just because...

This picture just makes me happy. This was on Henry's birthday. Henry is both Soph's and Park's BFF. Parker made that hat out of wrapping paper while we were wrapping Henry's lego present.

Love little moments like this. Love these little people.


(thanks T for the picture.......)

three good things.

Three good things lately:

1. Honestly. I adore, adore, adore fabric softener. And this stuff- Ultra Downy April Fresh makes me actually want to do laundry. And then I just want to smell everything that I wash. I am obsessed. I want to wash my whole house with it... Ahhh.

2. Bike rides in West Kaysville/West Farmington. It just doesn't get much prettier than that. And it is so nice to get on my bike again. (Especially bike rides with John.... those are my fav)

3. This book. It's Ruby's favorite. She actually brings it to me, and then snuggles on my lap so we can read it. This is the child that never, EVER wants to snuggle or hold still. I have read it over and over and over the past couple of days just to get to hold Ruby on my lap and hear her mumble her own version of Brown Bear, Brown Bear.

Honorable mentions: Target- I heart that place.

Watching Parker play soccer. (post in the future)

And Red Butte Cafe. Walking in that place is intoxicating. It smells sooooo good. Oh, those desserts. I could use a turtle cheesecake from there any day.

Album of the Month.

Emusic has added Sub Pop. My gigantic, still nearly motionless ankle is keeping me from playing soccer, or exercising at all for that matter. Winter is over. The garden is planted. And suddenly, I'm listening to new music again.*

It was hard to ignore music in March. Frightened Rabbit released a great follow up to 2008's incredible Midnight Organ Fight. Broken Bells was as good as I'd hoped. Gorillaz reminds me of warmer days for some reason, which is always welcome this time of year. Neon Trees jumped from our Salt Lake City Weekly best artist last year to Jimmy Kimmel Live and super stardom in this month. There was just a sickening amount of good music this month. So Album of the month is back.

Frightened Rabbit really should win. I ripped them off in 2008 by awarding AotM to The Black Keys, which I honestly haven't listened to since 2008. They should get this win. Like the Jazz deserve the Durant no call in exchange for the earlier shafting in Oklahoma. Turnabout's fair play.

But there's something to be said for the new kids. and I'm a sucker for hype.

Titus Andronicus is, therefore, the winner of album of the month.

I will probably regret this in 2012. I can already tell. This really isn't my desert island kind of music. But man, it just sounds so good right now. All anthemic and loud. Got me through some cold, rainy days ripping down walls in a very old, dirty fourplex in Ogden.

Start with A More Perfect Union, then move on to Titus Andronicus Forever. Put it on and go for a run. Or mow the lawn. If you like those, keep going. If you don't, then stop. It's not going to change.

That's probably as much as, or more than, most of you want to know.**

Please enjoy the music.

love,

john

*which reminds me. I owe some of you a mix tape from last year. I have such ambition, and so little follow through. I did make the cd's. They have cool little hand drawn covers and everything. And if you came to my house in the last 6 months I gave you yours. As for the rest of you, the ones I promised to mail them to, I will get them to you still. before you die. or at your funeral. or at mine. (whichever is first)

** This blog began as a very sparsely read forum for poorly reasoned reflection of our life, which included my musing on music. Those music post have become a little out of step with the mood of this blog and are asking for a new home. To that end, Album of the Month and it's various other music-centric post relatives have relocated. AotM will still appear here, but only in a very abbreviated format, and possibly only once every six month (if the last year is any indication). I have intentions to write much more this year, which means nothing (see previous footnote.) If you want to read more, I am throwing up unfiltered, only briefly thought out cliches about whatever I am currently listening to at THERE ARE NO TIGERS ON THIS RECORD. I anticipate it will not interest many of you. but it interests me. And what's the internet about, if not me?

family night

Sophie has a new love for the hula hoop and, with no help from us, has taught herself these hula hooping tricks. Parker shows off his dance moves... which are always amazing.

hello spring break.

hello spring break. i hope i like you. i really hope i do.

thats all.

It's a hard knock life.

Soph was a superstar orphan in her recital for a Creative Arts and Dance class she is taking. She even sang a one line solo... way to go Soph. We love you!

And thanks for all the superstar supporters who came.. We love you too.

napping

My child is in trouble today.

Ruby is usually a stellar napper. Really, like 3 hour sometimes longer naps. Never fusses going down... she just naps. EXCEPT today. Really? Still wimpering in her bed. Got her up once. Fed her more lunch. Gave her advil for her teeth coming in. Gave her a sippy. Put her back down. Good grief child... Just give in already. She is in there now just chatting away and away. Its been over an hour. Then a break, now already 35 more minutes.

The crazy thing is, I need Ruby's nap maybe even more than she does. So heaven help us on this SNOWY snowy (stupid snow) snowy day... my very cute child needs to nap.

And her mother needs a cold diet coke, and the desire to break up the lego fights happening in the playroom.