Dear Don:

For anyone who missed my point, let me clarify a few things. First, I did not vote for Obama and I did vote for McCain. I think Obama has a very week, flip-flopping foreign policy that spells trouble. I strongly disagree with his economic policy. His entire campaign he said that he would only increase taxes on those who make more than 250,000.00 a year. Both you and I know that in this day and age, that is really not that much money. Having said that, now Vice President Elect Biden as early as last week said the figure will more likely be 125,000.00. Apparently that fell on deaf ears... but I heard it loud and clear. So, for most people I know... you will be paying more taxes. Why? To fund free health care. Now, this is a totally different debate entirely. Let's just say I am very against this. Anthony works in the medical field and is very informed about this issue and he is very against it. I am not going to debate immigration because that is the one main area that I disagreed with both candidates. What did not say is that we, as a country, are educated voters. I said that we, as a country, are a great nation because we give fundamental rights such as voting(and I could also argue the definition of fundamental because a lot of people think everything is a "fundamental" right). What I was saying was that hopefully everyone can stop complaining about everything they think is so bad about our country. Debating about why people voted the way they did is futile. You and I both know why we voted the way we did and the reasons why people voted for Obama, at this point, doesn't really matter. In closing, I will say that I hope more than anything that Obama proves me wrong... I just don't thimk that is going to happen.

Proud to be an American!

Since Paige gave me my soapbox back...

I must say that I am glad the election is over. Everyone that knows me, knows how I voted. I don't need or want anyone to agree with my political views. I am not going to debate why I think McCain would be a better president. This year in particular I am really surprised at all the mean spirited, ugly actions of people whose only fuel is that they disagree with your political views. I know it happens on both sides of the aisle... so let's just move on. I have always believed that we live in a great nation, founded on the focus of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I am proud of how far we have come along in our short history as a nation. It was not that long ago that discrimination was legal. It was not that long ago that women could not vote. It was not that long ago - yesterday - that we were considered a nation of hate. A nation of injustice. A nation of intolerance. A nation of arrogance. But today... with one presidential election... we have changed the international view of our country. There was international coverage on television last night with people all over the world rejoicing for our country. Rejoicing for our choice. Admiring the freedoms and rights we so easily take for granted. I am proud that I live in a country that has proven time and time again that the American Dream is alive and well. It always has been... always will. I am proud that in such a small span of time our country went from legal discrimination to electing a black president. It proves a whole lot... not only to other countries... but to ourselves. Now can everyone open there eyes and see what I have always seen? We are a great country. There is nothing arrogant about saying that. With one presidential election perhaps everyone will realize the reality of living in our great country... anything is possible, anything is achievable... it just takes a lot of hard work, strong ethic, and a belief in yourself. If you don't believe me, just ask Barack Obama.

Don't have pictures, but...

I did get WAY more sleep last night. I actually went home early to take a nap and that was my saving grace. I was up on Sunday because now Abby is sick. She doesn't have what Ruby had... just a cold. But, this time change hasn't been that good so far, either. Abby is not the type to wake up in the middle of the night unless she is sick, and when she wakes up, she just wants to play. She doesn't like to be rocked or swayed. She loves to cuddle/play. By the time I got her back to sleep it was after 3:00am in our bed. I just fell asleep and Ruby woke up. I got Ruby back to sleep, crawled back into bed, closed my eyes... just to be woken up by Ruby again saying she wanted to lay with us, too - I think she was jealous;). Needless to say, she woke up Abby and we all got out of bed officially at 5:00am. And NO Ang, I am definitely NOT pregnant. I can't even imagine the thought let alone the energy needed for that kind of thing. I thought you loved me Ang! Don't curse me! I will post some pictures later... Halloween was fun. Shannon had a great party for the kids... Thanks Shan! And, since I have been up since 5:15, I had enough time to get everyone ready and get out the door in time to Vote, pick up a fresh diet coke from 7-eleven, and get to work at 8:03... yes I could have not gotten the diet coke and been to work on time but TRUST ME... I need it to function:) Happy Voting Day... everyone Vote! I would go on a political rant right now,but Paige has my soapbox:)

Again, too tired.

I was so happy that both girls were asleep at 7:40 last night. I thought: I am going to get a juicy night sleep. Since I have pretty much been awake since 1:00am I can tell you that I am surprised I can even type. I am so tired I am nauseous and would pay 500 dollars to stay in a roach motel if it meant I could put on the air conditioner, close the blinds, and sleep.

My not so little Jumping Bean

With Ruby being sick and me being tired, Abby is a ray of sunshine in our house. She constantly makes me laugh. She is so silly and so funny. She LOVES to jump and run. She will jump off of anything and instead of battling her to stay down, I sit back and laugh and enjoy her adventurous spirit. She can be too adventurous at times and it seems like she can almost run faster than I can. I'll say "on your marks, get set, GO!" and she runs around laughing hysterically. I love to catch her and tell how happy she makes me! She is a mischievous one to boot. My mom called me at work laughing and started by saying "I don't know if I should tell you this, but..." I ask what the heck did Abby do? She said she couldn't find her so she went searching around the house. She finally hears her humming twinkle twinkle little star and laughing in the master bathroom. She goes in to find her STANDING IN THE TOILET... flushing it and laughing as all the water swirls around her feet! I know it is disgusting, but you just have to laugh. Ruby is feeling better, but is still pathetic. All she wants is her mamma... all I want is for her to be better. I love my girlies!

Is Abby a bad influence or a good influence on Ruby? I couldn't find them and then I heard Ruby yell "here we are mamma"! (yes, they are inside the dryer)

Too Tired!

We are all Mom's so you are all going to read this and say "so what"! Having said that, I am still going to vent. Tuesday night Ruby never slept more than an hour at a time after 11:00pm, so yesterday I was already tired. I worked 8-4. Got home at 4:30. Run in the house and put in a load of laundry and pull out what I am cooking for dinner all the while on the phone to direct tv - another issue entirely! I run next door to get the girls and Ruby is totally pathetic and Abby is full of energy. As we are walking home, Abby wants to stay outside and run around(which we usually do). Ruby is crying to go inside and lay on the couch. We go inside and Abby has a fit. I get them in and settled. Ruby hasn't really eaten since Saturday and now she is complaining her tummy hurts. I figure good ole' chicken soup will probably do the trick. I actually got her to eat a small bowl - yeah! I finish feeding the girls and begin cooking our dinner, change a load of laundry, and do some dishes. Anthony gets home just before 6. I tell him to go ahead and eat... I have to go to the 99 cent store to get some treats for Ruby's class party on Friday. I take both the girls - that place is awesome b.t.w. I call Anthony on the way home to start the girls bath. Get home, unload, give the girls a bath. Get them out, get them in their p.j.'s and put on Aladdin so I can do a few chores. I switch the laundry over, fold the dry load, put them away. I get out the girls outfits for today. I FINALLY sit down to eat around 8:00. I clean up the kitchen mess and go play with the girls. I get Abby to bed just before 9:00 and tell Ruby she can lay on the couch since she is having such a difficult time sleeping. Anthony leaves at 9:00 for his 9:30pm basketball game. I clean the living room and move on to making lunches for today. I finish around 10:00. I fold the last load of laundry. I realize it is 10:30. I was going to take a shower to save morning time, but I am too tired and decide to watch the end of the Biggest Loser. Anthony gets home at 10:45. I crash into bed at 11:00. At 3:00am Ruby crawled in bed with us. She flops around like a fish out of water. Anthony is quietly snoring, not even noticing this fish between us. Around 4:15 I can't handle it anymore and sneak into the living room. I fall back asleep just before 4:30. At 4:44 Ruby is laying on top of me saying her ear and throat hurts. I get up, give her Motrin and tell her she has to go lay in her OWN bed. Around 5:45 I end up just laying in bed with her. She is sound asleep within 5 minutes. I wait until 6:00 and sneak out. I go to bed and Anthony is now snoring loudly. I decide to go lay on the couch. Now it is 6:15 and I decide I should just get in the shower. I turn on the tv and then fall back asleep!!! I wake up at 7:15 frantic! I have 15 minutes to get out of the house! Both the girls are asleep. I hop in the shower - kick myself for not taking one the night before - and scramble to get ready. At 7:30 both girls are up and I feel horrible that I have to run out. I wake up Anthony, give him a quick run down, bring Abby to my Mom's (she has a major melt down when I leave the house). I tell Anthony to get Ruby dressed and bring her to my mom's in a bit. I walk to my Mom's, drop off Abby... apologize she is still in her jammies, give her kisses and race to work to arrive at 8:04pm. Sleep deprivation is the devil. Don't military people use it as a torturing device? I must say that the last 45 minutes of sleep saved me and will get me through the day. I am - just like ever other mom - TIRED!

Recent Fun... and not so fun.

Last weekend we brought the kids to the LA Zoo. All in all, it was a success. We used our Entertainment book coupons, so it was well worth the 12 bucks!

These two are going to have the worst/best Love/Hate relationship for the rest of their life!

The gang!

Don't you just love Taylors bow? I need to figure out how to make them.

Last Wednesday Kim and I met Ang at Halloween Disney. We collectively agreed to only take the older kids, even though we all felt horrible leaving the little ones at home. I am glad we did, though... I was exhausted by the time I got home at 10:40pm!

The Cowgirl and the Pirate.

Brady was Mr. Incredible and he was SO cute!

This past Sunday we took the kids to the Nature Center. We did the 2 mile hike and the kids loved it. Trevor walked/ran the ENTIRE 2 miles. Ruby walked about .2 miles:) That's my girl! In another year Abby will be able to keep up with Trevor... as for now she is too side-tracked trying to eat dirt, leaves, and sticks.

I LOVE this picture and LOVE these kids even more.

Don't they look sweet?

After the hike we crossed over to El Dorado Park to eat lunch and take a train ride.

Following the leader...:)

So, the not so fun part... Ruby has Hand-Foot-Mouth disease. It is so sad and she has been so pathetic. She really hasn't eaten since last Saturday. She has all these open sores in her mouth and I feel terrible for her. The crazy thing is... she had it when Abby was 3 weeks old. The doctor told us that it was in the chicken pox family and that once you get it, you can't get it again! So, when I brought her in yesterday, she just said it is very rare to get it twice and that it appears that this one is a particularly strong strain... because of how bad she has it. I called her school to let them know and the coordinator said that there have been quite a few kids out in the last few weeks with similar symptoms... the joys of pre-school. To top it off, we had recently had a lot of success with her sleeping issues and all it takes is a sickness to come around and change everything. Last night she was up and crying about every hour... so I hopped in bed with her and if it gave me ten more minutes of sleep, it was well worth giving in! Kim - I'll keep my fingers crossed that your kids don't get it!