The Movie of Your Life

My cousin Carie wrote on her blog about how she had been told she resembles a celebrity (Kate Hudson, if you were wondering), and it got me thinking about the game my friends and I used to play-- "If there was a movie of your life, who would play you?" (ok, that name is way too long for a game). Here is what we have come up with over the years:

Me, played by Katie Holmes (Except probably Pre-Tom Cruise: less stylish,skinny,& polished)

Lance played by Wentworth Miller

My best friend Jen played by Gina Gershon

My best friend Jamie played by Kyra Sedgwick

There are obviously others who still need to be cast. So, who would play you? Let me know!

The Evolution of Cake Eating

Zoie's table manners are slowly progressing...

2006

2007

2008

My 3 Year-Old

Zoie is 3 today! We had a Shrek party for her on Saturday with her friends and a small family party last night.

Sometimes its hard to believe our Zo-Zo is already 3 years old. (Sometimes it seems like she should be heading out for college already). Here is a short description of Zoie at the age of 3-- the good and the less good:

Loves books and puzzles
Fascinated with animals
Obsessed with Shrek and Harry Potter
Laughs a lot
Very sensitive
Extremely emotional
Gives hugs and kisses freely (which is fine for now...)
Talks constantly
Makes friends easily
Daddy's Girl
Hates being "messy" and always has napkins with her

She makes me laugh every day and helps me to work on my patience daily. She is an amazing sister and daughter. She fills our home with excitement and energy.
Happy Birthday Zoie!

Carrying the Banner

(I do realize that by publishing this post, I am opening myself up to outright mockery)


I checked out Newsies from the library yesterday. I have no idea why I do not own this fantastic piece of cinematic history. In 8th grade or so, I watched Newsies every day. Jen, Jamie and I knew it by heart-- every word, every dance move, each and every background character.

Sometimes when you watch one of your favorite childhood movies, you realize how silly and outdated and cheesy it is (The Cutting Edge and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun-- which, lets face it, I still love). But not Newsies! It is still clever and powerful and I still have a crush on Jack Kelly and Spot Conlin.

As I watched, I actually teared up a little at how much I absolutely love this movie. I am sure much of it is nostalgia- I had to call my two best friends and reminisce on our "Newsies Days".

If you haven't seen it, crawl out from beneath the rock you have been hiding under. If you are like me and have allowed Newsies to be relegated to a distant memory, swallow your pride and rent or buy it! You will not be disappointed.

One Small Step for Tobin...

Tobin took his first step! It was during Sunday School-- I was so proud that I could hardly wait until the lesson was over to brag to my friends at church. He has taken a few more since then. I am torn between not wanting my nine month old to be actively walking around and getting in even more trouble and being excited for his accomplishment.

Kira Night

"...Marriage can be more an exultant ecstasy than the human mind can conceive."
Spencer W. Kimball

Going on dates with Lance is just awesome. We always have so much fun together-- like we're 20 years old again. Last night was declared "Kira Night" and was therefore, amazing.

• Consumed mass quantities of buffalo wings and Diet Coke (2 of my basic food groups since starting a low-carb diet last month)

• Saw 27 Dresses-- the first "chick flick" we have seen together in theaters since The Wedding Planner (circa 2001)

• More Diet Coke --I told Lance that I have never seen anything sexier than my handsome husband striding purposefully toward me in a gas station parking lot with an enormous Diet Coke in his hands-- this is the stuff of romance novels

• Pajamas and Office reruns

I realize it doesn't sound all that out of the ordinary, but isn't that the point? Some of my happiest memories involve pizza joints, nights on the couch in pjs, impromptu drink stops at 7-11... and Lance.

Diet Coke Update

As a reminder: I have promised Lance that I will drink no more than one 24-pack of Diet Coke a month (and when we go out to eat, I can order a D.C.). This is a drastic reduction in my consumption of what I consider to be the elixir of life. I have done ok. I no longer frequent the drive-through Beverage Barn for my daily fix. I am no longer a regular at the 7-11 on the corner-- they may even forget my name soon.

Yesterday, I bought a table cloth and centerpiece for my dining room table. Late last night, I spilled a can of Diet Coke all over it. I know I haven't been cured of my irrational feelings for this delicious drink because as my brand new table cloth was splashed with BEAUTIFUL carmel brown drops that ran over the top and down the sides, all I could think was "Not my Diet Coke! MUST...SAVE...DIET...COKE!" I triumphantly salvaged half the can. Lance watched the whole ordeal in disgust and walked away shaking his head.

Baby steps.

CHAOS!

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. I am not usually one to claim that I'm too busy-- but this past week has gone a little crazy.

Some of our best friends had an emergency and we were able to take their two kids off their hands for a few days. Caleb is nearly 3-- he and Zoie were born just 2 days apart and have always been best friends. They have grown up together these past 3 years and will have a joint birthday party at the end of this month. Here are some classic "K-Bub and Zo Zo" pics:

Brooke is 18 months old and is one tough little lady. She and Tobin play well together. Despite being nine months younger, Tobin is roughly the same size as Brooke.

The kids were so good and kept themselves entertained. It was fun to have a house full of kids for a few days. That is, fun in a novel way-- not in an "I'm going to have more kids soon" way.

We are also puppy-sitting for my sister. Last week she bought a little Zuchon (Shitzu/ Bichon) before she left for Europe. Harry is a funny, well-behaved (for a puppy) dog. He has so much energy and Bluto is only too happy to have a more willing playmate than grumpy old George.

So this week, we have had 3 toddlers (2 with the croup and Zoie has bronchitis), a baby who puts EVERYTHING in his mouth, and 3 crazy dogs. I've been running the show solo since Lance has been working side jobs until the late hours every night.

This would all have been fine (and it was), but my daughter has decided to let her inner 3 year-old out for the rest of us to enjoy. (Temper tantrums, stubborness, whining, picking on the dogs, refusing to eat, etc...).

2008 is going to be a blast! I'm always open to "mom" advice!

Side note: I traded my friend for the occasion-- My SUV for her Minivan (Beige Honda Odyssey-- the ULTIMATE MORMON MOM-MOBILE!) I defiantly listened to rap and hip-hop while driving (though I was fighting the temptation to tune into the Delilah Radio Show or a put in a Janice Kapp Perry cd!)

Today At The Mall

These things are so unflattering. But Zoie ran into the booth and I am a sucker.

No Shame Here

"Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?"
1 Corinthians 11:14

This month, I have known Lance for eight years. In all that time, I have never seen him with hair. Several weeks ago, I asked him to grow his hair out just so I could see what it looked like. Like the amazing husband he is, he obliged. He kept telling me he felt "mangy" and I even caught him brushing the hair out of his eyes (yeah-- all 1/4 inches).

At the same time, I have been asking Lance when he thought we should give Tobin his first haircut. His dark hair was getting poofy on the sides-- mudflaps. We started calling him "Herb", after Herb Brooks-- the head coach played by Kurt Russel in the hockey movie, 'Miracle'.

Yesterday, Lance finally consented to trim up Tobin's hair. He used his clippers, but forgot to change the setting. I am sure I do not need to tell you what ensued.

To make a short story even shorter-- we will leave it at this: All males in our home are hairless at this time.

Before and After

Happy 2008!

Good friends-- pajamas-- food-- drink-- games. So fun.


Tobin woke up at 11:58-- just in time to get smooched and drink some bubbly.