Nintendo DS

For those of you not hip to video gaming (myself included) the Nintendo DS is a hand held gaming device, much like a Gameboy, only it has two screens with one of them touch sensitive and uses a stylus. This came to my knowledge through a friend in school. He showed me these great digital images that some video game artists were doing on the Nintendo DS. It's kind of like having a reduced version of photoshop in a hand held device with a small tablet. It's a program someone designed specifically for the NDS. So naturally after drooling and coveting, I got one a while back. It's been great fun and I must be one of the only people who have this video game device and no games to play on it. It's a great little digital sketchbook. It's nice to have to do a quick little doodle when waiting for something or to pass some time. I posted a few of these doodles, it being Halloween this week and everything. The one of the vampire is my idea of what Edward may look like if he doesn't watch his calorie intake. Enjoy.

Pink Dresses

The girls today wore their pink dresses to church and their cuteness demanded that their pictures be recorded for all time. These are the best little girls in the world. We so glad that they love each other so much even this young. Emily gets so excited when she sees Natalie and is always trying to do what she does. And Natalie is such a wonderful caretaker of Emily and loves it when they can play together.

Dad! Enough Pictures already!

The Frankenstein Pose

Proposition 8

An Update: I just saw this on youtube and thought I should share the reality of the days events and not the OC Register's skewed idea of what they think occured. And this was just Laguna Beach to Dana Point!



Just a few thoughts about Prop 8. For those not in the know, it is the proposition to amend the state constitution that marriage be between a man and a woman. We have been asked by church leaders to support and give our best efforts to promote the cause of the family. Mary has been working writing letters to undecided voters, and both of us have spent time waving signs for the cause. It's a strange thing to be in the midst of all this. Yesterday we motivated to get sign wavers on Pacific Coast highway from Huntington Beach to San Clemente at all the makor intersections. We were assigned for noon to 1:00. There were so many supporters out waving signs at all the corners, and very few opponents from what we saw. There were lots of supporters driving by with waves and thimbs up and much honking. There was also the occasional one finger salute, and obscenity shouted out the window. The beautiful thing was that whenever someone was mean or crude they were met with a polite wave and even an ocasional "We still love you". It was good to be out with the members of the ward taking a stand for something we believe in. There is much more to do this week before the election day. We hope you keep us all inyour prayers and thoughts as we march forward in this endeavor. "Blessed art though Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given thee, unto this people. And thou hast not sought thine own life, but thou hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.: (Helaman 10:4)

Trunk or treatin'

It was the annual trunk or treat and chili cook-off with the Laguna Niguel 1st ward and Laguna Niguel 3rd wards. Natalie has been dying for Halloween to come around so this was a great party to have so her head doesn't explode waiting for the big H-day. We had so much fun and our neighbor Emily came with us as well. Dad was a rugged cowboy(minus the scruff since he can't grow facial hair to save a whale), Mary was a pirate with Emily as her parrot, and Natalie was a Care Bare. Our neighbor Emily went as Snow White. It was good times and great chili. We definitely love our ward.

Pumpkin Patch

On Friday we headed up to Irvine for a pumpkin patch. It was pretty good what with free admittance and all. There was pumpkins galore as well as a few goats for feeding. The ponies were on break so no pony rides, but we did visit the bounce house for good measure. It was pretty hot that day too, so we didn't stay long. But we did manage to get a few pictures for the posterity.

Pre-school Halloween Parade

This week Natalie had a pre-school Halloween parade. It was a combined effort with another group that does Joy School. It was a Joy Pre-School. Or Joyful pre-school. Or Pre-Joy school. Or something. The difference between the two, in my understanding, is that in Joy school they sing more and talk more about how they feel. Natalie came home that day asking everyone how they felt. At any rate the parade was kicks and giggles with all the chilluns. Natalie opted for the Elmo costume and looked loverly. They also learned some new songs, which unfortunately embbed themselves in your skull and play over and over and over. Included is a video of said songs, but not in their entirety to prevent accidental memorization and replayage. Watch closely at the end of the "Joy" song at Natalie's friend standing next to her. You'll see all the joy oozing out of her face.

Chinatown

On every other Friday, I head up to LA for my class "Issues in Contemporary Art". We head out with Peter Frank, legendary art critic, to some of the contemporary galleries and museums that pepper downtown LA as well as Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Pasedena. It's really quite an interesting class, even though at the end of eight hours of looking at art (that I don't necessarily like) I am drained. This last Friday our class headed up to Chinatown to see some of the galleries there. Mary and I have never been there so I okayed it with my teacher to bring her along with us. So we left Natalie at a sitter and took Emily with us. It was a good afternoon, though nothing leisurely. We did manage to stop by a few shops on our break. Emily did fine, with the occasional "Da-da!" and other baby noise. When we go to a gallery, Peter has us look around and then we sit on the floor and discuss the art. It's during those times that Emily wanted to be most vocal. It was fun to have Mary and Emily there. It was especially good for Mary to see what I do in class; and now she knows why I come home exhausted from those excursions. By the way, I happened to look at one of the labels for an item of clothing and it said "Made in Mexico". Just kidding, everything there was made in China, even the people.

More Emily

Just some more pictures of Emily as well as an awesome video of her trying to eat an apple. She's getting her top teeth in and now biting dad's fingers is no longer fun for dad.

Early Halloween

This week Natalie was invited to an early Halloween party. She, Emily, and mom all attended and it was a blast. Natalie dressed up as Elmo this time. She keeps changing what she wants to be. She inherited a Care Bear costume from a friend and wanted to be that. Then she saw this Elmo costume at the costume sale and knew that she wanted to be Elmo. Then she saw the lion outfit from last year and wanted to be that. Now it's back to the Care Bear. Yikes, is it going to be like this with boys when she gets to be a teenager?

Funnin' Around

These girls love to play. Natalie loves to get all the pillows in the house and pile them up on the couch to make a boat. She also love to play with Emily and get s a little rough with her. She's just excited to have a sister who can play with her. We think that these two will be good friends.

Playing in the tent and tunnel. Emily crawled through the tunnel for her first time.

Emily loves music and gets really excited whenever someone is playing the piano, guitar or violin.

Moroni

Michael here:
So, this last week was spent in finishing this painting of Moroni for the Church History Museum International Competition. It is held tri-annually and I decided to do a larger painting this time around. I've been meaning to do this painting for quite a while and it's been incubating in my mind for about two years. It's still not quite what I envisioned but there will be time to explore other things later. I just wanted to share with everyone what I've been working on; kind of to justify to myself that I'm actually getting things accomplished. I sit in the studio day after day and for the most part, most of you don't know what I do. So here's a taste. I plan on exploring Book of Mormon themes and stories more in the future, though not until after school is done. This painting is from the end of the book of Mormon. Moroni chapter one, he states "And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life." This was a good painting for me to finish. It was hard and I tackled many challenges along the way. Since I have a great wife behind me supporting an pushing and two great kids, I was able to finish this in time to submit. I will let you know if it gets into the show. By the way, this image is copyrighted so please don't use it without my consent.

All Emily

Just a few (sorry for the blurriness, this girl moves too fast!) pictures of the one and only Emily. She is growing like a week and seems taller everyday when she stands up. She is getting her top two teeth in and that makes for "Cranky Emily" , and tends to leave a swath of drool wherever she roams. Since we don't wear shoes inside, this makes for a wet surprise every now and then. She learns quickly and watched Natalie like a hawk. She will always want to do what Natalie is doing and will try to be there right in the middle of everything. she can say "Da-da" and gets excited as all get out when she sees Mom, Dad, or Natalie coming from afar off. Today she discovered her fingers and kept moving them back and forth and staring at them. She's a great baby but will bite if you give her the chance.