law school here I come

Before I give my rant I would like to thank my supporters! Garrett has supported me this whole way and Mariah has been my cheerleader. Teddy wins for the best "congrats!" and Jaymie wins for the one person who really "understands." Kalon gets hugs and kisses for moving here so I can have Mariah!

For those who don't know this, I have wanted to go since I was young. Long story short, after many attempts to get a job this year after my library one ended I realized that I should finally go to law school. Garrett and I prayed about it and felt it was the right decision for our family at this time. I know if I don't go now it won't happen. As it is, I am 5 yrs behind the rest of the group and don't want to be in school when the girls are in high school!

There are those out there who have the opinion that women should stay home with their kids. I used to feel that I had to defend my personal decisions that someone I am talking to doesn't agree with, but after a conversation earlier today I have decided I no longer need to back up my decisions with examples and so forth. If I want to go to school that is my decision and I really don't want to hear the comments like "what are you going to do with the girls" or "so does that mean you aren't having anymore kids?" First off, last time I checked, my older daughter is in school all day and Reagan and I will be together all day everyday if we like it or not. She is almost 4 and pretty independent. Of course I have my cheerleader aka Mariah who is willing to drive to my house and help if needed. I of course would drive Rea up there, but its the point that she is willing to do it. As for not having more kids, once again that is not anyone else's business. I first want to apologize to those out there in the mormon world who I thought rude things about in my head b/c they only had one or two children. This was when I was younger, but still it wasn't right. Having children and how many to have is not anyone else's business but your own.

Interestingly in all of this, my personal statement was about the box that women are put in with regards to what I have basically stated. Too often there is either a double standard or an expectation that unless you have to work, you shouldn't work. What I am amazed at is the double standards that occur. I find it amazing that those out there who don't agree with women working are the same who love their child's teacher or pediatrician who without them going to school and working outside the home wouldn't be that teacher or doctor for your child. So those who don't think mothers should work should look at those around them. Perhaps they shouldn't go to that doctor, have their child in that classroom, or perhaps if their husband has a business tell him not to hire mothers because that is against what they believe! Obviously this is an exaggeration of the situation, but I just wanted to make the point. You also have the individuals out there that think its ok for their daughters to go to school, but heaven forbid they actually use their education outside the home and its ok to work while your husband is in school or out of a job, but how awful it would be to keep the job you have grown to love because there is the expectation to go home.

There may be those out there who don't agree with me about what is "right" but shouldn't the decision be based on your family? Of course! The real question though is how often do we judge others because of their decisions? I do this too, though more on a superficial (like what the person is wearing) than a decision like occupation and number of children to have.

With this I say bravo to you who stay at home and bravo to you who leave the house to work. I realize now that there is no such thing as a worldwide solution. If a mom is happier to be at home than away in an office or classroom, that is what she should do. On the other hand, if a mom is not fulfilled by being home all day, regardless of the number of children and their ages, and the solution is to get a job, go to school, etc that once again is her decision.

Boxes come in every shape and size. The box that fits your neighbor, friend, or family member isn't going to be the same size box for yourself. I definitely have learned this over the years. Luckily for me, I finally am doing what I want to do and not what is "expected of me". The best part of all is that I no longer care what others think but I am doing what I want and what makes me happy!

The family tone is set by the mother so in the end I would like to say, "if mom ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

Andrew and Sami

confession

so I am doing my monthly confession. first off, i started a new blog (well not really a confession) but it will def. be elizabeth's no holding back opinion on various topics. i set up the blog but haven't actually posted anything yet. also, i warn you now that half of you will be offended and the other half of you won't read it. well not really, but yeah kind of but not really. i mean we all get offended over something. every once in awhile it will be a pet peeve (the offending part) but in general it will be about tv shows or my opinion on some stupid thing i heard about.

now on to the confession. i figure if i put it out there then i can't be that evil. so here it goes: i make myself feel better by making fun of others. yes. thats right. it could be anything from hair style to weight to what they are wearing. i know there are others of you out there that do it and yes it is a self esteem thing. obviously i don't share this thought w/ others besides garrett and mariah sometimes. oh and i have totally been overweight...as in not prego overweight so i can justify that (50+lbs more than i am now). :-)

whew. i did it.

oh and on a side note: i am done w/ editing for grammar. it takes too long.

Kids, Can You Say “Mafioso”? Muy Bueno!

Kids, Can You Say “Mafioso”? Muy Bueno!

click on the link to the best picture that doesn't poke fun at one specific person...just their car!

Family prayers

Maddie said family prayers before bed tonight. She prayed that dad wouldn't be tired and fall asleep in class (he is in class in the evenings) and that no one would wake mom or dad up in the middle of the night for something so that they (mom and dad) wouldn't be grumpy in the morning. There were a few other things, but those were the best.

She's been wanting sleep in our room so we came up with a deal that she could sleep in our room every other night. It has worked so far. She doesn't complain on the nights she is in her room which is much better than before. When Garrett and I go to bed, we move her onto the floor. Every night she sets up her bed by laying out my yoga mat, covering it with a fleece blanket and using our extra pillows to cover the opening to underneath the bed. She is starting to have the afraid of the dark, etc phobias now. Her ped said it was normal to start that at age 6. I am def. not going to tell her that I still imagine someone grabbing my ankle if I walked next to my bed in the dark. Seriously, before G left for China back in May, I bought a table lamp that I turn on before I turn off the bedroom light so its not dark when I cross the room.