If You Give Your Wife a Treat...

If you offer to watch a girl movie for Valentine's Day, your wife will want something the whole family can watch.



She will choose Beauty and the Beast.  Her delight at watching the boys enjoy it will remind her how much she takes pleasure in a good love story.



She will choose to take some free time the next day to fall into the newest Jane Eyre adaptation.



She will find it mildly amusing but knows how good the story can actually be - in full book length, and adhering to the real details.  She will then desire to watch the really great version.



She'll pop in the long, wonderful adaptation and wonder how she could have gone so long without watching this account.  She'll laugh as Toby Stephens smolders as Rochester, and clap as Ruth nails the part of Jane.  She'll cheer at the pace and sigh at the symbolism.



This will remind her of the addicting trailer for this adaptation, set to the amazing Muse song.







She'll find herself enchanted with the story all over again.



This will remind her that watching classic girl movies feels really good.



And for next Valentine's Day, she will expect you to watch a girl movie with her.



If you give your wife a treat...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

More Trip Pictures

Tracked down these extra pictures from our trip.  Because I am sure you all were clamoring for more.

Sleeping on the Job

Baby hung out at Dad's work the other day.  I don't give him high marks for work output.  Do you?

But...he sure is cute.

Music Concert

A few weeks ago, the boys had a music concert at school.  Four played the violin and Three sang.

Oddly, I can't find any pictures of Three singing, although I know I took a dozen.  

But here is Four and his violin.

Trixie's Donuts

To celebrate Baby's adoption, my friend, Trixie, made us her famous homemade donuts.  She makes them in a way that they are corn-free and therefore edible for me.  Oh, what joy!

I was threatened to within an inch of my life on the drive home from church.  My boys had turned into rabid little wolves, gnashing at the foil.  

Yes.  Her donuts are that good. 

We ate them in place of dinner.  And none of us feel bad about it.

Thanks Trixie!

Suit From Curacao

Baby now fits into the suit from the dutch island of Curacao.  

He's a right little gentleman.

They're On To Me...

Today, Four asked if I would ever ground him from books.

I looked at him warily.  "Why?"

"Because Three was saying that if we were naughty that you would ground us from everything.  And I said, that I didn't think you would ever ground us from books.  So no matter how naughty I was, I could still read."

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh....."  Yep.  I think they are on to me.  This could be a problem.

Scout Bike Ride

We got home fairly late on Friday.  Early Saturday, we were all up to take Husband and three to a scout bike ride.  

Adoption

To finalize Baby's adoption we returned to the state of his birth.  

And we borrowed warm clothes from friends.  Because...it has been about 65 degrees all winter long here.  And we were going to the land of frigid.  The forecast called for temps to be 9 degrees on the first day, 12 degrees the second day, and 18 degrees the third day.  So I geared myself up for that shock.  And I prepared Baby as well as I could.  

On one of the days, we drove to see some of his birth family.  He was in a pretty good mood while we were there and had a nice visit.  He even sat in a restaurant high chair for the first time.

Husband loves the architecture of the library from Baby's birthplace.  It is beautiful.

We stuck Baby's bottles in his carseat and threw a whole bunch of blankets on him to get him from the car to the hotel.  When we took off the blanket we found this.  Baby was packing double heat. 

Then we played.

When I was brushing my teeth in the bathroom, I heard a whole bunch of giggling.  When I came out, I saw these two...thick as thieves.

And then this.  Tickle time!

Adoption Day!

We got a great picture with the judge but forgot to get a picture with our lawyer and assistant who have been so fantastic throughout this whole thing.  Oops! 

After the courthouse, we went to celebrate at a restaurant. 

Baby immediately dug into his wipes container.

Hey!  Are you judging me lady?

Whatever, I don't care.  These are too good. 

Now let's get to the weather.  Remember when I mentioned the forecast?  Well, it was wrong.  So very, very wrong.  I had geared myself up for a daytime low of 9 degrees.  In reality, it was negative temperatures almost the whole time we were there.  

Negative three was the lowest we recorded in the car but we spent most of the time at negative one.  And yes, we are the two idiots from California who had the heater turned up to 81.  

If I had a bucket list, I would say that feeling negative temperatures at one point in my life would be on it.  Just to have an idea of what negative degrees feels like.  Well.  Now I know.  Negative temperatures are so cold that it hurts to walk outside for more than a minute.  

If I were to cop to another bucket list item, it would be to walk across a frozen water source.  Husband finds this ridiculously bizarre but we did pass many frozen waterways and he offered to stop for me.  I was tempted.  In fact, I almost attempted it.  However, as we were out in the middle of nowhere for much of the time, I felt it wouldn't be that smart to tempt fate in negative outside temps with the closest hospital who knew where.  So that one will have to wait for now.   

The trip went well, as in we didn't freeze to death on our adventure, and we were so blessed to have so many great people on the home end taking care of the three oldest boys.  

Chillin...

What?  Like you don't hang out in your bouncer in your best suit?

Green Smoothie

A few years ago, a friend told me about green smoothies.  Made from spinach.  

I grew up with canned spinach - which is nasty.  As an adult I didn't really know what to do with spinach and I never would have thought to grind it up with fruit for some deliciousness.

Anyway, she made one for everyone who was there (although she added a beet which I think tastes like dirt), and the smoothie - if you could ignore the beet - was surprisingly delicious.  

But my kids will never drink it if they see leaves go into it, I told her.  

Do it before you call them in, she said.  Blend the spinach up with a liquid first.  Then have them come in and help add the fruit.  They will never know.

I could see her point.  What kid would think their mom was crazy enough to grind up leaves to drink?

Thus began our love affair with green smoothies.

Or Purple Hulk smoothies, as the boys nicknamed them.  Because it starts out green like Hulk and then turns purple when you add the berries, bananas, and peaches.

I took a picture of the transformation because I thought it was pretty. 

A few weeks after we started enjoying these, I thought, that since I was pretty sure the kids were hooked, it was okay to let them see what really goes into the Hulk part.  It was a risk.  A big risk.  But it paid off.  The kids thought it was the coolest.  You can't get them to eat a leaf in regular life.  Normally, anyway.  But, Purple Hulk smoothies?  Throw the leaves in!  The more, the better. 

We eat these all the time.  And love them.  

I am so grateful to Natalie for sharing this recipe with us.

To make a green smoothie:

Add: 

a cup or so of orange juice

a blender full of fresh spinach.

Mix until smooth

Add:

a banana

two handfuls of *frozen peaches 

about a cup of *frozen berries

Blend

*If it is summer and you have fresh peaches and berries available, use those and add a cup of ice to make smoothie cold. 

So simple.  So yummy.  So pretty to see it take shape. 

Many Hands

Baby has been really fussy the last few days.  He needs to be held constantly and doesn't seem to feel well.  Plus, he just had shots so I think he is still mad at me for that.  Anyway, the brothers took him into the messy baby's room for a little while so I could get some cleaning done without Baby in my arms.  

Baby quieted down and seemed content for a few minutes.  In between cleaning one room and the next, I passed by the room and saw this.  

All the boys were playing a game together on their ipads, with Baby sitting on Three's lap.  

"Go away!" they said.  "We are having boy time." 

"Alright, alright.  You don't have to tell me twice."

And off I went to finish cleaning.  The boys kept Baby content and entertained for a blessed hour.  

He really is lucky to have so many people love him. 

Court of Honor

...and since it was an Eagle Court of Honor, there was an eagle.

Two of my favorite people in the world.

Science Fair

More Book Chat

Well.  I dove into the Michael Vey books.  And now I am in installment hell.  Similar to trilogy hell, installment hell, is when you fall completely into a story, only to be jolted into crazy land at the end because the series has several more books that need to be released.  And the only thing you can do is wait.....  So.  Thank you for that Richard Paul Evans.  Thank.  You.  For.  That.

Installment hell might actually be even worse than trilogy hell because there will be seven total installments in the Michael Vey series (as opposed to three in trilogy).  So I get to experience the fun of a new book (and new psychosis at the end of each one) for the next four years.  So fun.  

The cherry on top of this crud sundae?  I finished the third in the series.  And of course had my breath taken away.  It was so good!  I was talking about how good some of the plot points were with Four.  He agreed and discussed all of his favorites.  And then?  Then Four called dibs on the next Michael Vey book.  Dibs!  Should I get all technical and suggest that calling dibs is like calling shotgun.  You need to be able to see the car to call shotgun.  Likewise, you need to be able to see the book (or at least have a release date) to call dibs?   

I know I gave him the books in the first place.  I know it looks pretty underhanded to want to keep the next book for myself first.  He's a child, for Heaven's sake.  Where are my manners?

When it comes to books, I don't have any manners.  No honor.  No anything.  Just give me the book and walk slowly away.  Books are also the only real gray area in my life.  The only time when, theoretically, you could make a sound argument on theft for a good book (only to read and return of course).  The only time, when in theory, I might agree that there is a possible good excuse for larceny.  Yep.  I am concerned as well.  But I am going to justify my concern by comparing myself with the worst of the lot.  Because I think it will be a sound strategy at judgment day.  While I may, in theory only, believe that honor about books is a gray area (similar to Jean Valjean stealing a loaf of bread because they were all starving), it's not like I am advocating murder or anything.  

Just maybe taking a book that arrives while my child is at school and hiding it until I can fully read it first.  Not murder.  Just order.  

So in summation, the Michael Vey books are excellent adventures.  You are welcome to borrow them.  Jump right in.  You won't regret it.  

(Until you are finished with the third and realize that you in installment hell with Four and me.)  

***

In the meantime, to cope with the feelings of despair that accompany trilogy hell, I jumped into the newest Sarah Eden.  At first, I thought she was going in the direction of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.  Which just happens to be my second favorite Bronte novel.  

Side discussion:  Honestly, is there a better villain than Huntington?  He is fantastically layered. Complex.  Demented.  Attractive.  Repulsive.  Simple.  I have always believed that Huntington should never meet Lady Susan (one of Austen's best antagonists).  I think the world would have a meltdown.  This is another reason I keep my Brontes and Austens on different book shelves.  No point in causing world destruction.  Until the books are all read, anyway. 

Back to Sarah Eden's latest.  It quickly veered out of Wildfell territory and into a nice adventure.  An original story, worthy in its own right.  She writes delicious page turners and I loved this latest story.  A lovely tale, complete with honorary appearances by almost all the Jonquils, Lord and Lady Cavratt, and the Duke of Kielder.  Very satisfying.  Took about twenty four hours to finish.  That is the one problem with Sarah Eden books.  She writes page turners.  Which means they are over all too soon.  

***

Speaking of page turners, one of my favorites is The False Prince.  I've read it several times and have tried, relentlessly and unsuccessfully, to get Four interested. 

Side note:  Four reminds me (in personality only) of Ostin from the Michael Vey series.  Very bright.  Very curious.  Sometimes feels like you are talking to an encyclopedia.  And he loves to read.  (He agrees with the Ostin similarity.)

And since Sage from The False Prince has always reminded me of Five, I thought for sure Four would fall in love with the book, as I have.  About a year ago, I convinced him to read it.  He read a few chapters, declared himself stupendously bored, and quit.  

I thought my head would explode.  

A few months later, I tried to entice him again.  Didn't work.  I tried bribery.  Didn't work.  I tried excessive bribery.  No dice. 

I let it go.  

Two days ago, at the dinner table, Four offered to try to read the book again. 

Really?  Seriously?  I could hardly contain my excitement.  But I did my best to be nonchalant.  

Me: Yeah, whatever.  You can read what you want.

Four: Well, I will only read it if you get it for me.

Me: (Still trying to be nonchalant) Get it yourself.

Four: Nope.  Only if you get it for me.

Me: (Impressed that he had taken my measure and was exploiting it).  Alright, alright.  

I rushed to get him the book.    

Ten minutes later he had to put it down to do his chore.  I had to practically pry the book from his fingers.  Apparently this reading was going better than the last time around.

He quickly did his chore and returned to his book.  He read until after bedtime.  He read before school.  He read at school.  He read after school.  He read in bed.  He snuck a flashlight into bed to keep reading.  By that time, he had a few chapters left so...I let him read in secret under his covers.  Who am I to crush his spirit and take away the book with only a little left?  (As I think I have made the point before, I am willing to break some rules when it comes to a good book.)

I went to bed.  I was close to dozing when a figure came at me in the dark.  He had just finished the book and he wanted to discuss it.  And he wanted the second book in the series.  Stat.  I told him he couldn't start the second book until the morning.  But we did discuss the first book.  He made character connections between Dr. Hatch and Connor which I thought were apt.  He talked about the plot points.  The surprises.  The things he expected.  

I asked him what was different about this time.  His response?  

I'm older now.  I understood it better.  And Mom, it was so good!  

I grinned in the dark.  Sometimes, because he is so Ostin like, it is easy for me to forget that he is only nine.  

I woke up to him this morning, demanding the second book.  That's my boy.

And just before I sent him off to bed last night, I called him back for one last comment.

Me: Four?

Four: Yeah, Mom?

Me: I am so glad that you liked the book.  And I will get the second for you in the morning.  But, Four?

Four: Yeah?

Me: The third one comes out in the next month.  And I call dibs.

He growled in the dark.  Alright.  So maybe I will let him have the fourth Michael Vey first when it comes.  Even if he is not home when it comes.  I suppose I can have some honor.  At least when it comes to this amazing kid.   

Beach Day in January

We got invited to a very exclusive surprise birthday party for Three's sister, M.

It was at the beach.  Would we like to come?

Yes.  Yes, we would.

And off we went.

Three and his sister, C, starting to make a sandcastle.

Three's brother, A, and Five digging a giant hole.

More digging.

More building.

I don't know if you can tell from the pictures but this was an absolutely gorgeous day at the beach.  It was wonderful.  Breezy but not windy, warm but not hot, full but not crowded.  

Only in California can you have a January beach birthday bash and have it be beautiful. 

M's First Sandcastle

The boys dug for rocks and ate pringles.

Then the kids moved down to the shore to make a second sandcastle.

Baby beach bumming it with the girl's fantastic CASA who set up this little shindig.  We'll call her K.

Building...building.  

The boys also did quite a bit of bogey boarding.  But I never got good pictures of that.

Digging a waterway from the castle to the ocean...

...and letting the water flow. 

I was very impressed that they all worked together to build this.  It was awesome!

K made M's favorite cake - German Chocolate.  It looked very good.  Three said it tasted very good.  Success! 

We borrowed a lighter off the lifeguard.  All the candles were lit.  We sang.  The candles blew out at the end of the song.  Does that mean her wish is automatically granted?  I think so.

Five made a turtle out of rocks and shells. 

And Baby's hair look plastered from all the sunscreen I rubbed on him. 

Here he was getting tired and so he put his thumb in his mouth and held on to my braid like it was his blanket.  

We had a great day and I am glad that Three got to spend the day with his siblings on his sister's birthday day.