The Case Against Columbus Day

Christopher Columbus is celebrated year after year after year.  Why?  Did he do a huge service for mankind with some great humanitarian effort?  Did he cure a disease?  Did he discover something new?  Did he risk his own life to save others?  Did he lead a country to greatness?  No, he did not.  He did absolutely none of these things.  He brought shiploads of greedy Europeans to a new world to establish new trading routes and ravish a land that was already populated.  His only motivation was greed for money and power.  Look at how he treated the "savages", aka the NATIVE Americans.  Why does our country continue to bless his name annually?  Are we trying to say that the ends justify the means in the situation?  The atrocity of the Native Americans was okay because now we have the country known as the USA?  Don't get me wrong, I love my country and I feel so privileged to be an American.  I just really wish we would commemorate someone a bit more worthy, someone whose accomplishments were truly altruistic.  In honor of all of those who gave true sacrifice for our country, I choose to forget old pompous Chris and remember instead our soldiers who fight for freedom, and all others who took a stand for the sake of others.  Here's to you Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, Geronimo, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Florence Nightingale, Jonas Salk, Susan B Anthony, Horace Mann, Jane Addams, Booker T Washington, and countless others who truly shaped our country into the home of the free and the brave.

Love

I just have to say that I love, love, love, love, love my little Sophia Belle.  She is the greatest blessing of all time!!!!

Olney Homecoming!

This week was Olney's Homecoming.  We had a lot of fun at the parade and the game.  Sophia was so lucky, she received two beautiful mums from friends.  It was also extra special because Aaron was finally able to go to a game with us.  We had a blast getting to hang out as a family in our community.  (I also had a blast at the silent auction table! Lol.)

Olney EMS leads the way for the parade.

Here comes the band...

Kate and her buddy.

The pre-schoolers.

The cheerleaders and our mascot.

Decked out for the pep rally.

Chloe is a great mum model :)

Future BFF's

Ready for some football.

Ready to chew on this shiny stuff.

You know you live in the country when livestock ear tags are featured in the silent auction!!

My Pretty Little Baby

Slide show of Sophia's first five months!
(Future ones will improve...)

More Pep Rally Fun

The princess arrives in her carriage...

Our headband doubles as ear plugs.

Favorite neighbors :)

What to do when the pep rally gets boring.

Olney friends :)

Go Olney Cubs!

It's pep rally time!  Sophia experienced her first pep rally today and it was a first for me as well.  I had never attended a "small town" pep rally before.  I haven't been to one at all since my own high school days more than ten years ago.  I surprised myself as my excitement grew exponentially the closer we got to the school.  (Trina and I live close enough to walk.)  It was so great to see the whole community come together and show not just school pride, but community pride as well.  They had everyone from pre-k thru high school there, and people like me who don't even have a student.  It was awesome.  Sophia did a great job being a little cheerleader.  We're totally pumped about some football tonight!

Go Cubs!  Stomp those Tolar Rattlers!

New Goal to Live By

"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better."
Mother Teresa

The Gringo Invasion

Gringo is our cat.  We got him from a shelter, and he happens to be to be the very best cat that has ever existed.  Aaron and I actually compete for his affection because we think (no, we know) he is sooo awesome.  Despite all of this feline adoration, we were slightly apprehensive about how the addition of Sophia would go over.  Would he try to sleep in her crib?  Would he accidently smother her? Would he become territorial?  Would he do any of those awful things cats do when they suddenly don't get the attention they want anymore?  The answer to those questions is a wonderful NO.  Our little "Gringy" still gets to cuddle as much as he wants and has decided to take ownership of whatever he wants.  Not only has he taken to Sophia (or really her stuff), but he has heroically saved us from many mouse intruders over the last few months.  Now the dogs, that is an entirely different story...  

He didn't even move when I wheeled the stroller around!

Perfect for catching some sun.

Not sure how this is comfortable.

Not even Baby Einstein will keep him out!

A Midsummer Night's Sweet Dream

Tuesday night, my friend Holly and I hosted a dessert party at her house.  It was a great opportunity to see friends, and even meet a few new ones.  We made six different types of bon bons (or cake balls), mini pecan pies, cheesecakes, cupcakes, a checkerboard cake, magic bars, mini pineapple upside down cakes, magic bars, and chocolate covered strawberries - and that's just what made it to the table!  We both love making desserts and Holly is so talented when it comes to decorating (a skill that I lack completely).  We had a nice turnout and hopefully everyone had a great time!

The Return of the Blog

Now that Sophia and I are settling into a routine, I hope to get into a blogging routine. I love reading my friend Sara's blogs and can only hope mine will be fun and moving and educational like hers. (**Thanks Sara for being my Blog inspiration!**) More to come soon...

Above: The reason I am delinquent in blogging. Lol.

Labor & Delivery

As with all soon-to-be moms, I am really getting nervous about my baby's upcoming entry into the world. I've been debating natural vs. epidural, birth plans, etc. It is so easy to get wrapped up in minute details but the bottom line is that birth is a natural process and when the time comes, I have faith that my body will know what to do despite all my "plans". That and the faith that this will NOT be my experience: