Saturday, December 27, 2008

Spoiled

One of the best things about Christmas is waking up and seeing a lot of presents under the tree first thing in the morning. Santa knows how important this is. The effect of waking up and seeing big boxes with bows. It doesnt really matter what is in them. It is just that first moment that you know Santa thought you were good enough all year to bring you presents! Santa uses big boxes for new t-shirts and socks, he wraps up favortie cereal boxes, and even hot wheel cars come in the big boxes, wrapped in tissue paper inside so it is almost like opening 2 presents in one. And you can usually count on Santa to bring you at least one thing that you are absolutly dying to have. Especially if your list is as long as Clint's. And your mom tells you that you have to narrow the 3 pages down to a top 10 list. And Santa usually can bring you 2 or 3 of those things on your list. Like the new Lego Agents line of Legos, and a new Nintendo DS Game.
Derek was very happy to get some of the things he really wanted. He was dying to get the Bat Cave, and some Ben 10 Aliens. And he was in Heaven...for the first 36 hours. Playing with all of his new and wonderful toys. And then it hit him today...Santa didn't bring him a new Transformer? What -is -up -with -that?!!! "Where is my Transformer??? Santa Clause didn't bring me my Transformer!!!!"---Picture the tears coming, followed by the thrashing and weeping and wailing on the floor---and then the"I Hate Christmas....I Hate Christmas..."Mingled with sobs. Heartbreaking...yeah right. I usually let the Tantrums, that have made a recent re-appearance, just work themselves out. Is this one any diffrent? I admit that he is exhausted...Kids don't sleep much during Christmas vacation, right? Kids and Christmas. The best memories of the whole year!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Forever-lasting Snowman

Derek and Clint have been very unsatisfied with the snow that we have received so far this year. It has been okay for snowballs, and sledding, but has been the worst snow for building snow people, and forts.

So we had to take matters into our own hands, and make some indoor snowmen. Derek and his best friend Kooy got right to work making the best snow men in the world...the kind that will not melt in the sun...the kind that last forever...and they are not even cold!
I found another use for my Borax!

The compound can only be made with Ivory Soap...I tried it with Dove...it doesn't work.

And dont use a real carrot for the nose...it shriveled up and fell off...I recommend an orange pipe cleaner instead.
The compound is a little hard on your hands...especially when mixing it up...but it dries really nicely, and really looks just like snow!


Click here for Instructions

Friday, December 12, 2008

"Mean Mommy"

My little Derek really is my little sweetie. I am so thankful to have him in our family. He usually is the one always making us laugh. He really is very sweet and fun to have around...and I usually don't have to try too hard to be patient with him. He is so fun and I love being his mom...most of the time. Yesterday, however, he was being a real turkey. We have had a busy schedule the last couple of weeks, and he has been getting to bed late, and he never takes naps anymore. He was pretty tired. So he threw a fit when we got to the gym. A full blown temper-tantrum that I have not seen since he was 2. As he lay face down screaming in the parking lot, I told him he could go to the nursery, or we could go home and go for a walk in the stroller. He agreed to go in the stroller at home, until we got home. As I was searching the house for gloves, hats and mittens, he proceeded to throw a second tantrum...which I was not too surprised by, because he hates the stroller, and never wants to go.

By this time, I was getting really irritated, realizing that I most likely was not going to be able to get a work out in once again. So, I lost it...which I hardley ever do with him. (It is usually Jeff and Clint who are the recipients of my frustrations.) I ripped off his shoes, picked him up and dropped him into his bed. I said in a very loud voice..."You are going to stay in your bed until I tell you to get out!!!!!" He was a little shocked, and surprised...and through his tears as I left the room he said over and over agian "your a mean mommy...your a mean mommy". I think my response was something like, "yeah, thats right". I went to my room fuming. Trying to decide if I should drag my hand weights out, or just do a couple of rounds of DDR, when I hear, through his sobs, "I'm a 'Dood' Boy, I'm a 'Dood' Boy. I wove you mommy. I wove you mommy....i'm a 'Dood' Boy."

Well, what was I suppose to do? I went into his room of course. He was sitting up in bed, and said again, through sobs "I wa wa woove ooo mom mieeee". I hugged him and said he was a very good boy, and I loved him too more than anything. But he was tired and needed a rest. He agreed. And layed back down. I patted his back for a few miniutes until he was asleep. And I did get in 1 whole hour of DDR. He woke up after 2 hours, much happier. I really need to try harder to get him to bed on time. Because he really is a very Good Boy.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Joy to Everyone

http://joytoeveryone.com/ for video in HD (LDS church's Christmas Video)

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Traditions

At our house when I was a little girl, we never had stockings. It was Jeff who started that tradition at our house. But I remember Christmas being my very favorite time of year. And those Christmases at our house helped to shape the person that I am today. My Dad has an amazing voice, and it seemed like we kicked off the Christmas Season every year by going to my Dad's Christmas concert, and listening to the Messiah, and other Christmas Choral arrangements. I hated it when I was little, and usually ended up crawling under the bench and going to sleep. As I got older, I learned to appreciate and love those classical songs, and began to understand how music transcends words and thoughts. Handel tapped into the real power and glory of God with the Messiah. And to this day, it means so much to me. And I have begun to share my love of this type of music with my children. They will love Handel as much as I do.
I also remember, that no matter how bad the year was financially for my parents, and there were some pretty tough years, Christmas was always magical. Santa always found our house, whether there was snow, or not. There was not a single year where I was dissappointed. And we often got letters from Santa, in Santa's own handwriting, letting us know to what lengths he had to go to for some of our gifts, and letting us know how much he loved us.
I know that because of my experiences with Christmas as a child, I have wanted to try to become a much more compassionate and giving person. My parents have always been such amazing examples of self-sacrifice, and love. All of their children, my brother, and sisters, are the same way. They taught us to be giving and kind, and to help others, not be being harsh, or trying to teach us tough lessons, but by going without themselves. By giving all they had to their kids. And it has, more than anything else, made us want to try to be the same way. Giving in secret, helping whenever we can, having unshakeable testimonies, looking for chances to serve, hoping for the best, and enduring to the end. Over the last few years, my Mom has struggled at times with depression and injury. We are not as close as we used to be. But today cannot change the feelings of gratitude and love for the many many years that she was always there for me, always knowing what to say and do to help me get through some of the hardest times of my life. My Dad remains the hardworking, loving, kind, talented, spiritual giant he always has been. I Love my parents so much. And I hope I can represent their years of service and love, and carry the torch from here.

As a child too, we had a house full of books. There were stacks of books everywhere. Encyclopedia Collections, Animal Science books, Fairy Tales, Scriptures...My Parents loved Books. That is another thing that I have brought with me from my childhood. My own little family has our own tradition of wrapping up 25 Christmas books, (the same books every year)and opening one each night before Christmas. It seems like I am always scrambling at the last minuet to get them wrapped...and I almost always just think "oh, forget it...there just isn't time"...usually Clint, and now Derek remind me enough times for me to get it done. I am always glad that I follow through. I love Christmas.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

PTA Headquarters

I love my house. I really do. For the past 9 years, Jeff and I have poured our hearts, souls, and hard cold cash into making this house liveable. It is finially to the point where I am not embarrassed to have people come over. Jeff has made it beautiful in many ways. One of the only things I dont like about it, is that it is small. It is fine for the 4 of us (5, if you count Rex). But there is not a lot of extra space. So, my kitchen table has looked like this since late August. With Christmas coming, and Christmas Eve at our house, it is time to temporarily remove my office. We have been eating at the kitchen counter for 4 months. Maybe tonight I will surprise everyone and actually set the table...oh, wait...I have PTA skate night tonight...maybe tomorrow...Oh, wait, I have Pack Planning Meeting...maybe Thursday....

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Thanksgiving Gingerbread Houses

We went to Jeff's Grandfathers for Thanksgiving, with Jeff's sister Ginni and her family, and his other sister Kimm. Gingerbread houses are a yearly tradition in Jeff's family. This year we introduced hot glue to construct the houses. (Don't tell anyone...I dont think you are suppose to use anything that is not a confection...) This is Kimm's Igloo.
Clint's "Future House" and on the left is Ginni's, on the right is Leah's.

Leah and Derek had fun together playing hide and go seek, and making their houses. It was a nice and peaceful Thanksgiving....I wish I would have thought to take some pictures of Grandpa.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

From my sister...

My sister sent me this. She is so perceptive, she always finds the very best info on everything. This is one of those things....

Thomas Sowell is African-American, Korean War Veteran, and Stanford University Economics professor. Very good read on the protesting in California with Prop. 8 November 18, 2008

The Right to Win

By Thomas SowellAmong the many new "rights" being conjured out of thin air, a new one seems to be a "right" to win.Americans have long had the right to put their candidates and their ideas to a vote. Now there seems to be a sense that your rights have been trampled on if you don't win.Hillary Clinton's supporters were not merely disappointed, but outraged, when she lost the Democrats' nomination to Barack Obama. Some took it as a sign that, while racial barriers had come down, the "glass ceiling" holding down women was still in place.Apparently, if you don't win, somebody has put up a barrier or a ceiling. The more obvious explanation of the nomination outcome was that Obama ran a better campaign than Hillary. There is not the slightest reason to doubt that she would have been the nominee if the votes in the primaries had come out her way.As the election approached, pundits warned that, if Obama lost, there would be riots in the ghetto. We will never know. But since when does any candidate have a right to win any office, much less the White House?The worst of all the reactions from people who act as if they have a right to win have come from gay activists in the wake of voter rejection of so-called "gay marriage," which is to say, redefining what marriage has meant for centuries.Blacks and Mormons have been the main targets of the gay activists' anger. Seventy percent of blacks voted against gay marriage in California, so racial epithets were hurled at blacks in Los Angeles-- not in black neighborhoods, by the way.Blacks who just happened to be driving through Westwood, near UCLA, were accosted in their cars and, in addition to being denounced, were warned, "You better watch your back."Even blacks who were carrying signs in favor of gay marriage were denounced with racial epithets.In Michigan, an evangelical church service was invaded and disrupted by gay activists, who also set off a fire alarm, because evangelicals had dared to exercise their right to express their opinions at the polls.In Oakland, California, a mob gathered outside a Mormon temple in such numbers that officials shut down a nearby freeway exit for more than three hours. In their midst was a San Francisco Supervisor who said "The Mormon church has had to rely on our tolerance in the past, to be able to express their beliefs." He added, "This is a huge mistake for them. It looks like they've forgotten some lessons."Apparently Mormons don't have the same rights as other Americans, at least not if they don't vote the way gay activists want them to vote.There was another gay activist mob gathered outside a Mormon temple in Orange County, California.In the past, gay activists have disrupted Catholic services and their "gay pride" parades in San Francisco have crudely mocked nuns.While demanding tolerance from others, gay activists apparently feel no need to show any themselves.How did we get to this kind of situation?With all the various groups who act as if they have a right to win, we got to the present situation over the years, going back to the 1960s, where the idea started gaining acceptance that people who felt aggrieved don't have to follow the rules or even the law."No justice, no peace!" was a slogan that found resonance.Like so many slogans, it sounds good if you don't stop and think-- and awful if you do.Almost by definition, everybody thinks their cause is just. Does that mean that nobody has to obey the rules? That is called anarchy.Nobody is in favor of anarchy. But some people want everybody else to obey the rules, while they don't have to.What they want is not decisive, however. It is what other people are willing to tolerate that determines how far any group can go. When the majority of the people become like sheep, who will tolerate intolerance rather than make a fuss, then there is no limit to how far any group will go.
Copyright 2008, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Page Printed from: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/11/the_right_to_win.html at November 18, 2008 - 03:03:17 AM PST

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Tag from Lisa

Fine...I'll do a tag.
8 TV shows I like to watch:
1. The Office
2. Oprah
3. The Soup
4. Desperate Housewives
5. House
6. Everyday Italian
7. Arrested Development (off-air...I love the DVD's--I have all 3 seasons)
8. American Idol

8 Things that happened yesterday
1. Made French Toast
2. Got Clint off to school
3.Went for a walk with Derek and Rex
4. Played with Kooy and Derek and Rex in the leaves outside
5. Did the dishes
6. Watched Oprah while Derek played on the computer
7. Cooked a Frozen Pizza for Derek and Clint
8. Went to see 007 Quantum of Solace with Jeff

8 Favorite Places to Eat
1. Cafe Rio
2. Wingers
3. Quiznos
4. Olive Garden
5. Paradise Bakery
6. Leger's
7. The Bamboo Hut (Provo)
8. Barnes and Nobel for Hot Chocolate

8 Things I look forward to:
1. Thanksgiving
2. The PTA Fundraiser being over
3. Christmas Eve
4. Christmas
5. Movies--(Bedtime Stories, and Bolt)
6. Jeff's Day off
7. Spring
8. Vacation (Summer)

8 things on my wishlist:
1. New Camera (dig. SLR, 8 megapix.)
2. Pink Kitchen-Aide
3. House Finished
4. Lots of money
5. A house big enough for a tread mill
6. Pedicure
7. Tea pot
8. New Flat Iron

8 people I tag:
1. Amber
2. Andi
3. Michelle
4. Shelli
5. Chelsea
6. Wendy (yeah, right)
7. Janet
8. Anyone who wants to do it!!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

What goes "Ya ya ya ya ya ya ya" all the way home?


Answer: Derek and Kooyman at 11 PM after Disney on Ice and 2 Giant Snowcones!

Last Friday, I went with some BFF's and Clint and Derek to Disney on Ice. I am so happy to have friends who get Disney and all it means to me. Not everyone does.

Clint and Landen both really liked the Mulan part. The War was pretty cool, especially all of the pyrotechnics that were going off.

Derek loved The Incredibles, and Kooyman loved Mickey Mouse, but they both also really liked Stitch.

And I still am a sucker for the Princesses....

It means something to me...and even if I can't make it to Disneyland all the time, A movie, video, or Disney on Ice will help me get through it all. Hopes, Dreams, Faith, and everything that is good in the world is what Disney Represents. It helps me keep in touch with the person that I am always striving to be...even though I don't think I'll ever get there.

Click to play Miranda's Disney on Ice
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Friday, November 14, 2008

EEEWWWW!!!

It looks pretty gross when you mix it up. We made some Gak. It kind of looks like a brain. It was pretty nasty. But the end result is really cool.
It is kind of like Play Dough, but more slippery and stretchy, and it doesn't hold it's shape very well. The Chemical Process that happens when you mix it up is really cool.

And Derek loves to make it and play with the finished product. And for some reason, when you play with it, it gets your hands really clean.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Colored Pasta...

It looks pretty...
And it was fun to color it....
But we aren't quite sure what to do with it now. Collages? Maybe some kind of necklace? Derek likes to sort it, and maybe count it. Any Ideas? Maybe tomorrow we will try to stick some in Play dough.
INSTRUCTIONS

Monday, November 10, 2008

Physical Science Pre-101

Sink or Float experiments...Or, playing with water.
A little water goes a long way! An hour, at least!

We may not have discussed all of the principals of Buoyancy,
But Derek and his friends learned that some things sink, and some things float...and paper muffin cups make great little boats!
Make sure you put a towel down first. And put one on the floor too. And keep telling yourself..."it's just a little water..."

NO adult assembly required...

It's pretty amazing what kids can do on their own.


Michael, Clint, Janet and Marion spent their day off last Friday making an amazing snow fort...All by themselves!

Pretty amazing design and engineering...it even had windows.
I got pretty warm by the afternoon, and of course, it melted mostly that same day. Such is the weather in Utah.
Thanks, guys...for letting Derek and Clint in on the fun!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Good shots...Bad Camera

I need a new camera so badly. I have been taking all of my pictures for the last few years with my digital CamCorder. It is the only digital camera I have. The Delay is horrible. The settings are hard to manage in a hurry for full sun flashes, and it is only 3 megapixels. But it takes great videos, and I love the convience of having both in one. Occassionally I can still get some good shots with it. Not today. I should have regular film on hand for my old SLR that takes Amazing Pictures. But I hate hasseling with the film, and the processing...
Christmas is on its way...I am hoping the economy does not effect Jeff's Christmas bonus. I was sure I was going to get a camera this Christmas.
Now I'm not so sure. But at least I have a camera. And even if my pictures are not that great, the shots still remind me of what cute kids I have!


Friday, November 7, 2008

The rift is about to get bigger....

Read this. It's going to get rough. Pretty soon, no one is going to be able to sit on the fence about this.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Well...Oprah likes him

First of all, I am thrilled that both an African American and a Women were on the ticket. I am grateful to live in a nation that really is seeing people as people for who they are and what the represent

It is no secret that I am a Republican. We have a new President...and he is not a Republican. But as an American, I feel that the office of the President of the United States deserves respect. He is going to be our President. He represents who we are. I have spent the last few days since the election researching some things that I can support him on. It wasn't easy. Some of the issues that are the most important to me, he disagrees with. Some of these things, like Partial-Birth Abortion, which is one of the most horrific and evil practices ever known to man, is currently outlawed by the Supreme Court. So for now, it would be difficult for him to overturn it, regardless of his opinions on the matter.


That being said, these are a few of the things that I can support him on, and I am hopeful that maybe he is right.


I feel the War was necessary. I, however, also hate it. I hate families being torn apart, I hate the hardships that our soldiers have to endure, I hate the causalities of innocent civilians and especially children that have to experience horrible things. But I think horrible actions need to be taken at times. I think it was a difficult decision to make at a time when difficult decisions were needed. I think in the future, more Americans will realize that Bush was a good President.


I hope that maybe through diplomacy, many things can be resolved. I am willing to support Obama in his desire to try a new approach. And I hope and pray that he is successful. But if he is, that does not mean that what Bush did was wrong at the time.


Obama supports the death penalty for certain crimes. So do I.


He says he wants to maintain hunting traditions and would not take guns away. He is backed by both the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the American Hunters and Shooters Association.


He opposes gay marriage but also opposes a federal constitutional amendment to ban it, as well as a California effort to ban it; supports civil unions. I do support a constitutional amendment to ban it. I have thought about my feelings on this particular issue for a long time. It is not that I am not sympathetic to those who have that type of lifestyle. And I realize that the reasons for the lifestyles are complicated. I believe that it is not as simple as choosing to be gay. I know there are biological, as well as psychological reasons for this lifestyle. But that does not make it right. Even if you take God out of the equation, it is not the way Nature intended us to be. It is deviant from the way our bodies were created. So I do feel the practice is wrong. And should not be condoned. And marriage makes it all the more acceptable. It is not. It is something that should be kept private by the people who choose to live that way. And it violates MY freedom of speech to re-define marriage. But it seems more and more that you really only have Freedom of Speech if you are liberal. Conservatives are not allowed to express themselves. It is VERY unfair.


He Supports gay adoptions--I think older foster children may be able to benefit from this type of situation.


He supports in part President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act
He Believes this law is good in concept but poor in design, funding and implementation
Would rewrite the law, retaining its emphasis on high standards and accountability but offering more help to high-need schools, including training thousands of new teachers to serve in them. Believes the law is good in concept but needs funding and better measurement of student progress.
I think I agree with this.

Obama would strive for universal coverage by establishing a new federal health plan for the uninsured, providing benefits comparable to those offered to federal employees. Premiums would be subsidized for low earners. Eligibility for other public programs — Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan — would be expanded. Mr. Obama also would establish a government exchange that would allow individuals to shop for the new public plan and approved private plans. --I agree all children need to be covered--as well as Veterans, and Seniors. I am not sure how I feel about everything else. There are people who take advantage of Welfare programs.

Agree with Immigration laws--not perfect policy, but the best option that is out there. And something needs to be done.

Obama may be able to help the workers in the auto industry. I hope he can. Being from Detroit, I have witnessed some of mistakes that greedy, selfish and unethical corporations have made that have affected the opportunities of the working Americans. Americans who want to work, who have had jobs ripped away from them so corporations can exploit workers in other countries to make big bucks. I may even have a liberal view on this. We need to help each other in this country by keeping jobs for our workers here. It would benefit us all.

Iran,Iraq, and Afghanistan--I hope he knows what he is doing.

Russia--I have been following the Russian/Georgia conflict, ever since the Olympics. I think America, as the most powerful country in the world, needs to help fledgling democracies. I know America helps. I also know that we are criticised whether we help, or not. Usually help means some kind of military action. The same people complain if we do, and if we don't. I agree in part with Obama that we need our allies to stand up to Russia. If they take Georgia, what will they try to take next? Also, Georgia really stands for something in a part of the world where hope, Democracy, and Freedom don't exist. The leader Mikheil Saakashvili reminds me of an American Founding Father. I have just been so impressed with him and his political philosophy on Democracy. We have to help people and countries like that. I hope and pray we do.

My mind is still just racing. There is so much more I want to say and learn about. The Internet makes knowledge so easy. It is a real goal of mine to become more locally knowledgeable about the politics in my community. When I went to vote, I was a little overwhelmed about all of the state issues that needed to be voted on, and I knew about so few. I skipped the ones I hadn't heard about. But I need to be more knowledgeable about local things.

Is anyone still reading?

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Politica

I just want to remind everyone that this is America, and we all have our own opinions. I respect those who have opinions that are diffrent than mine. We all have issues that are important to us as individuals. That is what makes America great. It is too late at night for me to even start with how I feel. I would have to write a book to express everything I am feeling right now. I am not at all surprised, but still a little disappointed. I think for now I will keep all of my political views to myself....But I will leave you with this...

Sunday, November 2, 2008

A few Fall Activities

Raking leaves...we will still have some time for more of this.

Clint and Derek at the Pumpkin Patch.

Pickin Pumpkins from Carol Day's little pumpkin patch with Megan

Our pumpkins that didn't get carved this year...

Goodbye, Halloween


I feel like this month has been so busy for me that I really haven't taken the time to enjoy this holiday. Halloween just kind of came and went while I was too busy with the school fundraiser, Red Ribbon Week, the Reflections contest, The Book Fair, and Cub Scouts. I feel like it just slipped away, with hardly any anticipation, and a lot of the fun things I like to do every October, like getting pumpkin shakes, and going to Frightmares, I didn't get the chance to do. I know PTA is a one time job, but so is Derek's 3rd Halloween, and Clint's last one before jr. high.
I am really going to make it a point to slow down a lot over this Christmas Holiday Season, and take time to enjoy it. I love Christmas. And I am excited for the season to start. And things at the school that don't get done before Thanksgiving are just going to have to wait until January.

(In the picture is Matthew, (football player), Clint (Indiana Jones), Derek, would not wear his batman costume, so he is wearing Clint's old skeleton costume, Kooyman, (Skeleton), Jeff (Homer), Matt (Chicken), Richard (Scary skeleton).

Thanks Chelsea!

Chelsea, in the BYU animation program, got us in to a sneak peak of Madagascar 2. We were excited to go, but I didn't have really high expectations, because I didn't love the first Madagascar. But this one was Great! I really loved it. 10 times better than the original. Thanks Chelsea! 2 Movies in one day! Life can't get much better than that. Did I mention I love movies at Jordan Commons? My little mini vacation!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Batman, Batman

(Derek's Batman...) I went to see Batman again tonight. Everyone said I would like it better the second time. It was Clint's first time seeing it. I did like it better this time. Maybe it's due to the dual nature of the entire movie that makes it better the second time, or maybe it's because I missed so much the first time around because so much is going on. After the first time, I felt a little depressed. This time, I liked it much more. I know there are those of you who have mentioned how you hate when people who really don't know anything review movies, (Lisa), so you can stop reading now. For anyone else who cares, this is what I think...

I thought it was interesting how everything in the movie is about the dual nature of things. My sister Wendy, and Chelsea, pointed some of these things out.
  • There are 2 superpowers: 1, an agent of Chaos, the Joker, and the other, still Chaotic, but good, Batman

  • Rachel has to choose between 2 men

  • There are 2 boats

  • There is 2 face

  • 2 sides of the coin

  • Batman has 2 identities

  • This is even the 2nd of the 2 Batman Movies

There will always be good and evil, black and white, right and wrong. We all need to decide what side we are on. So here are 10 things that I love/hate about the Batman movie. (Spoiler Alert)


  • Love: Heath Ledger as the Joker. Thought he was brilliant and a lot more enjoyable the second time. Hate: That he was not in the movie more. Not enough Joker

  • Love: The Bat mobile and the Bat Cycle. Hate: When I thought the commissioner was really dead for 15 min. the first time I saw it.

  • Love: The few good guys; Alfred, The Commissioner, and Lucius Hate: So many corrupt police officers, and how Harvey Dent succumbed so quickly and easily to evil. I didn't believe it for a second. Although, the joker said that your true nature is revealed when you are close to death...maybe Harvey Dent just alwasy had everybody fooled...maybe he never really was all that we thought and hoped he was, and it took his accident to reveal it. RAchel was still good and strong when she realized that she was going to die. Batman had the same tragedy that he had to deal with, but it made him better....so much to think about.

  • Love: That Christian Bale makes a great Batman Hate: Maggie G. as Rachel

  • Love: That Batman is also Chaotic and unpredictable, just like the Joker. Hate: That Heath Ledger is dead.

  • Love: That Alfred is so loyal, and he told Batman that to catch the bad guys, he had to burn the jungle down. Made sense that Batman had to do whatever was necessary to stop the Joker. Tap all of the phones in Gotham to stop him. Very conservative move. Sometimes it's necessary. Hate: That Rachel dies, and whenever kids were involved, I don't like that
  • Love: That Batman had to break laws to catch the Joker and realizes that taping phones was the only way, and he did it. Hate: He took the fall for Harvey Dent at the end. Although, that is probably the most heroic thing he could do, but to give Gotham Harvey Dent's reputation is a lie. He is the real Hero and what Gotham really needs.

  • Love: The boat stand off, and how the criminals did the right thing, and Batman had faith that they would, which is why he does what he does for the people of Gotham. Hate: That the boat scene, which could have been a real turning point for the movie, was not accentuated enough, and was just kind of swept under the rug.

  • Love: That Batman and the Joker do what they do for deep and meaningful motives. Not for money, but because of what they represent. Hate: That Gotham looks like Chicago or New York, and not like Gotham.

  • Love: Batman Hate: Having to wait a long time for the next Batman movie

So, now that you know how I feel, Check out Chlesea's latest drawing of the Dark Knight, with the greatest line of the movie: Batman "A silent Gardian, A watchful protector". I love a good superhero. I love things that represent what is possible, if we believe, and hope for a better world.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Saturday, October 25, 2008

So so funny!

Watch this !

Halloween Art Projects

Ghosts in the Graveyard

Derek made sure there was a Dad, a Mom, and a baby ghost.

Graveyard Instructions

Haunted House Instructions Ghost Painting
Derek and Allison had fun with this.

Ghost Painting Instructions

And my friend Laura told me about these...She gets all of the credit. Recycled crayon cookies. We made hearts.

Color with swirls of color!

Recycled Crayon Cookies Instructions

Thanks Laura!