Recommendations

I thought I'd start out the new year with a couple of recommendations for everyone (not that y'all have been sitting on pins and needles waiting for my lofty suggestions. Oh crap, did I really just write "y'all"? I've been in Utah for too long. I'm going to go cry in a corner and pretend that my first instinct was to write "you guys" or at least "you all" in two words...)


Wayne and I got to go see an actual new release movie in an actual movie theater (gasp!) last Saturday (thanks for the babysitting Sharon!). To the average citizen this may seem like nothing special, but it's been a year and a half since I've seen a movie in the theater. It was the last Harry Potter movie. And the time before that was a year earlier when we wasted a theater trip on "Blades of Glory". Yes, our theater experiences are few and far between these days. It's a sad occurance for someone like me who is (maybe too) interested in movies and television and knows what the reviews are saying for all movies, whether I want to see them or not, and who for many years pictured my future working in the film industry. It's semi-heartbreaking to think that it's barely an annual event to get to a mother-loving cineplex... anyway, rant over. The movie we went and saw was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and I have to say, it was honestly one the BEST movies I've ever seen. I'm seriously considering bumping Dead Poets Society out of the top spot of my favorite dramatic movies. It's one of those movies that just stays with you. Wayne loved it too, which says a lot for the movie, because we don't always have the same taste in flicks, especially dramatic ones. It's hard to give a review of the movie without giving away too much of the plot, but simply put it's about a man who ages backwards. It stars the gorgeous Brad Pitt, which of course is a reason to get in the car and drive to the theater on its own (kidding, Wayne). But the film's two biggest compliments would have to be 1) that although it runs almost 3 hours, Wayne and I both agreed that we felt like we'd only been in the theater 15 minutes, and 2) I almost, almost cried at least 3 times. That's big. Wayne cried at approximately 5 points in the movie (kidding again, Wayne. Although I heard some sniffles coming from your general direction at the end). In conclusion, everyone should go get a babysitter and go see this movie. I would pay someone to watch my kids just to go see it again.

Right now I'm obsessed with Colbie Caillat's cd "Coco". I started hearing more and more songs from the album on Pandora, and after realizing that I was in love with every one, I decided to buy the whole darn cd off itunes. Best. Purchase. Ever. You know how with most cd's you like about 80% of the songs, but there are like 3 that you skip over every time? Yeah, not on this cd. Every time a new song comes on I think "Oh, this one is my favorite!", and then of course the song changes and I think the same thing for the next one, etc etc... (edit: I just realized that I do skip one. The song 'Capri' starts out "she's got a baby inside, and holds her belly tight". It hasn't been long enough since Seth was born for me to look back on pregnancy with happy nostalgia, so if I catch those words I tend to hit 'next'). My particular favorite tracks (today) are: Magic, Oxygen, Older, One Fine Wire, Feelings Show, Battle, Bubbly... ok there are 12 tracks and I've singled out 7 and could keep going, so you get the picture. I love Colbie's voice, very smooth and mellow, and the whole cd is very sing-along-able, which is big for me, because I like singing along with people who sound better than me and pretending that I sound as good as the voice that's drowning me out. So, check it out. Maybe I'm not cool, and this isn't the kind of music the kids are into anymore, I honestly don't know, I just don't listen to the radio these days. If I'm no longer hip, feel free to laugh at me, and I'll know to start using phrases like "Well, back in my day...".

I know this whole post is sort of out of left field, but it's just what I felt like writing. One day I'll get around to writing the posts that I've been meaning to do, so in the hopefully near future, look forward to:

* Seth's 6-month update

* Christmas

* My 6-month Post-Baby goal: met!

* Lexie's School Update

* Wayne's job update

Tradition!

Last night was our annual O'Bryant&Tomlinson New Year's Fondue party! We were trying to remember how many years we've done this with Cory and Mindy, and we think this was year number 4. All I know is that it was a lot easier before we started having kids! But this year went remarkably smooth, compared to last year's fire fiasco (which is a story for another day...). Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures of us eating the first course of steak cooked in oil and bread in cheese, most likely because we waited to start eating until the kids were all in bed, and by then we were all starving! There's no time for photo ops when you're busy stuffing your face as fast as possible. Even though this was the first year that Wayne and Cory have not worked for the same company since we all got married, somehow the conversation STILL turned to work 95% of the time. Some things never change, eh Mindy? But I guess that's just part of the tradition: The boys rambling on and on and on about inventory strategies while the girls roll their eyes at each other from across the table... After the main course, we played Mario Party (tradition) on Wii and ate chocolate fondue until we were all beyond sick and wanted to kill ourselves (thus completing the tradition). This year Mindy found adorable little bottles of Martinelli's for us to drink at Midnight (No, those bottles we're drinking from are NOT beer). So it was 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, NEW YEARS, cheers, shot, and kiss. Cory was the only one "man" enough to down his entire bottle on the shot. And then, because we're all old and pathetic, we quickly finished our game, cleaned the kitchen, packed everything up, and headed off to bed before the new year rounded out it's first hour. Yes, we're lame.

A few photo notes:
* Wayne put a lot of care into staging our fondue shots. Go Wayne.
* Wayne's "8 year old on Christmas Morning Playing Wii" shot was staged. His eyes are not normally filled with that much child-like wonder.
* The many laughing shots are a result of Cory downing his entire bottle of Martinelli's, burping LOUDLY in Mindy's face, then leaning into his wife expectantly for a big kiss.

Happy New Year

In preparing for our annual fondue party I came across a really easy and really tasty cheese fondue recipe. If you are into fondue, try this one:

"Easy Cheese Fondue"

2 cups milk
1 tbsp worcester sause
2 tsp ground dry mustard
1 clove garlic (crushed)
3 tbsp flour

6 cups cheddar cheese (schredded)

Medium pan, low heat.
Mix all but cheese.
Heat until almost boiling.
Gradually stir in the cheese.
Heat until all cheese is melted.
Transfer to fondue dish.

Right Now I'm: Totally whacked out

Right now:

• Wayne's been out of town since Sunday
• Lexie is grumpy
• Seth is wiggly and likes to roll in his crib (and not sleep)
• My chronic insomnia has been getting worse and worse for months and is finally at full force. 8 hours of sleep total... in the last 3 nights
• The house is a mess (ok, but how is this any different)
• Feeling like I'm sucking at my calling right now because my brain isn't functioning well enough to organize and get stuff done
• We're out of baby food.

So, solutions:

• Wayne gets home late on Friday
• We're going to see friends today, so Lexie should cheer up
• I don't know, a baby sized straight jacket?
• Pills. I think it's time for pills. Maybe I can go to the doctor next week...
• Cleaning service! And why don't I clean when I'm not sleeping? Huh, didn't think about that till now...
• Got to sit down and sort my brain together on this one. Lists. I need lists.
• This one's easy. We can go to the store!

Ok, so... off to problem solve....

Goodbye, Phantom Planet

I read yesterday that the band Phantom Planet is breaking up (http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0614338/). You probably haven't heard of them, but I'm sure you know their biggest hit (hint: it's the song you're listening to RIGHT NOW). But I remember them from a time long before that famous song. Back in '99, my friend Rachel and I saw the movie Rushmore and fell completely in love with it. We then found out that the star of the movie was the drummer in a band, and that band was Phantom Planet. They were pretty small back then, so it took some research to find a record store that had their cd. When we finally bought it, Rachel and I were head over heels for the band. I remember listening to that cd over and over and over... I don't know, looking back, there wasn't anything all that special to them, but for some reason I really dug their sound. And now that they're ending their run, it's nice to have a little reminder of that small portion of my life. So thanks, boys, for filling my ears for a time.

I am the laziest person there could be, For I only wrote one paragraph. But I asked Jacques what I should put in place of this, he said just leave it (oh, and one more thing)...

My Trip to the ER!

Until yesterday, I'd never been treated in the ER before. That having changed, I have to say, the ER is not as cool and glamorous as on that show, you know, ER. There was no drama, not once did I see a nurse and a doctor making out in the lounge, and Noah Wyle was no where to be found. Just a little disappointing.

Tuesday morning I woke up at 2am to the sound of Seth crying. Once awake, I started feeling a little nausious, but figured it was nothing. By 4am, it was quite clear that it was not 'nothing'. I started throwing up every 2 minutes or so non-stop. A little after 7, Wayne's mom came to watch the kids and Lexie off to school, and Wayne took me to the hospital, since Instacare was not open. This part, I don't remember a whole lot of. A couple of things I do recall:
*They did not have a restroom in the ER waiting room. Huh? This just seemed odd. I had to throw up the second we got there, so Wayne lead me to the bathroom in the lab's waiting room, and I recall the looks on the faces of the people waiting there. Based on their reactions, I must have looked really bad. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and I was pretty darn white.
*American Fork ER is not up and hopping on a Tuesday morning. There was no wait, and there was only one other patient being treated. I was completely out of it, so I didn't see anyone's faces, but it seemed from the voices that I heard that I had several nurses. Then again, I was pretty out of it, so it could have been the same person over and over...
*I wish they had warmer blankets. I was FREEZING the entire time, even with tow of their blankets on. I just couldn't stop shaking. Of course, that could have been because I was so sick.

So, basically I was just really really sick. My blood pressure was really low, and I was dehydrated. They gave me an IV with some anti-nausea medicine, two bags of saline, and morphine, which was awesome.

Thankfully I'm feeling a lot better today. It was a weird, crazy experience, and I'm glad it's over. Hopefully this will be my one and only experience with the ER. And hopefully this will be my last experience with the stomach flu for a long time.

'Primary Helper' and generally just a "Good Girl"

Lexie has turned into sort of an awesome kid. I've mentioned that lately she's been sort of clingy, and that is true. In fact, at this very moment she's clinging on my arm watching me type. While sometimes her constant contact with some part of my body can be inconvenient, it's really nice to get numerous hugs and kisses and cuddles from a child who I thought for some time didn't even like me. It seems like Lexie is turning a corner and changing from "Tremendous Terror" into "Good Girl". She's helpful, she's loving, and she's even starting to become (gasp!) somewhat patient! She's even starting to play with her brother on the odd occation, which is a step up from seeming to wish he was never born. She's been actually enjoying and participating in her therapy, and as a result she can say the following "words":
Mommy (sometimes)
Daddy (sometimes)
SpongeBob (always)
Up
On
Off
Help
More
Meow
Woof
Moo
Oink
Hop hop
Up, up, up!
Rar
Beep beep
Tweet
That One
I Want It
Uh oh
Nay
Baa
Grandpa (apa)
Grandma (ama)
Swish Swish
Ssssssssss
... and a bunch more I can't think of right now. A lot of them are onomonopias (noises associated with a object or action), but that's the start.
Lexie is also becoming my little Primary Helper. I've had a lot to do these last two weeks, and it became impossible to wait until after her bedtime to get everything done. I'm finding that she can be a good little helper, once she is shown the papers she can touch and those she cannot, the piles she can play with and the ones she cannot, and expecially when I can find a small task for her to actually physically help me with. She LOVES that. Sometimes it means tasks take just a bit longer than if I did them myself, but it's worth it for her to get the feeling of accomplishment and being needed. Besides, with her right by my side I can turn my chore into Lexie Therapy time.
All in all, Lexie has been a good little Penguin (a new little thing we have going).