all I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten.

The year was 1985. My parents had just moved into a new home (the same home they are living in 23 years later.) I was 6 years old and starting my scholastic career as a Mountain Man at Oquirrh Elementary... (and you better believe I can still sing the fight song!) I have many great memories from Kindergarten, but I think that's because I suppress all the bad and only talk about the good :) Kindergarten gave me a new sense of freedom and I loved making new friends. My mom allowed me to walk to school with my friends and that was thrilling! I was shy, sweet and told other kids on the playground that they didn't jump rope the RIGHT way. (How many times do you want me to apologize Annie? Geez.) I have always been independent, but I don't think I have a rebellious bone in my body. My mom would probably disagree, but that's because she's biased. The only time I can think of openly rebelling was in Kindergarten on picture day. At least that's the only time we have proof of my rebellion. I think.

Picture day was always exciting, wasn't it? For years, I had watched my older sisters stress about school pictures... "What do I wear? How should I style my hair? How do I keep the picture guy from making me smile my real smile?" (because we all know that the half-smile is definitely more sexy.) I am telling you, I knew the tricks of the trade and had my outfit all planned out. But the morning of my very first official school picture day, my mom crushed my hopes and dreams. She insisted that I wore my fancy, lacy pink dress, not my favorite (dirty) stripped T-shirt. I was devastated. It was hard enough getting through church wearing that itchy thing, but HOW was I going to run around the playground with a frilly dress? She reassured me that it would be okay and that fancy was the only way to go. I was disappointed, but agreed to wear it, as long as I could accessorize with my favorite pink jelly necklace. When I put the necklace over my dress, my mom took one look at me and said, "No way, no how." She told me that it did not look good together.. but I disagreed. After all, they were both pink!!!! She gave me The Look, and I was crushed. I took off the necklace and sulked down the hallway to my bedroom. And THEN I had a glorious idea. I would pretend that it didn't bother me. I would leave the house without wearing the necklace, carry on as normal and when it was time for pictures, I would pull out the jelly necklace from the secret compartment of my backpack and wear it for the portrait. Brilliant. No one will ever know. I was so smart and sneaky that after the pictures were taken, I took off the necklace, slipped it in my backpack and returned home as Miss Obedient. I had fooled everyone. Or so I thought. My six-year-old-brain didn't realize that the pictures would be printed and distributed back to the parents. My mom was shocked when I brought home my Kindergarten head shot.




oh, you actually want to see the picture? Okay.



















wait for it.































It took my mom a few years to get over it, but now the picture is classic. The jelly necklace definitely doesn't mesh with the dress, but the REAL criminal was definitely not me. It was my hairstylist. For years I thought the look on my face was "I can't believe I am getting away with this!" But now I think it could have been, "I hope the janitor doesn't want to use this mop on my head to clean the gymnasium floor."

Lessons I learned in Kindergarten:

• Jelly necklaces rock.

• Never commit a crime unless you can dispose of all the evidence.

• Moms are usually right.. but sometimes they aren't.

• the best photos (the ones that really show personality and have the best memories) are not always "picture perfect."
  

ready to paint The White House black.

Even though I voted for John McCain that doesn't mean I am disappointed by the outcome of the election. I am very hopeful and excited for the future of our country. President-elect Obama has my respect, my support and my prayers. I am sure the victory was thrilling, but the responsibility he now faces is overwhelming. He needs our support. We must work together. If we focus on the negative, we will most definitely find it. Obama is not a perfect person (by any means) but he has been elected and there aren't many out there who want his job. I know I don't. But I CAN do my part. We have so much to work for and so much to look forward to. Our children need us to be positive, respectful and courteous. We need more love and unity in our communities, neighborhoods and families. If there was ever a time to put our differences aside and be united, it is NOW! I pray that we can come together as a nation... that we can work and sacrifice to get out of this mess we are in...

Proposition 8 in California was a tough battle. The results aren't "official" yet, but it looks like it passed by a small margin. I am pleased with the outcome, but I know there are many people who are heartbroken. I feel for them and hope they understand why it's so important for us to fight for what we believe to be moral and right. It won't be long before we have to raise our voices again. It was too close for comfort and there is NO DOUBT it will be a never ending battle. I just hope, through it all, we can love and respect one another.

Today I feel blessed. Blessed that I had the opportunity to vote. Blessed that I could watch the election from the comfort of my own home with a roof over my head. Blessed that I have running water and a bed to sleep in. I feel blessed to drive my car to the grocery store with food stalked on the shelves. I feel blessed to practice my religion freely. I have so much to be thankful for. I have so much to fight for. And I have so much work to do--- so that my children and grandchildren can feel as lucky as I do.

God bless us all, but especially our newly elected President Obama.

I voted for the loser.

Ben and Luke came to vote with me and I am so glad they did. We've been talking about the election for weeks now and it was only natural they were a part of the voting experience. When we got to the voting booth, Ben wanted to know why it cost money to vote. I told him it was FREE and not only was it a right, but it was a privelage. Then he asked why I had to put my credit card in the machine... The lady next to me laughed while I explained that it was an electric voting card, not a credit card. "Of course," was his response. They read over each of the names with me.. I hadn't heard of half of the local candidates, but I made sure to vote for Benjamin Something-or-other because Ben thought that would be cool to elect someone with his name. Luke was disappointed he couldn't find a LUKE on the ballot. Maybe in the future, kid. On our way out the door, the boys winked at the lady giving out stickers and scored one of their own. Charisma can go a long way, says I.

We took a few pictures in the car with our stickers. I wanted one normal one, and I think I got it..

or not.

We came home and threw a little election party with our friends, the Simpsons. Each of the kids had ballots----
After we voted, we tallied the scores. John McCain won at our house, but only by a hair (4-3, and one of those votes for Obama was from Warner who thought he was voting for THE ROCK.) It looks like the only election John McCain will win is the one in the this household. (And ordering pizza was a landslide, if you were wondering.)


And lastly, I uploaded a 2 minute clip of what these kids think about the election.... and it seems to make more sense than Fox news or CNN.

Everything Halloween

Millions of pictures.. I am going to try to keep the explanations short.. if I can.

Friends Party in Vegas. Way to throw a crazy party, Kelly! It was SO much fun.. and so insane! These weren't ALL of the kids in attendance.. whoa!

Painting Pumpkins with the YW. I don't think I officially announced (last July) that I was called to be the first counselor in the YW Presidency. Love these girls.. and the ladies I serve with.


Meeting Kennedy. We headed to SLC to see my newest niece (#25.. with two more on the way!) Tim and Rachel welcomed little Kennedy to the Clawson compound. They live in Michigan and we were so happy to see Little Bo Peep and the cutest little sheep for Halloween! She's got the famous Clawson blue eyes and long lashes!


Cousins party at my parents. Throwing leaves were much more exciting than carving pumpkins or playing Halloween charades. These kids just love to be together! Rach, will you send me that picture of Luke in the leaves? Aaron spent the day playing golf with my sister's hubbies and everyone was happy.


Trick or Treating with the Kimballs. My sister Kris was Dorothy (and her husband actually wore the Tin Man costume! Way to go, Randy!) My brother Kev came dressed as Mr. Incredible. He looks like him without the costume. The kids aren't in the pictures because they were too busy running from house to house to get candy. We were lucky to keep up. After Trick or Treating with one set of cousins, we headed to Debbie's and the boys went for another round while Aaron and I went to a party. Uncle Brent was a SCARY monster and had little kids in tears. Ben and Luke loved it. I wanted to take a picture of cute Deb in her florescent witch costume, but the battery died on my camera.. boo hoo.

These are my two fave pictures while trick or treating. Kris snapped this of Han and Leia.. it's not the best quality, but you can still tell that we're in love. and we are.


And during all the busy, crazy candy collecting, little Yoda slept in a stroller. *notice his hand still tightly gripped around his light saber.*


Party #3. Fran threw an awesome party on Halloween night.. she made homemade bread bowls shaped like pumpkins AND threw together family spider costumes. They were the hit of the night. It was fun to see old friends and prove to them that my white snow boots are still getting some good use.

GNO. We also had a girls night with the ladies in my family. So glad that Grandma June could join us. She even got her eyebrows waxed like the rest of us (except for Katie who is a baby :)


The car ride home was exceptional. The kids were awesome. We blasted Christmas music, played several rounds of "I'm thinking of something" (which always ended up being something from Star Wars) and overheard Ben tell Luke, "Well, I am sorry to rain on your parade, but it just ain't happening." They grow up too fast! Thanks everyone for a FAB Halloween extravaganza! Can't wait to do it again next year!

wish we could do it all over again...

Halloween is still my favorite holiday. I love the weather, the parties, the creativity, the late nights, the candy, the face paint, and the excitement. I also love when it's over because it means that Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. 2009 is almost here and I don't know HOW that happened. How is it already November?

We had a fabulous weekend vacation. I am not about to post the thousands of pictures we've taken over the last few days because..... it would just make everyone jealous. and because the battery to my camera is dead. and because I am tired. Who decided that ONE hour of day light savings was enough? If I was in charge, I would give the world [at least] an extra 24 hours of free time. that's why you should vote for me. I am still undecided for the big election and may just pencil in my own name on the ballot. princess leia for prez.

For those of you who found yourself bitterly disappointed by my Halloween recap, make your way over to my friend Suzanne's blog. I take credit for converting her to the blogging world and I must say it's a happier place since she's joined. She's not very good at keeping in touch (or winning at card games) but she's no amateur blogger. If I had a blue ribbon for "Best Halloween Post" I would pin it on A Halloween Crime Story. Because after all, real dedication is when your oldest child becomes an actual vampire on Halloween night.