Winter Beach Days

SoCal winter beaches can be a lot like NorCal summer beaches, therefore I love them just as well. Here we are at Crystal Cove in SoCal wintery weather.

Kate has my beach personality:

Be afraid of everything...

...and run from giant waves.

J/K. They were actually very small.

"I've seen bigger waves in a toilet, bro."

*This North Shore quote was brought to you by Adam

Zach has his dad's beach personality:

Be afraid of nothing.

Finally, Katelyn got a little adventurous.

Daddy had to come rescue her.

As we were leaving, the sun came out.

It was a nice photo op.

Happy Birthday Mom!

We wish you were here!!

!!!

Thanks mom!!

The Night Before Christmas

Decorating Christmas Trees:

Mine

Katelyn's

(cloudy with a chance of candy!)

Grandpa's Christmas Message

Merry Christmas Eve!

I Finished!!

This cross-stitch just about killed me. December has been a mad dash to finish this thing. Remind me NEVER to cross-stitch again. It is the most boring waste of time ever. This cross-stitch is the reason my house has been a disaster this month, the reason I feel like I haven't seen the light of day, the reason my mind was in a stupor by day and vividly dreaming by night, and the reason I quit my blog for a bit (thanks Emily for getting me going again!). I was so stressed to get it done. One night, when my brain was particularly burnt out from stitching, I thought I might be having a brain hemmorhage, or heart failure or something, and I thought: How lame would that be to die by cross-stitch. Needless to say, I'm glad that part is over, and I hope Katelyn treasures this stocking forever (and never spills anything on it)!

Today I am sewing!

Wish me luck!!

(I'm not very good at it.)

From Me To You Giveaway!!

Aren't I so festive with my copy of Handel's Messiah in the background? Anyway, for the holidays I am giving away two McDonald's Hot Chocolates! How fun! FYI, they are only valid at participating restaurants in Utah, and parts of Nevada and Wyoming. (Trust me, if I could use them here in California I already would have.) If you live in those areas or might be headed that way, leave a comment before midnight on New Year's Eve and you just might win. Yay! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

Love, Dana

Things That Made Me Laugh Today

I laughed when I got a message from my mom that she was in Forks, WA, home of teenaged vampire romance, and that she just saw Jacob run across the road...whatever that means. I didn't even know she was out of town. I want pictures.


I laughed when I walked in the room and Katelyn announced "Look, mommy! I'm coloring with Zachy!" At first I didn't laugh. I said "Awww, that's nice!" I laughed when I noticed that she had only allowed him to color with the white crayon (because it wouldn't show up) and she was hoarding all the other colors away from him.


I laughed during "The Sing-Off" when Ben Folds played piano with his elbows and stepped on the keys. It was awesome!


I laughed when Jeff Bridges told this joke on Leno:


"What is invisible and smells like worms?"


While you ponder that question, here is a pic of Katelyn hoarding the coloring crayons.

Okay, back to the joke.

Q: What is invisible and smells like worms?

A: A bird fart!

Adam also laughed at that one, and then we called our friends to re-tell it.

Fun times!

KidArt

Katelyn's pictures have been getting more creative and recognizable lately. Here are some favorites I recently found on her drawing table:

Spongebob and Patrick

(this one made me laugh, of course)

Caterpillar and Snowman

Life With Lemons

Problem: Zach's timeouts are only supposed to last a minute or two, but I kept losing track of time. Sometimes he would even fall asleep before I remembered he was waiting.

Solution: I bought a kitchen timer. It happens to be shaped like a lemon. I set it for a minute and it rings loudly when the time is up. Zach doesn't fall asleep.

Problem: Kids love the lemon timer. All kids. One day we took it to the park and everyone ended up playing games with the lemon...ignoring the play equipment!

Here's when I knew we had a problem:

One day Katelyn came up to me with the lemon in hand asking, "Mom, can I pleeeeeeeease have a Time Out!?"

I smiled at her, surprised, and told her, "No. You only get time outs when you do something wrong."

"Oh," she said. Then she looked up at me sheepishly and half-heartedly hit me on the leg.

This time I laughed. "Okay, go have a time out."

"Thanks, mom. Don't forget the lemon timer!" she called, as she ran off to her bedroom.

Hmmm...I think my lemony solution has become an even bigger problem.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I didn't sit on your lap this year, but I hope you still got my Christmas wish. Every night and day I dream of playing Beatles Rock Band. I picture myself drumming along with Ringo to songs like Help!, Twist and Shout and Come Together. I dream of harmonizing with John and Paul to songs like In My Life, The Magical Mystery Tour, Hey Jude and I'll Follow the Sun. George, I don't really dream of being you, but I am looking forward to Something.

Santa, I hope you make my Christmas dreams come true. I've tried to be really good this year.

Love, Dana

P.S. Katelyn really wants a Mulan princess doll and I think Zach wants an Elmo, but I'm sure you already knew that.

Merry Christmas!

My Baby

This is the tale of a haircut...

Littleman's hair was getting long. I wouldn't say it was girlishly long, but on more than two occasions strangers had commented on my "baby girl". I thought that was odd when he was wearing carpenter pants, pirate shirts and called Zachary, but whatever. Anyway, that's not even why I cut his hair, because it doesn't bother me much that a few unobservant strangers thought he was a girl. I was inspired by CJane, who cut off her sons hair because she wanted to see her baby again. I realized how fast Zach has been growing. I had never thought of it before, but could a simple haircut really give me back my baby boy? It seemed like a long shot, but I decided to give it a try. For the record, Adam and I both think the short cut actually makes him look older. Darn!

Here Zach is trying to wipe the hair off his tongue. Good luck with that!

It is a cardinal rule among husbands and children that haircuts go better with the TV on.

(This is the scene where Nemo says "I hate you." I get this look a lot from Zach. Nemo didn't really mean it, though. Neither does Zach. I can tell by all his drooly kisses.)

Here is my photographer/water-squirter taking a self-portrait.

Kate is in the background waiting to squirt something.

The End.

Occulus Repairo?

The Harry Potter glasses are broken.

This pic reminds me of one of those commercials where everyday scenes look like happy faces. Except this face would be sad. :(

Does anybody out there know a simple spell that would fix them?

Or perhaps you own a mini-welder?

Either one would be fine. Thank you.

Anthro Love

My friend Genette is talented. So talented it's intimidating. Not that she wants you to be intimidated, of course, but she's amazing--it can't be helped. She designs purses and handbags for a high-end company named Lockheart. Before Lockheart she designed for Isabella Fiore (I liked them better before she left). Her designs have been featured in magazines and carried by celebs.

Here are a couple of purses she designed recently. Anthropologie loved them and ordered them en masse. You can find these in your October and November Anthro catalog. Aren't they gorgeous!

Frill-Seeker Satchel

Embroidered Heaths Bag

Vintage Love

We didn't do much today, what with the kids so sick and all, but I did have the chance to go with my mom and Katelyn to the Orland craft fair. Katelyn had a blast. She went from vendor to vendor, touching every piece of jewelery and interesting craft. She would've bought it all if she could...even the wooden snowman in the camouflage scarf that read, "Proud to Serve".

I fell in love with the old fashioned wooden cars, trucks, trains and planes. They were handmade and painted by a cute old man who was there with his adorable old wife, selling their adorable toys. I loved it all! Katelyn chose a Red Baron fighter plane for herself and I chose a blue logging truck for Littleman, with real (mini) logs.

They both love their new toys...

...but I still think I love them more!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had an excellent Thanksgiving yesterday with family, friends and about a half dozen LDS missionaries. The weather was just warm enough that we were able to eat outside in my parents beautiful back yard. The trees were bursting with leaves in all shades of brown, yellow, orange and red. I feel like I am finally getting my fall. (Did I mention the weather was in the 80's when we left SoCal Wednesday? We're experiencing and endless summer!)

After dinner, the boys all gathered for a game of frisbee golf. My brother-in-law set up a course around my parent's 25-acres a couple years ago. It is one of their favorite pass-times when they are here. I also ventured out and caught a couple pictures of my Littleman, who LOVES all the space to run around at grandma and grandpa's. Sadly, all the cold air did him in. He and Katelyn are both coming down with something nasty, and are no longer allowed outside. :(

Today we ventured out for a little Black Friday excitement. Kohl's was a madhouse. There were people everywhere and the lines wound throughout the whole store. Katelyn got lost. She was with her grandma. One second she was there and the next second she was gone. Because it was so crowded and Black Friday, my mind was in a panic. I thought the chances were good that someone had snatched her. Code Yellow was announced over the speakers. I told the workers her description. I could remember every single detail of the clothing she wore that day. I had helped her pick it out myself. I doubt more than three minutes had passed (but it felt like an eternity), and they had found her. She told the worker who found her that she was looking for her mom, and that she was very brave. Then she helped herself to another complimentary candy cane.

After that big adventure we headed to the mall, where Katelyn met Santa Claus. After some hesitation and waving from a distance, she went up and told him that she wanted a princess doll for Christmas, and that was all. He gave her a coloring book and a hug, and she decided that Santa was a nice guy and not at all scary like she had thought.

Tonight my kids have fevers and barking coughs. Zach has rosy cheeks, which has my mom convinced that he has 5th Disease. That sounds scary to me, but she says that all kids get it and it's no big deal. Either way, I have a feeling that tonight is going to be a LONG night!

SIRIUSly Rad!

We spent all last night and on into the morning driving from the south of California to the north. It is a drive that our family is all too familiar with. When we are lucky, our children sleep, and Adam and I are left to our own long, deep conversations. We look for shooting stars and drink Rockstar to stay awake. Once the Rockstar kicks in, my husband's mind goes into overdrive, and then the conversation gets REALLY interesting! Ahhh, fun times!

Last night's trip was going along quite as usual as ever. We were struggling to get some fuzzy AM radio reception somewhere between the Harris Ranch and Coalinga, when all of a sudden I noticed the dash button on our rental car--a button I had never seen before.

SIRIUS, it said.

I was excited. I immediately pushed it....It worked!!

The rest of our trip was anything but normal. We tuned in, exploring this completely new (to us) world of satellite radio. We found the 80's channel and stayed there. The Talkingheads, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, U2, the Cure...it was a blast (from the past)! We both agreed that it was totally rad! And when we arrived in Orland at 5 am I was wearing a side pony and Adam was wearing high tops. (Okay, I made that part up.)

Emily Bear

I just stumbled upon this video and had to share. This girl is so adorable! I love towards the middle when she plays the jazz stuff. And I love how she says "I don't know...the music just comes out of my heart." Such amazing talent. She is too cute!

What can make a bad day better?

Heart cake!!

Katelyn and I baked a couple of these beauties today (one for our neighbor and one for ourselves) to hopefully make a few bad days better. I like to call it compassionate service, rather than "emotional eating". Here's to brighter days and many more heart-shaped cakes!!

Forty Years and Counting

This morning, while Katelyn sat in the living room watching PBS Kids, Zachary and I were in my bedroom playing. We piled up all the pillows and blankets in a mountain on the bed. Zachy was laughing his head off as I lifted him up and dropped him down into the pillows over and over.

He's having more fun than Disneyland, I thought to myself, when all of a sudden he became distracted. He rushed to the edge of the bed and insisted that I help him down immediately, then he took off running down the hallway and in a flash he was gone.

I was confused. What did he hear that could be better than this, I wondered, so I perked up my ears. All I could hear was music coming from the living room:

"...Come and play, everything's A-okay.

Friendly neighbors there, that's where we meet.

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to..."

I laughed out loud. I remember being that excited when I was a little girl, too.

Happy Birthday Sesame Street!

Aaarrrrggg(k)

Whenever we're at the playground, Katelyn usually pretends the equipment is a pirate ship...and today was no different. All hands were on deck when Katelyn asked me...

Mom, are we pirates?

Me: Aaarrrggggh! (that means yes)

Katelyn: Aaarrrggggh!

Zach: Aaarrrggggk!

Kate: HEY! Zach is NOT a pirate!

Me: Yes he is. He said Aargh!

Kate: No! He said ARK!

Speaking of Christmas...

While I'm on the subject of Christmas...

This is what I really hope Santa brings my kids.

Does that make me crazy?

Jingle Bells?

I love Chiristmas--and the music! No, I'm not about to bust out my Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, or roast any chestnuts on an open fire...but my students are starting to learn their Christmas songs...and I've been wanting to post this for a while...and Halloween is over so...you know...why not now?

This year I am singing in the Anaheim Mormon Chorale (they are the group that I didn't sing the National Anthem with at the Angels game this summer). One of the songs we have been working on for Christmas is "O Magnum Mysterium" by Morten Lauridsen. He grew up in Portland where his dad was a forester (go America!), but outside of the USA, it is the most performed Christmas choral work besides the Alelluia chorus from Handel's Messiah (at least that's what I was told). The textures in this piece are ethereal and beautiful. The words are from ancient Latin chant, and I've included the translations.

I hope you take the time to listen to it, or at least let it play while you clean up your living room or make applesauce or something. Enjoy!

O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum
ut animalia viderent Dominum
natum, jacentum in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum. Alleluia!

O great mystery,
and wondrous sacrament,
that animals should see the new-
born Lord, lying in their manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear the
Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!

*Yawn*

Right now I am up way too late. I just read my friends blog, about how she met NieNie tonight at the BYU Creamery, buying milk, and how they cried and hugged, and it made me love NieNie even more. There's a special place in heaven for that girl, I tell you.

Now I'm downloading Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words into my iTunes. I like that the songs don't have words or titles, because it leaves more up to your imagination. Anyway, I thought I'd put some Halloween pics on my blog while I waited, but it just finished downloading, so I have no more excuses to stay up. I guess the pictures will have to wait.

If you came here looking for something good to read, you should head on over to Beth's blog. You can read about what an angel NieNie is, even in real life.

NighteeNight!

Meet me on the Equinox

Yesterday I was listening to the radio and I heard the new Death Cab song from the New Moon soundtrack. It got me a bit excited for the release of the next silly teenage vampire romance movie.

Are you a bit excited, too?

She's READING!!

Thank you, Talking Letter Factory video. What we started together over two and a half years ago is starting to pay off. Yesterday I caught Katelyn READING!! simple three letter words all on her own! Today we went to the library and checked out a "my first reader", and bless her...she is trying! Does this mean she should start school in 2010? I was really hoping to put it off until 2011.