It happens in real life, too

I've seen it in the movies. I know it happens in real life, but I've never actually seen it before today. I had to drop off something to someone who lives across the street from the cemetary. As I was getting out of my car, I heard bagpipes. Someone was having a graveside service and had a bagpiper dressed in inappropriate attire playing for the service. Beautiful.

Oh, I've been around bagpipes before. I just mean I've never actually seen them at the cemetary before, in case there was any confusion.

Not the same knot

My life has been very focused on balloon twisting lately. I learned some new techniques including the rose weave which I'd never been able to do successfully before, and the pop twist which allows separating parts of the sculpture without having to use a new balloon (such as between the front legs of a frog).
But I learned something surprising I hadn't realized before. After blowing up a balloon, not everyone will tie the knot (to keep the air from escaping) the same way. I just took it for granted that everyone tied it the same way. Jeremy revealed to me that before he got into balloon twisting, he would wrap the balloon around just his pointer finger to tie it. He realized it is much easier to wrap it around both the pointer and middle finger. I've always wrapped it around my pointer and middle finger. Then I take my free hand and use my thumb to push the lip of the balloon through the wrapped around part. Jeremy however will use the thumb on the same hand as the wrapped around fingers to push the lip through. I had no clue.
I guess you really do learn something new every day. And not just about balloon twisting, but about your spouse, too.

You know you're a balloon twister if...

this is what your living room looks like when it's time to inventory balloons before another balloon order. The floor and couch and chair were empty before we started.

Christmas in July

The other night at bedtime, I asked Nichole what she wanted to do the next day. She told me, "Christmas!" The next day, that's what we did. She wanted to play with a snowball. Even in Utah, we didn't get snow in July this year, so I crumpled up a piece of white paper and the kids had a blast throwing it around. We tossed it to each other and at each other.
We have a Santa puppet that was made for a puppeting class Jeremy and Paco took years ago. The kids love it, so we got him out and he talked to us. Apparently, Santa likes to eat paper snowballs. I never knew that before.
I couldn't find our Christmas wrapping paper, so I decided we could make some. The kids have an easel with butcher paper on it. We decorated the paper with markers and wrapped items the kids chose from around the apartment. They enjoyed getting to open the presents. Nichole opened a bottle of ketchup, and Jr. opened the video, The Nightmare Before Christmas, which we watched to close our celebration.

Catch of the Day

(Luke, I am your father)

The KAT's Meow

You know your child is just trying to stall at bedtime when you hear her whimpering in her room and when you go to check on her, she points to the overturned toy tub and cries, "Messy."


Nichole: I'm Roo. You're Piglet.
Jr.: I'm Piglet.
Nichole: What are you doing, Piglet?
Jr.: I'm dancing, Roo.


Nichole went into the kitchen with an empty cup and came out of the kitchen with a full cup of apple juice. When going to check the kitchen, there was not a drop of juice on the floor. There was not a drop of juice on the table or the stool, either. Wow. This was her first attempt at pouring from a pitcher and I can't believe she did it.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Today we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. We didn't take any pictures of the outside of the temple since we didn't want to have to leave our camera in the car, but before we went, Jeremy and I gave each other haircuts, so I figured I'd post before and after pictures of mine.

I regretted not taking the kids to the Draper Temple open house while it was going on, so I felt it was a real blessing that there was another new temple in the same general area. Nichole is very interested in going to the temple, so I'm glad we got to take her when she could go inside. "Aunt Nessa" came with us. I was expecting Jr. to be a little bit of trouble as he is an almost two-year old boy. Nope. He was calm throughout. Nichole started out fine, but that changed when she saw the first elevator. All she wanted to do was ride the elevator, but we were walking on stairs today. And every time she saw an elevator, that's what she focused on. Sadly it made things a little difficult at times. At one point, Nichole and I slowed down for a bit while Jeremy and Jr. waited for us and Nessa went on ahead. Another time Nichole and I slowed down while Jeremy and Jr. went on ahead. So, by the end we were all separated from each other (don't worry, the kids were always with one of us).

When Nichole and I came out of the temple, Jeremy and Jr. were waiting for us, then turning to look in the direction of the refreshment tent, we saw... my cousin, Mikaela. She was helping out at the temple today. It was great to see her there. I'm so proud of my cousin and the choices she's making and the good example she's setting for her nieces and nephews who look up to her. Way to go, cuz.

All in all it was a good experience. I know that Nichole did enjoy it even if at times she was sad. There are certain things that made her happy, so we'll remember those.

Introducing the Telford family

Kristin: Hi. What do you want to know about me? Well, my favorite color is green. I’m a stay-at-home mom/homemaker. I like doing crafts. I’m good with tautology. I’m co-owner of Balloon Guy Entertainment, LLC. I juggle. I make balloon animals. Last summer I was involved in making a life-sized T. rex skeleton out of balloons. Her name was Bubbles. I grew up in an awesome family, I married into an awesome family, and now I have an awesome family of my own. I ramble. My favorite animals are wolves and banana slugs. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. I would say I’m creative… most of the time. I have a wonderful husband; my balloon guy (he is flesh and blood, not made of balloons). I tend to take a long time to get to a point. I have thoughts. I’m a girl/woman. You can learn more about me by coming back to this blog.

Jeremy: I am married to the wonderful lady above. When my age was still in the single digit range I won a coloring contest and got tickets to go to a circus. My life has never been the same. Of course the other day my wife ‘eeeked’ when she stepped on a bug and technically my life hasn’t been the same since. The only way my life could ever remain the same is if it never changed. I think they call that death, though death is a significant life change too… hmmm. Anyway, I do balloons, lots and lots of balloons. I build giant sculptures out of balloons, I build logos out of balloons, I fly to South America to do balloon motorcycles, I am going to go to Vegas to compete in balloons, I hope to write a book on balloons, I also juggle. My favorite animal is a Humbolt Squid, my wife made me one for my birthday (out of balloons.) I love my in-laws, at least all of them so far; we’ll have to see as other people get married if I continue to do so. I love to learn new things like web and graphic design, tax and liability law, marketing and advertising, and whatever else I can if I think it will help my business. As much as I love balloons, my family is my greater love and always will be no matter where I am or what I am doing.

Nichole: nihole4

Jr.: nhgnnnnnjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll/oooo/m
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ ccuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
\\\\\\\\ ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////0000000000000000000000000poooooooooooooooooo????????????M<<<<<<<<<<<<,,, ,

The KAT's Meow

Kristin: I was thinking of making dinner.
Jr.: No dinner. Just make cookies.

Catch of the Day

Jeremy: Honey, the next time you head back to use the bathroom, make sure you laugh before you cry or get angry.
Apparently the kids decided to take out all the clothes so they could hear their voices in the empty dryer.

The balloon guy's making balloons

Last August we moved into the apartment we're in now. A few weeks after we moved in, Jeremy brought his balloon apron out and made balloons for the neighborhood kids, and the neighborhood adults, and spent several hours (he started in the afternoon and it was dark when we finally went back in) on them. Ever since then, the kids have been wondering and asking about when he's going to make balloons again. Yesterday, he finally had a chance to do it, this time just for the kids. They were quite pleased, though.

It looks as though our son is showing potential as a balloon twister as well. See him back there with that monkey?

Who Cares?

So, thinking about this blog thing, I came to this question: Who cares?

Who wants to actually look at my blog? Why do they want to see what I have to write? What's the point? If my blog is like the millions of other blogs out there, why would people want to come to mine?

So I ask these questions: What would make people come to my blog? What would they like to see on here? What will make mine different? Do they want to see my daughter being crushed by a dragon? Am I just wasting my time?

Here are some ideas of things I could put on this blog. What do people want to see and what could they care less about?:

HAND Writings. Those that are familiar with HAND Writings, would you be interested in seeing some of the things that were included in issues from past years? And maybe contribute to some new HAND Writings on this blog?

Some of my "thoughts" from over the years. I used to have lots of thoughts. From time to time I would lose them. Often I would find them again. I believe my thoughts from years past may be burned on a DVD that we can't get the info off of at this time. That I'm frustrated with, as I'd like to access my thoughts. I'd also like to access pictures of my daughter from 6 months to 14 months of age on that same DVD (anybody know how to fix that?). Often in random places, I will find copies of some of my thoughts. And lately I've been having thoughts again. I think. I also ramble. I'm good at that. Can you tell?

Balloons. My husband is a very talented balloon artist (I'm not being prideful, it's the truth). I am also a balloon twister (not as accomplished), and my son likes to "twist" balloons while his dad is sculpting. Who wants to know more and see pictures?

My cute family and things we've done.

Other.

Input? I am still new to this blog thing, but I don't want to bore people out of their minds when they come here.

Here We Are

I can't think of anything clever to say, so I'm just going to show this picture of us. I'm sure you wanted to see what we look like, even if you hadn't said anything. Here we are. The Telford Family.

Hi, my name is Kristin

Hi, my name is Kristin. I have a husband and two kids and I work as a stay-at-home mommy.
One day, my husband asked me, "Are you busy?" I said, "No."
He said, "Then juggle this ball with your right hand."
Hi, my name is Kristin. I have a husband and two kids and I work as a stay-at-home mommy.
One day, my husband asked me, "Are you busy?" I said, "No."
He said, "Then juggle this ball with your left hand."
Hi, my name is Kristin. I have a husband and two kids and I work as a stay-at-home mommy.
One day, my husband asked me, "Are you busy?" I said, "No."
He said, "Then juggle this ball in the middle."
Hi, my name is Kristin. I have a husband and two kids and I work as a stay-at-home mommy.
One day, my husband asked me, "Are you busy?" I said, "Pretty much. With juggling three balls, a family, and a new blog, wouldn't you be?