bathroom surprises

One evening Dan and I were out running errands together. We came home to see Joshi happily rushing at us surprised that we had finished so early. "What a treat to have a child thrilled to see me only after a short separation," I thought. Yet, I was saddened to see that Zayne had not yet unloaded the dishwasher as he was supposed to and began to call out to him. Joshi said that he was in the bathroom and that she would do his chore for him. Pleased by this unusual eagerness to help we let her do as she desired, but I wasn't going to let Zayne off the hook. When I opened the bathroom door this is what I saw along with a surprised look on a little boy's face.
I shut the door and laughed heartily. Joshi saw that her preemptive actions did not succeed which made me continue laughing. I was shocked that they would do such a thing because their father is so allergic to cats. Yet, I was thrilled to see their cute little mischievous minds working. Their only guiltiness always lies in squabbling or failing to do tasks. Not that I want them to be hooligans, but this was really cute. I told Dan to go look in the bathroom. He saw this.
The children were allowed to feed "Milky" on the back porch. Sometimes Milky follows them home when he sees them on his street. One cold day we even did a whole school day in the shed so the children could be near him while they studied. Milky was one of the most pleasant bathroom surprises I've ever had.

small town benefits

Saturday night we went to a neighboring town's parade of lights put on by the local Lion's Club. Small town enthusiasm was in the air. So was traditional Christian Christmas music. It was comforting to hear the familiar spiritual tunes in a civic setting. There were no threats from the ACLU or letters to the editor the next day complaining about feelings of discrimination caused by the Christian majority. There were also no qualms about the 10 - 12 year olds riding four-wheelers in the parade either. Small town life has some benefits.

i love my helmet!

Some folks ask me why I ride with a full face helmet. Some say I look like Darth Vader. I jokingly tell them it is to protect my modeling career. Yesterday I had another reminder why I laid down so many pesos for it. Picture me being ejected from my bike, flying through the air and landing face first onto a half-basketball sized rock. My lips barely grazed the rock before my face. My chin guard totally saved me. I shouted many times with my face still before the rock, "I love my helmet! I LOVE my helmet!" I know its not bullet proof I and can still hurt my precious face, but I still love my helmet!

Thunderpants (Rupert Grint) 1

This video was a treasure of a find from our local library. I haven't laughed so hard for a long time. I highly reccommend it, though people do take the Lord's name in vain a few times and the word ass is used freely. This film brings fart jokes to a clever and artful level. Enjoy the beginning clip.

butty wanted in on the mullet action

Zayne, the fighting lizard.
Joshi,a clown that got kicked by an elephant.

Don't you just love Halloween; the crisp autumn air,the enthused children and refined sugar flowing and bubbling through the streets like water. It brings out the kid in all of us. The whole town turned out for trick-or-treating with the main street businesses. It was exciting to see the children and adults dressed up for the holiday. By far, the best costume was a little girl dressed as a pirate driving her wheel chair pirate ship.

Halloween seems to be used as an excuse by some ladies to dress like hussies. I am sure you have noticed that also. Apparently, Dan was a little bit disappointed that I didn't appear more feminine this Halloween. He wouldn't let me kiss him or get close in any way until I washed up. I think I looked pretty attractive with my uni-brow and mullet. I saw folks checking me out in awe of my beauty. I was surprised only a couple of friends recognized me.

REP. BARNEY FRANK, D-MASS., HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIR: Yes, I believe later on, there should be tax increases. Speaking personally, I think there are a lot of very rich people out there whom we can tax at a point down the road and recover some of this money.

This was said October 20, 2008 in an interview with CNBC about recovering money needed for a second economic stimulus package. Comrades, we have a fellow socialist soldier in this man. We shall soon conquer the evils of capitalism and our great leaders shall fulfil our wants and needs.

Can anyone say REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH? AACK!

By the way, Barney doesn't pay income taxes as a U.S. Representative.

homesick

These images of the Ruby Range near Crested Butte, Colorado completely made me homesick for the high Rocky Mountain. My good friend Lori Stone shot these. Her talent amazes me. Our family truly loved living in the Colorado Rockies. Even Joshi and Zayne wax nostalgic listening to John Denver.

so hot she's on fire

Enough yak and wail about politics. Here's a cute snip it on nine year old Zayne.

Thursday Dan was driving children home from a school volleyball game when he announced that they were going to swing by and pick up one of Joshi's girlfriends. Zayne's friend in the car freaked and yelled, "Holy crap! You know her! She's hot! Man she's hot, so hot. Dang hot. Zayne don't you think she's hot?" Zayne didn't quite get what his friend was getting at and replied, "If she was so hot she'd be on fire."

comrads, our time has come!

US communists say their time has come
2 days ago
NEW YORK (AFP) — A rare bird in the political world, the US Communist Party is feeling rather smug in these days of capitalist turmoil. At the party's New York headquarters on 23rd Street in Manhattan, regional party chairman Libero Della Piana, 36, laid out why he thinks Marxist-Leninism's time has finally come. "We are very excited, we feel that we are at a turning point," Della Piana, an imposing half-Italian, half-African American with a pony tail, told AFP. "We can afford to be less on the defensive for the first time since Ronald Reagan, and we can say our word in rebuilding America on a new basis, rebuilding a better world, instead of one based on the greed of the few."

Let us all remember what Abraham Lincoln said, "You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich."

Kruschev would be so happy to see socialist Obama in the lead.

A former president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was at one time U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He tells this story of an experience with Kruschev.

“I have talked face to face with the godless communist leaders. It may surprise you to learn that I was host to Mr. Khrushchev for a half day when he visited the United States, not that I’m proud of it. I opposed his coming then, and I still feel it was a mistake to welcome this atheistic murderer as a state visitor. But, according to President Eisenhower, Khrushchev had expressed a desire to learn something of American Agriculture — and after seeing Russian agriculture I can understand why. As we talked face to face, he indicated that my grandchildren would live under communism. After assuring him that I expected to do all in my power to assure that his and all other grandchildren will live under freedom he arrogantly declared in substance:

“ ‘You Americans are so gullible. No, you won’t accept communism outright, but we’ll keep feeding you small doses of socialism until you’ll finally wake up and find you already have communism. We won’t have to fight you. We’ll so weaken your economy until you’ll fall like overripe fruit into our hands.’

“And they’re ahead of schedule in their devilish scheme.” (Ezra Taft Benson “Our Immediate Responsibility.” Devotional Address at Brigham Young University. circa 1968).

British author John Maynard Keynes wrote in his book
The Economic Consequences of Peace, 1920, that Lenin is said to have stated, “The best way to destroy the capitalist system is to debauch the currency” Lenin be content right now if he were alive.

Butty is now naked

This is Butty last July with his Rastafarian dreads. They fit his laid back personality. Dan shaved him completely down today. I couldn't help laughing at Butty. He looked so naked without his moppy head and pom poms. I think I hurt his feelings.

am I alone in feeling like this?

This cartoon fits some of my views of the bailout that was passed. I feel like so many politicans are out of touch with us common folk. I am frustrated. I also do not like the fact the the government will be more into the banking sector now. I am a believer in laissez-faire capitalism, with no socialism mix in for good feelings. Is this the end of our already weakened laissez-faire economic system? Were we really practicing laissez-faire policies since FDR added all of his government programs? I get so frustrated watching Americans' tax money be wasted and our freedoms be whittled away bit by bit. What can I can do? I am a homeschool mom. I do not have the gift of rhetoric nor writing to call attention to the grievances that many of us have. Other writers write and pundents talks, but nothing is being done. Call my representatives? They are not listening. Start a grass root movement of fed of mothers? Money talks, but I don't have enough of that. Sorry. Like I said, I am frustrated. I cannot be alone feeling like this.

wicked ride

This ride looks mellow, but it does a doosy to your head whipping you around and being so much blood to your head.

banned SNL bailout skit

After a 20 minute search, I found the skit that Saturday Night Live did about the bailout. Not only is it creatively hilarious it remarkably has a lot of truth. Through out the cries of foul play and greed concerning the sub prime mortgage I kept recalling that several years ago that politicians were pushing for more Americans to be home owners and urging lenders through rhetoric to make it happen. SNL points out that the borrowers were not the wisest nor were the politicians a few years back when this started. The skit also places some blame on the Democrats for the sub prime mortgage market collapse and not fully on those "greedy," mega lending companies. Placing any significant blame on democrats is not something that SNL does regularly. Truth can be damaging, thus the skit was pulled from the NBC, Youtube and other sites by the unknown higher powers. Michelle Malkin had a few theories about the skit's disappearance which you can read about. http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/06/the-missing-snl-bailout-skit-and-the-soros-connection/


Enjoy the skit that is on the top of the side bar then let your friends do the same.

Now stop reading if you don't want to be annoyed my rantings about all this.

So, the bailout of irresponsible people happened and the rest of us get to pick up the bill using borrowed money to pay for it. I wish the people and business involved were allowed to fall on there faces. That is how we all learn. Children whose parents who are always cleaning up after their mistakes do not learn to be responsible adults. We have too many irresponsible baby-adults in our country that do not want to face the consequences of the actions and too many coddling politicians that want to make everything fair. 700 billion dollars turns out to be $6,300 per American household. Does that seem fair to the common citizen? That figure includes households not paying taxes so it is actually higher. Hearing it like that kind of makes that large figure more real. I wondered if the money will come from China? Do they own us yet?

But do not fear Barak Hussein Obama will bring change to America and make life more fair for all Americans. Under his care the state will continue the the Bush Administration's fight for more control over American industries as well as more control of the economy. Who needs capitalism? Its not fair to the workers. Workers unite for the good of the Motherland! Obama will redistribute money from the greedy rich people to you. After all it is yours in somewhat anyway. It'd be for the common good. It is not fair that others should have more. The state will take care of you.

Aack! Where's a Ronald Reagan when you need one? I want someone to have the courage that he had to give his Berlin speech saying, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." I still gets chills remembering about that moment. That was so not PC at the time. How about, "Sheiks of Saudi Arabia, keep your oil. We are drilling for our own. Sorry environmentalists and Chevron."

Don't both parties agendas sound socialistic and communistic? Socialism and communism were used interchangeably before Lenin came around with his revolution. Sigh. I'll keep praying nightly for some real conservative, constitutionlist, capitalism loving leaders that don't have their head in the clouds about making life fair and that love their country more than their agendas and pride. Palin is the only one that inspires me at all.

In case your definitions of socialism and communism are fuzzy from the years since college, here are a few dictionary definitions to refresh your memory.

American Heritage Dictionary -
com·mu·nism (kŏm'yə-nĭz'əm)
n.
A theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.
Communism
A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people.
The Marxist-Leninist version of Communist doctrine that advocates the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat.



Com"mu*nism\, n. [F. communisme, fr. commun common.] A scheme of equalizing the social conditions of life; specifically, a scheme which contemplates the abolition of inequalities in the possession of property, as by distributing all wealth equally to all, or by holding all wealth in common for the equal use and advantage of all.

Note: At different times, and in different countries, various schemes pertaining to socialism in government and the conditions of domestic life, as well as in the distribution of wealth, have been called communism.


Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

socialism


An economic system in which the production and distribution of goods are controlled substantially by the government rather than by private enterprise, and in which cooperation rather than competition guides economic activity. There are many varieties of socialism. Some socialists tolerate capitalism, as long as the government maintains the dominant influence over the economy; others insist on an abolition of private enterprise. All communists are socialists, but not all socialists are communists.



The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

American Heritage Dictionary -
so·cial·ism (sō'shə-lĭz'əm) Pronunciation Key
n.
Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.
The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.

family and friends

Thank you Grammi and Bampa for a wonderful week in Newport Beach. We felt doubly spoiled for John and Kimmimonster were also there.

After several years of reading Brick Master Magazine and reading about a place called Legoland, Zayne finally entered through the long awaited gates of Legoland. For anyone traveling with small children to Southern California, I highly recommend Legoland. It is the best amusement park that I have been to for children 3-8 years old. The best part was Mini USA. We experienced the wickedest ride at Legoland which superseded any beating that any other Southern California roller coaster had given us. One is actually able to choose the level of intensity for the ride, the scale being between 1 - 5. Since all of the other rides in the park were tame we chose five. Ouch. That was the worst ride ever. Two entries up is a video clip of our torture that the children loved.

Another bonus of the trip was that we got to see some of our best friends, the Nemeth Family. It had been way too long since we last saw them. We also got to visit with Dan's cousin Clark and wife Meagan. I just love seeing family and friends.

first tracks

On the second day of autumn at around 6,900 feet I found snow. That was a fabulous day. Dan volunteered to be my substitute teacher for the whole day. I can't tell you how many times I have wished for that blessing. A day off from homeschooling without the guilt of the children falling behind. Wow. Thank you Dan. Being able to take the day to get lost in the mountains biking meant a lot to me. I logged 25 miles and experienced some great views, down hills and trails. I even saw my first Bobcat in the wild.

what can I say about this?

Time for Some Campaignin'

I thought this satire was brillant and rematkably true. Time the time to check it out.

this presidential campaign

Is anyone else unenthused about our presidential choices? Mc Cain is too liberal on many issues for me, immigration for one, and I fear he would only make the government larger in the name of fairness. I still have not forgiven the guy for his campaign finance reform travesty. Can you imagine having to listen to his "my friend" line for the next four years? Then we have Obama. Ugh. He proposes to raise our taxes to 20%. No thank you. He doesn't seem to have a realistic view of the economy and society. He'd run our country to hell in a hand bag, idealistically thinking he was making the world a better place all the while. So, between the two lack-luster candidates I would have to choose McCain, wishing that his V.P. was in his place.

first blood

Yeah, one might think that recording such a picture is lame, and it is, but fellow mountain biking weirdos will understand why recording the first bike inflicted wounds after my surgery is important. It somewhat symbolizes a passage through an unseen barrier back into the sport. One of my great passions in life is mountain biking. It is a sport that truly fits my personality. It is wonderful to be outdoors and enjoy the beauty of God's creations. When I am alone on a mountain overlooking everything that He created I feel closer to Him. I am a person somewhat partial to higher elevations and mountain biking gets me there. Biking across the tops of mountain ranges fills a part of my soul that otherwise would be left empty. Let's face it, I also love the dirt, the sweat, the challenge of an obstacle, or the grind up a huge hill that makes me want to hurl.

The road back to mountain biking has been a lot longer than what I and the doctors expected. Aside from dealing with the physical challenges I find the mental challenges the toughest. One being that I find myself more protective of my body after that fall. That is why getting over the first wreck is important. To help push myself more, as in tough climbs, I imagine Jeff Diehl aside me saying, "Do you know your going 3.5 mph? You really should be at 10 mph. Come on! Push it harder!" Grr! He always had a way to get me riled. Or I might imagine Mark Bolton come up from behind. "I can't left Bolton pass!" These guys along with Mark Anderson, Mike Perdue and Rich Eddy were in a riding group that I tagged along with in Colorado. I miss having such a good group of friends to ride with. I am riding with some guys from the local bike shop now, but who can compare the guys that introduced me to Nutrolls as trail food, the fact that having your camera on the trial is almost as important as a spare tube, (well that is an exaggeration), and "The Cowboy Song" by Thin Lizzy? Love the rocky trails in CO for me guys.

homeschool drudgery

I am using Homeschool Tracker to try to be more organized this year. Time will tell if the two us us will get along. I down loaded it free from www.homeschooltracker.com

little reminders that I'm living the good life

Like many of you I struggle to keep an orderly house. There is always was one mess after another, and I only have two children to follow. Each child has their own cleaning responsibilities and our system works fairly well. Yet I still get frustrated returning to a room that was just cleaned to find it strewn with toys. "Another mess to clean," I think to myself. One day I started to look closely as the mess that I thought was haphazardly placed through out the room. It was a battle scene, one of Zayne's many. The apparent thought that was taken to create each little scenario within the battle impressed me. I didn't see a mess after that but the evidences of a young boy with a lively imagination. I do not want him loose that imagination and wonder as he grows older. I now let him keep his little, creative messes out for longer periods and relish in the imagination and the focus it takes to construct such wonderlands. I have even started to photograph his creations so they are easier for us both to see taken apart.

Another time I was in the kitchen after the evening straightening routine and the children were in bed. Relaxing and pulling Dan in for an embrace I noticed a flaw in the my orderly room. A khaki colored army man was hiding out in one of my plants with his gun aimed toward us. I pushed aside my initial annoyment, laughed, and became grateful for the reminder of the playful little boy tucked up in bed. So now whenever I can sense aggravation for things left about the house I remind myself that I am blessed. I am blessed to have a little girl that played with that doll on the couch. I am blessed that she still wants to play with all those stuffed animals on her floor too. The balls in the yard remind me that my children are healthy enough to play. The book left in the tree tells me that my children love to read. The dirt by the door left by little feet makes me grateful that those little feet enjoy the outdoors. The stuffed duck wrapped in the newspaper, plastic bag, tucked in on the shoe shelf tells me that I am blessed because. . . it shows their creativity? (I wonder what was going through their minds on that one)? I often tell myself, "Having these blessed, messy reminders is easier to live with then without." Then I can holler in my best June Cleaver voice, "Joshi, Zayne. Please come pick up your stuff." I wait. "One . . . Two. . ."

lake powell

Cousins, aunts, one uncle, Grammi, Bampa, sand, sun, warm smooth water, cards, dice, meteor showers, fishing and a good book. Can things be any better? Oh, and yes, I did water ski and wake board. Thanks Grammi and Bampa for a great time!

organization. . . ugh

This is the start of another school year and you'd think I'd have the organization thing down by now. Ugh. I am looking for a program that I can put in my course schedules that adjusts to missing days and making up days. I want a program that shows me how many more lessons we have to do before the end of the semester. I know a program like this is out there; I just cannot find one that I like. I downloaded one last spring, but alas, I cannot find any record of it on my computer or through the google search engine. Any hints from you other homeschool mothers?

1930's wife

94 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Yes, that score was totally surprising to me too. Dan would be even more surprised than me I am sure. Take the test to see how you rate.

http://www.magatsu.net/maritaltest/

small town life

Yes, I am loving the small town life. I love walking or biking everywhere. I love that everyone is friendly. Haven't met a grouchy person yet. I love walking Dan the five blocks to work and having two cars pass us in rush hour. I love Dan coming home for lunch. I love mountain biking from my door. I love the sense of community. I love that the average speed is 21 mph, even in a 35 mph zone. I love. . . I could go on and on.

The pace of life has slowed down for us and we welcome that change. We are in the honeymoon phase of this lifestyle morph. All the rosiness might wear off as time passes, especially when winter hits. The two mountain passes were closed ten times last winter, blocking off the town from the world. One thing that Dan misses is a place to open up and let his car fly and some clover leaf on-ramps for corner hugs. I dislike having a Walmart nearby. This might sound shocking to those who heard me say before moving here, "At least they have a Walmart." The area surrounding Walmart feels busy and worldly. I'd rather shop at the multiple Mom and Pop shops around town.

Its been nice loosening the apron strings a bit. The kids have free reign to walk or bike wherever in town. I make them take a cell phone to keep in touch. Sometimes I make myself stay home instead of frolicking with them for the few remaining days of summer. I believe they need time to experience and explore childhood without their mother hoovering about to grant or deny permission. I feel much more comfortable doing that here than Richmond.

Last week my nephew Devon visited from Utah. He is such a good kid. If all young men were like him Satan would be pretty frustrated and God's work would get a big push forward. It was great to go camping, tour Pendleton Woolen Mills Factory and basically just enjoy him.

Raingutter Ragatta

All of us parents have a certain amount of pride when talking about our children. It is normal and healthy to have such pride and it is the opposite if that pride is lacking. Yet, sometimes some of us error and let our pride lead us to boasting about our children's miraculous feats. I consciously condescend to this boastful practice by gloating that Zayne slaughtered all the other little cub scouts in a multi pack Raingutter Ragatta! Yeah Zayne!

reunion time!

What a group of good looking folks! This year's Le Mmon Reunion was the greatest. Thank you Kimi and Mark for having an awesome cabin in Deer Valley to hold such a gathering. The only thing that we could improve on for next year is to make it longer.

Heather's Top Eleven List of What Made the Le Mmon Reunion so Fab:

11. Singing in bed with my awesome nieces and nephews.

10. The great photo albums that Gigi brought for us all to look through.

9. Seeing Kimi's original hair color in some of those pictures.

8. Witnessing Doctor Dan and Nurse Mark save the hiker with the rock wound.

7. Seeing the darts stuck to the sky lights and in the Elk horns from the out of control dart gun and stuffed animal battle.

6. The children having a great time in the hot tub.

5. The children having a great time peeing in the hot tub.

4. Everyone sliding on their tooshies down the snow patch.

3. Hiking up the mountain on the "short, easy trail" to the snow patch.

2. Pillow Fight!

1. You need a spoon? . . . Here ya go.


Do any Le Mmons have their own list?

the rebel

The small town life must be getting to Mojo. He is punking out a bit. Folks loved his and Butty's doos at the farmers' market. Several people took photos of the dogs, which I thought was amusing.

how to make those long family car rides shorter

Just got back from the Pediatric Urologists. The doctor informed me of something that I thought other parents might find interesting. Red food coloring is a diuretic. Red coloring is also in purple, pink and sometimes orange food products. Remember that on your next road trip with the family and the kids want a grape Gatorade. The fewer the stops the better for my husband, so I found this information valuable.

dragon's tooth

Here are a few pictures of our hike on the Appalachian Trail to Dragon's Tooth. At the top it is very steep and rocky. We were thrilled to see the dogs as well as ourselves climb some of the rock faces. It was only five miles but seemed longer because the temperatures were in the 100's plus the southern humidity was killing us. But we had to do it because we weren't coming back to the Appalachians anytime soon. Having the Rhododendron blooming helped distract us from our exhaustion. Zayne is on the Dragon's Tooth in the second to last picture.