All about US: Day 5

FAVORITE QUOTE

Lila: "You think you're smarter than me. But can you do this?" -Val Kilmer in Real Genius ( i can't think of anything else but will add later if i find one that inspires me. :)

Mike: All the times Rob Lowe says "litrally" (that's how he pronounces it) on Parks and Recreation. Whenever Dave Hester of Storage Wars says "Yeeeeeep".

"Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words." St Francis of Assisi

All about US: Day 4

OUR FAVORITE BOOKS

Lila: I was told at a young age that I had reading comprehension challenges. I took this to mean I was dumb and couldn't read well so I never 'wasted' my time reading. BOY AM I SO SAD I DIDN'T READ MORE!! Anyway, I love to read a good book now and if I had more time, I'd be reading a novel right now. The first book I choose to read is actually required reading but I wanted to read it cause my sister read it and I wanted to be a lot like her. To Kill a Mockingbird. I love the story. I've read it again last year and got more out of it. Growing up I had a wonderfully naive life and never imagined such a story of strife and prejudice so my eyes were really opened. Since that time, the next  book/series I felt intrigued by was Harry Potter. Now if you can imagine, I knew it was popular mind you but it's not why I wanted to read it. Before it hit shelves I happened to catch an early talk show interview with J.K. Rowling, talking about "her new series Harry Potter" that was already generating a lot of buzz despite not being released yet. As a child I was allowed the freedom to day dream (Thank you mom and dad) and have an imagination. I loved the sound of her book and couldn't wait to read it. When it came out, it exploded. People waiting in line all night for an unknown author with an unknown book. I decided to wait for the craziness to end before reading the book and later book"s". It never ended! lol. Everyone I knew and was related to read it already and I couldn't wait but didn't get started till the 1st Movie was about to come out. I read all 4 available books in like a month?! It was BEYOND my expectations, I loved it and now know what people mean when they say 'the movie didn't do the book justice'. The movies have been good but it can't possibly capture all the details I was excited by. Anyway, I've also read the " Fablehaven " series which I LOVE LOVE LOVE but still haven't read the final book! yikes. There is a movie in Post Production allegedly so I am pumped to see that! I hope you will check out the link to it and read it yourself. I actually 'know' the author Brandon Mull from church in California but didn't know he wrote it till I was already interested in the book. My next read... when I have time... is the Jane Austen series of stories. I have watched the movie adaptations for the first time in the last 2 years so I'm excited to join the club, albeit later than most, of book fans.

Mike: Anything Michael Crichton or Dan Brown (let me say Michael reads all the time and really loves reading. I want my children to know how much their dad is interested in learning about new things as well as enjoys reading for fun. These authors are just his favorites but he reads all kinds of books. I like that about him xo.) 

I peeked in at you tonight...

(taken during an afternoon nap earlier this week)

(as I/we always do) and can't help myself lately to just come hug you even though you are asleep. Daddy doesn't like me to fool with you, understandably, but I just love you so much and when you sleep you are just so peaceful and beautiful, how can I resist!? I want you to know how special you are to me and that sometimes I think my heart could burst for the thankful feelings of getting to be your mom. It makes me so happy that you are smart and inquisitive. Cora Grace is very lucky to have you as her big brother and boy does she look up to you. You are always such a big help (and 'occasional' hindrance. lol) to me and to Cora. I'm not the first parent to say that I can't believe 3 years have (almost) past with you in our lives. I am still impressed with Courtney who on the day and moment she had you, exclaimed "your son, your son is here" then later said "I created a miracle, he's a miracle". You are and every day we see new gifts you have to share. Courtney couldn't wait to help us start a family when she learned everything we had been through. She has a beautiful heart of compassion, something you share with her and I hope you will never grow out of. I'd like to think you chose to come to earth this way, through Adoption so we could have a family of our own to love and boss around :), thank you for choosing us and being the sweet boy we dreamed of for so long.

I love you babe. xo

Revision: Side note on this picture: I forgot what picture this was. Recently, Evan has shown success with going to sleep quicker when 'bribed'. I think I mentioned it recently. In the case of this picture, a couple weeks ago, he insisted on sleeping with a flashlight he found and we used to read his bedtime stories with that night. Normally I would say no cause he'll just play with it and stay up later but that night, I said to myself, what the heck, he'll be up later either way, so I let him have it. HE DIDN'T MAKE A PEEP! For the first time in like... ever! :) He was silent within 10 minutes of leaving his room with him pointing the flashlight to the ceiling. After 20min, I couldn't believe it so I went in to check on him, halfway expecting to see him silently fascinated with his flashlight still but he was sound asleep! Better yet, he was asleep with flashlight ON and pointing at his face & wall. It was just too adorable. I took a risk of taking his picture, trying desperately not to wake him up and.. success! Just adorable. Love this guy.

All about US: Day 3

FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOW

 

Lila: I love TV!!! I also hate that I like TV so there you go. Some of my all time favorite T.V. shows are: Diff'rent Strokes, Facts of Life, The Jetsons, Little House on the Prairie. My current shows aren't profound but they are entertaining. They are mostly 'reality' shows but not the kind with counties and wives in the name. :) I love Big Brother, Project Runway, Hell's Kitchen, American Idol, X Factor, America's Next Top Model, I Survived shows, Nightmare Next Door etc on I.D. channel. The Office, Community, Parks and Recreation and more.

Mike: ANY Law and Order, The Walking Dead, Diners Drive-In's and Dives, Fringe and his favorite sitcom is "literally" Parks and Recreation. :)

All about US: Day 2

 My favorite movie

Lila: I am currently not the movie lover, though when I was younger I loved movies! Our family would rent movies every weekend (at least) and a fond memory of my parents is for awhile on Saturday nights, they would go to (I think dinner), a movie and the grocery store. :). So, growing up, these were some staples in my life: Strange Brew, Monte Python movies, Real Genius and maybe Disney movies? As for now in my life, sadly my memory only allows for someone else to say a movie they love and I agree or disagree! (oh how I do wish for a better recall memory). I like romantic comedy's the best or even dramas. I can definitely tell you I do not like any rated R movies. I feel very uncomfortable with cursing, sex or violence in movies. I know that sounds possibly boring or extreme but I do like adventure, romance and action... just not to the extreme. Recently I really loved all the Jane Austen inspired movies that people have talked about for years. The only movies I've seen in the theater lately are Harry Potter Movies and Twilight movies. Sad cause those were like a year ago and before that, it was years. I will admit, I don't pay attention since Evan was born so that could be a reason. I will publicly apologize to Mike cause he has always loved the movies (I really do think he should be a critic for all the movies he watches. he is not picky either). Thank goodness for Netflix! :)

Mike: Last of the Mohicans, Goodfellas, Aliens, Raising Arizona.

(so he'll be a man of little words, but at least we document his movies right? he he he. Let me add that he has made the statement many times... that any time the movie PREDATOR is on, he has to stop and watch. So please let me add it honorarily to his list. ha ha ha)

Sister sister

If I haven't mentioned before, I love the family I was brought up in. 11 kids and two crazy parents (or is it "insane"... either way, they had 11 kids for goodness sakes. They can't be right... right? he he he). One of my sisters, Ashley just turned 27 and is single. She really won't mind me talking about her or linking to her blog to read her post cause, she's the 10th of 11 and that means, she welcomes attention. :) Being LDS where everyone seems to marry before they finish puberty, I think it's a lot of pressure on my sister to find her husband and eventually have babies. I have watched her evolve into the person she is today through her struggles to understand herself and path in life. I am so proud of her for always seeking after good things and for how much she's learned about herself and life in general. If you click on her name towards the top, you will read one of her latest epiphany's. I think she is wonderful, beautiful, talented and smart. Well on her way to greater greatness. I hope all her dreams come true. I hope her post is inspiring to someone else that reads this. :)

All About US: Day 1

My friend Chesney has done this on her blog and it is nice to not only hear how she is doing and what she is up to but it's a nice memory for her family to read and know what she was thinking about her life at this age. I decided to do it on my own as well. The difference in mine is I've decided to drag Mike into it so our kids can read this one day and know how he felt and what his likes are. Let's see how successful I am with getting his opinion every time. :) With no further adieu:

MY FAVORITE SONG

 Lila: I don't really have one but I will say, I love all types of music. Growing up I listened to my mom's car radio and albums from the Carpenters, Simon and Garfunkle and Dad's 8 track Kenny Rogers. Next was a stint with Mod and Punk music of my brothers that carried on from elementary school to high school. This transitioned to "Alternative" music in the early 90's and later 90's Dance and House music!!! OH how I loved to go dancing a few times a week while I lived in Provo. I was single and carefree, only having to worry about how to pay for rent and when is ladies night. :) lol. Since I have been married I have almost exclusively been attracted to female artists but also decided I'm in love with Folk Rock cause it's not too 'loud' and I really appreciate singer song writers. :) So there you go. As for today, my favorite song at this exact moment: Foster the People- "Pumped up Kicks". < you can check the video. It just makes me happy and I cannot get it out of my head! :).

Mike: All time favorite song is:   maybe, With or Without You by U2 (and almost anything U2). Favorite today, the one stuck in my head right now:  Moment of Surrender by U2. But some top bands he loves right now is U2, Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, they are all on constant rotation.