Saturday, August 30, 2008

Midnight Sun postponed...

Oh, can it be true? Passing time while I decide what to do with my sleeping children...I came across a post that there's been a leak. Twilight is coming to theatres 3 weeks early, but Midnight Sun is being postponed indefinately. Scowl!! But the good news is, you can whet your appetite for Edward by reading a partial draft on Stephenie Meyer's website. Happy reading...
www.stepheniemeyer.com

Friday, August 29, 2008

sleeping under the stars...

Years and years (and years) ago, my family used to live in Wyoming. My parents were both teachers in a small town called Burlington (somewhere slightly south east of Cody--east of Yellowstone Park). One of the perks of teaching would be the summers off. My parents took advantage of this and we would spend the summers in Driggs, Idaho--where my dad grew up. (We didn't make Driggs a permanant home until I finished Kindergarten.) Driggs used to be primarily an agricultural area. I remember as a child, sleeping out under the stars. I remember sleeping on a "big bed" (it was probably a full size...) on the front porch, or just laying down blankets on the front yard and going to sleep. I remember the rhythmic sound of the sprinkler systems on the fields around our house. I don't remember noticing the dew point until I got older. I just remember enjoying the great outdoors! I remember when 'city cousins' would come spend a few weeks with us in the summer and we'd spend all day and all night outside. And we'd poke fun that our cousins were scared to sleep outside.
Today, after dinner, I went out and laid down on the trampoline in the back yard. I was listening to the cars drive by, and the spray of the fountain across the street, and the sound of kids playing in the cul-de-sac, and the sound of someone's tv (probably mine)...and that's when I realized I'm raising 'city cousins'! I don't know what came over me, but I got this hairbrained idea to sleep outside with the kids on the trampoline. It's a great way to teach them about the dew point! It's also an excellent way to stay awake all night! And it reminds me of my mountain home so dear. So we hauled out the sleeping bags and pillows and laid 'em out on the tramp. Mick and Josh were really excited. Andrew...well, he's Andrew. He just rolled around like it was normal. I got William situated in his bed, grabbed my pillow and blanket and headed out. (Keep in mind that I'm not a small person! My children are not big people! ) I lasted almost 2 hours before I'd had enough. Of course, by now the kids are all asleep. Do I wake them? Do I let them sleep outside, alone? It's barely midnight and I'm ready to go to sleep but what do I do with the kids? I guess I'll let you know in the morning what I chose. For now, they're sleeping peacefully in the cool moist air, lulled by the songs of the crickets and cicadas, and I have free time on the computer!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Careful: He Bites!

 

William is well on his way to become a full-fledged meat-eater.
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Sunday, August 17, 2008

200

200?! I don't even pretend to think any of you will read all 200 facts here, but copy and paste it into your own blogs and we'll see how many things we all share in common. I think it's a fun way to get to know you--or me.

Have you ever...(if it is bold I have)


1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given to a charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Held a lamb
25. Gone skinny dipping
26. Taken an ice cold bath
27. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
28. Seen a total eclipse
29. Ridden a roller coaster
30. Hit a home run
31. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
32. Adopted an accent for fun
33. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
34. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
35. Loved your job 90% of the time
36. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
37. Watched wild whales
38. Gone rock climbing
39. Gone on a walk on the beach
40. Gone sky diving
41. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
42. Bench-pressed your own weight
43. Milked a cow
44. Alphabetized your personal files(not that they are now...)
45. Worn a superhero costume
46. Sung karaoke
47. Lounged around in bed all day
48. Gone scuba diving
49. Kissed in the rain
50. Played in the mud
51. Gone to a drive-in theater
52. Done something you should regret
53. Visited the Great Wall of China
54. Started a business
55. Been in a movie
56. Gone without food for 3 days
57. Made cookies from scratch
58. Won first prize in a costume contest
59. Got flowers for no reason
60. Spoken more than one language fluently
61. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
62. Bounced a check
63. Read and understood your credit report
64. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
65. Called or written your Congress person
66. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
67. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
68. Helped an animal give birth
69. Been fired or laid off from a job
70. Won money
71. Broken a bone
72. Ridden a motorcycle
73. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
74. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
75. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
77. Had your picture in the newspaper
78. Read the Bible cover to cover
79. Changed some one's mind about something you care deeply about
80. Gone back to school
81. Changed your name
82. Eaten fried green tomatoes
83. Read The Iliad
84. Taught yourself an art from scratch
85. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
86. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
87. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
88. Been elected to public office
89. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
90. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
91. Dyed your hair
92. Rocked a baby to sleep
93. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
94. Raked your carpet
95. Worn a mood ring
96. Ridden a horse
97. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
98. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
99. Buried a child
100. Gone to a Broadway play
101. Been inside the pyramids
102. Shot a basketball into a basket
103. Danced at a disco
104. Played in a band
105. Shot a bird
106. Gone to an arboretum
107. Tutored someone
108. Ridden a train
109. Brought an old fad back into style
110. Eaten caviar
111. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn't need
112. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
113. Published a book
114. Pieced a quilt
115. Lived in a historic place
116. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
117. Asked for a raise
118. Made a hole-in-one mini golfing
119. Gone deep sea fishing
120. Gone roller skating
121. Run a marathon
122. Learned to surf
123. Invented something
124. Flown first class
125. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury hotel
126. Sang a solo
127. Gone spelunking
128. Learned how to take a compliment
129. Written a love-story
130. Seen Michelangelo's David
131. Had your portrait painted
132. Written a fan letter
133. Spent the night in something haunted
134. Ran away
135. Learned to juggle
136. Been a boss
137. Sat on a jury
138. Lied about your weight
139. Gone on a diet
140. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
141. Written a poem
142. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
143. Gotten food poisoning
144. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
145. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
146. Gone to the opera
147. Gotten a letter from someone famous
148. Worn knickers
149. Ridden in a limousine
150. Attended the Olympics
151. Can hula or waltz
152. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
153. Been stuck in an elevator
154. Had a revelatory dream
155. Thought you might crash in an airplane
156. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
157. Saved someone's life
158. Eaten raw whale
159. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
160. Laughed till your side hurt
161. Straddled the equator
162. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
163. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
164. Sent a message in a bottle
165. Spent the night in a hostel
166. Been a cashier
167. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
168. Joined a union
169. Donated blood
170. Built a campfire
171. Kept a blog
172. Had hives
173. Worn custom made shoes or boots
174. Made a PowerPoint Presentation
175. Taken a Hunter's Safety Course
176. Served at a soup kitchen
177. Conquered the Rubik's cube
178. Known CPR
179. Gone fishing
180. Found a long lost friend
181. Voted for a contestant on American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance
182. Successfully convinced someone you were of a different nationality
183. Received a promotion
184. Movie-hopped (Gone to two movies in a theater and only paying for the first movie)
185. Planned a surprise party for someone
186. Beaten all levels of a video game
187. Driven more than 2,500 miles on a cross-country trip
188. Cried yourself to sleep
189. Stayed awake for more than 24 hours
190. Crossed a national border by car
191. Been to an island
192. Been completely out of debt (student loans, house, and all)
193. Read a book from the Twilight series
194. Traveled to Italy
195. Given birth
196. Found a bra that fits perfectly
197. Learned to meditate
198. Owned your dream car
199. Learned to love eating raw vegetables
200. Seen all 50 state

Monday, August 11, 2008

...and here's what happening in our neck of the woods

I remember hearing Willard Scott say that every morning growing up, as my dad watched the Today show. So, here's what new for us.
William is 6 months old today. In the last month, he's gained two more teeth (on the top, but not directly in front. Rather, they are the two on either side. So for all you Twilight fans, I'm growing my own little vampire. I'm sure those front teeth are not far behind!) He sits up big and tall. He can roll over (front to back, back to front). And in fact, he can sit up from his belly. (which means, when he wakes up in his crib, he sits up and won't go back to sleep!!!!) He's crawling all over the place and eating solid foods. His preference seems to go toward sweet potatoes or carrots over any fruit. And he LOVES graham crackers. His body seems to be slimming or maybe he's just getting taller. I don't think I should be seeing that trend until he's walking, but maybe I'm just imagining it too. We will visit the doctor next week for his 6 month check up. I've also noticed him make his preference known (like if I take away a toy that he's enjoying--he'll squeal or scream till he gets it back) and he's just started making the funniest sounds from the back of his throat or nose. He has become such an important part of our lives, I can't imagine life without him!

Friday, August 1, 2008

...And I remember when...

Heres what you do:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

towels...laughter...yeah, you better read it...

Here's a 'moment' for you to laugh at. I sent Joshua (who is 7 yrs old) up to get all the dirty towels in the main bathroom and bring them to the laundry room. (with 4 boys, they pile up) He came back with a bathmat and 2 washclothes. I said (a little frustrated) Josh, go get ALL the TOWELS and bring them downstairs. I'm waiting to wash them. He disappeared and about 5 minutes later he reappeared with a laundry basket full of towels and a handfull of washcloths--still folded! I couldn't help but laugh as I took that laundry basket back to the bathroom to put away ALL the towels, then gather the dirty ones to take them to the washer. Maybe you won't laugh at that as much as I did, but I needed that laugh today!