The Summer in a Nutshell

Oh man. I have been a bad blogger. A very bad blogger. So much has happened this summer that I haven't so much as posted a picture from. I am so ashamed.

First of all, Mikey turned 8 and was baptized. It was wonderful! He turned eight on July 2nd and was baptized on July 4th. We had a bunch of family there to enjoy the day with us, including Grandma & Grandpa Davies, Grandma & Grandpa Perkins, Aunt Honey & Uncle Mac, Uncle Todd, Aunt Jess & Cousin Luke. And of course, me and Chad. The baptism was beautiful and all our family contributed to the program. That night we lit many a firework in Mikey's honor.

Mikey went to XXX Rootbeer for his birthday dinner. This is the coolest place to go for your birthday--EVER! They played the Beatles' birthday song over the speakers in the restaurant, called Mikey to the front of the diner, stood him up on a chair, dressed him up in the costume below, and sang to him while he held a big sundae with a sparkler-esque candle in it. Mikey was so stunned by all the attention, he didn't know what to do! It was great!

Also, I'm pregnant again! (Although it probably isn't necessary to blog about it, seeing as how I don't think there is a single person in the greater Seattle area who I haven't told already). I am now 14 weeks and 3 days along. (But who's counting?) I'm due March 6th & get to find out the gender on October 19th. We are all so stinking excited about it. My tummy is expanding at an alarming rate and I love it!!!

My dear sweet Natty has recently started crying at the end of movies. It is adorable. It all started with the Legend of the Waterhorse movie. Yesterday, she cried at the end of Iron Giant. She is sooo cute! It usually happens at the climax of the movie, just as the monster-that-is-really-the-hero either sacrifices itself for the people who have been hunting it, or has to flee for it's safety, leaving behind the innocent child that it has created a lifelong bond with. At this point in the movie, Natty will throw her hands over her eyes and say, "my eyes are watering and I don't know why!!!" The cutest part is that she really doesn't know why she is crying. It is impossible not to squeeze her when it happens--it's just that cute!
Mikey has started cubscouts. He loves it! (Sister Price: you are his new favorite person in the world!) When he put his uniform on for the first time, he told me, "Mom I feel like a wizard. I've got this special costume and this book (his manual) full of instructions that I have to keep with me at all times." Ahh...a real wizard, indeed.

Lastly, my kids started school again (officially), today. Sure, we are homeschoolers, but today was Mikey's first day back on campus at Russell Ridge. He is taking a class on world cultures, speed stacks, science, writer's workshop and art on campus. He loved all his classes today and was excited to see all his buddies again after a long separation.

Well, I think that's it. All caught up. Whew. Now I can relax!

Well, Lookie Here!

Here's Chad's first ever music video. It is for a band from Seattle called Zen Chemists. This is the edited version, but it might still have some language in it that you don't like. So, consider yourself warned! Chad came up with the concept, filmed and edited the entire movie. I am so proud!!!

"Time" by Zen Chemists music video from Chad Perkins on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday, Chaddy!!!

Yep. Today, old man Perkins officially becomes one year old and wiser, too. I love Chad so much. He is my very best friend and my role model in all I do. He's pretty easy to look at too!!! So, in honor of the day he graced the world with his presence, I give you 33 things about Chad you may or may not have already known!
1.) When he was little, he wanted to grow up to be an artist, a comedian or a chef. I think Jack Tripper was his inspiration.
2.) He started reading very early--2 or 3. His dad would have Chad read to him out of the newspaper.
3.) He loves cold cereal with a passion.
4.) As a kid, Chad made a series of short films with his buddies. They were called, "Midget Movies." They are adorable.
5.) In high school, he was in a band called "Noble Cause."
6.) While in said band, Chad had luxurious long hair that came nearly to his waist. It was apparently good for flipping around while he played.
7.) I'm told he used to carry a brush around in his pocket so that he could comb said hair throughout the day.
8.) He held a "hair cutting" party in preparation for his mission at which people took turns chopping off his locks.
9.) His nearly-waist-long pony tail now lives in a box in a garage. The first time I saw it, I was cleaning out the garage and thought it was a rat. Eeww.
10.) Chad served 9 months of his mission in New Orleans. His call was definitely inspired. Chad and New Orleans go together like red beans and rice.
11.) From the time we met until we moved to Washington, Chad was in a band called Wedgekase. He started playing drums and moved on to lead guitar/vocals.
12.) His favorite color is green. Which makes Seattle a perfect home for him.
13.) His favorite season is fall.
14.) His favorite holiday season is Halloween.
15.) He loves cheezy B movies. The cruddier the plot and the lousier the special effects, the happier he is.
16.) He would love to own a huge home and decorate each room in a different theme. Not color scheme, but theme. Like jungle safari or under the sea. As in, Disneyland Home Edition.
17.) He doesn't like pranks or being startled.
18.) He is an incredibly fast learner. I can't tell you how many times he's bought a book on some crazy software program he's never seen before, read it casually and then taught a class on it a week later. An advanced class. It's insane!
19.) If Chad were a character on Lost, he would definitely be Jack. He's a born leader, people are drawn to him, and he's a good guy. A really good guy.
20.) He loves Hitchcock movies.
21.) Once we went to a taping of Mad Tv. Bobby Lee came out to work the line of people while they were waiting to fill the sound stage. Chad made him laugh (hello, he made the comedian laugh!!!). So much that Bobby Lee got our whole group back stage passes. We got to eat their food and shake their hands and everything. So cool!
22.) He loves the movie Stranger Than Fiction.
23.) He read all the Lord of the Rings books. Some of the only fiction he's ever read. Typically he's a nonfiction kinda guy.
24.) He is an incredible cook. In fact, he did nearly all the cooking for the first few years of our marriage. I was in heaven!
25.) His favorite fruit is the Washington apple. Preferably red. Definitely not yellow or green. Pink/red hybrids are okay. I think that oranges and rainier cherries are pretty close seconds.
26.) He has books for sale at Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc. I like to look at them on display whenever we are there. He is usually filed right next to his brother, who also has a book out. It makes me feel like a celebrity to see his name on the shelf!
27.) He has an "agent." I think that sounds really cool.
28.) He won an award for best sound design on a movie he worked on this summer for Seattle's 48 hr. Film Project.
29.) He just finished his first ever music video (for a band called Zen Chemists). He filmed, directed and edited it.
30.) He loves role playing games. He is currently immersed in an xbox 360 game called "Oblivion."
31.) He is an amazing teacher.
32.) He is a perfect dad.
33.) We all love him sooo much!!!

Why Didn't I Think of That?!?

Natty: "Mom, how did you decide what boy to marry? Did you just have them all stand in a line so that you could look at them real close?"

It's Too Hot

...and that's all I have to say on the matter. I'm going to go hibernate until fall. Wake me when the leaves start to change.

Big Plans

Today Natalie told me, "When I grow up I am going to be a mommy and have babies, be a roller derby girl, a doctor, a singer and a cheerleader. And I am going to be on a diet. A candy diet." Sounds like she's got it all figured out. Not bad for a four year old!!

Happy Mom, Mad Mom

The kids decided that they wanted to make a movie like their dad. And this is what they came up with! We came up with a script together and I edited it in imovie. It's not as pro as Chad's movies, but pretty cute if you ask me!