Halloween

Hope your Halloween was magical. Ours was filled with lots of candy, a little bit of Steelers, and some Wizard of Oz. It was perfect.

Ever More...

Parker's favorite phrase lately is... "ever more". I have no clue where he picked it up. But here is a sampling of how he is using it in his day to day encounters with me...

"I no want this noodles, ever more."

"I not go sleep Mom, ever more."

"I want fire engine, hold it please, ever more."

"I dig dirt,ever more."

"I love you Ashley Connors, ever more."


I'll take the last one for"ever more." Silly kid.

Sights and Sounds

Ash is in St. George with her sisters right now, celebrating sisterhood. I expect she will call tomorrow and tell me she spent somewhere in the ball park of $150,000 on her wardrobe for the closing weeks of this historic pregnancy. "Honey," I can hear her say in response to my suggestion that this is both inconsistent with her brand and slightly insensitive in these tough economic times, "we'll give it away after we have the baby."

Until that call comes, here are a few, unrelated, unordered things that I have enjoyed hearing and seeing lately-

I

Sophie has been discussing how her role in the family will change after the new baby arrives.

S: "I will feed the baby bottles sometimes and I will make the baby happy and I will be very gentle."
me: "That will be very helpful, Sophie. Thanks."
S: "Yep. And I will clean up my toys, and help Parker clean up his toys, and at night mommy will have to be with the baby so you will put me to bed and you will also put Parker to bed."
me: yes.
S: "And we will need to make a robot of you. And Parker will have the robot you and I will have the real you."
me: slient. Lost in thoughts of whether or not I would like hanging out with robot me and how expensive it would be to buy two of everything.

II

During a discussion of the presidential candidates speeches at the 2008 Alfred E. Smith dinner in New York- a chance for the candidates to show a rarely seen humorous side- one of my favorite radio host, Scott Waltermann, praised both men by saying "they stood up there and they killed" which to me said "they were really funny." I was happy to hear this news, but unimpressed really. Perhaps sensing this, Waltermann continued, "They literally killed." which to me said, "By use of force, Barack Obama and Jon McCain stood up at this light-hearted, non-partisan dinner and actually took the lives of their listeners." Now that's good radio.

I try to make a point of visualizing, whenever someone uses the word "literally," whatever activity is being "literally" described. The images associated with the misuse of this word are solid gold. Literally. (see, now visualize a miniture solid gold statue of Obama and McCain slaying the crowd at a politcal event, Obama looking kind of the the Terminator- part metal, one red eyed; McCain dressed perhaps in animal skins, like those little Mormon figures of Ammon, sword over his head, maybe some sheep somewhere, ... )

III

Ashley, that sweet, hip girl who I first saw all those years ago stepping out of her black VW beatle in a plaid mini skirt, is now driving a mini van. And loving it. A mini van is not like a mustache. It is not so uncool that it's cool. It is too practical. It is just straight up uncool. Yet she makes it sexy.

There is a great scene in Loud, Quiet, Loud- a documentary about the Pixies (sang the songs "Where is my Mind," "Here Come Your Man" "Wave of Mutilation" and 2008 first song of the year "Hey")- where you see Frank Black driving in the car with his wife. The band has just started a very critically and financially successful reunion tour, their first, and the Blacks are driving around the neighborhood in their minivan when she starts laughing out loud.

"I think it's pretty funny," she says, "the idea that people are like, 'oh the Pixies are back together, oh my gosh, Frank Black, he’s so cool!' And you’re running around in a minivan." She continues through the laughter, "Oh, He’s so angry. And interesting..." She pauses, collects herself, and finishes her thought, "And I think the Grand Caravan really reflects that."

Wifey + Minivan= sexy. It's crazy math, but it works.

IV

We have been enjoying the release of last years tv series on DVD. Particularly enjoying rewatching 30 Rock season two and watching, for the first time, Chuck. We are open to any additional suggestions.

Pack's Pumpkin Patch

Since Lauren was in town for the weekend we decided to have some serious fun....picking pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch and lunch at Apollo Burger. Hard to beat that kind of fun. Hurry back Lauren... we love you!Thanks again Mushie and ladies for a really fun afternoon. We love our pumpkins and it is always fun to spend time with family!

Right Now...

The stunningly beautiful and uber talented Heidi Snyder tagged us... so lest we dissapoint... here it goes.

Right Now...

Ashley is loving: turkey sandwhiches, when Parker takes a nap, my kids quietly coloring, the idea of a new car, making soups and other fall things (pumpkin cookies, gingerbread cake) and hearing my cute hubby play the guitar.

Ashley is not loving: how dirty her floors are, and feeling like there is no more room in her belly.


John is loving: the "kitchen sink" sandwich at Leger's, playing indoor soccer, and fall.

John is not loving: that his record player has a broken needle.


Sophie is loving: shopping for Halloween costumes, playing soccer, singing at preschool, and dancing.

Sophie is not loving: going to bed... ever. I feel like this may never change. She is a true "Connors" in her sleep habits... Heaven help me.


Parker is loving: his tape measure, his hammer, waking up in the morning.

Parker is not loving: CHANGE. Anything that has to do with changing.... diapers, clothes, pajamas, etc. Once he is wearing it- he believes it shall stay on his body. This poses a difficult situation for me a lot. I belive in changing diapers and clothes at least occasionally... what a nut!

And now we tag: Ralph Nader, Justin Timberlake, and Bobby Flay.

Fall Wonderland

Following the stock market's lead, Utah temperatures plummeted overnight.

Yesterday (Oct. 11)

Today (Dec. 21- or so it seemed)

Thank you, tomato killing storm, for giving us a chance to build a snowman and reminding me I need some new gloves. You can go now.

oh sweet sweetness...

About six months ago a few couple friends of ours (Sterling/Brandi and Michael/Adrienne) and John and I went out to dinner. John and I had just got back from Mexico for a weekend getaway. This got brought up in our dinner conversation and Michael insisted that we all go sometime. Well- to be honest I thought it was a great idea but like most great ideas- it would come and go. About a month later Michael called and told us he was booking his tickets so we needed to pick a date. So we did. And then we got tickets. About a week ago Sterling and Brandi bought tickets and we were off. I am amazed it happened... I have to say a big thanks to Michael and Adi for taking the initiative and getting us out the door. I haven't laughed that hard, that many times, for a long time. It was a really fun weekend. Thanks guys! The view from our balcony. It was really nice to wake up to this every morning.Dinner at Mary's. A delicious fish platter and an awesome waiter. (not included in picture)A crazy water volleyball game- Connors vs. Barnetts. In the third game we lost by one point. It was devastating. John and I even had matching bandanas. This is proof that I got my seven month pregnant belly out of the water. Yeehaw. Too bad we still lost.Michael and Sterling posing in the pool. At least I think this is what they are doing.John and I in the town. After we ate breakfast at Regina's.

The girls. Brandi, Me and Adrienne. It was so nice to just sit back, order pina coladas, pretend to read and watch the boys entertain themselves with jet skis, random games, pool time, etc.
Dinner at The Friendly Dolphin. Yum.

Thanks again guys for a great weekend. It was so fun to get away and spend time with friends. (And thanks to everyone that juggled our kids and made it possible for us to go! We love you.)