Passing the Torch

I just wanted to share my thoughts today as I watched the transfer of power from President Bush to President Obama. Our principal at our school is so smart, and he asked all the teachers to tune in their televisions to the broadcast of the inauguration so the kids could witness the historical event. Then he also challenged the students to write about it in their journals. So, I'm going to take on his challenge.

Overall, I watched the broadcast with a fair amount of hope. I am, without a doubt, so happy that my children will grow up in a nation where it is possible for anyone to be president, regardless of race or gender. It's a very cool thing. I am happy for the young African Americans of our country that they have this role model to look up to. I hope many of them choose to follow his example rather than some of the sports figures who lead rather sorry lives.

I am hopeful that President Obama can unite our nation. I am SO SICK of the partisan bickering. He says this is his goal, and I think we should all hold him to it. While I may not agree with all of his policies, he is my president and I will support him as best I can. I really do love this country. Things feel like a bit of a mess right now, but I still believe there is no greater nation on this earth. But we have to believe that it belongs to us, the people. We are responsible for making the change happen. Get on the email lists of your senators and representatives in congress. Let them know what you want to see happen.

But don't forget the power we do and should have within our own state governments! We do seem to be forgetting that we are a United States of America. The federal government cannot and should not solve all of our problems.

Anyway, off my soapbox. Happy Inauguration Day!

Thanksgiving with the Firths

For Thanksgiving this year, we went up to Montana to visit our good friends, the Firth family. We had Thanksgiving several years ago together when we both lived in Los Angeles. I was pregnant with Hadley and they brought home their adopted daughter, Danika, a couple days later. Here's us in 2000:

Here we all are in 2008:

As you can see...no Seth! He was polite enough to take a nap for me and I got to enjoy my Thanksgiving dinner! He got to feast on a pb&j when he woke up.

Mary made the most amazing stuffing I've ever had. I've actually thought about it several times since we were there. How pathetic is that?

But enough about the meal. We had a great weekend at the children's museum, swimming, and just hanging out. Watched a movie or two. But we had a great time talking. We sure miss being able to talk with David and Mary on a regular basis. We LOVE just hanging out and talking with them. The kids played great together too. Danika and Hadley played as babies:

And now they got to play together as little girls:



We hope it's not too long before we get to visit them again!

Sledding with Cousin Emily

For Emily's birthday, she wanted to go sledding with Hadley and Lillian, so they drove down here and we had a blast.

Seth got impatient waiting for the tubes to come back up so he thought he'd try his bum. Needless to say, he didn't get very far.

And what would an afternoon of sledding be without a minor casualty?

I thought she looked pretty cool, but it's hard to convince a five year old of that.

"Cinnamon Frosting" and "Sixes See"

But Mom, your lipstick looks so pretty on you, why not me?

Happy 2009!

I'm not sure I've ever really made any New Year's resolutions. Goals have never been a big thing in my life. Personal Progress? Never finished it. I've decided that this is one of the contributing problems to my numerous self-defeating behaviors. I've never wanted to set goals because I didn't want to fail. SO...that's gonna change.

First goal--blog more! I'd like to blog at least weekly, but since I'm coming from a place of blogging once every two to three months, sometimtes more, I'm going to instead make the goal of blogging every other week. I got a new Palm Centro phone for myself for Christmas, so I'm going to set an alarm to remind myself of this. Wish me luck!

Other resolutions for 2009:

Read scriptures daily
Keep my kitchen clear of clutter (this includes MANY other small goals that will help make this happen)
Get to bed earlier and wake up earlier
Exercise three times a week
Do my neck exercises at least every other day for three months (I have a series of exercises prescribed by my chiropractor--when I do them regularly my pain and headaches decrease significantly)
Follow a budget
Pray more

Not only is it a big deal that I'm making resolutions, it's a HUGE deal that I'm actually posting them for anyone to see. Remember that fear of failure? Trying to overcome that one. I've been trying to teach my seven year old not to be afraid of failure, and I've got to live what I preach.

So Happy New Year to you all. May the new year find you more peaceful, more prosperous, healthier and happier.