Happiest Place on Earth

I hate doing back-to-back posts but I just had to throw up some pictures from Anaheim tonight too. It was so much fun. We stayed in Anaheim and went to Disneyland, the beach and RADIOHEAD! It was the best concert ever. I'm sure Wes will have plenty to say on that score. We met up with our friends Caleb and Trisha and had so much fun together. Holden was such a trooper despite the long days sans regular naps, being off schedule, having to be pushed or carried everywhere, etc. We all had such a fun trip.

"Our Trip to Bear Lake" Or "Finally I Got the Camera Back!"

The New Face on Holden Warren

Holden has this new face that is among the Top Ten favorite things.
(The display of my Top Ten Happiest Things list TBA).

He offsets his jaw like this . . . and then pinches up his nose and breathes really loudly while glowering at you.

He used to display it out only when he was concentrating or irritated. But now he pulls it out anytime he's feeling naughty, precocious or coy . . . consequently we see this face all day.

He's such a crack up.

Why I Like My Hometown

I realized today that I only blog when I have pictures - usually of Holden - to blog about. And since Wes is a camera hog (admittedly much better though at taking pictures than I) I don't have any. You'll have to take my word for it that Holden is as cute as ever. But since this blog was never meant to be a mommy blog - since it was Wes who actually started it, I think I'll expand my writing horizons every now and then and make other posts - non related to the day to day occurrences of my boy.

I always get asked why I live where I do. And I get pressure to move out of the "hood." But I love my neighborhood. I call Salt Lake my hometown because I hated so much where I was actually raised. I still can't drive North into Davis County without feeling a little queasy.

Bountiful to me really is a place of bounty: Bounty of the financially over-expensed. Bounty of steep hills where riding your bike as a kid was truly perilous. Bounty of snow on steep driveways in the winter which I had to shovel - every day. Bounty of homogenization. Bounty of judgment. Bounty of secret keepers. Bounty of the miserable who try very hard to pretend life is perfect.

Sugarhood on the other hand is exactly the opposite. I love this place because our neighbors don't disown us if we haven't cut our lawn in 10 days. But at the same time you don't find beer cans or all over your lawn after your neighbor has a party. I love this place because it's a true neighborhood in the sense that you have stores, libraries, parks, boutiques and gyms close enough to walk to. I love this place because the houses were built to last. I love knowing that someone lovingly picked out this house in the 1900's and that this cozy bungalow style will never be outdated. I love this place because you have easy access to the freeway. I love this place because our neighbors are different from me - but all friendly. I love this place because the trees enclose the houses in a protective, loving sort of way. I love this place because Holden and I can sit outside and watch enough cars and neighbors and pets going by to keep him entertained for at least an hour. And finally, I love this place because there is always something more to work on - just like there is with me.

The Perils of Vanity

Sounds like a conference talk, huh?
Oh, and he was fine. He was just shocked that someone so good looking would attack him like that.

Yesterday

8:00 AM - Holden wakes up not super happy like usual (relatively strange for him)

8:15 AM - Holden decides he HATES his changing table. Or that he hates getting his diaper changes. Not sure yet at this point which it is.

8:20 AM - Holden decides he hates ME. He thrashes, kicking me in the stomach several times despite my entreaties.

8:25 AM - Holden, usually independent, cries every time I try to put him down.

8:30 AM - Food, usually the solve-all, also makes Holden's hate list. He screams for five minutes while I try to feed him.

9:00 AM - I put him down for a nap - which also makes him scream. But at least he sleeps eventually.

11:00 AM - Repeat all items above twice

5:30 PM - Wes comes home and I leave the room. Holden is good for him.

5:45 PM - Holden sees me pass by the room and starts crying and "stomp crawls" toward me and begs to be picked up.

5:47 PM - He's not happy being held by me or sitting next to me. He just wants to complain and be mean to me.

6:00 PM - I give Holden over to Wes and Holden calms right down. But then I pass by a minute later and he starts throwing a tantrum again!

And that was my day until I went to Mamma Mia (feeling quite sorry for myself) with my friend Jaime. I totally take it personal. Like somehow, subconsciously he knew I was going to be going to a movie that night and was ticked off about it all day long. It was so sad.

Today has been better. We've thoroughly enjoyed each other - except for the 15 minutes coming back from the gym when he screamed the whole way home. Such a love.

My Kid Is a Freaking Genius

Yes it has happened. I've turned into one of those mothers that thinks her kid is a genius. A freaking genius, if you want to know the truth. Holden is 7 months old and he's so alert, aware and deliberate that I feel like I'm hanging out with a 7 year old. I can't even imagine what it will be like when he's seven! It'll be like hanging out with Nietzsche (heaven forbid) or Rand; he'll be so advanced he'll be thinking I'm the kid and he's the adult.

Ok I'm getting ahead of myself. Anyway - we broke the camera in NC so I have no proof of any of this, but he can say Mama and knows what he's saying. Today we went for a walk and I said "Hi buddy" and he looked at me and said "Hi Mama." Well he sort of growled it. We're both sick with colds so our voices are funky right now. He's so much fun. He can follow orders and understands so much of what I say, even if he deliberately chooses to disobey. He sniper-crawls everywhere, gets into everything, fears nothing, laughs with me all the time, eats anything I give him and knows that he's got me wrapped around one of his cute fat little fingers.

Sci Fi Geek vs. Drama Queen

Ode to Battlestar Galactica:

I know that many don't love you
they judge your book by its cover
and despite your many attributes
they refuse to accept you because of your roots
You're Sci Fi! Science Fiction, Science! Fiction
which the haters think is only for dorks, trekkies and Asimov freaks



So I am declaring to all the haters
That I know better than those anti-raiders
Because I sat down at my husband's behest
and let BSG give me what it does best
And that is drama, pure people drama
Where all the players are flawed and you love them all
despite it all.

Starbuck, Lee, President Rosalind I love you!
Adama you rock, handsome Helo and Anders too
But BSG you certainly make sure men get their fix
With Sharon the Cylon and the Six
And I must give props to Baltar
even if he did wipe out an entire civilization. Twice.






And as I end my ode to you dear Battlestar
even though you're leaving the air I'll not be far
I'll work my hardest to create true conversions
just like your Cylons to correct spiritual perversions
I'll make them realize that Sci Fi shouldn't scare them away
because you're really just a drama queen in a uniform.

Summer Concerts Preview...

You missed it, didn't you?
Jim James and the rest of the My Morning Jacket crew rocking out on Conan. Don't worry, friend - I've got your back.


This is what will be blowing my mind when I see them in Vegas this September.

Who else am I catching in concert this summer? The prestigious Red Butte Garden Amphitheater is playing host to one of America's best bands ever, Wilco. Here's Jeff and the gang performing a couple awesome, folky new songs on Saturday Night Live. As you'll see, Wilco is one of those unique bands that would fit in on A Prairie Home Companion (in fact, they have), MTV, CMTV (Country Music TV, for the luckily uninitiated), or most importantly, our blog's music player. I feel comfortable recommending them to my grandpa, my dad, my friends, co-workers, and young men in my ward. Here, take a look-see:



and...




In other music news, the lineup for SLC's 2008 Twilight Concert Series was recently announced. If my Thursday evening softball games don't conflict, you know where I'll be. However, I will be missing any softball game to go see Andrew Bird. I happen to know a couple other Ivins Ward socialites that should also be in attendance that evening (that means you, Leggats & Hartles...). But all should attend - numerous are those who frequent this blog that can bear solemn witness to the truthfulness and musical veracity of Brother Andrew Bird.

I'd now like to open up the rest of the comments section for any and all who feel moved to bear their testimony of the musical stylings of My Morning Jacket, Wilco, Andrew Bird, or any other musician of good report or praise-worthy.

Here's a list of the performers this summer...

Ahoy Matey

My parents, Wes, Holden and I went to Roanoke Island Festival Park and had so much fun. We saw a play about The Virgin Queen and Bloody Mary and walked around and saw all these old artifacts and tools used in the 1500's.

Then we went to see this Elizabeth I ship replica - which brought over like 55 people in this tiny ship to Outer Banks. Holden wore his pirate shirt (it says Argh! on it) and totally loved it.

"Argh! I love me the smell of the sea and salt in me hair."

The Graveyard of the Atlantic

We just back from one of the funnest trips I've ever been on. My whole immediate family (and it's huge) went to Outer Banks, North Carolina and stayed in this awesomely-huge beach house. We had so much fun, we played tennis, went kayaking, boogie boarding, swimming, running . . . and of course ate loads of food.

This was Holden's very first introduction to the beach. He hated it. But I blame the 110 degree freak weather that first day.

And as you can see, he was still pissed later on when we transferred him to the pool.

The next day we got family pictures and they made us wear purple! My mom tried to get pink (Wes' favorite color) but they didn't have it, so she thought the next best thing was bright purple. I felt like part of the Barney cast. But Holden didn't mind.

8 Ways to be a Happier Mom

"Kids do bring joy," says Daniel Gilbert, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Harvard University and author of "Stumbling on Happiness." "They bring transcendent moments that outweigh all the hard work. It's just that children do not increase your average daily enjoyment."

The article had some really good ideas on how mom's can increase their hour-to-hour, daily happiness:

Admit when you're stressed

Ironically, once you stop expecting motherhood to feel warm and fuzzy all the time, life as a mom gets easier. "It's okay to feel frustrated, angry, or irritable sometimes," says Dr. Ubel. "You're not a bad parent. It's not even a bad parenting experience. It's just normal."

Get enough sleep

Most of us know that money can't buy happiness, but who knew that a good night's sleep just might? That's a key finding of that University of Michigan study. "Making $60,000 more in annual income has less of an effect on your daily happiness than getting one extra hour of sleep a night," says study author Norbert Schwarz, Ph.D., a professor of psychology.

(Re)consider your priorities

It may sound simplistic, but one key to being in a more positive mood is to structure your day so you do more things you enjoy. "It's how you spend your time, not your money, that counts," says Dr. Ubel. "If you have any financial flexibility that lets you maximize your family time, use it now. For instance, do you really need to be the one to clean the house? How about paying someone to help out? And if that's not an option, think about how clean your house really needs to be -- do you need to make the beds, or is bed-making time better spent drawing pictures with your kids?"

Go with the flow

Time seems to slow down when you're doing what you enjoy, whether it's gardening or running laps. People who experience this level of engagement -- which psychologists call "flow" -- are happier than people who rarely do. And you're lucky to have a master of it right before you: your child. "To you and me, every leaf and ant is pretty much the same, but not to a toddler," says Reivich. "So try to actively notice things as your child does -- the ant dragging a piece of bread, for instance."

Savor the moment

"Take ten seconds every hour to look at what you're doing from a higher place." While you're at it, appreciate what a wonderful child you have -- those chubby cheeks, that toothless smile -- and share that joy with someone who'll rejoice in it with you. That's another way to grab onto the good stuff and prolong your happiness.

Take the long view

If the drudgery is getting to you, think about life without children. "It's easy to get caught up in the details, but you need to step back and realize how empty your life would be without these people in it," says Gilbert.

Reconnect with your spouse

A supportive group of friends and family is one of the cornerstones of a happy life, and for many moms, the center of that social circle is their partner. That's why it's so important to keep the lines of communication open, especially during the "diaper years" -- infancy to age 3 -- that experts say are the most stressful on a marriage.

Even discussing how stressed you both are can help. "If you can both just say, 'Raising a kid is hard,' putting it out there diminishes the strain," says Sauer.

Say thanks

Feeling grateful is a mood booster. It can be as simple as saying grace every night or finding new ways to acknowledge others. "When our extended family gets together, we go around the room and say one thing we appreciate about each person," says Elizabeth Howard, mom of Reilly, 2, in Anaheim, California.

Another effective way is to put what you're thankful for down on paper: Write the three best things that happened today. Experts say that if you do that every day for two weeks, your feelings of well-being will increase.

Of course, you'll still have bad days. But at least you'll be less likely to think there's something wrong with you. And the more you engage in positive thinking, the more you'll realize how much happiness is under your control. "I think of happiness as three things -- enjoyment, satisfaction, and fulfillment," says Ryan. "Mothering can give us any one of those at any given moment  yep, if not necessarily all of them at the same time!"

Just Out of Reach

Holden just loves gadgets - I wonder who he gets that from!

An Evening With My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket
September 24th, 2008
The Joint - Las Vegas, NV

Who's in, who's out?

Here's a camera picture from my vantage point the last time I saw these guys, when they were in SLC (mind you, I had to lean waaaay back just to fit him in the frame. Front row will do that to you.):

Can you say "radical?" I knew you could.

Oh, you're not sure if you're in to MMJ, you say? Behold these thigh-melting clips:


Feast your eyes upon MMJ on Conan O'Brien. This is, without a doubt, the most incredible late night musical performance in the history of television. You can even tell that Conan's socks were knocked on their butts.


For a local spin, here's MMJ on Letterman playing "Gideon" with the Boston Pops, lead by Keith Lockhart. Hey, you can actually see Jim James' face!


One of Amber's new favorites, "Mahgeeta." (Code word for "my guitar.") Hold on to your knickers at the 5 minute mark.

YouTube just doesn't do these guys justice, but if you're into music that really doesn't suck, consider making the Vegas trip with us.

Believe me, My Morning Jacket is for you. If it's for Amber, it's for anyone.

Golden

I'm sure we've all heard the idea that couples who stay together over time start looking like each other. There's this article/study that talks about the 4 reasons why this is the case:

1) Diet (um....self explanatory)

2) Environment (dust sure is bad for the skin)

3) Predisposition ("like" attracts "like")

4) Empathy (you start mimicking each others' expressions over time)

For the record I want to say that I'm ok with this theory being an actuality for Wes and me because Wes is HOT. But I am a little concerned about other implications. Like what about talking like each other and liking the same things all the time. I have just realized that because Wes doesn't like onions, I go around saying that I don't like onions. And because he thinks Blue Cheese tastes like butt (however that tastes), I don't order Blue Cheese for myself anymore. And I watch basketball now! And now I'm starting to really like all of his music. Like the other day I realized I LOVE My Morning Jacket. I couldn't stand them when I first met Wes. What is happening to me? I love my contradicting opinions!

But for the record, I still hate Sufjan Stevens. Well I really like "Godbird" but I don't like anything else. Well at least on the Illinois album. Crap! It's happening again!

Clyde The Glide Drexler

Honestly, who in the heck has there ever been in the NBA who dunks from the corner of the key DURING A GAME! Clyde the Glide, that's who.

ESPN has him as the sixth best shooting guard ever:



























Behold some of his dunks. Of particular note is how high and far the guy can soar. That last dunk (#1) is an in-game dunk - in traffic - from just inside the free throw line. Amazing. He's my all-time favorite athlete.

Where oh where is my stimulus check

Has anyone received their stimulus check yet? I hate to sound desperate but with Wes's car driving less reliably than a wild hog I really need the cash for a new one. I went on this website to see when it's coming and it keeps saying later and later. First it was the 29th of April, then the 5th of May, now who knows . . .

Maybe it's the government's way of dangling a carrot in front of the horse to keep it plugging along, paying those astronomical health care bills and absurd gas prices without complaint, because he's distracted and excited about the carrot.

I want to have my carrot and eat it too.

Boy or Girl?

The other day, the cashier at the grocery store referred to Holden as a "she."

And then today, one of our lot techs asked if he were a boy or a girl.

What!?! This little bite of manliness?
How could there ever be confusion?
Ok so maybe I do dress him in yellow and seafoam green. But seriously! It's not like he has his ears pierced or wears bows stuck with honey in his hair - for C.O.L. He's doesn't go around wearing a dress!
He really doesn't appreciate gender confusion. It offends his sensibilities.

But we finally laughed it off at Wes's softball game.

"Yeah, I'm a steamroller, baby! I'm bound to roll all over you."

There we were, trying to have a lovely conversation with our dear friends, the Leggats - making plans for seeing Rey Deohed perform in L.A. and visiting the Happiest Place on Earth.
Meanwhile, our awesome conversation was being interrupted by this rolling thing on the ground.
The more we spoke, the more he rolled. Finally we had to give him some video camera lovin' just to get him to stop rolling.

So here it is, Holden's first roll. We're sure glad Becca had a camera to capture the magic.

Here's to a lifetime of rockin' and rollin', my boy.

They Who Reject This Year's Jazz Team Will Surely Be Smitten At Last

I got to attend a couple more Jazz games a couple weeks ago. Namely, the Clippers and Wizards, on the 2nd and 6th rows, respectively. I had Jonathan in tow, which always seems to add an air of mischievousness to any event (he's available for parties, company events, weddings and bar mitzvahs).
So at the Clippers game, we're enjoying our seats, taking in the sites...

This shot was for Michelle. Her crush on this ravishing Russian is no secret amongst Ivins Ward regulars.

Millsap, knocking a couple down at the line. I just couldn't get enough of Kaman's derriere in my face.

Payne and I were a thorn in Cutino Mobley's side the entire night. It all started when the ref tossed the ball to him in order to in-bound it, and Mobley just let the ball bounce off his chest and onto to the court. It should have been a live ball, but the refs had pity on him. He was visibly perturbed, by both Payne & I and his own teammates.

So anyway, we were enjoying the game when, low and behold, a certain mouth-piece of the Lord enters the arena...

In this shot, we see T.Mons (as he's known in NBA circles) making eye contact with Kyle Korver ("KY" if you're buds with him) and letting him know, "You're the man. Tonight - it's your night. You got it." That's an apostolic blessing if I've ever seen one. Let's just say KY didn't disappoint.

So T.Mons continued his way pass the bench, but couldn't stop without sharing the Good News with J.Sloan. He took him in a brotherly handshake (while J.Sloan was in the middle of a time-out huddle, mind you) and told him of his admiration and respect for what he's been doing for the Jazz for so many years. Jerry was about as gracious as Jerry gets, the extent of which is portrayed in this picture.
T.Mons proceeded to air-dribble along the sideline, displaying for the Jazz staff how quickened game is. I'm pretty sure Tyrone "The Milkman" Corbin was impressed by his righteous skillz.

Monson made his way to the scorer's table, where he chatted with Craig Bolerjack and Ron Boone. I think I heard him comment, with regards to the first half, "3-pointers rained down, ankles were broken, Clippers were posterized." It's official - he is the king of the passive voice (as if there was any doubt before).

Jonathan will be the first to agree with me - once we saw the presence of the Lord's annointed prophet, was there really any doubting the outcome of the game? I think not.


Here are a couple shots from our 6th row seats at the Wizards game.

CJ dropping 3 onto the lowly Wizards.

The Wiz waming up. Mine and Payne's boss & owner of Gold's was on the front row behind the hoop, so at half time we went down and chatted with him. We talked about everything from house boats to male pregnancy.

The final score - Jazz 129, Wizards 87. Ouch.
As you can see, KY was the Subway Sub of the Game. Payne and I actually (unknowingly) passed up an opportunity to hang out and go bowling with KY after the game, but he should be swinging by Payne's house soon for some PS3 and tranqs.