Fire and Nice

Does anyone else feel like Will Ferrell's 2007 ice skating comedy Blades of Glory has come to life during the Olympic Men's Figure Skating competition?

If you haven't seen the movie here is your quick synopsis:

In the National Figure Skating Association, professional ice skaters

Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell)

and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) are rivals in the world championship competition. Chaz Michael Michaels thinks very highly of himself and believes he is the most deserving of the gold medal at National Skating Competition. He should be awarded a medal just for the amount of confidence he has in himself.

One of my favorite Chaz comments is: Mind-bottling, isn't it? Yeah, mind-bottling. You know, when things are so crazy it gets your thoughts all trapped, like in a bottle?

Jimmy MacElroy comes across as an all around good guy, clean cut, cute, yet painfully childish. The competition really heats up between the two and without spoiling anything words are shared and a "battle" begins on the ice.

This year in Vancouver a similar rivalry seems to be brewing. Even with the competition over and after medals have awarded there still seems to be some "battling.". Tonight NBC aired the Champions Gala where all the ice skating winners had one last opportunity to dazzle audiences. Ben and I tuned in and out in between catching up on our previously recorded 24 episodes on our DVR. We were pleased to catch the performances from

Yevgeny Plushenko and

Evan Lysacek.

Ben has been calling Plushenko his favorite "Olympic Villain." With comments like "I should be awarded the platinum medal," and "I was positive that I won. But I suppose Evan needs a medal more than I do," how can you not get caught up in the drama?

As for Evan, Ben and I couldn't get over his bedazzled snake wrapped out his neck the night he won gold. It's like the perfect clash of masculinity and femininity; a jeweled cobra!

Tonight we were pleased to get one last moment from this dynamic duo when Plushenko came out and danced to a French song "Je suis malade" the American commentators told us that means

"I Am Sick."

I mean really! Can it get any better than this?

Anyone who recognizes the reference in the blog post title we'll give you a dollar!

**Good job Casey!

2 Vancouver's in 24 Hours (part 2)

When the 2010 Olympics are practically in your backyard you can't pass up an opportunity to get in on the action! About six months ago Ben started talking about going to the Olympics in Vancouver B.C. We decided to by train tickets on Amtrak, we thought if we drove we could get stuck at the border for a long time, and we only planned to spend a day there. My dad and friend Jeff also thought they'd join in on the fun. So Saturday morning we boarded the north bound train at 7:45 AM and made it to Vancouver by 11:45. The train ride was BEAUTIFUL! The tracks have prime water front views almost the entire way and we really lucked out with a spectacular day. We highly recommend traveling to Vancouver via train, the station is located next to a light rail that will take you right into the city so no car is needed to get around. Above we're exciting the light rail station and going up the escalator with hundreds of other Olympic spectators! Our 6 hour Olympic adventure had started!

Our first destination was the Winter Cauldron or the Olympic Torch, it was so packed! At first we thought we'd only be able to see it from afar but I was bound and determined to see the famous fence that surrounded the torch.

This fence created quite the media frenzy because spectators couldn't get a good picture of the torch without the hideous obstruction. So they eventually cut a hole in it and replaced the space with a big piece of plexi glass. They also built a giant podium for prime photo-ops, unfortunately the line up to the podium was 45 minutes and we didn't want to wait that long. So we got creative and stood on park benches to get our photos with the torch!

My dad and Jeff.

Everywhere we went there were lines and lines and lines. Some of the longest we saw were: 6 hours to ride a zip line down Robson Street, 3 hours to get into The Mint to hold the medals, 2 hours to get into one of the Live City Venues, (where they have free concerts) and at least 1 hour to get into the SuperStore to buy Olympic Gear! Unbelievable huh? The woman above waited in line to hold the torch but we didn't want to waste our time so we just took her photo!

People, people, people, I was prepared for there to be a lot of people but the crowds far exceeded my expectations! Thankfully everyone was very kind and the weather was beautiful so it was just nice to be outside taking in the Olympic spirit.

We had lunch right around the corner from Vancouver's steam clock in Gas Town. We could here the clock "chiming" while we enjoyed our lunch at a small deli perched atop the beautiful waterfront. What the restaurant lacked in the charm it made up for in views. (Ben also says and a place to sit!)

I like to called the photo on the left, "Miga, Sumi, Quatchi, and Benji." In the photo on the right Ben is enjoying the "National Nectar" Canada Dry!

Mandy on the Granville Bridge, please excuse my ghostlyness, it was really sunny!

While we didn't get into any Olympic events we had just as good of a time enjoying the atmosphere and beautiful city. It really got us into the Olympic spirit and we have been very invested in the games upon our return.

Can't wait for the USA Gold Medal Hockey game on Sunday!!! Go USA!

2 Vancouver's in 24 Hours

Last weekend Ben and I were able to go down to Vancouver, WA to meet our new nephew, Noah James. He was so precious and pleasant, Ben and I almost never heard him fuss or cry. Let's hope for mama (Bree) and papa (John) it stays that way! I have lots and lots of more photos of this little guy, but I took them for his baby announcement so I don't want to spoil the surprise! You can see more cute photos of him on my sisters blog:

www.johnandbreeplus3.blogspot.com

This post of our Vancouver trip is quite similar to our past Vancouver, WA posts. Every time we're down there Miss Lydia has a dance contest with Demmy. She dances and he judges!

Every time we're down there I think I get a photo with Micah that looks just like the one below! Well, I look good from that angle, can you blame me... ha!

This time Nona (my mom) and I spent a while at the park next door with the kiddos. Lydia was looking so sporty in her new Adidas Track Suit she got from Chach and Coco. Micah impressed me by swinging on the big kid swings for about 30 minutes!

Micah was playing peek-a-boo with Nona and I couldn't resist these smiles!

Miss Lyd's and I played "Grumpy Old Troll", one of you is the Grumpy Old Troll and blocks the bridge while the other one tries to get past. The way to get past the troll is to copy the spooky or funny face they are making... cute huh?

Still with Coco

When it became imminent that The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien was going off the air, Ben saw an opportunity to purchase a collectors item. We went onto NBC's website and ordered him this t-shirt. As he puts it, "it's already a relic.

We had to wait several weeks for the t-shirt to come because they hadn't printed them yet! Can you believe it? They printed this shirt after the show was off the air! I haven't seen Ben wear the shirt yet, and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up framing it rather than wearing it. We'll have to see.

In recent Coco news, O'Brien created a twitter account yesterday. I don't really "follow" anyone on twitter but I decided I would continue to show my allegiance and follow Coco.

His bio reads: "I had a show. Then I had a different show. Now I have a Twitter account."

Love it.

FWD:

How many of you out there immediately delete an email if the subject line starts out with FWD:? I know I usually do, but I decided to open one my mom just sent me and was pleasantly surprised! No, I'm not accusing my mom of being an annoying FWD-er, thanks for sharing this one it was cute!

A fifth grade teacher in a Christian school asked her class to look at TV commercials and see if they could use them to communicate ideas about God.

Here are some of my favorites:

God is like.

COKE

He's the real thing.

God is like.

HALLMARK CARDS

He cares enough to send His very best.

God is like.

WAL-MART

He has everything.

God is like.

SCOTCH TAPE

You can't see Him, but you know He's there.

God is like.

ALLSTATE

You're in good hands with Him.

God is like

MAXWELL HOUSE

Good to the very last drop.

I decided to try my hand at it while I watched some commercials, not only was it challenging but it proved to be quite funny. Here are a few I came up with, some are more reverent than others please excuse my silliness. It's how the big man upstairs made me!

God is like

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN

He's finger lickin' good.

God is like

DURACELL BATTERIES

Nobody's stronger longer.

God is like:

VISA

He's everywhere you want to be.

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE

God is like:

MCDONALDS

He loves to see you smile!