London's Art from Primary

London's version of the First Vision.

I love this drawing because:

1. the topic.

2. London does not usually draw actual things - she's more of a scribbler even though I know she's quite capable (proven here) of more. So this is a rarity for her.

3. I know she really put a lot of thought into this drawing -- the tree, three people (Joseph Smith is the large one on the right, smiling), the grass, and even some "glow" coming off Heavenly Father. Love it.

4. It shows me that she really does listen intently and learn in Primary. Every Sunday she tells me details of the lesson and I am so impressed that she's learning the gospel so well and loves it.

5. Her name started and interrupted (by the tree) 3 times. The back has two full names to make up for those on the front.

Noah T.

Usually when Tyler and Gina come for Christmas, they have a b-day party for Noah at Chuck-e-Cheese because it's easy with all the cousins (plus it's the one time a year we take our kids there so they love it). I just found these random pictures and thought I'd post them.

Tyler and Ryder

The girlies on tv

Regina and Reagan -- Gina actually held Reagan like this almost the whole time.

Then Reagan went to Uncle Jim -- I think he secretly likes her.

The cute birthday boy who is an exact replica of Tyler.

Economic Stimulus?

So I'm just a little -- no, I won't lie -- I'm a lot - frustrated with this whole "stimulus" thing.

I've put some facts below about the stimulus and, honestly, I mostly see it as an excuse for Obama/dems in Congress to get what they've always wanted done and for Obama to achieve some of his campaign promises. I mean, I really don't think that part of this stimulus bill should be to "prepare us for universal healthcare," but it is convenient for Obama who promised universal healthcare to the people. He just has a good way of getting the money to do it now -- just call it stimulus and it's all good. Right? Uhm, NO!

I don't care if people are Democrats or Republicans (I don't think I'm either at this point), but I do care if you're informed. If you're going to support something, at least know what's in it for the most part. Do your research, be informed and then CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES. They work for you, after all. Or they should...that's supposed to be the idea of government officials. . .

Below is a graph showing recessions in the U.S. in correlation to how much money was printed at that time. Quite interesting that we're doing something that's never been done before. We've always gotten out of recessions without this large amount of spending, why are we allowing them to convince us that we have no other options now? Sorry, I forewarned that I'm keyed up over this whole thing. I'll just shut up and let the facts speak for themselves now.

Total Cost of Stimulus Legislation: $825 billion

How does this compare?

• In 1993, the unemployment was virtually the same as the rate today (around 7%). Yet, President Clinton’s proposed stimulus legislation *only* contained $16 billion in spending

• The total cost of this one piece of legislation is almost as much as the annual discretionary budget for the entire federal government.

• This legislation nears a trillion dollars. President Reagan said the best way to understand a trillion dollars is to imagine a crisp, new stack of $1000 bills.

• If you had a stack four inches high, you’d be a millionaire. A trillion-dollar stack of $1000 bills would measure just over 63 miles high.

• In $20 bills, a trillion dollar stack would be 3150 miles high. That’s about the distance between DC and Trujillo, Peru.

• President Obama has said that his proposed stimulus legislation will create or save 3 million jobs. This means that this legislation will spend about $275,000 per job. The average household income in the U.S. is $42,000 a year.

• This bill provides enough spending to give every man, woman, and child in America $2,700.

• This bill will cost each and every household $6,700 in additional debt, paid for by our children and grandchildren.

• Although this legislation has been billed and described as a transportation and infrastructure investment package, but only three percent ($30 billion) of this package is for road and highway spending.

• Much of the funding within the proposed stimulus package will go to programs which already have large, unexpended balances.

• For example, the draft bill provides $1 billion for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), which already has $16 billion on hand.

• And, this year, Congress has plans to rescind $9 billion in highway funding that the states have not yet used.

• Deficit spending will not expand the economy. If that were true, then the current $1.2 trillion deficit -- the largest in history -- would already be rescuing the economy.

• $800 billion more will not change that.

• Trade groups state that every $1 billion in highway “stimulus” can be spent creating 34,779 new construction jobs.

• But Congress must first borrow that $1 billion out of the private sector.

• The private sector then loses or forgoes roughly the same number of jobs.

• Japan responded to a 1990 recession by passing 10 “stimulus” bills over 8 years (building the largest national debt in the industrialized world). Their economy remained stagnant and their per capita income went from the second highest in the world to the tenth highest.

To see the source of this info, go here.

I think I'm with Glenn Beck on this one --- "I'd rather go through a tough period and cleanse ourselves from these bad companies and all the mistakes. I'd rather learn the lesson and still have a little bit of capitalism left."

Let's just suck it up and let people learn to be responsible and learn the hard way - because they're not going to learn anything by being bailed out all the time. It's good to fail. It's even better to get yourself back up again after failing -- but we're taking that option off the table at the moment.

So decide where you stand and call your representatives because the House may be voting on this thing TODAY!

...and have a happy Wed! I'm off to help Amy tape/caulk her upstairs in preparation for painting before the big birthday/Super Bowl party on Sunday.

p.s. if you live in Mesa/Q.C. - Jeff Flake is your representative and he's NOT voting for the stimulus -- I just called Washington.

p.p.s. I know if I read this, I would get excited and then never call, so I'll make it easy for you. Go here and you can type in your state and find your representative and his/her contact information.

p.p.p.s. 4:35 PM - I just found out that it passed in the House.

How to take a shower . . . and other things

When you have a baby who crawls and puts everything in her mouth and is super-curious about everything - it takes some creativity for a mom to get a shower in the morning.

This is my latest solution to the what-to-do-with-the-children-while-I-shower dilemma. London plays PBS kids while Reag watches with snacks, a sippy and her beloved binky. Needless to say, my showers are mighty quick.

This is Regan's Christmas present from G&G Jones. It's the only baby doll (and believe me, we have many in this household) that she will pick up, giggle at, chatter to, and then attack with "besitos." When I saw her giving it loves, I just had to document it so I ran to get the camera and when I returned, the love fest was not over as you can see.

Reagan's "besitos" (Spanish for kisses) are full on slobber fests that usually involve her grabbing your face and grunting or growling. I get them all the time and love it! Just a cute girly who is cutting her first -- yes first (at 10 months) tooth this week! And here is her high-chair the girls made for her in their room.
She'll sit in it and joyfully eat plastic food.

She definitely loves her older sisters and usually goes into fits of laughter just by looking at them or even walking into their room - it's like her own Reagan-Disneyland.

"The Good Part"

"and I have chosen the good part," (2 Nephi 2:30)

I read those words Sunday during my scripture study and they really struck me. It's funny how it's probably my 100th time reading the BOM, but here I am still seeing new things every time (yes, even in my awesome new scriptures I got for Christmas!).

Lehi is speaking to his son, Jacob, as kind of a last speech before he dies and those are his last words. As I pondered over those words, I wondered if, at the end of my life, I will be able to say "and I have chosen the good part."

What is the good part?

I suppose it's basically the same and yet different for each person. That's up to you to ponder and decide on your own.

As for me, I've decided that the good part includes numerous things, but number one being that I have chosen to live the gospel to the fullest. This does not mean I merely go to church on Sundays and look like I live the gospel. Rather, it means that I feel the gospel and it's part of my being and I am constantly striving to strengthen my relationship with the Savior and understand His role better in my life as well as in the lives of those around me (because until we do, we'll never realize how much we really don't understand).

For me, the good part also includes my choice to have an eternal marriage and family -- and to work hard to make sure we all make it in the end.

It all sounds grand, but here's what my "good part" includes on a daily basis:
and I wouldn't trade anything in the world for it!

One thing we have started this week is something I should have done a long time ago and that is to read a little of the BOM every night with the girlies.

Remember that scripture that talks about the children leading the way?

Monday I was reading my scriptures and London came up and asked me, "Mom, why don't we read the scriptures together as a family?" I told her that we would start that night. So I got a blue BOM out and put it on their shelf while they both made bookmarks for the occasion. Now every night before family prayer, we read a little and it has been so fabulous that I wonder why we didn't start this earlier. Even last night Nate and I were in a hurry because we were getting them to bed later than usual, but good old faithful London wouldn't let us leave until we'd read. Yes, we can learn from our children. This has become a small portion of "the good part" for my little family.

And the amazing thing is that life is great/better when we choose "the good part," so why do we sometimes balk at it? The blessing far outweigh the work. Like did you ever notice how much better you deal with life/your children when you do your scripture study everyday? It's like my magic ingredient for making the day go smoothly and works so well that I wonder why I ever miss a day (and yet, imperfect me always seems to slip a missed day in here and there).

So over the next week or so I'll be pondering what else my "good part" includes because this is just the tip of the iceberg, I am sure. . .

Cousins Pictures - catch-up

Cousins at the Park.
They're not the best pics, but it's the memories, right?

This was the last night before they left - snuggling on the couch, watching tv.

Thinking of Megan. . .

This morning as I read my CNN Newsletter, one headliner caught my eye and made me think of Megan. It read:

Iowan: Cold hurts, makes 'skin burn.'

Ouch! Poor Megan out there in good old Iowa. I'll be thinking of you as my house heats up to about 76 by the end of the day with no heater or air conditioner running. Maybe this picture will help you, Megs ---
I love you!!!


On another note, I am feeling dang crappy right now with major congestion/headache/cough. Reagan and London are stuffed up too, but are acting fine so far. Lucky for me, it's Cyndee's day off and she didn't get to see the girls last week so she's going to come and get them for the day. Lovely. As a mom you get so used to just sucking it up when you're sick so this should be super nice to just lay down and not have to worry about anything - or better yet, anyone. Hopefully the rest will help me knock it and we can go to the zoo like we'd planned to this weekend.