Obamanomics

Holy moly. Much has changed in our little world since the last time I posted a bloggy. We originally started doing this so that we could feel like we were keeping folks up-to-date without having to actually keep them up-to-date. However, it has become kind of a "we really oughta update the blog" thing. Which, if you think about it, is pretty much the same as "we really oughta call those guys and see how they're doing." Oh well. As I was saying, much has changed, and not much stays the same from day to day anymore. It's kind of mind blowing. The Sinclair gas station just south of BYU's campus kind of is my barometer of change. I know things aren't yet stabilized each morning when I drive by on my way to work and school and am surprised by the gas prices listed lower than the day before. Some days after reading the New York Times, I come home convinced that the absolute smartest thing for us to do is to buy a house as soon as possible. The next day I come home absolutely convinced that the smartest thing to do is to take my family along with a chicken or two and some cornseed and build a mud hut out in the bush somewhere. Whatta world! Either way, I think we can all agree that we now officially live in a society where no one is expected to live with consequences of their choices and actions. Whether I choose to live in a hurricane prone area, buy a bundle of sub-prime mortgage-backed debt, commit petty crimes, build a substandard product for premium price, supply dictators and warlords with weapons and financing to protect my "interests" only to later topple them to obtain more "interests", or just buying a house that's way bigger than I need, the government and the courts are there to make sure that I have a warm bed to sleep in each night.

IN other news, I have an incredible little family, have you noticed? Tonight, Mae said "I want some pie." Of course, we obliged. She is learning so much every day, it never ceases to amaze me. Her mama is a champ of all champs. She is working so hard making gifts for everyone for Christmas, and she still finds time to teach sewing lessons, fulfill her calling, and taking care of our home. Whatta woman. As for Ike, he now rolls across the floor along with puking, laughing, and pooping. A star.

Merry Christmas all!

Beautiful People

What I've been doing while not blogging, Part III

Thanksgiving down in Monticello was by far one of the best yet! We all got as sick as dogs with a mysterious illness that spread like peanut butter throughout the entire clan. The initial symptom was nauseating burps that tasted like yeast, and it went downhill from there. (Since of course, you were curious.) But, we didn't let that stop us from eating ourselves silly, playing lots of board games, watching many movies, and taking a wild excursion into the tundra for a Christmas tree. It rained all weekend, and so there was plenty of mud. Ben was excited to have some off-roady Subaru commercial moments, but it turns out that the AWD on the side of our vehicle is just decoration, because our sporty car was the only one that completely stuck. The mud was so heavily encrusted on our wheel axels, that we had to remove the tires and clean them out in order to get our wheels to turn at all. A slightly lesser drama was the fact that at first I hated our tree. I tried to suffer in silence as all of my male relations, (and a few of the cheerful and stalwart females) pushed against my car, up to their knees in mud. But, as it turns out, I love the tree, and so all their labor was not in vain! Here are some highlights from the trip, my favorite of which is the shot of my dad demonstrating to my nephew Rawl what fun it is to sit on a mattress, and that any big boy who goes potty in the toilet can also enjoy the privilege of doing so. Josie somehow was able to bypass all of those stipulations. Hmmm...

What I've been doing while not blogging, Part II

Yeah, Mae and Ike are still around. Growing like dandelions. They adore each other, as you can see. Or rather Mae adores "Itey" and Ike adores everything, including Mae, but also including dirty socks and plastic bags.

Things I have been doing while not blogging, Part I

Our first possibly annual Costume Ball of Special Magnificence!!

Imagine... dreamy lights, whimsical jack o' lanterns, fresh flowers, amazing food, swirling fog, costumes, dancing! Butt freezing, frog strangling cold!