This is why we moved away from Utah

Utah Theater Cancels 'Brokeback Mountain'

SALT LAKE CITY - A movie theater owned by Utah Jazz owner
Larry Miller abruptly changed its screening plans and decided not to show the film "Brokeback Mountain." The film, an R-rated Western gay romance story, was supposed to open Friday at the Megaplex at Jordan Commons in Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Instead it was pulled from the schedule.

A message posted at the ticket window read: "There has been a change in booking and we will not be showing 'Brokeback Mountain.' We apologize for any inconvenience."
Cal Gunderson, manager of the Jordan Commons Megaplex, declined to comment.
The film, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, is about two cowboys who discover feelings for one another. The two eventually marry women but rekindle their relationship over the years.
The movie's distributor, Focus Features, said that hours before opening, the theater management "reneged on their licensing agreement," and refused to open the film.
Gayle Ruzicka, president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum, said not showing the film set an example for the people of Utah.
"I just think (pulling the show) tells the young people especially that maybe there is something wrong with this show," she said.
Mike Thompson, executive director of the gay rights advocacy group Equality Utah, called it disappointing.
"It's just a shame that such a beautiful and award-winning film with so much buzz about it is not being made available to a broad Utah audience because of personal bias," he said.

The newest trick

It's really fascinating to watch a baby learn about it's world. Paisley figured out how to put her hands in her mouth a few days before Christmas, she started looking at her hands just a few days ago, and yesterday she started reaching out and grabbing things. She was engrossed with a little Garfield doll and finally managed to grab it. She was so excited looking at the doll that she started shaking and breathing heavily (I have a feeling this blog is going to be REALLY tedious to those that don't want to know about every milestone this child accomplishes-but that's just TOO BAD).

Bad, bad mommy

A picture of Paisley and mommy where mommy
doesn't look TOO huge.

So far in this parenting thing, there have been times that I've felt like a bad mother; when I don't notice she's poopy and therefore leaks and gets poop EVERYWHERE, when I have to make her wait for her food and she gets really sad, but yesterday topped it all. We went to Target (where we told Paisley that if it wasn't for THAT VERY STORE she wouldn't exist, since that's where her parents met), and I never realized it but they have stupid carts. Most carts allow you to snap the carseat onto the bench part, but Target's do not, at least not the car seat we're using right now. We put her in the basket part and tried to put groceries around her, but as I went to put a big 16 oz container of chip dip in the cart, it somehow FLEW out of my hand and landed smack dab on her little cheek. She looked very stunned for a moment, and then started wailing, like I've never heard before. Meanwhile, I'm freaking and crying and trying to get her out of her seat, while Charles is standing there trying to calm both of us because the people around us are starting to stare and think something really bad was happening. I know it's not a big deal and that she was fine after a minute or so, but what an awful feeling to know you've hurt your own child.

Utah

We just arrived in Utah this afternoon, and of course Paisley was an angel on the flight, and the whole trip in general. We'll be here for a week, and I'm excited to show her off to family and friends (and if there's anyone that I haven't called and wants to see us, please let me know!). Paisley's cousin Sarah just saw her for the first time, and as Sarah put it:

"She looks so real!"

A gentleman at the airport asked if the baby was wearing a wig. I've just given up on counting the "look at all that hair!" comments. We may not be able to post pictures this week, but we'll definitely catch up when we get back to KS.

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say...

Paisley found her hands a few weeks ago, and
now she always has them together and in her
mouth. This may seem like a small feat, but to
her proud parents, it seems like the most amazing
thing she could ever do.

More pictures from Christmas

Aunt MaryAnne & Paisley. I think this is the
time that I forced the baby on her lap, could be
the reason why she doesn't look pleased.

Uncle Aaron and Bev.

No-neck Paisley (that's her hobo name) with
Janice, a friend from high school.

Asleep in her car seat. Her head is so small that
most hats slip down and cover her eyes. We were
driving somewhere the other day and couldn't figure
out why she was upset, until we took her out
of the car and realized this hat was completely
covering her eyes.

Paisley and her cousins got
pictures taken to give to
Papa for his Christmas present.
We couldn't get Paisley to
smile, but they still turned out
pretty cute.

Baby's 1st Christmas

Charles, Paisley and I started our Christmas
early since we were spending a few days in KC
at Papa's house. Paisley is enjoying her new
Pooh toy.




Her Christmas outfit. I bought this last summer
specifically for her to wear Christmas day.
It's still a little big, but so cute!


Oh, the hair.

Copying daddy's hair style.


An aspiring cheerleader.

Playing with Uncle Alex.

Cuddling with dad. Paisley had a hard first couple
of days away from home. She was a little out
of sorts and grumpy, but eventually settled
down and showed off her cuteness to everyone.
She had a great 1st Christmas, met her Aunts
and Uncles that she hadn't had a chance to meet,
and received lots of presents!

Cousins

Paisley and Emmett playing. Emmett is 4 months
older than Paisley, and it's interesting to see
how much more he can do. We're excited for
her to be able to do more things, but we also love
her at this stage. Emmett liked to poke at Paisley,
and was holding her hand at one point. Next
Christmas will be fun watching the two of them
play together.

Eli

You will be missed.

Snow Day

It snowed for about 24 hours, starting Saturday morning, and finally letting up this morning. That meant no going to town for dinner and a movie like Charles and I had planned, to celebrate another semester done. Instead we were stuck inside with a rented movie that had a bad skip in it.

Conversation last night around 10 pm:

Ash: You know, all we've done today is sleep, eat and watch tv. We're still in our pj's.

Charles: I know. Isn't it great?


The backyard. It's actually kind of pretty...





So I was a little bored. And NO, these are not my feet.

Isn't she just the cutest thing ever?

Cross eyed

It's fun to play dress up

Chubsy

Maggie's Christmas Present

It started out innocently enough.

Loving it...awww.

The trail of destruction.

She did it. She got the squeaker out and tore out
the eyes. I had no idea that dogs were so
methodical in their destruction of toys. Maggie
is only my red-headed step-dog, so I'm not familiar
with the process. Now she carries around the
squeaker with great pride (the plastic thing in the
bag).

Wow, look at all that hair!

From the moment that Paisley's head popped out, people have been commenting on her copious amounts of hair. Our doctor was actually playing with her hair as we were waiting for the next contraction, allowing me to push her out. Ever since then, the thing we always get when people see her is "wow, look at all that hair." That phrase, verbatim. Never, "wow, look at what a (insert adjective here such as pretty, cute, beautiful, etc) baby she is," or "she looks like a really intelligient child." Nope, just "wow, look at all that hair." Because she does have so much hair, I've been trying to play with it since we brought her home. She's got ribbons (but Charles made fun of those so I don't do them often-besides the fact that I feel wierd about putting KY on my daughter's head), barrettes, headbands, rubber bands, gel (which made her look like she had jerry curls), etc, but nothing tends to stay put because her hair is still baby fine. Until today. I LOVE her ponytail (although Charles argued that it's not a pony tail because it's not on the back of her head, therefore it is her unicorn tail).

The Unicorn Tail