Eric & Steven's Birthday's

Yea, parties!  This ended up being an all family party - but someone (*AHEM*stevenanderic) forgot to let people know that the party was still on after it was initially cancelled (because it was meant to be a birthdayX2 and going away party for Steven and Leslie, but when those plans changed and Leslie ended up leaving early, the party wasn't exactly a priority topic).  It was Eric, Steven, me, Phil, Edie, Grant, Paul, Deb, Shannon, Brian, Jen, and Pete.  We had snacky food and individually made kabobs for dinner, and then everyone settled in for a round of Apples to Apples.  We learned that the expansion pack should be called "Ampersands" because most of the cards are "___ &___".  After people started going, Steven, Eric and I hung out downstairs and the boys played SOCOM 4 (which Steven got for Grant and Eric, so they can all play together).  Then......zzzzz.....we passed out on the couches....

Yesterday I made Eric a "dim sum" inspired Chinese dinner for his birthday.  Steamed rice, steamed bbq pork buns, egg rolls, and chicken dumplings, it was delicious! 

 According to the Apples to Apples Gods, Eric is "Fast & Furious" and "Hot & Bothered"...

...Jen is "Smooth & Creamy"...

 ...I am " Entertaining", "Mesmerizing", "Devious", and "Fast"...

...and Steven is "Plump & Tender"!

The boys laughing while trying to pose a serious shot...

Steven messing up the serious shot...

Eric messing up the serious shot...

...and a mostly successful serious shot!

Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2!

Yay!  Tonight, at midnight, is the release of Harry Potter 7.2!  Over the past week, Eric and I have taken the 17+ hours to watch the first 6 movies (Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, and Half Blood Prince).  

Today we rushed over to the Olathe AMC Theater as soon as we got off of work...and ended up in a line at least 50 people deep...outside.  We've been under heat advisories the past few days, and the brick sidewalk had absorbed all of the heat thus making it impossible to sit on the ground.  The best part of the wait was a combination of Eric bringing a chicken pizza and full water bottles from Old Chicago (using his birthday Foamer Bucks), and happening to have a blanket to sit on and an umbrella for shade in my car.  We only had to wait outside for about 90 minutes before being seated in our theater.  Eric napped, Ashley and I played the ABC game, Mom read, Alan played Angry Birds...we were all occupied until the lights dimmed and we got to watch HP 7.1 around 9pm.  

Now I'm known to be a crier at TV shows, radio shows, movies, and etc. sorts of media.  So i decided to keep track of how many separate instances would make me cry for tonight.  Because this list includes the events, it is also a bit of a SPOILER!  So don't read the list if you don't want to know!

Deathly Hallows Part 1: 2 cries
*When Harry visited his parents grave.
*When Dobby dies.

Next we had an hour intermission to prepare for HP 7.2, which was upgraded to a 3D showing because of a mistake on AMC's part.  Woo! Now, brace yourself for the second crying SPOILER ALERT!  Don't read the list if you don't want to know! Argh, I got teary just typing this list!  The movie was SO GOOD!

Deathly Hallows Part 2: 8.5 cries
*When Fred dies/showing all of the casualties
*Snape's memory sequence
*When Harry, Ron, and Hermione find out that Harry is a horcrux
*When Harry uses the Resurrection Stone

*When Voldemort announces that Harry is dead

*Neville's speech

*almost when Molly kills Bellatrix

*Harry taking Albus into Platform 9 3/4

*When the train leaves for Hogwarts with the next generation

 The HP Fan club!  The guy directly in front of us had a maroon shirt that said "Chosen 1" on it, which Eric loved because it reminds him of a friend.

Mmmm, hot pizza! 

Mom and Alan waiting in their chairs. 

The HP line sign! 

 Eric and me before Part 1

Eric and me before Part 2! 

My AWESOME FourSquare badge for checking in at a theater and shouting out "Harry Potter!"

St. Thomas ReNew VBS

I received a call over the weekend from Emily Barnes, a woman Eric and I talked to at the "new member's" dinner at Father Gar's house a few days ago.  She was looking for volunteers for St. Thomas's Vacation Bible School, and I ended up committing to two nights.  Their theme this year is "ReNew" and focuses on reusing and recycling, and how that brings us closer to God's creations.  Youth events used to totally be my thing, but I was nervous to be joining a whole new group of people.

On Monday and Wednesday, I helped a lady named Ashley at her station, and we had a great time!  On the first night, we took the kids on a nature walk and talked about what "community" means, and how we can be a good part of our community.  Tonight, we reused items that might have been recycled or thrown away, and turned them into music instruments!  All in all, it was awesome getting to know some more people at St. Thomas, and really cool seeing a new generation of kids singing the songs that fill me with reminiscent joy.

I also found out that all of Jen's kids are going to a VBS in Lawrence this week.  Even though it is a different denomination, they sing a lot of the same songs that I know from youth events.  I talked to Jen and suggested that if I end up as a counselor at Camp Wood next summer, we may have to see if Cameron (her oldest) would like to come with me.  The boys won't be old enough yet, but I feel like she would really enjoy it.  Plus, I love Jen's kids and it would be so cool to spend a week with Cameron!

One of my young friends turned this pie tin into a drum with some tape, yarn, and markers!