monuMENTAL

Before I leave, i just wanted to show you what we just did. He wanted it.... I finally broke down and got it done. I almost cried. I don't know if i like it. Maybe it'll grow on me. Maybe I'll just wish it would grow.

Free recipe Friday 12/ Break

Before i take a much needed break.... (I have picked up a few things like running, and reading and blogging and i'm in the middle of a blanket that needs to get finished before someone has a baby, and another one before someone else has a baby, and one baby that i missed, and 5 of 5 still doesn't have one and have neglected other important things, like my house). I will leave you with a recipe and my thoughts on McCain's speech last night.
The recipe is for a stroganoff.
Pound out 1 lb of round steak, until it's thin. (I never weigh meat, i just pull what ever out and cook it) Slice across the grain. It makes it more tender. Saute this with onion and garlic until cooked. Add 1 can beef and 1 can chicken broth. (if you just use beef, it's too salty) Cook until liquid is almost gone. Add 1/2 tub sour cream and 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce) Serve with rice or egg noodles.

Now, I loved John's message of service. He said, if you are unhappy about the way the country is being run, quit complaining, and change it. Run for office, donate to a food bank, or join the armed service . In this you will change the problem.
I loved the quote "I wasn't my own man anymore, I was my country's"

And on one final note.... In response to Obama. I do cling to my God and Religion in times of trouble. (maybe not the gun part) But i find comfort and peace there. Maybe he should try it.

On My Mind, Thursday?

After, getting really angry about how many times these politicians, namely the democrats, call themselves one of us, I have found someone who I truly believe is one of us. Palin really does have a normal typical family. With all the real life qualities every other American family struggles with and worries about. She has a 17 year old unmarried pregnant daughter. Lots of parents do. And i love that she still wants to down size sex ed. funding in our schools. Because that belongs in the home. Schools should teach abstinence, and then if parents want their kid to know more.... they can teach them.
Why is it, that no one is asking if Barak is able to still be a dad if he gets elected? Why is it this horrible problem if she is in the white house. Don't lots of American moms work outside the home? I have to say one of the reasons i would not vote for Hillary (among other reasons) is because i don't think a woman should have that job. Commander in Chief. I have my reasons. I am very traditional that way, and i am entitled to feel that way. But, i feel different about Palin. I think she will bring something needed.
I love that she wants to drill American oil for Americans.
I am angry with Barak's view that the economic crisis is Bush's fault. Come on people, take responsibility for your own financial woes. He didn't force anyone to take out credit cards so you could buy stuff you can't afford. Or buy more house than you needed or could afford. Then take all the money out of said house so you were upside down in it, then whine because you were loosing it. And as it always has, the economy ebbs and flows. It always has, always will. If everyone wasn't so stretched trying to afford things they feel are necessity. Instead of wants, we could afford the things we needed.
My other peeve is Barak's claim that if her were elected, he would make higher ed. affordable. Well that sounds great. It appeals to all the people in school. But honestly, how would he do that. One of the reasons Universities charge that much, is because people will pay it. They take out loans, mortgage homes.... The only way that would cost less, is if the college professors would take a pay cut. Do you know anyone that would do that? If they were made to, they would just find a job that paid the same amount they were making. We have seen people aren't willing to do that, look at all the oil executives lining their pockets. Instead of passing the billions of dollars of profits on to the people that are making them rich.
I don't want to bash Democrats. I think every one is entitled to think and do what they think is right. And with everything, there is good and bad in every bunch. I'm sure there are tons of flaws with the republican party. We ought to rid ourselves of the party system, and just vote for the best one. (whoever gets rid of the day light savings program gets my vote)
There were a few parts of Palins speech that were a little harsh. Mean spirited. But, i agreed with them. And you can't get your point across with out pushing a little. I think McCain and Palin are the right people for the job...
Did anyone else feel like they were watching a Devotional on KBYU as you watched? If you blocked out the words?
Anywho, feel free to comment on what you did like, and what you didn't like about her speech, and what you do/don't like about her.
And on a side note, scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and click on watch in real time, and check out how many people hit my site because they googled Palin Spit Bath......

Palin Spit Bath

Did anyone else catch Sarah Palin's daughter giving her youngest son a spit bath? Too cute. I just have to laugh. I Love this woman. I have thought she was pretty neat from the time i first heard of her, when she had a son with Down Syndrome. Then i found out she knew before he was born that he had DS.

To me, that makes her great.

For Stamps /and Other Such Things

This is the picture i was telling you about. It just reminded me of your other half.

And, we officially made it 8 years without a child caused (our kid, i guess my niece backed up the toilet about a year ago. That was disaster) disaster. Until now. The picture does not do it justice. This was after i got the water stopped, and it had started draining. My floor is not usually this shiny. There is literally 2 inches of water on the floor. Luckily the slab slants to the north, so the water didn't saturate our new carpet. So the tub is overflowing, and 3 of 5 runs up stairs... "mom! Something HORRIBLE is happening!" At least he got the gravity of the situation. I know the tub had been running for at least 2 hrs. It had been at least that long since 4 of 5 came and asked me if she could take a bath. I said no, and i left and apparently she didn't leave until she started the tub and realized she couldn't get herself in. Or maybe it was because she had only turned the cold water on. I am really quite grateful that it was cold, and she didn't get in. It could have turned out much worse. And, on the plus side... I got my bathroom floor cleaned.

The Corn Dog Stays At the Table

I wonder if she ever gets tired of hearing that? I get tired of saying it. I wonder if she thinks if she takes it downstairs this time, It'll be the time i let her eat it down there. I wonder if, like other things, it'll just stop one day. Like someone waved a wand, or like it had never started. That's what it was like when she decided to quit playing in the toilet. I wish the potty training would happen like that.
As I've told many before. I can pretty much teach her to do anything. It's the teaching her to NOT do things that has proven difficult.
I wonder if she'll ever get tired of pushing the buttons on the TV/DVD player/ Equalizer/ VCR. Probably not.

Trilo what?

I had never heard of a trilobite until about 2-3 months ago.
Now I'm hunting for them.
We went with them.



To look for these.
And got back about then
And went here
And did a little of this, and that






And being the horrible picture taker that I am... I didn't even think about the camera until we had been there for about 4 hrs, and it was time to go home.
We got up at 6, got packed up, got kids up at 7, Harrisons got there at 8. Then we made a breakfast of fresh eggs on English muffins bacon cheese and homemade salsa. Yum. Got on the road at about 9. We hit Delta about 11:30 and got to the quarry about 12:30. We ate a lunch about 1, then went off to rock hound. I didn't end up running that morning, but after climbing the hill we were on 1st with 4 of 5 on my back, then with 5 of 5, it felt sufficient.
The kids weren't really into it at first, then they started finding the trilobites and got excited. the men we off and running before we said go. Actually when it was time to go, we had to pry them off the mountain.
About an hr before we left, i could tell 4 of 5 was tired, she kept nodding off in the camping chair, and fell every time she walked. SO i laid a sleeping 5 of 5 down of the car floor and went to hold 4 of 5 until she fell asleep. It took all of about 30 seconds. About 15 minutes into her nap i started thinking, i needed to go check on the baby. I didn't want to put 4 of 5 down because she would have woken up. Next thing i know. 5 of 5 is on the ground screaming. She had fallen out of the car. Totally an" I'm a bad mom" moment. She's a little banged up, but otherwise, no long term damage. Drop them on their head once, and they never forgive you.
But, we made it home at about 10, and even got everyone to school on time.
Tomorrow we have another adventure. 4 of 5 gets to go meet her teacher and has her orientation .