Checking in...

... we're still here. Min doesn't have access though. Darn Google!

I'm Back!

... but Min is still trying to remember how to get access to this blog.

Dr. Ted Black Davis (1955-2010)

Melanie called us today to tell us that Dr. Davis' obituary was in the paper. He was the doctor that delivered Aaron and Aimee while we lived in Logan.

Shortly after we moved, we found out that he was diagnosed with ALS.
He was a great man.

Here's his obit:

Dr. Ted Black Davis (1955-2010)

Ted Black Davis, 54, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on May 23, 2010.

He was born in Salt Lake City on Aug. 23, 1955, to Byron Rigby Davis and Peggy Rae Black Davis. He was the youngest of four children including Robert (Bob) Byron, Donald Harold and Jane Elizabeth. His childhood was spent in several different locations, including Salt Lake City; Logan; Challas, Idaho; Sparks, Nev.; and finally, American Fork. He graduated from American Fork High School, where he served as senior class president.

After high school he served a Spanish-speaking mission to Philadelphia for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He then attended Utah State University, where he met his eternal sweetheart, Andrea Ruth Larsen, while singing with the LDS Institute's Sounds of Zion performing group. They were married Sept. 14, 1979, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. After graduating from USU, he studied medicine for two years in Guadalajara, Mexico, and then received his M.D. from the Ross University School of Medicine. He completed his residency training at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Mich.

He started his medical practice in Logan in 1992, specializing in family medicine. He lived in Hyde Park for seven years before moving to North Logan in 1998. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, during the summer of 2003. He retired from his medical practice in the fall of 2004 right after receiving the Physician of the Year award from the Cache Valley Medical Association.

Ted was a respected and well-loved physician in the Cache Valley medical community. He cared deeply for his patients and their families, and his love was reciprocated by them. He delivered more than 1,200 babies during his 12 years of practice.

He cherished the summers spent working together with his family at the Pickleville Playhouse live theater on the banks of beautiful Bear Lake in Garden City, Utah. He appeared as an actor in numerous productions and assisted in the construction of several of its buildings. He loved to watch his children on the stage and took special care of Pickleville's nightly Western Cookout.

Ted found great joy in the simple things of life. He had a deep love and appreciation for nature and its Creator. Some of his favorite memories happened while camping, hiking, off-road motorcycling, hunting, skiing, cycling and riding his Harley. He was a faithful member of the LDS Church, serving in many different church callings.

He lived seven years after being diagnosed with ALS. Through the course of the disease, he never once complained nor did he spend a single day in self-pity. With unearthly patience and dignity, he found ways to serve and inspire those around him while honorably loving and caring for his family. The effects of his faithful example cannot be measured.

As Ted always said, "ICBW" (it could be worse), "CYMB" (count your many blessings), "123" (I love you), "Daylight's a-wastin'," and "Forget yourself and go to work."

He is survived by his wife, Andrea; sons T.J. (wife Erin Cartwright) and Derek; daughters Chelsea (husband J.R. Haynie), Sharli (husband Andy King), Whitney, Tyrali and Makenzie; and mother-in-law Betty June Larsen. He was "Papa Wee" to grandchildren Carter, Tanner, Elliot, Hayden, Brooklyn and Mckenna. He was preceded in death by his parents Byron and Peggy, father-in-law LaGrande C. Larsen, and grandchildren Lydia and Landon Haynie. He will be missed by many other family members, close friends and colleagues too numerous to name. His family wishes to express their appreciation for the overwhelming amount of support and love they have received during Ted's disease and since his passing.

Clayton Family Christmas

The list for the exchanging of gifts is on the Clayton family blog here.

Hope this works for everyone!

Last Call for "Vamps & Wolves" Shirts...

Mike's making the order tomorrow.

If you would like a shirt, please click here.

They will be shipped out by Monday, November 15th and will get to you before the blessed event!

Mike's Big Costume is T.G.I.Fantastic with a side of Triple D!!!

I did it again! Was going to be one thing... but at the last minute switched to another!

I was going to be Iron Chef Mario Batali, but I couldn't find a pair of size 14 orange Crocs, so I switched gears and with a $10 bottle of light blonde hair colorizer and a $1 black sweatband, I became:

Guy Fieri!

The hair is permanent, so I hope my students don't laugh at me too much come Monday.

Here is a close-up with my little princess:

Halloween 2009: Kids Edition

Here's what the kids were this Halloween:

Aaron was "Bookface" (... only fans of The Office will get it)

Aimee was a "Black Cat" (Which was a $5 costume, if you don't count the black long-sleeve shirt and the black jeans that we bought to go with it.)

Alex was a "Soccer Player" (We really didn't have a costume for him and he had a game earlier that day.)

Andee was a "Princess" (Thanks to the Andersons for letting her borrow a dress-up.)

... and Austin was a "Bunny Rabbit" (Thanks again the to the Andersons.)

Min got a haircut...

Min's been wanting a haircut for sooooo long. She she went and got one yesterday. Her friends told her to go to Albert and he would do a great job.

It ended up being a free haircut since Albert cut off 10" worth of hair to donate to Locks of Love. Even after that and much thinning, Min still had alot of hair left to style.

Looks good doesn't it.

Austin is 227 Days Old!!!!

Lately Austin has been doing this toothless grin when we say his name. Finally decided to capture it and share it!

Alex Loves Soccer!

Alex is playing soccer for the first time this season. He's a little bundle of energy on the field. He's trying to get the gist of the game, but right now it's a way to get his abundant energy out!

"Take a picture of me Dad!"

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen

Aimee is reading "The Puzzling World of Winston Breen" by Eric Berlin for her GT (Gifted & Talented) program.



The book is full of puzzles to complete as you read.

Aimee was having trouble with a puzzle and didn't want to mark up the book, so we scanned the page and printed a few out. Min, Aaron, Aimee, and I worked the puzzle out individually and came up with same answer... WE WANTED TO DO MORE!

So Aimee and I were preparing to scan the rest of the puzzles when Min had a brilliant idea: "See if there is a website with them."

THERE IS!

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen

So we downloaded them, printed them out and will work them out throughout the day!

Look what came in the mail today!!!

Note for the uninitiated, click here.

Bring it on Alex!

22

A Simple Truth...

"Pratt's Hatts" is now live...

My sister-in-law Jill asked me to convert a blogger account into an online store so that she can sell these crocheted hatts that she makes.

She's my sis-in-law, I couldn't say no.

So after spending some time over two weekends Pratt's Hatts is open for business.

Please check it out... and maybe buy something.

Avast, me hearties! It be "International Talk Like A Pirate Day!" (9/19/09)

14 years ago, John Baur and Mark Summers (Ol' Chumbucket and Cap'n Slappy respectively) proclaimed September 19th as a day each year where everyone in the world should talk like a pirate. Here's a bit o' history:

According to Summers, the day is the only holiday to come into being as a result of a sports injury. He has stated that during a racquetball game between Summers and Baur, one of them reacted to the pain with an outburst of "Aaarrr!", and the idea was born. That game took place on June 6, 1995, but out of respect for the observance of D-Day, they chose Summers' ex-wife's birthday, as it would be easy for him to remember.

At first an inside joke between two friends, the holiday gained exposure when John Baur and Mark Summers sent a letter about their invented holiday to the American syndicated humor columnist Dave Barry in 2002. Barry liked the idea and promoted the day. Growing media coverage of the holiday after Barry's column has ensured that this event is now celebrated internationally, and Baur and Summers now sell books and T-shirts on their website related to the theme. Part of the success for the international spread of the holiday has been attributed to non-restriction of the idea or trademarking, in effect opening the holiday for creativity and "viral" growth.

So in honor of the holiday, here is a guide of simple pirate phrases:

Ahoy! - "Hello!"

Avast! - Stop and give attention. It can be used in a sense of surprise, "Whoa! Get a load of that!" which today makes it more of a "Check it out" or "No way!" or "Get off!"

Aye! - "Why yes, I agree most heartily with everything you just said or did."

Aye aye! - "I'll get right on that sir, as soon as my break is over."

Arrr! - This one is often confused with arrrgh, which is of course the sound you make when you sit on a belaying pin. "Arrr!" can mean, variously, "yes," "I agree," "I'm happy," "I'm enjoying this beer," "My team is going to win it all," "I saw that television show, it sucked!" and "That was a clever remark you or I just made." And those are just a few of the myriad possibilities of Arrr!

So with your new vocabulary in tow... start talking like a pirate! Arrrrr!

Darth Vader Feels Blue

This is great!

Lucky Number 13!

Thirteen years ago today...

My how things have changed...

... and I wouldn't want to change a thing.

One Good Man (Trailer)

Saw this trailer over on the Apple Trailer page:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/onegoodman/

I'm not a huge fan of Mormon-Cinema, but this movie looks like one of the better attempts at capturing the spirit of the church.

Take a look at the trailer.