The Secret Garden

So tonight I started reading, The Secret Garden to the children. I'd forgotten how the book begins and was berated with question after question.  

Why didn't Mary's mother love her? Why do they keep saying that Mary was ugly? What does cross mean? What does contrary mean? Was Mary ugly because she was cross and contrary? Why were they in India? Why does Mary's mother have so many nicknames? Why would Mary drink wine off the table? Doesn't she know she can't drink alcohol? How could they just forget about her and leave her home alone?

And of course all of this led to a huge explanation of the cholera epidemic. Which led to more questions, because Reese threw up last night, and now she thinks it's cholera from eating the snow. 

I'm ruining my children. 

The last question came from Quincy when we were on page 16, 

"Mom, how come all the books and movies about orphans or kids with dead mothers?" 

I don't know the answer to that one but it seems to be true. Harry Potter, Annie, Pippy Longstocking, Snow Buddies, Cabbage Patch Christmas, peter and the Starcatchers, Lemony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events...even Buddy in Elf was an orphan.

Instead of drifting off to sleep thinking about the poor orphans this time, they'll fall asleep to sweet dreams of cholera. Lovely.

1 hour of reading and only 16 pages covered. 

The Secret Garden is going to last us a while, I think. 

Cooped Up

The hens are faring well in the storm, but we plugged in their heat lamp when temps dropped into the negatives. I opened the door to their coop, thinking they might want to get out and free range a bit in the snow. Not a chance. They won't leave the henhouse. 

I think we're a lot like the hens, with this storm. We are snowed in and haven't left home since Wednesday.  I am totally ok with this.  We're quite happy being cooped up together all day. 

But I will give you the stink eye if you leave the door open. It's cold out there!  

Pass the cider. 

Really now.

Aaron: why don't you just use the mesh bag they came in? 

Meg: Do you even know me at all? 

Girls Night Out

The Hunger Games Premiere was awesome. These movies do a great job following the books. I met up with a big group of women from Bella Vista for the movie and we all loved it. Another group accidentally bought tickets to a different theatre and we had fun texting funny pictures back and forth during the hour before the movie started. I rarely see most of these women now that I'm the only one in a different ward and it felt great to get out and laugh and spend time with everyone. 

Natalie went all out and dressed up as Effie Trinket. She was spot. On. My photo in the dim theatre lighting just doesn't do it justice. Her makeup alone was incredible. 

Tons of people asked to take pics with her. Since she dresses up for movie premieres all the time and also does the comic con thing, she decided she needed a hashtag and we came up with #incognatalie for her so she can tell people and then look up all the photos taken of her. Partway through the night, someone pointed out that she looked sort of tranny if you didn't know about the movie. And right as the theatre got dark, she stood up to the crowd and announced, "and may the odds be ever in your favor." She kept us laughing all night. Awesomeness. 

It was a great night. The theatre was not overly crowded and everyone there was happy and cheerful and the movie was excellent (a little too violent IMO, but still very good). It was nice to not have to see a premiere at midnight, 8pm? perfection. Thanks for a fun evening, ladies! 

"Super Date"

We bought some last minute tickets to Bryan Regan. What a great show. Aaron was laughing so hard he was crying. (Those of you who know Aaron know that he's "dead inside" and has only cried tears a handful of times in the last 12 years, so tears of any kind are a big deal.) 

It was a much needed night out together after a few pretty stressful weeks. We could have fun watching paint dry together, but thank goodness for good, clean, comedy. It felt really good to laugh and spend some quality uninterrupted time together. Special thanks to Kasey who went to a birthday party with the kids and picked up our sitter for us. There's no way we would've made it to Fayetteville in time without her help, we are so grateful!  

Side note: Brian Regan was like attending stake conference. So many members. Friends everywhere we turned! Great night and a great way to lighten me up the night before the primary program. I had been a stressed mess all day and a night out with my love was the perfect cure.  Thanks for the date, Aaron! 

Life at home with two boys

Corbin's Date

The girls went to friend's houses for play dates after school today.  I took the boys on a date early this afternoon, since we didn't have to rush home to meet the bus.  We started at the monthly preschool play date at Crystal Bridges where Corbin painted the most adorable clouds I've ever seen. I'm such a sucker for watercolors.  

We ate our picnic lunch at the museum, then stopped at the Spark Cafe for ice cream cones (I am in denial that it is freezing outside). Soren got his own little cone, which he devoured. When it was gone, this happened.

Be still my heart. I love these little boys.