Now Featuring...the songs of ABBA

I haven't done one of these for a while.

This weekend I went to see Mamma Mia! with my mom, my aunt and my sister. We were sitting and waiting for the movie to start and I turned to my mom and said, "I honestly cannot remember the last time I went to a movie with you." She told me that's because she hasn't been to a movie theater in years. YEARS people. YEARS! Granted, my mom is not really into movies and music and such, but still. years.

So thus ended her streak. With Mamma Mia!, which was funny for reasons other than it being a comedy...which it isn't. We liked it though for being so silly and slightly embarassing (men in short shorts and Meryl Streep dancing provocatively...also Pierce Brosnan singing). I think the best way to describe it is that it was filmed like a stage production - Hairspray was filmed like a movie, Grease was filmed like a movie. Mamma Mia! still felt more like a broadway show than a movie. It was fun that way though. Obviously this isn't the best movie ever made and I wouldn't pay full price, but it was fun and I'm glad I went with my mom, aunt and sister because that made it more fun.


Also, I really like Amanda Seyfried's voice (she plays Sophie) and I did buy the soundtrack for that reason.

This picture is for Lauren. "dot, dot, dot!"

And Colbert just said this: "Batman may have won the box office, but Mamma Mia won my heart." I'm not saying Mamma Mia is better than Batman, that's just a funny statement and further evidence of Colbert's funniness.

Now Featuring....snippets

There were a lot of little things that made me happy this week. Here's a list:

1. A friend of mine has a popcorn machine and the popcorn to pop with butter. She volunteered to bring it to the Movie Night I am planning for the YSAs this Saturday. I am so much more excited about this than I probably should be. It means, however, that I do not have to pop enough individual bags of popcorn to feed 40 or 50 people, acquire several air poppers and ask people to man them OR (this is the best part) use the money from our meager budget to pay for enough popcorn to feed 40 or 50 people!

2. Last night I went out with my sissie, who is amazing. We visited my grandmother and took Bug with us. He was so happy and giggly while we were there and Grandmother loved it. Grandad even held jBug for a couple of minutes (Grandad always waits for the kids to be older before holding them).

3. This morning, Monkey was telling me about their trip to the pet store. Here was our conversation (which he began without any prompting from me):
M: I saw a catfish at the meow-meow store. (note, I only knew he meant the pet store because Lauren told me last night that they were looking at a really cute kitten at PetCo)
Me: You did?! That's great! What else did you see at the meow-meow store?
M: I saw a bird!
Me: Really? What else?
M: A lizard. He was walking in the lizard park.
Me: Wow! What color was the lizard?
M: Blue.
Me: Okay.

4. I got a letter from Maya which she wrote on her way back to Fiji. We had a fun time catching up for the few hours we could see each other. I'm glad we made it work and found that time. I miss her!

5. My sister and brother-in-law, Lauren and Wil. They completely support me in everything I do. If I were to go to them and say, "I'm going to quit my job and move to Iceland to become a glass blower," they would totally go with it. Luckily, I'm not going to do any of the above things, but I have said things to them like unto that and they just support me. Lauren encourages me and reassures me and listens to my troubles and Wil lets us have our sister time and helps me out whenever I need it. He says, "We're family. That's what you do." I love how he just instantly accepted all of us as his new family. I think he started calling Mom and Dad "Mom" and "Dad" the day he proposed to Lauren. So, anyway, the things they do for me just generally make me happy all the time.

Alright. There's my list of things that made me happy this week. Of course it still involved some nephew stories, but my blog wouldn't be my blog without a post (or 50) telling you all how adorable my nephews and niece are.

Now Featuring...Joshie Poo

I forgot to post one of these last week. Probably because I had kind of a yucky week and didn't do much other than sleep and work and feel sick. I already posted about my oldest nephew's 5th grade graduation, but this week's Now Featuring... is going to have to go to another nephew of mine. It shouldn't surprise you that a lot of these posts will have to do with the kiddos, they just make me happy a lot.

This one is for Joshie...or from Joshie I suppose. He's not a "Josh" or a "Joshua," he's a Joshie. He's sweet, but not too sweet. He's right there between stages when he wants to be rough and tumble with the boys but doesn't mind playing dolls with his little sister. It's a good combination I think. He "hates" having his picture taken. Not like Noah...who actually really doesn't like having his picture taken. Joshie secretly loves it. He loves when I try to take his picture and he tries to ruin it for me. He laughs and smiles and always wants to see it when he's put his hand in front of his face at just the right moment, but sometimes I get incredibly cute photos of him. Not to mention, his laugh and his smile are great.

But this week, while we were exiting the auditorium after Noah's graduation, Joshie reached out and grabbed my hand to hold. He was already holding Gordy's hand and apparently just felt like holding mine as well. This (or any) outward showing of affection, my friends, is a rare occasion with my three oldest nephews. I've turned goodbye kisses and hugs into a game which usually involves tickles and chases. So this impromptu hand holding just made me feel extra loved. I even whispered "he's holding my hand!" to Gordy as we were walking. haha. I'm a nerd.

So there you go. Stay tuned for this week's Now Featuring... which I'm sure will be a good one when it happens.

Now Featuring...Saucy and the Photo Booth

I made a new friend last night. His name is Sauce...or Saucy. He is Krissie's new MacBook (which is made by Apple...Apple Sauce....Sauce. I'm a terrific namer of objects). After institute last night, Krissie pulled ol' Saucy out of his fabulous and tres posh digs and we walked down memory lane. We were laughing at photos of us from Europe and at our Camera Game photos.

Krissie and I love the Camera Game. We started it in Paris which makes it even cooler. You basically just take the camera and aim it at yourselves and start making faces and arbitrarily pushing the button. It's amazing. Fantastically amazing. Krissie and I probably have over 100 photos of us from multiple playings of this game. A hotel bed in Paris, Louise's couch in Dunton Green, the train to London, a BYU apartment couch, a BYU apartment kitchen, my friend Sean's house on New Years Eve, and now the stake center have all been venues in this adventure of ours.

Let me tell you. You are never hotter than when you play this game. Last night, however, we hit a new dimension...the photo booth on the mac book. Now we had "effects" to play with. Just wait till I get those pictures to share. Christy joined in on the fun and at one point we were laughing so hard I admitted to C and K that I peed a little. We had to control the laughter after that and on the way home we had laughter hang overs. I love laughing like that. So that's my happiness for the week. Laughing. A lot. and my friends who laugh with me. They are awesome.

Now Featuring...

He's single now. That's what made me happy this week. Because he's attainable? No. Because I thought his gf was bad for him/ugly/a horrible person? Not at all, in fact, she seemed to be very nice and pretty. Because it makes more sense for him to be the quintessential bachelor? Yes.

Also. I feel a little bad that my initial thought was, "oh. good." when I read the article proclaiming their break up. But just a little.

Now Featuring...Cuddles and Bugs

This weeks Now Featuring... is brought to you by my nephew (surprise, surprise).

Monkey has been speaking so much better as of late. He's saying more things and putting together sentences and pronouncing letters he previously had trouble with.

For example, "Cuggles" and "goog" are now "cuddles" and "good." The kid is a genius. Although I kind of liked it when he asked for cuggles, it was heart-meltingly adorable and irresistible. I could spend all day telling you the cute things he says, but that would make me boring so I will resist the urge.

So, this week, Monkey has been especially funny. He has such a personality...I love it. I can relate to the things he does, I think we are very much alike in a lot of aspects. If I start singing a song, chances are he'll keep it going and sing his own little version of it. This week it's the Please and Thank You song from Backyardigans. He's also been better about manners lately.

Okay. I just can't help myself. Really, this week my nephews were my bright spot...they made my week. I got cuddles and loves from Monkey and LB (who is now going to be referred to as "Bug" on this blog for reasons that may be explained at a future time). Monkey was funny and made me laugh a lot this week just by being himself. Bug is growing and growing and he smiles and coos and plays much more now.

Most of all, I was happy that I could spend time with them this week and that it is helpful to my sister. There is no place I would rather be. I love being able to just go home and enjoy my family and I love that my sister and bro-in-law allow me to be such a big part of their lives and the lives of their children.

Now Featuring...

Let's see. What made me happy this week? Seeing as I've done a whole lot of sleeping and not much else, my happy thought for this week goes to Krissie.

Yesterday I stayed home from work. I slept through 3 alarms (by mistake) and the morning noises of everyone else in my house leaving for work. I woke up at 9:30 and just called into work - I'm sure they assumed this was going to be the case since I usually get to work at 8AM. Then I went back to sleep. I spent most of the day getting up and doing stuff for about 20-30 minutes then laying down and napping some more. It was what I needed (still need actually as a full day at work is quite exhausting at the mo') and it made me feel a little better.

Around lunch time, though, I got a text from Krissie asking if I was at work. I wasn't. Then she showed up at my house with ice cream! Seriously. How amazingly sweet was that? I felt horrible because I couldn't really swallow most of the ice cream - but the gesture and the visit made my week. She stayed around for a bit (luckily for her, it was my most awake and functioning bit of the day) and we just talked about stuff.

I miss my Krilifis when she is gone and I love that we can just be natural and happy with each other no matter how much time has passed. So, thanks again Krissie. I love you, you know.

Now Featuring...

It's been over a week since my inaugural Now Featuring... post, but that's because I've been busy doing lots of things that made me pretty darn happy. I could post about how happy I was to get to see Crinners and Cristin and Dee last Wednesday night and the delicious meal that came with that (Thanks, Dee!!) and how much I miss seeing those guys on a regular basis. I could also post about the happy times I shared with my friends in Utah over the weekend, for there were many many happy times. But, those things will have to wait for other posts.

The one thing that made me most happy this week was coming home to my nephews. Sappy, I know...but true all the same. I got home on Monday night and Lauren was out with some friends. Wil was about to feed Little Bear his bottle but I volunteered to do it instead - for the free cuddles of course. He was happy to eat and snuggle and there wasn't much fighting with the bottle (which is out of the ordinary) and he burped two big burps, quick and easy (which is also out of the ordinary due to his reflux). That gave me loads of snuggle time with LB (who still really does look like a little bear).

Yesterday I went home for lunch. Lauren made us egg sandwiches that were tres yummy. Monkey seemed happy to see me but was in his chair eating lunch when I arrived. I gave him his presents (a fish book and a Berenstain Bears DVD for after naptime) and I read him his new book. We finished eating and I got up to get myself a drink. When he climbed out of his chair, he ran straight to me with his arms up and gave me hugs and kisses. Then he just chilled there for a while talking to me about the new van they were going to buy and just laying his head on my shoulder to catch up on "cuggles". It's amazing how much his vocabulary has improved just in the five days I was gone. He's putting together more complex sentences and not using his baby words as much (vroom vroom is now occasionally "car"). We went to the car dealership to pick up the new van and a fire engine drove past the window. Monkey ran over to Lauren and said "Saw! Saw!" (meaning he saw something cool) and then said "Saw a HUGE engine!" Later we also saw a HUGE motorcycle...I was corrected when I didn't describe it as huge.

So anyway, that's what made my week this week. Happy boys who missed me and free flowing cuddles and kisses. What could be better?

Now Featuring...

I've decided to try and institute a somewhat regular installment on my blog. This is the first one! huzzah! Basically I am really liking my hair today and I wanted to blog about it. But I decided to take this one a step further (ie, we are going to pretend that this isn't just about me being obsessed with my hair, but being happier about things on a larger, not-about-me-all-the-time scale).

So here's how it will play out (considering I actually remember to do this, which I think I will this time): I am going to write about something each week that I am extremely happy with or something I like regarding myself or my friends, life, job, etc., etc., etc. Maybe this will keep me in a more positive mindset - it is always good to think positively. Maybe this will get more input from people - comments and responses galore! Maybe this will fall to the wayside of the Blogiverse like so many tags and lists. But who cares? I certainly don't. At least it gives me something to post (for those of you who anxiously await each new and highly entertaining post of mine).

So, my hair.

It looks really good today, especially considering I fixed it yesterday for church and haven't touched it since. It's been a little rained on, slept on and played with by the somewhat questionably clean hands of an adorable two year old during my futile attempt to get him to nap on a Sunday afternoon (he was SO very close, I swear). This morning, I woke up late for work. I literally rolled out of bed, got dressed, put on a headband and tada! good hair!

I've always liked my hair and tried to treat it accordingly so it will continue to like me back. I work around the annoying swirly spots inherited from my family and in turn it curls and straightens when I ask it to. Sometimes I am not so nice to my hair - that usually involves a blow dryer.

So there you have it. I love my hair.

Thanks for enduring this post. Tune in next week for a special Utah edition of Now Featuring... as I am going to Utah and will surely have many things to be extremely happy about.