6 Years

Last Saturday was our anniversary. We're getting so practical now that we're old timers. No more hundreds of dollars dropped at a fancy spa. Last year was mini golf and Italian food in town. And this year my great visiting teacher (who LOVES kids and was surprised we weren't staying out long enough for her to have to put the kids to bed!) watched Eli and Esme.  We went up to Solitude for a hike and dinner at a nice restaurant there.  If you hike up the mountain and find where the chairlift ends, then you can ride it down for free.

Not sure how he mustered a smile, must've been after we figured
out how to pull the bar over our laps.

I even learned something new about Brian.  He's scared of heights!  Just like the old man!  I called him Frank the whole way down.  The only other time I've ever seen him scared was in Switzerland driving a one-lane road (where you have to honk before you go around a turn) on the side of a cliff in the heaviest fog I've ever seen.  In this not so equally dangerous situation he sat down, put his hand behind my back and froze. So I had to be the one figuring out his fancy phone for this unflattering picture.

I guess we won't be skiing, since I'm too scared of the steep hills and speed and he's terrified of the chairlift.

Brian's Other Children

Aren't they the cutest girls?  Especially since they always oogle over Esme.  Brian has been teaching them since he started his school 3 1/2 years ago. They are his first generation of students to test for their Dan (black belt), which happened yesterday.  The semi-annual test that rotates cities also happened to take place here in Salt Lake.  They did so well!  They range from shy and quiet to feisty and sassy and are best friends.  He's known one of them since she was Eli's age.  Now she's almost taller than him!

The highlight for me was when the most timid girl didn't break her required or creative board breaks and the regional examiners gave her one more chance.  It didn't seem like she was even trying,her foot flopping off the board, so I figured nothing would happen when the testing board gave her the another try.  Brian was the proctor, so he told her she had another try.

Afterword I talked to her mom who said she had just turned off the video camera when her daughter forcefully and precisely smashed through the two boards with a side kick. Later some parents overheard her telling the other girls that it's Brian's voice that calms her and gives her confidence and he hadn't spoken to her before the other two break attempts.

It's a big event. Takes place over 3 days with people traveling from Montana, Idaho, and Colorado.  People come to test for black belts and teaching certifications, a pre-evaluation if they're testing next time, and to participate in clinics taught by the masters.  Salt Lake is right in the middle and the biggest city, so there's always a big crowd.  This Fall the test will be in White Fish Montana, practically on the Canadian border.

Brian had to figure out the schedule for classes, where they could be held, hotel, restaurants, maps and directions.  The best thing he did was book Tucano's for the final banquet after the test.  Most of the people are from small towns and were amazed at the food.  At the banquet lots of people were thanking me for my sacrifice.  I really didn't do much but wait patiently while he was out until 11 pm for a few nights and make some treats for the visiting masters and parents who helped behind the scenes.

Brian sure loves his martial arts.  It's something he needs to do to feel complete and happy. He especially loves teaching.  He's just the right combination strict and friendly, maintaining respect while letting the kids have fun.  His classes flow with the perfect amount of philosophy/culture, theory, and application.  And he loves the kids.  If money is tight, he doesn't send them an invoice.  If they need extra practice he stays after.  Parents even tell him about hard things going on at home so he can keep that in mind and help.  Some need more confidence.  Others need to be reined in.

He's out helping kids and even making some spare money as a hobby while other men blow the whole day watching football, playing video games, or golfing.  I have to say, I do pretty well being patient and understanding on those long nights. I'm so proud of him.

Brian, As Of Late

Waiting for Eli to finish decorating his gingerbread man 

at the Swiss Christmas Celebration in Midway.

How about a Brian update. He has some serious Christmas spirit. I'm more stressed about getting gifts made and he's constantly wrapping presents (even the ones in the stockings!), making gingerbread, reading Eli Christmas stories and even wants the two of us to read The Christmas Carol together. I know he said he's make a cookbook for our family gift to people, and even though it didn't happen, he did spearhead Project Christmas Cards which will be coming soon.

I'm glad he's now taking a couple week break from Soo Bahk, the 3 evenings a week it kept him out late, 8 being late for me. But in the Spring he will be hosting his region's Black Belt Test, in which 4 of his students are testing for their black belt. This will be his first generation and he's working hard to make sure they're the best candidates the testing board has seen. He's having a party soon where the 5 of them come to our house, eat Korean food, watch his first black belt test and go over their forms and board breaking and such. Hosting the test in Salt Lake will be another ordeal, arranging transportation, lodging, restaurant for a banquet, and sign-ups as well as gifts for the Masters (testing board) from Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, and Montana. No stress.

At work he's in charge of film-ordering so people around the world can get geneological records in the form of micro-film/fiche sent to them and he just launched, quite smoothly, in Europe.

When the Bishop was looking for a calling for him at church, I warned him that eventhough he works at familysearch.org, he DOES NOT DO GENEOLOGY. We were worried when he got his calling, but aparently the Bishop really does know what he's doing since Brian will be the "family history consultant" that teaches the class, so people can learn the process and new technology to help them. If hard questions come up he can just ask the experts at work. The other older guy with more experience actually searching and compiling family names are the actual consultants there to help people in the ward.

In his spare time on the weekends he's helping me out by cleaning the bathrooms, taking the kids, and making dinner. Isn't he too good to be true?

Golden Boy

(will flip as soon as I figure out how)

 So Brian turns 28 today, on the 28th.  Very big deal, right? I think he's happy that I didn't make the biggest deal about it. I did insist on the traditional flourless cake, made of only melted chocolate, eggs, and butter.   I didn't realize he was so shy that he even took his birthday off Facebook and Skype so he wouldn't get any attention.  Luckily we surprised him work with these cupcakes for him to share.  We were a little sad that none of those nerdy guys would notice the gourmetness of chocolate cupcakes, topped with chocolate mousse and ganache.  Oh well. 

I had to bring balloons to embarrass him just a little.

  

Cubicle Party.

I knew he would prefer a quiet night at home, rather than socializing and entertaining.  So it was just the 4 of us.

Eli ended up giving him the best present of all.  I had him color a picture, tell me a message to write, and then told him to sign his name. I figured it would be a little squiggle, but he actually WROTE HIS NAME!  We've never even shown him how to write letters.

Brian was so excited he started the boy on a writing lesson before we even had any cake. It was so exciting. He told Eli that was the best present ever.

And Esme? She practiced for her big day in a month or so.

Happy birthday to the best husband and dad ever. 

Wyoming

This weekend we went with friends up to Wyoming, hoping Brian could experience some of the best fishing of his life. We were about an hour south of Jackson Hole where the water is icy cold and mosquitos swarm, both good for fishing. The best spot ended up being right behind the cabin we were renting in town, not even the beautiful lakes we drove forever to get to, like the one in the top picture. Bri loved practicing with his fly rod and was catching a fish almost every five minutes! Most were small, but a couple were big enough to keep and eat. Eli got into it too, preferring to use a stick rather than his spiderman pole. This last picture will serve as proof that his wildest dreams have come true.

Soo Bahk Do Kid

Thanks to the new Karate Kid movie a local TV reporter, supposedly the funny guy for Channel 2's morning news, called Brian on Tuesday to see if he could spotlight his school the next morning. The kids were excited, coming to a practice the night before and waking up at 5 to be on TV. During the newscast they would check in and Bri would answer questions and the kids gave demonstrations. I'm not sure how long the link will work, but here it is:

http://connect2utah.com/2news-this-morning-story?nxd_id=95575

Father's Day Weekend

I figured it was a perfect present to let Bri's wildest dreams come true and go camping. I knew I would be forfeiting a night's sleep, but it was totally worth it. It was our first time since having kids. Eli loved it, practically giddy the whole time, and Esme was her patient self. Eli decided the animal sitings were his favorites. We asked him on the drive there and he was hoping to see a giraffe. He had to settle for big horn sheep, deer, chipmonks, deer, ducks, and more deer. We even saw a hawk dive and catch a fish.The highlights for me were: a quiet campground with a view, renting a boat, making fireballs... I mean smores, swinging in the hammock, and, most importantly, not seeing 1 mosquito.

Bri loves good family time out in nature. He had to do all the work setting up, cooking, and packing up while I watched the kids, but he didn't mind. He's a hard worker and happy to serve. He always wants us with him. A great trait he inherited from his dad. When he's not working, we're his favorite company. When there's something he wants to do, he tries to find a way for us to come -like ocean fishing with his parents in Oregon in August or a nationals event for his martial arts in New Jersey in July. If I want to get out to do something I try and find a way to go kidless. Don't tell them I said that. Bri's the best. What's more flattering than being someone's preferred groupie.

Is it any wonder we count the hours until he gets home every day?

If It Breaks It Doesn't Hurt

Tonight Brian held a board breaking tournament for his students and everyone loved it. There was a lot of clapping, breath holding, and "ohhhhh..." when people didn't make it through, which was often. My favorite part was watching Bri of course, although, my main motive in being there was to take pictures and go out to Korean food after. Here are his impressive breaks:

Reverse Roundhouse Kick

His favorite kick, kind of over the shoulder. Took a couple tries. Which was good for the kids, especially the timid ones that find breaking hard, to know that it doesn't always work, even for the teacher.

Palm Heel Strike

a.k.a. the "one inch punch" because he starts with his fingers touching the board and somehow gets his palm through.

Very impressive. Everyone's favorite.

4 Board Power Break

Unlike the last one, requires lots of distance to get through 4 boards.

He's still gloating... uh... I mean grinning about this one. His first time breaking this many.

Then we all went and took over a little Korean restaurant. There were so many people having fun, eating and talking. As Bri visited all the tables, holding Esme, I realized he hasn't just spent the last 3 1/2 years teaching martial arts. It's like a family. Learning a new culture, watching the kids and a few adult students learn discipline, respect, and self-confidence, besides the technique and testing material. I'm really proud of him. He's a really good teacher that cares about his students as well as preserving the art and has a good time doing it.

Most Wives Cringe

When it's time for the various sports playoffs I barely know they're going on. Today I know about the super bowl because PBS is full of game day cooking shows. I could care less about sports and am lucky enough to have a husband that feels the same way. I guess another lucky combination is when the wife is just as hopeful for and zealous about a team's success.

Like lots of other stay-at-home moms, I look forward to evenings and weekends when my husband is home, except I don't have to share him with the different teams on the TV depending on the season. Not bragging, just appreciating my fabulous husband. (I happen to really love this picture of a friend's husband.)

I know Bri would like to watch boxing or ultimate fighting, but the violence really disturbs me, so he doesn't. He loves martial arts and does a lot of scholarly and philosophical reading and discussing related to it. It gets even better, his hobby (more like a lifelong obsession) keeps him fit instead of flabby (unlike certain fans of "da Bears") and even brings in money.

I agree with what Bri says at the end of each class he teaches: "Soo Bahk!"

In fact, he just walked in the door from teaching his Saturday morning family class and I took his picture asked him "What's tomorrow?" and he got a stressed look after some thought and said, "Valentine's Day?"

Cookbook

I don't know why I'm so lucky to have a husband that likes to cook (and does the dishes and buys me all the kitchen gadgets I want- the one area where I'm not a cheapskate). For a while now he's been bugging me to write down recipes and make a family cookbook to give out as Christmas gifts. Because of the fact that I rarely use recipes and am too lazy/daunted to write things down, it has not happened. Besides, I'm more of a make-due-with-what's-left-in-the-fridge-when-you-really-need-to-go-grocery-shopping type.

So Brian has declared that he will be the one to do it, right after watching Julie and Julia, might I add. So when he's not working, teaching Soo Bahk, or being a dad he will be busy in the kitchen cooking taking pictures and recording measurements of our favorite dishes, likely ones we've fed all of you.

It will have an obvious Asian emphasis since that's his thing. And I suggest he includes grilling tips since he's the master of the barbecue, so snooty we haven't lit up the gas grill (that we only have because it was give to us) in, well, I can't remember the last time.

Hope he wasn't planning on it being a surprise.

Super Dad

I should make him a cape with a big "D." He always argued the number of kids should be how many you can fit in a car (not minivan, not SUV, a car). It makes more sense to base it on the number of arms.

Maybe it should be super husband since he's always wanting to give me breaks and make sure I get naps. He finds it a treat to wake up and take Esme when crankiness can no longer be caused by hunger. Tonight he came home from work and made a fabulous dinner while watching two (awake) kids so I could shower (which I now consider a spa retreat). Then he did all the dishes. Right now the boys are going out for ice cream and once Eli's in bed it will be Esme's turn for endless oogling and kisses.

Gosh, I hope this doesn't make anyone jealous...he's mine.