February--Super Bowl, weightlifting and tons of swimming

February Re-cap!

February 2nd was the Super Bowl! We were up in Northern Virginia for most of the day celebrating an early Chinese New Year AND Cole's 1st Birthday, but we couldn't pass up the chance to spend time with some of our favorite Charlottesville people too, so we made the drive back down in time to catch the second half of the game.

The Elmers hosted the party, complete with tons of hot wings, dips, chips, and drinks.

While we're so sad they don't live next door to us anymore, I have to admit they have a pretty sweet home.

The kids stayed busy upstairs watching a movie and eating about a can of Pringles each. Jude was in heaven.

Elmers, Glasses, Kimberlins, Francoms, Smiths and (unpictured) Simmons. I love this group of people!


As I've mentioned before, George and I are still trying to keep up our weight lifting that we started to train for our Tough Mudder last year. We usually have to fit the gym in where we can, mostly at night. One night we put the kids to bed and called my good friend Sarah who offered to sit at our house so George and I could go to the gym together. We haven't been together at the gym for probably 8 months, so this was fun! We took a couple pictures so we could remember that we were once in decent shape. :)

Squatting 275 lbs.

Dead-lifting 195 lbs.



I've recently acquired a helper when I wash the dishes. As soon as I turn on the water, this little munchkin toddles over and pulls out the stool so he can "help". I love it. :)

Sweet baby. :)

February 16th, Lance started swimming lessons. He's a fairly strong swimmer already, so we put him in a class that is supposed to help he develop some strokes. I'm hopeful he'll be interested in joining a swim team soon.

Ha! Classic Lance.

Not to be left behind, Jude just started swim lessons too. He loves the water but doesn't like putting his head in, so these lessons are supposed to develop his confidence with his nose and eyes underwater.

Before class one day.

And after. He loved it!

He's lucky because he's taking the class with his best buddy Bo Bo (Bennett) and Bo's big sister Lucy.

It's nice to have a friend to hang out with.

The pool where the boys have lessons has a little park area for the kids, so one day when George had work off we drove over for an our or so before dinner to swim together.

Cole wasn't too sure about the water at first (shocking because he LOVES his bath and we even took him to a water park when he was about 7 months old and he thought it was great).

He came around near the end, though, and was sad to get out.

Jude being crazy as usual. I swear this boy has an infinite amount of energy that he puts into everything. I love his always-smiling face.

And Lance showing Jude the way. He is such a fish and didn't stop swimming the whole time we were there.

Living the dream!

Happy Birthday Mom!

February 16th the boys and I made our way up to Ashburn to celebrate my mom's birthday. Laura and Tyler have recently moved to Winchester, VA so my mom and Glenn are officially empty-nesters. WE knew Mom was having a hard time adjusting, so Amy and Laura and I had planned on meeting at Mom's house and making her dinner.

It was supposed to be a surprise, but someone (cough, cough... Glenn) let the cat out of the bag, so while it wasn't a surprise, it was still fun.

Cousins! 

These boys are so cute together.

Lance decided he was a big kid and helped prep the dinner. 

He did a great job cutting cucumbers for the greek salad Amy made.

Dinner turned out well! We had fresh salmon prepared two ways, fruit salad, greek salad, mashed potatoes and rice. Even the kids ate it. Success!

After dinner we sang to Mom.

She wanted pineapple cheesecake (my Grandma Allred's recipe) for her cake, so I made a couple.

Such a pretty lady!

So nice of Grandma to let Lance light the candles.

We called Chad, Stephen and Jason so they could sing too (although Stephen had to sing a little late... he was about to perform with BYU's men chorus in Salt Lake!).

Happy Birthday!

It was fun to have a lot of the family together. I love that we still live close enough that we can be meet up on special occasions.

We sure love our Mom/Grandma!

Happy Birthday to the best mom I could imagine. You have always been such a strength to me and a wonderful example of the kind of person I hope to become. Thank you for your love and support. I don't know where I'd be without you!

Valentine's Day--a quick get-away!

Valentine's Day this year was a special treat!

George was invited to an Emergency Medicine conference held at The Homestead here in Virginia to receive and award for his research paper on Child CPR. (It's the same paper he did a poster presentation for at the conference in LA we attended last November.)

On February 13th, he drove down in the early morning, about a 2 hour drive, to attend that day's conference lectures. At noon he was presented with this beautiful plaque:

I wasn't able to make it for the presentation, so another doctor shot this photo with his phone. Way to go, George!

As an added bonus, George was given a free night stay at the resort. When I heard that, I knew I had to make it down somehow. My good friend Melissa offered to watch all three boys overnight (on a school night, no less!) so George and I could enjoy some fun together. I picked up Lance from school a bit early, dropped off all three boys and then was on my way around 2:30.

While I was driving, George went snowboarding on the small slopes. We had planned on going together, but the slopes closed at 4:30, it being a weekday. Bummer.

I had no idea The Homestead was so big! It is a huge, beautiful resort located in the mountains of western Virginia. 

As soon as I got there, we changed into our swim suits and went outside (in the 35 degree weather) to enjoy the hot springs-heated pool and hottub. 

Some of the other doctors from the Conference were there as well.

It was fun to be sitting outside in our swimmies while it was snowing all around us. 

Heading back inside to get ready for dinner.

This was the bedroom we stayed in:

Nice!

Before dinner, we walked around the main building. It was huge and ornate, but in a Southern Charm kind of way. They had many different wings that each had it's own special room: Garden rooms, dance halls, and even...

A Crystal Ballroom! Ha!

The place was practically deserted since it was a Wednesday night. I heard them say they were expecting 3000 people to come on the weekend, though. I'm glad we missed the crowd!

Dinner was free for us as well! We ate at a local Surf 'n Turf in the small town outside the resort. I think the highlight of the meal was listening to a group of women in mink coats trash-talk the food nonstop, steal a shrimp from their neighbor eater's plate while he was at the bathroom (an EM doc that was there for the conference), and when called on it by the guy get all huffy, complain to the manager about the low quality of food and service and storm out without finishing their meal. My jaw was on the floor the whole time. It's hard to believe people like that really exist, even when you meet them in person. George and the other EM guy just laughed and said those people reminded them a lot of drug seekers when they get realize pretending to be in pain isn't getting them any meds. 

Needless to say, dinner was not boring!

George had to work the next day at 7 a.m., so we were on the road by 4:45 a.m. to make the two hour drive back to Charlottesville. We parted ways once we got to the city and while he went to the hospital, I made my way to the Elmer's to pick up the boys. Melissa is amazing, I have to say. I get there and all the boys are dressed, our stuff is together, the blankets folded and ready to be put in the car. Thanks, Melissa and Aric for making this trip possible! I know the boys had a great time and it was nice to spend some time together with George and not worry about the boys because they were in such good hands. You guys are the best!

Free stay at a nice resort, free dinner, and a night together without the kiddos: perfect Valentine's Day!

Chinese New Year TWICE! Lucky us!

We were lucky this year and got to celebrate Chinese New Year TWICE with our family! Woo Hoo!

George was scheduled to work on February 9th (when the New Year took place) so we celebrated a week early with his family so he could be there. We drove up to Ashburn and had some amazing dim sum.

The whole Glass family was able to make it. This place was neat. There was a rotating platform in the center of the table and ladies would walk around with different baskets full of dumplings, breads, meat, and other goodies and place them on the platform to be shared with the whole table. My favorite thing: the "football" bread! (It's really a bread roll that has yellow bean paste in it and an egg wash on top so it's crusty and sweet. Oh my goodness. George grew up calling it "football bread" because it's oblong like a football.)

Cole did a great job, helped a lot by the cool "drum sticks" that were next to all the plates. He happily drummed his plate for the entire meal, much to my amusement and the chagrin of all the other patrons.


We thought our Chinese New Year was over, but George ended up having a very short work day on the 9th, so we hopped in the car and met up with the extended family in Maryland to celebrate Chinese New Year again! (Lance missed this one and spent the weekend with his dad.)

Nothing like an all-you-can-eat Chinese Buffet to ring in the New Year.

(From the left) Wei-Yu and his wife Tangie and Pei-Yu and her daughter Aaliyah (her newest baby boy is in the carrier... I think his name is Antonio).

(From the left) George (dad), Uncle Chun-Lang and Aunt Mei-Yu, Sue-Lon (mom), Nate photo-bombing, Uncle Hsimin and Jen.

Bryce, Eric, Callie, Nate, Allen, George, Jude and you can just see the top of Cole's head.

This little boy did a good job considering we were at the restaurant for more than two hours. Good thing we brought along his monster trucks!

Jude being a crazy as usual. I don't know what it is, but this little boy cannot sit in his chair during dinner to save his life.

Cole was saved from his seat by Pop Pop. They had a great time together. :)

So cute!

 Thanks for the picture, Jen!

Uncle Chun-Lang and his granddaughter Aaliyah.

Cousins! Callie and Aaliyah.

Jude was so happy to sit and watch Bryce play on his iPod. I love that these two get along so well. Bryce is always so good and patient with Jude.

Both these amazing meals together with family and even a new money cat (thanks Uncle Chun-Lang!) made this Chinese New Year a great one! Bring on the luck!