Thanksgiving Pics

We had a fun Thanksgiving this year. It was quiet but nice. The kids were really into the Macy's Parade this year. While I was cooking, I had my non-sporty husband turn on a football game so it would feel like the Thanksgivings of my childhood. We had a visit from Uncle Jay and Aunt Lady (Katie). John also had a good friend from work join us for dinner. There was an abundance of food; my mom trained me well. I missed being with my parents and extended family, but we had our first Thanksgiving in our own house, and it was a good feeling.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We all hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I thought it would be fun to have the kids tell me what they are thankful for this year. They, once again, amused me. I am very thankful for them. They make everyday interesting and fun, in one way or another.

H is for Hat

Coy was learning about the letter "H" last week in preschool. On Friday, they had Crazy Hat Day. Coy was very proud of his hat, and he kept it on all day.

Eight Years Later

A few weeks ago John and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. I can't believe how fast time has gone by. It was 12 years ago that I first laid eyes on my future guy to be. He looked so mysterious standing against the wall in the choir room as the teacher introduced him as the new kid from New Jersey. Oooh, he must be an East Coast bad boy with an accent, we all thought. He looked tall, dark, handsome, and mysterious. Just a short time later we learned the truth. He was actually from Kansas and Salt Lake, he walked on his hands more than his feet, and he thought he was one of the Backstreet Boys. If you could hear me now, I'm doing that "waaa waaa waaa" noise.....disappointment. After a couple years of just eye flirting and thinking the other one was stuck-up, we finally started dating. He has kept me laughing ever since. Even when I feel like throwing him out of a window, he still manages to do or say something to make me laugh; which makes me even more mad but definitely deescalates any tension. I put up with constant singing, cereal eating 'round the clock, movie impersonations, and random energy spurts which result in wrestling matches (non-sexual). I know what you were thinking! I've come to realize that these are some of the many things that I love about my John Jon.com. These are his characteristics that made me fall in love with him. He is slow to anger, quick to defend, a loving, playful father, a consistent, devoted provider, and a thoughtful, caring husband. I could go on and on, but to sum it up, I can't wait till we're old and gray. I think we'll be the most entertaining old folks on the block. John made this another special anniversary by taking me to one of my top three restaurants, P.F. Changs. Then, he took me to see Cirque de Soleil's "Love" at the Mirage. Nether one of us have been on an acid trip, but if we had, we imagine that this show would be similar to the experience. Not our favorite Cirque show to date, but, to state it mildly, psychedelic. We then went to the Palms Hotel for the night. Thanks mom, for the well-done babysitting. At the Palms, we were reminded that we seem to be getting old. Did we hit the blackjack tables, check out the nightlife, or just enjoy the night of mommy and daddy freedom?? Nope. We were two old fogies who crashed at 11:00 pm from exhaustion. We had a great time. He even took me to I-Hop the next morning. What a guy! Thanks for all the fun, baby!

My handsome sugar daddy

He always ruins our self-portraits.

Pumpkin Patch

Anyone in Vegas knows that a casino parking lot and a pumpkin patch are one and the same. They attempt to make the atmosphere more realistic by spreading hay all over the asphalt and placing pumpkins as far as the eye can see. The kids love it, and I used to think it was fun back when Christian was an only child. Now, all I feel is anxiety over fear that a carnie folk is going to snatch one of my offspring and put them to work walking sickly looking ponies around in circles. Well, not really, but the thought has entered my mind. Coy is a wonderer; never one to follow the crowd. Whenever I turn around he has disappeared, so I find these carnival/ pumpkin patches nerve wracking. Despite all that, I did my motherly duty and took them a couple of times this year.

Commander in Chief

It's 11:50 p.m., and after a glass of Riesling and a frozen burrito smothered in melted cheese, my sense of gloom and depression have yet to lift. John told me to just go to bed and not worry about it. He said, "It wouldn't have been much better if McCain had won." I understand his point, but now, I feel this overwhelming uneasiness about the future; about my children's future. Before yesterday, I knew the basic facts about the candidates' views and their positions on important issues. Based on what I was told by Fox News and Michael Savage, I was convinced that McCain was the best option and Obama simply wouldn't do. I'm not sure why, but after getting a poll call last night I started digging a little deeper into issues I've always deemed as being majorly important to me. This automated voice on the phone was being sponsored by some Catholic Republican organization, and they specifically pointed out a few details about Obama that I have previously heard. Being this close to the election, I took these detailed comments a bit more to heart. The voice on the phone mentioned that Barack Obama was in support of a woman's "Right to Choose" in any circumstance. This means that even if the woman is 9 months pregnant, if she has any reason for not wanting a baby, she should, by law, be allowed to have an abortion. Let's put foreign policy, the economy, and gay marriage aside for a second. Who is this new president we are dealing with? A man who could support and has repeatedly voted in favor for no penalty against physicians who perform partial-birth abortions. Words can only convey so much. I started to research a bit more into the world of abortion and late-term abortion, and to state it bluntly, I'm devastated. What I've seen through my searching over the last day or so has deeply affected me. I know this information has been available for a quite some time, but it is new to me. It's true that a picture is worth a million words. This is the first time I have been in tears over an image I was viewing. I am a mother, so perhaps I have stronger feelings than others, but this is what our new leader stands for......This is a picture of a baby who miraculously survived a late-term abortion. The doctor then, took him to another room and waited for him to suffocate.

There were so many gruesome images I wouldn't post, but this gives you an idea. This is what our nation will soon support, and it scares me.


Interesting way to view human life.
I have a feeling that things are going to get bad very quickly. This is just one of the many issues I have with our new president. An issue that seems to strike a chord within me. I've seen the following compilation of Bible verses several times before; now, it seems to be very relevant to what I am feeling.

Father's Love Letter

An Intimate Message From God To You.

My Child,You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me.John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again.Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father.Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love,

Your Dad, Almighty God

What Happened, Dorothy?

Dorothy has been having some hard times.

Halloween Video

You have to pause the music at the bottom of the page to hear the video.

I Thought Halloween Was One Day

Halloween seemed to last a week this year. I'm not a big fan of this yearly event, but I know the kids love it. When I was little we didn't even acknowledge Halloween, and we just went to Disneyland because we always had the Nevada Day three-day weekend. The kids like to dress up, so I'll deal with it for a few more years. I told Christian we have a new family rule. No more dressing up after the age of ten. It irritates me to see junior highers running around late at night without their parents trying to get candy. This week started with a costume parade and harvest party at Coy's school. Then Christian had a parade and party at his school. I was the parent helper for the party, and I helped the kids decorate their own sugar cookies. On Halloween we went to Town Square for a bit, but it was insanely crowded. I kept thinking I was going to lose a child, so we didn't stay long. Corinne doesn't dig the adults that are dressed up; she's not sure if it's real or not, and there were a lot of adults dressed up at Town Square. Then, we went to our church for Trunk or Treat. The kids got lots of candy and their costumes were a hit. Corinne was Dorothy and Coy was the Tin Man. This is all because Coy has been obsessed with the Wizard of Oz recently. I tried to convince Christian to be the Scarecrow or the Cowardly Lion, but that was not cool. He had to be a ninja. It was a fun night, and the best part was bath time when all the face paint and sparkly makeup was floating in the water. We all slept very well that night. I also need to apologize to my kids for eating every single Reese's Peanut Butter Cup out of their treat bags. I have a problem. Mommy's going to get help.