Holiday Fanfare

Three more days until my family hits the road to visit family 1200+ miles away. It's quite the adventure with a 22 month old! He's a trooper until about mile 100, and then it's 17 hours of trying this or that tactic to keep him occupied and unaware of how his little body must ache from a 5-point car seat! Ugh! I can imagine, since I hate sitting for more than an hour at a time. Your butt really starts to get annoyed with the lack of movement, and then the bladder starts yelling at you, "Pull over and let me do my duty!" But, have you seen gas prices lately?! Why would I put myself through double cost flying and entertaining the little one 1200 miles up? On the road we can pull over and stretch, play at rest stops and spend a fraction of the cost on travel expenses. We drive a compact car with a standard transmission (GO CLUTCH!) that gets roughly 37-40 mpg highway, so we enjoy the savings at the cost of a somewhat restless child. In the end, we drive through the snow covered Wasatch mountains to find ourselves pulling up to my parent's house, covered in snow and lit with Christmas lights. I'm sure by the end of the visit I'll curse under my frozen breath as I'm scraping snow off my car (but it beats scraping Oklahoma ice). Inside the home is filled with yummy smells, Christmas music, 3 noisy bro's, and lots of decor. It's cozy, it's warm, it's home for Christmas! I can't wait.
(A last year pic of the snow storm that hit the morning after we arrived to my parent's home)

New

Two words, SUSHI NEKO! Yummm. It's the newest restaurant that my husband and I have been to. Now, I don't want to hear "Oh, gross, sushi!?" Because until you've tried some real, Japanese, (even cooked if you prefer) sushi rolls then you can't hurl at the thought of eating it. Trust me, just go to Sushi Neko and order the Soy Bean appetizer (the most unexpected, tasty, interesting little appetizer) Miso Salmon, and a California, or Philadelphia roll. Or, if you prefer some raw and some cooked fishes mixed in the same roll order the Baja California roll because it sounded delicious. We didn't get anything raw because I'm pregnant, but cooked crab in a sushi roll is oh.so.tasty! Not only was it a delicious evening out, it was an evening with JUST the husband and myself. If any of you haven't been on a date with JUST the husband then now is the time! Try something NEW together, because you'll totally laugh and feel ridiculous together, and you'll have a new memory that won't include messy diapers or outbursts in public. Don't get me wrong, kids are great. But, marriages are important too. Your relationship one-on-one with your spouse is the eternal relationship that should be nurtured! We've decided that next time we go we are going to pass up the main entree and order a bunch of sushi rolls to share. Honestly, they are melt-in-your-mouth great! If there are any couples out there that want to try this amazing restaurant we'll go with you!

It's that "most wonderful time of the year" time

From the New York Daily News: A Walmart employee was trampled to death at a Long Island, New York Walmart as he was attempting to open the doors of the store this morning to allow Black Friday shoppers to enter.

Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and around him.

“He was bum-rushed by 200 people,” said Jimmy Overby, 43, a co-worker. “They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too…I literally had to fight people off my back.”

Nassau County Police are still investigating and would not confirm the witness accounts. Police did say there were several injuries but weren’t more specific.

The article also mentions that a pregnant woman at the same store was trampled and as a result, lost her baby.

Oh, and here is the clincher! When the customers were told they would have to leave the store so investigators and ER personnel could assess the scene they had riots in the store because the customers wanted their "free items" and "early bird" specials. I mean, duh! They freakin' trampled the man to death to get in and be the first to have the free door prizes! They "should" be allowed to get them! I mean, it's all in the name of the game, right?!

NOT! Crazy shopping IDIOTS! What are people thinking!?!? I've said it before and I'll say it again, I never go shopping on black Friday. It's not an elitist thing. It's that I don't have to find great deals on mainly crap that I don't need, and I don't have to spend money to celebrate Christmas. Good grief!

Consumerism is SO not worth losing your life over...literally and figuratively. Sheesh! Whatever happened to "Here are some homemade goodies. Merry Christmas and I love you!" ????? It's turned into a season of the bbd(bigger, better deal) even if it costs your life or someone else's. There is my beef for the week.

Toddler boy

Sometimes I look at my 21 month old and ask, "Coleman, what is it like being a little boy, huh? What are you thinking about?" I just wonder sometimes what it's like being a toddler. How do they feel about the world around them? What's going on in those little heads of theirs? Well, I guess my answers about what it's like being a boy toddler came the other day when I realized a few things about their world. This is what I imagine my little boy thinks (and would tell me if he could) most of the time.

*Why walk when you can stomp, run, roll, jump, dance, and go backward?

*Why keep white walls white when they can be crayola colored?

*Why sit still on a chair when it can be pushed over, rocked, jumped on, pushed through the house, and crawled under?

*Why watch cartoons when there are beds to jump on, electrical outlets to ruin, computer buttons to mash, toilets to drink water out of, cell phones to break, hair combs, brushes, rubber bands, toothbrushes, and makeup to lose in the abyss that must exist in my home?

*Why drink milk from a cup when you can watch it pour out and make cool wet spots on the carpet and tile?

*Why eat food when it can become a ball, a car, or a pliable mound of shapes?

*Why leave the laundry folded nicely when it can be pulled down and strewn around the house and played on like play-time mats?

I think my sons life must be pretty fun. I have to admit, jumping on beds IS fun! I don't think he worries about anything as long as he's able to use something for the purpose it was not intended for.

Halloween

So, I am finally posting a slide show of Halloween. First, Chris and I did a Family Home Evening of pumpkin carving with his mom and sister-in-law. We had a blast. They had never carved using those paper pattern things, and were worried that they were screwing up the design. I kept telling them to wait until they saw the finished project with candle light and all, because they always look amazing. They were totally surprised at how artistic they looked. So fun! Second, we headed down to Dallas TX for a long weekend of partying with Chris' sister and her fam. We went "trunk" or treating at their church AND regular ol' trick-or-treating in a decked out neighborhood, complete with human statues that would jump out and scare you, or follow you. It was fun. Coleman was so squeezably cute in his monkey costume.

We love the fall season!

OU football, Friday night lights (go Purcell Dragons), crunchy leaves, cold nights, snuggly clothes, crisp air, yummy smells, feel-good foods, and rosy cheeks and noses. What's not to love about autumn? Ah, I love this time of the year! My mom, my sister, her baby, and my brother came and visited us. They were here 10 days. We spent a lot of time showing them around Oklahoma, eating out, watching movies, playing with baby Mya, and scrapbooking. Chris skipped A LOT of school so he could hang out with Landon, my bro. They played xbox games until about 3am every morning. They are two peas in a pod. Both the youngest of their families, both chill, both are video gamers, both laugh at the same funny movies, both quote the same tv and movie lines. Funny guys. We took my fam to a Purcell High football game, because in Utah football is just like...well, a football game. Here it's life. They had fun. Coleman cried when they left. He actually reached out for them and started crying when they were pulling away. Saying goodbye is not the best part of autumn, but it does mean that another visit is in the works for this season, and we'll hopefully see them soon. I'm glad they were able to visit when Oklahoma was having a "cool" spell.

This is Mya, being the BEST baby I've ever been around. I can't believe how chill and quiet she was. Kimberly said she's always super relaxed and happy. If she makes a noise it's her cooing. She slept through the night, and I think she cried once when she was being ignored or something. See, I can't even remember. That's how good she was. What a princess.


Grandma Debbie playing kissing time with Coleman.


Uncle Landon became a quick pal with Coleman, and helped out a ton.


Setting up Crud, a pool hall game that Chris taught everyone. ADDICTING. We played forever.



The infamous 3 month old. She was cooing and laughing...so fun!


Landon trying to get much needed R&R.


Coleman's new hoodie from grandma. Just in time for the cold weather!



We did get pictures of the whole gang together, but they are on my sister's camera, so we'll post more of all the fun after I get the semi-family picture e-mailed to me.

Simple Things

There are a few things that have gotten me excited the past few days. First, Chris and I have been holding family scripture "study" (more like reading a few versus) followed by a primary song or church hymn, and then bedtime prayers. Coleman has caught on quickly! He points at the words as we read and jibber-jabbers like he's telling us a story. He dances to our primary songs and folds his arms when we say "Let's say prayers." It's so cute. At first he wanted nothing to do with sitting on the couch for more than 20 seconds. But, surprisingly, he's been obedient and seems to enjoy it, and knows it's routine now. The other night Chris and I got to the couch and sat down and Coleman came running over, picked up the Book of Mormon off the end table, and ran it over to us. AH! I was smiling inside and out. I'm not trying to pat myself on the back, but if you know Coleman, you know that this simple thing would melt my heart! He's so rough, on the go, and tries very hard to not be quiet or obedient. So, it was exciting and I almost cry when I think about it. Also, my mom and sister and my new niece are on there way to visit as we speak! They decided to road trip for about two weeks while my mom has work off! I can't wait. I've missed them so much. We are best-friends who just happened to be put into a family together. Granted, it wasn't always that way, but I've missed them terribly. There was never a time when I lived in Utah that if one of us was going to lunch or out to Target that the others weren't given a call to tag along. So, it will be fun to have them here for a short time! EXCITED? Yes, I am. And last, all of you moms will be able to relate to this, speaking has begun to take form. Coleman spends all day trying to tell me things. Today was the first time he pointed to a picture of an apple and said "Apple." Yesterday he asked for "wada" (water), and he has told EVERYONE we've passed while running errads today "BuByeee" (bye bye). I laughed every time because he was SO into saying bye. It was just cute. I'm sure it's a first time mom moment, but hey, it's exciting.
I love you my little, rambunctious, curious, sometimes obliging boy!

The Real Costs of War

We should learn from history. I've seen Washington, D.C. and the monuments many times. I believe these monuments were errected to help teach the past and its effects on the American people and the world. Franklin Delano Roosevelt has many quotes engraved on stones at his monument there. One thing he said was, "We are now in this war. We are all in it - all the way. Every single man, woman, and child is a partner in the most tremendous undertaking of our American history." Another quote that is engraved on a stone at his memorial is "I have seen war, I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded...I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed...I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war."
The Iraqi war started when the U.S. believed that Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was a risk to Middle East peace, and was in possession of weapons of mass destruction. U.S. forces stormed Iraq and have since freed the Iraqis from decades of oppression. They unleashed chaos on the terrorist/oppresive regimes. Iraqi civilians have died, and so have many of our brave men and women, but many have begun to heal and learn about the meaning of freedom. The psychological effects on the children who have seen death first hand, and the shell shock of our own troops should give us more to think about than the "cost" of the war. I keep hearing politicians talking about the "cost" of war. ALL of the politicians and media personalities seem to forget this war isn't just costing us a price in monetary value. What about the people dying? What about that cost! The soldiers are divided about the purposes and validity of the war. They know that whether or not they support the war, they have enlisted and they are doing their jobs. The real cost of a war are the deaths it has caused. Whether or not the soldiers are divided on the validity, we should be united in our efforts to not forget the true costs of this war. Today the American Military casualties in Iraq are 4,168, (3,376 of which died in direct combat). The total death toll due to the Iraqi invasion is 1,267,401. That is quite a cost for freedom and democracy. No matter how you look at it, this war is costly. Whether or not you agree with the invasion or war in general, there should still be a sense of appreciation for the sacrifices being made. There will be many repercussions of this war on the mental, physical and emotional state of the children, the soldiers, and their families. Iraqi children are homeless, parentless, and are wounded. Our soldiers are away from their families, and many of those families have been left fatherless, motherless, brotherless, etc. Let’s not forget the real cost of war. Our troops and the innocent children deserve at least that much!

SNL Palin skit...soooo funny!

Two links to this video. I'm not partial to Clinton or Palin, so I found this super funny.

NBC SNL

Huffington Post

Double Standards

Yes, John Stewart can be a bit hostile sometimes, but this is a great clip I saw on a friend's blog. Listen carefully and try to keep up! He exposes the truth behind the issues, especially the double standards in the media.

Dirty, Messy, Stinky

Although the title of this post might sound like I'm referring to the current anti-Obama crap I've been receiving and hearing about, I'm not going to post about the political campaign. (I know that McCain, even though he's a liberal, and Obama might not be the two best choices for president, but Obama is the better of the two. Most people know how I feel about moving our country forward, our healthcare system, the economy, higher education, the war in Iraq..Etc, etc. We all know that the "taken out of context" and completely blatant lies circulating these days over e-mail about Obama is a joke. So, stop it! Everyone was all "up in arms" when Romney was being anti-ed in the media and over e-mail. It's the same thing. Although, without taking the blinders from one's eyes, it's hard to see that we're doing the same thing by cutting and sniping pieces of Obama's remarks to make him sound like a "radical", "USA hater", "big government", "say anything", politician. Stop the anti crap! I thought it was wrong when people did it to Romney saying things like "horned Mormon", "non-Christian", "polygamist", "flip-flopper", "money driven", politician. We should all know that the only person who can change our current "do nothing" white house is Barak Obama. Say it with me...his name actually rolls off the tongue quite nicely...Baaahhrrraaahhhhkkk Ohhhhbaaahmmmah!)

So, with the clarification that I'm not going to post anything about the lies circulating about Obama (you people should know, especially as members of the church what the "anti-Christ" is and who he will embody...and no it's not Obama despite what current evangelical Christian anti-Obama e-mail corporations are spreading. And the whole "he's in cahoots with radical communists”. Get a grip!) I will post some fun pictures of things that happen here on the home front. Having a little boy gets dirty, messy and stinky sometimes! That's one thing that this campaign year has taught me. No matter what I say, what I do, or who I try to convince that just because someone is a democrat it doesn't make them bad, people will always have their own opinion. This is like parenting. No matter how many times I explain things to Coleman, tell him no, or show him how to do something, until he learns from his own mistakes (the Bush era) and grows, matures and sees the whole picture (the Obama effect) then it really doesn't matter what I "try to force" him to do. The only thing I can do is be the best mom I know how, and one day he'll remember it and will have firm footing to start out on his own. I've also learned that the things that really matter in this life aren't who will be the next president, did you breastfeed or bottle feed your babies, did you have "natural" childbirth, did your husband graduate college, are you a homeowner, are you fat or skinny, etc. None of that really matters. None of that will effect whether or not our children remain active in the church, are free from addictions, have strong testimonies in their Savior, love others, have integrity, are full tithe payers, serve missions, or marry in the temple. I mean, seriously! Why do we get soooo hung up on the things that don't really matter!? The strongest form of government will always be the one that exists in our homes. So, let's move on from the petty rhetoric of Fox and CNN, because none of that will determine our eternal salvation!

This slide show is of Coleman being caught in the kitchen trying to clean up like mommy. When I caught him I laughed and laughed! It was also a boring day so we made a fort in the living room and made fresh-strawberry smoothies. MESSY! On the days that it rains there are TONS of mud puddles around the apartments. Coleman usually finds one and immerses himself in it. After we got home, on one occasion, I took a few quick pics of the DIRTY, muddy mess! It's so fun to clean him up and watch movies together. Lately he's into Shrek! I love it. Then, when he's in a good mood he plays the piano, as if he's a true musician. He acts like he can read the music from the hymn book. It's so fun to watch! I love my little guy. Let's remember what matters in this life.

My mom sent more pictures of our trip...

Toddler Room

So, I need some help and advice. I've decided that since Coleman now scales the side of his crib like it's an easy rock wall it would be time to move him into a bed. I'm not changing the crib into the toddler bed style though, we're just moving him into the vacant room that already has a full bed in it. I plan on putting all his familiar toys and bedding in the new room, along with his night light. I am not going to get a toddler bed, but I do have railings to put on his full bed. However, I'm freaked out because I know the second I put him into his new bed he'll jump on it like a trampoline, climb down and play with toys into the wee hours of the morning. HELP! Is there any advice on how to make this transition work as if he's still in his crib? I've seen Nanny 911 help many parents with this issue, but since you're friends and parents yourselves what has worked for you?

Qualms and contentment.

Qualm - 1. feeling of unease: a sudden feeling of uncertainty or apprehension, especially a misgiving about an action or conduct 2. sick feeling: a sudden pang of nausea

I wish I had some feelings of unease or even some feelings of nausea (due to morning sickness). But, I don't. We've had a miscarriage before, like most women I know, but it just doesn't seem to matter how many a woman has, it's still a stinker! And, I'll add, that it never matters how "far along" a woman is, it's still not fun. So, I don't have any nausea, although some mornings I wish I could be sick rather than deal with "trying" again, and going through another qualm of this next child working out. This isn't supposed to be depressing, I'm just trying to think of something to blog about and this is what is on my mind because it's so recent. My husband and I weren't going to blog about the miscarriage because it's like not one of those things you blog about, but I don't really care. I've decided that if I can't sit down and think of anything prettier and packaged with a big smile to blog about then I'm pathetic.

After this miscarriage I pulled out a quote book I created years ago. It's a raw, green leathered, strappy deal that wraps around a book of blank pages. It's always been on our many book shelves, and has been with me for a lonnng time through many hard trials I've encountered. When I do open it, it's as if it comes to life, because I finally smell the huskiness of the leather, and I see my own handwriting reminding me of better things, like a first introspect of myself and what I'm made of. The words always seem to match the exact feelings I'm harboring. So, sitting on the couch a few nights ago I pulled it out. I decided to thumb through the pages and see the words of wisdom that I almost forgot I penned. I thought I'd share some of them with you all because they pertain to almost every situation in life. I'll type as many as I can before the blog gets ridiculously long! (most of these were from talks from church, mission, conference, college courses, young women's etc.)

"Greatness is best measured by how well an individual responds to the happenings in life that appear totally unfair, unreasonable, and undeserved." (can't remember who said it)
"Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure." - Norman V. Peale
"You must know for which harbor your are headed if you are to catch the right wind to take you there." - Seneca
"Man's mind stretched to a new idea NEVER goes back to its original dimensions." -Oliver Wendell Holmes
"Don't lose your soul for the world, lose the world for your soul!" -Joseph B. Wirthlin
"Faith is to act without evidence." Joseph B. Wirthlin
"When there is no wind, row."
"Our love of God must be pure, without selfish intent." - Pres. Faust
"Opposition: Stepping stones not stumbling blocks."
"The harder the inclines of life the greater the heights." - Current OKC Mission President
"Have I not commanded thee, be strong?" -Joshua 1:9
"You never become the tallest tree when you don't have to fight your way to the light." Sis. Tanner
"Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off your goals." - Elder Sorenson
"The greatest experiences in life come throught the deepest adversity." - Pres. Tanner
"Money won't buy eternal life." - Sis. Tanner
"The only safety in the world is obedience to God. It makes you safer, it makes you stronger." - Pres. Tanner
"A testimony is something that grows. It isn't a destination. It isn't an arrival." - Pres. Tanner
"We have always had a modern technology. The Holy Ghost." - Pres. Hinckley
"Knowledge is power. But to actually live according to your knowledge is greater." -Elder Burns
"You say you believe in prayer. Why don't you pray about it?" - Pres. Faust
"All the major events of the restoration [of the gospel] were preceeded by prayer." - Robert D. Hales
"God seeks our individual happiness and safety more than anything else in this complex universe." Jeffery R. Holland
"Obedience is a life jacket."
"God is waiting to answer our prayers and dreams, but he can't if we don't ask, don't dream, and in short, don't believe." - Jeffrey R. Holland

I've learned that some things happen that are totally out of God's control. Not that He couldn't control them, but that He loves us more than He loves our happiness. Only He truly knows. Life is part of a larger sifting and refining. Life is larger than myself.

Content - 1. quietly satisfied and happy: reasonably happy and satisfied with the way things are 2. ready to accept something: willing to accept a situation or comply with a proposed course of action

Nothing extremely important has gone on these past few weeks. Just the norm. (Although I really want to go off about China and North Korea right now, but I won't. You're all spared.) Basically what has gone on is just the day in and day out stuff with Coleman, home, church, hubby, his work, his studies. We're all healthy, happy, and content. What more could I ask for? Chris is gearing up to take his second Dental Admissions Test (DAT). His stack of flash cards is INSANE! He's brilliant! (Can I brag?) Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Zoology, Biology, Physics, Arithmetic, Anatomy, Perceptual Ability (3-D pattern perception), Physiology, and...I'm sure I'm forgetting some...hmmm, anyway. I get to have the job of reviewing his flash cards with him. I feel like I'm learning more than he's actually reviewing. I guess that's good because he's teaching me at the same time that he's learning. He takes his test on Thursday, so hold your breath with me! I have total faith in him. As for me, don't worry, don't worry. Chris has surprised me with chocolate on more than one occasion, and I know that "God's delays are not his denials." (that one's for you Hublah) Coleman, on the other hand, is giving a whole knew meaning to HANDFUL. Hooray for nursery in ONE.MORE.WEEK. He'll love playing with toys SO much more than empty church halls and daddy's lap!

Fear Mongering

It's no secret that I'm a liberal. Social and civil liberties have revolutionized this country into the amazing place it is today. Our founding fathers were revolutionary and progressive in thought. They had ingenious ideas of their own making, and borrowed ideas from Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle, and yet we censor and shut out those exact forms of government and ruling that would change our country for the better! I don't care what you think about me being a democrat, to be frank. I try to educate myself daily with the best options for my family in terms of religious freedoms in my home, the right to an education, a job, and a pursuit of a happy life. And I afford others the SAME pursuit. I'm sick of hearing racist, back-woods, uneducated, "feelings" about Obama. You can't FEEL something when it's in a legal and political ramification. You either know it, or you don't. It's either law, or it's not. It's either a right, or it's not. So, to clear some things up about McCain (for a change) I thought I'd blog about why I WON'T be voting for him (even though he is one of the most liberal republicans to run for office). The issues at hand that plague this country will not be solved with him in office! Period! I won't vote for him because I would like someone in office who has been candid and honest with his supporters that put him in office in the first place (that would be Obama). McCain is not a loyal person, let's face it. He has tried more than once to abandon his party and cross lines (which would be sweet) and for the past 8 years has disappointed his loyal followers by voting liberal (which is fine). Don't think that by voting him to office you will get your trustworthy, conservative, stuffed-shirt "you can trust me" person. So why all the fear mongering about Obama! He's black. Oh, oh wait, he comes from an interesting background that is too much to handle for you? Or is it that his dad was once a muslim and is now agnostic? Since when is it okay to judge a person by their parent's religion!? It's ridiculous. I suggest you check it out on snopes.com. If you want fear, because that seems to be how you operate, let's get some out there. Here is some reading to educate and enlighten your senses. (Yes, I feel it a duty to inform and protect this country just as much as you do. I’m just as patriotic. I have no problem waving the ol’ red, white and blue. But I do have a problem when it is laid over the bloating bodies of the innocent. Most of this information can be found in “The New Republic” under Maverick Vs. Iceman.) I know you need more "facts" though, right? I mean, true fear mongering doesn't work unless there is something factual to back it up. (That's why it doesn't work for me when all I hear Glen Beck say is "Obama scares me." Oooo, okay, and your point Mr. Beck?)

*First, he has moved across the political spectrum not once--like Al Smith or Mitt Romney--but twice. And, second, he refuses to acknowledge his change.

*During Bush's first term, McCain was the most effective advocate of the Democratic agenda in Washington. (Hey, the more the merrier, thanks McCain!)

*In health care, McCain co-sponsored, with John Edwards and Ted Kennedy, a patients' bill of rights. He joined Chuck Schumer to sponsor one bill allowing the re-importation of prescription drugs and another permitting wider sale of generic alternatives. (If any of you have ever been to a dr where it seems they run a drive-through service, you would want protections. Been there, done that, and I'm thankful that I have rights as a patient. And the drug industry...generic is cheaper and more affordable for all Americans, and that's how we like it, right Wal*Mart buddies?)

*On the environment, he sponsored with John Kerry a bill raising automobile fuel-efficiency standards and another bill with Joe Lieberman imposing a cap-and-trade regime on carbon emissions. He was also one of six Republicans to vote against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (As we all know this will not stop our consumption as guzzling Americans with monster trucks, but only allow us more leeway to depleat the earth that God commanded us to be stewards over, not demolishers of! And what in the heck is wrong with automoblie fuel-efficiency? NOTHING.)

*McCain teamed with Carl Levin on bills closing down tax shelters, forbidding accounting firms from selling products to the firms they audited, and requiring businesses that gave out stock options as compensation to reveal the cost to their stockholders. These measures were bitterly opposed by big business and faced opposition not only from virtually the whole of the GOP but even from many Democrats as well. (Hey, honesty is the best policy!)

*McCain voted against the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts. (These cuts were for the rich, we all know this now in hindsite, and did nothing for my class of citizen, which was supposed to be the promised result. Hmmm, did I pay less in taxes that year? NO. Was education more affordable for me that year? NO. Did my parents suddenly flourish because "tax cuts" were made possible by the Bush admin? NO. Were more jobs created? NO. That's why tax breaks and tax cuts from the republican party only support their butts in office and the rich oil companies. These tax cuts weren't used to create more jobs! The money grubbing businesses held on to those subsidies -different topic- and the economy has failed - different topic. Look, everyone complains about the low income family living on welfare, like, their not paying into the system. Neither is corporate America. Their tax cuts helped them. They are putting just about as much into the economy as the family on welfare. So get off the high horse! Thanks McCain for seeing the falacy in these proposed "tax cuts"!)

*McCain co-sponsored bills to close the gun-show loophole, expand AmeriCorps, and federalize airport security. All these things set him against nearly the entire Republican Party. (Gun control. I know...you're cringing at the thought. Have you ever been to a gun show!? I have, and let me tell you, I could walk up to any counter, lay my green president down and walk away with a high caliber rifle, .22, pistol, you name it. No checks to see if I have warrants, if I'm on parole, if I was just released from a psychological clinic with instructions to not sell me a fire-arm. That's why gun-show loop holes need to be addressed! We all threw a hissy fit when we needed to maintain airport security. Why people!? Couldn't it have saved us some lives on 9/11. I know, it does get annoying, but it's safe. We like that word "safe".)

*McCain was best described as a progressive--like Teddy Roosevelt (and I'll add like Obama which is now used as a slander, not as something positive), whom he cited constantly. McCain tended to see politics as a contest between the national interest and the selfishness of private agendas, and he favored a role for government in counterbalancing the excesses of organized wealth. In 2002, for instance, he was asked about the Bush administration's view, with regard to the Enron scandal, that "[t]he company had a duty to inform its shareholders and its employees about things that were going on inside the company. That's not a federal government responsibility." McCain thundered in response, "Well, Theodore Roosevelt would not agree with at least that rhetoric....We have had regulatory agencies always to curb the abuses or potential abuses of the capitalist system."

*McCain did not leave his party, but he came close. The Washington Post (at the time) and The Hill (again last year) reported that, in 2001, McCain met with Democratic leaders to ponder a party switch. McCain and his allies deny these accounts, which are obviously devastating to his current prospects, and reporters almost never mention it in their McCain coverage. They also rarely mention how, in 2004, John Kerry wooed him to join his ticket as vice president. The reported half-dozen conversations the two held on the topic are about a half-dozen more than would have been needed if McCain truly was a dyed-in-the-wool conservative Republican.

*McCain obviously decided that his only plausible path to the presidency lay with the Republican Party in 2008. So he set about re-ingratiating himself with the GOP establishment while maintaining his reputation as an unwavering man of principle.

*And last but NOT least, McCain recently voted NO to help fund rehabilitation and hospital expenses for American soldiers who have served in a war. Voted NO to help compensate their families further, during their husband's/wife's time of recovery. Not only did he vote no, he was not even at the debate and vote meeting. He just called it in. What a swell guy! As a United States Veteran I would expect more!

None of this scares me, per se, because I think his voting record is pretty much in line with most liberals to moderates. But if you're thinking of voting for McCain just educate yourself on any topic to see what he "really" believes. And, no, I won't take my bumper sticker off of my car. I believe in change, not in changing the greatness of this country (unless it only means getting better), but in changing the face of the white house, the caliber of person that serves the highest position, and I believe in changing the way we see each other and respect for each other. Obama will lead us in that direction.

Stop being afraid.

Twirling

DO you ever have those days where you feel like your life is just twirling? Like, you don't hear conversations going on around you, you're all twirling inside with frustrations over this or that? There are some days of the week (more than not) that I feel like I'm twirling. I'm sure this is induced from stress of being a mom to a rambunctious 17 month old boy.

I have learned that no matter how much discipline Chris and I give Coleman, he's still going to follow through on his boyish impulses and smack some other little kid in the face, throw toys, throw food, or bite me on the shoulder as he's cuddling with me. As Chris likes to say, as he's reassuring me that I'm not a complete failure of a mom, "We are not doing anything wrong! He's going to learn over time and with experience about behavior. Kids don't just "know" behavior." Today, for instance, little nursery children were being shuffled single file across the hall to another room. Coleman, being in close proximity to the children, (he plays with a toy kitchen set that's always in the hall near nursery) proceeds to run and body slam an older, but helpless, little boy. That little boy got up before I could run and help. He growled at Coleman. Then they were joined by another boy and a few girls in a riot over the kitchen set. Yup. An all out freak out session. There was no more single file. No more folded arms. And Coleman was beyond reproach. He clung to the kitchen set with his life! The other children were quickly shuffled to the classroom and I was left in the hall with my head twirling over the behavior of my son. My emotions had had it! A few moments later we were headed back to the kitchen set, only to see the nursery door open. Coleman hurried to the room and...I saw it coming...he smacked a little girl right in the face! I grabbed him, and sternly gave him the verbal reprimand of a lifetime. He continued to cry until church was over because of one thing or another. I was twirling inside and Coleman was tired, ornery, and in trouble!

There is no time to stop when you're a parent. No breathers, no kick-your-legs-up moments. It's like you have to constantly be on guard. You do the best you can day in and day out, but sometimes it just feels futile! I wonder if my child will ever learn to control his impulses. My advice to myself is...don't give him time to do those things. Keep him busy. Keep him occupied and happy. I have to say that it does work...most of the time! When we are twirling in playtime with each other, running outside after a ball, or playing with cars I notice a happier and less agressive boy. He even seems to communicate with me better. We twirl to music all the time and he laughs out loud. It's great. Although hard and exhausting, the busy moments make being a mom worth it to me, because I see my son happy and carefree. And sorry to all the moms whose children Coleman may body slam or bite in the future. *Shrug* It's not because he's malicious, or because I lack parenting skills (I hope). We're all just learning and twirling in this parenting bubble.

Family; a reason to travel!

Baby Mya, and summer fun

My sister, Kimberly, had her baby three weeks early!!! Her name is Mya and SHE IS SOOOO CUTE! My-a, not Meea, was 6 lbs 1 oz and 20 1/4 inches long! She is so little little little. We hurried and packed up the car when she went into labor and drove 17 hours to Utah to see her and the new cutie pie. Lukily Chris' work is WAY flexible and let him have the time off. We chilled with my family over the fourth of July too, since we were there, and spent a lot of time holding baby Mya and imagining maybe having a girl of our own one day! The clothes are sooo cute and little girls have such a sweetness about them. Coleman spent most of his time running amok in my parent's backyard with his uncles, 4-wheeling with daddy, helping my parents mow the lawn, swimming in his little pool my mom got for him, going to the zoo, taking a nature walk with Kim's new little family (Mya's real first outing at 1/2 a week old! Yeah, crazy!), biting and hiting the dogs, and completely ignoring Mya. It made me feel guilty bringing him back to Oklahoma because I'm not that outgoing as far as "let's get out in the humidity and play all day." Utah was good for him. He learned a lot. Explored a lot, and had enough outdoor time to last a million years. My only wish would be for him to have had more fun with Mya. He was soooo annoyed by her at first. He DID NOT like seeing anyone hold her or coo with her, which is to be expected. But, one morning I was helping Kim and was changing Mya's diaper. Coleman came into the room and layed down on his belly with his head in his hands and watched me. Then he got up and left, then ran back into the room with one of his diapers and gave it to me and just stood there talking his little jibberish, like, "Hey, mom, change my diaper now." I was laughing so hard! He finally warmed up to her, but we weren't there long enough for them to establish any sort of memorable relationship. Oh well. It was great nonetheless.
We had a fourth of July party...my family goes to DATC's field every year, where I swear ALL of Kaysville comes to. We played cards, ate yummy food, and then saw the BEST fireworks show west of D.C. Then we were back on the road heading home to Oklahoma. So, that's my quick little update for you all. I took around 1200 pictures of the trip. Yeah, sometimes I'm even a little overwhelming for myself...but hey, you have to catch the cuteness of Mya, she's so dang cute. Look for the slide show, I may/may not get it up tonight. I've loved reading about everyone's summer fun. It's such a good time of the year!

Nothing

If you have not seen KungFu Panda you must go see it! It's one of those feel good, learn a lesson, moral to the story AWESOMENESS type of shows!!! The unlikely panda bear, Po, becomes a Kung Fu master and it's up to him to defend everyone from the oncoming threat of the leapord! But, what made this panda more special than any of the others? Nothing. The ancient scroll held the secret to his success and future as the Kung Fu warrior. But what did the scroll say? Nothing. It was an interesting take on what makes someone more special or capable of doing great things. Absolutely nothing. The only thing Po had was his determination to fight with the furious five Kung Fu students. Po thought he would need something extremely special, some kind of revelation, to help him defeat the leapord. But, when the scroll was opened, all Po saw was his reflection on the paper. There was nothing there. Po defeated the leapord because he realized "nothing" made him special. The secrets on the scroll taught Po that he, himself, was that something special that was needed to save everyone from the leapord. Nothing made him special. Nothing made him fight better. Nothing was written on the scroll, and nothing gave Po any special qualities. He just simply did what he was asked. It's something you can apply to life. You can apply it to motherhood. You can apply it to any sport, and subject, and endeavor. Nothing is needed to make you more capable of setting out to do what you want.

Raising a boy

My mom and dad in Utah miss seeing their grandson grow up, pass through stages of development, and do cute things that just can't get caught on camera. However, there have been a few cute moments that were caught, so here they are mom and dad. LOVE and miss you.
Sunday morning. He HAS to stand on the chair in the computer room, at least once a day. HAS to. And throws a fit when you make him get down.


A few from bath time! (there are some hilarious pics, but I would have to edit them carefully)



Standing on the John Deere you gave me!


Spring afternoon feeding the ducks.




Little boys are wired so differently than little girls. Raising a boy seems at odds with raising a girl. I only say this because of what I've observed. I am partial to articles and topics of little boys because right now, I only have a boy. I recently read an article called "Boys Will Be Boys" by Michael Thompson, Ph.D. I'll quote him now and then. He explains the development of little boys, and the misunderstanding we have of them that is leaving them in the dust in our society. They love to explore, hit things, bite things, test their limits, roughhouse, jibber-jabber constantly, jump off anything they can climb on, play in toilet water, make car noises, and day-dream. "Parents often see boys as intentionally defiant and deliberately destructive, but when toddler boys throw things, kick someone, or disobey us, it's because they haven't yet developed the ability to resist their impulses." Science has recently proven what we should've already known. Physical activity is their niche. Not that we just say "that's just a boy for ya" but, understand we can teach them, without hindering them. Our society should not fail our little boys with taking recess out of schools, or punish them for wanting to be physically active. That is how they learn. You give a little boy a book and he doesn't want to read it, he wants to figure out if it flies through the air like an airplane. That's not a "bad" thing. "It used to be all about play and social development" in the classroom, but "now because of the emphasis on state testing in the lower grades, kids are expected to read fluently, write legibly, and listen quietly. Boys lag behind girls in all these areas. They also lack self-control compared with girls the same age, so they're more likely to be singled out for bad behavior. And since there are fewer free-play and recess opportunities today, it's no wonder that boys are being left behind." I understand the rules of classrooms, but we should not punish or make little boys feel bad when exploring their own thought processes. Boys learn at a slower pace than girls. Little boys are being held back because they don't talk "as good" or read "as good" or do math "as good" as....as what? Girls? And? Boys are happiest when they day-dream, play, and manually discover the world. They don't need a book to tell them about these things, they need to see them, experience them for themselves. That doesn't take away our responsibility of teaching them to read, but they will learn best when the two are put together. It's difficult to be a boy in our culture because it demands toughness and athletic prowess. You can see that in your own neighborhoods, right? Within your own social groups, correct? Society is worried about "making a man" out of the boy. "Gender stereotyping makes us more likely to miss the vulnerabilities of boys." A little boy's focus should be "quiet time to engage in fantasy play with his favorite toys. That means turning off the television, and providing a clear space. Play is his natural sanctuary, and you need to protect it." Little boys seem to be hugged less, picked up less, and comforted for shorter times than girls. Boys are falling through the cracks because we don't understand their developmental process. People are tougher on them, but they deserve and need as much love and cuddling, listening and praise as the girls we call "princesses." Our boys should be the princes of their mommy's world! Our future generation. We are raising them. Sometimes I wonder how good of a job I am doing. Am I making him happy, does he know I love him, will he want to be a good person in society and play nice with others? Will he talk with me when he's a teenager about all the crazy things boys go through? Their lives are hard. Will he be ready for school, wherever that is? Will he be a sweet little boy who helps others? Will he love his Heavenly Father? Will he have faith in Jesus Christ? Will he fall through the cracks? I know our kids are and will be pounded with everything society throws at them. Will they be ready? Cheryl C. Lant said that "The children's ultimate defense is a testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ." Little boys can be taught this, and learn this as well as little girls. We can help them gain testimonies without stifling their imaginations and physical play. "Boys have always had trouble paying attention in class. But they don't have a problem focusing for long periods of time on things they love." We can help them love the gospel. We can help them jump the cracks in society. Hug your little boys!!!

Melting

It's completely hot here (as most of you know) and when it rains, it only gets more muggy and more humid. And there has been a lot of that since it's tornado season. I threw a picture in here of our courtyard so you could see the torrential rain and "lake random." Click on it so you can see it zoomed in. I have to be honest and say that I miss the Utah summers. I miss cool summer nights, and 80 degrees that heats you up but doesn't melt you. I miss playing with my family's doggies in the yard where the green grass is actual grass. However, I do love the rain storms here. The Uintah mountain (Utah) rain storms are great, but even those don't compare. I'm trying to see the positives in all things...even when I feel like I need a shower mid day.

To cool off we spend our time at the splash pad here in Norman, at the kiddie pool in cousin Kael's backyard or fill up the infant tub and put it on the porch, just for kicks. Coleman enjoys all of it! *Sigh* To be a kid again! What do you guys do to keep cool? Any other fun suggestions?

06-05-04 Anniversary

This is how I felt until I married Chris. Thanks for taking the position of being the pillar and letting me run free. Happy Anniversary & love you!

His goal was to make me laugh every day, because he takes few things seriously and is crushingly funny. I try not to take things too serious, even though I have a tendency to think TOO deeply about everything. So far, so good. I laugh daily. There are rough patches every now and then. Nothing is a fairytale, that's why they are fake Disney productions, but you can still choose to be happy and carefree just as the characters of fantasy. This doesn't take away hard times, pain, and uncertainty, but it allows for life to continue with laughter instead of without. Cheers!

The Link

Sorry. I forgot to include the link. Hey, Tammy, this is for you. Political Compass dot org

Red, White and Liberal

So, my husband's buddy from work had an interesting political graph on his blog showing where he falls in the spectrum of Economics and Social policies. I decided to check it out and do the questionnaire myself and post my political graph. I am pleased to say that this helped me learn more about my political views as well. When I took government in High School I never knew that I fit into an actual political party, I figured I just wasn't invited (my high school was pretty much white-collar kids with daddy's that spoiled with Hummers, Corvettes etc). My ideas were more liberal than most. No name brands at the exploitation of others, pick up my garbage and put it in a trash can, hey, even recycle it if possible. By all means possible, try to avoid war. I didn't see how people felt justified exploiting mother earth (I tried several times to save the rain forest through fund raisers and was VP of our Eco-Team in JR High, and continued documenting with video cameras through high school the filthy display of trash disrespectful people left behind). And what about wearing name brand clothing knowing full well it was made at the expense of a kid in a sweat shop, and choosing to look down on the lesser folk of the valley without knowing that some chose and were not forced, to live a more "down to earth" lifestyle? I was a vegetarian after I learned of slaughter houses and inhumane treatment of God's creations (glad to say I overcame that because I love beef). My teachers and classmates taught me that I definitely didn't agree with them...but where did I belong? Then college came, and thanks to many professors and roommates I affirmed my stand on social, civil liberties and economic issues. I had found home!!! I was part of a minority community called liberals. I even had a party called the Democratic party! How sweet is that!? Yeah, my new found glory has brought me here today, re-evaluating my stand. I've never understood fence sitters. Choose something and stand for it! I don't look down on you, and you shouldn't look down on me. Everyone is born an equal to you and I; An equal in the sight of God, and should be treated as such! If there is something you don't like about political policy, or supreme court rulings then change it. Fight for what you believe in. You have a party somewhere! Find out where that is and join in!

Here is where I fall in the scheme of things.



Here is where others fall.

Process

This new template-making ordeal is quite the process, especially for me. I've never cared too learn much about html, hosting images, text wrapping etc. So, it's still not where I want it to be at this point and I'm thinking of scrapping this whole template and starting over fresh. That way I can still use the quick links on blogger that let you change your font color and stuff. It's really easy, "if" you have a generic template, to spice it up with your own colors. But, once you've tampered with the html codes or imported another template you can't use the quick and easy route. So, all of my colors are kind of skeewompis. Well, you get the idea. I'll get it figured out and then start this blog over with a cohesive color scheme.

Make your own

So, I'm in the process of trying to create my own template. It's more complicated than I thought, since I don't understand the whole code/number system, but, there are some amazing helps online that have taught me how to change fonts and add cute things to a blog to help them look unique. However, I haven't done any of that yet, because after reading and trying to teach myself, my time is up and it's Coleman time. So, this blog might look kind of hodge-podge for a while. I'm also thinking of starting another blog that will feature recipes with yummy pictures of the yummy-ness, and a poets corner/music blog. I'll keep you all up to date if I ever get around to creating those two other blogs! I just think it would be fun to have a family blog and then another blog for just my hobbies. Anyhow...keep in touch!

Missing things

There are a few things I have been missing lately. One, Christopher, my sweetie. Two, my mission. Chris has been busy with finals the past week. You all know how that goes...long nights of studying, nights at the library, full days at school, long testing times, putting finishing touches on the final semester before applications to grad schools. *Sigh* It's not like I don't see him, but sometimes I wish I could take his place and do all the work for him just so he could sleep, de-stress, and play with the Coleman buddy. He did the daddy duty last night while I was at a meeting. What a sweetie! I want to take him out, maybe to the new Warren Theatres? Anyone been there? I heard it's awesome! Also, my husband's best friend, Rhys, was baptized on Sunday the 4th. How amazing amazing amazing! Can't we do this all the time, just share truth, convert people to Christ, feel the spirit all the time as much as at his baptism!? I used to think it was possible to be 100% committed to being a member missionary, because I used to say "If you're not a member missionary then you're just another body in the church." I had become that body! But, it's not like "I" did anything in Rhyses conversion. I was just able to feel the spirit of missionary work again, and it gave me new resolve. There are more people seeking and searching, wondering what this life is for, hoping for a brighter tommorrow, never knowing if they'll see their children after this life, and never knowing what we know...perhaps to our shame, perhaps to another's shame, because we didn't share. Didn't our parents teach us, it's not nice to not share! I'm not one to talk. I only talk to Chris and Coleman for the most part...but I did put a stack of pass-along cards in my day planner. Now maybe I'll find a reason to pass it along! At the drive through, at the check out, and the park. I used to do it so fluidly, and it's not "just" because I had a missionary mantle, but because I wanted to. The mantle of a missionary doesn't force anyone to be any certain way, but when used for good choices, it empowers. I will say, there is nothing more exhilirating than when you ask someone if they are a member or "I just thought you could use this" while handing them the pass-along card. The worst thing they can do is say no, or in some cases chase you down trying to save your soul. LOL!!! Been there! So, here's to Rhys, our new brother in the gospel...and my new inspiration to be the example like the one that brought him into the church.

Rhys with his mom, dad, and brother.






Chris, happy for his friend, and the blessings this will bring!

Around the house!