Everything is Rent

I couldn't stand waiting anymore and went to see the movie on Saturday night. I seriously had goosebumps during parts of it ("Seasons of Love", The Life Cafe Scene, "Take me for what I am"). I didn't love, love, love it, but I would definitely reccommend it to people who loved the play. I'll buy it when it comes out on DVD, too...so take that for what it's worth. I'm not feeling up to writing much of a review, but I will say I agree with much of what Roger Ebert says..and you can read that here. (Except, since I am a lover of the play, I'd give it 4 stars.)

I have the flu and feel yucky. That's why this isn't longer. Perhaps I'll edit later.

Midnight Showing

I went to the theater last night to see Harry Potter. Well worth the exhaustion I feel this morning. It was fun to pretend for one night that I didn't have 3 kids waiting to wait me up at their eariest convenience the next morning.

My advice to all who go see this movie is in three parts. 1)Remember that the book was approximately 5 million pages long and that the only way to get all the details in the movie would be to make a 6 hour BBC production from it (and then it would still piss people off. So, not worth it). 2)Because of all that was cut out, try not to be too attached to your favorite book scene. It probably isn't in the movie. 3)If you want to reread the book before you see the movie and you haven't done so already, don't.

That being said, I liked it. I wasn't too sure after the first 20 minutes (you'll understand when you see it), but I actually think "they" did a good job of cropping the story down to manageable form without losing the INTENT of the book. There are major scenes and characters missing (I'll tell you if you wanna be prepared, but I don't want to post here; I'd like to keep my friends happy with me). There were still some jarring moments (first 20 minutes), but once I acclimated myself to the style, I was fine.

I like Neville; I'm glad he was more "present" in this movie. Fred and George are perfectly cast and this movie plays them up a bit more. Ron has grown on me (and has grown, period). Hermione is, of course, too pretty, but I kinda like that in a movie girl. Cho has a charming accent. Harry looks perfectly awkward and gangly and properly "child/adult" for this year of his life. McGonagall is a favorite and although neither she nor Snape had large rolls, they both got out-loud laughs from me. I really like Mad-Eye, too.

Well, that's as good as I can do with 4 hours of sleep.

IMCPL is cool, can you believe it?

About a week ago, I requested that our local library purchase the Denyse Schmidt quilt book everyone's been talking about on the craft blogs.

Look what I found today!

Now, I'm not a total ego-maniac. Probably lots of people requested this (someone put it on hold before me--blast them!)...but they listen; they really listen!!!

Raising Non-Violent Children?

Any ideas from anyone on books?
Any ideas from anyone, period?

It amazes me every day the subtle (and not-so-subtle) things our kids see that fly in the face of what we're trying to teach them. For example, there was an ad on a website that showed a man shooting a bird. Now, I'm not getting into any hunting arguments here, but any picture of a person shooting anything is violent. My kids didn't see the picture (they're aren't interested in the computer), but that's what got me to thinking.

I've read some great articles in Mothering, but the articles often assume that you are surrounded by those who agree with you. Our closest friends are, for the most part, in agreement. But the majority of people in our neighborhood, city and state do not. So, how do combat the daily doses of violence kids are subjected to?

We don't watch T.V. at all, although we do watch DVDs. We read tons of books. We try to model gentle ways in our parenting.

Any other ideas?

Just found this funny old picture of Miriam. It's rather appropriate for this day, as she's a bit, um, overgrown in the hair department. I don't trust my skill with the blades and Christmas (and my sister's stylist skills) are too far away...I think I may actually take her to one of the kiddie hair cut places. I can't even believe myself, but there you have it.

All 3 of my kids are asleep right now--at 3 pm. Miracles do happen.

Off to cut out a cool dress for Princessa using painting red rhinos fabric and an Ottobre pattern. My first Ottobre pattern. Will post pics if my hubby fixes our USB port.

Store Wars

My mom and I have been talking about supporting local farmers, etc...and she emailed me this link today. It's very funny and smart, but mostly I think someone had a LOT of time on their hands--all those little details!

Store Wars

Inspiration/Frustration

I had a pretty inspiring couple of days. I went to hear Wendell Berry speak last night as part of the Spirit and Place Festival. It also coincided with a conference with the Ekklesia Project. So I spent two days being really inspired about staying and commiting to the people, place, commmunity we live in. (We also met some really cool people and their adorable daughter. I have to say, too, that Ragan Sutterfield was inspiring to talk to and I would have attended a conference with him as the main speaker. I was bummed b/c Chris really wanted a chance to speak with him and didn't get to.)

Tonight we went to another Spirit and Place event that was sponsored by Slow Food Indy on the slow food lifestyle, primarily buying and eating sustainable, locally grown food. Chris and I were really inspired. First of all, we eat too much. Second of all, I do the grocery shopping and I'm very susceptible to buying junk. Third of all, if we commited to eating in a different way, we'd both lose weight. Fourth of all, we'd be supporting our neighbors.

However, the food is just so expensive! Local, organic milk runs from $5-$10 a gallon. Eggs are $3 a dozen. Everything is about double the price. It's a HUGE cut in the amount of food we'd be able to buy. That's our frustration.

So this is our plan--use all but $15-20 of our weekly grocery budget to buy from our local, organic farmer's market, held at Trader's Point Creamery. and to try to base our meals around food available locally during this season (this will admittedly get harder in winter, as we didn't put ANYTHING up this year, not even applesauce!). We haven't been going to the market for awhile, because the prices were so high, but after tonight's session we understand better WHY they are so high and the importance of buying from local famers, despite the price.

We'll use the remaing $15-$20 for things we need from the regular store (tp, oil, etc). We'll see how it goes. Here are some of the venders we like at the farmer's Market. Sharritt Market Gardens, Apple Family farm,Brown Family Farm (we buy most of our stuff from Craig and Katie Brown and they are very, very nice), and The Swiss Connection. Every one of these farmers, except for the Brown family, were at the meeting tonight and I got to speak with them in depth for the first time. I have to say that Mr. Sharritt is funny, funny, funny--I dont' know why I found him so intimidating at the market before.

Anyway, here's my inspiration/frustration post written on adrenaline and probably impossible to understand.

Alex and Miriam were with other people about 90% of today and they did great. I love my little ones.

More kids pics.

I found some great ones of Alex from earlier in October. We went to a pumpkin patch nearby, went on a hay ride, picked a pumpkin, climbed on hay, etc. We didn't get any good pics of all the kids together, but I managed to get really cute ones of both Alex and Miriam.

Here's Miriam, loving the world. Doesn't she look so much older than just-turned-two in this pic?



Alex loves all things on wheels--cars, bikes, trucks, motorcycles. His favorite toys are cars (big and small) and keys (preferably real ones). No wonder he looks so at home during the hay ride:



I found this pic of Miriam from several months ago and it's notable for two reasons. 1) It shows the lovely dress
Jena made for her. 2) She looks so darn cute.



Alex has taken to running away. He's not mad or upset, he just likes to walk. So he puts on a "ba pa" and goes on his way. Recently he's gotten Miriam into the act and since they learned to open the doors they don't even take the time to find backpacks, they just take any opportunity they can to make a break for it. Here's a pic from Alex's first time "running away."



And finally, a lovely picture of my Monster Baby--Dinosaur Noah. (He's pictured with the amazing Dinosaur Simeon, who is destined to be his best friend, because, well, both their Moms say so!)




In other news, I working on my first Waldorf doll. I got a kit from Joy's Waldorf Dolls. Either I'm getting better at sewing or Joy has the best instructions ever b/c I'd heard that these dolls were a PITA to make, but it's coming along really nicely so far. I made the head tonight, which I'd been dreading, but it really looks good. I even gave the little guy a nose.

The doll is for Alex for Christmas. I planned on the doll being a boy, but I keep saying "she" in my head while making it. Perhaps it'll be a very short haired girl baby? May Alex can decide.

I'll post pics soon (I even took some in progress ones), but since our USB port isn't working (ARGH), it's a PITA to upload pics. Blah.

Blogging frenzy

Only 17% of people got this result. That means I'm cool, right? Right? (update--I just checked out all the options and Moly was the second to most common answer people got. HA. Not so cool after all, just like I expected.)


YOU ARE MOLY


What herb are you?
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Brightness and Wonder...

That's what I thought tonight after witnessing one of the sweetest moments in mothering so far. Miriam and Alex are both very into holding my hand recently, especially to go down stairs. We were leaving the house and I was already on the sidewalk when Miriam started fussing about needing to hold my hand. I was on my way back to her, but Alex beat me to it. He went up the stairs, took her hand and helped her down. They held hands the whole way to Denise's house and back. I smiled the whole way.

Remember when the only part of her body to touch his was her teeth? Sigh...so glad those days are (mostly) over.

Oh, another thing I have to do recently is carry their sippy cups everywhere for them--because "they're too heavy, Mommy!"

525,600 Minutes

I just watched the trailers for Rent. You need to check them out here. I’ve got goose bumps. There’s this small part of me (the remaining bits of fundamentalism stuck in the cracks) that thinks I should be at least partially horrified by parts of this story, but there just seems to be something real about it. A glossy, movified, musical real, but real nonetheless.

I may go to see this musical by myself b/c I don’t want anyone ruining it for me.

My husband used to say that musicals were stupid b/c people don’t really break out into song like that. Then he spent a weekend at my parents’ home. HA. The Von Newswanger Family Singers.

I could be making a cool art project with my kids. I could be making roasted pumpkin seeds with my kids. I could be sewing something FOR my kids. Instead, I’m online getting goose bumps over movie trailers. Where are my kids? Watching TV. I’m such a slacker mom sometimes.

The Mighty Three

Picture Pages, Picture Pages

Here are the three in all their Hallowe'en glory.

Look at this big baby! Can you blame me for not slingin' him too often? He weighs approximately 1/2 a ton at 7 months old. Phew!



Alex has recently decided that he doesn't like pictures very much. Perhaps I take too many? It's a shame, too, because he has got the cutest dimples I've ever seen (yes, I know I'm biased). This is his I-don't-want-another-picture-Mommy! look. Enjoy:



Senor Tucan, in all her (his?) glory. Yes, Miriam think she's in charge of the world:



Finally, the four of us (man, I onlyl realize how house-wifey I look when I see these pics. Oh, well. I guess that was my costume):



I suck at uploading and editing pictures. It takes SOOOOOOOO long. I wish I knew the tricks of some of these picture-heavy bloggers. I envy them--big green time.

"Trick or Treating"

Yesterday was a crazy day. Noah and I are both sick (he with an ear infection and possible strep, me with strep), but the trick or treating must go on!! Miriam was a parrot (although we called her Senor Tucan from Dora) and Alex was an M&M. I'll show pics as soon as we get a new USB cord.

ALex said "ah ah ah ing" to everyone. Why the "ing"? Because Miriam was convinced that you had to say "trick or treating" and that's exactly what she said--so cute!

She's been saying amazingly cute and funny things lately--it's neat to see a little one learn her way around language. She keeps saying "Yes, I'd be happy to do that." whenever I ask for her help. If she's not happy with something I've said she goes "Mama, THAT'S not a rule!"

She saw Melissa coming toward our yard the other day and said "Melissa! It's a wonderful day!!"

Denise asked her last week what she had been up to that day and she said "oh, you know, the usual."

I'm in trouble if she can say all this at 27 months! What will 3 bring? :) I'll worry about that later and savor this time now.

Noah has been pulling himself around in an inchworm crawl for about a month and is so close to crawling that I can't stand it! He get around so well with his inchworm crawl, though, that he doesn't seem too motivated to attempt anything different.

Alex has been getting sweeter and sweeter. He pushes buttons, of course, what 2.5 year old doesn't?? He keeps giving me impromtu kisses. I love it. It's amazing how much it can lighten my mood to have my little boy come up and suddenly give me a kiss. Today when I picked them up at Preschool one of the little boys was trying to take my hand and Alex ran up and said, "NO! MY Mommy!" Another milestone in adopting toddlers. :)