Holy John Locke, Batman!

We just watching the season finale of LOST. WHaT is Up WiTh ThIS ShOW?! How is it that it's just so freaking good? This season blew my mind - especially episode 4 (wow.wow.wow). It was well worth the wait and fortunately we got a whole season even with the writers strike. It's just so good and if you're not into yet, no worries! To watch all 4 seasons online for free go here. This is the best time of year to get started since there is nothing worth watching during the summer except So You Think You Can Dance (which I also highly recommend). Have I mentioned that it's just SO good!??!

Green Baby

My mom sent me another link today about the dangers of plastics. I haven't introduced Mia to a bottle b/c I haven't bought any BPA-free bottles yet. Need to do that soon because I'm ready for Daddy to take over one of the middle of night feedings :) Although, my prince of a husband gets up with Bubba every morning at 7:30AM and lets me sleep in!! Thanks, Sweetie!

I have a few green blogs on my favorites list but I love this one because it's devoted to Green Baby Products! Great place for product reviews and for checking out cool products that you wouldn't find in your Target or Walmart. Check it out!

Boles Bulldogs RULE!

Something you should know about me: I was in the first 9th grade class of Boles Jr. High, in Arlington, Texas. Since we were the 'senior' calls, we decided the school colors (Royal Blue and Kelly Green...seriously, not just blue and green. Royal Blue and Kelly Green) and we decided the school mascot (Bulldogs). There was a big vote by all the incoming 9th graders from the two feeder jr. highs: Workman and Gunn.

Gunn is where you wanted to go to school. Gunn was an cool school. They were the Gators, for crying out loud. It was a rich-kid school at the time. It was a predominantly white-kid school. It had been around for years and had a very upstanding reputation and successful athletic department.

I would have gone to Gunn if not for the building of Boles. Unfortunately, the year I was to enter 7th grade, the city changed the zoning so that me and my neighborhood was sent to Workman. I use the word 'sent' to Workman because it was a bit like being sent to prison. You got to go to Gunn. You were sent to Workman.

Workman had a reputation too. But not the kind you wanted to be associated with. The kids at Workman were tough. There were girl fights almost every day. There were fire alarms at least once a month. The principal was beat up. Sometimes the lights would go out in the entire school for hours because someone managed to break the electrical box or something. Teachers cried openly. It was, by my memory, a bit like Dangerous Minds. You'd walk down the halls (because you snuck out while the teacher wasn't looking) and pass classrooms where all the kids were sitting on the desk or throwing paper airplanes or holding the teacher at knife point.... Like I said, it had a reputation.

One girl, Cher, even wanted to beat me up. I don't know why? I never ever did anything to Cher but I heard one day that she wanted to kick my a**. Cher was 5 feet tall and weighed about 85 pounds. I was born weighing 85 pounds. I wasn't scared of Cher. I was scared of Cher's people. Cher was a Freak. Some people call them Hippies or Stoners - in Arlington they were called Freaks. They wore black and had metal accents (chains, spiked bracelets, lip rings, ice picks, etc.) . They smoked outside of the school. They listened to Metallica and wore concert t-shirts. Cher's #2 was a 6 foot Amazon who could have squashed me like a gnat. I was terrified. Rumor was that she was going to 'get me' in the parking lot. So, of course, I would wait inside until I saw my bus pull up and then I'd bolt out and jump onto the bus (where I sat in the back, naturally). Cher was best friends with my former best friend from elementary school (Wood Elementary, thankyouverymuch) - Robin Dean. In the course of a summer, Robin went from fresh-faced girl wonder to a black-eyeliner wearing Black Sabbath groupie! I remember her being absolutely shocked that I hadn't had sex yet...in 7th grade. Anyway, I guess because I was Robin's ex-best friend, Cher hated me. Sorry to say, the fight never happened. It would have made for a good story, I am sure. In fact, I think Cher did confront me but never instigated anything. Probably too scared to muss up her mile-high bangs? [Robin and Cher remained BFF, I guess because I used to see them in the mall together post college. They worked at the Este Lauder counter together. Robin was very beautiful. I stayed away from Cher.] Cher? Who names their kid Cher anyway?!

Where was I? So, I had to endure two years of being bused 15 miles to Workman before we were transferred to Boles which was a mile away from my front door. I didn't make the cheerleading team. This was traumatic. We had to try out for cheerleader at Workman. They were taking 6 from Workman and 4 from Gunn because the transfer population was greater from Workman. This was back in the day when to make the cheer team you had to get the judges vote, the teacher vote and the popular vote. I was a shoe in for the popular vote, let me just make that clear. That was the easy part - I was funny and had friends. I also nailed the judges vote. [When we were being taught the try out routines by the high school cheerleaders they actually pulled the girls they thought would make the team and sat us all down. "You guys will most likely be the ones to make it...". I stopped listening after that because I was so excited. What was their point? It's actually quite cruel being that I was the ONLY one to not make it from that group.] The problem was...the teachers didn't like me much. Not their fault. I hated school and I talked too much. I doubt I was very respectful them and I never exceeded expectations. Total under-achiever scholastically.

When I didn't make cheerleader, I was devastated. My mom, God love her, actually called the school cheer sponsor to ask her what went wrong. To my surprise, the teacher actually humored her! She said I got the popular vote (duh) and the judges vote but I didn't get the teacher vote. Those old bitties conspired together to dash the dreams of a lazy student! I hate them to this day. Although...Michelle Petty made the team in my place. She wasn't allowed to attend the clinic (where we learned the try out routines) because she has been suspended from school! HOW did she get the teacher vote and I didn't? Mom...is there something you need to tell me here?

Boles was a complete 180 from Workman. It was normal. Good kids. Clean walls. New carpet. Happy teachers. There were still Freaks but it was mostly Jocks and Preps and Ropers and the Geeks, of course. I remember it being a fairly cohesive school. Everyone sort of got along or left each other alone. I don't remember any fights - do you?

Here is the point of this post FINALLY! When the school opened the 9th grade class, the first 9th grade class, created a time capsule. I actually remember being excited about the capsule. I remember there is a newspaper in it. That time capsule was to be exhumed in 20 years: the year 2008. Janette Lee commented on my blog the other day that the capsule is being exhumed and she is responsible for traking down alumni. I am so curious as to how Janette came to carry this honor? When I read the comment and I got so tickled. I remember being so excited about the capsule and imagining what the year 2008 would be like. I am really curious about what will be in the capsule. Mixed tapes? VHS videos of the Cosby show? I hope that Janette will start a blog or create an email or something to let us all know the results. Will I be flying home for the exhumination (word?)? Ah, no. But I am curious and a little excited.

Janette, if you're reading this, I can't seem to send you an email to the address you left me. They keep bouncing back. Oh, and tell Clint HI!

This is what this post is all about. The time capsule. The rest was just sort of what came to mind while driving down memory lane. Maybe this post will get the attention of other Boles Bulldogs from the first 9th grade graduation class or survivors of Workman (except for Cher. I don't want to hear from Cher)! We are the Bulldogs, couldn't be prouder....

Uncle Nooch Strikes Again!

Paul gives the best gifts. Period. You can't top him. I could write an entire post on the meaningful and special gifts he's given me over the years including being the videographer at our wedding and putting together the most special set of videos from our wedding weekend! When Brody was born Paul set us a Louisville slugger base ball bat with Brody's name and birth stats engraved on it. We have been so blessed by his generosity to Brody over the past three years.

Brody has quite a collection of superhero action figures thanks to his Uncle Nooch. We are forced to play "super heroes" quite often in this house. Yesterday, Brody was ecstatic to find a HUGE box on the front porch with his name on it. [Note: he will check the front porch about three times a day in the hopes of finding a package waiting for him!]. Inside was this super awesome, totally radical, very cool Iron Man costume (or as Brody says, "I-Ron Man"), two new sets of super heroes & two Wonder Woman action figures which I thought was a little strange until I found the note attached: "Brody - Please hold on to these for Baby Sister until she's old enough to play with them.". HOW precious is that?

Anyway, he hasn't taken off the costume since he got it yesterday. It's 90 degrees outside. His hair is stuck to his face after being in the costume for 5 minutes. But he's a Super Hero, man. What's a little sweat when you're saving the universe?

Thank you, Uncle Nooch. You are truly a special friend.

A Night In the Life...

The other night, I insisted on making a recipe I found in a magazine. Tuna cakes, in fact. The recipe called for shredded carrots. Of course, I only had baby carrots. So, here I am...baby strapped to my chest, running baby carrots down a cheese grater for 25 minutes -an act that threatened to shave all the skin off of my knuckles as well - trying to collect a 1/2 cup of shredded freaking carrots!

When Kevin got home and saw me and the state of the kitchen (and the carrot shavings all over the floor!) he just laughed. I said, "Wine." He got me a glass of wine and grabbed the camera. Such is the life of mother I guess...

Why Brody Loves Me

Brody made this at school last week. I think it's the best little card I've ever seen in my whole life. Oh, how I love hugs and kisses from this little man. - Mother's Day 2008

Mia: Month 1

Dearest Mia -

Well, I have to say, this month has gone by quickly! So quickly, in fact, that I didn't even realize it had been a month until yesterday! You are just the sweetest, cutest, most precious baby girl on earth. I may be biased but I think you are just insanely pretty too. I love your little chubby cheeks and funny little expressions. I love your crazily exaggerated double chin and the way you arch your body and purse your little lips when you are waking up. I love that your hair is fuzzy right after a bath. I think it's hysterical that your butt-crack goes half way up your back and that you can spread your toes all the way apart - like monkey toes.

I had a friend tell me one time that I could 'climb a tree' with my wide-spreading-apart toes. That's funny. Daddy can't spread his toes apart at all. He'll get blue-faced and strain a neck muscle trying to spread his toes apart and they will only barely move. Now, THAT is very funny. [Reader, are you trying to spread your toes apart right now? That is very, very funny!]. Looks like you, my Mia, might have mommy's toe-spreading gene. I'm sure it's dominant.

Speaking of genetics. How is it that your eyes are still blue? How is that your skin is so fare? How is that your hair is so light? Are you a little white baby? Your Mor Mor has the bluest eyes of all time and your Papa Joe has hazel eyes [his mom, your Momma Leta, had terrifically blue eyes, as well] so genetically, there was a 25% chance that you might have blue eyes. We'll see! Your nostrils are a gift from Papa Joe's side of the family too. Your don't seem to be as large as some of ours but the upside down triangle shape is straight from the Lee blood line.

You started to come out of your 'infant fog' this week. You've been awake a little more than you had been the previous 4 weeks. We have started trying to implement a schedule over the past couple of days with the goal of getting you to sleep thru the night in a few weeks. As it is, you can go for 4-5 hours at a stretch between night time feedings. During the day, we're just trying to figure out what your different cries mean: tummy aches, tired, over tired, over stimulated, etc. Just like your brother, you have had a rough time with gas and bowl movements. Don't be embarrassed. It's totally normal. In fact, be proud of it! Pretty soon your going to get fart humor and, if you're anything like your father, you'll be able to let 'em rip like a real pro.

I should let you know that I've been a much more easy going Mommy with you than I was with your brother. In your first four weeks we've taken you on many outings including restaurants, the mall, the FAIR, a few shopping trips and church. We (it was my fault, really) didn't take Bubba out of the house until he was 3 weeks old and it was to church and back. You have been so easy-going. Thank you. The house is never quite for you while you sleep. We rarely have 'alone time' together. You hardly ever get our undivided attention. And we've only taken a fraction of the number of photos we took of your brother at this age. I'm sorry for the injustices, my sweet. But I'm so thankful for your disposition. My second child. My little girl. You make my heart happy and my days full (and my nights, at this point!).

I recently have felt an overwhelming desire to keep you and Bubba safe. During this moment of anxiety I realized that my purpose in life, right now, is to protect my babies and to be a Godly wife to my husband. This is what I was meant to do. This is the gift and opportunity that God has given me and I do take the challenge lightly. So, be prepared. I may be overbearing at times. I may get in your business a bit too much at times. I may lock you in your room till your 30 so as to keep you safe from preditors, heart-breakers, all of life's little and big disappointments, and those catty little girls - or maybe I'll just wish I had. But I will always love your more than you'll be able to understand. Every decision I'll ever make in life will take you into consideration. To whom much who is given...much is expected - Luke 12:48. You are my gift. And I am so thankful.
I can't wait to see what the future months (years) have in store for all of us. Smiles, laughter, pig-tails...sickness, sleepless nights, seperation anxiety. It'll all be worth it, my dear. I love you.

Love,
Mom

Happy Mother's Day!

My sweetie and I got to see a sneak preview of the new Chronicles of Narnia movie this morning. It was actually an event for Westmont alums. The final edits to the film were just completed on Monday (wow) and it previewed in New York earlier this week. This morning was only the second screening of the movie ever! It really worked out well for us to as it was a morning screening. Brody and Cara had a breakfast date and a girlfriend from our home group offered to hold Mia for us. We saw a FREE movie. Were given FREE concessions (popcorn and a coke at 10am? Yes, please!) and on the way out of the movie, they gave us a copy of the book. How great of a date is that?!?

The reason Westmont was given this privilege is because it is thought that Westmont actually owns C.S. Lewis' famous wardrobe, the inspiration for the Narnia Chronicles. This article describes how Westmont came to own the wardrobe. The warbrobe itself is going on a grand publicity tour for the film.

I thoroughly enjoyed the film. I was surprised by how many little kids were there. There is a lot of fighting & death in the film but there is absolutely no vulgarity or ludity. I'd be concerned about the scare-factor! There were scary monsters and bad guys and witches, etc. Things that nightmares are made of for sure. Not appropriate for kids under 7, I'd think.

It was funny and intense and the message was solid. It was a wonderful Mother's Day date. I highly recommend it!

And Happy Mother's Day to my dear, sweet Momsie, my lovely MIL and all the other mother's who might stumble upon my little blog here.

Prince Caspian

Good Eats, Good Friends

Our Santa Barbara friends have really blessed us over the past few weeks with meals! Our church home group brought us meals every other day for three weeks solid and a few other good friends have too. As often as we could, we'd invite the givers to eat with us. We have really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know our homies better and always love visiting with our dear friends! Thank you to everyone who brought us dinners (and flowers and deserts and yummy drinks like Root Beer and margaritas!). I'm reminded how absolutely wonderful this gift is and will be quick to return the favor for those in need in the future.