SwEeT dReAmS [Nala]

Every night before bed we have Nala in bed with us to have to prepare to go to bed and the other night she laid down by Adam's pillow. When Adam fixed the covers nice so we could go to bed they ended up over her head so she uncovered herself with her paws and thus the cute pic of her looking as though she is taking over Adam's spot in bed, she did not want move LOL!! We had to take the pic it was to funny to pass up!!

[Avatar] Review by Mr. C

First things first, my overall opinion: I loved it. Surprised me how much I liked it. More than I bargained for.

Clearly, the visuals were the best thing. The 3D was perfect - it absolutely added to the film, but it was subtle (rather than jump out of the screen cheap tricks). The integration of animation and live action was phenomenal, and the animation itself was just amazing.

SO ... politics. Overall I didn't mind - much less of an issue than I thought it would be. The fact of the matter is, if the situation represented were real, I would take the same stance 100%. There were two lines that took it a little over the top, though. Referring to an attack on the Na'Vi's sacred place as a "shock and awe" campaign (thus, by allusion, calling the Iraq Shock and Awe not just innapropriate but an attack on sacred areas of defenseless people ... whereas in point of fact it was an extremely targeted attack on a dangerous organization, WMD or no). There was another line that had a similar effect, but I don't remember what it was.

Now for the story. It's been said the plot is really weak and you see it JUST for the visuals. I couldn't disagree more. Now, there are issues - plot holes and the like. Take, for example, the fact that at one point you see multiple Avatars in action (playing basketball, etc., not to mention quite a few link machines) - but in the rest of the movie you only ever see the 3 ... one would think the others would be on one side or the other rather than totally absent the rest of the film. The bad guy is also rather over the top. And yeah, it's pretty much totally predictable in all major points. But in truth the plot is not weak, it's really quite fleshed out and tight. It doesn't drag on at all despite the movie's length. The arc is very well executed, too - although you do know what's going to happen, you very much follow along with the main character's transformation.

I give this movie an A-. Better than I was hoping. See it, see it now. And see it in 3D. If you're in Utah, I reccomend the Jordan Landing Cinemark XD screen (that more expensive one) ... huge screen and nice comfy leather seats. Regardless, see it in RealD - don't see it in an Imax as those use colored glasses rather than polarization (significantly fewer people have issues with headaches with polarization, and the 3D effect is better received overall).

One minor warning: there is some alien nudity (female) in this film. If you're OK with Barbie or the like this shouldn't be a problem ... the aliens - Na'Vi - are humanoid, but they are colorful and otherwise different, and none of the shots are overly blatant. It is a part of the culture of the Aliens ... think of it as a National Geographic documentary in that regard.

Oh, and I did forget to mention a couple negatives. I need only say "unobtanium" and "naturally occuring carbon fiber". Suspension of disbelief is sufficient to overcome both though, I think.

~~Merry Christmas~~

Christmas this year was with my side of the family and Adam's first Christmas with my family as well. We woke up at about 8:30 AM and headed over to my Mom and Grandparents house. We ate a delicious breakfast before going down to open gifts. When we came down the stairs this is what we saw:

I think that's when it hit me that it was actually Christmas morning!! I was so excited to see what Santa and everyone else had gotten me..hehehe! I was also excited to give people there gifts and see there reaction. We began dividing the gifts into piles: This was our pile.. We are so loved!!

We took turns opening presents and then it slowly became a free for all LOL! We had a few more presents then the parents so it took us a little longer. My grandpa and I both got a new hat so we had to model them so we got this adorable pic of us both.. Oh how I love my grampy!!

After we opened presents it was nap time so Mr. C took a nap while I got ready for the day! I always love to wear a new outfit on Christmas Day and since this year I got some new clothes I couldn't pass up the tradition. The rest of the family came over at 2 for a yummy lunch and to open there presents from the grandparents:

The rest of the day was spent doing pretty much anything you wanted to do!!

The collage below is all the pics I didnt have room to put up but couldn't pass up!

Enjoy! Hope everyone else's Christmas was as great as ours!!

Christmas [EVE]

Our Christmas Eve was a pretty laid back one. Mr. C had to work til 2 so I stayed home with the Nala girl. Curtis and Brooke came over at 11:30 A.M. to help me pack up the house for the impending move. Adam arrived home and we just goofed off til it was time to meet my family at the:

When we arrived we noticed there was 4 cars in the parking lot, that didn't seem right. We got in Grandma and Grandpa's & mom car to talk. The sign said they opened at 5 and it was about 4:20 so we thought we would wait to see and then go in at 5. Well it got closer to 5 and still nobody was there except us so we came to the conclusion that they were closed. So we came up with a new plan, and this is were we ended up at:

Mr. C and I had never eaten at Mimi's before so we were excited to try it. When we walked in there was not even a wait, so that was great. The host walked us to our booth and low and behold my Uncle Dave and Aunt Dawna and Cousin Cali were at the same place. There was no planning involved it just happened LOL!! It was so funny!! We enjoyed a great meal and boy did they have good Diet Coke!! I would definitely go back and eat there again.

After dinner my grandparents and mom dropped us off at our car and we went home. We got in our Christmas jammies that Mr C's parents had gotten us!!

[Here is us in our Christmas Eve jammies]

We then played the Wii for awhile and then had sparkling grape cider and played Skip-BO in bed and then it was to sleep to wait for Santa's arrival!!

[Pictures I Had To Post] [Cute]

Moving...Moving...Moving

Yes... that's right we are moving again! It all started when Adam decided to go back to school. When he signed up for his classes at the beginning of Dec we were looking at the prices and decided that in order to pay for them and not get into to much debt we needed to find a place that was more affordable since what we have now is on the high end for our finances. We began looking around for cheaper places that were still high quality and found a few that would work. I had this brilliant thought, why doesn't Curtis and Brooke ( my cousins) and Adam and I move into together and split the rent that way we can save money and pay for school faster. So I approached the subject with Brooke and right off the bat she was thrilled with the idea!! We starting looking for places that would be OK with two couples living in the same house. Meanwhile we called our landlord and told her we were trying to move out and what should we do to make it as easy as possible. Well with out going into to many details... wanting to move out soon became a nightmare and she was not willing to work with us at all and no matter what we did she would constantly change her story. After doing a bit of research we found out we were living in an illegal duplex because there is a dead bolted door separating the two floors and they were renting out both floors which the area is zoned for single families so that makes it no good! Anyway... We are moving out Jan 1st and Brooke and Curtis will be moving in with us on February 1st. Where are we moving you ask...well there in a brand new apartment complex in Midvale that is called the Riverwalk Luxury apartments. We are renting a 2 bed 2 bath 1107 square foot place. We are stoked about the prospect of saving money and getting out of debt quicker!! I will post some pics when I get some. The picture above will have to hold you over til I get some of my own!

[A yEaR hAs gOnE bY]...CRAZY

It's crazy to think that last year at this time we were about to embark on our very first Christmas vacation together to the beautiful and amazing Hawaii!! It was my first Christmas thousands of miles away from home. We had an amazing time with the Collet Clan. I know that there were memories created there that we will never forget. The pictures below are the very first ones I took on December 22, 2008! I hope to return there someday with my family I know that we would have a blast!! But for now I'll I can do is look at the pictures that I am so grateful to have.