Josh, Tiffany & Co.

That's right! I got to spend 2 1/2 days in San Francisco! Josh had a work conference there, so he flew out on Tuesday and I flew out Thursday to meet up with him. It was so beautiful and so much fun! We did leave Logan at his Grandma's house, but it was a short little trip and much less complex to travel without him, especially on Friday when we rode crowded public bus all the way across town. The Golden Gate bridge, of course, which is beautiful as ever. We walked all the way along a beach with a great view of the bridge. It is beautiful with a calm little beach right in the middle of the big city. On Thursday night we were able to go to the Wharf, we took a taxi there, and the driver was hilarious and crazy. He would speed race up and down each hill and intersection the whole way there. He started randomly laughing and talking in broken English (we think he was listening to NPR or something). His breaks started stinking and smoking half-way through the ride and he ...

This was my first time going to the Tulip Festival. We were able to go on Monday 4.21.08 with Josh's mom and sisters, Kathy, Michelle, and Beth. It was so beautiful! The tulips were only at 30% bloom, but there were still so many flowers and there were also some really neat waterfalls. Logan liked it, especially the water. He smelled the flowers and pointed to the waterfalls. I think the pictures speak for themselves, although they don't do justice to the waterfalls, those are something you have to see in person. Waterfalls and the Grand Canyon just don't come across on film (or pixels/digitization?).

Toddler-hood is working well for Logan, although he doesn't have very much time to stop for pictures, and looking into the camera is definitely out! Taking his picture is getting considerably harder and harder. Waving to the camera. He does stand up on his own for a couple of seconds and is starting to move along furniture. In other news, for those BYU creamery fans, beware! Due to renovation of Deseret Towers and the location of where they make the BYU ice cream, there are currently only 12 flavors of ice cream for approximately the next year. Needless to say, I was very disappointed.

Logan's latest food adventures include: 1: We took him to a restaurant and for the first time we ordered something just for him! It is interesting having him eat in public, because he spends most of his time watching people. He had a grilled cheese with a side of fruit, and only cost $1.99. It is fun now, but when he is a teenager and orders the most expensive thing on the menu, maybe I won't be so excited about taking him out to eat :) 2: Soup. Watch out Jeffrey Steingarten (for those who aren't obsessed with the food network, Jeffrey Steingarten is a food critic who is often a judge on Iron Chef America) . Logan about the soup, "The only thing I can see that is wrong with this dish is that there isn't more of it." 3: Sloppy Joe. I usually let him feed himself and do his own thing, but it usually doesn't go this far.

A few things are on my mind. I think about experiences concerning young children particularly, because that is what I spend most of my time doing. First, Elder Ballard's Conference talk on Sunday was just perfect. With every new idea I just kept saying, "He is right on." (quotes may not be exact I jotted them down from listening) "There is no one perfect way to be a good mother" "Each situation is unique. Each has different challenges, skills, and abilities." "The Joy of motherhood comes in moments. Live in the moment." "Families need unstructured time for relationships to deepen and where real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, laugh, and play together." And from an article in this month's Ensign, "The Joy of Nurturing Children". "Seeing the value of memories has changed my perspective on being a parent. We no longer make messes; we make memories." The gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ ...

I am not really one for April Fool's, but I saw this idea online and I thought it would be funny! I made cupcakes from meatloaf and mashed potatoes as the frosting. When Josh came home I didn't say anything, but I had finished activity days a little earlier, so I think he assumed the cupcakes were from that. He did say later that he didn't think it smelled like cupcakes in the apartment. When he got closer I said he could try one, and at first he really thought they were cupcakes, but then he tasted the potato icing and knew something was up! We had a yummy dinner of mashed potatoes and meatloaf! Logan laughing at his dad. We didn't play any tricks on him this year, he did eat the meatloaf, but he didn't think it was anything else. Next year though, we'll be sure to have some laughs at his expense :)