Canton Trade Days

The first weekend of every month is Canton Trade Days. I have been interested in going for a long time, but never have. My friend Theresa was coming with her friends Thursday and asked me if I would be interested in joining her. It is less than 1/2 hour from where I live.

Other than having to pay $5 for parking and $25 to buy a Red Flyer Wagon to drag the babies around because I didn't check to make sure my stroller was in the back of the van before I left, it was pretty good. There were lots of booths and vendors selling handicrafts, imports, "antiques" and used junk. There were also some samplings of homemade salsas and preserves, etc. Homemade candles and soaps shared space with Tupperware distributors, homeopaths, beauty supplies.

My babies are absolutely perfect. They sat up in the wagon and watched the people ooh and aaah at them, smiled appropriately and never complained about a thing from 9 until 2. They were a little fussy around 11, so I repositioned them so they could sleep, which they did for a little while--until somebody said "ooh! how precious!" too loud.

I only bought a christmas ornament personalized with the year and every child's name. I still need to get "Baby's first Christmas" ones, but we now have our annual family one. Today should be another good day for the babies to sleep since they got 40min total naptime yesterday--though they did go to bed 1 hr. early.

We had a visit from a member of the Bishopric last night to offer me my first calling in our new ward. Stay tuned for more information on that.

Time to feed the babies breakfast.

Really, I love Mondays

When everybody is here, the babies don't sleep. They take 1/2 hour naps and are fussy. They have gotten used to quiet daytime. They are ultra social, and love their siblings. Therefore, they don't want to miss a moment of the party. The slightest sound reminds them they might be missing something.

When Monday rolls around and the kids are all back in school, the babies sleep all day to make up for lost time. I can get a lot done that way.

Did I mention Amelia got another tooth in? That's five in her little mouth at 9 months. And she bites.

Monday morning they were both on the bed with Daddy and Mommy. Anastasia started giggling and crawling away, like "chase me Daddy, I want to play!" It was cold and the blankets were warm. They love burying their faces in the pillow and kicking their legs waiting for us to grab or tickle them. Sometimes I'll be working and hear the two of them giggling. They will be doing something like playing peek-a-boo in the curtains with each other. The joy of it is not something that can be described. It is just amazing to watch their faces as the hidden thoughts of their mind pass across them; to see the wonder of developing intelligence.

This precious time is so short.

Bug

I caught the facebook bug. I should be able to settle down, now that I have almost 100 friends and contact established. I spent way too much time on it, but I think there was some value in the time spent. Still, I prefer blogging for it's pace and permanence. Facebook is about clips and personal soundbits. Here I can express myself at length (or brevity if I prefer). It is all mine, and not cluttered.

The kids slept out on the trampoline last night. They actually made it through then night. The low was in the mid 40's. I think it was usually that cold on Nevada nights that I spent outside in my youth. It is unbearable to sleep outside in Texas summer. Fall is beautiful.

Now I am going to work on my project.

NOW Pictures

This is what it looks like when I am trying to blog--or anything else. I am always on the computer these days--it seems, anyway.







I have started training the babies how to climb up and down the stairs. I am tired of carrying them. They are not good at it unless they are crawling up, I have planted a bottle a few steps above them, and they are not too tired and hungry to play my little game.
















Anastasia has picked up the habit of propping her foot on the table when she eats. I haven't even tried to tell her it's not polite to do your stretches at the table.

No Pictures

I had a couple of pictures I was going to post, but I got them off my camera-or tried-and they weren't there.

I had the kids this weekend. We visited the old neighborhood. Claire and Emylie went to the mall with our old neighbor Sybil. She doesn't have any kids of her own, and is not expecting that she will ever be able to, so she likes to spoil other people's children.

Mike went to help his friend, Cash, put an engine back in his car. We thought the boys would be able to play with their old friends, but no one was home. We went over to Scott and Arren's house to hang out. Isaac and I did tanagram puzzles (love them)and were trying to get Andrew interested, but he wasn't biting. The babies crawled around on the nice, soft shag carpet and occasionally had to be steered away from the cat dish. Isaac and Emylie had to get back right away because they had a mini-youth conferences, because they are just mini-youth. They are at a dance right now. They will be back around ten-thirty. I am excited for them.

Mike is still working on the car. So it has been just Claire and Andrew and I with the babies. It has been kind of nice. I helped Andrew build a Hot Wheels city with our many road pieces, and I cut his hair.

Claire was out on the trampoline while I was cutting Andrew's hair, and since we are far enough out of the city that you can see a few stars, she was asking about constellations and I showed her a couple. I love my kids so much. There is always so much that I want to do with them, but I hardly ever end up doing anything at all with them. I love them all so much.

Also, if you had given up on checking Mike or Lexi's blog, they have been better lately. I put another letter on Lay Family History and did a post on my visit to Kirksville in case anyone was looking for some extra reading.

Political

Just got done watching the final presidential debate. I have been fairly non-political in past years because of disillusionment in the government. However, as a democratic republic, we, as citizens have the responsibility to be involved in our own governance. So here I go.

Barack Obama creeps me out. Watching him tonight I thought of my ex-husband, who studies communication tactics and carefully shapes his image. He had the same bird-like tilt to his head with excessive eye blinking and measured responses that I have come to associate with a dishonesty so deep that the individual doing it believes the lies himself. Your assent to his duplicity is presumed and no defense is needed. Call it charisma if you like; I call it manipulation.

People who are chronically dishonest know how to mince words and shade terms to subvert truth without being able to be caught in an outright lie; the masters of truth by technicality. It is this technical approach to truth that allows them to accept their own dishonesty. Enough about my ex, let's get back to the debate.

Obama appeals incessantly to the middle class, which he defines as people making up to $250K (per anum, I presume--wouldn't that be nice). It's all about what he is going to do for us. We have the highest number of votes, after all. 5% of the population makes 95% of the money, so although the 5% has the power of money, we the 95% have the power of politics. Is it moral for the majority vote to exercise power over the economic majority and require that their economy trickle down to us?

It could be argued that the rich have become such because of the labor and spending of us, the middle class--one big Wal-Mart, millions of itty-bitty us 88 cents at a time. Shouldn't there be a success tax where they give us regular bonuses and kickbacks for helping them become what they are?

Maybe we shop there because the lower cost is our kickback. But that comes at the price of putting the neighborhood country mart out of business so we don't get as many choices as we might like. That is the model of the free market economy. Obama doesn't like the free market. He wants to impose order to it.

The BIG problem with social justice is that it is conceived and administered by government. The redistribution of wealth, known as socialism, though noble as an ideal, has been proven century after century as unadministerable. Why? Because of human greed and government corruption. We complain again and again about corruption in government. We see the "public servants" taking entitlements and self-aggrandizing as a rule rather than an exception, and we expect them to take the money we, the middle class, "deserve" and use it wisely for our benefit? PU! LEEEEASE!!

Pause here and come back later if you need to.

I am a republican because, as a rule, the party leans toward limiting government programs, supporting private initiative for social improvement, and advocating the rights of the local governments and businesses to determine how best to govern themselves.

My party preference is also because I wholeheartedly believe that government CAN legislate morality and has for years (as in Thou shalt not kill translates into a prison or death sentance for those who do). Amorality is lawlessness. Without conservative values the fabric of society decays, crime increases, and our personal security is lost. The good of society must be balanced with the good of the individual. The individual may not want to deliver an unplanned baby, but if society condones foeticide then life itself loses value and killing becomes rational, if only by a small degree.

As far as the redistribution of wealth, God has clearly revealed in the scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that all flesh is equal and that Zion is where there are no poor because everyone is to give all that they have, and then receive back what they need. The distribution is administered by the bishops of the church (who are not elected or appointed, but called of God). This has been successfully executed for brief periods of time in scripture, but has ultimately failed because of greed and pride among the members. The only way for it to succeed is to have God himself preside over it with his incorruptible justice, mercy, and love. This will happen when He reigns on earth for a thousand years of peace. God will not demand contribution or seize assets by legislation or force. He requires the heart and a willing mind. Those who are allowed to live on the earth during his reign will be those who love their neighbor as themselves; who are not willing to live in comfort when another struggles for survival.

Redistribution of wealth can only be done on a voluntary, individual basis when overseen by God. It is absolutely impossible to do otherwise. Those socialists who have no faith in God must be commended for acknowledging the need for human equality and for hoping for an ideal, but there will always be the one leader who wants power and wealth for himself who will destroy the hope of the many and subject them to his will. God must be the moral compass and giver of inalienable human rights or man will always be subject to the injustice of man.

Thank you for getting this far (even if you did mindlessly skim a bit).

Weight Gain

When people gain weight they start having trouble with joints. I have stairs and my knees are absolutely killing me. I carry 20+% to 40+% of my body weight up and down the stairs 3-6 times a day. It is time for the twins to learn how to walk. They each weigh about 25lbs, and have no chance of getting lighter.

Amelia (I think I already said this) scaled 4 steps the other day. That kind of behavior needs to be encouraged. She is also standing and letting go of things for brief periods of time. No, I am not anxious for my babies to grow up, I just know my limits. I can't carry these two much longer without seriously jeopardizing my physical well-being.

Amelia is also very adept and clapping now. Anastasia can blow properly into a flutophone/recorder instrument, and is now deliberately doing an inhale whistle. She learned how to do it because she always does it accidentally with the tight way she holds her lips and breathes in when she is concentrating. I have imitated it and she has repeated my imitation, proving that she is able to do it consciously. She has my Mariah Carey range and likes the sound of her own voice. She enjoys singing to my Charlotte Church CD with me. Both of them are good at matching pictches. Amelia bounces up and down to the music when it has a good beat or cadence.

Right now (who knows if the pattern will last) Amelia has a tendency towards tidiness when eating her food. She would rather have me put it in her mouth so she doesn't make a mess with it. Anastasia digs in, smears and smushes.

I am sleeping through the night these days. I am not sure if the babies are, but I haven't heard them. A couple of nights their door or mine has been shut, making it difficult to hear them. If they have had trouble, they have been able to deal with it themselves. This is as good a time as any to learn self-reliance. I was wondering if I was ever going to get a full night sleep again. Of course, I still have to deal with a husband who won't go to bed when he should. Speakin' of which, let me see if I can work on that.

5 Quirky Things About Me

1. It's what's on the inside that counts. I am not good at keeping my house tidy--putting shoes away, finishing laundry, making kids pick up, vacuuming, I almost never dust or do windows, but I always put everything in my cabinets and drawers exactly the same way--well, I'm not as meticulous with my closet, but all pans, canned goods, silverware, dishes etc are stacked the same way, rotated by date and predictably positioned.

2. I walk very close to the walls in hallways and on stairs and take a longer path in rooms, walking where most people don't in an attempt to even out foot traffic wear on floors

3. I could eat frosted mini-spooners (yeah, the Malt-O-Meal version) every morning for the rest of my life--with 15- 20 in the bottom of the bowl, frosted side up with the heaviest frosting in the back so that I can eat the best last. All cereal I eat holding the bowl tipped forward so the milk doesn't get on the cereal in the back until just before I eat it so that the last bite has the same moisture/consistency as the first bite. I eat several small bowls rather than one big soggy bowl. If the phone rings after I have poured the milk, they will have to leave a message.

4. I am such a cheapskate (from years of poverty) that I will rework furniture dozens of times in an attempt to redecorate. Design on a Dime has a $1,000 budget? Holy Cow, I don't think I have ever spent more than $200 on a room. It's all hand-me-downs and throw-aways renewed with an occcasional clearance bedding, drape, or rug, unless I find $1 a yard fabric I like and make it myself. Paint is magic.

5. I pray kneeling on my bed with my fanny up and my head on the pillow like a Muslim because of years of having a top bunk.

That's what I get for catching up on everybody else's blogs, I get tagged. Now I tag Kim, Dove, Marla, Consie, and Dee.

Trip Report

I am home. The babies are happy to see their daddy. Amelia doesn't have to flirt now with every man she sees. Today is their 9 month day.



They had fun riding in the car with grandma and grandpa--especially since mama was in the back seat with them. They love to play peek-a-boo and will take any fabric or clothing item and try to put it over their head--even socks. Sometimes they get tired of the paparazzi.






The babies got to play with their Uncle Mark for a couple of days before he went to Belfast, or some other place in the UK. They played in Grandma's store and in Grandma's basement, and anywhere else we set them down.

I was busy the first four days transcribing their guest log into an excel sheet so we can create a database and grow the Far West Historical Society. Then I worked on the website. Those pages should be posted as of this evening (Saturday), so please check it and tell me what you think.

They started work on the farm house this week as well. They are adding 8 feet to the back (which they are pouring concrete for the supports for) and extending the porch all the way across the front. They had to take off all the vinyl siding so they could replace it with a consistent masonite planking.

I spent one morning helping Dee (see the Gordons at right) get her garage packed so they could move into the house they just built. I got a picture of Abigail and Zeke holding...we thought it was Amelia, but I'm not positive. Grandma posted that on her blog. Apparently Zeke loves babies and always wants to hold them, but Mom S and I decided that it would be okay if they got married so that I could at least have a shot at red-headed grand-babies.

Despite all that, we managed to squeeze in a little fun. We were shopping for shoes and got stuck in Kohl's, darn it! We came out with the usual spankin good clearance deals. Now the girls and I are set for our summer/spring wardrobe for next year.

In Far West, Missouri

I have been in Missouri for a week now. I spent most of the time, so far doing data entry so that the visitors log here at the Far West Country Store can be converted into a database. I am trying to help my in-laws with promotions, marketing, and information disemination so that their Deseret Bookstore/visitor information center/gift store can grow into the historical village and gathering place that they envision.

That is also why I am writing a theatrical production to be presented here next year, and every year thereafter. Our tenative time for it is the last two weeks of July. That way, people who want to do a church history tour can go to the Hill Cumorah pageant, then to the Nauvoo Pageant, then here, to the Far West pageant. Yeah, its a major project. My time will be thoroughly occupied. I am going to need a ton of help.

The first day I was here I drove up to Kirksville/Brashear where my mom and dad bought a house and where my dad's family is from. On the Lay Family History blog I have posted letters written in 1913 from Kirksville by my Great grandmother, Clara Gibson to her new husband Henry Lay. The house she lived in is no longer there, but I saw the neighbors house, which she refers to in her letters. The neighbors house was bigger than I expected. I will post more about that on that blog when I get a chance.

Now you know.