Dear Mr President

We are not overly political at our house. I know, I know, we name our children after presidents and then don't get involved. Shawn does vote, and we've had yard signs, but in 16 years I have never really heard him get in a big discussion.

I don't vote.

Don't get me started.

Living where we do, Bible Belt Oklahoma, we...are...not...Democrats. Neither of our families are. There might be a few here and there, but we're most definitely Republicans. Republican enough that when we announced we were naming our second baby Kennedy my sweet Great Uncle Clyde pulled me aside and said, "Now you know Kennedy was a Democrat. Right?"

We don't say bad things about elected officials around our house, but they girls have picked up that the current president was not the choice of our family or most of our friends.

How the discussion about the current president came up at dinner tonight...I have no earthly idea. But the laughter and snorting that was involved made for a wonderful time around our table.

Here are the girls letters to the current president.


Dear President Obama,

I think Ronald Reagan was a better president than you. And William McKinley and John F Kennedy even though he was a dem-o-crat like you. I'm sorry to say this but I think you are a stinker (in capital letters).

From Reagan-9

P.S. I hate you.



Dear President Obama,

I think that Lewis McClain would have been a better president than you. Wait, that is a person from church. I meant to say John McCain. He is very old but very bold. (Notice how I rhyme.)

Although you are doing a very good job of being president of these United States of America.

Thank you for taking care of our country.

Sinseriously,

Kennedy-11

P.S. Notice how I am named after John F. Kennedy, a democrat like yourself.


Dear President-a B.O.,

You stink. Hahahahahahahaha. :)

Sincerely,

McKinley Chicken Bieber-14


If you are a fan of his please don't be offended. We certainly aren't complaining and of course none of us want his job, we were just having fun.

And laughing our heads off!

Word Feud

I have a new addiction. A legal one. Never had one of those illegal ones...

Anyway.

It's Word Feud for the Android phone.

A cousin put on Facebook that she played it so I quickly downloaded it and invited her to a game. I don't think I ever beat her. She doesn't play anymore though. Something about college needing her full attention. Oh, and wedding planning. Excuses, excuses. McKinley and Kennedy didn't last long either since I kept beating them. I mainly play random opponents because I don't have friends that are cool enough to have Android phones. I've put it on Facebook and Twitter to no avail. But then my friend Amy put it on her status. We've played about 15 games since then and I've won....one. But the last one I only lost by 3!

Since I play a lot of random people I don't utilize the chat option very often.

But other people do.

I've met some interesting people.

Terry214-Before he'd start the game he sent me a message asking where I lived. I replied 'somewhere in the middle' and waited patiently. He then asked how old I was. I replied 'old enough to know not to tell people'. I then waited not very patiently. He then asked how old old enough was. I didn't reply and gave him one more chance. He still hadn't started the game! When he asked if I was married, I resigned the game.

Sengrit-I've discovered that this game isn't really something you sit down and play from start to finish. It can take days. If you wait 72 hours it will resign for you, but if you play before that, you can keep going for days. I've had a 3 week game. After all, life gets in the way and people do have to sleep. One morning I played a word in a game that was about halfway through and then went to work. An hour and a half later I had a chat message from Sengrit. "Could you either play or resign if you don't plan to finish this game? I can't resign since it's your turn." I thought that was rude but played anyway. 5 minutes later they'd resigned.

Foofee-We were 2 days into a game and had just woken up when I got this message, "Will you just play." I know I shouldn't have....but I resigned. I won't have free app Word Feud random opponents talk that way to me!

Studmuffin86-The name concerned me, I must say. Before he played he sent a message asking if I was ready to play. I guess asking to start a game and letting the app choose someone for me wasn't enough for him. I replied yes and he played a word. While I was playing mine I got another message. "You ready to lose?" I replied that I win about half my games. I won't know which half you're on for a while." He sent back, "I'll be on the winning half." After about 6 words each I was up by over 100 and he resigned. Guess he was on the losing half.

So who out there is cool and has an android phone like me?? Come find me! Stefunk. I can promise you have a 50% chance of winning:D

I'm Free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had what I really really hope is my last visit with my podiatrist this morning. I am released to run. I'm released to rejoin life where I left it. I'm released to wear my orthodic inserts every day for the rest of my life.

I feel old.

Although I'm not pain free, I'm excited to run again. And scared to run again. You know?

The fact that the outside temperature is 26 and there's usually a 20 mph wind is a little worrying, but I'm still ready. To run inside at the church gym!

Although my week is insane, I'm going to try to fit it in.

And I won't miss my podiatrist, or walking boot, or intense pain...but I'm not going to lie...I'm really going to miss the People magazines in his waiting room. I really loved those People's.

To close, (that makes this random post sound better) I thought I'd leave you with some podiatrist humor. Who knew they were funny??
Cute, isn't he??

Gotta run:D

My Three Beauties

Another part of our traditional Christmas tree cutting trip is to take new head shots of the girls for three frames I have in my entry way. I started it three years ago when I had my point and shoot camera and lucked out and got beautiful pictures of each girl. No one was more surprised then me. This year with my new fancy schmancy camera and Nifty Fifty lens I was excited. I anticipated three gorgeous outcomes.

But remember the wind I mentioned? And the miserable cold I mentioned? We had the hardest time finding a spot in the shade, but not dappled shade, that was out of the wind, and then tried to shoot quickly because I made them take their coats off. I didn't want their coats in the picture. Such a good mom, don't you think?

I feel like if I'd been able to put them any where I wanted I would have gotten better shots...but with three such beautiful girls, I don't think I could get a really bad picture:D

And yes, I might be a bit biased.

Reagan-My little blond haired, blue eyed beauty. She is the peacemaker in the family. The most compassionate. She has her first big part in a school presentation this Thursday. She wanted the lead but was put in a duet because she's the only third grade girl who the teacher knew could sing in harmony. She's in a committed relationship and has been for the last seven years. She still gives me hugs without me having to ask for them. Kennedy-My middle school beauty. She has her Gogo's beautiful smooth, dark skin and Gogo's silky hair. My Green Kangaroo. (Anyone remember that children's book?) The one who is going to grow up, become famous, and give her parents lots of money. She lives for performing. She plays piano, viola, guitar, soccer, and basketball. She's willing to try anything. She is nothing like me. McKinley-My 9th grader who always says, "I prefer freshman." She's counting down the days until she can get her license. She's obsessed with chicken. Not so much the actual food, but the word. Ask what she wants for dinner and you'll always hear, "Chicken." Sneak up behind her and startle her and she'll say, "Chicken." Ask what she wants for Christmas and you're told, "Chicken." Head over heels in love with Justin Bieber and an amazing pianist, she sees them as a match made in heaven. She is most like me in a lot of ways....so basically we don't always get along. They keep me on my toes and on my knees in prayer. I love them more than I ever imagined I could.

It's That Time Of Year!

Wow. How can it be that it's been six days since I last blogged? I am so sorry I have not blessed you all with my presence:c) Christmas concerts, decorating, and life in general have gotten the best of me. It's that time you year you know. Please tell me I'm not the only one losing my mind.

Please.

Anyone?

Saturday was spent with our annual tradition of cutting our Christmas tree. When we were first married we would just go to a tree lot and buy an already cut tree. I must have a real tree. I'm somewhere in my 30's and I've never had a fake one. I'm certainly not going to start now. One year we spent $75 at a tree farm. We got to go out and pick it and cut it down ourselves. The girls loved it. And it reminded me of how we'd cut our trees out in the Oklahoma countryside when I was growing up. But this tree was a noble fir. Perfect limbs for lots of ornaments. Shawn mentioned our experience to a friend at work and she said we were welcome to cut one on her property. They were trying to clean up their cattle pastures of the Oklahoma Red Cedars. We went for three years and loved every minute of it. She had horses and the girls got little rides. That plus exploring the hay bales in the barn and playing with the barn cats made for quite a fun tradition. But one year we were halfway to her house (about 30 minutes away) and she called and said they'd decided to go out for breakfast, could we just go back to the tree farm this year. We were crushed. The tree farm had been nice, but expensive, and not as memorable. My head started racing and I thought of some other friends that live in the country and have a bumper crop of cedars. I quickly called and explained our problem and they graciously told us we could come to their land.

Christmas was saved.

When we ran into them at a school function a few weeks later we thanked and thanked and thanked them for helping us out. Since then, they've told us to we were welcome to cut there. We always try to pick one out of the way so they don't pull in and notice a big gaping whole in their tree line. It's the least we can do.

This year the day we chose was perfectly sunny, about 40 degrees, and 40+ mile per hour winds. Yep, it was miserable. Luckily I found the perfect tree close to the car and a bit down the hill so the wind wasn't as bad.

Everyone took a turn with the axe. Well, everyone but me. I'm the photographer after all.

Man he's cute. Even when holding an axe.

This is all I got of McKinley. She was determined. And cold. I think she hit it about five times.Kennedy and her hair problems kept this from being a pretty cute picture. But she did a lot of good work to the tree. My tiny little baby needed a boost up. I love that. This is my favorite picture every year. Hauling it to the car.But wait, where's Shawn??

Oh, there he is. Shawn although had a different picture idea. Gravel road, open windows, Christmas tree, and a dust cloud.

A new tradition has been born.Back home I wanted to take a few more pictures. The girls and I all got rain boots this year and they're so cute I had to have a picture. And because of our $75 purchase price for four pairs of boots it has only rained one day this fall in Oklahoma. You're welcome everyone.

This picture was taken also. I hate that I'm wearing my glasses...I hate that my coat is covering part of my face...I hate that my hair doesn't look good...and I hate that my skin only looks good in black and white. But the man in it? The man I love?? He loves me. Doesn't this picture capture that perfectly?? It's my new favorite picture.

And this one?? It just goes to prove that maybe McKinley comes by her weird photo face honestly. And it proves that Shawn should have been upset with me for trying to help out and leaving the back window open on the car. But the bump only lasted a day or two:c)

Love you honey!