Party Time

Malaina went to a Birthday Party today. It was so much fun! Robyn is so creative, and I was incredibly impressed that everything was in her chosen Garden theme, all activities were perfectly suited to the 3 and 4 year old crowd (planting flowers in pots decorated with stickers, bug hunting for foam bugs, pin-the-butterfly-on-the-flower, and bug parachute), and that she didn't spend a fortune to throw a super-fun party. I'll keep all this in mind when I plan Malaina's next birthday party - and I may be giving Robyn a call to pick her super-creative brain. You're an inspiration, Robyn! And Happy Birthday to Mariah!

YUM

It's another Friday, and I am so glad that not only is the weekend almost here, but that there is an extra day off on Monday (thank you Memorial Day!). After a really nice weekend, it's been a struggle to get through each day this week. Wednesday was especially bad. I was extremely high strung all day, and EVERYTHING was getting on my nerves. Much of this goes back to my messy house, but it built to a head over Malaina's room. She has been refusing to clean it, so she's been losing toys & spending an unusually high amount of time in Time Out.... but it's still been a disaster zone. I finally started tackling it yesterday, and Matt and I agreed to put some of her toys away for a while, and do a purge of all the little junk that accumulates (McDonald's toys, random coloring sheets, dolls with no heads, etc.). I'm not done yet (seriously, I had to take it in stages or I would have just had a breakdown in the middle of the job), but it's already about 1000 times better. I hope to finish it today or tomorrow, and then move on to the rest of the house. My Dad is coming to visit in a few weeks, so I need to make sure the house is especially spic & span.

On a slightly kooky note: Matt and I spent 3 years in Louisiana, and enjoyed very little of our time there. One thing we did develop a fondness for is Red Beans & Rice. We ate this at least once a week when I was pregnant with Malaina, as it was low in fat and high in protein. Mixed with Turkey Polska Kielbasa and served with brown rice, it was one of our favorite meals. We were talking about it a few weeks ago, and I was toying with the idea of finding a good recipe to recreate. Instead, I did a google search, and was thrilled to find the brand of red beans we used to buy while in Lafayette. Based in Gonzales, Louisiana (outside of Baton Rouge), the Blue Runner company makes the BEST canned red beans I've ever had. And guess what? THEY DELIVER.



I am so excited to receive my shipment of 12 cans of Creole Cream Style Red Beans. Sadly, the shipping was as much as the beans themselves, so this will be a once-a-year treat. I hope the reality lives up to our memory of this delicious meal. I also miss Jamba Juice from Oregon, Alberto's Mexican Food from Phoenix, and In-n-Out Burger & Palermo's Italian Restaurant in L.A. Do you have any regional foods or restaurants you miss?

This may be the start of a slippery slope....

I had to go to Old Navy today to exchange a few things that didn't fit Malaina. While there, I saw that bathing suits were on sale. Given that she is part fish in the summer time and that she is signed up for swim lessons in July, I thought a new suit might be a good idea. I looked over their selection and chose a few for her to look at in the store. She decided she wanted a 2 piece and chose this one: I've never bought her a 2 piece before and hesitated to do so. But I went ahead and purchased it. I always tended to stay away from bikinis for kids, as many of them seem VERY skimpy, even for little ones. I realize there's few things in life that are cuter than a little girl in a bathing suit and I think that bodies - all bodies - are beautiful and amazing. But I think that modesty needs to be encouraged, especially with the overwhelming trend to show some skin in magazines, movies, and TV. I bought the suit because it's a longer style and actually covers her tummy completely. I also bought it because many of the other styles didn't seem conducive to swim lessons & comfort - with halter necklines or beads on the straps, etc. So, I'd like to hear your opinion on the subject (even you lurkers that are out there)- either by taking the poll in the upper right corner, or posting a comment. Do you think it's OK for a 4 year old to wear a 2 piece swimsuit? Why, or why not? FYI - I'm not generally swayed by popular opinion, so don't be afraid to be totally honest.

PS - did you see The Office last night?? It was the funniest episode I have seen in months. I really hope this means they are back on top of their game for the Fall '08 season.

"Look at the size of that boy's head"

Tony Giardino: Shhh!

Stuart Mackenzie: I'm not kidding, it's like an orange on a toothpick.

Tony Giardino: Shhh, you're going to give the boy a complex.

Stuart Mackenzie: Well, that's a huge noggin. That's a virtual planetoid.

Tony Giardino: Shh!

Stuart Mackenzie: Has it's own weather system.

Tony Giardino: Sh, sh, shh.

Stuart Mackenzie: HEAD! MOVE! Spherical, but quite pointy in parts.

(name that movie)

Justin had his 2 month doctor's visit today, here are his stats:

Height: 22 3/4 inches - 50th percentile

Weight: 12 lbs. 10 oz - 75th percentile

Head circumference: 16 3/4 - 97th percentile

Let's hope that big head = big brain.

The Twilight Saga

I was a big reader growing up, and it's still a favorite hobby of mine. I don't read as much as I'd like to anymore, and most of my casual reading in the last few years has been limited to books purchased just prior to a business trip (I hate working on planes, as I just don't ever have the elbow room I need to type). I also don't usually buy books, unless they are really cheap or really good. I read extremely quickly, and can't stand paying $14 for a book I will blow through in a 5 hour flight. Anyway.... when my in-laws were here last month, Matt's mom left me her copy of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I like some fantasy novels, and it sounded similar to Anne Rice's work, so after a week or so, I picked it up. After a few chapters (mostly spent wondering why my mother-in-law was reading a book on the misadventures of a high school junior) I was hooked! It was a great, simple read, but done in a compelling way. I like that it focused on the emotional relationship, and not so much on the physical. I shocked myself by liking it enough that I bought the next two (in hardback!) on Amazon. They came today and I am so excited. It's almost a good thing that I have a very limited amount of personal time, as it will force me to pace my reading and enjoy these books. I was impressed to see the author featured in Time magazine 2 weeks in a row - first in a 3 page article on her books, comparing her to J.K. Rowling (and I love the description of her at home with her 3 boys, typing one handed while holding a baby in the other - I can relate). Then a second article featured her as one of Time's 100 Most Influential People http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1733748_1733752_1736282,00.html. I harbor a secret dream to be an author myself, and so it always comforts and inspires me when I stumble upon a writer who lives a life even slightly similar to mine (wife, mom, member). Book 4 in the series, Breaking Dawn, will be released August 2, just in time for my birthday - HINT HINT. I'm sure I'll have it in my possession shortly after it drops.

One more thing.....

Matt scared Justin on Saturday night, and I have to blog about it because it was sort of funny (in a damaging, slightly mentally scarring kind of way). We were eating dinner, and to keep him happy & make him feel like he was a part of dinner, Justin was in his bouncer next to the table. Matt was bouncing him in the bouncer, and play tickling him a little. Then he did something he often does with Malaina - he curled his hands into claws and said "Rawr" in a deep, semi-scary voice. Justin was TERRIFIED, and immediately started crying in that super-scared, inconsolable baby way. I know, it doesn't sound too terrible, but I was horrified (at Justin's reaction, not that Matt did that), and I think Matt felt awful about it. Justin is so easy-going that it's always surprising when he cries about much of anything. Lesson learned.

Happy Mother's Day!

I had a really good day, and actually a good weekend overall. After a stressful week at work I decided to do a little shopping on Friday, as Malaina is in desperate need of summer clothes. I headed to the mall, and was able to both shop and get a little exercise - packing up Justin in the jogging stroller and walking from Old Navy to the mall and back (I know, it's not that far, but I have to hope that every little bit counts). On Saturday I had my hair done, and then came home and gave Malaina and myself manicures, and she got a little pedicure too. She requested red on her toenails, and pink on her fingernails. How very grown up! My Dad and Jan sent flowers for Mother's Day, so I also arrived home to the treat of some beautiful lillies waiting for me. What a wonderful surprise!

Today was really really nice. Malaina wanted me to have my Mother's Day present right away, so as soon as we were all up, she and Daddy brought it in. It was Guitar Hero! I know, super geeky of me, but I've had this weird fascination with it. It's not as easy as it looks, but it really is fun. Then Matt made breakfast for us (a very rare treat), and Malaina, Justin and I actually got to church on time. After church my visiting teachers stopped by, and shortly after Matt came home from studying, we went out for Thai food (Cool Basil - very good, but watch the spiciness!). We all played Guitar Hero for a while, then we even got ice cream treats for dessert! I'm so thankful for my sweet family, and am so proud of Matt, Malaina, and Justin. I couldn't ask for a more wonderful husband and children.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies out there!