Movie Review...The Other Boleyn Girl

I loved this movie! I watched it Monday night while Chris was in Vegas and just before I went to girl's camp. I was talking about it during camp with some of the other leaders. I even did a little research online from englishhistory.net. This story is fascinating!

It amazes me, in a bad way, that one family can be so deceitful to gain the crown. That the women were urged to cheat on their husbands and have an affair with the king to provide him a male heir. And that the brother and one sister were going to have sex so she could get pregnant and the king, her husband, would not know that she had miscarried.

Henry VIII had 6 wives. This is a list of them and what happened to their marriages with Henry: Catherine of Aragon (divorced), Anne Boleyn (executed), Jane Seymour (died), Anne of Cleves (divorced), Kathryn Howard (executed), Katherine Parr (widowed).

What a story and how well performed. Eric Bana made me want to fall in love with him, his power, his appeal. It was very odd for me to feel that way, but I know he did a great job. And Natalie Portman were wonderful. I would buy this movie and it has inspired me to research these women and King Henry VIII. I've never been one much for history, but this has excited me.

Movie Review...Vantage Point

I thought this was a great movie. It got a little monotonous for Chris and he fell asleep because they show a crime from different "vantage points". From where different characters saw it. Each time they would rewind the scene you would learn a bit more about what truly happened.

I thought it was entertaining and somewhat suspenseful and intense. But a really good movie. I would see it again.

Movie Review...Space Chimps

We don't usually go to movies in the theatre but today we did. Chris was in the mood and this is what Richard wanted to see when we drove up to get tickets. It was really fun to spend time together as a family. I have been at girls camp since Tuesday and Chris went to Vegas Sunday morning for a Chef's convention. The kids were with Diana so it was great to be together again.

This was a really cute movie. Richard was totally mesmerized and he would laugh at funny parts. It was almost more fun to watch him. But it was funny, colorful, had a good message, and it was just entertaining. Super cute movie for the fam.

However, Hannah did not want to sit still. She was all over the theatre. Luckily it was a matinee and there weren't too many people.

Memory game...

Dari, I'm so glad you are a blog stalker and find all these great things to post. I hope this will work out, too.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Bummer, Kelsey got kicked off The Next Food Network Star

Kelsey Nixon came out as a strong contender, but fell short the last couple of weeks. She has a great personality and energy. She knows her food, but took too many chances that didn't pay off for the last 2 challenges.

She used to do a cooking show at BYU and wants desperately to cook on television. I think she will be a great cooking host. I hope she works hard and is able to find a niche for a cooking show of her own. I really liked her anyway, but then I found out she is from Utah and wanted her to win all the more. Good luck with your future, Kelsey!

Movie Review...Waitress

This movie stars Keri Russell (Mickey Mouse Club, Felicity, and Mission Impossible 3) and Nathan Fillion (Serenity and White Noise: The Light). I thought it was really well done. The story is of a waitress who is a brilliant pie maker and finds out she is pregnant by her husband she has fallen out of love with. She has been stashing money from her possessive, jealous, controlling husband and makes plans to leave him.

Her plans are foiled when he finds the money. Along the way she falls in love with her Gyno and they have a steamy affair. As she, Jenna, admits, the affair is just about sex in the beginning, but he shows interest in her and they become best friends. Although I don't like the whole affair part, I loved watching her go from feeling unattractive with a low sense of worth, to a woman that has confidence in herself and her abilities. That is what this show was about, growth and courage.

You could see the struggle she had while having the affair. She was happy because she had someone who treated her with respect and listened to her, but on the other hand she felt the torment of cheating on her husband. And really, how much could someone love you by having an affair. That is just selfish, uncontrolled passion, and sometimes loneliness.

I loved seeing her grow, come out from under the thumb of a controlling man. I don't believe any woman should be treated without respect. Each of us, men and women, deserves to find someone who will "hold [them] for 20 minutes straight and that's all they do. They don't pull away, they don't look at your face, they don't try to kiss you. All they do is wrap you up in their arms and hold on tight without an ounce of selfishness to it."

Not to make this all the more mushy, but I thought of my relationship with Chris while watching this. I am so grateful and blessed to have a man that loves me for me, that respects me, that is my best friend, and someone who encourages me to follow my dreams and be a strong woman. I love you, baby!

Camping

We headed up to my Grandpa's property in Kamas this weekend for a fun little outing. Our friends, Monica and Justin, brought their family up with us. Then Chad and Des came up later Friday night with their darling boys. I thought Des was a trooper, she is almost 8 months preggo.

We had a lot of fun, we shot guns, the kids played on the teeter-totter and swings, and in the creek. A few shoes and sand toys were lost in the currents, but all the kids are safe. Thank you guys all for coming up. We had a really great time. I know the kids loved being together in the mountains.

Here is our little Hannah sitting in her chair as we set up camp. Hannah dragged that poor blanket around for 2 days, it is so dirty! She wouldn't go down for naps because of all the action going on outside the tent, so she would suck her binks and dragged her blanky.
Richard and the other kids loved the swings and teeter-totter. It tickled Richard's tummy so he squeezed his knees up and ducked his head.

Pretty girl. Sydney got these new shoes to go into the creek. Too cute!
Richard didn't want to get out of the water, but I did. It was really cold for July. I don't remember the water being that cold as a kid.

The view from behind us while shooting the guns. Chris brought a BB gun and his .22 revolver and Justin brought his .22 rifle. All the kids had fun shooting at targets. It was a lot of fun.
Sydney walking Harley.
Can you see Richard's eye closed. He concentrates so hard!
Sydney
Tyler
Chris & Richard
Blake & Chris My beautiful girl on the walkie-talkie in Daddy's truck.

Richard and Sydney on the teeter-totter. I love this photo. Aren't they the cutest?

Kaden and Richard on the teeter-totter. Camo-girl Hannah
Kaden and Richard
Hannah, Trace, Sydney
Trace, Sydney, Richard

Sydney, Richard, Porter Justin's amazing fire!
Hannah trying to keep warm this brisk morning. None of our 4 slept very well, or much, last night. Chris and I had to take turns driving home for the 1 hour drive. But it was a lot of fun! Chris mad us a wonderful dinner last night and yummy breakfast this morning. Thanks, babe for always doing great camping meals. We eat like kings when Chris is around. And thanks to the Bettridges for bringing eggs and sausage for the breakfast, and to the Hansen's for the yummy treats. I think Richard polished off the star cookies by himself.

We really enjoyed every one's company. The kids were good and the adults got a little relaxation time and were able to just chat and catch up on each other's lives.

And thank you, Grandpa, for letting use this beautiful property. You are so gracious!

Hannah fell asleep quite quickly. I love the hand on the face! I think this describes all the rest of us. Chris and I took turns napping when we got home. Somehow, 1-2 hours of shivering sleep doesn't cut it. The kids slept almost all the way home and then in their beds for about 3 hours. Hannah got up and ate, then went back to sleep. So we were all pretty wiped out.

Chelsie and Mark - Broadway

I like this and the Bollywood dance last night. Chelsie and great attitude in this. She is so cute!

Another climber...

I let Hannah sit at the table with Richard today for lunch. I went in the other room for a moment and came back to find the little stinker had climbed on the table. Richard is always climbing something, now Hannah is doing it. They are a lot of fun and always keep me on my toes!

Hannah sliding down to the pond...

Farmington Canyon picnic...

Tonight we decided to have a weenie roast in the canyon. I called up our friends, Monica and Justin, and asked if they wanted to come, too. We had a really good time. The kids got along very well and Richard sure didn't want to leave.

Monica, Justin, Sydney, Richard, Blake, and Hannah.

Tyler was so inventive using a couple of rocks to cut his branch. Very smart idea!
My beautiful babies!
I just thought this was a beautiful scene. Sun rays coming through the trees like this always remind me of the First Vision. I love that! (Bryce, this should look familiar to you. Do you remember the outhouse after taking our engagement photos? Yep, next to that same outhouse!) My beautiful girl, Hannah, with her crooked glasses. She got so filthy after this shot! What did I tell you? Look at that filthy bottom! She had so much fun with the dirt and rocks.

Our tough men getting hot dog roasting sticks for us. Thanks guys!
Mr. clean hands. All the kids kept wanting to run across the road to wash up, but they just got filthy within a few second. They were too funny!
The kids hid from vehicles that were coming by. They had put rocks in the road and didn't want the people to know it was them that did it. Funny kids!

Then Blake and Ty decided they needed camo faces in order to fully hide.
Richard decided to join in. What began as this...
...ended up as this. If you know Richard, he hates to have his hands dirty. But today got them dirty in order to camouflage his face like the big boys. And Kaden helped out by throwing cool ash and dirt at him. What a kid!

We had a really great time together! However, there was this ornery lady that came by demanding money for staying at the camp site. We informed her we weren't staying and she got all up in arms and said we still had to pay and we had 30 from time we got there. We had only been there 10 minutes and Chris asked if she was a ranger. She informed us she worked there and they drove off.

Well, Justin went and paid in the box they have at the entrance and we went on with our meal. As we were driving out of the camp ground some sheriffs almost ran us off the road. They jumped out of their SUV telling Chris to turn off his car, hand over the keys and get out of the truck. He asked what it was about and one answered, "Oh you know what this is about." We were clueless!

Turns out the lady called the police on us and told them that we were being belligerent and verbally abusive. One officer interviewed Chris and myself while the other talked to Justin and Monica. We told them each that she is the one that was getting in our faces and Chris just pushed back, following her lead. That we informed her we were only picnicking and that we would pay.

Anyway, once we explained everything to the policemen, they were very friendly and let us head out. They were surprised that we had paid and were already leaving. I guess the lady called it "stealing of services." Next time we will not go to a paid campground, even for a picnic!!! :)

Independence Day...

This morning we headed to the local parade. Fighter jets flew over us as the parade began. It was really cool. And they were so low! Richard loved that. And tonight we went to fireworks at Davis High. We had a really good time.

Looking so cool waiting for the parade to begin.

So happy to be getting all the candy!
Richard got this flag during the parade and let Hannah hold it while he got more candy.
Hannah watched me paint my toe nails and she tried to do her own. After this photo I did hers in a pail pink. She is so funny!

Richard being bored waiting for the fireworks. Eating a blade of grass.
Hannah loved the KFC we got. This is one of our traditions. The kids had a lot of fun. They really liked the fireworks. I thought that Hannah would be scared of the sound, but she did great. Richard kept clapping, then he would chant, "We want more! We want more!" He is so much fun!