Boo Shirt...

Thanks for the fun shirt Aunt Emily!!

As you can see, I think I look pretty cool in it!

The not good, very bad day...

Well, Yesterday was a rough day for both Gavin and Mama! We made a mad dash to the Pediatrician's office in Norman, so we didn't have to wait all weekend to get medicine. Gavin has his first ear infection. Thankfully it's just outer ear and he is alread feeling better. But this comes at a difficult time for us all. Gavin has been extremely "two" for the past few weeks! He is proving to be a an extremely strong-willed child! For example, at the Dr.'s office yesterday, he freaked out when we tried to weigh him, and ran for it! I mean he ran 100 yards down the long hallway, into the business office with all the receptionists, and hid in the file room, Screaming like a wild banshee all the way! Every man, woman and child in the place came out of their exam rooms and stared at us. What can I say?? I guess he got my genes. I once crawled under the exam table at a check-up and wouldn't come out. He had to one-up me!

Floor time...

Chloe likes playing in the floor. Looks like she's not the only one. Meme came for a short visit this week. Gavin and Chloe got lots of good lovin!

Mama's Boots!

Gavin is absolutely intrigued by my new boots... He has worn them numerous times since they came to live here. Chloe was talking in this video...watch to the end for a surprise!

Saturday Picnic at the Park

Yummy picnic lunch...
Slinging in an African chitingi
eating blueberries
big boy on the toys
bigger boy on the slide

New Kitchen shade

I finally got my roman shade for the kitchen made. Tell me what you think...

War and Peace... (Election Issues Continued)

This is a toughy! Who really wants American service-people in harm’s way…. Ever? But, we will all acknowledge that there is a need for a strong military, should anyone ever attack us.
Without debating the original necessity of the Iraq war, what is the answer now? Where does our responsibility to the people of Iraq (human beings with families just like us) end… I would argue that our responsibility to them ends only when we have cleaned up the mess we made… Again, whether or not there was just cause to occupy, we can all admit our presence caused the Iraqi people some problems…
We should probably not leave them hanging, in our magnanimous American wake, to rebuild their shattered infrastructure…. (We did the shattering, you know) It’s so easy to invade and occupy when you know what’s best for the whole darn world… a little harder to clean up your mess in a culture you don’t really understand!
Let’s apply the wisdom of hindsight to the future potential conflicts we face. Isn’t it kind of arrogant to snub the U.N.???? Oh, I forgot… America isn’t arrogant; we’re just right! Without exception or ratification!

Phasing out the High-Chair...

Well, it has become well known around here that Gavin doesn't enjoy being cofined in the high chair. We pushed it for a while, for Mom and Dad's convenience and Gavi's safety, but the meal time blues are getting to be to common place. So, we've started phasing it out.... Here he is eating his sandwich and apples lunch at the bar! The crazy thing is, Chloe will be in it in about 3 more months!

HAIRCUT!!!

Well...We did it. And, it went better than ever before. Maybe someday he can do it without tears, though... breaks a Mama's heart!

Before Pictures

Gavin really hates haircuts! Like, alot... Some of you have participated in these events, and know what I am talking about. But, alas, as you can see from the pictures, he really needs one! So check in tomorrow night or Wednesday morning to see the "after" pictures. We plan to attempt a haircut tomorrow morning...

Helping out...

Gavin is starting to like Chloe... He gave her back her paci like a sweet big brother today!

The Energy Crisis / Environment

Okay, really… who didn’t see this one coming… There is only so much oil, Earthlings, and now there are simply too many human beings who need to drive SUVs (or drive at all for that matter)… I’ll admit, I’m one of them. I have daily guilt over my big vehicle… my rationale is that it’s paid for, and therefore keeping it is a better financial choice for my family… but, I ask myself often, does that alone make it right… Let’s follow this line of thinking…
We now live in an age of irony! It is cheaper by far to feed yourself and your family a steady diet of junk food, than to purchase and prepare healthful foods. Not only does this contribute to the health care crisis immensely, (yes, we” American Dreamers” are the most unhealthy, overweight people on earth), but it has all but devastated the local American farmers. When huge corporations own the patents (yes, that’s right..the patents) to vegetables…maybe capitalism has gone too far, and should re-evaluate… Do you know where the majority of farm subsidies have gone?? To big companies (household names) growing ungodly amounts of corn… to produce, that’s right…High Fructose Corn Syrup…check the label of just about anything in your pantry right now and you’ll see why they need so much corn… HFCS is in almost everything!!
Does it matter to our law makers that HFCS is the unhealthiest form of sugar available to mankind? That, HFCS alone is probably to blame for the majority of childhood obesity, type 2 Diabetes, vascular disease… the list goes on and on…
Well it doesn’t seem to matter… Forget small time local farms that grow safe, delicious, and LOCAL (as in very little gas needed to get it to the consumer) produce! Let’s subsidize farmers who will grow corn for us!! After all, with America’s HFCS addiction, corn is where the money is!!! We’ll just keep using tons and tons of oil (you know, that thing we’re running out of) to ship in cheaper produce from other countries… (Cheaper because we don’t pay those third world farmers a fair price). Is it really cheaper, in the long run? Absolutely not.
My point here is, Americans have, by our own Democratic choice, made it “too expensive” to live a healthy lifestyle… What can we do about it now? It’s not too late to turn in a healthier direction…
Our family is doing what we can by:
Growing our own vegetables, buying what we don’t grow locally when possible, walking instead of driving if at all possible (this is easier for you city dwellers!), and giving up convenience foods and goods (like disposable diapers)… Hey, I didn’t say it would be fun at first… But soooo much better for all of us in the not so long run!!!

Eco- friendly diapers

Chloe is modelling the latest addition to our "greener lifestyle". This is a hybrid diaper. Not as bad for the environment. I was sad when I realized disposables take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill. (500 to be exact). These decompose in 3-4 months or you can flush them. I've about decided to go all the way to cloth, though... It wouldn't be that much more work than the hybrid and I'll save hundreds of dollars over the next 2 years!!! Gosh ,maybe thousands...Wooohooo!!!

Any of you moms out there have cloth diaper advice?? I was thinking the bumGenius brand looks great....

The Economy

What is the general consensus? The economy is in trouble!
What are we doing about it? Arguing over who’s to blame… pointing fingers and making it about “who to vote for”…. Come on...
What should we be doing? How about taking personal responsibility? Has America completely lost the concept of “living within one’s means”??? Where did this ugly, unprecedented sense of entitlement come from? Does life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness really mean anyone, regardless of financial status (verified ability to repay a loan) is entitled to own their own home??? And, no matter who passed legislation to require this risky lending practice, who required anyone to go take out these loans????
Why is there a stigma to renting a place to live, when you can’t afford a loan payment that will undoubtedly go up when the variable interest rate goes up??? And who in their right mind takes out a home loan with a variable interest rate???? Even government assisted first time home buyers (FHA) can lock in at an affordable rate! I know, I am one!
Let’s help people who want to own a home , learn to manage their money, improve their credit scores, and thereby qualify for a safe kind of loan (fixed rate)!! Whether or not it looks good, or politically correct, you can’t just give the fruit of years of financial competency to those who have never been financially competent. Remember good old John Smith in Jamestown? “He who does not work, does not eat!” ?? We’ve come along way, baby! Now he who does not work can buy a house!!!
(As every home owner knows, you don’t really own the home until every single payment of principal and interest has been payed (15 to 30 years later). You really just own the loan (debt) and get to live in the house…) But, you don’t answer to a Land Lord…just a bank!
One more point on the economy… We could stop buying every single dad-blamed item we think we so badly need to live our American dream from CHINA!!!!!! How many toy recalls and (this one is really too much) baby formula recalls do we need ... to decide this nation doesn’t have it’s own citizens, let alone anyone else’s best interests at heart?? Don’t trade with BAD GOVERNMENTS. Set an example as the leader of the free world...
But we HAVE to HAVE the STUFF! And China's the only place with the man power to make it all.... Sigh.....

Who to vote for....

What are the 2008 Election Issues:

The American Economy

The Energy Crisis/ the Environment

The War in Iraq and other potential conflicts (Russia, North Korea, Pakistan)

Healthcare Crisis

Moral Issues (Abortion, Homosexual Marriage)

I’m desperately trying to make my decision. So I’m going to blog about these issues for a few days… I’ll read any comments anyone has. Just be respectful!

Nat

Happy Birthday Papa Dan!!

Big Girl Smiles!!

Chloe is at the adorable age of smiley, coo-ey, mobile-loving fun! Here are some pix and a great video! All taken today, in her crib...

The Debate

So, Ryan and I watched the debate last night (the dutiful Americans that we are) and I must say, I was sorely dissapointed. All either candidate really did in response to the questions was recite some obviously memorized answer that somehow tied in to the "shortcomings" of their opponent. I am sick of all the distortions of the truth, and the whole campaign process. Very soon, one of these guys will be elected president. And facing them immediately upon inauguration, are economic and ecological issues of huge implications! Last night they were too busy picking on each other, to share real answers to the questions we all have. For instance, "Sen. McCain, Sen. Obama, without regard to your opponent whatsoever, what actions will you take toward stabilizing the economy, making America green, and ending our military presence in Iraq? Don't insult my intelligence by saying, "my friends, I know how to do it...trust me..." We deserve some details about your plan(s)! And, call me pessimistic, but I'd be willing to bet that no matter who gets elected, there won't be some stellar plan that fixes any of the big issues! Greedy, opulent, self-important America has gotten herself into quite a fix... and it will take a lot more than a new president to stem the tide of disaster. We are all responsible for our energy crisis, and failed economy. It's easy to blame the big Wall-street companies, but the truth is each and every American adult has contributed to our situation, and if each of us doesn't make lifestyle changes and sacrifices, things will only get worse!

Thanks for reading my rant! Feel free to comment. (Keep comments polite, please!)

A really great day...

Today was my day off. We had a lot fun. Ryan was able to spend the day at home, too. We took a long walk to the park, played our hearts out, and then brought the kids home for lunch and a well deserved nap! It was in the high 60's/low 70's all day! Beautiful!

Gavin had sooo much fun scaring his Mama by going down the big kid slide over and over!

Chloe ain't skinny...

As some of you already noticed, our second born child seems to be taking after her mother in the genes responsible for size...I was a meatier baby than Ryan, and Gavin took after Ryan, but Chloe, who will be 12 weeks old on Friday, is already wearing size 6 months clothes quite well!

Aunt Darlene, do you recognize this outfit? I'm glad it already fits her!

Thomas Pictures

Checking out all the cool toys and such...


Riding the train and playing with his new "Percy" toy train



Here we are with the Big Blue Dude himself!

Day out with Thomas

Most of you know that Gavin LOVES Thomas the Tank Engine... well, Saturday he got meet him! We (Ryan, Nat, Gavin, Chloe, and Meme Carolyn) went to the Oklahoma Railway Museum's big "Day out with Thomas" event. Gavin got to ride the train, shop for fun Thomas stuff, and he had a blast! I'll post pictures soon!

First Post Ever...

Here goes... I was trying to nap yesterday afternoon, and so as usual, my thoughts were going 90 to nothing...I decided I really wanted to start and keep a blog for all of you. The sweet years of babyhood and childhood race by, and most of you don't get to experience our little darlings as often as you should! Hopefully this will help. Also, be aware that I will occasionally use this blog as an outlet to share my thoughts on any and every subject! (Note: If none of these things interest you, then just don't visit the blog...)
I only ask that, if you do enjoy it, please check our blog regularly, to give me incentive to keep posting!