My friend, Nor, has asked all her loyal blog readers to contribute a Beyonce-inspired piece of performance art for her birthday this year. Last year we threw her a surprise party but she didn't think that was good enough :) ...The winner of the contest (did I mention it was a contest?) gets Betsey Johnson (Nor's favorite Designer) earrings! Oh, please! Let us win. If the kids aren't good enough dancers for you, we threw in a few shots of our husbands looking...eh, hot. Here you go, Nor!
This is the Beyonce video that started all this.
The kids (okay, and adults) loved watching the video on our (admittedly large) tv and trying to copy all the moves. We did it over, and over, and over again. For days and days in anticipation of the filming. The kids begged to dance to it several times a day. And this is what we came up with:
Since I can't imagine that these hilarious kids won't win this for me, I'll just give my acceptance speech now:
I would like to thank Robyn, for not only allowing her young boys to watch this crazy dance video over and over again in prep, but for bringing them just at bed-time to make this work. Oh, and by the way, she did the filming and editing! Thanks, Robyn! You're the best.
I would like to thank Cadence, Jacob, and Nicholas, for being hard-core dancers. Honestly, I'm really impressed with their ability to copy some of these moves. If you've seen the video as many times as I have, you'll recognize every attempt. Even little Nicholas (18 months) had some good booty-smacks and hip-shakes. You'll notice Jacob's excellent version of the "floor punch", and just watch his face as he watches the video and dances. He's so thoughtful and discerning. And Cadence has those hips down. Also, notice that just before the lyrics say something about drinking a cup, she does the move of holding a cup to her lips. Oh, these kids are so hilarious.
And finally, Thanks to Nor. This activity gave us hours of family entertainment. I can't tell you how much fun we all had dancing together, trying to do these ridiculous moves. It was a great idea and an excuse to get crazy.
And while we're on the topic of Nor, I'll just say a few things. Nor is so on top of things and confident that it's hard for me to compliment her. My little immature innervoice says, "She must know how practically perfect she is, like she needs to hear you say it!" Nor is highly educated, widely cultured, one of the most well-read people I know, and carries herself like a superstar. She knows celebrities, by the way. She has had every car (including a 67 Mustang!) and been everywhere. Oh, and her blog is way better than mine. But, like me, her husband is handsome and a genuinely charming, good guy. Like me, she is the mother of two of the cutest kids ever, and in spite of how much she sounds like a "woman of the world", she wants to have a whole brood--just like me! Family is most important to this woman who seems to have everything. So, why would she need my little country-bumpkin compliments? Tonight it's not about whether or not you need my compliments, Nor. I would just like to tell you that I think you are great. I've loved being your friend, because you are so interesting! Whether it is how much you know about Shakespeare or cars, or what kind of crazy thing you did when you were mad the other day....You are a great example of a person who puts family first and I love that you want to have so many kids, in spite of how much you love to wear bikinis! (Not saying you won't still look tip-top after 10 babies:) ). Anyway, thanks again for this fun activity you assigned us. I hope your birthday is the best ever.
"There's a tire swing, baby, at the end of our rope"
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Cadence-isms and Campbell-isms
If you think this is cute:
You should see my kids.
I'm really loving being a Mama right now. Every day is full of little moments that warm my soul and make me laugh. Here are some of my favorite little things.
1. Have you ever had the song "Jingle Bells" stuck in your head for like a month at a time? Cadence has. She taps the rhythm out with anything that is in her hand, she sang it last night until she fell asleep, and this morning, guess what was the first thing out of her mouth? I had to sing that and Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies" to her for her naptime songs. Not exactly lullaby material...
2. She asks EVERY mom with kids, "Can I come to your house?"
3. Her pronunciation of the "rrr" sound is getting worse. "Cadence, say: run." "wun." "Okay, now say: one". "One." "Now: rrrun." "wwwwun." "WWWun?" "No, wwwwun...."
4. She has recently adopted a new creed: What would a dancer do? The other day, after begging to watch the Beyonce music video (All the Single Ladies, you can watch it on youtube) over and over again, she was sitting at the table and started tossing her markers and crayons everywhere. I said sternly, "Cadence...." And she stopped and said, "A dancer doesn't drop things!" And she quit. She dances all over the place and when she watches the aforementioned video, she studies and mimics very intently.
5. This morning I came out to check on her, and I was in the middle of getting layers on for going outside, so I was wearing black textured tights with nothing over top of them (yet). I turned around to go back to dressing and she said, in a very sincere tone, "Oh, Mama, I love your booty!
6. She loves the "princesses". My favorites are "Sleeping Booty Mark" and "Jingle Belle".
And a word about Campbell:
1. Campbell is a snuggly baby! I'm so excited and happy to have a snuggly baby. It is so fun to have that little thing squeeze me and cuddle me.
2. Her smile is worth a million bucks.
3. She doesn't laugh, yet?!? She's just about six months old, and no laugh?
4. But she is almost able to sit up completely on her own, she is eating rice cereal very gleefully, and a couple times a week she will sleep through the night.
5. The second she sees Cadence she lights up and gets this huge, special smile. She can't keep her eyes off of Spencer whenever he is around. She still has a pretty stern and concerned look on her face the rest of the time, though.
6. And we still can't quite figure her eye color.
And in honor of inauguration day:
This was under an overpass that we walked through on our way to Navy Pier a couple of months ago. Chicago...:)
You should see my kids.I'm really loving being a Mama right now. Every day is full of little moments that warm my soul and make me laugh. Here are some of my favorite little things.
1. Have you ever had the song "Jingle Bells" stuck in your head for like a month at a time? Cadence has. She taps the rhythm out with anything that is in her hand, she sang it last night until she fell asleep, and this morning, guess what was the first thing out of her mouth? I had to sing that and Beyonce's "All the Single Ladies" to her for her naptime songs. Not exactly lullaby material...
2. She asks EVERY mom with kids, "Can I come to your house?"
3. Her pronunciation of the "rrr" sound is getting worse. "Cadence, say: run." "wun." "Okay, now say: one". "One." "Now: rrrun." "wwwwun." "WWWun?" "No, wwwwun...."
4. She has recently adopted a new creed: What would a dancer do? The other day, after begging to watch the Beyonce music video (All the Single Ladies, you can watch it on youtube) over and over again, she was sitting at the table and started tossing her markers and crayons everywhere. I said sternly, "Cadence...." And she stopped and said, "A dancer doesn't drop things!" And she quit. She dances all over the place and when she watches the aforementioned video, she studies and mimics very intently.
5. This morning I came out to check on her, and I was in the middle of getting layers on for going outside, so I was wearing black textured tights with nothing over top of them (yet). I turned around to go back to dressing and she said, in a very sincere tone, "Oh, Mama, I love your booty!
6. She loves the "princesses". My favorites are "Sleeping Booty Mark" and "Jingle Belle".
And a word about Campbell:
1. Campbell is a snuggly baby! I'm so excited and happy to have a snuggly baby. It is so fun to have that little thing squeeze me and cuddle me.
2. Her smile is worth a million bucks.
3. She doesn't laugh, yet?!? She's just about six months old, and no laugh?
4. But she is almost able to sit up completely on her own, she is eating rice cereal very gleefully, and a couple times a week she will sleep through the night.
5. The second she sees Cadence she lights up and gets this huge, special smile. She can't keep her eyes off of Spencer whenever he is around. She still has a pretty stern and concerned look on her face the rest of the time, though.
6. And we still can't quite figure her eye color.
And in honor of inauguration day:
This was under an overpass that we walked through on our way to Navy Pier a couple of months ago. Chicago...:)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Oprah, You are Dead to Me
Disorganized, un-edited rant and rave:
Tonight my sister mentioned to me that during Oprah's anti-Prop 8 segment, she said that "Marriage is out-dated and a failed institution". I tried to find it online but couldn't--all the you-tube videos had been taken down because of a copyright infringement, and it's not on her website. I did, however, find many, many disturbing things as I researched Oprah. Disturbing because she wields so much power.
All I will say is that the more I read about her, the more I thought of the great and spacious building and the great and O-bominable church (not a rip on Obama, but on how she has taken upon herself to be a spiritual leader).
It's just that she has slighted about everything that I stand for in my life. Everything that I believe is pure. The sanctity of marriage has been etched at by her before. Did you know that in 2007 she did a show on sex that not only endorsed casual, friends-with-benefit sex, it encouraged the use of pornography and suggested that an "open marriage" (as in adultery) might be right for some couples?!? Considering how much pull she has (did you know that being put on her book-club list generally means an extra MILLION copies for the publisher?), I'm gonna say that she's evil.
My sister's response to that bash on marriage was that it was completely irresponsible and that it's easy to say that when you don't have children.
My response to all her self-aggrandizing "I know how hard it is to be a woman" free-love bull-$%#$@#% is to write about how miffed I am. I'll come up with something better later.
What do you think of this?
Friday, January 9, 2009
Mini Me
Cadence is very busy and fills many roles: (The strollers and cribs were staged by me; although they are used daily, they aren't allowed to be kept next to their counterparts. The other pictures were taken as they occurred naturally).
This is Campbell sharing her exersaucer with "Baby Doll Campbell". This was Cadence's doing. She feeds, diapers, plays with, sings to, puts down for naps, scolds, sends to time out (although "Baby Doll Cadence" gets much more time outs/scoldings--sad!).
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
08 was Oh So Great.
Earliest family picture in 08: Dole Pineapple Plantation, HIJanuary: S was working in Orange County, M was rather sick with Campbell in utero, and C1 was just turning 18 months and had a ton of energy. We lived in a hotel. S's project was terminated and we were suddenly hotel-less (since we were already homeless). Back to Walnut Creek.
February: Lived with the Carlson's: two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a hallway. At least we had our beloved TV. C1's molars finally finished coming in--night-screaming finally fades. Mignon came home from her mission. Mel introduced us to Jake. Spencer started a project in Tacoma, WA, Cadence and I came along and stayed with S's grandparents Clive.
March: Awesome family trip to Hawaii with Matt and Mimi Snow. Pregnancy issues (very mild) made us realize we needed to be in CA, not WA, so we found an apartment and moved our stuff in in one Saturday. A couple of weeks later we learned we would be moving to Chicago in August for U of C MBA. Learned we were having a girl. Totally shocked us.
April: S travelled every week to Tacoma to a project that was very draining and demanding. Our phone conversations suffered. I spent a lot of time with Edda, who's husband was on the same project as Spencer. She helped me get moved in, helped me make a dress, helped me survive without a husband.
May: Our anniversary! 4 years. Went to visit Spencer's fam, left C1 alone for the first time over night (two nights!) and spent some quality time in Venice Beach, CA. Was great, missed my little girl. C1 had tons of fun, didn't really miss us. I was getting uncomfortably large, and we were still very unsure of baby names.
June: Traveled almost the entire month. By now, C1 didn't know what it was like to be in one place for more than 2-3 weeks. Visited Clive grandparents in Tacoma while Spencer worked, also visited Utah, where S ran the Ragnar Relay (Wasatch Front), and then the O Fam Reunion was held. Tons of fun, considerably more drama than usual. We're glad things are working out :). S and M still argue about baby names.
July: C1's birthday, which lasted forever (two or three parties, for one thing). I spent most of the month trying to put my huge body into labor (long walks and stairs). Gained 40 lbs. by end of pregnancy, S started working from home. Campbell was born with under 2 minutes of pushing.
August: Drove to Utah, flew to Chicago, waited a week for our stuff to come. Got ripped off by movers. C2 proves to be colicky. I was scared to death to be in Chicago. S was excited, C1 was confused. C2 was fussy. Met many new friends.
September: S in school, loving it. M and kids at home just trying to get our footing. Learn to use public transportation since we didn't have our car. C1 refuses to adjust well and is violent. M has colicky child, violent child, and hormonal heck: cries often. S loves life.
October: We are all feeling a little more settled, esp. since M's parents brought the car to us. Feeling really close to the friends we are making out here. Great Halloween. Campbell grows out of colic. Cadence's hair fits in a hairband?!?
November: Gets cold! We go shopping and stock up on winter clothes. Thanksgiving with a few friends here. S's internship networking/information sessions already starting!
December: Finals, Florida, Christmas in Utah, C2 really blossoms into a sort-of self-governing organism. Here comes personality! C1 is finally adjusting to Chicago, so is M. The whole fam is happy.
In hindsight, I can see that the Lord was trying to teach me a new word: ADAPT. We have had a lot of fun along the way, but this was definitely a year of refinement for us. I feel that we are so much the better for it. How grateful I am for all the opportunities I've had to learn and grow this year. How evermore grateful I am for Spencer, who so patiently helps me through every mess, or trial, or whatever it is. He is so good to me. And I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father, who not only provided me with opportunities to learn and grow, but provided me also with the ability to survive it all. I wasn't on my own, for sure.
Thank you, also, to all of you who have provided support and service to us during this year when we couldn't do it all on our own. We've been blessed and lifted by so many of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I feel compelled to name a few names... certainly I can't thank everybody that I feel lifted by, it would take me a year just to do that. But I would like to make special mention of a few:
--Wes and Linda Carlson, Merica and Damian, The Elders Quorum of WC 2nd (multiple moves!), Edda, Matt and Mimi, Kathryn Hawks, Susannah and Ben Nelson, Kelli and Steve Palmer, Mom and Dad O, Mignon, Mel, Mikee, Mom and Dad C, Cliff and Gina, Heidi McMillan, Matt and Robyn Hutchison, Catherine Bailey, Grandfather and Grandmother Clive (and that nice girl in their ward who came to help me with Cadence when I couldn't move), Jim and Sarah Suva, and Emron Pratt.
We are changed people because of the small and immense sacrifices you have shown us. We aspire to pass it forward and make the world a little better for somebody, as each of you have done for us. We love you. I mean it.
Thanks again, everybody! Here's hoping for another great year!
-Spencer, Mardee, Cadence, and Campbell Clive.
The Christmas Before Christmas
For obvious reasons, Santa decided to make a special delivery to our house before we left for Florida/Utah. It was so much fun. Here are some pictures from that wonderful morning.
It was fun to have her unwrap all the little gifts and be so excited about each one.
Spencer was pretty dang excited about his gift, too.
She wasted no time getting to work making us some breakfast. Cute story about how much she loves her kitchen. She sleeps in a big girl bed, but she NEVER gets out unless somebody comes to get her, even if she's been awake for 1/2 hour. That night at about 3 in the morning I heard some tinkering and got up to check on it and I caught her scampering away from her kitchen, watched her run through the rest of the house to her room, and she jumped back into her bed , and said to me as I walked in, "I just had to make some Mac n Cheese". I knew then that the kitchen was worth the money. She is in her kitchen as much as, or more than I am.
Spencer left after the Santa festivities to study for finals. I was supposed to pack for our big three weeks away, but instead I found myself inviting my mommy-friends over to play rockband while our kids took care of themselves.
Katie on lead guitar, Jacob on vocals, Robyn and Nicholas on drums. Cadence is around the corner lying on the linoleum whining about who knows what. We were busy. In fact, at the very moment I was snapping the picture, Robyn was desperately trying to explain to young Nicholas, who wasn't being very understanding, "Nicholas, Mommy just has to play Rockband right now!
It was a lot of fun. A lot. When are you girls coming over again to play? Should we get a sitter next time? And for the friends who didn't come last time...don't worry, you'll get your chance :).
It was fun to have her unwrap all the little gifts and be so excited about each one.
Spencer was pretty dang excited about his gift, too.
She wasted no time getting to work making us some breakfast. Cute story about how much she loves her kitchen. She sleeps in a big girl bed, but she NEVER gets out unless somebody comes to get her, even if she's been awake for 1/2 hour. That night at about 3 in the morning I heard some tinkering and got up to check on it and I caught her scampering away from her kitchen, watched her run through the rest of the house to her room, and she jumped back into her bed , and said to me as I walked in, "I just had to make some Mac n Cheese". I knew then that the kitchen was worth the money. She is in her kitchen as much as, or more than I am.
Spencer left after the Santa festivities to study for finals. I was supposed to pack for our big three weeks away, but instead I found myself inviting my mommy-friends over to play rockband while our kids took care of themselves.
Katie on lead guitar, Jacob on vocals, Robyn and Nicholas on drums. Cadence is around the corner lying on the linoleum whining about who knows what. We were busy. In fact, at the very moment I was snapping the picture, Robyn was desperately trying to explain to young Nicholas, who wasn't being very understanding, "Nicholas, Mommy just has to play Rockband right now!
It was a lot of fun. A lot. When are you girls coming over again to play? Should we get a sitter next time? And for the friends who didn't come last time...don't worry, you'll get your chance :).
The Actual Christmas
Christmas was so wonderful this year. After a week of family togetherness and warmth, our little fam joined up with our big fams out in Utah. The big ol' snow storm of December hit the day that we flew from Florida to Utah, so our travel day that was supposed to start at 5:00 AM and end at 1:00 PM instead started at 5:00 AM and ended at 9:30 PM. It was a long day.
The trouble it was to get to Utah was well worth it. It was so fun to be there at a time when my younger sisters were out of school, so that they were able to be around a lot. We got to voice our opinions about wedding colors, cakes, bridesmaids and dresses (Mel and Jake), our opinions about who Mignon should date, and how Mikee is perfect (still). Cadence got to play in the snow, and at the little gym (pictures, please?), play the two pianos at my parents' house, visit Grandma Great (Harward) everyday, eat Grandma's yummy chili, give Pepper treats, pick presents for her cousins, aunts, and uncles, and have dance party after dance party.
Campbell was loved, adored, snuggled, kissed, danced with, tossed, changed, propped up, and tickled by a whole lot of people. She was SO happy there.
Another great thing about Utah was that Spencer's family came to us! They come to their cabin near Sundance for many holidays, and it sure made our Christmas special to be there with them.
Christmas day was so much fun. Cadence was very very excited about the presents and made it a little more fun for everybody. Campbell was just a blob, really. Someday, Cam. Spencer got me "4 gigs of ram"? Really romantic, Spence. Just kidding, now I can blog twice as fast, I LOVE IT! I really do, thanks, babe. I wrote him a letter. And got him Rockband. You know, almost as exciting as ram. :) (To be fair, he also took me to Florida, and Rockband was kind of for both of us.)
We really missed having Merica, Damian, and their adorable girls around for Christmas morning. Their girls are so funny and fun on Christmas. We loved, however, having McKay and Karalyn around for Christmas, and of course Zavian, who is the handsomest, most hilarious and expressive baby boy ever. I wish I could have packed him up and brought him home with me.
Christmas night, Spencer's family came down to my parent's house and we had dinner and played and danced and had a great time together. The chemistry of our families together is always funny to me. So different, and yet a great time is always had by all. A great and memorable time. Like that time that the Clives nearly got themselves lectured/dirtylooked to death by the Ortons over an insistence that my mom gets the "spanking machine" for losing a game....
Spencer and I got to go Snowboarding the next day while Cadence stayed home at the cabin and played with Gramps and Mamaw. When I got back she was sledding with Gramps and having so much fun. She also got to sleep right next to John, Caitlin, and Trevor, which was really exciting (almost TOO exciting).
We came back to my parents house when the Clives had to leave to head home. We were sad to see them go so soon, but were very grateful for their time and how good they are to the kids. I don't know when we'll see them again, but we can't wait.
It was nice to have as much fun with my family as we did. I didn't feel rushed, or anxious about "fitting it all in", or morning sickness (last year I was pretty worthless). It was so fun to just be there. My dad had a lot of work to do, and so did my mom (Mel's getting married really soon!), but they were both very happy, and took a lot of time to be with my kids.
Thanks, Mom and Dad Orton, Mom and Dad Clive, and all the people who made time for us this year.
Thank you, Spencer, for all you did to make this holiday special for us. I appreciate all your hard work and the time you sacrifice to be with us, to take us places, and to love us.
Now for a few pictures. I didn't take very many. I never do when I'm with family. It's too bad. I guess I was having too much fun.
The trouble it was to get to Utah was well worth it. It was so fun to be there at a time when my younger sisters were out of school, so that they were able to be around a lot. We got to voice our opinions about wedding colors, cakes, bridesmaids and dresses (Mel and Jake), our opinions about who Mignon should date, and how Mikee is perfect (still). Cadence got to play in the snow, and at the little gym (pictures, please?), play the two pianos at my parents' house, visit Grandma Great (Harward) everyday, eat Grandma's yummy chili, give Pepper treats, pick presents for her cousins, aunts, and uncles, and have dance party after dance party.
Campbell was loved, adored, snuggled, kissed, danced with, tossed, changed, propped up, and tickled by a whole lot of people. She was SO happy there.
Another great thing about Utah was that Spencer's family came to us! They come to their cabin near Sundance for many holidays, and it sure made our Christmas special to be there with them.
Christmas day was so much fun. Cadence was very very excited about the presents and made it a little more fun for everybody. Campbell was just a blob, really. Someday, Cam. Spencer got me "4 gigs of ram"? Really romantic, Spence. Just kidding, now I can blog twice as fast, I LOVE IT! I really do, thanks, babe. I wrote him a letter. And got him Rockband. You know, almost as exciting as ram. :) (To be fair, he also took me to Florida, and Rockband was kind of for both of us.)
We really missed having Merica, Damian, and their adorable girls around for Christmas morning. Their girls are so funny and fun on Christmas. We loved, however, having McKay and Karalyn around for Christmas, and of course Zavian, who is the handsomest, most hilarious and expressive baby boy ever. I wish I could have packed him up and brought him home with me.
Christmas night, Spencer's family came down to my parent's house and we had dinner and played and danced and had a great time together. The chemistry of our families together is always funny to me. So different, and yet a great time is always had by all. A great and memorable time. Like that time that the Clives nearly got themselves lectured/dirtylooked to death by the Ortons over an insistence that my mom gets the "spanking machine" for losing a game....
Spencer and I got to go Snowboarding the next day while Cadence stayed home at the cabin and played with Gramps and Mamaw. When I got back she was sledding with Gramps and having so much fun. She also got to sleep right next to John, Caitlin, and Trevor, which was really exciting (almost TOO exciting).
We came back to my parents house when the Clives had to leave to head home. We were sad to see them go so soon, but were very grateful for their time and how good they are to the kids. I don't know when we'll see them again, but we can't wait.
It was nice to have as much fun with my family as we did. I didn't feel rushed, or anxious about "fitting it all in", or morning sickness (last year I was pretty worthless). It was so fun to just be there. My dad had a lot of work to do, and so did my mom (Mel's getting married really soon!), but they were both very happy, and took a lot of time to be with my kids.
Thanks, Mom and Dad Orton, Mom and Dad Clive, and all the people who made time for us this year.
Thank you, Spencer, for all you did to make this holiday special for us. I appreciate all your hard work and the time you sacrifice to be with us, to take us places, and to love us.
Now for a few pictures. I didn't take very many. I never do when I'm with family. It's too bad. I guess I was having too much fun.
Cadence and Daddy ready to go out in the snow. I hadn't found her boots yet, so newspaper bags and rubberbands did the trick. Below are a couple more snow play pics that I thought were so sweet.
Mikee and Campbell. I like it because Mikee is making a weird face, even though she still looks pretty.
Grandpa Orton and Cadence are dancin' fools!
Cadence was so helpful on Christmas morning. She wanted to help everybody unwrap. Here she is sporting her new princess panties, which we are now using for potty-training.
Mikee and Campbell. I like it because Mikee is making a weird face, even though she still looks pretty.
Grandpa Orton and Cadence are dancin' fools!
Cadence was so helpful on Christmas morning. She wanted to help everybody unwrap. Here she is sporting her new princess panties, which we are now using for potty-training.
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