I had fun releasing my inner child and colored for a couple hours the night before. I think I'll laminate them and hold onto them for future Family Home Evening activities. Click here to get your own copy. There are larger sizes too.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Prophet Memory Cards
Yesterday my Primary lesson was on Prophets. I was looking for a fun activity to include and I found these prophet cards to use as a Memory game -
I had fun releasing my inner child and colored for a couple hours the night before. I think I'll laminate them and hold onto them for future Family Home Evening activities. Click here to get your own copy. There are larger sizes too.
I had fun releasing my inner child and colored for a couple hours the night before. I think I'll laminate them and hold onto them for future Family Home Evening activities. Click here to get your own copy. There are larger sizes too.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
18 Months
He's still as active as can be. He loves being outside and especially going on walks. He is so curious and he tries to figure out how everything works. He's started doing some of the hand movements to Popcorn Popping. He's finally stopped eating crayons, so we can now draw together. He learned how to jump a few weeks ago and climb into his crib by himself, so I'll find him in there just jumping away.
Corban absolutely loves going to nursery. Although this coming Sunday is supposed to be his first week, the nursery leaders are super awesome and have taken him since the beginning of the year. Josh had to bribe Corban with a bag of M&Ms to get him to leave last week.
He's just a great kid. We love you!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Book Report
One of my New Year's resolutions was to read more, so I thought I'd share my January reading.
My first book for the year was Chaim Potok's Davita's Harp. I think this is the fifth book I've read by him and I love them all. Potok is such an amazing story-teller. The novel chronicles the life of a young girl as she comes of age amid family, social, and religious strife. I typically become very invested in the books I read, so I cried all the way through. Davita's story is heart-breaking in itself, but Potok is able to capture that moment when the harsh realities of life settle on a young person, particularly the realization that life is not fair, even cruel, and we're often powerless to change it. But it's a hopeful book, offering a solace found and built upon the power of ideals and imagination. Honestly, just writing about this book makes me want to read all over again.
I soon followed up with John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley: In Search of America. I remember during Junior year of High School everyone was dreading reading The Grapes of Wrath, supposedly because it was long and boring. But I adored it, so I was excited to read this book. It is a travelogue of Steinbeck's cross-country trip with his poodle, Charley. First, it was interesting to get to know the author, since this was a non-fiction personal account. It gave me a different perspective on what I remember of the The Grapes of Wrath. Second, Steinbeck is hilarious. He has a very subtle humor, but he is spot-on with his observations. ("spot-on" - this sounds so British but my brain can't think of the American equivalent.) I was so amused I had to read all the funny passages to Josh. He was a sport and played along and chuckled at the appropriate moments. Since we had just recently gone out shooting, I found this passage particularly amusing:
"...every fall a great number of men set out to prove that without talent, training, knowledge, or practice they are dead shots with rifle or shotgun. The results are horrid. From the moment I left Sag Harbor the guns were booming at the migrating ducks, and as I drove in Maine the rifle shots in the forests would have frightened off any number of redcoats so long as they didn't know what was happening. This is bound to get me a bad name as a sportsman, but let me say at once that I have nothing against the killing of animals. Something has to kill them I suppose...If I were hungry, I would happily hunt anything that runs or crawls or flies, even relatives, and tear them down with my teeth. But it isn't hunger that drives millions of armed American males to forests and hills every autumn, as the high incidence of heart failure among the hunters will prove. Somehow the hunting process has to do with masculinity, but I don't quite know how. I know there are any number of good and efficient hunters who know what they are doing; but many more are overweight gentlemen, primed with whiskey and armed with high-powered rifles. They shoot at anything that moves or looks as though it might, and their success in killing one another may well prevent a population explosion."
Anyway, I got a kick out of it.
I soon followed up with John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley: In Search of America. I remember during Junior year of High School everyone was dreading reading The Grapes of Wrath, supposedly because it was long and boring. But I adored it, so I was excited to read this book. It is a travelogue of Steinbeck's cross-country trip with his poodle, Charley. First, it was interesting to get to know the author, since this was a non-fiction personal account. It gave me a different perspective on what I remember of the The Grapes of Wrath. Second, Steinbeck is hilarious. He has a very subtle humor, but he is spot-on with his observations. ("spot-on" - this sounds so British but my brain can't think of the American equivalent.) I was so amused I had to read all the funny passages to Josh. He was a sport and played along and chuckled at the appropriate moments. Since we had just recently gone out shooting, I found this passage particularly amusing:
"...every fall a great number of men set out to prove that without talent, training, knowledge, or practice they are dead shots with rifle or shotgun. The results are horrid. From the moment I left Sag Harbor the guns were booming at the migrating ducks, and as I drove in Maine the rifle shots in the forests would have frightened off any number of redcoats so long as they didn't know what was happening. This is bound to get me a bad name as a sportsman, but let me say at once that I have nothing against the killing of animals. Something has to kill them I suppose...If I were hungry, I would happily hunt anything that runs or crawls or flies, even relatives, and tear them down with my teeth. But it isn't hunger that drives millions of armed American males to forests and hills every autumn, as the high incidence of heart failure among the hunters will prove. Somehow the hunting process has to do with masculinity, but I don't quite know how. I know there are any number of good and efficient hunters who know what they are doing; but many more are overweight gentlemen, primed with whiskey and armed with high-powered rifles. They shoot at anything that moves or looks as though it might, and their success in killing one another may well prevent a population explosion."
Anyway, I got a kick out of it.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Another note on domesticity...
So, the other day, Josh gave me a present out of the blue. For no special reason. As I've mentioned, I have a pretty sweet husband. He gave me an apron.
I really do like it and I was way excited, but I feel like I shouldn't. I think I've spent to much time being indoctrinated by feminist English teachers at college. I mean, it's so 1950s - symbol of oppression, or something to that effect.
But, hey, it does make me feel like one hip housewife.
I really do like it and I was way excited, but I feel like I shouldn't. I think I've spent to much time being indoctrinated by feminist English teachers at college. I mean, it's so 1950s - symbol of oppression, or something to that effect.
But, hey, it does make me feel like one hip housewife.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sweet Domestic Bliss
Check these babies out -
Craigslist and salvaged from the yard (thank you Tyler and Candace). Brings the grand total to $65!
What's really ridiculous is we've lived here for over 2 months and we only just got these last week. I've had very gracious parents who have let me bum laundry off them for the last year and half, but it's feels like way more than a chore when you have to dedicate two days a week to get it all done.
I feel like I have a whole new life...
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Pismo Monarchs
A couple of weeks ago, we headed up the coast to check out the monarch butterfly sanctuary in Pismo Beach. In a small grove of eucalyptus trees, a few thousand butterflies stop every winter on their migration route. We took a ton of pictures, but not too many turned out. Apparently, by observing the few dozen other photographers there, you need a two foot lens to get the job done...
And, for when you're bored on the drive home -
After butterfly gazing we went down the beach to play around a bit. Of course, we took lots of pictures of our favorite subject
And, for when you're bored on the drive home -
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe it's already the 9th. Makes me feel like such well wishes are a bit too belated. But, hey, I didn't resolve to solve my procrastination problems this year. Maybe later...
Anyway, I did make my standard resolutions - read more, write more, exercise more. But I'm also trying to focus a little more on service this year. I'm not sure how this is going to play out yet, but if there's something I can do for you - let me know.
On New Year's day, we enjoyed two very different sides of life. My very dear friend, Hank, was visiting and arranged for a dinner at an amazing restaurant, Inn of the Seventh Ray. After driving way down Topanga Canyon, we arrived at the most beautiful restaurant setting I've ever been to. We dined on the patio, surrounded by trees lit with twinkle lights, fountains amid flowers, and the trickling of the creek only a stone's throw away. The food was incredible - diver's scallops, chicken sous vide, salmon with chorizo, and blueberry cake with ginger ice cream. If you're looking for a memorable evening, I highly recommend it. The atmosphere was so relaxed and elegant, it made for a wonderful evening catching up with old friends.
Now for the other side - Josh, Corban and I spent the morning in a bit more, shall we say, "rustic" setting. Okay, honestly, more "redneck." We went out to Ojai to shoot Josh's rifle. We were going to meet up with some of the fam to fish, but we were, ahem, misguided. (Josh went to the wrong place). But we had a good time anyway.
Note: This gun was NOT loaded. We really aren't as stupid as we look.
Anyway, I did make my standard resolutions - read more, write more, exercise more. But I'm also trying to focus a little more on service this year. I'm not sure how this is going to play out yet, but if there's something I can do for you - let me know.
On New Year's day, we enjoyed two very different sides of life. My very dear friend, Hank, was visiting and arranged for a dinner at an amazing restaurant, Inn of the Seventh Ray. After driving way down Topanga Canyon, we arrived at the most beautiful restaurant setting I've ever been to. We dined on the patio, surrounded by trees lit with twinkle lights, fountains amid flowers, and the trickling of the creek only a stone's throw away. The food was incredible - diver's scallops, chicken sous vide, salmon with chorizo, and blueberry cake with ginger ice cream. If you're looking for a memorable evening, I highly recommend it. The atmosphere was so relaxed and elegant, it made for a wonderful evening catching up with old friends.
Now for the other side - Josh, Corban and I spent the morning in a bit more, shall we say, "rustic" setting. Okay, honestly, more "redneck." We went out to Ojai to shoot Josh's rifle. We were going to meet up with some of the fam to fish, but we were, ahem, misguided. (Josh went to the wrong place). But we had a good time anyway.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)