Valkyrie, Bajio and Apollo

Brent and I met his parents at Jordan Landing to go see Valkyrie. I had seen the previews and thought it looked good despite what the critics had said. But I was feeling under the weather so if I happened to doze off, so be it.


I didn't doze off

The movie was really good! I knew there had been several assassination attempts on Hitler's life but this movie chronicled "Operation Valkyrie" and the man behind the attempt, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg. Tom Cruise did a good job. I thought the eye patch would be distracting but it wasn't. The movie moved along quickly for being two hours long. I wondered how it would end, though I knew how history played out, but hoped Hollywood would take some creative license so the good guys would win. My eyes watered in the end and after the movie was over those words pop up on the screen explaining what happened after the "movie" part. It was kind of sad but a bit inspiring. Just good overall.

After the movie, we were all feeling a bit hungry so we went to Bajio. I love Bajio! I got my usual: chicken enchiladas. We talked a bit at our table and guess who was sitting right behind us? Apollo Anton Ohno! Of course, I knew who he was. When the Olympics came to Salt Lake I did a report on him and speed skating. And who could forget Dancing with the Stars? I looked at him but didn't go say anything, but of course my mother-in-law did. (She loves Dancing with the Stars) She asked if he was going to dance anymore and he said he's too busy to have time for dancing right now.

O Christmas tree

Our Christmas tree! I had to make the tree kitty-proof this year, so a couple of light strands, ribbon and unbreakable ornaments...and viola! I've already caught Elle scaling the tree multiple times, but I guess that's what cats do.



Looking so innocent...

when you've seen one... you've seen them all

Ahh, the festival of trees. Rows and rows filled with elaborately decorated trees, gingerbread houses dripping with icing, homemade chocolate.... the girls loved it! We couldn't think of a better way to spend two hours. The boys, however, would have been fine after seeing about five trees. My dad, Zach and Brent were all good sports about it, so to that I say thank-you.


It really was fun. My favorite tree was the pink tree done by Good Things Utah. I liked the gingerbread houses, I couldn't believe the detail on some of them. Ally and I took turns saying which house we wanted to live in. I'm still living in the castle.... Ally gets the Christmas cottage.

New addition.....

Meet Olive! or Elle, for short. She's our new kitty! She was only eight weeks old when Brent brought her home. We have another cat, Pep, and the two get along famously. But they can be trouble... like when they knocked over the fish bowl a few days ago... I was not happy.