ZzZzz.z.z.z.z.

Oh blessed sleep. Why do you evade me? Ever since having children you no longer come around. I miss you so. What would it take for you to return to me? Fame? Fortune?
Please know that should you decide to return, that you would be welcome to stay forever. I would never take you for granted again. It has been too long. Please come back.
Signed,
Your longing companion

A moment to rant please...

For those of you who may not know, on Sunday they are voting on national health care. After doing some research I am learning some of the things included in this "historic bill". I am scared to death that it just might pass. I can't read all 2000+ pages before Sunday and the language is near impossible to comprehend. The scary part is that the people voting on it haven't even read or know all that is in it. Here are a few things I have learned:
* The IRS is going to oversee that everyone is insured and if you are not... guess who will be knocking on your door / debiting fines from your pay checks...
* The IRS will have access to your financial records for medical purposes and visa versa
* The "wealthy" and corporations will be on the hook for most of the funding (via taxes). They will be taxed additionally on money they invest... (so why would you invest money if you are going to be penalized?)
* All doctors will take an immediate 22% decrease in pay due to massive decreases in medicare reimbursements from the gov't. (So then won't doctors just decline the care of anyone on medicare?)
* Gov't funded abortions
* "free" health care for all citizens weather here legally or not. (Nothing in life is "free" not even freedom).
* Benefits don't even start for four years, but taxes begin immediately.

These are just a FEW of the crazy things in the bill (it is 2000+ pages). That doesn't even mention the fact that EDUCATION is now included in the health care bill. What the? They want to take over ALL student loan disbursement, and get rid of all private lenders. That gives them the power to decide who they think is worthy of attending certain schools by deciding who gets the money. You can't get additional funds to go to more expensive schools even if you wanted too.

I don't understand how we are all just sitting here watching this happen. I want to scream off the rooftops that our liberty is being sucked from our own hands... and we are letting it happen. How/when did this happen? When did we decide that someone else could better decide how we obtain our education and health care? I want to make MY OWN DECISIONS! I feel like all the calls I make and all the letters/emails I send fall on ears that cannot, rather, will not listen.
I understand that health care is not perfect and reform needs to take place... but by buying votes and holding things ransom for votes is WRONG! I feel like it is being jammed down my throat and all I want to do is vomit. Why the rush? Why the lengthy bill full of garbage... things not even health care related? Why can't you get your own party to vote for the bill you wrote without extorting them? For something so important you think you'd want to get it right the first time and not just plan on passing anything and fix it later.
I equate it to playing a game with a child. First you say the best 3 in 5 wins... but when they don't win, they say the best 4 in 7 and so on, until they are the winners... and THEN the game is over. They won't vote until they buy all the votes they need. That isn't how democracy works! IF they voted when they said "the time for discussion is over" (last week) it wouldn't have passed because they didn't have the votes (purchase of course.) SO they will just wait to vote until they have bought all the votes they need. It is unconstitutional.
I guess you could say I am just VERY frustrated. Tired of feeling unheard. Tired of feeling like I am in the minority, when I'm not. Tired of having things rammed down my throat. Tired of losing rights. Tired of political games with my freedom. Tired of them spending my money foolishly. Tired of them spending my GRAND CHILDREN'S money foolishly. If I don't stick to my budget they turn off my power. IF they don't stick to their budget... they print more money. MONEY DOES NOT GROW ON TREES... or come from a printer. If it were that easy, I'd be in a house by now. Why do the rules that apply to me (the one paying the taxes) not apply to them (the ones spending my taxes)? They are simple money management rules. Income must be greater than bills or you go into debt... It is not a new or complicated idea. If you can't afford it (ie. health care bill) then you can't do it. It sucks to not have everything we want...but that is life... get used to it!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! It makes me mad! I feel like I am going crazy! Anyone else feel this way? Am I alone? Am I in the minority? Am I the only one that wants to go to DC. tomorrow with a pitchfork? Am I the only one who feels hopeless for our future and our kids future? Is there anyone else out there? Are people to scared to raise their voice because of concern about conflict with others? What is the deal?

Graduation, Wedding, and Birthday Extravaganza

The first weekend in March was a SUPER busy one. We started the weekend on Thursday. Alexis was in a preschool program and she "graduated". I'm not sure what that means other than another day that I paid for that she didn't learn anything. Oh well. She did have fun in this preschool, it just wasn't educational. It was more arts and crafts than ABC's. The shirt she is wearing in the pictures is their final project. They tie dyed shirts for graduation, which meant two movie/pj days in class. I tried to get a good picture of both kids (see above), but they both had nasty coughs and in every picture one or both of them were coughing. So I guess you could say it was documenting reality.
Above is Timothy congratulating his sister. He loves to give hugs. It is nice when they actually get along instead of the normal fighting.
Aunt Kathy had the day off and was able to join us for the occasion. The graduation consisted of all the kids walking in the room and having their name called. They then proceeded to sing some songs. Most the kids knew the songs independently, but when they sang together they all sang at different speeds. It was pretty rough on the ears in all honesty, but Alexis did a good job. The songs they sang were: The days of the week song, "Apples to Zebras" song, Little Red Caboose, Mr. Golden Sun, and Don't throw your Junk in my Backyard. Alexis loves to perform them, so if you ever see her just ask. Just know that Mr. Golden song seems to be a non ending/ repeating song. Before they performed Alexis would be singing her songs at home and I thought she was making up parts of them... but they were in fact real songs.
After the presentation they were all given "diplomas" and sent to fill up on sugar. Alexis chose the cupcakes with the most frosting she could find, and it was bright yellow. Thank goodness for baby wipes. All parents were asked to bring a treat, but me, in my good rebellious fashion brought nothing. No worries though... they had two full tables of pure junk, so I have no regrets about saving a few bucks there. All my food would have gone untouched, then forcing me to take home and eat all the sugar/calories.
Following the graduation we all went to eat lunch at Sweet Tomatoes. It was some mighty fine food. I don't think you can ever go wrong with that place. Timothy shoveled down lots of Jell-o and Alexis built her own ice cream treat.
(above) Timothy and David enjoying the entertainment. After the graduation we packed the car and began our trip to Yuma. The kids slept part of the way. We arrived safe just in time to get up the next morning and start our way to San Diego.
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Friday morning we drove to San Diego. David's brother Aaron was getting married. Originally the weather for Friday was predicted to be raining, and the temple had told them that the spires were going to have scaffolding around them for resurfacing. When we arrived to the temple the weather was perfect and the scaffolding was on the back side of the temple so they could get all their pictures. HOORAY! Talk about multiple blessings! My mom also joined us to help with the kids. It was so nice of her to let us drag her around for the weekend. It was a great help and nice company.
The ceremony was beautiful and Aaron and Elisha looked amazing and oh so happy. We are happy for them. When they exited it was like the paparazzi. Everyone had a camera. Alexis was given a beautiful dress and she was flaunting her stuff. She thought she needed to be in every picture and be the center of every one's attention. She really believes the world revolves around her. Below is a picture of her and Timothy. Both were posing for cameras. What have I created? :)
(below) Beautiful bride and groom.
(below) Aunt Kathy and Alexis. Alexis loves her auntie and her sassy sunglasses.
(below) Bride and groom... oh SO happy!
After the wedding we had lunch/dinner and headed off to Pomona, CA. It was about a two hour drive and the traffic was HORRIBLE. I thought that Phoenix had bad traffic, but California traffic will put all that into perspective. When we finally arrived at our hotel we were all tired and all in for another surprise. The hotel was interesting. Most the people staying there, LIVED there. It was like we had just walked into their territory. All the tenants opened their doors and windows to stare at the newcomers. Who were we and how long were we staying? Luckily it was just overnight. The room was big... more like a single bedroom apartment with a full kitchen, but it wasn't super clean. It was only one night though and we were all so tired that it didn't really matter.
Saturday was the reception. The reception was beautiful and the view was great. There was lots of dancing, eating, talking, and just fun. They had a money dance and Alexis' eyes grew as big as tennis balls when she saw all the money. She asked me if she could have some "cash", and I had to explain it was for the bride and groom. Before the evening was over Alexis and Timothy were literally swimming in the money. Nice.
Alexis danced like a wild woman. She sure can get serious and dramatic with her "art." After the reception we drove back to San Diego in the rain. We drove along the coast and it was so stormy that you could barely see the ocean. A whole weekend in California without seeing/going to the ocean just seems wrong... but that is how it ended up. Super bummed about that.
Sunday morning we packed up again and drove back to Yuma. The mountain pass outside of San Diego was a scary drive. The rain was coming down so hard that it was hard to see the road. Then the rain turned to snow. Had we left San Diego any later I'm afraid we may have been stuck in the pass by snow. But we made it back to Yuma.
It was Timothy's second birthday. Hooray Timothy! I can't believe he is already two. He is such a little character. His personality is great and he is so fun and loving. He is finally starting to talk more and "grunt" less. We call it his "Mario" sound because the sound he makes is just like the sound Mario makes when he jumps on the video game.
When he was born he had dark hair, and as you can see, that didn't last long. He is our little toe head. His hair makes his head glow. He love cars, truck, airplanes, and motorcycles (cycles as he calls them). He also loves anything his sister has. If she has it... he wants it. He also claimed her big pink fuzzy blanket as his own.
(above) Timothy playing with his new loot. Thanks Harris cousins for the tractors.
Above is his new bike. He kept trying to ride Alexis' bike so we decided he could use his own and more his size. He still doesn't know how to petal it, but we're working on it. Above is Timothy trying to figure out how to hold up two fingers. He's still working on that too.
My sister Michaela made his cake. Thanks, because we had no time otherwise. It is a dirt bike on a dirt track. My other sister Rebekah made a pinata. Pretty smart one too. She just left the fruit snacks in the box and decorated the box and we hung it up.

Finally Monday morning we packed up again and drove home. It was a LONG weekend with LOTS of driving but we all survived and we had a good time. Lots of memories and pictures. I have tons of pictures, but because my files are so big I have a hard time posting many. Oh well. We survived. Happy Birthday Timothy. We love you!

Smell this

The other day I had sunburned my neck at the zoo. David brought me the aloe to rub on my burn. I exclaimed, "Ah... the smell of summer." Alexis didn't miss a beat, responding, "It smells like poo!" I guess summer smells like poo. It is Arizona...
Good times.

Suckers

If you ever wonder how good the memory of a four year old is, wonder no longer. There is a bank right down the street from our house that I use the drive through for deposits. The same lady is always at the drive through window and usually sends a few suckers back with my receipt for the kids to enjoy. Yesterday while at the drive through window Alexis asked me what the nice tellers name was. I couldn't remember and she wasn't wearing her name tag. Alexis then declared, "Her name is Susan." I wasn't sure but it sounded good to me. The teller then kindly put my receipt and two suckers out the window for us. On the receipt read the tellers name: Susan. What a memory! Maybe the candy helped her to remember. So I guess the lesson to me is: If I want Alexis to remember something just offer candy.

*Side note update*
As a follow up to the "Expensive Lessons" post about our plumbing issue, I am proud to say that persistence pays off. After a month of calls and pestering people we were able to resolve the over billed plumbing problem. We were refunded over $100 and were apologized to by the plumbing company. Apparently the tech that did the actual work was only there for an hour and a half (thanks to GPS on his truck). The tech was billing us for $200 dollars an hour for labor alone. WOW! David should have become a plumber at that rate! But it turns out the tech was "cushioning" his pocket before he left the company. He over billed several other clients in that same time frame. Lesson to this story. IF you think your bill is wrong don't just roll over and forget about it. Chances are you are right and it is worth the calls. One point for the little man.

Ah, Boogers!

As of late my life has been inundated by runny, icky, booger noses. I wish that both kids would just get sick at the same time, but instead they like to take turns and draw it out as long as possible. I have found that kids don't like to share many things but have no problem sharing germs.
Today Timothy came up to me with a boogie on his finger, saying "EWwwww!" Then he looked at it and ate it! For real? Two seconds and I could have had a tissue. Where do they learn such things? What goes through a toddlers mind, that makes them think that eating a boogie would be a good idea? He truly is a boy. Let the gross habits begin.
I only pray that coughing, runny noses and fevers are gone by Thursday because we are heading off to California for a wedding. Traveling with sick kids is not my idea of fun. I only hope we can make a quick stop at the beach to collect some sun and sand. I sure do miss the ocean. Just the sound and smell remind me of some good times. Maybe someday we'll live closer to the ocean. Until then... bring on the boogies.