Random Dozen

1. Have you, or has someone close to you, ever won an award for anything? My husband and brother both have received military awards.

2. Who is the nearest relative to you who has served in the US Military? My brother is currently Chief in the Navy-retiring in 3 years at the age of 38, my husband was army for five years and my dad served in the army also, My father in law retired from the navy, and my brother in law is currently in the air force.

3. Share something that stirs the patriotic spirit in you. Anything military related...seeing video clips of troops returning from deployment, hearing the National Anthem, God Bless America...etc, etc...

4. Where are you in the birth order in your family? Do you think your "placement" made a difference in your personality? I am the 2nd of five. I am 7 years younger than my older brother. Absolutely it made a difference. Not saying that they [the younger siblings] are less responsible than me, but you can see through the generations how society has impacted each of us. Great differences.

5. Name one trait you hope you carry that was evidenced in your parents or grandparents. Strong willed. My mom is a very strong person. She has been through a lot and while she may not feel as though she can keep on pushing through, she always does.

6. If female, do you prefer wearing a skirt or pants? If male, shirt and tie or polo? Jeans....definitely. There is no comparison to wearing a comfy pair of jeans. :)

7. Approximately how many times do you wake during the night? What do you do to go back to sleep? Several. Unless I'm extremely exhausted. A bright screen usually makes my eyes tired...for example, computer screen, tv, cell phone, hand held gaming system.

8. Share a favorite movie quote. I have several...all from the Twilight Saga.

Edward: "What did you expect? Coffins and dungeons and moats?"
Bella: "No, not the moats."
Edward: (laughs) "Not the moats."
-Edward Cullen and Bella Swan

Bella: Look, you gotta give me some answers.
Edward: Yes....No....To Get To The Other Side.Uh......1.77245
-Edward Cullen

Bella: "How old are you?"
Edward: "Seventeen."
Bella: "How long have you been seventeen?"
Edward: "A while..."
-Bella Swan and Edward Cullen

9. What is your favorite Fall candle scent? Harvest Medley-Glade

10. What is one Fall activity you're looking forward to? Weinie Roasts, campfires, pumpkin patches....I CANNOT name only one as there are too many favorites! <3

11. Tell us about a pleasant surprise that happened to you recently. I got to spend some quality time with my daughter that wasn't planned...may have been laying on my bed just chatting, but quality nonetheless. :)

12. What was it like when you first met your in-laws-to-be? Nerve racking. But I was pregnant before I ever got to meet them. They were always traveling and never where we lived.

Random Tuesday

Here it is Tuesday...where we do a little jig called Random Tuesday! Link up to the crazy, random button up there and let's get at it!
Ready? Set? Random!!

It's no secret that I am a total sucker for reality tv. I can't help it, I just get sucked in! My newest show. Dancing with the stars. I know, it's been on several seasons already. But this season is the first season that has so many reasons to watch! Now if they could keep from getting eliminated!! Ha!

Oh man! I forgot to buy new eyeliner...I'm completely out! If there's one thing in my make up case that I can't live without, that's it! (Sigh)

Kainan saw a small pumpkin at Walmart the other day. Of course, he had to have it! The first thing he did with it, try to bounce it on the kitchen floor! It survived, the tough little thing! It is now on the front porch, where it should be! My only worry now? Pumpkin smashing punks! My little boy would be devastated should anyone smash it...but the people here don't seem to care! [or at least they didn't when they stole my husbands bike out back!]

One thing I don't like {But, really do!} about Autumn. Halloween candy! We bought some to send to Chloe & Sophie...Yeah, we're gonna hafta buy another bag! Dannon Light & Fit yogurt for breakfast...followed by a handful of tootsie rolls! Yeah! I'll regret it later! But for now, I'm loving it. :)

Every morning I step off the back porch to get into the van, I think to myself that we are really going to need to get the self start fixed on the van...it's getting cooler with each passing day!

$100,000. That is how much Kim Kardashian and Chris Jenner reportedly spent shopping...in Paris. On nothing but purses! One purse was $30,000 alone. MUST.BE.NICE!!

80's night was a success. Had a ton o' fun with two really great gals! Here are a few of my favorite pics from that night.

Sunday's Song

Dilly Dallying around

As I have been trying to keep this blog more family oriented, I realized that I've gone astray. It isn't always easy to keep the post completely family oriented. Some days it's all about me and my views while others, it is all about the family. Pfft, oh well!

I was also trying to keep things rated "G"...language and my ideals. And for the most part I have. But I have also deleted a couple of posts in fear of possibly offending others. But I am here to say that, I am no longer going to do that. Why should I filter my opinion on matters when this is my blog? I mean, isn't that the purpose of blogging anyway? To say what we want? Whether it be sweet or sour tasting to the reader, we say what we feel. I've come to realize long ago that I'm not going to be able to please everyone in life, why would the blogging world differ?

Anyway, that being said, let's get on to much more cutesy stuff...my kids. :)
Here are some photos of them from the week.


Camden & Neko


Camden, Kainan & Neko

The following are photo's of Kainan learning the letter A.









Thanks for reading!

Fridays Fave Five

Hello Friday!!! How I've waited for you! Friday is a good day to look back and recap the week, especially your favorite 5 things! If you need details on how this works, click here. I love this because I always have totally random things to say that never quite make a complete blog post. Or, not one that sounds well "Put Together."

1.Late nights Everyone is in bed, I get to blog, watch television, get a bath, chase the cat, clean the house...etc, etc. ALL IN SILENCE! {Unless I'm reading a funny blog, then it's not as quiet!!}

2. My MOPS group this year! We are meeting later this morning for our first play date-Yay! MOPS is a great organization and if you have a young one that isn't in school yet [and the time...not that it takes a lot of time, but with kids, we're all busy!!] then you should look into it! You can do that here.

3. Thrift store shopping-for the 80's party I am attending. I would elaborate but I've mentioned it so many times in this blog, I'm sure my entire group of 7 followers is tiring of it! :p But, I DID find my 80's duds!

4. Reality TV I don't know why, but I get sucked in every time! Maybe it has something to do with knowing my husband won't watch it, which brings me back to #1...Late nights! Haha! But as the season is nearing the end, the shows are getting so good! Jersey Shore is my absolute favorite! Following closely with Teen Mom and 19 Kids & Counting.

5. Reconnecting with old friends I reconnected with someone I used to work with years ago. It's always nice to get to know someone, but there's something exciting and refreshing about getting to know someone for the second time. [or maybe I'm just weird! Okay, I know I'm weird, but that's not my point!]

So that's my list this week!

So you think you're a funny guy, huh??

Me and Kainan were waiting for Camden's bus to come this afternoon. Just as the bus arrives, I hear Kainan mumble something that I couldn't understand. But then he says, "Do you understand me bus? HELLLLLLLOOO!?!?!" {in the cutest, but most stern voice I've ever heard come out of him!!}I thought it was the cutest thing ever, hearing the bus be reprimanded by my 2 year old son! Short little story, but had to share!

Frazzled

I posted this earlier this evening originally but deleted it due to fear of conflict & controversy. But after thinking about it, what is the purpose of blogging if I won't blog for what I believe in?? So to heck with it, if you don't like it. So be it. I really don't give a bleep.

The following letter was written by a physician to the president over a year ago. It is now becoming the newest thing on social networking sites. I'm so disappointed by it. I'll allow you time to read it then I'll proceed to explain my disappointment.



Pictured is a young physician by the name of Dr. Roger Starner Jones. His short two-paragraph letter to the White House accurately puts the blame on a "Culture Crisis" instead of a "Health Care Crisis"..

It's worth a quick read:


Dear Mr. President:
During my shift in the Emergency Room last night, I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient whose smile revealed an expensive shiny gold tooth, whose body was adorned with a wide assortment of elaborate and costly tattoos, who wore a very expensive brand of tennis shoes and who chatted on a new cellular telephone equipped with a popular R&B ringtone.
While glancing over her patient chart, I happened to notice that her payer status was listed as "Medicaid"! During my examination of her, the patient informed me that she smokes more than one pack of cigarettes every day, eats only at fast-food take-outs, and somehow still has money to buy pretzels and beer. And, you and our Congress expect me to pay for this woman's health care? I contend that our nation's "health care crisis" is not the result of a shortage of quality hospitals, doctors or nurses. Rather, it is the result of a "crisis of culture" a culture in which it is perfectly acceptable to spend money on luxuries and vices while refusing to take care of one's self or, heaven forbid, purchase health insurance. It is a culture based in the irresponsible credo that "I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me". Once you fix this "culture crisis" that rewards irresponsibility and dependency, you'll be amazed at how quickly our nation's health care difficulties will disappear.

Respectfully,
ROGER STARNER JONES, MD

While I know exactly what point he is trying to make, I certainly hope I never have to see a physician with the attitude of Dr. Roger Starner Jones. Shouldn't he worry first about helping his patient, not about whether or not they are wearing name brand shoes?
I have been in the same position as the patient that is described here. Does that mean that they need to dress poorly? Is it an unwritten law that people receiving assistance need to dress "POOR" ???? I think most people that receive any type of public assistance TRY to dress nicer so as to avoid any conflict of being judged and looked down upon. It's embarrassing! Embarrassing to rely on everyone else to pay your medical bills, food bills, housing...whatever the case may be. {I was a single mom for a few years, I know because I had to rely on it also} But let's face it-some insurance companies simply REFUSE to cover an individual. Whether it be a preexisting condition or what have you. Some people that are on public assistance have not always been on it. People do fall on hard times...and it can happen to ANYONE! I'm sure had he been working following a recent natural disaster that he may think it okay. I'm disappointed that someone of his profession would publicly lash about someones appearance and wealth...or lack of it. What happened to the day when citizens looked up to, respected and cared about what a doctor had to say?? I think that went out the window when doctors threw out courtesy and bedside manners.

In agreement to the remainder of the letter, particularly: "It is a culture based in the irresponsible credo that "I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me". Once you fix this "culture crisis" that rewards irresponsibility and dependency, you'll be amazed at how quickly our nation's health care difficulties will disappear."-there will ALWAYS be those that look for and find loopholes to every law and rule. Therefore, there will ALWAYS be those that don't report their income and still receive medicaid, food stamps, housing...etc. etc. That will never go away. Some will always look for a handout or the easy way out.