Anolsi: March 2008

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Beautiful things in our backyard on this spring day

Andrew

These are two of my favorite pictures of my brother. I can't believe he has been gone for 10 years. Growing up I really wanted to be just like him. He had all the cool friends, he was outgoing, intelligent, funny, charitable, loving, strong, happy go lucky, adventurous, daring, green (this was amazing for 10 years ago), silly, and totally and utterly awesome. I am proud to have been the big sister to this amazing man. He had such a quiet strength about him. He made a huge impact on those around him during his short stay here. I guess today, I wanted you to know a little about him too.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Spring Break

I am finally getting around to posting pictures of our great spring break trip to California. I don't want to bore anyone with a day by day account, so instead I am posting a few of my favorite pictures! I will tell you we saw the Reagan library, the La Brea tar pits, swam at a famous beach, walked down the oldest street in LA, and ate famous French dip sandwiches from Philippe's. (The restarant is 100 years old this year!) Thanks Dad, Pat, Ang, and Mike for putting up with us for a week. We love you so much and loved being with you.

A piece of the Berlin Wall at the Reagan Library.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

A More Perfect Union

This was a speech given today by Barack Obama. It blew me away. If you have 40 minutes sit and listen, if you only have 10 minutes, sit and listen to 10 minutes. If you say you don't know anything about politics, I think this might help you learn.

Monday, March 17, 2008

FLASH BACK...

Our niece tagged us to talk about high school...

1.IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND TELL YOUR TEENAGE SELF ONE THING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Ryan: Don't be such a dork. (I was self-conscious and awkward, especially with the ladies. Maybe calling them "the ladies" was not such a good idea, in retrospect.)

Brook: Study harder and be nicer.

2. WHAT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DID YOU DO IN HIGH SCHOOL?

Ryan: Swim team, jazz band, marching band, wind symphony, total unapologetic band geek (At Taco Time High School, the band teased the inept football team. Bizarre, I know.)

Brook: Gymnastics, Cheerleader, Junior Class VP

2A. WHAT OTHER THINGS DID YOU LIKE TO DO WITH YOUR FREE TIME?

Ryan: What free time?

Brook: Hang out with girlfriends and boyfriend (unfortunately I did this most)

3. WHAT IS THE COOLEST THING YOU DID AS A TEENAGER?

Ryan: Tried out for Jeopardy in the Jeopardy studio (for the college tournament freshman year). If the question is about high school, playing with the marching band in front of 20,000 people (who were there to see the bands) was a total rush.

Brook: I was part of the 4 year running State champion gymnastics team.

4. WHAT'S THE DUMBEST THING YOU DID AS A TEENAGER?

Ryan: As a sophomore, agreed to play an improvised saxophone solo on KSL live in primetime at the Sterling Scholar program. The solo totally blew. (Get it? Blew?)

Brook: Dated the same guy for 2 years (it really ruined friendships)

5. DID YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND/GIRLFRIEND IN HIGH SCHOOL?

Ryan: For as long as they'd have me.

Brook: Yep

5A. IF YOU DID, TELL WHY IT DID OR DID NOT WORK OUT.

Ryan: I had no idea how to associate with girls on a non-awkward level. Unless I wasn't interested in them as a girlfriend (which in retrospect was probably the answer to my problem).

Brook: My senior year he got jealous of a guy friend, threw him against a locker, stalked me, and when my parents were out of town he broke into my house to "talk" to me. Do you need anymore explaining?

6. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR TEENAGE YEARS, WHAT SONGS COME TO MIND?

Ryan: She's got the look (Roxette), Toy Soldiers by Martika -- these are just the songs I remember. I didn't buy them, I swear -- various jazz artists you've never heard of.

Brook: AC/DC's Back in Black. My two friends and I listened to it every week (full blast) before the football games (It helped us get excited for the game). Madonna

7. WHAT'S THE FUNNEST DATE YOU WENT ON IN HIGH SCHOOL?

Ryan: None. How sad is that?

Brook: We went pursing. We tied a string to a purse and left it in the middle of the street, when someone stopped to pick it up we would pull it away.

8. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR TEENAGE YEARS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Ryan: I would act like I didn't care if the girls liked me.

Brook: I sort of feel like I was stuck up and I don't like that. I would be more accepting of others.

9. WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD GROW UP AND BECOME WHEN YOU WERE A TEENAGER?

Ryan: An engineer of some kind or a weatherman (I'm starting to understand my lack of dating prowess...)

Brook: A hottie? :) I never thought past the weekend in high school. (I wish I would have. I might have done better in high school and college).

10. POST A PICTURE OF YOURSELF AS A TEENAGER. (this was not an easy task! and please don't laugh!)

Anyone care to be tagged!?!

Sunday, March 09, 2008

My guy

My niece tagged me to talk about Ryan...this will not be hard to do.

1. FULL NAME: Ryan Clark McCune

2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED? 11 years 2 months and 25 days.

3. HOW LONG DID YOU DATE? Our first date was May 18, 1996 and we were married December 14, 1996. So almost 7 months to the day.

4. WHO SAID 'I LOVE YOU' FIRST? Ryan did. After about 2 weeks of dating. We we had just finished watching Cinema Paridiso and he got really emotional and then blurted it out. Of course I followed suit and told him how I felt.

5. WHO IS TALLER? Ryan, by a measly 9 inches.

6. WHO SINGS BETTER? I think Ryan does. I love to listen to him sing. He has a really pure voice.

7. WHO IS SMARTER? I'm not even sure I need to answer that question. Ryan got a bigger serving when God was handing out the brains.

8. WHO DOES THE LAUNDRY? I do. Ryan always offers to carry the laundry baskets to and from the laundry room for me.

9. WHO PAYS THE BILLS? Me. I have ever since we got married. As long as I don't spend more than we have and I save a good amount every month Ryan stays happy.

10. WHO SLEEPS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED? If you are standing at the foot of the bed, I do.

11. WHO MOWS THE LAWN? We both do. Although I will admit...I let Ryan do it in the middle of the summer when it's way hot.

12. WHO COOKS DINNER? I do. But Ryan does the dishes every night.

13. WHO DRIVES? Ryan drives in town but I drive if we are traveling. I get car sick even sitting in the passenger seat.

14. WHO IS MORE STUBBORN? Ryan says I am. He says it is so self evident.

15. WHO KISSED WHO FIRST? We both kissed each other. And of course it happened at the Italian Place.

16. WHO ASKED WHO OUT FIRST? We were lined up on a blind date by a mutual friend. Ryan called me to set up the first date.

17. WHO PROPOSED? I'm not sure anyone did. Ryan was working at the Italian Place and I was keeping him company and we started talking about marriage and Ryan said "Ok so should I call the temple or do you want to.

18. WHO HAS MORE SIBLINGS? I do. I have 1 older sister, 1 younger sister, 3 younger brothers, 2 step sisters, a brother-in-law, and a sister-in-law. Ryan has 1 older sister, 2 older brothers, a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law.

19. WHO WEARS THE PANTS IN THE FAMILY? Ryan lets me. He always does want I want to do. He never complains that I boss him around. He always helps out where I need it.

I love, love, love Ryan. He is the best thing that has happened to me. I love that he loves to take care of me and loves to keep me and the kids safe and happy. Thanks for the last 11 years! :)

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Dry Spell

As you can see, we have been in quite a dry spell the last few days. I haven't had much time to think about anything (I did think about Eat Pray Love. Thanks for the great book review, girls!). We are off to California in the morning and hopefully I (or Ryan) will have something profound to say when we return! Hope you all have a great Spring Break, where ever it takes you!