Salt Lake Olympics of 2002, his request that the Church refrain from proselytizing visitors was credited by media with generating much of the goodwill that flowed to the Church from the international event.

In recent years, a number of major developments in the Church reflected President Hinckley’s personal drive and direction. In calling for 100 temples to be in operation before the end of the year 2000, the Church president committed the Church to a massive temple-building program.

In 1999 — 169 years after the Church was organized by its founder, Joseph Smith — the Church had 56 operating temples. Three years later that number had doubled, largely because of a smaller, highly practical temple architectural plan that delivered these sacred buildings to Church members in far-flung parts of the world. Many more Church members can now experience the sacred ceremonies that occur only in temples, including marriages for eternity and the sealing of families in eternal units.

President Hinckley was the most traveled president in the Church’s history. His duties took him around the world many times to meet with Latter-day Saints in more than 60 countries. He was the first Church president to travel to Spain, where in 1996 he broke ground for a temple in Madrid; and to the African nations of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Cape Verde, where he met with thousands of Latter-day Saints in 1998. In 2005, he traveled nearly 25,000 miles on a seven-nation, nine-day tour to Russia, South Korea, China, Taiwan, India, Kenya, and Nigeria.

At a general conference of Church members in April 2001, President Hinckley initiated the Perpetual Education Fund — an ambitious program to help young members of the Church (mainly returning missionaries from developing countries) receive higher education and work-related training that they would otherwise likely never receive.

Closer to his Salt Lake City home, President Hinckley announced the construction of a new Conference Center in 1996 and dedicated it four years later. Seating 21,000 people, it is believed to be the largest religious and theater auditorium in the world and has become the hub for the Church’s general conference messages to the world, broadcast in 54 languages.

Even before his term as president, President Hinckley’s extensive Church service included 14 years as a counselor in the First Presidency, the highest presiding body in the government of the Church, and 20 years before that as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

President Hinckley was born 23 June 1910 in Salt Lake City, a son of Bryant Stringham and Ada Bitner Hinckley. One of his forebears, Stephen Hopkins, came to America on the Mayflower. Another, Thomas Hinckley, served as governor of the Plymouth Colony from 1680 to 1692.

President Hinckley’s first job was as a newspaper carrier for the Deseret News, a Salt Lake City daily. After attending public schools in Salt Lake City, he earned a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Utah and then served two years as a full-time missionary for the Church in Great Britain. He served with distinction and ultimately was appointed as an assistant to the Church apostle who presided over all the European missions.

Upon successfully completing his missionary service in the mid-1930s, he was asked by Heber J. Grant, then president of the Church, to organize what has become the Church's Public Affairs Department.

President Hinckley began serving as a member of the Sunday School general board in 1937, two years after returning home from missionary service in Great Britain. For 20 years he directed all Church public communications. In 1951 he was named executive secretary of the General Missionary Committee, managing the entire missionary program of the Church, and served in this capacity for seven years.

On 6 April 1958, while serving as president of the East Millcreek Stake in Salt Lake City (a stake is similar to a diocese), President Hinckley was appointed as a general authority, or senior full-time leader of the Church. In this capacity he served as an assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles before being appointed to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 5 October 1961.

President Hinckley received a number of educational honors, including the Distinguished Citizen Award from Southern Utah University; the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Utah; and honorary doctorates from Westminster College, Utah State University, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Southern Utah University, Utah Valley State College and Salt Lake Community College. The Gordon B. Hinckley Endowment for British Studies, a program focused on the arts, literature and history of the United Kingdom, was established at the University of Utah.

President Hinckley was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award by the Boy Scouts of America; was honored by the National Conference for Community and Justice (formerly the National Conference of Christians and Jews) for his contributions to tolerance and understanding in the world; and received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In 2004, President Hinckley was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in the White House.

In March 2000 President Hinckley addressed the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. He also addressed the Religion Newswriters Association and the U.S. Conference of Mayors and twice addressed the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.

President Hinckley wrote and edited several books and numerous manuals, pamphlets and scripts, including a best-selling book, Standing for Something, aimed at a general audience. In it he championed the virtues of love, honesty, morality, civility, learning, forgiveness, mercy, thrift and industry, gratitude, optimism and faith. He also testified of what he called the “guardians of virtue,” namely traditional marriage and family.

President Hinckley married Majorie Pay in the Salt Lake Temple in 1937. They have five children, 25 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. Sister Hinckley passed away 6 April 2004.




Some of my favorite things about President Hinckley:
-the podium at the new conference center made from his walnut tree
-a great sense of humor
-a true optimist
-a wonderful wife -- and I loved to see them as a couple
-such tenderness towards the women of the church
-always making me want to do a little better and at the same time being able to make me feel like I am doing a good job.
-temple building and dedications -- announcing and then reaching the goal of 100 temples. I remember when the announcement was made it seemed very far fetched, but now we have far surpassed that.
-ease in dealing with the media including a fun enterveiw with Larry King years ago.
-living to be super old, yet having the energy to travel the world and maintain such wit!
-the biography by Sheri Dew was excellent. I highly recommend it!

For Jessica D.

A while ago Jessica said she tried a broccoli soup recipe that didn't turn out.
So, a couple of nights ago we had broccoli soup and I was thinking of her. Rather than email it out, I thought I'd post my recipe here. There are two versions. First, the recipe in the cookbook and second, what I actually do. I'll post both.

Cookbook Broccoli Cheese Soup

6 c. potatoes, diced
2 c. carrots, diced
2 c. celery, diced
1 c. onion, diced

Place veggies in a good sized pot, with just enough water to cover and steam for 20-30 minutes. Then add a package of frozen broccoli or some fresh broccoli chopped. Cook until veggies are tender.

Then in a separate pot melt 3/4 c butter. Then add 3/4 c flour. Cook stirring constantly, for a few minutes, then add:

2 c. milk and mix until well blended. Then add,

6 chicken bullion cubes
1 t. dry mustard
1/2 t. pepper
1 lb. velvetta cheese, cut in pieces.

Mix, stirring regularly to keep from sticking. When cheese and bouillon have melted, add veggies (undrained).


Here's what I do. I cook the above veggies as described but also add about 3 of bouillon cubes in with them. When I make the cream sauce I omit the bullion cubes. I sometimes go without the cheese, or if I do use the cheese I just use shredded cheddar because I never have velveeta on hand. Sometime I'll have to try the real recipe and see how it is. I'm sure it's a completely different soup! One time I added culiflower to mine. It tasted fine but Dave thought it was kind of weird to have white culiflower in a white soup.

Off topic, but still for Pete and Jessica. Yesterday we went to the SD Zoo and out in the parking lot they have a tower with a security guard keeping watch of the parking lot. Dave and I thought he looked a lot like a sniper and it made us think that if a certain someone ever gets tired of preschool she might be able to become a sniper! :)

I looked out the window and what did I see?

I left the kids in the car for a few minutes to hang out while I unloaded groceries. I can see them out my kitchen window and hear them so it works out pretty well most of the time. Today I saw them kissing.

I went outside to tell Calvin not to kiss his sister and here's a short conversation we had about kissing. In other talks we've had about kissing I have told him that we only kiss on the lips after we're married.

Calvin: Hi Mom, we're married.
Mom: Calvin, don't kiss your sister on the lips.
Calvin: Me and Clare are married.
Mom: Nope, you can't marry your sister.
Calvin: Well then, who can I marry?
Mom: Any girl you want.
Calvin: mmmmmm, how about daddy?!

I will just let that one slide for now and perhaps if it comes up again I'll tell him Daddy is already married. Not to mention, Daddy isn't a girl either!

Funny Kids....

I was just online checking email, etc. for a minute while the kids are entertaining themselves. And, how are they entertaining themselves? They are watching a cooking show on PBS and I hear Calvin saying "mmmmm, that looks good."

Today I had the cable disconnected. Calvin LOVES TV and is the only one in the house who watches any TV. Dave and I are in bed before our shows start so if we ever do watch them, it is online. Or we rent movies at blockbuster if we're going to stay up late watching something!. There have been several times in the course of Calvin's life as a TV watcher where we've put away the TV for a while and are always amazed at how great Calvin does without it. He is much more talkative and willing to be involved. He comes without having to beg or drag him to the car, dinner table, etc. Hopefully it goes well this time. The TV certainly does a good job babysitting him in the morning before I get up so if I do miss it, that might be the time. Although, he'd be much better off reading books or playing games quietly, or he can even come in and hang out with me (after 6)! We still have a little TV that plays VHS movies so I can pull that out to let the kids watch it when I need a break to clean or cook or something but taking away the cable will help me have more control over the TV time.

Clare's little attitude

Yesterday Clare said a couple of funny things to me.

She was hanging out with Dan and he told me that she needed her diaper changed. So, here's the little conversation that ensued.
Mom: "Hey, Clare bear, are you stinky?"
Clare: "No, Dan's stinky."

A short time later she was still playing with Dan and I was slowly approaching to take her away for a nap. She saw me coming and said, "Mom, go away......away, Mom. Go away.....go away." Until I finally did leave and told her I'd be back soon!

What we've been eating.

Dave has started a rice strike. So, we've been reinventing many of our meals by serving them over pasta instead of rice. A couple of our favorites are poppyseed chicken over egg noodles and simple cheddar chicken (1 can cream of ckn soup, 1/2 c sour cream, 1/2 c milk, 1 c cheese and 5-10 chicken tenders baked for an hour) over thin spaghetti. We have even been eating sweet and sour chicken over spaghetti instead of with rice and it is okay! He also likes to have sweet potatoes or yams instead of regular potatoes (as do the kids) so whenever I make baked potatoes I through in a few sweet potatoes as well.

Dave is also picky about what kind of pasta we eat. He likes Barilla so I stock up whenever it goes on sale. He is also particular about what type of noodle is used with each dinner, so if you ever have a question about what type of pasta should go with your given sauce, ask Dave. He is sure to know!


Calvin loves these peanut butter bars. We get them at Costco and he has been eating 1 or 2 (or 5) per day for the last few months. They are high in calories and fat so they're not a good diet food but since Calvin doesn't eat much I like that they give him lots of calories. He also loves home made rolls when I make them. And, he loves mango.


Clare loves all things sweet. One thing sweet that we make once or twice a week is "strawberry ice cream" also known as smoothies. Into the blender we put 3 ice cubes, 4 frozen strawberries, 1-2 bananas and the juice from 1 orange. I have found that having the OJ in the smoothie makes it sweet enough that you don't have to add any sugar or honey. We have an orange tree that seems to have an unlimited supply of oranges so it is quick and cheap for us to use an orange because we never have OJ on hand from the store. This is a good drink for me to serve Clare with lunch since it's just fruit and no added sugar like most of the other sweets she likes!

As for me ..... I like anything I don't have to cook. My favorite food lately is still the Chinese chicken salad from souplantation that I think I've mentioned several times. I love ice water and enjoy having an ice maker in the freezer.

From Thrusday

Today was a busy and good day. First thing this morning we had to go get the muffler fixed. It broke last night and we have learned to recognize the sound of a car with a broken muffler as ours has broken several times over our last 10 years in the salty snowy weather. We are hoping that now that we are in an area where there isn’t snow and salt on the roads our muffler and some other car parts will last longer! And, as it turned out it wasn’t the muffler that was broken, just one of the pipes that connected to it so it was only $70 repair. It was nice of the mechanic to be honest and just replace the part that needed fixing instead of telling me it all needed to be replaced.

We stopped at Target to pick up a few things including a birthday present for a friend of calvins. He picked a nurf gun. Hopefully that is okay. I realize some parents don’t like their kids to play with guns or other weapons so I’ll just attach the gift receipt in case this boy’s mom feels that way about guns. I also got some newborn diapers because they were having a pretty good diaper sale. I can’t believe how small they are – I’ve forgotten how tiny a newborn baby is.

I cleaned two bathrooms, the fridge, my closet (also known as the soon-to-be-short-term-nursery!), and got caught up on 6 months of financial record which somehow got lost on the computer. It was quite a bummer. I remember a month or so ago when we were looking at some numbers (in excel) the file was being very finicky. Dave and I both are very good with Excel and were baffled. I guess the file must have been messed up enough that it didn’t save properly. Anyway, I had to re-enter all of our expenditures over the last 6 months. It took a long time but glad to have it done! Also, the kids were great for a good hour or two while I worked on it. They pretended to sleep, danced to ohio state music and then played quietly while listening and singing along with the primary music. They have a CD player (my old one) with all their CD’s handy and it is a major form of entertainment for them every day. I just thought it was great they got along for so long without any fighting. Some days are like that and others are the opposite.

For the Dahlquist's

While we were on the boat we celebrated Dad's birthday. For part of his present from us we gave him some stylish glasses that we found in a desk in the garage which was basically trash. They were his glasses during the 80's and 90's and might still be his glasses if he could get away with it! He thought it was a pretty funny gift. Kari was a little concerned that he might try to work them back into his wardrobe but was a good sport about it!

Sunday Music

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.
st. francis of assisi


I have a recording of BYU men's chorus singing this and it is one of my favorites.

Knotts Berry Farm!

Yesterday we had a GREAT DAY! at Knotts Berry Farm. I regret that I didn't take a picture of the entire group -- we went with Dave's parents and Dave's brother Joe with wife Janell and kids Andrew and Emiley. It was nice to spend the day with everyone. The weather was great -- sunny and 70, and the park wasn't too crowded. We spent most of the day in Camp Snoopy letting the kids play although some took turns riding the big coasters. Since I'm 100 weeks pregnant I couldn't ride the big rides but it was still fun to just watch the kids who were so happy to be there!

Clare started the day a little timid. This was her response when we asked her if she wanted to go on the airplane ride with Calvin.


This car ride ended up being one of the favorites.


When Calvin went on this ride the first time he was laughing hysterically the entire time, especially as he got whipped around the corner.


I like this one becuase it also shows Emiley in the back as she is going around the corner.


Clare was too scared to go on it in the morning but by evening had gotten brave enough to give it a try.


She even put her hands up!


Emiley and Clare had a good time being together. They went everywhere in the back of the stroller together. I love cousins....we need some more.


This truck ride was another favorite. The horns were so fun (and so obnoxious for the adults)!


Clare's personal favorite was the bounce house. She did everything she could to stay inside, including running to the corner to hide when they said "time to get out" and jumping back in after we got her shoes on.

It's always fun when grandpa comes . . .

Dave's parents - Grandpa Dan and Grandma Linda stopped by yesterday for a visit. We went to the playground so calvin could show off his new bike and so we could get some wiggles out. Dave and I enjoyed watching grandpa chase the kids around the playground (usually our job) and were glad to see they warmed up to G & G so fast.

Grandpa has been doing a lot of woodworking projects lately and he brought these two puzzles that he made for the kids! Pretty impressive! I thought they were great. Calvin's is a little bigger than a regular piece of paper and it's pretty challenging. It took me 15 minutes to figure out. He cut out some pieces in the shape of C-A-L-V-I-N, which was really fun. Grandma colored/drew the picture.



And, after just one day, Clare now knows all the letters in her name and has mastered her little puzzle. It is just the right size and complexity for a 2 year old!

Early riser

On the side, I added a new little page element. It's called Time Calvin woke up. I wouldn't consider 4am early in the morning. I'd consider it still middle of the night. How about you? If the time is ever after 6 am you know that I am having a really good day. well, unless it's after 7, which means he's probably sick because otherwise he'd never sleep in that late. Lately he is up by 4:30. He is crazy. I usually don't get up until around 6 and some days not 'til 7. When Calvin does get up I get up and help him get his glasses on and find some food and then go back to bed. We have a rule that he is not allowed out of his room 'til 6 but he has been gradually breaking that rule and getting up earlier and earlier and he finds that he can sneak out if he doesn't come and bother us. Today he came out at 5 to eat breakfast with Dave. It's hard to enforce that rule when Dave is up and about. To be honest, it's hard to enforce the rule anytime. Clare sleeps most days 'til about 8:20when we wake her up to take Calvin to school. Let's all hope baby #3 is like Clare.

Today was a beautiful day so first thing this morning we went to the playground. We live a mile or so from the elementary school. Usually the school and playground are all locked up so we can't go and play there on weekends and holidays which is really a bummer. This week there are some people there doing a little work so the grounds are open. We've stopped by a couple of times to play.







Calvin got this bike for Christmas. We gave his bike away when we left Ohio and promised to get him a new one in SD. He enjoys his bike and is pretty good at riding. Dave is already telling him that soon (after he is 5 and gets really comfortable on the bike) we'll take the training wheels off!




Yesterday I pulled Dave away from the TV and bowl games for a quick hour at the park. The kids fight over his attention when we're there. they both want to swing with him and have him chase them, etc. So, here he is with both kids on his lap swinging.

2007 Highlights

January – Match Day! We got a phone call early in the morning telling us that Dave would be part of the UCSD neurosurgery program. We spent the next several months enjoying Columbus and getting ready to move.

February – Calvin turned 4 years old. We took a trip to Reno to see the Gonda family.

March – Calvin had ear tubes put in both ears. This helped get rid of his chronic ear infections, helped his hearing, and improved his speech. Also, Calvin was a perfect ring bearer at Pete and Jessica’s wedding.

April – Dave went to the dentist and had 7 cavities.

May – We enjoyed a lot of fun activities around Columbus and spent time with our friends during our remaining days in Ohio. Dave and Denise took a trip to Nashville without the kids!

June – Dave graduated from The Ohio State University Medical School and we moved from Ohio to San Diego where Dave started his neurosurgery residency!

July – San Diego summer with lots of swimming, beach trips, and Sea World passes.

August – Denise got called to be Primary Secretary. A great calling! Pete and Jessica left the Poway residence and went away to college much to the children’s despair. We miss them.

September – Calvin started preschool. He loves it! He goes M, W, F mornings and is a great student. He enjoys all of the activities and playing with his friends.

October – Dave’s hardest month of work. He put in many hours and enjoyed doing neurosurgery. Devastating wildfires came thorough our home town and destroyed 100’s of homes. We had to evacuate for a few days but luckily our home was fine. It sure made us appreciate what is important in life (each other). It also helped us realize that a lot of what we had at home would not have been missed if it had been lost in the fire so we have cleaned out a few closets and drawers with renewed purpose! Also, Calvin matched the score of his father this year with 7 cavities in his first trip to the dentist!

November – Clare turned 2. We all took a cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It was a nice get-away. Dave was on vacation for the month of November so we also did some projects at home and enjoyed being together. We visited Bakersfield for the blessing of our newest nephew Andrew and Grandma Linda visited us in Poway for a few days.

December – Dave and Denise celebrate their 7 year anniversary. Dave acquired a surf board and wet suit and is excited to learn to surf in the next few years. We are getting ready for the New Year and anxiously awaiting the Buckeyes National Championship game! We miss our Columbus friends terribly, but are loving life in San Diego!


It's amazing to look back over a year -- it seems like it goes by so fast, yet some things seem like such a long time ago!