Mark's' dream come true

Mark has always dreamed of taking a photograph worthy of blowing up big and hanging on the wall. When we lived in Omaha we would go to Thomas Manglesen's Images of Nature gallery in downtown and stare at all of his amazing wildlife photographs and dream of buying one of his photographs. Mark would also dream about taking one just as amazing. Mark set his sights high.

Over the years, he has taken many amazing photographs. He truly has a gift that I do not have. He understands all the science of good photographs (aperature, lighting, etc). But he also has a very artistic eye for framing and composing photographs.

In Canada this summer, he captured the above photo at Sunwapta Falls in Jasper National Park. You have to look closely on the right side to see the trees to understand how huge and incredible this waterfall was. I loved it. I want to go back in the winter sometime and hike the frozen falls.

We sent his image to mpix.com and had it printed on professional paper. It arrived last week and I took it to the framing shop. Mark hung it in the dental office where everyone can see his work of art.

2 hours I'll never get back

We went to see Twilight this weekend. We were all excited to see it because we have spent so much time in the place where most of the outdoor scenes (including the baseball scene) were filmed. We also wanted to see if our friend made the cut as an extra.

I did not like the book. The whole time I was reading it I was thinking, "This writing is terrible. I like the story idea. But this writing really stinks. It could be a really great movie, though."

It could have been a really great movie. A different director would have made a big difference. And a different score. The only 2 good songs were written and performed by Rob Pattinson. The rest of the score was almost embarrassing, and did nothing to convey emotions. It was almost distracting in its grooviness.

Although Rob Pattinson was not the picture of Edward I had in my head from reading the book, I think he did an excellent job in the role. And I really appreciated the fact that in the scene where he plays the piano, he is actually playing the piano. It bugs me when someone is playing the piano in a movie, and nobody even bothered to teach him or her that you should at least pretend to be pressing keys when a note is sounded, and don't press them down when there is no note--or that the low notes are to the left and the high notes to the right. Kelsi in High School Musical is probably the worst on-screen fake pianist I have ever seen. It kills me.

The one part of the book that I found good was the final chase/ballet studio scene. Sadly, that part took up about 2 minutes of the movie, and created none of the suspense of the book. I realize why I liked that part of the book. Most of the book was like reading a play--all dialogue. The chase scene forced the writer to actually describe what was happening, and the characters finally shut up.

The scenery was great, and I must say the cinematography was marvelous. Kristin Stewart was a great Bella. But the screenplay had worse writing than the book. I felt like I was watching Star Wars Episode 3 with a terrible script, which George Lucas made worse by forcing the actors to underact--it was so bland and painful. I know that both Edward and Bella have much better acting chops then the director allowed them to use.

If there is to be a movie for the second book, I sure hope they can find a new director, and hire a different composer. But WOW! Isn't the Columbia River Gorge beautiful?

Perfect boots, part 2

I got a pair of Donald J Pliner boots similar to these about 8 years ago. They were expensive, but Mark insisted that I buy them at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, but I honestly didn't think I would ever wear them. It turns out that next to my green Cole Haan slippers, these are the best shoe investment I ever made. They are warm, waterproof, and perfect for a busy mom running around in the rain. Of course they are not as funky as Savanna's, but that just means I actually wear them.

I saw these boots at the Nike employee store last week when I bought Savanna's. I'm trying to talk myself into buying them, but I feel like I'm too old for them. They are Cole Haans with a Nike sole, and also are waterproof, and they are unbearably comfortable! Mark has wanted me to buy Uggs for years, but I keep laughing him off. These are surprisingly ugg-like, yet not ugg-like. We'll see what happens.

Perfect boots

While at the Nike employee store last week, we found the most perfect shoes for Savanna. They are warm, and very good for a wet climate like ours. Best of all, they match everything. They look especially good with argyle socks, uniform jumper and polo for school.

If any shoes ever called out Savanna's name, it was these. Cute, a little bit crazy, and very fun--just like her.

Coffe Talk with Noah

Today we were at Mark's mom's house for piano lessons. I overheard the following conversation between Noah and Abram:

Abram: Noah, get off of the coffee table. You're going to break the coffee table if you sit on it to watch TV.
Noah: Do Grandpa and Grandma drink coffee?
Abram: No
Noah: Is there any coffee in this house?
Abram: No
Noah: Well, then there shouldn't be a problem.

You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille

I am back from a long weekend in St. George. I had so much fun with Mark's cousins and aunts and Grandma. I love them all, and I can't wait to go back next November for some more fun.

While I was there, I got The Christmas Sweater to read on the plane home. It was so heart-warming. I loved the story, and its lesson about what really matters, and that it is never too late to leave the past behind and become something better. It seems like a long book, but it was a quick read, and I had it finished by the time I got home. I highly recommend it to everyone!

Thursday I had so many people who helped me out so I could get away early in the day. My friend took Zacky for me, and then drove him home when Aubrey got home from school. My next door neighbor picked up Savanna from Kindergarten and kept her there until Aubrey came home. Betsy was awesome and drove me to the airport, Barb picked me up from the airport (and took me back) in Las Vegas, another friend picked up Joel and Noah and took them to the dental office after school, our neighbor picked up Jake and drove him to his violin lesson Thursday afternoon, and my kids helped Mark make this weekend work without me. Thanks to all of you! I owe you all big time!

In St. George, I ate good food, laughed a lot, sewed school bags for an Eagle Scout project, shopped, baked cookies, stayed up way too late every night, and had the best time. My favorite part was getting to know Mark's cousins (or cousins' wives) better. They were all amazing, and I loved spending time with them. I miss you all!

Actually the best part was that Mark and the kids spent the WHOLE weekend masking off the basement trim for the painter today. He is spraying the trim, and it took 3 whole days to mask off the walls and floors. I bought my ticket months ago, and it just worked out timing wise that I missed that big project. Not the best timing for getting it done, because I could have sped things along if I had been here to help, and I feel a little bad, but at least I had fun! Mark joked when he picked me up from the airport that they did not sing "You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille" one time while I was gone. I'm glad I'm married to a Kenny Rogers fan.

Random things about me

I love to use pencils, especially Ticonderoga pencils.

I love to bake.

I sleep with 3 layers of polar fleece blankets.

I will not eat anything that ever lived in water or roamed a forest.

I love Indian food. Dal Makhani and Chicken Makhani are my favorite dishes.

I'm a sucker for brown eyes.

I like all 3 High School Musical movies.

I was on my Junior High chess team (only because the art teacher offered me an A if I would join).

Which leads me to the next one: I stink at art.

I am reading John Adams right now.

I don't like cake. I would rather have pie. But not just any pie. It has to be handcrafted by my mom (or me). I'd rather go hungry than eat a Marie Calendar's pie.

I love Krispy Kreme chocolate iced, sprinkle donuts.

I prefer semi-gloss paint. What can I say, our walls need a lot of scrubbing. And I like it shiny.

Halloween

The trick-or-treaters
Savanna was sure her mask was supposed to go this way.
Noah wow-ed all the girls in his Legolas costume again this year.

Joel was "Miscellaneous."

Aubrey, Abram's friend from school, and Abram.

I usually make costumes for Halloween. It's one of my favorite things to do. But this year with our house being such a disaster, and the location of my sewing machine being a mystery, I skipped the costume making. The kids were suprisingly fine. I think I'll still make a gingerbread girl costume for Savanna for Christmas. Every day is dress-up day at our house. Thanks to my efforts over the years, we have a well-stocked costume box(or shall I say boxes?).

Mark took them to trick-or-treat at the dental office. Most of the businesses on our street hand out pretty dang good candy on Halloween. I stayed home to sleep off the verced from my fun procedure earlier that afternoon.