Party

Aiden's first birthday is quickly approaching.  So, this past weekend we had a little party for him.   We wanted to share some pictures of this special day.  

Aiden was really excited

There was plenty of food

and of course, Monkey cupcakes

The Birthday Boy getting lots of love

Aiden was not too happy about having all that attention when it was time to sing 'Happy Birthday' and eventually he couldn't hold it in any longer.  

and after it was all over, Aiden sat in his new sled and pondered the day

The Reader

Yesterday afternoon Aiden was hanging out in the living room with his favorite book: Touch and Feel Baby Animals.  Bailey was sprawled out next to him, lounging in the sun, being lazy.  Eventually the draw of Bailey's exposed, furry belly became to much for Aiden to resist, and Touch and Feel Baby Animals became Touch and Grab Bailey's Fur.

Every Cloud has a Cherry Red Lining

When I was driving to work on thursday night I hit a deer with my car.  I hit it pretty hard too.  It was one of those moments that was both severely frustrating, yet filled with relief.   I realized that I was fully intact and totally safe, however there was a huge deer-shaped indentation in the hood of our car.  Ugh.

So anyway, I was able to get to work and home the next morning without further incident- and since then things have actually been going pretty smoothly.  My dealings with insurance, repair shops and rental agencies have been efficient, bordering on pleasent, experiences.  And now that all the details have been squared away, I've been thinking about trying to find things to be thankful for in the midst of an angst inducing situation.  So these were the three things that I found to be thankful for despite having just recently launched a deer off the hood of my car:

 1- No people were damaged in this incident, just my car (oh, and the deer). 

2- From what I hear, deer heaven is lovely this time of year.  

3-  Our insurace totally covers a rental car while our's gets fixed, and this is the car they gave us to use...

I don't much of anything about cars, but I am pretty sure that this is race car.  I think that it is a Saab 3-90 (or maybe a 9-30?) and the rental guy desribed the car's interior to me (with a straight face) as "buttery" leather.  It turns out he was right, the interior is buttery, and it also turns out that I really like butter.  

I'm feeling a little car-loyalty guilt here so let me just say that I love our little Versa and can't wait till she comes back to us ship-shape.  But maybe, just maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing if they had to take a few extra days to get things exactly right...  

The Cream of the Crop

A lot is made of the advertisements during the Super Bowl, and it creates some pretty high expectations.  I always feel just a little bit bad for a company that spend xxx million dollars on a 30 second commercial, and afterwards all you can say is, "Huh?"  

Anyway, these were some of what I thought were the best ads of the night.  A couple even made me laugh out loud.  What do you think, did I miss any?

Note: these can take a few seconds to load- just be patient.

Hi

Hey blog, there 's not much going on here at the abode today.  Aiden wanted to say hi though- here he is!

Ok, talk to you later!

The Temptation of Aiden

In this video we see Aiden struggling with one of life's great questions:  

To eat the dogfood?  Or to not eat the dogfood?

Lets see how he does...

The Temptation of Aiden from Robert Jones on Vimeo.

Rob's Top 5 Albums of the Year

As a frequent peruser of various music-related blogs, magazines, and podcasts I always find that I enjoy the inevitable 'Top 10 Albums of the Year' list that every entity feels obligated to provide. These lists can help you get clued into bands that may have  snuck under your music radar earlier in the year. Or sometimes they may simply justify your own particular obsession with a favorite group ( Yes! # 2!! )

Anyway, I thought that it would be fun ( for me mostly ) to do a year-in-review list of my own. I'm no music critic, not by a long shot, but I know what I like and I figured that I may as well put it out there.  Maybe someone else will get to enjoy the songs that have been particularly exciting to me this year, and to be honest, I am also hoping that I'll get some suggestions to supplement my own favorites. I decided to keep it simple and forgo the full 'Top 10' list and instead stick with a 'Top 5', with an additional 'Favorite Song of the Year' designation tacked on for good measure. 

I had hoped that with each album I would be able to include at least one MP3 sample to give you a taste of each band's music. Unfortunately, as I attempted to work this out I found that putting copyrighted material onto Blogger is a very difficult/ mildly illegal endeavor. Oh well. As a not-nearly-as-good alternative I put a link to each bands Myspace page along with my own description. They all have full length audio clips of a selection of songs, along with the occasional music video. It's a little more work, but believe me, I wouldn't take the time to write about this music if I didn't think that it was pretty worth while.

Ok, my preface is getting a little wordy so here we go...

#5 -She & Him- Volume 1

This band is a collaboration of actress Zooey Deschanel (who wrote most of the songs on the album), and singer/songwriter M. Ward.  Much of the record has a 50's/ 60's throwback vibe, but the combination of Deschanel's sweetly imperfect voice and Ward's hushed accompaniment is succesful in making it sound refreshing and new.

Favorite Tracks: Sentimental Heart, You Really Got a Hold On Me,  Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?

#4- Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes

A new band this year, Fleet Foxes is a group that is both very talented and very bearded.  Their folky brand of pop music is somehow somber and catchy in the same moment. This album is an ideal soundtrack for the long winter months.

Favorite Tracks:  White Winter Hymnal, Tiger Mountain Peasent song, Ragged Wood

#3- Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend

 A band comprised of a group of friends who met at Columbia University these songs are less intelectual and more just plain fun.  This album is simple, clean and fresh sounding- a perfect antidote for some of the more melancholy music that I've enjoyed this year.

Favorite Tracks:  Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, M79, One

#2- Bon Iver- For Emma Forever Ago

Bon Iver, another new band, is really just one guy and his name is Justin Vernon.  This album is the end result of three months that Vernon spent in voluntary seclusion in a cabin in northern Wisconsin.  The sound is very low-tech, very intimate, very soulful, and very very good.

Favorite Tracks: Skinny Love, Lump Sum, Flume

#1- Mates of State- Rearrange Us

The fact that this husband and wife duo tours the country with their two kids and a diaper bag is enough to make me like them.  Add to that beautiful, soaring pop melodies, and lyrics dealing with the realities of marraige, kids and family and I'm about ready to swoon.  Along with being one of my new favorite bands, this is absolutely my favorite album of the year.

Favorite Tracks:  The Rearranger, Get Better, Blue and Gold Print, Help Help, My Only Offer

SONG OF THE YEAR...

This was a tough call.  

The front runners were: Tiger Mountain Peasent Song by Fleet Foxes, Rearranger by Mates of State, M79 by Vampire Weekend, Furr by Blitzen Trapper...

Ultimately the song that distinguished itself from the rest was Skinny Love by Bon Iver.  This track was good the first time I heard it, and seems to just keep getting better.  Simple, but layered with guitar and voice- I'm pretty sure I'll still be listening to this song in 2o years.  Now that's pretty good.

Note:  Ok, my extra long self-indulgent post is over.  More Aiden related pictures, videos, anecdotes and posts in the near future.  Promise!

Best Buds

It has been really fun(ny) to watch Aiden and Bailey's relationship grow.  When Aiden was first born, Bailey didn't pay much attention to him.  Bailey quickly became protective and interested in Aiden's little noises, and worried about his cries.  Now that Aiden is getting around and is pretty quick, Bailey is learning that some times he needs to just get away and go where Aiden can't get to him.  Aiden especially likes to grab Bailey's dog tags and tug on them.  Bailey has learned that Aiden doesn't like when Bailey licks his hands.  So, it usually turns into a little back and forth game between the two of them-Aiden grabs, Bailey licks, Aiden releases, repeat. As annoyed as Bailey may appear  at times, he does have a devotion to Aiden.  I do often catch them in moments together, but the camera is never close by.  After Aiden's bath every night I (Jen) lay him on our bed while he drinks his bottle and I drain the tub and clean up all his toys.  When I came back in to the bedroom, I caught them like this......

Luckily, this time, I was able to grab the camera and capture the moment.  It's moments like this that I do love that Aiden will grow up with a dog.  Of course, if you catch me in a moment when I am standing at the back door screaming at Bailey to come inside-I may have a different opinion.  But, in all seriousness, I am really glad that Aiden and Bailey have each other.

Kingsley, PA

This video is one that I took this past weekend when my Dad and I drove up to Kinglsey Pennsylvania.  For most of the people who read this blog the situation and context for this visit does not need any further explanation.  Still though, I had intended to give a lengthy background... tell the whole story.  What I found is that I just can't muster it right now.  Sorry.

Anyway, here is the video.

Just a note: Although nearly everything in the house was lost, my great aunt and uncle (who were it's former residents) are safe and sound.  That is just one of the many great blessings in the midst of a difficult situation.

Kiss of Death

If a hostile army of aliens sought to take over our planet by giving the human race exceptionaly slobbery kisses Aiden Jones would become their leader.

Watch out planet.