English muffin pizzas and Wall-E

We didn't do 'dinner and a movie night' this week (and haven't really done that lately... though we're going to start again!), but over the past weekend, we did a 'family dinner and a movie night'. Addy helped make the pizza and then we all watched Wall-E for the first time. It was a lot of fun - and a great movie too (on par with Monsters Inc. even!). Anyway, I would highly recommend a repeat of the evening at your own home!

English Muffin Pizza

Preparation time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 10 mins
Serving Size: 6
Ingredients 6 English muffins, split in half
14 ounces pizza sauce
12 ounces pepperoni, sliced
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking pan or baking sheet with aluminum foil. Arrange muffin halves in baking pan and spread 2 to 3 tablespoons pizza sauce on each. Cover with pepperoni slices. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Serve hot.

Pizzas (out of 5):
Adam - ***1/2
Melanie - ***1/2

Wall-E (out of 5):
Adam - ****
Melanie - ****

Origami towels

We received a box of origami towels from Adam's parents (er... I mean St. Nick) last month for St. Nick's Day. They are so cute, we have not yet undone them. =)

Rainforest love

Click here to help save the rainforests. It's super easy and it may make you feel even better about your day! =)

Back to normal...

...whatever that is! =)

Between Kennedy's birth, visiting houseguests, traveling for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Adam being home quite a bit since October (which is super wonderful - but far from typical), I'm not sure that we really know what 'normal' life with two kids is like yet... even three months after Kennedy's birthday.

I really don't have much more to say than that. I just found it to be interesting. We're getting there now - to normal, I mean. If there really is a 'normal' with kids. It seems to be ever changing. Of course that's a lot of the fun too though.

Anyway, if you've got kids and a handle on normal, please let me know. Maybe I'm expecting the impossible! =)

Marin Morrison

Some readers will remember Marin - one of the Wish Kids that I was so fortunate to meet a couple years ago. She passed away on Friday morning...

I didn't know her well, but I felt (and feel) very touched by her, her family and her story. (See the video below for a great introduction).

I have written a letter to her parents, Matt and Nancy. It doesn't really begin to scratch the surface of my feelings, but it's something I guess.

Dear Family of Marin –

I’m sure that this will be one letter of hundreds (or possibly thousands) that you receive but I thought it still necessary to send.

I know that we didn’t know each other well, and I hope that it’s ok that I contact you now… Make A Wish volunteers are strongly encouraged to ‘fade away’ after a wish is complete for a Wish Kid. But after getting to know Marin and your family in person and through Marin’s site, I just felt I had to let you know how much your sweet daughter, and indeed your entire family, touched my life.

I have kept up-to-date with your family since Marin’s wish though marinlove.com. (And while you were on your Wish Trip, I read all of the back entries on it too.) It was, and continues to be, an amazing testament to Marin’s life, and also to your family as well.

Your strength, your resilience, your optimism, and your love poured through your posts. It’s easy to see where Marin got her outlook on life and on cancer too. You talk about Marin’s strength. Please know that she had to have gotten it from you.

I have been blessed with two beautiful daughters since working on Marin’s wish and I hope that my husband and I are raising them to be like your Marin – graceful, strong and determined. It is through my kids (and so so many others) that Marin’s spirit can live on. I know that her spirit is with you, but I just wanted you to know that her spirit is in many other places too.

Thank you for allowing me to have a chance, however so brief, to know Marin and know your beautiful family. And as your Angel walks the streets of Heaven, please know that Marin will always live on in my heart. My deepest sympathies and condolences to you.

Sincerely,
Melanie Smith
Make-A-Wish Volunteer

Marin Morrison

Hug your kids just a little longer and tighter tonight (and every night). I know that I will.

A family of snow-angels

Santa Photo Shoot

On Friday, Santa (and several kids too!) came to Just Because Studios. Adam set up a time lapse camera for the fun - click above to see!