Unrelated Recent Events That Require Documentation For Posterity

We THOUGHT that Stevie's last basketball game was on Saturday, and so of course we took a lot of pictures...






But it turns out we have one more practice and game and even a pizza party to look forward to. Thank goodness, because we got creamed. Now the Rockets (their team name) have a chance at redemption.

In addition, I took this cute picture of Jacob (What? I warned you these were unrelated)

We also had some visitors from DFW! My sweet friend Bonnie Finley (formerly Bonnie Carey) came up for a visit. I've known Bonnie for almost 20 years (insanity!!)---we grew up together in Arlington. She brought her beautiful family down and we talked and talked and TALKED until our faces turned blue. It was so nice to catch up and reconnect with such a good friend.



Today at David's Preschool Co-op they studied the letter "P." David got to wear his pajamas to school, where they made pigs and pockets and ate pancakes. David was so excited that he wore his pajamas for the rest of the day.

What I Did Today...

Steven had the day off today, so he mercifully got Stevie off to school and let me sleep in. Of course sleeping in for me nowadays is 8am. It may not sound that exciting, but it was such a wonderfully delicious indulgence.

After breakfast, I rustled the kids up to the gym to complete my next two miles on the treadmill. I'm doing the Couch Potato to 5K program. I tweak it a little bit so I'm at least putting in 30 minutes each time. The first day I did it I felt like I would surely die, but today I felt like I was flying. I'm trying to make myself go slow, though, even when I do feel good. I don't want to hurt myself. I even bought myself some fantastically fabulous and consequently expensive running shoes this week so that I can run with the proper support (because heaven knows I need it).

Today was early release at Stevie's school, so we planned a trip with several families from church to go to the Alvin Bayou Wildlife Park. It was such a wonderful day to go, because it was a bit cold and we were the ONLY group there. No lines, no waiting. It was wonderful. I'm always surprised by the incredibly tender feeling I get for these animals---I just want to hug them and squeeze them and name them George. Stevie and David had a great time too(little Jake stayed home with Daddy).







By the time I got home I was exhausted. I seriously considered cancelling Steven and my valentine's day date at the stake adult dance. But believe it or not, Steven insisted we go. "How often do we have a fun Valentine's Day activity with our friends that costs absolutely no money?" He had a point. So Amber loaned me a red dress and I gussied myself up for a evening of dancing the night away.

We ended up having such a good time. So many of our friends were there, which always makes things twice as fun. We danced every single dance, as crazily as possible. I felt gorgeous--Steven looked smokin'. Quite frankly I thought several times about ditching the dance and finding a more...ahem...private location. But we stayed, and I'm so glad we did. I LOVE TO DANCE! (which is rather unfortunate for all the unlucky onlookers...)


We drove back to the house around 10:30 to the relief of our sweet baby sitter who had just encountered one of David's famous night terrors. After taking her home, Steven and I were still so wired that we stayed up almost all night. It was almost like those crazy college days...

All in all, a truly great day.

Some Favorite Books

This list changes all the time. But I do currently have several at the top, and here they are in no particular order:

How Green Was My Valley- Richard Llewellyn
I love this book for so many reasons---one of which is because it's completely peppered with little indeniable truths. Another reason is because I love reading the Welsh dialect. I also love how carefully the mother and father try and teach their brood of boys good, true principles. And I love seeing the world through the eyes of a young, still-discovering boy as he struggles to understand morality, beauty and sadness.

East of Eden- John Steinbeck
I love to read John Steinbeck's writing, even when I don't love the story. He's so brutally honest, perceptive and unapologetic. But this Cain and Abel baesd novel struck me and filled me with hope--Timschel! (Thou Mayest!)

Love in the Time of Cholera- Gabriel Garcia Marquez
No one character is particularly admirable in this book, but all are completely human. The unrequited love the main character feels throughout his life made my own heart ache for him.

The Remains of the Day- Kazuo Ishiguro
A book about the subtleties of butlery and decorum and reserve, and how the butler realizes in the end that his whole life has been dedicated to the service of a foolish man. It's definitely a book about self-delusion. The main character only reveals the information he wants us to know about him---just like we all do in real life.

My Antonia- Willa Cather
The writing in this book is breathtaking and I don't even know why. Maybe it's the simplicity. Whatever it is, all of Willa Cather's books (and I've read them all) are gorgeous.

Bridget Jone's Diary- Helen Fielding
I just laughed my butt of from page one to the end.

A Favorite Quote...

"This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." ~George Bernard Shaw

A Favorite Food

Seafood. Mmmmmm.

You'd think that since I'm living 30 minutes from the OCEAN I'd be eating seafood all the time. Unfortunately this isn't the case. I don't know why I shy away from actually cooking seafood myself. Maybe it's the general pricey-ness of seafood in supermarkets. Maybe it's the fear of getting it horribly wrong. Maybe I just don't want my home to smell like a fish house for a week afterwards.

Whatever the reason, I only seem to eat seafood when we go to a nice restuarant, which is equally seldom. Maybe the very rarity of my eating seafood is what makes me love it so much. Who knows? But it's good stuff.

But no sushi, please. The thought of eating raw fish makes my skin crawl.

Atypical

I had a funny conversation with my friend today about Scott Pilgrim. She watched it with her husband after reading my rave review. They thought it was pretty stupid (and understandably so), and she told me I was bonkers. I cracked up, partly because she was the second friend to tell me that. And partly because it's true. I am a little bonkers.

I think people think I'm strange because of the books, movies and music I like and don't like. But here's the thing: I'm drawn to things that are unpredictable. If I start reading or watching and I correctly predict what's going to happen next, I'm disappointed and lose interest. My favorite thing in the world is a twist ending. Or even better, a story that is so outrageous I can't predict a single thing.

I love reading or watching (or listening to) ideas that I think are wholely original. I like things that don't remind me of anything else. If I feel like I've read/seen it before---well, I might as well watch a re-run.

There are some exceptions to the rule, though. If something is insanely funny then predictability is completely forgiven. I'm also pretty willing to overlook a formulaic plot or prose if I feel like I've been uplifted or learned something new.

So if you've got a crazy idea, tell me about it. I like crazy---as long as I haven't heard it before.

Favorite Movies

Favorite Old Movie: You Can't Take It With You


Grandpa Martin Vanderhoff: "Maybe it'll stop you trying to be so desperate about making more money than you can ever use? You can't take it with you, Mr. Kirby. So what good is it? As near as I can see, the only thing you can take with you is the love of your friends."

Favorite New Movie: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World


Stacey Pilgrim: Did you really see a future with this girl?
Scott Pilgrim: Like... with jet-packs?

Favorite Movie that I Shouldn't Have Seen Because It's Rated R: The Royal Tenebaums


Ethel: How long have you been a smoker?
Margot: 22 years.
Ethel: Well I think you should quit.

A Few Favorite Songs

I have an infinitely long list of favorite songs. But here are a few:

Black Sheep by Martin Sexton
Martin Sexton is an outstanding vocalist and all-around musician. But this song in general touches a tight place in my heart. I've always seen myself as a black sheep---not of my family, but of life in general. I think everyone feels that way to some extent. But the sentiment expressed is one of acceptance and freedom. I love it.

In Love With You by Erykah Badu featuring Stephen Marley
This is one of the sexiest songs I've ever heard, hands down.

Betelehmu sung by the MoTab
The first time I heard this song I nearly jumped out of my seat from joy. In fact, that's what this song embodies in my mind--joy in it's purest form. Watch the whole video--you'll jump up too.

Fidelity by Regina Spektor
I hear in my mind all of voices
I hear in my mind all of these words
I hear in my mind all of this music
And it breaks my heart, it breaks my heart.

WOW. Me too.

What a Good Boy by Barenaked Ladies
We've got these chains hanging around our necks
People try and strangle us with them before we take our first breath
Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same
When temptation calls, we just look away

AGAIN--killing me softly with their song---speaking the thoughts in my own brain.

O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen
I sang this song for the first time in the BYU Concert Choir under the direction of Mack Wilberg. I have a feeling the songs sung by the angels at Christ's birth might have sounded something like this. So holy. Filled with awe and quiet but intense joy.

The Fellas

Took my little guys to their yearly well-child doctor's appointments on Monday. They're both as healthy as can be as usual. Hot DOG, I've got some good-looking kids. For example:


STEVIE
(or rather Steve or Steven. He doesn't like me to call him Stevie anymore).
WEIGHT: 53 LBS 75-90%
HEIGHT: 47 INCHES 75%


DAVID
WEIGHT: 39 LBS 75%
HEIGHT: 41 INCHES 75%
Stevie enjoyed a brief and shot-free visit, but David wasn't so lucky. Not only did he have 3 vaccinations, he also had the most MONSTROUS WART you've ever seen in your life on his left index finger. It seriously reminded me of the wart on the dr. scholl's commercial---you know, the one that looks a bit like Oscar the Grouch and talks with a Brooklyn accent? I fully expected David's wart to shout out obscenities at any moment. Dr. T gave him a freeze treatment, so hopefully it will cease and desist in a few days.

I included this picture because I think it's really great how well you can see Stevie's uvula and all the other inner-workings of his larynx.

And I included this one just because Jake just happens to be pretty darn good-looking too.

Recent and Potential Purchases

Here is something I've bought recently:

In order to change THIS:


To THIS:


What do you think?

And here is something I'd like to buy in the near future (or something like it). It's for the corner where the ladder is in the previous picture:



It's a small space, so it must be a small chair. Or bench. Or whatever else I can find to fit there. I have some other changes and/or additions planned for this room as well. I'm excited and hesitant at the same time.