So, I thought I would share with you three of Abby's favorite activities.
(1) Dancing. She dances for every song, every commercial, every percussion she hears. She swings her arms as she marches in circles, tripping over herself along the way, but she keeps going until the music ends.
(2) Loading her nose with paper. She scrounges the house for scraps of paper, tears them up into small pieces, and then packs them in her nose. We never know when something is up there--until she sneezes.
(3) Sock puppets. She takes off her shoes, then her socks, and puts them on her hands. She then makes the sock puppet talk, and kiss, and engages people with her little character.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Quick Catch Up
So we need to play some serious catch up, so this will be short explanations and many pictures! Starting with the most recent and going back.
Here is a video from tonight of Abby lifting weights and showing off her new counting skills. She really can say that she is 2 (although it's not official for 2 weeks!)
We actually had some rain here in Arizona last week and quite the storm last Thursday. We lost power and it reminded Matt that we need to cut down some branches on our tree. Saturday Matt and a friend, Randy Lee borrowed a chain saw and took care of the branches. You can see Matt with the chain saw and the resulting triumph over the tree!
On January 16th and 17th we took a very quick trip to Wyoming to see one of our new nephew's, Dexter (Heather and Brandon's son) to be blessed. We flew into Denver and quickly grabbed food as we were all starving. While Barbara and Roger finished eating Matt and I found a guy doing caricatures and had him do one of Abby. She would not hold still, but he really thought she was cute. We asked for a head shot and he ended up doing her whole body!
Here is a picture of the whole family (Brandon and Heather's) after the blessing and before we flew back to the airport and to home! What a weekend!
Abby sees us sit and type at our computers quite often since we are both trying to finish our massive papers. Apparently she think she needs to do the same!
Abby's birth father's family, the Huff's sent Abby wonderful Christmas presents! She especially loved the tea party set complete with a talking, singing tea pot. Thank you to the Huff's!
Before we went to Wyoming, Abby and I took off to see our other newer nephew, Caleb Shakespeare! We traveled to Washington and spent time with some of Jen's family. We had a great time! Here are Caleb, Abby and Jen on the first day!
Brynley played with Abby so much and is just the best big cousin! We hope she can come out and play with us in Arizona some day!
The Twins, Kylee and Kennedy also played with Abby for hours and hours. We wish they lived closer!
Aunt Tiff gave Abby and Jen new haircuts. You are the best Tiff!
We celebrated Brent's, Jen's and Abby's birthdays which are in January and February complete with homemade chinese food and oreo cookie ice cream dessert! Yum! We also loved seeing Brent and Nicole who have now moved back to Washington.
Abby loves Grandpa Mark as you can see!
Aunt Christie and Uncle Jerry with Abby!
Sisters! Tiff and Jen!
Here is a video from tonight of Abby lifting weights and showing off her new counting skills. She really can say that she is 2 (although it's not official for 2 weeks!)
We actually had some rain here in Arizona last week and quite the storm last Thursday. We lost power and it reminded Matt that we need to cut down some branches on our tree. Saturday Matt and a friend, Randy Lee borrowed a chain saw and took care of the branches. You can see Matt with the chain saw and the resulting triumph over the tree!
On January 16th and 17th we took a very quick trip to Wyoming to see one of our new nephew's, Dexter (Heather and Brandon's son) to be blessed. We flew into Denver and quickly grabbed food as we were all starving. While Barbara and Roger finished eating Matt and I found a guy doing caricatures and had him do one of Abby. She would not hold still, but he really thought she was cute. We asked for a head shot and he ended up doing her whole body!
Here is a picture of the whole family (Brandon and Heather's) after the blessing and before we flew back to the airport and to home! What a weekend!
Abby sees us sit and type at our computers quite often since we are both trying to finish our massive papers. Apparently she think she needs to do the same!
Abby's birth father's family, the Huff's sent Abby wonderful Christmas presents! She especially loved the tea party set complete with a talking, singing tea pot. Thank you to the Huff's!
Before we went to Wyoming, Abby and I took off to see our other newer nephew, Caleb Shakespeare! We traveled to Washington and spent time with some of Jen's family. We had a great time! Here are Caleb, Abby and Jen on the first day!
Brynley played with Abby so much and is just the best big cousin! We hope she can come out and play with us in Arizona some day!
The Twins, Kylee and Kennedy also played with Abby for hours and hours. We wish they lived closer!
Aunt Tiff gave Abby and Jen new haircuts. You are the best Tiff!
We celebrated Brent's, Jen's and Abby's birthdays which are in January and February complete with homemade chinese food and oreo cookie ice cream dessert! Yum! We also loved seeing Brent and Nicole who have now moved back to Washington.
Abby loves Grandpa Mark as you can see!
Aunt Christie and Uncle Jerry with Abby!
Sisters! Tiff and Jen!
Jobs for Historians
Some of you have heard we may be graduating in May and are looking for work. You may ask, "where will you get a job?" The answer is invariably, "wherever we can."
Some don't quite understand just how bad the market is, even for those with doctorates, so I thought I'd share with you these recent images I pirated off the American Historical Association's recent Perspectives on History publication. In figure 1 you can see that the discrepancy between the number of newly minted PhDs and projected job openings is larger than it has been since Richard Nixon was president. Ouch!
Figure 3 (yes, I know that I skipped a figure, and several others as well) shows that in my field--U.S. history--there are about 90 applicants per position. Sadly, that is good news to me since just last week I received a letter from one school thanking me for my application and noting that there were over 480 other applicants.
So if we go with the expectation that there are an average of 90 applicants per job, and if we know I applied for about a dozen jobs, I have about a 10-15% of getting hired someplace. Yippie!
I know, you are thinking, "but Matt, you went to a good school, right?" Well, I didn't show the chart but another one explains that about a third of the applicants come from the top programs, and ASU is only borderline in that group, so I can figure there are about 30 applicants per job who come from a more prestigious university.
So what does all this mean? Move over old lady--I'm the new greeter at Walmart! In a worst case situation I have some part time work already lined up. I'll keep you informed (please don't post any comments encouraging me--I can't bear to read them).
Some don't quite understand just how bad the market is, even for those with doctorates, so I thought I'd share with you these recent images I pirated off the American Historical Association's recent Perspectives on History publication. In figure 1 you can see that the discrepancy between the number of newly minted PhDs and projected job openings is larger than it has been since Richard Nixon was president. Ouch!
Figure 3 (yes, I know that I skipped a figure, and several others as well) shows that in my field--U.S. history--there are about 90 applicants per position. Sadly, that is good news to me since just last week I received a letter from one school thanking me for my application and noting that there were over 480 other applicants.
So if we go with the expectation that there are an average of 90 applicants per job, and if we know I applied for about a dozen jobs, I have about a 10-15% of getting hired someplace. Yippie!I know, you are thinking, "but Matt, you went to a good school, right?" Well, I didn't show the chart but another one explains that about a third of the applicants come from the top programs, and ASU is only borderline in that group, so I can figure there are about 30 applicants per job who come from a more prestigious university.
So what does all this mean? Move over old lady--I'm the new greeter at Walmart! In a worst case situation I have some part time work already lined up. I'll keep you informed (please don't post any comments encouraging me--I can't bear to read them).
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Why We Love Football
Well, our profile says we love to watch football but I dont talk about it much on our blog. So, let me offer up a video that shows you just what I loved about Nebraska this season.
Nebraska is poised to contend for the national championship next year. Its not too late to join our bandwagon.
Of course, we follow BYU as well, but I dont have a clip for them right now.
Nebraska is poised to contend for the national championship next year. Its not too late to join our bandwagon.
Of course, we follow BYU as well, but I dont have a clip for them right now.
Dont Speak . . .
Just gasp in amazement as the Great Chinese State Circus performs thier version of Swan Lake
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thank You!
Abby received some after Christmas gifts and wants to express her thanks. We took Abby to Toys R Us and let her run free. She picked out some veggies for her new kitchen and a popper thing that she used (loudly) ALL over the store. She used money from Great Grandma Ruth to buy her gifts. Abby's birth Mom's Dad and his wife (Geoffrey and Maria) sent Abby a gift card to Toys R Us and she picked out a "Band in a Box" set complete with tambourine, maracas and a triangle. She made music for hours last night and today! Thank You to all!
While at the store Abby also found her new car. We kept saying "All done?" to which she would respond emphatically, "NO!" Eventually we just had to pull her away.
All of this happened on our 8th anniversary! We just spent it together--the 3 of us. What could e better than that?
Aunt Christie and Uncle Jerry Thielen sent a great gift which we received in the mail today. It is a Disney storybook that plays "Once Upon a Dream." Abby loves to push the button and definitely loves books! Thank you so much!
We hope everyone has the most wonderful and safe New Year!
While at the store Abby also found her new car. We kept saying "All done?" to which she would respond emphatically, "NO!" Eventually we just had to pull her away.
All of this happened on our 8th anniversary! We just spent it together--the 3 of us. What could e better than that?Aunt Christie and Uncle Jerry Thielen sent a great gift which we received in the mail today. It is a Disney storybook that plays "Once Upon a Dream." Abby loves to push the button and definitely loves books! Thank you so much!
We hope everyone has the most wonderful and safe New Year!Monday, December 28, 2009
Merry Christmas!
Christmas in California! We spent almost a week with Matt's family and had a wonderful time. It began with the BYU bowl game! We came to Cali all decked out in our Cougar attire! What a game! GO COUGARS!
We loved seeing our new nephew, baby Dexter, and I managed to hold on to both kids at the same time! Whenever I tried to hold Dexter Abby said, "Up!"
Christmas Eve day we took the train to downtown L.A. to get a top band to my wedding ring (at the incredible jeweler that made the ring in the first place) and Matt's parents bought he and Brandon new suits for Christmas. We had a great time, but Abby was very unhappy (unusual for her when she is out and about!)--later we realized she is getting 3-4 new teeth, poor little girl.
Christmas Eve night Abby got to open her first gift--Christmas pajamas. We also gave some to Dexter but they are too big right now!
Christmas morning Dexter came out looking like a little reindeer! He is adorable.
Abby received a kitchen from Grandma and Grandpa Garrett which she loves very much!
Abby also liked the money from Great Grandma Ruth--she should buy some items for her new kitchen!
Matt will enjoy his two new ties--one is for BYU and one is for the Huskers!
Later Christmas day Grandma Barbara, Matt and I took Abby to a nearby park where she decided to swing in a big swing all by herself for the first time.
Christmas night after Abby's bath we drove over to a street that had quite a display of Christmas lights. Here you can see Abby and Matt in front of a well decorated house.
Saturday Barbara and Roger took Abby back to L.A. to pick up the new tailored suits and Abby loved going with them. This is a picture just before they left.
A picture of Matt teaching Abby how to make a basket!
Our little Abby likes nothing more than to be outside, playing in the dirt with a rock! Matt and I took her on a long walk on Sunday afternoon and then let her play in Garrett's front yard. Suddenly we looked over and she was standing up from falling flat on her face in the dirt. She had dirt all down the front of her and was trying to wipe off her hands on her face. As you can see, she really didn't mind.
One more picture just for fun--Abby also loves to play the piano and was enjoying Grandma's piano. She even plays with one finger at a time and keeps her feet off the piano (had to see an earlier blog video to understand that one!)
We loved seeing our new nephew, baby Dexter, and I managed to hold on to both kids at the same time! Whenever I tried to hold Dexter Abby said, "Up!"
Christmas Eve day we took the train to downtown L.A. to get a top band to my wedding ring (at the incredible jeweler that made the ring in the first place) and Matt's parents bought he and Brandon new suits for Christmas. We had a great time, but Abby was very unhappy (unusual for her when she is out and about!)--later we realized she is getting 3-4 new teeth, poor little girl.
Christmas Eve night Abby got to open her first gift--Christmas pajamas. We also gave some to Dexter but they are too big right now!
Christmas morning Dexter came out looking like a little reindeer! He is adorable.
Abby received a kitchen from Grandma and Grandpa Garrett which she loves very much!
Abby also liked the money from Great Grandma Ruth--she should buy some items for her new kitchen!
Matt will enjoy his two new ties--one is for BYU and one is for the Huskers!
Later Christmas day Grandma Barbara, Matt and I took Abby to a nearby park where she decided to swing in a big swing all by herself for the first time.
Christmas night after Abby's bath we drove over to a street that had quite a display of Christmas lights. Here you can see Abby and Matt in front of a well decorated house.
Saturday Barbara and Roger took Abby back to L.A. to pick up the new tailored suits and Abby loved going with them. This is a picture just before they left.
A picture of Matt teaching Abby how to make a basket!
Our little Abby likes nothing more than to be outside, playing in the dirt with a rock! Matt and I took her on a long walk on Sunday afternoon and then let her play in Garrett's front yard. Suddenly we looked over and she was standing up from falling flat on her face in the dirt. She had dirt all down the front of her and was trying to wipe off her hands on her face. As you can see, she really didn't mind.
One more picture just for fun--Abby also loves to play the piano and was enjoying Grandma's piano. She even plays with one finger at a time and keeps her feet off the piano (had to see an earlier blog video to understand that one!)
Monday, December 21, 2009
Wonderful December
I have a little catching up to do, so how about quick explanations and lots of photos. That's what you all want anyway, right?! First of all, Abby is slowly investigating her new pink toilet. As you can see, she is not so sure about it!
The end of November and beginning of December were full of choir performances and both sets of grandparents came out to visit! Abby had so much fun with them as you can clearly see! Here she is helping Grandpa Mark work out one morning.
This is even better...a video of Abby doing sit-ups with Grandpa!
Pictures of Sunday! Abby, Grandma Karen & Jen
Abby & Grandpa Roger
Grandma & Grandpa Wilcox brought Abby a tiny nativity and she loves to play with it. (Kind of hurts to step on though when she leaves the pieces out!)
Abby stayed with our friend Natalie while the adults went to Jen's ASU Christmas concert.
We also added a new arrival to our extended family! My beautiful sister, Tiffany had a little baby boy named Caleb Joseph Shakespeare on December 15th! He is so cute and clearly adored by his family! Abby and I will travel to Washington on January 7th to see him (thanks Grandma Karen!)
The last day of seminary was December 17th and that evening most of the students came over to our home for a party. As you can see, we were quite cozy!
We also went to the park nearby and they played football, ultimate frisbee and hide and go seek. Abby loved running around and the kids loved to run after her!
The next morning Matt and I took the kids to do baptisms for the dead at the temple.
The Sunday before Christmas was a busy one for me with the Sacrament Program for our Tempe Ward. The program went very well and Abby looked very beautiful--I managed to get her hair up into an up-do which lasted about an hour!
The best one is Abby at the organ--eat your heart out Grandpa Mark!
Finally, a picture of the 3 of us in our backyard! Notice the grass!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
The end of November and beginning of December were full of choir performances and both sets of grandparents came out to visit! Abby had so much fun with them as you can clearly see! Here she is helping Grandpa Mark work out one morning.
This is even better...a video of Abby doing sit-ups with Grandpa!Pictures of Sunday! Abby, Grandma Karen & Jen
Abby & Grandpa Roger
Grandma & Grandpa Wilcox brought Abby a tiny nativity and she loves to play with it. (Kind of hurts to step on though when she leaves the pieces out!)
Abby stayed with our friend Natalie while the adults went to Jen's ASU Christmas concert.
We also added a new arrival to our extended family! My beautiful sister, Tiffany had a little baby boy named Caleb Joseph Shakespeare on December 15th! He is so cute and clearly adored by his family! Abby and I will travel to Washington on January 7th to see him (thanks Grandma Karen!)
The last day of seminary was December 17th and that evening most of the students came over to our home for a party. As you can see, we were quite cozy!
We also went to the park nearby and they played football, ultimate frisbee and hide and go seek. Abby loved running around and the kids loved to run after her!
The next morning Matt and I took the kids to do baptisms for the dead at the temple.
The Sunday before Christmas was a busy one for me with the Sacrament Program for our Tempe Ward. The program went very well and Abby looked very beautiful--I managed to get her hair up into an up-do which lasted about an hour!
The best one is Abby at the organ--eat your heart out Grandpa Mark!
Finally, a picture of the 3 of us in our backyard! Notice the grass!
MERRY CHRISTMAS! Thursday, November 26, 2009
Cutest girl ever!
Hooray for finally getting some new pictures! No, we have not replaced our camera--but maybe tomorrow! I just had to get some pictures up! Our Abby just grows up so quickly.
Abby trying to ride Mommy's bike!
Abby and the blue jacket: she loves to steal Matt's razors and loves to make fun faces!
Thanksgiving at the Garrett's! We came out early to see our new nephew Dexter! Abby was very excited to see everyone as you can see from her outstretched arms to Grandma. She is giving her a "big love!"
Here is Heather, Brandon, Dexter, Matt, Jen and Abby! Happy Family!
Abby trying to ride Mommy's bike!
Abby and the blue jacket: she loves to steal Matt's razors and loves to make fun faces!
Thanksgiving at the Garrett's! We came out early to see our new nephew Dexter! Abby was very excited to see everyone as you can see from her outstretched arms to Grandma. She is giving her a "big love!"
Here is Heather, Brandon, Dexter, Matt, Jen and Abby! Happy Family!
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