Sushi

1 year ago our brother and sister in law invited us to sushi with them at a really fancy restaurant. I've been eating sushi ever since I lived in So. Cal when my dad worked at a Japanese bank. Jimmy, however, had never tried it before and although quite reluctant, we joined them. That was the beginning of our sushi obsession. There is something about that raw fish, slimy pink stuff that you can't recognize, and seaweed taste that is irresistible. This is our 2nd restaurant we've tried in the past week with a bunch of our friends from the ward. 50% off! Woo hoo!

Jimmy, Katie, Melissa, Steve, Jack, Jenny, Nicki, Adon

A question to all the Mormons out there: so Nicki visit teaches me, I visit teach Melissa, and Melissa visit teaches Nicki. Wouldn't you say that this counts as visiting teaching for the month?

Please--Tell me you've researched it

So I finally hunkered down and read about the new Obamacare plan. Why did I wait so long you ask? Because I knew it would just get my blood boiling and make me again google "places to live where socialism doesn't exist."

I'm so scared to raise children here. Does anyone else care that our country has NEVER been in so much debt? In fact, if you added up ALL THE DEBT that all the other presidents have accumulated, it STILL wouldn't equal that of our oh so great dictator. And who's gonna pay for it? Not us--but our children and grandchildren. SAD! Anyone hear of "planning for the future?" I thought we worked hard so that our children were better off? Isn't that what makes us America? I guess this is the "eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die" presidency.

So I've actually never been seriously political and have found myself either too bored or unknowledgable about issues to be adamant about certain legislation. And then--this election started, I took an intense economics class, and now everyday after watching the news I just sigh and say, "signs of the times."

This is an article from Fortune Magazine about the health care plan: http://finance.yahoo.com/insurance/article/107408/5-freedoms-you-would-lose-in-health-care-reform.html?mod=insurance-health

Ignorance sure is bliss and I understand why lots of people would rather just ignore the issues going on in our country (heck--isn't that how our president got elected anyway?) and won't click the link above. But in case you wanna know what this 2,000 page Obamacare legislation entails (because it's actually really going to affect you), take a peek!

Sigh--that felt good. Nothing like a venting session at 8:30 in the morning. ;0)

One more for today

I had to post one more thing today that I haven't stopped laughing about since I first saw it. YES it is TOTALLY HILARIOUS and no you shouldn't get mad at me if you voted for Obama--just laugh along with it ok! Check this out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woBC5b3Ti0M&feature=related

p.s. this post is dedicated to my husband, brother Daniel, the Galbraiths, my gma edwards, and cousin in law Mike (Amber--make sure he checks this out!) haha

Finally Pictures from Tahoe

So two weekends ago G and G called us up and said we should head up to Tahoe to spend their last few days up there with them. We decided to drive up late Friday night and spend all day Saturday with them. We spent the night and drove back in the am to make it to church (I had to teach R.S.). G and G took us to the best Italian restaurant Lanzas (I've never eaten out up at Lake Tahoe before) and we spent time playing games, talking, and on the beach. Tahoe can heal everything!

Kisses! So romantic!
Gennie and Sergio! Sand Harbor

Jimmy giving me the look to stop taking pictures of him (at the pier)

Rubbing Rock Beach

Games at the cabin (Jimmy, Spencer, Aunt Terri, Uncle Randy)

Grandma giving away presents to all the kids (me with my afro)

Saying good-bye to Tahoe for a little while (at the pier)

Me and Jimmy at King's Beach with Gma

Gma and Jimmy telling stories

Us at Sand Harbor

My Trip Home

I finally got the pictures from when I went home a few months ago. It was SO FUN! I love playing games non-stop with the brothers and all the good food we make and talking with mom and laughing with dad. My gma Calvert flew out with me which made girl time even more fun (since we are highly out numbered). Here are some pics from the trip:

Mom and gma in front of one of the trees she MADE. This one is inside of a friend's house andwas made into a playground. I don't know how she did it!!
The boys had no idea I was even taking this picture. It must have been the Laker game because even grandma is getting into it. Mom is snitching a chip in the background...

Trav and his cute girlfriend Fran. And his buddy Nate and his date at prom.

Gma loves taking blurry pics! It's ok--this is another one of the trees my mom made for an elementary school.

GIRL TIME! While the boys were watching their game, we decided to watch a movie upstairs. Perfect scenario because my gma tickled my arm while my mom tickled my back!

Never enough food

Tyler with my favorite Mc Donalds shirt on (not!) Going on a hiking trip with dad.

Tyler and gma after his game. He made all-stars and even hit one out of the park.

He is a little man-child!

Here's us cheering for Tyler.

Tyler is one of the biggest kids on the team--actually--in the league.

Running the bases.

Here is gma with all the boys. They are all so big!

To see more pictures visit www.RubbingRock.blogspot.com

Free Rice

Does anyone get bored during the day? Anyone ever want to be anxiously involved in a good cause? Anyone enjoy multi-tasking? Well--I've found the answer! http://www.freerice.com/.
Check it out. I'm serious. The non-profit group will donate 10 grains of rice for every question you answer right. You can quiz yourself on languages, art, math, geography, etc all the while earning rice that gets sent to countries around the world with starving people. It's a win-win (and if you watch the office it's a Win-Win-Win).

There is my plug for the day--hope you enjoy (so far in the past year I've donated 250,700 grains of rice...beat that ;0)

4th of July

Did I really not take any pictures? Oh man! For 4th of July we went up to...LAKE TAHOE. For those who don't know--In the past 10 years the only time I haven't been to Lake Tahoe during the 4th of July was the years I was on my mission. It was great to share so many traditions with Jimmy like the 4th of July parade we walk in (of course we decorate ourselves, skateboards, bikes, and the cars all up), the BBQ at the pool, followed by gifts from grandma, and then fireworks at night.

Ever since I was young I always dreamed what it'd be like to be at the fireworks on the beach over looking the lake with my husband...sound cheesy? Well I'm for real! And just so you know, it was better than expected.

We got tan at Kings Beach, jumped off the rocks and snorkeled at Sand Harbor, and skipped rocks at Rubbing Rock beach; ate amazing food, played card games well into the night, slept wherever there was room, and came back wishing we could live up there! Thanks G and G for that great cabin! Happy 4th (pics to come when my cousin sends me them).

Here is where we usually unpack our stuff, and the rocks to the right are where we jump off. (the water level is MUCH lower though--in fact--that big rock just chilling right in the middle left is where the water starts)