Everyone likes a surprise, right?
Well, have we got a BIG SURPRISE to announce!!!
No, we are NOT announcing a pregnancy--why would you get that idea? Aren't you content with our three nearly-perfect children?
Let's see...we'd better start with some background information...
On the 8th of August this year we celebrated our 15-year anniversary. We have never been very good at celebrating our anniversary, partly because for the first 6 years of our marriage we were usually out doing field work in August. One of our more successful anniversary celebrations was when we were trapping bears in the Book Cliffs and went for an evening 4-wheeler ride. Kevin caught a porcupine that night, which was very flattering. Another particularly romantic getaway was when April was 6 weeks pregnant (with Megan) in the hot Yuma desert--she felt like puking while we hiked around a desert nature preserve in >100-degree heat. Anyway, this year it fell on a Wednesday, and we hardly got to see each other between Kevin's work and meetings, so it was, once again, largely uneventful (Kevin's attempt to save the evening was to buy 15 candy bars on his way home from work--and that was about the extent of our celebrations).
However, Kevin was scheming of some way to truly celebrate 15 years together. Knowing April's frugal nature, he could hardly get away with planning an extravagant vacation that involved more than a trip to Salt Lake, but he came across an interesting opportunity on a wiki website that he was working on with his students.
Bottom line: For the second time in his life, Kevin has WON A TRIP TO AUSTRALIA!!! (Chris--can you help calculate the odds of such an occurrence??) In 2000 he won a drawing for a travel gift certificate and we took the family to Perth. However, this time he can only take one person, much to the dismay of his adorable offspring. And that person is his devoted wife and companion of 15 years.
For your amusement, here is Kevin's entry for the contest. Yes, it is legitimate (or so he claims--April will believe it when she boards the plane). You can see videos from past winning entries here as well as enter the newest contest yourself at aussieweek.com. It is "only" a week-long trip, and we have to promote the idea that you can go to Australia and have a really good time even if you only have a week to visit. Kevin's choice was to go to Brisbane but "due to availability" we "only" get to go to Sydney. So, we have to fly all the way to Sydney, stay in the hotels of their choosing, be a part of some fun activities every day, take pictures and video to share with others, and then fly all the way back home--all before Nov 30th. Sounds tough, doesn't it?
We will keep you posted when we know more specifics. We are aiming to leave in early November. In the meantime, there is a new contest for our readers to enter:
ENTER NOW TO WIN FREE PARENTING EXPERIENCE!
No purchase necessary to win. Simply write a short essay explaining why you would be the perfect person(s) to care for 3 nearly perfect children for ONE WHOLE WEEK. The winner will have the opportunity to: cook meals that will not be eaten, settle squabbles between siblings, shuttle children to and from piano and karate lessons, entertain, teach eager minds, change diapers or potty train (your choice), read stories, assist with pet care, wrestle, receive good-night hugs, and stay up late with a nocturnal three-year old. Successful applicants must be willing to submit to an extensive background check. In the case of a tie between applicants, the week of parenting experience will be divided among winners.
Well, have we got a BIG SURPRISE to announce!!!
No, we are NOT announcing a pregnancy--why would you get that idea? Aren't you content with our three nearly-perfect children?
Let's see...we'd better start with some background information...
On the 8th of August this year we celebrated our 15-year anniversary. We have never been very good at celebrating our anniversary, partly because for the first 6 years of our marriage we were usually out doing field work in August. One of our more successful anniversary celebrations was when we were trapping bears in the Book Cliffs and went for an evening 4-wheeler ride. Kevin caught a porcupine that night, which was very flattering. Another particularly romantic getaway was when April was 6 weeks pregnant (with Megan) in the hot Yuma desert--she felt like puking while we hiked around a desert nature preserve in >100-degree heat. Anyway, this year it fell on a Wednesday, and we hardly got to see each other between Kevin's work and meetings, so it was, once again, largely uneventful (Kevin's attempt to save the evening was to buy 15 candy bars on his way home from work--and that was about the extent of our celebrations).However, Kevin was scheming of some way to truly celebrate 15 years together. Knowing April's frugal nature, he could hardly get away with planning an extravagant vacation that involved more than a trip to Salt Lake, but he came across an interesting opportunity on a wiki website that he was working on with his students.
Bottom line: For the second time in his life, Kevin has WON A TRIP TO AUSTRALIA!!! (Chris--can you help calculate the odds of such an occurrence??) In 2000 he won a drawing for a travel gift certificate and we took the family to Perth. However, this time he can only take one person, much to the dismay of his adorable offspring. And that person is his devoted wife and companion of 15 years.
For your amusement, here is Kevin's entry for the contest. Yes, it is legitimate (or so he claims--April will believe it when she boards the plane). You can see videos from past winning entries here as well as enter the newest contest yourself at aussieweek.com. It is "only" a week-long trip, and we have to promote the idea that you can go to Australia and have a really good time even if you only have a week to visit. Kevin's choice was to go to Brisbane but "due to availability" we "only" get to go to Sydney. So, we have to fly all the way to Sydney, stay in the hotels of their choosing, be a part of some fun activities every day, take pictures and video to share with others, and then fly all the way back home--all before Nov 30th. Sounds tough, doesn't it?We will keep you posted when we know more specifics. We are aiming to leave in early November. In the meantime, there is a new contest for our readers to enter:
ENTER NOW TO WIN FREE PARENTING EXPERIENCE!
No purchase necessary to win. Simply write a short essay explaining why you would be the perfect person(s) to care for 3 nearly perfect children for ONE WHOLE WEEK. The winner will have the opportunity to: cook meals that will not be eaten, settle squabbles between siblings, shuttle children to and from piano and karate lessons, entertain, teach eager minds, change diapers or potty train (your choice), read stories, assist with pet care, wrestle, receive good-night hugs, and stay up late with a nocturnal three-year old. Successful applicants must be willing to submit to an extensive background check. In the case of a tie between applicants, the week of parenting experience will be divided among winners.
5 comments:
Wow, that is awesome!!! You really had me confused for a minutes with that ultrasound photo--I really thought your announcement was of a different nature!
A trip to Australia?! How cool is that?! Congrats, you guys! If you wanna send the kids to our place, I'd be more than happy to watch them. :)
I think Kevin must have cheated because I calculate the chances to be about 3.14E-100000 or less. So you better enjoy it! And next time give the trip to me...
How is that possible??? The only thing to date that I have won by entering a contest is a stuffed Snuffelufagus (I'm not sure how you spell that. Gabe doesn't watch Sesame Street yet.) after entering a coloring contest at JC Penny. I must have been 8. But enjoy!!
Yay yay yay!!! How exciting for you guys! And by the way, if you can't find anyone to watch the kids, Richard and I would be perfectly happy to take that trip off your hands...assuming the prize is transferrable, that is...
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