Lame Claims To Fame.

We all have our random connections to fame that we'll drop into conversation to look cool and receive a "that's neat" from whom we've just told.

Here's our claims:

Jared and his Dad cleaned David Spades windows once.

My second cousins met Keanu Reeves because they used to board his sister's horse at their ranch.

My mission companion's Grandpa invented the T.V. (Hi Farney)

The first murder ever solved by DNA was in my other mission companion's home town. It's awesome when she tells the story. Better than going to the movies. (Hi Maritza)

I did the twist with Chubby Checker on stage.

My mom paid me $20 bucks to do it.

I was on the Wallace and Ladmo Show. I won the giant Tootsie Roll. (Only AZ people will understand this. It was as cool as being on Sesame Street for you AZ outsiders.)

Jared's Grandfather was the Governor of Arizona.

Also on my mission I rang the buzzer of Barbara Streisand's summer home. (Or so the neighbor's gardner said so.) It was huge and gorgeous.

Paul Anka kissed my Mom. (He was a singer, "Put Your Head on My Shoulders")

My Dad was a marine.

We currently live in Hyde Park, famous for Barrack Obama's house. About a mile away from us. It's always surrounded by police, even when he's not there.

My Grandpa was in WWII. He received 2 purple hearts. He got shot in the butt and the back.

I've been inside the White House, Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, and The Louvre. I illegally took a piece of the Colosseum home for my rock collection. I was 10. Give me a break. That rock practically jumped into my hands.

Some claims are lame, some kinda "that's neat".

What's your claim?

What's Jared Doing?

Jared is 29.95 years old.

He is going to school at the Institute of Design in downtown Chicago.

He rides his bike 20 miles every day. Round trip to and from school. He's got all the cool clothing and equipment. He's hoping to ride even during winter.

On the weekend he plays Ultimate Frisbee with a bunch of people down by the lake. Jared loves anything with a frisbee.

This last summer he started Peapod Labs with two other guys at school. They create educational applications for kids for the iPad and iPhone.

Even with school and work, he still has time to chase Hannah around with a fake spider, flip Asher around till he squeals, and hang out and listen to me talk about every detail of my day.

He's super busy, but we still see him, remember his name, and know who he is.

He's the key to keeping everybody happy.

What's Lisa Doing?

Lisa is 29.92 years old.

(My friend Jessica took this picture. Thanks Jess.)

My main job right now is to keep my kids alive and have some fun doing it.

I'm really enjoying planning lessons for Hannah's preschool. It's rekindling my love for teaching which I thought I'd lost. So I'm having fun with that. It's nice to know that maybe my degree in teaching wasn't for nothing.

I also spend time with the youth from my church every week. I plan and keep the calendar for the Young Women. I love my calling in the church and really enjoy all the people in that program.

2 months ago I could not jog 2 blocks without having to stop and walk. Today, I did 3 miles without stopping. I think I'll be ready for the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. Fingers crossed.

I love to cook.

I try new recipes almost every week. I get bored fast with my usual recipes and try to keep things interesting. I follow almost as many food blogs as people's blogs.

I'm currently sewing a quilt for our bed made out of old T-shirts. I wanted something super soft. I think it's going to be cool. Hopefully.

I love pictures.

I sometimes photograph families in my neighborhood. I love to take pictures of people so much. My favorite part is editing them. I like figuring out how to make the photo look its best.

My favorite part of the day is if I get to watch a little T.V late with Jared.

And my favorite part of the week is if we go outside as a family to the park or something on the weekend.

The family would fall apart without me. I'm important.

What's Asher Doing?

Asher is 20 months old.

He's rough, he's tough...

He's a hard core mama's boy.

When he can't see me, he panics, searches, then hugs my legs.

He climbs.

He's a climber.

He goes up whenever he can.

He has some weird baby strength that isn't obvious to the naked eye. Takes two adults to hold him down for shots.

The whole climbing thing makes me work harder than I'd like at the park. But I try to be supportive.

About twice a week, something bad happens and I find him with a bloody mouth or tongue.

He talks.

Get down, all done, uh no, Mama, Daddy, butterfly, snack, and Anna (Hannah) are the most common words he says right now. And he attempts to count.

He's a good eater (thank you).

But not as good sleeper. About 5:15 am is the wake up time. Boo hoo.

He copies Hannah. Wants to do whatever she does. This not a good thing. Sister Hannah isn't always setting the best example.

He hates nursery at church with all his little heart. It's torture for him and the people who have to deal with him. Sacrament meeting is the worst hour of my week. I dread it every Sunday. Dread.

Asher loves loves loves to be held by me.

He loves loves loves to play with Daddy.

His favorite is to be flipped over Jared's shoulder.

The sound of his giggle laugh is the best sound I've ever heard.

Holy Cow! We love that kid.

What's Hannah Doing?

Hannah is 3 1/2 years old.

She loves to dress up as princesses, make magical potions, and have tea parties. She lives in imagination.

She wears all kinds of crazy stuff and weird outfits. Many are not allowed to be seen by anyone but us (hint hint, my underwear). She loves to get into all my clothes and wear them.

She recently cut her own hair. She chopped much of her bangs down to 1/2 of an inch or less. As punishment, I'm not fixing it, but will hide it for photos with a comb over and a bow.

She loves preschool. She has class with two of her friends. And us moms take turns teaching lessons. It's fun for everyone. She is pretty good at tracing her letters, asking questions, and participating in conversations.

She always wants to help me cook. She is getting better at cracking eggs. She mostly stirs and adds ingredients.

She has chores. And when she's in a good mood she does them and is very helpful.

She still naps because I force her to. We both need a break.

She loves to go outside. We go out once or twice a day because my kids can't get enough of the outdoors. (I'm scared for winter)

She runs around and makes cakes out of sand or dirt for me. I pretend to smell them. She makes friends easily with kids at the park. Lately she has been kinda kissy with her friends that are boys. I'm not worried yet, but it's on my mind.

She has a purple princess backpack that is attached to her body for most of the day. It comes off for bath time and bed time. In her back pack you can find blocks, a fake spider, a USB drive, my eyebrow brush, random bracelets, a spoon, and rocks.

These are her treasures. Don't touch it, she'll scream and rip it out of your hands. We are working heavily on sharing it.

She has a new bug jar. And we put bugs in it everyday. And after they die, she sticks their dead bodies in our key holes. Sigh.

She loves to put on make up with me. When I'm in a good mood I let her. That's why her eye looks weird in this picture. I didn't get it all off.

She says all kids of funny things. She recently called Jared a "Man Princess". She refers to Asher as her sister. And recently she said, "It smells like a special day." And she calls us Lisa and Jared. We're okay with it.

She often tells me she loves me and gives hugs freely.

And she apologizes hours later for something I'd already forgotten about.

We love our girl and the family wouldn't be right without her. She's a fiery dragon who likes to snuggle.

A New Tradition.

Peapod Labs had a family outing.

Apple and pumpkin picking.

It was good old fashioned fun.

He tried to put the fallen apples back onto the tree.

When they wouldn't stick he'd yell at them and throw them down.

This is Guillermo.

Hannah thinks he's the coolest.

He and Jun took most of the awesome pictures in this post.

The kids took feeding the cow rather seriously.

Such a good day.

Apple picking is my new favorite fall tradition.

Things I'll Miss - Baby Dare Devil

I have a list of things I know I'll miss about my kids at this age.

Near the top is Asher's fearlessness.

I think he was born without the ability to be cautious.

His fearlessness used to make me nervous.

But that boy can handle himself.

This short wall is PG compared to some of the stuff he's tried to jump off.

But his climbing skills are what stop people in their tracks.

(18 months old in videos)

(What you don't see in the video is him climbing off the front of the bed, hanging, and then dropping to the floor)

I'll miss running across the park to save his life as his tries to climb or jump off of something he shouldn't.

A few times I didn't make it to him in time.