Portraits, $2 ea

Pictures by Jared.

Sedona

A couple friends (okay Stephanie and Brandon, many of you know them) took a trip to Sedona to take pictures and we got to tag along. It was a lot of fun, but tiring after so much hiking. The area was beautiful and together we probably took close to 1000 pictures. Jared also got to practice his portrait taking skills and I'd say they turned out pretty good!

Baby's first campout

I can't be certain of couse but I'm pretty sure baby liked his first camp out. (Especially his honorary aunt KaLee posing as a jackalope) He better because he has many camp outs to come!

Camping

So I went camping at 7 months pregnant and was a little worried I was crazy, but it was actually really fun! It was so nice being outdoors and with Jared and friends. We went to 4 peaks and had an outstanding view of Lake Roosevelt. The weather was perfect! Not too cold, just nice and cool. The only hard part for me was the 20 miles of dirt road to get there.

Warning, strong opinions ahead!!

So I've forgotten how much of a feminist I can be, but the recent election got me way fired up the other day. I'm am irritated out of my mind the way the media has been able to destroy Governor Palin!! And it wouldn't irritate me so much if it wasn't so successful. Over the few days before and after the election I cannot tell you how many WOMEN I hear saying they didn't like Palin for the most stupid and petty reasons!! The first argument was that she spent too much money on her clothes and always stayed in 4 star hotels. Excuse Me? Have you taken a look at the budget or habits of any of the other candidates, including Obama? What makes her the exception, except for the media playing it up because they can't find any legitimate reasons to squash her. Then, my favorite, one of my collegues said that she doesn't think we can have a "good looking women for President." Uh, okay, that makes all kinds of sense. It just goes to show how successful the media has been to make all good looking women seem petty and stupid!! Just because she was a beauty queen suddenly she is too stupid to hold office. Actually I think politics and beauty contests are about as alligned as two things can be. It's all about appearances and the quest for "world peace". No but really, how is it that these are the arguments are so successful in standing in the way of a Governor who has one of the top approval ratings in the Nation, and who actually gets stuff accomplished as opposed to just talking.
Obviously for all this monumentus change and acceptance happening in our country, accepting a women is still last to come, just as it was with voting. With such rediculous excuses for arguments against Gov. Palin, apperantly we aren't ready for a women president, let alone a competent president in America. Unfortunately we are a spoonfed generation and accept whatever spoonfuls of garbage the media feeds us, and it's really depressing!

missing California

Every now and then I get in these moods where I miss the ocean. I guess it's the result of many fun family trips to the San Diego area all growing up. But I miss the feel, the smell, the people there, everything. Well I was watching Bob Ross this morning (very exciting morning you can tell, I guess that's what happens when pregnancy doesn't let you sleep in any more) and he was painting an ocean scene and it got me all lonely for the beach. I tried talking Jared into going but it's unfortunately not in the cards now. So I'll post some pictures from past Cali trips and decorate my ocean themed nursery a bit and see if that will do for now. At least until November when we get to go for Tristan's baptism.

Over the hump.

I've past the half way mark. I'm now at 25 weeks out of 40 and am already feeling huge. I'm sure I have much to look forward to as far as that goes though. I feel him kicking me all the time and his kicks are getting stronger. I'm also starting to notice patterns of times he often wakes up and starts moving around. Last night was the first time I've had a hard time sleeping because he wouldn't settle down. Jared is starting to be able to feel his kicks now, though "Thor" likes to play a game called move all around until daddy tries to feel. As soon as Jared puts his hand on my belly he's nice and still. He has felt him a couple times though and Jared's cousin Andrea even got to feel him kick. It's a bit of a pain being pregnant but I'm also enjoying feeling this life grow inside me and looking forward to getting to hold him and baby him. I'm getting a bit baby hungry!
Being a music teacher is getting a little harder. Trying to do movements with the kids, moving heavy instruments and sitting on the floor like I used to is becoming less and less of an option. My students are very supportive of me, however, and very willing to help (too much sometimes). I feel blessed at how this year is going so far, there are, of course, challenges but on the whole I have a good relationship with my students (all 800 or so) and they are being great. The rest of life is proving stressful, trying to keep up with inflation, schooling for Jared and a tumbling market in the construction area, which is where Jared makes his living. We also have an unpaid maternity leave to look forward to and plan for. But life goes on and we're trying to take it one step at a time. On the whole, we're healthy and happy and life is good.