HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WESTON!!!

Weston turns 3 on Sunday, July 31st.
His big (and because it's both sides of the family, it's always big) party is Saturday. Pool party with a Party Room and Nacho bar plus games.
So... new background for a few days in honor of my
Bouncing (off the walls) Baby (not so much) Boy.
Happy Birthday, Weston!!!

28 weeks along








newborn










1 year old










2 years old










almost 3 years old

Old School

So my friend - really? maybe little-not-really-related-sister would be better... .

Anyway, Erika posted a blog about her top 5 Backstreet Boys videos. And as I watched all 5 of these videos... I got a little nostalgic. I remember Backstreet Boys and N'Sync (I was definitely more BSB) in late high school and early college. And while I wanted to say that they were for young teens, let's be honest, I had the BSB cds. I went to the concert. I even had a favorite. They were a boy band! And I love Boy Bands.

It was 1989, August I think. And my mom was in Iowa with my grandma who was dying of cancer. And we didn't have school yet, but my Dad brought the 3 of us back to Pensacola to get ready. I was in our room, and my Dad yelled up the stair to turn the channel to whatever number it was, that there were so cute boys singing on Oprah. And who was it you ask? It was New Kids on the Block!!! And I was smitten. That was it. The beginning of my Boy Band love.

So, flash forward to Erika's blog reminding my of my love for BSB. And so from the blog, I turned to my iPhone. And I went to iTunes. And I started looking up music. I got 5 New Kids on the Block songs. And from there I started looking for all of my missing 80s faves. I downloaded 5 songs from the Jets, 2 from Debbie Gibson, 3 from the Beastie Boys, Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart (speaking of great videos), and I tried to download the entire Footloose soundtrack. Only there isn't enough room! And I deleted over 100 pictures. So tonight or tomorrow, I am going to have to plug into the main computer at home and start reorganizing my music. And maybe, just maybe, there will be room for Kenny Loggins!

Harry Potter: DH2 Review

So we went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

Long story short; we wanted to go to the 9:15 show, we ended up at the 10pm show. Years ago that wouldn't have made a difference. Now... I felt old trying to stay awake and did some long blinking. Yeah, i know.

Upon 3 days of reflection, it was a good movie. It really was. And I'm sure as time goes by, I will learn to love it. That being said, if you have read the book recently, or have a photographic memory for the written word - wait a while. Get the book out of your head. Forget your favorite parts as much as you can. (I didn't wait long enough. And I Do have the photographic memory of the written word.)

***Spoiler*** Turn away now if you don't want to know!!!***
My favorite part of all the HP books are the Weasleys. I love this family, I love their dynamic. I love how they have absorbed Harry and Hermione as if they were always there. I love the humor of the siblings. And ok, I love the twins, Fred and George. I think that Fred and George have some of the best scenes in the books. And I am always disappointed that Fred and George are not included in the movies as much as in the books. In Deathly Hallows, it's the twins who provide a much needed break from the doom and gloom of Harry's life. And the Director cut it out!

My favorite part of the book was during the fighting at Hogwarts. Harry and friends had killed the 6th Horocrux, and were heading back to the fight. They ran into the Weasleys... including Percy Weasley who has been disconnected from his family since he chose the Ministry of Magic over the truth about "You-Know-Who." During the fighting, Fred was giving Percy crap about coming back, and Percy responded in kind. It was a really funny. And heartbreaking when Fred was killed in an explosion minutes after Percy's joke - with a laughing grin still on his face.

This entire scene was left out of the movie! These family scenes - viewing the bodies of Fred, Lupin, Tonks, and little Collin Creevy in horror, seeing his family, the Weasleys, huddled in grief... this is what made Harry accept his fate in the Forbidden Forrest, not entirely the memories of Severus Snape in the pensieve.

Other things I wasn't thrilled by:

1. Snape's death in the boat house instead of the Shrieking Shack. add to that, Nagini not being in a protective bubble. I was looking forward to seeing Snape's death in the bubble.
2. Dobby not being buried in the garden of Shell Cottage, but instead far away on a sand dune.
3. the changes made solely for the benefit of 3-D: Harry and Voldemort fighting in the rafters and not the Great Hall; Nagini fighting with Hermione and Ron (never happened); the order change of Neville killing Nagini at the very end, and that being the reason Voldemort wasted away. (Where did the wasting away come from anyway? that was just... eew.)
4. the Herbology group throwing mandrakes, etc. and Prof. Trelawney throwing crystal balls at the Death Eaters. that would have been cool, even in 3-D.

Things I really enjoyed, even if some of it was pure imagination:

1. Having Ollivander retell the story of the Deathly Hallows at the beginning, even though he had no idea of the Hallows in the book, only of the Deathstick, aka Elder Wand.
2. Only calling the Elder Wand by that name and not the 4 or 5 other names it had in the books - way to keep it simple for the non-readers!
3. Hermione and Ron's escapade in the Chamber of Secrets. big kiss here, but i still missed Harry telling them to basically get a room after the fighting (in the book.)
3.a - Ginny and Harry's big kiss in the middle of the chaos, then running in opposite directions to kick ass!
4. Molly Weasley calling Bellatrix a "Bitch" in a PG-13 movie! It.Was.Fabulous!
5. Snape's Memories. They were beautiful, even if some were missing.
6. The end with the Big 3 disposing of the Elder Wand and reflecting and being together on the bridge to Hogwarts, nice ending.

All in all, this was a good movie, no matter what I've said. And I think as I move away from the books a bit, I will enjoy this movie a lot.
And if you are wondering at which part of the movie I did some extended blinking? Well... it may have been when the dragon was flying away from London and deciding where to land. There. I said it. I'm sorry, Harry. :)

my current obsession

Right now I am re-reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, aka Book 7. I've read it twice before, but I am now reading it again in preparation for Part 2 of this movie.
I love Harry Potter. He is an endearing character. Even more endearing are Harry's Friends. The development of these beloved characters throughout these 7 books is just outstanding. I have grown to love them as much as Harry. I cry when they die. (Ok, that just may be hormones that never went away from pregnancy, but still - I cry.
Deathly Hallows Part 2 opens Friday. I will be camping and not able to go. I'm pretty bummed. And I like camping. But this? This is Harry Potter! The end of a decade's worth of movie magic.
These characters have fought for so much. And it's finally over and things will happen that will surprise the viewers who haven't read the books. I can't wait to be in the theater when these people gasp over the revelations. The shared excitement is something to behold.
I spent the weekend having all sorts of Harry Potter movies playing on ABC Family (ch. 32 in DSM.) Weston watched a bit with me. You see, Weston was born on July 31st... the same day as our hero Harry. I tell him this all the time. I hope it encourages Weston to read all of the books, which I, of course, have.
These actors will always be known for Harry Potter. They have grown up as these characters right in front of our eyes. I wish them continued success in whichever field they choose - Acting, modelling, continued education. But surely the choice is theirs! And their future is bright.

a little bit of what's in my brain...

And now it's July. I swear this year is flying by faster than ever before. Weston will be 3 years old 3 weeks from today. It's crazy. He's brilliant and vain and ornery as hell. He exasperates me 80% of the time. He has perfected the temper tantrum. (Much to my dismay.) What is it with toddlers? I'm not sure what's worse: a toddler or a teenager? I'm sure that one day, scientists will discover that human beings going through hormonal and emotional changes (toddlers and teenagers) have the same chemical imbalances and brain patterns, etc as some bipolar patients. Then again, maybe they already have and I'm just unaware. That wouldn't be anything new.

So... what have we been up to? Well, we have season passes to Adventureland in Altoona. Weston's free, so that's nice. We don't feel guilty for going for a few hours and riding the rides or just going to the water park and then leaving early. We've been 3 or 4 times, enough to pay for the passes. And Weston loves it. He loves the rides that make me sick to my stomach. He's mad that he's not tall enough for the roller coasters, but he loves the water rides. He's such a "boy."

We celebrated the June birthdays with a big family "to-do" in Cedar Rapids. Picnic, pool party with the kiddos, and a nice dinner at TJ's in CR (try it, you'll like it!) Then we followed with some family pictures outside, and they turned out great! We moved Shannon from the Southside to Ankeny on the 11th. By "we" I mean the movers she hired (thank god.) But it still took the whole family to get everything done. On the 24th, Shannon joined us for a trip to Kansas City to watch the Cubs play the Royals. The Cubs lost, but we had a great time. The Royal fans were so nice, and Kauffman Stadium was just beautiful. We sat in the outfield by the waterfalls. And I have found a new love for the Map App on my iPhone. It saved us a few times when i got turned around. And yes, I am admitting that I got lost. And that I am not a nice person when I have a back seat driver or get lost.

So... that brings us to July. We had a nice Independence Day weekend. Shannon and I visited the Des Moines Farmer's Market for the very first time. I swear, it's like a carnival for adults! So much fun. Scott and Weston and I traveled to CR to visit our friends, the Knights, back from Delaware. Enjoyable time with the kids, etc. Reaffirmed my dislike in Red Robin. Home by 6pm. Mom and Dad stayed with Shannon for the weekend. They brought dinner over and we took Weston to see the fireworks. Scott stayed home to rest. He's been putting in ridiculously long hours (like 20 hrs straight and back at work less than 6 hrs later.) for weeks. He is still recovering. Monday, Aunt Linda & Uncle David came up from CR and we all celebrated our Independence with a traditional American Summer past time: grilling and picnicking! Loads of fun and great food! this was at Shannon's new duplex in Ankeny. It's coming together so nicely for her, and she has a great back yard, nice and flat. Perfect for Weston to learn how to play golf!

That bring us to now. A relaxing weekend at home. We took Weston to Cars 2 yesterday. I love going to movies with him. He's so funny to watch. Weston didn't want to go anywhere today, so here I am, blogging, searching the net, getting ready to start dinner. We're camping in Paullina next weekend. And then Weston's birthday party is the 30th. Pool party. tons of fun!!!

Alright, it's 5pm, and i need to start dinner. I hope to be better at this. sometime soon. :)