Better Late Than Never

So, I know this may seem like old news by now, but I just hadn't had time this week to write about the inauguration. Since I never write in a journal, and I'm not much of a scrapbooker, I figure I'd better use my blog to at least record my feelings about that day.

I don't want to ramble on, because I know we've all read or heard the commentaries regarding this historic day. So I guess what sums it up best is just that my heart was so full as I watched President Obama's inauguration. First and foremost as an American, but also certainly as the mother of children with an African American heritage. To know that as he grows up, in Alex's mind it will never even be a question as to whether there could ever be a black president. But I certainly will be sure to teach him all that his ancestors endured so that he will know and understand the significance.

My prayers are with President Obama, as he has such a tumultuous road ahead of him. How exciting though, to see how many Americans have so much hope for the good that he will hopefully do. I was impressed with his speech, and how he's also calling on us as a country to do better and be better.

P.S. I think Michelle rocks, she is going to be one classy first lady!!

School Shooting

I got a call from Steph yesterday around noon. Her voice was shaky and she said, "Mom, there was a shooting at school and I don't know where Dad is." Double whammy...worrying about the trauma your 16 year old daughter is experiencing as her school is in "lockdown", and knowing that your husband is, second to the school cop, one of the first people called to help in any potential dangerous situation at the school.

I reassured Steph that he was probably ok, but not likely able to answer his phone at the moment. About 20 minutes later he finally called to tell me he was fine. Turns out that the shooting was a block or two away from the school, still a bad situation, but made me feel better to know it didn't actually happen in the school.

Not surprisingly, it was gang related, and both sides were students at the school. Unfortunately the boy who was shot did not make it, which is horrible not just for the obvious reason that a young life was unnecessarily cut short, but that an entire school is now left feeling sad, scared and vulnerable.

Steph doesn't want to go to school this morning, I don't blame her and I'm not going to force her to go. The students are fearful that the ruthlessness of both parties involved will lead to retaliation. I would think that there will be enough added security at the school that the students should feel safe, but I certainly can't blame them for being nervous.

It just saddens me that our children have to grow up worrying about this sort of thing. And it breaks my heart to speculate that it will be even worse in another 13 years when my little Alex is in high school. My prayers are with both families today, the one who lost their son to prison, and the one who lost their son for the remainder of this life. I also pray that Kearns High will be able to come together and heal quickly, so that my daughter can have some semblance of the carefree teenage years that every kid deserves.

California Dreamin' on Such a Winter's Day

These are some of my favorite pics from our trip to California. After a few months of cold dreariness, it was so refreshing to take Alex outside in my parents backyard and let him explore, enjoying the flowers, orange and lemon trees.

When Steph was a little girl she would cry whenever we were leaving Napa to come back to Utah. She still loves it there and even said she wouldn't mind moving to California for her senior year. Now that's saying something. Not that we'll be moving any time soon, but a girl can dream can't she?!

New Year's Eve Sledding

I'm really lucky that some of my family lives here in Utah and that we can get together on special occasions. We have a New Year's Eve tradition of going sledding (during the day, of course) up American Fork Canyon. Here's Steve doing what he loves, hangin' with the young guys. It cracks me up to see him standing next to my super tall nephews.

Alex getting a taste of sledding for the first time with his cousin Katherine. I promise, he did start out with gloves on, but they kept falling off. Luckily it was a farely warm day. (I use the term 'warm' quite loosely, of course...)

My sister Lorna and I catching some air. Not bad, for a couple of moms, eh?!

Steph all dolled up and ready to go downtown for 'First Night' with some friends.

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays

I love being home for Christmas (California home). I'm sure a lot of it is because it's the house I grew up in, with the people, foods, scents, traditions that I've always loved. It makes me happy that my husband and kids love being there so much as well.

On Christmas Eve, my mom and I thought it would be nice to reflect on the "reason for the season" by having everyone dress a part from the Christmas story as we read it from the bible. Stephenie and my little brother Brett thought we were joking at first. When they realized we were dead serious, they reluctantly complied, then became severely paranoid when cameras were pulled out, assuming that those pictures would indefinately show up on Facebook and/or my blog. As you can see, I upheld my promise to not post any pictures of them, but I'm not too embarassed to show you this picture of a 37 year old virgin Mary and her Angel, Alex.

Santa did good with this basketball hoop. As soon as Alex saw it, he made a bee-line for the ball, immediately started shooting, and continued to play with it almost non-stop. We practically had to force him to look at his other gifts.

Hope you all had a great Christmas! As I'm writing this, I just realized it's 11:45 p.m. on December 31st. I guess I'd better go upstairs, rouse Steve who I'm sure has fallen asleep on the couch by now, and quietly ring in the New Year so as to not wake up Alex. I wonder if this uneventful New Years Eve is any indication of what to expect in 2009. Hopefully we'll have a good balance between exciting times and peace. I hope the same for all of you in the new year!

"I Left My Heart in San Francisco"

We decided to go home to California for Christmas this year. Every time we go back home, we like to go to San Francisco for the day. Pier 39 is fun to visit during the holidays with decorations, lights, etc.

I thought Steve was silly for thinking this huge tree was actually real. Then I was the one feeling silly when I read the sign next to the tree that proclaimed that indeed it was real. Amazing!

Business in the Front, Party in the Back

That's right, my boy has a mullet. Not intentionally, mind you. As you can see here, Alex's hair was getting pretty long. He'd never had a haircut in all his 17 months!

Steve was doing his best to trim him up, but his scissors were dull so he made the mistake of using his electric clippers. Alex FREAKED, and I had to use all my strength to restrain him so Steve could try and finish. Steve got the front done and by that time we said, "Forget it!" and just left the back alone for now. Both father and son were completely traumatized by this point, and when Alex wouldn't let Steve hold him immediately afterwards, Steve felt horrible.

Thus, the mullet. You can't tell from this picture, but it is pretty long in the back still. I'm not too crazy about the hair cut, mainly because it makes him look too grown up!