Magic

To the Jesse Hunsaker Family, Disneyland IS magic. I know it can get too crowded in the parks sometimes, but thats why you don't go during peak season. Even with the long lines, there is something about the music, the detail in every building, the decorations that make your wait more enjoyable as you anticpate Indiana Jones, etc. that makes you feel like you are in a magical place. The workers must be routinely trained on how to be nice because, seriously, you won't find nicer employees at any amusement park. And they keep those parks so CLEAN. Anytime I saw someone spill popcorn on the ground, there seemed to be someone right behind them sweeping it up.

Anyway, enough of why I think Disneyland is great. Mitch had a week of school in February so the 2L's and 3L's could go get interviews. The 1L's still had to finish a huge brief, but Mitch decided to work extra hard and get his done early so we could take the weekend off and head to Disneyland. Since the next 2 years he probably won't be able to do anything during that week off in Febrauary, we really needed to take advantage of this opportunity. We went with another couple from Law school, and they were fabulous company.

I don't know what it is, but I feel like a little kid again when I go to Disneyland. It is so fun to see all the characters.

Thunder Mountain Railroad--I don't know who thought that 3 men would fit just fine in one spot, but it made for good entertainment watching them squirm with every jolt or turn.





And yes, we wore ponchos on Splash Mountain. Normally I wouldn't, but we went first thing in the morning while there were no lines and it was still chilly.

We had a wonderful weekend, even if it was super short! (Just 2 days at the park and then we came home) My favorite parts of the trip: Finally eating at the Blue Bayou, the new Star Tours (if this wasn't so crowded, I would go on it again and again to see as many of the story lines as I could), and the World of Color show.

FFO

Growing up in a big family, I got to go on many family outings. Some of them were "forced family outings", others were simply "fun family outings", and my favorties were the "fantastic family outings." Looking back I think I consider them all fantastic because I now appreciate any family time. But as a pre-teen sometimes I didn't have that sense of gratitude and maturity.

Anyway, I never blogged about an FFO that we had during Christmas break. My sister Megan was playing in the Transiberian Orchestra concert and my parents were so generous to take us all to see it.

Dinner beforehand. So yummy.

I had to add this picture because these two are simply the best.


The beautiful cellist. She is the reason we got to have such a great time.

The concert was rocking. It was super loud and intense but I loved it. The light show was complete with flames and lasers. For those of who you aren't familiar with the Transiberian Orchestra--don't be decieved. Its nothing like an orchestra concert. The orchestra part is tiny (there were two cellists, one was my sister; 2 violists; and 4 violinists.) The main part is 4 electric guitars--it is a total rock concert with all the long-haired guitarists banging their heads, back-up dancers, and more black leather than there was in the show Grease. It was a total hoot and I'm proud of my mom for watching it.

One a random side note--I never realized that Crabs have TEETH really similar to ours on their legs. Totally freaked me out when I realized it. What do you think?

Noah

My sister Katie had her baby early early Monday morning. I freaked out when I woke up and heard the news because he was 3 weeks early so no one was expecting it. He was still 7 pounds though and is just the cutest thing. I will be so impressed if my kids come out with as much hair as he did.

Welcome Noah! We love you!

Kindred Spirits

I love Anne of Green Gables. I remember saturday mornings growing up I would watch it with my sisters. I love the way Anne would describe those she loved as "kindred spirits."

I feel this way about my sisters. One of my older sisters called me today in desperation to find my dad and ask him for advice. She confessed to me that she has a painful breast infection (the most painful she has experienced) and that she went to a doctor today who would do nothing for her. She began weeping and I could hear her baby crying in the background too. I started to cry too. I wanted so badly to reach through the phone and hug her and tell her it would all be okay. But I couldn't. My heart aches knowing someone I love so much is in pain.

I can only imagine what it will be like when my own child is the one crying in pain. But for now, I am so grateful for kindred spirits in my life. I am so grateful to know that I love some people enough to be in pain when they are in pain.

Take a step back

I am attempting to master a new skill. I am trying to discover how to take a step back and pull myself out of context in certain situations to really understand what is going on.

In the wake of this political drama I find myself sometimes upset with others, sometimes dumbfounded out how someone could think so illogically, and sometimes surprised by my own opinions. Taking a step back really helps me to understand who people are and why they are that way. Taking a step back helps me see how beautiful people truly are.

Love

I love my friends.

I love to see how we all have grown up and do wonderful things.

(In December alone, Chloe and Kelsey both had babies; Tia got engaged; Adrienne finished her first semester of law school with a baby; Stacey graduated; Ali got a boyfriend; Liz got home from her mission; Danika went to Europe; you get the picture--sorry if I left you out of the December accomplishments list)

It breaks my hear to think how we are all physcially moving away from eachother as we grow up but I am so glad to know that we will always be so close.

Women's Rights

I've always felt empowered studying the women's rights movements throughout history. In high school my knowledge-bowl team was made up of girls and we called our tean the feminists. (Although I don't believe any of us truly understood the full meaning of being a feminist). Then I was applaed to learn that I had to argue against Title IX in my governemnt and politics class in high school as well (which my friend and I ended up winning!).

Mitch and I had an inspiring conversatin about women's rights driving home to Alpine yesterday. We agreed that perhaps the greatest downfall to the women's rights movement is the idea that a woman's sucess is now measured in the same way that a man's is measured.

Don't get me wrong--I think it is fabulous that a woman has the opportunity to be agressive and make a successful career in the workforce. I just think that sometimes a woman can't be defined as an aggressive worker as well as a kind and gentle nurturer anymore. Women who choose to stay home are shown as somehow weaker. It takes a lot of courage for a woman who knows she has great potential in the work force to decide to stay at home with her kids despite the rebukes she may recieve.

Anyway, I'm not trying to say what a woman should or should not do. We are all so unique with different vaules and challenges; we make the best decisions we can and no one else can tell us what to do. I just wish a woman could be measured based on her courage to do what she really loves or values most--and that something could very often differ from what a man would pick. We should be equal to men, but not the same as men. And I think there is confusion there sometimes. Does that make any sense?

On a different note---December was absolutely lovely and I'll post more about that soon. Happy New Year! I think it will be a good one!