Does anyone want to know random happenings of my life?

I must admit that I dread posting things with pictures because it always takes me forever! Does it take everyone else forever to get them in the right position?

Anyway, I didn't mean to start out on a bad note. Everything is actually really great! Even though Steve was laid off a couple of weeks ago, we feel really blessed. I have had a lot of comfort through this scary time and I know everything is going to be okay. I have a great, hard-working husband who is bound to find work soon. I would take this trial over almost anything. My kids are healthy and we have plenty of food to eat and a warm house in which to eat it and so life is pretty good. George and Ruby went to the doctor today, Ruby needs to put on a little weight, she wasn't even on the chart so I'm going to try and fatten her up. George was disappointed he wasn't going to get a shot.....I know kind of weird. He told me later that he wanted to show me how he is very brave, so that made a little more sense. He is such a sweet boy, he just turned four and I can't believe how the time has gone by, he holds such a special place in my heart. I can't imagine my life without him. I don't think there is any feeling in the world to replace the love you feel for your child.

We had a great valentines day. Steve's brother had a baby so we got a baby-sitter and went to see new baby, who is seriously darling, and then we went to dinner. We ate at Fuddruckers because we had a coupon. I hadn't been there since I was 10, is was actually really good, but I hate the name.....serioulsy where did they get that?? I am becoming an advocate of weekly dates, although we hardly get to it go out every week. We try to do something fun, usually eating ice cream. We just started to watch the Lord of Rings trilogy after the kids go to bed so that should provide plenty of date time for a while.

I read the best talk, please read it if you want to be spirtually nourished, serioulsy it was so good: Neal A. Maxwell, In Him all Things Hold Together. He was truly a prophet. He had such an intelligent way of speaking.

Has anyone ever been to Greece?

Visuals:

This is George and I on the bus on the way to see the Draper Temple. The temple was beautiful and the art work throughout was amazing!

Isn't this sweet.

Here is George opening presents on his Birthday, I love his smile!

Okay, so turn your head to the side and you will see this is my attempt at a dinosaur cake!

Happy Birthday to you!

Ruby was loving the cake. It is actually the best chocolate cake. It's not my recipe so I can say that. I should post it sometime...................

What should I say.....

Okay, of course I have been trying to think of something to say about our new President. I am trying to stay positive and respectful. He, of course is a person of worth and if I may sound so cheesy, a child of God. I have tried to see him as a father and a husband and as a son. I'm sure he has some good attributes. He serves as a symbol of success to the African Americans, these are all good things. But we all know how it works, with the good Satan always throws in a little bad. Okay in this case a lot of bad. Abortion is bad, socialism is bad, stealing money to give it to someone else is bad, hanging out with unrepetent terrorists is bad.
So please, as you witness the love affair (sean hannity's line) that the world is having with Mr. President please remember that a president should be judged on his character, moral, and actions. Unfortunatley, I believe he was elected because he was black and because he promised poor people a good job, outstanding healthcare, and a dignified retirement......things he cannot give them. They of couse can only truly attain these things by themselves. I wish I could have been happy on the day of that historic inauguration. I guess what I am trying to respectfully say, is that I hope he learns a few things in office. I hope he realizes that socialism always fails, capitalism always succeeds, why people must not be deprived of their responsiblity to care for themselves, that freedom comes with a price, that their are some terrorists so evil and so dark they must not be let out into society again (GITMO), and that life is precious, a baby is a gift and miracle, not a punishment or inconveinience. Oh, how I hope he learns these things and learns them fast. Good Luck Mr. President, you are going to need it.

Very Useful Website

Okay so I don't need to tell anyone about the trashy movies that are out there. I'm a big believer of keeping bad media out of your house, your mind and your life. I have felt the effects of watching "bad"movies or t.v. shows and I have also felt the effects of not watching these things. However, I love to be entertained, nothing is more relaxing than watching a good movie after the kids go to bed....accompanied by lots of chocolate ice cream! However, I am wary about renting even PG-13 movies because some of them are totally offensive whereas others are reasonable to watch. Well I found this website www.kids-in-mind.com. It breaks down what the movie has in it in terms of sexuality, profanity, and violence. Movies that are PG-13 can range so drastically in these categories it is nice to check out which ones you are comfortable with. I also just want to say that I know everyone has their own opinions and comfort levels with movies....people can watch what they want to,.I don't want to come off like a prude, but let's face sometimes Hollywood crosses lines and I want to know which lines are being crossed before I see movie.

Update

I haven't blogged forever, I am determined this year to do better! So here is what has been happening with us. We had a wonderful christmas and holiday season. George is really starting to feel the magic that is Christmas. My cute sister Jolisa and her kids came to stay for a few weeks and it was great to spend time with them. I have to give a little tribute to my sister because I love her so much. Everytime she comes to visit, it feels like a vacation to me. Our kids love to play together and it just feels like one big happy family. My mom fell at church and broke her pelvis while Jolisa was here and she really took care ofher. She took her to the ER where they had to wait a really long time well into the night. She was such a big help and I really appreciated her during that little mishap. Jolisa is wonderfully talented and smart. She is someone I can tell anything to and I know she would love me just the same. Sisters are the best.

We went to several parties and ate more than I would like to think about right now. We saw the lights at the temple and enjoyed the Christmas decor, lights, music, and movies. The Holiday season is always gone too soon, but time seems to pass quickly these days and it will be here again before we know it. I am looking forward to what the new year holds and all the fun things I can do with the kids OUTSIDE when it is warm. George is looking longingly at the swingset and sandbox everyday.

What else has been going on.........I went to girl's night with my friends in Riverton a few days ago. I love going back to what still feels like home. It was such a blessing to be able to live there and meet the people I met. It has been great to still keep in touch with them. We have consistently held girl's night once a month and I always come away feeling so great. These women are all different and I have learned something different from each one of them. They are smart and funny and talented. We laugh and eat and talk forever! It is so comforting to know that I have friends who I can be vulnerable and open with and they still accept me. They are such great mom's too, we always have to talk about and give advice on what works with kids.

George started preschool and he is loving it. He feels like such big boy. It is bittersweet to see him growing up. Here are some pictures of our lives lately. Oh thanks for all the dinner ideas. They helped!

George on his way to preschool

Ruby and her friend Trey playing at Arctic Circle, she is a chocolatey mess!

Ruby and her cousin William

Cousin Olivia and George decorating cookies at Grandma's house

Ruby found some stickers.......

Jolisa and I on Christmas Eve

Steven and George on Christmas morning

Ruby and I on Christmas morning. She got a fruit roll up in her stocking and couldn't put it down

George and his light saber......there is no hope for my children.....they will be Star Wars nerds

HELP!

Okay, this is bad. I need dinner ideas. I love to cook and don't mind making dinner, but I hate coming up with things to make. I used to do this fun dinner group/exchange thing with my friends in Riverton and it was so nice to get new ideas. Unfortunatly, I don't live by those girl's anymore and I need some help getting ideas. I thought maybe we (as in me and the readers of this blog) could do a dinner idea exchange. Here is what I ask of you wonderful readers......what did you have for dinner for the last three nights? I am going to make a menu based on your meals. I am desperate, thanks for your help. If you are looking for ideas, I had pasta spinach salad, corn chowder, and baked potato bar. I look forward to your ideas. Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas Season!

Crazy Eight Tag

Eight shows I watch:
My Three Sons
Good Things Utah
BBC News
Perry Mason
Nova
I can't think of eight!

Eight things that happened yesterday:
Visited my mom
Did laundry
Made Ginger Chicken
Paid bills
Talked with my sister Jolisa
Mopped my mom's floor
Cleaned up toys like a hundred times

Eight places I like to eat:
PF Changs
Training Table
Old Spaghetti Factory
Kneaders
Wendy's
Macaroni Grill
Subway
Gandolfos

Eight things I'm looking forward to:
Eating ice cream and watching the news tonight
Seeing Steve when he gets home
Christmas Eve
Christmas
Girl's Night
My sister having her baby
Ruby being able to walk

Eight things on my wish list:
A Minivan (I know it is not very cool!)
A Digital Camara
New running shoes
Perfume
Trip to England
Photographic Memory
Ability to write (like books)
More babies

I tag erin, brynn, heidi

My thoughts on President Elect Obama and my sweet family

Yay! I am finally finding time to blog. My daughter is sleeping and my mom is entertaining George. I have been wanting to write something about our new President....Mr. Barrack Hussein Obama. First of all, for all those who think I am an unfeeling, selfish conservative, let me explain. Yes, I am fearful for what our country will face with Obama as Commander and Cheif. His values and principles are so far from what I believe and more over what the founding fathers believed.
When he won, I felt nauseous and disappointed. As a history major I have had the privilage of learning a lot about those first pilgrims who sacrificed beyond measure to come and pave the road to freedom. Then the revolutionaries whose intelligence and inspiration gave us our country and the constitution. To see how far we have veered from the priciples the country was founded upon is discouraging.
However, I am an American and I respect the office of the Presidency. The Obama family is lovely, his children and wife are beautiful. I wish them all luck. They all are making a sacrifice. The First Family gets a lot of perks, but their lives will be different from here on out. They won't ever be just normal again. The road to the presidency is long and hard and anyone willing to fight that hard has to be respected to some point. Obama is charasmatic and intriguing. I hope he does what is best for the country and leads from the center as he said he will.
However, let it not be misunderstood that I do not under any circumstances support him on his ideas about taxes, welfare, free money for college, healthcare, abortion, or gay marriage. I am a true conservative and will be proud if people remember me as someone who stood for hardwork, self-respect, dignity, and morality.
The only really good thing I take from him winning is now there is a Democratic Executive Administration, a Democratic Majority House and Senate, and he will no doubt appoint Democratic Judges, so when things don't turn out rosy as he says it will be, at least they won't be able to blame the Republicans and we can come back strong in 2012.
Okay, I've got to post some sweet pictures of my family and what we have been up to lately.George buried Ruby's legs. She is not loving this!George was so excited to carve pumpkins!

We lost George's Dinosaur hat, of course, but he is still a cute dino and Ruby is our little flower.