The Life and Times of Rockstar Mom

20 Months of Drooling

2012-01-21T15:53:00.000-08:00

You would think that being home more means I would get to write lots of blog posts, but really it just means more TV on the internet, so sorry about that. This month has been a really big one for you and us. This week has seen you transition from 2 naps to 1. While I like that this frees up more of my day, your one nap isn't much longer then when you were taking 2, which doesn't seem right to me, but you think you know what's best for you.
You have gotten a few teeth recently and your clothes have been covered in drool constantly, but the flow is starting to slow, so I'm thinking you and I might be in for a break before you get more teeth.
Food is still an issue, as with your sister, but you are stuck in your little rut. We still have to buy baby food and between that and oatmeal, that's your diet. If I sit and feed you chicken nuggets, you may eat 2, but I also have to distract you with a book or something to keep you from realizing that you are actually eating. You do love rice and shredded cheese but those are very hard to grip with toddler fingers and harder still is getting them into your mouth. After the first serving is gone, we just collect what fell into your lap and it's dinner time again! Please start eating more food. It's really stressing me out that you haven't gained weight in 4 months.
Christmas was a lot of fun, but it took you a while to get the hang of tearing paper without being in trouble. You got a singing Elmo doll and a little lawn mower to push, both has seen lots of play time already. Unfortunately Christmas was when our camera decided it wasn't going to work for a few weeks, so those classic family pictures around the tree and Christmas eve were taken with blurry cellphones and now we're trying to figure out how to get them onto the computer. Oh well, you looked adorable and I took a mental picture.
You love books, if I would read you a book and tell you what all the pictures were that you pointed at all day long, you really would. You love finding all the animals in books and pointing to them and have me tell you what they are, even if you know what they are and can even say so yourself. Most of your fits come from when we don't have time to sit down and read you a story, that causes many tears but all is forgiven when the time comes that we can pull up a seat and a story and read, but you always want to turn pages at your own pace, whether I've finished reading it or not.
The biggest development has been in talking. You say tons of words now, but it could also be that you've been saying words for awhile now and I just couldn't understand you, since it almost seems like it happened overnight, one day you were saying "ho ho ho" for Santa and the next you could say "hippo" and knew what a hippo was. Also doggy, puppy, plane, truck, heart, here go, and too many more to count! I'm so proud of you, and just now you said "snowing" because it is snowing and you love it. The crazy winter we've been having, yesterday it was so warm you were playing the the dry grass in the backyard at 50 degrees, your sister was running around without her coat!
You are the sweetest little munchkin, just yesterday you came up and gave me a kiss unasked and you find delight in the smallest things. I'm so glad to be able to watch you grow.
Love you,
Mama

16 Months of Walkin' the Walk

2011-09-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

This month has brought us many, many new teeth. Honestly, I'm tired of you getting new teeth. I think you're fine until maybe you're three and can say "Excuse me mummy, I think I new some aspirin for my aching gums." Right now I don't know if you're hungry, tired, hurting or just upset.
The little run you've got going on is hilarious. You look so unstable and unwieldy, but it's still really cute. You're learning your animal sounds, like monkey and dog and elephant are your favorites. You're also trying to count, but the only thing that sounds close is your two. At least I think it's two.
Now is the real count down to nursery. You are too big for me to hold you for 2 hours at church, but you're too little to go to nursery. Sundays will be long until November.
Food is still touch and go. I never know if you grabbing food means it will go into your mouth or onto the floor. More food ends up on the floor though, which is a reason why you are still so skinny. I feel like I'm starving you, but it's you that won't eat the food.
You are getting taller, and that also makes you seem skinnier
Apparently you are into swing and big band music. It's like you can't control yourself, you just gotta dance! But seeing you wiggle around to music is the most super cute thing.
You've also become intermittently cuddly, but we also never know when that is coming which makes it more fun, it's a little like a lightning strike.

Love you my cuddly boy,
Mama

5 years of Totally Freaking Me Out

2011-09-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

Well we finally made it to 5. You are so much bigger now and much more mature. You still love your preschool and with the leaps you've made in your writing letters and numbers, it's well worth it. You now want to write your own "books" and ask how to write words to put in them, you're not big on spacing letters to make words, but we can tell you what letters to write and now words are emerging. Your birthday is just after school starts so all your classmates from last year have moved on to kindergarten, which I was worried about. I didn't know how well you would make friends with the younger kids or if you would just boss them around. So far you have been a good helper since you know the routine for the other children to follow and you love to play with any kids. You told me recently that you want to be a teacher because you like "telling rules." So basically your little miss bossy. We've been working on the difference between asking and demanding.
You and your brother aren't always ready to play nice together anymore. He's walking and learning to talk and wants to be all up in your business. Whatever you are playing with, he also wants to play with. Your ability to share is being tested every day. Mostly it's still a struggle, but sometimes we see progress.
This years birthday party was a success, although a lot of work for me. It was Rapunzel-themed and I even made a "high-tower" cake, although it got less and less high as the first tower fell down. But most of your friends came to color and make crowns and eat pink cupcakes, it was very noisy. I can't believe that six little girls can make that kind of noise.
You've started in a dance class, and although you've only been to one, I think you're going to like it. This teacher actually seems to understand how to work with kids, which is helpful. I have also been trying to help you practice pointing your toes and teaches you the positions.
What your into any given day changes a lot (except Rapunzel), but you are a fan of watching Wicked on youtube and singing "Defying Gravity" although you think it's "Defining gravity." We also love to watch Wizards of Waverly Place and ANT Farm on the Disney channel.
You are very interested in the watermelons we're growing in the garden and you want to make sure we water them enough, so far we haven't killed them, so we may have some watermelons in October to eat!
I never know what you are going to tell strangers we meet, sometimes it's about how when you're a mom, you're going to get a dog and sometimes it's things I really wish you didn't feel the need to share. It's always an adventure!

We love you very much and I hope I really get to enjoy this last year before you leave me and go to school ( cuz I never leave you to go to work or school!)
Hugs and Luvs,
Mama

15 Months of Learning

2011-08-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

This month has seen marked progress in your vocabulary. Often you repeat "mama mama" over and over but now new things are creeping in and my trying to teach you animal sounds is working! You picked up a toy cow and said "Moo" today! And you are getting better are barking and making elephant noises.

Often when I tell you something, you understand. Go downstairs, let's find Hayley, etc." It's been very interesting watching you learn.

We went camping this month. It was a very short trip, which was good considering we haven't been tent camping in a long time. We forget everything and

almost forgot more. No blankets, no condiments, no tongs, no fire clicker, all kinds of things the would have been helpful. We got there in the evening and set up our tent, then took

it down after breakfast the next morning. You were so happy to be outside for such a long time. Your attitude was "Dude! We're still outside! This rocks!" We were camped near a little playground and you and your sister had a ball playing in the sand pile, which was nice because it kept you safely occupied, but then you had sand everywhere. There's always a trade off, isn't there?

Food is still weird. You want whole pieces of everything to go with all your new

front teeth, but you don't have any molars, so chewing things is still difficult, but that doesn't stop you from throwing a fit if we give you cut up pieces of pizza

when you want your own whole slice to chew. You want what I'm eating, but you're done with your own food, but unless I give you whole pieces of chicken, you want nothing to do with the bits you can actually eat. It's a frustrating place to be.

I go back to school next week and I'm not excited for how much more I'll be

gone. I've enjoyed getting to be with you more in the last few weeks. I tried to make the time we had together fun by going to the park and going swimming and hiking.

I hope you had a good time as we head into fall, there will be lots of new memories to make.

Love you tons,

Mama

14 Months of Trying Again

2011-07-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

Okay so 14 months and than some, but better late then never! This month has seen a huge change in your mobility. You are now walking like a champion! You have figured out that you can move faster walking and so usually it's your preferred method of movement. You are adorable while you walk, half dinosaur, half drunk sailor. But now your knees aren't quite so dirty, most of the time.
You have four little teeth now and I think more will come soon. Because of your lack of side teeth eating can still be challenging. You don't want mushy baby food, but you still need more teeth before you can eat most crunchy food. You love pizza and can eat a whole slice all by yourself and if I let you, you would live on goldfish crackers and water.
You have finally hit 20 pounds, barely, so I'm still trying to oil up your food. When I make myself an egg white omelet, you get an egg yolk omelet cooked in butter and as long as you have ketchup, you're a happy camper.
You find hitting hilarious, we, your family, find it much less so. Trying to discipline you is met with temper tantrums and throwing yourself to the ground. This is your standard reaction when you are told "No" and can't play with what you want to (fire, knives, etc) and it has gotten frustrating for me too. We did have to leave a store and walk right out with the shopping cart full because you were throwing a monster fit, but of course, once we got outside you were fine, but then we got in the car and the water works and screaming started up again.
You love the pool, but you don't love having to be held or in your baby tube. You are ready to be out there, swimming away. You love to jump into the pool, but you do not like floating on your back, that makes you very cross indeed. But you love to kick and splash and feel the water all around you.
You are trying to learn to give kisses, mostly the big, slobbery, open-mouth kind, which is cute, but messy. You are cool with high fives, but fist bumps are still somewhat confusing.
Your talking is getting better, for a while there i thought you would only ever speak in grunts and growls, but now there is the occasional "mama" or "baba" in there and your favorite thing to say is "HeeYaw!" which must be said at full volume and repeated over and over until the end of time. Still it's pretty cute and the hugs are definitely worth it.
Love you,
Mama

13 Months of Expectation

2011-06-25T10:10:00.000-07:00

This month has had a lot of almosts an not quites. You're almost walking, and you almost have top teeth to really finally be able to chew with. 2 weeks ago at the family camp out, you spent the whole time pushing scooters and strollers around and people kept saying that any day you would just walk. Well, still waiting for any day, but I'm sure it'll come soon. If you only knew how much more I would let you wander outside walking versus crawling, you'd be running for the door, but until than, we'll just be patient.
You're two little bottom teeth try really hard to chew all the food you want to eat, but we still ahve to be careful with what we give you, since really, you can't chew yet.
Food has been hit and miss, some days you eat everything and some days you want to take your favorite foods and throw them on the floor. Things I'm sure you'll love get snubbed and go-to meals are getting more mixed reviews. Spaghetti and macaroni are perfect examples of things that may please you palate or may get hidden under your tray.
You're birthday party was a success, almost too much of a success. There was hardly room for all the people in our house, but we managed. We did a soccer theme, since while I know what theme to do for Hayley's party in 3 months, you were not as obvious, so soccer it is. I made cupcakes and you didn't attack your cake like I thought you would. You must not have liked your hands being so sticky or something, and until I gave you some on a spoon, you weren't sure what to do with it.The doctor says you are still scrawny. 5th percentile now, which I suppose is better then the 4th, but your height is slightly above average, so we're trying not to worry.
Your tantrums are nasty and hilarious. You throw your head into the ground and cry. Mostly if you're told "No." Like "No, I'm not going to let you dump all your milk into a puddle on your tray" and "No you can't go outside, it's nap time" and then comes the baby face-down on the floor, sobbing because his heart has been broken. Boys are such drama queens.
If you could live outside, you would. You went camping for 4 days and I figured eventually the outdoors would lose some of the appeal, but no, it was a magical time for you. Crawling through dirt and bugs and everyone pushing you around in your little car stroller. You had the time of your life.
I can't believe my baby is so big already! If only you could stay my snuggley, little munchkin forever, but watching you grow up has been fun too.
Love you,
Mama

1 Year of Little Blessings

2011-05-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

I have regretted not writing up your birth story again after your dad closed the program without saving my 3 page write-up. I always thought at some point I would have some down time. Unfortunately starting school full-time hasn't left much free time. But I do want to have your story for the future, so let's see how much I remember.
I had hoped to go into labor on my own, but that's not how my life works. So after bravely facing and passing your due date, we scheduled an induction for Monday may 24th. Early in the morning I called the hospital right on time, but the response was one I remembered from when your sister was born, call back later. There was a snowstorm occurring and the weather can cause the onset of labor, apparently. I wouldn't know about that. I called back and was given a vet ho-hum okay to head in. It was nasty weather so the drive was slow, at least it was to me. When we got there, and walked up to the check-in desk, I was told to take a seat in the waiting room. I thought " this is it, they're sending me home" and we sat and sat and watched the nurses come to the waiting room for people that had come in much after us. After the news finished on the TV and Dr oz began, your dad was getting frustrated and finally went to the desk to see what the hold up was. I was sure that I was being sent home. Actually they had been waiting for me, wondering why I wasn't there yet, needless to say there was much apologizing from them. I was hooked up to machines and started on my IV and your father and I settled in for the long wait. We watched Have you heard about the Morgans? and waited while my contractions began. I tried to tough it out but after a few hours it was time for the epidural. This was the awful bit last time so I was nervous. When the doctor came in, he and my nurse were talking about gardening. They talked a out the topsy turvey pots and i found out they have one for strawberries! And then it was over. It hadn't been awful! Contractions were getting stronger and I was worried my mom wouldn't be able to make it from work. I started feeling sick and was started on oxygen. I was checked and had progressed a lot, I must have been in phase 2 of labor. I started to want to push and my doctor was called. To me everything happened so fast but maybe it wasn't from the other side, I don't think I pushed for took long, not at all like your sister who was turned all funny, you knew it was time to get out.
A few good pushes and you were here, so beautiful. After you were here, I felt great, probably some rush of endorphins or something. Your grandpa and grandma Bowen came by with your sister to see you. Hayley was very happy to finally meet you. Now it was time for me to start moving around. I was wiggling my toes for all I was worth so that I could get to the bathroom and show the nurses how well I was doing. Checking my bleeding I was kept in bed longer than I wanted to be there. Checking the bleeding requires the nurses to press down on my abdomen and seeing that my tummy had held a tiny person earlier that day, it didn't feel good. After awhile the nurses decided it was time to try the walk to the bathroom. Two nurses flanked me to help me make the short wall across the room. I was told to keep my legs locked and just shuffle the few feet. I started shuffling, the nurses didn't like my color, I made it to the bathroom, but I started to feel very sick. One nurse told me to keep my eyes open, so I focused on that. This is now according to your dad, with my eyes open, I passed out. One nurse said " she's gone" and the nurses called for backup. I then came to, it was like everything came back into focus. A group of nurses got me back into bed. They would now give me more medication and watch my bleeding even closer. I was transferred to a new bed and moved from labor to a recovery room. Here is when people started to show up, it seemed like hours that people were there. You were passed back and forth from all your aunts and uncles and grandparents. When my mom got there I started to feel a little better, I knew she would help me through this. I couldn't sit up in bed, so while everyone was there I was laying down, trying to be brave but I was getting so tired. My dad kept telling me about his trip to Vegas or something, showing me pictures he had taken on his cellphone. It was all very surreal.
Finally after everyone had held you and cooed over you, everyone left except my mom, they came to check my bleeding and all I could do was cry. It was so painful and while the nurses had thought the bleeding was slowing down, turns out it wasn't. You went to the nursery to sleep for the night. Your dad had taken his sleeping pill and was planning on going to his parents to sleep. But after the doctor came it was decided, I needed to go into surgery, there was something stopping the bleeding from slowing down. At this point I just wanted to go to sleep, surgery would let me sleep, so I was good and completely confident in my doctor. Your dad was freaking out though. He had his dad come back to the hospital so they could give me a blessing. I told your dad to go home with his parents since he had taken his sleeping pill already and surgery would take probably about an hour. I figured I was fine, my mom was here, she could stay with me and your dad could get some sleep since he was probably no good to me now anyway.
Of course your dad wouldn't have that. He was worried about me and possibility that realistically I could die, although that wasn't very likely. Everyone stayed. I was just happy that I got to get some sleep!
The anesthesiologist was an aging hippy dude. He told me that he'd heard I'd had kind of an exciting day. I felt very relaxed and a nurse had me hold her hand until I was out. I don't remember much of even being in the room, so it must have happened fast, then I was in a recovery area, half asleep, half awake. I kept wanting to ask the nurse if it was okay if I slept, but I never work up even to do it. I was wheeled back through the hospital to the women's center and in the waiting room, my family was there, and were told that everything went well and we were all good. Now I would get some more sleep right? It was about midnight and the rest of the night was ahead of me. Your dad stayed on a cushion on the window seat in my room, which seemed pretty crappy. I was so thirsty but also so tired, but probably because of a tube down my throat, every time I swallowed was slightly painful, so that would wake me up every few minutes. Then since your dad had not fallen asleep with his medication, he was up the rest of the night reading. Every time he turned the page, I would also wake up, so all in all, it wasn't a very restful night. During the night your dad had been been able to feed you a bottle and you went back to sleep.
The next day I felt like I hadn't had time to bond with you since you slept all night in the nursery and I hadn't held you much the day before. You made up for that with a vengeance. You were the cutest baby, and already so easy and patient. Everyone got to hold you and you were cool with everyone, mostly you slept, but you were awake for some good long stretches and barely cried at all. It wasn't as scary to bring you home as when we brought your sister home and we didn't know what we were doing. You slept like an angel from the start at night, which made me very grateful and you've been fairly consistent every since.
This last month has seen you scooting around on furniture, but still mostly crawling since you can do that super fast. You now have 2 little teeth on the bottom and spent your 1st birthday with a double ear infection, which you handled pretty well considering you must have been in pain.
You are such a happy little boy, as long we keep you dry and fed, you like to go to bed and take your naps and I love your little butt wiggle you do trying to get comfortable to sleep.
You also love to dance and Popcorn Popping is your new favorite song and you wave your little hands with me as I sing. Singing this I can get you to eat and drink a little bit more since your still such a small little boy.
This has been a great year, I'm so glad to have you in our little family.
Love you Forever,
Mama

11 Months of Wonderful

2011-04-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

Well this crawling thing is old hat to you, you're a speedy little guy always on the move, but now you're all about standing. You would like to walk, but you haven't figured that out yet. You do stand for long periods of time, I believe that you get stuck, since you'll get tired and lay your head down on whatever you are holding onto for support, when you could just sit down, but you're stubborn that way. Very stubborn, that comes from your father's side. But I have to watch you like a hawk now, no more sitting on the bed and I have to shut the door to your room if I have to switch out the laundry since you're likely to make a bee-line to the stairs. I've also had to master the baby gate, since you want to go up every set of stairs you can wiggle your way to. You can make it easily up the short 4 steps, but you get tried trying to make it up the larger steps.

Eating has been very hit and miss. Formula is something that you only want very sparingly and now the baby food isn't cutting it for you half the time. If it's big people food or you can feed yourself, you're all about it. The problem comes from you not having any teeth and that makes just giving you our meals a little tough on me since I have to put everything into bite size tiny pieces. I also have to pace you since if it'll still fit into your mouth, you'll stuff it in. You adore chicken nuggets and pasta of any kind. Our new thing is making you buttery Parmesan noodles that you can fit yourself with minimal mess, you'll end up eating about as much as your big sister if that's your meal. I got you some bananas since I figured that would be good finger food, but you don't really care for them (I totally get that, I'm not a banana person myself) but strawberries are the bomb. You have expensive tastes already, you won't eat the bananas at 69 cents a pound, you want the berries are over 2 bucks a pound. You're a big pizza and french fry fan, you love oatmeal and scrambled eggs, but apparently hard boiled eggs are not for you as of this morning. It's two bad I made almost 2 dozen for Easter thinking that you would love them.

Sleeping has lost some of it's pattern. Your naps still come at regular intervals usually, but you will sometimes sleep for hours or 45 minutes without rhyme or reason, days I think you'll take a long nap end up being super short which is a pain for getting homework done. This month you also had some kind of illness and for about 3 days, you slept almost constantly, up for only an hour or so at at time then taking 3 hour naps, when you got a rash I took you to the insta-care but they said it was just a virus and you'd be fine.

Today is Easter and you spent some time exploring the grass, seeing the neighbor's dogs and having a having good time, I can't wait for the summer to more outside activities. You also took your first nose dive off the pew at church, you'll be fine, but there is a little bump. When you are determined to go somewhere, no matter how much i try to stop you, it's likely you will success. But don't worry, I'll be there to scoop you up and kiss it better.

Love you,

Mama

Months 9 & 10 Pass in a Blur

2011-03-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

Can I just admit here that I really thought I would have more time for things without working full-time. Turns out that trying to do homework and take care of two needy children makes less time then if you have 8 hours a day at a job where you may or may not be terribly busy.

This month and last have seen you growing in all kinds of ways. First, rolling around became your main mode of transportation, but now? Now you're doing some (not very much) actual crawling! Although you want to walk more than anything, so we'll see how long I can keep you somewhat stationary.
You have very low strangers anxiety, in fact at church when we had to squeeze in next to an older lady, you practically jumped into her arms after she smiled at you. She held you for about 10 minutes before you decided you should return to your family.
With the pronouncement from the doctor that you're only in the 4th percentile for your weight you decided that you don't like just anything anymore. Your palate has become more refined and vegetables that are not sweet potatoes? They are right out. And the doctor wanted me to start putting olive oil in your food, yeah, you hate that. I still try to put a little in there sometimes, but not if it's something fruity that you're going to want anyway. You still want to eat big people food and it's all I can do to keep your sister from feeding you choking hazards. But some favorites are mac and cheese and peanut butter bread. Your sleeping schedule is pretty solid most days, unless I really need you to sleep so I can do homework, then your usual 2 hour naps shorten to 1 hour. Amazing how you know when that is.
You're still pretty happy and smiley unless you're hungry, tired or poopy. You also need lots of attention, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since your sister is such a drama queen.
All and in all, I'm grateful for the time we get to spend together , but I'm already missing that tiny baby who will too soon be a toddler,

Hearts,
Mama

8 Months of Binkie Finding

2011-02-03T10:37:00.000-08:00

The biggest change this month has been on your level of self reliance. You can sit up like a champ, you rarely fall on your face except when you over reach to get things that you probably shouldn't have in your little hands.

Food is still the bomb, you love your solid food, but you're okay with the bottle now, I'm hoping that you're going to quickly put on weight, but weighing you every week, so far you've not fattened up too quickly.

Now that I'm home a little more , it's nice to get you into a schedule and spend more time with you.

7 Months of Wonder

2011-01-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

Your 7th month-day past us by because it was Christmas Eve and that was a little bit of a crazy day. You are now a rolling fool. You roll back to front, front to back and twist and can pretty much bonk your little head on anything within a 3 foot radius of anywhere we put you down. As much as i want you to learn and grow, I'm not anxious for you to be mobile yet.
We finally made it to your 6 month check up, and found out what I had already suspected. You are not fat, your not average, you're only in the 6th percentile for weight. But you're in the 60th for height, so you're a tall skinny kid. I'm grateful for the tall part. I was worried that you weren't growing. You are still crazy about solid food and I try to give you some item of food that we are eating for dinner too. Last night it was spaghetti noodles, but three have also been real carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, potato salad, crackers of all types and basically anything that you can gum to death and swallow. And if you had your way, you would eat everything. I'm surprised you haven't willed your teeth to come in so we'll give you more food.
You are still such a happy child, I hope this temperament is permanent. If you could be the little ball of sunshine to offset your sister's little temper rainstorms.
Christmas was fun, you stayed awake and you could almost start to unwrap your presents, if your sister would have had the patience to to watch you open your gifts, instead of needing to "help" you open them. It's a good thing you adore everything she does.
it's been fun, I'm looking forward to spending more time with you this month. Fingers crossed.

love ya,
Mama

6 Months of Squirmy Delight

2010-11-29T15:20:00.000-08:00

This month has really shown the difference between you and your sister at this age. You started solid food. Your sister didn't love it, barely tolerated it. You can't get enough of it. You don't want milk, you want pizza! You may pull a face at a new taste, but other then meat paste, you are game for anything mushy enough to swallow. You eat carrots and applesauce with equal vigor. I'm so impressed.

Your 6 month check-up is postponed a month, since apparently your doctor is also a rock star, so you have to schedule 2 months in advance, so I have no idea how big you are, or if you're average or not. I think you're growing, I'm starting to remove the smaller 6 month sizes from your clothes and put you into the 9 month stuff. I am a little disappointed because I know there are some things you've worn only once and a few that you didn't get to at all. At least they were mostly free. If I spent money on it, you wore it as much as I could stuff you into it.

You roll over all the time, which is great, but also bad because that means you're getting more mobile and that's not good for me. But luckily you haven't rolled off anything yet.

Your sister is still the best at making you laugh and she loves to do that and while as a four year old, she's pretty self-absorbed, she still helps to take care of you. She's the best binkie-finder and if she's not too distracted, she can be counted on to sing you a song if you're upset.

The doctor told me that babies crying peaks at about 2 months, but I think they are wrong, you cry now more then you ever have before, although I think most of it still stems from hunger/tiredness or messy pants factors, you are less patient and more demanding as to when you need things taken care of. But you're still good for everyone else. I think it's just me.

You still love your tummy time, but it ends up being rolling time, as you don't stay too long my your stomach before you roll over and then we have to roll you back. You haven't quite gotten the hang of the other way around, but it's getting really close. Any day now you'll be rolling all over the place.

It's been a great 6 months, although sometimes it seems like it's been much longer and something it seems like you've only just come to our family. Either way it's going to be a fun ride.

Love you,

Mama

5 Months of Toothless Grins

2010-10-25T14:53:00.001-07:00

This month had you getting a round of shots and let’s just say you took it better than your sister did. I was worried that you would be sore and upset for days, but you were mostly fine. After the initial shock wore off, you seemed fine after eating and sleeping. Your sister couldn’t walk for 3 days without complaining about how much pain she was in. You measure about average, but you don’t weigh as much. You’re only in the 33rd percentile, which surprised me. Your sister always came up either average or a little more, I wonder if it’s because I’m not eating as much butter and chocolate with you. If that is the case, I’m sorry, but I was not able to wait 12 months to be able to fit back into my jeans, besides, I do my best to make sure you get the daily recommended amount of cookie dough. The things I do for you.
I’ve also officially joined the ranks of Mothers Who Worry. Thanks to your grandma who announced that all my siblings were moving and crawling at around 5 months old. And now you’ve also given up on rolling over. You have not done that in a while. You know that if you just cry, you’ll get turned over by me sooner or later, so why should you roll yourself over like a sucker? While you are great at tummy time and you love to kick your feet forever and ever, there is no scooting around. But as grandma said after telling me that you aren’t as mobile as you could be, you are incredibly smart. I concur on that one. You are the worlds smartest baby, that’s just how it goes. Sorry other smart babies, you don’t compare.
You are also very good natured. We had a bit of hiccup with who was watching you for 2 weeks, I had to scramble to find replacements when your grandparents went out of town, but all the different people that took their turn with you said what a good baby you were. Even your Grandpa Kurt says that all babies should be a good as you are. I know that I’m very lucky with you. You sleep at night, you’re happy most of the time, and you’re as cute as a button.
You were able to go with us to the zoo for your sister’s birthday and you had a great time. You loved being outside and you would squeal for joy. It was hilarious. I don’t think you were really aware that there were animals around us, but you definitely like going for long walks. There is one animal you are aware of, our cat Link. You love to reach out for him, and he’s attention starved enough that he’ll let you tug on his fur because he may get a few pets out of it, lucky for us, he’s very patient and just sits while I remove your chubby little fist from a clump of his fur.
I’m so happy to be able to watch you grow and learn, and here’s to making less mistakes with you, then I made with your sister! Being the 2nd child is the best!
Love you,
Mama

Two Mornings After

2010-10-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my wonderful friend Trish, I was able to attend the James show October 5th. It was rushing all day for me, from kids doctor appointments to dashing to work, to dashing to the sitters, to dashing back home and thank goodness dinner was waiting. Then it was mad dash down town. I think we made it in record time. I was only brave enough to look at the speedometer once, but when Trish drives, you know you’ll be on-time, even if you left late!
It was first time ever going to the Complex, it apparently has 3 stages, and there was another show going on for the local disillusioned, angsty radio station and James. Most of the people we saw were headed to the other show, we only got there about 20 minutes before they opened the doors, but we managed to get a spot about 3 rows of people from the front just right of center. The room was long and narrow, and probably tinier then anything this band has played in a long time. In Europe they play huge stadium shows. Trish and I got our James shirts and settled in. The opening act was a singer/songwriter named Ed Harcourt, whose album I am strongly considering buying. He played the piano, and the guitar, sometimes in the same song and really wailed. Unfortunately the sound was pretty muddy, at least where we were and while I enjoyed the sound, it wasn’t the best place to decide if he was really awesome or not. We could barely understand what he was saying when he spoke. His drummer looked like a young Gregory House, he didn’t look like Hugh Laurie, the actor that plays house, but House, and the bassist chick reminded me of Kate Beckett from the show Castle. Ed was resplendent in his 3 piece suit, those Europeans sure are stylish. His set seemed long, probably almost an hour, but since he was the only opener, he may have been able to play as long as he liked. I made a mental note to check him out on iTunes and hoped to get my picture with him afterwards since he was adorable and I knew that if I did like his music, I would want a picture of me with him.
Just before James took the stage, some loud, noisy drunk joined the group just behind us. How is it that they always know when to come in and how do they always get these great spots when they walk in late? That’s always the way. He seemed like he was completely wasted and I was apprehensive about how his presence would affect the rest of us.
James came out, Tim Booth looked like a pirate with a knit cap, a dark black goatee and striped baggy pants. Almost “Hammer-esque” pants, but they didn’t taper. The first song was Seven and I knew that this was going to be an awesome show. Tim lost his cap quickly and I realized I had never seen him perform before. He likes to dance, and his dancing reminds me of the episode of Friends where Rachel takes Phoebe running in the park, crossed with a seizure. It’s good he’s a rock star, because dancing like that, he’d never get chicks if he wasn’t.
Next was She’s a Star, what a great song. Unfortunately I was getting pounded by the drunk. After several massive elbows to my skull, I turned around to confront. I’m not sure what I was thinking, there’s no way I could have done anything to hurt him, even if he could feel pain at this point, which I’m not certain he would. Luckily before my impulses took too much over, Trish grabbed me and switched spots with me. I shook it off, but this guy’s singing was so loud, that even with the huge speakers in my face, I couldn’t hear very well. After enduring 2 more songs near the man, Trish and I escaped stage right after I said I would rather be in the back then next to this guy. At this point we could really start enjoying things. The first song from the new album come up, 10 Below. It’s a great song and I was so happy that I had purchased this on iTunes and listened to it a bunch of times and it was followed up by the best song from the new album, Tell Her I Said So. Time says what a great setup we had here in Salt Lake, we could drop the “kids” at the concert next door and then the grown-ups could be at this show. Since they were going to be competing with sound, they would play some louder songs. Then my favorite moment of the night. Just Like Fred Astaire. One of my favorite James’ songs. Time mentioned that it was easier to play this song in America then in some other countries they have played since we were so happy. During Getting Away with It I was surprised that to this point, out of 8 songs, I knew all but one of them. I love James, but I don’t “celebrate their whole collection.” I have their best of, their vital album Laid, their new album The Morning After and a few songs from other albums.
At this point, I had seen the drunk guy get to the very front of the stage and push a girl who couldn’t have been more than 5 ft tall and stumble around probably whacking other people the way he had me, then the guy just in front of Trish went after him, I think the drunk guy pushed his girlfriend as well. Trish and his girlfriend were both holding him back, but Trish was doing all the work, maybe his girlfriend wanted him to beat the crap out of this guy. Heavens knows that I wanted him too as well, but I also was telling him it wasn’t worth it. From the stage Tim says, “Cool it guys” and the boyfriend weaves to the front and yells: he’s pushing girls! And Tim asks if there is any security, apparently there were none, so Tim told the drunk to get into the corner. Everyone clapped. And thank goodness he stayed out of the way the rest of the night, I’m sure he was ruining everyone’s experience that he was near. You know it’s bad when the band has to take measures into their own hands to keep the peace.
Next came some songs I didn’t really know so I watched the band. They had a person who mostly played the trumpet. A dedicated trumpet player, I hadn’t realized there was so much brass in most James songs, and a guitar player that also moonlighted as a violin player, and boy was he good! His name was Saul and definitely looked English. Several of the band members looked like someone’s grandpa you would meet at a family reunion. Bald and wearing spectacle-glasses. Only 2 members looked like they were anywhere close to their 30s. There were 3 songs I wanted to hear, I had already heard Fred Astaire, but then they played PS, which I had put on one of my mixes a few weeks ago and was once again in love with it. Often if Tim wasn’t dancing like a maniac or singing, he would stand with his eyes closed, smiling, enjoying the music. At one point, Tim said we were just as loud as a stadium. The crowd seemed really into it. I didn’t see anyone who didn’t look thrilled to be there. During Say Something Tim got off the stage and started walking through the crowd, Exactly where Trish and I HAD been before we moved to be away from the drunk guy. Luckily he spent quite a bit of time in the crowd and started heading our way. He stopped in front of the boyfriend and I saw him ask if he was okay and the guy thanked Tim. Then he was facing me. It was a vocal break in the song and he stood there, arms folded, looking at me. I wanted to take a picture, but I didn’t want to flash in his face, I wanted to hug him, but the man is imposing in a way you wouldn’t think someone so thin looking would be. I finally settled on touching his arm and moving on, embarrassed that I couldn’t think of anything better to do or say. Then they started their hit song Laid. I tried to take a video, but my camera wouldn’t have it. I had to settle for jumping up and down and singing along. I had worried that age was creeping up on Tim’s voice and it wouldn’t be as strong as it was in 1993, but I didn’t need to worry, he hit those super high notes with ease. They left and we clapped and cheered and our encore was awesome. The first song was the first off the new album, a song about a man whose been dumped staring at dust motes trying to forgive the ex-girlfriend. Since the show next door was over they could know play some quieter songs, so this one started out sweet, of course it got loud and vindictive, as it should. Then Out to Get you melted into Sometimes. The keyboard player moved to the front and had some weird handheld keyboard you blow into. Like a cross between a keytair and an accordion. The final refrains of Sometimes: Sometimes when I look in your eyes, I can see your soul” the crowd started singing at the end and then the band stopped playing it was just the crowd singing. Tim stood with his eyes closed and a huge grin on his face. Then it was over. We cheered for a bit, but no more encores. Trish asked one of roadies cleaning up for the set list that had probably been Saul’s. Several people took pictures of the list and we walked out. I was sad that we wouldn’t be able to stay and wait for the band, as I get precious little sleep as it is. But low and behold. There were 6 band members. The only one missing was Tim, but since we had the set list, we went down the line and got everyone’s autograph. I got a photo with Saul and Ed Harcourt was also there so I got that photo with him. He photographs well, I’m pleased with the result. Talking to Saul we found out that after their last album, they did play Salt Lake and we just missed it, so apparently the moral of the story is if there is anyone you would like to see in concert, be on some kind of mailing list. Then Trish and I left, apparently Tim did come out to mingle with fans, but I only got 5 hours of sleep as it was, so while I would have liked to stay, I’m glad I did get some sleep. It was an awesome night and I can’t thank Trish enough for an amazing birthday present!

The Great Outdoors

2010-10-07T09:58:00.001-07:00

Out annual family hike this year was a little different. I couldn’t attend on the initial weekend, so Tee and Uncle Roger had to trek it alone the weekend before. Luckily for me, Troy could make it either and I was able to convince Harvest that she wanted to hike up the mountain, since she had never done it before. My morning began at ten to 4 after a frantic night of trying to get my sister navigate the correct way to my house after an evening of babysitting, then getting all the needed supplies to take us up and back down the mountain. I always stress out that I’m going to forget some necessity and we’re all going to be miserable the whole time because of it, maybe I channel my inner Jewish mother, but I make sure I pack everything I think we could possibly need. Because of this, I end up with a heavy load, but we always have snacks and TP.
We were just in time to pick up some Carl’s Jr for breakfast and head south to the 2nd tallest peak in the state. Since Troy was driving we were worried that we would take a wrong turn off in one of the mountain roads. It was also getting closer to dawn, and the parking lot is always insane. But lady Luck was with us, as we took the right turns and the parking lot was pretty dead. We easily found a spot and got ready to start. It was pretty cold, maybe in the 50s and still dark while we started.
We planned on getting as far as we could before we needed to turn back, Troy wanted to be home by 3, I wanted to be home as soon as we felt accomplished. The goal was the meadow, which is over half way to the top. We hiked hard and I’m a bit surprised, but I was the one dragging, but of course I didn’t want to be the one to slow us down too far, it wasn’t terrible, but I can see that my hour workouts weren’t enough to prepare me for an all day hike. I was huffing and puffing and my muscles burned. But we got up to the “sun line” where we finally got to hike in the sun, just before we got to the meadow around 10. We felt good and it seemed like it hadn’t been too difficult, so we pushed for the saddle, the point where you reach the crest of the mountain before you hike to the peak. You get a spectacular view of the whole valley. It’s especially nice with all the autumnal colors coming through. We had made it there about 11, since it was conference weekend a few people had their radios and while we couldn’t really hear it, it was almost like we were listening to it. Troy tried to talk us into going that last half mile up to the peak, but even if we weren’t trying to be fast, Harvest wasn’t doing so good with the height we were at, and the last stretch is so much higher and scarier, I thought letting harvest wait until next year would be a good idea.
We decided to hike back to the meadow for lunch, since we had all that extra time. Down was so much easier at first. I was cheerful, I smiled and talked to those hiking up the mountain, because in my mind, I was done. I got less cheerful, really fast. Time stretches so much longer on the way down. Parts of the trail that weren’t there before show up on the way down. I was lucky that my knees and ankles held up, but the bottom of my feet were killing me. We ran out of water, we weren’t sure how much further until the end, we were getting close but it still could have been another 30 minutes of hiking. We stopped and put some mole skin on Harvest’s blisters with this in mind. We were all thirsty and hoping to get a drink from the spigot at the bottom. After getting moving again, around the next corner and we see the end (really the beginning) of the trail. It was just after 2:30. We made it! Another year down and now I know what I should do to prepare for next year.
Things we talked about along the trail:
How you can eat mold because it’s too warm for it to survive in your body. But I disagree with that since everyone on House always is dying from rare spores.
If you plan random seeds throughout your garden, not only will it grow better, but it will also prevent weeds from growing.
Troy’s kids like to wonder about things being numbered a google-plex.
Harvest is really afraid of heights.
Running along the trail may or may not be easier then walking it.
Skiing down the glacier is a fast way down the mountain, but some of us may be too chicken to ever try it (Hey! I like my bones all in one piece!)

4 Months of Chubby Cheeks

2010-09-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

I know I missed month 3, I’m sorry. Working part-time during the busiest time of year for me meant that I couldn’t do a lot of extra-circular activities, and that extra time at home? Yeah, no idea where that goes. The past 2 months have seen you change from a new born to a real baby. You coo and chat and gurgle and giggle all the time now. You love to talk to us and to yourself. You laughed a real laugh at your sister. She kept saying “Boo” and every time you would laugh so hard! We could get you to chuckle, but only Hayley got a real laugh.
You are being a good boy for your grandma’s now that you are there full-time. You are eating like a champ. I think you’re getting close to having doubled your birth weight, but that could just be because I have to carry you around in that heavy car seat. You’re definitely taller, I’m just about ready to remove the second head positioner from the car seat since it seems to be squishing you a little bit.
You’ve rolled over sparingly from tummy to back, but you are enjoying your tummy-time more. You’ve gotten some control over your hands and can grab objects and bring them to your mouth, so you love to grab anything that I have and try to eat it. You’re also loving to really sit up, but you’re not so good at staying up yet. You tend to tip over one way or another depending on how we prop you up. Your arms have gotten so much stronger. You can prop yourself up during tummy time and those legs kick so much I think if you don’t start to crawl, you may try to fly soon.
You love to smile at us, and now matter what is going on, or how frustrated I am, I can’t help but smile at you and see you smile back. It makes my heart melt just a little every time. You slept through the night once this last week! Of course my night ends really early, I woke up at 4:50 and panicked that you hadn’t eaten, so I woke you up, but I wonder how long you would have slept given the opportunity. Mostly you’re up once during the night and then you go right back to sleep. I’m grateful for that, since it’s hard enough trying to stay awake at work as it is with being all sleep deprived.
It’s been fun watching you grow and learn, I’m glad that I have that opportunity again. It’s what makes being a mom and never getting to go to sleep or relax, actually rewarding. Of course don’t ask me when you’re a teenager, I may want to relax at that point, but until then, I’m loving getting to be with you as much as I can.Love you,
Mama

4 Years of I Can't Believe You're How Old?

2010-09-22T08:07:00.001-07:00

I can’t believe that four years ago, I was in the hospital about to meet you. This year has seen you learning and growing in all sorts of ways. Just yesterday you wrote your name all by yourself! I told you which letters to write and you did it! Of course your Y’s look like 4’s, but it’s still way better than I thought you could do it! I also recently showed you how to draw stick people and you are drawing them like crazy! You were upset because you couldn’t put the people you saw into picture form on the paper, but once you unlocked the secret of stick figures, you can draw all the people in your world. The last month has seen you attend your preschool full-time, every day. You love it, when I can finally wake you up in the morning, you are excited to get to school and see all your friends. Your first all-friend birthday party is this weekend. It was a trial to edit your list of friends down to 5, but since you picked your favorites from church and school, it’s all you can talk about. How So-and-so is coming to your party, and what’s-his-face is also coming. You even bless them all in your prayers. Which is good, because I’ve put a lot of work into your party myself, so I’m excited for you to get to enjoy it.
This year you finally have a sibling. Your little brother loves you and you are very good with him. With only occasional reminders to be careful and gentle, your interactions are adorable. You always talk about how cute he is and that he is our “squishy pants.” So far you are the only one who can make your brother really laugh. We can usually get him to chuckle, but full out laughs are only for you. You can usually talk and sing to him to stop him from crying and you’re my good little helper to put his binky back in when we’re in the car.
While today you are turning 4, sometimes it feels like 14. You can certainly push my buttons, you know just what to do to get me irritated, as your dad said, it’s only going to get worse. I can’t imagine you as a teenager. Of course you also know just when you need to be sweet and say nice things. You are prone to say “Oh thank you Mama! That’s so sweet!” and that melts me right then and there.
On Sunday you had a captive audience of great grandparents and you danced and sang and just kept going. I thought surely you would get tired after a little while, but hours later you were playing games with Aunt Kim, who can tricep-dip you over her head. I can barely carry from the car when you fall asleep in your booster seat. You are very big. I can’t wait to see how you measure up at the doctors. You seem so much taller than the other girls your age. Of course your still super skinny as eating sparingly will do that for you. I wish I didn’t care for food the way you do. Of course, given the opportunity you would still eat cereal for every meal, but I will only let you eat it at breakfast because I’m the meanest mommy. You are branching out and I’m pleased to note that although you will eat steak, you like chicken more and will eat more kinds of foods. I can also get you to try more foods then before, hopefully in Year 4 you will discover that I’m not always trying to poison you.
Your current favorite thing in Mary Poppins. I forced you to watch it when you really wanted to watch a cartoon and you fell in love. I also made the mistake of pulling out the soundtrack that your dad and I got at Disneyland on our first anniversary. Now that plays over and over in our car stereo and I have those songs in my head most of the time. I wake up humming Chim-Chimney and fall asleep with Jolly Holiday. But it’s so cute to hear you singing along. Especially to Sister Suffragette, that makes me chuckle.
You got your first really real haircut at a salon while your Aunt Harvest was finishing up school at Paul Mitchell’s. Boy, that was a long haircut for all of us. You were done playing with the toys we had brought you and you didn’t want to hold still, or look the direction you were suppose to. I finally had to let you play with my camera so that you could get your hair finished. I think the curl is leaving your hair, as much as I wish you could have that bouncy curl for life, most of your hair is just wavy. You have a bit of curl, but not as much as you use to have.
You had swimming lessons this summer as I wanted you to be able to swim in Papi’s pool. You had a ton of fun, but unfortunately swimming didn’t really happen. Of course floaties made you much more confident and we could all go swimming without having to carry you around the whole time. Forget learning to swim, we’ll just always have water wings for you.
I’m still impressed by how well you can navigate a computer. You can open the internet, find your favorite website and pick games all without being able to read! You love computers and you’re always trying to talk people into letting you play on computers. And we’re cutting down on your television time. Since you’re in school all day, you may get to watch a movie at night or on Saturday, but mostly we’re trying to keep the TV off, since I get sucked in too and right now there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done without watching TV. So lucky you, you get to be TV free with me!
You still pick up things from everyone around. Thanks to your Aunt Summer you say “Dang it! I mean Darn it!” and you like to parrot the words and phrases you hear that you shouldn’t say, but I guess it’s hard to figure out what others say that you shouldn’t. You also love to wish on stars, the moon and the sun. Your current wish is either for your party or to be a witch for Halloween.
I’m amazed that you are a little piece of me and humbled that I need to do as much as I can to teach you correctly. It’s a big job, I’m just starting to understand how big. But I wouldn’t trade you for all the cheese on the moon.
Love you Silly Girl,
Mama

2 Months of Cuteness

2010-07-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

Darling baby boy,

I can't believe it's been 2 months already, and I can't believe it's only been 2 months. Your 2 months check up was yesterday, and, as I had suspected, you are perfect. Weighing in at 11 lbs 5 oz which is average, and you took your shots like a champ. You;re looking everyday, not only cuter, but much different from your sister. I thought you would look so similar, but that wasn't for very long.

You love me best, because I'm your mommy. You'll always smile for me and you're cooing. It's so cute because to make noises you wiggle your whole body, like the sound is coming from your toes.

I can finally see that you look like your daddy, your grandma thinks you look so much like him, that she wants to call you Michael. Everyone thinks you are adorable and I have to agree. You are the cutest baby ever, sorry Hayley, but my kids just keep getting cuter and cuter.

Love ya,

Mom

1 Month of New Baby Smell

2010-06-24T18:37:00.000-07:00

I had the whole story of your birth all typed out. It was three pages long. But your father closed the window and when asked if he wanted to save the document, he chose the wrong answer.
So let's just look at pictures of you!

Fat Bottomed Babies

2010-04-14T07:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, so trying to think of something post-worthy, but really my life is pretty boring. But! I am still growing that other person, and I suppose an update on that is something slightly interesting.
I'm 34 weeks and people are starting to ask what my last day is, and are slightly surprised to see me everyday. I suppose it's been a long pregnancy for them as well.
All vitals are good, I start my weekly doctor appointments next week, and then things might seem a little more real and hey, this will actually happen and maybe soon! Although people telling me that 6 more weeks is no time at all, who aren't pregnant, might get punched in the face. Because everyday is a lifetime, people. Every. Day. And it doesn't matter that I'm not as miserable as last time (yet), just walking around and picking things up off the floor are all trials, and trials aren't fun.
Little boy is kicking and squirming and staying active and stretching into my vital organs and rib cage, but apparently there isn't much room left. According to webMD, he could be as long as Hayley was when she was born already, he just needs to weigh more and finish lung development, as that's the last thing that babies do, is get ready to breathe.
My sister and I painted Hayley's room so if I can't get a second coat up this weekend, then it's all ready for Hayley to move from the nursery into her princess pink and purple room. It's adorable, hopefully she won't hate it when she's 8 because I'm never painting again. Ever. That was way too much work, now I just need a mattress to put on her bed frame and maybe some sheets to go on said mattress and we're set! Who knew that having another kid took more prep work? Shouldn't it all transfer from the first? I suppose it's because the baby can't sleep in a drawer, even though they are like, the perfect size!
Getting the people at work ready for my absence and people do resist change. I kind of expect to come back to find that they've left all work for me to do for 8 weeks. I wouldn't be surprised.
I think I am a bit of a surprise to people at the gym, it's not often you see someone who is a hugely pregnant on the elliptical sweating it out and hoping that the elastic waistband of my workout pants holds out just a few more weeks. I have to say I'm the only obviously pregnant person I've ever seen at the gym. If only I could afford to not workout and still eat Costco chocolate cake. Man I could go for a slice of that right now!

College Daze

2010-04-05T13:45:00.000-07:00

So last night about 9 pm it occurred to me that Monday would also bring the due date for a Stats project that I haven't even thought about. Which made me feel bad for having a weekend where I didn't even think about school, I cleaned, I had friends over we had a pretty lazy Easter where the biggest thing I did was getting the candy in those little plastic eggs.
It's just so silly to think that this is just like high school. Or grade school. How many times did I do that? Just hurry and get something done quickly so that I get a grade? Lucky for me that I could devote my morning to getting the project done and it all worked out and now it's done. But I wonder if maybe it's just that my life so too crazy for me to devote enough time to my homework. I also was freaking out because I didn't know when my Econ paper was due and maybe it was due today as well or last week. Thank goodness it's not due until the end of the month, but I had no idea! There are only 5 weeks left of school and I'm nervous that my GPA is going to suffer from my grades this term. I'm applying for BS programs after this semester so it's important I keep my GPA high or I won't get in, ugh, but I just can't make myself care because I also have to get the nursery painted and the house cleaned and things organized and diapers bought and taking care of the day to day stuff and like taking care of a 3 year old, a 34 year old and myself. It just seems like I can only focus so much energy on each thing. I planned on being pregnant and taking these classes, so it's definitely my own fault, but I'm just starting to get so burned out, I hope that I can stay committed to getting the these classes done and do them well enough that I can maintain my high GPA so that I can get into my bachelors degree with a good start.
That's what I'm thinking about today. That is all.

34 Years of Chewing Paper

2010-03-31T14:10:00.000-07:00

Today is dear husband's birthday. I make a big deal out of my daughter but I have a husband as well! I suppose I should try and show some appreciation.

This year has seen you try new things including starting a Masters of Accounting program and deciding that wasn't going to work for you and then looking to small engine repair classes, which are almost finished after the year long program. It's nice to see that your passionate about something. You really love working with the engines and always try and tell me about such and such thing that you fixed. Most of it goes over my head, but I'm glad that you've found something that you enjoy.
Of course now you think that you don't have to help out around the house, just because you work 6 days a week, well, we're going to have to re figure that out.

Now to address the title of this post, since you don't have much about yourself that changes year to year, especially when it comes to how stubborn you are. Case in point:
In elementary school the rule was "students can't chew gum in class" so because you were defiant and stubborn you decided to chew paper instead, so that you weren't actually breaking the rule, just driving your teacher insane. I think you were still sent to the Principal's office and your poor parents were called. How happy they must have been 8 years ago when I agreed to take you off their hands!

Love you,

Wifey

The Third Trimester Scoop

2010-03-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

So I didn't really document too well when I was pregnant with my daughter. I thought I did, but myspace has verified that this is not the case. Mostly I talked about eating. I wonder why I gained 25 extra pounds?

Project Baby Boy: So here we are 32 weeks. It's the final countdown. I feel like I'm definitely not ready at this point. The crib is still a toddler bed, the twin bed for the toddler is still in pieces, the cradle is still full of toys and blankets. Although thanks to the kindness of friends and neighbors I have tons of clothes from 0-6 month sizes, and I bought a single crib sheet and a crib bumper, which apparently I didn't have with my daughter, and didn't care if she bumped her head.

This baby is just as active as I recall Hayley was. I'm getting really uncomfortable. I'm measuring about perfect and see the doctor every 2 weeks at this point. I'm not sure how I'm going to get any bigger, but I still have 8 more weeks, although according to Web MD, this kid won't grow much taller, just fatter. Right now the kid should be about 18.5 inches long and weighs just under 4 pounds.
I've been pretty good about continuing to workout and really have only needed to stop running and even walking, even though that's supposedly easy, but always makes my abdomen hurt where as stair stepper, elliptical and step aerobics all seem fine, but I have to really be careful with strength training since just about anything makes my back hurt. Babies are heavy! Lucky for me, but I was not plagued with morning sickness this time and have been trying to eat health(ier) and not just eat bacon cheese fries for lunch every other day. So far I'm several pounds less then where I was with Hayley and several people have said how I don't seem as pregnant as I did last time, which is good, I have really been trying on to "eat for two." But lately, I can't seem to find the motivation to eat well at home. It's way too hard to go to work all day, do homework, take care of a 3 year old and a husband and cook a dinner that includes vegetables. Way too much effort.

But I'm still able to sleep well, when my toddler lets me, she hasn't been sleeping well and it's killing me and makes me wonder if in 8 weeks I'll ever get any sleep. But I'm not being kept awake with heartburn or being uncomfortable, but there is still plenty of time for that I'm sure.
I'm just hoping the next 8 weeks pass quickly, but not so quickly that I haven't gotten anything accomplished.

3.5 Years of Fancypants

2010-03-22T15:25:00.000-07:00

(I think maybe I should do more Hayley time lines just to post more, but that's for another day.)

It's been 6 months since you turned 3 but it's everyday that you still amaze me. While you're not putting on much (or any) weight, you seem taller every time I look at you. You also have learned more than I thought you would. You pick up on little things so fast, we can't say anything without you understanding, it's a little unfortunate. Although trying to help you understand about your up and coming baby brother. You think that you also have a baby in your tummy, although you're having a baby sister apparently.

You are still stubborn and opinionated, you want what you want, when you want it. I'm amazed at your coordination and your intelligence. After parent teacher conferences at your preschool I was feeling like an amazing mother, although I think you do teach yourself a lot. I've enjoyed your independence, but I also miss how you used to need me. You just need me to put your easy mac into the the microwave and taste it to make sure it's not too hot and buying you yogurt at the store, since you haven't figured out how to use that little plastic card that buys things yet. That's probably only take a few more months.

I've been making you photo books to keep track of your baby pictures. It's amazing to see how you've grown. Seeing pictures of you as a tiny baby and trying to see if the little girl you are now was in that tiny body. It's also reminding me that I don't take the same amount of pictures anymore. My dad said it's because we've gotten used to you, but I'd like to think it's because you don't change physically as much as you used to. The face I see today will be much the same in a month. Also I'm frustrated with our camera. It's old and doesn't take very good pictures, and as someone you doesn't know how to take good pictures, I need a camera that will do that for me. And has a battery that doesn't die in 30 minutes. Still, just know that it's not that you aren't as cute as you were, it's just the moments we share are less about how cute you look and more about how cute you act.

You've figured out that your mommy and daddy have other names, so it's a trial now to make sure that you call me mommy instead of "Willow" but it's hard to enforce when it makes me giggle when you call me by name. Also it's difficult to force you to come home with me when you beg for "2 more minutes" even though you have no concept of time.

You are already a computer whiz. For Christmas you got a few toddler games to use, but you also know how to use the Internet, at least as much as someone who can't read is able to. If we get you started on YouTube, you can keep yourself entertained for an hour. When one episode or clip of My Little Ponies ends you just click pictures of what you want watch next. Although you also tend to click a lot of ads, but they are attention grabbing.

I'm enjoying this last little time we have before you're not my sole focus. I'm nervous about how you will react, but I think after things settle down, you'll love being a big sister and I think you'll be a big help. I'm loving the hugs and kisses and it makes me so happy that you love so fiercely and so freely. You try and balance it out with tantrums, but it's those rays of sunshine that make this all worth it.

Love you,
Mama

It's like living in an episode of Dora the Explorer

2010-02-19T09:57:00.000-08:00

My daughter, she loves TV. She knows all her favorite characters and will ask for shows by name. She wants to watch Deigo, or Dora or Avatar. So lately living with her is like being in an episode of Dora the Explorer. Since it's always "Do you see such and such? Say such and such!" in the little Dora voice. It's really cute, at first, but after the 20th time it's a bit obnoxious. But it's great to see what things she has picked up. The things she says because I say them. She says "sure" to everything, which apparently is something that I do, but never really noticed. Although when I think she's making things up I tend to say "sure" in response to her questions, but mine comes with a degree of sarcasm, which she has not picked up on as of yet.
She can count to 9 in Spanish. I think she learned it at school, but they also count on Dora, right? So maybe the TV taught her that too.
I just wanted to share that.
Also I have 13 weeks before I have a new child and have to deal with both. At the same time. Pray for me. But really it's not going too badly. Yet, being uncomfortable is getting obnoxious though. And gaining weight is killing me, but really, it's also not going to stop me from eating 3 pieces of cake. Okay 4. Shut up about it, okay?

Let's Beat this Idea to Death

2010-02-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

The other day while listening to my favorite morning show on the way to work I heard about a new House Bill here in the great of state of procreation.
It says that if you're only driving less then 4 miles from your home and you're not going to be driving faster than 45 miles an hour, You really don't have to put your kids in booster seats.
The phone calls started to pour in. People were either livid about it, or wanted to argue for it.
Apparently the idea behind it, is really for parents who are car pooling. The bill was introduced by a man from Provo with 8 kids. Eight. I'm sure the only way all of his kids in the boosters fit any vehicle is if he's driving a 15 passenger van, but um, don't you kind figure that out before you have 8 kids? I don't have 8 kids and I'm aware of that.
The next day the morning show had a nurse from primary children's on the show to talk about how many kids went to the ER for vehicle related accidents now versus how many had to go to the ER after and accident before the child restraint thing came into effect for those under 8. Apparently statistics (which I am totally studying!) show that serious injuries have fallen by 50%. That's a pretty good precedent.
I get that when you're carpooling you are driving a hand full of kids a few blocks or miles, and most are probably not even your kids. It seems like common sense to me, that if you only have 3 seats in the back but want to be part of a carpool that has more than 2 other kids, you kind of can't because you can't fit that many kids into your car. Well same goes for kids in car seats, if you can't accommodate for the booster seats in your car, you need to find another car pool.
Then comes another aspect of the bill. As long as you're driving less that 45 miles per hour? Um, because it's at 46 miles an hour when those booster seats make a difference for kids?
Lots of people called in to say what lap belts could do to a kid even at slower speeds. I'll spare you the details, but you wouldn't want them to happen to your child.
The radio DJ made a great observation, that how do you enforce that? The policeman pulls you over and your kid isn't in a booster, so you say: "Well I'm only driving 3 miles from home officer." And they just have to let you go? That doesn't seem very intuitive. The only way you can enforce this is after there's an accident. How far are you from your home and how fast were you going, otherwise it's completely unenforceable.
I take my daughter 3.5 miles to preschool, I drive on roads with a speed limit of 45 miles and less, therefore I would have my choice whether I want to put her in a booster seat. I cannot imagine how badly that would turn out for her if I was in an accident. And doesn't it stand to reason, if these are your kids that you should already have booster seats for them??? What if you have to drive more than 4 miles away? Pick your favorite kid I guess.
And also, don't most accidents happen within 5 or 6 miles of your home? So I guess we're hoping it's that extra mile or 2 where the accident is going to happen, not inside our protective 4 mile radius.
Anyway, it seems like laziness put into law. I don't think I'm a car seat nazi, but even to drive my daughter one block from one grandparents to the next, she is buckled into her seat, because we cross a slightly busy street and all it takes is once to change both our lives forever. it's my responsibility to be her advocate, because she's too young to decide right now. That's my job as a parent. Are booster seats inconvenient? yes? Doesn't it seem like a 6 or 8 year old is big enough that they should be fine with a regular seat belt? Sometimes it does, but evidence proves otherwise and I'm not smarter then those people, so I'll make sure that with that evidence I'm doing the best I can to make sure my child is protected. Even if I'm only driving 3.5 miles away.
Utah house Bill 113

Welcome to my New Year!

2010-02-04T10:45:00.001-08:00

Holy no posts batman!
It is I! I know I haven't updated in awhile, so I probably no longer have anyone following. But here's to a new 2010!
Picking up Hayley from preschool the other day, she was in her plastic smock running water in the sink over some plastic dishes and singing "doing the dishes, doing the dishes" and it took me a while to convince her that she was done with the dishes and she should really come home with me. But it strikes me at odd times that she really is her own little person. She is almost fully 3 and a half and while 3 has been a crap shoot, its just the beginning. In a few more years she'll be in kindergarten. I'm not okay with that. She says she's not my baby anymore. She's just Hayley. I told her she'll always be my baby, but she's not buying it.
I don't know how real the knowledge is that she'll have a little brother in 3.5 months is to her yet. She seems aware that there is a baby in my tummy but I don't know that she's figured out that at some point the baby will sleep in her room and she'll get a big girl bed and be in another room. It doesn't help that every time I have her feel where her brother is kicking, he always stops. Stage fright I guess. He never quits when someone isn't touching my stomach. He just like to make me uncomfortable.
Speaking of uncomfortable: I'm now 24 weeks along and this week people are telling me that is "so far!" and that I should be excited. And have a name all picked out. Honey, I don't have anything ready. I have to get done with this semester of school before I can have this kid and I just started. We're 4 weeks into the 16 week semester, so I'm pretty sure that May is a long, long ways away.
This gestation hasn't been too bad for me. No morning sickness (I can say that now with confidence that I'm well into the second trimester) and no crazy craving for fast food and no vegetables ever. Still Christmas happened and now when I read how much weight I'm supposed to have gained. I just laugh and times the smaller amount by 2 and that's closer to where I'm at. My back has a sharp pain in it, but only when I'm sitting, standing or laying down and trying change positions. So that's fun. I'm trying to stay more fit and I'm still able to do a lot of my workouts, just taking out some jumps and high intensity here and there, so I feel pretty accomplished that I'll be able to get back in shape before this baby is 12 months old, but time will tell. I'm still sad that even now I shouldn't eat a Blue Bacon Cheeseburger, because if you can't do that when your preggo, then when can you my friends?

Sorry, My Brain Exploded

2009-11-17T17:02:00.000-08:00

I haven't updated in forevs. I can't believe I didn't even make an Halloween post.
I'm sorry to my little followers. My brain has really exploded this semester. I though Summer classes were tough, a once a week night class for 2 and 1/2 hours and 2 other classes are killing me. I'm going to try and post some more, but I've decided that since my little peanut is now 3, she isn't changing so much each month that I need to document it so closely. And I need a life right now, so at work I need the down time. I need some youtube and pictures of cats eating cheeseburgers.
So soon, my friends, I'll let my brain think about things other than school and TV, but right now, that's all I can manage.

Organic = Less Awesomeness

2009-10-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

So I bought organic oranges because they were on sale. And I figure they are going to be so magically delicious that I will want to give up normal, growth hormone added oranges.
But these things suck. From beginning to end. You can't peel these suckers, apparently they are missing the chemical that allows the peel and sections to part company. Next they are full of nasty old seeds. I like my oranges seed-free, thank you very much. And the orange flesh isn't even worth it! They aren't juicy and fresh tasting, they are kind like the pith taste has taken over the rest of the fruit.
I for one, will not feel bad at all when I dig into my chemical-laden oranges next time. Matter of fat, when I'm eating the organic ones, I'll be thinking of the chemicals.

Also, it's October, I have a costume in mind. I'm going to make it, with my own two hands. Or rather with the help of my mother-in-laws sowing machine and maybe one or two of her hands.

And if I seriously have to keeping going to classes for another 10 weeks I don't think I can be held responsible for my actions. Group projects are for suckers. Suckers taking these classes. Please give me back managerial accounting, I'll even take governmental accounting if it means I never have to talk to these people ever again! Ahem. I will continue to work diligently to get good grades.

Conquering the Mountain (Again!)

2009-09-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday marks the 3rd time I've ventured to the top of Mt Timpanogos. Once again, my dad, my great uncle and my brother Tee was in the mix. Absent and missed was my Eldest brother troy, and while it wasn’t a good idea for Caleb to come last year, I did end up missing his fun energy on the way up the mountain.
When we pulled into the trailhead parking lot at 0600 in the dark, it was to find the lot was already full. And it wasn’t like all the hikers were there at 5:45 either, they had been there, some overnight. Overnight? Seriously? The info at the little ranger booth said that the temperatures at the top were about 31 degrees at midnight. Isn’t that freezing? We started up the mountain with flashlights to guide us, but the dark made it treacherous. Later we found out a good portion of those hikers, were midnight hikers, so they could watch the sun rise from the top. Let me just tell you that the sunrise from the bottom of the trail, it was fantastic and not that cold!
The hike seem to go really fast, we made fun of the BYU co-eds hiking and waited while multiple groups passed us and we made jokes about how our group had never passed anyone and why should we start now?
It was really interesting to me to see that a lot of the trail was familiar this time, this is the 4th time I’ve gone on the hike, I just didn’t make it all the way the first time, but since then, I have, but even last year, while there were certain spots that were familiar, now a lot more was familiar.
Being a girl, going to the bathroom on the trail isn’t a happy experience, so at the point on the trail where they have a “toilet” I take advantage. But even with as terrible as this outdoor toilet seat above the ground has been, nothing prepared me. When I hike the extra few meters to get to the secluded spot, the “toilet” was full. To the top. It was just as bad as if there wasn’t one there. I had to use the ground. It was lame, but this is what I guess I have to put up with. This year. Next year I’m getting certain camping supplies that relate to allowing females to relieve themselves while standing. I could have used that. Or maybe I’ll wear a diaper. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
I was really worried about the cold wind on top and packed a lot of cold weather gear. When we find got to the point passed the saddle that becomes fully exposed to the elements and also gets really freaky of those of us afraid of heights, we found the wind, while chilly, was nowhere near as cold as it had been the year before. I actually took my gloves off at one point and was happy that my butt crack wasn’t in danger of being exposed this year. We made it up in just over 6 hours. We had a lovely lunch and I don’t think any of us were really ready for the down hill portion, so we stayed as long as we could at the top. My dear Uncle Roger was kind enough to help me down the steep and rocky portions. It actually not only helped me with my balance but I think it took some pressure off my knees, which didn’t start hurting until much later down the trail.
We made it to the car at about 5 pm. An eleven hour hike from start to finish. Even though it felt like we were making really good time, those last few miles really multiply on the way down. When it’s dark and your muscles are fresh it’s nothing, even though it’s uphill, but by the end those muscles are crying out to stop. And once you do stop, don’t try to start up again. Because it is not worth it.
I spent that evening hobbling around until my bedtime at 8:30 and while moderately sore, it was worth it. I got my rock from the top of mountain again. I hope that I continue to go often. My dad threatens every year is his last and Uncle Roger says 2 more years and then he can retire. Since he’ll be 76. I think 30 years of hiking the mountain will deserve that much needed rest.

36 months (3 years) of Remarkable

2009-09-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I took you to the park. There were a ton of kids on one of the playgrounds so I took you to the other one, since it seemed quieter. Here I am pushing my adult needs to be alone on you. You played and played and when some older kids (maybe 4 and 6) came and started to play a weird game or tag/keep away, you joined right in. I was so nervous. It was just a matter of time because they told you to leave them alone. They appeared a brother and sister duo and wouldn’t want to have their fun interrupted by a “baby” as they would, no doubt see you. But while I cringed inside, you confidently ran along with them, growled at the boy, hid with the girl and played whatever version of their game you wanted. They didn’t mind. Actually they started calling for you (“polar bear” because of the growling I guess) and including you in the process. I was fascinated by the wonders of youth. As an adult you sit in a seat where you don’t have to be too close to any other person, you want your space and don’t want to socialize. But you joined an existing group, and had no fear. No fear of rejection, no fear of anything. It made me immensely proud of you. I was prouder still when you accidentally bumped a toddler you said “sorry” right away and made sure he was okay. Then it hit me. You are the big kid. Granted there were kids much older on the playground, but you were one of them. You didn’t need me to run with you, or help you get down the slide. You were more than happy to find new friends and make up new games.
I miss the days where your world revolved around me, but now your world is huge. You have school twice a week and spend time with your grandparents and aunts. You are a child in a sea of adults. But you won’t be ignored either. You make your presence known and always want attention.
You have finally gotten the potty training thing pretty well down, which is nice, since you are now three. Now if I could just get you to wipe your own butt, we’ll be home free. But wiping is a good alternative to spraying out your underwear. I’m done with that professionally.
This year your birthday party is going to be a lot more laid back. I don’t have the cake all figured out, although you would think with my Wilson Decorating Class (level1) under my belt, I would have more passion for it, but I think that took all the desire to bake right out of me. We went to the Zoo! It’s nice to be able to take some time off work to be a mom, and since we didn’t make it to the zoo during the summer we should at least go on your birthday. Too bad Ellie got sick today. She was way more excited to go to the Zoo then you were. Also boy it’s hard on me trying to walk with you and make you go where you need to and to stop trying to climb into the gorilla exhibit.
You actually ate some lasagna last night, and that was shocking for me. You are still fairly picky, but at least you’re opening up a little here and there.
I have committed to you growing out your bangs. They are cute, but I think I am enjoying not having them. Your hair is just as much work anyway, why make it any harder?
This month we decide to get you out of your crib and into a “big girl” bed. Which is your crib minus one side. But it’s been a learning experience for us both, but at least you’ll go to the bathroom 6 times after we’ve put you to bed. Really, when I put you down, you know I mean business, but if your father puts you to sleep, you play for hours. I think the zoo would have been more fun for us both if you’d gone to bed before 11 pm, but I could only try to put you back to bed each time, I couldn’t force you to fall asleep. As much as I would like to.
Still, as much work as it’s been, there are the moments of pure joy when you throw your arms around my neck unexpectedly or start giggling at something silly. Here’s to years and year (except when you become a teenager. All bets are off then.)
Love ya kiddo,
Mama

This Is Cooling Faster Than I Can

2009-08-13T16:41:00.000-07:00

(Wow, I am a bad fan, this has been sitting in my drafts for 2 weeks!)

Tori Amos @ Abravenal Hall July 20th
Niki and I headed down town around noonish to check out the meet’n’greet. We’re veterans at this, so we were happy to try and see Tori again, but not freaked out. I didn’t even give much thought as to what I wanted to say and what I would have her sign. We finally figured out how to drive around downtown and saw that there were a handful of people waiting. We were hungry so what are two girls to do? We took off to paradise bakery and had a delicious and comfortable lunch and chatted for a while. We decided it was probably time to get back and rolled in around 2:30. We charmed our way to the front of the barricades by asking and promising not to cut in line. Some people had been there since the morning. Funny little EWFs. We watched some Flight of the Conchords on Niki’s iPod before we were told that the barricades were going to be changed (of course) and so our nice spot of front become a not so great spot in the back in the hot sun. Thanks July! Then more waiting, of course tori was performing at the radio station. I don’t know how it is that I miss those every time. That would be a fun performance, just about 30 of us in that little room. Oh well. She finally came out and this lovely little gay guy almost died, I thought he was going to pee his pants or cry or both. She looked lovely in a black dress and gold leggings. People asked her about her shoes which were tall, making her about my height. She is looking older, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re 45. Her security said as long as we were respectful everyone could meet her since there were only about 35 of us. She went down the line, meeting the people in front of us and moving on. I held onto hope but soon realized that the reason I was now at the front was because everyone else had been a bit smarter and moved to the other side of the barricade and was currently telling Mz Amos their whole freaking life story. She was very kind and didn’t yell at anybody! J Finally she started to work her way back, and of course people were jumping back in and she had written so many requests on her hand that she had run out of room. I had decided to tell her that “Maybe California” a song on her new album really meant a lot to me. I had lots of back story to that, but knew at this point, Niki and I were going to be the absolute last people to talk to her. She took my booklet to sign and asked me my name, and I told her about the song. It’s a song about a mother who is contemplating suicide and tori trying to talk her out of it. It’s quite haunting and beautiful and it’s been bringing tears to my eyes lately, and that’s saying a lot since mostly I’m dead inside. When I told her the song really touched me, she said ‘oh honey’ and reached out for a hug. I was ecstatic, I’m always hugging celebrities, but it’s usually me asking for a hug, so for her to initiate it was cool. She posed for a picture with Niki and I heard another girl ask for “Cooling”, unfortunately because she was now done with the heat and sun Niki didn’t get to talk to her and ask her for a very meaningful song. “Parasol” and that would have been so perfect too!
After that we left, slightly disappointed that we had only gotten the tail end of tori’s attention, but excited for the nights show. Leaving to get some grub and finding out our boys had already made dinner plans without us we picked up some take-out. I was lucky enough to post my pictures on facebook and we figured out how to get the extra pair of seats we had to Niki’s friends. We decided that since parking was going to be an issue we’d ride trax. On board we watched more Flight of the Conchords (I’m converted, really I am!) and realized that it was later than we’d thought. Neither of us cared about the opening band, but we needed to meet Niki’s friends and get them their tickets. Getting off trax right at the venue we walked in to find that the opener had just finished. It must have started right on time and been a fast set. We found our friend Dan and he said the opener had not impressed him too much, sounded like a folksy Genesis (I’m paraphrasing, but I know it was Peter Gabriel’s genesis. I think.) I was suppose to meet up with one of Erika’s friends who also loves tori, but then bell went and we were told we had 5 minutes. We went to our seats. Row 8. Freaking awesome! We’ve been closer, but these were center and not too far back. I was still able to see some drool. Tori come out to thunderous applause. I had tried not to look at too many set lists, I wanted things to be a surprise, but I knew that she would open with “Give” from the new album. It rocked really hard core. Next was the first of several jaw drops. “Body and Soul” my favorite from the last album started. Without a pause she began a version of “Wampum Prayer” that I wish I had recorded, it was different then the album version and the melody even differed. I keep hoping it shows up on YouTube, where were all the people with cameras? That went right into Cornflake Girl, which is a standard, but the crowd loves it and that makes it a lot of fun. Then “Icicle” with the band, another jaw dropper. Tori doesn’t play this song much and this is the first tour it’s ever been with the band. At this point I was started to see a bit of the religion theme come out. This is usually something tori connects with in Utah, but there were so many different songs then we usually see, it made it an interesting new perspective. “Starling” from the new album was okay. I’m not in love, the keyboard sound was cool and the lights were lovely, but, meh, I’m not into it. Next up “Marys of the Seas” I think this may be the first time it’s been with the band, let me check. Okay, 3rd time this tour, but before that it was last seen in 2005, when she was touring solo, it felt fresh and fun. It continued the rock. “Bells for Her” from under the Pink came next, I adore this song with the band and it didn’t disappoint. I would have been happy if the show ended right then, but I got even more! Someone at the meet’n’greet had requested “a sorta fairytale” and I was happy to see it. Even though Niki and I decided not to make a road trip for this tour, it made me think of all the tori road trips we’ve made. “Jamaica inn” rounded out the first part of the set. It was interesting to hear songs from the Beekeeper with the band.
Then the Lizard lounge. I have no idea why it’s being called that on this tour, but it’s the section that tori plays solo. “Cooling” started and I was so happy. I’ve seen it before at the 2003 show before Niki and I got to go back stage and I was able to talk to tori about it. The ‘brambles’ bridge was back! And she did a great mini improve at my favorite part. It goes like this “is your place in heaven/worth giving up these kisses/these kisses” but instead it went more like this “is your everything my love/for me/my love/ for me /you must miss to death these kisses” and it was insanely adorable. I was so happy with the song choice I was ready for a standard, like “Winter” or “Leather” but we got “Etienne” which she played in Salt lake in 2001, but you can NEVER hear this song enough. It so pretty, I swear I want to name my children after tori songs, and this is one of them. So maybe there’s going to be a little Etienne running around my house. Too bad I can’t have Tori sing the name every time we need to call her.
The band came back on and played the re-worked “China” which seems so much more brand spanking new with the drums and bass. Two songs from the new album that I love “Curtain Call” and “Fast Horse” then “Bliss” which was played at the last tori show I saw, but here I realized that this show was really rocking. Not just some times, but all the time. It really seemed to me that it was a more grown up Choirgirl tour. It was a full out rock show with a piano, so much different than the fray show I just saw even though they both focus on the same instrument.

We got to the encore and in contrast to most tori tours, they were not quiet, introspective things. We got "Police Me" and "Big Wheel" which are both very upbeat. So I didn't believe it when the show was over. It seemed really abrupt because there was no sad parting song.

It was over. Niki and I walked aside and took a few pictures with the fountains to prolong our leaving. It had been an amazing day and we'd seen an incredible show. Thanks Tori! See you next time!

How to Save My Life (Cable Car)

2009-07-29T16:13:00.000-07:00

The Fray July 18, 2009
USANA is a massive amphitheatre and as such has a large number of seats. I’ve noticed lately with many shows, they offer 2 for 1 tickets. When I got the notice that this would be the case for the Fray show, I asked my Komrade for most concerts, Erika, if she would like to go. She thought for a few days and we decided to get ourselves to the Fray show.
Now, I like the fray, every song on the radio, I’m fond of. I have the first album and after we bought seats to this show, I spent a little time with the new album online while I worked. It’s good.
After week of girls camp, I came home Friday and had homework to finish, and that took some time and then there were Saturday chores. And what I’m trying to say is that I almost forgot about this show on Saturday. Good thing Erika did not. We set out in the sweltering July heat and without being concerned about when the openers were starting we went to sit in the shade and gossip. After Erika was done telling me about her week and the opening band, meese was done playing, we decided to catch the rest of Jack’s Mannequin’s set. We spent a lot of time googling the band on Erika’s phone to figure out how cute the lead singer was. This is still unresolved. They are piano-drive rock, and we like that, so after the lead singer walked on the piano keys, not once, but at least twice, Erika decided that she would get their album. I couldn’t decide if I wanted a shirt or something, so I was empty handed but excited for the Fray. The stage set-up looked cool, but we were so far away it was hard to tell at this stage and we lamented that we wouldn’t be able to see anyone’s face as the band played. They have no jumbo-tron at USANA and this is grave oversight since most of the audience is like a mile away from the stage.
(As I write this, a Fray song starts on my player. It makes me smile.)
The fray started, all I could see of the leader singer was that he looked like an albino. Bald, pale head, white shirt, white suit coat. But it was his voice that impressed me right off. He has a lovely singing voice; they started with an acapella version of Home and I was hooked. And there were some screens! Four conjoined screens focused on the 4 band members. Erika and I started grooving with the rest of the audience to classics like How to Save a Life, Over My Head, and the new Never Say Never and You Found Me, where I introduced Erika to my version of the chorus, (Where was you?/Where was you?) which is very catchy and funny. We laughed about how we knew almost nothing about the band except they are from Colorado. After especially good moments we would say things like “You rock Mr. The Fray!” I liked calling him that, that little albino on stage. I got hooked on the song Little House (which took me days to figure which song it was even though I have it) and heard the Fray’s take on kanye west’s song Heartless. It was lovely, much better then Kanye’s version, I’m sure. There were LED lights on cltoh background that displayed images and white twinkle lights draped from the top of the stage, they made quite an impressive display and made the songs exciting. Erika remarked more than once that we should really read the lyrics for their songs, because they seemed so intense and beautiful, we should really know what he’s singing about.
After the show we were still on cloud nine. We decided to see if we could meet either jack’s mannequin or the fray, not expecting too much. The last time I was at this venue, I was there for Tori and was had to wait across the street from the backstage area and it was crappy and then we had to leave. I wasn’t expecting much more, but after finding a fan who was trying to meet the band with her 15 year old son, we decided to see where this went. I had a lesson in church the next day and I was still exhausted from camp and the day’s activities, but in the euphoria of the after-concert, I didn’t want to give up. After not a very long wait one member of the fray showed up at the gate, Dave. The awesome security guard let us back behind the gate with a promise not to make a run for it. It was oddly disconcerting to hear Dave’s American accent, since he looked so freaking Scottish to me. Erika was able to talk to him about Colorado and to find out another member of the band grew up a few blocks from her old house. After that we didn’t have much to say, but he was very polite. Then the other said member of the band, Ben, came out and signed our tickets and Erika told to him about Colorado and asked him about a local band from there, which sucks, thankfully he thinks they suck too. We discussed whether or not we were breaking erika’s fangirl rule for herself. Which is this: don’t be a lame fangirl for someone younger than yourself. Then Mr. the Fray came out. His name is Isaac, as we found out when we googled the band. We wanted to sound not like idiots. That’s important to us. Talked a bit about Colorado, of which I had nothing to add, of course. I asked for hug and he apologized for being kinda dazed as he had just had a massage (he had the bleary, I-just-had-a-massage face too) and then we took a picture with my phone. He was nice, not at rock star about anything, which is surprising because his band is really huge and he has every right to be a bit smug, but he was totally down to earth. In the picture he looks like he’s sneering, but he was quite pleasant. He didn’t look as much like an albino up close and even has a thin bit of hair, poor dear. Erika asked how old he was and he said 28, and I mentioned that meant she was not breaking her rule and Isaac (because we’re on first name basis) asked what that was all about, I told him and he seemed amused. We took our leave with our picture looking good to let the mom and her son have their moment. She obviously loves the Fray and saw them at a radio performance years ago before they were big. I can’t say anything bad about her, because in a few years, that’s freaking me. I’m going to be the mom dragging my child to the concert and riding the pit and being a cooler than all the other moms (I hope) so kudos to her for not being afraid of the preconceived notion of age and rocking out.
I thanked the security guard, because honestly, he didn’t lie to us, he didn’t try to make us leave and he didn’t make us feel like we were being lame or stupid while waiting to meet the band. I shook his hand and he really wanted us to try and see his metal band play at the “Dog Pound” in a few days. Sadly we didn’t make that show, I’m sure it was a riot.
We walked through the empty venue all giggly from the lack of sleep and excitement of meeting another rock star. I’ve been addicted to the new album online and I’m almost ready to buy it. I want it, but I’m so cheap, but I think I’m almost to the point where I need it and money is no object. It’s beautiful nd maybe even better than the first album.
All I have to say is, Isaac, keep the music coming.

Oh July

2009-07-08T15:40:00.000-07:00

It's July! And the weird weather that was so awesome to keep us cool (but sopping wet!) has turned into the summer we all know. The hot, sweltering heat one. Yeah that one. It hasn't been terrible, per se, but it's not the nice 70 degrees it was just a short time ago, with no break in the heat on the horizon. But that's okay. I love summer.

I miss being in school (not college, that's not real, they have classes over the summer!) and being able to loaf all day or when I was kid, the smell of fresh mown grass and heading to soccer practice. One of my more vivid childhood memories is just that. Playing in the backyard with my brothers after getting done with a soccer game, and waiting for the cherries to get ripe, and wishing my dad would wear a shirt to mow the lawn. And we wonder why people think he's a native american. Well, I don't my friends.

In an effort to create my own happy times as an adult, we bought a cherry tree. A baby one. Once we had it home from the nursery, everyone and their grandma told us that trying to grow cherries is best left to farmers with incredible insecticides or superman. There is no inbetween, and eventually we'll have to chop it down because the bugs, people, they will freak you out. I am not afraid. Our cherry tree will never bear fruit. At least, not if we don't ever plant the thing. It's been sitting in the backyard, for more then a month, in it's black pot, falling over in the slightest hint of a breeze. I don't think that being horizontal is good for trees. The only ones I've seen try it were all dead.

Cherry tree notwithstanding, we also have a tiny little raspberry twig. It's only one twig, but it's an investment in our future. At my parents house were had a whole corner of the yard dedicated to raspberries and the spiky bushes that grew them. Man, I love raspberries. I would pick a few raspberries, some cherries and some strawberries, squeeze out the juice into a cup, add water and then sugar. I was already practicing to make sugary, fruit-tasting juices. It was delicious. I put lots of sugar into it. And I wouldn't want my daughter to miss out on that kind of thing, and also they make raspberries without the thorns! So far the raspberry twig has produced a few tiny raspberries which I ate the millisecond they turned anything close to red. They were oh so sweet, but I think it will be a while until I can fill my palm, let alone a small bowl, where I can smash them, add water and sugar and make my own punch.

And did you know that raspberries has a P in it? You did? Oh, well aren't you smart.

33 Months and Counting

2009-06-23T15:52:00.000-07:00

It feels like I see less of you, even though I'm getting Friday's off with the later work schedule. We are so busy most weekends, it doesn't seem like that much of a break.

Just when I am ready to give up on trying to potty train you, you decide that the potty is for you. Mostly. This last week you've been able to wear underpants almost the whole day, there were a few accidents, but on the whole, this is progress. I had decided that you weren't ready and I was tired of trying to train you, since it felt like trying to keep a snow flake from melting in my hands. But look at you! You can do it! I think buying new stickers were very helpful. Although you aren't playing with them the way I thought you would. We used to put them on your hands or your shirt, but you LOVE to put them on others. Mostly you want to put your new sticker on daddy's tummy, but there is also something about putting them on a chart. You are so proud of your chart with all it's little pink stickers, and honestly, I am also ridiculously proud of that.

Going through my monthly newsletter, it's funny to see how proud I was of you when started talking, and now you are singing and talking all the time! You know the ABC song, but there are some interesting variations you've got there. J is absent, but K usually makes at least 2 if not 3 appearances. You're not going to be winning any competitions just yet, but I think it's the cutest thing. I would give you a prize.

I think everyone is displeased with the way you eat or rather, the way I feed you. Meaning, I don't get too fussed if you don't eat very much. Apparently I'm suppose to make you eat somehow. Well I do my best, but my best is usually trying to offer you food that you will eat, and hope that somehow you get some nutrients out of the air. I figure if you're hungry, you can eat. I usually only stop you from eating junk food. You can't eat chocolate goldfish forever, child. I'm hoping that with some of this maturing, you'll learn that not all food is disgusting and some of it, while some potatoes are not in fry form, they are still palatable. Okay #2 is still a problem so I may sprinkle Metamucil on your cereal. Sorry kid, but I'm just as tired of the tummy aches as you are and if you wont' eat vegetables, I should probably find some way to get you some fiber.

You're getting close to 3 and that's really freaking me out. I shouldn't be a 3 year olds mother. I'm not mature enough. I'm sure I'm still 21, so the math doesn't add up at all, either.

I love how much you love. It never ceases to put a smile on face to see you after a long day at work and you see me and exclaim and throw out your arms in the biggest, best hug. It makes me think you appreciate me, even when I'm not there. Heavens knows I miss you when I'm not there!

Kisses,

Mama

You Better Bring Your own Sun

2009-06-18T15:04:00.000-07:00

About a month ago Tori Amos came out with a new album. Abnormally Attracted to Sin. I was apprehensive, the reviews were mixed with good and bad spots but it sounded similar to the last album, American Doll Posse which took more than a while to grow on me. Matter of fact, it’s not a go to album, and neither is the album previous, the Beekeeper.
I decided to buy the album, which came in a deluxe version with a DVD of the visualettes for each song and a fold out poster of our girl, Tori. I listened to it online at work, but I was neutral. I neither liked, nor disliked it.
Went my shipment from Amazon finally got to me, I popped the DVD into TV and watched the visualettes until I got kicked off the TV by Husband. Since then the CD has been living in my car (with a brief respite to rip it at work) and I am LOVING it. It has some throw away tracks, but the ones I was expecting not to like, I really do.
"Give," which is reminiscent of To Venus opens with lots of synth. Tori has gone fairly electronic on this album and it is usually a good thing. I’m digging "Welcome to England" and everything up until "Not Dying Today," which it better with the visuals, but not enough to save it. The next 3 tracks get standing ovations from me, "Maybe California" and "Curtain Call" are both really raw and beautiful and "Fire to Your Plain", I might not know what it’s about but the chorus keeps me singing along. "Police Me" is another I would toss. Nothing special about it. "That Guy" seems very cabaret, musical to me, I’m sure Erika would disagree, but I think this one at least, is influenced by what she’s doing on the musical for the West End that she’s working on. After that the album gets a little muddled, the title track and "500 Miles" are fine, "Mary Jane" is one I don’t think I’ll ever like. It’s about pot, it doesn’t seem very clever to me and I’m bored, but others have said they just love it. I’m sure it will be funny live. "Starling" is okay but then we get to "Fast Horse," which I didn’t think I would like on first listen. She’s changing vowels and has some weird accent but after a few listens, I adore it! I also like the New York reference. It feels like it could slip onto Scarlet’s Walk and be right at home. It has that same feel, and of course that album is in my top 5 records. "Ophelia" is great, it starts off sounding a lot like "Gold Dust," which I don’t love, but then we get a thumping chorus and it bring the whole thing to awesome. The album finishes off with "Lady in Blue," which is fine. I swear she says “black” instead of “blue” but Tori hadn’t been taught her vowels very well. It show cases her piano playing well and at the end when it’s just the instruments it’s brilliant and makes me continue to start the CD over again and listen more.
Over all I give it a B+. I think that might be a little high because I was expecting to not like it and have to really try to get into it, so even though there are songs I don’t love, there are plenty of songs that I really can’t get enough of, and it’s been a while since I felt that way about a Tori song.
She’s coming to our little valley July 20th! I’ll be there.

It's a Cruel World, But I'm a Lucky Boy (Girl)

2009-06-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

I'm back from a 3 day weekend. This particular 3 day weekend saw me hitting the road for some Matt Nathanson so as to Rock. Erika and I left wicked early Friday morning and she drove all the way to her brother's home in Denver. The drive was pleasant and let me tell you, iPods with hundreds of random songs is the way to road trip. You never know what you're going to get, it's like a box of...well you know.

That evening brought us to Casa Bonita. For you Utah folk, it's the original version of the Mayan. The food is a little crappier but there's more entertainment and weirdness. Arcades and "scary" caves and a little ballroom/bar. We went with Erika's fam and her nieces loved it. We went through Black Bart's cave about 4 times before I bailed on that. They may have gone more. I kinda blocked that from my memory. The thing about Casa Bonita is that they give you endless sopapillas, which if you've ever had them, you know they are awesome. Fried dough with puffy hollow centers that you can drizzle with honey. Unless you are me, then while you are squeezing the honey, you will make the bottle top explode off and cover the table and everyone at it, in a sticky mess. Twice. Okay not everyone was covered in honey, just me. It was rather embarrassing especially the second time. I must have like He-Man grip or something, since even Erika's brother had no problem acquiring honey for his sopapillas. I think it's because I've been working out. I'm freakishly strong.

The food was sub-par, but the sopapillas were amazing (I had 7) and the cliff diving and general goofiness of the place were nice.

The next day we had some time to kill. We wouldn't leave for the festival type show until late afternoon, so Erika decided to go see a movie with her bro and I decided to go to the flea market with Shelley, Erika's sister-in-law and the nieces. It was sunny day, but windy but other than that, it was lovely. I'd never been to a flea market, so it was cool to see the stuff, although after a while a lot of the stuff looked really similar. I kind of wanted a old steamer trunk, but it was $200 and what would I do with an old steamer trunk?

After some lunch we prepared to go. We printed a google map and started the hour and half journey. Shelley had gotten herself a ticket and came with us, so she would finally understand why we have such unholy devotion to Matt. We had a lovely time on the way and made it to the exit in record time. We followed the directions on the map and ended up...nowhere. In the middle of a little city. Not at an outdoor amphitheatre. We pulled over and asked directions. Google maps had failed us again. We needed to hope back onto the freeway and then we'd be right there. We didn't know exactly where it was, but traffic was a nightmare, so we parked at a hotel and illegally crossed under the freeway trying to avoid getting squashed. We headed up a hill and we were there. Apparently the venue did sell out, but I was expecting something large like our outdoor amphitheatre here, which is huge. It wasn't tiny, but it definitely wasn't the size I was expecting, but this is Fort Collins and I guess there aren't as many people to accommodate here.

We missed the first act, which I think was a local Colorado guy named Josh Hodge. Next was Eric Hutchinson, and he was so fun, playing the piano and then his guitar, he was just as good as the songs on the radio suggest he is, and I like that his album is called "Sounds Like This" which I think is pretty clever. We snagged some spots way stage right but had an okay view of him. Most people were set up on the grass on blankets.

Next came out We the Kings. I was immediately struck by just how ugly the entire band was. The lead singer was a red-head with long hair and they all looked like they could just a good scrubbing. They seemed really full of themselves and they employed a great deal of feedback on all the songs. I spent most of the set looking like a smelled something bad and texting nasty things to Erika. Like: "They do realise they aren't Pearl Jam and this isn't 1994." Even the songs I liked from the radio were ruined in their presentation of them. They did play Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle" and I love to play that on rock band, so I forgave them and bopped along to that, but mostly it was awful. They should have just played the songs from the album over the PA, then I wouldn't have had to watch the singer take off his shirt and display his nasty tats. But during the set I saw Jon and Konrad on the side of the stage and waived to both of them. It was awesome.

Then it was time for Matt. We were able to move closer to the middle of the stage where I was behind an 8 year old girl. The median age of the crowd I would say was about 13 or 14. Mostly really young kids and some with parents and few older people. There were even some toddlers. It was beyond weird. Maybe because in Utah we have such large families were can't afford to go to concerts and my parents didn't know contemporary music at all, so my perspective is a bit different.

Matt was suppose to start at 8:00, but it was more like 8:20 when his set kicked off. Playing "To the Beat of Our Noisy Hearts" and then jumping into "Princess" with Jessie's Girl. I was glad that Shelley would at least know this song, she was rocking out. "Wedding Dress" was incredibly intense and there was a little banter between songs, but mostly things felt a little rushed. Despite this the band was tight. "Pretty the World" and "Still" and then coming out early was "Come on Get Higher" to which everyone sang along. It was impressive to see the crowd sing along to every word. He's definitely getting the attention he deserves.

He announced the last song of the his set. He wanted to play Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" which we had just watched the pilot for Glee with Erika's family the night before, so it was really fun to hear it and Shelley was excited to hear it. I was a bit disappointed with the length of the set, but now was our chance. The other bands had said they would be back by the merch booths to sign and meet people, so I figured Matt would do the same, but he didn't say that he would. That worried me. We jumped out of the crowd and headed to where the other artists were. The crowd was massive. We asked the merch girls at Matt's table what the 411 was, and they told everyone that Matt was sick and wouldn't be coming out, but since they hadn't been there until right before his set and they didn't have any shirts or CD for sell, I wondered if they knew that for certain. Shelley is kind of a punk, so while we were debating where to stand and what to do we walked passed a gap between the metal barricades and the orange netting to keep people out. I had glimpsed Aaron from another angle and Shelley told me to just to walk through and go talk to him. I only deliberated a moment and went for it. I walked in with purpose and while Aaron chatted with someone from the crew, I waited. I wanted to go back and get Erika, but security wasn't far and didn't want to get nabbed. When Aaron was done with his chat we said hello, I reintroduced myself and reminded him of our exploits on the headlining tour. He said he would remember my name next time and I told him not to worry about it. I asked him how long they had been home between shows. 2 days. They are freaking machines. We talked about if the set was short and he told me not that he realised, but they didn't go by the set list at all. They played what Matt was deciding on the spur of the moment. I asked if Matt was sick, and Aaron said he had been but just thought Matt was tired, but he was being the strong leader. We told him we thought the band had been in excellent form and he explained that since they hadn't played together in a few days, everything was fresh and exciting and reminded them how much they all liked playing together. I asked for a picture, we took one and he asked to look at it. He said he wasn't happy with it and we should take another. I told him he had to smile and he said he would try to look pleased. We got Erika a picture with him and he said he was going to go to the trailer. We stood awkwardly around. Konrad was just over the way, but between us was the security guard. He soon realised what we were up to and made us leave. I think he may have waited until Aaron left, but it could have just been that after that we just looked too conspicuous just standing around. We should have tried to walk around and look busy. I decided that next time, I'm getting a lanyard and just having colored paper in every shade so we can look more official.

We debated what we should do, since now the guard was actually guarding and keeping people out of the back. I saw Matt come out. He was talking with someone and we called for him and when he turned I waved. he waved back. and we waived back and forth for a bit. I think he was hesitating whether he should come over or not.

He came over and I asked him where his belt buckle was, I figured this was a good way to remind him who I was and see if he had an comment about it. Wrong question. He responded harshly that he just flew in and didn't have anything on him. He needed to get to bed since they were flying out to Canada soon. He also said that he felt like he hadn't been home in 2 years. Which really he's spend most of the last 12 months on the road and from now until October, he'll be out playing shows. I probably should have told him that my husband spent a year in Iraq and to suck it up rockstar, but he wasn't in a good mood. I had loved his blog about "finding" Depeche Mode and he was quick to say that he'd put up an addendum that he'd liked Depeche Mode since he was a kid but he had really found his love for them recently. I asked about Black Celebration since he said that the production didn't get "sexy" until Violator, and he said that Black Celebration was his favorite, which is mine as well. He was signing and taking pictures with others while we chatted. It wasn't a happy chatting, it was a bit tense, but I was unwilling to let bail out now. I had driven 8 hours to see him play for about 30 minutes, I wanted some kind of appreciation, I guess. He asked the name of the girl who handed up her shirt to be signed. Her name was Willow! This was the first time I'd met someone with my name! She was about 13, I told her it was my name too. Matt said that it was a cool name, she said thanks, and I said Thanks, and he leveled at me: "I know." Ouch! I had the booklet for his last CD in my hand. He asked if I wanted it signed. I said something to the effect of "that's okay" I told him looked really tired. I wanted to say how he should get some rest, I wanted to thank him for coming over at all. But the words wouldn't come and he was dealing with the crowd of tweenage girls that were collecting autographs on their t-shirts from all the bands. I felt like maybe he was just trying to gain some more fans out of people that may not have come to see him, since that's been his habit for the last 8 years, charming crowds as an opener and while he was not in the mood, he understood that was part of his shtick.

Erika said I had my pouty face on. I don't know where she was I was trying to concentrate on not interrupting Matt with other people, but I wanted my picture. That's what I live for. I love the autographs, but it's the pictures I treasure. He looked at me and rubbed my arm and asked if I was okay. I said I was and I departed. The crowd was seething, people had figured out that there was a rock star over here. I watch him talk to people and get photos, only smiling when he posed for a picture. The security guard had to get in front of him twice to help him get out. I thought it was sweet that even when he had that first opportunity to leave, he just went to people on the other side.

I tried to watch Plain White Ts, but I was distracted. The reason I had come was over. Matt had left. I didn't have a picture and I hadn't said anything that I had really wanted to. I was a bit disappointed. We drove home, it was late. I'm glad that we had the other activities with Erika's family, because if it had been a quick pop in and then out to the show and then leaving the next morning, I think I would have been really disappointed in the trip. As it was, I was disappointed in talking to Matt, but the show had been good. I had talked with Aaron after sneaking backstage and while most the of interaction with Matt had seemed forced, I appreciated that he had asked me how I was and I guess I'll have to take what I can get. He's a pretty big star now, I can't pretend that he needs me to help spread the Matt-love anymore, since he finally has radio on his side.

We spent breakfast with Erika's family and then headed out. I had the drive back and it was a pleasant drive. Even after 3 full days with Erika we weren't getting on each other's nerves ( I think) and I was glad that we'd come. The timing of the date of show was perfect and getting to know Erika's family and especially Shelley was really fun. It was nice little mini vacation. All in all, I'd do it again, just maybe not with such high expectations.

32 Months of Twinkle

2009-05-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

I realised after the last post, if I don't have pictures taken and ready to go up here that if I post, they will never be done, so yes I'm late, but pictures are better then no pictures.

I think it's a mark that you're getting older, that I have to make a point to take your picture at all. I used to follow you around with the camera waiting for something cute to happen. Or perhaps it's that I'm used to your cuteness, so I'm desensitised to it.

I realised yesterday that we're been trying to potty train you for longer then I realised. 9 months almost, and though some days are worse then others (see how I didn't say better?) and I'm feeling really defeated, as there has been little to no progress from where we were 3 months ago. And now just getting you to sit on the potty is a trial. I don't know what to do at this point, I'm kind of giving up, so if you're going to college in diapers, this is where that all started. Sorry about that, but it's your own fault.

The last few days you've gone from your miniature appetite to actually eating food. And you act like I'm starving you. Like I don't offer you food at all the proper intervals. You had your first picnic of the season yesterday and I think the clean air made you extra hungry since you finished your plate of food and kept going. Asking for more hot dogs, more yogurt and finishing what I gave you. I'm enjoying the hungry you, even if you are more demanding, but I'd rather you demand to eat rather then proclaim that dinner is for the weak. Then after your big lunch you ate a ton of food for dinner. I was so shocked I didn't even know what to feed you! Luckily there was plenty of food that day. It was a BBQ full of jello and veggies and ice cubes! You ate chips and carrots and even raw broccoli and cauliflower (double-dipped in the ranch dressing.)

You are loving the nice weather. You want to be outside constantly. Which is all well and good, since it helps me get the weeding done in the garden. Our backyard finally goes with the front yard (meaning there is grass and it's even green.) Last year the backyard was nothing but knee high weeds and dirt, but somehow it's turned into a lawn with a garden. Of course the trouble now is keeping you out of the garden. You steal our shovels and use them with abandon. I never know when you will strike at vegetables or weeds alike. I've tried to give you your own little patch of earth, but your not buying it which means there may be more broccoli with missing leaves in the future.

You're going through a weird phase were you don't want me to leave you. Not at school, not at nursery. You want to go, but you don't want me to leave you there. You actually cried today as I left you at school. You're being very clingy, but then if I was to come and get you, you would cry that you have to leave. Make up your mind little girl! Of course now, it's daddy's turn to pick you up so that I can work late, then we'll be able to have Fridays to ourselves. I'm excited that we'll be together another day. maybe we can get this potty thing worked out.

Kisses,

Mama

Somewhere Only We Know

2009-05-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Exactly 4 years ago on May 12th, 2005, Keane played in Salt Lake for the first time. I was there with Niki and we had a blast. When I found out Keane was going to be back I knew we needed to be there. I forgot about it the day they went on sale, so it wasn't until they had been on sale for hours that I got us some tickets, they were decent and since the show was at Kingsbury, I figured there wasn't a bad seat in the house.

What a day. Picking Niki up and trying to get onto the freeway was crazy. Construction forced us into one lane, and when the person in front of us decided to turn left even though there was a "No Left Turn" and that also meant that no one behind them would get through the light, so I laid on my horn. Several times. The guy in car was obviously irritated and looked like he was going to get out of the car and "have words" with me, but didn't and they pulled forward just enough that I could get around them, but if I'd had a bigger vehicle I couldn't have. There are never cops when you need them.

We headed to dinner at Rumbi's downtown and the food was super yummy. I'm not going to find out how many calories were in that salad, I'm going to pretend that it was good for me because it had lettuce! After finishing we were excited to get going. Too excited apparently. I backed out of the parking space, looking over one shoulder to watch for oncoming parking lot traffic and heard the tell-tale crunch. Great, now I was going to have to pay for someone else's bumper. Again. Maybe this will teach me not to really look. I thought I had already learned that lesson. I got out of the car with insurance in hand and the guy driving the other car looked at his bumper, which was cracked and smudged with my paint and told me not to worry about it. The crack had already been there and he wasn't concerned about the cosmetic damage. My bumper is probably a little more dinged then it already was, but I could care less about a shiny car at this point. I thanked him and we took off, more carefully this time. Looking for parking for Kingsbury we found this parking lot that had a cop and sign that said "Kingsbury hall permits only" so I was going to ask said cop where I should park and he said just to pick an empty spot in the lot. Score! We waltzed into Kingsbury and they must have started promptly at 7:30 because at 7:35 when we got there, the opening act was already there. Helio Sequence, they were good. The drummer was completely nuts. Making crazy faces while playing the throwing his head around. I need to check out their myspace and see what they sound like un-live. They coming back to Salt Lake next month for a show at the urban lounge, so I should know if I want to go to that.

Next came on Mat Kearney, who I am fond of, and after a bit of research found out he has had 4 songs on Grey's Anatomy. That show is a career starter! He was good, he played some new stuff and I debate whether I should get a few more of his songs. He played "All I Need" which was amazing and beautiful, and always melts my black, little heart.

His voice was so crisp and clear and exactly as it is on the recordings. He oozed confidence and his voice soared. He also rocked a cool hat, so another plus for him.

Then it was Keane! The boys came out and played "The Lovers Are Losing" which is off the new album. The one I don't have. I've listened to it many times online over the past few days. I love some of the songs. the rest leave me a bit cold. I was hoping that seeing them live I would get more into them, but the first song was a keeper. And then I remembered why 4 years ago I decided that Keane was the best show I'd ever seen. The lead singer Tom, is a force of nature. He doesn't just sing the songs, he's a real performer. He engages the crowd and jumps around and emotes all the passion in the song. It also helps that his voice is like that of an angel. Then it was some songs from the debut album 'Hopes and Fears' which were a real crowd pleaser. Everyone knew all the words, and at this point I realised I couldn't see a single empty seat. Well, sort of. We were all on our feet, vacating our seats and rocking out. Tom even thanked us for leaving our seats and really getting into the show. I didn't know we even had this many Keane fans in the whole state.

When they started a song from the middle album, "A Bad Dream", I was pleased. I've had this one for years and felt I knew it well. Of course I usually listen to it at work, so I didn't know the words except the chorus, but it was still really good and also made me want to listen to this album more, since I should know it better than I do.

Tom was dancing and playing guitars, he had more guitar changes then Morrissey has shirt changes during a show. This was the first tour and album with guitars. Keane has always been a piano-based band, since Tim Roce-Oxley, the pianist, is really the creative force behind the band. That is what thrust them into the spotlight, being a band that didn't have a guitar. I liked the added element, but unfortunately for several songs, it also muddied the melodies and completely drowned out not only the piano, but also some of the vocals. It could have just been the mix last night, but it made me wish they wouldn't also have the guitar or bass in the background, these songs don't need it, they rock out hard enough without them.

And speaking of rocking, Tim was so intense. He really should have whiplash. He plays the piano with his whole body. That was one of the reasons I loved Break and Repair Method, Paul's piano playing, but Tim take it up to a whole different level. He's head banging his way through the songs and playing up the crowds. He was so fun to watch. Also fun to watch was the 60-something year old man in the crowd. He was tall, which is why I probably noticed him, but he was rocking the air-drums and dancing and singing along to it all. I hope when I'm that old, if my face hasn't caved in, that I can still rock with the kids and enjoy music that's played loudly at 11.

The band got to some more new songs, new songs that I didn't love or even like that well, and I was hopeful. But they didn't come through for me, they sounded a bit Keane-by-numbers for me, in that they sounded like other Keane songs, but without anything to really make them special. At this point I decided that I would download the songs I liked, and leave the ones I didn't. Bless this age of technology where you don't have to spend $15 on an album for 3 or 4 amazing songs.

They finished there set with "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Crystal Ball" and the crowd loved it. They left and people chanted "Keane Keane" and clapped and screamed. It was soooo loud! They came back on, clearly gratified with the crowds appreciation for the show. They played "Is it Any Wonder?" and got the energy going again. After that song I didn't know if they were going to leave or play us one more, but I crossed my fingers and then followed "Bedshaped" which they used to close there last show, and there's a reason. It's beautiful and intense. We walked out the door right by our seats and saw they had a little caution-line barricade in front of the buses, so Niki and I stopped to wait. Stalking rock stars is slow business.

Then we saw my friend from the Travis show, Robert. So we waited by him and his friend at the barricade. There were probably 30-40 people waiting and it was starting to get cold. We only had thin hoodies and the winds were gusty and chilly. Tom came out and I got him to sign my CD booklet and a picture with him. I asked him about whiplash and he said his neck does get soar and sometimes he also gets dizzy and then he just pulls back on the headbanging. He suffers so in the name of Rock. Then we waited. It seemed like they could only come out one at a time, and it was a long line for them to get through. But they were gracious and talked to everyone and took pictures when asked. Next the drummer Richard came out wearing a Utah t-shirt. He was really nice and I told him this show was better then the first one and then when he asked if I had been to the show 4 years ago everyone around me was all "I was there! Me!" but I guess people go nuts when rock stars are around.

Then the bassist/guitarist came out. I was going to have him sign my ticket, since I didn't really want him to sign and he might not have wanted to sign an album that he didn't play on. But he was nice and chatted for minute.

Then we waited more. It was late, after midnight, and I had 2 of 3 signatures on my CD case. I almost wanted to give up. I was shivering and feeling generally like I wanted to lie down, but we persisted. Then Tom finally came out. He said he would go down the line and sign things and THEN come back for photos. I didn't want to wait forever, so I got my CD signed, told him he was such a ball of charisma and we took off. Although I did have to stop and take a picture of his shoes, I didn't get a great look at them but they looked like winkle pickers, which was the rock star shoe of choice in the 60s and has a very pointy toe. The heater in the car worked surprisingly well and we got toasty soon. Very pleased with my most recent encounter with rock stars. I'll definitely see Keane again when they come, and I have already downloaded 4 songs from the new album. And you should too.

The fruits of my labor. The perfectly signed CD.

Smooth Like Dolphin

2009-05-12T15:13:00.001-07:00

Combobulations Elizagerth

That's right folks, I'm taking a cake decorating class. And I'll tell you something they don't tell you in the brochure, it's a costly endeavor. You think the class costs $25 which isn't bad. But come to find out, that pays for the person to tell you have to make icing. Not the actual icing. Or the cake. Or the stuff you use to put icing onto the cake. So I think I'm in for $100 right now. I needed a new cake pan. The teacher had a 3" pan and I totally wanted one! It's cute, so no worries and I tested it out for this weeks lesson. It worked like a dream. The cake almost popped itself out of that sucker it was so easy to remove! But then there was the frosting. Lucky for me I have a partner in my crime, the best ever Niki who helped me make enough icing to ice about 4 cakes in a myriad of pale colors that would help me make the best cake ever. And it was a good thing too, because making that much icing took about 3 hours that i wouldn't have had if I wasn't at someone else's house, spilling powdered sugar all over someone else's floor.

This was Stars week, as you might be able to tell from my cake. We also worked on the base of your Wilton™ rose that we will perfect by the end of class. It's suppose to look like a white Hershey's kiss. We did well. We are amazing. Then we worked on writing and lines and whatnot. Let's just say that Niki and I are the stars of that class. Really. Everyone wants to be us. And I can't blame them. I only ate small amounts of frosting and my mouth didn't even get stained blue! I'm excited to go back next week, and that's a good sign.

And then after my class I found out I'm a new auntie again! It was a sweet day.

Digging in the Dirt

2009-04-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

Last year we did a little garden. We got lots of cilantro (which I ruined by not cutting off the flowers apparently) and some really nasty lettuce (which was the "bitter" kind I guess) some green peppers, and some melons (of which, I am not a fan.) There was suppose to be corn, but apparently the sprinklers went out and we didn't notice for a while, so the corn died (RIP.)

But This Year(!) I know more! I want more herbs, and sweet lettuce and maybe a tomato plant (gasp!) and some onions. Basically I want to grow my own curry-making garden.

I have all this huge plans in my head, but Saturdays lately have been less then nice or filled with stuff. So the last few days, after work, I've been weeding. Which, if you were to talk to my mom, was my least favorite activity as a child/teenager. Weeding is the worst, but when it's my garden, I don't know, it's different. I feel all accomplished. I like to look at the bare patches and think "I made that!" and while there is (in theory) nothing growing in there that we want, it's easy to just pull and pull and move on. No question if things are weeds, of course they are! Nothing could survive our cold winter! But I'm finding little lettuce plants and cilantro. I haven't gotten to where the peppers were, but those have got to be gone, there from a tropical zone and this is a temperate zone. But it's great, I have little baby seedlings in my window and I have to think of new ways to keep the cats off the counter so they don't knock over the containers or eat all the leaves off the baby plants. I don't think seedling can live without leaves. Stoopid cats. But I really want to plant them, to save them from the cats and to get the garden going. I have such high aspirations, but this is the way I am. I want to jump in and get my hands dirty, but gardening isn't free (those lying liars said I would save so much on groceries!) and you know how I loathe to spend money. I see how the fruit trees would cost me a kidney and I think "maybe next year I won't need a kidney, we'll wait until then." But turns out I'm always fond of my internal organs.

Ideally I would like to plant containers in the front yard, but also have containers in the back. The porch is pretty ugly, I would like it to look less so. I also want lounge chairs, from which I can relax and watch my garden grow and my child run around and eat dirt. I also want to grow strawberries, and raspberries and mint! And rosemary (which I won't use, but it's nice to smell!) But I'm sure I'll only get 1/4th way towards my vision. But that's okay, because I have 27 more years of living in this house (or more if we refinance!) and when I'm 60 it'll probably be close to what I want.

31 Months of Coughing & Runny Noses

2009-04-23T15:24:00.000-07:00

This month has been tough for us what with being sick all the time, between the two of us. Seems that of course you get every disease at daycare and then you give it to me. That's so like you, always sharing!
Of course with your diseases, you've occasionally taken the very needed nap! It's been blissful again! I can read or watch TV while you pass out and struggle to breathe through your nose! Everbody's happy! Except that we're not. We're still dying too.
At first we thought it could just be that you're getting new teeth (more teeth for you to not brush!) But then the cough came and that theory went all to pieces.
It's hard to believe how big you've gotten, you're running around like a maniac and talking in sentences and soon you'll be driving and going to college. Although if you can't subsist on a diet of cereal and hot dogs, that might not be the way to go. Hopefully hot dogs are brain food, since I know your little body needs more nutrition then just to suck on a chicken nugget and announce your done. I think it's your father's fault. I'm not sure how, but it can't be my fault. You usually don't try new foods, but if you do, it usually touches your tongue and is then dropped unceremoniously from your mouth, usually onto the carpet. Thanks for that. Like the cat puke isn't enough to keep me busy.
You are getting more vocal about singing. We have a potty song and you can sing with me for several other songs. You love to sing and it's so fun to listen to you when you're suppose to be sleeping and we hear you talking and singing to yourself.
Potty training is very hit and miss. Some days for hours you are great! and then you just can't be bothered anymore and there are accidents all over the place. Also, you are not so great with the #2 potty option. That is probably where the potty training goes right out the window. And really it's not so much that I'm "training" as I am "threatening" and "cajoling" and so far you're only receptive when you want to be, which is very frustrating.
I had parent-teacher conference, sort of. They say you're doing really well and you know all the shapes and colors, and while you're not doing great on using the potty, you're average with the other kids. Of course I was hoping to hear that you're the genius in the class and are learning to read all by yourself, I didn't expect it! But I'm glad that you are average. Reading other mommy blogs I've been forced to wonder what we would do if you were developmentally behind. Lucky for us, we don't have to worry about that at this point. Of course I totally expect you to have ADHD later, since you did take a sip of my soy milk that one time.
I love all the smiles and seeing your imagination really start to take off. It's scary what a big girl you are already, but a good scary.

Love You,
Mama

The Band Who

2009-04-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

Last night something happened that I thought I would never get to see. Travis the band playing in Salt Lake. It's great because I've been a long time fan, since there The Man Who album came out in 2000, thanks to friends who knew that Brit pop is something I love.

They've never come to Utah in the whole of my fandom, so I figured it was just a matter of time before they followed my favorites, Gene, and broke up and never toured again.

When I found out they were coming I started listening to the new album online. It's good, a return to the energy of their first album but with more umph. I'm not sure how to put that into technical terms. But I didn't buy the album, by the time I got around to really listening, there were only a few days left before the show.

Erika and I were partners in crime and get there pretty early and ended up very close to the front. It was standing and so there was a lot of shifting as people pushed in and whatnot.

The opening band was Republic Tigers and they were great, it was hard to really hear them well, but they sounded very new wave but with some Killers mixed in and the guys voice oscillated between the deep of Peter Murphy to an amazing falsetto. He sang Blonde's "Heart of Glass" and he sounded like Debbie Harry, it was wild.

Then out came the fabulous Travis. I knew who the lead singer was, and I had looked up the names of the rest of the band, but the crowd obviously knew them all, which really helped me figure out who was who. The bassist, Dougie, came out in a long buttoned up peacoat and was basically a rock star the whole time. Fran was amazing, so full of energy. They rocked out! I was taken so by surprise. Most of their songs are pretty laid back, but none of them were at the show, they were all amped up to 11! The guitarist Andy was jamming on his guitar with his whole body and Fran got up on the bass drum and played his guitar several times. It was great. They played a lot of the new songs at first, which were familiar, and I was surprised at how clearly even up close I could make out all the words. They played almost every one of my favorites, "Writing to Reach You," "Turn," "Closer," "Humpty Dumpty Lovesong" and "All I Want to Do is Rock." During "Falling Down", Fran got off the stage and walked through the center of the crowd. We were too far on the side to be in on that, but he danced with some girl, shook hands, gave high fives, for almost the whole song! It was really cool. We were right in front of Dougie and let me tell you, this guy enjoys his bass playing. He smirked and rocked through the whole show, he was a treat to watch all by himself. It helped that he looked our way and smiled even wider. I like to think it's because I'm so freaking awesome.

It was also the night of the Britney Spears concert just yards away for our venue, so of course "One More Time" made an appearance, it was really fun.

The played "Slideshow" during the encore and on the album after that song is a "hidden track" after you listen to air for 5 minutes a song called "Flashing Blue Light" starts, and i thought "Wouldn't it be funny if they did that song right after?" and they did. To close the show they did "Flowers in the Window" acoustic and it was really lovely.

I bought a cool Travis shirt that I can wear and people will ask me who the heck this Travis guy is, but it's all good. It was great how chatty they were, mostly Fran talked, but Dougie also did a bit, and it was so great to hear their cute Scottish accents. Erika got me a copy of the drummer's setlist, for which I am very grateful, since I didn't know the names for all of the new songs, but now I have it forever!

We booked it to the side of the venue where the tour buses were. It was raining lightly and it was just us and some other guy there trying to meet the band. We walked around the loading area, but there was no sign of life, we even walked into the back of the venue and walked around but most the doors were locked. After a few minutes of serious discussion, we decided that this had to be the place they would come out. We were right, after a few minutes the crew appeared and straighted putting away the gear, including the huge gong used for one song. This went on for a while and it continued to rain and more people came until we were a little group. Finally the keyboardist came out and headed around us the tour bus. A few people talked to him, I decided to focus on official band members. I had brought my "Turn" single if there was a chance of getting something signed, that would be the coolest thing that I had. It also had the live cover of Britney's "One More Time" so it's a treasured possession and I'm really glad that I remembered that I had it that day.

Andy, the guitarist came out and posed for pics and signed stuff, he was cool. Turns out they are from Glasgow, so we could chat about that a little. The drummer Neil came out and he so reminded me of the Irish guy from Braveheart, very similar sense of humor and also the same dark, lanky hair. He was fun.

Dougie came out and was mobbed. Apparently he might as well be the band leader since he gets lots of attention. I can understand that, he's easily the most attractive band member, but mostly it was all boys that were calling out to him and shouting that they loved him. He's probably their man-crush. He was such a rock star on stage and very kind in person. He asked us our names as he signed our paraphernalia and was very gracious with all the people that wanted to get his picture.

After a few minutes Fran came out. The people were respectful, I'm not sure that giving them a CD of your band is the way to go, but I guess if the right person hears it and you don't suck, there's a chance. Still, I think it's dumb, but I'm not in a band. I should be, I decided that since I rock the house on Rockband drumming, I should be some one's drummer. Every band needs a drummer. But that's neither here nor there.

We waited patiently for Fran to work through the crowd. A nice guy named Robert was letting everyone borrow his sharpie to get things signed (what kind of groupie am I that i don't have a sharpie on me at all times?) and we told him we'd take his picture with Fran and e-mail it to him if he took ours. I took his picture and it looked good, then we tried to exchange the camera and it went crashing hard on the pavement. Even Fran said "that's not good." The view screen was all white. I wasn't thinking rationally or I would have tried to take out the battery and memory card, but we decided that it might still take pictures okay, so we took 2 sets of pics of me and Erika with Fran. One with Erika's cell phone and one with my damaged camera. Robert felt really bad, but it was an accident and I wanted a new camera anyway since it takes not so good shots at concerts. After Fran left for the tour bus, I took out the battery and put it back in and it turned on but said the battery was dead (which it was close before, so that could have been natural) but it wouldn't let me view the pictures, so I didn't know if our pictures with Fran had come out or not. Finally I got the screen to work, but it was upside down. Not the worst, but I was hoping for no real damage. We looked and saw that the pictures we took with Fran were there, but the one of Robert and Fran wasn't. I'm still not sure if it was erased or if it's somewhere on the camera. But look! Aren't we cute?

Of course we thought our adventure was now over and we headed to the trax station to get home. But Wait! Even though Erika had gotten the weekday schedule for Trax online that said the last train was at 1 am, the sign at the station said it really left around 11:30. And it was 12:05. Luckily Erika was able to call her friend and she headed right over to get us. Of course while we were waiting we thought some guy was going to kill us, but he just walked on by. Maybe he didn't know that trax was done running too.

So we got home very late and now I'm at work wishing that somehow I could sleep under my desk, but it was so worth it!

30 Months of Ups and Downs

2009-03-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

This month has been full of ups and downs. You love school still, but come to find out your hitting and while I've tried time-outs and reasoning and taking away privileges, and you are doing better at home and finally after a few weeks, you're doing better at school. But it was a tough time trying to find a way to get through to you. But I think you're doing better.

You are also doing better using the potty! Of course if you're watching a movie or playing you still don't realise that you have to stop and use the bathroom, but mostly of the day when we're at home, you're wearing training pants. Which you like to call your "ariels" since I bought you underwear with Ariel on them, so now everything is ariels.

The trip was your first ever experience with the ocean. It was great to see your reaction. You loved to run into the water and "touch your toes" I was worried that it would be too scary for you, what with all the crashing waves and the vast hugeness of it all, but I guess to a 2 and 1/2 year old, that doesn't matter. And now it's official, you are 2 and 1/2, I've been saying that for about a month now, since it's easier than saying 29 months.

Also, on our trip, you had your first experience on a "big girl" bed. The couch bed where you could get up whenever you felt like it, although I think that didn't really register for you, since you stayed put all night and when you couldn't sleep or when you woke up in the morning, you still fussed until I came to get you.

Naps were also completely given up on since I was obviously more likely to sleep then you were, and I'm very sad that this means I'll not have a few brief moments in the future to get anything done, but maybe with warmer months coming I can just send you outside for hours instead, I'm pretty sure that's what my mom did to us. I'm looking forward to gardening without worrying whether or not your were awake from your nap yet, of course I'll have to keep an eye on you, so there are still some pros and cons about that.
After a vacation where we could spend time out of doors without dying of exposure, has made me really excited for the coming months of summer where we'll be able to run and play at our hearts content (hint, I'll be content waaaay before you are) and all the good times we'll have.

I can't wait!

Mom

Let me Explain....No, let me sum up

2009-03-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

That's really how I feel. A week's worth of adventures and now I have to write about them with clarity in hindsight.
February was when I realized there would be no daycare for our daughter during Spring Break, and so with that in mind, I thought it would be a great time to take a break. Husband is going crazy with school and I'm going crazy being here, so it seemed like the prefect time to escape for a few days.
Looking at rental cottages in Monterey was super fun, initially it was to be a larger family affair, at least in my mind. My parents, siblings and possibly nieces and nephews. But I guess my family is feeling the crunch of poor economic times. That or they are lazy. And cheap. That's right, I said it, cheap. I really wanted to spend time in the same spot I spent many summer vacations, near the beach, watching MTV. Okay maybe minus the MTV part, since I have MTV at home, it longer holds the attraction, and they stopped showing music videos years ago, so it's rather pointless anyway.
Found a tiny little cottage that was a decent price and booked it. I didn't look forward to the all day drive, but it was either take extra days off work and stay somewhere is Nevada (the armpit of the West!) or just push through. I wanted to push. We had done it before and we could do it again.
At 5 am on Saturday we got up and packed the final items and were out of the driveway by 6 am. Opting to head over Donner's pass since the weather looked decent it was a long boring drive, our only little bit of excitement came as our check engine light came on, but it went off again after a while, so we pressed on. The miles seemed to multiply as we drove, the day dragged on longer and longer, but luckily our 2 and half year old held up remarkably well. This is what can happen if one has a strong imagination and a portable DVD player. Many movies were watched and thank goodness, a nap was taken, which is quite different the the rest of the days.
We got to Monterey late and missed some of the good scenery in the darkness.
The cottage was quite adequate. It wasn't anything amazing, but it had all the things we needed. a bed, a fridge and a couch bed. Thank goodness Hayley has no spine, because the pull-out bed was terrible, even to sit on. We slept and were ready to spend a lazy Sunday. Hayley and I awoke and she was restless, so I took her to the nearby park. It was just a short walk, even for her tiny legs and very nice, plenty of slides and things to climb. We came home and got ready for church, we elected to go to church someplace that didn't start until 1. It was our vacation and we'd celebrate however we wanted. After church we drove along the coast and stopped at another beach side park. Hayley got her first good look at the water, we walked on rocks and played on the huge trees and ran around the grass. It was nice to see that other places are already experiencing spring.
The next day it was off to the aquarium! The Monterey Bay Aquarium is world renown and is amazing. I've been there many, many times but they are always changing little things and obviously I don't retain all the sea life information you can pick up there. I had never realized how much stuff there was for kids. Hayley had a blast, there were slides and play areas and coloring areas and stamps, not to mention bright colors, pictures, buttons to push and levers to pull. She had so much fun pushing buttons and pulling levers we almost had to force her to look at the fish. She really loved a little child sized cave where they had a few bright exhibits including a clown fish and seahorses. She loved the seahorses, I watched as she pointed them out to other children and even parents who crawled through the tunnel, and was almost as fascinated by the other kids as she was the underwater creatures.
Still, being a toddler and dealing with a toddler are both difficult experiences, so we had to make a few trips to the aquarium to finish it all, but once I decided to let Hayley move at mostly her own pace, things were a lot less tense. Of course if I had let her, she would have stayed all day turning the wheel that made the wooden penguins bow and bark at each other.
We went to restaurants and had amazing world class food. Husband had a filet minion that he said melted in his mouth (it better have for $50) and we had fresh seafood that had probably been caught the day before.
We went to the Fisherman's Wharf, which is a collection of restaurants and shops, and we shopped and ate and walked and it was almost just like it was when I was little. Although there are more restaurants that hand out free samples of clam chowder, if they had done that, we all would have eaten a lunch of free samples as kids, I know my dad would have appreciated a free lunch for all us kids.
The next day we went on the 17-mile drive, which I had never driven along, just walked some of it It was very interesting to see all the different golf courses and the enormous homes. We even pretended to be house hunting and picked up flyers for homes asking 1.6 million. Although, if you have a spare 35 million, you can have a home on the 18th hole on Pebble Beach! I'm going to start saving my pennies!
After the few hours of driving, Hayley needed lunch, or at least chocolate milk, so we drove into Carmel to eat at Friar Tuck's, which was even smaller then I remembered. A handful of little tables and a counter to sit at. The owner knows my grandparents, but even without him knowing who we were, he treated us a guests and came and chatted with us, but mostly wanted to tease Hayley, she didn't know what to make of him but was happy as a clam to get her "chocolate" milk, apparently if she can't see that it's white, it tastes like chocolate milk. Bless all the ovlatine she drinks and think is chocolate milk. Of course this was the last straw in the whole buying-her-food-when-we-eat-out thing, we spend quite a bit on food she wouldn't touch, not just not finish, but absolutely refuse to eat. From spaghetti to chicken nuggets, I tried to eat what she didn't but with my own large portions, it was not fun for me. So instead we would feed her before we went out to eat, since she mostly just wanted chocolate milk anyway.
After food, we went to the beach in Carmel. Beaches to the rest of the world means fun and sun. This beach has sand and water, but it's also freezing, even in the summer, but seeing as how it is not summer, it was colder still. Windy and cold, but we were not there to swim, we were there to put our feet in the water. Hayley loved it regardless of the numbing effect. She danced and ran and giggled. She was tired when we left, but I gave up on naps after 2 days there.
We spent our nights inside watching TV, after it gets dark, it also gets cold, so we stayed cozy watching movies. I took Hayley to Dennis the Menace park and she had a great time exploring. It wasn't as big as I remembered and most of the dangerous playground equipment had been replaced with plastic sets. There used to be tall sliding polls and metal slides that would get hot, but looks like they are all being replaced. After 2 hours Hayley was even ready to go and didn't fight to stay, she was all funned out!

Over the next few days we finished up seeing the aquarium and shopping on the wharf and on cannery row. As the time grew to a close to being done, it seemed like it had flown by.

We packed up and headed to Clovis to visit my family. It was a pleasant drive inland and we ended up in real Spring. It was great to see my family again, we don't get to spend a lot of time together as we live in different states, but these are my favorite cousins, the ones I spent the a lot of time with growing up. It also helped that all the ages of my sibling matched up with the cousins, so we all had a built in friend.

We had a lovely time eating BBQ ribs and chicken and awesome salads, not to mention good California produce, grapes and strawberries. If only we could afford to live there!

After not enough sleep we woke up and made the 12 hour drive home. Husband had never been through Los Vegas, so that was interesting to him, but we mostly just kept moving and driving. We hit some winter storms coming home, but nothing that slowed us down too much and then we were home. It felt like we hadn't left at all. Next time I'm going to have to stay a whole month, then maybe it'll feel real after we get home and get back to work. But I have a hoody that says Monterey on it, and hopefully it will keep me warm until we get some Spring here!

Live and Let Rock

2009-03-02T15:11:00.000-08:00

This Valentine's Day was good to my family. We are now getting money for Husband's disability and I decided to splurge a bit and get us a Wii. My parents got one for Christmas and it's so fun, and I really wanted to get Rock Band and Wii Fit, so I figured we'd start there.
Well, Husband is too generous and sometimes ignores my pleadings to save money, so he got us Rock Band 2. I couldn't stay mad at him however, while I rocked it on the drums. I don't know that we'll ever play another game on our system. This game is so addictive! We've had friends over to play and everyone loves it. Some times it hard to coordinate after a while of playing it. The drums require you to be able to hit 1 or 2 different notes at the same time while using the kick petal and keep in time. I love the drums. Love them. I know I need to get better at guitar, but drums are so AWESOME!! I have also found love for the band Paramore, since the song list features their song "That's what you get" and it's my favorite to play.
Well, quite a few of the songs are metal or hard rock and that's just not me or Husband, so we've started to download songs! But unfortunately the majority of the downloadable songs aren't available on the Wii. Wh-what?? Apparently they are working on it, but not before I was all excited to down load Blur and Siouxsie and the Banshees, which aren't available. Poop. We still got some good songs, like Paramore's "Crushcrushcrush" which is a blast and Oasis "Wonderwall" and at $2 a pop for each song I'm thinking about just buying the first rock band game used, but then we get more metal and death rock songs, but we'll get the Killers too. Life is full of tough choices.
But I'm playing some of the super easy songs on Expert. I'm pretty awesome. I also love my little rock star that I made. She's so cool, long bright red dreads with green eyes and a rockin' outfit. I kind of wish I could be her, touring the world with my made up rock band, not a care in the world except hitting the right notes and staying on beat. Her name is Zena. I think I definitely have some of that in me.
So long story short, if you play rock band once, you want to play it forever and ever.

29 Months kicking and screaming

2009-02-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

(Picutres are forth coming but I didn't want to delay this another day because I forgot the camera)
Okay, maybe not all 29 months have been all kicking and screaming, but this month had a rough start which is starting to pick up.

This month you started "school" or day care twice a week at the only place that I would even consider having you. You are a few minutes walk from my office and I can visit you any time I want. Although picking you up afterwards was like trying to shave a cat. You ran away, you kicked, you hit, your scratched. You definitely didn't want to come home at the end of the day. Finally about a week ago I came to visit during lunch, you freaked out at first but when you saw that you got to stay things calmed down. I stayed for book time and had 2 little girls whom I had never seen before climb into my lap and ask for stories. You were also glad to have me there, but didn't mind giving up your lap space. That day, when I came to get you, you came willingly. I have since brought treats to entice you, but you haven't needed them. You are always starving at the end of the day since if you don't eat what they give you, there is no other options, and while you eat a bit of it, you're not downing the fish fillet or sloppy joes to make sure you're not hungry later. But you love it. Yesterday you asked to go to school and went I told you it would be a few days, you were pouty. Which makes me glad that this wasn't the mistake I thought it might have been at first, what with all the violence.

Potty training is starting to see a little bit of light. Yesterday also saw you using the potty twice, in one day! There are still a lot of accidents, but maybe it's connecting a little bit, maybe. I'm excited, but we'll see how things go from now on, it's difficult to only have you not in diapers in the evenings and on the weekends. I'm sure that's a big part of why this is taking so long. But I think it's coming, soon. I hope.

Food is getting better, you're more open to things, but it's still mostly you getting your own meal and us eating something else, but a few times a week, we're eating all together and that's nice, but whenever I ask what you want for dinner, it's either goldfish, or fruit snacks. Lucky for you I know that's not healthy food and feed you hot dogs and chicken nuggets. Still, you've learned how to open the fridge and occasionally I find that you've pilfered an apple and left the door wide open. Now if you could just be taught about shutting doors, but I have a feeling that will be a long process to learn, like until you're an adult.

You're looking like such a big kid these days. seeing you run around and really looking at you, you're so tall, hardly the baby you once were. You have so much hair and it's still curly! Even some new hairs are coming in curly. I'm glad to see you still have mostly grey eyes, so I hope you get to keep those, much better then boring brown, you can thank your father for that later.

I love cuddling with you, and while you resist a fair amount now, it's so great when you finally let your guard down and I get to kiss those little cheeks and give you big squeezes.

Keep those coming and things will only get easier.

Love you,

Mama

Cross posting, Free of Charge!

2009-02-03T12:02:00.001-08:00

Most of you prolly saw this on my facebook. Whatever. Here it is again:

I enjoy writing, but I never seem to find the time for it, so it must not be that important.
I’m annoyed by stupid busy work for classes and also loathe teachers who ask questions that are true/false and leave one word out of the text book explanation and then you have to decide if that word was crucial to the definition.
If I didn’t have a spell check, you would never have any idea what I was typing. And my typing seems to be getting worse rather then better.
I’m going to be 30 this year, but I don’t feel like a real adult.
I’m such a musical snob, but I really shouldn’t be since I only know the music that I already know, so I’m not really hip to the groove and I don’t know any indie or local stuff.
I’m incredibly tight with money and not ashamed of this. If I ever offer to buy your something, take me up on it, as it may be the last time.
I want to light people that make me mad on fire. I won’t. But I want to.
I fear that life is not what I expected it to be, and I’m trying to deal with that.
I like to quote movies with friends and family. And if one of us screws it up, the other has to say it correctly. We don’t talk in our own words, that would be strange.
I think birds are stupid for pets. They don’t love you! They just stare at you with their dead eyes and poop on stuff. I do like cats, but have enough of them.
I love Indian food so much I’m trying to cook new recipes once a week as I learn the way of the Curry.
I have a weird red vein on the side of one of my eyes. It freaks people out, so don’t look that close.
I’d rather be comfortable then fashionable. I see chicks in their skinny jeans and high heel boots and I think “seriously?” and want to laugh at them.
I just noticed that my own brother took me off his facebook. I guess he didn’t want me to see the “guy-liner” picture he has up.
I used to drink the watercolor water in preschool to impress boys. It’s only gotten worse from there.
I started writing many days ago and didn’t get very far.
I love broccoli. It’s the best veggie there is, since you’re suppose to eat those, I hear.
I adore dairy. Cream cheese and butter and cheese and sour cream and anything creamy!
I would rather work with numbers than lying liar people. People lie to me constantly an that takes me back to #7
I’ve met Matt Nathanson more times then I can count on 1 hand, I’ve also met Tori Amos a few times, and once she yelled at me. It was traumatic.
I think I have carpel tunnel, but apparently I don’t.
My Mom thinks I’m cool.
I have computer printed calendars on my desk that date back to December 2004. They document a month of my life I’ve given to this soulless institution.
Most of my music collection is Brits. They just make better music.
It’s taken a week to finish this. You had better appreciate it.

28 Months Of Monkeys on the Bed

2009-01-23T09:45:00.000-08:00

This has been a fun month, what with Christmas and getting to spend 2 week home with you. Christmas was a blast, you loved to help open every present and you showed appropriate level of enthusiasm for all your gifts. You even said "Oh cute!" when you opened clothes. You complete lost your mind when we got your Elmo Live! out of the box and the thing moved and talked all on it's own! You scored big time little girl. A little computer, talking toys, a dog that flips (Flipzy) and clothes that will make you even cuter.

I was just as sad as you were the day we finally had to put the decorations away, saying that we'll get them out next year must seem like a long way for someone who is only 2 years old.

New years I even let you stay up late! I think it was 10 pm when I finally had enough of your shenanigans to put you down. At night you like to sleep and go down without too much of a fuss, but nap times are hit and miss. Some days you're ready to go down at noon, but some days, even if I wait until later, you won't sleep no matter how much you need it, because trust me, I can tell the difference in the evening time when you've napped. Those are much happier days. Please sleep! for the love of all that is holy!

Church is also at the unreasonable hour of 9 am, but at least you're usually in a good mood in the morning. The same cannot be said of your father and I. We try, but good heavens, if you throw your goldfish crackers one more time you're never getting any ever again! Ahem. But this way church is over and we can pretend that you are napping afterwards. I think you're still too hyped up from nursery, but you will lay still some what quietly and I can listen to you hum or talk to yourself while I put together a puzzle. Even so, it would be nice if you actually got some rest, since you obviously need it not to be Miss Cranky Pants.

Potty training. This is difficult, as I only get you in the evening and on the weekends, so asking other people to let you pee on things probably isn't the polite thing to do. You're getting better at some of it, but mostly it's still accidents, but at least most of the time you realise your wet and I suppose that's a step in the right direction, even if it's a tiny step.

Making friends isn't your strong suit. There's another little girl at church who is roughly your age. She is your nemesis and also your best friend. You want to see her and play with her stuff, but you can't handle it if she wants to touch your things or play too close to you. You also love your baby cousin Macy, but don't know what to do with her. Push her? Hug her? Bring her toys? Take your toys away from her? So many possibilities, but you miss you when you don't see her. You've asked me many times in the past few days "Where Baby Macy?" like she should be at our house but you can't seem to find her. Hopefully you'll be good friends when your just a touch older.

It's fun much fun watching you interact with the world. With people and with things and see your understanding grow. I can't wait for you to grow more, but I'd also like to seal you in Tupperware so you never age again. But I think that's illegal, so I shall let you grow up.

You and Uncle Tee. He's a silly one, but I loved this picture.

Love You, Mama

Boring Boring Boring

2009-01-21T14:22:00.000-08:00

"Why is Willow so boring?" you might well ask yourself.
The answers are simple and also complex. Or at least, that's what I tell myself.
I don't touch the computer much when I'm home, and I'm lucky enough that my holiday break was spent at home. but the principle that follows being home, is that when you get back to work, you have to work twice a shard to make up for the time off. i am no exception. So work has been filled with actual work. Surprising I know.
I have started out 2009 without resolutions. Since my goals always turn to naught anyway. Perhaps I'm starting 2009 with ennui or that I just know better then to set the bar too high. I have the same goals I have always had, so I'll keep trucking with those and see what i can make happen.
Also, no rock stars. What's up with that? I guess I could try and meet some up at Sundance, but Park City is about 45 minutes away! And cold, colder then it is here and I'm already complaining, but mostly to Husband and Cats. They know the full extent of my cold feet. But I have an electric blanket for nights, but I can't take the sucker with me to work. I should get one of those Snuggies™ to wear my blanket around. But that's probably not professional. They don't have people at their desks in the advertisement, but they should. I need one at work. Also I need something to keep me from chasing people and kicking them, and those things keep your legs fully encased.
That's what's up with me, working, sleeping, taking care of snotty, poopy child (who I still love in spite of the bodily fluids I have to clean up) and cleaning up Christmas. I finally did it. The boxes are stowed safely for next year. I can't wait to see my new tree with it's added height and white lights. I am set for next year. If I could just figure what to do with this half of the year.

27 Months Of Sass

2008-12-22T12:15:00.000-08:00

You are such a sassy young thing. We are continuing your Christmas education. You're completely in love with Frosty the Snowman. You will watch those Frosty cartoons over and over and over. You're not quite as sold on the stop-motion things like Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Rudolph, but we're trying. If your father would make you watch those more instead of giving into your demands for more "snowman" then I wouldn't have to work so hard to get you to know the other stuff! You know that Santa will be bringing presents and you can recognise Santa and snowmen at will and you know what reindeer look like, but you still need to watch Rudolph again.

You're still throwing in nonsense words to your talking, but mostly when you talk to yourself, your pretty good about communicating with us. Your also singing more. Especially when your in the car. I've had to turn on the child window locks because you have figured out that you can step on the buttons in the jeep and buttons are fun!

You are still a pain to fix food for, but now eggs are on the approved foods list. You like scrambled eggs with ketchup, which is awesome. I love ketchup on my eggs. Your father is not so impressed.

I'm excited for the holidays to spend more time with you and hopefully get back to some potty training. We've kinda abandoned that after the first time and it was so frustrating, but it's been a month, I've calmed down and so have you ( I hope.)

You're starting to really get some separation anxiety. I almost didn't get to perform with the ward choir yesterday since you wouldn't let me go without crying and even taking you to Poppi's house you want to stay with me (until about 30 seconds after I've gone and you remember that Poppi spoils the daylights out of you.) It makes me feel bad, so thanks there, but it's also a little nice that you love me best, more than poppi or grandma. I want you to like me, even if I Put you in time out.

You have to sit in time out quite a lot. Throwing things is a bad habit of yours and it seems that even though you get put in time out for throwing food and crayons off your tray, you persist.

You're really into stacking. You take the candy tins and stack them over and over and now you're really playing with the wooden staking blocks that I got you for your birthday, your not just having fun pushing things down, you build! It's fun to watch your little mind work out which blocks will go on top.

I suppose we won't trade you in for a newer model yet.

Heart You!
Mama

It's A Christmas Miracle!

2008-12-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

Friday, December 19th is a day that will live in awesomeness for all time.

First it was the annual Christmas party at my work. Erika and I had spent many hours with our gay boys in the department getting all ready for our lip sync. This is the 4th year we've done this and it's stressful but a lot of fun. This year we picked Christina Aguilera's "Candyman" which uses the music from Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, so it's all forty's sounding and familiar, but it's a little dirty, which is what we aim for. Our crew got to work at 7 am to practice on the stage before our 8 am party. The party got started and there were eggs, bacon, sausage and pancakes! Forget budget cuts people! It was lovely, but Erika and I were starting to get nervous. This year they made the entertainment not just lip syncs, but also talent. Which is stupid, because if it's going to be talents, we can't do a silly lip sync next year. They also brought out judges! Supposedly American idol style. Someone was suppose to be Paula and Simon and Randy, but I don't' think any of those people have every watched American Idol before. Finally it was our turn. We rocked! Erika and I were the USO girls and our boys were sailors, complete with real and fake tattoos. There were only a few tiny little mistakes that I'm sure no one but us noticed. And we looked awesome. I have a new hair style I guess, when I can be bothered to curl it. Everyone clapped and laughed and loved it. The judges were nice and they said we were all winners. I guess they didn't want the other people to feel bad that we were really the best.

After the party it was hard to work, so when Husband was downstairs at his office's Christmas party I joined them for lunch. The the snow came, and came and came! At 2 pm our whole company shut down all offices and sent us home. It was brilliant. i would have left at 2 anyway so that I could get ready for the real treat of the day.

Thank goodness for 4-wheel drive, I was fine on the drive home even with all the snow. Now I had to get ready of the Matt Nathanson concert!!!! I re-curled my hair and decided to wear a scarf over my head to keep the snow off. Then it was off to the trax station so that we wouldn't have to drive down town in the weather and the venue was literally just steps away from the trax station. Keeping in constant contact with Erika, we found out our trax train was about 20 minutes late, but I had my ipod, so I was good! In my purse I had my item for Matt to sign, the pen he needed to sign my item and his present. After the last concert in Boulder, when he put us on the guest list, I wanted to thank him properly and so when I found out about this show I went online to look up the union jack Def Leppard belt buckle that he worn on that first Boulder concert that was so awesome, but had since broken. I paid expedited shipping since I had to have it for the concert. And I told no one, except Magen when she told me that she wouldn't be able to come to the show. I suppose I was a little worried that my friends might think I was a freak that I'm getting Matt a present, because, let's be honest, it's a little bit over the top.

The trax train came and luck would have it that I was standing right in front of the car that Erika and Dawn (from England!) were in so I got a seat and to have great conversations with them as I was getting more and more excited. I showed them the buckle and they both seemed delighted and not at all freaked out that I would do something like that. I also showed them my item to be signed. It was a picture of the first time I met Matt 3 years ago in Boulder, when he had been wearing said belt buckle, but you can't see it in out picture. I looked great since that was when Husband was in Iraq and I spent my free time working out.

The venue is Keys on Main where they have dueling pianos most nights, tonight's "event" was to be a wine tasting supposedly hosted by Matt, so I wanted to get there right away just in case he really was wandering around talking to people. We got in and got our commemorative wine glasses (mine I misplaced) and took a seat at a table, there were seats set up in front of the stage, but there wasn't anyone sitting there yet so I refrained from jumping into the front and center seat. Since it was a wine tasting there was food. Thank goodness! I ate cheese and carrots and olives and crackers and chocolate, oh my! It was great to sit and get to talk to Dawn. We're both great friends of Erika's, so we know all about each other, but since she lives in England, we don't see each other much. I loved that she and I both felt like we were too young to be there at a fancy wine tasting, even though we're both married with kids, it seemed like we were far too youthful. I also got to tell her about how I feel in love with Matt. It's a long story, but I love to tell it and Dawn was a great listener. I love to share Matt with people, he deserves to be well known and I feel like I'm really helping the cause, and really, everyone should love Matt, what's not to love?

With Trish and Nicole we save our six seats, right up front, in the first 2 rows. I of course got to sit on the first row, since I'm the biggest fan (ever). He came out briefly to do a sound check, when people started to clap he put his hands to his lips and motioned that he wasn't really there. Apparently his flight had been delayed. Here's what that looked like and how close I was.

Then he left and we got to wait for the concert to really begin. The show was suppose to start to 7, but sound check was at 6:30, o that didn't happen of course, but it was only about 20 minutes late, which was lucky for Trish's friend, since she got there at about 7.

The radio station announced him and out he came. he started with Car Crash, the newer acoustic version which I love. Trish has a little bit of video of it, but he sings it slightly different from the album and band version and I adore it, but I wasn't smart enough to start recording. He was wearing the scarf he had worn when we met him after the Denver show. Dawn was swooning! I know he's adorable, but it's nice to have confirmation. Someone in the audience asked him for his scarf and other people were yelling that they loved him. He calmed the drunk people by telling them that he wanted them to love him quietly and only love him loudly when that was called for. he said he needed the talking stick. Next he started Gone, and during the opening chords he looked up and saw me and did the eyebrow raise/half smile thing you do when you recognise people but can't say hi. I turned to Trish and Erika and was freaking out. I was trying to squeal but I was really just making some weird "fff" noise and accidentally spitting on those around me. Eventually I was able to get out "He saw me!" a few times I kept turning around so that he couldn't see me look like a freak of nature. he took off his jacket and told us he was dressed like an Eskimo and he would be removing his clothing in layers. He told a story about the having to do #2 at the airport. You really thought the story was going one way, but leave it to Matt to take it in a totally different direction. he was really chatty and people were really drunk so there were lots of fun conversations. he played To the Beat of Our Noisy Hearts, which is one of my favorites off the new album, and I finally remembered that I should be taking some freaking videos. Nicole was taking pictures and they were turning out really well and my pictures, well they are not so awesome. My camera is getting old and can't keep up with the new fancy cameras of today, so I figured I should take videos and let others take the good pictures. he played Still and that song is growing on me, but I think I enjoy it better live where you can see his facial expressions. He played Lost Myself in Search of You and told us that we would probably feel the funk in our nether regions. That song is funky! Erika called out for Amazing Again, but he needed to play his new songs for the new fans of course. After that he was going to play Starfish, but the crowd didn't seem like they were into that, so we did a sing along of Journey's Don't Stop Believing instead. It's standard. He said he would play 1 or 2 more songs and it was confirmed to me that this was a radio promo show and not a real show, which means that he wouldn't play as long, I figured this, but now it was confirmed. He of course played Come on Get Higher, the crowd seemed very into it. Before it he told a story about how this song was about ice cream. And something you're really enjoying the ice cream and you get to the bottom and you just want more and you want to spank the ice cream and pull it hair. Then he did he fake "We're done! Thanks" thing and headed off while the radio guys had us clapping and cheering. he came back out ans said he would play a new song and an old one. I was excited. he played Falling Apart, which I do love, but it makes me want to hear Fall To Pieces, which is my new goal to hear live. He doesn't play it very much, so that might take some doing.

Then he started playing Bon Jovi's Livin On a Prayer which was incredibly fun, but I do want to hear Matt songs when I see Matt play, but I'm a greedy fan.

He said he'd stay and sign stuff for people so we jumped in line and found out that the venue people weren't allowing pictures since they needed to get ready for the dueling pianos thing.

Don't you think that could have waited? I mean, come on, freaking Matt Nathanson people! The line was really long and Erika had to jump out and fight over the last Some Mad Hope CD at the merchandise booth so that Dawn could have him sign it and become an uberfan like me! I pulled out my picture to have him sign and the silver pen so it would show up and the buckle. Erika and Dawn went first and Dawn played the "but I'm all the way from England" card and he told them to wait and he would get a picture with them. I was so nervous that I was shaking of course and I had far too many things to say, to give him and whatnot. I got up to him and said "You remembered me!" Meaning from the stage and he said that of course he remembered me and gave me a hug. Trish said that I had a 3 year anniversary gift for him and I told him that I really wanted to thank him for getting me into the Boulder show and that I had tracked down something I thought he would like. I gave him the box and he opened it. It was his turn to be amazed. He started to tell me that he had one of those and Erika jumped in and said "Yeah, that's why she got it for you." he hugged me and it wasn't just a regular Matt hug (which is nice, btw) he put one hand on the back of my head and really hugged me. I wish that I could have appreciated that gesture at the time, I was still a bit too keyed up though, but I really do now. He said that when pewter breaks, it really breaks and obviously really like it. He handed it to his manager who looked at it appraisingly. He hugged me again with his hand on my head. I recall that his shirt was a bit moist with sweat, but he smelled fantastic. I showed him the picture and he said "look how young I look!" and I wanted to say the he looked the same but more awesome with his longer hair, but I instead said, "Yeah, look how hot I used to be!" He took my silver pen and held the picture on his thigh to sign it. We finished off with another hug and if there was anything else said, I can't recall. So I waited with Erika and Dawn to the side where they had told us to wait until everyone was done. But of course afterwards the lead Matt into the back, I of course followed. Matt said Dawn could get a picture, the VIP room was tiny and in the back, but they had it well guarded. This Venue doesn't mess around and boy do they have some thugs at their service. We asked politely about the picture and were told "no" in very certain terms. So we decided to risk it.

We got our hands stamped and headed for the back alley behind the venue. There was a van and someone from the radio station putting gear into it. A bouncer came out back and asked us what we were waiting for. I told him "Christmas" and Erika I believe told him a "Christmas miracle" he of course told us that "the artist has already left" which is of course, what they always say. I think they teach them that in bouncer school. But a few snowy minutes later out comes Matt, we tried to be polite and we reminded him that he said he would take a picture with our girl all the way from England. and he said "Of course I'll take a picture with Dawn!" She swooned more that he remembered her name from all the people inside. They posed and Dawn pulled me into the picture, which at first I felt like she should get her own since she was from freaking England! But I really appreciate the gesture, she knew how much I love Matt and wanted me to get a picture. next Erika and Dawn took a photo with him and the swirling snow made it so pretty! Then I got a bit greedy (of course!) and said that since I paid expedited shipping I deserved my own photo. He hopped into the van while Erika called out "Merry Christmas" and I remembered to say "Happy Hanukkah" and we walked back out the alley. The van started to drive out, as Matt had to get back to the airport and I moved to the side of the alley and stopped to wait for it to pass, Dawn and I waved and we could see clearly from the front seat, Matt Nathanson waving back at us. Dawn turned to me and said, "He waved at us!" and said that was the reason right there that I loved that man so much, he's so gracious to his fans. He really does care.

We walked back to the venue, and said our goodbyes to Trish, since she needed to drive home on the slippery roads. We were still high on the Matt love and agreed to go and look at the lights on temple square. We skipped and sang and had strangers take pictures of us. We saw some nasty Santas with naughty elves and some drunk/homeless person being picked up by an ambulance. Ah, downtown! We walked through Temple Square and enjoyed the beauty of the lights and the temple in the fresh and still falling snow. After that we were trying to decide where to get a cuppa chocolate. It was earlier then it felt, only about 10 pm. Then we spotted the horse drawn carriages. Neither Dawn nor I had had ridden one and so we asked how much. $50 for a 30 minute ride. Ouch! Well that's what I thought anyway, but Dawn and Erika were both on board. We got a nice young woman driver and we piled the blankets on us. We drove around singing Christmas songs, some more then once and having Dawn call out "God bless us, everyone!" to strangers. It was fun, but after the half hour I was ready to get warm again. We walked to the nearby JBs and got seated. Our server took our picture when he saw we had them out. And we all ordered hot chocolates. I think he was disappointed that we weren't getting real food, since he never talked to us again.

After some warming up we decided it was time to hop on the trax and head home. Unfortunately that was also when the Neil Diamond concert had let out, so the train was super crowded. Dawn had to get a bit fresh with a poll and it was packed and very cozy indeed. I headed home and reflected on the events of the evening. It got tons of Matt love and hugs. I had given him a gift that he loved. It made me so happy to give him something that he can take with him and I'll know that it was me that gave him that buckle, and hopefully I'll see him wearing it and that will make me the happiest. But really, I wanted to thank him for being so incredibly gracious and warm with his fans. He really does apprecaite all the "little" people that are spreading the word about him and sharing his music. He has shown me and any one else meeting him nothing but kindness. It's really his personality that wins over people. His music sin't really want I would consider my type of music, but knowing him him as briefly as I do, it makes his music that much more exciting and interesting to me. Thanks Matt! I hope you continue in your rise to the top!

See? Matt thinks I'm hot!

The Cookie Monster

2008-12-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately I have discovered cupcake cake bites. This is unfortunate for a number of reasons. Mostly being that I don't have them. And secondly, i don't even have the ingredients to make them. And thirdly, even if I DID have said ingredients, I wouldn't want to make them, seeing as how I would eat them and ruin my whole "I'm eating healthily so that clothes still fit after the holidays" and it's killing me.

I've been reading bakerella.blogspot.com so many times in the past 2 days that I'm starting to see these little suckers in my sleep. I think about which cake mix I would use (red velvet or white? chocolate or yellow? Moist or bargain brand?) and how I should decorate them (snowmen! snowflakes! Christmas trees? stars?) So while I was at groups last night with husband, while the menfolk talked about their "feelings" I was envisioning where I should purchase the melting chocolate and whether I could use my skewering sticks or if I needed to buy lollipop sticks. You can't see it in this picture (but it's so cute anyway) but you can put them on a stick! Food is always so much better on a stick! Imagine corn dogs with no stick and you see what I'm talking about.

I'm also trying to pretend that I'm not Christmas shopping. All day long. But chances are, if you're getting a gift from me, it's already in my shopping basket. Metaphorically. I just hope you like it! And that's why it's still in my basket instead of on my charge card. What if you don't like it? I'm such a bad friend getting you something so obvious, this is why we're going to have that falling out soon. I don't blame you. I will try and move on to people who don't expect too much from me. Or you'll love it! I'm a good friend and we'll be besties forevs and evs because I got you just what you wanted. I shall bask in your praise at my ninja-like shopping skills.

With this is mind, I have not thought of one solid thing to get for my 2 year old. She of the movie watching variety. We have so many stuffed animals, but wouldn't she just love a care bear? We also have so many Disney movies that she hasn't even watched them all, but we don't have Sleeping Beauty, she would love that! And she's got clothes! A lovely mother is our neighborhood whose daughter is about a year older than Hayley gave us all her hand me downs. She has clothes coming out the wazoo. I only have her wash her clothes about every 2 weeks and that's barely re-wearing the perfectly good jeans from the day before. And I fret. She's tall in her torso, she can wear 3t in most shirts now, so I don't want to buy her 2t stuff just because that's the size she should be in, but sometimes the 2t are still big. So I don't want to buy her clothes, but she has a multitude of toys she neglects to watch more Nemo (again), so I don't want to buy her toys. But I'm afraid her mind and muscles will wither while she watches TV, so I don't want to get her DVDs! Argh! Christmas! Why can't you be more about the baby Jesus then what is in those packages? I'm just as guilty. I finally took pity on my husband and made him a wish list, and also one for my brother who has me in the family gift exchange. I have two separate wish lists! I haven't had a wish list since I was 14 and asked my parents for a Pearl Jam CD (yeah, Pearl Jam, remember when they were cool?)

Where was I? Oh yes, this post is about cake balls. So please, come over to my house with a box of cake mix, some melting chocolate and some sticks, you might just leave with all the ones I couldn't fit into my mouth while you weren't looking! It's a Christmas miracle!

26 Months of Wonderful

2008-11-25T11:37:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how much you change even month to month. This month you've started adding non-sense sounds to actual words and phrases. I'm not sure if it's wanting to sound like you have more to say, or that I just talk so much that you're trying to keep up.
It's really difficult leaving you every morning, but the loves and kisses that come when I get home are very nice. It seems like you actually miss me, even though I know that when I get home, the TV gets turned off and then it's nothing but whining for "Credibles" or "I's Age" and I'm the mean parent that refuses to let your brain rot when there are shows I could be watching instead.
Your still a very picky eater and very much in charge of what you eat. We go through the list of things you will eat at meal time. Tacos? sandwich? mac and cheese? it's anyones guess, but you still have a little belly, so I figure that means you're not starving. You can put away sweets like it's no one's business, but real food only gets a few bites in before you are totally done.
I'm a little sad, all the 2T clothes I've been saving for you, well the tops are a little short. Apparently you have a long torso but stubbly little legs. I do not have a long torso, so maybe this is something that you will grow out of and become a normal sized child, or maybe you're going to be a freak of nature, but I hope not. I hope that some day you eat and grow like a normal child, but for now we'll just try and make sure you are eating something with some kind of vitamins. Although I gave you some toast with Nutella on it, and you loved that more then life itself, it was like candy! That's what I do with stuff, just smother it in chocolate and call it good.
Today your favorite color was green. We were looking at a Christmas tree here at work and they had fiber optic ornaments that changed color. You were only happy when the lights were green. When they would change you would say "Oh! Green gone!" and wait until it turned green again and say "There is!" It was pretty cute, but I've never noticed any affinity for green, so maybe it's just today. I can't wait to put up our tree. Last year you were still pretty young and didn't get the whole Christmas scene, but this year, what with all the Christmas videos i have, you'll be an expert!
I'm hoping that this thanksgiving you try the food. As I recall the only thing you tasted last year was jello and even that wasn't good enough for you. What kid doesn't like jello? Even I liked jello! I have high hopes once again for stuffing. It's my favorite, and I'd like to pass on my love of fatty goodness. Actually I would hope that you remain aloof from food. If you have my genes at least, time will tell, as your father has no sisters what the female body shape will end up being. My fingers are crossed for "never needs to think about what she eats" body type. My life would be so much better if that's where I was. And if I wasn't obsessed with diary. Wait, this isn't a post about my insecurities? Oops. Anyway, I hope you eat things at some point, that's all I'm saying.
Here's to the next month!

Kisses,
Mama

Nothing Dims Theses Stars

2008-11-14T07:18:00.000-08:00

(Final Chapter)

With visions of being a VIP at the show still in my head, we got to the venue in Boulder just as the doors were opening. And there were 2 insane lines. I was nervous, I figured we would have to wait at will call, but that's not what I wanted. I didn't want to get into the back of a long line, and they were letting the people who already had their tickets in, so the people who waited at will call then had to go to the end of the line of tickets. Urgh. So I checked with the venue staff just to make sure the tickets were at will call, I didn't want to wait in line if I didn't have to. But my dreams of being ushered in and swept back stage were dashed. They were just dreams, but there was a glimmer of hope right? Waiting in will call, which was a shorter line, was still torturous. It seemed that no one was moving. It took 5 minutes for each group ahead of us. Their were people without ID and then they had to figure out what to do with them and their were people that they couldn't find on the list for 5 minutes. Ugh. By the time we got close to the front the long line of people with tickets were all inside. I started to silently panic. Poor Erika, she could tell I was really frustrated, but there was nothing else we could do but wait. I didn't want to be really far away from the stage, but that seemed inevitable now since hundreds of people already were inside. We got to the box office and were a little sad when we only got little "admit one" tickets which we then had to relinquish to the door staff. So while Erika had been having her tickets signed, now we didn't have one. We saw the Matt posters for the venue outside. They said Matt's name, and the date in swirly psychedelic colors and had an outline of a girl licking a lollipop, it was so random, especially since most of the venues that have posters are the ones from Matt's people and have a picture of Matt on them, like the one I had gotten the night before, but these people made their own and it was not the better for it. We went inside and were so lucky that we got a spot right up front, only a few people back from the stage. Unfortunately I was behind tall people a little, I could maneuver and see well, but it was annoying, but fine considering we got inside with only 8 minutes before the show was suppose to start. But it didn't start! We waited and waited, and really, we wanted to see The Break and Repair Method again, because we'd been listening to their album on the driver to Boulder and were super excited now that we knew the songs even that much better. When they finally came on they were great. Every song I would turn to Erika and say "I love this song!" Every song, really. CHECK THEM OUT. Okay, enough said. I wasn't in a good position to see the singer who was more stage left but I was able to watch my new favorite drummer, Ryan. He was rockin and having a great time. The crowd seemed really into them. It was over far too soon. But we found out the 3 of the 4 band members are actually a part of Matchbox 20 and we almost told their uber fan that Rob Thomas is a d-bag, but we restrained ourselves. They played their untitled song and again asked the crowd what to call it, Erika screamed out to call it Boise, and Paul chuckled and relayed the story of what happened in Salt Lake and how all us Mormons were offended. Even though I thought it was funny, maybe some people were offended. How should I know? But this song is Erika's favorite. Then we had to wait for the next opener. And when she came out, she played for 45 minutes! After about the 3rd song, I kept hoping she would say "okay, this is the last song, goodnight!" but it took forever. My feet were already starting to go numb, I was trying to move around and dance to keep my circulation going, but it was not working very well which made me even more irritated that she wouldn't just stop. After an eternity she was done and now it was just time to wait for Matt. We saw him run from the stage level to a downstairs level off the stage.

They came on again to Queen. But they switched things up this show and started with To The Beat of Our Noisy Hearts and it was a great way to start. There seemed to be a lot of songs from Beneath These Fireworks, which I love every song, so I really enjoyed this show. It's funny because he'll introduce the songs as being off an "old" record and so I'm expecting something from albums before that, but I guess it was released in 2003 which is pretty old now, but it was my first Matt album, so it has eternal youth in my mind. But it was great, he played Sad Songs, Weight of it All and right after played Curve of the Earth, not to mention the Angel/ I Saw combination. I loved it! During solo time, Matt wasn't going by his set list. He played what the 2 uber fans behind us were yelling out, but the first song was Church Clothes, which is a song that I really love, so that made me very happy. It's a song that when it gets stuck in my head I really enjoy it.

The next song he told us was about his brother who had been kicked out of Boulder or Colorado and I think when i saw him here in 2005 he mentioned his brother, but he didn't play this song. It was a song I had maybe heard once, called Miracles. It was really mellow and I wish I had known it better. But don't worry kids, I recorded the whole thing so we can all get to know it better.

Church Clothes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbBqUHPOVOw

Miracles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vrX8tsIQ2I

Once the band came back we were ready to rock again, he finally played Gone, Car Crash and Wedding Dress. We also got another Chance at the sing along for Take On Me. Finally my side won! But then it was discovered that the balcony on my side was the over 21 crowd that was drinking and the other balcony was under 21 and not drinking, and so a draw was called since alcohol in a sing along is like steroids at the Olympics. Dang it! I almost won! But it was still fun. But as he close with All We Are, I knew that this amazing Matt trip was coming to an end. Once again they made it back from just being on the jet to come back and play us an encore. Detroit Waves and finishing with the standard Come On Get Higher. At this point Erika and I are both so tired, since we only got a few hours of sleep the night before and had been going all day hanging out with her family. I was lucky enough to get a little 20 minute nap, so Erika needed some Red Bull, but we were still starting to come down from our Matt high. The show finished. Last time I saw Matt here, he came out to the front area and signed and took pictures and was just awesome, but we were getting kicked out again! We talked a little to Aaron and found out they were going to be flying out to Portland to play a show tomorrow before playing the next tour stop. Aaron and John said how this crowd was so fun, so much better then the drunk crowd in Denver. They said it was one of the best shows. I thought the best show was the Salt Lake one, but this set list was incredible. Talking to the band we waited as long as we could. I still had backstage hope, it was quickly fizzling away. We saw his manager and thanked her for the tickets and said we wanted to thank Matt. She told us that the tour bus was parked on the next street and to just wait there since he's got to get on the bus at some point, so we decided that that was our best bet, we weren't seeing any of our band members where we were, so we might as well go wait in the cold for a chance. We told her that we had come from Salt lake and she said that that had been her favorite show and gave us the information that David Archeleta had vlogged about the show (which I linked to in the SLC post.) So we headed outside and saw the drummer of B&R Method and said hi, he seemed to be headed somewhere so he didn't stay and chat like the night before. We talked to each of Matt's band members, Erika had gotten one of the ugly 70-ish posters from the door and had them all sign it. I had decided that all I wanted was a few pictures and to thank Matt, no signing for me, I had gotten enough from him in the past few days that I wanted to be a little more laid back, but I still had the new CD in my purse in case I changed my mind. Although the band knew us at this point and signed nice things, not just their names on Erika's poster so I was little jealous that I didn't also have something signed, but I had gotten all the posters and set lists from other shows, so it was her time to sign. Although they were nice enough to shine, no one really chatted like they had the night before. Konrad and Aaron kept busy and John stopped briefly and awkwardly to chat with the other girls for a bit until they had run out of things to say. I felt bad because they would pause in saying something and I would interject just as they were saying something again. I was a total jerk, but it wasn't on purpose I promise.

The lead signer for the opening band was walking by, we had seen him briefly in Salt Lake, but never talked to him. He looked determined to ignore us, but after I called out his name, he turned. There was only Erika and I and a group of 3 other girls, so he probably figured we were just waiting for Matt (which was true, but we're not going to pass up an great opportunity) and so we all introduced ourselves and it was very formal, he would get our name shake our hand and say "I'm Paul" or "Paul" for every person, even though we had all heard his name. Maybe he wanted to make sure we remembered him. Erika and I told him how much we loved his set and he seemed really taken back. We told him that we bought a CD and the other group said they had too. He seemed kind of insecure about whether the crowd had liked them. We told him that this was our third show and just loved all the songs. I told him I loved how he played like he was on fire, really banging the keys and that we loved how he had used his foot to slam the keys in Denver. He was really buoyed by our loving words, or maybe he's really self deprecating. We wanted to tell him how much we hate Rob Thomas, but we didn't know if that was a sore spot or not, so we'll save that comment for next time. Erika almost forgot to ask about the "Boise" song, but she asked if she could download it or when she could get it and told him that it was the song that made her a fan. Someone with him said they had recorded it that night and so had a live recording, so we'll see if that's made available. I hope that it is, because that song will light your pants on fire! The whole band hoped into a car and made a get away.

Then Matt came out! He was only wearing a scarf and jacket and said, "Okay let's do this before we freeze our butts off!" Which meant, this needed to be quick, but luckily there weren't many of us. He talked with the other group, they got their set list signed. One girl asked if he could have a friend of her propose to his girlfriend at his show on Saturday. Matt seemed sympathetic, but adamant that he couldn't do that for one person because then everyone would would want personal things done for them and it would all snowball, which I can understand, but how cool would it be to be proposed to at a concert that you both love. Oh well. I found out later from teh set list picture that I took that during the solo part he was suppose to do Wings and Gospel. Which I actually called out for Wings and Gospel is one of my other favorites, they are both on my favorite album, Still Waiting for Spring, so that would have been so great for me, but i guess we can't have everything, can we? If I had known, I would have chastised Matt, so it's good that I didn't know.

We took their pictures and then it was our turn. Matt said something like "well willow, you made it"and I went all fan girl and had to rush in for the hug. He remembered my name! Officially! yeah it had only been one night and he had written it on his hand (his hand!) and so it was not likely he would be able to forget so quickly, but it was still fun. We took a group shot, we wanted individual shots, but we were taking what we could get and trying to be gracious. I had done my hair curly instead of the usual "dressed up" straight and he touched my hair and and said "Your hair looks cute." Then I died. Right there. We thanked him profusely and he hugged us again. I think I got 3 hugs. It was a little hazy. We wanted to get our individual pictures but after seeing Erika's poster and finding out that the band actually liked them the other girls asked if there were extras, so Matt was going to get them a poster and we decided our time had come. We wished them a good trip up to Portland and said goodbye. We practically skipped to car. It was over, but it ended with an incredible show and we got to say thanks and goodbye, what more could we ask for? Then next day was the drive home, we had come, we had seen, we had kicked Colorado's trash and had a better time than we ever imagined. We got into both shows, we meet Matt after every show, had decent conversations with him, met all the band members and found a new group to love.
I know that while some of friends would definitely be up for a road trip, it's unlikely that any would be able to drop everything with only 24 hours notice and be gone for 3 days, on the chance that we would get into one or two sold out shows. So my thanks go out to Erika, and her brother, the people who sold us tickets and to Matt and his band and manager and all others who made this the most fun I've had on a crazy whim! Peace out!

Everyday is Start of Something Beautiful

2008-11-13T11:57:00.000-08:00

(Part III)

Erika and I find a place to park not too far from the lovely Bluebird Theatre. I think I saw Duran Duran here back in 99 but it didn't look at all familiar so maybe not. It was about 10 minutes until the show actually started. There was only one door open, they were checking IDs and so there were a few people in a line just to get in. They opened a new door, we went in it. We headed inside and were able to get right up front and off to stage right. A got a call on my phone and listened to the voice mail, it was about the single ticket for the next night. I wondered what I should do. The Break and Repair Method would come on with only us standing there for 5 minutes. Their set was just as excellent as the night before, but the sound was better. Every time they started another song, Erika and I would smile at each other because we remembered it and how awesome it was. Then we would also just look at each other and smile because, holy crap, we're in freaking Colorado at the Matt Nathanson concert that we didn't think we'd be getting into! During their set, Erika and I decided we needed to get their CD, no question, I would have bought it in Salt Lake, but Trish needed the rest of my cash so she could get a shirt too. After they were done I decided that since Erika wanted to spend time with her family, if she would let me borrow her car, I would take the single ticket, but not for the $60 I was willing to pay thinking that the Boulder show would be do or die and so I was willing only to pay $45 (for the $20 ticket) so after Erika agreed that she could go see a movie with her brother that night and I could take her car, I sent the person a text. We texted throughout the set of the next opener (since she sucks so much I'm not even going to write her name) and finally she decided that it was not fair that I agreed to pay more earlier and was only willing to pay as much as someone else had already agreed to pay. I told her to go ahead and give the other girl the ticket. I think she was disappoint to lose the extra $15, but now I had already paid for one ticket, I needed to make sure I didn't spent too much money on another one. But Erika and I decided that was the plan: get me a ticket and she'd hang out with her family.

Matt opened with the same song but it's a great opener, mostly the beginning of the set was the same, except for he played Sad Songs instead Weight of it All, then when he got to Sing Me Sweet, which he had played in Salt Lake, but he played the Letter to Elise bridge! We actually listened to a show from 2005 when he did that and I never thought he would play it! If you don't know, Letter to Elise is my favorite Cure song, it's the song that really got me into the Cure. So Yeah! I screamed like a maniac. There was a lot of people talking and being drunk in general, and Matt spent some time trying to get people to at least be respectful. If Matt can hear you onstage while he's playing, it's a bit much. Matt always handles it in a funny way, but still.

It was so weird because the crowd was so different from the Salt Lake crowd. People were singing, but no one was bopping around, people looked a little bored and/or drunk. They just didn't seem as into it, while the people in Utah we're obviously really into the show and having a good time.

He played Amazing Again (again), which is funny to me, because when I listen to that album, I always listen to that song twice before listening to the rest of the album, so hearing it twice was actually perfect for me. he did Suspended solo again and then brought the opener out to help him with Loud, which is from my favorite as well, and it was so fun watching him while she sang the other part of the duet. He mouthed the words and smiled like crazy, I loved it.

The band came back to All we Are which was a nice mellow transition back to the band. We did the Take on Me sing along again, and my side lost again! Maybe I'm bad luck! But it was still fun and I figured out some of the words from the second verse.

Ended with Detroit Waves again, but minus the Eminem bit. Similar banter about how they were going to pretend it was their last song, we would yell and clap and they would come and do the songs already listed on the set list but only because they loved us so much.

When they came back (after being already on the helicopter) and played a cover of All I have to Do is Dream, which we all know. I have a little clip of it posted on Youtube, since I thought it was so cool, but at the same time the trip and the lateness of the hour was catching up to us. I remember that i wanted to be really excited, but I couldn't muster enough energy, so I could only be moderately excited. It was also almost midnight and the concert, which could be the only one was coming to a close, now the only song left was Come On Get Higher, which we had heard several times that day already, even though it's a great song, the mystery for the evening was gone. But we still grooved to it and appreciated that we never planned on being here, so we were lucky. We also decided that we needed to send a thank you note to the person who sold us their tickets.

After the show the band members were breaking down the set, and John Thomasson jumped down and talked to us. I had snagged a poster from the front door and so I had him sign that. We told him about our adventure and he was impressed. We wanted to talk to the rest of the band (and of course Matt) and so we hung out while the venue people tried to kick us out again. There was a tiny entrance room outside the stage area, and I was hoping that Matt would show up there to sign and meet people. At first we pretended with were with the band and so didn't have to leave, but we could only fake that for so long, then we hung out at the little bar area for a bit, but it was obvious that they wanted us out. So we saw some of the first band The Break and Repair Method outside and there were also buses and people moving equipment, so we figured that couldn't be too bad. Outside we met the drummer (Mr Smiley) and the guitar player and I got a picture with the drummer, whose name is Ryan. We told them how much we loved them and that we show them in Utah. I told Ryan he was my favorite new drummer and I hugged him. He in turn invited Erika and I to the after party which was at a bar called Streets of London, and as fun as hat would be, it was late and we were exhausted. We told him about our plight for a ticket for the next night, but said that since they were the opening band, they didn't really have any tickets they could give to people. I accosted each other member of Matt's band and got signatures and photos. I was glad to get a photo with Konrad. He seemed very impressed with our tale of driving all day and getting tickets last minute. He shook my hand several times and was very sweet. I had Aaron pause in his work of getting everyone's stuff onto the bus (seriously, everyone else is standing around and working intermittently, but Aaron, he's always working) and he took a very serious looking picture with me.

We asked if Matt was coming out, since there weren't really any other fans left, it was band members and roadies. Aaron said that he was with friends but would probably be coming out. There were 2 other girls waiting for Matt, that was it. At this point we felt a bit stalker-ish, but we'd come so far and it could be our last chance to see Matt, and they didn't say he wouldn't come out, so we waited. The other girl had a tattoo on her foot which we learned was her name in Hebrew.

Matt popped out of the tour bus, which means there must have been another door to that things that we couldn't see, we'd been guarding it closely. He talked to the other girls and we took their picture for them. He recognised the Hebrew writing on the girl's foot right away, which was neat. He saw us and smiled. He gave us hugs and we took a picture together. He asked how we'd been and Erika asked him if he really wanted to know. He was all sorts of intrigued. Erika related our story about tickets and the drive. He was really impressed. I apologized for my annoying behavior 2 nights prior. I explained that I felt like anything I wanted to say to him needed to be said soon, since he probably wouldn't be able to do meet and greets with fans anymore since he was getting to be a bigger artist. He told me that he was the master of his own destiny. I said that he would have to be more like Tori Amos and have the fans behind the cattle fences and he laughed and said that he loved Tori, but that Tori also loved Tori and the myth that surrounds her, which sounds weird, but I totally get was he was saying. I thanked him fro playing Letter to Elise and that we had been listening to a show from 2005 that day where he'd done the same thing. He said he's played it a few time this tour and talked about the new Cure record. We were both apprehensive about it. I told him that my favorite album was Still Waiting For Spring and he said I must have been glad to hear Loud, I said that I was and also Amazing Again two concerts in a row and I explained the way I listen to that album and song over and over. I told him that while Disintegration may have been the best album ever at the time, Still Waiting for Spring was my pick for only album on a deserted island. Erika took a photo of us, but thinking she wanted us to pose he got distracted and we then faked an action shot while I got to say "Okay,act like I totally just said something funny."

He asked if we were headed to see them in Boulder, I told him that we were going to try, but we'd have to see how things went. He told us to try and get tickets, but if we couldn't just to find one of his people. Now I've given thought to this kind of situation when things have not gone well for me at concerts, so I asked him how that would work, how I would find his people. And he said "No, you know what, you've come too far. Don't worry about it. I'll put you on my guest list." Then he wrote my name (first and last!) on his hand and wrote +1. Matt Nathanson had my FULL name written on his HAND. The one he holds the guitar neck and microphone with. I rock. We said thank you and that we wouldn't keep him any longer, we'd just see him the next night, and he said bye, and as we were taking off his manager yelled "Bye Willow!" and we yelled bye in return and giggled our way back to car. I finally looked at what Matt had written on my poster and it made me giggle even harder "I need Willow" How awesome is that? It was about 2 am now and even though we were insanely tired we still had to drive and find Erika's brother's house. So we didn't get into bed until 2:30 and much giggled happened after that. We were too excited to sleep. I had visions of getting backstage, being let in first before anyone else to the show and things like that. It took a while for my brain to shut down.

Making the Tough Calls

2008-11-13T11:01:00.000-08:00

These are going in chronological order, so start at the bottom and work you're way up if you are so inclined.
When I got home from the Salt Lake show I was just still so jazzed, that I hopped right online and found that disappointingly, the Denver show was sold out, but the Boulder show didn't say and when i tried to get tickets, they just said unavailable. There was still hope. I texted Erika and we went back and forth on how we could get tickets and if they were really sold out, and what we would do if they were. Erika was excited to see her family and also to see Matt again. The show was so amazing, it was a ride we didn't want to end so soon.
We decided to try for tickets tomorrow and finalize our plans.
Soon enough it was Sunday and I was trying to get my lesson figured out and still talked to Erika at least twice before church. Tickets for Boulder were also sold out, but the box office said that if there were unclaimed tickets, we might be able to get some. They also recommended Craig's list, which i had never thought of. I spent so much time googling tickets and looking at ticket brokers who didn't even have tickets, but every time someone posted on Craig's list that they had an extra ticket or two, they were gone in minutes. There were only single tickets that we could possibly get. We decided that we needed to get 2 or there was no deal, since it would be terrible if only one of us got to go to a show.
We decided that Boulder was our best bet. It hadn't been sold out as long as Denver and was a smaller town. We were hopefully but not overly optimistic. There was a real possibility that we wouldn't get into either show. Erika posted on Craig's list that we were looking for tickets and gave out her cell number so people could reach us while we traveled. We decided to both head into work on Monday, make our excuses, take care of a few essentials and come home on Wednesday. We would leave late Monday, probably noon, and make it to Erika's brother's house around 8, which is when the Denver show would be starting, so we had pretty much written off that concert all together. I had written to someone on Craig's list and told them that if they wanted to make some extra cash on their $20 ticket, I might be willing to pay $60 for it, since if we had one ticket, it would be easier to get just one more, I reasoned. They said they would get back to me if they were interested.
Erika showed up just before 11 to get me. She was too excited to stay at work, I took almost every Matt CD I owned and we were off after getting gas and snacks.
After we'd been the road about an hour and after we'd been keeping in touch with her brother via texting we got a call from a Colorado number. Thinking it was Erika's bro, we told him to call us back. After a few minutes I noticed that their was a voice mail. I checked it and it was someone from Craig's list about tickets for Matt! I called them back, but since 15 minutes had passed the tickets were gone. We were bummed and decided that since Erika's number was online, I should hang onto her phone to make sure we heard (or felt it) it with the music on. We listened to Matt, I had 2 live CDs and all the albums that I own. We listened to every one of them before we turned on some 80's tunes. The weather was a bit crap in Wyoming and about 3:30 it seemed like the sun had set. It got dark and then we hit Colorado. The scenery was much nicer from what I could tell while there was some residual daylight left. About 45 minutes away from Denver there's another phone call that i answered. I thought it was Erika's sister in law at first, so I didn't quite catch what was going on and it was hard to hear in the car. It was someone else calling about our Craig's list posting. They had tickets for tonight's show and they would give them to us for face value or $25 each. Erika and I decided to go for it, we were going to just make it in time to get the tickets and go. We were lucky that she lived close to the venue so we had Enough time to pick them up since we still had to finish driving to Denver!
We got a little lost on our way to her house, but not too bad, our gas light also came on, so we ended up paying way too much for gas since it was 20 cents cheaper just one block farther, but you can't chance those things. The girl whose tickets we were getting was so nice. She was a med student and had to study that night. It was a Monday, even if it felt like a weekend to us.
It was such a cute neighborhood, all little older houses with no driveways or garages.
We flew to the Walgreen's and got dressed and put on new deodorant and make up since we'd been sitting in a gross car for 8 hours. Then it was on to the show!!!!

First of the Gang

2008-11-12T18:49:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been a whirlwind adventure, but now I'm here to catch my breath.
First off the Salt Lake show, be patient with me, I've been to 3 shows in 4 days and sat in a car for over 18 hours to do it.

Salt Lake! What a show! Let's get started.

I spent time figuring out what I wanted to wear and trying not to get too excited. Around 3 pm I left my house and headed over to Erika's to help her finish get ready and for a final opinion about my choice of outfits. I wanted to be there at 4:30 and that's when Magen got to the venue. and called us while we were on our way there. She could hear Matt sound checking, he was playing Car Crash! So we drove fast and got there to hear some more songs. Mostly he played covers, things I didn't recognize that weren't Matt songs. We were standing by the stage door so we could hear, but then we saw other people heading up to the main door, so I sent my friends to go and stand by the door so that I could keep listening. But they let us into the front door, so I had to leave my little spot and go stand just inside the venue and so we could hear the rest of the sound check and then the other band started their sound check and I mostly didn't pay attention. There was a poster up for some band called Aiden that had a picture of Morrissey and Michael Jackson photoshopped onto a picture of 2 people boxing and that formed enough of a conundrum to keep me thinking until Trish got there with our food. Mmm Arbys! They kicked us outside to wait in the cold for a little while and then we got to finally and officially go inside. It sucked though because the people who had gotten tickets through the pre-sale were all will-call, and so they had to line up in a different line with the people who didn't have tickets at all. But Trish was the only mega fan to buy her tickets early enough, so she had to go stand all by herself. So lame.

They opened the doors and we ran in and right up front. I was just stage left of the center monitor that Matt would be standing in front of, so it was a good place to be. The opening band came out. They had a lovely little electrical piano set up on stage and when the singer came in, he was wearing Elvis Costello glasses, argyle socks, converse sneakers and suit pants that were cut off at the bottom. I was sold and they didn't need to play anything! Then they started. And I was completely blown away. They were so amazing! Up front where we were the sound was rather muddy, but I could still tell how incredible they were. The singer pounding out the melody on the piano and singing with his gravely, raspy voice and the drummer! He was Mr. Smiley. He was singing along and smiling and rocking out. They are called The Break and Repair Method and I highly recommend them to anyone who likes good music. You can listen to 3 songs at their myspace http://www.myspace.com/thebreakandrepairmethod and make them your friend or you can go their website http://www.thebreakandrepairmethod.com/ and listen to the whole awesome album. Then you will know what greatness truly is.

They played an untitled song and asked what they should call just after they had told a story about playing the night before in Boise. So someone yelled that they should call it Boise, but that's not what he heard. Let's just say it was a pretty dirty word that he heard, so he was shocked that us Mormons would say something like that. But then it got all figured out. These songs rock, really you need to see them live to really get it so here's a youtube of a concert http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtpx7BejYe4 it even shows the drummer a bit, so that you get what I'm trying to tell you.

It was during the break between Break and Matt that we heard that David Archeleta was there, up in the sound booth. We couldn't see him very well from where we were, but there were definitely a bunch of people up in that booth. He even vlogged about it! David Archeleta's vlog

He doesn't say too much about it, but it's cool that he was there.

The manager brought out the setlists and while there was one right in front of me I tried not to look at it, I wanted to be surprised. I did see the first song and I also saw that he was going to play "Amazing Again" which, I can tell you that I squealed like a little girl. That's not only my favorite Matt song, it's probably my favorite song ever. But I was getting nervous, the lame guy next to me that kept trying to push me so he could get more in the center was eying it and asked the strange hand if he could have the setlist and they told him he could take it after the concert was over. But then Matt came out, to a Queen song, I'm not sure which one. He came right out and spit his gum onto the setlist by his microphone. The guy didn't look pleased. I was ecstatic! How cool would that be to get matt's gum? Okay I'm a freak, I'm aware of this.

He started off with "Gone" which is really rockin and so much fun. Before "Princess" he of course said how he stole some of the song from Rick Springfield and discovered that "Ghostbusters" And "I Want a New Drug" are pretty much the same song, and played "Living on a Prayer" with "Heaven is a place on Earth" to show that they were also the same song and then said that Rick had nothing on him if those songs could do that.

The crowd was so into his set. The screaming was deafening, after every song, and people were singing along to all the songs, not just the new ones. Before Falling Apart he played the beginning of "In A Big Country" and the original artists have nothing on Matt here, it was beautiful.

I, of course, screamed when he started playing "Amazing Again." I knew it was coming, but still hearing those opening notes I didn't know if I was going to cry or pass out, but it was a totally happy kind of cry. I'd never heard this song live, only on CD or a live recording. He sang the beginning of Losing My Religion during the instrumental part, just like I like it.

For the solo songs he played "Suspended" and during the sing along for the chorus, he said we sounded like we belonged in the tabernacle. He then played "Romeo and Juliet" which is a cover song that I don't love. It's fine, but I would have rather had a Matt song. He was suppose to play Sooner Surrender, but it was nice to get a cover that he doesn't play all he time.

The band came back with "To the Beat of Our Noisy Hearts" which is one of my favorite songs from the new album, so fun. Someone called out for "Come on Get Higher" which is really his "hit single" and he said that somethings in life are guaranteed, death, taxes and that he would play that song.

They did a sing along for Ah-Ha's Take on Me, which was fun, it was a totally lounge version and he had each side of the room take turns on the chorus and then judged who was the winner. It wasn't my side! Oh well, it was really fun. Detroit Waves was the last song of the main set which incorporated Kids in America and I think Eminem's 8 mile too, but only a little bit of that. Then he told us that it was the last song in the main set, but we all knew that they had an encore to play but to scream and clap loud anyway.

They came back with Answering Machine which also has a sing along part and is just an incredible song. Finished up with Come on Get Higher. That's right, make the people wait for it, that's makes the night finish on a positive note. I had my buds help me grab the setlist because that guy didn't even want it! Ha!

Now for the after stuff!

Trish and I bought shirts and Erika finally decided on a hoodie and then we got kicked out of the venue. I was a bit concerned that we weren't going to be able to see Matt. Outside we saw little David Archeleta, he was cute and twee, but I didn't take his picture, he had a small crowd around him posing for pictures and autographs, so good for him, it was nice that he came.

We walked to the back of the venue, security was trying to make us believe we needed to leave, but there was a pretty big crowd. I talked to all of Matt's band and got their signatures on my setlist. I felt dumb because I got a hug from the drummer Konrad, but didn't get a picture with him or any other band member. Some guy saw me and said "This girl is a super Matt Nathanson fan!" I asked him how he knew that and he told me that he was the person that I followed backstage after the Park City show 2 years ago. I can't believe he remembered me, I sure didn't remember him.

We were a bit concerned that Matt wasn't going to some out. It was chilly and they were packing up. Erika and I started talking about how much fun it would be to go and see him in Colorado. A Matt road trip had occurred to me, but more for the Boise show the night before since Boise is only a 6 hour drive, but Colorado never crossed my mind. Erika's brother lives there so we could crash with him. My mind was racing, I totally wanted to go! We had so much fun this night, I wanted it to last.

Matt finally popped out from behind all the vehicles and came over to sign stuff and take pictures. He seemed to recognise us (or maybe at least me and Trish since we had seen him and stalked him so many times) and he signed my set list, we took a few pictures, I told him that I was so excited to hear Amazing Again. And he didn't even know who David Archeleta was! Apparently he doesn't watch crap TV. Except for Gossip Girl. We asked if the Denver or Boulder shows were sold out and he didn't know, but said if they weren't, we should totally come and see them again.

Don't I look so blissful?

We got our pictures and Trish said goodnight. Erika asked me if I wanted to get another picture and of course I did! I also had more stuff in my purse that he could sign, and after the first Boulder show, Trish and I went back and talked to him 3 times! It was nuts! So we hoped back in line. The girls in front of us had Matt call their friend and he sang them the first part of Journey's Don't Stop Believing, and I was so flustered that I didn't get it recorded on my cell phone, but it was lovely. We got up there and posed again for pictures, and I was totally bossing him around, I handed him my CD and told him not to write "willow is the bomb" since I had that on at least 2 other things that were signed at different times. And he was all "Geez, you're giving me orders!" and I told him that I was being so annoying that he would remember me if we got to see him in Colorado. It was weird. I could tell how annoying I was, but it was something I was not able to control. Like when you're really angry and you can tell you are being unreasonable but you can't seem to help it. It was like that. We went back to Erika's and picked up my car, the whole while talking about how fun it would be to go to Colorado and that if it's not sold out we should totally go...

I Must Be A Sight to See

2008-11-09T21:27:00.001-08:00

So remember when I said a road trip might be in order? I guess I have the world's best husband, because he's totally fine with me taking off for 2 days. And that's why I love this man. He totally gets me and that I do weird and crazy things. So I may have to report on 2 concerts! Sorry, not a full review tonight, Sundays are a weird day for me, but I'm working on it kids! It will be epic!

I got the gum!!!

2008-11-08T23:35:00.000-08:00

He played "Amazing Again"!!!!!! More later on how I annoy rock stars, right now I'm deciding if a road trip is in order....

Fabulous Friday!

2008-11-07T15:54:00.000-08:00

I almost forgot to post today! That's how crazy it's been today, what with watching last night's Grey's Anatomy and yoga and lunch and dancing. Work is hard!
So I'm actually touching the computer at home!
Yoga today was hard! It's not a real yoga class, it's a class for students to learn how to be yoga teachers, so today the chick leading us was having us listen to orchestra versions of Metalica. It was a little weird, but it was also tough, and that's what I'm looking for in my yoga. Also, I don't know what all these people are talking about with the farting and yoga. I have yet to pass gas in the yoga setting, maybe because we're doing a more "power" yoga kind of thing. But I thought there would be people breaking wind every which way, and so far (about 2 months in) this has yet to happen. But there's only 2 more weeks of yoga. Sad face! I like it and it gives me something to look forward to during work on a Friday, when usually all I can look forward to is coming home again.
So gas prices, huh? I filled up my tiny car for just over 20 bucks and I was still kicking myself when I saw gas for 4 cents less somewhere else! I could have save 36 cents! Curses! But I'm glad that gas isn't so crazy. (Not the gas for my house, for some reason the rates only go one way for that) but I'm crossing my fingers for under $2 a gallon. Suck on that Europe! (please note that I love Europe and all it's diverse cultures. Except the French, they're just rude { except that guy I met at DisneyWorld, here's looking at you Olivier!}) I love ellipses. They rock my socks. I must be slowly getting into a great mode here at home with all the work stuff slipping away. And the fact that it's just barely over 24 hours until Matt. I've been waiting for this since March! Which was the last time I saw him! But really, if you saw him, you would also be excited for the next time you could see him. So go and see him! www.mattnathanson.com It's a crappy site to maneuver, but that's not Matt's fault, he just plays the rock and leaves the websites for the other people who are less awesome to dealt with it.
Since the concert is starting fairly early I want to just post that tomorrow but my brain could be mush until the next morning, so we'll see how things pan out. But it might just be a picture. But that's a post and that counts!

Gets the Blade

2008-11-06T15:11:00.000-08:00

Today actually didn't drag on. It could be due to that work thing that I did for all those hours or the long lunch. But it's almost over my friends! Too bad I'm still full from lunch. And that eclair. Oh man, today has not been the best eating day. I mean, it's been the best, just not for my thighs. Those hot wings, I will never forget thee, O wings of hotness! But it's Thursday, which means great TV opportunities tonight and also some girl time. Which is fun with Hayley, but she's not so good at painting my nails, and her foot rubs? Well the word pathetic comes to mind, but she'll learn, these are the tools to help her be an esthetician after all, I'm teaching her a life skill. Which is more then I can say that school has done for me. I'm ready to pack it all in and go live in the woods. But then the squirrels would sue me because I stole their nuts and I don't even know a good lawyer.
But Thursdays also mean that tomorrow is Friday, the second best day of the week. If I could just sleep in an extra hour on Fridays, it would be the best day of the week. Because there are chores to be on Saturday, but not on Friday! No one cleans the bathrooms on a Friday! That's ridiculous! Of course this Saturday is something that I'm trying not to think about too hard. It's Matt Nathanson day! And while I'm formulating questions in my head, I don't want to think it'll be the "best day ever!" because I don't want to jinx it (but it totally will be!) so oh! look over there! It's something shiny! I think it's the beautiful packaging that Thursdays come in. Yes, new and improved Thursdays. Now with extra lunch hours!

Falling Down Gently Down

2008-11-05T11:53:00.000-08:00

So the first real snowfall and it's still snowing!

And my vehicle is the one that sits in the drive way since the garage is full of tools. So even though I am certain to have to drive somewhere every day of the week, I am also the one who will scrap the snow off my car while the other car rests warmly in the garage and may or may not be driven around. But! If I force my hand and get the garage spot for myself, my little one will be forced to get into a freezing car and wait while the snow id shoveled off of it. Winter is full of conundrums. Like why snow is okay in December but it's rather annoying any other time of the year.

The snow is currently "misting" which is a term I just made up, but it's when the snow is so tiny that it's barely anything at all, but yet it's still perceived as snowing. The kind of snow that melts the second it touches your face and leaves a tiny damp mark, like a fairy kiss! Yes! If we connect the snow with happy things, it will be so much easier to drive through.

I think that in spite of the snow, I will actually go workout today. I'm not pleased at having to walk outside, as I've been at work for 5 hours and my toes are still mostly frozen.

But after a workout everything will look better.

Oddly enough Christmas songs have been just popping up on my music player today. Maybe it's time to get out those lights and celebrate the snow!

PS Niki's husband is having surgery tomorrow, so send them some happy thoughts!

Whither the Way?

2008-11-04T14:48:00.000-08:00

So I don't want to post about the elections, because that's lame and I'm a totally uninformed voter (for the most part) but I don't want to pretend like it's not there. The big elephant in the room. Who Poops! So just go vote, okay? if more people voted the world would be more awesomer? Okay? Good.
Now that that is out of the way, I will tell you something that I have done some research on. And that's people who blog. Or have websites. This is more then just a blog, it's full on craZy! http://thepioneerwoman.com/ Niki introduced me, but today I really got into this site. Spending the better part of my day there. Not only do I like to read about what she cooks, she wrote the whole story of her meeting and falling in love and marrying her husband. Well, I thought it was the whole story. After getting to last post listed the story just ends! After the couples first real fight! I have to know! Obviously they get married, but what was the aftermath? It's like reading the third book in the Eragon trilogy only to find out that book isn't the end. Except that I haven't read that yet, but I plan on it!
Anyway, as you may have guess from my posting I'm participating in NaBloPoMo, which means something that amounts to Post on your Blog every Freaking day in November.
http://nablopomo.ning.com/profile/willowkist So here we are. I'm going to try it. Although i already cheated by posting Saturdays and Sundays on Monday, but I'm trying, and I think I get points for that.
So I'm out to go vote! Just like a stoat! Come on, you get that reference, right?

Lazy Daze

2008-11-03T14:57:00.001-08:00

My boss is gone today. Which means as soon as I hit "publish" I'm outta here. It also means that the letters I finished writing this morning have waited all day for me to print them, and may not get folded until tomorrow. Watching TV on the Internet is the best invention ever! And I'm not just saying that because I'm taking a mass communication class and media convergence is something we talk about a lot (ad nauseum) but because it's been my truest friend today.

Dear readers, let me warn you though. It's the TV/Internet that is making our brains turn to mush and reduced our will power to conduct things called "activities." Case in point, I always work out Monday's on my lunch. Today I was too lazy and instead just printed some web sudoku and worked on those away from my desk. Even when I'm not at the computer, I'm really still at the computer. The fact that it's overcast today makes me want to get out a pile of bacon and just roll around on it. Is that so wrong? Other then just having piles of bacon lying around. Bacon gets a bad rap, but really as Jim Gaffegan says, to make good foods better, just wrap it in bacon. Look at cream cheese, your about to get hit with some bacon! Bam! Anyway, I think I've obviously worked too hard today and now need to leave and make better use of my time.

And apparently "bam" is not a word, so says my spell check. Now you know.

November? Are you sure?

2008-11-02T08:20:00.000-08:00

Wow. It's freaking November. Saturday was so nice that it almost didn't seem like it was Fall. Then Sunday comes, with the storms and the rain. But Sunday also brought daylight savings. Which is good and also not so good. It meant an extra hour of sleep, even though Hayley tried to get us up at the normal time. With that extra hour and we were still almost late to church! Honestly, I think it'll be easier when church is at 9 am instead of 1 pm so that we can just get up and get it over with. Then nap time might actually happen on a Sunday. I know I'll be cursing those early Sunday mornings when they actually happen, but now they are a golden fantasy where we get home from church at noon and everyone takes a family nap and we have party hogies for lunch! I don't know where these hogies come from, but they are a wonderful part of this dream.

It's going to snow soon, and while Magen will curse me for using the "S" word, it's true, it happens every year. We were lucky to have a warm Halloween, but we can only be lucky so long, and the longer the cold weather waits, the longer it will last into our spring. That's always the way it goes. We don't get any less winter for wishing, and I for one would rather have snow in December than April!

Boo! It's Halloween!

2008-11-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

Or it was at least. The day stared off pretty good for me. I spent the day rockin' out as a teen from the 80s. Side pony tail? Check! legging? Check! Awesome and totally vintage Cure shirt? Check! (Technically it's not 80s vintage, but it's old man!)

At work I spent about 2 hours making a Halloween mix for my party and then headed over to my friend Erika's office for a 2 hour lunch and going away party for her assistant. We played my new awesome Halloween mix throughout. I was pleased as I ate my way through all the treats.

After the party I cut out of work early to go home and clean. We were hosting the Halloween party that night and I wanted to take Hayley out trick or treating for a bit before hand.

She refused to where the unicorn costume at any point, but she was such a cute Care Bear, that it didn't even matter. She loved going to houses and knocking on the door. She would only whisper "Trick or Treat" but it was still cute. She was also too shy to say thank you, she would just wave. But she made out like a bandit. The thing about going early, people are more likely to give you more than one piece of candy and be happy about it. We hit a few houses around ours and Husband freaked everyone out by being the worlds ugliest woman. I did what I could, but he still looked like a dead Indian woman in a really ugly dress and bad shoes.

After about an hour of walking around we headed home. I thought I had bought enough candy since the last few years we've had so much left over. Boy was I wrong! We were out in about 30 minutes, but we were lucky that my party guests had brought candy too! Thank you Magen for the dum-dums! Otherwise my house would have been egged and probably your cars too! Trish was the most excellent door-answerer and all I had to do was help eat the food! We watched Poltergeist. That movie is still freaky! I know I've seen it a ton, but it was the first time watching it as a mother, and believe me, I would totally walk into the spirit world if my little girl needed me. It was fun, having good friends over and eating good food and have great conversation. Thanks for the awesome Halloween you guys!

25 Months and Counting

2008-10-23T08:17:00.000-07:00

How long will I try to send you monthly newsletters? I don't know, until I give up or get bored, so enjoy it while you can.
It's been a month since the zoo and you still shriek out "Elephant poops!" at odd times. Like yesterday when you were running in circles around the chair in the living room. You do that a lot, run around that chair, and ask that I chase you, but if I do you veer off towards the kitchen to escape. You're a weird kid, you know that? We've started to put you in your 2T clothes, which are adorable, but your legs are short. You have been cursed with my genes and so that means your jeans will always be a bit long. But you have a long torso, so what this means most of the time is that you have a little plumber's crack. Your shirt is too short and your pants are slipping down, it's cute, but let's not try to make this a habit.
You are very opinionated about what you want to eat. I did get you to eat spaghetti-Os, but not before I almost had to ground you just to make you taste it. I promise I'm not trying to poison you! You call spaghetti-Os "beans." You also call skittles, m&ms and most small candy "beans," so if I try and offer you "beans" you are sadly disappointed.
It's so fun to watch you try and converse with us. I have no doubt that you know exactly what you are trying to say, but since you're not super great with all the consonants, sometimes I have no idea what you are taking about. Mostly you ask to watch different movies. Your father just showed you The Incredibles and you rather liked that, but "simon, dore" are the old stand bys. That means The Chipmunk's Adventure. If you want to watch the live action chipmunks, you call that "munkicks."
Potty training is slow going. You sit on the potty once to twice a day. Since you're home with dad, I don't want to give him too many things to forget to do, so potty time is right before bed. But it doesn't matter how long we sit and sing songs and read books, nor how many stickers I promise you, you don't really want to use the potty for what it was intended. This makes me sad. I really want you to be this brilliant child who no longer needs a diaper change. Please, please learn to use the potty! Not even Elmo has convinced you of the potty's merits!
I am so excited for Halloween that you have 2 costumes purchased from eBay. You like the care bear costume, but I did also buy that unicorn costume, so you will be wearing that at some point too, so help me! We're going to taking you treat or treating again, but hopefully this time you'll be able to manage the short walk between houses. Last year it was us holding you to walk up to the door and we would ask for candy for you. It works out well for us, because we give you a little candy and we can eat the rest after you go to bed! It's a win-win situation.
You are definitely two and we are reaping the repercussions of that, both good and bad, but I guess you're pretty cute still.

Here's to us!

Love,
Mommy

Concurring the Mountain

2008-09-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

AKA My Butt Crack is Frozen

So my dad and (great) Uncle Roger have been hiking the 2nd tallest mountain in the state every autumn for about the last 30 years. I have gone on this expedition a total of twice before this year. One year I was so out of shape and unprepared for the trek that I couldn't make it all the way to the top and had to wait about an hour for my group to finish their journey to the top and make it back. But the next year in 2005, before I had this kid, I made it all the top. It's supposedly only a 15 mile hike, but I think it's closer to 20 since it takes roughly 11 hours to get up and back.

This year I was worried about the weather. My father is no longer the young adventurer without weather information that he used to be and said if it was going to be raining, we wouldn't be going on the planned weekend and it could prove doubtful to plan for another weekend after that. That = no hike this year. I checked every weather forecast available on the interweb and sent my dad daily weather updates. I saw positive results and on Friday it was decided we'd try and if it got too wet, we'd just turn back. So I was excited. It's been 3 years since my last trek up the mountain and I felt prepared. Mostly. I didn't go on any mini hikes this year and so I was freaked out that I wouldn't make it up again.

So after waking up at 4:30 am (yes! On purpose! What is wrong with me?) and getting my crap put together and stressing about the forgotten knee brace, I took my junk to the meeting place of my parents garage. After more getting organized then should be going on at this hour we hopped into the car and headed to the wilderness. We're lucky that this deep wilderness is only about 40 minutes away. We met my brother Troy and our surprise guest hiker. My nephew Caleb, who is not yet 6. We worried because my dad and Uncle would never let any of "the kids" go on this crazy hike until they were at least 12. But Troy and Caleb couldn't hike for the whole day anyway, so they would just turn back after they felt they had hiked sufficiently. We started off in the dark with our flash lights and we definitely were not the first people headed up the mountain on this Saturday. My dad started to set the pace and our pattern for the day began. Caleb was excited to be hiking and wanted to either run and sit and eat lunch. At 8 AM. But he helped to set a pace that everyone could maintain. My brother Tee and Uncle Roger started in their discussions which ranged from politics, to history to songs half remembered that need to be sung at other's funerals, but always with a bend towards humorous. This is one of the reasons I want to go on this hike. The conversations that take place while you have nothing but time are priceless and my Uncle Roger is someone I that rarely see and every time I do, I'm struck again but his wit and intelligence. He was an elementary school teacher for more years then I've been alive and just recently retired. We all thought he would work forever. I wish I had a teacher who seems to encourage this kind of free thinking. He would pose hypothetical questions that could never be answered, only pondered and discussed. after hiking for about 4 hours and making into the Meadow section of the hike, Troy and Caleb turned around for home. Nest comes the crossing of the Lose Rock Fields. These can be treacherous and difficult to cross as the rock keeps falling away each year and can leave holes in the trail that have to be jumped over for those of us without a really long stride. We made it to the Saddle without incident. It was here that my first trek ended due to ankles that couldn't take the assault from walking over miles of loose rock. It's only half a mile to the top now, but this part of journey makes the rest seem tame. Now we past the point where plant like beyond linchins can't survive. If possible the landscape turns even rockier, but now we're also climbing a steep incline which is more in line with Rock climbing then hiking and trails are hard to follow since it's all just rocky out cropping and loose stone. Trails are narrow and it's only a slip and your going down the mountain faster then you wanted to. This part I've only done once before it scared the crap out of me, as someone who hates heights. The only way for me to make it is for me to be mentally prepared that it's physically possible and the proof is in all the people making their way down the mountain past us.

Oh and did I mention the wind? Coming up to the top of the Saddle I almost lost my ball cap, and others have also lost hats to the fierce wind. The whole hike up we are sheltered from the wind as we're climbing the leeward side, protected from the harsh wind, the Saddle is where you crest this ridge and start climbing on the OTHER side of the mountain, where you're exposed to the bitter winds. The wind chill must have been at least -20 degrees and probably more like -30. Add that onto the thin chill air and you have a runny nose, my friend. We all sniffed our way over the path, trying to stay close, but Tee has the longest legs and was the leader showing us the trail when it was difficult to find. Luckily I had packed a warm jacket (not wind breaker mind you) and a warm beenie cap. I had forgotten gloves and you need to use your hands or at least have them out at all times to steady yourself due to the wind and loose rock. I think my contacts froze on my eyes. That was how windy and cold it was. true, it could have been I had a speck of dust on my eye, but it sure seemed like my contact had frozen on my eye. But having to keep my hands at ready to climb rock and steady myself, this meant I couldn't keep pulling down my t-shirt and up my jeans. I just had to accept that if you could see my backside, so be it. But this also lead to my Frozen butt crack.

Okay, there wasn't that much skin showing I'm sure, but let's just say, I'm for sure wearing a belt next time. And gloves. And a wind breaker. And ear muffs or a hockey mask.

At the tippy top there is a metal shack that over looks both valleys, but the wind still gets you. We opt to have our lunch (since our 6 hours of hiking have only brought us to noon) on the leeward side that can only be reached from the top. The wind drops away and it feels about 30 degrees warmer, but still cool as we're sitting atop the 2nd highest peak in the state. While we lunched we could hear the harsh whistle of the wind over the peak, but not feel it very much.

We were also in the middle of clouds. The clouds would form as the wind pushed the cold air higher on the mountain and then, as it reached the top, pour over us in a chilly mist and head into the valley below us. That is another cool thing. We were looking DOWN on the tops of other mountains. We could see Emerald Lake below us and lots of mountain sheep on Robert's Horn. Everything was so tiny, but we could see the bomb shelter by Emerald Lake. Why would you hike for 5 hours to get to a bomb shelter? Are we really going to have that much notice? Anyway, lunch was a cold affair and while my sandwich was smashed into a little corner of my backpack, I wasn't that hungry. I'd been snacking my my home made trail mix full of nuts and m&ms and drinking water, but not too much as there is only a bathroom stop on the trail for us not happy with using the trees as cover. And that's gross, trust me.

Before we left, I picked out my souvenir rock. This is only my second one, but I agree with my uncle's philosophy that if every year we take home a rock, the mountain will be that much shorter the next year. I picked mine and we headed back down the mountain. Unfortunately we were not accident free. My Uncle Roger tripped on a loose rock and was hanging onto the trail when my brother helped him back to his feet. He had cuts and a nasty already evil looking bruise on his leg. As he commented, that after all these years, "The Mountain has drawn first blood." After we'd patched him up as best we could with our emergency kits, there was nothing else to be done but try and make it back.
Now, I was worried before the outset of the hike that my joints weren't going to make it, but when we made it to the top, I made a mental check up on my knees and ankles and they felt okay. Worked, but not painful. But after only 5 minutes of heading down the trail my ankles were very unhappy, my knees were quick to follow. That's the thing about hiking in, you then still have to hike out before you're finished.

It's insane how the trail gets so much longer on the way back down. About halfway back my feet felt like they were on fire and that I should count my pinky toes as gone. I finally used the change of shoes I had brought with me, but while they were slightly better, the damage was done and it didn't magically make me feel better about all the miles left to hike. Tee and I chatted and hiked down, I think it was mostly to take our minds off hurt of continuing to move. We stopped and waited for the older guys, to make sure they didn't get eaten by bears. Tee told a little white lie to make me appreciate him more. He told me there were 4 meadows to go past before we got the car. Luckily it was only 2, which was much better.

Most of the cars that had been in the heavily used parking lot were gone, as we took our 11 hours to make it up and down the mountain. We are obviously a worn out group, but Dad was able to manage a smile, while Tee almost passed out. I was very glad that I wasn't driving, as I was so sore and would have told everyone to just call a cab. That night I took my shoes off and didn't put them on again. My feet were so painful every step was pure pain. I limped around like an old lady. I soaked my feet for about an hour before bed. Which helped I think. The next day my feet were fine and it only took about 2 days before I could walk without feeling sore. And now that I'm all rested, I can't wait for next year!

2 Years Passes Like 24 Months

2008-09-22T21:49:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry that your birthday was not spent doing the most fun things ever. We got your pictures taken and then went to lunch with daddy and you were way too into coloring to eat your sandwich or your fries. Then it was off to the doctors office, Ouch! On your birthday? Sorry, we were going to go to the zoo but it was rainy on your birthday. So yeah, sorry.
But the next day we went to the zoo! And you really loved the monkeys, feeding the swans and the pooping elephants. Aside from the animals, you loved the play ground more then anything else and watching other kids was an added bonus.

I look at your pictures from a year ago and can hardly believe your the same little person. You didn't even have much curly hair to speak of and now it's all over the place.

You're speaking in fairly complete sentences now and can usually get across most of your ideas to me. You know more then I even think you do, naming things I never taught you. That's what is so nice about all the people that watch you. Your not limited to just my meager knowledge, so at least you have that going for you.

It's so fun to come home from work and when i walk through the door to hear your little shrieks of "Mommy! Mommy's home!" It's nice to know that you missed me, or at least that you want me to sit and watch Go Diego, Go with you.

We're starting the whole "potty training thing" and so far it's just getting comfortable with the potty. We bought you a book! It has Elmo in it and it makes noise! I'm sure that'll teach you everything you need to know. Please?

I've gone a little nuts buying you things. Tell me how it is that I can withhold buying things for myself that are much needed, like pants that fit and shoes that are 2+ years old to wear to work, but when it comes to you, I can't hold back any amount of money? Trust me, if you don't look good, it's not because I didn't buy you nice clothes, it's because your father never changed your outfits from one day to the next so you're always encrusted in peanut butter goo and filth. You don't mind. You would rather not be able to see then sit still for the 2 minutes it would take to comb your hair. So tragic, but it's not my fault! I tried to teach your father how to work a pony tail, but his boy fingers can't figure it out.

So far 2's temperament is not chipper. 2 is fairly surly and has wide mood swings and pouts for no real reason. But 2 is also filled with giggles and dancing and smiles that I'm sure would melt six feet of snow. So I guess we'll wait and see how this thing pans out.

Love,

Mama

News of the Weird

2008-09-08T15:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've barely left my office today, but in the total of 3 minutes I've headed to the bathroom a few times, I have seen a girl with one leg and another girl singing at full volume to her iPod. I like that think that I appreciate people who appreciate music (and also people missing limbs) but I can't think that someone who walks around singing is a bit touched in the head. But me, I'm going to walk home. I'm saving all that fossil fuel!

More to Life then Books You Know

2008-09-04T12:52:00.000-07:00

So wait. It's September? Holy crap, where did the summer go? We had one really big storm this weekend and apparently it's now autumn. The weather has not recovered and neither have I. I'm sitting here in my hoodie. Isn't it a bit early for hoodies? And I'm still cold anyway so it's not really that helpful, I do have both hoodies here at the office, I could go nuts and wear both of them-at the same time!

Work is slowing down, so I'm thankful for a bit of respite, but the cool breezes are blowing in thoughts of snow. I'm not excited for the winter, but usually here in our region we have a short but lovely fall season. I'm already tasting the candy corn from Halloween. I must be crazy!

It feels like the summer past in flash. No trips, no real summery activities besides the required trip to the local amusement park. Husband was gone for the whole month of July and I think that caused me to not look for anything fun to do outdoors. Still, there were many years I found things to do all summer long.

I remember endless golden summers filled with soccer practices and running through sprinklers. Pictures of me as a little nut brown thing with spindly arms and stringy hair remind me of what it was like having a whole summer to do whatever I wanted. There were berries and cherries to be picked and eaten and games to play. Why can't it be that way again? You know what I miss as well? I miss that going back to school, first day excitement. You had your outfit picked out for weeks and it was brand new, never worn before, because the first day of school was a special day. Finding out who your teacher was and who would be in your class. The butterflies in your stomach the night before trying and failing to fall asleep in the normal amount of time.

Now school starts (taking that one internet class!) and I could care less. I'm not excited, I don't buy new clothes and I don't care who is in my class. Matter of fact, I'm just hoping none of those idiots talk to me. It's not fun anymore. I don't have a clear sense of direction as to what I want to make a career at, I just know it's not this. It's hard to pick a career based on not wanting to do certain things.

But that's not at all a requiem for the lost summer, is it? I need to take some time of and spend it with my family making memories. I hope years from now I don't remember the stupid crap that happens at this job, but I have better things to remember from this time. The smiles on Hayley's face and the time with Husband. I hope those things stay and keep me excited for the next season.

23 Months Now with Sentences

2008-08-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

This month has been lots of fun! And I mean that, mostly. The past few months have held leaps in vocabulary, but this month is the month of sentences. You can say things that can be expressed in 2-3 words. Black cat. There daddy. Tummy full, etc. Sometimes I expect you to politely ask for what you want. But that's not the case quite yet, since not everything you feel you want is easily expressed, but we're getting there. And of course you are the smartest child in the whole world.

I just bought you some new clothes for your upcoming birthday and pictures and you don't even want to know how much trouble it was to find a dress that met all my criteria. It had to be less than $25 (I'm cheap, blame your grandfather) and not be too overtly holiday themed or summery, as this should hopefully be your nice dress for a year or however long it fits you. It's really hard to find a toddlers dress that isn't very summery or made or red or black velvet for under $50, believe me, I scoured the entire world wide web, I know. But I'm a bargain shopper and found a really cute dress on clearance for $8! And while it's sort of spring/summery it's so totally cute I don't even care!

I'm more excited for your upcoming birthday then I probably should be. I've had the theme all worked out in my head for months. Let's just say I'm excited. I'm excited for you to really be done with this whole "baby" thing and be a real bona fide toddler. Of course you've been in your terrible twos for a while now. But I hear that's what happens to the smart kids who just really want to communicate, and I want to believe that.

Just the other day you counted from 4 all the way to 10! By yourself! of course you wouldn't do a repeat performance since usually 9 follows 4 or 6 and 7 are left out entirely, but this time you did it! I was so proud.

Just a few days ago, you ate a chicken nugget! You cannot believe how happy this made me. Hurray! My child will eat processed and fried meat products! Of course you only ate one cut-up dinosaur shaped nugget, but it was your first time eating more than one accidental bite of meat! I have been worried about your protein intake since there's no way I'm getting you to eat beans or soy, meat does provide some essential nutrients, or something like that. All I know is that I'm getting burned out on the 3 things besides candy and ice cream you will actually eat.

You get put in time out quite often when I'm home (daddy's a softie) mostly for trying to kill the cats or throwing food on the floor. It's so cute even though I'm irritated to see your chubby little face pucker up for the "I'm sorry" kiss when I come to dismiss you from the "naughty step."

We're trying to fill up your time with play rather than TV, but you are already on your way to being a junkie. I'm sorry, this is mostly my fault. I also have a TV addiction. It's something I deal with everyday, but I'm working hard and trying to take small steps towards being independent from my electronic master, and I hope that you can also live free from this, but it's hard. it's so much easier to let to watch Ducktales or Finding Nemo because you want it and it'll totally engross you for 20 minutes to 2 hours where I can get things done or just have quiet time. But I'm trying. We'll see how it goes. We can only take this one day at a time.

This month has been full of kisses and bliss and tantrums and frustration, but someday we'll look back on it and laugh. Or be in lots of therapy.

Love ya,

Mama

Random acts of Monkeys

2008-08-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

I'm not just a mommy blogger, I'm not! I swear! As cute as my little girl is, I do have thoughts independent from her. Juts not that many.
Here at work I've been doing a "summer" schedule where I work 4 ten hour days and get a nice long weekend. Well my peoples, summer is over. It's my last week working the longer but infinitely more awesome schedule. And it's killing me. I would really like to do this all the time, and when things slow down, maybe I can, but things aren't slow right now and that makes me want to poke out my eyes and scramble my brain with a fork. Is that excessive? You don't even want to know.
I'm considering going back to school to get out of this mess. It took me like, 7 years to get my associates degree people. How am I suppose to want to go back to never sleeping or working out because there's no time! and that was all pre-child! I don't think I can handle it. I also don't want to take any lame classes, but it turns out to get accounting degrees you have to take a ton of lame classes, where the only reading requirements aren't going to be page turners. They are going to be text books. I would be cool getting an English degree. But to get one, I also have to have a 3000 level understanding of a foreign language. I thought I could do that with Spanish, I finished up to beginning the 2000 levels, but the whole last month of that class I didn't understand a thing of what was going on and only passed because I had a very lenient teacher who liked me. So I can't get an English degree without knowing a foreign language. Who thought that was a good idea? So I'm screwed the only classes I want to take won't help me get a degree unless I can overcome this language block. Maybe I should try German again, I seemed okay with that in school, but this is freaking college, I don't think I'll be able to get by just because I'm good at homework and tests.
If I could pass Spanish I could study Shakespeare or medieval poetry or women's literature or something cool like that, but then what would I do with it? I wish my idea to be a rockologist is nice, but not something that would probably pay the bills. Maybe Journalism. I'm actually thinking about that right now. So I have to go and think some more.

22 Months of Crazy!

2008-07-22T12:28:00.000-07:00

This month has definitely been interesting. There was the development of you calling me “honey” whenever you wanted something and the spatial relations that you can move things like people on your whims. You have taken to trying to grab people’s hands and lead them to where you feel they will be most advantageous to you, or push people to where they should head to maybe get you something, or turn on a movie for you.
I’m trying to control how much TV you watch (again) and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. According to the doctors (what do they know?) you shouldn’t watch any TV at all. But the doctors aren’t probably as concerned as I am, to whether or not our dishes ever get done. So I will cave in and let you watch an episode of Ducktales which you ask for by name: “Ducks. Woohoo.” Which is hilarious and adorable until the one millionth time that day.

You are one crazy little toddler and have transitioned from being around one cat, to two. You love Nemo, even though he barely tolerates your presence. He’s used to your kind. You sit in cats and swat at them when you feel waspish and he won’t have any of that. But you still sing his praises and whenever I ask you about the kitties, you are all about Nemo. Link sometime, but it’s mostly Nemo. Probably because his name nicely coincides with one of your favorite cartoon fish’s name. But it’s cute when you say the cats names as its Memo and Ink.

You had a really real and official hair trim just a few days ago. I of course missed it but now you wake up with more manageable hair and mostly I don’t see much of a difference in length and your grandmother assures me she only took off tiny bits to even things out.

You can say your own name! Kind of. It’s Hey-Bee when you say it, but you know it’s your name. I was worried you would think your name was baby or something like that, but making a conscious effort to use your name lately has paid off.

The summer months are being spent mostly indoors. Our backyard is a field of noxious and pokey weeds, so we don’t go out there much, and of course in the front yard you could run into the street at any moment, so that’s a no go either, but we have gone to the park a handful of times, but even you know it’s too hot to keep playing and give up and don’t throw any tantrums when it’s time to go.

We have a weekend ritual. You generally wake up before I'm ready to, or at least before I'm done being lazy, so I'll get you out of your crib and put you in bed with me. You never go back to sleep, but you will roll around and punch me in the face but also sometimes you'll give me hugs and kisses when you're in a super duper mood. That's why I keep doing it, the bruises are worth it for a little cuddle time before we start our day.

This month has been full of ups and downs, but mostly it's been fun to be with you. I hope it's fun to be with me too.

Kisses,

Mama