Bolt

On our way to Las Vegas we rented BOLT. It has been Adam's favorite ever since. He was "Bolt the dog" for quite a while. Having never watched the movie myself, I don't quite understand why this is his version of Bolt:

He even got Avery in on the action. Yes, I know it seems more Frankenstein, but this is BOLT!

Glasses

So we both noticed that when Adam tried to look at things up close, his left eye crossed more than his right. Can you tell in this photo?

We took him to the pediatric opthamologist (3 month wait time, btw), and found out he has

"lazy eye."

For those of you who don't have impaired vision, you will notice he's flipping the bird in this picture. For those who are visually challenged, you can just enjoy what we call "blankie head."

Technically, his right eye is 20/40 and his left eye is 20/400. For reference, 20/200 is legally blind. This indicates that the brain has "shut off" that eye, since it's too much work to use it. Don't worry, this condition is treatable with . . .

Glasses!

The best part of these glasses is that they have FLAMES on the sides!

And they make his eyes look really big (which we think is cute!).

Why Jacob Never Had A Chance

Okay, so I have to admit from the beginning, I am a book snob. I never intended to read the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer. I generally stay away from modern fiction, and certainly never read vampire stories. Thank goodness my sister Kate sent me the first three books (via Amazon.com) and since it was a GIFT, I had to read them. Flash forward several months, and you have me standing at WalMart at 11:00 pm on August 1st. After waiting an hour in line (which wrapped halfway around the inside of the store), I had my copy of Breaking Dawn and was on my way. I started at 12:30 am, and finished at 11:00 am. I have a strange ability to stay up all night long, if I'm reading a good book. I have to confess that I am a HUGE Jacob fan. All of Edward's handsome, greek-god, perfection held little appeal for me. In my mind, Jacob represents a real man--sweaty, annoying, and impossible to live without. So Eclipse was a fantastic love triangle that had me from the word "go" (or whatever the first word of the book was!). Honestly, in BD I expected to experience more of the love-triangle. I wondered, "How can this end?" What I realized after reading Breaking Dawn (which had no love triangle, just Jacob as a third wheel until Renesmee entered the picture), was that IT HAD ALREADY ENDED. Bella made her choice at the end of Eclipse. She chose Edward. Somehow I didn't believe her. I guess I just felt so bad for Jacob. I could see she really loved him, and didn't see how she could just walk away like that. But she did. Some critics of BD complain that Bella didn't have to deal with the consequences of her choices. Not true. Bella made a choice, she chose Edward, and her future with Jacob (as a couple) ceased to exist. The fact that Jacob stuck around despite the constant pain inflicted of seeing Bella in love with Edward was true to form. No offense, but my experience with guys (especially in High School and college) is that they have an unbelievable ability to hope which prevents them from walking away from a situation when all reason and logic say they should. I used to say "With guys, hope is like cockroaches. You have to kill every last one or it will multiply and come back to haunt you." It seems clear to me that the story was always about Bella and Edward. It started as a dream about them (in the meadow), and the questions were "How did they get here?" and "How will this end?" Jacob was never more than a minor character whose role grew (I remember an inverview/FAQ or something where Stephenie mentioned her editor liked Jacob and wanted to see more of him). His part was to offer Bella another choice so she would really know what she was missing. Little did she know Jacob would be such a major character that we all would grow to love--and that some of us would prefer to Edward! Stephenie also mentioned in an interview that in New Moon, Edward had to leave so Bella would know what her life would be without Edward. She had to really understand the price of each choice before she made it. But it's like the end was already decided--Bella had already chosen Edward, but we all had to go with her on the journey of getting there. Okay, so I'll admit my next opinion comes directly from my own life. Bella and Edward were meant for each other. The fact that she chose Edward says nothing about Jacob. It wasn't that he wasn't enough, it's that he wasn't "the one." I look back at all the poor guys I dated when I was a very young and very silly person. They were all fantastic (in their own ways). And some of them really cared for me. But none of them ever had a chance. Not because they weren't smart enough or good looking enough or talented enough. Not because I didn't truly like them (and sometimes love them). But because once my husband Sam walked into my life, it was over. Nobody else stood a chance, because for me, he was "the one." I do admit that I hoped for a different ending for Jacob. It's all fine that Bella got pregnant and had a baby, that could have still happened just fine without Jacob imprinting on Renesmee. I had hoped that maybe Leah would imprint on him. That he would get to experience the total love and devotion he had offered to Bella, and that it would be irresistible to him. They could have had their own personal pack and lived happily ever after. I don't quite get how imprinting on Renesmee makes any sense, and there's part of me that refuses to know more, even if Stephenie Meyer does write another book. But, knowing me, I'll probably be first in line. . .

Hello, is this the nut house? I'd like to make a reservation. . .

So if you read the last post, you may have noticed that I usually have a perfectly timed break in the middle of my week. Wednesday is my night off. This is followed by Date Night on Thursday--two whole evenings I don't have to fight Adam to bed. It's wonderful. This week Sam has been SO BUSY--his sister is in town, and he's burning the candle on both ends at work (huge projects at work, plus trying to start new independent ventures). All this has thrown our usually calm routine out the window. Last night, which should have been my night off, had to be sacrificed (or at least postponed) so Sam could do some important work. This leaves me in a less than stable mental state. Here is my morning: 8:15 am I realize what time it is. Avery will be here in 15 minutes (girl I nanny 3 days per week)! I'd better get up, get dressed, and brush my teeth. 8:30 am I am dressed (yoga pants, t-shirt, and bandana). Teeth are clean, but makeup is from yesterday. I realize that I signed up for a tie-dye activity at 9am. The clothes I bought yesterday are still wet in the washer. I switch them to the dryer and pray they'll be ready. 8:45 am I am in the middle of making french toast for Adam's breakfast when the doorbell rings (it's Avery). Unlike every other day, Adam does not want to answer the door, so they wait until I finish plopping french toast on the griddle. Greet Avery and talk with her mom. 8:55 am I am trying to get Adam to eat his french toast--cut in strips with a bowl of syrup for dipping. I know I have to go straight to swimming lessons, so I am gathering Avery's swimming suit, towel, sunscreen. Adam is still in PJ's. I grab the clothes from the dryer (have to sort through the entire load of whites, and they come out last). 9:00 am I put Adam's french toast in a baggie to take with us. He insists on taking syrup, so I pour some into a portable container. I don't realize he brings this into his bedroom as we go to get dressed. Adam is dressed. I walk out. Adam: Uh oh mom. The syrup spilled. Me: You're kidding. 9:05 am As I pull out my Bissell Little Green wet/dry vac to clean up the syrup, I realize it was never rinsed out. A foul smell issues forth every time I turn it on. I remove the "dirty" tank, fill it with water and dump it into the toilet. Out comes moldy, stinky stuff. So sick. 9:10 am We finally get in the van and head to the tie-dye activity. I've got Avery's swimming stuff, a binky for comfort, a pink Chevron car for her (which I just realize got left at the activity), t-shirts for dying, Adam's french toast (NO SYRUP), my purse, and off we go. 9:15 am to 10:00 am Tie-dye actually happens. Surprisingly, no children get dyed, nor do my clothes. There was a lot of whining, but no major mishaps. 10:10 am Depart for swimming lesson. Road is closed. Long detour is required. Adam: Mom! You're making me sick! Me: What are you talking about? Adam: You're driving by a cemetery. I'm sick of cemeteries. You're making me sick. Me: There's a detour. I had no choice. We'll go home another way. 10:25 am to 11:45 am Avery's swimming lesson. Avery is crying and protesting almost the whole lesson (which is better than the last lesson, which she cried THE ENTIRE TIME). Avery: Emolee! Emolee! Scared. Scared! Down (out)! Emolee! Momma! Adam is whining the entire time because he wants to go play basketball, but is afaid of the bugs. 11:45 am Avery is finally calmed down. She did settle herself down about 1/4 of the time, so she gets a lot of praise and a lollypop. I forget about my promise to go home another route (to avoid the cemetery) and head home. Adam notices the gas station and starts insisting that we stop for a treat. Feeling like a Diet Coke would help us all out at this time, I agree to stop. 11:55 am I enter the gas station, 2 children trailing behind. I go to the fountain drinks and two men are there getting drinks and hot dogs. One looks at me, Guy:How are you today? Me (in my mind): Really? I'm basically wearing pajamas, a bandana, and no makeup. I have two whining children in tow and you are flirting with me? Me (out loud): AAARRRRGHGGHGHGH! Other guy: Wow, that bad? 12:00 pm Drink in hand, sour gummy bears in purse, we drive home. Adam whines constantly. Me: Please, please be quiet. I can't handle it today. I'm too cranky. Adam: Whines Me: (to the tune of Jingle Bells) Cranky day, cranky day! We're all really cranky. We all need some food and naps it's such a cranky day! We all need some sleep. We're all really cranky. I can't stand the whining. Mommy is so cranky. . . Adam: No mom, that's not right. That's a Christmas song. You're singing it wrong! 12:05 pm I have presence of mind to take a different detour home, not realizing that it, too, goes past a cemetery. Me: Adam, close your eyes. Adam: I don't want to go to sleep. Me: Then don't complain to me. Adam: Mom! You're making me sick again! I told you not to drive by the cemetery. Me: I told you to close your eyes. Be quiet and stop complaining. 12:10 pm We arrive home, eat hot dogs and peaches for lunch. The kids get 6 sour gummy bears each, and Avery goes sweetly to bed. 12:15 pm I read Adam the Lion King book, and put him in bed. He needs a drink. He needs to pee. He needs to poop. I need to scream. 12:45 pm Adam finally falls asleep. I need to sleep. But I've been drinking Diet Coke for the past hour. I can't sleep. I guess I'll blog. . .

A smooth routine. . . a week in the life of the Peerys

So to lay a foundation for my next post, you need to know what a normal week looks like: Sunday--Church and family time in the evening. We usually visit Grandma Irene or Grandpa Peery. Monday--Family night, consisting of a song, short lesson, activity, and usually a treat. Sometimes less formal than others. Sam puts Adam to bed. Tuesday--Sam's night off. Adam and Emily's "special night" together. We usually go to the Lehi library for a new set of non-fiction books (all about sharks, volcanoes, the human body, etc.) and then get an ice cream cone at McD's. Emily puts Adam to bed. Wednesday--Emily's night off (book club, girls' night out). Adam and Sam's "special night" together. They usually go to McD's for dinner and playplace. Sam puts Adam to bed. Thursday--Date night. Sam and Emily's "special night" together. We go out while a babysitter puts Adam to bed. Friday--NOTHING! Bizarrely, this is our most relaxed day. We rarely have plans for the evening. Saturday--Mow the lawn, do house projects, and sometimes have an evening party somewhere. Get in late to ensure Adam will be a bear ar church. :) Cram for lessons to be taught the next day and hymns to be played.

Warning: Weak of stomach should not read

Adam: Dad, look at this booger! Emily: Oh gross, Adam! Here's a tissue. Adam: No, it's my booger, and I'm going to eat it. Sam: Do you need any salt? Emily: I have to leave the room.