Number Three

Yes, three - there's a baby a comin'.

January 23, 2009, we are expecting yet another blonde bundle of joy. (Ok, so an ultrasound can't really reveal hair color.) But based on Taesya and Canon, I think we can safely expect an attractive child. An energetic child. One with a lot to say. No known gender yet, but we're just excited that everything is going well. Momma and baby are healthy as can be.

I wanted to say Congrats to Leslie King on the baby boy to come! And also to Jenilyn Petersen, who is expecting a baby girl!

Life vs. Love

The kids were sleeping over at Grandma's, and we'd just finished eating peanut butter sandwiches and crackers for dinner. The sun was setting as we wrapped ourselves up in blankets and watched Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband. We've attending their concert at the Sandy Ampitheater year after year since we were dating, so this is nothing out of the ordinary. But in the first few minutes of the show I remembered, like someone had hit me in the back of the head, I remembered that I love Ben. Don't laugh because honestly, I had forgotten.

Life is full of ten billion unimportant things. They seem urgent to us, but in the eternal scheme of things, most of it doesn't matter. So I fill up my day, try my best to get by, and some days, don't even look Ben in the eye before the day is done. I can't believe I let it get this bad! Don't get me wrong, we're not unhappy with each other, but we'd forgotten about one another.

It took a date for me to remember. A great date full of our favorite music. Ryan Shupe's songs are so well written and so beautiful. Some hit a sentimental note, reminding us of years ago, and some make us laugh at the "2-year old attitude" in our home. It was a wonderful concert and I was there with the most wonderful man. I had the best looking date of anyone there. He really is a gift in my life. So I'm thinking that we should keep up this dating thing. It's a good way to remind us that love should shadow life not the other way around. I love you, Ben. I really really do.

Go David!

I am a big American Idol fan. And this season I am hooked on David Archuleta! I know my family back in k-town is rooting for the other Dave, but I just can't help but disagree. David Archuleta seems so genuine. He's a seventeen year old kid who sings like a pro. He's humble, sweet, and so so grateful for this whole experience. I just love him to bits. To bits, I say.

I even swung by Murray High last Friday to see if I could catch a glimpse of the mania. It was insane the amount of people that swarmed the place. But everyone around was so happy and excited. David makes people happy. So, GO DAVID! (Archuleta) I hope that you are the next American Idol. You've got my vote.

Clark Jungle Hammock

Here is a site I did a few months ago. For any of you extreme campers out there this is the product you need. A hammock, not just any hammock but a camping hammock based after the sturdy WWII models while utilizing modern materials to create an ultra-light, compact shelter. If I was a hunter or an extreme backpacker I'd want one of these.

I had a great time designing the Clark Outdoor Jungle Hammock site and not only did I get the chance to design the website I had the privilege of re-branding the company as well as creating a brochure for them that highlights their different models. Its awesome to get to do what love every day.

I enjoy Taesya shows

There is a lot of wisdom to be found in watching Children's television. Life is simpler there. We say things loud and proud. Conflicts are resolved quickly, humans understand dogs and dragons, Moms and Dads are always right. I thought I would share a few gems that I have collected from what my daughter affectionately calls "Taesya shows."

"Don't don't don't bite your friends. Friends are our friends." - Yo Gabba Gabba

"This calls for some celery!" - Wonder Pets

"Zippers can be VERY frusterating." - Steve from Blues Clues

"Sometimes girls and monkeys think exactly alike." - Curious George

A favorite program at our house is Dora the Explorer. This show can drive me crazy, but the plot line follows the same basic outline each time, and Dora really does have a lot of good advice. First, it's important to stop and think. Second, we need to ask for help when we don't know what to do. And last, when we look back at the mountains we've climbed, we need to say, "We did it!" And then a tiny band of insects in sombreros should play "da da da!" Vamanos!

Latest Work - Velocity Financial

Well I thought I would start writing about some of the projects I've been working on lately and some design topics that I'm interested in since that is part of who I am.  Maybe this will help you get to know me a little better.  

Above is a portion of a design of a site for one of our clients at Red Olive, Velocity Financial.  They're a Financial Investment Firm dedicated to helping people like me succeed in the investment world. I wish I  had money to invest. They were one of the best clients to work for because they knew exactly what they wanted yet they gave me plenty of creative freedom to not feel like I was some mechanical designer robot carrying out their every demand.  I got most of my inspiration for this project from a computer company call Grace PC done by a fellow designer of mine named Eric Russell who runs a studio named Lucid Creative. I love his work. 

I'll work for a client like Velocity Financial any day.  Thanks for the opportunity guys. 

Becoming Home

This is our new house. What do ya think?


Our porch needs some work. The kids love to play outside.


We have two varieties of flora; the tulip and the dandelion. So far they are tied in population.

Craving Music

The radio is taunting me, "Listen between 6am and 6pm and you can win tickets to see Jason Mraz in HAWAII." As they play all of my favorite Jason Mraz songs, I am somewhere between weeping and strangling the radio. I know I have a zero percent chance of winning a trip to anywhere, let alone a tropical island. It's just cruel to put ads like that on the radio.

In Bowmans (grocery store), the other day, I saw the poster advertising Davis High School's upcoming Prom. They are finally back at the Utah State Capitol for the first time since 2003, and their theme is "You Have Stolen My Heart." (An amazing song by the band Dashboard Confessionals.) Davis always picks a song to be the theme for each dance, and normally they are terribly lame. But I have to admit I got a little jealous of all those little Davis girls, this prom. Picking out their dresses, getting all excited, riding to the capital to dance to Dashboard. Sometimes I really miss High School.

So I'll do the best I can. Pop in my Jason Mraz or Dashboard Confessionals CD, put on my headphones, and drown out reality. I might just imagine myself at the Prom. If I imagine REALLY hard, I could even end up in Hawaii. Oh I am craving music. Like the deserts miss the rain, I tell ya.

Canon Man-n

This picture is the essence of Canon. A ball, a car, and a big mess; the story of every day with my son. Oh, how I love him, that little tornado.

Sibling News

My little brother, Cameron Mortensen, received his call yesterday to the Toronto, Canada West Mission. He will be entering the MTC on Wed. June 18th. I am so excited for him because I know that he loves this church and that he will give his whole soul to this calling. I am proud of my little brother for the man that he has become. Yay Cam!

My siblings are growing up and I love them so.