Field Day

Kam, Adam and Max all came in first for their grade-level 50 yard dash! (Max's was more like a 25, but whatever...) Kids are little speed demons! They all had a great time today, but got a bit too much sun. Everyone was kind of cranky at our house this evening. The video is Kam running the anchor in his relay race with no one else even close.

I Caught It...

Adam told us a few weeks ago that he wants to be a rockstar when he grows up because all the girls in the world will love him. He's had a bit of a fascination with Justin Bieber lately, so last night we had a Justin Bieber night. We watched Never Say Never, had some popcorn and rootbeer floats. I have put up with my sixth grade girls all year and their "JB" this, and "JB" that. Anyway, after the film last night I have to admit...I got the Bieber Fever.

Alan Rickman Rocks!

Die Hard is one of the best movies of all time! Not only was it just a great film, but it introduced Alan Rickman to America! He plays such a great villain (Robin Hood and Quigley Down Under) and is also incredible in other roles (Sense and Sensibility, Galaxy Quest, Love Actually). But I think he will always be remembered best for playing Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films. I cannot wait to see how he handles this final film. He recently wrote a letter to J.K. Rowling and published in it Empire Magazine. I have posted it below. Love Alan Rickman!

Sigh

I love Disneyland. What a perfect photo.

Photo by Paul Hiffmeyer--Disney Parks Blog

Guilty Pleasure Pt. 2

Sorry about that last post. As I read through it again I realized I used the "I did this, I did that," terminology a little too much. Sounded a bit self-centered.

Anyhoo, I mentioned earlier this month how the "Fast" movies are a guilty pleasure of mine. I have also noticed lately some other films that could be placed in the "so bad that they're good" category. The movie is on TV, you want to turn the channel to watch something better, or turn the TV off and do something more constructive with your afternoon, but you just can't. The movie sucks you in and you are powerless to look away. It's not that the movie is awful, but it's definitely not Oscar worthy. I'll try and mention a few over the next couple of days. Here is film number 1:

This movie is just awesome! I love John Cusack! It's been on TV repeatedly as of late and I have watched it way too many times. Guilty pleasure.

Tooting

I have to toot a horn here for a bit. For The Daily Herald's "Best Of 2011" our acting studio at Hale Center Theater Orem was voted #1! Yay! This is a studio that I built from the ground up and have worked hard at for the past 8 years. It has evolved over time and become something that I am really proud of. It fulfills a creative side in my life and allows me to work with youth in a setting other than school. Today we have auditions for "The Emperor's New Clothes," a musical that I wrote the book for. It will be our 8th full-length children's production! I love doing what I do at the theater. I look forward to each new production and class. I definitely haven't done it all on my own; there are others who have helped build it, but I couldn't be more pleased with where it is today.

"Christmas Carol" cast. Tami Crandall is our costumer and she is amazing!

Perfect Albums Pt. 8

Okay, here is the final album I'll be listing (although there are many more). The Cure's Disintegration is hands-down the best album of all time! I was a closet goth for many years. Never dressed like one, and never really liked a huge variety of goth music, so scratch that...I guess I just really liked The Cure. I love this album. Every song is genius and I have listened to "The Same Deep Water As You" easily over 500 times. I used to fall asleep to it and keep it on repeat throughout the night. It's a miracle I wasn't more depressed as a teen. Anyway, there you go. I smattering of some perfect albums. Hope you enjoyed!

Perfect Albums Pt. 7

Only a couple days left of my perfect albums...I know you are all dying to hear about these last two! If Metallica and Harry Connick Jr. defined my sophomore year, no other album comes close to my senior year experience as Pearl Jam's Ten. This album is perfection! A great new sound coming out of Seattle and I think PJ did it far better than any other band. Eddie Vedder's power and angst is incredible. I still listen to this album often.

Mustache May-Halfway Point

I only have a couple weeks to go, and I can't wait to get rid of this thing. It's amazing how many people I have run into these past two weeks that I haven't seen in years...and here I have this caterpillar growing under my nose. Sucks.

Perfect Albums Pt. 6

I have always loved movie soundtracks. My first purchased cd was the soundtrack to Die Hard 2 (that's a little embarrassing). Those who know me know that movies have always been a huge part of my life. Most soundtracks are far from perfect. They may have a few great songs, but then some that are just hard to listen to. The soundtrack to Untamed Heart by Cliff Eidelman is perfect! I loved this movie (haven't seen it in years) and equally love the soundtrack. I play it in class all the time while students are quietly writing. If you've never heard it, I highly recommend picking it up. Simple and beautiful.

Perfect Albums Pt. 5

I've gotta go with another classic here: Oingo Boingo "Only A Lad." My parents hated me listening to this when I was younger, but I thought their sound was unlike anything else I had ever heard. Danny Elfman has gone on to make some truly incredible movie scores, but he will always be a dead man at a party. I love this album and singing to it at the top of my lungs while driving (Lindsay can't be in the car though).

Perfect Albums Pt. 4

Lindsay and I got into Scrubs at about season 3. Joshua Radin is a friend of Zach Braff and his music was used in quite a few episodes. "We Were Here" is Radin's first album and it is perfect! Lindsay and I went with some friends to an earlier concert of his and were right up on the front row with almost no one there. His second concert was similar. We just went to his latest concert and there were WAY too many people there. I hate it when someone intimate becomes huge and popular. Ruins it for me. Anyway, great album!

Perfect Albums Pt. 3

I haven't always been a Radiohead fan. It took me a while to love them. Most of their albums are close to perfect, but each have a song or two that I don't really care for. However, Kid A is just awesome. I cannot get enough of this album. It's definitely an album that is better if you listen to it all the way through. Song by song doesn't do it justice. Thom Yorke (lead singer) said Kid A is like looking at a fire from afar. Great music!

Perfect Albums Pt. 2

Okay, I gotta go with another classic:

 

There are two albums that define my sophomore year at Orem High. I already mentioned how one was Metallica--the second would be this gem, Harry Connick Jr.'s We Are In Love. These albums could not be further apart on the spectrum, but at least it shows that I had interesting range. I was a bit of a drama/choir geek, but I had so many great experiences with my friends that I don't really care. Jon Keller (best bud) and I used to sing these songs all the time. I still love Harry. I've seen him live a couple times and he is a fantastic performer.

Perfect Albums Pt. 1

Last month I mentioned my love of the Mumford and Sons album "Sigh No More." Every song is excellent and I can never skip through to the next song--I have to listen to them all. So I thought I would count down a list of perfect albums (totally my opinion of course and each to his own). There's only two rules: the album cannot be a "Best Of" compilation and each song has to be a winner! You just can't wait to listen to Track 1 through 10. Here is my first album and we'll see how many I can get through in the next few days.

My sister Amber introduced me to this album and it defines my sophmore year. I tried to justify to my parents that even though it's heavy metal and it sounds like you might want to rip your ears off at times, the music is so well played. Metallica may be a bunch of f-dudes, but they are f-dudes that have amazing talent. I never liked the "Black" album. I am a "Justice For All" loyalist.

My Mom

Kam and Mom at Disneyland

Just wanted to say a few words about my mom. She's an amazing woman! My mom has fought for me in so many ways throughout my life. The most important thing to her is her family--and I have always felt this. She taught me the Gospel and showed me how to live my life through her example. She loves her grandchildren and she makes them feel special every time she sees them. I love you, Mom. Happy Mother's Day!

Guilty Pleasure

I'm sorry, but I love these films. Is that wrong of me?

May the 4th Be With You!

I have always loved Star Wars! I am so glad my parents raised me on this rather than Star Trek. When I was younger my family told me that I would shout "Gim em! Gim em!" during the Death Star battle from Episode IV. My kids have grown to love it and I cannot love LEGO Star Wars more! Anyway, here are my top 5 favorite things from Star Wars:

5. I loved the Ewoks! I know that most people hate them, but I loved them when I was younger. I wanted to collect all the Ewok action figures..which leads me to #4.

4. Star Wars action figures. I had SO many when I was younger and wish so badly that I had kept them. I had the Ewok village, Hoth and a ton of figures. I loved playing with them.

3. Luke changing Darth Vader. The scene at the end of Jedi when Luke is helping his father get away from the Emperor and then Vader saying to him, "Tell your sister you were right..." It still chokes me up.

2. Obi Won and Qui-Gon fighting Darth Maul. I know the latter films were not the greatest, but you cannot deny the excitement of when Phantom Menace came out. To actually have a new Star Wars film was the coolest thing ever! That light saber fight is still just pure awesomeness!

1. And finally, anything with HAN SOLO! Harrison is the best! ANY scene with Han Solo was better. He had the best lines, he had the coolest starship, he got the girl...I always wanted to be Luke, but I knew that Han Solo was just cooler.

Day 1

Here is Mustache May-Day 1. Ugh.