Twilight Movie

For the second twilight movie premier, some girlfriends and I decided to dress up like vampires in the sun, dripping with sparkly diamonds and pale white. Talk about a fun night!

Pudd-n-Face

I don't really know how this sort of thing happens. I give him a pudding and 20 seconds later this is what he looks like. Oh Finn, my delicious little chocolate covered child, how do you do it?

Happy Halloween!

End of Summer Volcano

Towards the end of summer when the days start to drag the boys and I can up with a plan. We were going to build a volcano. It was the perfect end of summer activity. The project was spread out for maximum fun and maximum easiness for me. First a day spent building the structure, then paper mache, painting, adorning with life like volcano paraphernalia (thanks Ana for your help), of course we had to bake a chocolate volcano cake with red raspberry lava, and then there was arranging the tropical “lava” flowers and so forth. With this one project I was able to fill two weeks with non stop activities and fun. Then it was time for the McDonald volcano party or as the Deans dubbed it “Mount McDonavus!” It was so much fun to see all the kids faces as we set it off. I bought several boxes of baking soda and a gallon or two of vinegar so multiple children could set it off too. It was such a great time; we just might do it next year.

LDS MBA Bar B Q

Isn't that tittle funny. It was great seeing some of our old friends and meeting up with the new MBA's. We can't wait to teach them all about highly expensive educations, overflowing social calendars, "networking" like it's nobodies business and the overall party an MBA can be.







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Dane's First Day of School (last month)

It happened a few times a day all summer long. I would be playing with the boys and suddenly realize that this was the last summer with Dane before school. I have such a hard time with the thought of just handing him over to the assigned teacher and hoping for the best. I described the experience to my sister like this. "Sending your child to school is like dressing them up in new clothes, putting them in a row boat and pushing them into the middle of a lake....on a foggy day. You don't know what's going on, what people are saying to them, if they are being well received and in turn kindly receiving other children. It’s the great unknown.” This looming deadline forced me to revel in every moment this summer. Instead of letting it make me weeping it made me press forward and savor our time together. I try not to question myself too much. Did I teach him enough, is he on par with reading, will he come home with swear words and will his view of the world change? I'm sure it will be easier with the second, and right now since it is more than a month behind me it is easier. So far so good, Dane loves school and can't wait to go every morning. I will admit that on the first day I cried like a baby, but thank heavens Dane did not see me. I guess this means I'm a big girl now, with a PTA membership and everything. I used to say that you really grew up when you had to take care of your own taxes and health insurance. But now I think it's when you send one of your own into the world.

Liam's First Day of School...(last month)

Liam is going to Grace Lutheran this year, as Dane did the two previous years before him. He is overjoyed about the prospect of being "a big boy like Dane". We have been so happy with our experience at Grace. They have a "gentle Christian influence" as they call it. This includes blessing the food, talking about forgiveness, a real Easter celebration and the best Nativity Christmas play in town. I'm so excited for all the growing Liam will do this year. And for all the aspects of his personality that will come out without his big brothers Shadow. Liam is a totally different child than Dane. He has this quiet sense of self that just draws you in. He will play by himself for hours but loves to have playmates. Liam my Darling I love you.

Tour My House!

Tour of my house on Artsy Annie

Harry Potter

Rory and I have never read the Harry Potter books. Instead we like to go to the movie premieres and act like we are supper fans. There is just something so exciting about seeing a midnight showing with people that have counted down the days to be there. It first started when we went to the "first" star wars movie. Everyone was so excited and dressed up. There were news crews there and a feeling of electricity in the air. After that experience we have had fun dressing up and going to similar events. We try not to talk to people because we usually have no idea about whatever we are seeing that night. I hope to one day take it up a notch and attend Star Trek conventions in full klingons attire with a few authentic lines of language rehearsed. During the summer we attending the opening of the Harry Potter movie. We succeeded in not only convincing our normal Friends Katianne and Lex to come but to have a costume competition with us. The winner with the best costume was supposed to bring the other couple dinner the following Sunday. So now I ask where is my dinner?