Benefits of Moving

Temperature in Orem this morning: 15 degrees
Temperature in Dallas this morning: 73 degrees

Enough said.

In other news, I don't know what has gotten into me. I have a tremendous amount of the Christmas spirit and it came unusually early this year. I'm practical done with all my Christmas shopping. And in another fit of Christmas spirit, I decided I wanted to make cinnamon rolls last night. However, I could only find one package of yeast in the house that had a use by date of 2002. I didn't think that would work. So we all dredged out to the grocery store in frigid temperatures to buy yeast, a cheeseball and crackers, and sparkling apple juice. Then my mom and I stayed up until 11:30 last night making them. They turned out really well. At least everyone at work said so.

I also convinced my mom to make my favorite Christmas cookie. It is a ginger cookie with a lemon/coconut filling. They are hard to make and she hates doing it, but I told her it would bring me much happiness so she agreed. I hope she does it this weekend!

Weekend Fun

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving Weekend. Wednesday night I slaved away making sweet potatoes and an apple pie. Thursday (since I did all the work the night before) I was able to sleep in. Then we went to my aunt Mary's house for Thanksgiving Dinner. Quinn said he had never seen such a mass gathering before for Thanksgiving. I think there was just about 38 of us there for dinner. It was delicious.

After dinner, some of us went to see Deja Vu. It was alright. I would have rather spent the money on seeing The Work and the Glory III but it was sold out so what can you do.

Friday Quinn and I went and bought our first Christmas tree together. It is a rather beautiful tree. We spent the day decorating and had a lot of fun.

Saturday I night we went to a wedding. Afterwards, I was feeling sad that I had to miss the gingerbread house making festivities at my aunt's house, that I made Quinn stop by the grocery store and we picked up our own kit and candy. I spent the next two hourse constructing the house. It is amazing. The roof is tiled in Andes mints. I only wish I had a digital camera so I could post a picture of it in all its splendor.

Sunday was a nice relaxing day at home.

This morning the alarm went off at 6:30 a.m. and after 4 days of no alarm it was a sick sick joke.

And the verdict is...

ACCEPTED!!!




I'm so excited and happy to announce that as of today Quinn is officially part of the Digital Game Development Program at The Guildhall at SMU. I'm so proud of him and how hard he worked on his portfolio. He will be fantastic at level design.

There are a thousand things to do before we make the move to Dallas but I'm so excited to be doing them knowing that he will be training to do something he loves.

The Parent Trap

I have brought much enlightment to Quinn over the last few months (If I do say so myself :)) But I'm most proud of what I was able to accomplish last night. Quinn watched The Parent Trap with me and enjoyed it. Mind you, we watched the Lindsay Lohan remake and not the original, but still. And the best part of it is, is that he watched voluntarily. I left it up to him as to whether we should watch Iron Chef America: Battle Turkey (another thing I have got him hooked on) or The Parent Trap. He was already so into The Parent Trap that he couldn't change the channel. It was great.

TomKat

I read the most hilarious article ever about the TomKat wedding. It was so good, I have to post the article in its entirety. It's long but I know you will enjoy it. I still am very upset about this whole Katie being brainwashed business. She use to be normal and I spent years watching her on Dawson's Creek. Now she just weirds me out.

Here it is:

By Helen A.S. Popkin

MSNBC contributor

Congratulations, Katie Holmes, on your long-awaited nuptials! Frankly, we were starting to worry that maybe Tom Cruise would never “buy the cow,” if you catch our meaning. We’ll all breathe a sigh of relief this Saturday (Nov. 18) when you and the man you dreamed of marrying in high school finally tie the knot at that 15th century Italian castle in front of several hundred of your closest associates, many of whom you’ve been casually acquainted with for practically a whole year.

Do we call you “Kate” now, as Tom insists? You are, indeed the “remarkable woman,” Tom incessantly describes, bucking celebrity fashion and making your own baby rather than adopting one of those trendy third-world kids. And with so many celebrity break-ups, it takes a leap of faith to make your first Hollywood husband a guy whose first two actress wives are living happily ever after without him.

Not that we’re trying to freak you out. Just because sure-things like Britney and K-Fed, Reese and Ryan, Jessica and Nick, and that country singer from “Dancing with the Stars” and whomever she was married to, couldn’t make it work, doesn’t mean you need to worry. Why, you have everything a blushing young bride needs: Something old (your fiancé); something new (baby Suri); something borrowed (Scientology); and something blue (your family). But even if your folks are estranged, as rumors contend, we’re here for you. And since there’s no talking you out of this (right?), we’ve got some advice on keeping your marriage strong.

Cultivate outside interests. Or at least stop wearing matching outfits. Seriously, you may fit into each other’s black pants, black t-shirts, black jackets and sunglasses but that’s no excuse. It’s getting confusing, and anyway, on you Tom’s trousers are high waters.

Nurture intimacy. Every day, for at least one minute a day, stop waving, take off your matching sunglasses, relax your blinding rictus grins and make Tom actually look at you instead of the cameras.

But not too much intimacy. Kiss on that adorable baby all you want, but please, stop slobbering on each other every time you’re in the public eye. We get it. You’re in love. You have sex. The baby proves it. Now, please exercise some decorum. For us. We haven’t kept a meal down for over a year.

Get your story straight – before you leave the house. How is your relationship faring today? “Super In-Love?” “Gushingly Ga-Ga?” “Over-The-Moon?” Obtain the 411 from hubby first thing, and when the flashbulbs start, you won’t have to lock on Tom with one of your creepy stares, as if silently imploring him to guide your every mood.

Support your husband’s career. Remember, it was Paramount head Sumner Redstone‘s spouse Paula that got Tom’s production company axed from the studio when she told her husband that Tom “turned off all women.” Now that Tom’s heading up United Artists, ensure surrounding executives that chicks honestly do dig your man.

P.R. friendships can turn into real friendships. Despite that previous post-partum depression smack down with Tom, Brooke Shields seems to enjoy your company. And how’s the alleged “high-level minder from the Church of Scientology,” Jessica Feshbach Rodriguez? She’s been your best friend since you and Tom started dating – and she’s really good at answering your interview questions. That’ll come in handy at PTA meetings.

Beware of ambitious young starlets born around 1989. As you may have gleaned from the tabloids, Tom chooses his wives at 11-year age-intervals; Mimi Rogers (b. 1956), Nicole Kidman (b. 1967), and of course, you, the new Mrs. Cruise (b. 1978). To be safe, it’s probably best if you just stopped aging all together.

Review emergency procedures (and program your cell phone accordingly). Above all, Tom is a Good Samaritan. Why just recently, you both stopped on the road to aid at the scene of an accident. In 1998, Tom stopped a mugging. And in 1996 he rescued a family at sea. So remember, when danger strikes: 1. Dial 911. 2. Attempt CPR. 3. Text publicist.

Learn how to entertain. As a new wife, you’re bound to meet many new faces – ex-wives, Tom’s adopted children, and a whole bevy of C-list sitcom Scientologists such as Leah Remini, Kirstie Alley and Jenna Elfman, for whom Tom’s chartered a private flight to attend your wedding in Italy. And as with your wedding, never ever under any circumstances invite Oprah. Tom should always be the most famous person in the room.

Forget about marriage counseling. Psychology is, as Tom told Matt Lauer, a “Nazi science.” Just like with your new best friend Brooke’s post-partum depression, there’s nothing wrong with your marriage that vitamins and exercise can’t fix.

Remember, you’re Kate Cruise now. We hear that unlike his previous wives, you may take Tom’s last name. We understand that after you and Tom hooked up, you quickly canned your manager, agents and publicist. You also dropped out of the career-making Edie Sedgwick bio-pic “Factory Girl,” allegedly because Tom disapproved of the sordid material, that your nude scene in “Thank You For Smoking” was cut for the same reason, and you even turned down an Oscar nomination for that same role. Further, despite your talent and previously prodigious career, you have no projects in the works. But Katie – er – Kate, it’s okay to keep acting. Hey, Tom’s production company might get you a little something. Women need a hobby – just as long it doesn’t cross into career territory. You don’t want to end up like that poor Nicole Kidman, dumped via press release while filming “Moulin Rouge.”

And most importantly, don’t make a sex tape. Tom might find it.

Almost Decision Time

Many of you know that Quinn has applied to The Guildhall at SMU so that he can study video game design. Well, I know everyone is wondering if he got in or not. We still don't know. We emailed the admissions person yesterday to ask when we should know by. Mostly, because I'm getting anxious and need to know what to do about a job and a place to live if we do end up moving in January. Here was her response to Quinn:

"I hope by the middle of next week, our executive director is out until then and he makes the final admission decision...try not to worry, your stuff looks great :)"

Anyway, I was very encouraged by the response and hopefully it will be official before Thanksgiving. That will give us a month and a half to work out the small details like how we will pay for it, get a place to live and find a new job. Just the small details...no big deal.

A Burst of Real Fruit Flavor

Today I opened my first two pack of starbursts. You all know what I'm talking about. The little packs that containi two starburts each. This was one of the candies we passed out at our house for Halloween. I love starburst but had yet to partake. But this morning when I'm on my way out the door, a grabed a pack. I just opened it. It almost brought tears to my eyes...a red and a pink. It is the perfect combination. A true Halloween miracle. I'm just not a fan of the orange or yellow...especially the yellow. And there is nothing worse than opening a two-pack and seeing two yellow starbursts staring you straight in the face. One of my all time favorite Christmas gifts is from Erin. A copule of Halloween's ago, I went on and on about the two-packs and the plight of the double yellow. So for Christmas, she gave me a tin of nothing but red and pink starburts. It was pure delight.

Jason Returns

My brother-in-law, Ryan got on my case this morning because I wasn't quick enough with the posting this morning. I informed him that I had to finish my hair first before I could. He then told me that it was impressive that I do my hair at work. I have to admit this is the first day I've ever done it. It was a late morning and all I had time to do was just give the hair a quick blow dry. So I packed up the pomade and flat iron and brought it with me to work. It was quite genius. Although, I can't take all the credit for it, because it was my co-worker Amy who turned me on to this. But I can forsee many more mornings of me in the women's rest room finishing up the final touches.fun.

Jason visited our house last night as you can tell from the pictures below. Many children were frightened.

Halloween was a lot of fun. Dana and Ryan came over with the kiddies, Joseph and Sadie and joined Quinn, Mom, Jaxson and me. Lindsay also made an appearance. We all ate homemade chicken noodle soup, apple cider, sugar cookies and way too much candy. Ryan and Quinn took JoJo and Jax out for trick-or-treating. Apparently Jaxson did catch on rather quickly to the whole process and got a ton of candy.

Below are some pics of the kiddies. In case you can't tell, Sadie was Princess Leia, Jaxson was a disco dancer complete with afro and Jo was a pirate.