From the Archive: Of Birthdays, Theses and Manufactured Memories

August 29th, We celebrated Ben's 30th birthday at his parents house in between fits of last minute revisions to his M.A. thesis. The cake reads, "Thesis a 30th Birthday Wish," which is why Ben's copy of Pedro Páramo is above the cake, it's the novel he wrote about in his thesis. (We forgot to put the "th" after the "30").

This is Ben's favorite dessert that I make, eclair torte. We also had some teriyaki tri-tip, grilled chicken, ribs, mashed potatoes and greens. The food was wonderful and the company was even better. Those present: Ben's Mom and Dad, his sister Michelle and brother-in-law Nate, his "Aunt and Uncle" Patricia and Tom, and his cousin Shannen and her boyfriend Rick. It was quite fun.

September 10th, Ben defended his thesis: Remembering the Ghost: Pedro Páramo and the Ethics of Haunting. (He just sent off the hard copies to get published last week). The defense went well, it wasn't a slaughter and it's the most in depth I've ever heard Ben talk about his thesis so that was interesting. It was also a huge hurdle to get over so it was nice to have it done. Here he is with his committee after the defense: Doug Weatherford, David Laraway and Greg Stallings.

Ben wasn't allowed to walk in the graduation ceremony because he didn't defend by a certain date. He found this out after he ordered his cap and gown. So one Sunday before church we drove up to campus and took some quick pictures with all the regalia just before it started to sprinkle. The kids were very cooperative and we got some decent pictures too.

Here's Ben and the kids with "Brother Brigham" in front of the administration building on campus. It was a short manufactured "graduation ceremony," the pictures just took ten minutes. We left that same week for California. It's all a blur now.

And this is what happens...

...when you don't listen to the little voice that says, "You know, you should really put that pie in a more stable place." But I thought, "nah, it'll be fine." Then I forgot about it, braked hard a few times, and this is the result. Rest in peace, glorious Costco pumpkin pie.

I was really okay with it, because a messed-up pie meant I could eat it now, instead of two days from now. I am a very patient person when it comes to this pumpkin pie.

Happy Thanksgiving. May your day be filled with thanks and scrumptious, presentable desserts.

Grandpa and Grandma comin' to town

Grandpa and Grandma Chickens have been visiting. We've been busy, and sick of course. Whenever Grandma Chickens visits, we manage to get something. Last fall, it was the stomach flu. This time, it was a pretty powerful cold. After nearly 2 weeks with someone being sick, Gordon and I are finishing up the tail end of the cold.

My growing-up kiddos. Gordon's got his classic "deer in the headlights" look.

We celebrated Jilly's birthday a few days ago at her uncle's house. She got this fabulous princess Viewmaster...

...and this beloved Gloworm. Our neighbor has one for her baby, and when we go to her house and visit, Jilly would latch on to this singing baby and would almost cry when she had to put it back so we could go home. She LOVES it. The Gloworm now joins the entourage (baby, purse, puppy, miscellaneous items) of security that travels with Jilly wherever I permit.

Evelyn and Jill were both gifted a bunch of these funny masks that make animal noises. I'm proudly modeling the zebra, and Gordon's face is being smashed in by Ev trying to make the little lion "roar." This little boy is mostly patient with his sisters.

Grandma didn't want to do the whole Disneyland deal, so they just went for the character breakfast at "Goofy's kitchen." They met Chip, Pluto, Baloo the Bear, Minnie (one of their favorites), and...

...Cinderella. Jilly's favorite princess. Grandma said when Jilly saw who it was from a distance, she started doing one of those mini-panic attacks teenage girls do when they see their favorite rock star or celebrity. Then when Cinderella got up close, Jilly started eating her waffle like no one's business, and didn't want to talk to her. Luckily Jill got a second chance later, and managed to eek out the fact she had just turned 3. Ev got what was going on pretty quick, and enjoyed herself. And her breakfast, as this picture is proof of her chipmunk cheeks.

Jilly asked one day if she could sleep at the hotel with Grandma and Grandpa, so the girls did a sleep-over, swam in the pool, ordered room service, and watched Disney channel. IN THE BED. They thought this was so cool. Then they proceeded to wake up in the middle of the night and stay up. Jilly was complaining of growing pains, Grandma finally got her to sleep, and then Evelyn woke up. She told Grandpa she was missing Mommy, so he brought her out to Grandma on the couch who had turned on Disney channel again to calm Jilly. Grandma fell asleep with Evelyn watching the TV. Some unknown amount of time later (a few hours probably), Grandma woke up to see Evelyn still wide awake, enveloped in Disney. That kid can watch her some TV. We'll wait a while before trying a sleep-over again.

And this boy is finally getting some teeth in. Which is probably why he has been more cranky, snotty, and slobbery than I would have expected from just a cold. Then again, it was a pretty bad cold. He's also getting the hang of sitting up. He won't stay there too long though, he wants to crawl away. He finds sitting boring. He's finally getting up again between 6-7 am, it had been from 4-5 am after Daylight Savings Time hit. Seriously. DST can go away. My best regards to the government on this one.

Now off to bed to kick this cold into a distant memory. I'm still a mite cranky and congested. At least I don't sound like a dying frog any more. One night Ben would answer any comment I made with, "what was that? I couldn't hear you." Nerd. But I still love him.