forrest and abbie

our entire utah trip in one very long blog post

2010-01-02T09:21:00.002-05:00

This is the longest, most picture saturated post you’ve ever seen.

The highlights:

Hanging out with my FAMILY!
Chatting with my sister – I love her!
Spencer and Erin coming in from CO!
Seeing E&A with their cousins. I can’t think of anything better than that.
Relaxing and sleeping in.
Hanging out with the Calders.
Christmas at Mom’s house.
Christmas at Dad’s house.
Making pizza.
Tami’s caramels.
Playing Beatles RockBand with Josh.
Grandma’s house.
Seeing Dane and his cute kids.
Playing with all the kids and remembering how wicked fun Grandma’s house is.
Hearing the best farewell talk I’ve ever heard.
Chatting about politics.
People cooking for us and going out to eat.
My mom’s food.
Breakfast with Amy.
Meeting Miggy.
Getting a much needed haircut.
Visiting Grandma White.
Going on dates with my boyfriend.
White bread and playing "Dizzy & Miyo" (Eli).
Watching movies (500 Days of Summer, UP, Julie and Julia).
Talking to moms about generational differences in mothering (a post to come about this one).
Seeing the missionaries in Cold Stone and getting SO excited because how often do you see the missionaries?, and then remembering where I was.
Taking lots and lots AND LOTS of pictures.
Being completely okay when we came home. I’m making progress. I really do love NY.

The lowlights:

The stupid storm that kept Spencer and Erin in CO, shaving off two days of quality time with them.
Red Eye flight with two kids. I can’t say I recommend it. Terrible.
Audrie screaming in the middle of the night.
Forgetting to play in the beautiful snow more.
The inversion that hide our view of the mountains.
Grumpy E&A. I really wish my family could see my kids when they’re well-rested. I promise they’re good kids:).
Not getting to spend more time with everyone – that’s the hardest thing about going to Utah. We have so many people we love that live or visit while we’re there.

And now for a boatload of pictures (I seriously don’t know how I could post just a few. I think I need to work on the "less is more" with James Dean).

At Mom's house:

At Dad & Tami's house:

At the Calder's house:

In the red Jeep:

At G-ma & G-pa's house:

Josh & Royan:

Rock on!:

The End.

hot dates

2010-01-01T23:49:00.001-05:00

Draper Temple.

Avatar and ice cream.

I love the babysitters that live in Utah.
Thanks for letting us have some F&A time.

our newest baby

2010-01-01T21:09:00.009-05:00

James Dean

I still can't believe he did it.

Two days before Christmas he said "I don't know if this Christmas is going to be that good for you. I'm sorry, I just haven't had time. You do so much to make Christmas great for our family and you're not going to get anything that good."

Classic Forrest under-promise. And I believed him.

I can't believe I have a camera I can't believe I have a camera I can't believe I have a camera has been running through my head since I opened it.

Mr. White, thanks for the over-delivery. I love you I love you I love you I love you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!
(and thanks to the ladies who helped him!)

Going on the Winter Survival Guide: learn how to use camera.

Christmas eve & day

2010-01-01T20:32:00.005-05:00

I'm a little bloggerwhelmed right now.

I have so much I want to write about, but I'm going to try and keep it simple (and hopefully entertaining). This Christmas really was great. We spent Christmas eve and day with just the four of us and we enjoyed it a lot.

Here's the play-by-play:

Stocked up for the Apricot Nectar tradition.

We ate a lot of candy.

We dressed up and squealed at the "bas" on the tree.

We had our traditional (as of this year) Fondue Christmas Eve Dinner.
(Thanks to the Petersons and Ashley for helping make it happen!)

We read Luke 2.

Audrie wins the Academy Award for being the best Mary. It was SO cute!

Eli was a good Joseph, but only after he got sugar.
"I don't want to be Joseph anymore. Audrie can just be Mary"

We sang Christmas Hymns, accompanied by Forrest.

Santa came.

The babes were happy!

And so was momma! So happy she cried.

And then we ate the traditional Crepe Christmas Morning Breakfast.

(and then packed and cleaned up and got in a "yeyyow taxi" and flew to Utah!)

we'll be smooching on a jet plane

2009-12-31T12:13:00.004-05:00

flight from SLC to NYC leaves at 11:55pm.

UT & CO Family and Friends, we'll miss you! Can't wait for your visits.

Love you,

F&A + E&A

P.S. love this beautiful snow.

***

Happy 2010!

someone just asked for my zipcode

2009-12-29T20:00:00.004-05:00

And it made me really excited. I really like where we live, even if there are no Super Stores with parking lots.

P.S. Rock Band party at my brother's in 2 hours!

Utah!

2009-12-26T01:00:00.001-05:00

Parking lots
Clean snow
Cute suburban houses
Safe driving
Super Target
LDS temple, temple, temple, church, church, church
Harmons
Castle Creek Inn
Siegfried and Jensen

Merry Christmas!!!

Med school update

2009-12-24T01:45:00.006-05:00

Fall of last year was perhaps the most challenging time of my life. I had recently been promoted at work and was trying to prove myself on a difficult case. I would come home fairly late and then slog through essay after essay on my way to eventually applying to 24 medical schools.

Man, am I glad I did it.

I love medical school. Everything is new and interesting, and I like the challenge of getting up to speed in areas I haven’t had classes in for 5+ years.

The first semester had two main courses, anatomy and “molecular mechanisms,” which included biochem, embryology, pharmacology, pathology, and genetics. We were generally in class from 9-12 every morning, with anatomy two afternoons per week.

The other class we had covered the softer side of medicine – things like clinical skills and medical ethics. We would often break up into groups and practice interviewing with standardized patients (i.e. actors). For example, one week in class I was called up to interview a man playing a 19 year old patient presenting at a clinic. In front of a group of 15 of my peers, I tried to unearth the reasons why he was there, assess his social situation, and identify areas where he might need help. In the course of the 20 minute interview, I learned that he was at risk for several infections (if you know what I mean) as was his pregnant (but not by him) girlfriend, was living with a highly abusive, alcoholic father, and had taken to some illicit activities to support himself. So, you know, just the standard issues to sort through.

We were also assigned to follow medical providers in clinical settings for a few hours each week. I spent the first half of the semester with a physical therapist who worked in the cardiothoracic division of Columbia’s main teaching hospital, mostly seeing patients after heart or lung surgery. It was interesting to see people in dire straits trying to do well enough to be placed on the transplant list for their organ of need. There was one patient in this situation – very weak – who I saw blow the staff away with his effort and determination as he would get up and walk down the hall until he was exhausted, trying to convince his medical team he was strong enough for a transplant. It was pretty inspiring.

The second half of the semester I was in the ER – the same one where Malcolm X died. My stint there was fascinating, not only medically but also for the chance to observe the medical system in real live action in terms of operations and policy. It was eye-opening to see patient behavior, both the reasons for which they came to the ER and how they interacted with doctors. The ER provides a nice cross-section of humanity where you see people in great pain that are patient, appreciative, and kind, as well as those who have no business being there (e.g. come in for just a pregnancy test, and worse) and whose sense of entitlement is truly shocking.

My 155 classmates are very cool. While I’m one of the older students in my class, there are several that are older than me. Columbia prides itself on having a well-rounded student body, and lots of students have interesting backgrounds. Many of my classmates had time off before med school to do things like teach, conduct research, consult, dance, sing opera, write, work in fashion, etc.

It’s also nice that the first year and a half is pass/fail, which helps foster a collaborative environment between students. People email the whole class when they find a good resource, and there so many study guides sent out before exams that it’s impossible to use them all.

I love the student lifestyle. While I have to put in decent hours, my schedule is pretty flexible. At this point I get to eat nearly every meal with my family. Having only a 5 minute walk to class and a 2 minute walk to the library is nice. So is 2 weeks off for Christmas.

To finish, a couple pictures:

View to the east from the 17th floor of the med school.
Can you see Old and New Yankee Stadiums?

View to the south, towards Midtown Manhattan

it's christmastime in the city!

2009-12-22T08:42:00.002-05:00

Yesterday may have been the most magical day of Eli's life so far
(although you can't tell from that scowl).

The details:

Playing in real snow. He did really well for a kid from Texas.
Followed by playgroup.

A trip to Midtown Macy's to see Santa:

(again the scowl not representing how happy he actually was.
Audrie could not look more like little Forrey in this picture.)

Giant snowflakes falling down a building:

A huge Rockefeller tree:

(I love this picture! It feels like a movie. It was so fun to see!
Being in NYC during Christmastime is fantastic!)

Playing with daddy all afternoon:

Soy milk and snuggling with mommy:

Merry Christmas Eli!
I'm pretty sure Santa is going to listen to your request.
You've been a very good boy.

P.S. a video:

questions, comments, concerns.

2009-01-23T18:14:00.015-05:00

Being sick is bad. Being sick outside enjoying the Texas weather is pretty good. Being sick is a great excuse to nap instead of cleaning the bathroom.

Spending a little bit of money at Ikea to organize and decorate the apartment we’ve lived in for 2 1/2 years makes me very happy.

Tylenol and celery are blessings when babies are teething.

Is there anything better than healthful food that actually tastes delicious? Yummy hummus (thanks, Kaci) and fruit salsa.

After staying up way too late reading about politics, I’m a bit tense (understatement!) about the next four years. But I’m trying (trying!) to be optimistic.

I enjoyed watching the inauguration, once I separated the amazing historical significance from the things that are making me tense about the next four years.

My son is growing up. We have “why” and “but why not” conversation all day. He can turn on the light because “it’s so dark and sooky in dere.” He can express every need and want through words. I can explain things to him and he understands it (after a few hundred whys). He spins around in circles while he waits for me to get him a snack. He tricks and has a sense of humor. But he is still WEARING DIAPERS!

There is absolutely NOTHING fun about potty-training! What should I do? What am I doing wrong? What books should I read? What website should I go to? HELP!

This book just made it on my top ten list (although, I might have more than 10 books on that list). I highly recommend it, but you already know that because you are my goodreads.com friend.

Why can’t I be a natural runner? When will I start to love running? Will that ever happen? I’m discouraged.

i bloomed again

2009-12-22T08:25:00.000-05:00

go check it out!

e&a wishing you a merry christmas!

2009-12-21T11:53:00.001-05:00

Can we count this as the official White Family 2009 Christmas Card?

(they kind of look like a cute old married couple
in a little house with a little tree.)

Merry Christmas!

Love,
Forrest, Abbie, Eli, and Audrie

Joyeux anniversaire a nous

2009-12-20T19:37:00.005-05:00

(When I worked at the MTC, sometimes my missionaries would ask to see a picture of my wife. After I showed this picture one time, one of the elders said, "Wow - you must have worked really hard on your mission!")

Dear Abbie,

Happy anniversary. I love you. After six fantastic years, I'm happy to report:

The people who said, "Oh, you look so happy now, but just wait until the honeymoon phase is over" were wrong. Dead wrong. It keeps getting better and better.
The people who said, "Enjoy it now while you can, because once you have children your life will be over" were wrong. Dead wrong. Having children with you is wonderful.
One person (who I'll call "Tami") was wrong when she said, "Oh, just wait a few more years and you won't want to snuggle in the love sac anymore" was wrong. Dead wrong. (Tami, thanks for inspiring us to prove you wrong.)

Love,

Forrest

stroller + snow =

2009-12-20T15:05:00.015-05:00

bad, bad idea. We learned our lesson on our way to church:

Good thing Rhett was there with his huge guns to help us out.
Contrary to what the pictures show (because doesn't it look like a total nightmare?), it was kind of fun. Seeing our neighborhood all covered in snow makes me love it more. It looks so clean and Christmasy.

I guess we're just in the habit of bringing our stroller everywhere we go.
Eli, time to learn how to walk on the snowy streets in your cool new snow boots.
Audrie, time to relearn to love the Ergo.

More snow pictures:

(us hanging out in front of our apartment after church waiting for someone to fix our doorknob. Ugh. At least our roof isn't leaking, right, Leslie?)

Handsome schmandsome!
The kids looked super cute in their Christmas church attire.
You know I'm going to post more pictures.

Now, I need to go hang out with my favorite person:

Happy Anniversary, Mr. White!
I love you the most!!!
(Before you think I'm a bad wife for tacking on a quick anniversary wish, know that Forrest is going to do the official Happy Anniversary Post this year. Coming soon.)

"just let them run around the halls"

2009-12-19T15:50:00.008-05:00

- Mary Kaye's (a former NYer) advice for winter play time.

We had fun:

+
(prepare for a lot of iPhone pictures)

We let Audrie move the car for street cleaning. She did a great job.

I overheard Eli saying "we found da perfect sot (spot)!"
while he was parallel parking his cars on our bed.
Parking is a big deal.

+

Something wonderful is happening to Eli. He has been such a good boy lately. Listening. Less whining and crying. Eating more. I guess I'm now a believer that they really do get easier as they get older. Loving this! Big time!
And he finally got a much needed haircut.

+

(Audrie in not actually bigger than Eli, fyi.)
Audrie would prefer to sleep in Eli's bed, thank you very much.

A quick smooch. Ahh! So cute!

+

Oh, the love shared between these two.
Audrie calls me daddy.
I guess it's only fair since Eli called Forrest mama when he was her age.

Audrie's two favorite winter foods: cuties and sausage. "Mo!" with the ASL sign.

+

Newest word and passion: tee! For her the best part of the day is spent standing on the table counting decorations.

+

This is us waiting to watch the big snow storm. Audrie received an UNvitation to the game party because "mommy, do you know dat oouasuawwy (usually, I wish I could type it the way he says it) babies break a wot of sings?"

Eli just requested another game. "Okay, okay, mommy, go get more games for us to pway."

Guess my computer time is over.
Enjoy the snow!

friday favorite: my mom made christmas

2009-12-18T17:25:00.008-05:00

This post has been really therapeutic for two reasons 1)because I’m super homesick. Probably the most homesick I’ve ever been ever. But I have good news! I’ll be home for Christmas! (for one hour: our flight lands on SLC soil at 10:55pm on Christmas day). And 2) I realize how much my mom did to make a perfect Christmas for us. She made everything so festive and wonderful (and probably went crazy doing it, like the crazy I'm feeling right now) and we enjoyed the fruits of her labor. So, until I get tucked into suburban goodness, I’ll be looking at this post remembering the greatness of the Decembers Mommie created for my family.

(Me on Christmas day with my Barbie and the Rockers coloring book
- greatest rock band ever.)
A few of this little girl's favorite things about Christmas.

Homemade hot chocolate and wassail:

Our blue Christmas tree:

Blue lights, blue bows, blue ornaments. It was very hip. I get all sorts of nostalgia when I see blue Christmas lights. Surprisingly, my mom preferred the Beatles over Elvis (understatement: she LOVES the Beatles!).
(Not the most flattering picture of Josh. Sorry.
I just had to get a close-up of the blue goodness.)

Yankee Christmas candles:

Christmas concerts:
Every year my mom would sing in a community choir Christmas concert. The woman can sing, I tell you! It was always one of my favorite things to go hear her sing, meet all her choir friends and then go out for dessert. One teenage year I was grounded and I couldn't go to the concert. I tried to pretend I didn't care, I'm too cool for your stupid concerts, but I was so sad I didn't get to hear and watch her sing the Hallelujah Chorus.

And more Christmas music, of course:

Mom, thanks for making our Christmases great (esp during the crazy years)!
Love you!

One week to go!

empire state of mind - the colbert report

2009-12-17T16:34:00.005-05:00

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

U.S. Speedskating

Thanks, Liz! Colbert rapping about khakis. That makes me laugh. Although my streets don't make me feel brand new - ya know, something about stepping in dog poop.

his favorite holiday craft

2009-12-16T10:37:00.005-05:00

A Christmas tradition courtesy of Mr. White - it makes me giggle.

(C1 Super Saturday Sistas, I know you're wondering what I did to your craft - "on the fridge?"- go check out Oops.)

Merry Christmas from the Met

2009-12-15T10:15:00.002-05:00

I took a picture every time I saw a piece about our Savior's birth. I was amazed at how many there were when I took the time to notice them (there were a lot. I'll just post some of my favorites). It made this trip to the Met more meaningful.

I am so grateful for
His birth and His life and His sacrifice.
The true meaning of Christmas is settling in.

let's talk about lindsay

2009-12-14T12:16:00.007-05:00

She's basically famous
because she's doing a lot of good.

Yes, you're looking at 20 Brooklyn third graders and one UVU alum teacher showing their Wolverine pride.
Why?
Check out the Deseret News and her blog.
Go Wolverines!

art therapy

2009-12-13T21:51:00.007-05:00

This week has been a bit rough: sick kids, Christmas stress, sun setting at 4:30pm, too much time spent inside, monthly hormone surge, etc. At 3:30 on Saturday I felt like I was going to pull out my hair. I told Forrest I needed some time alone. I left, aimlessly got on the C train heading toward Central Park, and then decided on a trip to the Met!

I enjoyed myself quite a bit (I could actually read the art descriptions without worrying about a runaway child):

Just for Dad:

Taking a break is a very good thing. Another thing going on my Surviving Winter List: monthly trip to the Met.

friday favorite: jrose card '08

2009-12-11T10:35:00.000-05:00

If I could think of a card this fantasticly funny,
I would send it to all of you.

JRose and family, we miss you way too much!

go check out the charity auction at bloom!

2009-12-10T09:17:00.007-05:00

Looking for a way to give some service and finish your holiday shopping? Here is a great way to do both! Starting Thursday, December 10th (TODAY!), there will be a charity auction at BLOOM to benefit Claire and Benson Skinner.

As explained by their parents, "Benson and Claire were born with a rare genetic disease in which their liver produces too much oxalate--called primary hyperoxaluria. Claire's condition has progressed much faster than Benson's. She has been on dialysis since she was 3 months old and is on dialysis 3 hours a day, 6 days a week. She is now on the waiting list to receive a combined kidney / liver transplant. It is expected Benson will eventually need similar transplants."

You can read more about the Skinners' experience HERE.

All proceeds from the auction at BLOOM will go directly to Claire's COTA (Children's Organ Transplant Association) account to help pay for her transplant. Please head over to BLOOM Thursday-Saturday for the auction!

deck the small halls

2009-12-09T09:43:00.000-05:00

I made this advent calendar and I love it!

I made the yarn trees, too. Not sure how I feel about them...

Representing the December wedding anniversary.

Maybe we'll leave the window lights up all year?

Go check out Oops for highlights of the things I made this last week.

there are good things about having 2 sick kids

2009-12-08T11:21:00.008-05:00

1. They sleep more (Audrie slept from 5:45pm-9am last night).

2. They snuggle more.

3. Mommy's more patient with sick whining and crying than she is with everyday whining and crying.

4. Once the Tylenol kicks in, they act like the normal E&A we all love:
(90% of the bathroom floor was covered in water.)

5. Their parents have been spared from the illness...so far.

6. They weren't too sick on Saturday night, so we could go to the NY Stake Holiday Music Show. I don't have to tell you that the music was amazing. The other thing that we loved about it: Eli and Audrie had a big "tempo church" (it was at the Lincoln Center building, which is also the temple) to run around in. And Eli loved that "dere is no nursery in dis tempo church today."

7. Mommy got to go to church by herself. I got to sit still and listen and feel the spirit for 3 whole hours!

8. We didn't get everyone sick (I hope?) when we played games at Ashley and Scott's place.

9. Forrest watched the sick babes while I saw New Moon (it was much better than Twilight, and I actually found myself enjoying 50% of the movie. The other 50% of the time, I was holding back the giggles. At least the soundtrack was pretty great) and took another trip to Magnolia with some friends.

10. Eli is practicing great self control: his finger gets dangerously close to his nose, but then he reminds himself "no picking noses" and asks for a tissue. Good boy!

11. Audrie, on the hand, has discovered the taste of snot.

And while I'm making this a long post, let's tack on some more cute stories about those sick kids:

This picture makes me so very nervous, but it's pretty cute. I have nightmares about him falling out of the window.

-Eli continues to play Baby Eli Birdie daily. He's taken it a step further by getting on our bed and covering himself with our "big suggo" (comforter) and yelling "Mommy birdie, come sit on me! Pwease?" He hatches and pops out and asks for some baby birdie food, but refuses the pretend worms I try to give him.

-Every time we leave the house he asks if Ashley is coming with us. Usually I can say yes, but he gets pretty sad when I say no. We all agree that Ashley is fantastic!

-Eli tripped and hit his head on the floor: "I don't wike dese hard New Work fwoors! We need to go back to soft Texas fwoors wight now!" I guess I'm not the only one who blames New York when something bad happens. (Don't worry, we still like NY, but the chilly weather (it's not even that cold yet! I can do hard things. I can do hard things. I can do hard things) has introduced a few more inconveniences that we're trying to adjust to. And there is a possibility that Eli may have heard someone express something about maybe spending the winter in Texas? Hmm... wonder who it was.)

Umm...dressing this little lady for winter is making the cold weather a bit better.

-She's still a super busy little lady and learning more words everyday. She proudly tells us what different animals say. Our favorite is the giggly neigh with her big smile. I love the learning-animal-noises age. I can't believe how fast she's growing up!

-We've been counting down Christmas with our handmade advent calendar (pictures coming tomorrow!). On the 3rd, they got suckers, and 3 minutes after unwrapping them we heard Eli yell "Daddy, she took it!" Forrest found Audrie casually, happily eating both suckers while Eli cried. Wait, who's older? Usually she would receive a shove to the floor. She's just so cute when she does naughty things.

- She hates nursery. We didn't expect this at all. She's been so easy going about almost everything. I guess Forrest and I will be switching off who gets to play, sing, and eat snacks during church for a few weeks.

Now, I'm off to wipe two noses, take two temperatures, and get two waters. Hope this meets our quota for December illness.