Nice Excuse

Annabelle gets a weekly behavior report sent home with her homework. There are different generic issues that are listed like "Talking to others", "improper actions at recess" etc. etc.

So she got 2 marks under "not paying attention in class"

So we were going over her paper which was highly unacceptable in many areas. And she said, "but Mom .." and then I interrupted her and said "no excuses", and she said "but . . . " to which I said, "but nothing". Then she insisted I listen. Then she said,

"but Mom I was thinking about Jesus".

To which I said, "right . . . Jesus". And she insisted she was. (As I was smirking)

Then I said, "Then don't think about Jesus, you have all Sunday, and after school to think about Jesus"

She's usually a pretty honest kid, so it is possible.

But then again, she might be just very clever.

Shop it!

Remember my obsession with Bento boxes? Well I finally decided on these three. The one on the left is Josie's, the middle is Kizzy's and the right is Annabelles. I got them in the mail finally (well I'm waiting on one) and I love them. They are smaller than I thought. But I think that is the point. Correct portion size. If you are going to get one for a kid older than Kindergarten I'd go for the double deckers. Because they are small.

Anyhow I bought them from Kir Devries. Can I tell you I have had THE BEST customer service I've ever had in my ENTIRE LIFE. So check out their site. There are so many fun things on there from bags to bottles to kitchen gadgets. Tons of fun stuff. So buy from them because I am now a seriously big fan.

Husbanda and Cameras

I'm not sure if I posted this here or on my photo blog. But I said that all mothers should own a good camera and learn how to use it. I would like to follow that up with: and a husband that knows how to use it. Because I L.O.V.E. this shot.

Confession: I have ANOTHER blog

So I have another blog. I have been waiting to debut it until there were multiple posts. Some say I'm crazy for the multiple blogs I have (including myself). But I'm SUPER excited about this one because it is a collaboration of people so it's not just MY blog.

It's called SLOWLY GOING NATURAL Here it is:

http://slowlygoingnatural.blogspot.com/

You can link to it to read more about it. Make sure to go to the welcome page which explains the purpose.

The title says it all.

We'd love more input and if you have something to contribute just let me know. We want TONS of info on it.

So add it to your reader!

The shot

I've been taking a picture a day all year. We were cleaning the yard and it was super hot. Annabelle said, "I know a great picture for today"

So this is what she came up with:

My job Chart

I'm trying out MY JOB CHART. It's free and so far the kids like it. I would like to tweak it to my liking, so I think it lacks some things--but mostly just because I am annoyingly detailed when I try to organize things.

Does anyone else use this? What do you think about it?

Smile

This makes me laugh

Help me.

I've done gone crazy. I'm obsessed. And can't decide. One layer, two layer? The super cute ones that I love that I think are cheap plastic, or the ones that I really like that are BPA, lead and phthalates free. ARGGHHH.










And how cool is this Adult one?

7:06 a.m.

7:06 a.m.



On carpet.

by my bed.

I didn't even hear him.

Bento Box

I am COMPLETELY OBSESSED with the Bento Box idea. Just google it. It can entertain you for hours on a Sunday. At least it did for me. It goes all along with eating healthier which I am also obsessed with. School lunches gross me out and I'm so bored with a sandwich, chips and juice. Bleck! The Japanese have it right. It's like an art form for mothers over there. You can check out flickr bento groups--specifically the kids ones and you get stuff like this:







So you start with a Bento Box (or you could use any sort of little container). How cute are these? I found them HERE.





Then you buy little cutters to cut your fruit or cheese or whatever.


Then you put your food on these cute little toothpick sort of things.






And get cupcake holders to divide your stuff like so:



Your kid would have the coolest, healthiest lunch. I'm currently searching the Phoenix/Metro area for this kind of stuff. I'll let you know what I find. You can also check this blog.. Or just google away.

Imparting Wisdom

Somehow our dinner scripture study which was focused on priesthood blessing and the power for God to heal, turned to where babies come from. Randomly, my friend and I had just been having the conversation on how to impart that wisdom to our children.

I learned in 3rd grade. Not from my parents, but from my friend whose mom was much more open and liberal. She was a good girl, it wasn't like a trashy thing, but I learned LOTS. 3rd grade. Guess what grade Annabelle is entering. . .

That's right.

So it's up to me to be the front line. She had asked some sort of question and she said, "you know. Like when moms and dads kiss and the seed goes from the dad to the mom" She was saying the men do have babies (because of the seed part) because I was talking about the glorious blessing that was given specifically to women to be creators and carriers of life.

Luckily, my friend had told me that she had read in a book to make it exciting and special like she was going to be in on a big secret that was JUST WONDERFUL.

So that's what I did.

I said "That's not how it works. But dad and I are going to tell you soon."

and she excitedly said, "Tell me now! I want to know"

and I said, "I can't. We only get to tell you when you are 8 and there are some kids around the table who aren't 8. But it's going to be great and you'll get to know something very, very special and sacred. You'll get to know how it work! It's very important (meanwhile I have a big exciting smile on my face) and it's also very sacred. Do you know what sacred means?"

She shook her head no

I said "It means it's something that Heavenly Father thinks is very special and spiritual. So we are going to make a time for just you, dad and I to get together and it's going to be super great."

So now what do I do?

Come on people, give me what you got. Either what you did that worked, or didn't work. Books, tips, suggestions.

Help a girl out here. I'm now on a timeline.

Rich people should give their money away

Someone PLEASE explain this to me.

Why does everyone--or at least many government officials--hate the rich?

My morning NPR has brought me to this morning's rant. Pansy politicians who want the rich to be punished--because they are rich--those wealthy bastards. Seriously?

Bush's tax cuts end at the end of the year. So politicians are scrambling at what to do. Taxes are supposed to go up across the board. An estimated 2.5% for everyone. The estate tax to 55% that's right people, you get taxed twice for making money.

Their thinking as presented on the radio: It's a recession, we can't up taxes. The public would be outraged. But then again, if we just up the taxes for people who make over $250,000 then that could show the people of America how we are serious about the deficit. The only people who aren't happy with taxing the rich are the rich. (that is actually what they said)

Um, WRONG. I'm not happy with it. And I'm the poor. TECHNICALLY poor. I think we're actually technically poverty at the moment, but that is just ridiculous.

Why do the rich have to take care of everything? Did they get rich by never having to pay taxes, or working hard? No. It's not fair. If they choose to work 80+ hour weeks and max out their credit cards to start a business that ends up becoming successful then we should celebrate that. Because guess what, they created jobs. LOTS and LOTS of jobs. And even if they didn't. It's THEIR money. We have NO RIGHT to it. They should be treated like everyone else. EVERYONE should be taxed the same. Make it fair.

Because you know what it actually does? It makes the rich want to hide their money in off shore accounts. OR it makes people like dentists and doctors figure out a way to make $249,999 a year just to fly under the radar. Even though they should be able to make as much money as they want. They went to at least 8 years of school AFTER high school. It's a sacrifice--they should earn the money they deserve and not be punished for it.

And the pansy politicians. Some want to vote on it soon (the ones from poor areas) to show that they are serious about things. Then the ones from the suburbs want to wait until after elections. Their constituents are "the rich". Balls up people. Do what you would do either way.

Politicians suck.

UGGGGGHHH. GGRRRRRRR. Expletive.

Oh and the estate tax. Don't forget about that. Here is the letter from the government:


Dear people who are dead,

Thank you for working so hard for the American dream. You saved (unlike us) and lived within your means (unlike us) you managed your estates well (unlike us). Thank you for working at a time when industry was actually located IN America. For working jobs that required shift work, hard hats and steel toed boots. We as a government salute you (suckers) with our hands to our foreheads (or our middle fingers). The taxes that you paid on that hard earned money has paid for roads and schools and so many worthwhile programs. Again we thank you (*snort).

Now that you are dead, as of January 1st, 55% of it is now OURS. We hope your work ethic and thriftiness is passed on to your children (so we can someday take their money too--oh wait we just did). Didn't anyone tell you that you can't take it with you?

Sincerely,


U.S. Government


Post note: This rant is dedicated to my hardworking, thrifty parents. Who have no debt, have money in the bank, and land with a home that is paid in full. I will do my best as your daughter to lawfully make sure that the government doesn't see a penny of what you worked so hard for. I just need to find me a "rich" person who knows the tricks.

TAKE THAT FEDS

I can

This awesome site on Canning is the coolest. It has free dowloadable print labels and everything! It makes me want to can some stuff. I was tipped off by the best blog arond: How about Orange. If you don't have that on your reader you should, most of the stuff I am tipped off to has come from there.

National Debt

The national debt FREAKS ME OUT. I want some sort of "Dear Government, get us out of debt, I have to live on a budget and so should you" sort of T-shirt I could wear everywhere everyday. I am pretty extreme in my how I think the government should cut spending. You could call it heartless, I just call it drastic. We are at that point.

Like why are we sending aid to all of these countries that are experiencing natural disasters and to poor countries that need vaccinations? I think they need help, but we don't have ANY money. We are putting donations on a credit card. We give aid to almost everyone. But seriously, it's time everyone gave aid to us. We are like the rich guy who lives in the rich neighborhood and drives the brand new Jaguar and wears brand new name brand clothes and goes on elaborate vacations, and then you notice one day there is a foreclosure notice on his house and people are repossessing his crap like gangbusters. Turns out that guy didn't really have any money.

Now before you think I'm absolutely heartless, I'm not. My degree was in non-profit health and human services, and I KNOW that the American people take care of themselves and others by donations and service. That is how things should be. And why does America always have to be the ones that swoop in and help everyone. It's time that we take a back seat and say, "Guess what--we aren't in a position to help everyone right now" "But call China, they are ready to step up onto the world stage and help everyone" Why is it ALWAYS America? I am not naive to say that no other countries send aid. They do, but we usually send the biggest chunk. Really. Let's play a game of Tag. Tag E.U., Tag Japan, Tag South American countries, Tag Canada. Please step in for us until we get back on our feet, then when we are debt free and living on a balanced (or surplus--nah never) budget then we would happy to let you tag us back and we will be the leaders yet again.

Also, get us out of war---that's expensive, quit spending to fix our economy (part of my theory is that America is spending so Americans are not--it scares them), reduce the size of government and hand it back to the people (that is what our founders dreamed of), create a law that says that the budget must be balanced or all overspending comes from the incomes and retirement of the politicians (that might put a fire under their butts now wouldn't it?).

But that is never going to happen, we are too busy vacationing in Bali. (Thanks for fronting us the money China--your I.O.U. is in the mail)


p.s. The reason I'm thinking about this TODAY is because I went HERE and read what my debt free hero had to say on the subject. Make sure to listen to the audio part.

FIRE THEM ALL!!!

Matching Tie Sale

My friend's company is having a sale for TODAY (Monday) only.

check it

thematchingtieguy.com