Pie & Pinball

Last night we found ourselves in Salt Lake at dinner time, and that can only mean one thing to Steve and I: The Pie. It was one of my favorite college hangouts, and still has the best pizza around in my book. We always get the Xtreme Veggie Pizza, but we decided to introduce the boys to The Pie's version of a calzone, The Zappi. At first Jack just wanted pasta, but we insisted he try The Zappi. He was not disappointed.

After dinner we found a great pinball machine and the boys had to play a game or two (or five):

Did you know you become a better pinball player if you stick your tongue out?

I ♥ The Pie.

I Think They Might Be Playing Too Many Video Games

Lately Max and Jack have been a little bit obsessed with the Lego Batman video game. They've had it since Christmas, but ever since their friend stayed over last weekend and showed them how to get to a new level, it's all they want to do, 24/7. I'm pretty strict on how much they play, but I've let things get a little more lax because it's summer vacation.

I did get a little disturbed the other day when I made them turn it off, and they started play-acting scenes from Lego Batman. I figured that it was better than sitting in front of the TV playing the real thing, so I didn't worry about it too much. That is, I didn't worry about it too much until Jack wanted Max to stop running and he said "Max, stop." No reaction. He said it again, "Max, stop." Nothing. Then, at the top of his lungs he yelled "Max, PAUSE!" and Max stopped dead in his tracks.

I'm thinking it may be time to tighten up the video game restrictions again.

I ♥ Paris In The Winter

A couple of weeks ago, while I was sitting at watching the kids at swimming lessons, Steve called me on my cell phone. I figured it was yet another call about some house menutia, but instead he said "So, how would you like to live in Paris for three months in the winter?" My reaction: "Uh, yeah." Then he went on to tell me that he has been asked to be the director of his University's Paris Study Abroad program next year from January until April.

This means we are going to get free air fare, be set up in an apartment just off the Parc du Champs de Mars (walking distance to the Eiffel Tower), and get to experience it all. We can't wait, and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. To celebrate, I thought I'd share a little Doris Day.



I'm not so crazy about the part about in the winter when it drizzles, but in my opinion, it's better than in the summer when it sizzles.

Now I just have to dust off my rusty French and take a class so I won't get slapped in the face.

Up, Up, And Away!

For the past few years we have gone to the local Fourth of July festivities, which include a hot air balloon launch. We have to get up super early to go, but it's always totally worth it. Check it out:

Filling up the balloons. I never get over how huge they look on the ground and all the color.

Taking off.

All of us enjoying the show.

The rest of the day will be spent staying cool watching a movie and setting off fireworks. Long live summer!

Happy 4th of July!

Now That's One Big Wedding Cake

Look who got married. Well, actually, they were already married, but just had a huge reception in Japan complete with three wardrobe changes, ballroom dancers, Tae-Bo demonstrations, and well, just about everything else, including the biggest wedding cake I've ever seen.

This story just keeps getting better and better.

I Love An Arcade

My boys love a local place called The Nicklecade, which is an old school arcade where all the games I played a quarter each to play 25 years ago now only cost a nickel. The boys ask to go there every time we drive by, so I thought I'd make them work for it. I told them if they cleaned up their playroom every day for a week we could go, and it worked like a charm. Here's some photos of them enjoying their reward:


Watching Max play Donkey Kong Jr. took me back to my favorite arcade back in the early eighties. I was weird for a girl; I loved video games (and I still do, although I very rarely play them) and my sister and I were total junkies. My favorite was Mappy, and I remember playing it at an arcade (which is now a Restoration Hardware store) by the local movie theaters. If you want to try it for yourself, click here. I would stand there for hours playing and spending way too much money with my big bangs, white pumps, and jeans from The Limited.

Oh, those were the days.

Now That I'm Here, Now That You're Near...

There's something about summer that reminds me about Xanadu. Yes, Xanadu, the 1980 movie starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly at the low point of his career. I loved, loved, loved this movie when I was about 13 years old and watched it nine, yes NINE, times in one summer in my cousin's basement.

If you don't know the story, it's your basic boy meets muse and decides to open an opulent roller disco before his time runs out to fulfill his dreams and her time runs out before she gets sucked back into the eternities by Zeus story. And if that little summary didn't quite do it for you, here's the final musical number that will (go on, you know you want to watch it):



I'm sorry, but this movie is still all kinds of awesome. And if you've never seen it (which I really just cannot imagine anyone could make it through life without viewing this piece of cinematic cotton candy) the good news is it is available to rent through iTunes.

You're welcome.