Once

Alec and I are pretty regular watchers of the film critics, Ebert and Roeper. When they first reviewed the movie Once Alec was intrigued. Then at the end of 2007, both Ebert and Roeper listed Once as one of their top 10 movies of the year. So we watched it and L O V E D it!

{Disclaimer: We honestly didn't know it was rated R when we watched it, and found out just tonight that it was. So if you're opposed, now you know. And not to justify it or anything, but it is rated R for some F-bombs and that is it.}

Anyway, I don't want to ruin anything for anyone who may be interested in seeing this film, so I won't say too much about it, other than I really, really liked it and so did Alec. It is only about an hour and half long, and if you can't understand what they are saying with the thick Irish accents at the beginning, don't give up, it gets better. If for nothing else, you should see it for the music. And also so you can discuss the story with me.

Tissue Bandit

These photos are probably most meaningful to my mother-in-law, who has a couple of very similar shots of Alec when he was little.

Owen took the Kleenex box to bed with him, and then had a little fun pulling every last one out and making a big fluffy pile.

He was not too happy about having to clean them up.

Easter

{photo taken prior to the tooth incident}

Dyeing Easter Eggs

Mouths of Babes

When I started the whole "Mouths of Babes" aspect of my blog, I thought it might be a great way to record and share some of the funny things that my kids say on a frequent basis. I did not, however, anticipate needing to record such a literal translation of "From the Mouths of Babes."This was knocked out of my barely three-year-old's mouth on Monday.

It all started when I decided to take a quick shower after breakfast, before getting everyone else ready for the day. In doing so, I told Abigail to go downstairs and watch the baby to make sure he didn't eat anything dangerous or climb up the stairs. I guess she took this responsibility to include watching over the three-year-old Owen as well. In her efforts to corral Owen and bring him downstairs with her, a game of chase ensued.

After a couple of gleeful laps in and out of my bathroom, the third lap ended with Owen colliding into the bathroom counter and screams of pain. I hopped out of the shower with my soapy hair after Abigail proclaimed that Owen was bleeding. Expecting to find a cut lip I started to wipe him up with a tissue. But when I couldn't quite figure out where all the blood was coming from, I looked a little more closely and saw that he was missing a tooth! Sure enough, there it lay on the floor.

I panicked (immediately imagining a future where all children run away scared of my sweet toothless freak, scaring him for life), called Alec at work, and put the tooth in milk (I thought I had remembered reading that somewhere). Alec was kind enough to race to my rescue, since it would have taken equal amounts of time for him to come home, as it would be for me to finish my shower and get everyone dressed and to the dentist's office.

Long story short, he has no front tooth, could be losing the one next to it, and now has a slightly odd vagrant look about him. (But, perhaps the look will give him some street cred in Nursery or something.) Anyway, I'm grateful he was not injured more seriously. We are now looking into cosmetic dentistry options and learning to love this smile--that perhaps only a mother can love!

As a post script, Owen keeps asking if he can put his tooth back in now.

And I suppose I need to find out what the going rate is for the Tooth Fairy.

Mouths of Babes

Me: "Owen, did you just hit your brother?"

Owen: "No! I was just feeling him really fast."

Happy Birthday, Alec!

Alec is 31 years of age today. Although I have only known him for 12 of those 31 years, I would like to share 31 things I like, love, adore about my hubby.


1. He is calm and rational.

2. He knows a lot of "true facts and information" (that's what Abigail likes to say).

3. He is passionate about the Spurs.

4. His enthusiasm about life is contagious.

5. He bought a head lamp to read with, so he wouldn't bother me with his late night reading in bed.

6. He can read a book in like a day. (I can never keep up with updating his current read on the blog.)

7. He likes to cook and is good at it, too.

8. He does the dishes after I make dinner.

9. He loves to listen to music and make special CD mixes.

10. He is friendly and outgoing.

11. He has surprised me so many times with gifts and special outings, that I have completely lost track.

12. He enjoys shopping for clothes for the kids.

13. He is silly with the kids.

14. He's not afraid to take care of a newborn baby.

15. He lets me beat him at Scrabble.

16. He gets the kids ready for Church on Sunday mornings so I can actually do my hair (sometimes) and makeup, and still be early for Primary.

17. He cleans up barf in the middle of the night (with his handy, dandy head lamp).

18. He's always willing to pick up McDonald's on the way home from work if I'm not able to get to the grocery store.

19. He never gives me a guilt trip.

20. He likes watching American Idol and Extreme Home Makeover with me.

21. If I give him a honey-do list, he always accomplishes it (and without much grumbling!).

22. He arranges for a babysitter so that he can take me on dates.

23. He's my sounding board.

24. He always writes a thoughtful card or note on special days (i.e., birthdays, Valentine's, Mother's Day, anniversaries).

25. He is the packing master--he has expert skills at finding just the right configuration for things to fit in a trunk, a closet, or a suitcase.

26. He loved my mom and misses her with me.

27. He makes me laugh every single day.

28. He has fun teasing people, but knows when to stop.

29. He's confident.

30. He is tall, dark, and handsome.

31. He loves me unconditionally, is a wonderful father, and is my best friend. Happy 31st, Alec!