My latest obsession

Love, love, love this new show on ABC. It is a dark comedy with characters that you want to be (can I please have Chuck's clothes and hair?!). And a sitcom that breaks into song? A pie shop called The Pie Hole? Now, that is right up my alley. Watch the first four episodes online at abc.com and I bet you become addicted like me. I told S. it was a sacrifice for me to go to bookclub last night and not watch it at the regular time. He told me that was ridiculous--that was like saying it was a sacrifice to miss dessert to go to a movie (Thank goodness for DVR/Tivo so it wasn't too much of a sacrifice). Just shut your pie hole and watch. See you next Wednesday at 8:00.

Columbus sailed

Who gets Columbus day off? A lot of the counties nearby didn't get it off school. But, S. got work off, and we didn't have to teach Seminary! Any holiday is welcome here! We had a fun day going to Glen Echo Park, even though the Carousel was closed for the season (Who knew? It was 80 degrees that day!)

One of the {MANY} benefits of being a Virginian--Great Falls. Not really a benefit of living in Maryland--the view is not NEARLY as good from their side (can you tell I am a Virginia Snob?). For Columbus Day we went to Great Falls after picking up some cuisine at La Madeline. We were a high class family eating at the picnic tables. The kids loved climbing the rocks, but I have to admit I was a little paranoid seeing all the signs for how many drownings there are each year. I haven't been to Great Falls in years, and they have blocked off a lot more places so risks HAVE to be lower. I love how in the pictures we are holding our children in someway so they don't fall. Call me overprotective.

Candy Crack Corn

I love this time of year. The air is crisp, leaves start changing color, you can wear cute jackets, and I can TOTALLY rationalize eating tons of CANDY CORN. I love it. I know only a few who can join me in my obsession (Mary!). What is it about those little nubs that are so scrumptious to me and leave me longing for more? That's right. All that SUGAR and COLOR.

How to eat a candy corn:

1. Buy only Brach's. Those other might LOOK fine, but nasty.
2. Don't go for those pumpkins or even the "chocolate" candy corn (and don't even get me started on the "Christmas" candy corn).
3. The three flavors DO have different tastes.
4. Never eat them in one bite (unless they are on a cupcake or a cookie).
5. You must hold one in your hand, and take small bites starting from the white part, up.
6. Don't think that Jones Candy Corn soda will actually taste like the real thing--it doesn't.
7. For best results, eat only in the fall.

We have a decoration with candy corn in it on our front table in the foyer. The kids always ask for them when we are getting ready. I give in a lot, but they sure are fast at getting those shoes on!

Sing us a song, you're the piano girl!

We finally have a real piano!!! About a month ago Kitt's music was having a piano sale so my mom and I went to check it out. I called S. at work to have him help me decide. He basically gave me the go-ahead to get the one I wanted. It took me a while to decide, but I finally went for the nicer of the two I had narrowed it down to--a Kawai upright. It has the sound of a baby grand, and basically the only way up is to a grand piano. S.'s only comment was, "Do you really need a concert piano?" My reply, "No, but Boo might" (Seriously, she is amazing. Yesterday she played Ode to Joy by ear).

A couple features I love about it--the middle pedal you can move to the left to make it quiet. Unfortunately, Boo has figured out how to take it on and off, but the Little Man hasn't. I still have SOME sanity. And it has a slow fall cover for the keys--no smooshed fingers like on my mom's baby grand. For a few days after getting it S. would joke about getting his plasma tv now, but I clearly pointed out that something to develop a talent came before entertainment. We have a rule that you have to wash your hands before you play it. Boo is so good about it, and she always makes sure I have washed mine when I'm playing, too.

I think I can start to get over my bitterness towards my oldest sister getting my mom's upright. Here's the story: My mom used to tell us that the best pianist would get her upright after she got her baby grand. I practiced, and practiced and waited for the competition (okay, not really, but I still was up for the fight). Enter oldest child: the one who told my mom her secrets, the one with the big mouth (yes, Jean, you, but you never read this so why am I writing it?). She gets married, owns a house in Atlanta, and gets a calling at church to be the primary pianist. No more competition. Oldest child wins out--she gets the piano. My other sister, Mary and I are thinking, temporary, right? We are the ones who can actually play (no offense, Jean). Jeannie moves up here, and Mary now has a house (so it took us a little while to have a house), strange thing happens--Jeannie gets to KEEP the piano. First children always get the best stuff. Maybe parents do love their first a little more...(not me, Little Man, I love you both).

3 Decades Old

It's official. I am 3 decades old. No longer will I say my age in years--What? How old am I? I am three decades. This is a milestone than many of my friends and siblings have already reached, so it doesn't feel like a big deal. Besides, 30 is the new 20, and life is GOOD. Here are a couple pictures from my past three decades, and a few moments.

Ages 1-10: Florida--(no, I was not born here, but I don't remember anything from my birthplace, Belgium, and we left when I was 3! I hope Boo remembers her good friends in Charlottesville!), snakes under our swing set, our "yellow brick road" of dandelions in our backyard in Ohio and how they ruined my favorite Cabbage Patch Kid outfit.

Ages 11-20: Walking 25 miles in white KEDS when I was 12, Girls' Camp, silly card games with "kings" (who knew I would marry one of my "kings?"), Oakton Stake youth conferences and dances, silliness, crushes, being wild and crazy, getting my license, tping, swimming in the resevior, singing at Disney World.

Ages 21-30: Craziness at BYU, London and graduation, marrying the man of my dreams in 2000, Mexico--teaching, living right behind Cartier and Louis Vuitton, 1st child, 2nd child, fabulous friends in Charlottesville, "real life" in D.C and loving it.

I can't wait to see what the next 3 decades hold!

Happy Birthday, Little Man!

Wow, a lot of things have been going on, but I am going to start with one of the most important--MY BABY IS TWO! The Little Man turned 2 on Wednesday and we had a relaxed celebration (with another one with cousins in a week) with his two sets of Grandparents. It's so nice when you can decide what they do for their birthday. Okay, well, I THOUGHT I could decide, but the man of few words was INSISTENT on an Elmo birthday cake (as he is that he is going to be Elmo for Halloween. How does he even KNOW about this stuff?!?!?!). His wish came true, as did his wishes he didn't even know he had--he got a basketball hoop. He's got skills.

This Little Man can seriously crack us up. I just want to squeeze him and stick him in my pocket, but due to his size (he weighs as much as his sister that is over 2 years older than him) I can't. Now that his is officially over his screaming stage (my apologies to all those who beheld that), he is so cute. Here are some things I love about him:

1. His LONG eyelashes and big eyes.
2. His word for Okay, "Duh."
3. His excellent t-ball skills (he bends his legs and actually takes a step when hitting the ball--before he was even 2).
4. How he puts on his shoes by himself and has since he was 17 months old (so, their crocs, but still it makes my day easier).
5. How he SLEEPS! He is a dream. We read books, read scriptures, pray, and when I sometimes TRY to just hold him and rock him he says, "Night, night" and points to his crib. I consent and put him in and he doesn't make a peep.
6. How he says, "money"--"num-uh-num"
7. How he listens and obeys---seriously.
8. How he sings (and laughs when Elmo laughs, or say "Ahem" when one of the characters does) to Elmo and the Orchestra, and always requests it first thing in the car.
9. His silly laugh when he's with Boo, how he just LOVES her.
10. How he is just so HAPPY, kind and fun!

He is going to be a great BIG brother! We love watching him grow and learn new things. We are so glad he is part of our family.

Disney

What I learned at Disney World:

1. It is perfectly acceptable for 55 year old men to wear Mickey Mouse Ears.
2. All Disney characters wear wigs--including those that are just dancers.
3. Ariel is stacked.
4. Disney World is TOO expensive.
5. Every girl can be a princess.
6. Chuck E Cheese is where a kid can be a kid, but Disney World is where an adult can be a kid (a kid that makes money, that is).
7. Disney actors are CHEEEEEEEESY (and this is coming from someone who would LOVE to play Belle on Stage)!
8. Apparently it is cool to go for your honeymoon and wear Minnie ears with a veil.
9. Disney World rides are just a big ad and all the same (the ones you can take kids on, anyway).
10. Why ever go anywhere else in the world when you can see it all at Disney? Safaris, China, Norway, Mexico, England, Germany...it's all just the same at Disney World (I hope you know I am kidding).

We did have a fabulous time--the kids were great on the plane, and we didn't have any breakdowns at the park even though they didn't have naps and we got home late. We ate breakfast with the princesses, met the Little Einsteins, rode TONS of rides, and saw a plethora a shows! Boo's favorite rides were the White Water (she got the wettest both times she went on) and Goofy's Roller Coaster. Little Man wasn't so sure about the roller coaster (he only wanted to ride once--no crying he just said he didn't want to go again), but he loved everything else. Thanks to Disney World, our son has his first sword. He carried that thing everywhere. What are they TEACHING him?

Now, it's back to reality, and on to teaching seminary at 6am. What a shock to the system.