New Years

On New Years Eve, we did something very new to both Christian and I...we campaigned for Ron Paul. We went on a four mile walk up and down Cary Street (the New Year's mecca for Richmond). I must admit I felt a little silly at first, but I believe in the cause, and felt quite patriotic while doing it.

Political indoctrination?!?!?!?!? And yes, he is in his pajamas!

Most people are unfamiliar with Ron Paul's candidacy. He is a 10 term congressman from Texas who is currently running for the Republican presidential nomination. I guess if I were to briefly summarize what I like about him it would be the following:

• His track record (the bills he has supported, introduced, and fought) parallels my beliefs and understanding of the proper roll of government. They resonate truth.
  
• His years of political experience and service. He's not a young political whippersnapper.
• His specific answers to political issues (a rare encounter in politics these days).

Overall, Ron Paul is in favor of a limited government, a strict interpretation of The Constitution, and individual rights. His website is very useful. You should check it out before your state's primary elections! I think the next president is determined more from the primary election results than the final election results...so there is my political plug!

I feel a little obligation to address the "Mormon" issue since I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I like Mitt Romney and I think he is a very capable and intelligent person but I don't feel obligated to vote for him because we are members of the same faith. I just think Ron Paul is a better fit for the job.

Christmas in Park City

I finally feel like my life is under control again after returning from our Christmas vacation in Park City. I always feel I am playing catch up for a couple of days after returning from a trip. Normally I do the laundry once a week. Although we were only gone for a week, it seems my loads of laundry were double their normal size (I think we unpack into the laundry basket). The refrigerator was barren and the bills and correspondences piled up while we were away. Returning from the trip was a lot of work, but I would go again in a heart beat.

I loved being around our families! I loved the spur of the moment activities with fun people! I loved the atmosphere! I loved acquainting Daniel with everyone! I loved having Christian around all day! I loved the in depth and analytical discussions we had! There was a lot to love about the trip and I feel more invigorated about life now.

The next couple of posts are my attempts to capture parts of our vacation. There are two more posts I need to write up but I'm waiting on a video clip edit and photo before posting them. I wish my posts did a better job at capturing the great moments. We are merely 353 days away from next years adventures.

Daniel's Snow Adventures

Next year we are going to take Daniel skiing. This year Daniel had fun just playing in the snow and didn't seem to mind the cold even with wet jeans and shoes.

Not Your Typical Swimming Haven

The resort had an outdoor pool and a couple of outdoor hot tubs. The pool was 85 degrees and each hot tub ranged in temperature. Being pregnant, I was banned from the hot tub, but I did venture into the pool once for a game of glow in the dark volleyball, but no one else showed up. 85 degrees was not hot enough to keep a pregnant woman warm when the air outside was 7 degrees.


Daniel was always the last one out of the hot tub. He loved it and kept wanting to go back. Thankfully Christian was able to take him in a couple of times. Here are some of my favorite pictures of Daniel in the hot tub.

It was snowing the first night we swam

The water wasn't as hot as it looks, the air was freezing though!

I love this picture!

Tim and Christian both grew up in a family of girls and it seems both still need a manly outlet every-once-in-a-while. I don't know if it was the altitude or the lack of sleep, but skiing down black diamond slopes was not crazy enough for either of them. There was some one-uping talk going on in the hot tub and before I knew it, I was videotaping this!

As if that wasn't enough, they all went out again so I could take this picture!

Should I be worried about having two male children back to back? Especially if they are genetically linked to the gene pool pictured above?

Prodigy Children

Christmas evening we spent karaoking and the decision was not eggnog induced. I don't know why any of us spent money on tuition and stressful college years to get engineering and business degrees. Here was the evening's line up and photos/videos:

• Tim and Joan "Breaking Free"
• Tara and Daniel "The Wheels on the Bus" Buddy style
• Christian "Eye of the Tiger"

He really has the "Eye of the Tiger"

Christian definitely had the best moves!

Christmas Morning

I don't know if I enjoyed Christmas morning more as a child or now as a mom watching a child.

Bluey (pinky's replacement) was an instant success and immediately became a tent.

The "Choo"

Setting up the train (Fisher Price should send us some marketing money)

No time for breakfast or other presents...just the "choo".

Daniel was too distracted after opening his train to open any other presents. We saved the other presents for later in the day.

Family Visits

I could kick myself for not taking more pictures with our families. After all we do have 2 GB memory stick in our digital camera and what good is it if I don't fill it up with great memories.

We spent most of the week with my family and had a family get together with each side of my family. I saw some cousins I hadn't seen in eight years. I hardly recognized others. It was fun to catch up with everyone. I have no pictures to prove this though. We did see the production of "Savior of the World" at the conference center theater with both sets of my grandparents. I sort of documented this with a family picture on temple square...without the grandparents though.


We spent a day with Christian's family (again no pictures were taken). The Lamoreaux's were so great to drive hours in a terrible snow storm so we could see them. We loved the little Ron Paul pep rally (there will be more on Ron Paul later), conversations, and laughs.

We did witness the negotiation of Joan's relocation package (my family is moving and so my youngest sister was granted a negotiated relocation package). She got a pretty good deal although she did not get the private jet or the NYC shopping spree she asked for. Hopefully the pictures portray how the negotiation went.

Two veteran parents; each with an MBA and formal negotiation training.

A 15 yr old's list of hopes...and a snowball's chance in hell.