Girls Night Out, Dads Night In

Saturday night, I promised Hannah I would take her to see New Moon. Honestly, I was tired and went out of "duty." Hannah ordered a large drink (which never would have happened in my family growing up because movie concessions were considered an unwise use of money...a special treat for her). The popcorn was a deal at $.50 because we brought back in our High School Musical 3 bucket. Yea! I never saw the movie but the bucket has really saved us big! We went to the 5:00 matinee and there were eleven people in the entire theater. I was surprised that I ENJOYED the movie MUCH more this time. I could focus on the sets, emotion of actors, and music this time. A fun night. We drove Joe's "new to him" used Accura and I was a bit timid to drive it. Also, we drove way up and around the main ways to avoid the U of U vs. BYU game traffic on the way home. At home, Jonathan, Bekah, and Joe were going to watch Start Trek. Apparently, the children began quarreling and Dad enlisted the mutinies to do laundry. After a little while, they all drove to Jamba Juice and used a great coupon for refreshing smoothies to end a good (long) day.

Happy Thanksgiving

(Only photo before battery died).

We have so much to be thankful for this year. We have an "away" year from my family and so we had a rather relaxing morning. Lauren (cousin) and Rebekah were very enthusiastic lemon zesters and we made two luscious lemon pies, roasted some yams, and made a Cranberry Jell-o salad and a plain Strawberry Jello with cream. In the afternoon, Joe and I took all the children on a walk down an old cement "off road" path to Timpview High and detoured into the "wilderness" gully area behind Joe's old home. We wanted to teach our children how to explore and play outside (a thing of the yesteryear generations?). We spied deer tracks, deer's white tails, unusual bird calls, a tee-pee made of sticks, old juice and soda cans, frosted leaves, and a new looking soft ball. We hiked up to Grammy and Pop Pops and they were just pulling hot rolls out of the oven. We hustled home and were off to Aunt Anne's feast: hor devours, cranberry yams, mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, green beans, Jello salad, rolls and memories of one another and our lives. Dessert was pecan, pumpkin, and apple pies--all made by Anne and Grammy. A rich day to honor pilgrims sacrifices, freedoms, family, and friends. * Of course, I took one picture and our camera turned off for low battery. LaVonalise took video and then I realized that I hadn't pushed record properly--oh well. Mind memories and pictures then.

Random Photo Updates

I was so grateful Joe stayed home from meetings today because the fireplace people were coming, Jonathan's Turkey party and Hannah's Greek Play were all scheduled at the same time...tricky. Joe was a sport and agreed to fgo into the First Grade and frost sugar cone teepees for the little ones to decorate with licorice strings and rainbow Twizzlers cut horizontally (making colorful stars) with mini candy pumpkins. Grandma and Grandpa Clayton got back from their Greek Islands Holy Land Tour and came to see Hannah's play and stopped by Jonathan's class. (You see how happy Susie is after LOTS of treats and mingling with "big" people)!

Hannah is holding a Rootbeer Floats (I didn't know they had those at the first Thanksgiving! Rebekah has a turkey cookie on her plate from her own class party).

Susie insisted on taking photos with the camera and this is one I left. Joe is helping me plug in something on the side of my desk.

Saturday=Slave Labor...we enlist 'em young. Susie fought me over the vacuum and won.

Our happy boy!

Ultrasound

Side profile and a wave of her hand

She is looking up at us

Foot

Isn't it funny how slowly life moves at times. The three weeks until this ultrasound seemed so far away. Joe and I were joking about gender while waiting in the room for the ultrasound this morning. He was holding out for a boy. I'm starting to believe Susie knows (or remembers). The results showed a baby in shadows. We got cute shots of a foot and a skeletal front shot (looking at eyes looking back at us--not a typical side profile). Brain, heart, umbilical cord, spine, all appear "normal." We have to give it to Susie--it looks to be indeed a GIRL! A family palindrome. Good news also since she was a "surprise" was she is measuring big for her early ultrasound date and so instead of moving me back a week--they moved me behind only one day. Yea! (Mid April on the same day as Joe and Jonathan's birthdays.)

Atalanta and the Golden Apples

Coming up with a quick Greek costume. The back view--Greek hair.

Atalanta joins the men in the archery contest to kill the Hyperion Boar. Atalanta and Hippomenes are "neck and neck" in the race.

Hannah was Atalanta ( the main character) in her Sixth Grade Greek Plays this year. Plot summary: When Alalanta is born, she is rejected by her father, King Mainalos because she is not a boy. He places her in the forest to die and she is raised by a pack of wolves and later a family of bears. When Athena is offended by the King, she sends a fire breathing boar to remind him of her help. They gather the best hunters around, including the female Atalanta to hunt and kill the boar. Atalanta shoots him with an arrow and Menelaus then uses his sword to cut off the boars head. They fall in love. Menelaus kils his two uncles defending Atalanta and for this he must die. His mother puts his log in the fire that the fates declared would not finish burning before he died (as an infant the mother snatched it up and hid the log to save her sons life). Atalanta vows to never marry and shun men after this. Aprodite

Atalanta (Greek: Αταλάντη, English translation: "balanced")(also called Atlanta) is a character from ancient Greek mythology.

Her father, Schoeneus or Iasius, wanted a son so badly that when Atalanta was born, he left her on a mountain top to die. Artemis sent a "she-bear" to suckle Atalanta, who learned to fight and hunt as a bear would. Some stories say that eventually (name needed) found her and raised her.

Atalanta, having grown up in the wilderness, became a fierce huntress and was always armed. It is said that she took an oath of virginity to the goddess Artemis. When two centaurs Rhoikos and Hylaios tried to rape her, Atalanta killed them.

CALYDONIAN BOAR HUNT: When Artemis was forgotten at a sacrifice by King Oineus, she was angered and sent a wild boar that ravaged the land, men, cattle and prevented crops from being sown. Atalanta joined Meleager and many other famous heroes on a hunt. Many of the men were angry that a woman was joining the hunt, but Meleagros, though married, lusted for Atalanta, persuaded them to join Atalanta in the chase. Several of the men were killed before Atalanta was the first to hit the boar and draw blood. After Meleager finally killed the boar with his spear, he awarded the boar skin to Atalanta. Meleagros’ uncles, Plexippus and Toxeus, were angry and tried to take the skin from Atalanta. In his anger, Meleagros killed his uncles. In her grieving, Meleagros’ mother Althaia “kindled the brand,” and Meleagros died.

After the Calydonian Boar Hunt, Atalanta was discovered by her father. He wanted her to be wed, but Atalanta, uninterested in marriage, agreed to marry only if her suitors could outrun her, though fully armed, in a footrace. King Schoineus agreed and many young men died in the attempt until Melanion (or Hippomenes) came along. Melanion asked the goddess Aphrodite for help and she gave him three golden apples to toss as Atalanta caught up, in order to slow her down. Melanion tossed the apples every time Atalanta came near him and in this way came to marry Atalanta. (Article summary compliments of Wikipedia).

More Cryptic Thoughts

I was teasing Susie tonight again asking if Mommy was still going to have two babies..."A girl and a boy." Yes, she nodded. I reaffirmed that the baby inside is a girl. "Yes, like Susie. A girl. Not a boy. Not like Jonathan." "Well, what is her name?" She looks up at me puzzled. "I don't know," she mutters. "Where is the boy then, Susie?" "He is in a small house." "Where is the house?" Another quizzical look and no answer. Are there any more babies? Again no answer. Well, there you have it. Susie's advice. Joe thinks this should be it. He thinks we need to pray about it (about Susie's thoughts anyway). I agree.

New Mooners

Yes, we did. Was it crazy? Probably. Hannah was a willing sitter. (All the children slept through, thankfully). Last week, Joe and I picked up tickets online for a New Moon showing at 12:11 a.m. this morning. We stood in line with people of various ages. I haven't seen fan reaction like this one since Harry Potter's Opening nights. There was even a group of Ninja Turtles dressed up--never did figure out them. Their hint was "haven't you read Stephanie Meyer's Blog?" The movie was beautifully filmed with an obviously higher budget. I wish I could say I enjoyed it more than Twilight...but it seemed very scripted and less romantic and fun. They skipped a lot of the classic cute lines in favor of keeping up with a strict plot line, hmm. Music in the film was very so-so. Over all a fun date with Joe. We had teeny-boppers guessing at our age when we were quessing about their "Quote a Disney's movie" inline game. Go again soon. Hmm, I am not sure. Bonus: buckets of High School Musical popcorn were going for $1.00 and refills were also $1.00!

Camera Found!

My camera has been missing for quite some time and my computer has been in the process of being debugged and it is still buggy. So this is a catch-up post. Oh, and if your camera ever ends up "gone" and you check all the obvious places (coat pockets, purses, diaper bag, drawers, entire house...), go ahead and ask your children. Sure enough, Hannah had mine tucked away with all sorts of pictures of her and her cat, Morgana. Our Halloween Pumpkins: Jonathan's is the Goblin, Susie the cute little sugar pumpkin and Rebekah's the Cat, Hannah's was Uncarved. Jonathan came home and asked for a piece of paper and began making these decorations from an example his teacher made for him. I was tickled by the different Jack-o-Lanterns and Ghosts. He opened the door and stuck then in place one by one as soon as he finished one. Rebekah and Susie at the Reflections Contest Assembly.

Rebekah won a trophy for her short film entitled, "Beauty is Nature."

Hannah won an Honorable Mention Medal for her photograph entitled "Beauty is Metamorphosis" (Changing Autumn Leaves)

Indian Project "Cliff Dweller" Diorama by Rebekah

Joe's week-end project with the children was to replace the beat-up plexi glass inside our banisters with painted metal dowls and "shoes." Beautiful job!

Ah-ha--the cuprit is caught on film!

The Great Pumpkin (Halloween Cont.)

The tradition in our neck of the woods is for the children to eat their fill on Halloween and then put some favorites in a plastic bag with their name on it to save for later. The rest of the Halloween loot is left in the front room to await the Great Pumpkin who will spirit away the candy and leave a toy for each child in it's place. Susannah got a Princess Tea Set. Jonathan an Iron Man Punching Bag. Rebekah got a Stuffed Animal Organizer and three puppy beanie babies and Hannah got a large pink bath and beauty bag. (She was all ready in the shower when the above pictures were taken.) Some concluding thoughts: Perhaps this will be the last year the Campbell children offer up their goods to the Great Pumpkin. I picked Jonathan up on Monday from school. He had a big scowl on his face and said, "Mom! Remind me--never to give the Great Pumpkin my candy ever again!" Rebekah wrote the GP and asked for a Great Dane Puppy. Although, Joe and I tried to prepare her by reminding her, the GP only brings toys.

Butterflies

While our lives, like yours, are so busy in the happening that the days are flying by or draggin by betimes, "butterflies" have moved in. At first I was cautious. Is that really Baby? Baby are you in there? Bonks, nudges, flutters and swirls. Julie doesn't simply have indigestion. The highlight of my week came when Joe and I were watching a movie and the baby loved the popcorn and sweet Propel drink. Joe's hand was on my lower belly (which still looks fairly flat, thanks to my long torso and squatty legs.) Bonk, nudge, push. "Julie, was that the baby?" "I felt IT!" (Baby is still an IT until the ultrasound before Thanksgiving when we confirm his or her status). Hints: Susie says cryptically, "two babies--first girl then boy." (No, we are not having twins and it is hard to imagine doing this again right now). Motherly intuition? Joe would tell you I have none. I guessed a boy with Hannah. Rebekah's pregnancy and in-utero personality was so different, I though "boy" again. Wrong. By Jonathan, I didn't officially say. But I knew. With this one, I'm going with girl. Since, IT was not expected and we seem to grow girls. I hope to be delightfully surprised so Jonathan can get his long-awaited brother...of course, I will be delightfully surprised either way. (Psst. Jonathan, Santa Claus still doesn't bring babies).