Friday, March 28, 2014

Names 2013!

Welcome to the fascinating and usually terrible world of Idaho baby naming trends! For the complete anthology and a brief explanation of what's going on around here, *click*. Otherwise, let's rip off this bandaid. Bonus surprise ending now included!


The Typical Drivel
Timbree
Maylie
Camri
Brinley/Brynlee
Myla
Tavin
Hensley
Jaxon
Taybrie
Harleigh
Eastyn
Maivyn
Bailee
Colter Ridge
Myah
Diezel


The Sound-it-Outs
Addilyn Kendul
Linzee
Saydee Lyn Marrie
Aspyn
Lyncoln Crue
Emiley
Dyllen


Invasion of the K's 
Korbin
Kache
Kason/Kayson/Kayson Kolt
Khloe
Kynzlie
Keston Glayde
Khenna
Kellon
Kyler
Kylen
Kalla
Kaelyn
Kaiya

_______lynne
Ezralynne
Reeselynne


Twin Disasters
Finlee and Indee
Oakleigh and Berkleigh
Diessel and Nixxon (some serious self-restraint there, to pass over the opportunity to use two Z's and two X's.)


Speaking of Double X's
Ryker Jaxx


Carter, Get Your Gun
Carter Benelli


Gerunds
Paisyn
Racyn


On the Map
Boston
Londyn
Houston (II)
Hudson
Berkleigh (repeat from the twins category, but it deserves to be posted twice)
Jersey
Capri
Brooklyn (II)
Stockton


The "What the EFF?????"s
Ramzi
Kru
Zen
MaCall
Lakoda
Riddick
Roywn (rhymes with groin?)
McKartni Grayce
Justyce Cozy


Three-way tie for the absolute worst name this year:
Mageigh
Roper
Jagur


Straight from THIS, heaven help us all:
McCarty


Most seamless combination of two tree species:
Aspyne

Worst real name*:
Tate Gus


Most literary name:
Harper Lee


Most Mormon name:
Parley


Longest name:
Koraline Andrea Dorothee Heidi


Shortest name:
Grace [no middle name]


And an enthusiastic standing ovation for the best names this year*:
Violet Julia
Ava Corina
Lucas William
Caleb Mark


Discussion:

  • For me, it's worse when a child with a beautiful surname name is given the Idaho/Utah treatment. For example, it's more disappointing when Mr. and Mrs. LeCheminant and Mr. and Mrs. Jardine name their children Jersey and Houston, respectively, than when Mr. and Mrs. Boot do. To Mr. and Mrs. Cundick, on the other hand......yikes. I wish you well in all you do.

  • Last year's What the EFF, Diezel, is this year's Typical Drivel, thanks to the fact that I've seen that name at least ten times since (including a baby in my ward).

  • I reserve the right to mock or delete any comment referencing Le-a and the -jello twins. There are plenty of real made-up names to go around, there's no need to mindlessly repeat urban legend. It's pointless anyway, because I won't believe you unless you are personally in possession of the original birth certificate and are willing to mail it to me so I can inspect it with my own two eyeballs. I'm a Le-a Birther.



*There weren't many to choose from.

Tuesday, March 04, 2014

Manny Does Phoenix

Annie came to visit! Well, first my mom came to visit, but I accidentally didn't take any pictures, and then Annie came a couple of weeks later! We planned her entire trip around food and zoo.

We, of course, sat FRONT AND CENTER for the Wildlife Encounters show. This little tortoise is named Tortellini! TORTELLINI!!!!!


We had ten minutes to kill before the turaco feeding so we headed to the walk-through aviary just across the way. This bird was acting funny so we took pictures. Then we realized maybe it was sick, and told a zoo employee :( 40 seconds after posing for this picture, I checked my phone and realized it was exactly time for the turaco feeding and left Annie and Jon in my dust as I sprinted away.


We ran into this adorable pair over and over throughout the day. 


This muntjac snuffled my finger!


It's a TINY DEER with TUSKS.


Lory feeding schedule: Check, check, and check.


Covered in birds.

Everything in this picture is awesome. Blow it up.





A bird named Salsa.


Jon's hand. Proof that he was there.




Other things we did:
Hot tubbed in a downpour
Went on a walk/to the dog park
Watched Great Expectations (on Netflix streaming. It was great, even though it used the wrong ending.)
Shopped for yarn
Drank Italian sodas
Ate Sonoran hotdogs
Ate at Zinburger
Ate at Tokyo Lobby
Ate at Postino
Ate sausage, kale, and red potato soup
Ate nutella rice krispy treats
Ate ginger noodles (aka "Ginger Nudes")

I was not kidding about the food.

Thing we did not do:

Two best photos of the trip (I held out on you):






Bye Manny. Miss you already :(