O Captain! My Captain!

Recently Rob was promoted to Captain in the Army and on Saturday he was made the commander of a new unit in Tooele, UT. I was asked to be at the promotion because I would be presented with flowers and welcomed into the new unit, as wife of the commander. Rob said I should bring the boys instead of organizing a babysitter, but they were quite wild and so I didn't get many pictures taken and the ones I took were a bit blurry because I had Thomas on my lap who was trying to take the camera from me. I had food and books for them but Thomas wasn't interested in either. Luke sat on the floor and ate fruit loops. The ceremony was short, mainly consisting of a lot of saluting and flag passing. I was glad I could be there and see this special moment for Rob.

Rob on the far right

Rob holding the flag as new commander

Summary of the last 2 months: ROB AND ME

For the past while Rob has been teaching a computer science class at BYU. We both thought it would be nice if I attend so I went to the first class and took the boys, but they were so disruptive that that was the last class I attended too. Otherwise at school, he is working on some research so he can publish in some journals. Apart from that he has lots of little projects on the go.

I spend my life with the twins and cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, and so on. Rob said I should get out more and so Lyn and I have decided to do some fun things each week. Today we went to one of BYU's museums with our kids and they loved it. Their favorite section was the African animals. They went crazy when they saw the zebra! I want to take them to the zoo in SLC soon. I think they will enjoy that.

Rob and I have been on lots of dates - mostly we go out to eat and occasionally we'll see a movie. We recently saw Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs Evil which was fun, although not nearly as good as the first Hoodwinked (which is the retelling of Little Red Riding Hood).

On June 20th we celebrated our second wedding anniversary and Rob surprised me by taking me to The Roof Restaurant. The food is delicious, especially their desserts. I loved the Cherry Cheesecake, but my favorite was the Creme Brulee. Heavenly! I found the recipe online and so one day when I have a culinary torch, I will attempt to make it.

Rob is a wonderful husband and has been so helpful around the house and with the boys. I really do feel incredibly blessed and it is hard to believe we've been together for two and a half years - the time has flown by!

What's up...

So, our offer on the house was accepted and we were so excited. Because we were going to get a VA loan (i.e. from the military), it has to pass an inspection. Rob went to the house on Thursday morning to go check out some things, like the plumbing in the crawl space beneath the house (no basement in this house) and to his surprise the plumbing was all jacked. We knew it wouldn't pass the inspection and it would be much to expensive for us to fix. Sadly we had to back out of the contract. Fortunately, we didn't lose any money, just time. So, we're back to square one again. There aren't any houses that are in our price range that really stand out to us. Most are either in terrible condition or in terrible areas. We'll see what happens.

Friday night we went to the Ward BBQ for a while - man, do I love a good American barbecued hamburger. Yum! I could have eaten two, but I didn't. Rob and I then took off and Rachel babysat the kids. We went to the BYU Planetarium and stood in line for about 30 minutes with tons of other people only to discover they had canceled the show due to it being a Reading Day (like study week in South Africa) at BYU. So, we drove to the dollar theater to see what was showing. Nothing too exciting so we decided on Gnomio and Juliet, a 3D animated film about gnomes, based on Shakespeare's tragedy. It was entertaining and there were some really funny things in it. It was my first 3D film though! I thought the gnome in a mankini was funny as well as when the one gnome (Benny or something) dressed up as a daisy to disguise himself. He said something like, "I love going commando!" For some reason I found it funny.

Anyway, yesterday Rob and I went for a walk and then we had a barbecue with Heather and Jason. We grilled a huge piece of steak which was just delicious. Tomorrow night we're going to barbecue ribs. Yum!!

This week we have Thomas' and Luke's first birthday party. I got to make a bunch of yummy things to eat. Quite a few people are coming.

The latest...

Yesterday for lunch I gave Thomas and Luke some bread that Rob had made. I always say what I am giving them and so I said, "Bread, Thomas." He then said "Bread!" I was so amazed. He only said it once and wouldn't say it again though.

Lately Thomas likes to pretend he is answering the phone. He would do it with all sorts of objects that have buttons. Then, on Sunday I made my phone ring and pretended to answer it. If I talk on the phone and mention his name, his smile is huge! I then handed him the phone and as always, he says "ay-yo" which sounds a lot like "hello." Rob and I just kill ourselves laughing every time he does that. But, since that time he will only do it with a real cellphone and not random objects that have buttons.

Luke continues to shake his head, although mostly at Rob. We're not sure why he does it, but it is pretty hilarious because as he is doing it he gives the most disapproving look. I need to get that on video sometime.

The other day I got the boys a tent. It is about a meter by a meter and has a tunnel leading from it. Every time I put it out they immediately crawl inside and play with their toys. They really like it a lot. They then crawl in and out and through the tunnel.

In 2 weeks time the boys will be one. CRAZY! Anyway, Sam's little Benjamin will be one too, of course, because they were born on the same day and so we're organizing a joint party for them. They're leaving for France sometime before their birthday and so we're having it a little early. We've planned some fun things, but just need to nail down the day we're going to have it. We want to do face-painting, painted footprints and handprints, blowing of bubbles, and so on. I want to have a bunch of my friends without kids to come help so that Sam and I don't have to worry about the activities.

view inside the tent from a hole in the top

Thomas coming out of the tent to get more toys

Thomas getting more toys to take inside the tent

Luke sucking on a ball

Thomas playing with blocks

Luke still in his PJs

Last week Rob was gone for four days for National Guard drill. I was so happy to have him home on Sunday! I am so exhausted today. I think I might have gone to bed too late. I tried to nap when the boys nap, but really I can't wait to go to sleep tonight. This Friday Rob and I are going to go to the Planetarium which will be fun. Rachel (my old roommate) is going to babysit the boys. Tomorrow I'm going to Kaysville (about 90 minutes drive north of Provo) to see my old mission companion, Kacy. She has three kids and so that should be fun. That's about all that is going on here these days. 

General Conference

I took this photo last weekend of Thomas sitting with Rob watching General Conference. I just thought it was so cute to see Thomas watching the conference, although it didn't last for too long.

I was sitting on the other side of Thomas but got up to take the picture. Little Luke was still napping.

New words and new house!

It is amazing to see Thomas and Luke progressing. They are each trying to stand as much as possible, although Thomas doesn't get that he has to hold on all the time if he doesn't want to fall over backwards.

A few weeks ago I went into the boys' room where they were playing and Thomas was holding a soft fluffy yellow duck (which Jacqueline du Plessis gave them before they were born) and I said, "duck!" after which he said "dud." I was so shocked because it sounded like "duck." So, I sat down next to Thomas and, pointing to the duck, I said, "Say duck!" He said, "dud." I tried this several times, with the same results. Incredible. Turned out Rob had been saying "duck" to them over and over again over the previous few days. A while later, Luke said "dud" as well. This morning when I went into their room to get them up for breakfast, Luke had a poopy diaper and so I lay him down to change him. He always tries to crawl away and so I gave him the duck to hold. He said, "dud" without me first saying, "Say duck!" These kids are so smart.



Remember "good" was Thomas' first word? This morning I put them in their bumbo chairs and gave Thomas his first spoon of oatmeal for breakfast. He then said, "Mmmm, good!" I was blown away by that! Yesterday Thomas said "yum" when I gave him his breakfast and Luke says "yessssssss" every now and then, as well as shaking his head in a disapproving way for "no."

I took Thomas down the slide at the playground (in our quad) and he loved it. Luke also went down, but didn't care for it at all. Thomas loves to catch and throw the ball.

In other news, Rob and I have been approved for a mortgage and so we have been house hunting. The first two houses we went to, neither of us felt very good about, although I felt better about the first house than the second. Then, Thursday night I found another house online and we went to view it yesterday. It is perfect for us. It is a bit of a fixer-upper, but Rob is up to the challenge. Last night we were talking about how we're going to fix it up. It is going to be awesome. We're putting in an offer tomorrow, so we'll see if we get it. We like that the property is 1/3 of an acre.

Thursday we didn't go to the Planetarium, because apparently there are only shows on Friday nights. But, this past Friday we went to my mission reunion. It was cool to see people from the mission and the Wheelwrights. This is Rob's third year in a row that he has come to my mission reunion and met the Wheelwrights and each year they ask who he is. He thought that maybe they would remember him by now.

This weekend is General Conference and they have been some great talks so far. It's been pretty awesome!

11 months

It is now less than one month till the boys turn one! Sam Shulca and I are planning a party to be held on April 21st (Sam leaves for France 3 days before their birthday so we're having their party about a week before their birthday). It is going to be awesome!

Last week Rob came home from school early to help with the boys. He asked to trim their hair with the buzzer. Well, it ended up a LOT shorter than I want it, but as the saying goes the difference between a good hair cut and a bad one is about two weeks. It isn't that their hair cut is bad, it is just too short for my liking. It has taken a while to get used to because Luke, especially, looks really different. Fortunately their hair grows so fast!

Luke and Thomas, now that they are crawling are into everything and you have to have eyes on the back of your head if you want to make sure they aren't up to something. The other day I was in the kitchen and thought I heard them in their bedroom. I came to check and they had gone into my bedroom and were tearing up my Bible and eating the pages. I wasn't too happy. They don't seem to listen when you say "no" though and carry on doing as they please. So, disciplining them is a real challenge at the moment.

Last night Rob and I were sitting in the living room talking and we noticed that Luke and Thomas were playing Hide-and-Go-Seek. We couldn't believe it. Luke was hiding behind a wall (although he didn't realize his leg was sticking out) and Thomas was looking for him. When Thomas spotted him and began crawling towards him, Luke started crawling away so fast. This happened again. It was hilarious! Since Luke has been crawling a little bit longer than Thomas, he is much quicker and so usually Thomas is following Luke about all day long.

Luke (pre-buzz)

Luke (post-buzz)

Thomas (pre-buzz)

Thomas (post-buzz)

Luke has started shaking his head. It is so much fun because we can ask him a question and he will either just sit there, smiling and stare at you, or shake his head vigorously. So, we ask him things like: "Do you like vegetables?" "Do you like your toys?" "Do you like chocolate chip cookies?" "Do you like poopy diapers?" and so on. He doesn't understand the question, but it is comical watching him respond to the question. We need to get that on video sometime soon.

Otherwise, the love walking while you hold their hands. They look like they are from the Ministry of Silly Walks (from Monty Python).

Rob is busy with the last 2 or 3 weeks of the semester. He has a huge project to complete as well as two finals to take, so it is a busy time. But, Saturday we spent the morning in the temple which was really nice and then Rob made an imitation Cafe Rio lunch for me. He is so thoughtful. This coming Thursday evening we're going to the BYU Planetarium (we've been wanting to go for a LONG time) and then on Friday evening we're probably going to my mission reunion with President Wheelwright (who is the BYU-Hawaii University President). We've also been thinking about what we'd like to do for our anniversary in June and we're thinking we'd love to go hiking in Zion's National Park for 2-3 days. But, we'll see.

What a weekend!!

So, Friday morning I went to a yoga class taught by Laura Harper - it was awesome! It kind of kicked my butt because it was hard to keep breathing consistently and I struggled to balance at times, but the stretching felt so invigorating. I really felt it in my ab muscles and my thighs - places I guess I need to strengthen. When I left I felt exhausted but I felt tons of energy a little while afterwards. I went home and chatted to Stephanie Aud for a while (she is in my ward and lives 2 doors above me and looked after the boys while I was gone) and then proceeded to wash the dishes.

Rob called a short while later and said there was a package for me and that it was quite large and so I would need 2 hands to carry it. He said to hang up the phone and go to the mail box and then call him when I had got it. Well, I went to the mail box and there wasn't anything there. I was a little confused. So I called him back but he didn't answer. How strange! I went back to the apartment, opened the front door and there he was standing. I was so shocked. He then said something about the package actually being inside. He had the biggest grin on his face! All I could say was: "What are you doing here?" because I was supposed to pick him up from the airport the following day (Saturday) and was so shocked to see him in front of me. I was shaking with excitement and I nearly cried with happiness. He said we needed to pack a bag for the boys and put some clothes for myself in the suitcase because the Borens would be looking after the boys and we would be going out to lunch at whatever restaurant I chose and then going to a hotel for the next 24 hours so that I could get a break from the boys and Rob and I could spend some quality time together after being apart for two weeks.

Wow! I couldn't believe it.  So, of course, I chose a Thai restaurant (Thai Mango - their food is incredible!) and off we headed to the Hampton Inn (we only ever stay there when we need a hotel, because it is our favorite!). Anyway, it was lots of fun and reminded us of what it was like before we had kids.

Since then I have been reflecting on just how lucky I am to have a wonderful husband who loves to surprise and spoil me! I'm a better person because of him and I'm so grateful for the unconditional love he has for me. With him being away for two weeks, it helped me realize how much I need him and how much he always does for me. Rob is such a blessing in my life and I cannot imagine my life without him.

A picture from when we were dating

A picture from when we were engaged

What's been happening here lately...

So, a week ago Rob left for Tennessee for army training lasting two weeks. It has been hard having him gone for so long, but I've just kept busy and hopefully this coming week will just speed by. At least we get to talk on the phone daily which helps.

Luke is crawling backwards still and Thomas does so occasionally although sometimes he just scoots along on his bottom. I thought by now they would be crawling, but I guess it is going to take a while longer. I have to keep my eye on them because they are moving about and sometimes when I go to the laundry and hen return (less than 5 minutes), they are hiding under something like a table or chair. Last Saturday I was home alone (Rob was at the National Guard) and I left the boys in their room playing while I took a shower. When I was drying myself off after the shower, I heard a knock on the bathroom door. Of course my heart stopped because I was wondering who was in my apartment. When I opened the door, there was Luke. He had crawled out the bedroom and was tapping on the bathroom door.

Tonight Luke is a bit sick. I'm not really sure what is going on, but I think it might be that he is teething. He has a fever and has been clingy and crying all afternoon. He is now finally asleep and I'm hoping that he will sleep through the night. It was really hard this evening because Luke was screaming and Thomas was crying and whining because he wanted me to give him attention (I think he was bored), but I had to focus on trying to get Luke's fever down since the medication I gave him wasn't working. Finally I resorted to a cold bath. He did not like that!

I'm going to start yoga on Friday mornings. Laura Harper (used to be Meyer) teaches a class and asked me if I would like to join the class. I've never done it before but I think it will be good. Laura is in a graduate social work program at BYU and I am helping her with a statistical program she has to use to analyze data for a class she is taking. In return she is going to cut my hair on Wednesday. I'm just going to get it trimmed because I'm trying to grow it longer. Anyway, last night we had a really good conversation about motherhood and she provided me with some invaluable perspectives on self-sacrifice and the change in one's identity that comes with being a new mother.

The other day my friend Sam brought over her baby Benjamin and I took loads of pictures of my boys with him. Benjamin was born just 20 minutes before the twins in the same hospital. Anyway, as soon as she put Benjamin down next to them he threw his arms around Thomas. It was really cute. Luke didn't really feel like smiling though. Thomas couldn't stop smiling! Here are  two of my favorites: 

Family Picture

Rob and I decided it was time for another family picture to be taken, especially since the boys are getting older and can actually hold their heads up on their own. We got out the camera and set everything up and suddenly the boys began to scream. Since it was time for them to feed, I gave them a bottle each, but the screaming continued because they were both tired. So, once they had eaten we put them down to sleep and they slept for about an hour and a half. When they woke up they were in much better spirits, but not really wanting to smile. Thomas only smiles if he is well rested and his tummy is full. I suppose that his tummy was no longer full. I guess one day we'll get a family picture with them both smiling.

Luke, Nicky, Rob, and Thomas

Me and Rob

Mission Reunion weekend

This past weekend was great! The best part of the weekend was that Rob flew out to Utah. On Friday we hung out at my apartment a bit and then drove to SLC. We met up with some of my mission friends and went out to dinner at the Lone Star Steakhouse. I stayed at Vicky Hill's mom's house that weekend in Sugarhouse, while Rob stayed with some friends on Capitol Hill. We also stopped by American Fork to see my trainer, Carie Jackson (Sister Soderquist) whom I haven't seen in many years. Otherwise, we watched conference the whole weekend and just sat and talked. I felt so sad saying goodbye knowing I wouldn't see him for four weeks.

Rob and I at the restaurant

Vicky (we served in London for 7 weeks) and I at the restaurant

Kacy (we served in Norwich for 5 weeks) and her husband Brett at the restaurant

Rob and I after the reunion

President and Sister Wheelwright, me and Candice

Vicky, me, Kacy, Candice, and Kristen

Carie and I (we served in Cambridge for nearly 4 months)

"You have to live spherically"

This evening Candice and I watched the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. It is a mildly entertaining, completely unrealistic romantic comedy. Knowing a thing or two about Italy and life there, some of the things they suggest about life there are ridiculous (such as the easiness of buying a villa there). Anyway, it is still a fun movie...and reminds me of Italy and how it would be good to keep up my Italian skills.

One quote I like from the movie is when Katherine tells Frances something she heard from a famous director: "You have to live spherically, in many directions and never lose your childish enthusiasm and then things will come your way."

I think this is so true and I want to live my life this way. I want to live with enthusiasm and celebrate the opportunities that come my way... and grab life with both hands.

This week has been hard. My classes are really demanding, work demands a lot at the moment, I have a thesis to think about (although I'm dropping out of the doctoral program, I'm going to get another masters - I can do that at a distance and won't take too much more from me because I have most of the credits) and a prospectus/proposal to write, a wedding to plan, and I miss Rob SO MUCH. I have just felt so stressed because I feel like I have more to do than I have time for. Anyway, despite this, I know that being at BYU is such a great opportunity and I have so many great things happening in my life... I can only be happy and embrace everything Heavenly Father has given me with enthusiasm. My biggest blessing right now is my Rob. He is so loving and so supportive of me and everything I want to do in my life. Yesterday I got home after having a particularly hard day, there was a big bunch of brightly coloured beautiful flowers waiting for me with a wonderful note attached from Rob. I felt so loved! Then, in the evening, Rob booked a flight out to Utah for the first weekend in April (2 weeks time) so we can watch General Conference and attend my mission reunion together. I'm so looking forward to it!!!!

Engagement Photos

We got out engagement photos back - 46 of them - and I love them all. Spencer did a really good job. I'm impressed! So, now we just need to choose the one that we will use with out wedding invitations. I think my favourite one is the middle one, which we also have in colour and sepia.

The weekend

So, this being Rob's last weekend in Utah, we hung out in SLC. Mostly it was just chilled - we watched a couple movies (including one of Rob's new favourites: The Ultimate Gift). We also went on a cool bike ride up City Creek Canyon. We cycle past the Capitol Building, which looks so majestic to me. The weather was great, although my hands froze when I took off my gloves. I'm looking forward to cycling around NC - Rob says it is really pretty and there are lots of trails and great places to ride.

When we got back we made a roast pork. It was yummy, but took far too long to cook. :) Anyway, in order to cook it according to my mother's recommendations, Rob created this little wire thing out of a coathanger so that it would just sit above the water in the dish. I was really impressed.

North Carolina

So when I left Cape Town for Provo six and a half months ago, I knew my time in Provo would be temporary. My degree was 4 years long and I knew once I graduated I wouldn't stick around. I didn't know where I would end up, but it was 4 years from then and so I didn't care.

But, I'm leaving Utah sooner than I thought. Rob lost his job a week ago. Previous to this we'd talked about relocating to Durham, North Carolina. Rob loves NC - as do Greg and Kristin for that matter. So, last weekend I fasted and prayed in the temple to know what the Lord wanted us to do and to know for myself that this was His will for us. I felt so much peace and I knew that we were on the right track and that things had worked out the way they did for a reason. Although I will miss BYU and Provo, I am excited about this new adventure and to live closer to Greg, Kristin, and Seth.

So, Rob leaves on Monday and will drive to NC and stay with his uncle, while he sets up his new business. I will stay here to finish the semester and then after a week-long trip to NYC at the end of April with Rachel (one of my roommates) and Andrea (a girl in my program), I will fly down to NC and spend some time with Rob. I will then head up to Baltimore and stay with Greg and Kristin until June 20th when Rob and I will marry. So, from Monday it will be about seven weeks till I see Rob. It will then be about 7 weeks till we get married. How exciting!

We're getting married in the Washington DC temple and then having a reception in Baltimore. After our honeymoon we will then head to NC. I hope to continue to work for BYU doing research, although I'm discontinuing my doctorate. We don't want to wait 3 years till we start our family. Maybe I will have the opportunity to continue it at some point in the future.

Anyway, it is all very exciting and I'm looking forward to what lies ahead.

My birthday

So, my birthday has been fabulous!

Firstly, Rob has been spoiling me so much. A week ago I received gift #1: a haircut. So, he came along because he wanted to make sure that the hairdresser didn't give me a Utah haircut. It was funny because at one point she did style it a bit like that. Anyway, then on Saturday Rob gave me gift #2: a bicycle. I was over the moon about it. I have been wanting a bike for a while because (1) I really would like to get in shape; and (2) Rob has a bike and I think it would be so much fun going cycling together. So, we went for a short ride up City Creek Canyon. It was really nice, although my butt hurt quite a bit the next day!!! :) But, the more I ride, the more I'll get used to it. Today Rob came over and gave me gift #3: there is a picture of Jesus Christ called the Gentle Healer, painted by Greg Olsen, which I have always loved...so Rob got me that picture, which we will have framed and in our first home. I was so amazed how thoughtful Rob is and that he is able to pick out the most perfect gifts for me. I received a text yesterday saying gift #4 is on its way: a new cellphone and 2-year contract. I really do feel spoilt by my man! :)

Last night I went out for dinner with some friends: Candice, Rachel, Suzanne, Tasha, Lauren, and Rob came too. We went to a restaurant in Orem called Thai Chili Gardens. It was lots of fun and the food was good. Thai food is probably my most favourite food in the world...especially what I had: Phad Thai. When we came home Candice baked a yummy chocolate cake which we ate and then we played Five Crowns - a game I quite enjoy, although I lost last night.

This morning I met up with Jacqueline du Plessis and Jana (a friend in my program) and they gave me a card and had made yummy chocolate chip cookies. So we had cookies and milk - YUM. Then, I went to class and that was fine.

At 1pm I went to lunch with the South African Ambassador to the USA, Welile Nhlapo. He was making a visit to Utah and gave a talk to BYU students and then a few people were invited to have lunch with him. I had RSVPed a while back but had actually forgotten until I was emailed yesterday. I was placed at his table and so we talked a fair amount. As the other people at the table were asking him about South Africa, such as what do South Africans think of Winnie Mandela? and has South Africa managed to completely eradicate Apartheid? and what are your thoughts on Zuma?, he would often ask me to express my thoughts on these matters as well. That was fun! It is funny because politically, I'm completely apolitical. I'm just not interested and here I was explaining about the political situation and history in South Africa. To be honest, I was actually very impressed with his answers because he didn't portray a "black" or "white" view but rather he was neutral in terms of race. I did think his views on Zuma were pretty amusing...and true.

Then, Rob came over and we watched a movie and then went out to dinner at the Brick Oven. They have the best pizza I have tasted in the US. I guess it remnds me a lot of the pizza at home. The servers then came and sang to me and I received a free chocolate mousse, which was MASSIVE!!

So, all in all, it was a really great birthday!!! :)