The Old Utah West is Alive!

My Dad "Freemont Bob" Here's a picture from the blog Bob sent me a link to. This blog is written by a 5 year old Australian Shepherd named Rosie. In today's day and age I'm pretty sure I can say it's not the only blog written by a dog, but I'm sure it's one of the best!
What a great read! Have fun with this one. I was hooked from the first entry. I especially liked learning what my Dad's nickname is. Freemont River Bob.

Let me know what you think!

http://redrockrosie.blogspot.com/

Thinking out loud....

The new year is always a time for reflection. Mostly I reflect on how much I spent on the Holiday that I probably didn't need to. I then go into guilt mode for being so materialistic. I have to say I'm a lot better than I used to be with spending, maybe it's because I have everything I could possibly need and want, or maybe it's the 67% pay cut I took when I decided to take a less stressful job. When it comes down to it, we can not escape stress because we create it for ourselves. I now have stress because I have no money!

My mother once told me she always wanted to give us everything she never had as a kid. She grew up in a family with 4 kids and a disabled father. They did their best, but didn't have a lot of "stuff" or vacations etc. My mom did a great job giving us everything we wanted as kids. I really can't think of anything I wanted that I wasn't able to have. (except my parents refused to ship me off to live at gymnastics camp for a year. But, someday I'll get over it!) Now my mom says she wishes she would have worked less and spent more time with us as kids. And, I've always said I want my kids to have everything I had as a kid. (except the camp thing - sorry Alex and Carlie) Kind of funny, huh? It doesn't matter what background you come from you want your kids to have things to be happy. It doesn't matter if it's a toy, or in my case I want lessons for the kids, and vacations with the family. We can never get it in our heads that all the kid wants is a box, a stick, some dirt and mom and dad. No money. They'd be happier living in a tent with both parents home. (the yurt is NOT dead yet!) However, for me it's not just about providing for the kids. I really do love the thrill of making a deal, and I love working when I'm making a lot of money. I'm torn because I also LOVE being a mom. I really do want it all.

So, back to the stress. Now I have stress because I have no money. I shouldn't say I have NO money, I still make more myself than a lot of 2 income families. My deal is that I love money! There, I've said it. How horrible! I'm suposed to be non materialistic. I do yoga, I do Reiki, I study herbal medicine, I want to begin Tai Chi. These people do not love money. I do love money, I love making it, I love collecting it. I love spending it too.

So, in all my reflecting I think I'll just stop my struggles with the whole money thing. I am not Buddah like. Never will be. Nope. I want to go to the Bahamas instead. I'll just have to accept that this is who I am. I'm not going to take anymore paycuts for less stress. Some stress is good, it motivates me. So, here's a cheer to a prosperous new year for everyone who wants one! Happy New Year to you all!

Christmas pictures 2008

Alex with Christmas all around her! Note Hans trying to get a bow off a package... Alex opening presents

Alex gets a Nuggets sweatshirt!

Thank you PaPa Tom and Sherry! Carlie and her Tiger that Santa brought her.Alex and her Lion Santa brought.Carlie and Mom

Hans enjoying Carlie's horse ranch Santa brought

Alex LOVED this book! (Second book in the Twilight series) 500+ pages read before the Holiday break was over.
Carlie's new Princess dress.
Here it is!
The new horse from Ga and Pa. Thank you!
Sweatshirt from Gram Gram and Rita. Thank you!
Cheese stick and sweatshirt. Carlie wanted to wear it backwards, the BIG unicorn is on the back! Did I mention Carlie LOVES horses? Hans in the coral with Carlie's doll

Magic princess wand, real live pretend tiger cub, and pink purse. What a happy girl!

Just some pictures....

My studious husband. He's found a hobby! Researching gun control laws. Whatever makes you happy!

Posing with his fur accessory. Luckily he doesn't move much.... (the cat that is)
My cute Alex....(who has stayed up every night of Christmas break until at least 2am reading! Just like your Mom!)

My cute Carlie...

Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas!!

OK, there are several things worth mentioning this year, I'll do my best to get them all down coherently! First of all I didn't have to work Tuesday, (almost Wednesday -only 4 hours) or Thursday, which was Christmas day. I haven't had that much time off in 6 weeks. I'm sooooo thankful I got to be home for a couple of days. I really needed it to recharge and spend time with my family. I feel so much better now, and definitely more grounded.

The next thing worth mentioning is Christmas morning. Ga and Pa, along with Mark, Beth and Ryan all come over Christmas morning to open presents. We told them to just come on over anytime, after the sun is up! At 7:30am the doorbell rings. Nothing. Light knocking. Nothing. Doorbell again. Nothing. LOUD knocking. Matt jumps up and hurries to the door. We were all sound asleep! Ga and Pa got up at 5:30 am and waited as long as they could before they came over. (Thank you by the way!) Carlie and I stayed in bed another 15 before Carlie finally woke up. I've never had to wake 2 kids up for Christmas before. We must have been so tired. Once they got up we had a great time. I'll post pictures later, and a video.

Honorable mention: Alex didn't get a puppy - like that was a big shocker! But, she did get a Wowee Alive Lion Cub, Some CD's and $100 to go towards her puppy fund from Santa. Not a bad consolation prize.

Carlie got a Wowee Alive White Tiger, horse rug, some horses (once again not alive) and a barn from Santa. Santa just wasn't OK with all the live animals in the sleigh this year. Too crowded. And, finding a live Unicorn for Carlie was too hard, even for Santa!

Definitely worth mentioning: Matt gave me some beautiful antique pearls, and Ga and Pa gave me some beautiful pearls. I love pearls! They're just so pretty with anything. (you may notice this as I wore them all day with my sweatshirt and jeans!)

Matt also hunted high and low for some perfume for me. Thank you! Matt got his jacket he's been drooling over- the North face Apex Bionic.

Christmas night we made a roast for dinner. We had a wonderful day together. I think this year was one of the best Christmases so far because I really appreciated being at home with my family. Thank you, and I love you all!

More from the princess...

New dress, by the tree
Eating her dad's birthday cake...

Looking very Princessy- she put the make up on all by herself!

Playing with princess things

I love you!

Carlie is so much fun to be around! Of course, what 3 year old isn't? Here are a few pictures of her just doing her thing. I'm so very lucky to have you Carlie June. I love you to the moon and back. Better yet, to Luke Skywalkers house and back!

Matt and Carlie

Carlie - very tired! What a sweetie!Carlie and her dad Just playing!
Carlie in her princess jammies

Laughing!

This is funny! She can navigate the computer like anything- but notice the bottle? I never thought a kid with a bottle could navigate on a computer. Bella Sara is her favorite site!

There is always a silver lining to every cloud. Matt lost his job about two months ago. I should more accurately say the company he was working for went under. While it has been very hard financially, there have been an upside to the whole deal. Carlie and Matt have been spending a lot of time at home together, they've gotten a lot closer. I've gotten a second job at Walmart to help save and pay off some debt, so they really are home a lot alone now. The other silver lining is that Matt sold his house he had when we got married, so the money from the house has allowed us a few months without real hardship. In an ideal world we could have saved the money, or paid off the back porch, but at least the house is sold and that's one less bill each month. It couldn't have been better timing. Someone must be out there watching over us. In the meantime, enjoy your little girl dad, because I'm hoping I get my turn soon!