Chunk

Here's our hunky chunky baby at almost 7 weeks old.

He has a check-up in a couple of weeks and we'll post an update on both kids then.

Whatever works...

Benjamin has been a picky eater lately. A few weeks ago we were having lunch and this is how we got him to take a few bites of his pb&j:

(That's salsa, by the way.)

I guess you do what you have to do, right?

How does your garden grow?

Some of you may remember our rooftop garden at Deseret Towers:

Well this year we finally have a real garden, however small. Paul created this plot and we planted on July 12.

We have a few different tomatoes, some bell peppers, jalapenos, pumpkins and zucchini.

A week after we planted, we had these pretty little tomatoes!

This is on July 24...

...and again on July 29!

Now, a month after planting, we have these huge plants!

And here's our helpful little gardener, exploring the backyard.

Day One

Here are a few small glimpses of my first day as a stay-at-home mom. We were lucky enough to have Paul home with us for several days before he started work at Ebenal. He went to work on July 7, and this is some of what my day looked like.

We did a little sunbathing...

Rhett had some billiruben issues when he was born and were were trying to get the levels down for his next check-up.

We had a drive-thru breakfast: clothes (and make-up) optional.

Notice how neither of my children are clothed. I did manage to change out of my pajamas before lunch, but I'm not sure if I ever did my hair...

Several weeks later things are improved. Benjamin usually has clothes on within an hour or two of waking up, and every once in a while I get to take a shower before Paul comes home for lunch.

I tried to make our home a picture of domestic bliss when Paul came home from his first day at work (or at least make the house smell good) by baking homemade, kneaded-by-hand bread.

Just as Paul walked in the door, and before the timer had even gone off, I pulled these out of the oven:

They were fluffy and delicious on the inside!

This attempt at baking and a couple of other trials have since proved that our oven, which appears to be an original fixture in our 1950's house, does not work. Thankfully it has a mini-oven on the side that fits a few small pans so we've been able to do some cooking without the stovetop while we wait for a replacement.

In other early-July news...

At the end of Paul's first week at work I attempted to surprise him with a "Way-to-Go!" cake (baked in the mini-oven). With no time to squeeze out icing letters, I quickly substitued some yummy cherries.

And who had better July weather than us? It barely touched 80 degrees the first week in August.

Look at this handsome baby!

The blonde hair on his head is getting thicker and his eyes have stayed blue! I never would have thought I'd have a child with such features.

Finally, Benjamin just loves his brother! I think they're getting off to a great start!

BYU vs. UW

In less than one month, September 6 to be exact, BYU football will come to Seattle to play the University of Washington. My anticipation for this game has been building since this past November when I started to entertain the idea of seeking employment in Washington state. Throughout recent years BYU and UW have played each other every few years. Knowing this and with this falls upcoming game, I used BYU football as a "pro" reason to move to Washington state. (It would have been tough to move somewhere where BYU hardly ever, and/or never, came to play football.)

As many know, my love of BYU football stretches long and far. I can only think of a handful of birthday's and Christmas' combined that I have not recieved a gift oriented towards BYU football. The greatest of those gifts, video "Greatest Moments in BYU Football History," was given by my sister Heidi when I was only 10. I presently still watch the video at least two or three times a year. And I will most definately watch it again before the BYU vs. Northern Iowa game.

Ohp, I digressed. Something which is not hard for me to do when I talk about BYU football one of the few things in life that I am most passionate about (1. wife and family; 2. church 3. BYU football, (but my wife might think it is actually first sometimes.)) Hardly anything else in life gets me more excited and going than this. Its true, I'm obsessed and proud to admit it. I have checked http://www.byucougars.com/ almost daily and have watched each of the "All Access" football videos, (some more than once.) ESPN's website also has had a number of good BYU football articles this off season as well. I have been to the University of Washington's website and reading the local newspapers trying to scout their team. As well as UCLA's. I would do them same for "the school up North" but that is unsportsmanlike conduct. I wouldn't touch that website, if they have one, with a ten foot pole. I do have my priorities and with only BYU is where they lie. (If you couldn't tell.)

Vicky put this on my desktop background once. Isn't it awesome!

I am so proud to be a Duersch!

Benjamin and my Dad. Possibly my most favorite picture of all time.

Okay back to why I am writing this blog post. Vicky and I have recently purchased our tickets to attend the BYU vs. University of Washington football game.

I am SO EXCITED!!!

And with the game being less than a month away, I think I already mentioned that, I am having a hard time not talking about it at work. There are some pretty big UW fans there and I feel that I ought to keep the peace, but we'll see how long I lay low. It'll be tough.

Like Bronco, I love Lavell.

Vicky and I are now proud owners of a Costco card. And I have a feeling that we'll be making weekly trips for chips and salsa during the season. I have already started to warm up my chips and salsa eating in the past month. With my proud BYU banner hanging in the front window, I close this post and await BYU football's turn in BCS glory.

GOOooooOOOOO COUGARS!!!