Goodbye, Harry?

 Image from http://filmkuw.com/

Rumor on the street has it that there are several nude scenes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 1).  Okay, it's actually not a rumor, it's a fact.  And I didn't hear it on the street, I heard it from my mom, who heard it from . . . well, I don't know who she heard it from.  But I didn't think it sounded near as catchy to say: "My mom heard from somebody that it's a fact that there is nudity in the new Harry Potter movie."

Back to my point.  I did some research on it, and here's what I found out.  According to an article at nydailynews.net . . .

"The director of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" - the two-part final cinematic chapter based on the series of seven books - says Daniel Radcliffe will do several nude scenes in the upcoming movie, one of them of the steamy variety. 

Director David Yates told Britain's Daily Telegraph, "Dan has appeared nude in the past. There are a couple of scenes in the new film in which he will undress, but we're still thinking about how to present it."

In the upcoming movie, Yates explains, a monster tortures Harry's friend Ron (Rupert Grint) with images of Harry in some sort of tryst with Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), with whom Ron is passionately in love. 

"We'll create something that feels very sexy and very intriguing to bring about a reaction in Rupert," Yates told the Telegraph of the scene." 

Read more here.

What???  Why in the world does there need to be a nude scene in Harry Potter?!?  A book that is categorized in Children and Young Adult sections?  This is absurd!

Now maybe I don't have all the info.  Maybe I'm blowing this out of proportion.  But really?  I know that Hollywood basically believes that adding sex and nudity to anything will make it sell more, but as a devoted Harry Potter fan, I feel like I've earned the right to put in my two cents.  This is supposed to be a kids/family oriented movie.  It's pretty sad when the movie production team forgets who their audience actually is.

I suppose the scene might be relatively harmless and they don't really show much.  Maybe they just talked it up as a nude scene to draw another crowd.  But still - that's really annoying!

My family was planning to all go to the new Harry Potter movie together, but now?  Not so sure.  I'm interested - if you've heard anything about this, I'd be glad to hear your thoughts/input!

The Gestapo Part II

Dave returned home late Friday night (he was out of town Wednesday through Friday, if you didn't read the previous post, click here).  Since then, he's been going around the house singing, "I'm the Gepetto, I'm the Gepetto!"  I think he meant Gestapo.  Nice old Italian man who carves wood - the evil state police of Germany - practically the same thing.

One of the first things he asked when he walked in the front door is, "Did you at least save me one of the cupcakes?"  Of course I did.  I would never eat 12 cupcakes all by myself in 2 1/2 days.  Just 8.  There were 4 left when he got home.  He ate one, threw one in the garbage (he said he had to at least throw one away after I wrote that post about him), and gave me seconds to hide the other ones before he chucked them as well.

The outcome?  I'm officially addicted to these cupcakes.  I've been craving them all week.  Just in case you have too, here's the recipe:

German Chocolate Cupcakes

Cupcakes: Make life easy on yourself.  Use a German Chocolate cake mix. 

Frosting:

1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
3 beaten egg yolks
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla

Cook the above ingredients on medium heat for 12 minutes, then add:

1 1/3 cups coconut
1 cup roasted chopped pecans (pecans can be roasted in the microwave for one minute on each side)

I like to chop off a piece of Almond Joy and place it on top for a garnish.

*These cupcakes are even better when they are warm and served with ice cream!

I'm a Fan

Dave and I are huge "Office" fans, and tonight we watched the episode where Jim confesses his love to Pam for the first time.  So adorable.  I think Jim and Pam might be the best TV love story there is.  So for all you "Office" fans, I just wanted to share this adorable video.  And the song is perfect.

The embed code had been deleted, but here is the link:  Jim and Pam

Kissin' Kate Kimball

Kate has two new tricks.  That sounds like she's a dog, doesn't it?  Let me rephrase: Kate has two new skills she has mastered of late.  One of them is waving.  Pretty much anytime you say "hi" or "bye-bye" she will now wave.  Go Kate.

Kate also has a new crush.  His name is George.  Curious George, that is.  Her new favorite thing is to watch this Jack Johnson "Upside Down" video on youtube:

She gets so excited whenever she sees the little monkey.  She dances, waves her arm, and bangs her head.  Unfortunately, the development of Kate's new crush corresponds with her other recently developed skill: kissing.  She will now give you a big slobbery kiss on the cheek whenever you ask.  Is this a coincidence?  I think not.  Granted, I'm grateful that Kate's first crush happens to be on a monkey, and a cartoon at that, but still . . . it makes me nervous for when she's older.  I mean, there are some real apes out there.

Ta Da!

Just wanted to let you all know that I'm starting a new blog about family.  I know, I know, I was soooooo nervous about starting my first blog, and here I am starting another one.  But here's what I've found: I love writing.  I didn't realize how much I'd missed it until I started doing it on my blog all the time.  So I chose something that I love (don't worry, I don't think I'm some expert on family) and that I'm passionate about.  I'd love it if you'd check it out, comment, and share stuff with me about your families and what works for you, since I have so much to learn!

http://everydayfamilies.blogspot.com/ 

For Kids: Crayon Roll

I found this and love it!  I'm not quite ready to make one, since Kate is more interested in eating crayons than drawing with them, but I thought I'd share anyway!

picture from Life in Grace

For directions on how to make it, go to Life in Grace.  Talk about a handy gift for moms!

My German Chocolate Night Out, aka, The Gestapo is out of Town

Disclaimer: Don't get me wrong, I love my husband very much.  And I love having him home with me.  But . . . if he has to be gone, I might as well enjoy my night out, eh?

Okay, so maybe "night out" isn't a very appropriate description.  When your husband is out of town, and your daughter goes to bed at 6:30 pm, you're pretty much facing a "night in," but hey, let's not get technical.

I hate it when Dave travels, I honestly do.  And I've got 4 months of living without my husband to justify that hate.  However, if he is gone, you'd better believe that I'm going to make the most of it.  Let's start with a simple fact, and I apologize if I digress: Dave hates it when I make treats.  I know, I know, my talent of making the most scrumptiously unhealthy desserts you can imagine has gone to waste.  Just to clarify, he does like the desserts that I make.  He just doesn't like that he likes them.  Mostly because of what they do can do to the waistline.  He hates it when I make treats, he hates it when I buy goodies, or candy, or anything else that might be hanging out at the top of the food pyramid.  Namely, all of the stuff I live for.  Problem.

Thus came Dave's pronouncement: "If I find it, I'm throwing it away."  So let it be written, so let it be done.  Except for one little detail - the "if."  If he doesn't find it . . . well, I'm sure you see where I'm going with this.  I've become an exceptionally good "hider" - even given the very small square footage of our apartment.  Maybe it comes with the name.  For example . . . one of the best places I've ever come up with for my treat stash was in my closet.  In a bag, on a hanger, hidden amongst my countless shirts and skirts.  Brilliant, if I do say so myself.  But by the time Dave reads this, I will have moved it to another equally brilliant hiding place.

Now you see it.

Now you don't.

Pretty much, he's like the Gestapo (evil German police) and I'm a German citizen, trying to hide and protect the good things in this world.  Like peanut butter m&ms, and brownies.

So, what was my point again?  Oh yeah.  Dave's gone.  That means I can let the treats out of the bag, if you know what I mean.  I made German Chocolate cupcakes with my sister.  Mmmm, mmmm, good.  I'll have to post the recipe soon.  

Love 'em - you can see why.

I thought the "Give Thanks" sign in the background was quite appropriate, given what I was about to partake of.

I sat down to eat my delicious cupcake while watching two episodes of one of my all-time favorite tv shows - Law and Order.  It's too bad Dave doesn't get home until Friday . . .

Happy Halloween!

It's weird that today is actually Halloween, because no one has really even talked about it.  Since we celebrated it yesterday, it seems so . . . well, yesterday.  We had a great first Halloween with Kate!  I'm a little embarrassed to admit, but we were so excited that we pretty much went out September 1 (a lot of the places we looked didn't even have their costumes out yet) to buy Kate her costume.  She was a duck, and a very cute one at that.  I was a farmer.  You know . . .

Old Miss Heidi had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.  

And on her farm she had a . . . duck . . . 

E-I-E-I-O!  With a quack quack here

 and a quack quack there!

(I know the picture is fuzzy, but I loved her little duck tail)

Here a quack, there a quack

Everywhere a quack quack!

(That's cousin Amira - or should I say Queen Amira?  I'm not sure why she was hanging out with us lowly farm folk!)

Here's our whole family.  I'm not sure why Dave was a Jewish Rabbi.  I'm pretty sure it had 100% to do with random assortment of things he found around our house to make a costume out of :)

"What if we lose the farm?"

He actually sort of looks like an Amish farmer.

We had big Halloween party with the Kimball family - saw lots of great costumes, played some fun games, and ate some delicious food.  Check out what we had:

Yes, that's right.  Pumpkin bread bowls.  Dave's mom got them at the Lehi Bakery - aren't they perfect??  Here's mine, with the Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder that Dave's Aunt Rachelle made - delicious!

The soup was fantastic.  Rachelle is an amazing cook, and she has Celiac Disease, so everything she makes is gluten-free.  If you're interested in checking out some of her recipes (including this amazing soup), click here.

Jami was in charge of the fruit - I loved her idea!

Fruit kabobs in the pumpkin.  I think it's a really fun idea for Thanksgiving, too - I'm envisioning a beautiful turkey with fruit feathers :)  Bring on Thanksgiving!