I saw this on a friend's blog and about could not stop laughing. It is hilarious! What would you do if people broke into song at a local mall?
Too funny!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Connor's First Tie
Once Connor realized that his neighbor friend Ben had his own church tie...he just had to have one too. So we took him shirt and tie shopping on saturday. We let him choose the one he wanted out of about 15 selections. This is the one he chose.
He has pretty good tastes. I think he looks so cute! I just had to get a picture of him with Randy. Notice the huge watch on his wrist. I've tried to buy him a watch his size a couple times, but he likes the adult watches much better.
Kyler is still too small to fit into the shirt and ties. But it will be really cute when all my boys are in shirt and ties for church. :-)
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Having Fun At Lunch!
Connor loved to eat green beans when he was Kyler's age. Now he is a fan of noodles. Kyler can't stand vegetables! But he will eat chili! Thank goodness kids have favorite foods...or I would think they would starve!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Market For A Good Website
I had to double check that google did not have my blog listed in their database before making this post, as it is only for family and friends. But an interesting thing happened last week as some of you have heard a little about if you have talked to Randy.
My website has been doing really well. I am ranking #4-6 (depending on the time of day)on google for my most competitive keyword (baby shower). I'm getting lots of traffic and the big baby shower websites all have taken notice of me. Well, I was approached last week by another company to buy my website.
It wasn't until I did some research that I realized the value of a good website, and how much people are willing to pay for it. They offered $70,000 for the website...which I considered a little bit since that is the amount of Randy's school loan. But I ended up turning them down. They came back saying they would consider a slightly higher price (I think they would of stopped at $90,000). But I countered at $150,000 which is the premium market rate considering my stats.
They are still interested, but will be waiting a year and contacting me again. They see the value in the website but would rather buy smaller websites now and have more money to negotiate with me next year at a higher price.
It's a good thing that I have some web savvy friends to ask advice of or I could of literally given my website away to them (considering I've spent the last 2 years of my life working on it).
Sidenote:
I almost did not post this because I don't want anyone to feel like I am bragging. I am just constantly amazed with the website company I use and how much the program works.
My website has been doing really well. I am ranking #4-6 (depending on the time of day)on google for my most competitive keyword (baby shower). I'm getting lots of traffic and the big baby shower websites all have taken notice of me. Well, I was approached last week by another company to buy my website.
It wasn't until I did some research that I realized the value of a good website, and how much people are willing to pay for it. They offered $70,000 for the website...which I considered a little bit since that is the amount of Randy's school loan. But I ended up turning them down. They came back saying they would consider a slightly higher price (I think they would of stopped at $90,000). But I countered at $150,000 which is the premium market rate considering my stats.
They are still interested, but will be waiting a year and contacting me again. They see the value in the website but would rather buy smaller websites now and have more money to negotiate with me next year at a higher price.
It's a good thing that I have some web savvy friends to ask advice of or I could of literally given my website away to them (considering I've spent the last 2 years of my life working on it).
Sidenote:
I almost did not post this because I don't want anyone to feel like I am bragging. I am just constantly amazed with the website company I use and how much the program works.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Rollerblading With The Kids
We had such a nice weekend. It was a little chilly but the sun was out so we had a little fun with the kids. Randy put on the rollerblades and the kids in the neighborhood went wild! It has been a few years since he put them on last, but he had all the neighborhood kids putting their blades on to play with him. Connor and his friends had their bikes out and they loved to chase him. Here are some pictures from him playing with the boys.
Connor on his bike.
Kyler Striking A Pose.
Wipe Out!
Run Kyler Run! The bike is going to get you!
Daddy's Going To Get You!
Connor on his bike.
Kyler Striking A Pose.
Wipe Out!
Run Kyler Run! The bike is going to get you!
Daddy's Going To Get You!
Baseball
Connor and Kyler got a play bat and ball set. Connor was so excited he begged to go outside and play. Here is some pictures of the action.
And the Pitch..
Here it comes!
Strike!
The ball is a little hard to see because of the sun, but he did really well! These are pictures taken at different times, but I thought it was funny how they looked like they went together. He actually hit a lot of balls! Good job Connor!
And the Pitch..
Here it comes!
Strike!
The ball is a little hard to see because of the sun, but he did really well! These are pictures taken at different times, but I thought it was funny how they looked like they went together. He actually hit a lot of balls! Good job Connor!
Easter Egg Hunts
This is the second year that Randy had to miss Easter Egg Hunts due to work. He works every Saturday. Last year was a little too much for me taking the kids to Thanksgiving Point all alone so I opted for the neighborhood hunt this year.
They decided that no parents or strollers were to be allowed at the field this year. So it was quite a sight to behold! They blew the whistle and all of the parents started yelling at their kids to pick up the eggs. Since the category was 0-3, both of the boys were in the same category. Imagine being pushed acrossed a start line and looking up at a line full of parents yelling.
Poor Connor and Kyler did not know what to do. Connor was so distressed he started kicking eggs. On the other side of the field parents started crossing the line to help their kids and there was a lady in their faces yelling to get off the field.
It was about over when Connor realized there was candy in the eggs. He managed to get 2. Kyler did not get any but found and piece of candy on the ground. As we passed kids with baskets full of eggs I couldn't help thinking that all of the fuss to get the kids there just wasn't worth it.
We did a small hunt in our backyard on Easter and Connor had no problem getting plenty of eggs this time. ;) No kids to compete with, no yelling parents. He really enjoyed himself. Kyler helped with a few but did not have too much interest in it.
I guess next year we will need to practice before the hunt so it is not so hard for him.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
How old can wheat last??
We had an experiment a few weeks ago when Randy took a trip down to his parent's house and came back with some wheat. The wheat just happens to be 35 years old. Yup. It is older than Randy is.
So we decided to see if it was still good. We borrowed our neighbor's wheat grinder and made some flour.
We tested our bread maker. The batch did not rise very well, but we get on again off again results with the bread maker. So we did the next best thing. We took the wheat and made Randy's mom's yummy Texas Sheet Cake. Yum!!
So we decided to see if it was still good. We borrowed our neighbor's wheat grinder and made some flour.
We tested our bread maker. The batch did not rise very well, but we get on again off again results with the bread maker. So we did the next best thing. We took the wheat and made Randy's mom's yummy Texas Sheet Cake. Yum!!
We learned a few things from the experience:
1. Our stomachs did not give us trouble for using 100% hard red wheat. Nope, we didn't mix it with white flour. We made it with the hard stuff!
2. We've decided we really like Texas "Wheat" Sheet Cake. Still haven't tried wheat bread since, but we have had a few batches of the sheet cake and everyone loves it!
3. When in doubt if your family will eat wheat...add chocolate!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Kids Are So Funny!
At church I teach Sunbeams, which is 3-4 year olds. We were giving a lesson on how god gave us animals and going over the things we get from animals. It was the typical questions and answers. Where do we get milk? Cows! Where do we get eggs? Chickens! Where do we get hamburgers? We were expecting them to say cows. Mcdonalds! We had about 4 kids yell it out. We were laughing so hard! Kids are so funny!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Randy's Project Of The Week
Well, I've been without a car for almost a week now. Randy has been ripping and tearing his truck apart. Man he loves it! Back in Sept. Randy noticed the steering was loose and needed to be redone. This is phase 2 of his truck projects. He is replacing the control arm ball joints and bushings in this phase.
Here is Connor posing for a picture by part of the front wheel cavity. He took off both wheels and released the tension arm (a little too dangerous in my point of view considering if he did not release it correctly it could KILL him!).
Good thing it is almost over.
Here is Connor posing for a picture by part of the front wheel cavity. He took off both wheels and released the tension arm (a little too dangerous in my point of view considering if he did not release it correctly it could KILL him!).
Good thing it is almost over.
Adventures In Potty Training
We're in Potty Training Land in our household. Connor is finally ready but stubborn at the same time. Since it has to be his idea to sit on the potty, he is now in underwear so he can decide that "he" wants to sit on the potty. We are making slooow progress, but any progress is good.
He came up to me yesterday with this handkerchief and asked to be superman. So I attached it for him. He was so proud! I think he looks adorable!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Interesting La Times Article
I read this article in my friend Laurie's blog a couple days ago and thought it was interesting. It was originally published in the La Times.
Holy Matrimony in Era of Divorce, Mormon Weddings are Built to Last
by William Lobdell
For those headed to the altar this summer, the 1999 marital statistics for Orange County are sobering: 19,758 marriages, 12,156 divorces. And if you're a religious person, things don't get better. In fact, for born-again Christians, the divorce rate is higher (27% of all adults) than it is for non-Christians (24%), according to a recent survey by the Barna Research Group.
The picture isn't rosier for other Christians or Jews. The survey showed their divorce rates about the same as the national average.
There is a ray of marital hope, however. And that comes from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--specifically, from those Mormons who marry in a temple. While other Mormons divorce at the usual rate, only 6% of those who undergo the demanding temple marriage break up, according to Brigham Young University professor Daniel K. Judd. It's not just a question of where the marriage takes place. The low divorce rate, many Mormons say, stems both from church requirements for such marriages and from the character of people who are motivated to meet them. How do they do it? Let's count the ways.
1. They date within their faith. If you date only Mormons, you'll marry a Mormon. And this translates into a guarantee of shared background, beliefs and values--or one less thing to fight about."When we get married, we have one goal and one vision: to create a family," said Tustin resident Brian Banner, 24, who will be married today at the Mormon temple in San Diego (the other Southern California temple is in Los Angeles). "We believe that it's something God's ordained and not something you can walk away from. If something's wrong, you need to fix it."
2. They make sure they're committed to their faith. The wedding day isn't the last time Mormon couples see the inside of the temple. As part of the marriage pact, each couple commits to going to services regularly, visiting the temple, tithing and following the church's strict rules. "That's probably the biggest thing [to successful marriages]," said Richard Fuller, president of the Mormon Church's Newport Coast Branch. "That's such a bond. It's very unifying."
3. They get their lives squared away before marriage. To be married in the temple--which Mormons believe is holy ground--you need to be "worthy." In premarital sessions, a local Mormon leader sits down with couples and makes sure they are living by the standards of the church. They are tested on such things as their faith, their relationships with their family, their sexual conduct and their use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. If they fall short, they can repent, change the behavior and still be married in the temple. This serves as an early checkpoint for young adult Mormons who may have gotten off course."That's my job," said Fuller, who specializes in counseling young adults. "I bring people back into the fold. It's the lost-sheep concept. And they understand that if they don't get their life in order, they can't be married in the temple."
4. They make the wedding ceremony sacred. You'll find no bridesmaids, best men or wedding cakes at a temple marriage. It's a small ceremony with close family and friends, all who have to be in good standing with the church to attend. The bride and groom--both dressed simply in white--kneel at an altar in the center of a room, hold hands, exchange vows and receive blessings from an "officiator," who then seals the marriage for eternity. "It's a very sacred experience,a very emotional experience, a very moving experience," Fuller said. "It's not a spectacle." Mormons who marry in the temple may hold "ring ceremonies" later for other family and friends, along with more traditional receptions.
5. "Until death do you part" isn't enough. They marry for eternity. When a temple marriage is sealed, that means the husband and wife--and their family members past and present who are Mormon--will be together forever. "We would not be married unless it was in the temple," said newlywed Joshua Poduska, a UCI junior. "A temple marriage allows the union to be eternal."
6. They believe the family that prays together stays together. Mormons are taught to have family prayer time in the morning and evening, along with a scripture reading sometime during the day.
7. They send their young men on two-year missions, which gets them used to the stresses and strains of living with someone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When Poduska went on his mission to Kentucky, he roomed with 20 different men, he estimates. "You have to learn to live with someone," Poduska said. "And that really helped me become a good husband. You learn how to pick your battles."
8. They get help when they have a problem. When trouble looms, married couples are encouraged to seek the counsel of their local bishop. "Sometimes they come in themselves," said Warren Inouye, a Mormon bishop in Orange County. "And sometimes they are called in." There's no marriage police, but Mormons do get monthly home visits from someone in the church, and if something seems out of whack in the marriage, the bishop will be alerted.
9. They believe children create happy, stable marriages. "Children are important to the marriage because of the joy they bring into our lives," Fuller said. "It's our belief that that joy will continue through eternity."
10. They forget about "Monday Night Football" or "Ally McBeal." Mormon families have what they call "family home evenings," usually on Mondays. That's when the TV goes off, and the family either tackles a spiritual lesson or simply plays board games and eats treats. "If you handled it well," Fuller said, "it's an irreplaceable bonding experience for the whole family."The best insight on Mormon temple marriages comes from someone who should know: 76-year-old Helen Stay, who's been married to Jesse for 57 years. The Huntington Beach couple have seven children, 47 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. "The secret to marriage is you really need to love each other and have the same ideals," Helen said. "For us, our faith means we'll be mates forever."
Holy Matrimony in Era of Divorce, Mormon Weddings are Built to Last
by William Lobdell
For those headed to the altar this summer, the 1999 marital statistics for Orange County are sobering: 19,758 marriages, 12,156 divorces. And if you're a religious person, things don't get better. In fact, for born-again Christians, the divorce rate is higher (27% of all adults) than it is for non-Christians (24%), according to a recent survey by the Barna Research Group.
The picture isn't rosier for other Christians or Jews. The survey showed their divorce rates about the same as the national average.
There is a ray of marital hope, however. And that comes from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--specifically, from those Mormons who marry in a temple. While other Mormons divorce at the usual rate, only 6% of those who undergo the demanding temple marriage break up, according to Brigham Young University professor Daniel K. Judd. It's not just a question of where the marriage takes place. The low divorce rate, many Mormons say, stems both from church requirements for such marriages and from the character of people who are motivated to meet them. How do they do it? Let's count the ways.
1. They date within their faith. If you date only Mormons, you'll marry a Mormon. And this translates into a guarantee of shared background, beliefs and values--or one less thing to fight about."When we get married, we have one goal and one vision: to create a family," said Tustin resident Brian Banner, 24, who will be married today at the Mormon temple in San Diego (the other Southern California temple is in Los Angeles). "We believe that it's something God's ordained and not something you can walk away from. If something's wrong, you need to fix it."
2. They make sure they're committed to their faith. The wedding day isn't the last time Mormon couples see the inside of the temple. As part of the marriage pact, each couple commits to going to services regularly, visiting the temple, tithing and following the church's strict rules. "That's probably the biggest thing [to successful marriages]," said Richard Fuller, president of the Mormon Church's Newport Coast Branch. "That's such a bond. It's very unifying."
3. They get their lives squared away before marriage. To be married in the temple--which Mormons believe is holy ground--you need to be "worthy." In premarital sessions, a local Mormon leader sits down with couples and makes sure they are living by the standards of the church. They are tested on such things as their faith, their relationships with their family, their sexual conduct and their use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. If they fall short, they can repent, change the behavior and still be married in the temple. This serves as an early checkpoint for young adult Mormons who may have gotten off course."That's my job," said Fuller, who specializes in counseling young adults. "I bring people back into the fold. It's the lost-sheep concept. And they understand that if they don't get their life in order, they can't be married in the temple."
4. They make the wedding ceremony sacred. You'll find no bridesmaids, best men or wedding cakes at a temple marriage. It's a small ceremony with close family and friends, all who have to be in good standing with the church to attend. The bride and groom--both dressed simply in white--kneel at an altar in the center of a room, hold hands, exchange vows and receive blessings from an "officiator," who then seals the marriage for eternity. "It's a very sacred experience,a very emotional experience, a very moving experience," Fuller said. "It's not a spectacle." Mormons who marry in the temple may hold "ring ceremonies" later for other family and friends, along with more traditional receptions.
5. "Until death do you part" isn't enough. They marry for eternity. When a temple marriage is sealed, that means the husband and wife--and their family members past and present who are Mormon--will be together forever. "We would not be married unless it was in the temple," said newlywed Joshua Poduska, a UCI junior. "A temple marriage allows the union to be eternal."
6. They believe the family that prays together stays together. Mormons are taught to have family prayer time in the morning and evening, along with a scripture reading sometime during the day.
7. They send their young men on two-year missions, which gets them used to the stresses and strains of living with someone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When Poduska went on his mission to Kentucky, he roomed with 20 different men, he estimates. "You have to learn to live with someone," Poduska said. "And that really helped me become a good husband. You learn how to pick your battles."
8. They get help when they have a problem. When trouble looms, married couples are encouraged to seek the counsel of their local bishop. "Sometimes they come in themselves," said Warren Inouye, a Mormon bishop in Orange County. "And sometimes they are called in." There's no marriage police, but Mormons do get monthly home visits from someone in the church, and if something seems out of whack in the marriage, the bishop will be alerted.
9. They believe children create happy, stable marriages. "Children are important to the marriage because of the joy they bring into our lives," Fuller said. "It's our belief that that joy will continue through eternity."
10. They forget about "Monday Night Football" or "Ally McBeal." Mormon families have what they call "family home evenings," usually on Mondays. That's when the TV goes off, and the family either tackles a spiritual lesson or simply plays board games and eats treats. "If you handled it well," Fuller said, "it's an irreplaceable bonding experience for the whole family."The best insight on Mormon temple marriages comes from someone who should know: 76-year-old Helen Stay, who's been married to Jesse for 57 years. The Huntington Beach couple have seven children, 47 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. "The secret to marriage is you really need to love each other and have the same ideals," Helen said. "For us, our faith means we'll be mates forever."
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