Hey Shorty, It's your Birthday...

Thank you 50 cent for what just may be the catchiest darned birthday song of all time, and at the very least, one of my very favorites...

Well, January 4 is a special day, the day that our beloved Linda Findlay (Sr.) brought into this world one David Matthew Findlay, weighing it at something ridiculous like 12 lbs or something. All I know is that he was a beautiful baby who the nurses used as the infant model for bathing demonstrations. WOW!

Here is a special tribute to this guy I call my Davey-cakes:



10 things I love about Dave.

1. I have never, ever (and that means even before I could call this hunky guy "mi amor"-- which on a side note, was quite a long time since I had my eyes on this catch for a ridiculously long time) ever heard anyone say anything but wonderful things about Dave. People love him. If you are reading this, YOU love him. He is Dave Findlay. He is one great guy.

2. I have never ever ( and again, that means ever) had more fun with anyone in this whole wide world than with Dave. I have done the unthinkable and crazy with him (like climbed chain-linked fences-unthinkable), I've witnessed great and truly awesome things like...see U2 in concert in a suite at center stage (thanks Scott Hatch for getting sick last minute so the tics were available just an hour before the concert) or... watch the Utes kill Alabama (so it was on TV but who cares-- it was that great). And I've done wonderfully solemn things like listen to a string quartet play Vivaldi's 4 Seasons in an ancient cathedral in Florence or enter barefoot in a Budhist Temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Dave makes everything 10 million times more exciting.

3. His pecs. Exhibit A.

(I'd throw in his baby blues but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to throw these in there). He will probably get in here and erase this pic but maybe some of you may a glimpse before he gets to it first.

4. Dave makes friends everywhere he goes. Just this weekend we went up to visit my Grandma and as always, witnessed a crash on the road that blocked traffic. Dave went up to investigate and walked back with a new best friend. It was hysterical. Dave seems to have a sign on him that says, "Hey, let's be buddies!" It's also been a 55 year old German woman visiting Dead Horse Point and a 45 year old lady from Italy stranded at a remote airport in the Peten of Guatemala. Wait a second... there seems to be a pattern here. Apparently women over 40 REALLY, REALLY like Dave... strange...


5. Dave is a loyal friend. Anyone who knows him knows he'd do anything for them. Like, drive to Idaho at midnight to set his buddy up with a girl he met on a plane on the way back East (and it better have been for his buddy, by the way).

6. Dave is a great athlete. I never got to see the guy play football, or rugby, or wrestle, but I have seen the man bowl, and let me tell you, it's a lovely sight to see that foot swoop over the left and create the most graceful 90 degree angle on parkay floor, ever.

7. Dave is a great dad. He takes the twins on a daily basis for a daddy-daughter bonding time for at least 2 hours every day. He often takes them all day on Saturday to the Zoo or some parks or the mall. The girls adore him and their "adventures." He taught them how to talk and walk like a robot, to swing their legs back and forth when they swing, and to say "oh man, it's busted" when something is broken. Linda also has his dimples, and it is just the sweetest thing to see them smile next to each other.


8. Dave has a LOUD voice. I know, sometimes I say he's too loud-- but really, this is the essence of Dave. He is so full of life his body just can't keep it in. He is also a fantatic singer as evidenced by my wedding day serenade of Randy Travis' "I'm gonna love you forever and and ever, Amen."

9. Dave has a tender heart. It's as though he feels someone's pain or their joy just by being near them. He really understands how you feel and it means he is a great listener, a great friend, a great dad, and a great husband.

10. Dave is a great dad and a great husband. I will never forget the look on Dave's face when he introduced me to the twinnies. They went to the NICU right away for observation since they were born 4 weeks early (they were fine) but Dave was sitting there with a twin in each arm and the biggest smile I've ever seen on anyone's face. I'll have to find it and post it here later. It's a keeper.

So here's to you Dave Findlay. The love of my life, my best friend, the father of our beautiful daughters, the most creative and exciting and loyal person I've ever encountered, with the kindest and truest soul on Earth. I love you babe and Happy Birthday to you.

New Year's

I am ridiculously behind in updating this thing-- still need to post pics of our trip to DC and SLC in OCTOBER....

But until then, some quick anecdotes.

So, last year when the fireworks starting going off and the twins were showing signs of permanent trauma due to the sounds of what could only be interpreted as, oh, I don't know, the end of the world... we had to come up with some coping methods. Fireworks are fun, the are happy, colorful, etc. A lot of " I LOVE fireworks" was thrown around by every adult just to convince the little ones that all was well.

Well, they started to get the idea and somehow, Linda managed to relate the noise and excitement of the fireworks to something that was a little closer to home-- like, her flatulence.
So last year, when a little toot escaped her, we heard her announce quite proudly one afternoon that there were "fireworks in her bum" and yes, there was a huge, proud smile on her face.

This year, after several lessons about the TRUE meaning of Christmas, which they actually got to some extent ( I think), Linda, once again, after tooting explained, "That was fireworks for Jesus." How nice is that??

They both also ALWAYS refer to Jesus as "baby Jesus"-- yes, like Ricky Bobby. It doesn't matter if it's a picture of him during the Last Supper or washing the feet of the Apostles- it's always, Baby Jesus. It's still funny every time I hear it because they say it with so much love in their voice.

We really exploited the whole Santa's watching thing this year too-- we even had a mechanical Santa Doll in the living room who was, of course, one of Santa's helpers who was essentially a spy, making sure there was no pouting or crying or naughtiness. Lucy was very good at pointing out when Linda was naughty and then reminding her that she was not going to get any presents ( I know, obviously, the parenting method she was mimicking here was not exemplary but you gotta do what you gotta do). Lucy's astuteness regarding "naughty vs. nice" behavior extended to all: When the notorious shoe-throwing reporter almost struck President Bush, and Lucy heard about it on the TV, she quickly proclaimed: "That man forgot Santa is watching." Yes in deed.

And...we went up to San Marcos to visit my grandma for Christmas ( a six hour drive) and when we arrived there were several presents there under the tree. Lucy immediately ran for Linda, got behind her and wrapped her arms around Linda, holding her hands against her. She then yelled, "DO NOT get close to the presents Linda. DO NOT get close to the presents. Santa is watching."

I have tons of pictures to post soon, just enjoying our 2 week vacation right now. The factory was closed and we have been enjoying relaxing and watching an obscene amount of football. We are super-excited to watch the Utes tomorrow play Alabama ( excited and terrified). We are hoping for nothing short of miracle tomorrow. Until then, we will keep ourselves busy with the karaoke machine Dave bought me (or him?) for Christmas. I am AMAZING at singing Meatloaf's " I would do anything for Love" and Dave has mastered Roxette's "She's got the Look." I will post some video as soon possible for all to enjoy. :)

So with that, I bid adieu and GOOOOOO UTES!