Goodbye, Pontiac

With the news of Pontiac being discontinued, a local talk radio had a segment about American car companies and what's happening with them. I couldn't resist -- I had to call in and say to let them fall! It's not that I want people to lose their jobs. However, why support an industry that creates sub-par products?

I've mentioned our ridiculous repairs on an American car that's less than 5 years old. I haven't even mentioned its power window that doesn't work or the CD player that works intermittently -- just the repairs we have done and the $800 repair that we know it needs. Sigh. And this is for a car that is less than 5 years old!!!

Paul wonders why the emphasis on the car companies. We knew plenty of people who were burned during the dot com fallout, and the government let that happen. What was the result? Internet companies smartened up, got decent business plans, and Internet commerce is thriving. I don't believe American car companies would die completely, but I do think they would produce a better car if they were forced to make their own ends meet.

My brother said with the amount the government has given these companies, they could have instead given every American a $10,000 credit to buy an American car. (Don't know if he was being facetious or not, but I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't!) If I had a $10,000 credit to buy my piece of junk I would complain about it a lot less. :) And if they're willing to give vouchers for us to be able to continue to watch TV, then why not to buy American cars?

This also makes me wonder -- American cars are less expensive than foreign cars, because you have to pay for quality. So, shouldn't their spreadsheets look pretty similar? I think the problem is even more than lack of quality -- it's lack of good, sound business management. (Sad considering how many business management majors and graduates we seem to have these days!) I've come to learn that many, many companies that fail do so because of bad management -- not because of bad business. Sigh. If only executives had to be a little more accountable, then I think things would be different.

In the meantime we'll continue to drive our American piece of junk and hope and pray we can live with all the broken parts until we can afford a Honda or Toyota.

To be a woman of faith ...

When I worked back in public relations, I felt powerful -- I rubbed shoulders with top-notch executives and was responsible for some pretty cool media coverage. I felt unstoppable in fulfilling my callings at church and important in my singles branch. I felt empowered, imaginative, energetic and smart.

And then I became a mom.

Somehow now I feel like I don't know nearly enough, I realize I don't really have much power, and the energy is gone. Oh, and that smart thing -- I remember when I was smart ...

It's amazing how my kids have made me realize that I really am not in control. But then again, was I ever?

Sometimes being a mom, especially a stay-at-home mom, feels like maybe it's not enough. And maybe that's true in the world's eyes. (Let's face it -- the pay stinks. ;) I think that's Satan's way of trying to get us to undermine the power we have as moms and as women of faith. I've been thinking a lot about a quote that was in a recent Visiting Teaching message:

"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. ... We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith." - Margaret D. Naudauld (Ensign, Nov. 2000, 15)

I realized that being a woman of God, especially a mother who is a woman of God, makes me influential, powerful and intelligent. I probably have more influence than any career-woman out there, no matter her connections or fortune. Don't believe me? How about a prophet of God:

"The righteous woman's strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times." - President Spencer W. Kimball (Ensign, Nov. 1978, 103)

And one more to really make me feel empowered:

"Every sister who stands for truth and righteousness diminishes the influence of evil. Every sister who strengthens and protects her family is doing the work of God. Every sister who lives as a woman of God becomes a beacon for others to follow and plants seeds of righteous influence that will be harvested for decades to come. Every sister who makes and keeps sacred covenants becomes an instrument in the hands of God.” - Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Ensign, Apr. 2002, 66–73).

The Lord certainly loves His daughters! He understands our influence and the power that can come from happy, inspired children and families. I am so grateful that He recognizes the importance of motherhood and that His servants remind us on a continual basis that the world's opinion doesn't matter. Yes, the pay stinks. But the benefits are the best I've had yet. :)

Pinkalicious

When we bought this book I had no idea how much Shayla would love it. She is convinced the little girl in it is her. It's adorable. In fact, it's pinkalicious ...

Happy birthday, Zachary!

I'm a couple of days late, but I'm still amazed it's been six years since Zachary surprised us with his arrival into the world. (Yes, coming nearly 2 weeks late wasn't the surprise -- it was the being a boy part. Still glad Hilary ran to the store and got us a BLUE outfit so he didn't have to wear the pink one home. :)

Zachary started the day opening presents and was thrilled to get Pokemon cards. I have no idea how he even knows what they are, but he wanted some. Now he can play Pokemon games ... if he can find where Shayla put them. He also got some moon sand. I'm wondering if I'll regret that one ...


After school we had a little party for him. It was mostly a play group where I served cake, but that's what you get when mom is distracted and thinking of other things (let's face it -- the force wasn't with me). He wanted it to be a Star Wars party, so I went and bought cake toppers from a local grocery store:


Not bad, eh? The light sabers actually lit up:


Betcha can't guess who helped me with frosting the cake:


After dinner we also got to attend the school carnival. The free face painting was done by the "older" students. Shayla wasn't so sure about having an 11-year-old boy paint her face:


The boys had their artists paint light sabers on their faces:


Tyler's teacher went in the dunking booth, so the boys both got a kick out of dunking her. Zachary's third ball hit the target, but it didn't dunk her, so they let him push the button. Tyler concentrated on his aim his third throw and hit the target dead center. Let me tell you how exciting it is for a 2nd-grade boy to dunk his teacher!

In the first pic you can see the ball hitting the target, and then in the next two you can see her falling in:




Anyway, it was a fun day, and I can't believe my baby boy is 6! Zachary is a very sweet boy. Last night I found a note under my pillow that just said, "I love you." What a little sweetheart. He's so good with Shayla (when he's not trying to aggravate her), and I'm so glad he turned out to be a boy -- I can't imagine our lives without him! Happy birthday, Zachary!

So far, so good ...

Recently we have gotten VERY sick of our kids not listening and/or complaining when we ask them to do something. It was getting to the point that we were putting them back in time out, which we haven't done for probably a year with them. They complained mercilessly when I started making them get dressed before breakfast a few weeks ago. (I did this because otherwise they would eat breakfast and then play and not get ready for school.)

Anyway, my friend Heidi was devising a system where she used bucks w/her kids' pictures on them. I was going to wait for her to tweak the system and give me her advice, but I got impatient and created my own kids' bucks and system.

Tyler bucks:


Zachary bucks:


Becca bucks:


Shayla bucks:


Last night I sat the boys down and briefly explained the system. They get a buck for getting ready for school in the morning -- getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing teeth and putting jackets and backpacks by the door. They get an extra buck if they get dressed without complaint (since this has been a sore spot lately). They also get an extra buck if they complete all of these items by 8:35 a.m.

I have created a chart with the various ways they can earn bucks -- doing their daily chores, setting the table, doing homework, getting their teeth brushed and p.j.'s on in 10 minutes or less, going to bed without playing or talking, etc.

Each buck is worth 15 minutes watching TV, playing the Game Cube or playing on the computer. Each boy has the capability of earning 8 bucks per day ... unless they're really good and earn bonuses.

Becca's bucks are a little harder to earn -- she only has four opportunities to earn them: being ready for scripture study on time, doing her daily chore, a bonus one for not having to be reminded to do her chore, and dishes. (Her extras come from babysitting, handing in all her homework, and using a kind voice w/her siblings.) However, her bucks are worth 30 minutes each. I'm especially glad about having the bucks for her now since she's been having some fun online with friends lately.

As for Shayla bucks, they're all for show so the little one doesn't feel left out. But aren't they the cutest bucks we've got? :)

So ...

How was our first test of the bucks? Magical. Wonderful. Best thing since sliced bread.

The boys went to bed last night quicker than they have in a long time -- there weren't even any last-minute "I need a drink" attempts. What about the morning, which was my main concern? They were up, dressed, and done with breakfast before I even came out of my bedroom for the day -- which happened at about 8:10 a.m. YES!!!

They received their bucks, which they also feel gives them a little bit of freedom. Zachary asked, "So we don't have to do our chore before playing the Game Cube?" I said, "No, but if you do your chore first you get a buck that lets you play for an extra 15 minutes." He thought that was SO COOL!

I'm sure the novelty will wear off a little as we move forward, but as long as they want to watch TV, play on the computer or play the Game Cube, I think we've found a winner ... (Thank you, Heidi!!!)

Blue prints

Last night we picked up the blue prints for our addition. I can't even tell you how excited we are! Now we'll get bids for all of the different elements and see how much this bugger really will cost us. We're hoping we're getting enough out to at least finish the upstairs, but we'll definitely be cutting it close. In any case, we'll have plenty of space for lots of visitors once this is complete, so start your trip planning, eh?!?

I was going to post a layout of the front view and main floor layout, but .PDF has outsmarted me for now ...

(Paul) - I have added the front view and main floor layout....

Shayla's new haircut

As you can see, I've put a bunch of posts on because we had a very busy weekend!

This weekend we also got Shayla's hair cut. I tried to get her to cut it the same day as mine, but she was tired and cranky. So, we figured we'd do it another time.

Well, one day she had the scissors out and my niece Kimmie caught her with them before any damage was done. We then started to teach her that only Alyssa (my cosmetologist niece) can cut your hair. The next time she saw Alyssa, she said, "Alyssa cut my hair?" Alyssa didn't have her stuff with her (and was heading to work), so she said next time she'd cut it. Well, Shayla has asked for it several times since, so we had Alyssa bring her stuff the day of the Easter egg hunt.

Mind you, although Shayla was excited to have her hair cut, she was not very cooperative during the haircut. She just wanted to snuggle with me. I think it made her nervous to have so many people (many cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents) watching. We gave her a sucker to try to hold still, but it didn't work extremely well.

In any case, here is how long her hair was before:


Here she is being squirmy wormy:



And here is my adorable "baby" after:


We weren't going to get her an Easter dress this year but saw a nice, cheap one (with sleeves!) at Costco the day before Easter. What a little cutie we have!


Oh, and since I mentioned Alyssa I should mention that she announced right before the haircut that she's engaged!!! HOORAY! She is a hilarious girl. She announced it as, "We're mostly engaged." The mostly is because they haven't set a date yet. We are so, so happy for her. I've already offered to take engagement pics, make a wedding invitation, design baby announcements, etc. :)