Crazy Female Emotions

Truly, where do I begin? I do not consider myself a highly emotional person, but there are times when I step back from myself in a situation (like the one last night) and think, "Who the heck is this lady?"

Last night, I was a sad little puddle on the couch. And I'm sorry to say, it was not the first time this month that has been the case. I just felt all weepy and depressed. Who can say exactly what brings on these emotions, right? Hormones? Pity parties? Being tired? Whatever it is, I'm OVER IT. Poor Ian has to sit there and assure me that I'm just as fun as I used to be, that his affection for me hasn't changed, that our life together is still enjoyable. All that assuring I'm sure isn't helping my case for being fun and interesting. =) But for better or for worse, right?

So as I tried to evaluate my emotions last night and why I felt like a failure and a bad wife and all the other things I felt, I certainly did have the sense that "This weepy chic is annoying." But, she's also me, for better or for worse. =) So, I'm trying to accept that part of me, while also not letting it run rampid.

Fingers crossed I can avoid the puddle tonight!

Public Library

Do you know what we have at home? Four finished library books, stacked by our front door, waiting for the library to open tomorrow so we can return the books (and check out some new ones). Ian and I love the library. He just finished reading the Hunger Games series, which I had checked out previously. I just renewed the books on my account and he read those copies as I finished them. Then I started reading the other series by the same author, Suzanne Collins, and since this series is for middle readers, it's a pretty easy read. That one is called the Underland Series. Since I read the first one so quickly and had to wait two whole days (gasp) until I could get the next one, I checked out books two and three together this time. Now I'm finished with both of those and ready for books four and five, to complete the series.

Ian and I have both really been enjoying this new author, which was recommended to me by my friend Melanie. Ian has posted a few times about the Hunger Games in his blog, if you want to read that here. He is brilliant in his assessment, as always. =)

Isn't it great that we don't have to buy these books, which saves us money and is better for the environment, but instead we can get them for FREE from the library that is just around the corner from my office? Oh, how I love the library.

Do you love your local library?

Mother's Day Tea

As has become our annual tradition, we had a Mother's Day Tea at my parents' house in Brea. You would think, being that it's Mother's Day, that my sisters and I send out the invitations, do all the cooking, decorating and serving, but you'd be wrong. My mom does it all and we get to enjoy the fruits of all her labors. Isn't that awesome? We just show up and enjoy a FEAST and get waited on by various men in the family. This year, Sarah's men did the serving. Even Levi, the baby, "helped" Eric from the backpack on his back. Noah and Caleb were such gentleman and did a wonderful job. Ian was, I'll admit, very happy to be relieved of previous duties.

Each year, my mom picks a theme and does an amazing job working it throughout the tea. This year, the theme was Anne of Green Gables. Having just reread the series (for who knows how many times) a few months ago, and having just received the first movie from Ian for Christmas, I was well prepared.

Here is Sheila and Sophie, dressed in their best Anne fashion. Don't they look cute?
As part of the tea, we also had a time for elocutions. If you know the story, you know Anne is VERY dramatic and does lots of public recitations. Here's Sarah reenacting the Lady of Shallot while I read from the poem.

Here's my mom delivering her elocution, which was a passage from Romans. Very nice Nellie!

Mary and Abbie were there, of course, looking so cute. Mary's mother-in-law Linda made Abbie's outfit for Christmas but it worked perfect for the tea as well! (Not pictured is a bonnet that was to die for.)

Here's Gina with her two darlings. I can't wait to have a daughter of my own some day to bring to the tea. Some day!

And here is me and Mom. We're posing for Elena, who got a new camera for her birthday. You can't really tell, but I have my hair braided in two braids and then pinned up. I'm also wearing an apron my Grandma Sunukjian made, as a sort of pinafore. I looked cute. At least, that's what Ian said. =) I was so honored to be sitting by the hostess!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you and your teas. Thank you for having us over and for all your hard work.

And Happy Mother's Day to all the other mom's out there. You are great!

Dinner at the McCurry's

If you know me at all, you know that I'm obsessed with Cooking Light. I pour over the magazine every month, reading all the articles and all the recipes. I tear out the recipes I want, cut them down to size, paste them onto pieces of paper, laminate them, 3-hole punch them and then put them in my huge binder. It's truly one of my favorite hobbies. (Not to mention that I actually do cook with all those recipes - each Saturday, I flip through my binder, planning my menu and deciding what we'll eat all week. I do this so I can make my grocery list.)

Anyway, one of the articles I read recently said that all dinner plates should be 1/4 lean protein, 1/4 starch and 1/2 vegetables. I've been inspired since then to strive for those ratios. I've accomplished it on several occasions, and Ian, who could make a whole dinner with a plate full of chips, doesn't even complain! (Not that I blame him - chips can be very delicious.)

Last week, I made salmon, pilaf, green beans and broccoli, and as you can see, the portions were Cooking Light approved.

Isn't food so pretty sometimes? Ah, I love cooking.

My Nephew was the Lead in his Kindergarden Play

Sarah's 2nd son, Noah, was "Old King Cole" in the nursery rhyme "Old King Cole." Needless to say, he was the lead. I got to watch him perform last night and my little auntie heart was bursting with pride. There are 150 kindergartners at his school - I have no idea how they picked the leads (Noah's not a ham or very theatrical...) but he read his lines just perfectly and did a great job keep his composure. He was SOOOO CUTE (to his face, I said he did a fantastic job, since no 6 year old wants to be cute).

All the other kids in the play lined up before the play started, as you can see here:

Then Noah made a grand entrance, with the other storytellers, which you can see here (he is in the cape and crown, in case you don't know a king when you see one):

He was so serious and focused as he read his lines. It's really a very cute poem, if you're not familiar with it. He throws a party and invites many of the other stories.

And the fiddlers play in between each story - aren't they so cute?!

One of the people the king invites to the party is Humpty-Dumpty. I don't know whose kid this is, but he was darling!

At the end of the play, all the actors got an induction. For the soldiers, about 25 kids would stand and we would clap. But Noah got his own introduction and you can believe his mother and I went crazy when they let us cheer for him. Here he is, just sitting back down.

I had such a great time and it really made me look forward to the day when our kids are dressed in awesome duck costumes, singing on a stage with other kids. Thanks, Noah, for inviting me to your play!