AND THEY CALLED IT PUPPY LOVE . . .

Carly loves to hug these guys. I wish I could have gotten a better shot. She's too quick for me or I would have had a picture of her trying to ride one of the dogs for you. You wouldn't believe how patient they are with her. She really loves them.

SPRING WAS IN THE AIR TODAY

I love Spring! It's happy and colorful, warm but not hot, and there is always the chance of a cool breeze just when you need it! Today was such a day and I really, really liked it!

Julie, Carly and I went for a walk tonight and Carly liked it so much that when we got home and started to come in the house she threw a major tantrum. She loved being outside. Now don't confuse that with being in the grass! She still doesn't do grass--um you know what I mean! She was happy to ride in her chariot (a.k.a. stroller)and just enjoy the evening. She just didn't want to go inside!

Julie and I decided maybe she had the right idea so we went in just long enough to get some cash and went to get some shakes. Carly thought that was a great idea. So did Julie! I just go along to pay for things cuz that's my job. Ya know what I mean? Anyway, we had fun on what felt like the first day of Spring!

Carly with Her Balloon

Happy Birthday Megan - Yesterday!

Yah, so this is the only surviving picture of Megan's birthday party. I had Julie take the pictures and Megan would actually kill me if I posted them. Julie and I had a discussion this morning about taking unflattering pictures. The one I've posted is one Megan asked her to take. The rest are ones that have mouths full, eyes closed, people moving, not looking, etc. Grrr.

So much for pictures for posterity. Hopefully we will have better ones in the future. That's what learnin' is all about--right?!

MY NEW 'DO

Julie, Megan and I got brave today and took on Carly's hair. I guess I should say we took on Carly because when you take on her hair you definitely take on HER! Anyway, I learned this new fairly easy to do hairstyle by watching a utube video. It's called finger coils. It's time consuming but not too hard.

While Carly was eating dinner the three of us started working on her hair and she actually let us do it. She wasn't calm the whole time but was pretty good for about 45 minutes--that included getting a bunch of treats and toys to play with. We didn't finish her whole head but enough to look decent--at least for pictures.

I think it looks pretty cute. Of course, after all that trouble it won't last for more than a day or so. Ugh! Oh well, it was worth the picture!

WOW!

Tonight, completely out of the blue, my 15 year old said, "Thanks Mom." I said, "For what?" She said, "For making me perservere (and then she named three examples of things she hadn't wanted to continue doing because she either didn't like them enough once she started them or they were too hard. She told me she was really glad I'd made her keep doing them and finish because it had made her a better person. And yes, she did actually use the word "perservere." All I could think was "Wow, I thought you had to wait until you were nearly dead for your kids to tell you things like this--or at least until they had teenagers!

PLAYING OUTSIDE . . . NOT SO MUCH, MOM!

So the other day when it was nice and sunny, I thought, "I've never taken Carly outside to play in the yard." I mean, she's always been too little or it's been bad weather. So, I got her all ready and we went out into the front yard. Julie came with us and we sat down on the front lawn. I had Carly on my lap at first but then I started to put stand her on the lawn and she went nuts. She pulled her feet up and started moaning and crying and acting like she was going to have a K'niption fit. So, I held her for a few more minutes--then tried again. This time I actually got her tennis shoes on the lawn before she realized it--but up they came just as fast. She wasn't having any of it. It was like she was allergic to the grass--or worse yet, scared of it.

Then, I remembered the Christmas tree--almost four months earlier. She had the same reaction to the tree. She was fine to look at it. She loved the lights on it, but if you got her within 6 inches of it she came unglued. If you tried to make her touch it she'd freak! It wasn't even a real tree. So, she can't be scared of things that are growing. Maybe she doesn't like green things or pokey things. I haven't figured this one out yet. But, it for sure limits the time we will spend playing outside--at least for awhile. Oh well, I tried. I was all excited to see her run and play in the grass too. Darn.

O.K., I GIVE, WHAT'S THE SECRET?

How do you accomplish anything when you have a toddler? I can't figure it out. I'm serious. It seems like I can't get the smallest thing done--I mean outside of feeding, clothing, playing with her and managing to clean up a little here and there. Other than those things I simply can't make any headway at all on anything. I feel like I start in the same place every day with the same pile and never quite get to it.

I do realize the Mommying is the most important part but there comes a time when some of those other things have to get done. I just want to know how you WONDER WOMEN are doing it or how you did it? Tell, please tell! All I know is most days I am so exausted from the chasing that when I put her down for a nap I want one myself!
My little girl isn't just walking, she's running and getting faster every day! No joke! It's a good thing she's so darned adorable!

News of the Weird

Oops!
In December, Idaho State University sent certified-mail letters to its adjunct faculty to disclose (as required by law) that some of them would soon be laid off. However, only the first-class mail fee was billed to the university, leaving each professor to pay on receipt the certified-mail surcharge in order to find out what the university would send them that was so important. (The Idaho State Journal reported that it was the Postal Service's error.) [The Olympian, 12-25-08]

Jailers Not Paying Attention: Christian Colon, 21, had a plea deal worked out to testify against alleged murderer Joel Rivera in exchange for a lighter sentence, but suddenly decided in February that he would not take the stand. The change of heart came right after Colon was accidentally housed in the same Milwaukee County Jail holding cell with Rivera. (With no plea deal, Colon got 46 years.) [Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee), 2-26-09]

At least Colon is still alive. A 23-year-old inmate at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary was found beaten to death in March after being mistakenly assigned to the same cell as his ex-partner-in-crime, against whom he had testified in a 2002

A News of the Weird Classic (October 1999)
From a May 1999 police report in The Messenger (Madisonville, Ky.), concerning two trucks being driven curiously on a rural road:

A man would drive a truck 100 yards, stop, walk back to a second truck, drive it 100 yards beyond the first truck, stop, walk back to the first truck, drive it 100 yards beyond the second truck, and so on, into the evening. He did it, he told police, because his brother was passed out drunk in one of the trucks, and he was trying to drive both trucks home, at more or less the same time. (Not surprisingly, a blood-alcohol test showed the driver, also, to be impaired.)

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WEATHER, STICK AROUND FOR A FEW MINUTES . . .

Yesterday, it was nice and sunny--almost spring-like. Today, it was a little cool when we woke up but didn't seem too different. So, we got ready for church like normal. When we got ready to head out the door we realized we'd have to change a few clothes and shoes. It wasn't just a little cool anymore. It had started snowing hard and sticking! Off with the sandals, on with shoes, sweaters, coats, heaters and such! Before the day was over we even had hail. What a weird day! Seriously. We even turned the fireplace on and huddled by it--something we haven't done in a long time. Oh well, it was kind of fun. Hopefully, that was the last snow this year, though.

My Getaway Girl

This is Carly running away while I'm trying to catch her for a picture. She's pretty proud of herself.

PAMPERED PRINCESS

Wow, do I feel pampered. After a long day with a little girl who simply did not want to take a nap a handsome prince came to my door and swept me off my feet! He took me out to a lovely dinner and then off to a movie! It was a fun evening with my handsome hubby! My two youngest stayed home and entertained each other and I'm pretty sure they had fun. Well, at least one of them did. Hee hee.

BLANKY CRANKY

Talk about cranky! Wow! Carly has a favorite blanky. It is warm and fuzzy with cute ducks all over it and since she started seriously teething she loves to suck on the corners of it. She goes to sleep at night sucking on it and we find her laying awake happily sucking on it just waiting for us to come and get her in the morning. It really is her whoobie and she is darned serious about it.

Anyway, Rob put her to bed tonight, not realizing her ducky blanket was not in her crib. Serious faux paux. All of the sudden I hear her blood curtling screaming coming from her bedroom and Rob comes running out saying "Ducky blanket, ducky blanket" as fast as he can while he's looking all around. He located it quickly in the living room and ran back to the bedroom with it. Silence. That's all she wanted. Translation: DON'T PUT ME DOWN WITHOUT DUCKY! Trust me, we all got the message. We are blanky cranky at our house!

CARLY'S NEW HABIT!

Carly has taken up toothbrushing and she loves it so much once she starts it takes a lot of convincing to get her to put her toothbrush down. She carries it around and chews on it for hours if you let her. Usually, we can distract her after awhile. That's harder to do with her 21 year old sister who wanders around doing the same thing. If anyone has any ideas, let me know before she polishes off her enamel!

TODAY IT WAS MY TURN

OK, so today it was my turn for the meltdown. Carly has learned to unscrew lids. Although, I didn't realize it. So, before I knew it she had poured fabric softener on my carpet twice and slathered some of her hair cream all over the floor and her face and arms. Then she tried to open a large container of liquid bleach in the laundry room right while I was standing there. Luckily it was screwed on pretty tight! I do have a childproof handle on the laundry room door--she just happened to be in the room with me. Needless to say--I have had to further childproof my home today! She is just getting so much bigger and smarter everyday and she is starting to outsmart me! Yikes! Hmmm. But then maybe that's not that hard. Hey, who said that?

THE HAIR MELTDOWN

Oh my goodness! I did not know a one year old could have a hair meltdown but believe me you--it happened! Julie and I decided we would get brave and take on Carly's hair. I had seen a fourteen month old last week whose cute curly hair had been braided into some cute extensions and pulled into pony-tails and it was adorable. I talked to her mom and she told me it took several hours but she gave her little girl lots of breaks and plenty of treats and let her watch cartoons and she got through it just fine. Well, Carly is thirteen months, so I figured, "What the heck?! Let's give it a try!"

Julie and I went shopping and got all the cremes and goos, the clips, rubberbands, extensions and most important the treats. We came home and washed her hair and got everything ready--turned on the cartoons, sectioned off her hair, gave her some treats and began---GETTING SCREAMED AT!! And when she was done screaming she would take a break and yell at us! She did not want her hair touched. She did want some of the treats in between the yelling--but please stop touching my hair Mom!

I think maybe we will wait a year or so to try that again. Hmmm.

Check Out My Girls . . . I'm in Love with Them!

These are my youngest girls. Aren't they adorable? Carly is showing off her new dress. She wasn't really happy about taking pictures until we took her outside and started singing to her. Then she smiled for us. Funny kid. Something about fresh air and song.

Carly at Swim Lessons With Daddy

GOING, GOING, GONE!

I Tried to Take A Picture

Seriously, I wanted to post a new picture of Carly tonight. At least that was my plan. I got the camera ready and aimed it and she would get up and walk right up to the lens. I would move back and try to re-aim and she would do the same thing. I tried for ten minutes but moving away from her only got her upset enough to make her cry so I gave up. She wanted her face right in the camera lens and that just wasn't going to work. I guess I am going to have to be trickier next time.

AUSTRIAN FATHER WHO RAPED DAUGHTER AND FATHERED CHILDREN PLEADS GUILTY

ST. POELTEN, Austria – In a stunning turn of events, an Austrian on trial for imprisoning his daughter for 24 years and fathering her seven children pleaded guilty Wednesday to all charges against him — including homicide. The move came after his daughter appeared unexpectedly in the courtroom.

Surprising even his lawyer, Josef Fritzl calmly acknowledged his guilt on the third day of a trial that has drawn worldwide media attention for its shocking allegations.

"I declare myself guilty to the charges in the indictment," Fritzl, 73, told a panel of judges, referring to what he called "my sick behavior."

Fritzl had been charged with negligent homicide, enslavement, rape, incest, forced imprisonment and coercion. Initially he had only pleaded guilty to incest and forced imprisonment. The change of plea means he could face up to life in prison for the negligent homicide charge — literally "murder by neglect" in German.

Elisabeth was the prosecution's key witness against Fritzl. Now 42, she was 18 when he imprisoned her in the cramped, windowless cell he built beneath the family's home in the town of Amstetten. He then raped her for years.

Asked by the presiding judge what had led him to change his mind, Fritzl said it was the testimony from Elisabeth — the court had viewed 11 hours of her videotaped statement during closed-door sessions Monday and Tuesday.

Fritzl's lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, said Fritzl had asked to see a psychiatrist after Tuesday's session.

"It must really have shaken him up," he said, referring to Elisabeth's testimony.

However, a person familiar with the trial told The Associated Press that Elisabeth herself was in the courtroom on both days — suggesting her presence alone might have unnerved Fritzl and prompted him to change his pleas.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the closed-door proceedings.

Other officials would not confirm that Elisabeth was there. Before the trial, prosecutors had said she would not be present and would testify only through her prerecorded remarks.

The homicide charge came for the death of an infant twin boy — Michael — born to Elisabeth in April 1996 who prosecutors say might have survived with proper medical care had he and his mother not been locked in the basement.

Elisabeth and her six surviving children, who range in age from 6 to 20, have spent months recovering from their ordeal in a psychiatric clinic and at a secret location. Prosecutors have described her as a "broken" woman.

Psychiatrist Adelheid Kastner told the court Wednesday that Fritzl had a very serious personality disorder and would pose a threat to others even at his advanced age if freed. She recommended that Fritzl serve out his sentence in a special prison facility for psychologically deranged criminals.

Fritzl expressed regret that he didn't bring the ailing infant out of the dungeon and get medical help.

"I don't know why I didn't help," Fritzl said. "I just overlooked it. I thought the little one would survive."

"I should have recognized that the baby was doing poorly," he added.

Mayer, his lawyer, had previously said Fritzl only saw the newborn once it was already dead.

Wearing a mismatched suit and a blue shirt, Fritzl did not hide his face behind a binder Wednesday as he had done for the last two days when led into the courtroom in St. Poelten, west of Vienna.

After the plea change, the psychiatrist's testimony and brief consideration of reports about the cellar, officials adjourned the trial until Thursday morning.

Legal experts say the jury will still have to deliver a verdict despite Fritzl's guilty pleas, although his confessions are grounds for a lesser sentence. The verdict and sentence for Fritzl are expected Thursday after closing statements from both sides.

Police say DNA tests prove Fritzl is the biological father of all six of Elisabeth's surviving children, three of whom never saw daylight until the crime came to light 11 months ago.

Three of the children grew up underground in Amstetten and the other three were brought upstairs to be raised by Fritzl and his wife, Rosemarie, who apparently believed they had been abandoned.

Prosecutors have alleged that Fritzl refused to speak to his daughter during the first few years of her ordeal, coming downstairs only to rape her. They said the rapes sometimes occurred in front of the children.

Mayer had not been aware of Fritzl's change of heart before Wednesday's session. "He didn't discuss it with me," he said.

Kastner, the psychiatrist who met with Fritzl several times and put together a psychological profile for the court, said the Austrian had a deep need to control people. She said Fritzl had an ability to block out his crimes but knew what he was doing was wrong, acknowledging he had a guilty conscience when he went to bed at night and when he woke up in the morning.

"Fritzl is guilty for what he did," she said, adding he also believed "he was born to rape."

She said the large number of children Fritzl fathered only strengthened the control he had over his victim. "The more children, the more power," Kastner said. "This is about possession ... power ... control."

Fritzl had testified earlier this week that he had a difficult childhood and a bad relationship with his mother.

"The climate in his parent's house was marked by fear," Kastner said.

The Associated Press normally withholds the names of victims of sexual assault. In this case, the withholding of Elisabeth's name by the AP became impractical when her name and her father's were announced publicly by police and details about them became the subject of publicity both in their home country and around the world.

___

Associated Press Writer William J. Kole in Vienna contributed to this report.

Adoption Conference

I've spent the last couple of days attending an adoption conference and it's been really good. There have been some interesting classes, some of which have been on transracial adoption. However, there was a class today that got into some discussions on race that made me feel we had gone years back in time. It made me feel hopeless on the whole issue of ever making progress on race relations and ending racism.

I am not ignorant of the fact that there is a huge amount of racism in this country but I do think there has been progress over the years--especially since the fifties and sixties. Surely, the progress since then is measurable. Maybe it will never get completely solved but I cannot believe it is hopeless. I simply can't.

HOW TWINS ARE MADE

JESUS, I KNOW THEE

Yesterday was such a sweet day at church. Carly was being a LOT fussy during our last meeting and I had to leave with her. Way too noisy. I took her out to the foyer and sat down on the couch with her and tried to feed her a bottle but she didn't want it. She stood up on my lap and pointed to a framed portrait behind me and said, "Jesus." I was so excited. I said "Yes, that's right." Then she pointed to another one across the room and said the same thing. She was right again. I picked her up and we went walking down the hallway and passed a few more and she picked him out everytime--even when there were more people in the picture than just him--she could put her finger right on him. I'm thinking this is pretty good for a 13 month old!

When she was really tiny and fussy, I would carry her through the hall and stop at the pictures and tell her about Jesus and point to him. I had an idea at the time that she knew all about him and remembered him even better than I did. It's funny but I haven't done that with her for a long time so I was surprised yesterday when she just came out with it so clearly. Guess my first impression was right. She has come so recently from him she remembers.

Can Things Get More Absurd Than This?

I got this article off the wierd news file and it isn't just wierd it's ridiculous! If this guy wasn't being ousted by term limits he should be ousted by his constituents. We need to throw out all the politicians and start over! That's what I think anyway!

Senator Suing God Urges Judge to Proceed
Court Could Throw Suit Out Because of Failure to Serve Notice on God
By JOSH FUNK Associated Press Writer
August 5, 2008—


OMAHA, Neb. (AP) --State Sen. Ernie Chambers says his lawsuit against God might seem funny but that doesn't mean it doesn't have a serious point.

Chambers asked Douglas County District Judge Marlon Polk on Tuesday to let his lawsuit proceed. Chambers said he wants to make the point that everyone should have access to the courts regardless of whether they are poor or have the means of billionaire Warren Buffett of Omaha.

"What brought me to the point of filing this lawsuit was the ill-advised attempts by certain legislators to prevent the filing of certain lawsuits," Chambers said.

Polk said he would consider the issue and rule later.

Chambers acknowledges using wit and humor in the lawsuit he filed last September seeking a permanent injunction against God. Chambers said God has made terroristic threats against the senator and his constituents in Omaha, inspired fear and caused "widespread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants."

The court told Chambers last week that his lawsuit may be dismissed because he had failed to serve notice on God. Chambers acknowledged that failure in court Tuesday while sitting a few feet away from an empty table reserved for God and God's attorney.

"Despite my most sincere, zealous efforts, I could not find a location to serve the defendant," Chambers said.

But Chambers asked Polk to take official notice of God, and the Almighty's omniscience and omnipresence.

Chambers argued that courts and the U.S. government already routinely take notice of God. Courts swear in witnesses with an oath that includes the phrase "so help me God." Plus, the pledge of allegiance describes "one nation, under God," and U.S. currency proclaims "In God We Trust."

And the senator said that if the court recognizes God, the deity wouldn't need formal notice of the lawsuit because he knows everything. And God would be at every hearing because he's everywhere always.

A senator for 38 years, Chambers skips morning prayers during the legislative session and often criticizes Christians. He is being pushed out of the Legislature by term limits.

Chambers said he appreciates the difficult position Judge Polk is in because of the unique nature of the case, but he hopes the lawsuit will be allowed to proceed.

"Your honor, I do not envy your position," Chambers said.

This Is A Great Article

Is Obama the New Coke?
By John Tantillo
Marketing and Brand Expert

Folks, first some history. In the early eighties, one of Jimmy Carter’s bright young political advisers, Pat Caddell, landed the plum marketing gig of guiding Coca Cola into the future–and he almost ran that venerable brand into the ground

I’m talking about the “New Coke” debacle. Threatened by Pepsi’s growing market share and driven by data that said that the consumer wanted sweeter drinks, Coca Cola scrapped its time-honored soda formula and introduced New Coke.

Presidents Reagan and Clinton both knew this about their Target Markets: the American people could be stretched, but in the end political marketing was the order of the day: Americans’ fundamental needs and beliefs cannot be forgotten.

The outrage was deafening. People couldn’t believe that their soda was being taken away from them. Coca Cola listened and New Coke is now just a distant memory.

How could all of the polls, surveys and consumer data have been wrong?

Well, they didn’t take into account what really mattered to the consumer: choice and continuity. One more thing –and it’s a biggie– Coke was thinking about cola drinkers not Coke drinkers. It forgot its target market.

So I ask, is President Obama the New Coke?

The electorate seemed to want change in 2008 and Obama seemed to represent the change they wanted. This change was about politicians moving beyond partisanship to get things moving again in Washington –it was not about big government solving everyone’s problems. It wasn’t a Democrat or a Republican that the electorate wanted. No, it was a person of change who would not put the same old practices into political play.

In the early eighties, the cola consumer seemed to want change too, but when they got change, they didn’t like what they got. The people drinking Pepsi didn’t start drinking New Coke. And Coke drinkers stopped drinking the New Coke. This is the worst possible marketing outcome for any product or political brand — you end up pleasing none of the people all of the time.

There are two basic scenarios for Brand Obama at this point.

One, the electorate thought they were getting one thing in Obama and instead got something very different. In other words, they wanted the change he said he would bring, but dislike the change he is actually bringing and actually believes in. In this scenario, Obama is what he is and simply won’t be able to adapt to what the Target Market demands –this spells a short stay — one term — in the White House.

Two, Obama is the change the electorate wants and he is capable of embodying this change. But the president has lost sight of his Target Market’s needs and is falling prey to inside-the-Beltway realities and left-leaning pieties and interest groups.

This is the New Coke scenario. Instead of subtly altering the ingredients of the product to adapt to changing tastes, you make a big product change, bring people’s attention to that change and alienate your Target Market. Go ahead and do that Mr. President –but only if you want to squander the marketing success that brought you to the show and got you elected president of the United States!

The problem for Brand Obama is that once you become the New Coke, it’s very hard to become “Classic Coke” again. Every compromise, every pork-filled, partisan program, every pro-big government, anti-free market message drives his brand farther and farther from the Target Market that elected him.

Presidents Reagan and Clinton both knew this about their Target Markets: the American people could be stretched, but in the end political marketing was the order of the day: Americans’ fundamental needs and beliefs cannot be forgotten.

Even though these men came from opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, as a political marketer each president remained true to the fundamentals of the American electorate that has always believed in basic fair play, the power of individual freedom and the limited uses of government.

The first 100 days in office are tricky for all presidents. In this short testing period, Kennedy went a long way to losing the South to the Republicans for a quarter century.

But if Brand Obama doesn’t want to remain the New Coke, he must make some strong statements that drive home that he is not merely a more of the same liberal Democratic brand.

There are some signs of hope for his brand. This week even as he said he would sign the omnibus spending bill, he criticized the earmarks in it and promised that in the future this kind of pork would not stand. A veto, though nearly impossible, would have sent an even better message to his Target Market.

On Tuesday, he even implied that he’s going to take on the powerful teachers union to deliver on his promise of improving our education system. That’s big and if he actually does it we might just be spared another New Coke.

Stay tuned.

And remember, it’s always easier to understand politics when you keep marketing and branding in mind.

John Tantillo is a marketing and brand expert.

Movie Night with the Kids

We just got done watching an "old" movie. You know one of those from the eighties. . . from way back when. We watched Jewel of the Nile which is the sequel to Romancing the Stone. They star Michael Douglas and Katherine Turner. We watched the latter one last week with the kids and watched the sequal tonight. I remembered them both being pretty good movies but I was disappointed in the sequal. There wasn't much to it. I think the kids still enjoyed it okay--and maybe it's just me seeing it 20 years later having a different take on it. Luckily, we have Clearplay now which edits the language and nudity out because there was plenty of both--and it was PG back then. Wierd! Anyway, we still had a fun evening together. Our kids have a hard time believing they made any good movies before they hit their teenage years--so we are trying to show them it's not true!

What Grade Would You Give the President?

I was really surprised to see this poll on MSNBC. When I first saw it this morning his numbers were much lower in the A category--like 7%. It will be interesting to see what it is at the end. You should go vote. MSNBC.com

If you were grading Barack Obama on his performance as president, what would he get? * 302627 responses

He gets an A
40%

He gets a B
8.2%

He gets a C
3.9%

He gets a D
8.3%

He gets an F
40%

Not a scientific survey. Click to learn more. Results may not total 100% due to rounding.

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye . . .

My dear friend Taylor was back in town today to close on her house and so of course we had to do the tearful goodbye scene all over again. Women! What are ya gonna do?! You can't live with 'em and ya just can't shoot 'em! Hey, did I say that?! Anyway, I spent the afternoon with her and the movers and then we did dinner and our goodbyes. We were truly pitiful! I hate it when good friends move far away. It just plain stinks!

Resume Burnout

It's almost midnight and I have been working on resumes and cover letters since about 1:00 pm for a couple of friends. Rob and I are volunteers to help with employment needs in our area and lately there has been a lot of need. Luckily the last few days we've received news of a whole bunch of job openings and thus, the rush for help with writing and updating resumes and writing cover letters. I don't mind admitting I am a little burned out today, though. Ugh.

Maybe a good night's sleep will put me back on track to my cheery volunteer state. That's probably all I need. Actually, I am really excited about all the job openings. We have so many people who have been laid off and are looking for work. So, Yay for jobs! Yay for work!

Let's go America. Let's get back on track!

Oh No. More Snow!

I couldn't believe it when I awoke today to more snow. Even so, it seemed rather mild, the kind that doesn't really stick. It kept coming down most of the day really lightly but just didn't stay too much on the ground. That is until about 20 minutes before Julie was supposed to come home from school. Then it started to come in heavy flakes and torrents and it stuck! And of course, I had just gotten Carly to sleep! So, up she came and we went to get big sister in the storm so she didn't have to walk home and become a giant, frozen snow monster! She appreciated it big time. It's bedtime now and I think we have about 4 inches on the ground and it's still snowing. I just keep wondering when we are going to be through with the snow. I guess I will just be grateful for the moisture no matter what form it comes in since droughts are everywhere these days!

Carly Doing Her Thang!

Here's a little capture (I'll stop short of calling it a video) of Carly doing a little dancing to us sort of humming the weight watcher's hungry commercial theme. It's one of her favorites and always gets her hips moving. Although, we are a bit annoying--it makes her happy. I don't know why my camera is short circuiting here and there. It may be that the battery needed charging. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it enough to watch. She's pretty cute!

TURNS OUT WATER IS WET

This is Julie, Carly and our niece and nephew Keelie and Kaden after the lesson.

Swim lessons went pretty well. Carly likes water and doesn't mind getting wet--that is unless she goes under the water which she did a couple of times by falling forward but she only got her face in a little bit. Then later in the lesson they had us blow in their faces so they would take a breath and then take them under and up real quick. She was NOT a fan of that! I don't think I will do it again if they ask us to. I will just let her decide when she wants to go under by herself.

Mostly the teacher had us let them get used to the water and play with some water toys for awhile. Then we started working with our kids on floating on their backs and stomachs. I think it is going to be a good class for her.

It's a pretty big pool so Julie had a hard time getting any decent pictures since we were out in the middle and she was back on the side.

The Munchkin

Starts swimming lessons in the morning! Pictures to follow. This should be fun. Yay!

UNCLUTTERING MY CLOSET

Hopefully, this is just a start and a small one at that, but I just finished going through my closet and dressers and doing a major clean out! Yay for me! Strike a major blow for space and freedom from clutter! I am bound and determined to get rid of the things I don't need that are just cluttering up my life. I have four huge boxes of clothes and shoes to donate and I'm really excited to have them leave my house.

Just the thought of being able to hang something up in my closet without having to use the force of my entire body to shove the other clothes toward the wall to make room for it makes me smile. I have always hung onto things because "I might need them later." I've decided that "later" rarely comes and when it does I have so much stuff I can't find that specific thing anyway so I usually have to go out and buy a new whatever it is.

Hopefully, this is a start to a brand new uncluttered me. We will see.

Carly's Favorite Song

This is from a month or two ago and it's our attempt to get Carly to dance to her favorite song on camera. It's a song called Gummy Bear sung by as near as I can tell real gummy bears. Hee hee. Anyway, when no one is watching and it's playing she moves her little booty to it so fine. But as you can see in this short clip she has to have a little help. Also, it's right before bedtime here--so that could be part of it. Anyway, enjoy! (p.s. You'll have to look at it sideways because it was taken with someone else's phone and they didn't know how to turn it around and I couldn't figure out how to edit it after either. Sorry.)

The Middle Name is A Powerful Thing

I knew it worked at my house, growing up that is but I truly had no idea the power a middle name had until I used it tonight myself. Actually, I should say using the formal first and middle name together is the true power. I have never done it as a parent until tonight.

When I was growing up if my parents ever called out my first and middle name together I knew I was in trouble. Didn't you? I mean, there was NEVER any good coming from that. I still remember one day being at my cousin's house and hearing my Sweet Aunt Kaye use a tone I'd never heard her use before. All of the sudden I heard her call out "Victoria Lynn Come here right now!" I knew right away my cousing Vicki was not going in the other room to get some kind of a prize or balloon or something. I had heard that tone at my house before but never at my cousin's. I'm not even sure I knew she had any other names until I heard "the tone" that day but I've never forgotten her whole name since, either.

You see, there is that special tone that's just for using the first and middle name together and when someone does it to you (usually just your parent) it means you should; a. be frightened, and b. you should probably run in the opposite direction as quickly as possible. At least that's the way I always interpreted the tone. (Did I mention I was a pretty precocious kid?) You, however are free to decipher the meaning of "the tone" for yourself.

Well, my whole point here is I had to use "the tone" for the first time tonight with Carly. She was trying to poke things into the VCR and I couldn't get over to her quickly enough to stop her. I called her name three times to try to get her to stop each time at a slightly higher volume than the last. She didn't even bother to turn around to see who might be calling her name. She didn't flinch or act like she even heard me.

It hadn't even occurred to me to use the tone and all her names. It wasn't pre-meditated. It just came out of my mouth as if my Mother herself was saying it. All of the sudden, I heard myself using her formal first name and middle name together which I have never done except in the most loving manner because she is named after my Mom and that's kind of sacred to me. At any rate when I said her first and middle name in that "Oh so parent like tone" we all know so well, she immediately turned jetted out of the room. She looked at me as if to say, "Look lady, I don't want any trouble here." She went into the front room and quietly played with another toy. No problem. No crying. I was flabbergasted. I didn't know parents were doing that all these years because IT WORKS!! Why didn't you tell us that?! Man, I'm gonna do that a lot more often! Sorry Mom. Guess I'm gonna have to take your name in vain to make my child behave. Love you. You too Auntie Kaye!

The Speed of LIfe

Just in the last few days Carly has had her fifth tooth start coming in. It's almost all the way in now. It seems like each one comes in faster than the last one. Pretty soon she is going to have a whole mouthful. She's still battling her cold and has been really tired since she got her five shots. I'm hoping she starts to pick back up a little tomorrow.

Her feet sure do move these days, though. She is running all over the house. I guess that could be part of her tiredness. She is 31.5 inches tall now. I can't believe how fast she is growing up. It's just amazing to me.

Speaking of growing up, Julie is doing the very same thing -- even faster if you ask me. Seems like just yesterday she was an 11 year old and now she's talking about turning 16. Yikes! Of course, that's nine months away--but still. It's way too soon for me.

Life sure moves fast while it's rolling over your face and leaving all those wrinkles, doesn't it?!

I Got Nothing . . .

You know what? I got nothing. There are some days when things are just like that and today is one of them. Nothing exciting happened--nothing funny--nothing unusual. I didn't take any photos or videos. There is nothing at all going on.

I am mad at our legislature. We went to do our taxes and turns out in a year end sweep they wiped out all of our adoption credits and deductions--along with a lot of other things I'm sure. I went to look up what other laws and changes they'd made and the list was a mile long and all covert. It was listed by number and letter and you had to research what each of those were after you looked up those numbers. I've had adoption on the brain for more than a year and I listen to the news every day and I promise you this was never a newsworthy subject. This got passed on the sly as a part of a bigger package. I am going to be writing a few letters to a few senators and representatives. That's for sure!

All I'm saying is check out the PORK in all these bills that are getting signed and passed. You are losing and gaining things you are NOT GONNA LIKE NOR APPRECIATE! GRRR.

Well, other than that--I GOT NOTHING!

Look What I Found!

This is one of the very first pictures I took of Carly. It was taken on my cell phone. Isn't she so adorable, though? She is only 3 days old here. I'm in love with this little girl. You could never guess that, could you?!

"IT'S NOT NICE TO BLOOD A LITTLE GIRL"

I took Carly for her one year old check up today and she ended up having to get 5 separate shots. I guess they even mixed some of the vaccines she needed but even with that the number that needed to be given separately came to 5. Luckily, they sent two nurses in and they double teamed her. I had her on my lap and Julie and tried to keep her attention by singing to her and they both stuck her at one in each leg. She didn't cry on the first round and then she let them have it on the second. By the 5th shot which was just in one leg she was really mad. She only cried for about a minute but she was pretty somber for a few minutes after that.

It reminded me a little of a time a few years ago when I went with my friend Lori and her three kids to the doctor. Her oldest and youngest had appointments. The oldest was 5, getting ready for Kindergarten and he needed shots for school and the youngest was somewhere between one and two, I think and she needed shots as well. I remember the soon to be Kindergartner did not like the idea of shots and didn't take very well to them but that was nothing compared to when his sister got her shots. Lori and I had to hold his sister still for her shots. He didn't like that one bit. I think the doctor himself gave the shots and I think he was a little slow at it--but anyway, his sister started crying and we had to hold her tighter. This only made her brother more upset at all of us--Mom, me and the doctor. He screamed as loud as he could at us, "IT'S NOT NICE TO BLOOD A LITTLE GIRL!" Luckily by that time it was over and all we had left to deal with were her tears and his anger. I'm pretty sure we soothed both with ice cream.

Luckily, Carly didn't get quite that mad. But keep that in mind will you! IT'S NOT NICE TO BLOOD A LITTLE GIRL!

Mom and Her Beautiful Girls

This is a picture of me with the girls. Isn't it cute? I love the way Carly posed her hand on her chin. No one did that for her either. She just did that all by herself. (Sara, Julie, Me, Megan and Carly)

Music Class

Carly and I went back to music class today and this time she was not nearly as shy. She played with the other kids, danced, clapped and made farm noises. She even shared maraccas and drumsticks and put them back when she was supposed to. She only started to cry once when she had to put something back but she got over it quickly. I'm really impressed at how quickly she is settling into the environment and learning. She got her own CD of music today and we listened to it at home. It was some of the same stuff we were doing in class. She recognized it and started dancing around and laughing. It was really fun to see her response to it.

She's got her darn cold back all of a sudden. The last couple of days she has started coughing again. I really noticed it this afternoon. It seems like we keep passing it around the house from one to another--never completely getting rid of it. I can't wait for SPRING!

FORGET SOMETHING DOC?

I've had this gomboo for over a month now. It's one of those that ran through the whole family-- at least twice and has never really left completely. I think we all have a few nagging symptoms hanging around. As for me, I have that icky throat drainage and a sinus headache that's been lingering. Plus, I have a cough that mostly bugs me at night.

Finally today I thought I should go see the doctor. I also figured if I was going I'd have her do a general check-up and get some bloodwork done, too. Anyway, she got me all checked out, we talked about which bloodwork to do, and she did a bit of paperwork. We talked a bit more. She gave me a few things, said goodbye and I left.

It wasn't until a few hours later that I realized we never did the bloodwork. I guess I didn't realize one of my symptoms was forgetfulness. I guess she didn't realize it was one of hers, either.

Baby Texter on the Loose!

Ye-Gads! I am going to be in trouble with my teenager. We won't let her have a cell phone. That's right-no texting for her, no competing with the cell phone at the dinner table or during conversation. No loud music coming from the dumb thing--you get the picture. So, why all of the sudden do I have a baby texting my friends and family? That's right and playing all the ring tones she can find, and calling my friends early in the morning and at later hours than she should. She has two, count them 1, 2 play cell phones that are as cute as can be--but no, she steals mine every chance she gets. I don't know how she does it but at first she would just hit buttons until she found my speed dial buttons and accidentally call someone--now, she has found her way into the texting system and has been creating actual messages. If you just keep hitting buttons it will put words in for you.

She wrote a message tonight that convinced my sister I had sent her a real note about something I thought we should do. She was just waiting for the rest of the message to come through and texted me back when it didn't. That's how I found out Carly had been texting. I used to be able to just let her play with it without any harm--but all of the sudden she's filling up my schedule and making herself play dates! If this keeps up Julie is going to insist on equal time texting on my phone. I gotta get this under control! In the meantime, if you get a call or a text from me that doesn't quite make sense--consider a smaller source . . .

A VISITING WE DID GO

We went to visit Rob's parents today because they hadn't been able to come up for Carly's birthday and wanted to see her and give her some presents. We get in their house and sit her down (on her feet). They haven't seen her walk yet. She walks from the door to Grandpa's chair and stops. Keep in mind that Grandpa is a very large man. Anyway, she looks over and sees Grandpa and stops cold. We all walk past her and sit down. We call to her, try to bribe her but nothing gets her moving. She is stuck. She doesn't cry--she just keeps looking at the big guy and can't seem to walk past him--like she's afraid he might grab her or something. It's pretty funny if you're sitting there watching it. Grandma has a big stuffed green frog for her that she keeps waving at Carly and offering to her and Carly's eyes get really big and excited. You can tell she wants it and she trys to move but she just can't quite do it. Finally I sit down halfway between Grandma and Grandpa to break up the walk, hold the frog out to her and get her to come. Then, after a little time hanging out she gets comfortable and makes up with Grandpa. In the end, she had a great time and she got her green frog! It was an exciting day. Grandpa's are BIG with Carly! No pun intended! OK - maybe the pun was intended.

SISTERS

Pure Carliness

Here are Some of the Other Cool Cakes People Brought

My Yummy Cake

This is my yummy triple layer chocolate cake. It has a lovely white, fluffly filling that is so good. I think it turned out pretty well. Although, when I got to the auction there were so many fun decorated cakes that mine looked pretty plain. But that's okay because I know it tastes wonderful!

IF I'D KNOWN YOU WERE COMING I'D HAVE BAKED A CAKE

I just finished baking two cakes. We are having a cake auction tomorrow night at church. They said they had one last year and it was really fun. I missed it so I just have to trust them about the fun part. They told us not to bring any money that it will be provided. I heard a rumor that means monopoly money. Sounds fun to me. One of the cakes I'm making is going to be three layer with a fancy, fluffy white cream in between the layers--chocolate of course. The other will just be two layer. I decided to try to make something cool and delicious looking. Hopefully, they will go for several hundred thousand dollars. I mean c'mon in this bailout economy they've got to be worth at least that!

Musik Garten

Today Carly and I went to Musik Garten for the first time. My little protege turned into a shy little baby, though. I was really surprised at her reaction. She didn't dance a muscle. She didn't act like she had ever heard music before or heard people singing. She wanted no part of dancing. I had to hold her to dance around with her while the other toddlers would at least hold their mommy's hands and walk or dance. No way would she do that--major shy. And when the maraccas and drumsticks were handed out for a song or two--she would not give them back without a fight. Hmmm.
(So much for the shyness--at least for that moment.) So, they let her hang onto them. She was afterall the youngest and newest child there and they said it takes a few visits until each kid gets comfortable and catches on to the routine.

It does seem like it will be a fun class for her to take. Did I mention that when I put her coat on her to leave and walked out the door she threw a fit and cried all the way home. That's not something she does. She did not want to leave. I guess that was my best sign that she did have a good time at Music Garten. Guess we'll be going back for more maracca fun!

I AM REALLY FRUSTRATED

My fifteen year old came home from school today with her junior/senior and freshman year of college planned out in a way we never discussed and all because of a meeting she got invited to at school today. Not that that would be a bad thing except for the huge pressure this new plan would put on her.

First of all the program offered to her in the meeting would cause her to have to transfer to one of two schools about twenty minutes away from our home for her junior and senior year. We would have to drive her to and from school every day. She would only know one other person at the school--leaving all her other friends. Second, she would have to take all AP classes (accelerated placement)and pass with an A to get credit. The expectation for this whole transfer and the taking of AP courses is so these students graduate from high school having finished a year of college credits. I think this is fine for students who want to do something like this of their own volition. I know their are some parents who really push their kids to do this kind of thing also. We aren't among them. I mean, we expect good grades from our kids--but at the same time, I want my daughter to have fun in school. I want her to enjoy her time there and her friends. I want her to be in a play like she has always wanted to be. I want her to have the chance to sing in the choir and take a dance class and hang out with her friends--all the things she has wanted. I want her to remember her class and have the desire to come back for her class reunion someday.

This program that was offered to her today not only gave her the idea that she would end up with a year of college behind her but promised a 2 year 3/4 college scholarship to a large number of universities. She didn't catch the "ifs" involved like, if you get an "A" in every class. She came home so convinced that she had to do this for her future success that she couldn't hear us in the beginning of the discussion when we talked to her about her not needing to feel that kind of pressure and us wanting her to have fun with her friends. She would do nothing but class and homework for two solid years if she did that program and I don't want that to be her memory of high school. I don't like other people putting pressure like that on my kids. It's not necessary and it frustrates me! I think they should have had a meeting with the parents! Grrrrr.

A Few Pictures of the Main Event

Carly getting ready to blow out the candle. Actually, her idea of blowing it out was to pick up the flame with her fingers. Mommy just said "NO" to that and helped her by blowing it out for her!

This was the cutest cake and Carly loved the Barbie. She carried it around all night long!

Carly got a Cow from Grandpa and Grandma (my parents)and she loved it the moment she opened it. She began making it moo by pulling its mouth open even though there was a lever to pull. She wanted to do it her way and there was not teaching her to do it the right way. No sir!

Cass, Mommy, Carly and April Sorensen getting ready to have some fun with the cake before we gobble it dowm!

Carly was not in love with this hat. It took a lot to get her to pose with it, let alone with it with a smile on her face. But our friend Cass is like magic and can do just about anything--as you can see!

CARLY TURNED ONE TODAY!

My Carly turned one today. I can't believe she's a whole year old. She is such a big girl. We had a fun party with some family and friends tonight and I let her eat a small piece of cake all by herself. No, I'm not one of those Mommie's who sets a whole cake in front of the baby and lets them dive in head first. Been there, seen that way too many times. Having said that--the mess at the end was almost just as bad. I will have to post pictures tomorrow because I am way too tired tonight. Actually, I hope there are some pictures to post. I let someone else run around with the camera while I hung with the Birthday Girl. I mean what's the Guest of Honor gonna do without her Mom right at her side, huh? We video'd most of it but not on a video camera I know how to put on here.

Oh well, way too much excitement for one day and one new one year old!

YA KNOW HE'S PROBABLY RIGHT

Rob and I went out for a Valentine's Day lunch today and to do a bunch of running around for Carly's birthday party tomorrow. She has a whole bunch of friends!
I know, I know she's only one. She'll never remember this birthday so why all the bother?! But she will have fun tomorrow and she WILL have the pictures to show her she had a one year old birthday party and a Mommy and Daddy who loved her enough to throw her one!

I know, you are going to say the birthday party is for the mom--not the baby. I disagree, it's for both of us. It will make us both happy--and we will both have the good memories. Mine from being there and watching her have fun and hers, from pictures hearing me telling her all about it. **Good idea. I'd better write it down as it happens. I am getting up there. Also, good seguay to the next part of my story.

So anyway, as Rob and I were heading home from all of our adventures he suddenly starts laughing. I look around and can't figure out what's so funny. I hadn't said anything recently so it wasn't me. I said, "What is so darn funny?" He says, "Did you see that sign at that restaurant back there advertising 'Kids Eat for Free'?"
Do you realize in a few years, we are going to be eligle for the Senior Citizen discount and our kids are going to eat for free"?

Hmmm. He had me there. That was funny. You see, I decided a short while ago to stop getting defensive about the facts. So, we both laughed all the way home.

P.S. I love my husband so much. He's the best Valentine's Day present ever!

The Case of the Missing Pan

So I have this really nice set of Cookware that my parents gave me for my wedding and for about a month I've noticed I've been missing one of the pans. But it's one of those things that's kind of in the back of your mind. Everytime I go to use that pan I can't find it--at least it's not in the cabinet where it's supposed to be and I check a couple of other cabinets but then I figure, "Well, maybe it's in the dishwasher or the refrigerator" and I stop looking and use something else. Well, I started looking for it while I was cooking again tonight and I got darned determined but I couldn't find it. I asked everyone in the house and of course, "no one" that pesky beast, had seen it or hadn't seen it as the case may be. I had everyone looking and I was just about in tears. I was really frustrated--going out of my mind thinking who could've walked off with it. I knew I didn't loan it to anyone.

Finally, when I am at my top frustration, my 15 year old says well, let me go downstairs and check. I told her there was no need to do that. It would not be down there. She insisted she should go look. I asked her "why?" She said that maybe she had accidentally taken it down there when she was doing dishes one time and she was tired. I thought that was a ridiculous idea but she said just let me check since we have looked everywhere else. I didn't put any stock in the idea.

However, within about five minutes and much to my surprise she came walking up the stairs with my very valuable pan! So, I, of course had to ask, "Where did you find it? She says, (with her head bowed and her eyes down) "in my bedroom under my desk." "WHAT?! WHY?!" (In my not so subtle tone.) "I don't know." I pushed for an answer. She didn't have one. The only thing she could come up with was that she had been overtired. No, she is not a blonde--though once in a while we wonder. I love you, Julie.

THE LAWS OF ULTIMATE REALITY

* Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.

* Law of Gravity - Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

* Law of Probability - The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

* Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.

* Law of the Alibi - If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.

* Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).

* Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

* Law of Close Encounters - The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

* Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

* Law of Biomechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

* Law of the Theatre - At any event, the people whose seats are farthest from the aisle arrive last.

* The Starbucks Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

* Murphy's Law of Lockers - There are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

* Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.

* Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

* Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the shoe fits, it's ugly.

* Oliver's Law of Public Speaking - A closed mouth gathers no feet.

* Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

* Doctors' Law - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. If you don't make an appointment you'll stay sick.

I NEVER NOTICED BEFORE . . .

How much music there is behind commercials until I had Carly. She loves music and she dances to everything -- including commercials. Even if she is in her highchair she moves every part of her body she can move to the groove. I won't even notice the music on a commercial until she starts moving but she is making me appreciate the hidden music around me a lot more. (At least hidden to me.) Her favorite commercials are the new "HUNGRY" commercials from weight watchers or some weight conscious group. She really boogies to that one. She moves her hands to the beat of music, almost like she's directing or conducting and she is always right on beat. I've got to get her officially involved in music and soon! Luckily for me there is a place nearby that does music classes for babies, toddlers and up. I just need to get my body moving and get us over there. Anyway, until then we are groovin' to the music of oh so many commercials.

SOMEONE SENT THIS TO ME ON EMAIL AND I LOVE IT!

REFLECTIONS

"A son and his father were walking on the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams:
"AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating,
somewhere in the mountain:
"AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"

And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"

Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"

He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."

Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"

The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but
really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you
say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.

If you want more love in the world, create more love
in your heart. If you want more competence
in your team, improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything, in all
aspects of life; Life will give you back
everything you have given to it.

YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE.
IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU!

Author Unknown

THE FAST FAMILY

Tonight we were fast. We went Go-Kart racing on an indoor race track and we had a great time. It was really fun and I found I became strangely competitive. I'm fairly competitive anyway--but I got really competitive with Rob. I knew my husband would be faster than I was especially since he'd done this type of activity before. Not only that, but he's good at stuff like this. Anyway, he got a lap or two ahead of me on several of our races but finally when I was getting in the swing of it he came around and tried to lap me the second time and something fierce kicked in and my whole being just said "NO WAY BUDDY." I sped up and rounded those turns almost like a pro and he couldn't get by me no matter how hard he tried. Pretty soon the checkered flag came out and we finished our laps. Now mind you, I didn't win the race, Rob did, but he never got that second lap on me. That's what I'm talking about.

Julie was really fast, too. I should mention here as the mother of a soon to be teenage driver how frightened I am to put her on the road after tonight?!(Although, she did improve with time.) Still, we had great fun and it definitely ranks high on the list of fun things to do with the family.

I would have taken pictures but the helmet hair just made it a poor choice all the way around. :)

WALKING, STARRING CARLY!

She did it! She took five steps and walked toward me earlier tonight and then a little later we caught this on camera. Sorry, I don't know how to edit it so you get the whole enchilada!

CREEPY BABY PRODUCTS

I read this today in the Deseret News and just had to pass it on. (Yes, this is a borrowed blog, today. Sorry) It's both funny and creepy. Ewwww.

Erin Stewart
DeseretNews.com blogger | Feb. 5, 2009 at 9:21 a.m.

There are a lot of bizarre baby products out there that I don't really understand and sometimes think are just plain weird. But I saw one the other day that tops them all:


That's right folks — the Zaky baby pillow, which claims that "it's like leaving a part of you with your baby."

Um ... yes, if the piece you want to leave with your sleeping child is a disembodied forearm with sausage-like fingers and felt for skin.

Sure, that baby looks peaceful now, but I can only imagine the conversation with a therapist in 15 years: "Yes, I felt loved and safe as a child, until I woke up one morning and realized they were just hands. JUST HANDS! NO BODY! Don't you understand? JUST HANDS!"

Yea, there's really no way to recover from that.

Maybe I'm just old-school, but isn't this pillow is missing some key elements of maternal comfort like the human touch? A heartbeat? Elbows?

Now I can see how some people could say this would comfort children and help them sleep. But seriously, what is so important in a mother's life that she has to use fake hands instead of using her own? What happened to the good-old fashioned method of actually touching your child, anyway?

What do you think of this pillow? What are some bizarre baby products that you've seen? (desnews)

Pretty gross, eh? I'd love to know if you've seen anything better, though?!

REMEMBER THIS PHOTO I POSTED BEFORE OF MEGAN

It's the one I wasn't too crazy about. Well, when the actual photos arrived from Penney's I found I was actually quite drawn to them. I find I like them much better in this form. They remind me of something from my childhood. Something pleasant, fun, almost childlike . . . now what could that be? OH, WAIT NOW I REMEMBER!
THEY REMIND ME OF A BARREL OF MONKEYS!



Hee, Hee, Hee . . . I loved my barrel of monkeys!

AND SO IT BEGINS . . . SAY HELLO TO HIGHER GAS PRICES - AGAIN

Yep--The breaking news today from the Obama administration is that it will cancel 77 drilling leases near a Utah park. Doesn't look like there will be any U.S. drilling during this administration and only more need for foreign oil. So, here we go again.

Bush-era energy drilling leases in Utah canceled
Interior Department to review whether to open those federal lands

In its first action to overturn Bush administration policies on energy, the Obama administration on Wednesday said it will cancel oil drilling leases on more than 130,000 acres near two national parks and other protected areas in Utah.

"In the last weeks in office, the Bush administration rushed ahead to sell oil and gas leases near some of our nation's most precious landscapes in Utah," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told reporters. "“We need to responsibly develop our oil and gas supplies to help us reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but we must do so in a thoughtful and balanced way that allows us to protect our signature landscapes and cultural resources."

"We will take time and a fresh look at these 77 parcels to see if they are appropriate for oil and gas development," he said, adding that the Bureau of Land Management will return the $6 million in bids from an auction last December.

The 77 leases were for areas near Arches and Canyonlands national parks, Dinosaur National Monument, and Nine Mile Canyon, which is sometimes called the world's longest art gallery for its collection of ancient rock-art panels.

Critics, backers weigh in Republicans and the oil industry have argued that the United States should open more domestic areas if it wants to create jobs and reduce its reliance on foreign oil.

“This action will come as a disappointment to communities that were counting on these energy leases to generate high-wage jobs in these difficult economic times," Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., said in a statement.

"We hope today's decision does not signal the administration is returning to the failed policies of the past, leaving much of America's vast energy resources locked up while the nation's demand for energy continues to grow," added Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute.

Environmental groups lauded the action, saying drilling would have threatened Utah's wild lands and spoil views from some of the state's spectacular national parks.

"I see this announcement as a sign that after eight long years of rapacious greed and backdoor dealings, our government is returning a sense of balance to the way it manages our lands," actor and activist Robert Redford, a trustee with the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement issued by groups that opposed the leases.

Redford owns a home in Utah and hosts the annual Sundance Film Festival there.

The alliance of groups in December filed a lawsuit to try to stop the leasing, in part citing concerns it would pollute the air in the protected areas.

Judge had blocked leases
In January, a judge granted a temporary restraining order preventing the BLM, which is part of Interior, from moving forward with the leases.

"At best these lands will produce only 1.5 hours of the oil we use in a whole year," Robin Cooley, an Earthjustice attorney who represented the conservation groups in court, said in Wednesday's statement. "The oil industry will profit, not America."

Conservation groups promised to press ahead with the lawsuit to challenge long-term management plans that made the sale of the parcels possible in the first place. The plans, governing 7 millions acres of public land in Utah, were approved by the BLM last year.

The Interior Department said it was able to scrap the leases because the BLM had not yet formally accepted them.

The National Park Service protested the Dec. 19 auction weeks before it was held, and the BLM removed some parcels from the auction list in response.

At first, the BLM was going to auction a parcel so close to Delicate Arch, the signature landmark at Arches park near Moab, drills might have been visible through the center of the 33-foot-wide span. That parcel was 1.3 miles away. It was taken off the auction list under Park Service protest, but the BLM took bids on other drilling parcels within view of Arches, Canyonlands and Dinosaur parks.

Salazar said he was allowing the lease of 39 other parcels auctioned off in December that were not challenged in the lawsuit.

The BLM is scheduled to hold its next auction in Utah on March 24. It wasn't known Wednesday what lands might go up for sale next.

A monkey wrench
The battle between the Bush administration and activists took an unusual turn in December when an activist won $1.7 million in leases but then didn't have the money for a down payment on them.

The activist, Tim DeChristopher, said in early January that he had raised $45,000 from supporters and that if he didn't have to use the money he would contact donors to determine what to do with the cash.

The decision does not mean DeChristopher is off the hook, U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman told The Associated Press. Tim DeChristopher, a 27-year-old economics major at the University of Utah, won $1.7 million in leases even though he had no intention or means to pay.

Tolman said some people want DeChristopher prosecuted for running up lease prices and safeguarding several parcels between Arches and Canyonlands national parks.

To many environmentalists, however, DeChristopher is a hero. He said Wednesday he was willing to go to federal prison if he is charged for his act of monkey-wrenching. "This is how the environmental movement should be working," he said.

Hubby's Jury Experience Less Than Stellar

Rob had jury duty the last few days and I guess the trial was pretty serious and overall interesting in the end. He was actually looking forward to going through the process but it got down to the time to deliberate and come to find out Rob ended up being the alternate juror. No one told him until the very end. I guess they don't want any of the jurors to know their is an alternate so they don't call in sick unless they are dying and they don't want the alternate to know so he or she pays attention as if they were a juror. Poor guy, though, he really wanted to participate and he got to the very end and they said, well, thanks but no thanks. How frustrating!

The Coughers are Full

of phlegm! Carly and Mommy have been coughing our heads off for the past week and I think it's getting worse not better. Now, I think Julie is joining the group. This is no fun. Poor Carly--ear ache, sore throat and bad cough and cold--that's no picnic and wow, is she one unhappy camper.

I will sure be glad when we are all feeling better. Haven't even felt much like blogging. Sorry.

ONE STEP AWAY

Carly is just one step away from walking. She can stand all by herself for about 15 seconds and she will take one step before she sits down. It's that second step that has her intimidated. I guess I should be grateful for the intimidation factor at the moment. She is a speed crawler and a really fast walker if she is holding onto one of your fingers. So, just think how dangerous she will be when she doesn't need the finger anymore? I think I should be really frightened just about now! I should probably also start looking for an alternative energy source. What is it all these athletes use for energy and strength that they keep getting in trouble for? Just kidding . . .