Wait, Where Is My Hard Drive?

So this is supposed to be a birthday post for Ciara, but Rocky has taken the external hard drive.  That is of course where all the pictures are kept.  So I guess her post will have to come a little late!  

Sorry, Sweetie!

Instead, I will now impress you all with pictures of our painted living room and entryway.

I hung pictures too!

I am just so thrilled to have actual pictures hanging on my walls again.

Here are the befores:

The first picture of the hallway doesn't show the bright mustardy yellow color.  

and the living room was a stripey wallpaper, not actually pink.

Here is what is looks like now:

As I am comparing the pictures, the new ones looks kind of dismal.  

That is because it is raining.  

It really hasn't stopped raining for about a month now.

I will have to take more pictures when the sun in shining.

What Are They Thinking?

I am a little behind the times, but I just couldn't NOT write about this.

Abercrombie and Fitch has been all over the news lately for their padded, push-up bikini top.

No, it is not for adults.

Aimed at girls ages 8 and up, they created a push-up top, which has since been removed from their website.

They do, however, still have some tops (like the one shown below) on their kids site described as having a "removable pad."

This is one of the reasons I am so grateful to certain children's clothing retailers, such as Land's End.

This is what I want my daughter to look like while in a swimsuit.

Still like a kid, not a kid that looks like she is just a really short 17 year old.

I am not completely against bikini tops for girls.

But I know that even without the padding, there is NO WAY that my daughter would ever wear that triangle top. 

I am pretty sure that A&F can't show any kids wearing their suits because it could be considered child pornography.

  So, THANK YOU to all the retailers who keep kids dressed as kids.

Land's End is one of my favorites, basically because they have leggings that go with just about every dress, and all their skirts have shorts sewn into them.

Since I have a daughter who prefers dresses and skirts to just about anything, this has been a life saver.

They also have a great overstock section, where everything is always on sale.

I also enjoy Mini Boden and Tea Collection, but they tend to be a bit pricier.  

If I had the money, I would be shopping their as well.

Here is the news story I found regarding the push-up top:

The Birthday Boy

Instead of writing about how wonderful my son is, I thought I would take you on a picture journey of the last 5 years:

 He is still happiest with 2 spoons and 2 bowls of food in front of him.  We introduced him to the buffet style restaurant a few years ago, and he still prefers that style of restaurant to all others.  

Today, I let him pick a special place for us to eat lunch, and he picked the China House Buffet.  For his special birthday dinner, however, he picked salad for us all to eat.  

Happy  Birthday!

Ugh

I was going to write a post dedicated to Lands End.  

I wanted to thank them for allowing me to dress my children in clothes that let them be kids, and let them look like kids.

I have found that some places like to make children look like miniature teenager or adults.

Anyway, I had it all planned out.

And then another illness.

Ciara has another ear infection.

That makes 5 since the middle of December.

Now we get to see a specialist.

Unfortunately, we can't get into see the ENT until the middle of May.

I hate waiting.  I really just want this taken care of.

I also hate the fact that she has had 5 different antibiotics.

I was under the impression that as children got older, their ear infections would be less and less.

Why is she getting them more and more?

And Caden still had fluid in his ear, but it isn't infected.

Give it another week, and we will probably be back in to see the pediatrician.

Out With the Old

I have decided that I would like a new wedding ring.

No, not a bigger ring.

Just a new one.

I know that my husband is not too keen on this idea.

I am fine with selling my original ring in order to get a new one.

Does this make me heartless?

I love what the ring symbolizes, not the physical thing.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think my ring is ugly.

It has just become inconvenient.

It is a traditional diamond solitaire, with 2 diamond bands surrounding it.

What I don't like is the big solitaire.

I hit it on stuff all the time.

I scratch things (and people) with it.

Another problem I have with it is the metal. 

It is made of white gold, which need to be coated with rhodium occasionally to keep it looking silver.

This tends to get annoying.

I have been doing some research online, and have decided I would like my next ring to be made of palladium.

It is mean to be lighter in weight, and is naturally a silvery color, so no rhodium coating needed.

Plus, it isn't as expensive as platinum.

Here are some examples of what I want:



Am I asking for too much??

Prescriptions

Of course my kids just can't get over their illnesses. 

Ciara has been through 4 rounds of antibiotics to get rid of her last ear infection (and the last prescription gave her a reaction).

And now Caden is on round 2 for his latest ear infection.

With Rocky's new job, we had to switch to an individual insurance plan.  His work pays a certain amount each month towards our premium, which makes it work out pretty well. 

The plan we currently have does not have a prescription coverage. 

It would have been and extra $100 per month to be covered (out of our pocket).

None of us are using any prescription on a regular basis, so we decided that it was just a waste.

Even after all the medicine we have needed these past few months, I still know it wouldn't be worth having the coverage.

But still.

Amoxicillian I am OK with.  At Walmart, it is only $4.  But the next antibiotic that we need is $81. 

Why does it have to cost so much?

If it doesn't work, can I bring it back for a full refund?

I would LOVE to see that!

Luckily we have a discount card that saved us $20.

Where do these discount cards come from?

If they are free, then why do I need a card?  Can't you just lower the price?

Obviously, I don't understand our health care system.

And the reason I don't understand it is:

IT MAKES NO SENSE.

Stereotype

I do not enjoy being confronted with stereotypes. 

 Really, I don't think anyone does. 

But it seems that we just can't help but believe them.

As a Mormon, there are MANY stereotypes that people think define me.

I would like to dispel some of these.

1.  I did not grow up in Utah.

2.  I am not a huge fan of the Osmond's (I actually had to google them to get the spelling right).

3.  I am not a Republican.

4.  I am the only wife of my husband (I am amazed to find out how many people actually believe that we are polygamists).

5.  I only have 2 children, and no, I do not plan on having 8.

6.  I am not in love with Mitt Romney.

7.  I do not support Glenn Beck (frankly, he kind of creeps me out).

8.  I once had a nose ring, and I still have tattoos.

9.  I do not consider BYU to be the only option for my kids future college plans.

(I actually worry that my kids will want to go there someday.)

10.  I love Tupac.

Just thought you might like to know!