Geoff's Monkey House

What's new

2011-11-20T14:32:00.001-08:00

OK...first Geoff and Elijah are in UT for Geoff's dad's funeral.

And for my mother....this ring was my great-grandma's. I am wearing it because my diamond fell out and I took it to get fixed right away. A fun story with this ring, though. I was excited to wear it because it must be old and awesome! Then I found out that it had 'avon' inscribed on the inside. Oh well, it is still cool because I know she really liked the color green.

for those who want to get to know us better...

2011-11-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

Watch this:http://www.greatergoodmovie.org/home

I'll try this again

2011-10-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

Pictures from the tablet...
Video?

I tried to use blog for android first and couldn't do video...so tried from blog and it is more familiar.

Just try'n it out!

2011-10-12T10:11:00.001-07:00

OK so I hold in my hands a Toshiba thrive tablet. I wanted to see how AWESOME it would be to post a blog while sitting on the couch while the kids played around me. And also post pictures and video taken from the tablet.

Uhm....I don't know how to match picture with words......oh I'll try a video.

Aria's Blessing post (better late than never)

2011-02-20T12:54:00.000-08:00

A feel for what it was like...

That's all folks!

Christmas

2011-01-31T08:28:00.000-08:00

Setting up the new Christmas tree!

Decorating cookies is so yummy and fun!

NATIVITY SCENE

Traditional open pj's Christmas Eve

I got my pj's later whe I decided I needed some too.
Marcus got this...

Ty and Elijah got a DSi each and Kamea got a leapster...

Aria got cute clothes like this...

The onsie says 'best present ever' and she got another one that said, 'all mommy wants for Christmas is a silent night'

I got a vitamix machine early and Geoff got this...

In case you didn't notice...it is the 46" TV...
That's all folks!

Here we go!

2011-01-31T08:22:00.001-08:00

What good helpers!

Aria

2010-10-23T19:12:00.001-07:00

This is Aria. She was born on October 22, 2010 at 3:54 PM. She weighs 8 pounds, and is 20.5 inches long. Everything went fine with the labor and delivery, and both mom and baby are doing very well.

Halloween!

2009-12-10T14:05:00.000-08:00

I did most of these by myself (in less than 2 hours) since Geoff was gone and the kids got tired of it after a while...VIVA Dr. Pepper!

We went to the football game after trick or treeting and they were so popular!

I didn't get to go to the trunk or treat because Marcus had the chickenpox.

Band Day

2009-10-20T15:32:00.000-07:00

Geoff getting things set up....

Here is a treat! Beatles, "Drive my Car" EAC Marching Band!

Let's try this again

2009-10-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

I am still learning how to do this....be patient.....

What to do with a 3 yr old who has chicken pox? ...wear Dora pjs while sitting in a Dora chair and watch Dora on TV.

He was actually making Mario run around in circles!

This one is for Shaina...and this isn't even loud, but it is what I caught on video.

We played fuzzy bunny with grapes...Geoff won...
I think he actually got 12....not just 10...

That is impressive considering how big the grapes were... and no drool!

Under new management

2009-10-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

Since Geoff is busy all the time and so much fun stuff happens around here, I am going to try to blog and see if I can do it more often. Also, a disclaimer: just because Geoff says it doesn't mean it is the general consensis of the family and vice-versa. Be patient as I work out the kinks. OK, this is what you have missed out on. Here we go:

10 Honest Things About Me

2009-09-28T21:40:00.000-07:00

Ok Steph, thanks for tagging us. Here it is:

1. I don't like to put on a concert. You would think that I would considering that a significant part of my job is putting on a concert. It's a lot of work to do.

2. You know that song by Michael Buble, It Had Better Be Tonight? I arranged that for my jazz band and we performed it last semester. The singer, Jordon Detlor, did an excellent job singing it. He was pretty close to looking and sounding like Michael.

3. I am currently arranging Michael Buble's version of Spider Man.

4. I enjoy arranging!

5. My favorite job in the whole world is being a husband, followed closely by being a father.

6. My two least favorite jobs are doing the dishes, and changing poopy diapers.

7. I am frequently a trampoline/running track/tunnel for my children. Children have a tendency to get heavier as they get older. Especially when the heaviest child uses me as a trampoline then decides it would be funny to do a butt bounce.

8. I am a jazz bassist.

9. My favorite fast food is a Whopper with extra mayo. I used to be able to eat two of those with a large fries and a large soda, but then I got older and my metabolism slowed. Now I have a hard time eating one.

10. Half my salary goes to diapers and formula.

Steph, the only blogs I follow are the families blogs, and you already tagged them, so hope this is OK!

We are fuddy duddy's!

2009-09-06T01:07:00.001-07:00

While perusing the blogs of my extended family, I have arrived at the conclusion that Jennifer and I are in fact, fuddy duddy's. This is based on scientific evidence that clearly demonstrates that neither of us have made the effort to post anything on this blog. Therefore, I will try to do better in doing so. Check back for updates!

ABC's of Geoffrey

2009-09-06T00:57:00.000-07:00

A – Age: 33
B – Bed size: Queen
C – Chore you hate: Dishes
D – Dogs' names: I’m not a dog person, but I did have a cat names Spud.
E – Essential start your day item: Shower
F – Favorite color: Blue
G – Gold or Silver: Gold. It’s worth more.
H – Height: 5 foot 7 inches
I – Instruments you play: Proficient at bass guitar and tuba, but if you know the nature of my job I can play all of them. Except for the oboe and bassoon. I’m not too keen on those. You gotta play them just right or you sound like either a dead duck or a burping bed-post.
J – Job title: Director of bands at Eastern Arizona College
K – Kid(s): 4, Ty is 7, Elijah is 5, Kamea is 3 and Marcus is 6 months
L – Living arrangements: House
M – Mom’s name: Mom
N – Nicknames: Deeds, dude, Mister Sir
O- Overnight stay in the hospital other than your birth: None
P – Pet Peeve: People who drive under the speed limit
Q – Quote from a movie: Scary Russian Lady: “Any last words, Dr. Jones?” Dr. Jones: “I like Ike.” I don’t really know what he meant by that…
R – Right or left handed: right
S – Siblings: 3
T – Time you wake up: When the kids jump on me.
U- Underwear: The purpose of underwear is to keep your pants clean longer, so yes.
V- Vegetable you dislike: Raw green bell peppers
W – Ways you drink your coffee: Never had it, never will.
X - rays you’ve had: Teeth, left arm, teeth, and teeth.
Y – Yummy food you make: Anything that involves charcoal and meat.
Z – Zoo favorite: Elephant

Thanks to Amber for the quiz.

2009-06-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here is Ty playing coach pitch baseball. This is him on first base after his second hit while a member of the other team looks on.

Elijah playing T-ball. He did great!

This during Ty's 7th birthday party at the Thatcher park. Part of living in the desert is dealing with the hot temperatures that plague our existence. Pay close attention to the candles on the cake. When we took the cake out of the car, the candles literally melted right before our eyes. We didn't even light them because they would just fall over anyway. Gotta love Arizona!

2009-05-14T15:57:00.001-07:00

Alright. Not much has been interesting happening in our life as of late. Kamea just turned 3, and we now know what the expression 3 going on 30 means. It's amazing the way she thinks and interacts with us. Elijah just turned 5, and will start kindergarten next year. We will have two kids in school. He got Mario Kart Wii for his birthday, and it's a game we can't get enough of. Ty will be 7 next month. Jen got a laptop for mother's day so she can use it to do her writing. We also set up a wireless router so she can search the net from anywhere in the house! It's nice. The previous band director at EAC bought a laptop, and since he used school money, it fell into my lap! So we now have three computers at home. Marcus is eating and sleeping and pooping. He started laughing last night too. As for me, I'm one week out of school. I am also getting ready to take the Graduate Reading Exam in two weeks in order to be accepted to Boston University. I will start school, again, in September whilts pursuing a DMA in Music Education. I look forward to it and to getting my stripes. Other than that, not a whole lot is going on.

2009-05-11T16:22:00.000-07:00

Yo!

2009-02-25T15:46:00.001-08:00

The baby's name is Marcus Ephraim DeSpain.

2009-02-23T09:21:00.001-08:00

He has arrived! February 23, 2009 at 12:55 AM. 9 pounds 8 ounces, 23 inches long. Both mom and the baby are doing great. It was a picture perfect labor and delivery.

2009-02-16T13:33:00.000-08:00

Adventures in parenting:

When one child gets sick, the others are soon to follow.
Walmart fruit snacks make a good pink color when mixed.
A child's throw-up is pink after they eat Walmart fruit snacks.
The smell of said throw-up can make an adult throw-up.
A child's throw-up makes a royal mess on the carpet.
A child's throw-up also makes a royal mess on the bedding.
Washing machines break down when a child has just thrown up.
It's a good idea not to put clothespins in a washing machine.
Washing machines break down when a clothespin gets stuck in the drain pump.
It takes about 2 hours to discover the clothespin in the drain pump, then put the thing back together again.
A washer is not fun to take apart and then put back together.
The water in the washing machine sloshes around.
The same water gets all over the floor and makes a mess too.
The combination of throw-up and diahrrea is not a pleasant sight, smell, or thing to clean.
All this happened at 1:00 AM on Sunday, the 15th of February.
It is hard to be patient when awaiting the arrival of a baby.
I'm not trying to be gross, it's just rather ironic.

2008-12-29T09:36:00.000-08:00

This video is a little long, but watch it to the end. This is what we call Arizona Snow, that to some of you (Nate and Stef), this would be a frost. Watch how many times Kamea falls! By the way, listen to my voice when I talk. It sounds like I am on drugs, which I actually am at the time (serious pain killers because I am four teeth less wise).

2008-11-30T16:21:00.000-08:00

On the way to Ian and Shaina's house for Thanksgiving.

2008-11-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving!

We have a lot to be thankful for:

Children, especially when the chapel you attend has an echo throughout and your children tend to be the loudest ones during the sacrament...
Babies and baby blessings. Next year will be interesting when we bless all the new babies in the family
A job. College kids are easier to work with than high school kids, and when my dean emailed everybody and said that we have to have class today because some teachers were cancelling class, I told my students that I had to be there for class but if the students get sick or just don't want to come to class, there is nothing I can do about that. So this morning in my theory classes I had about 9 show up, nobody came for my 11:00 class, and then for band only two people showed up! So I just gave them some sodas and sent them home.
Family. Everyone is coming to Ian and Shaina's for Thanksgiving tomorrow. It'll be fun.
Green bean casserole. Alton Brown has a recipe for homemade green bean casserole and we are going to try it tomorrow...
A sexy wife
The gospel. What a great thing to have. It makes things easier to live by
A home. We are moving into a house on December 15th. It's a brick house and is 1500 square feet. And it's close to the college!
Baths and showers

I'm rambling. But life is great and there is a lot to be thankful for.

2008-11-11T17:04:00.000-08:00

Recently, I went to Glendale and while in the shadow of the University of Phoenix Stadium (that thing looks like a huge UFO!), I judged the Division IV State Marching Band Contest. What an experience! Jennifer, my oh so lovely wife, is currently working on her book that she is writing for her school. She is trying to come up with a pen name, so if you have any ideas, let us know!

Ty is getting excellent grades in school. He really enjoys learning and he likes his teacher. His teacher sure thinks highly of him too. He is a chip of the old block because he has bad handwriting!

Elijah is stil Elijah. We found out today that while eating Chinese food because we watched Kung Fu Panda and we were all craving Chinese food, that Elijah was born in the year of the monkey. It's rather fitting if you know Elijah and his flexible/climbing ways...

Kamea is quite the cranky girl. She has to be because she has two older brothers, and will soon have one younger brother. She can certainly hold her own...

We are well. Our house in SV rented and while they were moving in, the mom's water broke and they had the baby two months premature. The baby is fighting and has a chance. Right now we are trying to find a place to live here. Renting is awful in this area.

2008-10-29T20:37:00.001-07:00

Alrighty folks. We have some good news. Jennie and I went to the doctor today for an ultrasound. The results were very good. The baby looks great and everything is normal. We did discover his gender too. Yesiree folks, we are having a boy. As was the case with both our boys, he was not camera shy. Kamea wanted a little sister, poor thing. We are excited. Ty and Elijah are excited too.

Our first Blog

2008-10-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

Alright folks. Due to many requests, Jen and I have decided to start our own blog. This way we can be up to date in this, the technology age.

Here is an update as to what is going on.

First, we don't have any up to date pictures of the kids, so this one is kind of old. Notice how skinny Ty is. He has grown quite a bit over that last few months. He is in the first grade and has become quite the student. His first report card was most outstandings and only two satisfactory. His teacher commented on his handwriting. All my teachers did too. So Ty is a chip off the old block!

Elijah still has endless energy. Except for today. He decided to get sick.

Kamea is a terror to her older brothers and can be quite cranky sometimes.

Jen has an ultrasound next week and we want to find out what the baby is.

Geoff is the new band director at EAC in case you didn't know.

We have moved from Sierra Vista to Safford. If any of you know anybody who wants to buy a house in Sierra Vista, let us know!

Keep checking back for more updates and pictures!