I have listened to this several times. Perhaps it is because his voice reminds me of my own ever-positive grandfather. Perhaps because the message is so uplifting and true.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snAjZ8mfoYw
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Love is in the air
The princesses were so sweet. Just look at his face. He's in love. He was seriously giddy. It still cracks me up just looking at the pictures.
But he's still a boy, and sure loved those jedi knights.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Disneyland
Our Disneyland trip... wow. It was like a disney movie in itself.
Let's see... you have the beginning, the heroine, Princess Christinella, leaving on an adventure with her trusty sidekick chipmunks, Bekah and Kyle. She meets with difficulties as she journeys through the forest, but thanks to the help of the forest animals (especially a very nice fox), she overcomes. She stops to rest at a cute cottage of energetic dwarves, where her chipmunks can run around (another musical number). Ready to embark again after a few days of rest, the beautiful princess (hey, this is my story), finally comes to her land of dreams where she meets a handsome prince and his sidekicks: a kind owl and energetic muskrat, Kyle and Jill. They fall in love and dance through a magical wonderland, where the resident creatures literally come out and sing to them. Big musical number, performed flawlessly! Even a singin' in the rain scene. Handsome Prince then takes Princess Christinella on his trusty steed to ride off into the sunset. But as they do so, out jumps the Big Bad Blizzard (da-da-da-dum), which maims and nearly kills their horse. Big fight scene where Prince's sword skills saves the horse and then Princess grabs the chipmunks and Prince and stears the horse past the Big Bad Blizzard (chase scene). They finally set off into the sunset... well, except by now the sun has long since set. Closing love song as the prince and princess kiss (chipmunk sidekicks are sleeping sweetly in their tree).
And that is our trip. It was wonderful.
(I left w/ kids, lost my keys and needed a tire replaced in St. George, stayed in Las Vegas with a cousin and her family, whom we love, went to Anaheim. Rob flew in as well as his parents, and we had a wonderful time. Short lines, lots of magic, and one day of rain. It was SO FUN! Headed back to Las Vegas, then on the way home, while driving in a blizzard, had car problems but Rob worked it out and we made it home safe and sound at 2 am. It was a great trip!)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Out of the mouth of babes
"What the heck!" This frequently comes out of my 3 yr. old's mouth. Hmm... wonder where he got that?
Actually, it is way better than, "for-goodness-sakers" which is what the lady next to me at the zoo said with that annoying-cutesy-voice and a big hair poof on the back of her head. But really, who am I to judge... I think perhaps I was just a little bothered by the excessive cuteness as I was dragging a screaming child from the park (must they have a melt-down at the farthest point from the exit?).
I've also decided to talk with my children more in spanish, so now every morning, breakfast is in Spanish. I've been pretty consistent, too, like 2 whole days in a row. By day 2, my daughter was sick of it, and informed me that she didn't want to speak spanish, only dutch. Right. Probably because I can say like 6 words and sing one song in dutch.
Actually, it is way better than, "for-goodness-sakers" which is what the lady next to me at the zoo said with that annoying-cutesy-voice and a big hair poof on the back of her head. But really, who am I to judge... I think perhaps I was just a little bothered by the excessive cuteness as I was dragging a screaming child from the park (must they have a melt-down at the farthest point from the exit?).
I've also decided to talk with my children more in spanish, so now every morning, breakfast is in Spanish. I've been pretty consistent, too, like 2 whole days in a row. By day 2, my daughter was sick of it, and informed me that she didn't want to speak spanish, only dutch. Right. Probably because I can say like 6 words and sing one song in dutch.
WHOOHOOO
THE FIRST ROUGH DRAFT IS DONE!!! ONE STEP CLOSER TO GRADUATION!! YEAH!!!
I know the cap thing is annoying, but after 7.5 years, capital letters are much deserved. So here is the plan: Finish soon, prepare for a defence. Defend in the end of Feb. (pray for Rob, people), then do all of the finish up stuff (which is actually a ton), GRADUATE IN MAY!!
I've been going through and doing the bibliography so it is all in the correct format and reading his thesis and editing, and woah. First of all, I was impressed that Rob is such a great writer. I know I'm a little biased, but I was seriously impressed at how professionally, intelligently, and concisely he writes. I was amazed at how much information he has gone through. It has taken me two nights to get half of the bibliography done for 1 chapter. The bibliography alone will be over 10 pages.
In order to keep my sanity, I always take some kind of a winter holiday. Last year I drove down to Vegas with the kids to visit Rob's cousin. This year we are going to Disneyland (another big WHOOHOO!). So much cheaper to do that than therapy. Anyway, while we were at dinner with my parents, telling them about our trip, Kyle loudly states, "Daddy has to finish his thesis first else he can't come to Disneyland." We all laughed, but really, it was true. So it looks like thankfully, Daddy can go!!!
Whoohoo. Things are looking up.
I know the cap thing is annoying, but after 7.5 years, capital letters are much deserved. So here is the plan: Finish soon, prepare for a defence. Defend in the end of Feb. (pray for Rob, people), then do all of the finish up stuff (which is actually a ton), GRADUATE IN MAY!!
I've been going through and doing the bibliography so it is all in the correct format and reading his thesis and editing, and woah. First of all, I was impressed that Rob is such a great writer. I know I'm a little biased, but I was seriously impressed at how professionally, intelligently, and concisely he writes. I was amazed at how much information he has gone through. It has taken me two nights to get half of the bibliography done for 1 chapter. The bibliography alone will be over 10 pages.
In order to keep my sanity, I always take some kind of a winter holiday. Last year I drove down to Vegas with the kids to visit Rob's cousin. This year we are going to Disneyland (another big WHOOHOO!). So much cheaper to do that than therapy. Anyway, while we were at dinner with my parents, telling them about our trip, Kyle loudly states, "Daddy has to finish his thesis first else he can't come to Disneyland." We all laughed, but really, it was true. So it looks like thankfully, Daddy can go!!!
Whoohoo. Things are looking up.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Survival Skills
A few days ago, I discovered Bear Grylls. I am now totally hooked on watching this guy do absolutely crazy stuff to show how you survive in uninhabitable places. Like if you stranded in the desert. So instead of feeling like I am wasting my precious time just watching tv, I can rest easy knowing that I am learning. I mean, what if I got lost in a jungle in Vietnam? Or on a deserted island miles of the coast of Panama? Really... this show could save my life.
Watching this show has definitely got me thinking. And I think would rather just die of starvation than kill myself catching and eating scorpions or riding my homemade raft through crocodile-infested jungle rivers.
Actually, I keep waiting for him to show how you survive downsizing to a tiny apartment with 2 very loud, active ADD preschoolers in the winter. I mean, at least it's quiet on the desert island.
Watching this show has definitely got me thinking. And I think would rather just die of starvation than kill myself catching and eating scorpions or riding my homemade raft through crocodile-infested jungle rivers.
Actually, I keep waiting for him to show how you survive downsizing to a tiny apartment with 2 very loud, active ADD preschoolers in the winter. I mean, at least it's quiet on the desert island.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Hanging out
I have a list of things to do, but I need to write what's in my head before it leaves (which could be any minute).
When Rob and I met, we were as mushy and cutesy as couples get. No... we never condescended to sugary nicknames or babytalk. I swear I have never called him anything that ended in -poo, although he would call me starfish or bunny sometimes because he knew I hated it. We loved playing games together, dancing together, doing outdoors stuff together. You get the gist.
Then we got married. I worked nights and weekends. He decided to graduate almost 2 semesters earlier and took a ton of classes. Then it was grad school, where he worked all hours, I worked a lot of evenings and nights, then bishopric took up the weekends, then scouts, and still grad school. Gone an awful lot. This last year, I became the solo-mom, as Rob was gone almost all the time, except Sundays.
Please don't think I'm whining. I'm not complaining about this. On the contrary. My kids are at a really fun (starting to get independent) stage. I have had absolutely WONDERFUL neighbors who have become adopted family. And I have gained that inner-do-it-yourselfness that God gives women who raise families mostly alone. Really, I have to say that it's been pretty easy. I typically am in my groove with my own routine. Rob and I joked that we have gotten along so well during the stress of moving because we weren't around each other much. But you know, after joking, you wonder if that isn't a little true.
Get to the point, Christina! Okay, Rob took off a full week over Christmas... and while he should have spent a lot more time writing his dissertation, he spent most of the time hanging out with us. And it was so fun! It was awesome. I love just hanging out and even doing nothing with this man. There is always so much we need to get done or go over when he is around, I forgot what it is like to just hang out for days on end. It was GREAT!
I understand that Rob and I will probably never get to be one of those couples that get to spend all their time with each other. Dang it! I think God has nixed that one from the start. Plus, Rob loves scouts. But, I am looking forward and hoping for that day (hopefully in a few months) when he can come home and just hang out with the fam every evening and maybe even helping mow the lawn on Saturdays. OK, I'll mow the lawn if he can just hang out with us. And after this past week, I know it will be tons of fun.
When Rob and I met, we were as mushy and cutesy as couples get. No... we never condescended to sugary nicknames or babytalk. I swear I have never called him anything that ended in -poo, although he would call me starfish or bunny sometimes because he knew I hated it. We loved playing games together, dancing together, doing outdoors stuff together. You get the gist.
Then we got married. I worked nights and weekends. He decided to graduate almost 2 semesters earlier and took a ton of classes. Then it was grad school, where he worked all hours, I worked a lot of evenings and nights, then bishopric took up the weekends, then scouts, and still grad school. Gone an awful lot. This last year, I became the solo-mom, as Rob was gone almost all the time, except Sundays.
Please don't think I'm whining. I'm not complaining about this. On the contrary. My kids are at a really fun (starting to get independent) stage. I have had absolutely WONDERFUL neighbors who have become adopted family. And I have gained that inner-do-it-yourselfness that God gives women who raise families mostly alone. Really, I have to say that it's been pretty easy. I typically am in my groove with my own routine. Rob and I joked that we have gotten along so well during the stress of moving because we weren't around each other much. But you know, after joking, you wonder if that isn't a little true.
Get to the point, Christina! Okay, Rob took off a full week over Christmas... and while he should have spent a lot more time writing his dissertation, he spent most of the time hanging out with us. And it was so fun! It was awesome. I love just hanging out and even doing nothing with this man. There is always so much we need to get done or go over when he is around, I forgot what it is like to just hang out for days on end. It was GREAT!
I understand that Rob and I will probably never get to be one of those couples that get to spend all their time with each other. Dang it! I think God has nixed that one from the start. Plus, Rob loves scouts. But, I am looking forward and hoping for that day (hopefully in a few months) when he can come home and just hang out with the fam every evening and maybe even helping mow the lawn on Saturdays. OK, I'll mow the lawn if he can just hang out with us. And after this past week, I know it will be tons of fun.
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