- Yes, your home and family will be here when you get back. But there will be a lot of people who will have endured the horrors of the Murrah bombing while you were gone. But then and now, no amount of explosives, tornadoes, floods, or tanked economies and education budgets can ever really do permanent damage to your precious Oklahoma. (And stop apologizing to all those Jello belt citizens for being from there.)
- Your future niece and her little sister will not ever remember that you weren't there the days they were born and, even better, you will be there for every niece and nephew birth to follow.
- Your Rainbow Dad was right "If it's meant to be, nothing you do will change it. If it isn't, it will fall apart no matter how hard you try to keep it together."
- This will be the only thing your Rainbow Dad was ever 100% right about.
- Yes, there will be weddings, cross country moves, and other falling outs while you are gone. and no, your friend group will not still hang out like they did before you left. But eventually you will throw enough scrapbooking parties to get the girls back together and, many years down the road, you will reconnect with the boys when you all become "moms", "dads", and advisors to the next generation of Rainbow, DeMolay, and Jobs' Daughters. On a related note, Karma really has an evil sense of humor, so buckle up for it in heavy and hilarious doses.
- Yeah, you should have called "that Army guy David" before you left. But you will call him when you get home. (And again 6 months later when he is no longer dating that girl he tells you about the first time you call him.) I refer you back to item #3.
- Tell "Mom Liles" and your "Other twin brother Travis" how much you love having them in your life, because it won't be long enough in either case. (And be glad you said yes to Nancy when she asked you to be Mother Advisor, because it will give you a few extra years of close contact with both of them.)
- Enjoy your time in Italy, you will be really happy with the way everything worked itself out. I promise.
Showing posts with label At the Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label At the Movies. Show all posts
Monday, September 03, 2018
Music Monday: I Wonder
Shortly before I left for Italy in 1994, I found myself in a very transitory phase. I had a brand new college degree, but instead of looking for a place to live or attending multiple job interviews; I was living at my parents during the down time between my early May graduation and my entrance into the Missionary Training Center. Most of my weekends were spent busily (and often foolishly) with my friends John, Christina, and Jeff as a way to stave off anxiety about the upcoming great unknown. But during the weekday mornings when they were all working or sleeping or pursuing other activities; I spent the late nights or the early mornings walking my parents' neighborhood (a different one than the one from my childhood home, but not far from it) as if trying to commit it to memory. I often sang to myself (since my kids got all of that talent) and my favorite was an old ABBA song my Dad and I had sung together when both the album and the family Oldsmobile were new. It was "I Wonder" which was more recently recorded and cut from the Mamma Mia sequel. I really hope it shows up in the eventual deleted scenes because it was one of my all-time favorite songs and completely appropriate for my life transition. Here is a video of the lyrics. Below, I will answer some of the biggest questions that 22 year-old Melessa was asking back then:
Monday, April 16, 2012
Music Monday
I'm lucky enough to have XM Sirius radio in my car and, of course, I'm rather addicted to the 80's on 8. They played this today. I hadn't heard it in years, but now it's stuck in my head so I thought I would pass that along to anyone who still reads here. Even as a GenXer, I wasn't a big Genesis fan growing up, but I did enjoy "that Phil guy" on occasion.
And I loved the movie White Nights. (So much I'm afraid to watch it now and find out it was terrible, though I doubt it.)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Week in Review
Reading
Oliver Twist-
I won tickets to a local production of Oliver! earlier this summer. When I discovered I could download the Dickens classic for free, I decided it was worth a re-reading. Especially when you consider I hadn't read it since elementary school. If I ever finish it, it will be our new 'family reading' book. The problem is finding time to read AND getting all of my kids in the same house at the same time. But we will get there. And again, Charles Dickens doesn't disappoint.
Watching
Since 19 Kids and Counting finished its season, I haven't watched much. I have seen a few episodes of Kate Plus 8 and while she may not be the nicest person on the planet, I know what it's like to be judged harshly by people who never bothered to get to know me and I can't imagine how awful it would be to have my marriage fall apart on national TV. I think the kids did benefit from their time away from the camera, but they seem OK to me now that they are back on the air. I will always be a bit protective of those kiddos because they were born on the same day as Elisa. And while I certainly lack Kate's Type A organization and time management skills, I respect them. And I really don't like the fact that we still live in a world where it's somehow not OK for a woman to know exactly how she wants something to be and sticks to her guns until it's accomplished.
At the Movies
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2-
I saw this last week when it premiered, but Natalie was at Girls' Camp when that happened so I took her to see it this week. (I LOVE that she wanted to see it with me more than anyone else, because who knows how long that will last.) I cried just as much the second time and loved it just as much too. Perhaps during some downtime on my upcoming vacation I will post in more detail now that Blogger has added a 'click to read more' tool so that I don't spoil it for anyone.
Away We Go
An independent film starring Maya Rudolph that barely touched the theatres before it was gone. And I'm not sure why because I absolutely loved it. :) It's about a couple that is looking for the perfect place to raise their first child and I believe Ms. Rudolph was actually pregnant during filming. It also features John Krasiniski, Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, and some hilarious cameos by Allison Janney (who I adore) and Maggie Gyllenhaal. You should check it out! (And by "you", I mean "Anne.")
On Broadway
Ragtime-
When Natalie was little, the Rosie O'Donnell show featured a song from this "brand new on Broadway" show. Audra McDonald performed it. I knew someday I HAD to see it. I had no idea how sad and powerful it would be, but I enjoyed it. And the costumes were so good they are worth mentioning too-and I usually don't notice anything but the songs when I see a show.
"How to Eat Like a Child..."-
This wasn't really on stage, but it was Tristan's last show for the summer. For the last three weeks of rehearsals he has downplayed how funny he would be and how appropriate his solo was (instead of tears of pride, I had tears from laughing). I feel like an idiot for not taping it. Maybe I can get him to sing an encore. As a reward, he got to go to a movie last night after the show and to Great Wolf Lodge with my mom, my sisters, and their kids this weekend. I hope he's having a great time!
Out and About
My work week was light, so most of my evenings were spent cleaning the house instead of blogging/shopping/or anything otherwise remotely entertaining. Which is why I enjoyed seeing so many of my 4th ward friends even if it was because some of them are moving out of state and had a going away party. :( The Norman Oklahoma stake without Bob and Tracy and their awesome kids? I can't imagine it. :(
And my final thought for the week is this: The best thing about having to speak in church is when you have finished your talk and returned to your seat. Can I get an amen?
I'm off for Seattle and the Oregon Coast with Natalie and Caroline which either means that blogging will be much more frequent because I'm on vacation OR non-existent because I'm having a great time. Or both! Have a great week!
Oliver Twist-
I won tickets to a local production of Oliver! earlier this summer. When I discovered I could download the Dickens classic for free, I decided it was worth a re-reading. Especially when you consider I hadn't read it since elementary school. If I ever finish it, it will be our new 'family reading' book. The problem is finding time to read AND getting all of my kids in the same house at the same time. But we will get there. And again, Charles Dickens doesn't disappoint.
Watching
Since 19 Kids and Counting finished its season, I haven't watched much. I have seen a few episodes of Kate Plus 8 and while she may not be the nicest person on the planet, I know what it's like to be judged harshly by people who never bothered to get to know me and I can't imagine how awful it would be to have my marriage fall apart on national TV. I think the kids did benefit from their time away from the camera, but they seem OK to me now that they are back on the air. I will always be a bit protective of those kiddos because they were born on the same day as Elisa. And while I certainly lack Kate's Type A organization and time management skills, I respect them. And I really don't like the fact that we still live in a world where it's somehow not OK for a woman to know exactly how she wants something to be and sticks to her guns until it's accomplished.
At the Movies
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2-
I saw this last week when it premiered, but Natalie was at Girls' Camp when that happened so I took her to see it this week. (I LOVE that she wanted to see it with me more than anyone else, because who knows how long that will last.) I cried just as much the second time and loved it just as much too. Perhaps during some downtime on my upcoming vacation I will post in more detail now that Blogger has added a 'click to read more' tool so that I don't spoil it for anyone.
Away We Go
An independent film starring Maya Rudolph that barely touched the theatres before it was gone. And I'm not sure why because I absolutely loved it. :) It's about a couple that is looking for the perfect place to raise their first child and I believe Ms. Rudolph was actually pregnant during filming. It also features John Krasiniski, Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, and some hilarious cameos by Allison Janney (who I adore) and Maggie Gyllenhaal. You should check it out! (And by "you", I mean "Anne.")
On Broadway
Ragtime-
When Natalie was little, the Rosie O'Donnell show featured a song from this "brand new on Broadway" show. Audra McDonald performed it. I knew someday I HAD to see it. I had no idea how sad and powerful it would be, but I enjoyed it. And the costumes were so good they are worth mentioning too-and I usually don't notice anything but the songs when I see a show.
"How to Eat Like a Child..."-
This wasn't really on stage, but it was Tristan's last show for the summer. For the last three weeks of rehearsals he has downplayed how funny he would be and how appropriate his solo was (instead of tears of pride, I had tears from laughing). I feel like an idiot for not taping it. Maybe I can get him to sing an encore. As a reward, he got to go to a movie last night after the show and to Great Wolf Lodge with my mom, my sisters, and their kids this weekend. I hope he's having a great time!
Out and About
My work week was light, so most of my evenings were spent cleaning the house instead of blogging/shopping/or anything otherwise remotely entertaining. Which is why I enjoyed seeing so many of my 4th ward friends even if it was because some of them are moving out of state and had a going away party. :( The Norman Oklahoma stake without Bob and Tracy and their awesome kids? I can't imagine it. :(
And my final thought for the week is this: The best thing about having to speak in church is when you have finished your talk and returned to your seat. Can I get an amen?
I'm off for Seattle and the Oregon Coast with Natalie and Caroline which either means that blogging will be much more frequent because I'm on vacation OR non-existent because I'm having a great time. Or both! Have a great week!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
A Week in the Life Of Me
As much as I would have liked to update my blog at some point last week, I just didn't have time. So for grins and giggles I thought I would give a brief rundown of everything I had on my plate last week:
Sunday: Drive back from the Saturday trip to Stillwater. We were on a tight schedule because Natalie, Tristan, and Caroline were to participate in a flash mob at the mall for CCOC and then have one final cast party at the home of the church pastor whose church hosts their rehearsals each year.
(This is First Presbyterian Church in Norman. Not only are they gracious enough to house the CCOC office and provide rehearsal space for the kids' camp, two of my favorite people ever are members there: Wendy, her mom Mary Kay, and their families. It's a great church family, even if it's not mine. I have yet to meet anyone from there who isn't a class act. And that's saying something because I tend to be very critical of anyone who calls themselves a Christian and then treats others like crap.)
Once we got back, we took the kids to the mall for the flash mob and then I took the older ones to the cast party. After the cast party, we had to wash Natalie's clothes and pack her up for Girls' Camp and my work clothes and the kids' outfits prepared for the rest of my busy week.
Monday: Drop Natalie off for camp on my way to work. At work, I had to get caught up on all messages both phone and email (weekend messages are always busy), do damage control following a weekend wedding (there wasn't much for a change-yay!), do as much paperwork as possible (Mondays are set aside for me to do that), and prepare for an afternoon downtown meeting with a potential funder. I am new to these type of meetings and they terrify me even though I usually feel good about them when they are finished. I think it goes without saying how important these meetings are the to survival of any non-profit, in particular one that does not feed/clothe hungry children and could easily be considered as "optional" in today's economy.
Tuesday: Drive 15 minutes out of my way to East Norman to drop off Tristan at my grandmother's so he can attend his afternoon theatre class. Drive another 15 minutes out of the way to North OKC to drop the other kids off at my mother's because my grandmother can't watch a 2 year old and Natalie is unable to help while she is at Girl's Camp. All of this before my 8:30 a.m. orientation at the OKC Chamber of Commerce. The museum is a member and while they do these meetings monthly, this is the first time my schedule at the museum has permitted me to attend one. I learned a lot and actually did a little networking-this meeting is geared more towards businesses than non-profits and I am pleased that I made some meaningful connections. Of course, this meant it was almost lunch time before I got to work and I spent the rest of our shortened work day trying to get caught up on messages and paperwork before it was time to go. On Tuesdays I can't stay late because there are Rainbow meetings or board meetings to attend. This evening was an informal meeting because most of the girls were out of town, so I took the girls and my younger kids to see Rio at the dollar movies. Fun, but hectic.
Wednesday: This was my most terrifying meeting of the week. I submitted a rather large grant last month, and the follow-up interview was this morning. This grant is 10% of our operating budget and the organization has made it clear that in today's economic climate, any organization who wants their money had better cross every 't' and dot every 'i'. After the meeting, which I hope went well, I could NOT wind down enough to focus on anything else in the detail I would have liked. That is also the day I inadvertently deleted half of the acknowledgement letters I have been writing since our big fundraiser event in May. This was the evening we left the kids at my mom's for a sleepover because my car is slowly but surely breaking down and taking four kids with us to bargain hunt didn't seem like what Dave and I wanted to do. But, at least we had a nice dinner alone before to car shopping started. We *think* we found one. When it's definite, I'll share more details.
Thursday: Part of the reason we sent the kids to the grandparents for the night was because I had 8 a.m. training at the Center for Non-Profits. It is the third session in a series of four aimed at helping me be the best Executive Director I can. After so many other meetings in the last week, and because this month's subject was "HR, Legal, and Financial matters"; I really had to work to focus. But I still remember the details as I'm typing this, so focus I did. Unfortunately, these great workshops only leave me with a couple of hours at work to accomplish everything I usually do in a full work day. Especially with all the disruptions in this week's schedule. I answered emails and voicemails and called it good.
At least this day had an awesome bonus! As big clients at Wells Fargo bank, my parents were invited to a pre-screening of the final Harry Potter movie. Chris, the kids, and I were able to see it at 6 p.m. instead of midnight. When we got there, we walked past hoards of teens in costumes, and right into the theatre! We even had popcorn and drink vouchers AND it was in 3D. My mother's side of the family has always had pretty significant savings and investments, but rarely have I felt like (or been treated as) someone with money. So seeing the last Harry Potter movie in 3D for free with free drinks and popcorn? That was pretty sweet-even for an almost 40 year-old. I'm not sure the kids were as excited as I was. Not only did the movie make me teary, the symmetry of the situation did too. My parents, Selena, and I watched the midnight showing of the first one at the same theatre 9 1/2 years ago when I was very pregnant with Caroline. This time, she was sitting next to me. Aww!
Friday: Fortunately, I had NO meetings, orientations, or trainings to attend. Unfortunately, all the work that needed to be done while those were happening was waiting for me. And then, I got a call from Natalie that went like this: "Hey! I know you thought we were coming home from camp tomorrow. But it's actually today. Will anyone be home to let me in the house in a couple of hours?" Dave and I scrambled because neither of us could leave work, but fortunately it was "Aunt Chris" to the rescue. She met Natalie at our house and took her to my grandmother's. And it's not like I wasn't thrilled to have Natalie home 24 hours earlier than I thought she would be there. So, we had our usual pizza night at grandma's. And boy did I need the down time.
Saturday: A crazy work week can only mean that today was spent playing 'catch up' on the housework and errands before visiting Del City Rainbow for their Installation and dance. Fortunately, the girls weren't that into the dance and we left early. Because, oddly enough, I was exhausted. Wonder why?
This week has no meetings, trainings, or other big activities until Tristan's last show of the summer this Saturday. And all I can say is "YAY!"
Sunday: Drive back from the Saturday trip to Stillwater. We were on a tight schedule because Natalie, Tristan, and Caroline were to participate in a flash mob at the mall for CCOC and then have one final cast party at the home of the church pastor whose church hosts their rehearsals each year.
(This is First Presbyterian Church in Norman. Not only are they gracious enough to house the CCOC office and provide rehearsal space for the kids' camp, two of my favorite people ever are members there: Wendy, her mom Mary Kay, and their families. It's a great church family, even if it's not mine. I have yet to meet anyone from there who isn't a class act. And that's saying something because I tend to be very critical of anyone who calls themselves a Christian and then treats others like crap.)
Once we got back, we took the kids to the mall for the flash mob and then I took the older ones to the cast party. After the cast party, we had to wash Natalie's clothes and pack her up for Girls' Camp and my work clothes and the kids' outfits prepared for the rest of my busy week.
Monday: Drop Natalie off for camp on my way to work. At work, I had to get caught up on all messages both phone and email (weekend messages are always busy), do damage control following a weekend wedding (there wasn't much for a change-yay!), do as much paperwork as possible (Mondays are set aside for me to do that), and prepare for an afternoon downtown meeting with a potential funder. I am new to these type of meetings and they terrify me even though I usually feel good about them when they are finished. I think it goes without saying how important these meetings are the to survival of any non-profit, in particular one that does not feed/clothe hungry children and could easily be considered as "optional" in today's economy.
Tuesday: Drive 15 minutes out of my way to East Norman to drop off Tristan at my grandmother's so he can attend his afternoon theatre class. Drive another 15 minutes out of the way to North OKC to drop the other kids off at my mother's because my grandmother can't watch a 2 year old and Natalie is unable to help while she is at Girl's Camp. All of this before my 8:30 a.m. orientation at the OKC Chamber of Commerce. The museum is a member and while they do these meetings monthly, this is the first time my schedule at the museum has permitted me to attend one. I learned a lot and actually did a little networking-this meeting is geared more towards businesses than non-profits and I am pleased that I made some meaningful connections. Of course, this meant it was almost lunch time before I got to work and I spent the rest of our shortened work day trying to get caught up on messages and paperwork before it was time to go. On Tuesdays I can't stay late because there are Rainbow meetings or board meetings to attend. This evening was an informal meeting because most of the girls were out of town, so I took the girls and my younger kids to see Rio at the dollar movies. Fun, but hectic.
Wednesday: This was my most terrifying meeting of the week. I submitted a rather large grant last month, and the follow-up interview was this morning. This grant is 10% of our operating budget and the organization has made it clear that in today's economic climate, any organization who wants their money had better cross every 't' and dot every 'i'. After the meeting, which I hope went well, I could NOT wind down enough to focus on anything else in the detail I would have liked. That is also the day I inadvertently deleted half of the acknowledgement letters I have been writing since our big fundraiser event in May. This was the evening we left the kids at my mom's for a sleepover because my car is slowly but surely breaking down and taking four kids with us to bargain hunt didn't seem like what Dave and I wanted to do. But, at least we had a nice dinner alone before to car shopping started. We *think* we found one. When it's definite, I'll share more details.
Thursday: Part of the reason we sent the kids to the grandparents for the night was because I had 8 a.m. training at the Center for Non-Profits. It is the third session in a series of four aimed at helping me be the best Executive Director I can. After so many other meetings in the last week, and because this month's subject was "HR, Legal, and Financial matters"; I really had to work to focus. But I still remember the details as I'm typing this, so focus I did. Unfortunately, these great workshops only leave me with a couple of hours at work to accomplish everything I usually do in a full work day. Especially with all the disruptions in this week's schedule. I answered emails and voicemails and called it good.
At least this day had an awesome bonus! As big clients at Wells Fargo bank, my parents were invited to a pre-screening of the final Harry Potter movie. Chris, the kids, and I were able to see it at 6 p.m. instead of midnight. When we got there, we walked past hoards of teens in costumes, and right into the theatre! We even had popcorn and drink vouchers AND it was in 3D. My mother's side of the family has always had pretty significant savings and investments, but rarely have I felt like (or been treated as) someone with money. So seeing the last Harry Potter movie in 3D for free with free drinks and popcorn? That was pretty sweet-even for an almost 40 year-old. I'm not sure the kids were as excited as I was. Not only did the movie make me teary, the symmetry of the situation did too. My parents, Selena, and I watched the midnight showing of the first one at the same theatre 9 1/2 years ago when I was very pregnant with Caroline. This time, she was sitting next to me. Aww!
Friday: Fortunately, I had NO meetings, orientations, or trainings to attend. Unfortunately, all the work that needed to be done while those were happening was waiting for me. And then, I got a call from Natalie that went like this: "Hey! I know you thought we were coming home from camp tomorrow. But it's actually today. Will anyone be home to let me in the house in a couple of hours?" Dave and I scrambled because neither of us could leave work, but fortunately it was "Aunt Chris" to the rescue. She met Natalie at our house and took her to my grandmother's. And it's not like I wasn't thrilled to have Natalie home 24 hours earlier than I thought she would be there. So, we had our usual pizza night at grandma's. And boy did I need the down time.
Saturday: A crazy work week can only mean that today was spent playing 'catch up' on the housework and errands before visiting Del City Rainbow for their Installation and dance. Fortunately, the girls weren't that into the dance and we left early. Because, oddly enough, I was exhausted. Wonder why?
This week has no meetings, trainings, or other big activities until Tristan's last show of the summer this Saturday. And all I can say is "YAY!"
Sunday, April 10, 2011
A Couple Reviews
Last night Dave and I went to see the Sooner Theatre production of the musical version of The Wedding Singer. I knew they would put on a great show and they did. I love me some broadway musicals and the sooner actors are outstanding. But, that said, is it bad that I missed Adam Sandler, the "Love Stinks" number, and I really missed hearing the line: "Once again, things that could've been brought to my attention YESTERDAY!" But I did think this Julia's hair was much more '80's than Drew Barrymore's was in the movie and I loved the costumes-I had hair and owned dresses like that. Anyway, it was a cute show and I did find some new songs for the iPod.
The night before that, we rented TRON: Legacy. I thought I really wanted to see this in theatres, but it didn't last long enough in IMAX for me to see it and if I wasn't having the IMAX experience, I decided I would rather wait and rent it. It was pretty good, though there were bothersome holes in the plot and Jeff Bridges seemed to be channeling "the Dude" a lot more than the actual character he was reprising in TRON. But it was still a nice way to spend Friday night with my family and I'm sorry I missed seeing those special effects in an IMAX theatre.
Sorry for the light blogging, the kids' showcase is this weekend, Land Run is two weeks away, and have I mentioned I'm running this museum now? Anyway, I'll check in when I can. Thanks for still reading.
The night before that, we rented TRON: Legacy. I thought I really wanted to see this in theatres, but it didn't last long enough in IMAX for me to see it and if I wasn't having the IMAX experience, I decided I would rather wait and rent it. It was pretty good, though there were bothersome holes in the plot and Jeff Bridges seemed to be channeling "the Dude" a lot more than the actual character he was reprising in TRON. But it was still a nice way to spend Friday night with my family and I'm sorry I missed seeing those special effects in an IMAX theatre.
Sorry for the light blogging, the kids' showcase is this weekend, Land Run is two weeks away, and have I mentioned I'm running this museum now? Anyway, I'll check in when I can. Thanks for still reading.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Week In Review
Reading
Have I read anything this week aside from work emails and grant applications? I'm thinking no. Unfortunately.
Watching
19 Kids and Counting
Can I tell you how happy I was to see Michelle Duggar's big ol' laundry pile?! It's nice to know her house isn't always spotless. I don't remember too many of the details of the episode (except, of course, for what Anna & Josh are having), but I was SO HAPPY to know I'm not the only woman with a huge pile of clothes on her laundry room floor.
Mr. Sunshine
As if I couldn't love it more, they gave James Taylor a cameo! I love this show way too much for it to last more than a season or two.
At the Movies
Just Go with It
I finally got to have a movie night with Deborah! We hadn't done that since she left for Germany even though she's been back in the Sooner State since December. We've managed phone calls and shopping, but we brought 'dinner and a movie' night back last Friday in Bricktown. We loved this movie, though I think it was a little on the long side. It's not going to win any Oscars, but it was a lot of fun to watch. Also, every time I see a movie with the lovely Jennifer Aniston, I want to punch Brad Pitt in his beautiful, 'takes himself too seriously' face. I hope she really is happy. And I'm kind of sorry that he is. Because that's the kind of gal I am.
Out and About
Relief Society Birthday Dinner
See? Sometimes I'm social at church. I could have lived without the tongue-lashing over me traveling and leaving my "poor husband at home with all those little kids." But it still managed to be a fun evening. Especially since one of my favorite 'partners in crime' actually showed up too. (You know who you are...)
Bolero's
Before the movie, we had some lovely tapas at this little place close to the Harkins theatre. The food was good and the proximity to the theatre and its view of Bricktown were enjoyable too.
District 1 Exemplification/Reception
The days of one car to get there and one hotel room to house all of Norman Assembly are over! As I joked with one of the other Mother Advisor's: My prayer used to be "Dear Lord, we need more girls." And now it is "Dear LORD, what am I going to do with all these girls?!" Natalie made it home safe and sound and in time to come with us. I also had wonderful help in the form of Wendy's mom who used to be Assistant Mother Advisor when I was in Rainbow. But when I compare this year's Tulsa visit with 5 girls to last year's visit with just two, I definitely feel how the game has changed. But I do think it's been for the better and I do feel that taking on the M.A. position was the right decision. Also, will I ever NOT cry when we sing that one song at the end of each meeting? (Probably not.)
And with all this craziness, maybe it's best that Spring Break is over so I can get back into the regular routine of school. Who knew I would EVER say that?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Thursday Thirteen: Happy Things about My Week
- Taking my cousins to Cattleman's Steakhouse for breakfast. I'm pretty sure that was the first time I ever had steak before dinner time.
- My uncle making them go back there with him for lunch because it wasn't fair that they got steak and he didn't.
- Having all those wonderful people in town, even if it was for a sad occasion.
- The way the funeral home got Aunt Marguerite's hair just right. I hadn't seen it styled in the past three years, and it finally looked just the way I remembered it. She would have liked that.
- My kids speaking at the funeral. Do not leave a working microphone around my kids unless you want to hear from them.
- Getting to read the obituary that I wrote. That way, I guaranteed that NONE of the names were mispronounced. Not to mention a service that boasted Glen Miller, "I'll Be Seeing You", "Amazing Grace," the Byrds, and John Denver and the Muppets in its music selection.
- My Father-in-Law being at the funeral. (Aunt Marguerite was always fond of him.) It was good of him to come.
- A weekend with my family, just being together.
- A job that is a lot like being PTA President, only with a paycheck. For once.
- Working with and serving with people I have a good rapport with-and right now that includes work and both my big volunteer positions with Rainbow and the Primary Presidency.
- Finally getting caught up on Glee, Parenthood, and Mr. Sunshine (how much do I LOVE Allison Janney?! Enough to pray this show doesn't get cancelled.)
- Gelato and a movie with one of my favorite people.
- Sharing fast food napkins with that same favorite person at a particularly sad part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1.
*And, as a bonus, knowing that same person would help me take the Rainbow Assembly to Tulsa in a week even though it means missing Laniefest. (But really Chris, there is no reason we should BOTH miss it. Though I love you for offering.)*
I am blessed. Have a great weekend everyone!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Week In Review
Remember these? Remember when I used to blog faithfully? I'm hoping that by getting back into regular routines like the Week In Review, I will get better about updating here. (Keeping in mind that I had meetings every night last week and that even though I had some good ideas for posts, I just didn't have the time to write them.)
Reading-
Jurassic Park
It was a 'book club' assignment. (I use that term loosely as it's more of a 'friends who decided to read the same book' than an actual club.) But, I really liked it. I imagine that the movie was a bit of a disappointment to fans of the book and, since I really enjoyed that movie, I'm glad that: a)I saw it first and b) that it had been years since I had seen it. I definitely like the movie version of John Hammond much, much better and I wish that more of Dr. Malcolm's comments had been moved into the movie script because they were some of my favorite reading in the book. Probably the most amusing thing about reading the book is that I would only read the 'scary dinosaur parts' during the day and not before bed lest I scare myself. I still had some pretty vivid dreams in and around the time I was reading the book, though. So it was probably for the best that I did that. There is much more I could say, but I do not like giving more than mild spoilers here and I should probably save it for the 'book club' discussion.
The Hobbit
I love, love, love this book and was really excited to be able to share it with my kids over the last month. They really enjoyed it too. I am a little curious about how the movie is going to go with most of Peter Jackson's casting centering around characters who are not in The Hobbit or just have cameos. But you know we will go see it anyway. Not that it will ever be as beloved by me as the Rankin/Bass cartoon that my dad used to take me to see at the Norman Public Library in the days before VCR's, but I'm sure it will be good. As far as the books go, I am very impressed that I managed to read the final chapters with the kids without crying. During the rougher parts of my mission, I found myself alternating between Dorothy's clicking her heels together to the tune of "there's no place like home" or Bilbo's chanted list of things he loved although 'eggs, bacon, and a good pipe' never made MY list. Still, this book has been special to me since Favorite Uncle Bob sent it to me for Christmas when I was about 11 and it was nice to finally share it with my kids.
Watching
The DVR has 19 Kids and Counting, Glee, Parenthood, and Grey's just waiting for me to have time to watch them...
At the Movies?
Not this week
Extracurricular Activities:
This week's activities included my very first OKC Thunder game, a work-related board meeting, a Primary Presidency meeting/Valiant girls activity, a district-wide Initiation for IORG that brought in two more girls to the assembly, my sister and my grandmother's birthday, parent/teacher conferences, a church potluck (no complaints about that one, I love those!) co-hostessing a baby shower for one of my closest friends, and a show at the Civic Center. Which explains why there was no time to blog. You already know what came of Tuesday's board meeting and I'll spare you the family party details and just say a few things about the bigger activities of the weekend:
OKC Thunder-It was really fun. I had NO IDEA how much the team gives back to the community. And while I liked it, I think I like college games a little bit better and I have no idea why as they aren't nearly as glitzy and exciting. Or maybe, that is EXACTLY why.
Lanie's Shower-In spite of jokes about tacky games, door prizes, and hostess tactics; my friends and I can actually throw a very classy party. I'm SO excited for Lanie and her new baby boy...it won't be long now! (And if I ever get on this blog and lament my lack of supportive family, please remind me that no matter what shenanigans my mother comes up with *and she was in rare form this week* that I will always have Chris, Wendy, Lanie, and Jen and that our lack of a blood ties make NO difference at all. Love you girls!)
Beauty and the Beast at the Civic Center-It was my 6 year-old's turn to go to the show with Mom and we had a lovely time. She was the perfect age to sit through the show without getting too restless and to LOVE the story too. I noticed that it's been tweaked a bit since I saw it in Tulsa in 1999 and even a little bit since Caroline and Elisa were in the junior version at Sooner Theatre the summer before last, but they are good changes and it's still my all-time favorite Disneyfied fairy tale. I did miss the song between Belle and her Dad, though. Oh well...it's still on Pandora, right?
*And no worries, there are two shows coming up before the end of the season that Dave will actually get to see with me. Not that he minded giving his little girl this ticket at all.
That's all I have time for tonight! Here's to a good week for those of you who haven't given up on me ever posting here again!
Reading-
Jurassic Park
It was a 'book club' assignment. (I use that term loosely as it's more of a 'friends who decided to read the same book' than an actual club.) But, I really liked it. I imagine that the movie was a bit of a disappointment to fans of the book and, since I really enjoyed that movie, I'm glad that: a)I saw it first and b) that it had been years since I had seen it. I definitely like the movie version of John Hammond much, much better and I wish that more of Dr. Malcolm's comments had been moved into the movie script because they were some of my favorite reading in the book. Probably the most amusing thing about reading the book is that I would only read the 'scary dinosaur parts' during the day and not before bed lest I scare myself. I still had some pretty vivid dreams in and around the time I was reading the book, though. So it was probably for the best that I did that. There is much more I could say, but I do not like giving more than mild spoilers here and I should probably save it for the 'book club' discussion.
The Hobbit
I love, love, love this book and was really excited to be able to share it with my kids over the last month. They really enjoyed it too. I am a little curious about how the movie is going to go with most of Peter Jackson's casting centering around characters who are not in The Hobbit or just have cameos. But you know we will go see it anyway. Not that it will ever be as beloved by me as the Rankin/Bass cartoon that my dad used to take me to see at the Norman Public Library in the days before VCR's, but I'm sure it will be good. As far as the books go, I am very impressed that I managed to read the final chapters with the kids without crying. During the rougher parts of my mission, I found myself alternating between Dorothy's clicking her heels together to the tune of "there's no place like home" or Bilbo's chanted list of things he loved although 'eggs, bacon, and a good pipe' never made MY list. Still, this book has been special to me since Favorite Uncle Bob sent it to me for Christmas when I was about 11 and it was nice to finally share it with my kids.
Watching
The DVR has 19 Kids and Counting, Glee, Parenthood, and Grey's just waiting for me to have time to watch them...
At the Movies?
Not this week
Extracurricular Activities:
This week's activities included my very first OKC Thunder game, a work-related board meeting, a Primary Presidency meeting/Valiant girls activity, a district-wide Initiation for IORG that brought in two more girls to the assembly, my sister and my grandmother's birthday, parent/teacher conferences, a church potluck (no complaints about that one, I love those!) co-hostessing a baby shower for one of my closest friends, and a show at the Civic Center. Which explains why there was no time to blog. You already know what came of Tuesday's board meeting and I'll spare you the family party details and just say a few things about the bigger activities of the weekend:
OKC Thunder-It was really fun. I had NO IDEA how much the team gives back to the community. And while I liked it, I think I like college games a little bit better and I have no idea why as they aren't nearly as glitzy and exciting. Or maybe, that is EXACTLY why.
Lanie's Shower-In spite of jokes about tacky games, door prizes, and hostess tactics; my friends and I can actually throw a very classy party. I'm SO excited for Lanie and her new baby boy...it won't be long now! (And if I ever get on this blog and lament my lack of supportive family, please remind me that no matter what shenanigans my mother comes up with *and she was in rare form this week* that I will always have Chris, Wendy, Lanie, and Jen and that our lack of a blood ties make NO difference at all. Love you girls!)
Beauty and the Beast at the Civic Center-It was my 6 year-old's turn to go to the show with Mom and we had a lovely time. She was the perfect age to sit through the show without getting too restless and to LOVE the story too. I noticed that it's been tweaked a bit since I saw it in Tulsa in 1999 and even a little bit since Caroline and Elisa were in the junior version at Sooner Theatre the summer before last, but they are good changes and it's still my all-time favorite Disneyfied fairy tale. I did miss the song between Belle and her Dad, though. Oh well...it's still on Pandora, right?
*And no worries, there are two shows coming up before the end of the season that Dave will actually get to see with me. Not that he minded giving his little girl this ticket at all.
That's all I have time for tonight! Here's to a good week for those of you who haven't given up on me ever posting here again!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Note to Self # 109
Think carefully before posting things like "something has to give/change." Because that change may not be what you were expecting.
(All is well, but there are definitely 'strange things afoot at the Circle K'*)
*Name that movie?
(All is well, but there are definitely 'strange things afoot at the Circle K'*)
*Name that movie?
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Appropriate Quote of the Day
Ron : She’s gone mental. Hermione has gone mental. I mean, not that she always hasn’t been mental, but it’s just that now it out there for everyone to see.
-from the movie version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
*You know, the one where Hermione takes every possible class in her third year at Hogwarts, requiring the use of a time turner and stretching even our wonderfully capable Ms. Granger a little too thin that year. Unfortunately, there are no classes I can drop and I have no time turner. But after today I am sure that something, somewhere has GOT to give. I just wish I knew what.*
-from the movie version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
*You know, the one where Hermione takes every possible class in her third year at Hogwarts, requiring the use of a time turner and stretching even our wonderfully capable Ms. Granger a little too thin that year. Unfortunately, there are no classes I can drop and I have no time turner. But after today I am sure that something, somewhere has GOT to give. I just wish I knew what.*
Thursday, January 13, 2011
A Few Movie Reviews
We saw some movies over the holidays and since I used to be so diligent about reporting such things, I thought I would post my thoughts before I forget the movies completely:
Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
This was Natalie's favorite book of the series and she had serious doubts about the movie, but we both loved it. I'm not sure it was necessary to see it in 3D, but it sure was fun. I bawled right along with Lucy about it being the end of one part of her life and the beginning of another. I've been there and sometimes I still really miss Narnia. I'm not sure it was as good as the first one, but I definitely liked it better than Prince Caspian.
Tangled
This is now my second-favorite Disney movie. It ranks right up there with Beauty and the Beast. Really. And if you ever want a good look at what it was like to be raised by my mother, just listen to the dialogue between Rapunzel and hers. Sans the tower and the super-long hair, of course. And even if it hadn't touched certain nerves with me, I still would have really liked it. I'm definitely buying this one on DVD. In fact, I may even have to see it again when it hits the dollar movies and I rarely bother with things like that anymore.
True Grit
I am a John Wayne fan and I remember watching this as a kid. But I have to say, the remake was good too. Of course, I am a sucker for Matt Damon and Jeff Bridges so it's not like it was going to be a tough sell for me. Also, the little girl in it was brilliant. Although I am probably the only person in the theatre who watched the sets and wondered what poor historic house museum got invaded for the boarding house scenes. (Probably none, it's usually the low-budget films thatabuse use our facilities.) At any rate, I really liked the movie, even if I'm told that they did mess up the ending.
Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
This was Natalie's favorite book of the series and she had serious doubts about the movie, but we both loved it. I'm not sure it was necessary to see it in 3D, but it sure was fun. I bawled right along with Lucy about it being the end of one part of her life and the beginning of another. I've been there and sometimes I still really miss Narnia. I'm not sure it was as good as the first one, but I definitely liked it better than Prince Caspian.
Tangled
This is now my second-favorite Disney movie. It ranks right up there with Beauty and the Beast. Really. And if you ever want a good look at what it was like to be raised by my mother, just listen to the dialogue between Rapunzel and hers. Sans the tower and the super-long hair, of course. And even if it hadn't touched certain nerves with me, I still would have really liked it. I'm definitely buying this one on DVD. In fact, I may even have to see it again when it hits the dollar movies and I rarely bother with things like that anymore.
True Grit
I am a John Wayne fan and I remember watching this as a kid. But I have to say, the remake was good too. Of course, I am a sucker for Matt Damon and Jeff Bridges so it's not like it was going to be a tough sell for me. Also, the little girl in it was brilliant. Although I am probably the only person in the theatre who watched the sets and wondered what poor historic house museum got invaded for the boarding house scenes. (Probably none, it's usually the low-budget films that
Friday, December 31, 2010
11 in 2011
Again, this is a writing exercise borrowed from elsewhere, but definitely worth posting here too. If I manage to do even 2-3 of these in 2011, I will be happy. But I listed all 11 just the same.
- Find Time for Regular Exercise-While I would love to lose weight (and according to the BMI charts, I should lose about 25 lbs.), what bothers me most is how hopelessly out of shape I am. I strained my back just by getting into the car a few weeks ago-not good. So finding time for exercise it is!
- Organize my Home/Time-I like to think of myself as a creative free-spirit, but the facts are that I work full-time and I have 5 kids. Some daily attention needs to be paid to meals, laundry, and general pick-up or I lose control of this house and lose entire weekends trying to put it back together.
- Writing-Whether it is posting here or to my personal blog or to remembering my oft-neglected screenplay in my Documents folder, I thrive when I am writing and I need to make it a priority.
- LASIK-This is probably my most concrete item on the list. I want to have this done before I am 40 and my 39th birthday approaches in May. I like to blame money for not doing things that will take a time commitment and some effort on my part. And while this will be costly, it's really more of a fear of the unknown that holds me back. But I keep telling myself that this is my year to get it done and I am determined to make it happen.
- Work on my People Skills-Just because I don't like dealing with rude/whiny adults doesn't mean that I won't have to throughout the course of my life. And I need to learn to do that better than I do now. (Which is by saying "I'm sorry" a lot, but not really knowing how to compromise without either doing nothing that really improves their situation or completely caving and doing exactly what they want which rarely improves mine.)
- More Professional Networking-I'm about as skilled at this as I am dealing with annoying people, but I do see the value in it. I joined LinkedIn, but I know that's just the jumping off point. (I have a Master's in Museum Studies and currently work as the Education Director at a metro area museum.)
- Stay Connected with Family-This year saw the high of a wedding and the low of an unexpected funeral, but both reminded me that we all love and need each other; even if we are a bit of a dysfunctional mess.
- Do more Structured Activities with the Kids-We've got the 'sit around in front of the tv' covered, but most of my kids are old enough to enjoy museums, ride rides at amusement parks, and be an actual help in setting up a camping area. We did a lot of these things when they were too small to appreciate them, we need to do more of it now that they can actively participate.
- See More Movies before they Go to Video-I love the whole experience of going to the movies and I rarely do it anymore. Yes, it saves money; but I miss doing it.
- Read Good Books-I still have my list of "the classics" that they handed out in high school. I've read several, but I need to read more of them.
- Stop Fearing my Kitchen-I decided some years ago after a few kitchen failures that I was a "bad cook." I think now that I just didn't have enough practice. There are a few websites (Pioneer Woman Cooks being one of them) that show you the step by step process of making some pretty tasty meals. I've made a few in this last week. In the next year, I want to make more.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Week In Review
Reading
The Lost Olympian by Rick Riordan
We didn't make as much progress over the long weekend as I hoped we would thanks to my icky cold, but at least we know who each of our main characters belongs to now and they are just about to leave on their quest.
Watching
I'm still watching all my usual shows, but I'm much more excited about the plethora of Muppets specials I watched when I felt too icky to do anything else. The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Muppet Family Christmas, and even The Muppets Tribute to Jim Henson. A lot of happy tears were shed while I rested. Maybe that's why I'm bouncing back so much more quickly than I usually do from being sick. I feel bad that I didn't get all the house projects and reading I had planned to do, but I did have a good weekend.
At the Movies
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1
We saw this before I started feeling bad. It. Was. Awesome. And definitely worth the wait. I remember being pregnant with Caroline when I saw the first movie, this is the first one she was old enough to go see with us in the theatre. Time goes by WAY too fast. But it was nice to have such a fun time with my children doing something we ALL love.
In My Netflix Queue
Peggy Sue Got Married-
I thought it was a nice companion to last week's Back to the Future. I've loved this movie since high school. But if I thought it made me cry then...And I also remember when my 25th high school reunion seemed like forever away. Now? Not so much. It's still a great movie though. Kathleen Turner is amazing and hello Jim Carrey's early career.
Out and About: Thanksgiving
For some reason (likely the "I'm getting sick" reason), Thanksgiving without Aunt Marguerite feeling herself enough to boss the rest of us around was hard this year. She was there, of course, but not really. Thanksgiving was ALWAYS her big to-do and dinner at HER house when other people did the cooking pretty much sucked. Of course, my mom went out of her way to make sure that Dave and I felt like guests as opposed to family-which is how Dave has felt* with his own family since his mother died. At least it made him extra sympathetic to my situation.
But, as has been constant since childhood, no matter what craziness the my mother throws my way in the afternoon; it is always made up for with the Lawson family gathering in Tulsa. My Namaw, my Pawdad, and my aunts, uncles and cousins never meet strangers. In fact, even my sister's ex-husband and his new wife could show up and feel welcome at their table. (I doubt they would ever make the drive, but they do know that they have a standing invitation because we talked about it recently.) For all my mom's shortcomings, the rest of my family's ability to accept and love everyone freakin' rocks. Ironically, my heathen sisters tend to do a much better job of 'loving thy neighbor' than most people who claim to be Christians. Then again, some of the kindest people I met on my mission were Atheists; so that's nothing new.
Church:
I am always quick to complain about church when it goes wrong, so I should definitely praise it when it goes right. And last Sunday went very right. My friend Deborah is in town and decided to visit!! We had spent part of Saturday together too which meant one of her triplets felt brave enough to sit with me and my kids. We had fun getting caught up with one of our former YW throughout the second hour (She's married now-we could both just die!) and Sharing Time was REALLY fun-which isn't always the case. The kids gave me a ton of hugs. Deb led the music. Good times were had by all!!
*felt=feel/feelings (and those don't get a "true" or "false" label, feelings just are what they are)
The Lost Olympian by Rick Riordan
We didn't make as much progress over the long weekend as I hoped we would thanks to my icky cold, but at least we know who each of our main characters belongs to now and they are just about to leave on their quest.
Watching
I'm still watching all my usual shows, but I'm much more excited about the plethora of Muppets specials I watched when I felt too icky to do anything else. The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Muppet Family Christmas, and even The Muppets Tribute to Jim Henson. A lot of happy tears were shed while I rested. Maybe that's why I'm bouncing back so much more quickly than I usually do from being sick. I feel bad that I didn't get all the house projects and reading I had planned to do, but I did have a good weekend.
At the Movies
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1
We saw this before I started feeling bad. It. Was. Awesome. And definitely worth the wait. I remember being pregnant with Caroline when I saw the first movie, this is the first one she was old enough to go see with us in the theatre. Time goes by WAY too fast. But it was nice to have such a fun time with my children doing something we ALL love.
In My Netflix Queue
Peggy Sue Got Married-
I thought it was a nice companion to last week's Back to the Future. I've loved this movie since high school. But if I thought it made me cry then...And I also remember when my 25th high school reunion seemed like forever away. Now? Not so much. It's still a great movie though. Kathleen Turner is amazing and hello Jim Carrey's early career.
Out and About: Thanksgiving
For some reason (likely the "I'm getting sick" reason), Thanksgiving without Aunt Marguerite feeling herself enough to boss the rest of us around was hard this year. She was there, of course, but not really. Thanksgiving was ALWAYS her big to-do and dinner at HER house when other people did the cooking pretty much sucked. Of course, my mom went out of her way to make sure that Dave and I felt like guests as opposed to family-which is how Dave has felt* with his own family since his mother died. At least it made him extra sympathetic to my situation.
But, as has been constant since childhood, no matter what craziness the my mother throws my way in the afternoon; it is always made up for with the Lawson family gathering in Tulsa. My Namaw, my Pawdad, and my aunts, uncles and cousins never meet strangers. In fact, even my sister's ex-husband and his new wife could show up and feel welcome at their table. (I doubt they would ever make the drive, but they do know that they have a standing invitation because we talked about it recently.) For all my mom's shortcomings, the rest of my family's ability to accept and love everyone freakin' rocks. Ironically, my heathen sisters tend to do a much better job of 'loving thy neighbor' than most people who claim to be Christians. Then again, some of the kindest people I met on my mission were Atheists; so that's nothing new.
Church:
I am always quick to complain about church when it goes wrong, so I should definitely praise it when it goes right. And last Sunday went very right. My friend Deborah is in town and decided to visit!! We had spent part of Saturday together too which meant one of her triplets felt brave enough to sit with me and my kids. We had fun getting caught up with one of our former YW throughout the second hour (She's married now-we could both just die!) and Sharing Time was REALLY fun-which isn't always the case. The kids gave me a ton of hugs. Deb led the music. Good times were had by all!!
*felt=feel/feelings (and those don't get a "true" or "false" label, feelings just are what they are)
Sunday, November 28, 2010
A Belated Friday Flashback
I should have posted this on Friday. I hesitated, because it's one of those short posts that will only make sense to a handful of people. But, it's been stuck in my head all weekend and refuses to leave. So I'll just post it and have done with it-as is the case with much of what I post here.
Recently, I took my three oldest kids to see the newest Harry Potter movies. In addition to being a brilliantly creative storyteller, I've always been amazed at JK Rowling's ability to take me right back to my own teenage years as she describes Harry, Ron, and Hermione's struggles; not only with good and evil, but also with adolescence verging on adulthood.
Driving home, I had the following conversation with Natalie (very minor spoilers contained):
Natalie: I felt so bad for Hermione. Ron just made her so sad when he tried to make her choose between him and what she felt was her mission in life.
Me: I felt bad for Harry. He was caught in the middle. Not only did he have to worry about saving the world, but then he had to make peace with his own mixed up feelings about the whole Ron situation AND he had to get over those feelings so he could make Hermione feel better her problems with Ron too. I mean, that was a really tough thing for him. He already had the weight of the world on his shoulders AND he was caught between two of his best friends which had to have been awkward for him, AND there are both of them wanting him to choose sides when neither one of them had any right to ask it of him...and...ooohhh crap.
Natalie: What?
Me: Never mind. Just remind me to email your Uncle John when I get home.
Natalie: What do you need say to him?
Me: I need to say 'thank you.'
And I did.
Recently, I took my three oldest kids to see the newest Harry Potter movies. In addition to being a brilliantly creative storyteller, I've always been amazed at JK Rowling's ability to take me right back to my own teenage years as she describes Harry, Ron, and Hermione's struggles; not only with good and evil, but also with adolescence verging on adulthood.
Driving home, I had the following conversation with Natalie (very minor spoilers contained):
Natalie: I felt so bad for Hermione. Ron just made her so sad when he tried to make her choose between him and what she felt was her mission in life.
Me: I felt bad for Harry. He was caught in the middle. Not only did he have to worry about saving the world, but then he had to make peace with his own mixed up feelings about the whole Ron situation AND he had to get over those feelings so he could make Hermione feel better her problems with Ron too. I mean, that was a really tough thing for him. He already had the weight of the world on his shoulders AND he was caught between two of his best friends which had to have been awkward for him, AND there are both of them wanting him to choose sides when neither one of them had any right to ask it of him...and...ooohhh crap.
Natalie: What?
Me: Never mind. Just remind me to email your Uncle John when I get home.
Natalie: What do you need say to him?
Me: I need to say 'thank you.'
And I did.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Week In Review
Reading-
The Lost Olympian by Rick Riordan
With all the crazy evenings we have here, we are not making progress nearly as quickly as we did through the Percy Jackson series this summer. But, we still really like the book and we have been told by someone who has already read it that it is the best one ever. Hopefully we will read more next week than the three chapters we managed this week.
Watching
Big Bang Theory-
I always enjoy this show, but this one had an homage to Raiders of the Lost Ark, a Wil Wheaton cameo, AND a girls night. This has potential for this season's favorite episode, but the season is still young yet. And overall I will never love ANY episode moment as much as I loved the one when Sheldon hugged Penny.
Grey's Anatomy-
It's hard to do this without posting spoilers, so...favorite scenes for the episode would have to be Cristina and Callie's hair, Alex's face just before Jackson punches him, Lexie telling Jackson "don't be stupid." And Derek and Cristina talking house fixtures.
OU. v. Texas Tech
Now that's what I'm talking about, Sooners! Let's keep that up for the rest of the season, OK?
(Glee is still sitting unwatched on the Tivo. Maybe we'll just watch it as a double-feature next week.)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 1
I finally took the suggestions of my husband, several friends, and Netflix and started watching Season One. The special effects make me cringe, but otherwise it's enjoyable so far.
At the Movies
Back to the Future
In honor of its 25th anniversary, we pulled out my trilogy boxed set and had fun watching it on Friday. I caught Huey's Lewis' cameo as an audition judge for the first time ever (and I won't admit how many times I've seen the movie previously). I'm quick like that. Natalie really liked it, though the other kids weren't as impressed. Maybe they will like #3. (I really want to skip the sequel, it confuses me.)
Hairspray
Natalie and her friends wore out my DVD of this, so thank you to Oxygen channel for airing it this week. And I guess I should thank the kids who came to work on Friday and wore me out so much that all I could do was watch movies and Buffy re-runs with my kids that night. Sometimes we just need nights like that.
Out and About-
5th Grade All-City Choir concert
I actually picked my son out of the crowd!! (Still not sure where Natalie was for that 2 years ago and I really wanted to find her.) The songs were cute, seeing people from former and current schools was fun, and so was seeing friends from church. I had 111 kids to teach at work that day, a Rainbow meeting to set up for (and get someone to sub for me during), and still made it to the show before it started. I felt a lot like Super Woman on Tuesday. It was a good thing. (But even better that the rest of my week wasn't quite as packed as usual.)
Shrek: The Musical
When I heard about this one on Broadway, I was skeptical. I liked the movies, but did we really need a musical too? The answer is a resounding YES!!! And I only wish I had the money to take all of my kids to see it. (Natalie and Caroline were my lucky dates last night.) It was cute, clever, and very funny. I haven't bought anything on iTunes in months, but I will be downloading the Shrek soundtrack before today is through. I loved this show and (as always) had a great time going out to see it last night.
The Lost Olympian by Rick Riordan
With all the crazy evenings we have here, we are not making progress nearly as quickly as we did through the Percy Jackson series this summer. But, we still really like the book and we have been told by someone who has already read it that it is the best one ever. Hopefully we will read more next week than the three chapters we managed this week.
Watching
Big Bang Theory-
I always enjoy this show, but this one had an homage to Raiders of the Lost Ark, a Wil Wheaton cameo, AND a girls night. This has potential for this season's favorite episode, but the season is still young yet. And overall I will never love ANY episode moment as much as I loved the one when Sheldon hugged Penny.
Grey's Anatomy-
It's hard to do this without posting spoilers, so...favorite scenes for the episode would have to be Cristina and Callie's hair, Alex's face just before Jackson punches him, Lexie telling Jackson "don't be stupid." And Derek and Cristina talking house fixtures.
OU. v. Texas Tech
Now that's what I'm talking about, Sooners! Let's keep that up for the rest of the season, OK?
(Glee is still sitting unwatched on the Tivo. Maybe we'll just watch it as a double-feature next week.)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 1
I finally took the suggestions of my husband, several friends, and Netflix and started watching Season One. The special effects make me cringe, but otherwise it's enjoyable so far.
At the Movies
Back to the Future
In honor of its 25th anniversary, we pulled out my trilogy boxed set and had fun watching it on Friday. I caught Huey's Lewis' cameo as an audition judge for the first time ever (and I won't admit how many times I've seen the movie previously). I'm quick like that. Natalie really liked it, though the other kids weren't as impressed. Maybe they will like #3. (I really want to skip the sequel, it confuses me.)
Hairspray
Natalie and her friends wore out my DVD of this, so thank you to Oxygen channel for airing it this week. And I guess I should thank the kids who came to work on Friday and wore me out so much that all I could do was watch movies and Buffy re-runs with my kids that night. Sometimes we just need nights like that.
Out and About-
5th Grade All-City Choir concert
I actually picked my son out of the crowd!! (Still not sure where Natalie was for that 2 years ago and I really wanted to find her.) The songs were cute, seeing people from former and current schools was fun, and so was seeing friends from church. I had 111 kids to teach at work that day, a Rainbow meeting to set up for (and get someone to sub for me during), and still made it to the show before it started. I felt a lot like Super Woman on Tuesday. It was a good thing. (But even better that the rest of my week wasn't quite as packed as usual.)
Shrek: The Musical
When I heard about this one on Broadway, I was skeptical. I liked the movies, but did we really need a musical too? The answer is a resounding YES!!! And I only wish I had the money to take all of my kids to see it. (Natalie and Caroline were my lucky dates last night.) It was cute, clever, and very funny. I haven't bought anything on iTunes in months, but I will be downloading the Shrek soundtrack before today is through. I loved this show and (as always) had a great time going out to see it last night.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Week In Review
Reading:
The Lost Olympian by Rick Riordan-
So you knew that was going to happen, right? I can't offer too much commentary because I don't want to spoil it and because we just started reading it. But yes, it is (so far) every bit as addictive as the first series was and I am loving all the Latin. (SO much easier for me to pronounce than the Greek.)
Watching:
I'm going to make this one short today: Parenthood and 19 Kids and Counting, both of which seem more and more formulaic to me. Grey's Anatomy which I loved this week (Go April!!) and Private Practice which I usually never watch, but just blew me away this time. (Darn you Private Practice, I CANNOT get hooked on another show!) I also watched some episodes of Sister Wives leading up to the one-hour special. As it turns out, I only like my polygamy shows when they are sensationalized and broadcast on HBO. And only before they push the envelope too far for even me to stomach. Go ahead and judge me, I'm learning to be OK with that. :)
At the Movies:
Toy Story 3-
I kept getting told I would cry. And I did. But in a good way! The kids loved it too, but with far less crying. However, they don't know the history. I saw the first one on a date with their Dad before we got married. The sequel came when Natalie was not quite two and I was pregnant with Tristan. The concluded the series as all my babies are growing up too. It was tear-worthy and I am not embarrassed to say that I shed a fair few while watching it.
Out and About:
A Night Out at the Bourbon St. Cafe-
One of the neat things about returning to the world of IORG is that a lot of the people I grew up with are back too. While knew some of them well, I am now getting to know others of them who (for whatever reason) I was only acquainted with back then. One of them in particular has been a joy to get to know and she invited us to her birthday dinner in Bricktown. It seems like after spending the last 15-20 years or so establishing our lives, relationships, careers, etc...there are a lot of us getting together fairly often these days. I like it. I like seeing old friends more often, and reconnecting with those I lost touch with over the years. It's also nice to get reacquainted as adults and to find that we still have so much to talk about. Dave and I have always had Wendy, Chris, Lanie, and their respective spouses for various get-togethers, but I've found I don't mind expanding that group a little. I will admit that I didn't stay for any of the later evening adventures, but it was a lovely dinner and we all enjoyed it. Happy Birthday Kendra!
District 3 Weekend
And because I am back in IORG-land, I also got the pleasure of escorting four of the girls to Duncan and back on Saturday and Sunday (earlier today) for the official visit to District 3. Between Tristan waking up sick on Friday night (shortly after I got home from our lovely dinner), Dave having to find alternate care for the kids because of a Sunday mandatory work shift, and several detours as we made our way from Edmond to Duncan; I wasn't so sure I should have gone in the first place, and I really doubted that I was going to come home happy. But I did. I've heard the words of a Rainbow initiation so many times since I was 15 years old that I couldn't possibly count them, but they never fail to bring familiar comfort and to remind me of who I was and who I am and what my priorities are. Then, today's church service had many my favorite songs in it (How Great Thou Art, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Mighty to Save) and while it isn't my faith of choice, given my Okie background, I have to admit that sometimes hearing an old-time Southern Baptist preacher speak about Jesus is just good comfort food for the soul. (Parkview Baptist Church) It's not like I'm signing up for the newsletter or anything, but I did really enjoy the service today and I did come home from Duncan with a smile on my face and three happy girls in my car thanks in part to the words I heard this morning. I love these visits, but I'm glad I don't have to start them up again until February.
The Lost Olympian by Rick Riordan-
So you knew that was going to happen, right? I can't offer too much commentary because I don't want to spoil it and because we just started reading it. But yes, it is (so far) every bit as addictive as the first series was and I am loving all the Latin. (SO much easier for me to pronounce than the Greek.)
Watching:
I'm going to make this one short today: Parenthood and 19 Kids and Counting, both of which seem more and more formulaic to me. Grey's Anatomy which I loved this week (Go April!!) and Private Practice which I usually never watch, but just blew me away this time. (Darn you Private Practice, I CANNOT get hooked on another show!) I also watched some episodes of Sister Wives leading up to the one-hour special. As it turns out, I only like my polygamy shows when they are sensationalized and broadcast on HBO. And only before they push the envelope too far for even me to stomach. Go ahead and judge me, I'm learning to be OK with that. :)
At the Movies:
Toy Story 3-
I kept getting told I would cry. And I did. But in a good way! The kids loved it too, but with far less crying. However, they don't know the history. I saw the first one on a date with their Dad before we got married. The sequel came when Natalie was not quite two and I was pregnant with Tristan. The concluded the series as all my babies are growing up too. It was tear-worthy and I am not embarrassed to say that I shed a fair few while watching it.
Out and About:
A Night Out at the Bourbon St. Cafe-
One of the neat things about returning to the world of IORG is that a lot of the people I grew up with are back too. While knew some of them well, I am now getting to know others of them who (for whatever reason) I was only acquainted with back then. One of them in particular has been a joy to get to know and she invited us to her birthday dinner in Bricktown. It seems like after spending the last 15-20 years or so establishing our lives, relationships, careers, etc...there are a lot of us getting together fairly often these days. I like it. I like seeing old friends more often, and reconnecting with those I lost touch with over the years. It's also nice to get reacquainted as adults and to find that we still have so much to talk about. Dave and I have always had Wendy, Chris, Lanie, and their respective spouses for various get-togethers, but I've found I don't mind expanding that group a little. I will admit that I didn't stay for any of the later evening adventures, but it was a lovely dinner and we all enjoyed it. Happy Birthday Kendra!
District 3 Weekend
And because I am back in IORG-land, I also got the pleasure of escorting four of the girls to Duncan and back on Saturday and Sunday (earlier today) for the official visit to District 3. Between Tristan waking up sick on Friday night (shortly after I got home from our lovely dinner), Dave having to find alternate care for the kids because of a Sunday mandatory work shift, and several detours as we made our way from Edmond to Duncan; I wasn't so sure I should have gone in the first place, and I really doubted that I was going to come home happy. But I did. I've heard the words of a Rainbow initiation so many times since I was 15 years old that I couldn't possibly count them, but they never fail to bring familiar comfort and to remind me of who I was and who I am and what my priorities are. Then, today's church service had many my favorite songs in it (How Great Thou Art, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Mighty to Save) and while it isn't my faith of choice, given my Okie background, I have to admit that sometimes hearing an old-time Southern Baptist preacher speak about Jesus is just good comfort food for the soul. (Parkview Baptist Church) It's not like I'm signing up for the newsletter or anything, but I did really enjoy the service today and I did come home from Duncan with a smile on my face and three happy girls in my car thanks in part to the words I heard this morning. I love these visits, but I'm glad I don't have to start them up again until February.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
I'm Phoning It In Here
But only a little bit. This is one of my all-time favorite movie scenes and something that runs through my mind a lot as I help teach the newest generation of Norman girls:
It's been a year since I agreed to be Norman's Mother Advisor. When I came in, we had three girls who were mostly interested in staying. We had no money in the bank. And there had been talk of closing the assembly if they couldn't find a Mother Advisor and enough girls to make us a viable assembly. (Seven is a quorum.) In short, it was like being PTA President all over again. ;) In that year, we have initiated eight new girls who are very excited about everything. There is NO MORE talk of shutting us down. And while I haven't had the easiest time of it, I am very satisfied with the direction the assembly is going and excited to see what our future holds. We still have very little money in the bank, but find me a non-profit who does right now. All in all, I am very happy to be "home."
It's been a year since I agreed to be Norman's Mother Advisor. When I came in, we had three girls who were mostly interested in staying. We had no money in the bank. And there had been talk of closing the assembly if they couldn't find a Mother Advisor and enough girls to make us a viable assembly. (Seven is a quorum.) In short, it was like being PTA President all over again. ;) In that year, we have initiated eight new girls who are very excited about everything. There is NO MORE talk of shutting us down. And while I haven't had the easiest time of it, I am very satisfied with the direction the assembly is going and excited to see what our future holds. We still have very little money in the bank, but find me a non-profit who does right now. All in all, I am very happy to be "home."
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sunday Inspiration
This has been a long week. I got home Tuesday afternoon and have been playing catch-up ever since. I'd love to say I'm on top of things now, but it wouldn't be true. I hadn't planned on running any commentary on the 9th anniversary of 9/11, but I've spent most of today watching The Lord of the Rings trilogy on TNT and heard my precious Sean, uh I mean Sam of course, say something that resonated. Not only with this weekend's sad anniversary, but with what's going on in my own life, and I had to share it here:
Have a great week, everyone! Because there IS still good in the world. I promise.
Have a great week, everyone! Because there IS still good in the world. I promise.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Week In Review
*I'm aware that I get the fewest comments on these and I'm sure if I put out a readers' survey, people would suggest these posts be the ones I don't write anymore. BUT, I'm writing these more for me to have a record of things my family and I did while the kids were growing up, so basically you all are stuck with them.*
Reading
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
We will finish this later tonight! I have to say that it's not my favorite book, but reading it through aloud to the kids (I always read them to myself first) has given me more appreciation for it. Book 5 is my favorite and we will start it next week. It's hard to write these reviews without giving away spoilers, but some of the things I have appreciated about this book (and its predecessors) have been the renewed interest my kids have in US geography, Greek mythology, and creative writing/play. Caroline has been writing Greek 'myths' all summer and acting out parts of the book with Elisa (and Tristan when she can rope him into it). And I love events in the book taking place in tourist spots I have visited with the kids: the St. Louis Arch, Arizona, Florida, etc...because the kids really relate to it. All in all, these books will represent the summer of 2010 to my kids and I'm sorry to see them coming to an end.
Watching-
19 Kids and Counting-
Do you think Jim Bob and Michelle took comfort in knowing that not only would their oldest set of twins be together in Southeast Asia, but that a camera crew would be there too? I'm glad though, I've really enjoyed seeing their trip. Also, I'm glad Baby Josie is almost ready to go home. And yes, it is amusing watching Jim Bob on his own with most of the kids, BUT he isn't nearly as inept as the commercial spoilers make him out to be and it irritates me a bit. Kind of like how their cover on People magazine read "WE ARE READY FOR MORE" (babies), but in their interview all they said was 'We aren't going to prevent more, that's not our decision.' (A viewpoint I respect, but lack the necessary faith to follow through with myself. I'm more of a "Let's quit while I still have bladder control" kind of gal. Anyway...) I also wonder why so many visits to the Bates? Could there be some kind of courtship involved? Just curious...
The West Wing, Season 6
I realize that one of the very telling hints as to how odd I am would have to be my love for these two very divergent TV series, but it's just part of the fun of being me. My husband may not love this show, but he bought all 7 seasons for me as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago. I flew through the first 5 seasons, then I got busy with other things and stopped watching them. It wasn't because I didn't love the show, I do! It's just a busy thing to have 5 kids and a job. A few weeks ago, I happened across the show on the Bravo channel and realized I was watching one of the final episodes. That reminded me that I still had two unwatched (and commercial-free) DVD boxed sets in my possession. I finished Season 6 on Saturday. Now that school has started and I start working tomorrow, who knows how long it will take to see Season 7? But I'm determined to see it through by Christmas. I think the writing, direction, and acting on this show made it the highest quality TV series I will see in my lifetime. And I wish the three branches of government who actually make our decisions in Washington DC were as principled as the characters on this show.
At the Movies
Anne of Avonlea
First, these were my favorite books. Then, they were my favorite miniseries on PBS and later The Disney Channel. They were loaned to me by a friend so that Natalie could experience them too. We watched Anne of Green Gables immediately, then we got distracted and busy. (As mentioned above.) No one was more horrified than me to realize that the DVD's were still in my possession when my friend sent out a FB message to several of us looking for them. Fortunately, she lives close to where I work, so we agreed to meet there while I set up my office last week so I could give them to her. (Did you see that? I have an office.) Natalie wanted to watch the rest of them before we gave them back, so we had a huge marathon on Tuesday. I loved Anne of Avonlea (aka Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel), but I could only handle the third one through Anne and Gil's wedding. I read and re-read Rilla of Ingleside about 100 times during my 8th grade year and it was Anne's sons who went to war, NOT Gilbert. I just couldn't wrap my mind around it, though it was nice to see how many of the original actors they gathered for the final movie. It shows on BYU TV from time to time, so I may still see it eventually.
Out and About
Back to School-
After all the supply and clothes shopping, we are now back into our school routine. I used to resent it. This year, it has returned a schedule and some normalcy to our lives-and this from a Mom who used to be desperate to home school. So far, so good...And also, spending $20 on backpacks with a lifetime guarantee seems to have been a better use of my money than buying one for $12 each year before school starts.
Back to Work
I start tomorrow, but taught for a couple of days last week and set up my desk and put the Exersaucer and a Pack n Play in my office for Alexis on the days she will be at work with me. I've never been so happy, so nervous, and so excited all at once! The timing and the circumstances worked out perfectly. I'm not sure how much I will blog in specific about my job, but know that it I am very happy with the situation. Especially the fact that "you can bring the baby to work on days you don't have kids to teach or meetings to attend."
Friday Night at Grandma's
Usually, I take the kids. They eat pizza, play computer games, and visit with their great-grandmother. This time, after they went home, Grandma, my uncle, and I talked for half the night about relatives my kids never knew and that even my younger sisters barely remember. I know I am lucky to have my grandmother and both of my paternal grandparents with me at my age. Not even my kids can say that. And I am very grateful for evenings like this. Also, I have one crazy, wonderful, loving family.
And that's all for this week. With a new job starting tomorrow, a Meatloaf concert on Tuesday, and four kids experiencing their first full week of school...who knows what will happen in the week to come!
Reading
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
We will finish this later tonight! I have to say that it's not my favorite book, but reading it through aloud to the kids (I always read them to myself first) has given me more appreciation for it. Book 5 is my favorite and we will start it next week. It's hard to write these reviews without giving away spoilers, but some of the things I have appreciated about this book (and its predecessors) have been the renewed interest my kids have in US geography, Greek mythology, and creative writing/play. Caroline has been writing Greek 'myths' all summer and acting out parts of the book with Elisa (and Tristan when she can rope him into it). And I love events in the book taking place in tourist spots I have visited with the kids: the St. Louis Arch, Arizona, Florida, etc...because the kids really relate to it. All in all, these books will represent the summer of 2010 to my kids and I'm sorry to see them coming to an end.
Watching-
19 Kids and Counting-
Do you think Jim Bob and Michelle took comfort in knowing that not only would their oldest set of twins be together in Southeast Asia, but that a camera crew would be there too? I'm glad though, I've really enjoyed seeing their trip. Also, I'm glad Baby Josie is almost ready to go home. And yes, it is amusing watching Jim Bob on his own with most of the kids, BUT he isn't nearly as inept as the commercial spoilers make him out to be and it irritates me a bit. Kind of like how their cover on People magazine read "WE ARE READY FOR MORE" (babies), but in their interview all they said was 'We aren't going to prevent more, that's not our decision.' (A viewpoint I respect, but lack the necessary faith to follow through with myself. I'm more of a "Let's quit while I still have bladder control" kind of gal. Anyway...) I also wonder why so many visits to the Bates? Could there be some kind of courtship involved? Just curious...
The West Wing, Season 6
I realize that one of the very telling hints as to how odd I am would have to be my love for these two very divergent TV series, but it's just part of the fun of being me. My husband may not love this show, but he bought all 7 seasons for me as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago. I flew through the first 5 seasons, then I got busy with other things and stopped watching them. It wasn't because I didn't love the show, I do! It's just a busy thing to have 5 kids and a job. A few weeks ago, I happened across the show on the Bravo channel and realized I was watching one of the final episodes. That reminded me that I still had two unwatched (and commercial-free) DVD boxed sets in my possession. I finished Season 6 on Saturday. Now that school has started and I start working tomorrow, who knows how long it will take to see Season 7? But I'm determined to see it through by Christmas. I think the writing, direction, and acting on this show made it the highest quality TV series I will see in my lifetime. And I wish the three branches of government who actually make our decisions in Washington DC were as principled as the characters on this show.
At the Movies
Anne of Avonlea
First, these were my favorite books. Then, they were my favorite miniseries on PBS and later The Disney Channel. They were loaned to me by a friend so that Natalie could experience them too. We watched Anne of Green Gables immediately, then we got distracted and busy. (As mentioned above.) No one was more horrified than me to realize that the DVD's were still in my possession when my friend sent out a FB message to several of us looking for them. Fortunately, she lives close to where I work, so we agreed to meet there while I set up my office last week so I could give them to her. (Did you see that? I have an office.) Natalie wanted to watch the rest of them before we gave them back, so we had a huge marathon on Tuesday. I loved Anne of Avonlea (aka Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel), but I could only handle the third one through Anne and Gil's wedding. I read and re-read Rilla of Ingleside about 100 times during my 8th grade year and it was Anne's sons who went to war, NOT Gilbert. I just couldn't wrap my mind around it, though it was nice to see how many of the original actors they gathered for the final movie. It shows on BYU TV from time to time, so I may still see it eventually.
Out and About
Back to School-
After all the supply and clothes shopping, we are now back into our school routine. I used to resent it. This year, it has returned a schedule and some normalcy to our lives-and this from a Mom who used to be desperate to home school. So far, so good...And also, spending $20 on backpacks with a lifetime guarantee seems to have been a better use of my money than buying one for $12 each year before school starts.
Back to Work
I start tomorrow, but taught for a couple of days last week and set up my desk and put the Exersaucer and a Pack n Play in my office for Alexis on the days she will be at work with me. I've never been so happy, so nervous, and so excited all at once! The timing and the circumstances worked out perfectly. I'm not sure how much I will blog in specific about my job, but know that it I am very happy with the situation. Especially the fact that "you can bring the baby to work on days you don't have kids to teach or meetings to attend."
Friday Night at Grandma's
Usually, I take the kids. They eat pizza, play computer games, and visit with their great-grandmother. This time, after they went home, Grandma, my uncle, and I talked for half the night about relatives my kids never knew and that even my younger sisters barely remember. I know I am lucky to have my grandmother and both of my paternal grandparents with me at my age. Not even my kids can say that. And I am very grateful for evenings like this. Also, I have one crazy, wonderful, loving family.
And that's all for this week. With a new job starting tomorrow, a Meatloaf concert on Tuesday, and four kids experiencing their first full week of school...who knows what will happen in the week to come!
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