An Embarrassing Tale

So what does that machine/vehicle look like to you? What would you guess it is? And its purpose?

Now imagine that you are John and I. We live on the ASU East Campus which was formerly an Air Force base. Currently on our campus there is an Army Reserve (like a little mini Campus w/ dorms for the Soldiers) as well. We get to see them running in the mornings and training sometimes. It's really fun! Everyday on our way to work we pass the Army Reserve building.

Well, one day this monstrous machine was parked outside of the gates across the street in a little dirt area. We thought "WOW" what a cool Army vehicle. I wonder what it is used for? I bet they are training with it or maybe it got shipped here from the war for repairs. We have got to get a picture with it. It's just unbelievably amazing!

So, one day we finally stopped to take a picture with it. While I was waiting for John to set up the timer on the camera I turned around to check out this BEAST of a war vehicle since I was finally up close and personal with it. Well.....there was a sign on the side that said something like--"TEREX Asphalt reclaimer/stabilizer Call 623/534-6800"

WHAT?!?!?!?! Is this saying that this is nothing more than a pavement ripper-upper?

Well, my lofty idea of this being one of the coolest military tanks seen by the human eye was destroyed =( I didn't even have time to tell John what I had found out before we took the next picture! I was stunned and felt pretty foolish. People driving by must have thought we had lost our minds taking pictures with this thing. Oh too funny, we laughed at ourselves for the rest of the day and we are still laughing at ourselves. To make ourselves feel better we decided that we weren't wrong about this machine. The whole "TEREX asphalt reclaimer" was just a cover up for what it's real purpose is ;-)

So, we investigated a little and then we found all the real army vehicles (pic above and below), in CAMO colors and all. However, these vehicles were locked up behind fences with barbed wire on top. They were probably under surveillance too or maybe they were electric fences! Oh my oh my...and we thought they would leave a machine as cool as that tank all by it's lonesome in a dirt lot across the street. Ha Ha Ha!

Well, this is us at the end of our journey to discover the truth of the TEREX.

Pregnancy Test

I know this is old news now and the post is in the wrong order...But the moment is still worth posting!

So it was the morning of my moms birthday. This was our third time taking a pregnancy test. “They” say that early morning urine is the best. So Gina, co-worker and dear friend, put the sample on the test and wrapped the test up so no one saw the results. For the next couple hours we all anxiously aw

aited John’s arrival to work from his computer class. As soon as he walked in

the door we all ran to the breakroom to reveal the result of the test. As you can see, we didn’t even let John take his backpack off. We quickly explained what we did and were going to do. Gina had the brilliant idea to video tape it and I thanks to my friend Tiffany I figure out how to add it! Yeah! (enjoy the video below)

Another really fun part of this day is that it was also my Mama's birthday. Feb. 23rd. That night at her birthday party, after all the presents were opened, we said that we had one more present for her. We took everyone in the other room in front of the TV. We plugged in my camera and just pushed play without any warning or explanation. Then when it was over and the adults were cheering and the kids were all confused....I pulled out of my pocket the positive pregnancy test and gave it to the future grandmother of grandchild #12! Happy Birthday Mama!!!!

A little explanation behind the commentary at the end of this video. Prior to getting pregnant, John and I discussed the name Elias for one of our children. We like it and are considering it. We then found out that my sister Debra also likes this name. So, the background is that Debra's youngest daughter is named Kathleen after our mom, but they call her Kate. I've LOVED the name Kate for a couple of years and always thought I would use it, but I never told anyone. But then Debra used it unknowingly and now I can't. So now we have this sister joke going on between us about name stealing. Thus in the video John jokes about now having a baby Elias and then I tell my sister that she can't steal that name =)

The results are in----It's a BOY!

Top: Well isn't that just the cutest little 22 week old profile you ever did see? Cute little cranium with a cute little nose. What a sweet boy! (First time moms are funny eh?)

We were so excited to find out the gender. We had the Ultrasound on Monday June 29th. He had a 6 guest audience to hear the announcement of the exciting news. We had Grandma and Grandpa Rosenhan, Gina, Cyndy (both coworkers that were there for the "reveal" of the pregnancy test back in February. Got that little

beauty on film;-) and of course his proud mom and dad.

Second pic down: This is my most favorite picture. He is giving us a "Thumbs up"-- Parental approval and encouragement already! Much needed ;-} A positive and optimistic child to look forward too!!! What could be better? (Center of the black space in the middle is a little thumb pointing straight up. 4 little fingers are curled to the left of the thumb and the arm is extending down and to the right.)

-----BATTLE of the SEXES----- (picture not included ;-)

So the story goes that Gina and Cyndy both have their own "method" of guessing baby genders. Neither of them had ever been wrong. Gina uses the Chinese Calender which predicted a boy. Cyndy looks for a "Y" shape in your eye and depending on which eye determines the gender of the baby. My "Y" was in the girl eye. So we had a "Battle of the Sexes" (hee hee) going on in the office.

As we were waiting for the whole party to join us in the exam room, I asked the US tech to wait until everyone was there before he told us the gender. He said, "Oh ok, I know what it is already." A bit later, after he told us that it was a boy he also said, "This was the most obvious boy I have ever seen. There is no doubt about this boy!" As you can tell, there is no shame in the Barlow family =D

So let me explain these pictures. Above: 4 chambers of the heart. (The 4 black holes 2 on top of 2, in the center of the grayish mass in the center of the picture)

Below: Once super cute looking "Hawaiian" sandal foot. Perfect amount of space between the Big Toe and all the others ;) (center of the picture, looking at the bottom of the foot. Toes pointing to the Left and heal to the Right.)

Below: The most handsome pair of legs and feet. Looks like some athlete legs to me!(Center of the picture. Baby is on his side. One leg is above the other with a huge black whole between them. The feet are on the Left and if you follow them to the right you will see the calves then knees and then the upper thighs are on the right before the picture fades out.)

Our Second Date

On our second date John took me to Antelope Island State Park in Utah. We drove around and saw the different animals, landscape, and lake. Then we found the highest peak on the island and hiked the mountain to the top. We brought some snacks and enjoyed them as we looked out over the island and the lake.

John was diligent and brought his camera again, this time with his tripod. We took some more photos.

We had a fantastic time, but got a late start down the mountain. The sun was setting and it was pretty much dark by the time we made it to the car. We drove to the exit and when we got there the gate was closed and it looked locked. We thought for sure that we were going to have to stay overnight on the island. But then we decided to go check the gate and it wasn't locked. We laughed at ourselves and drove home safe and sound.