Part of the Madding Crowd: May 2009

Note: Here's a post I started last May. Since I promised my dad I would post something by New Year's Eve and I didn't, I'll just post this. It's about our trip to Utah in April.

I suppose I shall just ramble on a bit about a million different things since it's been so long since my last post. I really loved the movie Slumdog Millionaire. It was moving and inspiring without being sappy and forced (Ron Howard should take lessons). I especially liked watching the relationship of the two brothers grow and change. The older brother was a punk, but he loved his younger brother and he often felt hurt and neglected which caused him to be mean and spiteful. Then he felt bad and would try to be nicer, but then he would get hurt again when his brother cared more about his friend (the girl) than him. The movie had some of the same themes as the Tale of Despereaux did. Funny that, an big studio animated movie about a mouse and an independent movie about a poor kid in India have the same themes of hurt and forgiveness and bravery and courage and being true to yourself. Anyway, I highly recommend Slumdog Millionaire.

The kids and I have done a lot of fun things the last couple of months. We took a trip to Utah for Logan's Easter Vacation. We had a good time staying with our friends Dan and Rachel and really enjoyed seeing uncles Brandon and Kolby every day. While in Utah, we tried to get out and do fun things every day. It was hard, since we actually spent the whole vacation getting sick, one at a time. Logan actually woke up sick the morning after we left with a fever that lasted two days and a sore throat. Then by Tuesday night, it was Rowen with the fever and throwing up. Then on Wednesday, I couldn't get out of bed and had a fever. It was quite miserable. We ended up coming home on Friday instead of Saturday. I've actually been a little afraid to call Rachel since we got back, cause I'm scared that they all ended up getting sick after we left and that it's all our fault. What nice friends they are that they didn't kick us out of their house as soon as we got there.

We met up with Becky, an old roommate of mine one day at the park. Our kids ran around and played together at the park. They didn't want to leave. It was so much fun to see her and see how we've changed by being moms. She looked the exact same, I can't believe it's been 10 years since we lived together. She did kind of scare me about what it's like to live in Utah. I don't know that I want my kids growing up with those kinds of attitudes about the gospel. And also, how bad the air is for kids with asthma.

We went to Wheeler farm. We took Josh, and he loved the animals. Except for the geese, but that's because one bit him on the leg. In the goose's defense, we didn't know that he was protecting a mommy goose that was sitting on her egg close by. We all got to milk a cow. Of course, as soon as I start, the cow decides to poop, and it splatters all over my pants. It was really gross. And it was in front of about 50 people. Highlight of my day.

The best thing we did in Utah was go to the Treehouse Museum in Ogden. It was well worth the drive. If we lived in Salt Lake, we would have annual passes. The kids loved it. It was like a Discovery Science Center, but all based on literature and culture.