Isn't he cute?

This is a profile shot of our baby's head. You can see his nose, forehead, and little lips. Isn't he cute? Oh, that brings us to the big news...we're having a BOY! We keep thinking about all the cute little boys we've met over the years, hoping that our little one will be as cute. The doctor checked everything (vital organs, brain, bones, etc.) and said little one looks very healthy. We are so grateful and blessed.

I'm Mister Green Christmas

Imagine a world where you don't have to worry about the big trucks sliding all over the place because they're driving 70 MPH on sheer ice. This is also a world where there aren't people driving 15 MPH on the same road. Imagine a world where you don't have to take your summer clothes with you to change into once you go inside because people think they need to turn the thermostat up to 80 degrees when it's 25 outside. Imagine a world where, if you get roller blades for Christmas, you can play with them OUTSIDE instead of in the kitchen or garage.
Okay, I admit I'm not the biggest fan of snow. "Well, move!" I can hear some of you saying, but the fact is, I have things to do here right now, and I don't feel like commuting that far every single day (and, to be quite honest, I'm not that bent out of shape about it; I just prefer warm weather). I used to like snow. I used to like to go play in it even when I didn't have snow pants and my jeans would freeze to my legs. But I have to tell you, I don't like it anymore. Skiing is more expensive than my willingness to pay, the roads get nasty, and I'm always either too hot or too cold depending on who's in charge of the thermostat. I don't want to offend anyone. You're certainly entitled to love snow, but I think the only Christmas song that gets it right about snow is the one that says "Since we've no place to go, let it snow!..." That's the only time I think it's acceptable, if I can stay inside with Michelle, cuddle up, and watch a movie.
As I drove through a blizzard on Saturday, I realized why we have Christmas in December. Since it's the most miserable time of the year, people needed the biggest holidays of the year just to feel happy. It's a raging success, because people have even become convinced that snow is a good thing. Just listen to most of the Christmas music out there.
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Christmas. I think it's the greatest holiday. People are kinder to others and more generous. Even in a world that is increasingly bad, heroes emerge during this time of year (and I guess the snow and cold gives them more opportunities to serve). I love Christmas music, and I love being with family. I really feel that the spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of Christ, and that's why we love this time of year so much, despite the blizzards and such.
Having said all that, who's really the bad guy in this clip?

BYU Football and Freeway Driving

Before I get into my main post, Michelle had another funny anecdote from her little second graders that she wanted me to share. For a lot of activities she has the kids move over to sit on the floor so they aren't writing or playing with things at their desks. A lot of times while she's talking, she feels slight brushings against her shoes. When she looks down, there will be one of her second graders petting her shoes. When she asks them what they are doing, they simply reply, "Your shoes are so pretty." Michelle's shoes are not unusual or special. In fact, she only has about three different pairs that she wears to work. Second graders can be so silly sometimes.

Now, let me just say that I didn't watch the BYU-Utah football game (in fact, I haven't watched any games on TV this year because of the wonderful Mountain network). I have friends and family that with the proper cable services to see the game on TV, but I didn't want to watch. I can't handle it. If I watch, it's too important to me, and I turn into something I don't like. Most people love to watch close games, because it's so exciting. Well, I hate it! I would much rather watch a blowout (only by the team I'm rooting for) any day than those stinkin' intense battle games. I had already decided this year that BYU was going to lose (teams I like can never seem to play well in the second half of the game or season). For some reason, even when we're way better than Utah (and we have been the last couple of years) the game is always close. But, if Utah is better than BYU (like this year) they blow them out, and it drives me crazy.

I drive like a grandpa on the freeway except that I pay a lot more attention to people trying to get around me than they do. I used to pride myself on the fact that I made it to Provo from Brigham City in an hour and 15 minutes. While I still think that's cool, I can't handle driving fast. I'm not scared or anything. In fact, I love weaving in and out of traffic, accelerating to find just the right spot, etc. The problem is that when I drive fast, I turn into something I don't like.
Growing up I might have been more boisterous or loud, or however you want to describe me, but I prefer to be a little calmer now. I want to be like those people that make you feel good just to talk with them. Usually those people have great self-control, and are able to focus on you when they are talking with you. Anyway, yelling at Max Hall for being a pansy and running out of the pocket too quickly is not what I like to do. Screaming at the defense for just being dumb and letting the other team go by arouses feelings of anger that are not what I want to be a part of me. Sometimes I want to throw the remote at the TV (which would be very counterproductive and damaging to both remote and TV).
Along the same lines, yelling at "Idaho" (which is where 90% of the yelling is directed), or "Toyota" (or whatever the first word that comes to mind for the car) for cutting me off or driving 57 MPH in the fast lane is not the kind of behavior I want to have. Several years ago I made the decision to drive just under the speed limit in the far right lane. I've gone in and out of that goal, and every time I speed back up, I start yelling again. It's bad.
In conclusion, I want to be a person with better self control. They say the best way to overcome temptation is to avoid the temptation in the first place. Since I obviously lack the self control to be calm in these situations, I have decided to simply remove myself from those situations. Sometimes it's really hard, because I love to watch football and drive fast, but until I can learn to relax more, I'm just going to have to go without. By the way, I still felt some of those angry feelings when I saw that BYU just seemed to give up in the fourth quarter.
Aren't second graders cute? (Just thought I'd end the post on a positive note).