The new BANNED MOVIE list

Ryan has never been a full-length movie fan. And then, he discovered Monsters Inc. Just about a week and a half ago he actually sat through it, and now he asks to watch it all of the time. The first week was no problem as he found it quite hilarious. Unfortunately, after Thanksgiving weekend when cousin Matt told Ryan there was a monster outside, Monsters Inc. is the first of our movies on the "banned movie" list.

Not sure exactly what got into this kids mind, but now he's scared to death of monsters. He always thinks there is a monster in his room. Multiple times each day I tell him that monsters are not real, he'll never ever see one because they are just pretend and in the movie. He will say, "they scare the boy in the movie" and then I explain that it was just pretend. "Even in the movie Sulley protects Boo and keeps her safe. They are so nice and funny monsters." Then I try a new one, "Monsters don't like music. You can turn on your music or sing if you get nervous." Hmm.. I've got to be sending mixed signals here, "Monsters don't exist, but this is how you get rid of them." sheesh! I think of Jana giving Matt a flashlight to scare away monsters or other moms giving "monster spray."

Yesterday when he asked to watch it, I put on Toy Story instead. In Toy Story I can't think of any scary parts. After about 2 minutes Ryan says, "I don't like this movie." Darn!

Right before the monster thing he would tell me that he was scared of his room because he "didn't want a guy to come in his room." Now, I have NO idea where he got this idea. We do NOT watch television so he couldn't have picked that up from anything on TV and he has only ever watched 4 movies in his life. 2 Baby Songs, one of the Baby Einstein videos, and Monsters Inc., but Monsters Inc was AFTER he was talking about a guy coming in his room. I must say, I'd rather he be scared of monsters than some "bad guy" getting him. I really don't like this part of parenting. I hate the idea of him being scared.

Each time he says he's scared I tell him we can say a prayer and Jesus and angels will keep him safe and protect him. So, last night Derek prayed for him to be safe, and then Ryan asked me to say a prayer too. I prayed that angels would protect him and then he interrupted me and said, "and Sulley." Darn it if I didn't pray that Sulley would keep him safe too. Anything to get his mind off of the scary things and focus on good things. *sigh*

This too shall pass...

Katie's "well" check-up

Katie had her 9 month well-baby check up today. She weighed in at 15 lbs 13 oz (8%) and was 27.5 inches long (50%). Head circumference was 17.5 inches (also 50%). She has officially outgrown her infant carseat, but it doesn't really matter since we've had her in a convertible one for about 2 months now.

She has a double ear infection (not surprised) and we're being referred to a pediatric orthopedic doctor since her feet turn in a little more than usual. I guess I did notice that one, but figured it would correct when she started walking. The doctor said she was at an age where stranger anxiety might crop up. I'll start keeping my eye out for that one. (*heavy sarcasm*)

Four years down, an eternity to go...

Heck, if you put it that way, we'll always be newlyweds.

Happy Anniversary Derek.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A darn good day

First off, it's Jimmy's 19th birthday. Happy Birthday James.

Second, Derek and I finally got to do a session at the Newport Beach Temple. It's one of the small temples and it was our first time there. It was VERY beautiful (as could be expected) and it was a long overdue excursion for us. Our kids didn't even terrorize the sitters! It was pretty funny when we got home because Katie was so giddy to see us. I've never seen her grin from ear to ear like that. It was nice to leave and have her so happy for us to be home.

Lastly, and most importantly, we found out that Derek R. Bayles, Esq. has officially passed the California BAR exam! He deserves to be congratulated because that was one horrific test folks! Glad to have it behind us, and I'm really proud of him. We dragged the kids out for ice cream to celebrate even though it was 9:30 and Ryan was telling me that he was really tired. Oh well, sleep can wait while we celebrate!

Final House Tour

Gina made a request for more house pictures so here is pretty much the rest of it. I'm not posting pictures of my bedroom because it seems to always be too messy to photograph. Go figure. Anyway, we haven't decorated any walls yet, but I have a pile of pictures that are "to be hung" when I can finally decide where I want them. Oh well, I can't wait forever to blog this so I figured I'd just get it over with. Descriptions precede the pictures.

This is a shot from my living room toward the dining room and kitchen. The door on the left is the front door, door on the right is the garage entrance. (That reminds me, I never took a picture of the garage. Well, if you're interested I might do that later.) In between the doors is the step where Ryan bashed his head open.

This shot is standing on the step looking left at the bookcase. We bought this thing from Sams Club and brought it home. After Derek assembled it I noticed that it had like 38 puncture holes in it all over the place and quite a few scratches. It looked like someone took a nail and just hammered in a cluster on 3 or 4 sides of the thing. SO, I called the customer service to complain and she told me that it was "a distressed finish they gave to it." You mean, they did this on purpose?? Whatever. Instead of saying that it had a distressed finish, the box should've said, "We beat the crap out of this bookshelf for you." Heck, if I wanted it to look trashed I could've let Ryan loose on the thing. Oh well, we cut our losses since it was a relatively inexpensive bookshelf to begin with. I should hang a picture or two - this looks so boring!


Here is the dining room table and roll top desk. We do not eat here (do you notice the carpet?) but Ryan and I will color and sew and that sort of thing. I just attempt to keep it somewhat uncluttered.

This is standing in the doorway to the kitchen. I don't have many complaints about this place, but the kitchen floor has GOT to go. Ryan spilled flour all over it Sunday and it got in all the cracks between the wood slats. *sigh* It really is nightmarish to clean. That hanging lamp is pretty ugly too.

Standing in the porch doorway you get this view to the left.

And to the right. (New dishwasher, old fridge)

Out toward the dining room again.

Sink and oven and such. Please don't say anything about my window box set up. I DID take out the divider and got another little Amarylis plant. I have all of these bananas and pears that need to ripen so I have them in my window to keep Ryan away from them (my sisters understand). It doesn't look great - really cluttered and not even semi-symetrical, but your suggestions didn't fall on deaf ears.


I guess all that's left is my bedroom, garage, and the porch.

Blender Recommendations

Okay folks, my Bosch blender has officially gone kaput - there's no fixing this one, and I'm not up to spending $300 to replace it. So... I'm looking for some good blender recommendations. I got a suggestion from Gina already but I just want to check out my options before running out to get a brand new one. I want something that ACTUALLY blends things into liquids, is sturdy and long lasting, and is under $100. If you own something that qualifies, let me know asap! I can't live long without one.

oh, and I DO have a new post coming soon. You don't all have to stop checking my blog.

Ryan and the Tractor

I don't have a story to tell, but he LOVES tractors and tells me how much he wants to drive one. We saw some tractors on the side of the road walking home from the creek one day, and I just couldn't resist taking his picture by one. It seemed harmless for him to sit on it and I knew it would make his day, so I helped him up and he was thrilled.

I told him not to touch anything and I think I made him a little nervous. He was really good though and sat there nice and still for the picture.

Happy Halloween

My kids wore the same costumes trick or treating so I didn't take any more pictures of them dressed up. This is when we got home and Ryan started checking out his candy situation. I told him to eat whatever he wanted because in the morning I was going to throw it all away. He picked a Scooby Doo sucker first. Here is how he started out. Notice the Halloween shirt (from Jana's boys) and that he has 3 open suckers that he is working on at the same time.

Now he has 5 that he's eating all at the same time.

By the end of the night, he had 11 suckers all opened and licked, but none even close to finished. Actually, I think he finished one of them. I think the only other candy he ate was a small box of nerds and m&m's. I may be wrong.

Katie tried to get in on the action, but to no avail. Her efforts were thwarted by myself.

Trunk or Treat

There isn't much to say except that Ryan's costume got many comments and Katie fell asleep pretty soon after we got there. I put her down for 12 seconds to take her picture and she got instantly filthy as you can see. Oh well. And she's supposed to be Pegasus (thank you freecycle). It's the frilliest, foo foo costume, but it fit.