Perfect Day!

We rode from Sand City to Lover's Point in Monterey on our bikes.  It was so fun and the weather was perfect!  The whole family went and everyone had a good time. We decided that it was about an 8-10 mile round trip.  At the end we ate sandwiches, cuties, fruit snacks, string cheese and granola bars. Man, I'm tempted to go again tomorrow. Anyone wanna join us?

The only bad part about the day was, when we got back to the 

truck NO ONE would walk down to the beach with me.  We were right there!  100 yards to the beautiful ocean. What a bunch of bums.  So I did what any beach lover would do.  

I walked down by myself.  I sat on a log and watched the waves and the sand pipers.  I met a little girl (who came and sat on the log next to me).  She asked who I was (Stefani) and I asked her who she was (Lily, like the flower).  She looked like she was about 2.  She told me about her graham cracker that she was eating and how part of it fell and she was going to leave it in the sand for the birds.  She then spotted the contrails of a jet going overhead.  From our perspective it looked like the jet was going straight up.  Here's how the conversation went,

Lily: Hey! Look!  A rocket going straight up to the moon.

Stefani: Wow!  That is really great!  Do you think they'll see the stars?

Lily: It's not night time.

Stefani: Do you think rockets can still go to the stars during the day?

Lily: ya, I guess.

This is a silly conversation, but I was reminded how fun and simple it is to be a kid.  My first impulse was to correct her and tell her it was just an airplane.  Then I realized how great it is that the mind of a child would believe such things so easily.  That rockets just go up in random spots and at random times, in the middle of the day, and without fanfare.  She knew nothing of all the training and schooling that goes into building, launching, and flying a rocket, she knew nothing of Cape Canaveral on the other side of the country (she's probably never even hear of Florida), she knew nothing about perspective and how that plane was really just flying horizontally.  She was just excited to see a rocket going to the moon.  And come to think of it, so was I.  This is something I'm going to work on in 2009. Having the excitement, enthusiasm and faith of a little child.

Pizza and Whatnot

This is what I told Christy we were doing for Brady's 11th Birthday Party.  She commented that this was every 11 year old boy's dream... the pizza was great but the "whatnot" was the really cool part. I didn't take a picture of the pizza (I figure we all know what it looks like, plus I couldn't cook pizza, serve pizza, pour drinks, AND take pictures - whew! 11 little boys can eat and drink like the wind)  But here are plenty of pictures of the WHATNOT.

We played a game sort of like hot potato... except if you got stuck with the "potato" you had to pick something embarrassing (go go boots, skirt, funny hat) out of a bag to wear.  The person with the most "on" at the end lost.  I think Braden and Kort tied (Braden's Pink Platforms are my favorite).  It was quite funny.  And for the record, Garrett had played the game before.

Probably the game the boys loved the most was the one where we put 6 m&m's on a plate and then covered them with whipping cream.  The boys then had to eat the m&m's without using their hands.  silly, silly, silly... most of them didn't even care about eating the m&m's.  I'm gonna call it the "foaming dog" game.

RJ, done first (ya, I'm number 1)

Brady next (look mom, my hands are clean... for once)

Closely followed by Estaban (How would you rate this game? I give it 2 enthusiastic thumbs up)

Next came Kort (wait, wait, wait... I know I got all the m&m's but I didn't get every last molecule of whipped cream.)

Garrett (look at me, I know how to stay clean while I'm doing it because I've played this game before.)

Braden (ta da)

Martin (oh ya, if you take your time, you can cover your whole face with cream)

Marcus (hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee)

Zack (could I have some more please?)

They were more than happy to smear more whipped cream around just for the photo op.  (I love Bradley in the back peeping through)

We could have done this for the rest of the night and they would have been happy.  

The Skittle game came next

Roll the dice, if you get a 7, 11, or doubles you start sucking skittles out of a bowl with a straw.  You do this until the next person rolls a 7, 11 or doubles, then it's their turn.  The person with the most Skittles at the end wins. Garrett knew what to do, because he had played the game before. (Thanks Kaycie, this game has come in handy MANY-A-TIME)

Martin was the "pro".

Estaban had the cutest little "sucky-cheeks" (yes, this is a made up word, but the computer won't tell you it's wrong if you hyphenate).

Presents (9-11 year olds aren't much different than 3 year olds, I had to tell them to back up and give Brady some space about 15 times.  I just about put a tape line down for them to stay behind)

and Cake came next (poor Brady probably has never had a homemade cake.  Having your birthday less than a week before Christmas will do that - they said the icing tasted fake...I told them, that's because it probably was.)

After a rousing game of Cosmic Keepaway (Thank you Braden) they each got involved in separate activities.  I decided not to disturb them even though we had more games on tap. They were very good, and very well behaved, and very loud. Wow!

Several played with the new Tech Decks.  (Has any one figured out the attraction to these things?  Really, I mean, what's the point.  I even found Afton playing with them the next day... weird I think.)

Some watched "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull"

And I found Bradley on the landing of the stairs playing "electronic baseball" (apparently Brad thought this was a good present he gave Brady.  He didn't even flinch when I took his picture - probably due to the fact that his mom is as big of a picture-taker as me.)

And just so all you moms know (and are comforted) the whole evening was Brought to you by this product:

Purell, hand sanitizer.

About midway through the night I went around to each kid with this bottle.  I didn't say a word, I just held it out and they each in turn, didn't say anything, didn't look at me funny or refuse use; they just dutifully held out their hands (we live in a different world than when I was a kid).  As far as I know, no "epizudik", "creepin' crud" or "Hong Kong Hangnails" were spread around on this night.  

Four Monkeys and a Tiki Head

So I mentioned in my last post (the one about Thanksgiving)  that Caroline had questions by each of our plates asking us such things as, "What we would have done if we were starting a new country." or "Who we're thankful for." and other thought provoking questions to get us thinking about the importance of the day we were celebrating.  The question Kelsi got was perfect for her, but her answer cracked me up.  I thought I'd share.  Her question; "If you were to create a family crest, what would it look like and what symbolism would you use on it?  Her answer; "I don't know what it would really look like but the symbolism would be 4 monkeys and a tiki head."  After we all laughed, she went on to explain that she and Afton, Brady and Brad were the 4 monkeys and that I (the mom) was the tiki head.  She tried to explain by saying that the kids and dad are always goofing around like monkeys and that mom was the grumpy tiki head that was always trying to get them to stop.  

Hmph, I don't wanna be the Tiki head.  Does that mean I'm too serious?  Does that mean I'm too grumpy? Does that mean I don't know how to have fun?  I've never pictured myself as any of those things. What is it, exactly, that my family perceives me as? I guess I need to lighten up.

I also think I'm going to interpret "tiki head" as meaning "responsible".  That fits......right?

I guess I'll sign off for now.

Sincerely, The Tiki Head

Pathetic

And to think I call myself a photographer.  Here is the one measly photo I was able to get on Thanksgiving.  I put my battery on the charger before we left to go to the Anderson's  house for Thanksgiving dinner.  I had visions of taking pictures of all the good food and good company and I was even hoping to possibly squeeze in a family picture.  Well, not too long after we got there I hauled out my camera to start the picture taking frenzy and realized that my battery was 15 miles away sitting all by itself still in it's little charger (I wondered if it was lonely).  I pulled out by "backup" battery and shot this photo.  No sooner did the shutter click than the camera turned off again... dead as a doornail.  Pathetic.

Luckily the one photo I got was of Caroline's BEAUTIFUL table decorations (and our cute girls in the background) I love these candle holders and white pumpkins (I'm secretly a little jelly that she has them and I don't:D)  Also it is also good fortune that I don't particularly need photographs to have good memories.  We had a great time.  I don't EVER remember a time where all the food was so delicious and blended so well.  I mean YUM!!  I can't even pick a favorite, it was all so fabulous!

For dinner it was us and the Anderson's, and the Anderson's neighbor, Noelle, and her 2 kids. We enjoyed answering questions that Caroline placed at our plates and ate until we burst.  Later, the Isom's, the Merrell's, the Dietrich's and the Olrich's came over with an abundance of desserts. And... Again with the eating.  We laughed and talked and had a very great, great time!! Thanks for hosting Anderson's.  You guys rock.

Husband Tag

No, Husband Tag isn't a new reality show (like Wife Swap) it's just a post dedicated to that cute guy you call your husband.  And a few questions that maybe you haven't thought about for a long time or maybe not at all.  

1. Where did you meet?  In San Jose, in the Almaden Young Adult ward.  I always laugh when I say we met at church, but really, I think it's the perfect place to find a quality guy. (much better than a bar:)

2. How long did you date before you got married? The time that passed was 1 year, 2 months.  The time we dated was about 2 months at the beginning and then 7 or 8 months at the end.  The missing 4-5 months???  That's a story for another post

3. How long have you been married?  In a month it will be 18 years!

4. What is your favorite feature of his? I love his eyes, but he knows it's really his hands.  He has very sexy hands.  What is it about hands?  I could name off a whole list of guys with great hands (again, a post for another day... maybe)

5. What is your favorite quality of his? His ability to talk to people.  He is sincere and funny and very non-threatening.

6. Does he have a nick-name for you? No, not really, neither of us are big into nick-names.  I wish we were, it seems like a fun thing.  We have a few private jokes - but nothing that is used regularly

7. What is his favorite color?  I think it's blue.  I didn't know this for a long time.  I always thought it was green.  And just for the record, he looks awesome in burnt orange.

8. What is his favorite food?  He doesn't have any NOT favorite foods but he does rave if I make something like salmon with fruit salsa. (or if I make some sort of casserole like his mom used to make:-) And of course we can't forget See's Candy... is this really considered a food though?

9. What is his favorite sport? Golf to play, hockey to watch.

10. When was your first kiss?  Probably sometime mid November of 1989. He says I kissed him first... I don't think that was the case.

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? We like to go for walks, I wish they were strolls, but he likes power walks.  We like to watch Seinfeld reruns, they never seem to get old.

12. Do you have children? Yes, 3

13. Does he have a hidden talent? He's a really good singer

14. How old is he? 46 (yep, the truth is out)

15. Who said "I love you" first?  I'm not sure if he's ever said it?  LOL, just kidding... but we do have another way of saying it. (post for another day:)

16. What is his favorite type of Music?  80's techno.  (Ha!  Ha!  That is so far from the truth:)  Actually it's Classic Rock and 70's music.

17. What do you admire most about him?  He is super dedicated to his family.  He always wants what is right and best, he works hard and tirelessly to make sure we are taken care of and he has a real talent of "making things happen."

18. Do you think he will read this?  With a little reminder that I keep a blog he will.

There, that was fun.  Thanks Annette, I bet you thought I forgot.  Now it's all y'all's turn.  I want to hear all about your hubbys and how great they are.

Strange Phenomenon

No, it's not the crazed fans, no it's not the beautiful actors, no, it's not "hard to put down" books, it's not any of those things that causes this strange phenomenon in my brain.  It is the fact that I've been hearing my name over and over and over.  Not just my first name, but my last name and they are used together.  It's always been a little funny that I've heard my name in the air and seen my name in book stores, and that some of the girls at Girls Camp thought maybe it really was me; And that one of my cousins had to read the "about the author" section, just to make sure it wasn't me.  But it really didn't hit me until last night when I went to the midnight showing of "Twilight" that I found it all pretty surreal.  I ran into some teenagers that I know and they were clapping for me and telling me to take a bow.  Then as I was in the restroom, I overheard a half dozen conversations, all with my name inserted every now and again.  "Stephenie Meyer should be really pleased with how her movie turned out." "Did you see Stephenie Meyer in the movie?"  "Stephenie Meyer is my new favorite author."  "I heard Stephenie

 Meyer got some say-so in how the movie was filmed."  And on it went.  Funny that I heard, just yesterday, an ad on the radio about identity theft, where someone was talking about all 300 million names in the world and how lots of them are the same, and how is a retailer supposed to know if it is really you, or not.  At the time I was only half listening to the words, but then last night, as I waved my hand frantically infront of the automatic paper towel dispenser (I hate those things - but that is the subject of a later post) the commercial zinged into my brain.  Seeing all the "crazies" out at midnight on a school night, and this just in our little, half-dead town made me realize what a frenzy was going on all over the US last night.  Hmmmm, my little brain ruminated, "I wonder

 how much money Stephenie Meyer is making off of all of this?"  Not to mention, what with all the infatuated teens, crazed housewives, and vampire lovers, the books and other paraphernalia associated with the story, the resulting money has to be an astronomical amount. "Hmmm, I wonder", that little voice in my head said, "if I would be any good at identity theft?"  Na, just kidding, I'm just happy being one of those crazed housewives and with the small amount of glory of sharing the name of a relatively famous person - at least famous with all those infatuated teens, crazed housewives and vampire lovers - is enough for me right now.

But, if you are here looking for a report on the nights festivities you will not leave here disappointed. Being one of those housewives heretofore mentioned, I wanted to see the movie as quickly as was possible but reminded myself of my regular housewife responsibilities and the damage a midnight viewing of this movie would heave upon my already backed-up schedule, I quickly opted for an opening day viewing. I decided I could restrain myself from going to the very first show.  Well, as it turns out, all my other "crazed housewife friends" and I couldn't coordinate our schedules, what with toddlers at home, school, birthday parties, kids activities, early week, parent/teacher conferences and even one friend with a husband who wanted to torture himself by actually wanting to see the movie.  Several of us opted for the midnight show (how weird that of all the activities that we have going on in our lives - the one we were willing to sacrifice for this type of entertainment was sleep.) 

 I had been joking all week that I was going to wear my "Marry Me Edward" T-shirt, and that's all it was, a joke.  But after buying my ticket for the midnight show and having no one taking my jokes about the shirt seriously (why should they have taken me seriously?  It WAS a joke) Even after I had texted Caroline around 6 p.m saying something about, "You think I'm kidding about the shirt, but I'm not." I still wasn't planning on doing anything other than maybe wearing my jammie pants.  But then being the hair-brain that I am, little thoughts started coming in about it being midnight and why not be a little crazy (after all I AM one of "those" type of house wives).  I would have really preferred to have a cohort in this activity but by this time it was a little to late, and never being one to backdown from doing something I wanted to do, I got out my foam stamps, some paint and an old white t-shirt.  Before long I had the coolest looking "Marry Me Edward" t-shirt you've ever seen (providing you've seen any).  After all, I could wear my jacket over the top, and if I really got too embarrassed (um, ya) to be seen, I could just keep the jacket zipped up, right?  No need for that, several people wanted me to make one for them (hmm, maybe that's how I could make a little of that Twilight money...)

So all in all, it was fun, I was with my friends, I got to be a little crazy, I stayed up later than I have since - well, probably college, and I saw a fun movie by someone who I share name with. What could be better? As for the actual movie review.  I'll let you go and be the judge.  I think one should read the book before they go.  I think Rob Pattinson didn't look much like the Edward I had in my head (but really folks, let's face it, was there really anyone that would fit that description?) but have to say, I loved his voice, and he did grow on me as an appropriate Edward.  I loved Bella.  Jacob was perfect (too bad he wasn't just a little taller).  I loved Billy. I loved Charlie and Renee.  I really liked the Cullens (especially Alice).  Carlisle was great and Jasper cracked me up.  I personally think they over did it on the "whiteness" of the the Cullens' skin in some parts.  I thought it would have been nice to know the characters a little bit better, but I guess that's what the book is for right?  I loved Bella's school friends and their portrayal of the general "awkward-but-I'm-pressing-forward-in-my-crazy-teenage-thinking" that real teenagers have (it's what I love about teens).  I want to post a bunch of pictures of all the actors but I'm out of time and energy for this post, but if you're dying to see, go to this site it has pictures of them all.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.filmgrenade.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/021908_twilight1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.filmgrenade.com/2008/10/20/twilight-character-guide/&usg=__IDLAhKgrZKrDbpraDt1pisQaSYw=&h=344&w=450&sz=48&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=iEYt_mp8y9AFFM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtwilight%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den-us%26sa%3DN

(hmmm, there's gotta be a way to shorten this link... but I'll learn about that another day - sorry for my lack of computer know-how.)

One more day! One more time!

One more day, and I can't say I'll be sad when the election is over, but I'm going to say it one more time.  Vote YES on Proposition 8!!

And be sure to watch this video on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBrFHC1aoWI

(you might have to copy and paste the link)