Baby Quiz

Contestant #1. Cute, with round face, and hair.



Contestant #2. Cute, with round face, and hair.


Both were born at about the same time of day, and in the winter, but in different parts of the country.

SPOIL ALERT - do not read further if you don't want the answer yet.

Contestant #1 is Avril
Contestant #2 is Alicia

Avril Arrives and Jared Becomes a Home-Owner

A lot can happen in two weeks! After having Thermo Fisher reps in for a sales meeting and training starting 10 days ago, we woke up Saturday the 21st and I played basketball with the Young Men (and older guys) earlier than normal. This was so I could car pool down with the youth to the new Draper (south of SLC) temple open house while Gayle attended to Alicia.

Although down in Draper most of the snow had melted, up on the bench there was still plenty. It was warming up nicely, but a tent tunnel was in place for folks walking from the shuttles to the temple foyer. Here is the last of our group (sans me) entering the tent.

The beautiful view looking west at the Oquirrh mountains (where there is another new temple) from the Draper temple area. See the tent tunnel.

After the shuttle ride back to a stake center (one of multiple visitor parking lots) I took this shot of some of our ward youth who made the visit. From here the YW went to the Sweet Tomato for soup and salads while the YM opted for Chuck-A-Rama (they wanted meat).

After all they could eat, some of the YM pose to show their new waistlines.

Tuesday, the 24th, Alicia and Jesse went to the Women and Newborn Center at Logan Regional Hospital around 6:30 a.m. Gayle and I got there shortly after.

Popsicles helped!

The upcoming parents and a set of grandparents.

Jared was able to be there for much of it too.

Waiting for Avril.

The great-grandparents stopped by that morning. Later, great-grandma Parkinson returned for the delivery too (Avril arrived at about 5:36 p.m.). We had a crowd in the room for the delivery. A couple of doctors, a team of nurses, Jesse, Gayle, great-grandma Parkinson, and I were all on hand. Jared and Shelby (uncles) were around several times before and after too.

The new dad and daughter shortly after birth.

The proud mom. There had been issues with the epidural and Alicia had experienced a lot of pain as well as some disorientation from all the medication. But it was all worth it!

A grandma again, finally (since Brittney in Azusa is almost 12 yrs. old now).

The three Yarger athletes - Shelby (uncle), Bryan (grandpa), and Jesse (dad).

Avril Carmel Yarger, fast asleep at the hospital. Carmel is Jesse's mom's name. Avril is April in French. Avril means New Beginnings or New Life.

Carme (pronounced Carmie, nickname for Carmel) holding Avril in Alicia's hospital room.

Jesse with Avril and her binky.

The Murdocks did an awesome job with the congrats sign on the Logan River bridge coming into our neighborhood!

Amy Rapp lending her breast pump to Alicia, while giving her professional advice.

Avril seems at home here.

Carme and Avril just before Carme had to fly back to Southern California.

A group shot before Carme left to go with Shelby to the airport. Avril didn't cooperate for this shot. I must mention that in the midst of all the Avril excitement, Jared closed on his first house. It was actually a day after Avril's birth, but a day before she was due. He's in the process of moving stuff into his home as I write this, and we'll likely have a post about his place later.

Grammys and Valentines

Last week Shelby, Ginger, and Jordan joined Jesse, Alicia, Gayle, and me after a stake youth fireside to watch the Grammys.

We enjoyed eating the brownies mom made, while critiquing the performances (and believe me, there was much to critique).

Yesterday, Valentine's Day, the YM delayed their regular Saturday morning b-ball practice in order to do the Food Bank drive pick-up. Then we got many of our regular crew together. Gayle rounded up a few ward member fans to watch, and also brought some donuts for player caloric intake.

Gayle posted this on the ward bulletin board with the caption "Dunkin' Donut Basketball Players"

On Saturday, February 14th, we dropped off some Valentine's Day flowers to mom. We also left some brownies, this batch made by Alicia, to dad. En route we gave some flowers and treats to Robin Salisbury, who rolled their Suburban into Logan river coming home with a friend from their USU snowboarding class on Thursday. Fortunately the injuries were relatively minor, but it was very scary.

Here's dad enjoying his Valentine's Day treat.

Jesse took Alicia out for a Valentine's dinner at the Golden Corral. He also gave her a gift for every letter in the alphabet! Avril looks ready to come soon.

Alicia's Move Back to Logan

On the night of January 30th Gayle and I drove to the SLC airport. I hopped out and flew to Burbank, CA (we used to live right under the flight path of this airport, on Screenland Blvd.). Alicia picked me up and we went to the Maxsons' house in Saugus, where she was staying. The next morning we got up, loaded up the Mountaineer, cleaned her room and the bathroom, went by the Post Office to close her PO Box, and took off (sometime around 11:00 a.m.) to return to Logan. We drove straight through, getting in around 1:00 a.m. It was hard on both our backs.

Fortunately the vehicle has side mirrors because the back seats were down and we packed baby gifts, clothes, food, computer stuff, you name it, to the ceiling.

Sandy Maxson gave us some lemons from their tree before we left. Here Gayle is showing one off back in Logan while being hugged by grandpa and grandma Parkinson.

Being pregnant has its perquisites (perks). Here Jesse massages Alicia's feet.

Sunday, the 1st of February, while over at the "folks," Gayle also read us a story written by one of her friends - Nancy Israelsen - about her very large family back in the 60's and the menagerie on their farm in North Logan. It was pretty funny and we enjoyed laughing together.

Yesterday, February 7th, Gayle, Alicia, mom Parkinson, and Lucy all attended a stake Relief Society special event on music, featuring Michael Ballam. Here they are with some of the very rich cheesecake offered afterwards. In case you can't tell, Alicia is less than 3 weeks from her due date (it's not just too much cheesecake).

And here are the men doing domestic duty recently (I don't appear to be too happy but Jesse seems cheerful!).