Twilight Series Non-Review

February 26, 2009
Warning: this will be a boring and nonsensical post unless you've read the Twilight Series, and probably doubly so if you have read it.

I'm a late Twilight bloomer, a 4 book series by Stephanie Meyers my teenage stepson turned me on to. After harrassing him for weeks about reading romance novels, I sneak-peaked at book 1. It took me a long time to get through the first half because it's so high school drama - didn't have time for it then and I certainly don't have time for it now. But luckily I trudged on. By the end of the book, I was hooked.

One of the ongoing stories is about the human girl having a werewolf best friend and a vampire boyfriend, both of whom are in love with her and natural enemies with each other. While I love the werewolf and vampire characters, the girl leaves much to be desired. She's shallow and not very interesting, an airhead of sorts. At least the vampire girls make up for what she lacks.

Stupid girl aside, let me tell you - it's been a long time since I've been so engrossed in a book let alone having the time to be such. But where there's a will there's a way and I've been staying up until an ungodly hour so I can effectively escape into this ethereal world. I even went to see the movie with my SS and, unlike other literary fans, I LOVED the movie so much that it fueled my frenzy.

Sadly, my engine started losing steam during the 3rd book. Seems the werewolf decides to make his feelings known and passionately/violently kisses the girl against her will. Her angry vampire boyfriend threatens to kill the werewolf if it ever happens again 'unless she wants you to kiss her.' What? Unless she wants you to kiss her? I think to myself, 'Please Stephanie, don't emasculate my vampire like that' and I read on with confidence that he'll redeem himself (and I forgive Stephanie her little misstep).

But nooooo, it gets worse, to the point where the stupid girl who's been 'unknowingly' leading the werewolf on admits she's in love with both and she's so sorry she's hurting both of them, wah wah bhah blubber blah blah. What to do, what to do. Nevermind that, it's what the big burly werewolf and the strong smoldering vampire do:

(in a high-pitched mocking voice) they call a truce and stand by her while she decides who she wants because they want her to be happy.

WHAT???!! Are they serious??? Not only have they been vying for a female wasteland who has no redeeming qualities, they've reduced their masculine selves to whipped pup and goth boy! ! In the real world, THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. Why oh why, Stephanie, did you find the need to introduce such a distasteful and unrealistic situation into an otherwise glorious prose?? I just don't know if I can go on...


DOH.

Well, as real as you can get in a story about werewolves and vampires as well as a stupid girl to boot.


What can I say. I'm only human.

She's a Faux Bo No Mo

February 23, 2009
That's right, at 9am this morning J became a "real" Bo. Grandma, grandpa, Auntie Kathy and her brothers were there to be a part of her big day (judge in the background).

By request, I had to make an attendee anonymous.

Mikey couldn't resist a little brotherly love-noose right before the hearing - got her screamin' good. So as of today, Nien-Tzu C. is now and forever Jaden Nien-Tzu Arashi B. (or until she gets married if daddy ever lets her).

What's J Been Up To (besides jumping)?

February 22, 2009

She may not wear Prada, but she now wears Juicy Couture thanks to Auntie Eryn!

Note to self: keep pens up high.

Jumping for Joy

February 20. 2009

One evening a week we take the kids to Sky High, a warehouse chock-full of connected trampolines. The first time Jaden visited, she clung to us burying her head in daddy's shoulder. Just look at the little bippie now.

FYI. As I posted earlier, she has integration sensory disorders so bouncing and swinging really help her get her peanuts straight. When we told her occupational therapist we take her trampolining regularly, she said it was one of the best medicines so we bought a family pass. I'm hoping if I go enough, I'll quit feeling as though my belly is slapping me in the face - it really keeps me from letting my true gymnast out. (Nancy - I'm calling it my pre get-out-the-treadmill B2B training.)

PS. Anyone who follows Tiff's blog (sweetpeas), she's got some wonderful news to share.

The 487th Ahha! Moment

February 18, 2009

Every now and then when I peek in the backseat ~

time stands still and I KNOW how and why I got here.

Today is the REAL Day

February 12, 2009

I don't get good sleep because all night I'm disturbed by one of 3 evils:

A) a 2 year old Terradactyl screaming toddler who wants her "bee kee, bee kee" (binky) which is always next to her head, or

B) a 4 year old boy who must fight dragons in his sleep every night because I'm constantly being pummeled in the back or the head, or

C) my husband's alarm clock for which he's been threatened will end up smooshed into the carpet if he hits the snooze ONE MORE TIME!!!!

(This is a precursor to my little story so you won't think I'm that bad.)

This morning I got up at 6am-ish, grouchy as usual, cactus hair and unmatching torn flannels - not a desirable sight. I shuffled out to the kitchen where I joined Mike, my bright-eyed and bushy-tailed husband who had just returned from the gym. Without a word, I got my cereal, made coffee, felt my way back to the table and slapped my hiney down into a chair. Just as I was saying hello to BB, Mike came over, stood next to me and resting his hand on my shoulders said, "It started 9 years ago today and I couldn't be happier." I looked up at him with venom and it took a good minute to figure out what the H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICKS he was buggin' me about so early in the morning. Then it hit me......

today is our 9 year first date anniversary, the anniversary we never forget to celebrate. 9 years ago today at 4:30pm, Mike had finally persuaded me into a face-to-face after months of emailing and talking on the phone (I'm a weenie when it comes to meeting strangers). When our 8 hour date was nearing it's end, Mike pulled out a homemade Valentines Day card. That sealed the deal and the rest is history. Yep, I made out like a bandit - he's definitely a gem, especially when he can coo words of affection to me in the morning with a straight face.

So in celebration, I've uploaded a new video of Mikey snowboarding at Heavenly 2 weeks ago. (I had to work this in somehow.) He wasn't even a thought 9 year ago.

And neither was zip head.

Happy 9th Anniversary, Honey. I love you.

Being 4 Years Old is Tough

February 11, 2009
A.M.: "I don't need yoa help, mommy! I'm a big kid! I can do it all by myself!" as he relentlessly insisted on going down the ramp with the oh-so-wreckless teenagers at the local skateboard park. (I won this battle.)

P.M.: In a squeaky, wobbly voice with big tears in his eyes, "Please, mommy. Please don't leave tomowwow!" when I told him I had a business meeting in San Francisco and he couldn't go with me this time. Ha! He DOES still need me! (Frig, he's got me wrapped around his little finger...I almost considered taking him. )

This Little Devil Doesn't Wear Prada

February 9, 2009

I'd previously reported Jaden wears 12 month clothing. Well, that's not quite accurate. She's been wearing 9 month pants and 18 month tops, the average of which is 12 months. But not for long.

I noticed tonight that she may be ready for 12 month pants. What do you think?

Note: just like catching a ghost cloud on film, I now have physical proof Jaden has the devil twinkle in her eye.

Miscellaneous Ramblings

February 6, 2009

I've been asked by a few moms how I get Jaden to perform for the camera. I have two devices, 1) big brother, and 2) food. She copies everything Mikey does (and she won't be outdone) and she'll do anything for food. Mind you, this girl has the kitchen open to her at all times.

Now for some miscellaneous pictures.

This is what happens when big brother finds the scotch tape.

Cheerio Butt

Mikey, full of glee because it's his mystery sharing day at school. (He took his blankie.)

Jaden leading the pack to the playground at "school" today.

Found this one while searching for pictures and just had to share. Last Thanksgiving my youngest brother asked me to cut his hair. I was doing a pretty good job until I forgot to put the blade back on after doing his neck. I completely shaved off his sideburn and he had to return to college with a very funky looking haricut. This Thanksgiving he refused to let me help and did it himself. Guess who forgot to put the blade back on? Between fall-down cry laughing jags, family members offered fixes, "We can glue it back on." "We can paint it to match your hair." Finally somebody suggested the inevitable, "Why don't you just shave your head bald?" (I think Mike suggested that one.)
Our oldest brother shaved his own head bald, too, so the youngest wouldn't feel so bad.

She's Come a Long Way, Baby

Februrary 2, 2009

As I've mentioned before, Jaden's inability to communicate with us has been extremely frustrating for her. Even though we still have quite a ways to go in this area, we've come a long way in the last month as you'll see in the video. It took at least 5 months to get here but not because of Jaden - her parents were ignorant when it came to teaching her. No matter what we tried, she'd end up being upset or ignoring us. We just didn't know what to do until a specialist suggested teaching her older brother first. That did it - within minutes she was signing, too. What's even more amazing than her ability to pick it up so quickly is that she, on her own, will usually say the word, too. Enjoy! (notice how many times she says her favorite word "No")