Just the Six of Us

Timothy's Solution to Tantrums

2010-12-06T14:37:00.004-07:00

Our Tim is known to cry. He cries when hurt, when scared, when I raise my voice [read yell at him], basically he cries a lot. If we cannot calm him down he will eventually vomit because for whatever reason his little body produces way to much mucus.

So at lunch today he tells me, "Mom, only hugs will make me stop crying. Nothing else will do it." If only it were that easy. We'll try it for the next week and see if it helps.

Look See! Anyone Do Read This and It Will Make You Laughable

2010-04-15T15:29:00.001-07:00

I got this in the mail and thought I would record it on my blog.

From the Wall Street Journal...

Brussels-Sometimes it does get all lost in the translation.
"Please leave your valuables at the front desk, " says the sign at a Paris hotel. At a Japanese hotel, "Your are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid." A Zurich hotel advises: "Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggest that the lobby be used for this purpose."

Such tortured English-language signs were featured in Brussels, Belgium in an exhibit organized by the European Community's translation service.

Hungry? From a Polish menu, select "roasted duck let loose" or perhaps "beef rashers beaten up in the country people's fashion." A Swiss eatery proudly warns, "Our wines leave you nothing to hope for." By any and all means avoid the Acapulco hotel that gives new meaning to quality control: "The manager has personally passed all the water served here."

Excellent child-care benefits in Norway don't extend to a cocktail lounge where "Ladies are requested not to have children at the bar."

From Moscow: "You are invited to visit the cemetery," reads a sign in the hotel across the street, "where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists and writers are buried daily except Thursday." Bucharest bluntness: "The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable."

A Budapest zoo puts people first: "Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty." At a Hong Kong dentist, "teeth are extracted by the latest Methodists." And a refreshingly honest airline office in Copenhagen "will take your bags and send them in all directions."

Clothing signs can also be unfitting. A Swedish furrier: "Fur coats made for the ladies from their own skin." A Paris shop advertises "dresses for street walking." A Tokyo shop's nylon stockings are costly but "best in the long run." And a Rhodes tailor want early orders for summer suits, "because in a big rush we will execute customers in a strict rotation."

But who needs clothing? "Drop your trousers here for best results," suggest a Bangkok dry cleaner, while a laundry in Rome says: "Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time." Nearby is a Roman doctor with manifold talents: "Specialist in women and other diseases."

Having Faith in America

2010-04-12T09:00:00.005-07:00

April 15th is Tax Day for America, although recently released statistics show that nearly 50% of Americans don't even pay taxes into the system. Has America become a welfare state? When did the responsibility for providing one's own needs become the role of the federal and state government? Those who rely on the government for their daily bread are chaining themselves to a master that is slowly dismantling their freedom of choice. The process of losing one's agency comes bit by bit when we allow the gov't to provide for our basic needs, i.e. housing, food, health care, etc. Soon our attitudes change and we think, why yes!, the gov't should provide these things. We say, "I've paid into the system, I should be able to take advantage of the offerings." Or "I'm entitled to receive these benefits. I shouldn't have to work for everything in life, because working is true bondage."

How false these statements are and how damaging they are to one's soul. The truth is that men and women must work to be successful. Laziness and procrastination only make us more depressed and leave us feeling unfulfilled. I am mostly writing this post to myself. There is much work to be done and no one else is going to do it for me. We need to get to WORK. We have in our power to change the world, one individual/family at a time.

I love Sister Elaine S. Dalton, General Young Women President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She asks the question, "What could be more deceptive than to entice women, young and old, you and me, to be so involved in ourselves, our looks, our clothes, our body shape and size that we lose sight of our divine identity and our ability to change the world through our virtuous influence?

She said, "I truly believe that one virtuous young woman or young man, led by the Spirit, can change the world, but in order to do so, we must return to virtue." We have been blessed with the truth of the gospel. We are daughters of a loving Heavenly Father, we were sent to Earth for a purpose and to fulfill a divine mission. Each of us was born to be a queen.

So onward then to victory; We can and will change this world for good. The time has come for women everywhere to re-accept our role as the Guardians of Virtue. Let us speak no evil, let us be strong and courageous to speak the truth regarding our divine role as mothers and daughters of God. This nation will never fail if we return to virtue. Let us shun every evil thing, for me and my family, this includes almost every main media outlet available. Ask yourself if you could watch or listen to this in the chapel or in the temple. If the answer is no, then why allow it in your home.

I'm sure this post is a bit random, from taxes to virtue, to changing the world. This is how my brain works so this is what you get! I end with this quote by Harold B. Lee.

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges. I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through." (Ye Are the Light of the World, p350-51)

Nothing new to report

2010-01-21T22:43:00.001-07:00

Fill in the blank later. Worried if I didn't post my blog would be a goner.

Sweden Is Going Orange - Have a Carrot Instead

2009-10-23T13:32:00.013-07:00

The latest fad in the whole "we're killing our planet", I mean climate change, is food labels with carbon dioxide emissions. Oh yeah, apparently in Sweden it is no longer healthy/normal to eat just any vegetable or fruit because of the risk imposed on our planet. Heaven forbid, if you want a cucumber or tomato, you need to settle for a carrot because it emits far less CO2. Are these people crazy!

And don't even think about ordering a burger. Did you know that raising cattle is horrible for our planet? And eating red meat is the worst thing you can do. Earth killer!

They'll make the general public feel guilty by showing them how much CO2 is emitted because of their eating habits. They'll start with our food and then what. Oh wait that's right, they are trying to convince us that having kids is the worst thing for the planet, too. I do believe some people have gone as far as to sterilize themselves. Hallelujah! In this instance I do agree with the 'survival of the fittest' theory! Thank you for ending your gene line of stupidity.

Watch Out Babysitting Coop

2009-09-30T22:41:00.003-07:00

I had to post something regarding this news article. You can click on the title above to read more. I am so glad I don't live in Michigan where apparently the state knows what is best for children. YEAH RIGHT! What a bunch of power hungry bureaucrats who are trying in every way to take away individual citizen rights!

This mom watches some of her neighbor's kids each morning before they get on the bus for school. But apparently some loser neighbor turned her in to the Michigan Department of Human Services on the premise that she opened a day care in her home. So the state sends a warning letter stating she is violating the law by having an unlicensed day care center. What a joke! I am so outraged about the whole thing. Does the state of Michigan lack common sense? Since when is charity work illegal. Can we not help our neighbors and friends without the state getting involved?

The state of Michigan is currently trying to mend the matter AS THEY SHOULD! Unbelievable! Stop trampling on our rights!

Colcord Ridge - Family Camping Trip

2009-08-30T15:23:00.006-07:00

Our brand new tent, BYU colors of course!

The night before camping, we did a practice setup in our backyard.

The kids couldn't get enough rolling around inside.

Nothing but smiles from this snowflake princess.

Here we are eating three hour old Subway. Setting up camp takes a long time!

The sleeping beauty who decided playing with her parents all night would be more fun than actually sleeping. Thanks for the fun night, Liberty, ha!

I forgot how dirty camping is, especially with kids. Here we go, Oxiclean!

Before going home, we sidetracked over to Willow Springs Lake to capture some breathtaking views. Yeah for God's creations! We had fun chasing lizards too!

The car ride home. We didn't stop except to get some much needed Wendy's!

We had a fun time together in the mountains and look forward to the ward's annual camp out.

First Day of Kindergarten

2009-08-10T15:36:00.001-07:00

Nathan's big day to shine on his first day of school. Here are a few pictures of my baby! ;)

NATHAN . . . walker. No, his last name is Andersen, with an E! jk (He is considered a walker because we walk a block home from school.)

Here I am trying to get Nathan to look up for the picture.
"Where is the red light on the camera?"

This spot is where you'll always find Tim when we go to Nathan's classroom. Tim: "That's when I was reading books, Mommy."

Nathan gives Tim a hug goodbye and then tells him to get out of his classroom. Nice, I know!

Is he really old enough to attend school now? The speed of time feels cruel today!

Happy Birthday America

2009-07-05T22:17:00.011-07:00

Our morning started at 5:45 am. The ward has an annual pancake breakfast, patriotic presentation and bike parade to celebrate America's Birthday!

The Patriotic bike parade, i.e. race!

Nathan sporting his decorated bike at the finish line.

Tim looking festive on the trike. The YW did the face painting.

The water balloon toss/fight!

We had a family get together at our house and ate lots of good food. The cousins and Uncles had fun swimming in the pool. The water was nice and warm!

We enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches, Hixon baked beans, yummy pasta salad, Uncle Nate's homemade salsa, Uncle Steve's guacamole, and to top the night off this "wave your flag cake"!

After the get together we all dashed out to find firework displays. We made it to Gilbert's Celebrations at Mesquite High School and parked the car off the side of the road. We propped the boys up on the roof of the van and our sweet Liberty led us in song. Neil Diamond's "America" never sounded so good.

We LOVE this country so much and are grateful to be citizens of The United States of America! I will forever remember the two words told to me by a U.S. Customs agent after returning from Ukraine/Russia.

W E L C O M E H O M E !

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Happy Father's Day, Daddy-o!

2009-06-21T09:47:00.003-07:00

Sorry for being a slacker and not having something fabulous for you. We had fun being with you at the family reunion. We'll try to avoid all political/religious talks in the future! Or maybe we'll just forget to invite Steve to the party! Just kidding.

Love you!

How do you spell stinkpot?

2009-05-31T21:57:00.006-07:00

Nathan came up to me earlier today and asked me how to spell stinkpot. The following is the result of this vocabulary lesson.

I later learned that Dave had written "Nathan is a stinker" on the same board just moments before Nathan was asking me how to spell stinkpot.

Gratitude for a face

2009-05-05T18:21:00.008-07:00

I read about this woman today and it stirred emotions within so I thought I would share it with you. We all know how important it is to be grateful, to share our gifts with others. I'm glad Connie is able to share her courageous story with such humor and strength. What a horrible trial to go through and to think that Timmy's occasional vomiting tantrums are hard to handle. What a joke indeed!

Connie also stated something we all struggle with... judging others unrighteously. She said, "When somebody has a disfigurement and don't look as pretty as you do, don't judge them, because you never know what happened to them," she said. "Don't judge people who don't look the same as you do. Because you never know. One day it might be all taken away."

How true her statement is; we need to live in the present and enjoy what magnificent blessings we have. Our simplest yet grandest of blessings are our five basic senses of sight, smell, sound, taste and touch. My resolve to show my gratitude to a loving Father in Heaven who truly blesses each of us every day. Look for his hand in your lives and you will find it! Enjoy this story and I'm sure it will change your day for the better.

May Day, May Day, Did You See The Flash Mob

2009-05-01T10:28:00.007-07:00

May Day, May Day...

I received an email from a friend and it really put a smile on my face, so instead of emailing the videos to you, here they are!

Do Re Me - Central Station Antwerp

The T-Mobile Dance

Frozen Grand Central

So Much Fun!
http://improveverywhere.com/

Maybe they'll come to Phoenix and do something. I haven't looked at the website yet but maybe when I get some free time. For now I need to get my whole wheat bread in the oven.

Got Swine Flu?

2009-04-30T09:44:00.005-07:00

Anyone out there who hasn't searched Amazon for some n-95 masks? They have all but disappeared from online stores and even better the price has escalated four-fold. I'm going to focus my attention back to my personal food storage and make sure I have extra of essential items like soap, bleach, purell, first aid supplies, etc. The problem with this outbreak is the panic that has set in our minds. More people die of the annual influenza than died in the flu pandemic of 1968 (32,000 died).

Let's just calm down and think this through rationally! BTW, this is what I keep telling myself daily! Before we stop going to public places, such as church, let us familiarize ourselves with the facts regarding the swine flu. Perhaps this swine flu will become dormant this summer, but reemerge in the fall when most of us have taken the steps to prepare our homes for such an outbreak.

Here is the Church's statement:

“Church leaders are closely monitoring news, security and medical reports regarding the swine flu outbreak. The Mexican government has requested that all churches and organizations in Mexico City and affected areas suspend public meetings and has asked residents to follow basic sanitary precautions to guard against infections. We have asked our members and missionaries to follow these precautions and Church leaders have cancelled meetings until further notice. All missionaries in the affected areas are reported to be safe.”

Whenever something like this breaks and causes panic you have to wonder if some bill or legislation is trying to be passed by Congress! Of course I am being facetious.

Why You Should Participate in TEA Party Day! (Peter Schiff)

2009-04-13T08:55:00.005-07:00

Please watch these videos! Everyone needs to know what is going on! Dave and I found these late Saturday night and I feel like it is an answer to many questions I've had about the condition of our economy. The gentleman's name is Peter Schiff and he basically 'predicted to a t' the events in the market that have occurred in the last two years. It is unbelievable!!! Watch and learn!

On April 15, be part of the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party rally in your community.

PHOENIX
State Capitol Building - Senate Lawn
Sponsored by: American Political Analysis
Wednesday, April 15th - Tax Day
*** New Time: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
1700 W. Washington St - 85007
http://americanpoliticalanalysis.com

GILBERT
Gilbert Administration Building
All Volunteer - Grassroots Movement
Wednesday, April 15th - Tax Day
Noon - 1:00 PM
50 E. Civic Center - 85296
http://arizonateaparty.com

All others, go to www.teapartyday.com

Support Jenn Daniels by Adding this Code to your Blog!

2009-04-08T21:10:00.006-07:00

Who's looking out for your family? I believe Jenn Daniels is the eyes and ears we need in the Gilbert Town Council. We need to balance the budget and stop overspending on pet projects, e.g., the million dollar marble and the Field of Nightmares ballpark.

I support Jenn Daniels for
Gilbert Town Council

<div style="text-align: center;">I support Jenn Daniels for<br /><a href="http://www.voteforjenn.com/">Gilbert Town Council</a><br /></div><a href="http://www.voteforjenn.com/" target="Gilbert Town Council" title="Gilbert Town Council"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.voteforjenn.com/" target="Gilbert Town Council" title="Gilbert Town Council"></a></div>

My Vote is for Jenn Daniels

2009-04-08T16:31:00.005-07:00

I have been helping Jenn Daniels on her campaign run for the Gilbert Town Council seat. In February, I invited many of you to my house to meet her and to see for yourself the woman whose face is on the signs at every intersection, that is before someone started stealing her signs right after the primary election.

Ms. Daniels has so much energy, a great attitude and a willingness to communicate with every resident of Gilbert. She wants to streamline and cut the red tape that keeps businesses away from our town. Gilbert is known for being the worst city to start a business in and most companies are nearly broke before their front doors even open. The process needs to be examined and Gilbert needs to start improving the process sooner than later if we are to sustain the growth and cost of this growth over the next few years. The Town of Gilbert NEEDS small and large corporations or we will likely see our taxes increase.

One last thought: Why can she handle this job being a mother of young children? First, the town council meetings are at night, twice a month. Other meetings are also held at night. Second, any woman who can handle three young boys, be on the board of a pro-family organization, being fully active in her church, being married to a man, managing a household of five, surely knows more about anger management, conflict resolution, time management, employee disagreements/strifes, laundry detail, class warfare, economic sanctions, and job security than any of the other candidates.

Just my 2 cents on the subject of experience. I believe she can handle the job just fine!

The following is an outline of her platform from her website (www.voteforjenn.com):

As a member of town council I will work hard to:

* Balance the town budget with NO NEW TAXES

Gilbert is running an 8.5 million dollar deficit. We must confront this challenge head-on.

My plan to stabilize the town budget is a four step process.

1.) Eliminate waste – this will necessitate expedient line by line critique of the town’s general fund budget.

2.) Prioritize the expenditures – define between the wants and needs of our community while sufficiently funding our core services (police, fire, streets & water).

3.) Increase the tax base – make it easier for businesses to do business in Gilbert. Change the mindset at the town level to work with local business, not against them.

4.) Save for the future – State shared revenue makes up 35% of the annual revenue budget and there is a two-year lag time on that funding. We need to be looking ahead 2-4 years and beyond to make sure that our spending isn’t exceeding our revenue.

* Create and open lines of communication within our community

There is an inexcusable disconnect between the people of Gilbert and our local government. It is essential that the council return to open and transparent communication with the people who elected them.

Want to know more or help with the campaign...leave a comment for me!

Family Pictures

2009-03-28T12:37:00.004-07:00

My sister-in-law, Lalani Hunsaker, took our pictures and here is a sampling. Thank you for taking our pictures! I keep promising family I would upload these photos so here they are without captions for the time being.

Family Picture Shoot - March 2009

Scooby Doo, where are you?

2009-02-27T11:59:00.002-07:00

It is a mystery worth solving.

Scooby Doo has become a favorite or more like an obsession to Nathan. I don't really care for it but he loves it so he wins the battle some times. So we found this copy at the library and brought it home only to lose it within three days. I have been searching everywhere for it.

Yesterday I had to go to the library to pick up Jane Eyre and to finally tell the librarian that we lost the beloved Scooby Doo. She talked me out of paying for it right then and said I had three more renewal periods left, so I listened to her and decided to hold off. I thought for sure this is only prolonging the inevitable and I would be back soon to pay the $20 for the video.

So today I got around to filing the stack of papers next to my desk and guess what was under a few bills... A Pup Named Scooby Doo, Volume 2!! I couldn't believe it. I vaguely remember putting it in a safe place before the Valentine's rush so we wouldn't lose it. Haha! I will always remember the Andersen home Scooby Doo mystery adventure. Next time I think I'll make a post it note of where I put things I want safe. I'm just glad I saved $20. Now we can afford a babysitter for tonight. Any takers?

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T16:03:00.003-07:00

Here are the valentine cards I made for my kids. I actually ran out of time and energy, so Tim had to share his Valentine with Nathan. Sorry about that Tim!

Communicating with Tim

2009-02-02T16:19:00.006-07:00

I have a son who cannot communicate without crying and choking. He gets upset at the slightest thing and every time it is almost to the point of throwing up. It is absolutely driving me crazy! I'm not sure what to do, maybe it's a stage and he'll grow out of it. Let's hope so!

He cries when he wants me, he cries when he doesn't want me. He gets upset when he cannot find me. Should I think this is so sweet that my child actually wants me that much?

BTW: He only does this at home. He is like a perfect angel at church or in other people's homes.

Let this be a stage that doesn't last much longer!!

My Only Prevention of Type II Diabetes...

2009-01-09T22:11:00.003-07:00

Did you ever think that a bigger bottom and hips could be a good thing? A recent study at Harvard Medical School shows just that, well sort of. I guess the subcutaneous fat stored in these areas is able to synthesize insulin in a more efficient way, which leads to a decrease in the risk of diabetes.

Another reason to be grateful for my pear-shaped body. Sorry for the lame post but I thought I would let you all know in case you hadn't heard yet.

We Didn't Start the Madness*

2008-12-27T11:41:00.004-07:00

We Didn't Start the Madness*
(A Recap of 2007-2008)

Georgia peach, clerkships teach, barbecue, Atlanta Zoo,
Stone Mountain, Olympic fountain, trouble on the MARTA

Church service, basketball, Aquarium, southern drawl,
Varsity, loved Dixie, but see ya'll later

Arizona here we come, East Valley, where Dave's from,
Bought a house, Jennings Strouss, travel to Ukraine

New job, lawyer snob, crazy boys, breaking toys,
Vegas Bowl, cruise control, Odysseys rock

We didn't start the madness! It’s just part of life to have to deal with strife.
We didn't start the madness! Though it makes us stronger, can it last much longer?

Flood the home, wreck the car, Elders Quorum, canning jars,
Rat race, no space, claustrophobia

Holme Roberts, pre-school, home improvement, stomach flu,
Tile the floor, Nathan's snore, 40 mile commute

Mom and Dad, home from mish, clean like mad, "nine months Trish?"
Advocate, celebrate, Liberty is born

No sleep, laundry heaps, Thomas trains, growing pains,
Paint the house, Mickey Mouse, Tim threw up again?!

We didn't start the madness! It’s just part of life to have to deal with strife.
We didn't start the madness! Though it makes us stronger, can we last much longer?

Litigator, move the neighbors, Denver trips, read my lips,
Help the ward, kids ignored, San Diego beach house,

Food storage, Halloween, save marriage in between (Prop 102)
Pass Prop 8, running late, heaven help our country

Clean out home, Move again, Thanksgiving, yard to tend,
Billing time, nursery rhymes, can't we keep a babysitter?

Home teaching, file that brief, kids screeching, pain relief
Compromise, O be wise, what more can we say.

We didn't start the madness! It’s just part of life to have to deal with strife.
We didn't start the madness! Though it makes us stronger, we must last much longer!

Stay tuned for streaming performance...

*A remake of Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Did I Miss Something?

2008-12-01T23:38:00.003-07:00

Where did the month of November disappear to because I swear I just skipped it. I'm going to post some pictures because my brain is too tired to think of anything exciting or interesting to write.

. . .

. . .

12/7/08 Never did post any pictures. My iPhoto program is all messed up. I'll post something of importance soon.

Reminder to read "From the mouth of Nathan"

2008-10-29T14:10:00.002-07:00

I'm sure most of you are aware of my monthly recordings of the funny things Nathan says to us. I added quite a bit today. I try to write them down and now I'm finally getting them blogged. The habit of writing his words down has been very useful in letting me see the joy he brings into our home and hearts. I hope you enjoy them too!

"Mom, take a picture of me!"

Liberty and Mekayla Meet/Family Reunion!

2008-10-21T21:54:00.007-07:00

Here are some pictures we took while my family was visiting earlier this month for the blessing of Liberty and Mekayla. Hunsaker family members in town: Mom & Dad (Las Vegas), Jen & Jared (Las Vegas), Steve & Michell (Gilbert), Nate & Lalani (Gilbert), Ben & Sierra (Wasilla, AK), Danny & Corinne (Santa Ana, CA), and Darren (Gilbert). Missing: Melissa & Scott (UT), Elder Matt (Argentina), and Shawn & June (adopted brother)! Enjoy!

Liberty in her "scaredy cat" Halloween outfit, Mekayla in the swing! All three of my kids fell asleep on the way home from the Railroad Park in Scottsdale. Uncle Ben had fun wrestlin' with the boys. The Johnsons came over and had fun taking pictures with our photogenic Liberty! Kaia was zonked out after a fun night with the babysitters! After the blessing, we had lunch at Steve's house. The kids ate great at their little table. The rest of the afternoon was spent visiting and watching the crazy kids and daddies play around in the backyard. Mom, Dad, Ben, Sierra and kids said goodbye to us before they drove back home to Vegas. Probably the next time we see them Liberty and Mekayla will be running around together! Thank you to everyone who made the effort to be with us! We love and appreciate you so MUCH!

I Vote Values Videos

2008-10-04T16:19:00.003-07:00

These videos are fabulous! Some show why it is so important for us to vote. The other videos are valid points of view regarding the same-sex marriage debate (genderless marriage) . Below are the links to the videos.

56 Signers

Gay Agenda in Schools

Same Sex Marriage Affects Everyone

A Civil Right?

Please spread the word and share these with your friends and especially those who are on the fence when it comes to protecting the definition of marriage. Homosexuality affects every marriage and individual in this country; do not be blind to the legal ramifications of legalizing same-sex marriage.

Welcome to Despair.com

2008-09-30T23:03:00.004-07:00

We LOVE the despair.com website and have since 2004 or so. The demotivators just keep getting better. We bought Nathan and some of his cousins some t-shirts. The following picture is the one we got for Nathan.

The one that best describes me at this point in my life...

I received this one in my email and it got plenty of laughs out of me.

If you are unfamiliar with this site, now is the time to familiarize yourself with their hilarious and sometimes too true for comfort demotivators! ENJOY!

Liberty's Plethora of Birth Announcements

2008-09-23T17:32:00.010-07:00

I can never decide on anything it seems and so it was with her birth announcements. Here are the many versions I made. I finally printed the last two with her smiling since it took me nearly two months to figure out!

I had to make one with her brothers.

Why I need a backyard...

2008-09-23T16:37:00.005-07:00

Presenting evidence dated, September 10-11, 2008:

I let the boys play outside on our patio while I tried to fix dinner and these pictures show why I am in desperate need of a backyard. Here is the evidence I am presenting to Dave to win my case for a new home! Although with the latest happening on Wall street and the credit crunch it might be safer to just buck up and get by for the next few months. We'll wait and see.

The boy in the red shirt is a neighbor we've never met, but would you pass up getting involved in this mess. Nathan says they were only playing construction. Duh, mom! What did you think you would get when you put construction vehicles, flower pots full of soil, and the male gender together in one evening? Flowers blooming on the concrete or dirt spread out everywhere and anywhere!

This picture was snapped the next morning when I found Nathan had snuck out before I even woke up in the morning. Not only do I need a backyard but I need a key-only dead bolt, too!! We had cleaned up the mess from the night before and he made this mess all over again by himself.

Airline calls for liquids review

2008-09-21T22:10:00.001-07:00

I wanted to share this story/video with you about the reasons for the airline liquid ban. I never knew the details and this tells the specifics about it and how some simple ingredients can be explosive.

Scary! Sometimes the little inconveniences at the airport are for a good reason…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7607043.stm

Why Define Marriage in the Constitution?

2008-09-07T22:35:00.007-07:00

Many have questioned the necessity of defining marriage within the Constitution or under any law for that matter. Such persons reason that marriage should be left to individuals and couples to define for themselves. However, as outlined below, defining marriage within the Constitution is the only remaining method of protecting man-woman marriage as the fundamental institution of society.

The purpose of defining anything under the law is to preserve and to promote the order and stability of societal institutions. If people were left to define these social institutions for themselves, there would be no consensus on why these institutions exist and what purpose they serve. In effect the law would have no function. For example, imagine if people were allowed to define for themselves the meaning of terms defined under the criminal law such as "illicit drugs," "child pornography," "speeding," or even "murder." In that scenario, the institution of the criminal justice system would be useless.

The most important institution in our society is the family, and marriage is the foundation of a family. Marriage is and has always been the union of a man and a woman. The institution of marriage is ordained of God for the happiness of His children. Why is man-woman marriage as opposed to genderless marriage so fundamental to our society and so essential for our happiness? Because man-woman marriage is, among other things, the optimal and most effective means of (1) bearing children; (2) raising children and providing for their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual welfare; (3) transforming males into husbands/fathers and females into wives/mothers, (4) bridging the male-female divide, and (5) channeling healthy sexual activity and discouraging unhealthy sexual activity. These well established benefits of man-woman marriage, and the consequences of eliminating these benefits, affect not only individuals, couples, and families, but society as a whole. An omniscient God, knowing all of these things, ordained marriage so that we as His children might be happy.

Of course, man cannot change institutions that God himself has ordained because such institutions are eternal and unchangeable. Nonetheless, God has instituted governments for the benefit of man, and He has given us our agency to allow us to learn between good and evil. He teaches us correct principles and lets us govern ourselves. Unfortunately, although God has taught us correct principles and invites us to accept and live those principles that are necessary for our happiness, there are some who cannot accept or have even denied the divine source of those principles. Turning away from God, they engage in a process of self-discovery and experiment with principles that are contrary to those taught by God. Without accepting and living the principles established by God, the result is always unhappiness.

In our democratic republic, we have the freedom to voice our opinions to establish a moral consensus and develop man-made laws. Those laws not only establish boundaries of right and wrong for society but enable us to exercise our freedoms and to suffer (or to enjoy) the consequences of our actions. Because removing these boundaries does not remove the consequences, such boundaries (or laws) serve to teach and reinforce the consequences.

Until recently, it was unnecessary to define what marriage is through man-made law. Everyone had always known and assumed that marriage is the union of a man and a woman. Unfortunately, today, for the first time in the history of the world, a small minority is questioning this established truth by attempting to remove gender from the equation and establish genderless “marriage.” The central goal of this minority is clear: they are endeavoring to hijack the institution of marriage to push a broader cultural, social, and political agenda—namely, the acceptance and promotion of homosexual activity and lifestyle. Yet, because this minority cannot gain a consensus to create laws through the legislative process, they have turned to the courts to push their agenda. Even with statutes on the books that define what marriage is and what it is not, a few activist judges have struck down these statutes under the guise of principles such as “privacy,” “dignity,” “liberty,” “equality,” and “fairness.” Ignoring precedent and reason, these judges have attempted to create a new kind of “marriage” by legislating from the bench.

The only way to stop the advance of this minority rule and to protect our most fundamental societal institutions from judge-made law is to ingrain them in our constitutions, both state and federal. No state judge has the authority to overturn a state or federal constitutional amendment, and no federal judge has the authority to overturn a federal constitutional amendment. Because our Founding Fathers understood the permanent nature of a constitution and its ultimate supremacy as a form of law, they ingrained certain bedrock principles into our federal Constitution. Many of these principles were those that had been called into question by tyrannical rule and lawlessness—principles such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and due process.

Today, the very meaning of marriage—the most fundamental of all institutions in society—has been called into question. Therefore, the time has come to ingrain the definition of marriage into our state and federal constitutions. Without such protection, man-woman marriage as a vital social institution will lose the protection and encouragement of our government, and ultimately society will lose the well established benefits for which man-woman marriage exists.

Get Involved - Marriage Protection Amendment Arizona

2008-09-03T16:43:00.004-07:00

Arizonans will vote on November 4, 2008 on Ballot Proposition 102 which reads:

“Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.”

I urge you to vote “YES” which will place this statement into the Arizona Constitution and secure this principle for our state law.

From the www.yesformarriage.com website:

On November 4, 2008, Arizonans have the opportunity to protect and reaffirm marriage. You, the voter, have the opportunity to maintain the most important element of society so it can be passed on to our children.

A “YES” vote prevents judges and politicians from redefining marriage and leaves marriage’s essential meaning in the hands of the people of Arizona.

Marriage is about the next generation. Marriage builds up communities family by family and provides for the next generation. It is the bedrock foundation of our society.

Judges should not distort the meaning of marriage. But that is just what is happening in California. On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court (by a narrow vote of 4 justices to 3) voted to redefine marriage. This radical and lawless decision struck down a marriage law passed by the people of California in 2000. The California Judges claimed that marriage is “discrimination.” They are just plain wrong! The California decision shows why the Arizona Constitution needs to reaffirm marriage:

The same thing can happen here. Nothing stops an Arizona court from striking down Arizona’s marriage laws and redefining marriage, just as the courts did in California.
The California decision means more legal attacks on marriage in Arizona. It’s only a matter of time before redefined marriages from California are used as legal weapons to change the law here in Arizona.
Marriage should have constitutional protection in Arizona.
Amending our constitution ensures that the essential meaning of marriage will be preserved, and that no Arizona judge will be able to force us to adopt California’s radical redefinition of marriage.

Moms and dads matter. Reaffirming marriage is the best way to ensure the best possible environment for as many children as possible. There is overwhelming evidence that children raised by a married mom and dad are more likely to do better in school, to be healthier emotionally and physically, and are less likely to commit crimes, use drugs, and have children out of wedlock. No one is saying there aren’t exceptions. But abandoning the meaning of marriage as a society puts more kids at risk.

If you want to get involved please visit www.yesformarriage.com or www.unitedfamiliesarizona.org. They need help in many areas: phone calls, community team leaders, cottage meetings in your home, financial support, etc.

Also please feel free to contact me by email or phone if you have some time to volunteer. All help is needed and wanted. We need to STEP UP and make sure this amendment passes this year because the chance of it coming up to vote on again is highly unlikely. We are at a crossroads. Do we as citizens define marriage or do we allow minority groups, who are always louder than the more passive "la-de-da" majority, and liberal judges define it for us.

I'm not going to sit idle and do nothing when it comes to protecting and defining marriage for what it is and always has been since the beginning of time, a union between one man and one woman.

Edited: I am adding more links to websites in hope that it will help increase the traffic or google rating of these sites. You can also join the Arizona Marriage Protection Amendment (2008) group on Facebook.

http://ProtectMarriage.com

http://isupportmarriage.com/

www.azpolicy.org

The Many Faces of Liberty - Photo Shoot

2008-08-15T15:10:00.005-07:00

My posting skills need some help. Some pictures we took of Liberty about 2-3 weeks ago. Time is flying by so fast and I just hope we get some sleep in the coming weeks because I am entering the zombie stage with fury!

What to Wear Now: Ultra-Feminine Tops

2008-07-29T14:04:00.003-07:00

I get emails from Gap about once a week and this one intrigued me, so I opened the email thinking that maybe these tops are modest too. I'm trying to wear clothes that are more feminine then the general solid colored shirts and jeans look. I was told by an image consultant back in Atlanta that these clothes (solid shirt and jeans) are meant for boys/men and not for ladies.

So I open the email and found that the "ultra-feminine tops" are nothing more then an excuse to wear lingerie outside of the bedroom. What bothers me is this is now the acceptable apparel for most working women including those who my husband gets to work around. I couldn't ask for anything more than for my husband to be around lingerie-clad women all day, every day. For most women, their husbands spend the majority of their day at work rather than the home. So it is so comforting to know that the "what to wear now" is lingerie inspired, gag!!

The topic of modesty runs deep to my core, probably too deep in some instances. I have a hard time with women who choose to wear clothes that are "sexy". Does it occur to anyone [insert women] that the term sexy is good, even great for the bedroom but not so great outside of it?

I'll step down from my soap box now and let you decide "what to wear now".

The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread

2008-07-10T20:44:00.006-07:00

Liberty Christine was born on Monday, July 7th!

Her entrance into the world...

Weight: 8 pounds 14 ounces
Length: 21 3/4 inches (We say 22 inches!)
Head: 14 inches

This Day in History
Today is Monday, July 7, the 189th day of 2008. There are 177 days left in the year.

Chocolate Day-Commemorating the introduction of chocolate in Europe in 1550.
In 1928 - Sliced bread is sold for the first time by the Chillicothe Baking Company of Chillicothe, Missouri. It is described as “the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped".
In 1930, construction began on Boulder Dam (later Hoover Dam).
In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Alaska Statehood Act into United States law

We agree that Liberty is the greatest thing since sliced bread (90 years ago to the day). So far she has a delightful temperament and likes to eat, sleep and make messy diapers. We are so grateful for her smooth entrance into the world and know we were blessed because of your (family and friends) prayers and watchful care of our family. We are ever appreciative of your thoughts, prayers, words and deeds!

Hopefully more news to come!! The adrenalin is sure to wear off soon and then the zombie stage will hit! We like to refer to it as the "shock and awe" stage!

Thanks again!!

Nathan's 4th Birthday Pictures

2008-06-26T16:27:00.008-07:00

We had some success and captured some cute smiles from our darling red-head. We always get comments from strangers whenever we go anywhere. Almost always we get a sweet comment from a "Grandma" out and about. This time we got two comments from the cute white-haired ladies! I have learned from prior experience to just allow the photographer to do her job and the process goes much smoother!

This is my favorite pose (above)!

Strongest Dad in the World

2008-06-23T15:28:00.003-07:00

My brother sent me this story and I just finally read it today. It is extremely touching (music can bring such emotion) and I thought it was definitely blog worthy. Hopefully some of you have not see it already. If you're like me you'll need to grab a tissue before watching the video. I'm beginning to realize that I need to hear stories and experiences like these to ground myself and remember what great blessings I have received from a loving God and then to remember that I need to give much because I have received much.

Here is the link to the story of Rick and Dick Hoyt: Team Hoyt.

This next video is an all-time favorite! Be prepared to smile, laugh and have your spirit lifted--laughing baby video.

Enjoy!

Jolly Ranchers Sour Blasts

2008-06-12T11:54:00.003-07:00

First off, I love Jolly Ranchers, but my all time favorite candy is anything super sour--my mouth is already beginning to water. So I first tried these candies while I was in Utah for my sisters' graduation. My sister, Kate, introduced me to them.

I have been on the hunt for these so that I can have them in the hospital when I deliver this baby (EDD: July 8). I have looked for them at Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Frys, Bashas, etc., and to no avail. So this week I finally got around to donating some of our stuff to Goodwill. We went inside to find some treasures for the boys, basically anything with wheels would work, and while I'm checking out I notice some green bags of candies. Low and behold, it is THE SOUR JOLLY RANCHERS!!! I couldn't believe it. What are the odds of finding the exact candy I've been looking for at a thrift store. I bought four bags (should have bought them all--8 total) and was completely in disbelief.

I truly believe this was a tender mercy from the Lord. I had a HORRIBLE week previous and this was one of those ah-ha moments that I felt the Lord is truly mindful of me. Something so dumb and little as a sour candy and yet the Spirit bore witness that this small miracle was specific for me. We have to notice and appreciate the little and small things before we're able to see the whole picture of how Heavenly Father directs our lives for good.

To blog or not to blog...

2008-05-29T16:57:00.003-07:00

Have you ever been in a conversation with people about blogging? It is always interesting to hear other's points of view on the blogging world. I wouldn't characterize myself as a true gung-ho blogger because I don't share with the world every detail that is happening in my family's life, but I do think a blog is an excellent way to keep in contact with family and friends and the major highlights that happen in our lives.

Some blogs are fully given gossip about oneself and those closest to them. I sometimes wonder if people realize they are an open book and how dangerous that might be to blog-stalkers (if that is what they are called). To those non-bloggers out there who assume bloggers spend hours on their computers, not every blogger is glued to their computers every hour of the day.

I will continue to blog and probably continue to read from some of the blogs referred to as gossip blogs. Not sure why I am posting this but it has been on my mind lately.

Family Pictures during April 2008

2008-05-04T17:27:00.002-07:00

I just updated our Picasa Web Album online with pictures from April. We had quite the busy month so you can go and check it out if you please!

Family Pictures - April 2008

Album Description: Annecy playground with Daddy, Nathan's train tracks engineering skills, Swimming with Olsens at our pool, Shawn's Ironman, Playing in Nate's backyard, Horseshoe Bend, BYU Graduation for Alyse and Kate, Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point, Lunch at Tucanos

"Where your treasure is there will your heart be also."

2008-04-19T20:00:00.008-07:00

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

Is it just me or has the world turned away from Jesus' declaration. I am constantly reminding myself to not be selfish and to remember my purpose here on earth. This is much easier said then done, especially since we are surrounded and bombarded with the world's perception of the good life. What I find interesting is when I sacrifice my own selfish desires and focus on others, I am a happier and better person. Less time focusing on self (own problems) and more time to help others and realizing that my life really isn't so bad.

One of the best quotes I have ever heard: "The laughter of the world is merely loneliness pathetically trying to reassure itself." Elder Neal A. Maxwell

I have to remind myself to really enjoy the time I have with my boys while they are so small and young. They are completely sweet and fully loving of me and my imperfections. Who wouldn't want to be loved so completely and effortlessly? Before I know it they'll talk back and think that their Mom and Dad are complete morons.

A quote from President Monson: "There is no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something today, and to live most fully today, we must do that which is of greatest importance. Let us not procrastinate those things which matter most."

I like to tell myself that my blogging is so sporadic because I'm doing such a good job in the Mommy seat. Truly time is just whizzin' by and you really have to choose what you want to spend your time doing each day.

Timothy - 18 Months

Nathan - 3.75 years ;)

Take the time to cherish the dailiness of life.

Upgrade: Silver to Gold

2008-04-07T14:57:00.003-07:00

Well we finally upgraded our silver Accord to a gold! This isn't a picture of our car but very similar.

Dave will now be driving in style! We are very fond of Hondas and it is almost a requirement to being allowed in the family, well that and your political party.

The whole "crashed the car and find a replacement nicer and better than what we originally had, without any stress" is a total miracle and proves that God is very mindful of each of us.

The short of it... a partner at Dave's firm had to take the keys from her 92 year old mother. She has hardly driven the vehicle, so it is in tip-top shape and has extremely low miles. I don't know if she even allowed any one else to ride in it. My only regret is not being able to meet the sweet lady who allowed us to buy it! Dave loves it and appreciates the sherpa covers, especially come summertime!

Do you think it is totaled?

2008-03-25T12:05:00.005-07:00

Dave got in a car accident on the 101 last Thursday morning during rush hour. He rear-ended a Dodge Ram, so needless to say it missed the bumper and went straight for the good stuff. Thankfully Dave is okay and went to work the next day and on Saturday too. The work doesn't slow or go away when you are a lawyer, it just continues to pile up like weeds. Actually he even worked from home the day of the accident too. Crazy! We really need to evaluate the worth of his salary compared to the time, pressure and stress involved with his job.

Geico is still figuring everything out, but we're pretty sure it is a total loss.

Here are some pictures:

Nathan's first photo shoot

2008-03-18T15:18:00.002-07:00

Nathan's first attempt at using a camera. Peek-a-Dave!

So it takes a picture through this thing?

Nice feet!

Good job taking a picture of Daddy!

Disney Movie Club junk mail.

Tunnel of Death in Russia

2008-03-12T12:52:00.005-07:00

Dave's parents live in Ukraine and experience crazy roads like this all year round. In the winter it might be due to ice and any other time it is likely due to the extreme amounts of alcohol in their blood. No restrictions on alcohol sales or consumption limits.

YouTube video from: ChrisGronski-- The 3,150 m long Lefortovo Tunnel in Russia is the longest 'in-city' tunnel in all of Europe. There is a river running over it and water leaks at some points. When the temperature reaches minus 38 degrees like it did last winter, the road freezes and the result is the attached video taken during a single day with the tunnel camera. Congratulations to the driver of the dual bus!!

State rights vs Parental rights

2008-03-12T10:23:00.005-07:00

On February 28, 2008, the California Court of Appeals issued a ruling in a juvenile court proceeding that declared that almost all forms of homeschooling in California are in violation of state law. (Private tutoring by certified teachers remains an option.) Moreover, the court ruled that parents possess no constitutional right to home school their children.

Are we to have the government or state control what happens to our children? Should we just hand our children over to the state because apparently they know what is best for our children? Yeah, we see in Russia and other countries where the state does such an incredible job with its youth. YEAH RIGHT! The best environment in which to raise children is a home with a father and mother working together as they keep their children's best interest in mind.

It doesn't take a village to raise a child! What it does take is work, sacrifice, dedication and love from both a father and mother, not to mention the divine help (grace) needed from Jesus Christ. Of course this is the ideal pattern, but we know that children in one-parent homes can thrive also with the help of family and a strong support network.

I do not like the notion that the government knows what is best, especially when it comes to education, religion, or any other right a parent has in the upbringing of their children. Some of you might not know that I was homeschooled and I still cannot figure out how my mom survived it. A vision into the Hunsaker home... My mom trying to teach three boys (14, 10, 8) and two girls (16, 12) math, english, religion, government, science, etc., as we sat together at one table in our home. To put it lightly we were stubborn, selfish, disrespectful snots, but some how it ended up working in various ways as she and my dad sacrificed much on our behalf. How they came out sane from it all is another long and thought-provoking post that no one wants to write! Although some times we feel they are insane from raising six sons and three daughters!

Sorry this post is all over the place. Enjoy!

I found this gem of a picture. Can you spot me? Just kidding! What a great picture though!

Which Disney Princess Are You?

2008-03-11T13:34:00.002-07:00

I actually took this quiz and the results are somewhat true. I feel that I lack patience, although I will put up with quite a bit before exploding and then those around me wonder what the hecks wrong with her, hmmmm... maybe I just need a good night's sleep. There is something about lack of sleep that puts me into the zombie-crazy zone.

You Are Cinderella!

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

California Court Robs Parents of Choice

2008-03-08T16:14:00.004-07:00

Just as a new California law that would essentially indoctrinate children at school about homosexuality is being implemented and many parents are wondering how to protect their children's moral sense, a new wrinkle appears. The opportunity to pull a child out of government education to home school may be blocked in California.

A California Court of Appeals has ruled that unless they have a teaching certificate, parents have no legal right to home school their children. Parents may be criminally prosecuted for failing to comply. The ruling may impact California's 166,000 home schooled children and bar an avenue of choice for those who do not want their children's morality undermined at school.

Also sabotaged is parental rights and choice in choosing the education of their children.

The message is if you don't like what's happening at school and you are sick at heart about exposing your children to it-tough.

Shock waves are reverberating across the state.

The decision came from the 2^nd Appellate Court in Los Angeles in the case of Philip and Mary Long, and the Court said We find no reason to strike down the Legislature's evaluation of what constitutes an adequate education scheme sufficient to promote the 'general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence. We agree ... 'the educational program of the State of California was designed to promote the general welfare of all the people and was not designed to accommodate the personal ideas of any individual in the field of education.'"

Specifically, the appeals court said, the trial court had found that "keeping the children at home deprived them of situations where (1) they could interact with people outside the family, (2) there are people who could provide help if something is amiss in the children's lives, and (3) they could develop emotionally in a broader world than the parents' 'cloistered' setting."

Michael Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association, said the ruling would effectively ban homeschooling in the state.

"California is now on the path to being the only state to deny the vast majority of homeschooling parents their fundamental right to teach their own children at home," he said in a statement.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called the move by the courts "outrageous" and said that "parents should have the right to decide what's best for their children. "If the courts don't protect parents' rights then, as elected officials, we will."

I'll post my opinion on this some time soon but wanted everyone to be aware of this issue.

Recovering from a flu bug

2008-03-04T12:16:00.005-07:00

Hello blog readers! I have been MIA because of an awful flu bug. I plan on updating my web album soon with pictures from February. We hope to recover soon and be back to full health and strength. Being pregnant and sick is not fun at all. I have another ultrasound tomorrow so we'll see how Liberty is doing then. The name Liberty has sort of stuck with us so it will probably end up being her name unless we are struck in the head with something else. I hope to deliver her some time around the 4th of July.

I hate not knowing the side effects on a fetus from taking drugs while sick. I have a bad cough that keeps me up much of the night and I am now resorting to natural cough remedies that I can make in my own kitchen. Here is one of them:

1 t honey
1 T lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
add mixture to a little bit of water and drink immediately.

OR

For those of us who just like it sour, 1/2 lemon, squeezed fresh, with some water and drink immediately. I haven't tried this yet because I don't have any lemons but I'm going to brave the local Sprouts grocery store and find some.

I did concoct this remedy this morning:

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 Tablespoon honey
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar (used white balsamic)
2 Tablespoons water
Mix and take by the teaspoon.

WHOA: Be careful with remedy above. I just took it again and this time it was harsh! Yikes, I hope my senses are awakened after that crazy teaspoon!

I will let you all know if this works well for me tonight. I don't think I've got a solid night's rest since early last week. For those stay at home moms out there, you know how this can make you crazy and insane, especially if you have young children surrounding you throughout the day. Oh the joys of motherhood.

I have come to realize that I better be grateful for a healthy body 95% of the year. How amazing our bodies are when they are healthy and strong, not to mention how easy it really is to get things accomplished when we are feeling well.

More exciting news to come.

60 Years of Marriage

2008-02-18T10:33:00.003-07:00

A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no
secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.

For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside.

She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $95,000.

He asked her about the contents. 'When we were to be married,' she said, ' my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll.'

The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness.

'Honey,' he said, 'that explains the doll, but what about all of this money?
Where did it come from?'

'Oh,' she said, 'that's the money I made from selling the dolls.'

I wish I knew how to crochet! All the money I could make on Ebay! Just kidding!

Bar Stool Economics

2008-02-17T21:38:00.008-07:00

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. Since you are all such good customers, he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But, what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!'

'Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!'

'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'

'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

For those who understand, no explanation is needed.; and for those who don't get it, no explanation is possible!

Dave inserts: The italiced sentence in the second to last paragraph is the only inaccurate statement in this narrative. As the analogy itself reveals, while across-the-board tax cuts benefit everyone, the wealthy typically get the least benefit from such tax breaks as measured by a percentage of how much they already pay. Although a tax cut saves the wealthy a greater amount in terms of dollars, this is because the wealthy pay most of the taxes. As Fred Thompson pointed out last year in an excellent article, the richest 1% of Americans pay 35% of all taxes, and the top 10% pay more taxes than the bottom 60% combined. The bottom line is that when liberals allege that tax cuts favor the wealthy, they are lying through their teeth.

We're having a girl!

2008-02-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

So the predictions we had regarding the gender were correct. My mom still has an almost perfect record and I feel like I have a perfect record for my own children!

We went in for our ultrasound on Monday, Feb. 4th and found out we're having a girl. The baby looked good and I'm feeling well. It is a huge relief to have these doctor visits confirm that the baby is healthy, because at this stage I wonder if perhaps I'm just getting fat and clueless as to the health of the baby. I believe I felt her first movements on Sunday but haven't had the time to sit still long enough to concentrate on the feeling in the womb.

I enjoy this stage of the pregnancy when the movements begin and then increase in intensity and quantity. For some time now Nathan has mentioned that we'll have two babies, Timothy and Liberty. We have always talked about naming a daughter Liberty and some how Nathan has picked up on it. I'm not sure what her name will be at this point.

Get out and vote! Super Tuesday!

2008-02-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

I believe our country would be stronger and better if more people were interested in American politics instead of sporting events. I have spent the last two days volunteering my time and energy in support of Mitt Romney. The polls show McCain winning in Arizona but I am almost losing sleep over the thought of this liberal candidate being the Republican nominee let alone the president of our country. He is a sell-out and Huckabee is no better. For anyone who reads this post, at this point of the race, any vote for Huckabee or Ron Paul is a vote for McCain. You might as well just vote for McCain and then feel the slap in the face afterward. He is dishonest and must not understand the meaning of a "straight-talker."

His record is horrible when it comes to most of the issues.

DELETED previous comments regarding the issues and where McCain stands. Those who read my posts are intelligent enough to research the issues and get behind a candidate who most represents their views on the future of America.

I kept this youtube video because it is hilarious when John McCain tries to explain his strengths when it comes to economic policy. John McCain & Miss Teen SC on Economics

We'll be voting for Mitt Romney and encourage you to look at the issues and get involved in the great cause of freedom.

P.S. John McCain will never have my vote.

LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley dies

2008-01-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

We found out about President Hinckley's death last night around 8:30 pm MST. He passed away around 7 pm. The news was a bit shocking and I really couldn't believe it was happening. So, we searched all over the web until we began finding the news release of his death. It was true, our beloved prophet was dead. This is my first experience with a president of the Church dying during my adulthood and I'm sad to say that I don't like this feeling at all. I know he was old, but he lived so unbelievably healthy and energetic throughout his older years that I thought he would live forever! The feeling I have is almost as if my own grandfather passed away. I am reassured that he is happier than ever to be back in the presence of his sweetheart and other family members. I'm sure the reunion there is a large and exciting celebration.

I have learned so much from this prophet of God and am grateful for his example, service and love. Here is an article I found in the Houston Chronicle

Hope and life, in Gordon B. Hinckley's own words.
From Staff and Wire Reports

"Many people are looking for something that they can hold onto, an anchor to which they can attach their lives. That's one thing. Two: We expect things of our people. We expect them to do things. We expect them to measure up to certain standards. It isn't always easy to be a member of this church. It's demanding. But it's wonderfully fruitful and has a tremendous affect on people."
— On CNN's Larry King Live Sept. 8, 1998, in answer to the question on what attracts people to the Mormon church.

• "What I am suggesting is that we have had missing from our society a buoyant spirit of optimism. What I am asking is that we turn from the negativism that so permeates our culture and look for the remarkable good in the land and times in which we live; that we speak of one another's virtues more than we speak of one another's faults; that optimism replace pessimism; that uncertainty and worry be pushed aside by an enduring feeling of hope."
— Page 101 in Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues that Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes (Three Rivers Press, $14.95).

• "A little play and a little loafing are good from time to time. But it is work that spells the difference in the life of a young man or young woman. It is usually work and effort that explain the difference between the gold-medal athlete and those who finish even a fraction of a second later. It is work that provides the food we eat, the clothing we wear, the homes in which we live, the grades and training we receive. It is work that gives us a feeling of accomplishment. And it is work that allows us to feel that we are making a difference in the world."
— Page 37 in Way to Be!: 9 Ways to be Happy and Make Something of Your Life (Simon & Schuster, $14.95).

• "Those of us who are American citizens stand solidly with the president of our nation. The terrible forces of evil must be confronted and held accountable for their actions. This is not a matter of Christian against Muslim. I am pleased to see that food is being dropped to the hungry people of a target nation. We value our Muslim neighbors across the world and hope that those who live by the tenets of their faith will not suffer. I ask particularly that our own people do not become a party in any way to the persecution of the innocent. Rather, let us be friendly and helpful, protective and supportive. It is the terrorist organizations that must be ferreted out and brought down."
— During an address in Salt Lake City, Oct. 7, 2001.

• "Our desire everywhere is to make bad men good and good men better. Wherever we go, we go in the front door. Our representatives honor the laws of the nations to which they go and teach the people to be good citizens. We teach, we train, we build, we educate, we provide opportunity for growth and development. We give hope to those without hope and there is nothing greater you can give a man or a woman than hope."
— National Press Club address, March 8, 2000.

As a freshman at BYU, we had this quote on our dormitory hall: The gospel makes bad men good and good men better!

I pray we all have the desire to become better through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it surely is the truth because I have definitely become a better friend, daughter, sister, mother and wife because of my desire to live the gospel, which is the good news, the word of God.

We will miss you, President Hinckley!

Door to Door Salesmen

2008-01-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

Beware of door to door salesmen, especially anyone talking about carpets/vacuuming, i.e. KIRBY. Never let them into your house. We learned this the hard way (late 2004). Our house ended up smelling worse after they left, which they truly never would leave, so we had to coerce them out of our house (11:30 pm at night). Dave actually drove the guys to their "van" because the driver refused to pick them up because they hadn't sold us the vacuums. HORRIBLE experience!

So the other night we had some people knock at our door. Nobody ever knocks at our door because we live in a gated community where you have to be on the "homeowners list" to even get in, well at least M-F, because on Sat-Sun the gates are left wide open for current home sales. So I am in my pajamas preparing for my church talk (Sacrament meeting) and wonder who is at our door. I have Dave get the door and I go upstairs. Well it turns out it's a guy and girl trying to sell magazines to earn "points" for who knows what, they say their education, I say probably a cell phone, MP3 player or plasma TV. They basically travel around the country ripping people off and basically are themselves scammed by the companies who hire them to do this for a chance to see America.

These two were from New York and Atlanta. They did a good job talking Dave into helping them out, it's not like they're promoting the product but rather themselves. So we give money to some unknown charity hospital and buy a kids magazine. The last thing I want is another magazine in our house. I don't like magazines, most are not worthy of my dollar. I get enough junk mail to keep me "happy". So the guy leaves his binder of magazine info and his expired illegitimate permit at our house. He never came back for it, which made me worry even more so I canceled the magazine subscription and we'll see if I even get my money back. I thought maybe in my sharing of this experience that I might spare one of my friends the regrets of getting scammed or even imposed upon.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Tell yourself you will never buy something from a stranger at your door unless they are the girl scouts. Your home will thank you for it; It always seem to smell worse after an experience like this.

Copied from another site: Renting vs. Buying

2008-01-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

Renting vs. Buying: The Realities of Home-Ownership

Monday, 16th July 2007 (by J.D.)
This article is about Choices, House and Home

If you're new here, you may want to learn what this site is about. I encourage you to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

This is a guest-post from Tim Ellis, author of Seattle Bubble, a blog and forum dedicated to discussing real estate market conditions in the Seattle area.

“If you rent, you’re throwing away your money.”
“Owning your own home is a forced savings plan.”
“Home ownership is an excellent path to build wealth.”

You’ve probably heard statements like these plenty of times. On television, radio, the internet, and in casual conversation. Such sentiments are common in any discussion that involves home-buying and personal finances. It’s common knowledge that buying a home is a better financial move than renting. After all, you’re building equity instead of throwing away your money, right? Well, maybe not quite… Rather than assuming the “common knowledge” on this subject is accurate, let’s take a look for ourselves at some of the financial differences between renting and home-buying.

A Real-World Example
For the purpose of comparing renting to owning in this article, I’ll be using real-world data gathered from my area (northeast of Seattle). Although most first-time buyers tend to move from renting an apartment to buying a larger, stand-alone house, as much as I can I will compare apples to apples.

For rent, I located a 3-bed, 2.5-bath, 1,840 sqft house with an attached 2-car garage, on 0.2 acres. Monthly price: $1,495.
For purchase I found a 3-bed, 2.5-bath, 1,850 sqft house with an attached 2-car garage, on 0.22 acres. Price: $424,950.

The two homes are located within two miles of each other in similar neighborhoods, and neither is located on a busy road. We’ll assume that our hypothetical homebuyer is a married couple with $85,000 in the bank to make a 20% down payment. To calculate mortgage payments we will use a recent 30-year fixed interest rate of 6.25%.

Let’s look at how the monthly costs break down (approximately) for our hypothetical potential first-time homebuyer:

	Renting	Buying
Rent/Mortgage:	$1,495	$2,093
Insurance:	$20	$163
Property Tax:	-	$407
Tax Savings*:	-	($327)
Maintenance:	-	$354
Total:	$1,515	$2,690

*: (less standard deduction)

Right off the bat, you see that simply trading straight across from renting to owning results in a 78% more expensive monthly bill. That’s not exactly chump change. With even a slight upgrade from renting to buying (which most first-time buyers are prone to do), you can easily see how the total monthly costs would be more than double.

“If you rent, you’re throwing away your money.”
Common knowledge says that despite today’s large premium, buying a home is a “good investment”. Hey, at least you’re not “throwing away” your money, right? True, the renter in our scenario spends $1,515 every month that they will never see again. I wouldn’t exactly say it has been “thrown away” any more than money spent on any other good or service is “thrown away,” but granted, there is zero financial return on that money.

However, when you take a look at the breakdown of the homebuyer’s monthly expenses, a large amount is money that will never return, either. Insurance, property tax (less tax savings), and maintenance, add up to $517 every month that is being “thrown away.” Even worse is the amount spent on mortgage interest. Consider how much of a mortgage payment is applied toward loan interest throughout the life of a 30-year fixed loan:

Years	% toward interest
0-5	~80%
6-10	~70%
11-15	~60%
16-20	~50%
21-25	~35%
26-30	~10%

In the first five years, approximately 80% of the mortgage payment goes toward interest. That’s an additional $1,674, for a total of $2,191 being “thrown away” every single month by the homebuyer for the first five years. Ouch! In fact, not until the homebuyer has been paying down the mortgage for over 20 years will the amount they are “throwing away” be less than the renter.

“Owning your own home is a forced savings plan.”
As you can see above, if home buying is like a savings plan, it’s probably the worst savings plan on Earth. Would you voluntarily sign up for a savings plan where well over half of the money you deposit in the first 20 years simply vanishes, and from which you can only withdraw money by relocating and paying a 6-9% fee (not on the amount you have “saved” mind you, but on the total sale price of the home)? Of course not. That doesn’t sound anything like a savings plan.

If our potential homebuyer has that $85,000 saved up for a down payment and deposits it along with just half of the monthly savings over buying ($578 per month) into an account at 8% interest, the balance will be nearly $300,000 in just 10 years. That’s a liquid investment, that can be used for whatever you want, no relocation required. Buying a home is not a savings plan. Actually saving money every month is a savings plan.

“Home ownership is an excellent path to build wealth.”
If your goal is to build wealth, you will be much better off investing your money in the stock market than buying a home. While both stocks and housing are cyclical markets, long-term historic trends show that housing appreciates at a rate barely above inflation, while stocks tend to return an inflation-adjusted 7-10%. In our hypothetical scenario, a renter who invested in the stock market with the $85,000 down payment plus the monthly difference between the $1,515 rent and the $2,690 home-buying costs would be over $500,000 better off after 30 years than the homebuyer, assuming 4% average appreciation.

An important thing to consider is that home prices in the United States are just now beginning to correct from an enormous unprecedented run-up in recent years. Despite what those in the business of selling real estate may insist, the correction in housing is still in the early stages. Four percent is most likely overly optimistic for most areas in the next 5-10 years. The only thing we know for sure is that double-digit gains are gone and won’t be coming back any time soon.

Also keep in mind — I mentioned it above but it bears repeating — in order to cash in on any “wealth” you build through your home you will need to sell that home and move. No, “extracting equity” does not count, since that simply results in a larger debt. Debt is not equal to Wealth.

Conclusion
For most people buying a home will result in their largest monthly bill (by far), and because they believe that it will bring them wealth or that they are “throwing away their money” if they rent, they often take on a much larger home debt than a prudent budget would allow. It is a real shame when people are driven to get into the housing market because of misplaced notions of imagined financial benefits. Of course, everyone’s circumstances are different, and for some (particularly those that live away from the coasts) the numbers may actually work out in favor of buying.

Don’t misunderstand me here. I am not saying that no one should buy a home, or that my example scenario is a golden standard of truth for all. Don’t take my word for it. Run the numbers for yourself, check out other articles (a small collection is listed below), and do what works for you. I highly recommend the great graphical calculator from The New York Times for comparing the financial aspects of renting and buying. Many people will consider all of the consequences — financial, emotional, etc. — and conclude that buying a home is the best decision. Just don’t trick yourself into thinking it’s a good financial decision if it’s not.

I myself intend to buy a house some day. However when that day comes, I will be buying a house because I want a nice, “permanent” place to live where I’m the boss, not because I think it will help me get me rich.

Additional Resources

Wall Street Journal: Your Home Isn’t the Nest Egg That You May Think It Is
New York Times: A Word of Advice During a Housing Slump: Rent
New York Times: Is it better to buy or rent? (graphical calculator)
The Motley Fool: The Worst Investment Ever
SmartMoney.com: Renting Makes More Financial Sense Than Homeownership
CNN Money: Stocks vs. Real Estate
Priced Out Forever: Renting vs. Purchasing

My first real post for 2008

2008-01-09T14:59:00.001-07:00

So, I have been MIA for quite some time in the blogging arena. I decided it would be a good place to keep track of our busy life and hopefully be more faithful in keeping a record of our family. I feel like I am getting behind technologically and need to brush up on my computer skills.

We now live in Gilbert, Arizona and are enjoying the beautiful weather and plenty of sunshine. I think the sun is out 98% of the year. We bought a condo unit and have filled it to capacity.

We had a great Christmas even though both of our boys were sick.Here are the boys Christmas Eve before putting them to bed. Tim actually threw up shortly after taking this picture. Having sick children is not pleasant!Nathan couldn't believe his eyes on Christmas morning. I think we went a little overboard on the presents and will have to do better next year! So, I have a question for you all, does Santa wrap or does he not wrap? We saw The Polar Express at the IMAX and it clearly shows that the presents are wrapped. Santa must have been lazy this year or at least the presents he left for our boys because not much was wrapped! We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my family in Gilbert.

A cute little Santa Claus even visited us Christmas morning. Tim just barely learned to walk before Christmas. It is amazing how quickly they take off once they learn a new skill.

2008-01-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

Mommy tag

1. How long have you been a Mom?
For 3.5 years

2. How many kids call you mommy?
Two super sweet boys.

3. When you were pregnant did you know what you were having?
Yes. We found out by ultrasound but before that we pretty much knew we were going to have boys. Plus I have a "source" that can foretell the gender of her children and grandchildren. I believe her record is 23 correct and one not so correct! For the record she says I am having a girl, which is what I believe also. We find out on Feb 4, 2008.

4. How old were you when you became a mom?
24

5. How long were you in labor?
With Nathan, I was in labor for 5 hours. My "water broke" and then I pushed through three contractions and there he was, a huge 9lb 4oz, 22" red headed baby boy! On Timothy, I was induced and I think my labor was around 10 hours, pushed for maybe 15 minutes. You can read all about on a prior post.

6. What’s your favorite thing about being a mom?
I LOVE bedtime! There is something about giving them a bath, putting on the pjs, reading books, hugs and kisses and then to experience the peace and quiet that comes after a full day of "fun"! Another thing I love is being the absolute favorite person in the whole world to my kids. Nobody ranks higher than their dear old Momma (I try to soak it up because it only lasts so long)!l

7. What’s your least favorite thing?
The whining and lack of sleep.

8. Do you want more kids?
Yes, but we'll take them one at a time and see how many we can handle!

9. Have you ever taken your kid(s) on a trip?
Yes. They have been on flights with us to visit family and we drove from Georgia to Arizona last summer with both of them in our packed Honda Accord. Staying at hotels with kids is not fun!

10. How many times have you been peed on?
Not too many, thank goodness!

11. How many times have you been vomited on?
Nathan unloaded on me during our Ream family reunion luncheon. Yeah, I'm sure we spoiled lunch for quite a few that day. I was glad they were my family and not strangers! I think it has happened since but nothing can quite compare to the first time it happens.

12. Are your kids named after someone?
Nathan Thomas is named after brothers on both sides of the family and other ancestors. Timothy David is named after Dave's uncle who died of cancer at age 35(?) and ancestors on both sides of our family. His middle name after his daddy, especially since he was born on his birthday.

13. When is the last time you had a sitter?
Two days ago. I cannot be more grateful to have girls in our church who are willing to babysit our kids. We LOVE having so many options and to have them live so close!

14. When your kid gets in trouble, who is the bad guy?
Usually me, Dave works most of the time they are awake. Although on weekends he might get the title.

15. What is the longest you have been away from your kid(s)?
Two weeks in Eastern Europe. This was a huge step for me and we made the most of it. We visited Dave's parents in Ukraine and spent one night in Munich, Germany.

16. Are your toes painted?
Yes, but really need to see some polish remover.

17. Last movie you saw in theater?
The very last one was The Polar Express at the IMAX, Arizona Mills, but we had the kids so needless to say I didn't really "see" the movie. I did see the new National Treasure last week though.

18. One thing you will not give up just because you’re a mom:
I don't know how to answer this question. I'm drawing a blank, does that mean I've given up everything? Perhaps date night is something I'll never give up.

19. One thing you did give up now that you’re a mom?
I liked Lindsey's answer, freedom! Most couples without kids don't have a clue.

20. Favorite Cartoon:
I really like the Backyardigans!

21. Favorite Snack:
Anything salty. I like salt and vinegar chips!

22. When the kid(s) are napping, you are:
Usually only one of them naps now, but I find myself doing laundry, fixing a meal, cleaning house or browsing the internet and hopefully soon I'll be scrapbooking on the computer (New Year's Resolution).

23. Where is/are your kid(s) now?
Right by their mommy, like always! They can't get enough of me!

24. If I could do it over, I’d do this differently:
Give up wanting to be in control of everything and just enjoy life more.

25. What is a lesson you’ve learned as a parent?
Repent and forgive! I cannot say enough about needing the Savior to help in the weak areas of my life. Don't try to take a nap it will only make you angrier because it is NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE with more than one child!

I thought this would be an easy way to make my first post of the new year and since I didn't post anything in 2007 (sorry about that).

I tag anyone that wants to do this! Lindsey Snow, thanks for your post.

Timothy David Andersen's Birth

2006-10-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

Our second son was born early in the morning on Dave's Birthday, September 21, 2006. I chose to be induced on Wednesday, September 20th so I could get the required penicillin for GBS (8 hours on IV) and just so the labor would be controlled and planned. If you know my personality well, then you know I like to be in CONTROL! Our little boy Timothy was born at 1:52am. The nurse midwife also enjoyed the birthday celebration seeing it was her birthday too! The delivery took place at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA.

Timothy David weighed in at 8 lbs. 5 oz., his length was 21.5" long, and his head measured 14.5".

I have a Picasa Web Album with pictures of his birth. I continue to update this album with new pictures of our family. I will probably end up adding new albums and then posting the links on this blog.

Here is the link to the first web album.
http://picasaweb.google.com/tricia.andersen/TimothySArrivalAndComingHome

The Bulkhead Failed! And pictures of our new place.

2006-09-13T19:20:00.001-07:00

Our ABF U-Pack trailer arrived on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 and when the driver opened up the doors we found the unthinkable... the bulkhead had slipped and all of our stuff had plummeted to the edge of the 28 ft trailer. Let me remind you that we only used 6 ft of the trailer. I was completely devastated and figured much of our belongings were broken.
Here are the pictures from the incident...

It turned out that only a plastic file container broke during the fall. Just another tender mercy
in our move to Atlanta. We couldn't believe it! I still cannot believe it! Like I said before, Dave did an excellent job in packing our stuff tight and I made sure that the boxes were packed full. The Elder's Quorum in our new ward helped us move in and we had fun getting to know some of them. It turns out that during the summer months they move people multiple times per week.

Here are some pictures of our new place. All of the dark furniture came from IKEA (www.ikea.com), which we painstakingly put together just a few days before our stuff arrived. We didn't realize how annoying it is to not have a kitchen table for mealtime. Our first priority was putting together that table!

More to follow...

Our Move to Atlanta, GA

2006-09-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

July 6-10th - Dave did an excellent job loading the ABF U-Pack truck. He actually loaded nearly 4 ft of our stuff only to unload it the next day because of water leaks. Again we were blessed to have a rain shower that showed us the terrible condition of the trailer. Our stuff would have been ruined if it drove across the country in a leaky trailer. We only used 6 linear feet for all of our stuff.
We were blessed to have Carlos around to help load and put up the bulkhead with Dave. We couldn't have done it without him. Thanks so much for all the extra help from our favorite newlywed brother!

July 10, 2006 - Nathan and I pose in front of the trailer before it was picked up. Nathan loved being in the trailer and having his very own "truck." I thought I would add that I am seven months (30 weeks) expecting in this picture.

We packed so well that Nathan wasn't too crowded in the back of our car. Which was another blessing in disguise because he had diahrea the entire first day of our trip, so we had to get him out multiple times to change his diaper and clothing. Okay I just said blessing and diarhea in the same sentence. I just call it like I see it! He was unbelievably well-mannered for us on this trip. Nathan and I did so well the first day that we drove from Orem, UT all the way to Lincoln, NE. For those who might not know that this is 915 mi (about 14 hours 52 mins). We actually made it in 12 hours which included those fun stops to clean up Nathan! The wide open plains are very nice when you want to get somewhere fast!

I took this picture of Nathan because he is just too darn CUTE!! We wrapped up many trucks and other toys and gave them to him throughout the trip so he always had something new and fun to play with. I still cannot believe how well we all did on this trip across the country.

2006-01-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Excuse me, Mr. Snowman, do you know where I can find my bike? (Deep in conversation with the big man)

2006-01-20T21:36:00.000-07:00

I like this Ukrainian made hat. Thank you Grandma Andersen (not really, the hat is for Aunt Alyse)!

2006-01-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

Mommy or Aunt Lyssey, please help me get this hat off my head.

2006-01-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

Wow, now that is a tall snowman. Anyone up for a round of golf?

2006-01-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

We had fun creating this snowman with daddy this afternoon. Nathan would stay outside all day if he could.

2006-01-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

Dave came home early from school so we could make the snowman. I wouldn't be able to pick up these heavy balls of snow.

2006-01-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

Mom, If you need me I'll be over here with my truck. This winter is definitely more fun with Nathan.

2006-01-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

Nathan kneeling in about 6 inches of snow. He is all boy!

2006-01-19T11:05:00.000-07:00

Nathan didn't want to get off of the bike even though it wasn't going anywhere.

2006-01-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

Nathan riding his snow bike and lovin' it!

2006-01-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

Nathan having some late night cookies and milk in his Christmas pajamas!

2006-01-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

Nathan loves to take baths. Here he is cleaning off his pirate buddy under the tap! Ahoy, mate!

2006-01-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

Those who dared to go on the hike...

Maddie (10), Taylor (13), Andrew (12), Sarah (10), Davey (7), Dave, Nathan (1) and Tricia.

Not pictured: Matt and Jacob (8)

2006-01-02T15:30:00.000-07:00

Our official New Year's Day hike in the Superstitions. We took the Peralta trail which is about 4.5 miles round trip and the increase in elevation is around 1350 ft. Dave, Nathan and myself were all a little under the weather. Nathan actually woke up the next morning with his first high fever of 103 degrees (axillary) which was probably near 104.

2006-01-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

The view of Weaver's Needle at the saddle. This was at the top of the hike, which took us about 2 hours to get up to the saddle. Beautiful afternoon in sunny Arizona!

2006-01-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

Nathan, with milk in hand, taking a rest at the saddle. He wasn't feeling too well! He is sporting Andrew's D-backs hat.

2005-10-31T20:36:00.000-07:00

Nathan's first gobstopper! He ate through the packaging and then was in chick heaven!
He also is about to fall asleep standing up.

2005-10-31T19:03:00.000-07:00

Chicken Cordon Bleu!! Nathan of course is the chicken with his daddy as "cord on blue" and mommy is a big ham. Does it get any better than this?

BTW: Nathan kept is eyes on daddy the entire night. He was in a state of shock especially when Dave would yell, "Boo!" right at Nathan. He would then run and hide his head in my legs.

2005-10-30T16:27:00.000-07:00

Fruit anyone?!? I love to eat bananas! Mommy made all these neat ties for me to wear to Church. I think I have more clothes than my daddy! Man, I am special!

2005-10-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

Would you care for a banana, mommy? Or prehaps an apple? I just love this little boy!

2005-10-28T20:24:00.000-07:00

Look! A giggling bear cub after his bath. You can't keep this little one from having a good time. Nathan is such a happy boy and always or almost always has a smile on his face!

2005-10-28T20:21:00.000-07:00

Is that Nathan, mommy? Nathan loves to see himself in pictures and expecially in the mirror. He will point his finger at his chest and say "me."

2005-10-28T20:16:00.000-07:00

Our little bear cub thinks he wants to eat soap. He loves to take baths and always shows us by signing bath (Rubbing fists against chest). He has a mouth full of teeth now; 12 in all.

2005-10-26T20:32:00.000-07:00

Can I get a little chicken love?! :) Nathan loves his Aunt Leeessy!

2005-10-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

Holy cow, the capitalist pig is holding a chicken!

2005-10-26T20:08:00.000-07:00

Oink, oink! Daddy, I like your pig nose! The picture was taken at our ward Halloween party. We had a lot of fun.

2005-10-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

CONDORMAN or CHICKEN LITTLE??

2005-10-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

I have the cutest little tail!!

2005-10-26T13:54:00.000-07:00

We nicknamed him, "Chicken Little."

2005-10-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

Nathan hiding behind his chicken wing. I am the cutest chicken!

2005-07-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

Nathan learning to walk with mallet in mouth!

2005-07-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

Hands over head for you!

2005-07-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

Nathan helping Jackson clean his nose.

2005-07-01T20:00:00.001-07:00

Nathan playing with cousin Jackson before bedtime.

2005-07-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

Nathan and cousin Jackson wrestling before bedtime. The picture was taken right after bathtime, hence the naked boys.

2005-06-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

Kate with some of the grandkids before she left for the M.T.C. Date taken: June 14, 2005

2005-06-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Kate and the grandkids make funny faces together before Kate leaves for the M.T.C. Date taken: June 14, 2005

2005-06-13T18:42:00.000-07:00

Nathan hanging out with Grandpa Andersen before their departure to Ukraine. Date taken: June 13, 2005