The Selling of the President

Landon and I are in San Francisco right now for a few days and yesterday when we were riding the subway back to our hotel I finished a fabulous book that I think eveyone should read.  It's called "The Selling of the President" by Joe McGinniss.   McGinniss was a reporter that was close to the Nixon campaign of 1968 and the book shows how Nixon was basically sold to the American public as a product.  It is a harsh critique of campaigns and, in my opinion, an even harsher critique of the public's willingness to be sold.  McGinniss is a fabulous writer and the book read more like a novel than anything.  It was fast-paced and easy to read.  

Even though it was written more than 30 years ago, it is completely relevant today and I am glad I read it before this upcoming campaign because it has made me more aware of political advertising vs. political policy and the disconnect between the two.  I would highly recommend it (and in fact am forcing Landon to read it). 

Aiden, Aiden, Aiden...

With Aiden crawling now, I have found that he is much more difficult to look after. I really didn't appreciate the days where he just sat like a cute little lump. He loves exploring his Grandma's house and we have had to make sure most doors stay closed so that he doesn't get into things he shouldn't. Here are a few examples of Aiden's curiosity.

So much for the childproof gate. He loves opening it and climbing through.

I find him like this at least a few times a week. Hopefully dog food won't hurt him.

When his cousin Brie was here they found a box of chocolate-covered altoids and had at it. When we found them they were sucking off the chocolate and then spitting out the altoids because they were too strong.
He also enjoys eating the apples that fall off the tree out back.
This is probably his favorite activity. As soon as I open the dishwasher to do dishes he crawls over from wherever he is and climbs on in to help me. We have learned to keep the knives in the back where he can't reach them.
I just really love this picture of his raisin-y feet after a couple hours in the pool.

At the end of the day, how could you not love him anyway?

"No bears are out tonight..."

Over the weekend we went camping with the Allred's and my sister-in-law, Alicia, who was visiting from Utah. The women and kids went up to the Sequoias Thursday morning (4 women, 5 kids) and the men followed on Friday night. Thursday night after all the babies were sleeping soundly in their various tents, all the women realized that the men really weren't coming up and that we were on our own. The night that followed will always be a funny memory. I was sleeping alone in a tent with Aiden and probably spent the first two hours convincing myself that a bear was going to come and eat my child. It got to the point that my heart was beating fast and I could hear the blood rushing in my ears. The entire time I felt like I had a split personality- one that was terrified of nature and the other that recognized how completely irrational that was. Seriously, I've been camping before and I always like it. I even spent a couple summers in high school working at a camp where I slept in a tent for a month at a time. So I really shouldn't have been scared. But somehow having a baby has turned me into an irrational person. Luckily, Aiden started fussing in his pack-n-play, and since I didn't want him to wake up any of the other babies in camp I pulled him into my sleeping bag with me and I immediately fell asleep- only to wake up every 45 minutes when Aiden panicked because he had a sleeping bag on him. At 4 am, everybody in camp was awake so we all went to the bathroom and slept until 8 am. The next day we went on a little walk, napped, etc. We all slept surprisingly well the next night and made it out of the forest sufficiently filthy but with no serious injuries.

Doesn't that just make you want to pack your tent and go to the mountains?

Aiden and his cousin Blake spent a considerable amount of time in a playpen having ultimate fighting matches. Clearly Blake came our victorious most of the time. My niece Kea had the ability to get remarkably dirty.
She is showing off her grimy hands to me.

Aiden playing on the picnic table.

My sister-in-law Laura and her son Blake- Aiden's nemesis and best friend.

Dirty Cousins

We noticed we had (1) a ton of pictures, (2) the program ComicLife on our computer, (3) and some extra time. So here you go! (double click on the picture to read it)

Aunt Carli!

My sister Carli came out to Bakersfield for a visit and we had a wonderful time. We flew into LA from Salt Lake on Saturday and went to see Wicked, which was fantastic!! After the play we drove back to Bakersfield. It was fun to have Carli around and Aiden loved being with her. We showed her all the sights in Bakersfield- Buck Owen's Crystal Palace, Dewar's Ice Cream, Landon's Office, and other exciting places. Bakersfield even cooperated by being, hold your breath, overcast and cool (only in the low 90's). We mostly loved swimming, reading, and of course, talking.

Eating a Black and White at Dewar's (think chocolate fudge and marshmallow cream)

We went back to LA on Wednesday and spent the afternoon at the Getty. We both love museums, so an afternoon there was a dream. The weather was great, the gardens were gorgeous, and Aiden was well-behaved. What else did we need?

Me chasing Aiden in the courtyard at the Getty

Aiden taking advantage of the gardens

We spent the evening in Santa Monica before heading for our hotel. It was pretty windy, but still fun.

Carli trying desperately to make Aiden laugh

On the pier

Aiden crashed after all the excitement

Our Trip to Utah

Aiden and I flew to Utah last Saturday and have been having fun hanging out with my family. He is finally getting used to everyone here so he spends a lot less time with his arms around my neck holding on to my hair for dear life.

Before we left I decided I needed a hobby so I have been playing around with one of my dad's old cameras while I have been here. I have taken about 300 pictures but fortunately for all of you, I only posted a few. At the end of the post you'll see a couple of pictures of my brothers who graciously modeled for me. There are also a couple of Aiden with his cousin Owen, who is about four months younger.

My dad's side of the family had their annual family reunion at Bear Lake and it was fabulous! The fourth of July has always been my favorite holiday because it was always the Christensen family reunion Ask any of my siblings or cousins and they will agree. I remember being in elementary school and being surprised that nobody else in my class listed the Fourth of July as their favorite holiday. Luckily, even with a baby I had a wonderful time with my cousins and aunts and uncles staying up late, playing games, and going to the beach- albeit there were more diapers to change.

Sarah's Summer Picks

Living with the in-laws has obvious perks- free rent, free food, free babysitters, etc.. but, another great thing about living here is that I have had a lot more time to read. So I will enlighten you all with my favorite reads of the summer (the last few months really).

Americas Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines- Gail Collins

This book was absolutely fascinating. It follows the history of American women and how their role in the country has changed over time. It sounds a bit academic but it really was an easy read. It was more like a collection of stories than an academic expose (imagine an accent over the e). While the stories of famous women (Pocahontas, Susan B. Anthony, etc.) were great, my favorite parts were stories about average women and the everyday facts of life- how they cooked, cleaned, changed diapers, etc.








Atonement- Ian McEwan


I actually read this a few months back, but I still think about it so it is going on my list. McEwan is an excellent writer so reading it is a treat. As a plus, the story itself is something you will go to bed thinking about. It is the story of a girl and how her decisions as a child affect her life and the lives of those around her.




The Glass Castle- Jeannette Walls

This is an extraordinary memoir written by a woman who grew up as a modern nomad, going with her parents from run-down house, to run-down house in the southwest. She ends up in West Virginia during jr. high and high school , living in a home with no plumbing and no heat, finally escaping to NYC where she became a writer. It will make you appreciate what you have and make you question what kind of challenges you could overcome.





The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald

If you only read this in ninth grade, it's time you pulled it out again. I read this for my ward book-club and I absolutely loved it. When I read it in school I didn't care either way about it, but reading it again was a fantastic. It's an interesting story and a great look into the 1920's. I was surprised at how appropriate and current this book remains, even though it was written 80 years ago. The characters are interesting, if not likable, and it would be a perfect beach book- full of love affairs, extravagant parties, and-of course- a death or two.




Slide, Already! - Kit Allen
This is my new favorite children's book- I think I mentioned it in an earlier blog. It doesn't really have a great moral, and it isn't exceptionally witty, but it is definitely entertaining. And hey, what is a book if it isn't entertaining? It is the perfect read aloud book for kids who won't sit still for a twenty minute story.