So...

I should probably clarify that even if the internet says that I should vote for someone, I'll still end up voting for the best representative of my personal views - Myself. Unfortunately, this won't really count until the next election. SO- remember Jared 2012!!! (I'll actually be old enough to be president!)

I figure I must give my obligatory "I have the best daughter ever" paragraph. We especially love that she is so happy. When we laugh at dinner, Baby tries to join in the laughing - although her attemps to mimic only come out as a cross between a grunt and a cough. It's very cute and just makes us laugh more - which makes her try harder. It's very cute

Baby is unbelievably inquisitive. She LOVES pushing buttons. Remote controls, TVs, Computers, Cable Boxes, Phones. ANYTHING with a button she pushes. She's learned where the off button on the TV is and how to change the channel on the cable box. She also loves turning off daddy's computer.

As, for us - we are very well blessed. My job is beginning to become more managable. We are focusing on being a "company" instead of a "small company." It's been a hard transition for everyone. We've made a lot of our customers angry for one reason or another, but our product is flying off the shelf, so they can only be so mad.

Here's a great show for you sometime when you have 20 mins and want to be inspired. http://www.byu.tv/index.html?start=50400&stop=52200&show=&ep=http%3A//qmplive.xlontech.net/byutv/stream/070923.qvt

In the last few weeks I've come to the conclusion that I am more blessed than I deserve. I already knew this, but it's become much more obvious. I have basically everything that one could want - a wonderful wife and daughter. We live in comfort and compared to most of the planet extreme luxury. We have supportive family and friends and a family that will be together forever. We even have a programable Bread Maker that has hot fresh bread ready for us in the morning.

PS- I was recently conned into creating a facebook profile. No doubt some google hoak to get me to give them more personal info... Anyway - I'm failing to see the major difference between a facebook page and a myspace page. We are all going to look back on these with the same level of fondness that we look at garbage pail kids or pet rocks. Jerks.

Jared's a WHAT??

Heh, how is this for hilARIOUS?? I just took a survey to see which candidate fits me best, and I ended up with Joe Biden. I'm not politically affiliated, but apparently I'm over 80% compatible with Democratic candidates like Biden, Obama and some Gravel dude. I guess living with a raging political lunatic has had an effect on me. I guess being against the Iraq war tipped the scales, but there's all the social issues that are not usually liberal-friendly. Odd. But here's the best part - Jared just took the same test and his top compatible candidates are all Republicans!!

How embarassing:)

Take the test yourself!

Fall?

Hrm... our template is all kinds of out of whack. Maybe if I post something it'll go back to normal.

Fall showed up! Bam, Sunday morning, out of the blue, we were chilly. This is the creepiest feeling ever. For most of the last year, we've lived in nothing but spring or summer and I have spent most of my time trying not to die of heat exhaustion. Solei is really not used to wearing clothes, and yesterday when I tried to put a jacket on her she flipped out. I rushed to the store to buy some pants for the poor girl (fyi, Old Navy is having a wee sale on kids clothes, I got a few essentials). All of the sudden, I'm trying to keep her warm - I can wear pants again - and wear anything else I want because I won't eventually pass out from overheating. I missed fall last year, and now it's just weirding me out. I love fall most of all the seasons, but I'm just confused it's here!

We are just under a month away from Solei's first birthday, and it's hitting us hard too. I can't say I miss newborn Solei or the first few months of her life because in all honesty, I'm really not sure if life can be worse than it was back then. I was putting away her tiny clothes yesterday and expected to get misty, but I was mostly relieved. Jared and I are so thankful for our lives now - surprised, really. But then there's also an unsettled feeling as well - how much longer can something like this last? Jared is just getting comfortable with his job, I'm teaching a nice bit and gigging almost too much, and we've got this Solei thing down pretty well. Of course we don't see much of Jared, but that's the way it's been since we got back from Brasil and I'm finding things to keep me busy.

But for the last 10 years, everything has worked out in year increments - I moved every year. I've never decorated or unpacked fully, and I'm still shy to do it here. I HATE packing, and the more we unpack and settle, the more I have to pack again.

And now summer has moved to fall. I never thought it would again - the inevitable switch that I eluded all year, like some massive holding pattern and suddenly life is back to normal. I've rejoined the world again. I don't know whether to fear it or embrace it, just in case somehow it leaves me again.

At least I have an excuse to go shopping!! Yay warm clothes!

video yuminess

For my mom:

Swingin' Babe:



A girl who knows what she wants:




Enjoy!