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This is Jonah at Sunday Dinner at my Mom's house last week.

I've always been a big reader. And I've always hoped my kids would be big readers. All my kids have always liked books, but for my boys, its almost been exclusively non-fiction books. They'd rather read about the weather, or animals of the southwest than anything with a story, or a plot or chapters. And I had read somewhere that that is pretty normal for boys. It takes them longer to make the switch to story books than girls. And I have no scientific evidence to back that up, but it sounds good, right?

So while I wasn't worried about their reading, I was excited when in the last 6 months or so Jonah started to really get into reading chapter books. And in the last month or so Noel, I assume because he was trying to be cool like Jonah, started reading chapter books too. Jonah usually has a stack of about 9 books that he is reading at a time stacked next to his bed. He can't seem to keep track of a book mark (big shocker) so all of the books are laying open, spines up, one on top of the other, each holding the place of the book underneath it. It seems like a complicated system. He love Goosebumps, because he loves ghosts, even though he is too scared to go in our basement (where his bedroom is) by himself. And he has read a million of them. 

Which begs the question, what's next? Now don't get me wrong. I love Goosebumps. There mah fahvorite! And if he wants to read exclusively Goosebumps for the next 6 years, that is fine with me too. I'm a firm believer that you let kids read what they want to read and then they will read more. But I would love to offer some suggestions. I got him a couple Roald Dahl books and a Jim Kjelgaard book I loved when I was a kid and they didn't seem to click (maybe they are still a little too old for him.) Any thoughts? What is your 8 year old reading?

This is what Sunday naps look like at my house

Don't I look comfortable?? I guess I shouldn't complain - until about 6 months ago Sunday naps were impossible. So something is better than nothing, I guess.

Lila rocks!

Lila is obsessed lately with the drums. It's probably because she watches the Fresh Beat Band all day and gets really mad when Amy or I make disparaging comments about Twist. When she goes down to play her drums, we hear this about 100 times in a row and the "1...2...3...4..." is always as loud as she can muster. I am thinking of looking for drum lessons. (PS. She wrote all the lyrics herself.)

Great Things I Loved in 2012

I've already done a bit of a 2012 recap over at my other blog, Part Time Authors, but I enjoy list making so much, I thought I would do some more over here. I'll do my best not to repeat myself. These shall be in addition to what I have already blogged about over there.

Great Movies
Perks of Being a Wallflower (which was my top pick over at PTA) still sticks out as being a favorite, and I have been vindicated by other people (like famous critics and stuff) having in on their top 10 lists. I thought I was being an emotional teenager by picking it. So, yay for that. It's a real winner and if you haven't read the book, it is also worth checking out. This year I also loved:

Was there a better time to be had in the theatres than Avengers? I love super hero movies, but they can be pretty uneven. Everyone once in a while one comes along that feels fresh and fun and entertaining, and Avengers was just that. I laughed and loved the action and want a whole movie with Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk (even though there have been two pretty bad Hulk movies in the last 5 years.)

And speaking of fun:

I have a love hate relationship with horror movies. I love to watch them, and then I hate them because I don't sleep for 6 months after I watch one (I am a bit of wuss.) But Cabin in the Woods is a smart and inventive reimagining of the horror genre. So original. So clever. And unlike anything I've ever seen. It's gory, and a little scary but if you are OK with that stuff it is wicked smart.

Great TV, Comedies

There are so many shows that make me laugh on a weekly basis. I think I have blogged before about Parks and Recreation. It's so, so, funny and just keeps getting better. If you are not watching it, why? Here is a little example of why it's just so darn great.

I also love New Girl, particularly the character of Nick Miller. He cracks my shiz up. I think he is the funniest and most underrated character actor on TV.

And let's not forget Community. I'm sure that it going to get canceled after this spring season, but remember "Digital Estate Planning?" The 64-bit video game episode. Genius.

Great TV, Drama

I'm kind of embarrassed that Brett, one of my co-writers on PTA, picked Sherlock and I had almost totally forgotten about it. If you haven't seen it, just do yourself a favor and make it happen. There have only been two seasons and each season is three 90 minute episodes. It is incredibly smart, funny, modern and hip. And the actor that plays Sherlock is named Benedict Cumberpatch! I mean, come on!! How great is that.

Southland is a fantastic cop drama that airs on TNT that I don't think anyone has heard of or watches except me and like 4 other people. But it is awesome. Plus, that guy from the OC! And that girl from Family Matters! (Where you at, Urkel?) Season 5 starts in February.

Another show that consistently makes me cry nearly every week is Parenthood. Aspberger's, Cancer, break ups, falling in love. Its so great.

Great Podcasts
This is a new category for me. But I have a long commute to work and I listen to about 1.5 million podcasts a week. They are an incredible. Informative, funny, entertaining. Here are a few that I love.

The Moth is a story telling podcast. They are recorded at live events where people come and tell stories. These stories have made me laugh, cry and everything in - between. 

Planet Money sound in face value like it would be incredibly boring. It basically about economics. Which seems like a snoozer, but it is short bites (about 15 - 20 min per episode) and covers everything from the Fiscal Cliff, to Lebron James, to why we don't use lard in cooking.

Lexicon Valley. If you are a big word nerd, like I am, then Lexicon Valley is the podcast for you. It's about language, the way we use it, how it evolves. (Wow, all of these podcasts sound SUPER NERDY.) It's fantasgreat (which Lexicon Valley would tell me is not really a word.)

This American Life is like the grand-daddy of talk radio, but is for a reason. It is so, so, so incredibly well done. This is one of those shows that I sit in my car and wait until its over before I come in the house. Brilliant. Amazing. The best.

Great Books

I've already blogged about books I love here and here. But I love to recommend books to people, so here are some of the best books that I read this year. (And I think it says a lot about my book club that three of these were books we read.)

Beautiful Ruins I would recommend this book to everyone. It is basically the story of a the making of Cleopatra, the romance between Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, Italy, memory, loss, wondering "what-if?" and the movie industry. It's funny, touching, compelling and satisfying. 

The Family Fang is the story of a family of performance artists. The kids, who went along with all the performances where they were younger, have grown up and no longer want to participate. It raises a lot of interesting questions about if kids kill art and will keep you guessing.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is my one YA addition to the list. In a young adult world full of vampires, zombies and post-apocalyptic craziness (many of which are great books) it's nice when someone does something unique. It about a girl, Karou, who lives in Prague and runs errands for a group of demons. Brilliant. I can't wait to read the next one.

The Sisters Brothers if this books gets made into a movie, it will be directed by the Cohen Brothers. Dark, twisted, funny and lovely. I loved it so, so much.

Great Trend of 2012 That Drives My Wife Crazy

I'm oddly obsesses with the Southwest. I want everything in a Southwest print. I want ugly sweaters and blankets to fill my life. Amy 100% doesn't get it, but supports it by buying me an awesome wallet and tie that 13 months ago I would have thought incredibly ugly.

Great Moments and Things in 2012 That Made Me Happy: From the Sacred to the Profane (in no particular order.)

• Jonah getting baptized (by me!) It was lovely and touching and one of those moments that makes me glad to be a parent.
• Starting a blog with friends, Part Time Authors that has been fun to write and been a small success (let's hope for a big success in 2013!)
• Getting to travel to Portland with some really good friends to go through the temple with my  friend Eric. 
• The meme "Ermahgerd!" which we laughed about WAY too much on our Portland trip and which still makes me giggle every time I think of it. 
• The Twitter feed Not Tilda Swinton (@NotTildaSwinton) which started on the night of the eclipse and spouted crazy nonsense for a week. It made me giggle and chuckle for all that time making fun of what a crazy nut Tilda Swinton is. 
• The annual pilgrimage to Disneyland. It is always a treasure that we are so lucky and grateful to get to go. This year was the first year that all of our kids were old enough to have fun and be generally easy to take care of.  (And didn't require an extra bag of diapers and baby gear.)
• Running my first official 10K (The Speedy Spaniard: This Time with a Racist Sounding Name) with Jared and Melissa. It was a blast. Seriously, when are we doing another one.
• Tig Notaro: Live! (rhymes with "give.") A 30 min comedy set done a few days after comedian Tig Notaro was diagnosed with cancer. It was funny, sad and life affirming all at once.
• Xanadu at Hale Center Theater Orem which my friend Chris directed. It was campy and crazy and we saw it with Chris who just giggled the whole time and said "This is so stupid!" The best night of theatre of the year by far.
• Bonne Heure, my book club. It's always the highlight of my month. 
• Taking my boys camping to Father's and Son's AND surviving AND having a good time.
• Dancing in a flash mob for my friend Kacy's 40th birthday party. I've never done anything like that but WE KILLED IT! And Kacy looked mortified/delighted. (Mostly mortified.)
• My friend Chris's 40th Birthday party. A night full of amazing food and great entertainment where I got to see a lot of old friends that I haven't seen in a long time. It pays to have friends turn 40!
• Watching Noel and Lila become best buds. Noel and Jonah have always been close and still are, but over the last few months Noel and Lila have become really close. He takes good care of her and it warms my heart. 
• Being gainfully employed for all 12 months of the year. Couldn't say that about last year!!

And that was it...2012. I know this was a marathon. Thanks for sticking with it, unless you stopped reading pages ago. If that's the case then never mind.