Less Than Cake

And one more makes four

2011-07-20T14:49:00.004-06:00

Sorry it's been a year since we blogged. But what can you do?

The big news is: Jackson Wallace Smith was born on July 18, 2011!

We are so glad he's here and Macey is loving every moment of being a big sister (so far). He's a great baby, very calm and quiet.

Thanks for all the well wishes on Facebook and the calls and texts!

What? 6 months is a long time?

2010-07-14T22:40:00.002-06:00

So, I'm sorry we stink at blogging. Adam's been crazy busy with school and Macey can't read or type so she can't do this for me.

I know there is a lot to cover in 6 months, but the most important thing we've been working on is Macey's potty training. She's almost there! She is pretty good during the day to wear panties, but still needs a diaper at night. She's learned that diapers are for bedtime though, so we are making some real progress. I think the day I no longer have to put diapers and wipes on the shopping list could be one of the happiest days of my life.

Summer is here! We spend most of our time outside. Macey loves going to the park and blowing bubbles. We had fun with the Smith Family in June for a mini reunion in Mountain Green. We are looking forward to another reunion with the Burrie Family at the end of this month.

We'll try to do better at blogging. A post of pictures coming soon, for reals this time.

Update Coming Soon!

2010-01-30T23:52:00.001-07:00

So, we're slackers and have to get caught up on our blog. We just wanted to let those of you who still follow us that we're not dead. Thanks for caring.

Pictures coming soon. Macey is definitely 2.....

October Occurrences

2009-11-02T21:48:00.023-07:00

October is my favorite month! I love Fall and the leaves and all the different foods. Also, it seems like there is a lot to do during the Fall. My sweet baby Macey was born in October, so it is a special month to me. We had various adventures this month. Here are some of the things we did:

Visited the Enchanted Woods at the Treehouse Museum in Ogden with our good friends, the Reisbeck's. Their son, Ben, is Macey's BFF...more about that later.

The Enchanted Woods resulted in lots of candy. Macey is checking to make sure Ben doesn't have anything she doesn't.

Macey got a tiger mask from the Treehouse Museum, and wore it for the next week. Here she is showing it off with her "Grandma Do (Adam's mom) blanket" that she uses to make the walls of her coffee table cave.

For Macey's birthday, we went to a local pumpkin patch and had a hayride and picked pumpkins out of the field. Despite Macey's face, she LOVED the hayride.

Picking the perfect pumpkin!

Then on her real birthday, she celebrated by attempting to hijack the phone from her dad while he talked to her grandma.

She opened presents that included a doll whose box was stuffed full of grocery sacks..thanks Grandma Do.

And ate chocolate cupcakes with hot pink sprinkles. She doesn't like to get dirty...so eating the cupcake was a little overwhelming for her. She couldn't figure out how to eat it without getting her hands dirty. I just didn't want chocolate stains on her dress, hence the naked child.

Then, the Friday after Macey's birthday we went with the Reisbeck's to Jungle Jim's playland to celebrate Ben's birthday. We started with the bumper cars. Macey and Ben opened the gate and climbed in a car and waited for a ride operator to show up...

They drove a plane. And Macey waved.

And we finished the day off with a carousel ride. As Macey says, "I rode the pink horse all by myself". What a big girl!

The next day was Halloween. Carving the pumpkins from the pumpkin patch is serious business according to Macey.

The finished product! Can you guess who carved which pumpkin?

On to Trick or Treating, actually Trunk or Treating. First stop: the neighbor's goat pen...Macey would have stayed in there all night. She loves animals.

She also loves orange tootsie roll pops. Here is our cute little chicken enjoying her candy. We had to bribe her to put on her costume, not with candy but with promises of seeing "her Ben". Should I be worried about this relationship?

Overall, a fun month minus the swine flu infestation that Adam had. Luckily he recovered. Next up: Thanksgiving!

PS. Isn't she the cutest chicken you've ever seen?

Family Pictures

2009-08-16T17:03:00.001-06:00

Still trying to decide which one to use for our Christmas cards this year...

Guess Who's Back (Besides Eminem Cracking on Mariah)

2009-08-02T18:33:00.003-06:00

Apparently the Couch Climbing entry doesn't have the staying power I anticipated. I thought that post could carry this blog for at least 6 months but one aunt, who will remain nameless but had very patriotic high school aged kids, has suggested on multiple occasions the need for an udpate.

In case there is any doubt, I am the man. Shirts rarely lie.

Ahh yes. What you missed. Macey's failed attempt at sleeping in a big girl bed. It was smashing success until the 4th night when she wouldn't have anything to do with the bed. Pick your battles. We did. She is now sleeping in her crib again after several weeks of retraining her to be excited for bed time and go down without any fuss.

Macey in all her headband glory. Can you tell she put it on her self? Maybe all that Rockband her mother is playing is starting to get to her? See you in 5 months.

Couch Climbing

2009-03-29T19:48:00.006-06:00

It snowed today which can only mean one thing. Macey needed to learn a new trick. So I put her on top of the couch in typical dad fashion and next thing we know she had a ice pick out and was climbing back up. This ought to be a fun way for mom and child to spend their days.

Macey Meets Princess Leia

2009-03-29T18:24:00.003-06:00

Macey helping out on the computer.

Can you tell who is not impressed with the camera?

Maybe Demetri Should Have Been President

2009-03-27T21:03:00.001-06:00

Snow Maze

2009-03-22T20:54:00.002-06:00

A few more inches of snow and we could have a snow maze. Macers would have loved that.

Lil Reader

2009-03-22T19:31:00.002-06:00

Macers loves to read. Especially about inch worms. She reads this book at least once a day.

Should We Be Worried?

2009-02-27T22:56:00.008-07:00

See this girl? She looks happy here. She had a play date today. Her favorite set of brothers were coming over....really she loves these boys.

I told her she was having a play date, apparently she only heard the word date...
Yes, as soon as the movie started my little girl put her arm around her favorite boy named Aaron.
They sat like that for almost 10 minutes. They look cozy don't they?
She's sad because she discovered Aaron was more interested in her basketball hoop than her. Poor thing. Should I be worried for teenage drama? Or worse--two year old drama?

Caption Contest

2009-02-08T19:01:00.002-07:00

I took the photo, you decide the caption in the comments. As a side note, this is the same look Tess gave Ryan when he agreed to marry her.

Talk To The Hand

2009-02-08T18:47:00.003-07:00

In private back room conversations many have asked, 'When will Sara blog again?' Truth be told, I'm not sure. It may take a stimulus check to get her back on. What I do know is this is a very sensitive subject with the Grammers, who is a big fan of Napoleon Dynamite.

She wouldn't comment on record except to send her sincerest LaFonda Talk To The Hand impression.

Crazy Mom. Blame it on the Wii. Supposedly.

2008-12-26T21:27:00.002-07:00

Nick misses me. He probably misses my mom more. That doesn't make him a bad person. That doesn't make me a bad person. Hopefully this post appeases, to a minute degree, his insatiable thirst for more:

Still Trying To Cope

2008-12-09T21:57:00.001-07:00

Sorry, still trying to get over this whole cookie disaster. Not goin lie, I got knocked down, but I''ll get up again...

Last Night's Shocking Events

2008-11-05T21:03:00.003-07:00

Devastating. After stomaching last night's events I've slowly come to terms with the loss. It was inevitable right? Change was needed. This was about a new America. But was it really necessary?

The demise of Mother's Cookies, fabricators of the timeless classic cookie most notable for its delectable pink and white circus animal shape, is overwhelming. Since 1916 Mother's Cookies has brought America the original Circus Animal but now the time when we could happily sit on our porch in a rocking chair wistfully sipping Mountain Dew whilst munching pink elephants is no more. The rise of flour, sugar, and butter costs proved a worthy competitor to the profitability of the Circus Animal. And that makes this blogger sad. Very sad indeed.

Happy Birthday Macey

2008-10-27T16:58:00.005-06:00

In honor of Macey's first birthday (more to come on that later), here are few things you might not know about the little one.

1. She likes Usher. As in the singer. We went through a period of time where she wouldn't eat her breakfast unless I turned on the song "Yeah!". Thankfully, that period has passed. However, if we turn it on now, she will stop what she's doing and bump to the music.

2. She likes to climb. Anything becomes a possible climbing tool if it is more than half an inch tall; whether it be a book, a box or her mom. Her favorite destinations are the recliner, the couch-on her way to Dad's desk-, and the coffee table.

3. She doesn't like bows in her hair, but is okay with pony tails. Also not okay- a bow on the pony tail. Pony tail only.

4. She likes to clap for herself. One day she was babbling and all of the sudden clapped and giggled like she'd made a joke. We got the stink eye for not clapping with her...we didn't know we were supposed to.

5. She will fall asleep on me, but not on her dad. Adam doesn't get this nor do I since he is obviously more cuddly than I am.

6. She likes football and actually cheers when big plays happen. Only, she can't differentiate who her dad is cheering for. Most Saturdays at our house are spend with Macey clapping vigorously at the tv and her dad trying to teach her to say Go Wolverines or Go Cougars...she doesn't get it.

7. She likes reading. When she's being really quiet, (unless she's being a trouble maker), she can usually be found looking at a book and turning the pages. She looks at them like she is reading, it's very cute.

8. She fits in the cupboard, as she likes to show us frequently by climbing in and sitting down. She always goes to the same cupboard depending on which room we're in. She likes to climb in the cupboard because she knows she's not supposed to be in there and thinks that if she crawls in, I won't be able to stop her from being in the cupboard....she's a tricky one this girl.

9. She has better problem solving skills than I do most days. I can't figure out how to keep her out of the kitchen no matter what I do because she always finds a way in. She will crawl under, over and through any obstacle to reach her favorite cupboard in the kitchen. She's the most determined little girl I've ever seen.

Those are just a few random facts about the big one-year old. She is a great joy and keeps us busy. We love her! Happy Birthday Macey!

This Has Got To Be Rigged Right?

2008-10-15T20:19:00.001-06:00

Someone how this game of Tickity Tackety Toe is rigged. I can't seem to beat it with rudimentary brute force TTT methodology.

Walkability.

2008-10-13T20:34:00.002-06:00

She's a couple of steps closer to turning our lives upside down again.

Cowabunga Dude!

2008-10-13T20:03:00.002-06:00

Potential surfer girl? Maybe.

The Other Steve

2008-09-15T22:49:00.003-06:00

...turn that frown upside down:) They told you what to do, but not how. Thankfully Microsoft's CEO filled that void a few years ago.

She's Everywhere. And She Can't Walk Yet.

2008-09-14T21:58:00.001-06:00

Corrupting the Macers

2008-08-17T17:17:00.004-06:00

It must have been a sad day in the life of the Macers. Left with family members entrusted to protect her whilst in Boise, she was defiantly subjected to the smurf turf, a disgrace to the tradition of college football and a travesty of a field at best.

She bites her thumb when she knows something is not right. The field was not right.

Caught in mid wind up as she prepares to slap Tess for bringing her to such a place and dressing her in this less than complementary orange dress.

The Memory Game

2008-07-24T11:37:00.001-06:00

A fun game for those who are feeling nostalgic.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together (Adam, Sara or both). It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you! Let the good times roll....

She Moves.

2008-07-13T20:59:00.002-06:00

And the 9th month brought us trouble. The thing moves now. She substitutes the army crawl and bear walk for the more conventional hands and knees technique. However, she is also very adept at sliding backwards while in the walrus position. For our more inquisitive readers, her repertoire is not lacking the 360 degree tummy spin and she has suddenly realized the value the tried and true rollover as well.

My personal favorite is attack mode. Sitting on her butt, she decides she wants something and catapults into attack mode. He chubby little feet push her up as she dives to her tummy. It is a vicious maneuver that carries more bark than bite since she doesn't move very quickly after she lands on her tummy. But it still scares most two year olds, and me, but only when it is dark.

A Father's Day Poem for My Husband

2008-06-15T19:43:00.003-06:00

My wife has some kind of sick twisted romantic humor - my card reads:

Our Love
will last forever,
We know it
in our hearts,
Our bond cannot
be broken...

It's stronger
than your farts.

(...and that's
really saying
something!)

It's good to be loved. I know.

Are You Down with the Terrorist Fist Jab?

2008-06-10T19:34:00.002-06:00

USA-POLITICS/OBAMA, originally uploaded by fullbodytransplant.

Can you believe this openly defiant act of fist jab terrorism by a presidential candidate?

Sleeping Mischevious Beauty

2008-06-08T18:13:00.008-06:00

First she sleeps...

...then she makes trouble...

...and then she asks "who me?"

Macey Meets the Mirror

2008-06-08T18:13:00.005-06:00

Macey has a new favorite past time...playing with her alter ego. If you are bored, watch. But no guarantee you will be less bored over the next minute.

Is this me?

2008-06-01T20:58:00.001-06:00

Discover
adamvansmack's
Personality Patterns

Visit SignalPatterns.com
to get your own!

Reserved and Open? What does that mean? Probably that I am confused since I likely answered the same question two different ways. I can't even pass a personality test.

BYOM

2008-05-26T09:37:00.003-06:00

Sometimes I add value add value in the kitchen. This is evidence.

Fo Mo Shizzle

2008-05-24T22:32:00.002-06:00

Why didn't they announce this in conference?

And this is why I have always been a strong proponent of announcing all newly converted prominent individuals immediately preceding the announcing of those prominent members which have passed on. Are you with me? I know Snoop is.

That Grin Can Only Mean One Thing...

2008-05-18T18:39:00.006-06:00

... Macey's first tooth is coming in.

In spite of the new tooth she still maintains her Matrix like back arching abilities. She is particularly adept at stretching across the arm rest in hot pursuit of her bottle. We will let you know how her first meeting with the floor goes when that happens.

And she sits up by herself now . Finally, one more position to add to the 'keep 'er entertained' rotation. This is perfect timing too, as she will need to sit up if she wants to go fishing with LeBron.

She loves her bath water. I am not so sure this cool stream water was such a hit.

2008-04-27T20:21:00.002-06:00

We found these two monkeys at the zoo on Saturday. One monkey was really friendly and the other monkey wasn't so sure about this relationship.

Eventually, after a little monkeying around, they became best friends*.

*Editor assumes best friendship is manifested by eating, sucking, and slobbering on befriended monkey.

Standing Tall

2008-04-13T17:38:00.003-06:00

Macey's new favorite trick? Standing. Is this an ominous sign of trouble to come?

She prefers the stand on dad's lap technique but took to the couch right away.

Less Than Cake

2008-04-12T22:09:00.002-06:00

Does it bother you that you can't google 'less than cake' and be directed to the greater than great Less Than Cake blog? (Ed note: now is an appropriate time to lie). No? You were supposed to lie. I don't really care what you think.

Someday when I google less than cake this blog will be the numero uno result( that's number one for those who misremember their high school spanish lessons). It doesn't even invade the top ten right now. But it will. Thanks to this post.

And when that day comes my ego will be sufficiently inflated that I will probably tell you about. Even though you don't care. At all. And I will probably make some special cake, maybe a diaper cake, with chocolate icing and pudding filling, and eat it by myself.

Matrix Macey

2008-04-06T09:57:00.004-06:00

The little one is slowly developing her ability to suspend her body in mid air. Notice the well performed arching below. Is she the one? Neo would say no.

Really she was just determined to cheer her champion on to victory. Alas, the Bruins failed us. When placed perpendicular to the TV, the arch has become the viewing weapon of choice.

Are You Sensible?

2008-03-29T11:35:00.002-06:00

The British want to know just how good your senses are. You should do the sensible thing and find out....... Right Now!

20 Questions. Each question is timed. I don't recommend taking it with a child on your lap. Especially if they like to drool. Or slobber. Otherwise you might end up with a 9 out 20 sensory rating. Which is poor... 45% for those fearful of mental math.

PS. Nick, no obligatory pictures in the post, but if you take the test your eyes will be delighted by sensory images galore.

Great Grandma's House

2008-03-28T20:22:00.006-06:00

On the Saturday before Easter, we went to Malad, Idaho to visit my Grandma Burrie. This is the grandma that we named Macey after (her middle name anyway). Macey took to Grandma right away and didn't cry when Grandma held her. We spent the day by taking Grandma to lunch and watching basketball. Adam was impressed by my Grandma's knowledge of the NCAA tournament and her willingness to let us turn on the tv to watch more hoops.

Macey and Grandma. Macey loved Grandma and was so content to sit on her lap.
Macey and Daddy watching basketball. Daddy's lap is a comfy chair.
It's a rough life for the man. A nap in the nice warm sun.....well he was napping until I took the picture.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-28T20:09:00.008-06:00

Happy Easter! We know this is a little late, but Mrs. Van Cake had to work this week (at a job, not just at home), so the Easter pictures were a little late in getting put out.

Macey got a plastic egg, that her dad kindly ate the candy out of, to play with. Here she is examining it and wondering if she'll ever get anything that isn't pink.

Satisfied that all pink is good for now, and realizing that her dad has in fact eaten all the candy, she sticks the whole egg in her mouth. Good enough she thinks.
Here she is with Daddy. "I know that you let him eat my candy, lady, no way am I smiling for you."
She was even less impressed with the camera for Mommy because she could see that candy stealing man.
"Okay, I'm so done. I won't even look at you."

Happy Easter! We had fun celebrating by having a big breakfast, going to Church, getting callings ( Adam: Sunday School teacher for 12 year-olds---mostly girls! ha! and Sara: Assistant Bear Den leader--all boys!), and a fabulous Easter dinner at Aunt Colleen's. We were so busy visiting with everyone that we didn't get any pictures, but we thank Aunt Colleen for the wonderful food and the invite every year!

Down Goes...

2008-03-22T22:13:00.004-06:00

To those whose champion was felled today, better luck next year.

Mr. Hanks - Congrats. You were the first to have your champion chopped down.

Bronco Billy - What can I say? At least your wife's champion can win two games.

1st Round Leader

2008-03-22T10:27:00.002-06:00

Day 2 of Round 1 was unkind to the King of Cake. So I sit in third place behind the creatively named Jim-1 and the uninspired moniker that is Bronco Billy. Early congrats to our leader who correctly picked 25 of 32 first round games (does the government have inside information?).

So far the best haircut of the tournament goes to defensive stalwart Steven Hill of the Razorbacks. Clearly the dude has style.

And Megan, even though you are in last, don't despair. Nobody else picked Xavier to win it all which leaves you with come-back-ability. If they lose, begin despairing.

And round two begins.....'Right Now!' (to be read aloud in the voice of Neil Everett).

First Foray into Solid Food

2008-03-18T21:46:00.006-06:00

Today was a big day for little Maceycakes. She tried rice cereal for the first time. Lately, she has been screaming to be up at the table when we eat, and her doctor said that if she hadn't shown interest in our food by 5 months to just go ahead and start her with the rice cereal. I took the screaming to be at the table as a cue that maybe she was ready. She holds her head up extremely well for her age (always has), so sitting in the high chair was no problem for the little one.

Here she is getting ready for her first bite. Doesn't she look small in that chair?
Eating a bite. She actually did pretty well and didn't get it all over her face and clothes.

All done. I think she liked it considering she ate the whole bowl. How about that face huh?

The Many Faces of Macey

2008-03-18T21:26:00.013-06:00

I was recently informed that my blog posting has decreased since Macey was born. The informant was particularly appalled at the lack of posting because in his words I "actually had something real to blog about." To please the peanut gallery, here are a few pictures of Macey doing her favorite things...

I usually bring Macey into my room while I shower so that I can make sure she's safe. Usually, she plays and screams until I get out. One day I got out of the shower and found her like this....

Holding her bottle on her own...she hasn't done that since this time. Her hands are too busy trying to grab Adam's beard or scratch my face..watch out!

Lately, she has been falling asleep like this. I think it is always the right arm up behind the head...

Tummy time with Dad. I didn't know this was going on. I had recently discovered Tetris on my Palm, and being the attentive parent I am, was playing a game while Adam played with Macey.

Macey loves her swing. Can you tell by this face? This is about the only documented smile I have of my girl.

Five minutes later however, she's back to her usual ways. I think she realized there was a camera around....

You've Got Two Days

2008-03-17T21:58:00.002-06:00

The Madness starts Thursday. Time to make your picks. There are two rules:

1. If you read this post, you are obligated to submit your picks here.

2. If you read this post, your significant other is now obligated to submit his/her picks here, even he/she knows nothing about basketball.

Simple enough. Now go make your picks. Right now your odds of winning are good since your current competition is me, me's significant other, and Kristy.

If this guy doesn't make you wanna play then you are probably social inept...like him. (Ed Note: I think he is mimicking the look Nick would give after I pinned him in our nonfamous <> late night wrestling forays.)

March Madness

2008-03-13T23:09:00.004-06:00

It's March. Spring is in the air (or is that snow I see thru the window?). This can mean one thing, and one thing only. Time for the Madness to begin.

Want to get in on the bracket mania? Head on over to ESPN and sign up for my uber stellar group, aptly named Less Than Cake. The password? Appropriately, it is cakeorama.

Maybe the winner will get a prize? For the uninitiated, the Field of 64 (errr 65) won't be set until Sunday afternoon. The 16th. This Sunday. After that you can make your picks. Which you should do quickly. There'll be 1 play in game on Tuesday, and the real madness will begin Thursday.

Memory: Back in the day (read high school) the early morning first round Thursday/Friday games translated into time off from the overwhelming daily rigors of the educational gauntlet. Of course, we couldn't miss Mr. Roegenbuck's weekly Friday quiz on trigonometry so to school we went for periods 1 & 2. And to home we went for periods 3, 4, 5, & 6. It was a tough life.

Get in the action now:
http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/group?groupID=15494
Group: Less Than Cake
Password: cakeorama

Intelligence

2008-02-27T21:22:00.003-07:00

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well.

An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly.

You are also good at remembering information and convincing someone of your point of view.

A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary.

You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

Happy Valentine's Day ( and a post for Aunt Jamie)

2008-02-14T11:00:00.005-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Macey's Aunt Jamie is always so nice to make sure Macey has a holiday appropriate outfit that we had to take pictures to show her the cute shirt on Macey. As previously noted, Macey does not like pictures. Let's follow her thoughts as we took pictures.

"I swear I've told that mom of mine before, no pictures...can't she get the hint? I won't even look at the camera."
Okay, maybe if I look just once, but don't smile, she'll figure it out."

"Clearly, my mother has no idea that I don't like pictures unless I shout at her."

Have a happy day and remember to hug the one you love!

Macey to the Max

2008-02-13T16:03:00.006-07:00

Macey is rapidly approaching four months old. In celebration and because we all know how she behaves at bedtime (like an angel), I thought everyone would like to see how the little vancakester behaves during the day.

Her latest trick is trying to eat her hand. Also, if there is a blanket or burp rag nearby, those too go in her mouth.

This is the look she gives everyone, including me. Well everyone except Adam....he usually gets a big smile.
She is obviously not thrilled by having her picture taken. No way was a smile to be had during this photo op. Also, this is the look she gives me when I let some one other than her dad or myself hold her. It's sort of cute in a sad sort of way.

Finally, if she is left to her own devices in her swing, this is the result. Today I put her in the swing and forgot her blanket and the next thing I knew, I had a little girl with her head on the tray (not comfy at all, but then again how is this position comfy anyway?). I quickly retrieved the blanket and she slept much better.

Exit SUV. Enter XUV.

2008-02-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

With full size vans long since eliminated from the auto pool, minivans superseded by SUVs, and the supersized Hummer lacking that grandiose appeal of times past, one suitable option remains. Enter the Alton F-650 XUV. Comes well equipped at $200,000 - hardwood floors included.

We will be picking one up shortly, that I am positive.

When the brains behind the Hummer decided to shrink it down to its current microscopic H3 state I worried about the design engineers who lost their jobs because of this downsizing experiment. Tonight I rest well knowing they are gainfully employed.

Happy Day

2008-01-30T10:24:00.001-07:00

My little girl is a good sleeper. Since she was about 2 weeks old, she has pretty much slept in a five or six hour stretch at night. The last few nights she has been doing more like seven to eight hours at night. However, this morning when I awoke at 6:30, I realized she hadn't made a peep yet. So I went to check on her and she was sleeping like, well, a baby. What is a mom to do? The only rational thought I had was, go back to sleep woman. So I did. My wonderful child decided that she wanted to sleep until 8:00 this morning, after going to bed at 9:00 last night. The most she's ever slept before was 9 hours, but she broke her record last night. Oh how I love that girl.

More Tag Games

2008-01-30T10:13:00.001-07:00

My sister in law Rachel had this fun tag on her blog and tagged me. I love sharing fun facts about my honey so here we go:

What is his name? Adam
How long have you been married? 3.5 wonderful years
Who long did you date? 6 months
How old is he? 26
Who eats more sweets? Adam...his four main food groups are sugar, chocolate, pizza, and ice cream, I swear
Who said I love you first? I think I did....maybe him?
Who is taller? He is by almost 9 inches.
Who can sing better? I think we're about equal.
Who is smarter? Adam hands down. He's among the smartest people I've ever known.
Who does the laundry? Me...have I mentioned I hate laundry?
Who pays the bills? Adam
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Me
Who mows the lawn? We don't have a lawn, but I'm guessing that when we do, Adam will mow it.
Who cooks dinner? I do, except for breakfast night...then Adam does.
Who drives? Adam
Who is more stubborn? Probably me, but I think we're about equal.
Who kissed who first? He did after only one "real" date.
Who asked who out first? He did.
Who proposed? Adam did, on his 23rd birthday. Apparently he didn't want to forget when he proposed.
Who has more siblings? Me. Eight versus five.
Who wears the pants? Adam.
Now, I tag Megan, Terri Anne, Anna, Jamie, and Tess

Who's Back on the Block? NKOTB. That's Who.

2008-01-27T16:54:00.000-07:00

This is huge. I almost missed this when it came across the wire. The New Kids on the Block are back, again, allllright! For those lucky fans that saved their NKOTB comforter and bed set (that would be you Jamie) it is time to dust it off and put it back in service.

If you are fan, like I expect many of the Cake's readers are, you should head on over to NKOTB to sign up for all the insider information to which loyal fans will be privy. More on the official return of the boys that stole teenage hearts nearly two decades ago can be found at People.com

I can die in peace now. If only N*Sync would reunite, then I could die happy.

Macey's First Snow Expedition

2008-01-26T18:08:00.000-07:00

We were bored. Macey needed a nap. So we got in the Jeep and drove to winter Narnia. As luck would have it , it's just a 20 minute drive from our cloak closet.

I think the little one liked her first snow outing. She likes bright lights and it was plenty bright. I suppose it's true, Utah really does have the brightest snow on earth.

Macey just asked me where her coat was. I was at a loss for words. The blanket counts?

We may not have the New All Jeep Liberty, but the one we got can take us anywhere too. Just like those Hummer commercials, except better gas mileage.

Cast Your Vote

2008-01-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

Wondering who you should vote for in the primaries? Don't care for politics and prefer to have a 14 question quiz decide your vote? You have come to the right place.

Pick a Presidential Nominee

Post your results in the comments. Naturally Mr. and Mrs. Van Cake were dead set on voting for Hillary, but the results surprised us. Apparently we are all about Mike Huckabee.

There are two rules should you choose to follow the preceding link:

1. If you take the quiz you must post your result here.

2. If you take the quiz your spouse must also take the quiz.*

*Spouse, please refer to rule # 1.

Sick Nasty Snow in Utah

2008-01-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

We had some kind of snowstorm today. It snowed. Then it snowed some more. And when it was done snowing some more it snowed again.

Where is Sara's car? See that tire. See that white blob. Yeah. It snowed.

The snow has covered the rock wall and gathered on our back porch.

And here is a profile shot of the condo.

If you want to see more pictures of the sick nasty snowstorm in Utah then you should probably click on the preceding 'sick nasty snowstorm in Utah' text. Just a suggestion.

Apparently I've been tagged...

2008-01-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

The RULES:

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.

B. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.

C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog....

First off, I think this is a funny picture of me, and it goes with one of my 6 facts. It was taken the first year Adam and I were married and we didn't have much to worry about except March Madness...

Here are 6 facts you may not know about me, in no particular order:

1. I hate winter driving. This is kind of a bad thing because I live in Utah where it happens to snow a tad...(example: Today alone we got like 8 or more inches). When I have drive in the snow, the radio is off and I have a pep talk the whole way. The conversation goes something like this: Okay! You can do it! Oh, careful on the hill! Okay! Just go slow! Added to this pep talk are white knuckles from gripping the steering wheel and an increased pulse....what can I say? At least now I don't have to go somewhere every single day.

2. Nintendo rocks! Last year, (Christmas 2006) I gave Adam a Nintendo game for Christmas that I ended up beating while he was gone for work. This year I got a game for our Wii and now I count the minutes until Macey's nap times so I can play....sad I know.

3. I hate doing laundry. I would rather change 45 dirty diapers and do 200 loads of dishes instead of do laundry. I don't know why I hate it so much, I just do..

4. Sometimes I hope Adam will turn sports on the TV so I can watch too. See, I like watching sports, especially basketball (and March Madness ROCKS!) but I feel like a dork if I turn a game on. Also, I read SI and ESPN the magazine....

5. I love being a mom. I didn't know that staying home all day could be so fun. Even though Macey wears me out and is still so small, I love being here with her. I really consider it a privilege to be at home with my daughter and to get to see her grow and change every day.

6. I have given up on wearing jeans. Now, if you watch the show "What Not to Wear," you would know that the hosts would not be happy about this statement. However, I don't worry too much about it because I think I can dress myself well enough to avoid going on the show. After Macey was born, I had a hard time finding pants that fit and maternity pants were just not going to work for me...yuck. Jeans were especially hard. And, after wearing them a time or 17 billion because they were the only things that fit, I decided I hate the way they feel. Chinos or khaki pants are so much more comfortable and still look good too.

So, there you have it. Six things you didn't know or even need to know about me...

PS I tag: Natalie S., Erica A., Chelsea R., Rachel A., Kari A., and Michelle B.,

Behind The Times? 2 DTV Coupons For You.

2008-01-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

409 days to go until your analog TV signal goes dark. Thank the Feds for that.

And if you are behind the times (read: don't have a new fandangled LCD TV w/ built in digital tuner or don't currently use a digital converter box provided by your friendly cable or satellite provider) then you better go here and sign up for your Free $40 TV Converter Box Coupon.

If you don't get your 2 coupons now then you will wish you had in 2009 when you can't watch your TV anymore. Now you know.

If you are looking for a less nonsensical article on this subject then maybe CNET can help you become enlightened on this pressing issue. Or take this quiz to decide if you will need a digital converter box to pair with your 1980's tube tv still rockin' in the basement.

Wii for Mii, Wii For You.

2008-01-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

Probably shouldn't post this picture 4 months before my birthday. Who is that classy lady and why is she making that face with my baby in her arms?

I don't know. But it might correlate with the reason she calls Nintendo's latest and greatest console the 'Why.' What? Yep. She wanted a Nintendo Why. Would she settle for a Nintendo Wii. Only one way to find out:

Macey's First Christmas

2007-12-30T17:04:00.001-07:00

Apparently I have not been a good holiday blogger. So I've been told. Bah Humbug. Macey decided to stay up late so she was the first to see the Christmas tree and presents in all their glory.

This is what I call the MPS. The Macey Perspective Shot offers you a glimpse to see what she sees. Although in this case, with her chilling on the couch as Santa finishes up Sara's stocking, I don't think she could see much of anything beyond the red pillow.

See what I mean. Pretty sure those pillows were blocking her view. Oh well. And if the pillows were not in the way the back of her eyelids may have been.

And the APS of Christmas. Exciting I know.

And this is the little one right after she opened her first laptop. It's never too soon to get started with technology.

Unfortunate. Gift.

2007-12-25T00:02:00.000-07:00

The first unfortunate gift. A sweater . A vest. A sweater vest. A WNBA sweater. A WNBA vest. A WNBA sweater vest. Most unfortunate. But I love the Seattle Storm, as my brother well knows.

Life is Rough

2007-12-16T19:18:00.001-07:00

Apparently Christmas shopping and going to the grocery store in the same afternoon is too much for Daddy and Macey to handle. Now I know why she sleeps so well when we go on errands, the stimulation is simply just too hard to handle and all she can think to do is close her eyes and pray it all goes away...that or then movement of the car just puts her to sleep. You decide.

90th Percentile

2007-12-14T22:43:00.002-07:00

Well she may not be in the 90th percentile for her weight. Or height. But she did score in the 90th percentile for self sufficiency. A sign of things to come, we hope.

His Girl Macey

2007-12-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

Like father, like daughter? When Macey was born, we pulled out our respective baby pictures and decided that she looked more like Adam than she looked like me. At 6 weeks, the similarities are pretty evident I think. Just so you know, my child that I am with all day never sits on my lap like that, ever. Adam must have had some good basketball showing on the screen.

On a side note, I had book club last night and decided to leave Macey with Adam because it was so cold out. My book club tends to run a little late into the evening (one time I didn't get home until after 11 p.m.), so I was worried that Macey would either a) be awake and waiting for me to get her ready for bed or b) be in her bed without her bath. To my surprise, when I got home, Adam had bathed and dressed her and was feeding her. I am so grateful to have such a helpful husband who is such a wonderful dad. I appreciate him and all he does for our little family very much.

Deep Thoughts in My Living Room

2007-12-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

I was wondering. No need to worry, this is entirely harmless. However, when Mrs. Van Cake prefaces something with "I've been thinking..." I normally run for cover. Her "thoughts" don't always fall in line with my plans. Hiding is the best form of combat I've found thus far.

My wonderments are harmless, rest assure. For those with little tykes of the male persuasion, has cowboys and indians become a taboo game? The whole concept of the game was always a little questionable. You got your cowobys, and they carry guns, so they can...uh, you know shoot indians. We didn't really think that one through did we? Cops and robbers? Ok. Cowboys and indians? Probably not.

I mean you never saw anyone playing masters and slaves - probably cause the dumb kid that suggested it got beat up, which in this case was a good thing.

RIP: Cowboys and Indians - The Classic Childhood Game That Shouldn't Have Been Classic (:but it was)

I Miss You

2007-12-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, just before Thanksgiving I had to go dark. You may have noticed by the lack of posts. Good eye, Matlock. I only know one way to go dark, and that's Jack Bauer dark (if I had to go mostly dark I would do it Jason Bourne style).

The past week and half has been a trying time for my family. When one you love is nearing the end everyone has to pull together. To help my family move on after this grievous period I have put together a memoir...if you would like to contribute towards funeral expenses please contact Wells Fargo and ask to donate to the Roxie Dogg Family and Friends Fund. Thanks...it means so much.

Thanksgiving

2007-11-29T21:35:00.000-07:00

So, I know we're a little slow on the draw since Thanksgiving was a week ago, but we still had a great one and hope you did too. We went to Boise for Turkey Day and were rewarded with the exciting news of "Family Picture Day" on the 22nd. We went downtown (also known as BoDo) to the Boise building to take pictures. Overall, they turned out really well I think, unfortunately we didn't get any whole group pictures with our camera, but here are a couple of our little family.

PS Macey is five weeks old today and she sleeps for a 5 hour stretch almost every night. There is hope that someday I may almost maybe kind of perhaps make up a part of my sleep debt.

Macey's First Public Plea

2007-11-18T21:06:00.000-07:00

Mitt Might Make Me Matriculate

2007-11-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

Apparently Mitt Romney (the presidential candidate, not the baseball player) is keeping it real big willy style and has already begun production of his inauguration music video. At this point all my sources could get me was the proof of concept, which was produced on a limited budget of $1 million dollars. Rumor has it Mitt is willing to spend upwards of $15 million on the final cut should he win.

Please keep in mind the Writers Guild of America strike has adversely impacted the quality of this proof of concept.

The Office. Little Caesars. iPod Nano.

2007-11-08T20:33:00.000-07:00

Are they A) tending to Macey or B) watching The Office ?

Eyeing the A) formula or B) the crazy bread ?

Is she A) napping or B) getting her groove on ?

More Skills

2007-11-07T20:42:00.000-07:00

Did I mention she can read now?

Neck Skills

2007-11-06T19:55:00.001-07:00

Almost two weeks in and we are trying to identify her skill set. So far we've determined she's got definite neck skills. Not only can she hold her neck up but she can also maneuver into this position.

If only I could master the shoulder-head-rest position I'd be set at church.

What's On Your List?

2007-11-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

In case you couldn't decide what to get us for Christmas, here is an idea:

Just Say No -- Dr. Pepper

2007-11-04T15:58:00.000-07:00

If you look closely, you might just see a Dr. Pepper. In my mom's hand. And she's smiling. What gives?

I'll admit it. It was a conspiracy. For those who don't remember, see #5.

When Sara asked me to get her a Dr. Pepper a plan was hatched, sans incubation period. In 3 seconds and 2 1/2 strides I decided I would grab the camera, turn it on, ready for the shot, and get the DP. With my trigger finger fully invested I returned to the front room and asked my mom to hold the cool beverage so I could take a picture of the baby.

She fell for it. I snapped the picture and the rest is history. Hard evidence showing my mom holding a Dr. Pepper. A dire situation if there ever was one. I'm not one for blackmail, but I'm open to negotiation...this picture has its price.

Vote for the Top 15 College Football Teams

2007-10-31T22:04:00.000-06:00

If you are part of Fan Nation, then you need to vote for your top 15 college football teams. Here's your chance to decide the College Champs this year:

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T20:26:00.000-06:00

By my own design and choosing, I didn't end up with a Halloween birthday baby. However, I did end up with a Halloween costumed baby. Our ladybug was totally ready to trick or treat, but Daddy had other plans. Happy Halloween, we hope everyone had as much fun as we did....

No mights about it, you are a redneck if... | oomsa

2007-10-30T22:11:00.001-06:00

No mights about it, you are a redneck if... | oomsa

Blogged with Flock

Dead or Alive?

2007-10-28T10:17:00.000-06:00

Last night we were watching poopy Ohio State play Penn State and wondering just how old Joe Pa was now. So I googled it. For the unelightened, Joe Pa is the head coach in the other happy valley. You know, the one in State College, Pennslyvania. And he is older than dirt. What? There's more than one happy valley? Devastating, I know.

So Joe Pa is your grandpa. And he coaches football. Great retirement plan. Per Google Grandpa Paterno is going on 81. But there most be some debate over his current state of mortality - check out the third result.

Is the ageless Paterno the new sponsor for DeadorAliveInfo.com? And does he still get royalty checks after he dies? Compelling questions indeed. Answers are needed. Where's Jack Bauer when you need him? We're running out of time.

Chase Bank Wants to Give You Money

2007-10-27T19:11:00.000-06:00

Why do I have a Wii and you don't? Not bragging, just asking.

Answer: Cause you haven't got in on this deal yet. If you can find a Chase Bank branch in your area then you will have yourself some free monies in no time. Open an account in your name and boom you got $125. Open an account in your significant other's name and bam another $125. That's $250 of cash money. Mo money. That's a Wii.

Now you are wondering how to do direct deposit if you don't have direct deposit. You have two options: 1) Send money from your Paypal to your new Chase account -- this ACH usually comes across as a direct deposit and qualifies you for the promo money 2) Transfer money from another online bank account (Citibank is good for this since transfers are free) to the Chase account.

If you are confused but have questions just email me - otherwise go to Slickdeals for more discussion on this deal. If you'll excuse me I think it's about time for Macey's first bank account.

Home in Time for BCS Saturday

2007-10-27T14:38:00.001-06:00

Macey, originally uploaded by afsfam.

And we are home. Macey is doing well and would be great if she would just eat. Right now she is not so sure about the whole nursing thing. She doesn't cry very often. Yet.

Actually, she just cries when Sara tries to feed her. Other than that she is content to sleep or suck on her binky. Sure that will change soon.

More Crying Macey

2007-10-26T12:26:00.000-06:00

Same deal - more wiggling.

Macey's First Few Moments of Life

2007-10-26T12:19:00.001-06:00

An exercise in lung expansion -- this video should work as soon as Youtube processes it.

Introducing Macey

2007-10-26T12:09:00.000-06:00

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Or go here and I will try to post more for those grandparents that live so far away.

Ed: Seems to be technical difficulties -- the code for the slideshow broke. Click here to open a new page with the slideshow.

Ed: And it works again. Nice in.

Must the Water Break?

2007-10-24T20:06:00.000-06:00

Talent. When I see it, I know it. This is close. Near talent if you will. And you must.

I was talent, once. If you are lucky, some day I will turn that analog video tape of my zone's stunning N*Sync performance of the holistic Christmas carol Noel at the mission wide Christmas party into a Youtubable file and share it with the masses. That was talent. For now we must settle:

Still bored? Check out the flash mob on Youtube. The college sport I missed. I am officially old. There's a 93.8% chance you are too.

There Were Seven of Us

2007-10-24T19:50:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is the big day. I guess. And I know what you're dying to ask but just can't. It's ok. No. The answer is no. Probably not. I don't think so. Maybe. Sounds kind of cool. Has it been done before? Let me go ask the gate keeper. She's upstairs meditating.

Hmmm, the answer is no. Definitively. I will not be live blogging the delivery tomorrow. Sorry. But in my blogging absence, please watch this video over and over again. Namaste.

Last Free Weekend

2007-10-21T21:22:00.000-06:00

The impending bondage, err parenthood, approaches. So we went out one last time to celebrate our kidlessness and the beginning of the rest of lives ( or something...did Dumbledore write that?).

We went to Chilis. That's right, the home of no free appetizers. But coasters can be found in abundant supplies. They don't taste as good as free bread, popcorn, or chips but they have a certain flavor about them. Trust me on that one.

Naturally, I did what any rational person would do with a handful of coasters, I made a house. Sara was only slightly embarrassed. And yes, I did suppress the urge to balance my glass of coke on top of the well engineered house. Maybe next time.

After the coaster festivities it was time to eat. All the food pictured is now gone, with the exception of that green stuff that had orange shredded ish on top. That was not eaten. Not by me.

Cupcake Party?

2007-10-21T20:54:00.000-06:00

This is the look you get after your wife comes home with 16 cupcakes in a box, the calendar shows no cupcake party is scheduled for at least another week, and you don't have any kids.

The cupcakes were good. A week later and just 3 remain. Good thing we got the Wii for exercise.

I Knew It All Along.

2007-10-21T13:17:00.000-06:00

It's official. I can now reveal why I didn't read Harry Potter. Dumbledore is a switch-hitter.

BOISE Saves Dunder Mifflin

2007-10-20T09:03:00.000-06:00

I think Dunder Mifflin is back on track now that they are pushing BOISE paper. My dad knows some people at The Office, he must have made some calls.

Uploaded with Skitch!

Something Different. Something DQ.

2007-10-18T20:34:00.000-06:00

I stopped for some lunch at the DQ in Cache Valley. And I tried something different. I went the healthy rout with a greasy corn dog, some deep fried freedom fries, and a healthy allotment of coca cola.

I sat down to wait for my takeout order of goodness. A few seconds later the brother that took my order walks up to the counter with my coke in hand:

"Hey sir, I got your coke ready. "

"Thanks."

"You can get your drink on now and I'll hook you up with a refill before you hit the road."

Why thank you, I think I might just get my 'drink on' after all. DQ - Something Different.

38 Weeks Pregnant. Well Done. And Boxing? Hmmm

2007-10-17T19:35:00.000-06:00

Congratulations, you are 38 weeks pregnant. I think that means something is about to happen? On Tuesday the doctor took pity on Sara:

"You look like you are done?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Ok, if you want we can schedule an appointment for next week to induce you if you haven't gone into labor by then."

"Yessss!!!"

A short time later the appointment was made...7 Am on the 25th for those filling out their calendars.

I think she put on a really good 'pathetically pregnant' show for the doctor...check out this video from last night and tell me I'm not right.

Mii Wii Fitness Age

2007-10-14T20:20:00.000-06:00

Hmm...I didn't authorize the use of the photo in the preceding post. I may sue if I can retain a certain Golden Gopher as legal counsel. That will be the clincher.

For the uninitiated, the first thing you do when you get a Wii is determine your Wii Fitness Age. Contrary to popular belief this exercise has nothing to do with relieving oneself. Although, you are welcome to do so after the exercise has terminated. The Wii Fitness Challenge (emphasis mine) consists of tennis, bowling, and baseball. Wii scientists spent countless hours in the lab running tests and concluded these three sports appropriately measure one's speed, stamina, & balance. This Wii truth has been manifested as the Wii Fitness Age.

Due to limited practice facilities, one's Wii Fitness Age may be measured just once per day.

On the first day Mrs. Smack scored an uninspired 79.

Your's truly turned in a disappointing 80. Time to go back to the drawing board. While it has been offered, at this time I will not consider utilization of "the clear" to enhance performance.

The second day brought improved Wii Fitness Age results. Mrs. Smack was an impressive 39, a 51% improvement over the prior day. I dropped to a Wii Fitness Age of 55, and continue to refrain from use of "the clear" despite prodding from my personal trainer.

The third day showed the impact heart and dedication have on Wii Fitness Age results. Mrs. Smack, pestered by complacency, lost ground with a 55. Having stuck to my workout schedule and balanced diet, my performance was deemed worthy of a 28 Wii Fitness Age.

Yesterday we had a bowling tournament. Cooper of Las Vegas fame inspired us to install a bowling lane in our apartment. Or maybe we just played on the Wii. Pep Pep, as evidenced by this celebratory dance pose, turned in a victorious round of bowling genius.

1. Pep Pep 2. King of Cake/Van Smack 3. Mrs. Smack 4. Sambo (aka Senor T)

Obviously since I lost the impending rematch is inevitable.

Wii, Why, WEEEEEEEEEEEE!

2007-10-13T11:05:00.000-06:00

So, over Labor Day we went to Boise and discovered that the Coburn Family had purchased the "you cannot get one of these anywhere" ever elusive Nintendo Wii (or as Adam's mom likes to say Why?) For those of you who may not know, I am a borderline video game addict (only Nintendo though). Adam's weddding present from me was a Gamecube, mostly for me to play, not him and my last birthday present was a DS lite.

So, imagine my jealousy and craving for the Wii Sports Play game and the wireless controllers. I tried to get Adam to go to the store that night and buy me one. He said no, which is not uncommon by the way, I think that is his favorite word. I have been pestering him to buy one since that weekend and he always says no.

Well, last night I came home from work and he was ordering something on the computer. I was hoping for a present for me, but no, it was a Wii. The local Circuit City had gotten a shipment in and Adam managed to purchase one! Victory! Victory! When we went to pick it up, we found out we had gotten the last one, (lucky eh?). I'd say Adam was pretty happy.....

Dominos Capades

2007-10-07T11:09:00.000-06:00

We had a major SlickDeals score this week. On my way home Sara called and said she wanted pizza, but I didn't want to pay for one since we had a perfectly delicious Tony's cheese pizza in the freezer. A compelling argument if there ever was one.

When I got home I jumped on my favorite deal site and found someone had posted a code for a free one topping medium pizza at Dominos. So of course I implemented a plan and ended up with 4 pizzas from 2 different nearby Dominos.

I sort of felt bad for the score so I ordered the high margin cinna stix and oreo dessert and paid for the extra topping on the Hawaiian pizzas. The final price for just the pizzas was something like $3.20.

Warning: DO NOT EVER GET THE OREO PIZZA DESSERT. Disgusting. It is so bad it may end up as the next food challenge on Fear Factor.

Apple Cobbler Cake Mix Makes for Good Times

2007-10-06T14:47:00.001-06:00

Pep Pep was decidedly domestic in her first go at making apple cobbler. And in case you are wondering, those would be jarred apples. Adding chunks of margarine to the mix had Pep Pep questioning her will to go on. But she got over it.

Recently diagnosed Backyard Football addict Sambo wasn't much help in the kitchen.

After successfully maneuvering past the intimidating "add margarine" step, Pep again faced her fears by pouring Sprite over top of the apple cobbler cake mix. The second wind really helped her pull through.

The apple cobbler had a meeting with the oven before we ate it. Sambo asked me not to post any pictures of the eating festivities since he has never been very good at eating. I told him he does fine, but maybe his eating style is too progressive for this blog.

29 Days

2007-10-01T18:19:00.000-06:00

Until we reformatted our blog, everyone knew how many days were left until the baby was due. Sadly, the nautical themed blog wasn't really working for me (unfounded fear of water), so I made Adam change the blog and the fetus countdown was lost. Luckily, I am far enough along now that I can figure out how many days on my own. The magic number is 29 days! (Secretly, I am hoping the baby is born on Halloween because then there would be a party every year and you'd all be invited of course).

29 days means 29 more nights of waking up every 2-3 hours and 29 more days and nights of baby girl Smith sticking her teeny tiny feet in my ribs and hanging out for hours at a time. (This habit of hers, bytheway, must be inherited from her dad. He has the amazing ability to sit in one position, usually at the computer, and hang out for hours without realizing how annoying it is....really it is a thing to see). So wish us luck as we prepare for sleepless nights and all the joys of parenthood.

P.S. We are now taking predictions on when the baby will choose to be born. Cast your vote in the comments. The winner gets a special prize....details to come after she is born. Happy Guessing! (The official due date is October 30, 2007).

Tracking Fun

2007-09-30T17:06:00.001-06:00

Half the fun of blogging is tracking your visitors. We all love to spy, right?

I use Google Analytics to do this because it is free and it gets the job done. By using Google Analytics I can see how many people visit the site each day, what site referred them, what city or country they came from, whether they use Internet Explorer or Firefox, if they are on Windows or a Mac etc.

It can even tell me if my visitors are coming to the site after searching for some random phrase in Google. For instance, Sunday one person googled "can't touch this 30sec" and ended up at my sight. For some reason I am the number 1 result for that phrase, and it's not because I paid homage to MC Hammer in a 30 second short film. Instead it leads to a Bulls Eye Ball clip I posted a while back.

Google Analytics can tell you fun stuff like that. So if you are interested in giving Google Analytics a whirl with your Blogger account here is a quick tutorial I wrote on:

How to Use Google Analytics with Blogger

Setting this up is pretty straightforward, but hopefully the tutorial will help for the non-techies out there. If you have any questions just let me know.

Rock On

2007-09-30T12:39:00.000-06:00

Every once in a while I convince Sara to do something she isn't normally inclined to do. This is one of those times. Rock on, pregnant lady.

When we were dating I tricked her into pumping her arm to the beat of Eminem's "Lose Yourself." That was a sight.

Rolling in the BMW, she's sitting there in her overalls, doing her best Marshall Mathers impression, pumping the arm and reminding us all "you better lose yourself in the music, the moment, you own it, you better never let it go, you only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime, YO!"

And, yes, the "YO!" was definitely the white girl in overalls version.

[Check the Lose Yourself video @ 2:45 for one version of the arm pump. ]

More Things You Didn't Know

2007-09-29T13:26:00.000-06:00

Our series on "Things You Probably Didn't Know About...." continues today with fun facts about my mom, Dennay.

5. Baseball crazy.

Other than my dad, I would say baseball is the love of my mom's life. And not just baseball in general broad terms. Atlanta Braves baseball. Now, one would assume that she would like the Seattle Mariners given that she lives in Washington, not Atlanta, however, this assumption would be totally and completely false. The Braves are the boys of summer for my mom....( perhaps she had a crush on Dale Murphy in the eighties and just can't let go).

4. Every holiday brings a new "tradition."

When I was in college and would go home for the holidays, my mom had a new "tradition" she had created in the last year. The unveiling of these traditions usually went like this:
Mom: "We have to have caramel popcorn at Thanksgiving!"

Kids and Dad: Since when? We've never had it before....

Mom: Yes we have! It's TRADITION.

At this point, the rest of the family would nod in agreement that perhaps once long ago when there were 9 small children running around that yes, it had been a tradition and the mother must be right....

3. She likes to cook like she is feeding the Union Army.

Granted, my mother comes by this honestly since she had 9 children. However, 7 of those children were girls and I don't think we ate nearly as heartily as soldiers, but she didn't want us to starve so there were always many leftovers from every meal. Nowadays, she has many grandchildren and her kids eat a lot more so she still cooks the same....it's amazing how much food she can make in a small amount of time.

2. Chocolate cake is acceptable as Monday Morning Breakfast.

As a general rule, my mother doesn't drink milk. However, she will drink milk to wash down a very generous portion of chocolate cake with white frosting. All through my highschool years, she would make chocolate cake with white frosting (always white, never chocolate) on Sunday night, have a slice and then down a glass of milk. The next morning, Monday the most evil day of the week, she would tell us to have some cake and milk for breakfast to start the week off right. For some reason, my dad could never figure out why we always had cavities....

1. If there is dirt and a nursery nearby, you will find my mom within 50 yards, on her way to make a masterpiece.

My mom can take any flower bed, no matter what her children, neighbors, grandkids, dogs, cats and other various two to four legged creatures have done to it and turn it into a thing of beauty. One year she won a contest for most beautiful front yard, surprisingly, she didn't know she had even entered. (On a side note, my little sister took the prize sign that was put in our front yard and used it to rally to save the whales. A good cause to be sure, however, a little misguided since my parents live in the middle of a desert and I think the only whales Lizzie had seen were on tv or in books).