Greg and Bianca

weirdos

2012-01-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

I left the room and they were on their stomachs, facing the complete opposite direction. Come back to find this funny scene. This is how they felt in my belly, also.

The worst Christmas card we ever sent

2012-01-06T11:53:00.000-07:00

My mom has a lot of strengths. Maybe an above-average number of strengths. I am being totally sincere and honest when I say this. She is a great mom, and an amazing cook. She has always built us up, taught us respect, manners, and how to use the telephone among MANY other things.

One thing that has historically not been a strength of my mom's is sending out Christmas cards. It is pretty understandable because besides all the business of the holidays, my sisters and I went through a combined 15 year awkward stage.

My sisters and I really give my mom a hard time about how she always picks the Christmas card that she looks the best in, without even glancing at the other members of our family. Case in point was last year's New year's card and my dad practically had his eyes closed.

Usually we are kidding, and we look fine enough, but a special year- I'm pretty sure it was '96- was the most embarrassing. That year was the worst. If you can't blow this picture up, I'd like you to know that those are MY UNDERWEAR. That little triangle of white. Yep, those are my undies. Combined with the glare on my glasses, I think I pretty much take the cake as the worst photographed of the Booth family, Christmas '96.

Carla, Miranda and my Dad look cute and adorable. My mom looks like a hot babe.

I found this scanned photo in a folder where we had saved old pictures for Miranda's wedding video montage. I started to laugh when I remember demanding my mom switch the card, but instead she used the gold pen she was using to sign our family's name and marked a tiny gold dot over my underwear triangle. She told me people would think her pen slipped and it was no big deal. I guess she knew it wouldn't be such a big deal in the long run.

I love you mom. Thank you for leaving Don't Sweat the Small Stuff; teen edition on the back of our toilet for all 4 years of high school. One of the best things you have taught me is that most things are not such a big deal anyway.

I do really regret those glasses. They had red frames. For a year straight I matched the bands on my braces with my red glasses. It was my favorite color.

love at first flight

2012-01-05T23:19:00.002-07:00

You should have heard me after the girls successfully completed their first flight out of Utah. I was telling Greg how our girls had genetically inherited a love of travel, and planning vacations, and imagining how we would be a family in transit with lots of passport stamps. Greg was just rolling his eyes. Can't keep a good woman down. Or stagnant. That's what I say.

Hazel and me on the plane. I know. It looks like she has a huge 'fro, but it's the guy behind us.

Greg's dad is a 4-day-a-week Californian. And he lives on a boat when he is there, so it is always so fun to visit and be in LA for a minute.

view from the boat on a harbor cruise

over a canal on a bike ride

I kind of think Southern California, specifically LA, gets a bad rap. But then again I do not live there and do not have to do the whole traffic thing every single day, so what do I know? I always hear people say California is overcrowded and too cool and has bad traffic, but whenever we go it seems like we are either in, or visiting the happiest place on earth so give me a break. It is great. I like that weather. The people are nice. They wear less black and less clothes than New Yorkers. I can deal with it. I am already spoiled by Utah winters compared to Connecticut so I feel like we're on the up and up when we're in California in November.

That's right, I am posting about something we did in November. Whatevs.

Greg and I went on a bike ride. Every time I have left the babies, even for 30 Minutes, I document it.

biking in the marina

@ venice beach

Here are more photographs. A few of them have already been posted to instagram, so sorry if this is double exposure for my friends.

harbor cruise

Walt's boat in its new slip

a bicycle built for four.

Of course Debbie got to California two days before us to go grocery shopping and set up everything so the rest of the family could have a perfect, stress-free holiday. She is amazing. We are eating Thanksgiving dinner in the galley here

yum

THE highlight for me was seeing my Aunt Charlotte, Uncle Mike, and cousins Adam, Nolan and Natalie- who drove up from San Diego to meet the twins. I am the luckiest to have such an awesome family- on both sides. I wish I could communicate to the girls how loved they are. Turns me right to mush talking about my family.

Adam + Hazel

girls dinner date. (penny is with dad)

Nolan, Uncle Mike, Natalie and Adam. Poor picture quality from my phone. Oops.

The flight to and from NY after Christmas was almost 5 hours and didn't go quite as smoothly as this one. I am begrudgingly going back on all the travel plans I made for us after this trip. ho-hum.

Ok well have a happy January 5th. I'll probably blog again tomorrow. I am on a rollllll

Dear Gwyneth Paltrow,

2012-01-05T16:07:00.000-07:00

You have been my favorite ever since Sliding Doors. When you married Chris Martin it was the icing on the cake.
I am publicly asking you not to die in the next movie I see. Country strong and 5 minutes of Contagion were too much for me.
love,
bianca

4 months, baby.

2012-01-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

**(The babes had another monthbirthday one month ago:)
I wrote this around the beginning of December and since it's already written I thought I should just post it for the record.)**

I am only writing about this because I took them to the Dr. again so I have stats. I recognize no one is holding their breath for me to write monthly updates on my children's stats, but oh well. When you are pregnant you are counting the weeks. Now with babies you are counting the months. I think when babies turn one you get to count years. Well... that's not true because a Dad told me his daughter was 20 months at church the other day, so maybe month counting stops at two years old.

Anyway, Penny is 12 pounds and Hazel is 11. It is disturbing that I am already so concerned about my children's weight, but it is the good kind of concerned. I want fat babies, not skinnies.
Our Doctor, who I really like, told me it's fine to start giving them rice cereal and fruits and vegetables. In my breastfeeding class the teacher told us all to set a goal to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months. Why do so many people tell you different things? Luckily, nursing is still going really well. This is how I feel about it:

(not one of my children)

So no other food for now. The problem is, Hazel is in the 5th percentile, while Penny is in the 30th. Dr. Mower told me rice cereal would probably help her weight. So we may have to revisit this. I hate percentiles.

In other twin news they are grabbing, and baby talking, and watching everything, and laughing(!) and sitting in their little bumbo, and rolling from front to back. rarely back to front. These are all of their accomplishments.

Here is a twin picture:

The problem with saying you are going to blog more is that it feels like it's hanging over my head to really blog more and then I want to quit blogging.

Right before the 4 month birthday we went to California for Thanksgiving. I just wanted to post some pictures of that trip so that will be the next time I blog. Just be grateful I am writing about this while it is still pre-Christmas. Sometimes I am barely keeping my head above water. When you write on your to-do list: "make bed," you know you either have a really easy life, or you are really struggling to get anything done in the day.

Or you are just writing stupid things on your daily list.

Here is our Christmas card picture, also.

Probably everyone reading this got one:)

An unsolicited opinion:

This year I used minted.com to make our cards in a hurry and was so happy with the paper and quality. Also their design selections were much better than the other sites I usually use and have to go through 500 cards before I find 2 that I like. So maybe it's the best site if you're not going to design your own. Not the best prices though. Tell me if you have another site to recommend and don't say shutterfly.

Dracula

2012-01-04T10:43:00.001-07:00

Dracula by Bram Stoker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It took me a while to finally finish this book, but I ended up really liking it. The trouble was I was expecting more detail, and more explanations to why we believe certain vampire lore today, and it ended up not giving me that. This book was scandalous when it came out, and it's a shame I can't transport myself to that time when it would seem scandalous to me, too. Really, it was like a very watered down version of something you'd read today. Like trying to make tea with a used teabag. So much for avoiding desensitization.

The other thing, was the big deal about this woman, Lucy. The three men avenging her Dracula-induced death were unequivocally in love with her. There is no explanation why, or even a redeeming quality possessed by this meek little woman, to warrant such gallant behavior out of her three suitors. I get it that we needed this situation for the story, but we've come a long way in developing female heroines and I'll take today's version of Hermione over Stoker's Mina and Lucy thank you very much.

View all my reviews

just because they button, doesn't mean they fit.

2011-12-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

The lesson I have learned this week.

Other lows: watching Burlesque and White Chicks "just because they were on" while nursing.

sous chef

2011-11-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

penny and some roasted potatoes and carrots

alfalfa sprout

2011-11-19T21:18:00.002-07:00

we are debating whether or not to cut off hazel's hair sprout.

This morning I thought the crib bumper, (where the girls' heads always lay) was dirty. It looked like it'd been smudged with some black dirt. I looked closer and it was rubbed-off hair. poor little bald ones.

Today was a really great Saturday with just the four of us. We slept in together after early feeding and visited Alpine. We made a few returns at the mall and ate at the Nordstrom Cafe. We left the mall as soon as possible since everyone decided to shop like it's Christmas eve. Greg's parents offered to come babysit while we went to a late movie, but all I want to do is go to bed and stay warm, so here we are. Home and watching football and I don't care. I am happy it's wintertime and cozy time and I am happy not doing anything sometimes. Only sometimes. As long as I have company not doing anything.

Also I am addicted to instagram. If you can get on it, get on it.

p.s. thanks for the great running advice. i think i am not going to run that race. i feel so much better deciding not to run it beforehand, than deciding race day not to run it or something. but who knows. happy saturday.

the secret.

2011-11-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

I suffer from overconfidence sometimes. The overconfidence where I think I can do everything. I have trouble saying no and I usually think I can juggle more than I should. So I end up letting something slide and do a terrible job at it instead of just putting it on the back-burner. My mom used to tell me I could do whatever I want, and be whatever I want. I still believe her.

Well the secret has to do with my overconfidence. About how I thought I would be ripped and fit 3 months postpartum and would be able to run another marathon lickety-split. So. When I was 3 months pregnant I signed up for the Rock n' Roll half marathon in Las Vegas. There. I said it. I did not want to tell anyone I signed up, so if I didn't do it, I wouldn't feel like a quitter that skipped out on a race. If I did run it, I didn't want anyone checking my race time online since I will be a slow as a turtle.
It is on December 4th.
It cost $120.
So far, the most I have run is 6 miserable, pathetic miles that practically took all morning. I just don't know what to do.

Do I just swallow the $120 and take this gosh-awful pressure off? Enjoy December and go to spin classes instead of forcing myself to run in the freeze? Or do I go to Las Vegas for the weekend, which costs even more money and just run the stupid thing? I am not ready. I will probably be too sore to walk afterwards and will be thinking swear words the entire time. But then I can say I did it and be proud of myself. What on earth. Tell me what to do. It is so horrible getting back into shape. wah wah wah.
Doesn't it look fun?? Oh man I wish I was so fast!

spendy

2011-11-17T21:18:00.001-07:00

In this week's or last week's Newsweek, there is an article about how we are addicted to spending. How the majority of us are hard-wired to opt for instant gratification even if common sense tells us to save for a rainy day. There is real science behind these studies, specifically that famous marshmallow study we've all heard about in school, and the fact that our brain actually releases oxytocin when we purchase new things.

I thought it was a timely article since I cannot believe it is time to Christmas shop already. Also, since I have stopped working and have to buy millions of baby things Greg and I have had to make some adjustments. What I learned from our conversations, and also from the article, was that generally speaking, women buy so much more than men. I mean, I grocery shop, and buy most every household item, basically all our necessities. I didn't really realize this, since on weekends Greg is at the store with me, but really I am the one making the lists and telling him we need this stuff anyway, and I end up spending all the money. Greg buys lunch and big things when he decides we need new electronics:)

Now. The point of me thinking about all of this is what on earth to do for Christmas.

What do you buy almost 5 moth old babies. Do I get them loads of presents? They can't even use their hands. I think I will buy them a stock of cloth diapers since I am seriously considering this transition (while we are at home) and call it good. Did you know that every diaper allegedly takes 250-500 years to decompose? what the...

Newsweek article
cloth diaper article

i love you, tina fey

2011-11-15T01:03:00.000-07:00

“But I think the first real change in women’s body image came when JLo turned it butt-style. That was the first time that having a large-scale situation in the back was part of mainstream American beauty. Girls wanted butts now. Men were free to admit that they had always enjoyed them. And then, what felt like moments later, boom—Beyoncé brought the leg meat. A back porch and thick muscular legs were now widely admired. And from that day forward, women embraced their diversity and realized that all shapes and sizes are beautiful. Ah ha ha. No. I’m totally messing with you. All Beyonce and JLo have done is add to the laundry list of attributes women must have to qualify as beautiful. Now every girl is expected to have Caucasian blue eyes, full Spanish lips, a classic button nose, hairless Asian skin with a California tan, a Jamaican dance hall ass, long Swedish legs, small Japanese feet, the abs of a lesbian gym owner, the hips of a nine-year-old boy, the arms of Michelle Obama, and doll tits. The person closest to actually achieving this look is Kim Kardashian, who, as we know, was made by Russian scientists to sabotage our athletes.”

I finally finished Dracula for book club. Now I am reading what has been sitting on my nightstand for months and I am so happy. we all need a little more honest humor in our lives. and less vampires. definitely less vampires.

p.s. i just started the book. i found the quote and lol-ed when I read it, on another blog.

bigs and littles. it's all relative.

2011-11-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

I think my girls are so big.

then this was taken a month ago...

10 months apart

that's my niece Gabi. She is Greg's younger brother's and the cutest little ginger.

Last week we had another niece arrive and it was such a happy day. Greg's older brother Jason and his wife Kelli finally got their baby girl after 3 adorable boys. Little Violet is only 3 months younger than my girls, meaning same grade, and cousin-friends for their whole lives. It is super exciting. Looks like Scott will have 4 new nieces/(or maybe a nephew) to meet by the time he gets home.

This photo barely shows how cute Violet is, but does shoe a pretty great size difference. Hazel alone could eat her for dinner. And she doesn't even eat that much.

Congrats to Jason and Kelli and for all the healthy babies around.

trois mois

2011-11-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

The girls are 3 months old (Nov 1st). I cannot remember a time in my life that has passed faster, other than every vacation I have ever been on.

Penny is still chilling out. She is only mad when she is hungry, or has to stop eating. She eats like it's the holidays every day. Hazel is slightly more temperamental, but gives me lots of smiles to make up for the screams when any article of clothing is pulled over her head.

I decided last minute that I just couldn't pass Halloween without making some attempt at costumes for the babes. I just got some flannel at JoAnn's and made the air fresheners. Only cute when laying on the floor.

Greg and I were tourists. My sister asked me if I stuffed my costume, that's how unflattering they were. I think that was the point though.

where should we go next?

Lat November I blogged every day. Or just about. I am going to try something like that for the next month so I can get back into it. 4ish posts in 3 months is pretty unacceptable, I know. Ok, hope everyone is having the happiest Saturday.

here are some more baby pictures. This is a baby blog now.

hate to say it

2011-11-08T12:15:00.002-07:00

but I'm not sorry about the NBA lockout at all.

freshen up

2011-10-28T10:36:00.000-06:00

I really want to make these for the babies. They just lie on their backs anyway, and they stink sometimes. I thought it was too funny.

other ideas:

that 'fleece' is just batting, with black long sleeves and leggings.

love halloweenie.

baby blues

2011-10-17T00:58:00.000-06:00

Hazel and Greg with matching eyes

Penny still has newborn blue-grey. Yum.

I sure hope they stay this way.

These photos are from the girls' blessing day. It was a perfect day and Greg did great, despite nervousness that one child would be more blessed than the other. I was listening close to see if he had a favorite, but all was fair and equal. Thank goodness:) My parents and Grandparents came into town and visited, and I'm so glad they could see the girls while they are still tiny. I was really missing Miranda and Daniel far away in DC. Boo. Come Baaaack!

the grandparents

Grandpa holding Penny

G.G. holding big-eared Hazel

Man, I love my family.

the death of me

2011-10-16T12:07:00.000-06:00

who wants snacks to be 80 calories anyway?

eat 2-3/sitting for best results.

nursery time

2011-10-11T23:43:00.001-06:00

Here are some photos of the nursery for you far-aways. It was decorated verrry slowly. I really loved looking for artwork the most, since I'm always on the lookout anyway. I like to imagine the girls growing up with art all around them. This was also our first joint project. Greg primed and painted with me, AND put up all the beadboard. Way to go baby.

The best thing about the nursery =

Picture wall. I spy doc.

Hazel's crib.

Peny's bed.

This chair was the best purchase we have made so far. It is always occupied.

changing table view. blah.

A couple in pink light. Taken during naptime.

That was a lot of pictures of a 9x10 room. Thank goodness the girls are sleeping in their cribs now or else bedroom number 2, of our 2 bedroom house, would still be vacant. I now have loads of nursery decor sources, etsy sites for prints and handmade goodies, and sewing patterns, if you're a real go-getter, bookmarked. I will blog about real life events sometime soon. promise.

dumber by the second

2011-10-09T00:18:00.001-06:00

I need some suggestions for keeping my mind sharp.
Should I start doing Sudoku again?
I could not finish my book club book this month because I could not focus and get through the dull bits. I usually try to push through books, especially the "classics". If so many people say they're good, then they probably are, right? The book was Of Human Bondage. Will someone loan me the Cliff's notes?
That was the first sign.
The second sign is the fact that I often don't know what day of the week it is. Or what child I just fed. I have only repeat-fed one time, and it didn't even work because she was full. I start out knowing, but then I forgot. Unless we have a Dr.'s appointment, then I know what day it is.
The third, and probably the most worrysome, is that I am extremely excited for a certain reality TV wedding to air this weekend.

Change is in the air. All this staying home and cold weather coming makes me antsy and squirmy and missing work and my planner sometimes. I miss being able to talk to grown ups about the goings-on of the world. Even if it was just the goings-on of the science department. And I miss finishing projects and feeling proud of my work. I know the proper feeling should be that I am proud doing the most important work and all that business but the rewards are slow sometimes when I would throw myself in front of a freight train to get my baby to stop crying, but she still won't. Penny and Hazel are fattening up, and smiling lots more. That is probably enough happiness to last me all day. But. It is still a strange feeling to think about what I'm going to do in the week, and then to realize I can do whatever I want. It is also a strange feeling to want to buy baby clothes all the time but, without making any contribution to our family income for a few months now, I feel weird spending money. Kind of guilty. Does everyone just get over all these hang-ups?

Don't get me wrong. I am really in love with the girls. I don't think becoming a mom makes you dumb. I just think I have had to shift my brain a little. We had their 2 month appointment yesterday and everything they do I am proud of. Penny weighs 9lbs 9oz. Hazel weight 9 lbs even. I am surprised she even weighs that much because they feel so different when I hold them. They are tracking and holding their heads up better and making the cutest coos. They also started linking arms when they lie next to each other. It's still all incredible to me. I am a sap mom.
Here are some baby phone pics.

That's all for month two. Will someone come be my personal trainer? Catch ya later.

the comb-over

2011-10-05T23:53:00.001-06:00

This Schwarz family is struggling in the hair department.
Hazel has a receding hairline.
Penny is bald.
Greg is becoming a silver fox.
I need a haircut so bad I am starting to look like a polygamist.

Just to be fair. He is a picture of the hairless beauty.

the magic week

2011-09-12T19:12:00.001-06:00

While I was pregnant I kept hearing about 6 weeks postpartum. The week where your bump would go down and people would not ask when you are due anymore. The week where you can physically exert yourself, and feel good about it. It was the magic week and I thought if I could make it nursing, then I would be mother of the year, have no more days where I can't leave the house before noon, and an automatic bangin' bod.

Well, today is that day. It is basically like a birthday and I feel no different.

matching

hazel and happy penny

the hangover

little people, big world.

in their bassinet

we are putting them in their dresses, even though they don't quite fit yet. summer is almost over! sue me!

superdad.

more naps. look, it's not like we are going on hikes yet. basically their accomplishments are napping and eating.

Also, I have discovered that despite many efforts to not treat my dog like my child, whenever I am talking to the babies, Doc comes running. The completely embarrassing puppy voice is not so embarrassing when used on babies, but still....
right now it earns much more reactions from Doc than it does the babies. They just stare at me.

the news:
We have nights down pretty well, meaning we know what to expect but are still getting sleep in spurts. Usually, they eat at 10pm, 1am, 4 or 5 am and then so on every 3 or 4 hours throughout the day. I feel like I am still surviving off adrenaline a little bit. Every morning I think to myself, "we did it! we made it through the night!"
Penelope is trying for the Guiness Book of World records for the baby that eats the most. She must have lots of other things to do because nursing is a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am kind of thing. Hazel has put herself on a diet and is determined not to gain an ounce so she will look great in her 0-3month clothes for her first year. I call her the waif.
The comparisons are impossible not to make. Every time one girl does something remarkable (to me) I think to myself that the other one had better be close behind. or else.

Greg and I went to our first movie- planet of the apes- and I think it's my new favorite just because I haven't seen one in so long. I learned we can go to matinees and need to be on the aisle.

breaking news: we are sitting here watching Monday night football and Greg's fantasy player just scored. He proceeded to run around the room carrying Hazel who promptly threw up on his shirt. She hates fantasy football too.

and there we have it. I am really struggling blogging about my genius babies who are so interesting, and doing so much, and great at changing facial expressions, and advanced for their age. I would not trade this job for anything, but I do not know if it makes great writing material.
love, the mom.

the bobbleheads

2011-08-30T19:43:00.001-06:00

I think if I don't blog soon I never will again.
The girls are 4 weeks old today. Yikes. It has flown by and I have been in zombieland for the most part with little distinction between days and nights. Fortunately, my mom spent 3 weeks here, coming into town just the day before I went to the hospital. She cooked, cleaned, did laundry, walked my dog, and held one little gal while I figured out what to do with the other.

There is so much to say about being a new mom that it's pretty much impossible to write about all the mush and feelings and meltdowns without sounding like a glossary of cliches. But. It has been awesome. I am in love and all of the above. Greg has been amazing, too, and has decided he'll take these girls over boys any day:)

Here are a couple pictures from the hospital. I think I have already sent these to my family members but they are the only ones on my computer right now.

Me with Hazel. I hardly remember anything at the hospital I was so out of it, but we were there for 5 days. Thank you so much to everyone who sent love and flowers and came to visit. Greg decided who to name who- his only request after we'd agreed on the names- while I was in recovery.

The C-section was great and super fast. My water ended up breaking about 8 hours before I was scheduled to deliver, so we just went in in the middle of the night and delivered early. The recovery was pretty horrible but I felt perfectly fine after 10 days.

This is Penelope Frances. Frances is my middle name and my Grandma Booth's first name. I hope she will grow up to be as wonderful as my grandma and be proud to carry on Frances with an E. She was born, or pulled out, at 1:50am- August 1st. - a whopping 5lbs 7 oz. Everyone is calling her Penny and I am ok with that I think.

Penelope is super chill. She eats and sleeps and rarely complains. She is a dream baby and makes the funniest stink faces. She also passed up her originally bigger sister at the 2 week appointment weighing in at 6lbs 6oz.

This is Hazel Bird. Bird is Grandma Schwarz's maiden name and Hazel inheriting the name was a game time decision I was not a part of. It was really only thrown into the mix the day before, but now it fits her perfectly and I love it. My mom took to calling her Hazelbird right away and it has kind of stuck.

Hazel was baby 'A', born first at 1:49am and the big mover in my belly the entire pregnancy. She was also super big at 5lbs 10oz and weiged 6lbs 3 oz at her 2 week.

i'm just kidding about how big my babes were. they are still not fitting into some of their newborn clothes. Grow babies, GROW!

Hazel is awake all the time. She just stares and stares. She cries like we are personally offending her and deliberately trying to starve her. She eats like a bird, and stops nursing after 10 minutes, only to want to start up again after I swaddle and burp her. I love her just as much as Penelope though, ok?

Don't worry.

This is a lot of information, but it will probably cover all the new baby questions anyone might ask if they were to see this post and I had done what I was originally planning on, and just put up a couple pictures. Sorry for those of you who have heard this all before. Now I have been blogging for a half hour and I feel like I am getting my life together again. ha!

Keep my family in your thoughts because my parents have no electricity- and maybe won't for a few more days. They are probably needing a hot shower right now stinking up the house. Irene is the worst I guess. Geez!

OK may the blog force be with you. I will now return to my regularly scheduled channel surfing.

thirty six and in a fix

2011-07-21T23:35:00.001-06:00

I don't even think this picture does it justice, but my belly is so low and big I swear there is no more room to grow. Every time I think that, I keep growing.
FEED ME.

You must excuse the somber facial expression and the fact that I am on a three shirt rotation. I was concentrating so hard on taking that picture without having to look in the mirror I ended up looking like I'm a super-grump.

Meanwhile, I finished the bumpers for the cribs with this fabric. I am pretty proud that I at least made one thing because my do-it-yourself list rapidly shrunk as soon as I began the first project. I ended up omitting the pink fabric and will post a picture of the finished nursery sometime when I get around to it. Well, it is a finished as it's going to get. The grey stripes ended up on the inside of the bumpers, and they make my cribs looks like they are little jail cells. I hope we are not going to give the girls complexes too soon. Just kidding.

Here is a really interesting article about how to land your kid in therapy, parenting, and our weird generation that waits for perfect things to fall into our laps.

I am not a parent yet, but that has not stopped me from reading these articles and having anxiety about how I will raise the girls, and dwelling on how incredibly inept I feel about being a mom. Two girls makes me nervous, but no more nervous than 2 boys or one of each or just children in general. How will I teach them to be kind? And honest? And smart, respectful, and hardworking? What about teaching them to be uplifting to other girls, and not petty, or insecure mean bullies. Also to not care about boys. That is impossible.

my faraway one

2011-07-21T23:02:00.000-06:00

I heard the most beautiful book review today and it made me daydream about the stages of love. I am feeling lots of love lately from far away and close by. As close as my abdomen, actually. Georgia O' Keefe is one of my favorites, and this new book out has published a volume of her correspondence, in letters, between her and her husband, Alfred Stieglitz. I have always thought her work was incredible, and identified with how she romanticized the West.

Here is a link to the feature.

Let's get some summer reading on!

4th

2011-07-05T13:57:00.002-06:00

Greg and I decided we were going to be ambitious yesterday and go out. All day. It all started with deciding we should eat a hamburger on America's birthday.

After lunch we went to Snowbird and I went on the zipline and alpine slide and bungee jumped.
Just kidding.
We walked around and held hands and watched people do those things, bought Greg at hat, and remarked how amazing it was that people were still skiing. (Really, yesterday was the last day to ski at Snowbird! Crazy!)

As I was walking by the pizza cafe I heard the teenage worker say to his friend, "Oh my gosh. That girl looks like she is going to burst! Did you see that?!"
I waddled a little faster by, pretending I was very interested in the advertisements for summer activities hanging up. I did not hear the friend's response, but maybe they were EMT certified and wanted to let each other know that if I went into labor at that second, they would be at the ready.

It is getting to the point where everyone I come in contact with wants to comment and talk about how big I am.
Frankly, I am too shy to be having twins. I would rather not talk to strangers all the time. I know they are just interested and being kind, but that cry reflex that I get when I'm nervous starts to creep up on me when a stranger conversation starts to go on too long. I do not want to tell random people the positions of my babies and that I am disappointed I will have to have a c-section. Delivery questions and fertility questions should probably be off limits, right?

Anyway, snowbird is beautiful and I cannot wait to be able to participate in outdoor activities and sports again. ugh.

greg the hot babe @ the bird

After snowbird we ate at Trio and went house hunting. I mean, it was dream house hunting. Then we went to the Bees AAA baseball game. Doesn't get much better than that. (Except when there are fireworks afterwards.)

favorite pastime

Two other funny things happened after the game. While we were slowly leaving the stadium with the throngs of people who stayed for the fireworks, a little girl in front of us kept looking back at me, pointing, and whispering to her mom. She was very concerned about my size and ability to walk down the stairs. But she was very cute. Her mom was so nice and told her not to point and that I was going to have a baby. Then, on our walk to the car, a girl waiting for her ride said to her friend, "Look at that! Poor thing!" I have to laugh that I am now a 'poor thing' who should not be walking anywhere. Maybe I have a pained look on my face all the time?

These are just embarrassing anecdotes that I have to record, or else Greg will think I am exaggerating whenever I tell him I don't want to go out and have pregnancy conversations with every person I meet on the street. ha! Luckily he was present for all 3 incidents yesterday.

On our ride home I fell asleep so hard when I woke up I felt like we were in another country. My feet were swollen and I was so tired out.
But hamburgers + best friend company + baseball + fireworks = a really great day.

I am so excited to have an actual activity to update and post about.

ALSO: Here is my awesome mother after her race in New Hampshire this weekend. She ran the Bradford 5k. Sort of a family tradition when we are out there for the 4th. I'm homesick for New Hampshire and my family and homesick for running.

goooooooooo mom!

oh, you thought this would be a post without pregnancy references?!

Until next time.

Hope everyone had the happiest fourth. Proud to be an Americana.

balsamic dressing

2011-07-05T13:35:00.000-06:00

This happens to me every single day.

I am convinced it is because I can't sit close enough to the table. Not because I am a sloppy eater.

for the record

2011-07-05T13:31:00.000-06:00

I am just going to post the book 'reviews' on my book review page from now on. The link is to the left underneath This is not monumental news, but mostly those 2-3 sentences are written solely for me, so that I can remember what I read and if I liked it (I usually do). Happy summer reading! xxx

keeping them in business

2011-06-29T22:37:00.000-06:00

I am now a recognized patron of the American Fork Sno Shack. They know my order.
You could maybe say It's my way of giving back to the community and supplying endless summer spending $$ for the high school gals that work here. You're Welcome, Sno Shack. I will keep waddling over every night until I can't anymore.

step into my office.

2011-06-28T14:31:00.000-06:00

Greg's little sister and her friend have been sleeping over a bit and we set up this air mattress for them. Since they've left for cheer camp it has somehow stayed inflated and become my resting spot all day long while I write thank you notes or plan vacations I will not be able to take for 20 years. Lately Greg has really taken to the arrangement and I think we may have a permanent situation on our hands.

I only use phone pictures to blog now. Sorry for the bad quality, so so lazy.

I am 33 weeks and a couple days today. I am also a 100% stay-at-home-wife. This has been a little taxing, because even though my house is a huge mansion and I never feel cooped up in a jail cell (wait, yes I do) the hardest thing has really been having to stay inside because of the heat. I like to write to do lists and get lots of things done, and feel like I'm at least pulling my weight in this twosome. Lately my days consist of taking doc out, reading, eating lots of fruit, and re-cleaning. Greg is really wonderful and helpful and sympathetic even if I am talking so much when he gets home from work his eyes start to glaze over.

Here are the belly pics.

I will try and stay up on the blog a little better. I am not lying when I say that the only thing going on over here is the presence of a blow up mattress in the living room. So, for lack of material, pregnancy updates will have to suffice.

Hollerdollar

2011-06-14T22:47:00.001-06:00

I am organizing my email so I can continue procrastinating making baby bedding and I found this photo. This picture has been above my mom's desk for years and I like that she is so happy, and laughing. My Dad is so tall and skinny... and also definitely happy.

I thought it was appropriate to post since this weekend is my sister Miranda's Connecticut wedding reception. I can't come and all I can think about is how I can't see the new chair rail in my parent's house, or their ring ceremony, or Eric's RHS graduation, or my extended family that is coming in. I am kind of bumming. In reality, if I had to sit on a plane for four hours right now I might pull the emergency exit slide and abandon ship like the Jet Blue guy who quit after cursing out the entire plane.

While everyone is partying, I have been going to lots of pregnancy classes.

Be Prepared.

Girl Scout Motto.

I get to play with these creatures

ahhhhh!

Today was a breastfeeding class with a new teacher. She told me that she would be my partner, and that lots of women have to find other support if their 'significant others' are not around. So I am a single mom. I was too embarrassed to say that my husband was out of town, and felt too sorry for myself to think about how much real, live, support I have all over the place. Duh.
But I still miss Greg.

I could be wearing moon boots and you would not know.

This is a photo I took while I was waddling out to my car after Lamaze class yesterday.

So, to keeping things positive:

Happy Tuesday and happy summer to all the hot babes that get to go to the pool in a bikini. I am seriously happy for you. Seriously. Happy 31 weeks to me. Happy championship to the Mavs. Happy snow cone evenings every day in the Gold's Gym parking lot. Happy beginning of parade season in Utah, especially PG Strawberry days! Happy summer nights when it's still light out at 9pm. Happy camping season. Happy Bachelorette season to you all, also. (Even though Ashley is so whiny/insecure that we are all secretly waiting for the second season of Bachelor Pad with Jake and Vienna.)

in case anyone thought I hated my dog...

2011-06-10T01:11:00.000-06:00

I have been having trouble sleeping, so a little while ago I got out of bed to go use the computer. 10 minutes later Doc pulled his bed into the living room and promptly fell back asleep. He woke up when I was trying to take his picture and send it to Greg.

That's pretty cute. Dogs can get lonely, too!

Yupster

2011-06-09T02:52:00.002-06:00

mix of yuppie + hipster.

I don't think I am either of these things but what do I know anyway. Who even says yuppie anymore? I came across a post about baby names that 'these types of people' like. It is strange how predictable 'we' are getting. I like a few of these names! I have friends with kids with these names!

Even though we have pretty much decided what we think we are going to name the babies, lately I want to name a baby Clementine. Greg hates it. Hates CLEM. Maybe we can use it for a middle.

oh my darling

So even though I think we have decided(?), I guess the names will be announced when the babies are born. It's kind of strange to refer to belly-children by name anyway since I don't know who is whom. Also, I've told a couple people what we were thinking about naming the girls and the names have often been met with less than enthused reviews. My feelings get hurt because I'm a pansy so I think it's better to just name your kids what you really like when they come out. Everyone will get used to them anyway.

As Greg's Grandmother famously said, "You name them, we love them!"

Check out this link and see how many little girls you know with these monikers:
nameberry link

I guess another thing you do when your husband it OOT is blog. A lot.

vacation

2011-06-08T21:40:00.000-06:00

One time my mom told me that when my dad went on business trips, she would sleep horizontally across the bottom of their bed by flipping up the comforter and untucking the sheets so she would not have to fully remake the bed with all its pillows every morning.

I thought of this as I was eating my orange juice ice cubes for dinner. Something I probably would not do if Greg were home. I would at least have stressed about making dinner and ended up either making something or insist we go out because we "have no food in the house."

oh wait, who am i kidding. I ate dinner at Mi Ranchito at 4 pm. I am having orange juice ice cubes for second dinner.

For the record, lemonade ice cubes are better, but OJ was all I had.

Looking on the bright side instead of the lonely side, here are some other things to do while your husband is gone:
lunch dates
guilt-free naps
walking dates
quilting
no bedtime
being the boss of the dog for once
sleeping in the middle of the bed
long phone conversations in the evenings
getting the mail all by myself
..and taking the trash out
no cooking except oatmeal, eggs, steamed spinach, smoothies and sandwiches
cherry popsicles for third dinner in about a half hour.

cheers!

30 going on 40.

2011-06-06T11:05:00.000-06:00

Greg left this morning for 2 weeks on a trip with 40 recently graduated high school seniors. It's just me and Doc holding down the fort for a while. I hope I don't give him away out of frustration.

Last night at their open house and this morning as everyone loaded the bus made me realize how much work he's done. I mean, hundreds of hours, putting together a curriculum and speaking to parents about each kid's individual needs, high school friendships that have fallen apart since sign up time, dinner arrangements, tickets for their amusement park, Major League Baseball game and Broadway show... I wish I could go! This is a husband brag, but this trip has been a work in progress for months and I'm excited it's finally here. Apparently Greg can make websites and buttons and I am getting dumber by the second.

In other news.... there is no other news. I have been reading a lot and have a lovely bookclub now which is super exciting. Scott is doing great on his mission in Bolivia. My little sister Miranda is not moving to Denver anymore and is going to Washington DC instead. DO YOU KNOW how much farther away DC is than Denver from Salt Lake. It's a lot farther. Good thing Carla-roo will still be with me.

It barely seems appropriate to put solo-shots on your blog. Let alone solo shots where you have gained almost 40 lbs. omg.

The babies are 3 pounds each. The email alerts I get weekly say they are 16 inches long. What? That seems really long. My doctor said if I deliver by 36 weeks he "won't stop" my labor. ok. He also said I'm doing fine so he will definitely not induce me before 39 weeks. ok even better. I think I got my hopes up that I would deliver early. Oops.

anyway, here I am.

]

That's all for the update. I promise I will either be posting pictures of babies or adventures or adventures with babies before you know it and we will have some better reading over here on this blog.

hasta la vista

panic vs. not

2011-05-25T13:45:00.000-06:00

On Saturday Greg and I watched our nieces Sayla and Gabi while their parents were in Vegas. I noticed a huge difference in Greg and my attitudes. He was very relaxed all day. Somehow he managed to fall asleep watching TV while Sayla ate out of the cereal bag sitting on top of him.
Exhibit A

Somehow I freaked out for two hours thinking about how tiring parenting was and how it is much easier being pregnant when you have no kids. I was worried I was going to starve Gabi. Also, I worried about how tired I was carrying around a baby on my huge belly. It took me those two hours to realize Gabi is 8 months old and I am about 7 months pregnant, so a situation like this will most likely never happen.
Relief.

here's Gabi eyeing me. I think she is telling me telepathically to stop trying to feed her sweet potatoes.

Oh, and here's Doc. He is the epitome of panic. They say your dog reflects your personality.

2011-05-23T17:15:00.000-06:00

Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I don't really have anything to say about this except I am recording that I read it on my blog and goodreads. I felt generally creeped out by this book and uninterested in vampires as a result. I think I thought for a second that I should read it because it was pretty popular when it came out, and now you can't turn around without seeing a vampire TV show or new book series. Maybe it was the vampire mothership?

Then I decided to watch the movie afterwards in case it would make me feel better about myself for reading this, since it was a pretty big movie in 1994? I must have been a busy 3rd grader to have missed it. Stephanie Meyer was 100% an Anne Rice fan though. She had to have been, because the descriptions in Twilight and this are too close for comfort.

That's all. Don't read it unless you are a total vampire lover and want to time travel for the movie premier to be undisturbed by the special effects and a blonde Tom Cruise. I want my weekend back.

View all my reviews

after edit: a much more entertaining book that has lots of historical fiction, Eastern European landscapes, and vampire lore to boot is The Historian.

two of everything

2011-05-17T15:22:00.000-06:00

I thought I'd post a picture of the nursery so far. I took it on my phone, so it's fuzzy, but I didn't want to leave my dumb book review as the last thing on my blog for a week. Yesterday our second crib came in. They come with a brown base, so Greg and I painted the bottoms the same color as the grey wall.

The nursery has been a challenge. I feel like it needs to be perfect. Also, I am looking on design websites and that never helps when you have expensive dreams and a budget. The thing I'm discovering is while the internet is as big as the universe, design blogs are not. So many things are featured and then re-featured. The same etsy shops are linked, the same paint color used. Even if you think you are on the cusp of one standard deviation away from the bell curve of owl prints and Eames chairs, you are not. I am not. I have mentioned this before, but I thought I'd try to write about it again. It is a strange phenomenon.

Greg put up the beadboard with his friend Brandon because they are master carpenters and I painted the walls. We have discovered that painting is a source of tension in this house. Someone is a little indecisive and sometimes walls get painted over and over again until they are right. Also, that same someone is very particular about corners and edging. The someone i'm talking about is me. Greg told me that including primer coats, our second bedroom has 8 coats of paint on it. That is terrible. Anyway, I am really excited about the cribs. I'll post more pictures when I find all the knick-nacks and do-dads I'm supposed to fill their frame wall and ikea shelves with! wahoo for two!

2011-05-17T11:43:00.003-06:00

Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just wanted to give this book a review really fast, even though I finished it a little while ago...
I read Bastard because it's been sitting on my shelf for about 3 years. My cousin Amelia was reading it for her AP High School english class, so I thought I'd tag along. First of all, I can't believe they read this book in high school. It was such a horrible story. Horrible. Greg would ask me what was wrong when he caught me reading because my face was always contorted with worry or angst. It was so well written though, and Allison really conveyed Bone's, (our narrator) fear and that awful feeling of being stuck due to circumstance. My anger with her mother was palpable. It reminded me of reading The Glass Castle, and how frustrating it was for these children, born to poor families, who did not really understand there were options beyond the life they were living. Bone's strength was incredible. Makes you think, doesn't it? Makes me feel lucky, that's for sure.

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Hi Babies

2011-05-12T13:45:00.000-06:00

26.57 weeks.

Well the babies are 2 pounds each and making me feel like a mom. I'm happy and feeling great and trying my hand at cooking a few new recipes since Greg and I are home together at night. I've also been reading lots of books and working on the nursery. It is pretty bland still, but I'll post pictures when I'm finished. That's all I have to update about, really.

I have been a little bit of a complainer lately on this blog. So I need to change the battitude and not feel sorry for myself. People have told me a lot of scary stories recently- about one twin dying or really early labor, or really late miscarriage. The only positive thing I can come up with out of these stories is to be grateful that I'm doing so well. And not be scared for things that aren't even happening to me.

Last night we had a friend over for dinner and Greg was telling her how his back has been hurting and he was afraid to tell me. I felt so bad! He may have been kidding, but that is really awful. So Bianca the Beast was officially sent away when I said goodbye and good riddance to our freak spring/winter weather. The arrival of a 70 degree weekend brings the arrival of Pollyanna Bianca who is happy about everything. Thank you very much.

Ok, sorry there is nothing interesting here. I never said I was interesting!

sense of place

2011-05-11T21:12:00.000-06:00

My Aunt sent me this article a few weeks ago. I thought it was so interesting- especially the discussion of specificity of place. It is sometimes easy to think that the grass is always greener somewhere else- but get ready to be inspired to embrace where you live. Thanks Aunt Molly!xx
Terry Tempest Williams Interview

and an excerpt, since it's a little long:

"I really believe that to stay home, to learn the names of things, to realize who we live among... The notion that we can extend our sense of community, our idea of community, to include all life forms — plants, animals, rocks, rivers and human beings — then I believe a politics of place emerges where we are deeply accountable to our communities, to our neighborhoods, to our home. Otherwise, who is there to chart the changes? If we are not home, if we are not rooted deeply in place, making that commitment to dig in and stay put ... if we don't know the names of things, if don't know pronghorn antelope, if we don't know blacktail jackrabbit, if we don't know sage, pinyon, juniper, then I think we are living a life without specificity, and then our lives become abstractions. Then we enter a place of true desolation.

I remember a phone call from a friend of mine who lives along the MacKenzie River. She said, "This is the first year in twenty that the chinook salmon have not returned." This woman knows the names of things. This woman is committed to a place. And she sounded the alarm."

an update for those interested

2011-05-10T21:52:00.001-06:00

Tonight I ripped a pair of pajama pants. Right down the butt seam. In my defense they were very old. I have no defense for the pants. I'm sorry, pajama pants, I must be too much woman for you.

2011-05-07T14:34:00.002-06:00

Room by Emma Donoghue
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a trip. Told entirely in the perspective of a five year old, Room grabbed hold of me for two days and I couldn't get out.
Jack and his mother are locked inside an 11x11 room by a man, 'Old Nick' and the story unravels from there. The story of Jack and Ma's plight was gripping, but the things that kept me reading were all the discoveries and explanations Jack came up with to cope with his living conditions. A story of survival, escape, family and how we call things home.... Great summer read. Or spring read if you are already pretending it's summer vacation.

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Ron Swanson

2011-05-06T13:08:00.001-06:00

"I don't like loud noises, and people making a fuss. And I especially don't like people celebrating because they know a piece of private information about me. Plus the whole thing is a scam. Birthdays were invented by Hallmark to sell cards."

It is not my birthday today, but I just laughed and laughed when I saw on Parks and Recreation that Ron does not tell anyone his birthday. How fitting. He's one of my favs. Happy Birthday Ron!

2011-05-05T17:36:00.002-06:00

Peony in Love by Lisa See
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well the first thing you should know about reading this book is that it’s a ghost story. You have to really suspend disbelief considering it’s also historical fiction. what?

The scenery was beautiful, and the descriptions of chinese customs, especially marriage and burial ceremonies were so intricate and specific, that I’m glad i’m not a chinese girl back in the 1600s.

1700s?

I don’t know.

I’ll always appreciate some feminist lit though, and you get a little of that as Peony takes you along for the ride as women find their voices and begin to be published as poets and critics... The entire middle was ugly, like insecure jealous-ugly, and you’d think a ghost would be able to have some more perspective instead of ruining some mortal peoples’ lives. spoiler alert.

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supersix

2011-05-03T23:18:00.000-06:00

Happiest Anniversary to my Gregory.

photo from our ring ceremony in Connecticut.

It's been six pretty awesome years. We have had lots of adventures, and Greg is still my very first choice for adventures and non-adventures alike. I consider that a success. Also, he is hysterical.

mush. Here's to six billion more!

royal love

2011-04-29T14:19:00.000-06:00

Nothing was accomplished this morning except lots of staring at the the television with a huge grin on my face. How beautiful!

Visitors

2011-04-29T11:00:00.001-06:00

My Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa came in for Easter and Miranda's graduation. It was a treat to have something to look forward to all April, and a really good reason to clean my house. I wish they would have perma-stayed until the twins get here already.

We had so much fun while they were here- and took no naps, so you know, that means there was a lot to do in Provo for 5 days. Besides Graduation ceremonies, we went to the BYU Volleyball game, Heber/Midway to see the crater and eat, Park City, went on some scenic drives, saw The Spoken Word and took Doc on a few walks. Also, my mom cooked for me which is the best taste of home you can get.
Here are the pics.

yay grad!

m w/mom and pop

Miranda graduated in political science, by the way. Good job baby! She and Daniel are probably moving to Denver at the end of this summer while he goes to grad school. They are MFEO because of their patriotism, political minded-ness, and great debating skillzzzz. love them.

gals

BYU for a while was a source of frustration for me. a little bit. I felt like finally getting out of there was so difficult, getting my internship lined up, thinking I was ok on religion classes and then them telling me me I had to take one more because of the policy saying so many had to be on campus, so many could be independent study... blurg... I was NOT going to walk when I was done because it took me way too long and that was embarrassing. Anyway, I kind of regretted not walking when I watched Miranda, but she said I could borrow her gown sometime, so maybe I will post a picture of myself in navy later on.

just kidding.

kind of.

I have made peace since I am practically a senior citizen I am so old, and that old age gives me enough perspective to look objectively and what a great place it was to go to school for 15 years.

Here are more of the weekend:

in front of their provo house

Tibble Fork- AF canyon

my first Easter table.

the gang, besides mom, ready to eat.

Happy Easter and lots of Spring love to all of you!

2011-04-29T10:13:00.001-06:00

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The thought came to me many times as I was reading that I am too literal for Vonnegut's writing. I wish we had read this in school and I'd had a teacher telling me what everything means, how to think about it, and what to take from Slaughterhouse. What I did decide is the time travel parts were maybe meant to show us earthlings that while we have free will on our planet, there are some things that are inevitable and unavoidable. War and its destructiveness is one of those things. Death is another of those things. Poor Billy Pilgrim's life was so disrupted by both, and yet he remained like little boy the whole time. So it goes.
I cannot believe Dresden happened, but what an interesting way to read about it- in a way that would not, because he could not, describe the horrific experience in a play by play way. Books like this are challenging for me.

I don't know if I have ever read anything by Kurt Vonnegut before this, but I think now I will have to read more..

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Happy Patriots' Day!!

2011-04-18T13:07:00.001-06:00

This obscure holiday means one thing: Marathon Monday!! I would have loved to be in Boston today- so many memories watching all the runners speed through Wellesley at about mile 13. I tried streaming the race today at work, but then.. I had to go back to work. oops:) I can't wait for the day that I get to run it.

I have been suffering from a little running depression lately. It's been pretty frustrating not being able to move and sweat like I've always been able to do. I know it's only temporary, so if the current state of my body isn't motivation to get back to it when I'm good and ready, I don't know what is!

In the meantime, these photos of speedy women (americans) Desiree Davilla and Kara Goucher:

Geoffrey Mutai and Caroline Kilel, both from Kenya, won this morning. In case you were wondering and did not want to google.

Happy trails

like we needed another reason to boo kobe

2011-04-13T20:05:00.001-06:00

I am just dreading watching any Lakers in my house as the playoffs approach. He gives me the heebie jeebs.

a new place, the belly, and the princess and the pea.

2011-04-08T12:10:00.001-06:00

Just updating for updating's sake.

Carla-roo moved to SLC last week. Here she is in front of her new house in Sugarhouse.

cute cute cute

She lives with a friend from work and is loving the extra space, new yard, and proximity to the CITY.
Her 5 year stint in Utah county has already been swiped clean off her record. Sugarhouse is the cool place to be. We can't catch a break over here in PG, can we? Where are our TOMS?? Gosh!

A belly photo. Thumbs up Behemoth! I have about 12 pounds to go before I reach Greg's weight. How gross. No just kidding, it's not gross, it's exciting, and I really, really want those gals to grow.

too focused to smile.

I did have an ultrasound yesterday and everything looks A-OK. The Girls are about a pound each, and 10 inches or something. That seems big. I am almost 22 weeks.

Last week I ate a pear too fast and got the hiccups. Before this, I had not felt them move at all. Or I couldn't tell if they were moving or kicking due to lack of experience? Anyway, after the hiccups it was like they were moving all over the place making sure I was sure they were there. They were playing soccer with my amniotic fluid all of a sudden. I don't know if the pear and the kangaroo zoo inside my belly are related.

In other news, I am generally uncomfortable at night and not supposed to sleep on my back anymore. Greg has taken to inventing a new pillow formation every night while I brush my teeth. He is hoping he will find the cure to my restlessness and then he will have his excellent bedmate back. He is the greatest. Two nights ago, I stupidly tried to sleep like a tilted upper case 'L' for two hours in this contraption. It didn't last but it was too funny not to take a picture of. Wrapped in the blue blanket is a couch pillow. ha!

I'm sorry all I am writing about is pregnancy. I am also doing lots of projects at home, and not working that much, so nothing takes up my brain more than pregnancy right now.

Life of Pi

2011-04-08T09:51:00.001-06:00

Life of Pi by Yann Martel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

the problem is, I was really hoping for the best for little Piscine. it reminded me of Atonement because of this. I read one review of this book after I was finished and it said, "In the best tradition of all good literature, it shows but never tells." That is right. you can decide which story you'd like to believe, though in his NPR interview Yan Martel is pretty specific on which is true.
I loved it so much. I feel stupid writing my thoughts on books that so many people have already read and written about, but just to get it off my chest... what a magical island, and a magical Richard Parker. Martel's point of storytelling to process reality rings true to me. Doesn't everyone do this? See things a certain way as a coping mechanism? I think so.
I loved it so, so much.

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Gone with the Wind

2011-04-08T09:35:00.000-06:00

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

i'm not qualified to write a review about this books, seeing as there are already so many out there, and it is considered (by some) as one of the best, or the best american novel...
BUT. i will write my thoughts before i forget and then this book just adds to the lists of books i've read and i'll say when someone asks, "yeah i loved it!"

-i was annoyed with scarlett for a lot of the book. i think that is the idea, right? i also admired her, and sympathized with her and cheered for her- especially when she came back to atlanta and started working her butt off, and making the best of the situation to send money back to Tara. that is gumption. but then she married frank, hired convicts at the mill, and resented her children. there was no line. that was awful. there was still something amazing about her attitude, that she could get through any hardship and Margaret Mitchell's interview about this book even stated that she was writing about people with this kind of an attitude- why some could endure tragic things and other people were too broken and could not. i guess, because of these contradictions, scarlett is that beloved character-one who battled through a war we will never understand- so unique to the time, but also struggled with decisions we all have to make at some point in our lives. what to compromise: family, work, security, love- which value dims so the other can flourish?

-the scarlett/rhett back and forth was so exciting at first! i lived for those passages and exchanges between war updates... but at the end... i know there'd been hardship and horrible things spoken between them, but how she could not have humbled herself, EVER, up to that point- or control her temper to give a little. it can't be win win win for you all the time. Also, with scarlett and rhett, the lack of communication and humility resulted in the loss of something that could have been so great. maybe we are supposed to be optimistic about scarlett getting rhett back again after the novel was through, but he was so broken. It broke my heard to read through rhett's pain and the loss of bonnie.

-rhett kept saying they were the same, and a perfect match for one another, but he always had perspective! and scarlett never did. she could not see herself for what she was, but then appreciated rhett so much because she could be herself in front of him. Rhett, also demanded honesty from scarlett, but never gave it in return. she never seemed to know the difference, or know/care to ask for it, but he was above her on so many levels. yet he chose to indulged her. love is blind.

-the anger scarlett had for melanie was driven by jealousy at first, but how can it take so long to realize she had love for this woman, too? especially at ashley's surprise birthday party when melanie asks scarlett to receive with her after india wilkes spreads the adultery story. the could have been the grandest gesture of the book- and its significance could not have been lost on scarlett.... but then again, so many things were lost on scarlett. the world does need more people like melanie. so naive, but with an inner strength. she might have been my favorite.

-ashley's character made me too sad. it was true that he couldn't conform to the new era. the lack of communication is so frustrating, and i could not for the life of me see what scarlett was holding on to for so long. a childhood fantasy, really. just the fact that she thought he loved her was enough for her, but it didn't even occur to her to check if she could really love him back.

i do not even know if this is coherent. i loved this book and the time invested in reading it was so worth it. such characters are not found easily and i will always love them now. ok that's all.

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The Book Thief

2011-04-08T09:31:00.001-06:00

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Yep, I liked it. It did not change my life, like Phil said it would on Modern Family, but maybe it should have. When I told my mom about my 3 star review of this book, we talked about the fact that there are lots of books like this- about WWII and children, (Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Summer of My German Soldier, Anne Frank of course) and they are all heartbreaking. She said that even if we are saturated in with novels and movies, we have to remember and learn about these things regardless, because World War II is not fiction at all.

I appreciated the perspective from a German child's POV, and oh my, the Rudy/Liesel relationship was so heartbreaking. The whole book was sad, but not Life of Pi sad where you realize he's going to make it. Just sad where you can't believe this actually happened.

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Oh yeah!

2011-03-22T23:27:00.002-06:00

Also twins A & B can be called Girls A & B now! Bring on the dresses and the matching. Hopefully this will be the last announcement I have to make until they are born. Online announcing is so awkward and I still haven't figured out how to do it on facebook.

Last week Greg and I went to Arizona. UVU had spring break so I had no work, and we took a "babymoon". I think it is the thing to do, so I am going to take a babymoon every month until they come. Even if the babymoon is not too far away. The weather was amazing, and MLB's spring training was in town.
Before Phoenix we went to the Grand Canyon. It's sort of on the way and Greg has never been. He humored me with a light hike down and back some of S. Kaibab trail. It was beautiful and I wish the babies could have seen it.

At Ooh-ahh point

Greg at the rim trail around sunset

oh we saw an elk.

Afterwards we drove through Flagstaff and on to Phoenix for some R&R. Ok I went for the R&R and Greg went for the sports. We saw these on the drive:

cacti on the side of the highway

Greg at one of the games. I sure do like some peanuts and baseball in hot weather. Preferably redsox baseball. Yessir.

After this particular game we hauled ourselves over to the US Airways arena to watch the Phoenix Suns play. Combine this with all the college basketball we were watching in the hotel = SO many sporting events. I think Greg thought I was being an A+ wife so he took me to walk Roosevelt row in downtown Phoenix the next morning and tour some galleries. We compromise. I love him lots.

....also I'm on the lookout for some Native American art. I fell in love with these paintings of totem pole faces on my trip to Seattle, and really really regret not buying them. The only thing I fell in love with was this oil of Cuban dancers and it was $1000. If only. So if you know where I can find some beautiful things, holler.

more pics:

AZ sun

gigantic at papgoa park's 'hole in the rock'

Phoenix was great. Great shopping, and pools, and restaurants, and weather.
Sorry this was the most boring post ever. Thought I should at least throw up some pregnancy photos before I become too much of a heifer and commit myself to staying indoors for fear of cankles and public ridicule.

sad day

2011-03-22T15:19:00.002-06:00

Today was a sad day at Borders. Can someone please tell me what is going on? Greg decided to get sentimental and told me to take a moment of silence in the fiction section, (or what was left of it) because we were witnessing the end of an era. It this true? Am I really going to have to tell my grandchildren that we used to go to a store that sold books made from actual paper?

I know there is much more to this, but I do not see that many kindles or iPads around so it can't just be electronic books, right? So everyone is buying from Amazon? People are not just giving up reading all together?! I'll tell you what, I sure hope kids are reading somewhere after they tear their spiral-eyes away from those DS things for 5 minutes. What do I know about it anyway. I will probably eat my words when I buy them for the girls whenever we want to go to a restaurant again.

empty shelves

I did get 9 books for about $40 though. Cue summer reading excitement.

Right now I am nearing the end of Gone with the Wind. How romantic! I have been transported South and fallen in love with Rhett just a little bit. Scarlett O'Hara is the most infuriating character I may have ever invested 1000+ pages in. I guess it's not all her fault, but I am very glad I am not living during such a difficult time. No thank you.

a youtube link

2011-03-21T23:11:00.000-06:00

Since the twin news I have been fortunate to find a couple twin mentors. There are lots of questions to be answered! One of them sent me this link. Now you can laugh at it too!

twin questions

inferiority complex and the use of "we"

2011-03-03T14:36:00.004-07:00

It worries me a little that the twins are already called Twin A and Twin B. It reminds me of Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Dr. Suess. They are already being compared in size and weight and will be compared for their whole lives so I'm feeling a little bad for Twin B today.
I think I will just call them Mary kate and Ashley since I can't tell the difference between either of them at all.

Speaking of MK&A, since I don't know what we're having yet, Greg and I keep talking about the possibilities and how we are probably just going to have identical twin girls since that would probably warrant the biggest competition between the two, (my big worry) and the hardest for Greg to convert to Jazz fans (Greg's big worry).
Well we will be happy with whatever. I just want to have one boy though. Please? We had no boys in the Booth house so we had to get boy dogs. And I just want to find out. Today. We will be happy with whatever. If you say it enough then you mean it!

Another thing, a couple days ago in the car we had a conversation.

Greg: Do twins change the number of kids you want to have?
(we decided when we were dating and dreaming that we probably wanted four)
Me: I don't think so.... I think if we have these, and then just one, the one won't have a friend like the twins do, so we'll have to have four.
Greg: Well I was just thinking we should still be pregnant four times. So maybe we should have five?
Me: What do you mean we should be pregnant four times?? You are not pregnant!

I get it, it's a joint effort. But not only does Greg think he's getting a freebie, he also thinks I should already be planning on being pregnant another three times. HA! I guess once I get out of bad-attitude-city I will reconsider :) Baby steps.

Ok those are the thoughts for the day. Hasta luego.

Banff

2011-02-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

well this is a dreamy post.

When the movies from the Banff film festival come to UVU, it's the perfect time to start planning an adventure: freezing cold temperatures here, February nothingness, tax returns coming (just kidding!) This year I went and started crying during the previews. oops. My adventures are going to be a lot harder to plan when I have to find someone willing to take payment for carrying a Kelty backpack and Twin #2.

Really though, I am so stupid emotional about what there is to see, and finding a way to explore it all. The beautiful mountains, and the fascination with getting to their top. The process of planning and learning about a place, and then the anticipation of a trip ahead. I get teary eyed every time. like a big fat goober. I would not trade my life to be a full time, sponsored adventurer. So I think I'll just have it all.

One of the films featured Kashmir, India

...where I have not wanted to visit until last Wednesday night. The skiing there is unbelievable. Himalayan powder with houseboats to stay in. More internet searching showed me that 6 backpackers were kidnapped there in 1995, one escaped, one of them beheaded, 4 presumed dead. What? So mostly the film focused on how you get used to the fully armed soldiers patrolling the streets in some of the most beautiful country, but a country that is gradually recovering from territory wars and violent uprisings... It showed how one tourist can help 12 families, and that there used to be such a huge demand to stay in the houseboats- people like Elvis and the Beatles would go. The interest is coming back, but demand is down, big time, after all the violence. It was like an advertisement, but no one minded. Ok. Yes please.

houseboat hotels

powder

the gal's website

Here is the Youtube trailer for the film. I wish I could link the whole thing, but you probably have to buy it. Check the side of the screen for lots of other skiing in Kashmir videos.
Snowsphere photo post on Kashmir skiing
and anotha one. (say it in the Biggie Smalls voice)

So when are we going??

Images: from here, here, here, and here.

la primera vez

2011-02-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

There have been lots of firsts for me lately, and I'm sure there will be lots more. Since all I do is barely work, take naps, buy fabric for future projects and eat, I have nothing too interesting to post about. I am sure not going to post pictures of the belly since it's just a huge chub. SO. A firsts post it is:

-today was the first time I have ever visited a donut shop by myself. to get a donut for myself.
-this is the first time in my life I am really concerned about my health, but not at all concerned about my weight.
-this is the first time in my life that I have felt perfectly content with what my immediate future holds.
-this is the first time in my life that I have wanted to go eat fast food. On a regular basis. (don't think I am talking about McDonald's salads, either.)
-I have never been more worried about money.
-I have never been more excited to meet a couple strangers.
-I have never been more confident in my Greg.
-I have never been this hungry.
-...or this tired.
- this is the first time in my life that my dreams have been so vivid that I sometimes cannot distinguish them from actual memories or events. (weird one, i know.)
-this is the first time that I haven't really felt guilty about not working out all the time. Probably also the first time in a while that I haven't wanted to work out all the time.
-this is the first time that I have thought poultry was the mot disgusting thing on the planet. (besides after watching Food Inc.)
-also the first time that I have thought about 'accidentally' letting my dog run away on account of how bad his poop smells when I have to scoop it. fyi.

This is all I can think of right now. Happiest Friday to you, my friends.

Be Mine.

2011-02-15T17:44:00.000-07:00

Greg is my lovebird. Here is the husband brag: I just want to say it is so nice to know that someone is reliable, even-keeled, and on top of things over here on Cambria Drive. We had dinner at home last night after both of us had long days, and have a date tonight after my not-so-long day filled with afternoon naps and skipping the gym. oops. Greg, of course, is at work like a normal person. It is hard to feel all the changes going on and embrace them because I feel very out of control. It is hard for me to think about the plans and the GRE that was maybe a waste and also to EMBRACE THE FAT. I can do it. Baggy shirts and stretchy jeans. I can do it.

I have no pictures of my Valentine's day, but have a picture I've been meaning to post of two other lovebirds settled in Provo:

Here is one of Carla too, since I also love her:

ok fine, since you asked, one of Doc. My smelly, stupid, rude, totally idiotic and selfish valentine.

model

Here be Dragons

2011-02-15T14:57:00.001-07:00

Here be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

before this it was the Pillars of the Earth with Stephan and Maud, and then lots and lots of Robin Hood readings. I am stuck in the Richard/John era of Medieval England. Here be Dragons was a perfect book addition- about Llywelyn, Prince of Wales, and his romance with Joanna- or Joan in other places- natural daughter of King John. Very interesting history lesson for that period of time- and for Wales, too, which I know nothing about. Too much loyalty struggle for Joanna between her husband and her evil King dad. That is this only problem.

funny note- the title is a lie. there are no dragons, but Mapmakers used to draw out as much as they possible could, and then on the outskirts, or unknown territory would write, "here be dragons". That is a funny way to think about the unknown. I'd rather imagine unicorns.

...also, I love that I can fact-check while I'm reading, because apparently Sharon Kay Penman is meticulous in her research. Joanna and Llywelyn's romance is not document too much, as far as I could find, but there is a general consensus of Llywelyn's terrible grief at her death.

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The Thirteenth Tale

2011-02-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The only problem with this book was the fact that one mystery at a time wasn't enough for this author. It felt like Setterfield was trying to compare Margaret's present day story and struggle with the memoir she was transcribing for Vida Winter. Vida's story had me perfectly captivated though. Sad, and haunting. Good read.
I also learned a lot about the author, Diane Setterfield as I was reading- some as a result of my own interest to see if her life was anything like either of the women she wrote about, but also because the friend who recommended this book, told me she had a pretty crazy past. I'll read that memoir when it comes out. yessir.

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life after Fage

2011-02-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

babies

2011-02-08T22:53:00.000-07:00

It is weird and kind of impersonal to say these things on blogs, but it is time for the news. Coming to a Pleasant Grove home near you: two little babies. ETA mid August... but probably July since I guess they are usually early birds.

We are beside ourselves excited, and pretty much feeling like we know nothing. I went to my first Dr.'s appt. on February 1st, was looking a little bigger than 12 weeks, so they did an ultrasound. And then there were two. I am not really sick anymore, just tired and hungry and pretty nervous!

Thanks to everyone who has given us lots of love!

bye bye baby

2011-02-08T22:38:00.000-07:00

Coming out of his great depression has been hard for Greg lately. I keep hearing, "What am I going to do tonight?" and, "Who am I going to watch the game with?" I coincidentally worked my last shift ever at the Happy Sumo a few weeks ago and have lots of spare time at night to spend with my husband, and make dinner, projects, phone calls, and plans... We are having trouble filling the little brother void, and getting used to the transition. What a weird thing to get used to hanging out all over again, so maybe it's a god thing I can offer moral support and some sports watching companionship:)

Scott left for the Provo Missionary training center January 26th, and it was a SAD day! I had no idea, because when I said goodbye to my semi-boyfriend when he left, my life went on normally, and I forgot about him as soon as the next boy gave me a smile. Never having brothers, I have so much respect for families that send their kids out to work and serve- with limited contact for 2 years. Champs.

Here are a couple last pictures of the good boy

We miss you Scotter!

winter break.

2011-02-02T22:45:00.000-07:00

Greg on frozen Lake Sunapee

Looking like a New England boy in his corduroys.

Cousins

Grandpa uses a headlamp to barbeque in the dark:)

Are we done with the freezing cold weather yet? I could not even leave my house this evening to get in my car, (which is in my garage) to go to the gym. bum. I'm not even envious of all that abominable snow my parents are getting. Vegas this weekend.

For a Christmas post, it was fantastic, minus the fact that Miranda and Daniel were stuck in Detroit and could not get to the Booth family party time. We really missed California cousins too. Man alive, can't wait for the summer. Also, I turned 26 years ancient history over Christmas break. Time to start the real life.

Found this beauty on my computer from our summer vacation when I had an eye infection for 2 weeks. I thought it accurately protrayed how I feel about my birthday. the essence of maturity.

Things on this blog will get back up to snuff momentarily. I'm still reeling from holiday fun/food, irregular work schedules and being permanently freezing. oh bother!

A bad case of the Mondays

2011-01-22T00:02:00.000-07:00

Two Mondays ago I was driving to work early in the morning. There was about an inch of snow on the ground and I started to slide as I went around a curve. I was not going fast, but managed to fall into the ditch after turning completely around. I also took a metal fence down with me. Awesome!

The funny thing was that I was soaking frosted mini-wheats in a mug in the car with me. I was not eating them, just waiting for them to get soggy enough to eat when I got to work. When I crashed milk and cereal splashed all over my window, and knowing that if the policeman thinks you are eating or on your phone and you get in an accident, you will get a ticket. Before calling anyone I took off my cardigan and wiped up all the milk so I would not add a $200 ticket in addition to towing charges.

Don't cry over spilt milk. Clean it up.

Oh does it look like I live in the boonies?? I call these the sad sunflowers when I am giving directions sometimes. Also I apologize for the stink-eye I was giving Greg.

This is the Mazda at the collision shop. Apparently it is totaled? Looks fine to me!

That = bad Monday #1

The next Monday was this past Monday and MLK day so no work. I took Doc on a hike and he was bitten by another dog. That little freak.

At first it looked like this:

Not bad, right?

But then after 3 hours it was still bleeding even after a complete bath and compression so we had to take our dog to EMERGENCY ANIMAL SERVICES! give me a break. We are those owners. I even picked Greg up from work to come with me I was so worried.

note blood on coat. sick.

He had to stay like this with no walks for 3 days. The horror.

This = bad Monday #2

Let's hope for a GREAT January 24th, ok?

East of Eden

2011-01-21T23:30:00.000-07:00

East of Eden by John Steinbeck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Isn't it funny when you re-read a book you were forced to read and you get so much more out of it? Loving it because you're supposed to is not the same as loving it because you really do. I love how Steinbeck writes. He is maybe one of my favorite authors. Or the favorite. So many little books that make you feel because he develops the story properly. And those characters. oh man! I admit I had to do some research on Cain and Abel's story again. I find the concept of repeated story themes so interesting- and learned more about the Biblical story repeats than I was planing on simultaneously. Is there a book about that?

Go back and fulfill you're 10th grade summer reading list one more time. ok?

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I have a new bro, yo.

2011-01-20T21:20:00.000-07:00

Miranda and Daniel Allen
December 18, 2010

Everyone Booth side came to Salt Lake and stayed up at the Alta Club for the weekend to celebrate. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple and then to a reception at the Bungalow where I took no pictures. oops.

true love love love. It was freezing but we didn't notice because we were cuddled up in a happiness blanket for 3 days. I love when my family comes to visit here. The wedding was perfecto, and Daniel is great. Really, just great. Miranda is wonderful on her own, but you know, we are a stubborn bunch of Booth girls and need great guys to help out with the crazy streaks. Daniel fits the bill perfectly.

After a family dinner my grandparents came over to visit. I have to write about how funny my Grandma is. My dad decided he was really good at guitar hero on one of his last visits and he wanted to play for a bit at our house while we hung out. Grandma got a turn to and you should've heard her. She picked the ugliest character possible to play, set it to easy, and she was off.
I'm pretty sure she was this guy-

She kept saying funny things when she was booed off the stage like,

"He is not very nice to me!"

"It's my first time playing guitar! They need to be patient!"

Interspersed with about one hundred "Oh my's!" and "This thing is going way too fast!" It was about the funniest thing that happened over Christmas break. I love her. You show me a cooler Grandma. I dare you.

winners

2011-01-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

If you know me, then you know that my in-laws telling me we are going to LA to be in the Christmas boat parade, and that I will be dancing on the bow to the Beach Boys for 3 hours in front of hundreds (thousands. it seemed like thousands.) of people, then you know that that is not my idea of fun.

But it was so fun.

The trick to dancing in front of strangers and not being scared that they will somehow single you out and judge you for all eternity is for it to be night, and to be dancing far enough away from shore that you are utterly unrecognizable. I did not care and Kelli, Hannah, Sommer and I doo-wop'd while Greg and his brothers wore Hawaiian shirts and fake played the instruments their Dad had rented for them. The Beach Boys Christmas mix was blasting on a 6 minute repeat.

Here we are civilized:

And here we are mid-dance.

This photo is from the LA paper. It was announcing the winners. I am proud to say we placed first in the power boat category- and 2nd place for music. Rock on Schwarz gang.

Good Tidings to you.

3 thoughts on UT's representation in television

2011-01-18T23:51:00.000-07:00

1. I am so embarrassed by the girl from SLC on the bachelor. What a horrible 'hair stylist'. I know she may have been 'cast' as the villain but come on. Get serious and stop taking time away from Emily by interviewing her.

2. I record the Miss America pageant every year. (I know, that's embarrassing on its own) It is pretty funny and tolerable when you can fast forward. This year each girl introduced herself with a cute couple of lines about things her state is known for, and then her title and name. For example, Miss New York's introduction went something like this: "From the concrete jungle in a New York minute, I'm blah blah blah, MISS NEW YORK!"
Miss Utah's introduction said, "Tonight, 53 women share a dream, not a husband! I'm ____ _____, MISS UTAH!"
Is that the only thing worth saying about your state???
gaaah. gross.

3. On a happier note, the cast of Sister Wives is reportedly moving to Nevada where it is not illegal for a man to live with 4 wives. Good riddance.

*All I'm trying to say is that there are far too many talented people here in Utah for the state to be known solely as polygamy central and by the people who used to be Mormon and now want to be famous. We have a much better representation when American Idol and SYTYCD are airing.*

everyone's a comedian

2010-12-14T15:33:00.000-07:00

The other day I found my "JOY" had turned to "OJ". The day before it said "YO".

I am deep cleaning because my mom is coming and you know how you want your mom to think you've grown up already and can actually keep a house halfway decent? Greg knows how to make me laugh away my OCD.

What is he thinking?

2010-12-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

"I hate you so much right now."

"Please take me on a walk instead of putting this thing on my head."

"My ears are flattened because I am so freaked out I am going to pee."

"Bah Humbug!"

My dog has more anxiety than I do. He also does not feel that the Christmas spirit is contagious.

tonight's equation

2010-12-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

1 Sore throat + La Vie en Rose + 1 ski hat + 1 c. Kneaders Chicken Noodle Soup + 1 Greg at the dumb dumb dumb Jazz Game + 1 mug herbal tea + a googaplex cough drops = my Wednesday night.

Thanks you thank you thank you to Lacey for the soup, and all my other wonderful friends who covered for me at work. loves. goodnighty

back to basics

2010-11-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

If life is just checking off one goal after another, and then re-making the goals you didn't complete, I'm back to basics this week. The past 10 days maybe were a disaster, with sickness and eating like a horse. every. single. day.
It's ok.

Speaking of horses, I am also the other hoarse right now, too. That should be interesting for presentations and serving people sushi. Gross.

Today in power pump we had to use paper towels on the floor, underneath the foot that scoots back while you lunge. I hate this as much as I hate doing biceps with bands. A lot. Also, I had grabbed extra paper towels to blow my nose intermittently between exercises. I think my neighbor thought I was using the same paper towel for nose blowing as for lunges and it was awkward.

Also, some students are doing a research project at UVU and I agreed to help without knowing what I was in for. It turned out they were doing some fitness assessments and needed participants to bench their max. WHAT? I was so embarrassed grunting and squeezing my eyes shut while the guy had to spot me after adding like 17 pounds to each side of the bar. Oh man.

AND. I am doing a research project with some girls here as well, where we measure the gait changes that come with heels. I am a heel hater, so I think I am planning on rigging the results. Just kidding. But really, we have this mat called a 'Gait Rite' that measures foot angle, stride length and rate, and weight distribution when you're walking on it. Super interesting. Don't wear heels guys. What's the point?!
ha! Get it?

I took some pictures:

Annette with her shoes filled with disco balls

heels. duh.

....Just so this mundane post would not be without pictures.
ok see you later alligator

the best part

2010-11-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

My assignment is usually pies and this year they turned out a-ok. Fruit pies, like apple or pear are easy enough to get right, but I think custard pies are much more difficult. Here are some champion recipes.

Our pie table:

Best Coconut Cream Pie Ever Recipe

I die for Chocolate Cream Pie

Banana Cream Dream Pie

Turkey day

2010-11-29T22:03:00.000-07:00

Greg's parents served 49 people Thanksgiving dinner last week and it was a sight to behold.
I hardly took any pictures, so Sommer came through big-time and snapped some of the family.
ok.

elcamino christmas. Maybe the card this year unless I can think of something more creative

some schwarz girls

ry and scott

me + sommer with the decorated tables

baby Gabi's first thanksgiving

teenager table

sayla and ayla. say that 3x fast.

Off to Radio City Christmas tonight. II'll be dreaming of NY, but I'm sure we'll have a blast at the E-center version. xxx

shopping hungry

2010-11-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

The general rule that you should not grocery shop hungry carries over to other kinds of shopping too. It is important for me to remember to wear something nice to the mall so I can focus on what I need to buy, (presents), instead of trying to improve my current wardrobe.

I Black-friday-ed this year for the first time ever and basically it was like every other thing in my life: Be prepared or it's not worth it. How many times have you been in a strange place and wished you'd read the guidebook a little better so you'd know just what to do? I needed to have cut coupons a couple days in advance to prepare me for all the chaos.

Highlights:
-Scoring a sweet 'ATV' for my two-year-old nephew from Wal-Mart.
[We swap names in the Schwarz house one for one. Each family gets greg's parents a present, but the kids and nieces/nephews swap names so Greg and I are only responsible for 2 gifts besides parents and Gparents.]

-Almost witnessing a fight between two ladies at the Gap. The Orem mall was packed. 50% off everything- even the sale stuff- is worth it, but not worth a fight, right? The line was over an hour.

-Crossing off 6 people on my Christmas present list.
Booya

P.S. Is this Target lady not the biggest crackup?

images here and here

white out fake out

2010-11-24T00:02:00.000-07:00

This afternoon everything was either closed or cancelled because a storm was brewing. Happy Sumo closed, UVU closed, the roads were closed, all without a single snowflake.
Here is an update: Salt Lake had a blizzard and we did not. But we got a mini-vacation on a Tuesday night. Wahooooooo

The Great Daisy

2010-11-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

Wowzers

It was announced that Carey Mulligan will play Daisy Buchanan in Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of Gatsby. How romantic. She is such a babe. Photo here.

I am always super excited when I can watch a book I've read.

I yam what I yam

2010-11-21T21:43:00.000-07:00

Since I am trying to blog everyday, I was dismayed when I saw that in November, I've only posted 19 times. I will post this stupid post to catch up. I want a cool thirty when I take a break from blogging at Christmastime* Dec. 1.

*(also affectionately referred to as stuffyourfacefortwomonths-time.)

Have you been to the grocery store lately and bought yams because, well, "'Tis the season!?" No? Oh. Well, I did, and they sat in my pantry for a week. I did not want mushy yam soufflee and the odds of me ever waiting for a yam to BAKE are very small. So this is what my mom does, and this is what I did:

-preheat oven to 350
-cut yams up into fry-size pieces
-throw in a bowl
-our EVOO on them and stir around until coated
-add fresh basil leaves into the mix
-add some crushed garlic cloves to keep away the vampires
-grind lots of sea salt on top and spread on a baking sheet
-cook for 40 minutes

Ideally you will have another snack to eat right away while you're waiting because we all know 40 minutes is too long to wait for some fake fries.

Here they are beforehand:

I have no after picture because I shared them with Carla and Doc and then there were none.

Meanwhile, I'm sorry there is nothing on this blog besides these blankets I am pumping out like a machine. I love babies and making things and that's all. Christmas projects will occupy this virtual space before we know it.

So what else do you do on a Sunday when your roommate is dying a slow death-by-the-flu?

This is what I do every Single Sunday with very rare exceptions:
-read postsecret
-call home
-go to church
-do ab-ripper
-blog
-eat and egg and cheese sandwich on whole grain
-skip lunch
-read some fiction
-talk to my friends, yo
-watch Amazing Race
-Go to Greg's parent's for dinner
-Prep the house and laundry for the upcoming week
-pack my workout clothes and tomorrow's lunch.

Sounds great, right? Ok peaceout.

Today I am also making plans to go to Machu Picchu this spring or early summer. I am getting the itch again.

dragged through a hedge backwards

2010-11-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

I heard this expression yesterday and thought it was so funny. Greg has been feeling sick and has basically been in bed with a bug for 2 days. This kind of thing allows me total control, (good) but extra responsibilities, (bad). Somehow, when Greg gets sick he reverts back to being an infant child and thinks he is going to die. Sad.

Anyway, looking at Christmas present ideas the past couple days made me realize we have lots of different options for pants right now that are great substitutes for the leggings-as-pants deal. Now, Leggings are great under tunics and dresses, but under normal-length shirts they are a slight atrocity in my humble fashion opinion. So here is what Anthropologie has to say about this issue:

skinny cords

cargos in all shapes

ankle length jeans (fabulous!)

and some cute trousers

that's 4 more options besides skinny jeans, dresses or skirts, and jegging/leggings!
You're Welcome.

Just so no one thinks I am going on this rant for the fun of being awful, I had an unfortunate experience with a student wearing leggings only this week. In lab there is a strict policy about bringing your safety goggles, wearing long pants, and only wearing closed toe shoes that cover your entire foot. Ballet flats are frowned upon because they leave the top of your foot exposed and we work with HCL and other strong acids that have burnt holes through my jeans. The girl was bending over as she poured from beaker to beaker to make sure her liquids were level and you could see right through to her underwear. She was attracting attention so I had to tell her. This is embarrassing for everyone involved.

more project chronicles:

My SIL Sommer had her baby Gabi a couple months ago and I wanted to do a project for her that was not a blanket. Sommer also quilts, so giving a quilter a baby blanket is kind of like giving Ina Garten some pasta you bought at costco. So.
She had this canvas left over from her condo's model property:

I found some fabric

and sewed it together in random rectangles to make it seem mod.

Then, because the you could see through the fabric, I hot glued some batting over the canvas and then hot glued the fabric I'd sewn together over that. Afterwards I added little rosettes to the big green rectangle. Jenn helped me.
Voila!

Easy as pie, and a different kind of wall hanging for Gabi's room. Boom baby.

A note on canvases: They are expensive. If you need a canvas, you can go and get artwork already screened on stretched canvas from discount stores like TJMaxx or wherever instead of buying a blank white one. Then you can just paint or craft over them. Handy dandy.

butterbeer weekend and dent city

2010-11-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

Friday night special:

come in and get some sushi!

On the docket this weekend:

photos from here, here, here, here, here, here

maybe some of this too:

I love me some Galifanakis.

For a news update: This happened a couple weeks ago in the parking lot with no note. I think this, and the other 2 dents on my little Mazda's behind are the direct result of parents buying their teenagers giant pick up trucks to stroke their ego without checking first to make sure they don't text and drive..... I can't tell you how many parking lot accidents I've almost been in with texters.

Also, my car has officially graduated to one of my greatest assets. It is paid off and now is dented enough that I can put cool stickers on the back.

SLC --> JFK

2010-11-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

Just bought tickets home for Christmas and I'm so excited. So. Excited. Miranda will have a brand new husband, we'll go to Sunapee Christmas morning, skate on the pond, check out the city lights and see all the family we miss year round. I am going present shopping today.

Last night was this:

we'll miss you Lizzie :(

Also, since work is slow because students are either preparing for the end of their semesters or don't care before Thanksgiving break, I have been watching trailers this morning. Get ready for this movie Dec. 22.

preview here.
Just can't wait.

on the fritz

2010-11-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

I am part of the spoiled rotten generation that thinks my internet should work at lightning speed or else it is not worth using. Slow internet for 2 days equals me not getting on the computer to avoid frustration meltdowns.

I thought I would blog about how I rubbed elbows with 2 famous people this year because nothing is changing or interesting right now and I am getting restless. Also there is really nothing more I love to unwind to than celebrity gossip or reality trash televeision. I'm sorry, now you know my vice.

1st. Meg Ryan talked to me. (kinf of) I was in Martha's Vineyard with Aubrey and we were in line to get ice cream. She said, "Excuse me." She was wearing white linen pants and little black belly shirt and was tiny and had gigantic lips. This is not surprising, right? I do not care that she has not been in anything good for a while, because Sleepless is still the go-to favorite. Kind of like Shawshank Redemption on tv. If it's on, you're going to watch it. She was talking with friends and family for a while outside, and bought everyone in her party ice cream. She signed an autograph for a little girl who was probably forced to ask her by her mother.

2nd: I was servinng suhi about a month ago and I served Courney Cox. GAAAAHHHHHHH! She was up at Sundance for an art festival(?) institute(?) something. She was also about the size of a polly pocket. No wonder all the celebrities have issues and even the baby Disney princesses are going to rehab. Sad. Well I can tell you that she ate her whole dinner, asked me lots of questions about Utah and skiing and was with her dad, sisters, and assistant(s). This was before 'they' said she was going to splitsville with her hubs the crazy man and before they said maybe they're not splitting up but going to work on it for her little Coco bean daughter. She was nice nice nice and I'm a fan again since I currently don't watch her drink red wine on her new show.

On a related note, Greg has informed me that there is a Fantasy League for girls where you trade celebrities and they have a point system depending on who makes the cover of Us Weekly/INtouch/OK!/Life and Stye, who has baby drama, gets a DUI, gets a new BF, etc. I think I prefer to leave any celebrity obsession I may have as a secret. If I don't admit it, it's not a problem.

yeah yeah.

story of my life

2010-11-15T01:44:00.000-07:00

The new commercial for the Windows phone might hit too close to home. Kind of like when I watched The Break Up and thought I needed counseling afterwards.

Watch it on Youtube here.

a day in pictures...

2010-11-14T02:05:00.000-07:00

Today I had the day completely off- which was a dream. I got no housework done and ate out 3 separate times for 2 meals and a dessert. It was not the most productive, but I thought I would make a picture post of today so I can keep documenting the fun parts of life and pretend it is always like this....

7am: woke up to this guy. He was perturbed that another dog was walking outside and he could smell/hear/supersense them.

8:30-11:15am: gym time. This is a sneaky pic from power pump class. I also got in my celebrity gossip in spin, learned to avoid the provo river trail because of the crazy runner attacker, and broke in my Nike Frees

on the drive home: no traffic but more construction. So what else is new?

Back at home we had to go for a little walk. And play fetch with this disgusting fox that Doc thinks he kills over and over again. It gets washed with the dishtowels.

12:45pm: Luch at Cafe Rio with my Greg in Draper. We are doing errands. We have funny conversations. Sometimes on Saturdays we have not hung out all week for long periods of time so I have to remember not to talk non-stop and Greg has to get out of his 'Quiet Zone' and participate.

2 Conversations at lunch:

Greg: Soooooo, is Miranda's wedding still on? I haven't heard anything...

(I am planning for it every day and she's had 2 showers.)

Me, confused: Whaaa? What do you mean? Are you being funny?

Greg: Well yeah, I am. So what's going on with it anyway? I want to know.

This is an invitation for me to talk about wedding plans. Greg likes to be included.

and then...:

Greg: Do you know what the best invention ever is?

Me: What?

Greg: Clothes!

Me: Isn't that more of a necessity? And I don't think one person invented that.

Greg: Still, I don't want to see everyone here at Cafe Rio naked. So clothes are the best invention.

1:30-5pm: SLC. I had Anthropologie returns, Greg needed to go to the Apple store. We also drove around SLC and Sugarhouse neighborhoods for about 2 hours to plan our lives and see where we should live. This picture is high up on the hill where the U is for the University of Utah. It's basically in someone's backyard. Weird.

5:30pm: Home from SLC and future life planning to watch a little Glee. Please tell me everyone's at least seen a clip of their version of Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream'?!?! So good.

7pm This is what I walked up to at the mall before dinner. Greg is holding balloons waiting for me to be done shopping. I thought it was the cutest because he kind of looks sad, but he's really loading fantasy stats on his phone and in deep concentration.

7:30 pm Lacey's bday! Wonton soup please.

Gigi, Shea, Liz, me with eyes closed, Jasmine, Lacey, Darnelle, Nicole, Angie. Happy Birthday to Lace!

9:30pm: Farr's frozen treats. I like Coconut Yogurt, shaved coconut, fruit and mochi. yummmmmm.

10pm: Unstoppable. I took a picture of the screen, but this is what the movie looked like the entire time, so you can keep your $9.75. I was stressed for 2 hours. bleh. Denzel is the man though

Ok so that's it. A day in the life with only fun and no responsibility. Now back to your regular scheduled weekend of babysitting at church. I am glad I got an all-day date today though. Happy Sunday tomorrow!

showering

2010-11-13T01:31:00.000-07:00

Last night Miranda had a shower in Provo. I am so excited for her wedding, so it will probably come up a dozen more times on this blog. Also, my sisters are so cute and I did not do anything interesting today, so, yeah.

girl party

scandalous

pretty carla-roo

booth gals

you must listen to me.

daniel + miranda = l-o-v-e

All photos taken by our friend from CT, Lauren Merkely

Tejas.

2010-11-11T23:08:00.000-07:00

A Summary of Texas 2 weeks ago to say hi to my Grandparents. Grandpa has been sick for a while now, and it was time to visit. Also, since we have millions of relatives over there, we had a excuse for a little shower-party for Mirandini!

Here are some family shots of Miranda's shower, held at my grandma's church.

cute Grandma

What is it about grandparents that makes my heart feel like it'll cry if I talk about them too much. I''m not ready for anything to change.

all you need is love

Texas was so hot while we were there. Although I have never lived somewhere hot all the time, I decided that I have no desire to do so. Even though it did not feel like it, we were greeted with this cheerful sign:

Papa and Grandpa.

Happy Fall Y'all and Happy Veteran's Day. Also Happy Bday Kelli!

Sci-fi for tweens

2010-11-10T00:41:00.000-07:00

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I know this is a beloved book, so don't hate me for saying this.
There are some young adult books that I gobble up and pay no attention to the predictability and uninspiring writing. I got through Twilights 1-3 so that I could have conversations about them with my sisters-in-law and will probably read book 4 when the movie comes out. I am a die hard Harry Potter lover, and hold all of those books close to my heart. I have put off reading Hunger Games because I'm sure I will enjoy them, but they'll be more of them same same same. So. Even though Ender's Game appeals to my inner Sci-fi dork and fantasy lover, and it was a great young adult story that touches on many conspiracy theory issues-gov't, war, politics, the future of our youth, etc....I have recently been struggling through War and Peace. My brain couldn't come down two notches to this straightforward story and I think the excitement was lost on me. I felt like Orson Scott Card explained every situation outright without giving you a chance to draw conclusions from what you know about the nature of each character on your own. This is frustrating and I know if I'd read this book another time, that I would not have been so hard on it. Great story and idea. Bad timing. I wish i did not have the author's edition either, because in the foreword he addresses all kind of criticisms he has heard about his book. It was difficult to overlook them while I was reading.
That is all I have to say about that. Lo siento.

View all my reviews

tripping

2010-11-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

We went to Sun Valley at the beginning of September. I am uploading pictures to facebook today, so I am reminiscing. It was our last trip with Greg's Grandpa and it was wonderful, and sad, and busy as usual. Isn't it weird how you can fit in to someone else's family just right? I mean it's not the people you grew up with, or the place you call home, but it feels perfect in a different way. I miss Greg's grandpa, who I loved just like my own.

...In Sun Valley:

We hung out and pieced puzzles

Made s'mores

Went fishing

We were entertained by the cutest nephews a person could ask for. really.

Greg brought his longboard and he and Tanner took a breather from the Wagon Days Parade

and also visited the lodge for a car show and Sunday brunch- no slouch.

What a trip!

crybaby

2010-11-09T00:27:00.000-07:00

I have this problem about crying easily. Today was the second time in a week that I cried in spin class. Also, when I get nervous and public speak, I cry. People at church might think it is because I'm filled with the spirit, and maybe I am, but really it's almost like a nervous tick. Horrible.
Ok so to combat this problem I tell myself to imagine funny things in my head. For example, when a student asked me to give him more points on his lab today in front of everybody, instead of starting to cry like I wanted to- (because why am I even allowed to be in charge of points?) I started thinking of Greg dancing on a chair a few months ago shaking his money maker to Lauryn Hill. Ha! Problem solved!

In other news: I had a craft night tonight, and a date with the gym while Greg watched football. Happy Monday. Is it Christmas yet??

Cochabamba!!!!

2010-11-07T23:24:00.000-07:00

Scott opened his mission call tonight and we are so excited. He will report January 26th 2011 for two years in the Cochabamba, Bolivia mission. So happy for him.

Saturday business

2010-11-06T21:22:00.000-06:00

Well I did not do that triathlon. But today was still a pretty productive day because I got to run with my faves:

Also, I attended TWO showers, (bridal and baby), and had a Mexican food date with Gregory. Love is in the air.

Now I am blogging while Greg is just getting in a little more sports to complete his Saturday.
Waking up early with 2 of his brothers over here at the crack of dawn for college gameday, then driving up to Salt lake to tailgate, then sitting for 3+hours at the game watching the Utes get their butts kicked was not nearly enough.

Also, for one of the showers I finished another project**

Someday I will have my own shop, with quilts, and my letterpress cards, personalized stationary, custom invitations and hand-made goods. My friends will sell their wares too: headbands, and ornaments, and clothes. We'll have classes for quilting and painting, and an after school program for kids. Next to that shop will be my health center with yoga and Pilates studios, a spinning room and a regular gym with the best pump classes you can imagine. This place will also have a marathon coach that'll take you on track workouts, a nutritionist on site, and a cafe. (duh.)
If you're going to dream, dream big, right?

**For the easiest baby quilts:
1. Cut and piece together your fabric the way you like. You can use your scraps, and cut pieces in squares, or cut them the same width, but different lengths to make rows of mismatched rectangles. Also, at certain quilt shops they have beautiful, beautiful flannel for sale and you can buy a big piece for your middle. It's not plaid lumberjack flannel, just soft, printed flannel.
Sew fabric in rows, then columns, and lay on minky*.

These are 5 inch squares of moda fabric on top of my minky. (not cut yet)

*(This stuff is so expensive- usually $18-20/yard- so if you're reading this, and care, don't go to a quilt shop for minky. I have found good stuff at regular craft stores, and most recently, HOBBY LOBBY. This place is my heaven. Please experience it for yourself.)

2. Measure width of minky to determine how fat your borders can be by subtracting the width of the center and cutting that number in half for the fold-over borders... You can add another cotton border around your inside fabric if you want less minky for borders. I prefer them wide though. Pin around the blanket- with minky edges laying ON TOP of finished center. Fold under minky corners to make a diagnoal 'seam' and pin these too.

3. Sew. All the way around the blanket, and over folded corners. Fancy seamstresses and quilters will scream with fright, but it's easier, and you can even change the color of your thread and have seams that pop. It's easy, ok?

5. You're done.

Now, I know this is not a craft blog, and this isn't even a clear enough 'tutorial' to learn from, but I've probably made 10+ of these baby blankets and I love how they turn out. Plus, it's way more personal than a package of onesies.

I thought it would be cool...

2010-11-06T03:08:00.000-06:00

To sign up for a triathlon tomorrow. Here's everything, except the bike gear sitting on the floor of my closet. what?

It's 2:57am and I'm counting this as Friday's post. I might not make it to the Turkey Tri at 6:30 am tomorrow. Oops.

I also thought it would be really cool to make a collage out of these old record sleeves Miranda found left in her apartment:

Part of my November resolution was to work on one of my projects every day. I am going to count semi-arranging these on my cutting board as 'working on'. Also I had to move said cutting board from the living room to my bathroom floor because Greg needs the coffee table for his Donuts in the morning. College Gameday is at Rice Eccles Stadium tomorrow. He is beside himself with Utah Ute love and anticipation for the morning.

This is really all I can manage tonight.