Keido has recently learned how to do slides. He's figured out how to scoot himself forward and then lean just enough to go down.

Carl Came to Visit!

World War II Memorial. We stopped to dip our feet.


Lincoln Memorial

Washington Monument
Look at the difference between the colors of our legs...you'd think we were different races:)

A really nice building for those government people. I can't remember whose it is.

A couple of weeks ago, Carl came to visit us here in Maryland. I think he referred to his trip as being "Death March Number 2." We had a day and a half to see EVERYTHING in D.C. It was so much fun! Yes, a little hard on the feet, but awesome to spend time together and see some sights.

I thought that my favorite part was going to the Air and Space Museum. I had been there before with Boyd, but we didn't really know what anything was. I don't know how Carl knew sooo much; he must have studied a lot of aviation type books growing up because he told me all kinds of cool things. I felt like a smarter person after coming out of that museum, thanks to my brother:)

We can't wait to have him come again! Next time I will take better pictures:)

Ode to Boyd Part 2

Today, is just one of those days. I'm at home sick with a fevery, chills, stomach ache thing, while my husband, Merry, and Asuka, take little Keido to the county fair. I sure do wish that I could be there when Keido tries to lick all the animals in the petting zoo part. Alas, it just wasn't meant to be.

However, one good thing about staying home is that I'm completely alone. I can write whatever I want about Boyd and he can't do anything about it. Plus, I've got loads of time as my body occilates between burning hot and freezing cold. With that said, I want the world to know what kind of man I am really married to.

Where do I begin...
How about two hours ago.

This morning when I woke up, I really didn't feel so hot and my dear husband could tell. He took care of Keido while I layed and watched TV. Then, as I napped, he fed Keido, changed his diaper, got him ready for the day, and played with him to keep him happy. As soon as I woke up, it was time for Keido to sleep. While I layed on the bed, Boyd showed me funny clips on youtube. Then, as my body started to chill, he climbed under the covers with me to help warm me up. Now, if you were in the room, you would understand what a sacrifice that was for Boyd. It was pretty warm and under the covers I could feel that he was starting to sweat. Yet, he stayed next to me until I figured I'd go sit in the sun. Once outside, he came and sat next to me with our new camera and tried to teach me all the cool things he learned. When he offered to let me try, I said, "That's okay, I think I'll go inside." WHAT KIND OF PERSON AM I?!!! Here he is treating me like a million bucks and I just brush it aside like it's nothing. I have become the Most Boring/Tired/Uninteresting/Ungrateful wife in the world. Now, this instance may not seem too bad, but really, I need to step up my end of the relationship and help Boyd love me.

Boyd is the most wonderful Dad. Keido just loves him! Whenever Boyd calls Keido's name, Keido will run to him full speed, laughing and doing his cute breathing hard through his nose thing. If I'm ever tired, or just grouchy, Boyd will take over with Keido and allow me to sleep, or do whatever I need to do. He just recently found employment and is willing to work a job that might not be too fun, in order to provide for our family. Boyd takes everything that I say to him and tries to improve. He forgives me when I am rude, or bad at communicating my feelings. Boyd plans things with me in mind, such as playing basketball with the guys in the ward, mini-golfing, playing tennis, instigating conversations with the Chinese people around here, or just getting some sort of little treat. What a man!

I feel like Heavenly Father has truly blessed me to be able to marry a man like Boyd. He once said that all of his blessings were spent on me, but I feel like it's definitely the other way around. I don't know who else would love so unconditionally and make my life such a joy.

Well, pretty sure when he sees this blog, he's going to think it's way to mushy, try to take it off, and then accept the fact that it's staying on when I won't let him delete it. Hmmm...I guess that paints a picture perfectly of what kind of wife I am. Always doing things he doesn't want me to, forcing him to conform to what I want, and then wondering why he's upset, but not fixing anything. I definitely have a lot to work on. I'm just grateful that Boyd is the man he is, and allows me the opportunity to try to change.

I love Boyd!!! And, I will love him FOREVER!

A Child Prodigy

In our daily play routine, Keido and I enjoy spending time gracing the ivories. He has progressively become more passionate about his playing and is known to sing along once in a while as well. We hope that he will retain this joy for music throughout his life.


Boyd is also trying to influence Keido's young mind with the things that he enjoys:)

Keido's First Kiss and other Idaho Fun!

A couple weeks ago, Keido and I took off for Idaho to go to Holland's wedding, spend time with the family, and give Boyd a chance to sleep and study for his MCAT. Like always, I can't take Keido anywhere without him making friends with someone. On our second flight, from Chicago to Salt Lake, we sat next to a woman with a four year old daughter. They were very kind and really enjoyed having Keido's entertainment. I have to say I was thankful for their entertainment too. The little girl liked rubbing Keido's head and giving him toys to play with. I enjoyed making puppets out of barf bags with the little girl while Keido was sleeping. All in all, it was a pretty enjoyable flight.

When we landed, the little girl decided to she wanted to give Keido an extra special goodbye. She leaned over and gave him a cute little kiss. Keido was expressionless, but I know deep down in that little manly heart, he thoroughly enjoyed it:)

I was also surprised to find that the people in front of us and behind us had enjoyed Keido's company as well. A little boy with the biggest grin I've ever seen came up to us and asked what Keido's name was. I told him and the little boy said, "Does he like vegetables?" I said, "Yes, I think so." Then the boy said, "He better because his name rhymes with potato and tomato." Then he burst out laughing. I thought it was clever for someone who looked like he was seven.

Idaho was wonderful!!! We had such a good time with everyone. For the fourth of July we went to the Driggs celebration, watched a hypnotist, and swam at the Rexburg waterpark. I also got a personal kyaking lesson from Bruce, the studly man. I have a whole new respect for people who can eskimo roll. I tried my best until I had braille all over my body, and never actually did it. I am determined to try again one day though.

We Love the Little Things about Baby Keido

Charlotte: There are just so many little things about Keido that we love. We don't want to forget any of them, so I thought I would start a list:

• He jumped so hard in his door frame jumper that he ended up with a blister on his toe.
• He pants like a little puppy with his tongue hanging out of his mouth.
• He has the cutest little pouty face.
• He will give you a kiss, but watch out, he thinks he's French:)
• When he gets sleepy in his high chair, he will just put his head down as if he were a student sleeping in class.
• He says "mmmmm" when he eats something he likes.
• He has an uncanny ability to make anyone smile.
• We can't take him anywhere without someone commenting on something about him.
• He has the cutest little cottage cheese bum. It looks like an old ladies. Boyd thinks is gross, I think it's super cute!
• "Did your baby put his finger in a socket," said a woman at the store. We love his fuzzy hair.
• When seeing a cute girl, he will stand up straight, suck his gut in, and make grunting noises.
• He's not ashamed to pass gas in public places.
• When he's had a good nap, he smiles and kicks his feet when you go to get him out of his crib.
• He drools on Boyd a lot; I think it's funny. He used to spit up on Boyd a lot, so the drool isn't so bad.
• He can make noises with his tongue that I can't figure out how to make.
• He will fall asleep on your shoulder.
  
• Lately, he's had a little bit of an attitude where he gets angry, shouts, and bangs on something with his hands. The other day he hit his hands on the table so hard that he made himself cry.
• He has a great laugh.
• When pooping, he makes little grunting noises and his face turns a little red. It seems that he likes to do this when we are all at the table for dinner.
• If I eat an apple, he likes to lick it. Actually, he likes to lick everything.
• We went to Home Depot the other day and I had Keido in his stroller. I wasn't paying attention for a minute and when I turned around, I saw that he had popped his tray off of the front of the stroller. A little Asian woman had been watching and she said, "Your baby is very strong!" I was pretty impressed myself.
• He is a big hunk of chubby love.
• He would be a TV watching couch potato if we let him.
• He looks pretty cute in glasses.
• He has fast hands. When we were still in Utah, during sacrament meeting, I was passing the bread tray to a person a few seats away. I went to take it, but was snagged back because someone was holding on to it. I looked at Boyd first and he gave me a "It's not me" look, and then realized that Keido had snatched the tray just as it had passed by him.
• He was making eyes at a little girl in Taco Bell yesterday. They were both smiling up a storm.
• We love his sweet, playful face.
  

Well, this is probably all I will write for now, but there will definitely be more later.

East vs. West

(Keido's clothes don't fit over his head as well these days)

Charlotte:
All growing up I never dreamed that I would be living out East. I always thought that I was destined to marry some western farmer and ride horses for the rest of my life. But everyone who knows Boyd, my true love, can see how he would not even know what a tractor looked like until he visited Idaho. When we married, I knew that my horizons would be broadened and I would get to experience the East.

So far, I love it. Here are what I've seen as differences:

West: really dry, use sprinklers, and humidifiers
East: your can practically drink the air, they don't even sell miracle grow, empty a gallon of water every three hours from their dehumidifiers

West: LOTS of white people
East: I was the only white girl in the whole shopping mall

West: You have lizards and snakes and western wildlife
East: Boyd almost ran over a large snapping turtle with his car, they have giant bullfrogs in their ponds, and there are millions of squirrels

West: Most of the time your ward consists of your neighbors
East: Our stake center is 45 min. away and the only time you see your neighbors is when their outside not watering their flowers.

West: See for miles in all directions
East: Wouldn't even know you have arrived at your destination if it weren't for the signs in front of the masses of trees.

Hmmm...I can't think of anymore just now, but I will add more later. I do want to put some pictures up to show you where we live.

The Front of Boyd's Families HouseThe Backyard

Our Bedroom Upstairs


Keido's Room

The Family Room
The Stairs and the Front Room (not a very good pic)
The Reason Why Our Address is "Pondside" Terrace
(I think this is where the snapping turtle came from)