Rockstar

"Look, Mom. Hash is a Rock Star!"

- Rachel

Beastly

Its been a while since I've done a book review. But today I just feel like it, which is funny, considering I'm not in love with this book.

"Beastly" by Alex Flinn, is very much geared toward a specific audience. That would be passionate, socially current, fashion minded, emotionally charged, young people. All of which I am most definitely not. I take that back. I am most assuredly emotionally charged (post-partum anyone?) but not the teenage angst type of emotionally charged, which powers a lot of this book.

This novel is a new and current take on the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. An arrogant young man is caught in his bad behavior and cursed by a witch. His curse is that his outward appearance match his inner self, which is beastly to behold. And thus starts the young man's journey to discover a truer and more pure heart. As is expected in a retelling, all the ingredients of the original story are there. The castle, the roses, the household help who stand by him and, of course, a young lady with a pure heart who sees through his exterior beastliness.

The fun of the book is in the current surroundings. High school, New York, subways, dances and modern dialogue. I appreciated how the author took the opportunity to show other ugly (or beastly) parts of society as well, beyond just the young man. It kind of made me realize how ugly begets ugly to some degree and perhaps he was somewhat a sum of his surroundings. I was somewhat put off by the amount of teen angst and that most of it was centered on physical desires. It was not horrible and pretty nit-picky of me to even mention it. In fact, I probably wouldn't mention it if the characters were older, but I guess I'm over sensitive to teens thinking that the crushes they have in high school are the ultimate, most passionate relationships they will have. (Don't get me started on Twilight.)

It was a quick book to read, but definitely geared toward a younger generation than me. Nevertheless, I was interested throughout and really cared about what happened to the young man. And the ending was satisfying. 3 STARS (out of 5)

And remember my old book review blog? I'll open the linky if anyone wants to link up or recommend a book in the comments section.

big project for a little lady

Sydney has been working on a project for one of her Faith in God goals. She decided to make a quilt for her American Girl doll, Kit. I think it turned out really nice. It was her very first time sewing on a sewing machine. We started by putting two squares together so she had a pile of two squares. Then we sewed two and two together until we had 3 rows of 4. During that process, Sydney said to me, "Mom, my heart is pounding!" I asked her if she was nervous. (In my own head, I'm wondering if she's afraid to make a mistake or something.) She responded, "No, I'm just so excited. Look what I'm making."

I thought that was awesome that instead of being afraid or nervous, she was excited and amazed at what she was creating. She observed and participated in,

piece by piece,

2 squares, then 4 square rows,

then row upon row,

the process of creation.

She was able to see how each small piece could come together into a beautiful quilt.

I think the same thing can be said of parenting. Observing and participating in the creation of something beautiful. Piece by piece, moment by moment, row upon row, line upon line, the process of raising children. Each small moment combines into a beautiful family, child and relationship. And, as I have learned from Sydney this week, making sure that I don't miss it or weigh myself down with nervous or fearful self-doubt. Enjoy the process of creation.

Well, the quilt wasn't the only project Sydney had in mind. She also enlisted her Dad to help her build a bunkbed for Kit. She measured, designed, helped cut wood, used power tools, stained and varnished it. It turned out beautiful.

Last Saturday it was displayed at the Stake Activity Days program. And look at this beautiful poster my neighbor Lora made.
I think she was asked what she was grateful for: "My Family, Music and American Girl dolls." So true, so true.

Later we tried out the bed on Hashbrown. I don't think he was very impressed.

talk about consequences . . .

. . . Monday we had several consequences.

. . . like when Parker said he was too sick to go to school (but I knew he wasn't)

. . . and so I made him stay in his room in bed all day (to prove a point)

. . . and then I had to go downstairs every 20 minutes to turn off the movie he was watching

. . . because he wasn't staying in his room in bed all day like I told him to

. . . like when I was nursing and he snuck?/sneaked? outside

. . . which is when he was playing on the swingset and missed the bar he was trying to catch

. . . which is when he landed on his face

. . . which left a hole in his mouth

A couple of days later he lost the other front tooth. Then he says to me:

P: "Mom, do you have the 1st tooth I lost?"

M: "Why?"

P: "I want to put it under my pillow with the 2nd tooth. Maybe I'll get double."

M: "I don't think the toothfairy gives money for teeth that are lost when doing something you shouldn't have been doing."

P: "Well, its worth a try!" (with an adorable, melt-your-heart, toothless grin)

And since we're talking consequences. Here is one that's driving me crazy right now.
Action: having a baby
Conseq.: losing hair. I'm pretty sure that Hashbrown is the only person in my house with less hair than me, seriously. And any hair that grows back in, is GRAY!!! WHY???

copy cat

Nunn's Park up Provo Canyon on a lovely Sunday afternoon, we had a little copy cat.

Bryce was copy catting Rachel's smiles.

Sydney and Ster were copy catting each other on the tree stumps.

Karate Kid:

Ballerina:

Daa-aad!!!!

all day every day

Much of the day I get to stare at this beautiful face

and I LOVE it...

...unless it looks like this, much of the day.

a 9/11 survivor

I love watching the video profiles on mormon.org

Have you seen them?

Well, today you ought to check THIS one out.

And then check out a few more.

muscle power

For a couple of weeks now, Sterling has been flexing his muscles around the house. Not in a domineering or tyrannical sort of way. He's simply answering questions. Questions the kids ask. For example....

What would you do if bad guys came to our house?
Can you lift this? or throw that?
What if a lion came through the window?
Can you really do anything?

"Why yes," he responds without a blink, "Of course I can. Because I have Perseverance and Freedom." And he flexes his bi-ceps, with a low and tremulous growl.

Its been a fun little joke around the house. But as I think about it, perseverance and freedom can give a person a lot of strength to accomplish a lot of things.

What 2 things do you think give you strength?

faith....optimism....knowledge....friends....family....

Leave me a comment....and let me know....you know....what you think....

RoJo and Hash

Its just me and my RoJo and Hash most of the mornings now. Its nice. They are one of my favorite substances to indulge in. They are my best anti-depressant ever. Now that the older kids have gone to school, I'm free to partake of RoJo and Hash to my heart's content.

With my RoJo, every day is a new adventure. One taste of RoJo and suddenly, what has always been old and mundane is now new and exciting, like seeing life through eyes that are not as old and skeptical as the lenses I usually wear. The influence of my RoJo keeps me young and keeps me smiling. Its nice to get a good RoJo fix every morning. It makes me laugh and makes me silly and fills me with love, hope and confidence all at the same time.

Speaking of laughing and being silly...
Hash makes me pull silly faces and talk in crazy voices in less than 60 seconds of being under the influence. Mostly I sit on the couch with Hash and am willing submit to that contagious influence, unless the crying and hunger for more hits - then the bottomless pit must be fed and I am servant to something that has taken all control over me.

If you are feeling jealous and wonder what could possibly influence me this way...

Please meet RoJo and Hash:

(Our neighbor boy couldn't say Rachel and called her RoJo instead.)
(Hash for Hashbrown . . . get it?)

Yep, the best anti-depressant ever. I love these guys. Although I love my top 3 kidlets to death, its fun to be with my little 2 and only them during the mornings.