Justin's Birthday

We started the day with Biscuits and Gravy. Justin's request was "Paula Deen Style" so that is exactly what he got. This Biscuit recipe. This Gravy recipe.

Then it was off for a long day out, which is the way we do things now that we have to climb 6 flights of stairs to get home.

Music Class, Where the Wild Things are at the Empire (right smack in the middle of Times Square), Wendy's on 34th st, H&M suit search, Inflation Celebration. We got home at 9:30 had Justin's birthday treat and went to sleep.

You aren't too late if you want to leave a comment on the fishing-for-complements-for-my-husband post.

Happy Birthday Dear! It was lovely to spend the whole day with you.

Glad he was born

I love him.
"Which him?" you ask.
Well all the hims in that photo, but today I'm talking about Justin.
I love him.
He makes the world a better place. He works so hard, and is good at so much. He has great faith, and that faith carries our family. My favorite thing is to listen to him read, he does voices for each character, and his voice is peaceful and kind--as is he himself. He is dependable, which is good because I am dependent. He is good, and kind, and understanding. Etc. I've got to go make birthday breakfast, I'll shower him with praise in person.

So, if you know him, wish him a happy birthday, and maybe include a memory or reason why you are glad he was born. He loves getting comments it would make his day.

happy birthday courtlin

Happy Birthday Jordan!

Jordan just entered the life of an adult. Full-time job, moving away from Provo, responsibility to children, and bills. Seems like just yesterday we were going begging her to invite all her little freshmen friends over to our apartment so we could spend some time with her.

Happy Birthday Talyn

I hope your party was wonderful, and that you didn't miss the square dancing at all.

Happy Birthday Alena

This is my niece. She was born right before we moved to New York.

Is your mom planning as big of a party for you as she is for herself?

Happy Birthday Reuben!

Reuben is three now. Its hard to believe that my angelic beatiful dark-haired baby is three. He is better than I ever could have imagined. He's smart, funny, kind, quick, articulate, aware, etc.

His favorite thing to say lately is, "I'm (or He's) turning into a human." He got this from Beauty and the Beast, but it perfectly describes what is happening to my baby, he's turning into a human. I'm glad he is turning into a human that I really really like.

He wanted a dog party, like "Go! Dog, Go!" Hence, the dog cake. Christmas was a good warm up for him, he undstood the concept of presents by the time it was his birthday, and was full of wonder with every rip of the paper.

Pie Party

Last night we had a pie party, my first foray into digital scrapbooking produced the invite. I think I might like it for this kind of thing, but probably will never do actual scapbooking digitally. (And I most definitely will not invest any money in it.) But, I once said that about paper scrapbooking, and I had to eat crow.

I spent the day making pie and doing dishes. Pecan, pumpkin, lemon meringue, German chocolate, and the hit: apple with Gruyere baked into the crust a la Pushing Daisies.

Justin spent the day unpacking and cleaning. He made a huge dent, and we are closer to being completely moved in. I have had a hard time unpacking because I envision a shelving/cabinet system to have a place for everything, but we don't have that so I'd rather just leave everything in the boxes. Justin, however found places to put things.

Reuben spent the day bouncing back and forth between us, and watching "Frosty the Christmas Story" which could mean any of those "classic" Chirstmas movies. He was bathed and clean 15 minutes before we were expecting people, but we let him wander for a minute and he drew a cat face. He was waiting for the party, because all he wanted was pie, and as soon as I grabbed the camera to take a picture of him waiting patiently he pretended to be asleep.

We had a nice to talking and sharing pie. There was something weird with the Xbox (we haven't tried to play it) so we couldn't play Karaoke Revolution (which was the wish of Justin's heart.) But he did get to play Scene It, so I consider the night a success.

I am thankful for a space that we can do this more often. We used to have "parties" all the time, and I look forward to making them more regular.

"My best friend {fill in name here}"

Reuben's friend J. had a birthday party on Saturday. Reuben was very excited about the "princess cake" and kept trying to start "Happy Birthday," because I told him we had to sing "Happy Birthday" to J, before we could have the cake.

Reuben is pretty intrigued with this birthday thing. He told me exactly what to get for the present (stickers and paper). He talks about the party leading up to the event and then after it. "my best friend {so and so} was at the birthday party." "We danced at the birthday party." "Lets go to the party again!" "My birthday is J___ 13!"

I did not pose these kids, its just the way 3 to 5 year olds sit.

Happy Birthday Courtlin!

My fellow blond and September sister told me once that I missed her whole life, but I remember the most of her life out of any of my sisters. Granted, she was only 12 when I left for college.

She used to wake me up and crawl into bed with me when mom and dad's room seemed too far away when she was scared.

While all of my sisters are nice, wonderful people--Courtlin is the one with the hyper sensitivity to others needs and feelings. She is so effected by others feelings that I often wish sad people would just stay away from her, but then they would miss out on her loving concern.

She and Tammy are to blame for Reuben's Friday the 13th birthday.

The best knock-knock joke I ever made up was with Courtlin.

"Knock, Knock"
"Whose there?"
"Sham"
"Sham who?"
"The big fat whale!"

She can't resist Reuben's requests. She's admitted to putting blush and mascara on him.

Happy Birthday Courtlin! We love you!

Surprise!

I had a lovely birthday. We started at 9 with German chocolate pie, and presents. Justin SURPRISED me! If you have ever driven with me you know I love Eva Cassidy, I have all of her CDs, even the one that isn't the best. She died 10 years ago, and all of the albums were released after her death, and I thought I had them all because would Eva's friends really have been smart enough to know to record more than 5 albums worth of music... so imagine my surprise when I opened a present and found a brand new Eva album! Justin reminded me that he got me American Tune 5 years ago... I had mentioned to him that I would love it (which I do). He was really excited that I was surprised, and I was really excited to have a great new CD to add to my collection. (Music is to Me as Movies are to Justin.) I had no idea that they had released another one, and it is good.

Justin also got me a membership to the Columbia gym. It has been a year since my going to the gym and losing weight days, and the thing I found out is I do not lose weight if I am not going to a gym. I can't make myself walk fast enough, and for some reason I can when I am hooked to a machine. So I went yesterday and did a half hour on the elliptical. I'll work my way up to weight training.

Justin also got me some lovely lace weight yarn so I can try my hand at that. I've been knitting for a year, and after hats and scarves and baby sweaters and vests and a huge blanket, I am ready for a new challenge. (I haven't shown you the blanket yet because I have to weave in ends, and I want to add a row to make it wider.)

Thank you to all the other gifts, I'd name them but I'd leave someone out, but I loved them and can't wait to use them. :)

We had our friends meet us at the lookout in Riverside Park. It was such a lovely evening! the weather was perfect, and it was so nice to sit and talk and see that we aren't alone here! As Justin was inviting people he kept saying, this is a lot of people. I don't know if you know, but I have a horrible history with parties... like my 18th birthday when I invited 20 people and 2 people came. (My sister says it's because I have a confident façade so people don't realize that I actually really would like them to be my friend.) Well, New York must have made my façade crumble, because we had a great turn out. And it was perfect, just a relaxing evening in the trees and loving over the Hudson. Thank you for coming those of you who check this and came! It really was a lovely gift for me to have a pleasant evening and be reminded that I do have "family" around (even though we aren't technically related).

The only sad thing is the battery in my Rebel (fancy camera) died and we couldn't find the charger ANYWHERE. Not in the desk, or on the desk, or near the table, or in any of the outlets, or in or around Reuben's crib, and not in any of his toy boxes, and not on any of the shelves, and not on top of the fridge, and not on our bedside or my craft table or under the bed or in the medicine cabinet. I am very very sad about this development, Justin has hope that we will find it, but I'm price checking to order a new one...because we looked everywhere! That is the nice thing about only having 560 square feet, you can look everywhere in a couple hours.

Today I get a hair cut, and I am preparing sharing time, and I have to play the piano at a baptism which I am scared to death to play the piano because the secret is I am not very good at playing the piano, and I have been practicing all week and I still make mistakes and my fingers aren't even shaking at home. And then Justin and I are going on a date. :)

Happy Belated Birthday Talyn

Dear Talyn,

I am not late, I am just respecting your privacy and making it so people don't know your birthday.

Love, your sister.

Talyn is credited with convincing me to go down my first slide. I think I must be a better person because I'm not afraid of slides.

She didn't like my affections very much. She will tell you its because I show affection by licking or sitting on her... but I only did that cause she wouldn't accept hugs and kisses. She didn't want to be my roommate in college. But, now she calls me once a week, and talks about how fun it would be to live by each other.

She is the reason I never failed a Spanish class. She has different talents than I do, and she is way good at the things that I can't seem to do. She is a great sister, a great wife, and a wonderful mother. The world is lucky she was born.

Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoy this time of only being two years younger than me.

Happy Birthday Andrew!

Reuben has been singing happy birthday to his cousin all month. As you can tell from the hair in the video this was from a couple weeks ago. Every time a little boy plays with Reub at the park he calls him "Andrew." The neighbor's have a baby named Andrew, but Reub calls him baby, he calls the other four people in that family by name. So, even though we are far away, Reuben shows evidence of being best friends with his cousin.

Happy Birthday Emily!

Today is Emily's birthday, not Emily my roommate, Emily Justin's Sister.

I am very happy to be related to Emily, and enjoy every chance I get to visit with her and get to know her better. She and Justin have a very special relationship, and I am glad for that, but have to admit that I don't always understand it. She has a 6th sense about Justin's life. She had a feeling that Justin and I were supposed to be together that time he broke up with me. She knows from across the country with Justin is extra stressed, and always calls to check on him.

She is kind, and wonderful. I wish we could spend more time together so that it didn't take so long to get to know her. My phobia of phones, and slowness to show my real personality have slowed things down a little, but I do love her, and hope she had a great birthday!

Birthday Photos

Happy things will come to you all year.

Reuben is TWO!

We had a very nice party (thanks to Grammie). I made a Lightning McQueen and a Mater Cake, and Grammie found some really cool Cars wrapping paper, party hats, plates and napkins. Reuben recognized "Caahs." And even though things were a little scetchy (he woke up crabby from his nap) he mellowed out and seemed to enjoy the evening.

Reuben blew out both candles, and did it when we were done singing the whole Reasor birthday song. (I'm glad Justin supports that tradition, it just seems to drag out a birthday enough to the point where you feel like it is actually a birthday.)

He proves, yet again, to be a smart cookie. He got a Curious George bath set thing (it was on sale at target for really cheap. He opened the back first, and then saw the yellow and red writing (no pictures) and he said, "GEORGE!" (He slept with the george part of it last night, so we are going to use it as a puppet instead of a bath scrubber.)

I have photos, but do not want to spend the day loading them (I'm on dial-up here.) I will load them soon, I just wanted to make sure you knew how his day went.

Two years ago tonight....

...I was sitting in a labor bed--not in labor, but hooked up to all kinds of stuff trying to get me to go into labor. I remained in the condition (not in labor and not sleeping) for another 14 hours until I started to kind of go into labor, and then after 22 hours of sitting in a labor bed trying to go into labor I finally started to feel exhausted labor pain. And I had hope, high hope, that I would have Reuben on Thursday, January 12. But for some reason, Reuben decided to side with Tammy and Courtlin who both wanted him born on Friday the 13th. 7:29 am on Friday the 13th.

Its a good thing Reuben is so wonderfully sweet so I never have to say, "I was in the hospital for 36 hours before you decided to grace us with your company, and 4 of those hours I was pushing you through the birth canal."

Oh, how I love him. And if you have met him I'm sure you won't blame me. He is so friendly, kind, obedient, intelligent, funny, and caring that I often forget his is a baby. One time when I was really lonely because I lost my husband to a paying movie job, I started to cry and couldn't stop, and Reuben sat on the couch next to me and put his 6th month old hand on my arm and started to wimper too. Today, after Reuben hears someone cough of sneeze he always asks if they are okay, and will continue to ask until he gets assurance that they are okay.

He is starting to assert himself more, and gets frustrated with the language barrier, but I am not afraid of him being two. I think that he will continue having the same personality, and will be happy to be understood whenever that happens.

We are lucky to have him. He deserves a lot, good thing he has so many loving people to contribute to his growth. My baby is going to be 2 on sunday! TWO! where did the time go?

(P. S. The photo was taken in Minnesota.)

Scene it? Sharp Cheddar Mac 'n Bacon--and a Party of Six and-a-half

Yum!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was delicious--and you see I had so much fun at the party I didn't even take any photos, sad. Because you know why? I have to step outside of the event to take the photos, I have to pull out of the scene and put up the fourth wall so I can compose and create--and therefore I cannot give my full attention to friends and loved ones during the celebration. Indeed, it is truly the most important moments, those incredibly enlightening conversations or those fleeting epiphanies that cannot be captured through the lens of the camera. It reminds me of that great poem by Adrienne Rich called "For an Albm"--which is used in BYU TMA 185 film projects quite often, thanks to Brecken's inspiration those nearly three years ago. We had a fine little time, us, the Cowley's, the Combs'--and though we missed the Utleys (and those of you who read this), our party of 6.5 (little Reubster) and a night of movie trivia mingled with conversation proved that the best moments are shared in good company--and that includes the sharp cheddar mac 'n bacon with a side of pie.

Its your birthday shout horray!

Justin is gone, Reuben is napping, and instead of doing the dishes I will write my birthday tribute to Justin, and then start the dishes.

My friend Michael had warned me that he thought I would like his future roommate. "He's artsy," is what I remember most. So my apartment invited Michael and this new roommate over to play games. Justin got a little lost coming to our apartment, which was kind of hard considering his apartment and my apartment were maybe eight yards apart. Michael left to go find him, and a few minutes later Justin knocked. Emily and I were burning a CD so we yelled "come in!" Which Justin did. This tall, lanky kid strode confidently into the bedroom. (Now, for those of you familiar with the BYU honor code you will realize our shock, and for those of you not familiar, boys are not allowed in girl's bedrooms.) I can't remember what we yelled at him then, but we yelled something, and it was his turn to be shocked. We had a very pleasant evening, in which I think I scared him.

We invited Michael and Justin to dinner the next day. (We often had boys over for dinner, and somehow we managed to only stay popular with the boys who already knew us.) I was making omlets or something like that, and I looked up to see someone squatting outside the window trying to get our attention. It was the strangest thing, but I thought, "oh, there is the guy that I am always married to in my dreams," and then I thought, "oh, that is Justin the door must be locked." Weird, I know, but that is what happened.

We called him T-Bone (for theater boy). And thought it very interesting that he came over every day (with or without michael.) Then we thought it even more interesting that he started showing up at my roommates work, or going to lunch with them. Then I was mad because he didn't show up to my work, or take me to lunch.

I wowed him with my knowledge of Hitchcock, and he found out that I only had a pretend missionary (he was real, but I wasn't technically "waiting.") And then we started dating. Then we broke up. Then we got back together. Then we got engaged. Then we got married. Then we had a baby. Then we moved to New York.

And here we are, he is turning 26, which used to seem so old, but now seems so...so young. He is a very good man. He is funny, friendly, and flexible. If you have not had the opportunity to see his Paw de Shaw (or however you spell that), you should ask for it. He will pretend that he doesn't want to show you, but deep down he does, and will if there is room. He understands charity, and is the best example I have of it. He is extremely creative, and good at what he does. He is "ruining my life now, so he can fix it later," as we discussed last night. He works hard, and even when there is no way what ever he is doing should work out, it always does. (This used to bother the heck out of me, but now I just ask him to do the impossible things.) He adds so much to my life, and I am so glad to have him. Happy Birthday Monkey Lettuce.

So, Justin fans, if I forgot anything, please add it.

The Birthday Pig for Mom

Today is my Mom's birthday. I'm not sure how old she is (this is not offensive because I spent the last month thinking I was 27, Justin thought that was funny.) She is a fabulous Mother and a wonderful Grandmother. I often think I was blessed to have such a dedicated Mom. Sometimes it was a little embarrassing to me that my teachers and principals were afraid of my Mother, but it meant that they always treated me with the most respect they could muster. My Mom is a good worker and taught us the value of work, to our shagrin. She taught me how to sew. Some of my favorite memories of early childhood are painting on the kitchen floor, and having my Mom come to do art projects in the schools. I'm glad she's my Mom, and Reuben's Grandma.