I want pie. I want beef jerky.

I wish my life read like this: Kittens inspired by kittens. So passionate. So true.

marriage has brought us together today

Thirteen. years. That's like a bazillion dog years. Sometimes it feels like forever ago and then sometimes it feels like yesterday. Smooches for my best friend (even if he didn't like Mockingjay--my feelings were mixed on it too).

You got served

Bailey, our dog of many talents and mischief, has been escaping through our backyard rod iron fence. This was a headache...until Aaron took her to doggy school and the trainer said not to get an electric fence or collar. Instead he recommended a dog life vest (for boating, ridiculous. People buy these things. I don't love my dog enough to buy her a life vest.)

Anyway, so we got one and sure enough, she could no longer shimmy through the bars. So for a couple of weeks the dog hung out all day in a life vest. Our neighbors thought we were boating a bunch, but then we explained and had a laugh. She looked ridiculous but problem solved. This week, she officially grew big enough that she no longer requires the vest. She's too big to fit. Yeah, she's going to be a huge dog. We also took down the chicken-wire fence that served as her ladder before the vest.

mockingjay sidebar: tomorrow. I so excited. I called B&N just in case they were doing a midnight sale. The sales associate that answered the phone asked for the name of the book again and the author. (The windows of B&N are plastered in mockingjay. No wonder they're struggling.) I was so shocked I almost shouted "Blasphemy!" But my manners held my tongue. I mean, I know they sell a lot of books but you can read the words mockingjay all over the store. Know your industry. Or just look up and around your store.

I just re-read catching fire cuz I'm a nerd, yo. So good. I'm ready. Sunny: get crack'n. Amber, Livy: for shame. get crack'n.

Back to school, back to school

School started this week. So far, Lore and Bryn love their teachers. This is always good. Lauren feels jipped because she only gets one recess and Bryn feels like she won the lottery because she gets two. (Kindergartners don't get recess here, it is all business.) And Morgan and Ava love the extra time and attention. We went to the pool today and were the only ones there. We played dragon. Good times.

So Tuesday, the second day of school, I dropped Bryn and Lore off right by the 1st grade entrance. Feeling very big kid, Bryn decided she did not need me to walk her to her class line up. She hopped out and charged toward all the 1st graders. Thinking she was okay, I started to pull away but then out of my side mirror I saw a bawling Bryn sprinting toward the car. Her teacher wasn't outside yet and she couldn't remember where her class lined up. I re-parked and walked her to her line. She clung to me and sobbed. The little boy in front of us turned around and started to comfort bryn:

"Don't cry. 1st grade isn't scary. Yesterday I was scared too but then I went and it was really fun. 1st graders don't cry. It's okay in Kindergarten but not first grade. You'll be okay. Remember we had fun yesterday."

Such a sweet kid. So I said, "Thank you for being so kind. What's your name?"

Before he can reply, Bryn answered, "his name is Joey."

Then the boy said, "Actually it's Ben."

So I said, "Thank you Ben." Then the teacher came and she's walking down the line saying hi to all the kids. When she got to Ben, she said, "Hi Joey."

Surprised, I said to the teacher, "He told me his name is Ben."

She laughed and said that she had asked the kids, the day before, to tell her if they wanted to be called a different name. Like if there name was Joesph but they go by Joey. But little Joey had decided he wanted to go by Ben. She said she needed to reword how she asks for nicknames next year.

Then a dad behind us said, "His name was Joey last year."

Joey, of course, is listening very quietly as we're having this conversation. I see his head sag a little. So once the teacher passed, I shook Joey's hand and said, "it was very nice to meet you Ben." His smile grew bigger than his face.

I love children.

Independent sidebar: I've decided to no longer be an Independent. I'm unofficially joining The Bear Party.

I am still geeking out

Last night Aaron and I finally saw Inception. (I know, we're a bit late to this party. Mostly because I hate LDC. Look at him and his little baby face. Cred: he can act.) Even with LDC, we loved this movie. I want to know how they made the whole hotel sequence--crazy. I rarely feel compelled to see a movie twice in the theater...but this one I did. I could have run back into the 10:10p show to witness it again. We didn't because we live in the rational world but that's how wicked awesome this movie is.

I even dreamed about inception last night. We came from the snow level into my dream level...sweet. But then I got a "kick" from Ava.

I am a passenger on the spaceship Earth

Christian is married to Amy. Aaron's brother finally did it. Hence the trip to Utah. The wedding was a couple of weeks ago now and it was a blur of excitement and family. We got there on a Thursday and stayed through the weekend plus another week. And yet it was a fury blast of fun everyday. As I was recapping the wedding/favero weekend for my parents, my parents were blown away from all the stuff we did in such a short time. Faveros love fun. And they pack it on. When I was first married, I needed a vacation to recover from Favero vacations. But now I'm use to it. Here is the whirlwind:

Wed Night (the pre-story gives context)
We left Denver at 7p for our Northern route drive to Utah. (We left at 7 because Aaron had got home from the airport at 5p.)
1 am we stop at Little America in Wyoming.
Ava, from a bad wake up in the car, refuses to go potty and go to bed.

Thursday
8a: We're back on the road.
9:30a: Morgan begins puking and doesn't stop till we get to my parents house. She tossed over ten times. Morgan and car rides don't mix.
10:30a: We stop at Brugge Waffle & Frites in SLC for Gauffes.
11:30a: Finally settled in Highland at the parents (who were in Yellowstone) and negotiated with Bryan on what we do next.
1p: Scera pool with Bryan, Jamie & kids.
4p: Showers for all.
5p: Hit Utah County rush hour on our way to the wedding dinner.
6p: Wedding dinner at the Sky Room with loads of family and friends.
9:30p: Finally leave Sky Room...tired kids in tow.
11p: lights out kids.

Friday
8a Out the door to go to wedding in new draper temple.
8:30 swap kids into flower girl dresses
9a: wedding. beautiful.
10a ish: pictures. it is heating up. Morgan is melting down.
11a: head to Provo for family lunch.
1p ish: scramble around to create a honeymoon kit for Christian and Amy.
4p: head back to Provo to hang with family.
7p: reception at Springville Art Museum...so fun. They had a lemon theme. So all the desserts were lemon inspired. Delicious.
10:30p: leave reception.
11:30p: lights out kids.
(Aaron and I plan to hang out but we pass out on couches.)

Saturday
(we 86ed the Days of 47 parade...it was close, we almost got up at 6a for this.)
9 or 10a: Head to Snowbird to do Alpine slides. The kids loved this. We didn't realize Snowbird had so much to do for families in the summer. Zip lines, trails, bungee tramps, rock climbing, rope courses, etc.
2p: We skip lunch and go to Nelson's Frozen Custard in SLC. (This is a long standing Favero tradition.)
3p: Brugge Waffles & Frites. Blazing hot sun, hot waffles, hot frites...not the most pleasant. Grannie suggested we go over to Pioneer Park to eat because at least there was shade. I rarely say no to my Mother-in-law, but there was no hesitation this time. She wasn't aware of the Pioneer Park culture.
4p: head to Provo to hang.
5p: Bowling at BYU and games in the lounge.
7:30p: Dinner at the Creamery on Ninth.
9p: Hug Faveros good bye.
10p: lights out kids.

Sunday:
We took Aaron to the airport to fly home to Denver. He had high adventure with the YM the following week. So the kids and I decided to hang in Utah another week.

Thus concludes the Favero Wedding/Family Weekend. Tons of fun, tons of tired. Good times, good times.

Today is a yellow day

"Black and Brown are sorta monsters. They gobble up the other colors."

The gum on the railings is not free candy

Morgan is more foul than Bryn. This is how I know:

She loves gum. She isn't picky. All-ready-been chewed gum is the most available to her. Where she has pulled it from:

• Out of the trash in a Wendy's bathroom. (Trash cans are a repository of deliciousness to Morgan.)
• Off of the floor at the BYU bowling alley.
• Off of the tire of our car. That's right. Chewed, then smashed, then gritted with road filth. Perfection.

I told you. Way worse than Bryn.

delicious again Peter

So in my quest for sophisticated casual, I was reflecting on our recent trip to Utah (post coming soon) and I realized I have encounter a said sophisticated casual dining experience...not a restaurant but an item purchased at The Brugge Waffles & Frites (300 S. SLC, across from Pioneer [ghetto] Park). In the blazing hot sun, we had ordered San Pellegrino Aranciata (orange). Delicious and sophisticated. But served in a can. Casual.

I'm definitely on to something.

Lore sidebar: She loves to help me cook. Yesterday we made honey-lime chicken (BBQ) green beans, and low-fat, low-cal lemon bars (to die for). She's decided that now she wants to be a chef.

Entrepreneur sidebar: (I'm full of these ideas.) Chef school in Provo. So the aspiring chefs with good values can study with the best but still surround themselves with great kids. Provo lacks one. I'm willing to take on the challenge. So Venture Capitalists out there: lend me your money and I'll spin you an incredible business plan.

today sidebar: Morgan and Ava woke up with the stomach flu. At one point I was holding two buckets under two retching heads. It is going to be a great day.