Christmas Greetings!

No, we didn't fall off the face of the earth! Yes, we've been blogging slackers. We're alive and well and back in Yuma after much expectation and confusion. I could go into a big long explanation about all of that, but it would be neither exciting nor cohesive, so I'll spare you. Long story short, we are here and ready to be a part of the blogging world again. So, for our first post back in cyberland, here is our Christmas greeting to you! (Click the image to enlarge.)

The Host

Okay, so I finally finished The Host. I liked it, but I'm not sure I liked it as well as the Twilight novels. I think that since I didn't have a lot of time to devote to uninterrupted reading I got off on the wrong foot. I wasn't as taken in right away. And it took me much longer to read than usual because of how busy I've been. But towards the end I took more time to read it uninterrupted, and I ended up liking it much better than I did at first.

The whole "alien" concept was kind of strange at first, but I knew it was this kind of science fiction premise before I started reading. But the whole "alien" idea was really more of a side story than anything. This was truly a human story that dealt with truly human emotions. I really liked the main character(s), Wanderer/Melanie. Wanderer more than Melanie, though. Funny that I'd like the alien better. Anyway, the author made the point that humankind can be volatile and selfish and unkind, but that this way of life, with all of the pain and anger and devastation, is still better than an altruistic life devoid of the balancing powers of pleasure and joy and triumph. There must be opposition in all things, in other words.

This book is billed as Stephenie Meyer's first "adult novel", and people have been complaining that it's not adult enough. I don't know why "adult" has to mean gratuitous themes and scenes. It should just mean it's about adults. I loved that she didn't cave and include gratuitous immorality. Way to go, Mormon girl!

I wondered at the beginning why I didn't like Jared, the main love interest, as much as I thought I should, but I don't think I was supposed to like him as much as I originally thought I should. And I wondered why I liked Ian more than I thought I should. That was by design, too. I felt the whole time like I was seeing through Wanderer's eyes, learning as she learned. That is the masterful work of an author.

Anyway, if you get the chance, this is a really good book. The message is great, and the way the characters mature and grow during the novel is tremendous. Let me know if you've read it and, if so, how you liked it.

My rating: 4-1/2 stars out of 5.

Happy 4th of July!

Ah, Independence Day! I was very glad to spend this 4th of July in Washington, DC. Last year the girls and I were on a plane back to San Diego on the 4th. The fireworks were really anticlimactic in the rain flying out of Baltimore.

This year we opened our sliding glass window and stood out on the balcony to watch the fireworks. It was a little disappointing in that they set off cannons during the first stage of the fireworks that created a black billow of smoke that blocked a lot of the fireworks from view. After a while we could see through most of the smoke and got to see some good ones. It was truly amazing to watch the fireworks with the Washington Monument just off to the side. It was hard to get a picture since it was so dark and we were still a ways away, but I had to get a shot of what we saw from our balcony.

The girls enjoyed the show despite the black smoke. And, as always, Mia was ready for the camera. As we watched the fireworks we had "A Capitol Fourth" live on the tv. A highlight was Jerry Lee Lewis's performance just before the fireworks. (He was great, by the way. Sounds a lot like he did back in the day.) Then the National Symphony Orchestra played patriotic music to back up the fireworks. It was a fun evening, and a lot less crazy than being down on the Mall with the masses. Although I think we will have to join the mad throng before our time in DC is up, just to say we did it.

I'm thankful for this great nation we live in, and for being able to be in the Nation's Capitol during this holiday. This country may not be perfect, but it's still pretty darn good, and I'm glad to be an American. Happy 4th to you all!

Water Fun!

Yesterday we went to the Sandy Point State Park for some beach fun. The girls had fun floating in the Chesapeake Bay and playing in the sand. It was a beautiful day with just enough clouds to keep it from being too warm. Sandy Point is just past Annapolis, MD. It's not South Carlsbad, but we'll take it!

Hooray for Chris!

A couple of months ago Chris took a test for work. His score determines his eligibility for promotion, and the better his score, the greater his chances. Well, he got his score back today, and combined with his other scores he is now definitely able to be hired as an Assistant Chief at headquarters. He will put in for the promotion next week and it will be a few weeks after that before they make their decisions, but we should be here permanently by August or September. Way to go, Christopher!

Summer Kids Movies

Do any of the movie theaters in your area offer free summer kids movies? Back in Yuma our theater offered 10 movies for $5, or $2 each movie, but you had to go on the same day of the week for each movie. Out here, the theater has 2 free movies per week, both offered on Tuesday and Wednesday. Free is a pretty good deal. Today we saw "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium". We hadn't seen it before. It was okay. Not my favorite, but it had a good message: believe in yourself. Hailey sat and watched it without problem, but Mia was a little sleepy towards the end. Anyway, I'm glad we have summer movie offerings out here. It's nice to have something different from the everyday stuff to do.

So, what do you do to make the summer more interesting for the kids? And how did you like "Mr. Magorium" (if you've seen it)?

5 Things

A few weeks ago my sis-in-law "tagged" me to do this. Yes, I'm only now getting around to doing it. Oops. So, without further ado, here goes:



5 things


5 things I was doing 10 years ago:

1. I was working for Creative Touch Interiors in San Diego.

2. I was living in my grandfather's house rent free while he lived with my parents. (Those were the days...)

3. I was teching the Sunbeams (3-4 year olds) in church.

4. I bought my first car. (Used, but new to me.)

5. I was spending a lot of time with my family and in-laws. (Sunday dinner, anyone?)



5 things on my to do list:

1. Figure out how to rent out a house.

2. De-stress.

3. Schedule dentist appointments.

4. Get back into scrapbooking (once I get all of my stuff from Arizona).

5. Write.



5 favorite snacks/food:

1. Smoothies

2. Nielsen's Frozen Custard (nope, none of that out here)

3. Creme brulee

4. Lobster and crab legs

5. A really good steak



5 things I would do if I was a billionaire:

1. Buy my own jet so I could visit family anytime I wanted to.

2. Hire a personal chef.

3. Take lots of vacations.

4. Randomly donate money to good causes and people.

5. Be more generous.



5 bad habits:

1. Staying up late.

2. Letting paperwork overtake my computer desk. And my dresser. And my counter...

3. Being a dreadful pack rat.

4. Spending too much time on the computer.

5. Being late.



5 places I have lived:

1. San Diego, CA

2. Provo, UT

3. Yuma, AZ

4. Arlington, VA

5. Salem, OR



5 People I'm Tagging (Yep! You guys gotta do this now)

1. Kim

2. Anna

3. Tami

4. Cate

5. Janelle

Hailey's Art

One of Hailey's favorite subjects in school is Art. She's drawn some good things. I've even posted some of it. This week she brought home her drawing book from school. She has some good stuff in it, but we think this one is her best. She was sure to tell me that she drew this inside her classroom without a flower to use as a guide. I think she's done a fantastic job.

New York, Part Nine--Letterman and Rupert Jee

At last, the final part of the NY trip.

Of course, we are big Letterman fans. We only get to watch every now and again, but we think he's pretty funny and we really like his Top Ten lists (usually). Well, Letterman has made Hello Deli a regular hot spot on the tourist circuit, so we had to stop in and give it a try.

As it turns out, the sandwich we got was actually quite good. Apparently Rupert Jee has a good little deli, and being right around the corner from the Ed Sullivan Theater hasn't hurt any.

Here we are with a very obliging Rupert Jee.

Before we went to NY, I emailed the Late Show for tickets. We hadn't heard from them so we figured it wasn't going to happen. Then on our second day there the Late Show called and we got tickets. Apparently the writer's strike had kept them from taping, and our last day there was the first day they were back to it. Anyway, we showed up at the theater early and stood in line for a bit. When the line began moving the lady at the check-in desk asked us if we were excited to be there and what part of the show we liked the best. Chris told her he liked Paul Shaeffer. Anyway, she told us that she was going to put us in a special group. Well, that group just happened to be seated in the front row. So lucky us got to sit in the front row for the taping!

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The guests for the taping were Jim Carrey, promoting his new film "Horton Hears a Who", and Paula Abdul. It was a fun taping, and we had a great time being there. The CBS Orchestra was really great--our seats were right by them!

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Well, that concludes our New York trip--finally! We did go to a few other places that we didn't chronicle here, but we will get a slide show of those pictures up later. So, if you are ever in the NYC area, or need a great place to vacation, be sure to check it out. You will not be disappointed!

Indiana Jones

Okay, so I had mixed feelings about going to see the new Indiana Jones movie. After all, I expected so much from the Star Wars prequel and was, in all honesty, disappointed. I was so worried that Indiana Jones would have the same fate.

On Saturday night we went on a date night (thanks, Anna!) and saw The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. As far as Indy movies go, this was up there with the rest of them--mostly. I loved the chase/fight scene in the jungle; the fight in the diner was great; I loved that they used the original Marion; I loved that they used the same map and airplane to show where they were traveling; I loved that Indy was 20 years older in the film so Harrison Ford wasn't pretending to be 20 years younger; I loved the humor--very Indiana Jones; I even liked Shia LaBeouf (even though I still see the goofy Disney kid when I look at him). It was fun, it was exciting. I did feel that it was a little long, but in contrast, Chris couldn't believe it was already over. The only thing I wasn't thrilled about was...(if you have already seen the movie or don't mind a spoiler, highlight the following area to read the rest)... the alien thing. Leave it to Spielberg to bring in the whole outer space thing. I really liked the premise of the movie, but really. Aliens? I could have done without that. It seemed a little like Indiana Jones meets Independence Day. (Spoiler end.) But even with that, I still liked it. It had all the elements of a good adventure, including Harrison Ford. Yeah, he's getting older, but I still love him. :)

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So, I give it 4 stars out of 5. How did you like it?

Amy's New 'Do

So for my birthday last month, Chris set up a consultation for a hair stylist at Red Door Spas. We discussed cut and style, and I also consulted with a colorist. Anyway, it took over a month to get an appointment with both the stylist and the colorist. Yesterday I finally had my appointment. I got a single-process color and partial foil highlights. And of course my cut. So, after months of bemoaning my sad lack of style, here is my new look.

I like it so far. In certain lights the highlights look a little orangy to me, but Chris assures me that they look light brown in natural light. Anyway, it was a totally expensive appointment that I probably won't repeat again, simply because of the cost. But it's fun to have a new style anyway. Thanks, Christopher!

(This isn't a great photo--it's hard to see the highlights and the full style of the cut. I'll try to get a better photo in the next few days.)

New York, Part Eight--The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

So I thought I was going to post Letterman next, but I decided I needed to do this one first.

Of course, no trip to NYC is complete without visiting Liberty Island. We went down to Battery Park early enough to be on the first ferry to the island. Which is good, because the lines got really long after we boarded. The ferry ride was really pleasant, and we could see so much of Manhattan from the water. Here is Lady Liberty from the ferry.

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And we had to get the proof that we were actually there by getting our picture taken with the Statue in the background.

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The walk up the stairs was a killer for me. I must be becoming a wimp. But the walk down was much easier as you can see from the smile.

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I loved the view of Manhattan behind the Statue.

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And here is Ellis Island. What a landmark! The museum is really something, too. I really am impressed with the immigrants who came through here. What stalwarts!

Be sure to visit these islands when you get to NYC. It's well worth getting up early for.

*Part Nine--Letterman and Rupert Jee

Dork TV

Okay, so I am a total dork. I usually watch reality shows only every once in a while. I'm not a big TV watcher, period. Well, I got interested in American Idol this year, mostly because someone emailed me about a girl in it who is LDS. So I decided to check it out. And what do you know, but there was an LDS boy on it, too. So, what initially started as a simple curiosity turned into this weird gotta-watch sort of thing. Anyway, my mother-in-law didn't help with the whole rabid fascination, either, because I had to call her after every show since she had to know the results every week as soon as they happened. :) (That's the joy of living on the east coast--no delayed broadcasts.) Anyway, I decided that I really rather enjoyed listening to all of these really talented folks every week. I'm sure you can tell who I decided was my favorite by listening to my music. Well, the season is finally over and I can get back to my not-watching-much-TV zone I was in previously. Although I couldn't resist compiling these favorites of mine for you. If you don't care for them, just turn your sound down. And as for Nina, turn it up and rock out!

New York, Part Seven--Central Park, Strawberry Fields, and the Manhattan Temple

Yes, finally, two months later, I'm working on finishing up our New York trip.

After visiting with our local friends, we went on a sightseeing hike. First, we went to Central Park, which is only about 5 blocks away from Tom and Tracy's place. (Give or take.) Central Park is absolutely huge, so we didn't get everywhere, but the whole time I was wondering where Disney filmed "Enchanted". (That must have been a sight.)

It's hard to see in the small picture below, but there is an ice skating rink hiding in the middle that was packed. What a place to skate!

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Nestled in the west part of Central Park is Strawberry Fields. For those of you who don't know what Strawberry Fields is, brush up on your Beatles and John Lennon history. We were told that there are always flowers on the Imagine mosaic.

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Since we were there, we couldn't pass up the chance to see the Manhattan Temple. It is right in the middle of the city, completely surrounded by huge buildings. It may be overshadowed a bit by the surroundings, but it holds its own.

*Up next: Part Eight--The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Have you heard the one about...

Mummi, the Chinese man, and the sauna? This one is just too good not to document. Chris was on the phone with his mom this evening and she related an awesome story about her Finnish mom. In case you don't know, the sauna is huge in Finland. Usually it's done by just the women, just the men, or an individual married couple at one time. Well, this one is a bit outside the mold. (I hope I get the retelling right.)

Mummi (Chris's grandma) was a bit early for her usual sauna time at the shared sauna in her apartment complex. Usually there isn't anyone in the earlier time slot. So she got undressed in one of the dressing rooms and was ready to go in when she noticed that the door was slightly ajar. So, in her full 80 year old Finnish glory, she went into the room and found a Chinese man in all his glory. He seemed to be just finishing up his sauna, so she explained that she was a few minutes early and would he mind if she went ahead and got started. Apparently his Finnish isn't all that, because he seemed to think she was inviting him to join in a sauna with her. So, the 80 year old Finnish lady and the Chinese man enjoyed a true Finnish sauna together.

Only in Finland!

The Ex

I almost forgot. Tom and Tracy had this rather curious knife block in their kitchen. (But their's is white.) When I saw it I actually burst out laughing. It was morbid now that I think of it, but it was just too out of place in their kitchen to be taken seriously. Tracy said that she came home one day and it was just there. Surprisingly enough she didn't demand that Tom remove it. She said that it is one of those things that you either love or you hate. I wouldn't necessarily say that I love it, but it caught me off guard. Tracy said that usually the men love it and the women hate it. So I guess I'm outside of that mold. So, I ask, what do you think?

New York, Part Six--Visiting with friends

While we were in New York we visited with some friends, Tom and Tracy. I have known Tom since we were about 6 years old. We had a great time visiting and catching up. They took us to a great indian food place called Utsav. (If you are ever in Manhattan, reserve a table here and enjoy their chicken tikka masala and their mango mousse. Good stuff!) We also got to visit with them in their home. Granted, I have not seen any other Manhattan residences, but Tom and Tracy have got to have the best place to live in mid-town. It is absolutely fantastic! They live in the penthouse of their building, and the whole top floor is theirs. They have a deck that wraps around the whole top of the building, and their view is wonderful! I was completely envious, and completely thrilled that they have such an awesome place for themselves. And they have an impeccable decorating style. Anyway, below are some pictures we took on their deck.

All of us on the roof deck.

The view to the west.

The view to the north-east (I think). The bridge is the 59th Street Bridge, of Simon and Garfunkel fame.

Thanks for a fantastic visit, Tom and Tracy! Visit us in DC soon!

*Up next: Part Seven--Central Park, Strawberry Fields, and the Manhattan Temple

New York, Part Five--"Mary Poppins"

The third Broadway show we saw was "Mary Poppins." It was a good show, but not what I was expecting. Of course, I was expecting something more along the lines of the movie. Boy, was I wrong. This show is all new. Well, some of the well known songs are the same ("A Spoonful of Sugar", "Chim Chim Cheree", etc.), but they have added a lot of new music. And they switched up the play a bit by re-ordering events and adding new characters and taking old characters out. It was a very well done play, but I'll admit that it was probably my least favorite of the trip. But if you have the chance to see it, don't let my review stop you. Instead, go see it and let me know what you think.

The Banks home as drawn on the front stage scrim.

The theatre from our seats (during intermission).

Up next: Part Six--Visiting with friends

New York, Part Four--"Spamalot"

Ah, yes. Back to New York. Sorry about the hiatus.

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On Saturday, 3/8, we went to see "Spamalot". Yes, we saw Clay Aiken. (Hmm. Wonder who their headline star is?) Like how his name is bigger than the rest of the marquee?

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Anyway, Clay did pretty well. He played multiple parts, including Brave Sir Robin. I was actually impressed by his "Python" accent. He blended in with the rest of the cast rather well. The only time he really got his "Idol" voice on was during his showcase number, "You Won't Succeed on Broadway". It actually fit there.

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The show itself was silly. But, then again, wouldn't you expect it to be? It was similar to the "Holy Grail" movie, but I think it left out a lot of the better parts. (Not enough of the rabbit or Tim.) It was more vulgar than I remember the movie being (my goodness, is that possible?), mostly because of the language and the French guards scene. Not for children, yet I saw people with their 9 and 10 year olds there. Not a good idea.

Of course, Chris really enjoyed it. I think it made him nostalgic for his high school years. He said he's seen the movie about 300 times. (Did I get that right?) He calls Spamalot "the man show", and he's right. Unless you are a female who really digs Python, you'll just roll your eyes at it if you ever see it.

But isn't the "Finland" song great?

*Up next: Part Five--"Mary Poppins"

Spring is here!

Yes, spring is officially here. Blossoms are everywhere, the weather is warming, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival is nearly upon us. I'm really excited for the cherry blossoms. Being fresh from Arizona, and before that from mild San Diego, I haven't seen a lot of real spring blooming. The flowering palo verde in my front yard doesn't really count.



The girls and I decided to go down to the Tidal Basin this afternoon and check out the cherry blossoms firsthand before the official start of the festival, which I'm sure will be crazy. The trees are blossoming, and, wow, are they pretty.

Of course, the place to see them is the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial. Mia was gracious enough to pose for the camera in front of the Memorial. (Today she kept singing, "Spring is here, spring is here, it's the best time of the year." I believe she's right.)

Hailey was particularly taken with these beautiful flowers, and I loved all of the colors around her.

What I love about DC is that everything is so close to everything else. I love this picture of Hailey leaning against the Jefferson Memorial while looking at the Washington Monument.

We really had fun with the blossoms today. If you ever have the chance, you have to visit DC in the spring. And if you do, don't miss out on the cherry blossoms!

White House Easter Egg Roll

Since it was Easter, and because the New York trip still has a lot of parts to go, I thought I'd stray from the NYC chronicle to talk about a little craziness called the White House Easter Egg Roll.

A couple of weeks ago or so, some of the ladies in my ward began talking about getting tickets for the Easter Egg Roll. Apparently, the DC area is filled with crazy parents who camp out overnight to be amongst the first 22,000 to get tickets to this event. So naturally I decided to join in the throng.




The "campsite" was set up by 7pm, and probably even earlier. (Of course I wasn't on time. Really, now.) You should have seen it. It was a regular tent city right there on the outskirts of the Ellipse. Rather impressive.

I came prepared for misery. I mean, really, how on earth could camping out at the White House in mid-March ever be called a good idea? I brought reading material (that I didn't read), a flashlight (that I didn't need because, hey, I could have cross stiched in the light from the lampposts--if I cross stiched), Kleenex galore (because my allergies were acting up--those darn spring blossoms that mean winter is officially over, despite the near freezing temperatures), a vat (okay, a thermos) of steaming hot chocolate (a good idea), and lots of fleece (also a good idea). But it actually wasn't that miserable. We had a group of about 16 (all mommies on holiday from the kids--thanks, dads!). We played getting to know you games, chatted, and enjoyed treats from a never-ending supply. It was cold, but my big long coat, fleece, and gloves insulated me quite well. The misery came at about 3am in the form of a park ranger in a golf cart masquerading as the town cryer. ("30 minutes until ticket vouchers are passed out!" or some innane statement to that effect.) Finally, at about 5am, we got the golden tickets! Okay, the golden numbered vouchers that would get us the golden tickets.

After trying to get back to sleep (ha--like I could sleep through the bright lights, the noise from the other "campers", and the traffic on 15th and Constitution), the town cryer returned at around 7am to tell us to pack it up and line up to get the golden tickets.

After all of that, we did get our tickets (I was #896). I felt bad for the other numberless campers who stayed overnight only to be told there were not enough tickets for them. I felt supremely grateful that our group got there early enough. Thanks, group!

So on Monday afternoon, we had the pleasure of being amongst the other 22,000 crazy people to grace the White House lawn to roll Easter eggs across a short strip of sectioned off grass.

Oh, that wasn't all. There were fantastic photo ops. Look at how close we are to the actual White House!

There was face painting, egg coloring, an egg hunt, story time (we missed out on Laura and Jenna, though), and a mural making with Wyland, among other things. It was a regular zoo, it was. And I supplied the monkeys. :)

Hailey is certain she won her group's egg roll. (Not to be confused with the Chinese kind you eat.)

Mia was actually very careful with her egg. Until the rolling was done and she beat on it with her spoon.

All in all, it was a fun experience. I mean, how often does one get to play on the White House front lawn? (Or see the First Dog play on the West Wing lawn? Which we saw, too.)

So, if you're feeling a bit crazy next year, I highly recommend a large group just as crazy to share a little pre-Easter overnighter with. In fact, I recommend my crazy group. (And if my crazy group is still crazy next year, count me in!)