Freetime.

I have found some of it :) And the process have read a few books and seen a few movies (well, ok, one book and one movie). I didn't find that much...

Here are my thoughts:

book:
Heft  by Liz Moore.

This was a thought provoking book. It follows the unlikely lives of two people, one a morbidly obese housebound ex-professor; the other a high school student with big talent but lots of things to overcome.
The unique voice that the author has given each character is very touching.  I also think she did a really thoughtful job portraying the struggles of the professor and the long process he partook to end up where he was (housebound and unable to really live).
Not a super hard read, but one worth the time.

movie:
Les Mis.

Ok. So I have to caveat this by saying this is my favorite musical. Of all time. And by favorite, I mean, favorite like I have the whole two disc original London cast recording memorized. Really memorized. Including the intervening dialogue.
Needless to say, I was interested to see how this would measure up, and I was curious to see if I would make it without signing during the movie.
On the second point, I did manange not to sing, but don't judge me if I lip-synced the whole thing.
On the first point, I came out somewhere in the middle.
The story is timeless and heart-wrenching. Anyone could say the words and sing the songs and the sadness and redemtion would somehow come through; that being said, some were able to say it better than others.
Points:

1. Russell Crowe cannot sing. I found my opinion of him as an actor, and yes, a man rapidly declining as he shouted at me and ruined some of the most powerful songs in the movie.
2. The original Jean Val Jean (the bishop) should have gotten a bigger role :)
3. Marius is, alas, quite beautiful.  But his friends could sing better than he could
4. Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway did the best of the actors, in the attempting to sing arena.
5. Eponine was the original Miss Saigon, and yes she can sing.
6. See the movie; it is worth the time even if the singing isn't quite up to snuff.

And bring some tissues.
A Lot of tissues.
Like a lot. really.

Favorite Comments from K:

I know a lot of people have been doing this on their blog, and since it has been, oh a million years, since my last post I thought this would be a fun way to restart it :)
K is at SUCH a fun age. So many new thoughts, new discoveries, and the huge explosion in her vocab has been so fun. She can really talk to me!

This post will be a running post and I will add to it as new awesome phrases come up. It might be more for me, but hopefully it will entertain you too.

Me: K-how old are you?
K: two. Can I be thirty with you?
M: K what are you making in your kitchen?
K: Pumpkin pie candy.
M: What are you making now?
K: Pumpkin pie chili.
M: How about now?
K: Pumpkin pie salad.
M: What does mommy do?
K: Mommy's a doctor.
M: What does daddy do?
K: Daddy hikes.

K: Mommy- you like the potty?
M: Yeah?
K: We don't put our heads in the potty.
M: yeah.
K: Its dirty.

K: We don't eat our poop!
M: YES
K: It's dirty.

K: He snowing the blower!!
  on watching Dad snowblow...

M: Where do you work K?
K: In a tiny hospital with tiny babies.

K: Can I ride with you in the front seat when I am a big grown up?
M: yes :)

K: I'm going to work. I have my pager.

M when picking up K from daycare: Say bye to your friends.
K: Bye! Those are my work friends.

K: Are we taking the alligator up?
(confusion between "elevator" and "alligator" :)

Also, every night before K goes to bed, we say our prayers. I am going to be keeping a "best of" K prayers because they are are always changing.
I start and ask K what/who we should pray for tonight. These are some of the answers:

1. Babies
2. Chairs
3. That we don't poop in our diapers anymore
4. Always for our daycare friends Dominic and K (and Jackson) and that Jackson wouldn't be sad
5. the gym and the courtyard (play areas at school)
6. Mommy and Daddy
7. Her cousin, K, and baby P
8. Everybody
9. That momma doesn't have to go to work tonight (I was just on nights...)

These are such a sweet time and I love getting to hear what she thinks about before she goes to sleep :)

This will be a running post so keep checking back in if this is your type of entertainment...I will post a few more posts too and try to revive the defunct blog!

Hope you all are enjoying your winters!