Tempting Fate

Friday the 13th. For most, this is a day of superstition, irrational fear and apprehension. Ironically, these are the feelings that the idea of marriage conjured within me until Friday the 13th, 2004. That is the day my fears were swept up into blissful happiness as Rich and I consummated our marriage in the Salt Lake Temple, the place where we had met. Surrounded by loved ones, we wept tears of joy and floated on clouds in the frigid winter air we were oblivious of. That is the day our journey began. Since 13 was our number and we chose to avoid the clique of Valentine's Day, by mere hours, we formed our union on this ominous day. Looking back, perhaps we had tempted fate. Externally, our challenges have been numerous, comically so, yet our feelings for each other have remained intact and have only solidified as we have faced life's blows together. Marriage has become the beacon of light in a world of darkness, the refuge from the storm, the force that drives us forward despite the odds stacked against us at times. In five years, we have moved 7 times. Rich has held 6 different jobs and we struggled through 2 extremely difficult pregnancies, to name a few challenges. Despite this, we laugh constantly and enjoy more marital joy than I imagined possible. Surrounded by three vibrantly spirited boys, there is never a dull moment in the Sorenson household. I wouldn't have it any other way. Rich, I love with all my heart and soul. You're my best friend and companion, my media naranja, my soul mate. Happy anniversary Richard G. Let's continue tempting fate another five. Bring it on!

Anniversary Trip to Tahoe

This being our first trip ALONE together since our honeymoon, FIVE years ago, we were pretty excited. Momma C, who loves us like only a mother can, used her vacation time to fly out here and watch the kids for the weekend, so we could make the trip. This relieved us of any worrying about the kids we may traditionally have experienced because we have complete and total confidence in her. After all, she raised Rich. So carefree and completely alone, we embarked on our trip. That day, Rich discovered that, reminiscent of our wedding night, our hotel reservation had been lost. Having learned from our previous experience, Rich fought the company he booked with (*cough* Heavenly Resorts, *cough*) with such powerful eloquence and stern diplomacy that I fell in love with him all over again, a near daily occurrence. His efforts earned us a discount, a suite on the TOP floor of Harvey's already impressive hotel, free shirts and free passes to the Blu night club. I nearly exploded from excitement. We did what we loved best.. ate good food, danced, sang our little hearts out at a karaoke bar and struck up conversations with everyone we saw. Most know this as typical Sorenson boy behavior, but I actually enjoy it and engage in it just as much as Rich. I live by the philosophy that you cannot get embarrassed in front of people you don't know and will never see again, which makes hanging with such people so inviting and explains the karaoke. Rich stole the show with his rendition of LA Woman which lead many to believe he was a Jim Morrison incarnate. That was the highlight for me.
Neither of us could sleep that night in anticipation on the next day's event.. snowboarding!! We unanimously determined that there was nothing we would rather do on our vacation than this. Due to winter pregnancies and job schedules, we hadn't been snowboarding together in years. So we anxiously awaiting morning, hoping for the snow to continue to fall.

Be careful what you wish for. We had snow, but failed to consider the dense fog that would accompany it. This picture fully illustrates our visibility that day. There was just enough snow to convert the groomed trails into bumpy ones. We blindly raced down the mountain unaware of speed or destination anticipating the next collision, playing the odds that it would be an icy chunk of snow and not a tree. At times, we weren't even sure if we were on a legitimate trail. Though exciting, it wasn't exactly what we had hoped for. So the next day, with encouragement from Momma C, we put off our departure a few more hours and, ignoring the astronomically high lift ticket prices, headed up the mountain once more. Boy, were we glad we did! Visibility made all the difference and the clear skies left us with a breathtaking view of Lake Tahoe from the gondola. See how happy I was...
It was a perfect trip!

One Smart Little Cookie

A few mornings ago, I relayed the day's plans to Rocky. We would go to the gym, then to lunch with dad and Grandpa Rick. Afterwards, we would go to Walmart to buy blank DVD's. He asked if we could get him a Bumblebee Transformer toy. (He has been asking for one since Uncle Daren bought some for our little bro's Brandon and Evan for Christmas). I reiterated that there would be no purchasing of toys, a daily reminder. Throughout the day's activities, he continued to talk about the Bumblebee toy he was going to get at Walmart, despite my rebuttals. After we had located the DVD's, we passed the toy aisles. "Can we just look at them?" he pleaded. " Why not? Harmless, right? I suggested that maybe when he had completed his preschool workbook (that should take a few months), we could return and purchase the toy as a reward. When he spotted it, he began to beg. He waited until the last moment, as I began to turn the cart away, to reach into his pocket and pull out a $20 bill! He thrust it at me and announced, "I'm going to buy it!" What?! When I asked him where he got the money, he told me it came from his piggy bank at home. Uncle Rob had added it to his bank months ago, and he had saved it for just this occasion. I was shocked. This is a 3 year old we're talking about! So he had ignored the dollar bills and change in his piggy and had stuffed the $20 in his pocket before leaving the house that morning. He had kept it tucked away secretly all morning, then waited until precisely the moment when he knew it was his only option. I was blown away! So he bought his Bumblebee Transformer. What was I supposed to do? Sure enough, when I got home I found his piggy bank with the remaining contents dumped out on my bed. Smart cookie.

I should also add that while Rocky has blown us away with his clever scheming, Jack has blown us away with the amount of food he eats. On a typical night, he now consumes an adult size bowl of barley cereal, half a can of baby food, a whole container of pureed fruit and an 8 oz. bottle. And he STILL wakes us between 4-5 AM wanting to be fed!?