Anecdotes...

I just wanted to share some of these little anecdotes with you. Some of you may have heard these, but hopefully at least one will be new to someone. Here they are:

A few Saturdays ago, David was upstairs on the top level, Sophie and I were in the family room, and Aidan was alone in the playroom. I can only imagine that he was enjoying his knight's castle set (complete with little plastic battle axes), and Sophie's tiny princess dolls (what are knights without damsels, no?). Suddenly I hear Aidan have the following exchange with himself: "Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let down your hair to me!" (Large pause) "Okay!"

Last week, Aidan and I spent the morning in the office while I filed at least 6 months of old bills and important documents. I loved getting the huge job done, and Aidan loved playing preschool games on the computer with me only an arm's length away and willing to help at any time. When Sophie came home and joined us, Aidan started choosing more complicated games, and Sophie wanted to help. I wanted her to help, because I was just 30 minutes away from a more organized office than I'd had in ages. Sophie said, "Aidan, can I please help you?" I pleaded, "Aidan, will you please let Sophie help you with the game?" Aidan looked at each of us and then began to throw and huge, loud fit. Sophie's response to that: "I think that's a 'no.'"

On Monday evening, we were returning from a fundraiser spaghetti dinner for Springville High, and we got on the subject of Halloween costumes. David and I were making suggestions, and Sophie was expressing her interest and distaste at the ideas. Suddenly, Sophie got on the subject of scarecrows. "We should have a scarecrow. Mommy, if we ever have a garden, we should have a scarecrow." David suggested, "YOU should dress as a scarecrow" (clearly still thinking Halloween) to which Sophie responded, "Then I'd have to stay outside all night and all day."

And those are just the ones I can remember right now...

We're baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Okay, I have to start by saying that the line which inspired that title ("They're baaaaack!" from Poltergeist 2) is one of the most ridiculous lines in the history of film. Okay, it's not like "Congo" ridiculous, but the first Poltergeist is such a classic; and putting that line in the second film felt like a mockery of the original film. Though I'm getting more sensitive to gore in my old age (couldn't stomach Pirates of the Caribbean 2, so I didn't even go to number 3), the first Poltergeist film is one of the greats to me. It's truly frightening, even with the cheap effects with the poor geeky scientist tearing his face apart while looking in the mirror, and eventually he's, WOW, a plastic skeleton with foam rubber on it. Pure genius! In truth, the second film was pretty good too (except for the cheap Hollywood line), though it kind of had a "suggesting Mormons" thing going with the evil self-proclaimed prophet who leads a bunch of pioneers into the desert only to bury themselves alive - just... creepy. Okay, so maybe I don't really like that one, but, hey, I'm a sucker for scary movies that leave you chilled (i.e. Poltergeist, The Mothman Prophecies) without having blasphemed against everything you believe in (i.e. The Exorcist - superior film making, yes, but in a word - evil).

Oh, I've missed blogging! To rejoice in the beauty of a great tangent, even before the blog has really started...

Anyway, I'm back. Did you miss me? Life has been wild, good, stressful, tiring, but we're doing pretty well, and I realized that I have no right to get impatient waiting for my friends' updates to their blogs if I'm unwilling to update my own blog (even if the audience is much smaller and will have to be formally invited back).

David had a wonderful trip to Europe (see photos), finished his MBA classes at the end of June, and walked in August. It was a special, rather early morning (the convocation exercise started at 8:00 AM). David looked very handsome in his cap and gown, and just being there to see him complete the journey was worth the early rise. (And his brother, Michael, was a godsend and a huge treat for the kids). It's great to have David home in the evenings and sleeping at normal hours. He's enjoying the change, and work is going pretty well for him; but it's pretty stressful too. As usual, though, he looks great.

Sophie and Aidan had a pretty good summer (though it felt eternal, really). They both started swim lessons, and Sophie progressed pretty well. (Note for next summer: Take the kids to a heated pool or sign up for classes at the latest hour in the hottest time of year - Aidan was a grumpy little popsicle and did not progress that much. But he did cling to me a lot, which is almost more pleasant in water than on land). We all played a million games together, read lots of books, watched appalling amounts of TV and children's film, and ate way too many otter pops (it was excessive). I hate otter pops now.

Now, Sophie is in kindergarten and is really enjoying it. I listen and empathize and try to minimize my advice when I hear about the saga of Andrew, Kelsie, and Sophie (kind of a little love triangle). Sophie is doing well, though, as Andrew clearly considers her a friend. Also, while Sophie thinks Andrew is swell, she does not openly profess it to the self-proclaimed shy man - a wise choice in any lady. I have yet to meet this Andrew, but I will volunteer at school tomorrow and may give a small update if there is anything interesting to say about him.

In the meantime, Aidan really loves Blue's Big Musical Movie (featuring Ray Charles as G-Clef, although my favorite song is "Steve's Got a Silly Hat" complete with a little flamenco dance by Steve), Dora the Explorer , and the "geletons" and "gary things" at Sam's Club and Walmart. If you give him the chance, he'll explain that the "geletons" don't say anything, and the "gary things" aren't really "gary." (Mommy just says they are for an effect).

By the way, potty training is not really a big concern of mine. And thank goodness for that because the initiative Aidan once had (of which I boasted) is gone. Maybe when I'm feeling daring I'll try the "let him run around with a naked bottom and see how that motivates him" method, but really why on earth would I do that? I'm sure I'll be the only one it motivates.

That's about it. Well that's not it, but do you really need to hear about how chaotically messy the house was for weeks and my not too occasional anxiety attacks OR my recent inability to stop obsessing over old friends and acquaintances who I was fine knowing nothing about and now learn that many have completely changed directions in their lives? So uninteresting to you folks, I'm sure. But, it's fall (hurray), and I hope to provide lovely Halloween photos before long and maybe a surprise or two by Christmas.

Oh, and P.S. - I'm totally going to start watching "Heroes" this year, because David is watching the season premiere even as I type this, and Sark from "Alias" is on it now. Really, who could possibly miss that? I swear it's not just about his looks. He's just fun. I almost said that it's cool how short he is and yet so confident; but then I checked IMDB, and he's 6 feet tall. Wow! I wouldn't be writing 'thank yous' to the camera man for that show.