Drew & Alecia's Blog

So yesterday (Wednesday) after I got home from work, we were getting ready for the ward christmas party, well, Alecia was getting ready, I was playing with the boys. At some point Jonas' little teddy bear shows up in the room and he grabs it and says the bear is hungry and he is going to feed him. Can anyone guess what he proceeded to do? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? He holds the bear up to his chest and says "I'm feeding him Daddy." Both Alecia and I looked at each other and laughed hysterically, and Jonas said "What?" Then I said "you're funny Jonas." He then proceeds to say "I'm funny" over and over. It was cute, here I am a 30 year old man saying cute.

By the way, I know I need to post some pictures, but who wants to spend time in the computer room when there isn't any heat in the room and it is 10 degrees outside?

For those who care, here is the newest video from Weezer, one of my favorite bands.

So I recently went to a little concert by a band you may have heard of, U2. I had to go Norman, Oklahoma to see them, but it was worth the trip. Best part is, I only had to pay for the concert ticket, everything was paid for by someone other than me! I know I need to post some more pictures of the boys, and I will, I just am going to start with the most recent and work backwards. Most of the pictures have captions, and those that don't, I don't think need a caption. I took over 250 pictures, but a lot of them turned out either really blurry or just slightly blurry. My camera isn't the best, that is what you get when you don't buy an SLR. Anyway, enjoy the pictures.

So my experience driving from Oklahoma City to Norman (20 miles) wasn't a good one. I don't really care for Norman during heavy traffic. The way to get to the stadium takes you through residential streets, and so therefore, it is obviously highly congested, which made traffic a nightmare. I left my hotel at 5:50, just minutes after checking in and I didn't get to my seat until after 7:30. Nearly 2 hours to go 20 miles! It didn't help that there was construction on the freeway all the way down, and it ended right at the exit I needed to take. I don't think Oklahoman's appreciated the concert as much as they should have. During the show Bono mentioned that U2 had been to Norman before (June 10, 1983). Usually the crowd would cheer at something like that, but I swear I heard crickets chirping. Bono had to try and convince the crowd a bit that he wasn't lying. Anywho, it was fun and loud. Nothing like being able to feel your bones rattle because of loud music!

So Yesterday (Labor Day), Jonas was coloring with his "karens" (crayons), which are actually colored pencils. I was trying to teach him some new colors and I picked up the white one and taught him "white". A few minutes later he was using the white colored pencil and says "Broke Dad. Need new batteries." Both Alecia and I had a good laugh. We are laughing just thinking about it now. (for those who don't get it, you can't use a white colored pencil on white paper, because it is essentially invisible, you can't see it, hence Jonas saying "broke dad.")

I know you've all been anxiously awaiting to see more pictures, so here are 42 of them, yes 42! 42 is a very good Coldplay song by the way, and 40 is a really good U2 song. These include pictures of Jonas' Birthday, Vacation to Bear Lake and most recently The Williamsen Family Reunion in Eden, Utah, plus some miscellaneous ones.

Okay, I know I missed Jonas' Birthday, but I promise, it's coming! Not to mention bear lake and some other random pictures. But for now, enjoy this classic: (sorry if you think it is too long, it is still funny).

It's been awhile since I've done anything on here. For the 4th we went up to the reservoir here in Spanish Fork and Jonas had a good time playing with his bucket and shovel (best dollar ever spent!), Noah just slept in his carseat and was red by the time we left. That evening we had pie and lit a few fireworks (I'm not overstating when I say "few").

Then this last Saturday, we drove up to Fairview Lakes where Grandpa and Grandma Roach are part owners of some land up there. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Here are some pictures of the good times.



Jonas birthday is this week, so I'll be doing two posts in one week, it's a christmas miracle!

With the recent rain the last several weeks, we haven't needed air conditioning much at all, opening the windows was sufficient. We live in an old house, one that has been there since AT LEAST July 6, 1959, but I'm guessing much older. We do have air conditioning, it isn't the best, but it is AC. Since it is an old house, the boys room in the back corner has no air vent of any kind, so it gets hot back there. We went and bought some pull down shades for the two west windows and even bought some darker curtains on top of that. It helped a bit, but not enough. Last night Noah woke up screaming and crying at about 8:30 8:45 somewhere in there. He was boiling to death in the room. Jonas was fine, still awake, because who can sleep with a crying baby in the room? Noah was all red and warm, and he was only wearing a onesie. So, we packed up the kids and off to wal-mart at 9:00 at night, an hour past their bedtime. Couldn't find a window A/C unit, only fans, we already have a fan. So we went to Home Depot and bought a Window A/C unit. Got home put it in the window and turned it on. It is cold now!! The boys slept great after that. The A/C even has a remote control, does your A/C have a remote control? Probably don't need it because most everyone has an A/C unit that has been built in the last 30 years. Anywho, we'll be spending a lot of time in the boys room now.

Get comfy.

So today, saturday June 13, 2009 started for me at 6:30 AM. Why wake up on a saturday at 6:30 you ask? Because we moved today and I thought I should get off to an early start to make sure everything gets done before everyone shows up to help at 8:30, it is a good thing I did, I'll tell you why.

So Alecia's brother Nic was supposed to bring the trailer by at 7:30 AM. He didn't and I'm glad he didn't, don't care what the reason, but I'm glad he didn't. Just before 7:30 I was going to go move my little pickup truck so when he did bring the trailer, I would already have moved. I stepped outside and what do my eye's see? A flat tire. Plus, it was starting to rain, yeah! "Can this day get any better?" I ask myself. So I got the jack out and my sister Amy helped me, we go the tire off the ground. Then, in an attempt to get the spare from underneath the bed of the truck, we broke 2, yes 2 sockets from 2 rachet sets! just wait, the day gets worse. So putting the spare on just got ruled out, I remembered about a foot pump that used to be in the trunk of my grandma's car that we used to own but now the pump was somewhere at the new house. I drove our car over and got it and came back. By now it was about 8:10-8:15 AM. Pumped up the tire and drove on over to Big O, just down the street.

Now that that crisis is essentially over, lets get to the move. By the time I got back from Big O everyone had shown up and Nic was just getting his trailer into position, by the way, Thanks Nic for your truck and trailer. We packed up everything without any problems. The landlord and his wife were the biggest problems with moving out. We have paid for the whole d&@# day, we'll be out when we are out. Stupid landlord said that he was going to have the carpets cleaned at 1:00, okay no biggie. Then his beyotch (sorry, I'm venting) gave Alecia a check off list of things to clean and, and later proceeded to ask if she had cleaned behind the fridge and behind the stove? I can see flames coming from Alecia at this point even though I wasn't there, I'm imagining it though. Another thing, it wasn't cleaned when we moved in, why should it be cleaned when we move out?? Anywho...

Moving in was no biggy either, other than things getting put in the obvious wrong room, but at least it got put in a room by someone other than me, no complaints there. Here is a bright spot in the day. The bishop from our new ward stopped by, our old bishop never ever did. The Elders quorum president helped along with several others from the ward (no one from our old ward helped or even cared to ask if they could help even though I know people knew about it. The elders quorum president stopped by wednesday night during dinner and introduced himself and asked if they could help us move!! our old ward, I don't even know who is all in the elders quorum presidency, and I went to elders quorum. And they never once stopped by.) When I was in the Elders Quorum presidency in Vernal, we'd at least stop by once when someone new moved in or offered to help when people moved out.

Anyway, now the sad crappiest part of the day. Everyone who had helped us move had all been long gone except for sister Amy. I went in the garage to check and make sure stuff didn't get too wet when it started pouring and before I had a chance to close the garage door earlier in the day. I opened the garage door and was stunned, stood there for a second in complete and utter dismay. After realizing what had happened I ran inside and told Alecia. I ran back to the garage and started moving all the boxes we had in the garage because they were sitting in a pool of water. All the plastic bins were obviously fine, it was the cardboard boxes I was nervous about. The first box I got to was a box of books, 75% of them are now in the trash because of the D$#@ Rain. Then I got to a few other boxes, and all of them book boxes by the way, some mission book boxes, irreplaceable Chinese books, now sit in a full garbage can back in the garage along with every single one of the books about the prophets that we use in Priesthood and Relief Society, all gone. Then Alecia opened the last box (there were about 5 total boxes that were ruined). This box contained her mother's Journal and other important papers of her mother. This box is the most valuable box to Alecia because it contains all sorts of memories about her mother. I don't quite know how to describe her emotions at first but I was pissed off at the D$#@ Rain for ruining this stuff. I was looking in the box and when I looked up I could just see Alecia clutching her mom's journal and crying. I don't think I've ever felt so bad in my life, nothing I could do but hug her. Fortunately for her and everyone else, we soon realized only the cover had gotten wet, and everything was okay with the journal and all of the other papers in the box. The whole thing sucks. We then looked at the side door to the garage, whomever built it needs to be shot! The door has major water damage, from who know how long ago. Plus it doesn't seal at the bottom and the cement runs down into the garage, not away! hence the pool of water all of our belongings were sitting in. That is the end of the crappy part of the day.

Here is what is strange as I have ever experienced in my life. Back in 1999 I had a dream while serving in the city of FengShan, Taiwan. The dream had me, my wife (whom I couldn't see at the time, but she was there and one other (Amy). I was sitting at a desk wrapping up an extension cord while it was raining outside and the roof was leaking. De Ja Vu. This happened last night. I was sitting at the computer desk, wrapping up an extension cord. Amy was sitting just to my left and Alecia was somewhat behind me (where I couldn't directly see her). It was raining cats and dogs at the time. I told them the story I just typed, but in more detail. The one thing that that was missing was the leaking roof. Maybe it wasn't a roof but a door the next day?? 10 years ago I was serving in FengShan. But I remember my dream as vividly as if it had happened yesterday, oh wait my dream finally did happen yesterday.

Not a whole lot has been going on around our neck of the woods. We are moving this saturday, so trying to get everything packed and paint the new place all with two little kids, not an easy task. I've been on the road 2 of the last 3 weeks. I went to Oklahoma city then just last week Tulsa. I sure wish I got to go somewhere like San Diego, Miami, anywhere with palm trees would be nice.

On Saturday the 6th, sister Amy had her birthday party(she moved it because we are moving, thanks.) We went to bountiful for that and had fun. Everyone was surprised how much Jonas talked, and the he didn't even talk a whole lot, no one has really heard him talk. The last several mornings I've woken up to him singing, which can be quite hilarious because we can only catch one or two words here and there. When you ask him what he is singing he always says "Tree Corn" which is the primary song "popcorn popping". We sing that to him at night before bed because he likes it. I've told him numerous times that it is popcorn, not tree corn.

Then there is our little giant Noah. He is nearly 3 months old in a couple of weeks, and he is already wearing 6,9 and even 12 month old clothing in some instances. We can consistently get him to laugh now, it is the cutest thing. I'm fixin' to record it then post it so y'all can see (oklahoma is rubbing off, not really).

Anywho, that is all that is going on in our little world, for now.

So this is just an update of what's going on here in our little world. Nothing is going on. There you have it.

On a more serious note (not that the following is serious) we are moving into a house in the middle of June. Now don't get too excited for us, it is only a rental. It is a lot cheaper than we are paying now, so we will be able to stash some cash for a real house, yea!!

Our computer monitor died yesterday, so I went and got a new one. It is rather nice for the cheap price we paid for it. It is a 20" widescreen monitor, it's great. I told you nothing was going on!

Here are some pictures to keep the masses happy:



Feel free to click on any of the pics for a larger version.

So lately Jonas has been saying words we never knew he could say and saying two or three words in a row. I was in Iowa this last week and so when I got back it was a real surprise just how far he'd come in such a short time. Anyways, today I was wearing a shirt I bought way back in 2001. November 9th to be exact. It is a U2 concert t-shirt if you must know. It has individual pictures of all 4 band members on the front. So Jonas' 4 newest words in his vocabulary are Adam, Larry, Bono and Edge. He says Edge the best, then Larry. Unless you knew what he was talking about, you'd never get Adam, and you can kind of make out Bono. He knows the names of the band members of U2 long before he knows all of his cousins name, is there something wrong there, or am I thinking it is normal?? He wanted to know who they were, I didn't force it on him one bit, he asked, I told.