Every Two Weeks I Seem To Get A Free Hour

Okay, Okay, it looks like the most often I can do this is every two weeks, so stop checking...this is as good as it's going to get for now.

Well it's been a busy couple of weeks. We're still working on the small remodel. I spent the day painting five different colors onto the walls and ceilings, trying to get things to match up. Tomorrow we're going to try our hand at carpet installation. It should be exciting if nothing else.

Oh the Roadshow Horrors

This year, the San Luis Obispo stake opted out of a traditional roadshow activity and decided to try something new, much to my husband's delight. The plan was for each ward to make a video presentation to the theme of "And The Moral of The Story Is...", and then the entire stake would get together to view all the videos. As a former Young Women leader, I have to say it sounded like a good idea in theory....at least we would avoid the whole last minute, frantic mess of performing live. I forgot how much my husband loves the process of making movies. I think as far as he's concerned, the greatest innovation in the last decade has been the ability to watch directors' commentaries on dvds of his favorite movies...he really loves this stuff. So, of course when he found out about the idea for the roadshow, he did his part as a member of the bishopric and volunteered to direct the flic. (Somehow I don't remember that as part of his duties in the official church handbook :)) I told him that this was akin to my father finding a way to make golf a part of his church calling. I tried to be supportive...through all the screenplay re-writes, to the table reads, to the trip to the dunes at the beach with five children for filming. I even smiled through the evening of green-screen interviews with all the actors. I gave appropriate input for what songs would best fit the soundtrack, and which out-takes made for the best blooper reel. I had to put my foot down however, when he was still tweaking the film AFTER he had turned it in the screening committee. Finally, the evening came for the big premier (and oddly, the ONLY showing of the movie). We were all excited...we walked the red carpet at the stake center and patiently sat through all the other ward films, secretly knowing that ours was of course the best. And, finally 2 hours into the program, we saw our movie up on the big screen. The moment when we realized it would be shown in 4:3 video aspect instead of it's intended 16:9 widescreen format was a little tense, but once we got that fixed, we sat back and enjoyed the show. And finally, after all the hours and days and weeks of work, Joe was awarded an "Oscar" for "Best Screen Play". Here is a picture of the golden guy....it sits proudly in our house, and I have to say, it makes everything we all went through worth every minute. (Is there a special font to use for sarcasm? Because I'd like to use it now.) Joe just saw what I was writing about, and wants to figure out how to post the 18 minute video for you all to enjoy. I'll leave that one up to him.

Other than that, our day Saturday with filled with regular Saturday type things. Harry had been waiting weeks for the Open House sign to go up at the fire station so that he could take a ride on the fire truck like we told him we had done a few years ago with Joe and Maggie. Imagine the anticipation for a four year old...waiting litterally weeks to ride on a real, authentic fire truck. Imagine now, if you will, the disapointment of a four year old when the fireman tells you that the lawyers won't let them give rides anymore! Oh well, we got to play in all the trucks, see a car dismantled by the jaws of life, and see where the fireman play Wii. So, all in all, well worth the two hours spent. Here are a few photos....

After the fire station, Joe IV and I had a date at Dream Dinners, where we assembled 12 dinners to eat during the following weeks. This is an effort on my part to get my son involved in the kitchen, and to possibly try eating ANYTHING that is not white or beige in color. He really enjoyed the process and wants to know when we can go back. I told him as soon as we ALL finish all the meals in our freezer. So we'll see how THAT goes. When we returned from Dream Dinners, I plugged in my camera to attempt to blog a bit. That's when I found over 100 pictures of my children, taken by my children. When I asked Maggie where Daddy was during this photo shoot, she shrugged and said, "on the computer".....I should have guessed...it was the afternoon of the roadshow. I told Joe he needs to be careful now...his children can tell on him.

Anyway, here are two of my favorite shots out the the hundred taken.

Let's see, what else? Just a couple of things I don't want to forget. The pictures tell it best.

Here is Maggie, going to bed. Every night, she gets ready, says her prayers, and snuggles up to read one chapter before going to sleep. I even found my book light confiscated to her room. Nothing makes me happier, as a mother and a book lover, to see her doing this.

And finally, here is a picture of Charlie sleeping. He's finally given up his crib and sleeps in a big boy bed (or the floor as the mood so strikes him). Because of this, I've had more chances to actually see him sleeping (meaning he wakes up in the middle of the night and wanders into my room and onto my bed). Every time he turns over, he really places both hands together and sets them next to his cheek. It's so cute....I never knew people REALLY did that. I thought it was just in corny tv sitcoms. Anyway, I didn't want to forget how cute it looks.

That's it for us tonight. We're planning a big trip to Disneyland next week with our friends and Aunt Chelsea....I'm sure we'll have lots to tell everyone then!