Thursday, January 26, 2012

Dana is the Bacon!

Our dear friend Dana is moving to Peru for six months (or scarily maybe longer) to work in their Hospital doing family medicine and delivering babies here and there. Lucky Peru and bummer for us (me)! For those of you who don't know Dana, I think the most accurate way I could describe her is like bacon--everything is better with a little Dana (or best case scenario Dana & bacon). She is always willing to lend a hand, in for a laugh or give you a giant awesome Dana-hug. If you've never had a Dana Hug then you are really missing something. Just truck on out to Peru--she gives out hugs for free.

Dana is frowning while she reads this as she doesn't dig on the pork products, but it still remains true: Dana/bacon makes everything better!



Ah the infamous chicken leg. Dana came over one day so I could run a errand w/o the kids (did I mention she is always helping people out) and she brought some chicken she made. She a piece of it while she was here, but when she left, she forgot the chicken leg. She texted me immediately not to eat it and she'd be by for it later. The texts and calls continued for several days until she was able to return to my house for her going away party! Here is my one and only photo from this event--Dana and her chicken leg (reunited plays softly the background).

Sleep Over!

Rosie came over for the girl's first sleep over. It was crazy-fun. They ate, colored, built a tent, made a fish craft, played dress up like a fairy tale and I don't even know what else! Just like a good slumber party the girls stayed up forever late and giggled a LOT!





Now someone tell me if we have created a monster...Noli has been asking to have another sleep over and this weekend Rosie's brave parents are having Noli over!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

The Game of Giggles



Of course I managed to take this video after Justin & Mars had been playing this game for awhile so this was the last gasp. Oh well!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Family Fort & More!



Our friends Kieth & Meg gave Noli & Mars a "family fort kit" which included some ropes, sheets & clothes pins. Noli has wrapped the living room so many times in ropes. This is the fort they (well Noli really) made recently.


Noli put on her pirate costume this morning and was singing "yo, ho, ho, a pirates life for me" When I asked to take a picture, this was her "I don't want to!" look.


Marlon managed to have a blow out while we were out, we only had Noli spare pants...this was the results. This is also Marlon's new trick. He is trying to do a pull up on the drawer.


Justin is taking Marlon for a spin on our Bilibo. Marlon does his little dance right at the end before disaster strikes....

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Best of 2011



Now that 2011 is officially over, it's time I get my top music lists for the year together.

I usually have a hard time picking songs, but I already had to do so for a playlist with friends at work, so here you go:

Top 5 Songs

  1. Radio -- Raphael Saadiq
  2. Bizness -- Tune-Yards
  3. I Get Nervous -- Lower Dens
  4. Getting Ready for Christmas Day -- Paul Simon
  5. 'Til I Go Home -- Small Sins

This year I was drawn to electronic music more than ever before. This trend will definitely continue into 2012. Would love to go to Moogfest in Asheville this year.

Top 5 Electronic Albums

  1. Baths -- Cerulean (technically 2010)
  2. James Blake -- James Blake
  3. SBTRKT -- SBTRKT
  4. Moderat -- Moderat (technically 2009)
  5. Mount Kimbie -- Crooks & Lovers

Once I fall for a band, I fall hard. I lose all objectivity and tend to like anything they do, although My Morning Jacket is starting to threaten their status. For example, this year I saw U2 again and completed my back catalogs of Pearl Jam (20th anniversary!) and REM (farewell guys).

Top 5 Albums by Bands I Love Unconditionally

  1. Ryan Adams -- Ashes & Fire
  2. Bright Eyes -- The People's Key
  3. Iron & Wine -- Kiss Each Other Clean
  4. TV on the Radio -- Nine Types of Light
  5. The Mountain Goats -- All Eternals Deck

Some of these bands have been around a while and some were new in 2011, but I plan on following these bands in the future.

Top 5 New (to me) Artists

  1. Phantogram -- for fans of The xx
  2. Drive-By Truckers -- wish I'd jumped on this bandwagon sooner
  3. Handsome Furs -- guy from Wolf Parade
  4. Jon Hopkins
  5. The Head and the Heart


Last but not least, here are my favorite albums of the year. 

Top 5 Albums
  1. The Decemberists -- The King is Dead
  2. Wilco -- The Whole Love
  3. Tune-Yards -- W H O K I L L
  4. Radiohead -- The King of Limbs
  5. Shabazz Palaces -- Black Up