A few weeks before Christmas, I had a work trip that we've been meaning to share pictures of.  Most of the family has heard about it but haven't seen the pictures we've promised.  I just went on another trip this month that was related to my last trip so now I have to put some more pictures up.  I make that sound less fun than it really is... it's just this writing part that I dislike.

I had a chance to go to China to help get some prototypes made and start the manufacturing process of some helmets we have been working on.  I was really stoked that I was able to make the trip on such short notice and learned a lot from the experiences I had while there.  Trisha might view that all a little different but she was awesome in supporting me while I was away for work.  She's always been great about that even when that means she's going to have it extra hard for a while.

I traveled with a fellow designer from work which made the trip a little less foreign than it might have felt had I traveled alone.  We flew into Hong Kong and stayed the first night there, then took a ferry to Zhuhai, then rode to the factory which was about an hour or so away by car.  That week while we were at the factory we had the same daily routine so the days started to blend together.  We were at the factory all day except for when they would take us to lunch and dinner then back to our hotel.  We had lots of Chinese food, which was different than Chinese food (in America).  I'll spare all the details but it was a successful trip in lots of ways and it was a great experience.

A little group of us from work went to Denver for a snow sports show that happens there each year.  We had some clients showing new products there and we were meeting with some others that we are hoping to start work with soon.  Cinco did the booth design as well but I only worked on the actual helmets that our client showed off at SIA.  Everything looked great and it was a good short trip.  We walked a ton the two days we were at the show and we enjoyed one late night watching some boxing that Electric sponsored and gave us tickets to.  Danny Kass was the referee and we saw lots of other riders around the show and at the fight, pretty cool.  There is less to tell or show about the actual trip but I am excited to show you some more of the stuff I've been working on over the last few months... and while on my trip to China.  Here is a link to a video Cinco made for these helmets as well.

http://www.electricvisual.com/video/index/view/id/63/

This is a taste of the show and a cool Porsche.

New Year's Resolutions

It's that time of year again... considering my weaknesses and the areas I'd like to improve and then coming up with a plan to help me be a better me. Making New Year's resolutions (as well as goals throughout the year) is not only a common tradition but an important one. I think it is especially important to really push yourself and do hard things. Reach for the stars if you will:) As Scott tells me, it is better to aim for the stars and miss than to aim for poop and hit it!

I find it helpful to make goals where I can measure my progress and success. Abstract goals that I've had in the past like trying to be more patient (which has been a New Year's resolution of mine since Junior High) seem to diminish and disappear throughout the year. I need something I can gauge. The measurable goals I've made in the past, however, tend to be physical ones... running a half marathon, having a baby (I count this one by the way), etc. Although physically demanding goals are important to me, this year I really wanted to focus on my spiritual goal and I wanted it to be something measurable. As one of my hard New Year's resolutions, I am choosing to read the entire standard works this year. I challenge anyone and everyone who has the smallest inkling to do this with me to dive in! Here is the schedule a woman in my ward shared that I am following in order to accomplish this feat this year.

You can do HARD things! Happy goal accomplishing!

Scott's Nose Neighbor

This is Scott's rendition of this video:

How To Kill A Mustache

2 Months

Maddox is now 2 months old. Over the past month, Maddox went to the Temple here in Portland for the first time, at nearly 6 weeks he took a bottle for the first time, he has started laughing, is getting really good at holding his head up, often finds his fingers with his mouth but licks them more than sucks on them, follows us as we move around the room, loves sitting propped up on mom and dad's bed, still hates tummy time, likes to make bubbles, loves splashing during bath time, and graces us with blowouts most days. At his appointment last week, Maddox was 11 pounds 6 ounces and 22 1/2 inches, 25th percentile across the board.


Maddox at 1 month:

And some other memorable pictures...

Scott calls this his "Thriller" hands. Every once in a while,
Maddox will fall asleep with his hands like this.

Maddox at 2 months:

It is extremely hard to get a picture of
Maddox holding still. His arms and legs
are constantly moving. So this is one of
the better ones we captured.

More fun from the past couple weeks:

I think he has a blowout more often than
not these days...

Maddox met Santa last week.

Santa was impressed with how alert and
content Maddox was. Maddox made the
nice list...

His beautiful locks are getting so long...

We love this kid!!

Thanksgiving

This was our first Thanksgiving on our own. We had a really nice relaxing morning; we slept in, stayed in our pj's all day, sipped on hot chocolate, and played games in front of the fire. Then the work began... we tried a new recipe for the first time and made a feast for more than two. It was definitely work, but it all turned out delicious and we filled our bellies to the max as is Thanksgiving tradition. This day was filled with firsts for Maddox too. He saw his first fire, sat in the Bumbo for the first time, and of course it was his first Thanksgiving. We feel especially blessed right now and had much to give thanks for!

Our feast... Scott called it the most romantic Thanksgiving ever.

Maddox slept through dinner
(not the norm).

Bumbo time

A Special Day for Our Family

Scott blessed Maddox in our ward here in Portland on November 11th. We had our dads, bishopric, and a couple close friends stand in the circle with Scott. The blessing was beautiful and Maddox stayed contentedly awake the entire time. Maddox was happy to share his special day with some of his family.

Maddox's Grandma Layton made the cutest baby
blessing outfit. Maddox looked so handsome!

Sitting on Grandpa Quinton's lap after lunch.

It was a lot of fun to have Grandma and Grandpa Layton out to meet Maddox and participate in the blessing. We are so grateful to have such loving and supportive families. Here are a few fun photos from their time with us.

Tammy and I watched football while the boys
worked in the kitchen...

Halloween

Halloween is a semi-big deal in our family. This is the time of year that Scott and I met at BYU (see below). Traditionally, Scott and I have had fun dressing up.... Maverick and Charlie from the 1986 hit Top Gun is a favorite that comes to mind (also below). This year, we have a cute kid to do all the impressing.

Halloween 2007

Halloween 2009

Dad getting Maddox ready for the
Ward trunk-or-treat.

Obviously the first time Scott has
used a hair dryer...

We dressed Maddox as a handyman. We
found the tool belt at Ikea last Spring when
we picked up our rocking chair and just
couldn't live without it.

Dad had to have some kind of facial hair, so this is what
we settled on...

The boys walked in the costume parade. Lots of cheers
for these cute guys... pictured here with some good friends
in the Ward, Dan and Owen. Scott also works with Dan at
Cinco.  Owen is 6 months older than Maddox.

The day of Halloween, we just hung out at home and
ate candy. Maddox loves Twix.

We got this cute sleeper from a woman
in the Ward I work with in YW.