Giving Thanks

I went out early to go see if my mom needed any help with making dinner, I did help a little but got distracted with my nieces and nephews. I was outside with William and I was trying to get a picture of him but he turn and ran. I actually love this photo anyway...

Once William heard the door bell he was gone to see which of his cousins were there...
Here are William and Marie talking...I think William is showing Marie a toy spider...
Here are Anna & William hugging, and not because anyone told them too just because they are happy to see eachother...

Hugs all around, aren't they so sweet.

Grandma (my mom) did not only make an entire Thanksgiving dinner, turkey, ham, mashpotatoes, gravy, deviled eggs, cranberry sauce, salad, rolls, veggie tray, corn, green beans, mashed sweet potatos, apricot glaze for the turkey & all the pies (cherry, peacan, pumpkin, chocolate, & butterscotch). She also made sugar cookies for the grandkids so they could make Turkey cookies before dinner. (Does anyone doubt were Debbie gets it?)

Marie
William

Anna

Later I was watching Sleeping Beauty with Gracie. Of course during the song Once Upon A Dream we were dancing. After we sat down right in front of the TV. Gracie soon got up and climbed on my back and decided she wanted to watch the rest of the movie like this...


After awhile she did not get down so I called Debbie to come see. I eventually got tired so I slowly stretched my legs out and got a little more comfortable all with Gracie sitting on my back. I sure do love my nieces and nephews, and all my family too.


Just as a side not here are the Face Punch bags, you may have heard me talking about. My friends and I made them for the New Moon Premier. If you have seen the movie you may get what the bags are in reference to. But the real question is how did we know before the movie came out?
Here I am with my friend Melissa and her sister Stephanie waiting for New Moon.

Mimi (sorry this took me all day to write)

About two and a half years ago I saw Mimi at a party and I invited her to read a book and come to a party with a theme of that book. Up until that point we had never really been anything more than acquaintances because of mutual friends. I don’t think anyone could have guessed what would have come from that little conversation. The friendship that came seemed to take everyone by surprise, including ourselves. (Well maybe not Debbie, she only ever seemed happy)
When I think about all the things Mimi & I have done in the last two and a half years, it seems like we must have been making up for lost time because really we have had some awesome times and made some amazing memories.
We have been to California three times.(Comic Con twice, Disneyland, Beach)
We have seen Muse, Vampire Weekend, & Band of Skulls in concert.

Gone to several book signings (Stephenie Meyer twice, Janette Rallison, Scott Westerfeld, James Dashner & don't forget everyone at Project Book Babe)

Attended The Ballet & The Phoenix Symphony
Attended the Wolverine Premier

I helped Mimi make two winning stop motion videos

We are also our own little book club and have read around 50 books in the last two and a half years. (I wonder how many trips to the Library we have taken?)

It is getting late and I am already posting this a day late but I kind of want to figure out how many movies we have seen as well.

Oh and how can I forget about Pie Night? We had so much fun getting together and watching Pushing Daises and eating pie (with Debbie and Russ of course).

I posted links to the blog posts but there were a couple pictures that were not a part of the original blog posts...Here Mimi & I are at The Breaking Dawn concert if you look three seats down from us you will see the director of Twilight Catherine Hardwick.

I took this picture from the Project Book Babes photos, yep just us hanging with Steph.

Mimi I know it took us awhile to wise up and become friends but it was totally worth the wait. You are the friend I never knew I always needed, thank you for blessing my life and making me laugh every time we talk. Happy Birthday (her b-day was Friday Nov 6th)

Oh and in case you didn't know we are going to LONDON BABY Feb 2010!!! Huzzah!!!

French Lessons

Reasons I want to learn French


This may also be the reason I want to learn to disco dance.

I don't listen to Jack very much anymore but I still do think he is adorable with his surfer ways.


Fran may only be singing a French name the one time, but it still gets me and counts.


Don't worry he sings more French words in this one.


Maybe the above songs made me start listening to full length French songs. I was listening to them in the car and Debbie said "I can't understand what they are saying."


Such a sweet video


Monogrenade


I am so happy to add Muse to my list, sigh. Muse, I do I belong to you.

Happy Making

Tonight at Changing Hands in Tempe the author Scott Westerfeld had a signing for his new book Leviathan. Check out this awesome book trailer, (I am impressed with the narrator he has a very movie trailer voice)

I have not read the book yet (just purchased tonight) but after hearing Scott talk about it, I am super excited. And can I just say it is one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen/own. Just check out the inside. Lovely right?

Some highlights from the signing were...

When Scott was getting ready to show us his awesome book trailer (the envy of all authors(I said this not him)) he was in front of his laptop facing us (the audience) with his back to the screen which a projector was projecting the trailer on. After he got it going he moved and his head and started to cover a good portion of the screen, which made us the audience begin to giggle. Scott then asked "what is going on back there" and turned his head sideways, which the projector caught and he could see his profile covering half the screen. Which of course made everyone laugh more. He said something funny as he moved out of the way and started it again something about watching it with out author face. Britt will tell me, she remembered.

One of my other favorites was a question asked about how he came up with the slang in Uglies like Bubbly making, because he is a man. And I believe his response to the man comment was "spot on" brilliant observation huh. His response just made me laugh.

Debbie will like this, Scott called Tally a butt head.

A girl asked Scott if he received a lot of hate mail about in regards to a certain incident in his Uglies books. Scott said yes but it is just so sweet. He then mimicked the letters saying "Why Scott Why, I hate that you did that but I love your writing." He said he was happy that he could create a character that people cared about and had living in their head. Scott was great I was not only well informed but entertained as well, it was all very happy making.

Mimi, Brittney and I then got in line to get our books signed, while in line we discussed questions to ask Scott while up there. I was nominated to be the spokesperson since I have no problem making a fool out of myself. My first question took a little explaining. You see Scott's books come from questions he seems to always be asking why does this happen, why do we do this, and so on. So I asked him if his inquisitive mind got him in trouble as a child, he told me it was a good question but that he had great parents but that he did upset a teacher of his because she didn't know an answer a student asked and he did. But now I kind of wonder if he even asked his questions or if he just figured them out for himself. Because that what he seems to be doing with his books is answering questions.

Wait back up first I asked him to add la to my name so it would be Connie-la like from Uglies. He did not really understand what I was saying at first because I said it kind of weird and I wish I could remember what he asked me but I looked at him like he was smoking crack from Sherlock Holmes crack pipe. Then I think he re-processed what I said so it made sense and we all laughed at the confusion.

Then we asked about if he ever cast his characters, because I have done a lot of time looking for the perfect Zane. He said no and Mimi asked "because Zane's so special?" Scott had a good laugh over that. He then asked if I had found one, sadly no. He said he didn't cast his characters but he thinks Angelina Jolie would make the perfect Dr. Cable. Which Mimi reminded me that it was one of my picks as well.

***Spoiler***

Scott obviously realized that we were team Zane, not that we hate David but come on. It is like picking Superman over Batman. Superman was born that way he didn't chose it Zane choose, worked hard and risked everything, would David had done that in Zane's shoes? I don't know but there is another important factor here, Zane is HOT. Ok back to what Scott said, he told us that while in Portland everyone was team David and hating on Zane which he could not understand, so again he questioned it and realized...yep he is in hippy land.

There is just something so special about coming home with a arm full of books signed by someone who created a world that you love. Even if you sometimes get mad at him and have to ask "why Scott, why?".

Totally Happy Making

Bookshelves

There are a few things I want in life, but one of those is a library, but I will settle for a reading nook.

Today I stumbled upon a tumbler about bookshelves. The title says "book lovers never go to bed alone". Then has a quote by Henry Ward Beecher "A little library, growing larger every year, is an honourable part of a man's history. It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life."

Here are a couple things from the site that I liked.

A past Prophet of my church President Spencer W. Kimball said: “Each member [of the Church] should develop talents, read good literature, be engaged in quality cultural pursuits” (Ensign, May 1978, p. 101).

Here is my main book case, there are also stacks of books in my bedroom. Not to mention all the books I have lent out to family and friends. Once I get all my books back I think I am going to need another book case.

Movie Line Up

First up is Whip It (Oct 2nd)

I will be honest I am not 100% sold but with a cast like that, it should be good for a couple laughs. Right? And hopefully not just the ones in the trailer.

Where The Wild Things Are (Oct 16th)

Oh come on, it is just so magically delicious.

Gentalmen Broncos (Oct 30th)

If you didn't know that I love Jemaine Clement, well you do now.

New Moon (Nov 20th)

Like I need to say anything.

These Lovely Bones (Dec 11th)

I liked this book but it was really hard for me to get through. It was pretty much my worst fear growing up, losing a sibling but mostly my sister.

Avatar (Dec 18th)
It is better to go here and see it.

Sherlock Holmes (Dec 25th)

Oh yeah I am seeing this Christmas day.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (Dec 25th)

I guess I will be seeing two movies on Christmas day.

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my moms 65th birthday and I thought I would share some things you might not know about her.
When she was born her family lived in Queen Creek, she was the first girl after 6 boys.


While in grade school she hit a boy over the head with her tap shoe. I don’t remember why the boy deserved it but I am pretty sure he did. I love this story!


In High school she was involved with everything, I know she did student council, choir, cheer (at least one year), and she was even voted the queen of one of their dances I think it was a Cinderella themed dance.

She also really likes Johnny Mathis, I think he is her favorite artist.

She started dating my dad when she was 15. He asked her out by stealing the ladder from the goal post she was decorating for the football game. He wouldn't let her down unless she said yes.


She received many scholarships and attended Arizona State University where she got her teaching degree. She taught PE & Home Ec. at Mesa Jr. High.





My mom is probably the most capable person I know, she knows how to do it all and she is never afraid to do it. Her strength has supported her family and influenced many around her. Her love carries me through this life. Thank you mom for all you do, I love you so very much.