Boys are rad

The only thing cooler than a nephew is 3 aspiring cowboy nephews

Your inner child makes life more interesting

Last time I went to Hogle Zoo I was 15 years old and I thought it was stupid. This time I went with 3 babies and 5 kids (my kids and 2 nieces and 4 nephews) and it was awesome! There is something magical about watching children experience new things. It makes those experiences new and exciting for you again because you get to watch them through the eyes of a child instead of the "been there done that" eyes of an adult.

sit sit sit sit sit on you

Crus unique way of showing Joby how excited he is when he comes home from work.

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We drank the koolaid

When Karma brought Joby and I to the small town Roosevelt (because we made fun of my sister and brother in law incessantly for living here) I first thought this:

However, Joby and I have since acquiesced, drank the Roosevelt koolaid and now we are singing a new tune...

(Annie reference in honor of Rachel)

We have become the redheaded step children of Roosevelt...so to speak.

People are extremely nice out here. I didn't trust their hospitality in the beginning. I thought they had to have some kind of angle. Apparently their angle is that they like to be hospitable.

This week was UBIC(Uintah basin in Celebration!) Its the typical town days consisting of parades, carnivals, talent shows etc.

i can't decide what was my favorite highlight ...

*Cru shoving his mouth full of candy at the parade only to spew it out in a slobbery mess on the street to make room for the candy from the next float.

*Cru walking up to strangers watching the talent show and hitting them in the face with his balloon

*Cru, Landon and Kason(crus cousins) running around like feral children, annoying the spectators and I and Callie pretending like they are not our children

*Watching the super tall girl with a broken arm in a dance routine not only not following the steps of everyone else on stage but pretty much doing whatever the heck she wanted.

Below is fun times at the parade and Joby's 10 seconds of Roosevelt fame:

The more you know...

Due process: the principle that the government must respect all of the legal rights that are owed to a person according to the law. Due process holds the government subservient to the law of the land, protecting individual persons from the state.(Webster Dictionary)

in short:

According to the founding fathers(not government today) it was "a limited procedural guarantee—a process whereby individuals were properly informed of the criminal charges against them and were given the opportunity to defend themselves." And was never suppose to apply to government actions

Alexander Hamilton “The words ‘due process’ have a precise technical import, and are only applicable to the process and proceedings of the courts of justice; they can never be referred to an act of legislature”

therefore, due process cannot be used as an argument against government legislation constitutionally enacted by the will of the people

Equal Protection Clause:Provides that "no state shall ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws"

So, not being given a governmental certification does not mean one is denied equal protection of the laws. One does not get extra "protection" from access to government certificates.. such as the marriage certificate. Certain government "privileges" may be extended such as tax breaks etc, but many states already extend these privileges to civil unions. Therefore the Equal prtection clause of the 14th amendment also cannot be used as an argument against prop 8

*And now you know more than the chief judge for the Northern district of California

Blessed

I find it difficult not to bear testimony at my childrens blessings. Its a very powerful day filled with priesthood power and witness of the Spirit.

Additionally, being surrounded by family and friends who traveled far to be in attendance adds to the overwhelming feeling of love.

Sage's blessing day was extra special because she shared it with her cousin Zander.

With each child, I gain a greater testimony of Heavenly Fathers Plan of Happiness. Before marriage the Gospel expounds on how accepting the calling as a parent is the pathway to joy. To a certain degree you experience this through growing up in a family, but I've realized you don't fully understand this until you act upon this principle and have his precious spirits sent to you.

And though you may feel inadequate at times and it can be challenging becoming parents, seeking family unity for eternity is the pathway to true joy. I am grateful for the knowledge of Heavenly Fathers Plan of Happiness and have a testimony that the Gospel contains all the truth and instructions to a happy fulfilled life.