Friday, August 19, 2011
Lovin' the Library
Our new library on Windmill is amazing - I hope that Claire gets to the point where she will just sit quietly and read, instead of running around and grabbing random books to bring back to me. A few more years, maybe. We usually leave with at least 15 books.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Summer Book Club
When I was a kid I would read outside by the pool for most of my summer, and then bring my book inside for dinner. I guess that was rude, but I just had to keep reading. I love having my Kindle in my purse at all times because anytime I have to wait for even just a few minutes, I can sneak in some reading. Line at the ATM - Kindle! Especially long red light - Kindle! Lunch break in my car - you get the idea.
Here are some books I have read of late that I have really enjoyed:
New York: The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd - a bazillion pages long but you stay interested in this book that follows several fictional families through the history of New York. It goes from the settlement of the area by the Dutch and their relationship with the Native Americans, all the way to 9-11 and beyond.
The Kitchen House, by Kathleen Grissom - another historical fiction novel about the relationships between the Big House (plantation master) and the Kitchen House, where the household slaves cooked and lived.
Bossy Pants, by Tina Fey - way too many swear words, who knew Tina was such a potty mouth? But if you like 30 Rock you will like her quick wit as she tries to explain how she ended up with a super successful career. I don't think I got any real career advice out of it, but I did laugh.
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, by Helen Simonson - a story set in England about an older gentleman reinventing his life after his wife dies. It was a good book and not just for an older audience - better than I expected.
Here are some books I have read of late that I have really enjoyed:
New York: The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd - a bazillion pages long but you stay interested in this book that follows several fictional families through the history of New York. It goes from the settlement of the area by the Dutch and their relationship with the Native Americans, all the way to 9-11 and beyond.
The Kitchen House, by Kathleen Grissom - another historical fiction novel about the relationships between the Big House (plantation master) and the Kitchen House, where the household slaves cooked and lived.
Bossy Pants, by Tina Fey - way too many swear words, who knew Tina was such a potty mouth? But if you like 30 Rock you will like her quick wit as she tries to explain how she ended up with a super successful career. I don't think I got any real career advice out of it, but I did laugh.
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, by Helen Simonson - a story set in England about an older gentleman reinventing his life after his wife dies. It was a good book and not just for an older audience - better than I expected.
Monday, August 15, 2011
This Girl....
... cracks me up! Here are some of her latest gems:
"Mom, pickles have these tiny, weeny seeds and if you put the pickle seed into the ground it grows a pickle tree!"
We were looking at Miles' cute little legs and I said can you believe this guy used to be in my stomach (meaning, he has grown a lot), and Claire said, "Did you swallow him Mom?"
"Can we get a new house with a back door?" i.e. with a backyard. Our house now has zero lot lines - a very small amount of space around our home is actually ours. I hear ya, Claire.
I found our food scale up in Miles' room and asked Claire what it was doing up there. She said, "It is for my presentation. I have a work job to do." I guess I have been talking about work lately...
Dressing up at MeMa's with a little girl-sized wedding dress... I am sooo not ready for that! But Claire was so happy - she loved wearing it!
"Mom, pickles have these tiny, weeny seeds and if you put the pickle seed into the ground it grows a pickle tree!"
We were looking at Miles' cute little legs and I said can you believe this guy used to be in my stomach (meaning, he has grown a lot), and Claire said, "Did you swallow him Mom?"
"Can we get a new house with a back door?" i.e. with a backyard. Our house now has zero lot lines - a very small amount of space around our home is actually ours. I hear ya, Claire.
I found our food scale up in Miles' room and asked Claire what it was doing up there. She said, "It is for my presentation. I have a work job to do." I guess I have been talking about work lately...
Dressing up at MeMa's with a little girl-sized wedding dress... I am sooo not ready for that! But Claire was so happy - she loved wearing it!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Miles Man Turns 2!
Miles was in Toy Story heaven this year for his birthday - he got so excited with his new hat and holster, plus the "action figures" (not dolls, says Matt) that he received. Something I never noticed was that Woody doesn't have a gun in the movies - Papa Hiller had to remedy that, and made Miles one out of wood with his name carved into it.
It is so fun to have this boy in our family - he gives the best hugs and insists on hugging and kissing each of us before he takes a nap or goes to sleep at night. He smiles a lot but his laughs are rare. He seems to have no fear when it comes to climbing, running, jumping and wrestling. Miles jumps off of everything he can climb - we are sure to end up in the ER again someday.
Miles can say a lot of words now, but still communicates with grunts and sounds with his mouth closed. I guess we can understand what most of his sounds mean, because we can answer him. Why should he talk? :)
He wears size 2T shirts and 18 month pants, but can even fit into some 12 month shorts - he is all torso. He likes to play in the water, eat lollipops and popsicles, and make forts out of the couch cushions. He loves animals, especially dogs. His favorite movies are Toy Story 1, 2, and 3 (of course), Mary Poppins and Winnie the Pooh. We call him Meloshe or Manzer more than his real name, and he also answers to Stinky. And we think he's getting cuter by the month, if that's possible. Happy Birthday Miles!
It is so fun to have this boy in our family - he gives the best hugs and insists on hugging and kissing each of us before he takes a nap or goes to sleep at night. He smiles a lot but his laughs are rare. He seems to have no fear when it comes to climbing, running, jumping and wrestling. Miles jumps off of everything he can climb - we are sure to end up in the ER again someday.
Miles can say a lot of words now, but still communicates with grunts and sounds with his mouth closed. I guess we can understand what most of his sounds mean, because we can answer him. Why should he talk? :)
He wears size 2T shirts and 18 month pants, but can even fit into some 12 month shorts - he is all torso. He likes to play in the water, eat lollipops and popsicles, and make forts out of the couch cushions. He loves animals, especially dogs. His favorite movies are Toy Story 1, 2, and 3 (of course), Mary Poppins and Winnie the Pooh. We call him Meloshe or Manzer more than his real name, and he also answers to Stinky. And we think he's getting cuter by the month, if that's possible. Happy Birthday Miles!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Big Sur
Big Sur is a beautiful forest of redwoods - impressive for adults, not so much for soon to be four and two year olds. We thought Claire would just love it, but at one point she said, "Is THIS why we came here?" gesturing to the massive trees above her. Yes, Claire, it is. And you will appreciate it someday.
Matt and I made a stop here on our honeymoon as well, but on this trip, one of the main trails had been closed due to a fire. We missed out on some of the larger trees and a waterall. Maybe even Claire would have been impressed with a waterfall... :)
Matt and I made a stop here on our honeymoon as well, but on this trip, one of the main trails had been closed due to a fire. We missed out on some of the larger trees and a waterall. Maybe even Claire would have been impressed with a waterfall... :)
Monterey Scottish Festival
Sacramento Firefighters Pipes and Drums took second place - they were robbed! We had great weather - in the low 60s. The 45 degree difference between there and Vegas was fabulous! The weather deceived me though, and I got sunburned. All during our trip I kept reminding Claire to look at all the beautiful Cypress trees, rocky beaches and the animals. We also made sure to breathe in deeply to get all that fresh air... Claire took a big breath in and started choking. :)
Cousins
The Mass Band - all the bagpipe groups joined together, very impressive and very loud!
Uncle Kenny and Miles
Cousins
The Mass Band - all the bagpipe groups joined together, very impressive and very loud!
Uncle Kenny and Miles
Monterey, CA Trip
We took a trip to Monterey last weekend - the same place we went on our honeymoon, only this time with kiddos to visit the Johnsons. My dad was competing at the Monterey Scottish Festival in a bagpipe showdown. We were only there from Friday afternoon to Sunday at noon, but we made sure to hit the hot spots - Fisherman's Wharf, Asilomar, the Festival, and Big Sur. I took a ton of pictures, so I will break it up into a few posts.
It was so good to see my family, and to have Claire and Miles get to spend time with them. I think I take so many pictures so they will have clearer memories of these trips. The only one missing was Becky, but we will see her in September.
Me and Mom on the Wharf, Looking at Sea Otters
Uncle Matty, home from BYU-Idaho, and Miles at Fisherman's Wharf
Miles Man
Exploring the Tide Pools at Asilomar
The City Girl - Claire did not like the wildlife
Megan and Erick - the birthday boy turned 30!
Megan came prepared - nets, buckets, bubbles and sand toys
I am blinking, as usual...but it was our only family pic at the beach
It was so good to see my family, and to have Claire and Miles get to spend time with them. I think I take so many pictures so they will have clearer memories of these trips. The only one missing was Becky, but we will see her in September.
Me and Mom on the Wharf, Looking at Sea Otters
Uncle Matty, home from BYU-Idaho, and Miles at Fisherman's Wharf
Miles Man
Exploring the Tide Pools at Asilomar
The City Girl - Claire did not like the wildlife
Megan and Erick - the birthday boy turned 30!
Megan came prepared - nets, buckets, bubbles and sand toys
I am blinking, as usual...but it was our only family pic at the beach
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