Work send-off and Christmas Party

Joanne, Karen, Teri and Jackie...

Erin, Jordan, Spencer, Helen and Debbie...

Me and the giant cake!

Pic of the meeting- all decked out 'baby style'.

Trish and I at the Christmas Party.

Greg and a very prego Britt...

Greg and my cousin Eric Tanner.

November 20th was my final day with North American, and I'm officially 'retired'- haha...well as sweet as everyone is there they had a cake, card, giftcards ready to send me off. The day before I had another meeting offsite- where the field staff decorated it like a baby shower, and also had a little send off gift. Last week we had our annual Christmas Party at the Montage in Laguna Beach. As always, it was FABULOUS! As an 'Administrator in Training' Greg and I were put up across the street in the Laguna Reef Inn. Administrators are put up at the Montage for the night, and Greg and I sure are looking forward to that next year...but were very grateful for our accomodations as well. What a company!!

Thanksgiving, Dual Baby Shower, Bro-Time, Basketball Reunion and a Baby...

Bro-Time in full force...

Bro-Time shirts, wigs and all... Soon to be dad Steve...

Britt, Mom Ethington and Lisa awaiting Dylan's arrival...Excited Grandmas:)...

Kiera with Dylan minutes after...amazing! We couldn't get over how little his diaper was!

What a cutie! A very tired Dad and Grandpa- what a night!!

Thanksgiving weekend Greg and I traveled out to Arizona to spend the holiday with Greg's Family...we got a whole lot more then we bargained for- and we're so glad we did!! We started with a fabulous turkey dinner that not only tasted delicious, but was beautifully decorated for. The following day Mom Ethington and Lisa threw a double baby shower for Kiera and me (and none-to-soon as it turned out!) while the boys had their 'Bro-Time' mini-golfed, guitar heroed, ate a lot and did whatever boys do together... (this and the Ethington Campout are the two times I year I'm forbidden from giving Greg grief about his soda consumption:)). The next day Greg attended a "Gilbert High School Basketball Reunion" of sorts. It was really informal, it just started out with one of his buddies sending out a facebook message assessing interest in some pick-up play- and quickly ballooned into 30-40 alumni players showing up to play! Though his ankle is still not fully recovered he popped some pills, wrapped it well and had a blast reconnecting- and I loved getting to meet some of the bball buddies he talks about. Saturday night Lisa gave Kiera a 'labor inducing' foot massage complete with essential oils said to do the same- and wouldn't you know--- within 12 hours she was in the hospital with labor pains! Darling baby Dylan arrived around 12:30AM Monday morning! Kiera was amazing- we were in the room talking to her just hours before such- what a champ!!

Engaged!!

KC surprised the lovely Amanda Hyer on a recent weekend trip home from BYU with a romantic dinner at the Ritz Carlton in Dana Point...he brought a bag full of 'memories' from their courtship (i.e. the ticket stub from their first date), and went through one by one culminating with him on bended knee with a gorgeous engagement ring!!

The Hyer family joined us in congratulating the couple at our home, where KC and Amanda retold the events of the night, and we toasted with Martinellis. We were happy to share this time with the Vickers' (visiting friends from London).

KC has a funny thing for stroking soft hair (see above)-

better get used to that Amanda!

They are SO in love-

and we are SO happy for them!!

Congrats you two!!

Cali Kaye- 29 weeks...

Greg and I did a 3D-4D ultrasound yesterday- this is when I love technology...wow- so amazing!! Before we went I very shyly bought a diet coke, because someone told me if you drink one before the ultrasound the baby will be more active. I felt so guilty buying it- as if I were buying cigarettes or alcohol...for those of you who don't know- I have a thing about soda. I just think it's such an unnecessary evil in this world- bad for your teeth, the carbonation is bad for you as an athlete, not to mention the unnecessary calories! HELLO- we have discovered Crystal Light!! Anyway, despite my feelings of hypocrisy, I went through with the purchase...but could only choke half of it down. Truly- I don't see the appeal??? Anyway, it didn't work- Cali slept right through the ultrasound- I guess she inherited her dad's ability to sleep well:). It was amazing to see her little features already- we are in love all over again!!

Rubbing her eye...

Look at those chubby little cheeks- I already want to pinch them!!

So those are the feet that kick my ribs all day:)

I LOVE this one- (check out those long fingers!)

We even got one of her smiling!!

Cankle Update

Okay this is going to sound silly but my foot is no longer broken. The doctor sent me to an orthopedic and he concluded different than the doctor did. The orthopedic looked at the x-rays and said not broken. However my non broken streak is not back on. The orthopedic said that he saw evidence of past bone chips on the inside of my ankle that had healed and smoothed over. Strange isn't it. So my 27 year streak wasn't really there.

Good news is that the swelling is going down and I am getting back to normal.

Viva Las Vegas

Recently Greg and I took Tori and Whitney to a gymnastics meet in Vegas...(not my favorite place to visit by any means, but we thought it'd be a fun weekend getaway nonetheless). Tori had gotten a nice little shiner the week before while playing with cousins. Greg agreed to come on one condition- that he could go to one of those famous Vegas all-you-can-eat buffets. I was excited to see Tori compete (and somewhat relive one of my own favorite pastime sports), and to shop!! (I have found that it is suddenly waaaay more fun to shop for the baby then myself now...) So off we went. We stayed at 'The Orleans' (closest hotel to the gym)- which aside from the yucky casino smoke, was great!

CANKLE UPDATE!!!

In a recent visit to the doctor, x-rays confirm that this Cankle is no ordinary sprain. I thought that after a week of steady ice and rest, my cankle would return to ankle form. But when the swelling didn't go down I decided to get a picture taken. And there is was, a small chip fracture. My long 27 almost 28 year streak of unbroken bones comes to an end. And FREAK it is just a small little guy. All the years of serious basketball and sports competition with no broken bones and then this little tiny guy break. I have a follow up doctor visit today with my primary doctor and hopefully I can get copies of the x-ray to post.

Please remember that all sympathy and spoiling is appreciated and deserved at this time.

Ankle, More like CANKLE!

I don't think I can really do justice with words what can be said with pictures. You probably looked at the pictures which sparked your interest in what I have to say anyway. So here is the story of my ankle sprain.

I recently joined a city league basketball team nearby in Chino, Ca. We play every Monday night and have been playing for over a month now. I have been playing well and having a lot of fun. It does help when you are the biggest guy out there. Well about 7 minutes into last night's game I went up high for a rebound. As I grabbed the ball I sensed that there was someone around my legs. The smallest guy on the court decided to park himself right under me after I jumped. I looked down in time to see him sliding right in under me. Now I have gotten used to this as many of the players in the league don't have a lot of game experience. Every game I have guys pushing on my legs as I jump in the air. I have to be a little cautious every time.

So as I am coming down from the rebound I tried to avoid the little man underneath me, but there was little I could do. My left foot came right down on the back of his foot. There was nothing I could do as I watched my ankle bend under the strain of my landing. Brittany said she doesn't remeber me yelling when it happened but did as I lay on the ground. It hurt like crazy, but mostly I was just really annoyed and aggrivated that I had sprained my ankle.