Favorites...

We were at some friends' house yesterday and were going over some our favorite movies of all time. After much deliberation, here's what made our shortlist of favorites.

Top 5 (in no particular order)

BRANDON
Gattaca
To Kill a Mockingbird
Tombstone (edited version, of course)
Raiders of the Lost Arc
Spirited Away (for its uniqueness, at least for him)

Honorable Mention: Real Genius, Simon Birch...and of course Muppets from Space

JENIKA
Maverick
Batman Begins
Pride and Prejudice (A&E version...however, the newer one is also good)
Hero

Bourne Identity Series

Honorable Mention: The Illusionist, Return to Me, Howl's Moving Castle (Japanese films are so creative), and The Incredibles (I laughed out loud...)

***Lists are subject to change without notice

Rock and Roll

EARTHQUAKE!!!! Just before noon today we had a 5.6 quake in the city of Angels...not that I would know. I missed it! I had been doing some housework and decided to take out our recycling and the trash. I loaded Seth in the stroller and put the trash in the basket and balanced recycling on top (quite the process, I know). The dumpster is located below ground in our parking garage. I was on the phone with Brittany when I entered the garage. She said "my picture just fell off the wall. I think we are having an earthquake!" I couldn't feel a thing below ground. I quickly threw my trash away and wheeled Seth out. People were starting to exit the complex and stand on the sidewalk and talk about what they had just felt. I don't know if I would know what was going on if it hadn't been for Britt being on the phone at the time. CRAZY timing!! Brandon, on the other hand, works on 31st floor and really felt a pop and swayed back and forth. I know that our house isn't completely earthquake proof, but I am happy to say that Brandon bolted our bookcases to the wall a while ago, making me feel a LITTLE safer.

Mom's House

I have been here in Northern California for the past week helping my mom after she had surgery. Seth is to an age where he is more aware of his surroundings so it has been funny to watch him here. He crawls all over the house and loves the space. He even chases the dogs. WE are not sure who to protect: seth from the dogs or the dogs from seth. He sometimes waits with his mouth open (these are Seth's kisses) for the dogs to come kiss him...yuk!! Seth loves the space.

Guitar Hero has also helped us pass time. My brother can usually beat me at every video game on the planet, however I can smash him in Guitar Hero. We have two guitars here, so we all battle (Karli, Randy, Brandon, James and I). Poor Seth had to be contained in a clothes basket because he turns off x-box if he is too close. Actually, he loves playing with the clothes basket. This time it just happened to work out in my favor:)

Cheering on mom from his box seats!!

Kicking it with Rand in the recliner...as I whomp B on guitar hero:)

My mom is doing better than I would have if I were her. She is up and about (always trying to do more than she should). Being cooped up in the house for a week is no fun for her though so we took her out to the park and ate sandwiches on the picnic benches and then let Seth play on the playground....okay we played on the playground and Seth was just our toy. He did love the swings though. He would laugh evertime we swung him and cried when we stopped....seriously...cried.

Shae even did an underdog

Awesome hair, Shae

Uncle Randy showed up after a while!!

Project Runway!!

4 days until Project Runway!!! I love, love, love this show and all the drama and crying that goes along with it. I don't think that Brandon shares the same sentiments. Bravo shows reruns like crazy, and I watched season two's finale. I swear the episode where they visit Santino's home, is filmed here in the Meadows!!! Don't believe me, watch it! He gives a shot of the outside of the complex at night.

Mischief managed!

He looks so sweet...

Seth has gotten much more mischievous these days. He seems to find every crumb on the ground to eat, and can somehow fit in every little crack to find power cords...even behind the TV. He pulls up on everything, and grabs things off the couch (including our laptop), he unloads dishes while I load them, and naps are funny because 20 min after I put him down I will check on him and he will be standing smiling and tapping his binkie on the bars to make noise. He loves tipping things over, dumping out his toys and playing with the laundry basket! Just a glimpse of things to come, I suspect!!

My mirror is filled with handprints...all the time:)

Nap time...20 minutes in.

This is while I fold the laundry...it is pretty funny to watch him inside

I give him a few dishes to distract him while I load or unload with record speed.

Fourth of July Weekend

We had a great fourth weekend. We spent most of our time at the beach soaking up the sun. On the 3rd B actually got home from work early so that we could go have a bonfire on the beach with some of our friends. We had a blast, and the kids did great. It definitely satisfied my smores craving. The next morning we heading back to the beach in Santa Monica. I actually got in the water this time. Those who know me, know that I don't like to be in the ocean unless there are a lot of people (that way statistically, odds are in my favor that I won't be the one eaten by a shark:). I went boogie boarding and the only thing I was attacked by was the constant flow of kelp onto the beach. I don't like kelp...I think I screamed every time it got wrapped around my leg. Seth, however, had no fear what so ever. He has a new found obsession with sand...especially eating it and stroking his hands through it. The blanket we were sitting on was no place for Seth. He would quickly wander away onto the sand and crawl as fast and as far as he could. He never even looked back to see where we were. If I didn't go pick him up and bring him back, I am confident we would have a lone baby crawling along the beach forever (or at least until he got hungry). Finally, we had hot dogs at the park and played bocce ball. Fun stuff!!

Fourth of July outfit!

Picnic at the park

Joining the adults in Bocce

The wandering baby

Paige and Seth...before they ate sand