Saturday, April 30, 2011

Trump? Really?
My Thoughts on Donald Trump

He is a self aggrandizing promoter who personifies much that is wrong with America. I’m not sure if he is really even serious about running for president or just using it as yet another way to draw attention to himself to increase his reality show ratings.

As a presidential candidate he has built his reputation on the Obama birther argument, that is, the ridiculous idea that Obama is an illegitimate president because he really was not born in the United States. Besides the fact that Obama’s mother is a citizen (which automatically makes her son a citizen regardless of where he is born), researchers have presented decades-old newspaper articles announcing Obama’s birth in Hawaii, and Obama himself has released both his short and long form birth certificates. Still, iron-clad evidence is no obstacle for irrational political extremists. The sad part is that he is actually influencing the political discourse with this garbage, and as people pay attention to it they are distracted from genuinely significant issues. I’m not sure if Trump is that stupid himself, or just courting this idiotic segment of the population for his own benefit, but in either case I don’t want somebody like that running our country.

The other way Trump has built support for his candidacy is through his supposed prowess as a businessman. Who better to save the American economy? Did nobody notice that Trump (or companies bearing his name) declared bankruptcy four times in the past two decades (1991, 1992, 2004, 2009)? If he was your personal investor he would probably put all your money in speculative companies, make lots of quick cash, take his cut, and then jump ship when your portfolio crashed. He is a user, and the economic roller coaster that he and corporate slime-balls like him create is the last thing our nation needs.


Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter

Well this is definitely an Easter we will not forget. Before we traveled down to LA for Heather's surprise party they had unfortunately experienced the flu. But everyone was better and it had been enough time, that we didn't even think twice. On the way home Saturday Matt felt pretty awful and spent the rest of the day in bed. He was supposed to speak in Church on Easter and I planned on giving his talk for him if he was not well enough. I was also directing the Ward Choir. Then at 4 a.m. I started in with the flu and so we all ended up missing Church. A wonderful woman in our Ward directed the choir and I heard they were wonderful. How can it be Easter Sunday without going to Church?
Abby is so far still healthy (knock on wood) and has been quite bored with her sick parents today. She did open up her Easter basket this afternoon and immediately put together her puzzles. I am sure we will have to fight with the swords later. A friend of hers left his sword at our home and she has played with it a lot. So I found swords for all of us to enjoy.
Abby is such a wonderful little girl. She keeps asking us if we feel better and just wants to be cuddled with. I can't wait to feel better!
While Abby and I were in Tempe Matt worked so hard on our backyard. He finished as much as he can do on the pond. He is going to get some more professional help to do the electrical wiring and pump and filter so that we know it is done right. But just look at all of the rocks he hauled in and put in place. (The tree in front is our clementine tree--it will not go there when it is planted!)
He also put together our raised garden. What an amazing man I married!

California Party!

After Abby and I returned from Tempe we washed some clothes and all of us headed down to LA. Matt's sister Heather had a birthday on Friday, the 22nd, so her husband Brandon and I planned a fun surprise party for her on Thursday night. She did find out right before coming back to her apartment, but we all had a great time. We had excellent food thanks to Matt's Mom and Dad and the best part was everyone hanging out. I think Heather said it was one of her best birthday parties ever! Abby and Dexter love to play together. They enjoyed jumping off a chair into Brandon's arms. The best part was watching them cheer each other on!
We gave Heather a great new cookbook that I really want too!
Friday morning we went to see our friends Mike and Jenny Wilcox and their very cute family. They have a new 5 week old daughter named Paige and we loved holding her!
Abby likes to flip over on anything and here she is using Matt!
Friday afternoon Abby and Dex died eggs and we hid plastic eggs for them to find. They are so cute.
Abby, Dexter, Grandpa Roger after a spaghetti dinner.
Abby crashed on Grandma after a long and fun day.
Abby and Matt playing on the bed.
Abby and Great Grandma Ruth playing in her room.
Aren't families the greatest?!

Arizona Sunshine

Friday, April 15 Abby and I drove to Tempe, AZ. I was nervous about how she would travel since this is her first trip potty trained. She was unbelievable! She held it for over 5 1/2 hours and finally I stopped and took her to the bathroom even though she did not ask. She was a perfect angel on the drive. We sang, listened to music, she read, played with Mickey, Minnie and the Toy Story characters, colored, did flash cards, etc. We had so much fun.
Our trip was full of fun and friends. We stayed with the Taysom's and Abby was able to play with Natalie's niece, Caely a lot. Here they are reading.
Ready for Church.
Saturday we woke up early and went to the Phoenix Zoo with Natalie, Caely, our friends the Jones' and a friend of Natalie's. We saw tigers, lions. . .
Mandrills
and even rode a camel thanks to Natalie's friend!
After baking in the Arizona sun (I forgot how hot it is!) we drove to Bahama Bucks and had a Bahama Mama Rama. So yummy.
After a brief stop at Natalie's Ward barbecue we drove to her Bishop's beautiful home and played in their amazing but very cold pool. It was cold even on my feet! Abby would shake with cold and then get back in! Crazy girl!
Sunday we went to Church in our old Tempe Ward and it was so wonderful to see so many friends. We do miss our Tempe friends!

Sunday afternoon we ate lunch with Carric and Jenny Smolnik.
Our rental car had a flat tire, so Carric took it off, put on the spare, and helped us switch the car. What a pain! Thanks you guys for lunch and all of your help!
Sunday night I attended a mission fireside and the choir I conducted for two years, the Arizona Deseret Choir performed. It was so good to see all of them. I really miss them. Carric is now conducting the choir and they did a beautiful job. I really want to start my own choir!
After the fireside we stopped to see the Jackson family. I taught Cami and Hannah piano lessons and we all became such good friends. Abby loves them so much and Lynn would always spoil her. Hannah played the piano for us and she is playing so well. It is amazing to think of where she was years ago when we began lessons and how beautifully she plays now. Makes me so happy to be a teacher!
I also attended the Mesa Temple while we were in Arizona. It is difficult for us to get to the LA Temple, so I took advantage of a temple so close. It felt so good to escape from the rest of the world and focus on the most important things in life. I am so grateful to Carric for watching Abby so that I could attend the temple.
I already miss the Arizona sunshine!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Happy Birthday Matt!

So I began this post on Matt's birthday and did not get it posted right away because things got a little busy! But I decided not to change what I had written. I just did not want anyone to get confused because Matt's birthday was the 10th!

Happy Birthday to the love of my life! Matt is not big on birthdays but I still want everyone to celebrate him. He is my best friend, my love, my strength, my laughter, my everything. I am constantly reminded in the big and little things of life that he is one of my very greatest blessings. I love you Mattie!
Anyways, it is time to catch up with some pictures since our party.
Pictures from gymnastics and swimming on March 28th.
Tuesday evening I teach piano to the Petersen boys--Aaron and Dallin. Abby loves to play with them. Abby and Aaron got out the BYU football helmets and went out and threw the football around.
Now that the backyard is partly finished Abby does not want to be inside anymore. As soon as she gets up in the morning she says, "Mommy, go outside?" She doesn't give up either! We eat lunch outside, play outside, do school time outside, etc. Here is Abby outside on the 29th. She insisted on wearing her train hat outside that day.

Saturday evening of Conference weekend Abby and I went over to the Pitts' home while the men were at the Priesthood session. There were lots of women and kids and Abby dressed up in one of their costumes as a pony and had so much fun with the kids.
Grandma and Grandpa Garrett came up during Conference weekend and we enjoyed having them. They came up specifically to watch Abby do her gymnastics and swimming classes on Tuesday morning. Abby loves to spend time with them.
Grandma and Grandpa checking out the new backyard!
Grandma and Grandpa brought Abby a fun skirt that she wore to gymnastics. Here she is trying it on.
Watching conference Sunday morning.
Grandma and Grandpa took Abby out for some adventures on Monday and Grandma called me after a few hours. Abby loves to be out and does not normally ask to come home. On Monday, after a while she said, as they got in the car, "Go home and see Mommy now?" I guess she asked a couple times and so Grandma called to tell me. It made my whole day! The two of us are basically inseparable now, so I guess it's pretty normal. It made me feel so loved! I was home madly grading the first wave of papers for the on-line class I am teaching for CSUB.
They took Abby to Tehachapi and found some kind of train museum.
Abby finally got a little sleepy.
Outside riding the 4-wheeler.
Tuesday morning: gymnastics and swimming.
After both classes we took a picnic lunch to a park.
Abby pretending to make and serve food. She even pretended to put in the order and brought the food out to people. She made me a yummy milkshake!
Where would we be without Grandma's and Grandpa's?
Matt mowing our backyard lawn for the first time!
Matt is now in charge of the Native American Cultural Awareness Club at Bakersfield College. He actually resurrected the club and is getting a good response from students. On Saturday, the 9th there was a Garden Fest at Bakersfield College and Matt's club had a booth. So he spent the day there and Abby and I spent a few hours in the morning. We actually watched a local pond shop build a pond from scratch. We are trying to finish our pond, so this was very educational. We can pretty much do it ourselves, but might have the professionals come out to hook up the pump and filter. There were just so many places to make a mistake. The Garden Fest was a pretty cool event.
Abby ready for Church on Sunday, the 10th of April.

Isn't she the cutest girl ever?!