In which The King and I have some missed connections in our youth

There is nothing like seeing a band you love performing live on stage.  The first concert I went to was New Kids on the Block.  By the time I saw them they weren’t really popular anymore and I definitely wasn’t into them like I had been.  The concert was amazing.  The energy from the gazillion screaming fans was intoxicating.  I couldn’t help but get caught up in the excitement.

On the ride home from the concert that night I promised myself that I’d go to every show I could.

And then I did.

The King was in Utah going to college during the same time that I was deep into going to shows.  We didn’t know each other.  We didn’t have any of the same friends.  We didn’t live by each other.  We weren’t even in the same town.  But every now and then he’ll be talking about something he did in college and I’ll realize that I remember hearing about that exact same thing.

(Anyone remember hearing about The Great Pillow Fight of 1992 at BYU?  Yeah, he *cough* may have had something to do with that.)

And then every now and then something like this will come up.

“I think I went to Spanish Fork once.  It was to see Rage Against the Machine.”

“I WAS AT THAT SHOW TOO!  Did you see me?”

(Rolls eyes.)

“I didn’t know you.”

“Oh right.”

Yes, we were both at the same (controversial) Rage Against the Machine show.  We could have stood next to each other in line.  Or hit up against each other in the mosh pit.

You would think that the first time something like this came up we’d start listing all the shows we were at to see if the other one was there too.  But we’ve never done that.  It’s just when it comes up in a conversation about something.

“Can you believe I lived in Utah most of my life and the only time I remember going to the Saltair was when I saw Tool play there.”

“You saw Tool there?  I think I was there too.”

Then there are the times we’ve talked about the Utah State Fair and we’re realized there were a few different shows there that we saw at the same time.

The King turned forty in March and I threw him a raging party.  He decided (the day before,  thankyouverymuch) that he wanted to make a CD to give out at the party as a favor.  He asked for my help putting it all together.  His idea was to create a sort of playlist to correspond with his life.  He sat down at our laptop and starting typing up the list of songs he wanted to use.  He kept this part of the plan a secret from me.  He e-mailed me the list of the songs he wanted and I started collecting them from our library and coming up with my own list of songs I needed to buy for the playlist.  (I was surprised at how few of them we didn’t own.)

As I was working on my part of the project The King e-mailed me the rest of his project.  He wanted to include a booklet with the CD and needed my help creating it.

The title of his CD was “40 songs that at the age of 40 I’m no longer embarrassed to admit that I like (and what they mean to me)”.  The King had typed up a few sentences for each of the 40 songs and I was giddy with excitement to read what he’d written.

The teenage girl in me loved reading through it and finding out there were other shows we were both at.  For some reason the idea of Early-Twenties-Isabel and College-Student-The King having all of these missed connections felt so romantic to me.

I quickly pointed out to him the shows I was also at and told him he should include that in his notes about the songs.  He added it at one place.  Clearly he didn’t think it was as romantic as I did.  But that’s to be expected since he’s a boy.

While I think it’s romantic that we may have seen each other long before we knew each other, the truth is that it’s a very good thing Early-Twenties-Isabel and College-Student-The King didn’t meet at one of these shows.  If we would have I’m pretty sure there wouldn’t have been the same love connection that we had a few years later.  He wouldn’t have liked my hair or my clothes or (let’s be honest) my attitude.  And I wouldn’t have liked his “I’m in art school” pretentiousness.

It’s a good thing we met when we did.

Now we go to shows together.  And while we’re not so young anymore, I find it romantic to be standing next to him watching someone we both like performing on stage.

I can’t wait until Babboo and Rerun are old enough to go with us.

————————————————–

Just in case you’re curious to see which songs made the cut for his birthday CD, may I present:

40 songs that at the age of 40 I’m no longer embarrassed to admit that I like

and what they mean to me

(Some names have been changed for the purpose of this post.)

1. Love Me Do, The Beatles – My mom had a ton of Beatles 45s and my little sister and I used to play them on a little cardboard record player when we were kids.

2. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, AC/DC – In elementary school, the music teacher would let us bring in records to play once in a while.  While most kids were bringing in the soundtrack from ‘Annie’ and sing-along junk, Clifford Dillstead’s older sister had every AC/DC record made (at the time) and he would bring those.  Still love them.

3. Uncontrollable Urge, Devo – I heard Devo in middle school shop class, and I knew right then that I wanted to be a rock star.  Every time I hear my friend Dave’s band cover it, I’m glad I at least know someone that still has a shot at it.

4. It’s Like That, Run DMC – Middle School shop class had a pretty progressive play list.

5. Heartbreaker, Pat Benatar – I loved Pat, and even more when MTV started.

6. Rain, The Cult – My neighbor Pat introduced me to the Cult.  I was too young to go see them at the time, but I listened to the tape so many times it broke.  Twice.

7. Rio, Duran Duran – When I was 12, we went on a week-long canoe trip in Canada with the young men from church.  Someone brought along a Duran Duran tape and we paddled around the lakes, sitting on the front of canoes, just like on MTV.  I loved MTV.

8. Photograph, Def Leppard -  I spent some time with Mike Dew and Jason Titus in half-built homes, playing air guitar to this album.  Pre-arm Def Leppard.  The good stuff before they started drumming with their feet.

9. Walk Like an Egyptian, The Bangles –   Went to see The Bangles at the Paramount.  I think it was the first live show I had seen, and since they were all women, it was an easy sell to the folks.

10. Livin’ on a Prayer, Bon Jovi –   (If you say you don’t secretly like this song, you’re a liar.)  2^nd concert I ever went to and I went with my dad.  I felt like it was the beginning of me being uncool, but it was really the beginning of my dad being super cool

11. Every Little Step, Bobby Brown – This was a dark time in my life musically, where I listened to a lot of garbage while dancing at the Omni in Kent.

12. Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos, Public Enemy – My best friend Shawn and I went to see “Do the Right Thing” in 1989 on Broadway (Broadway Cinema which is now a Rite Aid) and were the only white people in the audience, although we didn’t think we were (white).

13. Paid in Full, Erik B. and Rakim – Did I mention I was gangsta in 10^th grade?  I blame YoMTV Raps, and so did my parents.

14. Fine Time, New Order – This was the first CD I ever bought.  Not even sure why I bought it, but I still love New Order.

15. Down in It, Nine Inch Nails – Eric Durgin and I walked into the Palace in Provo my freshman year at college.  We passed through a room full of kids dancing to Bobby Brown (which I was used to) and entered a room where this was the first song I heard.  I don’t think I ever heard Bobby again.

16. The last of the Famous International Playboys, Morrissey – MTV still played videos at this point, and on Sunday nights, I’d walk off campus with Eric and we’d watch 120 Minutes at his girlfriend’s house.

17. Welcome to Paradise, Front 242 – I saw these guys in SLC in a barn at the fairgrounds.  Probably the closest I’ve come to a ride in an ambulance.

18. So What, Ministry – Freshman year at college, even in Provo, can be a dark time.  It got dark.

19. In-N-Out of Grace, Mudhoney – Quintessential rock stars, even to this day.  The power went out during a show at the Mural Amphitheater that summer, and Mark Arm went rockstar and since there was no sound, started playing Jimi Hendrix style, with his teeth.  Amazing.

20. Hot for Teacher, Van Halen – One of my teachers at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) was caught drumming the opening to this song on his desk during a moment of boredom.

21. Even Flow, Pearl Jam – I don’t really like this song, but it was huge when I was on my mission in Germany for our church.  I can remember walking down a snowy street in East Germany one late night, and watching the video on a bunch of TV screens in the window of a store.  It wasn’t until a year or so later that I heard the music that went along with it.

22. Home Sweet Home, Mötley Crüe – My life took a turn when for two straight years while on my mission, I listened to nothing but Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  The last 7 days before I left Germany, I secretly listened to this every morning.

23. March of the Pigs, Nine Inch Nail – This was how I re-introduced myself into mainstream music after my mission.  Went to this show about 5 days after I came home.  I had barely stopped wearing a suit every day.  It was like pulling off a band-aid I guess.

24. Loser, Beck – Not his best work.  Not even close.  But he puts on a great show.

25. Shadow of the Season, Screaming Trees – My dad bought the house that these guys were living in in Ellensburg WA, and threw their butts out on the street.  Remember how I said he was cool?

26. Sober, Tool – I enrolled in the art program, stayed up late a lot with my friend Ay and made paintings.

27. Sweet Child of Mine, Guns ‘N Roses – I lived with an old companion from my mission for a few months, in an apartment full of Tongan dudes who had a lot of parties and listened to a lot of Bob Marley.  Metz (companion) could sing every song from Appetite for Destruction from memory (including the guitar solos) and would occasionally do so on request, to drown out the sound of the island music in the other room.

28. Wave of Mutilation, Pixies – Saw Frank Black live in SLC where he did this song as a solo on stage.  I think about (and miss) Salt Lake every time I hear it.

29. Waiting Room, Fugazi – Not long before I left Utah, I returned to the Fairpark Barn (see Front 242) to see Fugazi.  This time I sat in the bleachers with this girl I secretly adored, and a group of friends, one of which kept screaming out requests for John Denver hits between songs.  I climbed over a moving train on the way to that show, risking life and limb, just to hang out with that girl.

30. Bulls on Parade, Rage Against the Machine – Isabel and I later found out that we had crossed paths at many of the same shows in Utah, years before we were married.

31. Nuthin’ but a G-Thang, Dr. Dre – The summer before I left Provo, I went to a 4^th of July picnic where someone played this song on the stereo while we all sat on the porch and watched fireworks.

32. Amado Mio, Pink Martini – Saw them with my friend Shane and his wife in Seattle and EVERYONE in the crowd danced.  Shane taught me to wear a suit whenever possible, and some card tricks, against his better judgment as a magician.

33. Timebomb, Old 97’s – I heard this song in a friend’s truck in Texas years before I actually decided I liked it.  Introducing it to my wife may have been the biggest mistake I made in our marriage.

34. Book of Poems, Old 97’s – Ok, I like them too.

35. Victor Vito, Laurie Berkner – Babboo was born, and we listened to this song while he peed on the carpet.  I love him so much; I didn’t even mind cleaning it up (or listening to his music).

36. Supply and Demand, The Hives – Shane was right, suits rule.

37. Think About It, Flight of the Conchords – Aside from my dad, JJ is one of my hero’s.  You can learn a lot from him about attitude, sense of humor, and just generally how to keep it together in the face of adversity.  Call him, you’ll see. 555-6905.

38. Quality Control, Jurassic 5 – Somehow, this is one of the top 10 most played songs on my iPod.

39. Nothing but Flowers, Talking Heads – I’ve been listening to the Best of Talking Heads a lot lately.  I dream of chocolate chip cookies too

40. I Wanna be Around, Tony Bennett – Isabel and I went to see Tony at the Paramount, and it was one of the most amazing and inspiring shows I’ve ever seen.  It proved that an old guy could still be cool.

(Anyone care to guess which shows we were both at?)

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com! This is your very first post. Click the Edit link to modify or delete it, or start a new post. If you like, use this post to tell readers why you started this blog and what you plan to do with it.

Happy blogging!

In which I beg The King to not read this post (unless he wants to spoil his Father's Day)

We’re all about creating thoughtful and personalized gifts at The King house.  I love the idea of the gift recipient knowing that what I’ve given them not only came from the heart but that I also spent time creating it.

I love it even more when I can use supplies I already have to create said gift.

Now I’m not sure what type of items you have sitting around your house.  But at The King house there is a vast array of craft supplies.

What happens when you add my current craft inventory and Pinterest?

A desire to make this adorable painting using the kit from redenvelope.  Except not using the kit because I was pretty sure I could do this project without the help of a $40 “kit”.

(Photo courtesy of RedEnvelope)

With Father’s Day coming up, I knew it was the perfect time to get the paints out.

Okay, I have to be honest here.  I didn’t own all the supplies I’d need for this project, but I owned a lot of it.  (And by “a lot” I mean I owned some paint brushes and painters tape.)  While we have our fair share of paints and inks, none of them weren’t the right type (washable, since they’d be touching our precious skin) or the right colors (Bright!  Contrasting!).

(We keep our brushes in a plastic boot which was purchased at a long ago state fair as a “boot beer”.)

While we have a closet full of blank canvases (what?  Doesn’t everybody?) none of them were the size I wanted.  I actually didn’t start this project not knowing what size of canvas I wanted.  Since the selection at Joanns was limited I was forced to settle on 16″ x 16″.  I figured each of our hands would fit into one of the 8″sections I planned on making.  The 40% off coupon helped too.

After purchasing all of my supplies I also decided to use an 8″ x 8″ canvas from our closet and make a smaller version for my dad for Father’s Day alongside the larger one I was making for The King.

Supplies needed: sponge, brushes, tape and paint

(not shown: canvas)

This project took two evenings, but could have probably been done in one break-filled afternoon.  The first night I started with deciding what colors I wanted where.

This picture added simply to show you how cute this kid is.  And how big he’s getting.  And how red his hair is.  (The shirt was a gift for Babboo courtesy of Metalia.  It’s still one of my faves.)

At the start of the project I got everything out and set up on the kitchen table.  I experimented with different color combinations for the background color and the hand print color.  I wanted to use colors that were contrasting.  I cleverly made a little cheat sheet on a Post-It note, making sure to include the blue and white combo per Babboo’s request.

Or rather I thought I was being clever until I realized I had the same background color in two squares.

Duh.

Whatever.  I must really like green.

I marked off 8″ and then taped if off to paint the background of the first square using a sponge-thingy.  (I apologize for not knowing the technical name.)  I waited for it to dry, in between listening to Rhett Miller’s new CD “The Dreamer“.  (Dude, have you heard Rhett’s CD yet?  It’s good.  I’ll say it; it’s his best solo work yet.  And that’s saying a lot because I think “The Instigator” is really good.)

(When preordering the new Cd we also sprung for this screen printed poster.  And it’s way more awesome then I though it would be.

It’ll be framed soon and  hung in our office near our Old 97′s poster.)

(You know that’s supposed to be me in that poster, right?  FOR REALS.)

What was I saying?

Oh yeah, I waited for that first square to dry, took off the paint and took a huge sigh of relief that the paint didn’t bleed.  I taped off the second square and repeated the first step with the next color.  Any then maybe danced around the kitchen with the kids while this coat dried.  I also threw one coat on the canvas for my dad.

I did this for all four squares and then realized that each square would need a second coat of paint.

By this time it was bedtime and my Sweet Babboo and Rerun were tired.  The second coat would have to wait until the next night.

Due to laziness (and the fact that painters tape ain’t cheap) I decided to forgo the tape and just use a skinny brush.  This was actually a good idea because it allowed me to fill in some of the white spots missed from the tape not being perfectly lined up.

I was able to paint the second coat and catch all the missed spots while our dinner cooked.  (Have you tried this recipe yet?  It’s super good.  You can also freeze them and cook them later.  Which is what we were doing.)

The second coat got some dry time while the kids took showers and got their jammies on.  We don’t have any of those fancy painter jacket thingys for the kids to wear so I slapped my apron on Rerun and called it good.

(Full disclosure: the apron was a gift from my mom.  I won’t actually cook for shoes.)

Right about the time I got Rerun’s hand covered in paint I realized that I wasn’t sure how I was going to get my 21 month old kid to do this without getting paint all over the canvas, my kitchen chairs or my precious apron.  (I was fine with some paint on the apron.  BUT NOT THE CHAIRS!)  (You’ll note the plastic covers I sewed for the chair tops a few weeks ago.)  I tried to explain to Rerun what we were about to do.  But all he wanted to do was open and close his fist and feel the paint squish through his fingers.  Babboo laughed, knowing that this probably wasn’t going to end well.  And after practicing on a separate piece of paper I was agreeing with him.

Alas, Rerun’s hand print was liveable.  (I soon realized that I’d have to wash his hand and use a different color for my dad’s painting.  My initial Post-It note failed me AGAIN!)  (What’s with me and green?)

Babboo did his hand print, once for my dad and once for The King.  I didn’t have to coach him or anything.  (Hooray for six year olds!)  And then we did Rerun’s hand again.  Which really confused him.

I put the kids in bed and did my hand print. The King will have to add his (blue) hand print after Father’s Day.

I’m pleased with how they both turned out.  The colors are exactly what I was going for.  And I think using one big canvas was a good idea.  Once the paint dries I’ll put my dad’s in the mail and it’ll get there in plenty of time.

So tell me, what will you be doing for the significant other/father/male father-figure in your life?

(Crap, I *just* realized I didn’t think about a gift for my father-in-law.)

In which I've learned a thing or two

Things I’ve learned from my friend May:

• Wearing a skirt in the summer is just like wearing shorts, except cuter and even more comfortable.
• Ira Glass and “This American Life” are the best things on the radio and will change your life (for the better) forever.
• It’s okay to let your kids have McDonalds for dinner.
• Although it’s not okay for your kid to eat more than one pickle a day.
• Don’t bite off more than you can chew in regards to a church calling.
• That it’s okay to say “no”.
• You might as well try for a VBAC.  (If it doesn’t work, oh well.)
• How to convert your long sleeved shirt into a short sleeved shirt.
• The most important thing at a party is the lighting.
• The second most important thing is the music.
• Marriage is hard.  But is worth it in the end.
• Don’t be afraid to try something you might not think you can do. (i.e.: sewing or knitting, etc.)
• How to make the background layer a color in Photoshop.
• Illustrator is way better then Photoshop when you want to work with type.
• How to throw a low stress baby shower.
• How to melt fabric to make it look like a flower.
• How to listen to music using Youtube.
• Where the “secret” beaches are in Orange County.
• Your talents should be shared.
• How to be pregnant.
• That you’re ready to become a parent when the thought of putting together Easter baskets and school lunches makes you excited.
• Yard work can be fun.
• Sometimes you have to rely on your faith to know the church is true.
• You don’t have to wash your hair every day.
• Or bathe your kids (every day).
• When you find something you want, try to see if you can make it before you buy one.
• Sometimes mommies use bad words too.
• All the amazing things you can do with Shrinky Dinks.
• Don’t let your baby fall off the couch.
• How to paint your house numbers on your house.
• How to make your own herb garden.

• Sometimes “Ensign” articles can rub you the wrong way.
• But listening to a conference talk a day helps to keep you grounded.
• Exercise is a necessary evil.
• Set goals.
• It’s way better to make your own Christmas cards.
• And Valentines for your kids.
• And “thank you” cards.
• The best gifts are those from the heart.
• Awesome bands:
  • Tegan & Sara
  • Camera Obscura
  • Mates of State
  • The Decemberist
  • Avett Brothers
  • Au Revoir Simone
  • Neko Case
  • Tilly & The Wall
  • Feist

And the most important thing I’ve learned from my friend May:

How great it feels to have a friend.

Happy Birthday May. Thanks for being such a great example to me.

In which she's leaving home

Our nanny’s husband got into a great grad school on the other side of the county.  Apparently she’d rather be with him there then watching my kids here in Seattle.  (Crazy, I know.)

Nanny’s last day is Monday.

Rerun’s first day ever at daycare is Tuesday and I’m not looking forward to it.  It’s not that I have any issues with daycares in general.  Babboo spent his pre-Kindergarten years in a daycare and he thrived there.  In fact, Rerun will be going to Babboo’s same daycare.  It’s just that for the last 17 months Rerun’s had one on one love and attention from Nanny.

We first met Nanny back when she was in high school (or maybe just graduated, I can’t remember).  She had recently converted to my church and was full of sunshine and love.  She loved kids and made it very clearly that all she wanted in life was to be a mom.  May and I tried to dissuade her from “making any mistakes” by getting married super young and having loads of babies.

Nanny didn’t listen to May and me and she got married much younger then I would advise anyone.  Nanny really lucked out.  Her husband is grand.  He’s smart, handsome, a good provider, a great husband and a super dad.  I don’t like to admit it, but she was right to not listen to May and me.

As long as I’ve known Nanny she’s worked as a…well, as a nanny.  Up until we hired her she’d had a very lustrous career and worked with a number of wealthy families.  It’s clear that she takes the care of children very seriously and enjoys being around kids.  Which is why she had two of her own right out of the gate.  Once her second child was born she really wasn’t “hire-able” as a nanny.  Nobody wants someone watching their kids who has her own kids to watch.

Well, nobody except me.

Thanks to nobody else wanting to hire a nanny with two kids we got her for way less then she typically charges for her services.  Not only were we happy to have her as our nanny, we were happy for the price.  She’s been watching Rerun since the day I went back to work.  And her having two kids really hasn’t been an issue.  Nanny’s husband works swing shift and is home with their two kids while Nanny’s at my house getting Babboo off to school and watching Rerun.  There are only about 20 minutes between Babboo getting off the bus and me getting home where Nanny has all four kids.  Besides that Rerun usually gets her full attention.

Rerun loves Nanny.  One of his favorite things to do is fall asleep while she holds him.  He’s recently started calling her by name and it’s so sweet to hear.  Rerun also loves Nanny’s son, who is only about nine months older.  Due to Rerun being so big and Nanny’s son being so small the boys are close in size.  They love to wrestle, play ball and their current fave; asking each other to run errands for them.

“Get me that ball!”

“Thank you.”

“Go get me that car over there.”

“Thank you.”

And on and on.

I hate that Rerun is too young to understand it when I tell him that Nanny won’t be there on Tuesday when he wakes up.  I wish I could tell him why he’ll never see Nanny’s little boy again.  I want to tell him that it isn’t because they don’t want to be with him but that they have to leave for greener pastures.

Thankfully Babboo is old enough to understand.  While he doesn’t want to admit it to anyone I know he and Nanny are special friends.  She’ll play a round of Mario Kart on the Wii before he has to catch the bus but also make sure he gets his homework done.  A friend of mine recently told me that he had told her that he wouldn’t want to marry Nanny’s daughter, but that he’d like to marry Nanny.  I think that’s the greatest compliment a six year old can give.

Earlier in the week I asked Babboo if he’s sad that Nanny is moving. He told me that he’s sad, but only for Rerun’s sake.  I don’t buy it.  I know he’s going to miss her too.

I know she’s going to miss them.

Today Nanny texted me this photo with the caption “I’m sure going to miss this smile.”

Come Tuesday when The King drops him off for his first day at daycare I know he’s not going to be smiling.  And he’s going to wonder where his Nanny is and why she isn’t there to help make his day better.

I wish I could make him understand why she left.

In which my sweet babboo is one year older

We had spaghetti for dinner last night.  Like most toddlers Rerun was eating it by the fist-fulls.  He was making a mess of himself and the rest of the kitchen. (You’ll note the beach towel over his chair.  Once he started eating it became clear that I needed to cover the entire chair to protect it from flying red sauce!)  The King, Babboo and I were laughing hysterically at him and, I’ll admit, egging him on a little.

I turned around to get a picture of a my Sweet Babboo and said, “smile, this is your last picture as a five year old!”

He woke up this morning as a six year old.

Things have changed a lot in the last six years.  My life is pretty much the exact opposite as it was before he was born.  Our house is noisier.  We have a far larger Lego collection.  I no longer find shower time relaxing.  And I’ve never been so conscience of someone else’s  bowels.

He’s changed a lot too.  That precious sleeping baby he once was has turned into an amazing kid, albeit a sassy one!

(Shown here modeling the hiking pack my folks sent him for his birthday.)

I love My Sweet Babboo more then I ever imagined possible.  I’m thankful that we’re a forever family and I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for allowing me to be his mom.

Happy Birthday to my favorite six year old.

Things I Don't Want to Forget

• Rerun has the best manners.  Anytime someone hands him something he responds with the sweetest little “dan dou” which is Rerun-speak for “thank you”.  I find myself handing him cracker after cracker just to hear him say it.  He also refers to any type of treat as a “kiki”.  Which, again, is Rerun speak for “cookie”.

• My Sweet Babboo’s speech therapist told us this week that his speech is improving by leaps and bounds.  She also told us that he’s “SO smart!” and creative and artistic.  It’s clear that she thinks very highly of him.

• The King turned forty a few weeks ago. We had the most amazing party to celebrate him and his many accomplishments.  Babboo and I worked for weeks on a photo booth that we set up in our office.  He took great pride in talking to each and every guest and making sure they had their picture taken.  He then made sure they all signed the guestbook.

The photobooth was a success.  We got some really great pictures of our friends:

And some questionable ones too:

• We’ve left the photo booth backdrop up.  Rerun keeps wanting to go in the room and take more pictures.  He’ll stand in front of the backdrop and say “hat” or “glasses” and wait for me to hand it to him.  He will then hold up the stick, but not long enough for me to get an actual useable picture.  (Except for this one that I took after church on Sunday.  ADORABLE.)

• We’ve been letting a balloon from the party go every few days.  Rerun likes to stand on the front porch and watch it fly away until he can’t see it anymore.  He says “goodbye balloon” and waves.  He now does this anytime we go outside”.

• The King and Babboo let go another balloon this morning before he caught the bus for school.  Babboo asked his dad how long until the balloon got to Utah.  The King told him it didn’t look like it was headed in that direction.  He then asked how long it would take for it to get to Canada.  I like to think that he actually knows Utah and Canada are in completely different directions.  He’s so smart.

• Babboo is reading books.  Real ones.  It’s been amazing to see how much he’s learned since that first day of kindergarten.  He’s so smart.

• Netflix has a ton of the old “The Adventures of Tintin” episodes right now.  For some unknown reason both boys really like watching it.  When anyone mentions turning the TV on Rerun will perk up and say “Tin Tin?”

• Rerun’s been successfully using his little potty for the last week.  He’s gone both #1 and #2 (BIG NEWS in any home of a toddler).  I dream of the day when I don’t have to shell out a gazillion dollars for diapers every month.

• He hated every minute of it but Babboo has successfully learned how to tie his shoelaces.  He’s become quite an expert lacer and expects only perfectly looped laces from himself.

So tell me, what are some things you don’t want to forget right now?