The Story Behind the Poll

I feel like I should explain the most recent poll featured above. I am, first and foremost, a stay-at-home-mom. And I love it. In fact, I enjoy having my boys with me so much that I'm planning on homeschooling them, too. But that's another topic for another day.

Besides being a stay-at-home-mom, I am attempting to turn a photography hobby into a photography business. But, because of my preference and love for my first title, it often takes me longer than your regular professional photographer to return people's post-processed pictures to them. I also happen to be a chronic perfectionist and like to fix every little blemish and smooth skin and make the crazy, hairy guy in the blurry background disappear. That takes time. Time is something of which I have precious little to spare these days.

Therefore, would you rather go to Kiddie Kandids and have professional photos taken and delivered same day? Or are you the patient type who can wait a little longer for perfectionism and personalization to take effect at the hands of a meticulous-but-harried SAHM?

That is the story behind the latest poll. Fire away.

La Jolla Shores - Sneak Peek

{Auntie and Chub}

What do you think - color or black and white? I'm kind of feelin' the black and white, but the color is great, too. Hence, the survey. :0) Please chime in!

More Disneyland in May

These are the last of the images I wanted to share from our trip to Disneyland in May with my family. Besides being images from my little point-and-shoot, these have also been experimented on with my new actions, so I apologize in advance for any funkiness. Post-processing always looks better on high-resolution images. I'm really excited to share our La Jolla Shores pictures since I took my professional camera with me and got some really, really great shots!






I had severe neck pain after this ride, but the child is not a complete lost cause in the driving field. :P





Waiting in line for It's a Small World. We always save this ride for the peak heat hour of the day. It is such a welcome relief from the sun!













Funny story: Faces was running toward us full speed when his diaper suddenly dropped to his ankles. Of course we all crack up instead of going to his aid. I think he was slightly put out with us.



Trying on Auntie's hat.



I could just eat those cheeks up.







Grandpa is so patient with these kids. He stuck to them like glue to paper. I loved watching them interact with him and respect him.




Trying to get a better view of the mini-parade. We skipped out before it was over because it was so lame. I love Disneyland for my kids, but not for myself. I can do without the crowds and sore feet.

On a side note: I think a buzzed head would be a good look for me. What do you think? :0)




The boys LOVED hitching rides on the hotel luggage trolleys as they went to and fro with baggage. So fun!

What Exactly Does "Large" Mean?

What is "large?" Shall we wax philosophical? Is it the Pacific Ocean or Shamu at Sea World or the shadow cast by the Empire State Building? Perhaps all three? Is "large" relative to the noun it describes? Let's find out. We bought a bean bag from Craigslist. I've been wanting a bean bag for a while now for photographing infants, but I didn't want to spend the equivalent of a couch to purchase one. I couldn't stomach that. So I've been haunting the Craigslist postings just waiting to pounce on that perfect opportunity. It presented itself Saturday morning when I happened upon a post that sported a description AND the all-important picture. The description of this bean bag was as follows: "Large bean bag. Light yellow. No ripes [sic] or tears. Call if interested." So I did. And I did my duty by my future clients by ensuring that the item in question came from a smoke-free and pet-free home. As we drove northward to collect my new find, I was feeling quite proud of my bargain-shopping self. I felt brilliant. I felt savvy. I felt like giving myself a nice, long, well-deserved pat on the back. And then we got there. And we saw it. Sitting there on top of the previous owner's car it pretty much covered the entire area of the hood. The picture didn't do "large" justice. The description didn't even do "large" justice. Hesitant though I was, I advanced. I did my inspection, smelling the bean bag, searching for the "ripes" and "tears" that were promised to be nonexistent (they were), then forked over the $35 asking price. And that's when things got interesting. The Chief and I hauled the bean bag to the car, pretending to let the boys help. I opened up the back and we started stuffing . . . and huffing . . . and puffing . . . and punching and stuffing and huffing and puffing and pounding and kicking and growling and grunting. And still we couldn't close the back doors and, standing back, it totally looked like we were kidnapping the Michelin Man, dog and all. After sheepishly giggling over our Shamu-of-a-bean-bag, then checking myself after looking at The Chief's less-than-amused face, I became all business. I yanked the offending merchandise out of the back, ordered the boys into their car seats, then stuffed the bean bag into the empty space between them and us. It fit. Barely. It was a miracle. Buddha and Bugga rode home with a giant, makeshift airbag in front of them. Buddha got sick. Probably because he couldn't see the road. Bugga's legs started to hurt until he pulled them out from under the bean bag and curled them up under him. We rolled down the windows to help Buddha and ponderously made our way home.

It took me all afternoon to clean up the bean bag, but boy did it clean up nicely. It's a pleather sort of exterior, so I scrubbed away at it with Simple Green and you would not believe the amount of filth I removed! When I was finished with it, it glowed like a full moon.

But there was still the problem of where this Pacific-Ocean-Bean-Bag would live. Needless to say, I was unprepared for the size and since So. Cal. doesn't necessarily boast the largest of homes (unless you're a millionaire or a celebrity . . . or both, of course), we don't really have an excess of space with which to work. So I moved ottomans and dragged rocking chairs and hauled tables, etc. In it's second-to-final resting place, the boys broke it in quickly, dubbing it a "bean bag pool" and launching themselves into it from the diving board couch. What came to mind then were the words "NO!" "Careful!" "Watch out!" and "Stop that!" It had to move. More shifting and planning and rearranging ensued.

That bean bag wore me out. And I went to bed fretting over "large" and "too large" and "behemoth."

And then this morning there was this:



And the word "large" took on a whole new meaning. One you're not likely to find in any traditional dictionary.

Large \'lärj\: Totally worth the surprise, the inspection, the holey wallet, the grunting, the huffing, the puffing, the pushing and pulling, the cramming, the squishing, the cleaning . . . and cleaning . . . and cleaning, the hauling, the moving, the rearranging, the diving, the swimming, and the carving-out-a-niche for this lovely piece of furniture that brings together two little buzzed heads on a Sunday morning in a quiet moment of heart-melting brotherly love and sharing.

Large \'lärj\: Totally. Worth. It.

I Feel Sorry for the Armless People

When I was just a wee lass living in the Holy Land, I had a little cuddle friend that went with me everywhere. I don't remember his name, or even if he had one, or even if he was perhaps actually a she. But I do remember IT was a bunny blanket of sorts. Or rather, I don't remember it as much as I am reminded of it . . . through pictures . . . like the one below.


My mom tells me I loved that little piece of cloth to tatters and I have no reason to doubt her considering its extensive absence from the family scene and the fact that I can't remember its short life with me. I look quite content with it, don't I?

When Buddha was a chubby little babe, much to our surprise he was anything but zen-like. You'd think with all that delicious baby fat he'd spend his days in a lethargic stupor. But he didn't. He cried. A lot. Not really when he was awake, but when we tried to teach him to fall asleep on his own. I think he cried one night, when we were desperate for a little infant-independence, for two hours straight and I finally had to walk to the mailboxes because I was so overwhelmed by it all. We tried our darndest to get him to latch on to anything other than "me." He refused binkies. He refused bottles. He didn't care one whit for any stuffed animal or silky blanket. Eventually, and much to his parents' relief, he grew out of this ultra-dependency. Annnnnd we got to start all over with Bugga. Bugga, Bugga, Bugga. Our mover and shaker. While Buddha induces contemplation and intelligent thought with his wise queries and astute observations, Bugga induces chuckles and guffaws with his comedic and innocent self-expression. As one would expect from a lean baby, he too proved to be stupor-proof and perpetually busy. And, though he did not share his brother's superior fat rolls, he was equally as anti-comfort bunny, binky, bottle, or blanket. And that has not changed, though he has found a lovey - my arms.

Bugga LOVES my arms. No, not even love-in-all-caps is an adequate expression of the feelings he has toward my arms. I have been meaning to write this post for ages because he has adored them for ages. But I felt I'd never have any success in adequately describing the relationship between Bugga and my arms. I still don't, but as you can see, I'm determined to log this phenomenon nonetheless. When I stand in front of the mirror each day and criticize my body in piecemeal as any typical woman does, my arms tend to come up even with my hips as the numero uno thing I'd love to change about my body. The short time between single life and married-with-two-kids has made rather a mess out of my once tight and fit body. My arms now boast a girth equal to that of the Grand Canyon . . . and nothing could make Bugga happier.

Bugga sleeps in our bed at night, mine and The Chief's. Every night. Go ahead, judge me. I used to think that would be the ultimate in awful, to have to attempt a good night of sleep with a child next to you, tossing about like a fish out of water. Truthfully, it was . . . in the beginning. But we all pretty much got used to each other and now, I sort of need him, too. You see, he does this heart-melting thing when I squeeze into bed every night. He flips over toward me, scoots his body closer to my side, wraps both of his arms around mine, and either rubs his hand back and forth across that behemoth girth or lightly taps his soft, little fingers against my skin as he falls back asleep. Occasionally, both at night and during the day, he'll kiss my arm and look up at me with an impish grin on his face. And one time, he even awakened from his slumber in the middle of the night, calling out, "I need your arm!" He is so flexible that he has managed to not only wrap himself around my pinky finger, but my heart, my mind, and my soul as well. I am his forever. We share something in common, Bugga and I, and in all fairness I was probably the one who passed this genetic quirk to him. We are both very tactile people. Perhaps that's why I've never sincerely attempted to put an end to his obsession with my arms. I am equally guilty of loving his silky-soft cheeks just as often and just as fiercely. I did once try, however, to experimentally coerce Bugga away from my arms by reminding him that he has soft arms, too, and he vehemently brushed them off and petulantly declared, "No! I'm throwing them away! The crocodile's gonna eat them."

Aside from our cuddly sleeping routine, Bugga has a habit of finding and claiming my arms wherever we arm, I mean are. When I am on the computer, he stands beside me with his wrist curled around my arm and his hand resting authoritatively on top. He'll stand there and streeeeetch to reach things on my desk without letting go of my arm. When I pick him up, both hands automatically go to my arms on either side. When I'm tying my shoes, brushing my teeth, talking on the phone, rowing a boat, whatever it is I'm doing, he's my little suction cup buddy. And I really do love it. And I really wouldn't trade it for any amount of independence. And I'm so grateful to have a good reason for my chubby arms, because while love may not be a strong enough term to describe Bugga's relationship with them, adoration and need will do quite well, making it that much easier to explain to people I'd be breaking my kid's heart if I thinned out.

Just kidding . . . sort of.


And that is the story of why I feel sorry for the armless people.

Moral: Don't Get Fatal Hemorrhoids

I really wish I had one of those blogs where every time you visit you feel a sense of peace and harmony. Or one of those blogs that is hilariously funny and witty throughout every single post. Or one of those blogs that is so cute you want to cuddle with it. But I don't. I am a passionate person with passionate opinions, so depending on whether or not you agree with me, you may or may not find peace, humor, and cuddliness here. I can always promise a good debate, though. Controversy is my middle name (or should be, at any rate).

So, Sara (my sister) and I disagree over Universal Health Care. She also comes from a very different insurance situation than I, so both of our personal experiences undoubtedly effect our opinions on this topic. But in one of our many discussions on the issue, we did manage to discover and agree on the areas of our current medical model that need the most reform. They are as follows:

1. Insurance ought not to be so tied up with employment. It makes it too difficult for the self-employed (or unemployed) to procure medical coverage, therefore dampening the entrepreneurial (and compassionate) spirit of America.

2. Pre-existing conditions. Insurance shouldn't be able to deny coverage due to pre-existing conditions. (Though, making a statement like that has some interesting repercussions that will be discussed presently).

3. Doctors need some relief from medical malpractice suits brought on by "We the [sue happy] People" of America. Part of the reason their prices are so high is because we drive them up when we force doctors to pay for malpractice insurance.

Now, I don't know how to solve all these problems. Obviously. If I did, I'd probably run for POTUS in 2012 (and wouldn't that be a riot). But I do know what WON'T work and that's universal health care and socialized medicine.

As a good friend put it, "We need insurance reform, not health care reform." But instead of finding and fixing weaknesses (like those mentioned above), the current administration seems rather hell-bent on throwing out the baby with the bathwater, disregarding personal choice and responsibility, and taking over health care entirely.

Last night Bugga woke up having leaked a large puddle of pee-pee all over his bed. He and Buddha were sharing a bed, as I often let them do, so I had to wake up Buddha and move him to the top bunk, change Bugga and put him in our bed, and strip the wet sheet off his bed. By the time all of this was accomplished, I was unhappily wide awake. As I tried hard to shut off my brain and go back to sleep, thoughts of this universal health care mess came creeping into my mind unbidden (and unwelcome, I might add). I thought about how much I'd like to be pregnant again and how awful it would be if something threatening came up during my pregnancy and I couldn't take care of it in an efficient manner because of an inadequate response time characteristic of an overburdened "savior system." I thought my way all around the health care issue and still feel quite content in vehemently opposing any effort to replace private health care with government health care. And, of course, I started turning my thoughts into a blog post (translate: diatribe).

But before I had the chance to even start a post on this subject today, the topic came up on Facebook. I love Facebook. I didn't used to, but I've learned it is an EXCELLENT tool for the dissemination of critical information. It is my activist outlet. :P So anyway, I've been articulating my sentiments "over there" and now can't seem to organize my thoughts for this post. So I'll be cheating by doing an inordinate amount of copying and pasting.

Well what works about our current system that wouldn't work if we adopt universal health care? I mean, come on Liz, who wouldn't want the government to just take care of everything for them, provide for them, read their mail for them, spoon feed them, make their choices for them? (Picture me waving my hands frantically in the air now and screaming "me, me, me" at the top of my lungs while jumping up and down spasmodically). Right now, our medical system is one driven by competition. When people compete, we defeat! Okay, I admit, that was lame. But it's true! Competition is a healthy and successful way to nurture and drive innovation, invention, and quality. If doctors and insurance companies have to compete with each other, there is more impetus to offer something better than the next guy. If government takes over, the element of competition will be eliminated and, consequently, the impetus for one to excel above the rest by offering either better service, better care, or better costs. Translation: people lose. "But Liz," you protest, "universal health care is not the government attempt to take over. Instead, private insurance will still be available for those who want it and the government will merely provide a low-cost option for the poor who cannot currently afford insurance." Right. IN THEORY, this sounds wonderful. But in terms of business management, if you have the means to undercut your competitor and still come out on top (as the government would have in this case), then naturally you will choke out your competition altogether. What doctor has the ability to compete with a government that does not practice sound budgeting principles and does not honor fiscal limitations?! And what doctor can do that while simultaneously paying exorbitant amounts of money toward personal liability insurance which the government would be able to forgo or charge to their no-limit credit card?

Alright, this is too funny. So as I'm writing this, I have just received an e-mail from the POTUS about his health care press conference that will be aired tonight. And, interestingly enough, the areas of reform he is targeting are right on point with what I am outlining. So let me just copy and paste what he says and we'll take it from there. Stick with me. Rub your eyes, splash some water in your face, do 20 jumping jacks, then come sit right back down. It's worth it. I promise.

Says our president:

"If you already have health insurance: reform will provide you with more security and stability. It will limit your own out of pocket costs [HOW?] and prevent your insurance company from dropping your coverage if you get too sick [HOW?]. You'll also have affordable insurance options if you lose or change your job [HOW?]. And it will cover preventive care like check-ups and mammograms that save lives and money.

If you don't have health insurance: you will finally have guaranteed access to quality, affordable health care, and you can choose the plan that best suits your family's needs [HOW?]. And no insurance company will be allowed to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition [HOW?]."

If you rock the boat, someone is bound to fall out. Which party will be fed to the sharks when it comes to health care reform? Doctors? Insurance companies? We the People? Surely not the government since they are the rocking perpetrators and, therefore, the ones most prepared to absorb the shock of movement without falling overboard. The Chief and I have discussed the insurance conundrum at length. What's interesting, and irritatingly misleading, in the president's second statement above, is that right now (meaning, pre-Obama reform) those with pre-existing medical conditions aren't usually denied medical coverage. Instead, they are offered medical coverage at a higher premium. It's a basic business model: "If you can potentially cost me more money than the average person, then I will charge you more money than the average person to offset that cost." And if one insurance carrier will, in fact, not cover you, then you have the wonderful ability to shop around until you find one that will. Basically, when we pay for medical insurance, we are paying into a service pool. We pay for a sense of security whether we currently need medical attention or not. Chronic hypochondriacs and 0% body fat, heart-healthy gym-goers alike, both ends of the spectrum represent people who feel that a monthly medical insurance payment is worth the sense of security it lends. But then here comes Big Brother Government telling insurance companies that they have to insure the guy with recurring and soon-to-be fatal hemorrhoids AT THE SAME AFFORDABLE PREMIUM AS THOSE IN A LOWER-RISK POOL and suddenly the insurance companies are scrambling to drive up the cost of everyone's premiums in order to offset the cost of Hemi's medical bills. If this happens, where do you think everyone will go? Ah yes, the "more affordable" government health care option. Annnnnnnd VOILA, the government has eliminated its competition and created a single-payer, socialized health care system with that one, single mandate. A system that, with its now-bulging enrollment, will soon become overburdened and inefficient. Again, I don't know how to solve this problem to the satisfaction of all involved. In fact, this particular subject is an extremely sensitive one considering the fact that my brother-in-law and Hemi have something in common (no, not hemorrhoids). Jarem had cancer when he was 14 and had his leg amputated because of it. Now, he has been cancer free for years and years and years, but still cannot find an insurance carrier willing to cover him at a reasonable cost. Jarem, could you chime in here? I'm really curious to hear how you feel about this proposed health care reform. Perhaps what we need is medical malpractice waivers, legally binding contracts that allow a doctor to offer medical services at a discounted rate to those who are uninsured, thus providing another reasonable health care option for those who do not wish to procure insurance.

What it all boils down to for me is that government was created as an extension of the smaller, self-governing units of individual, family, and community. This extension was never intended to undermine choice. This extension was never intended to seep into business and dictate management and service models. The pioneers of our country knew all-too-well the kind of fiend that an overreaching government could become. Big government was never, ever in their vision for our country's future and with good reason. We've seen what government-run programs look like (DMV . . . 'nough said) and it's not pretty.

Obama's "must-do-this-now-while-we-have-the-opportunity-to-do-it" attitude is irritating. Overhauling a system like health care is not something that can be qualitatively achieved in a short period of time. What's the rush?! Why is Obama saying, "We have to seize this opportunity and pass health insurance reform this year"?! Change needs to happen, sure, but why does our current administration seem to approach every bit of legislation, from stimulus to budget to health care, with such a sense of urgency that none of those voting on it actually has the chance to read it! It's irresponsible at best and downright shady at worst. And then Obama actually has the gall to say, "Without reform, we are consigning our children to a future of skyrocketing premiums and crushing deficits." Um. You already did that, Mr. President, when you rushed the stimulus package into being and "skyrocketed" our deficit to $3.27 trillion with an insane government budget. All this fabricated urgency is strangely reminiscent of the "fear mongering" Conservatives are always accused of.

Sigh.

Maybe I should run for president, after all.

Here are some of the other comments I appreciated during our Facebook discussion:

From Jeffery: "Samuel - I have to respectfully disagree that the president has a dream or vision that is promoting the core values of the USA. What core values are those that he is promoting? In what instance has a government run entitlement program had even marginal success? Look at medicare/medicaid and the problems and issues that those have had. I for one have no confidence that this will end up any more successful. Are there also 'moral' implications with quick trigger decisions on a bill that in President Obama's own words, he hasn't read?! Governments job isn't to be the provider of everything people think is their 'right'"

From Lara: "Very interesting debate. There are very strong feelings on both sides. I have to say I [sic] with the Elizabeths on this one. The Founding Fathers warned again and again against the dangers of a 'welfare' state. It is not the American vision to have the government taking care of the people, that just creates debilitating dependency. The American vision is to have a people that are self-sufficient and at times when that cannot happen it is the moral responsilblity (if you want to talk morals) of American citizens to take care of each other, not for the federal government to take control and become everyones provider. The government has a very poor track record of being able to successfully run its own programs, I don't know why so many people think that government will be able to do any better with health care."

From James: "Since when has the Government had a reputation of getting things done well? The whole concept behind the plan isn't bad, but are you really willing to let THESE guys be in charge of it? Government is a necessary evil, but we need to be thinking about how much power we really want it to have. I'm sorry but I don't want the Government deciding on whether I will get a life saving operation or not. In a recent public appearance by the President, a man asked a question. His was question was, I have no health care plan right now because I don't have the money for it and I don't find it a necessity right now. Will I be forced to have my own health care plan? The answer was yes, or he will be fined. Now, whether it's smart or not to have your own healthcare plan, his choice is virtually being taken away by the Government. Also, in the current proposed bill, if you change your current health care plan (changes like more coverage in a certain area) you lose your plan."

[Check out this article that confirms this "mandatory health insurance" assertion on a state level in MA.]

And check out this site, AngelFire, for a comprehensive list of depressing news headlines coming out of nations that currently operate under a socialized health care model. Yes, there are negative medical headlines coming out of the US of A, too, but like I said, should we really be throwing the baby out with the bathwater?

I now turn the time over to you. ;0) Please chime in. I am eager to learn more and read more opinions.

Doh! I totally forgot to add this video link to an excellent 20/20 series with John Stossel called "Sick in America." Gives some good perspective on Canadian health care and an interesting response to Michael Moore's "Sicko." Watch it.

And watch this one, too. Four minutes. You can do it. Pass it along.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Bugga: "Mom, if you carry me, I'm gonna spank your little bottom."

Dr. Bugga

Here I sit, innocently scratching my eczema-riddled pinky finger, searching diligently for dinner ideas on the Food Network website. In comes Bugga. He stares at my compulsiveness for a moment, then snatches my scratching hand away with an authoritative, "No!" I chuckle, then absently return to scratching. He responds in kind. We go back and forth for a minute in a goofy little power struggle. Finally I ask him, "Why can't I scratch my finger?" "Because," he instructs, "you're gonna owie it."

Crumbs

Question: What do you do when you come to the bottom of a bag of tortilla chips and all you have left is small broken bits, tiny crumbs, and massively unhealthy amounts of salt?

Answer: Dump it into a bowl of salsa, mix until all surfaces are well-coated, and eat with a spoon. Mmmm.

What do you do?

What's in a Birthday?

This year my birthday was interesting . . . and fun. I had so many people ask me what I was doing, what I was going to do, and what I did. Well you're in luck, because it just so happens that yesterday morning I had decided to photographically document every waking (and sleeping) moment of my day. Okay, maybe not every moment, but there was enough, be it mundane or exciting, to keep me and my shutter-finger happy. So strap yourselves in and let's be on our way . . . .

My 28th birthday started bright and early when The Chief requested a neck shave before heading to work. Glamorous birthday beginning, eh? I obliged begrudgingly as I slowly wormed my way out from under the warm comforter. The boys were already awake and bouncing off the walls as they do every morning and shortly before The Chief left, our little friend "Big Blue" came to spend our co-op morning with us. We love "Big Blue." Who wouldn't love those big, crystal-blue eyes?!

It didn't take long for the DVD player to start its daily workout; beginning with the great vocal exercises featured in Aristocats. :P

I busied myself by starting the mountain of cleaning projects I wanted to get done, but it wasn't long before the doorbell rang and a good friend, Amber, stood there in my front entry sporting a bathing suit and bearing chocolaty goodness. (Thank you, Amber!) "Big Blue" convinced me to share my cookies with him.

Not long after that, another friend, Tamara, brought by a gift from my visiting teacher, Lorraine. Lorraine takes beautiful pictures and turns them into greeting cards. I love them. (Thank you, Lorraine!) Then Tamara's kids, whom I have the pleasure of working with in Primary, handed me a homemade birthday card. There would be a picture of it here, but my boys loved it so much and spirited it away before I could get my camera on it. However, I can still remember my favorite part of the card, which is when Emily wished me a happy birthday "and a Happy New Year!" (She's smart to cover all her holidays for the rest of the year, eh?!). :P

Here is one of the those aforementioned cleaning projects that I did manage to finish. (The only one I managed to finish, as a matter of fact). Hallelujah.

When Amanda came to pick up "Big Blue," she brought me (and the boys) a birthday treat from Golden Spoon. I love Golden Spoon. Especially their "tart" selections. Yesterday's delight was Tart Mango. Mmmmm. As you can see, we plopped a candle in the center and took a proper birthday picture.

And of course I checked my e-mail, Facebook, and blog obsessively as I reveled in the outpouring of remembrance and happy birthday wishes from friends and family all day long. If luck is measured in friends and family bonds (which I happen to think it is), then I have got to be one of the luckiest gals alive.

These pictures make me laugh. There I was trying to take advantage of Bugga's nap and sneak in some quick shut-eye of my own. And, as I had set about to document the whole of my day of birth, I endeavored to capture myself sleeping as well. Thus the poor attempt at a self-portrait featured here. The clock is what sets me to giggling. The Chief surprised me by coming home early (I love it when he can come home early), and I had taken so long trying to get that dang self-portrait, that I never actually got to sleep. Doh. But hey, at least I have record of the attempt, right?!

So, The chief, like a few others who made the trek to our home yesterday, came bearing love and treats. His card goes beautifully with the sentiments he wrote to me yesterday. (I love you, too, Pops. Thank you for EVERYTHING. You are my hero.)

After wrangling the boys into clothing (they spend all their summer days naked), we headed over to Sushihana, as per my birthday dinner request. I love sushi rolls. As you can see by the plethora of photos that ensue, good times were had by all at Sushihana. Good times and good eats.

After dinner, we jumped briefly out of birthday mode to clean the car and drop off the sushi leftovers at home. And then . . .

. . . then it was on to Torrey Pines Beach. One of my favorite things to see here in SD is the multiple hot air balloons framed by the fiery, setting sun each evening. This one I managed to shoot as we were speeding down the freeway. This vision has such an inspiring feel to it.

There were quite a few people waiting for parking spots along the single, pathetically-insufficient strip of parking spots located at Torrey Pines Beach. The Chief was worried I wasn't going to be able to shoot the sun setting due to the parking situation. Finally, as he spotted a potential departure, I jumped out of the car and trotted up the road a bit so as to get a better angle. I made it just in the nick of time. I love beach sunsets.

But what I love even more than beach sunsets is taking pictures of children and families at the beach. There is something so unrestricted about the ocean that sets people at their ease and allows for perfectly natural photography. And, I happen to adore silhouettes as well, so this was literally the perfect way for me, and my family, to celebrate my birthday. I was in heaven at the beach.

I couldn't resist these pictures. When The Chief finally got parked and headed down to the sand with the boys, Bugga looked up at him and asked, "Dad, can I take my shirt off?" Eventually, they both stripped their shirts off and the tops wound up in The Chief's back pockets of his jeans. These pictures speak to me of freedom and whimsy.

I just LOVE these reflections and the angle of their bodies as they jubilantly propel themselves forward out of the reach of the encroaching wave.

Those two little black blurs in the background are the crowning achievement of these 28 years of my life here on earth. I love them so much. So much. And the other wonderful accomplishment is the one not pictured, the one standing patiently behind me, supporting me, loving me, helping me raise our crowning achievements to be strong, solid, righteous young men with concrete resolve and conviction, yet abounding in compassion. The Chief is the accomplishment I take for granted every day. His is the companionship and relationship I yearned for from the time I was 16. He is the man of my dreams and he is very, very patient with my many imperfections.

In 28 years I have lived on three continents and learned three languages (one that is long since forgotten now). I have earned a high school diploma, and a bachelor's degree from BYU. I have had crushes, obsessions, and dates galore. I have sky-dived out of an airplane twice and gone floating over exciting Provo, UT in a hot air balloon. I have kissed, hugged, and held hands. I have cried, laughed, ached, and yearned. I have been through the temple and become a much better person for it. I have received a new and challenging calling at Church. I have had a c-section, a miscarriage, a VBAC, and an ectopic pregnancy. I have known the joy of child-birth and the pain and frustration of longing for it again. I have visited family, worried over family, and prayed for family. I have received wonderful gifts and given some in return. I have gained weight and lost weight. I have discovered a new hobby, a passion that allows me and encourages me to look more closely at the world around me. And always, always, always, I have tried to center my life around my Savior and walk the straight path toward heaven and eternal happiness with my wonderful and crowning achievements. Twenty-eight years may not seem like long, but it definitely encompasses a whole lot of growth.

Candles, cupcakes, frosting, and happy birthday singing. Oh, and another workout for the DVD player, of course. This time it had to run fast to keep up with the ants in A Bug's Life. What birthday would be complete without some serious schedule-breaking and family vegging?!

One other funny episode worth mentioning revolves around my older brother's birthday gift to me. The day before my birthday, a check from Daniel arrived in the mail. On a side note, Daniel is one of the most generous people I know. I have been the blessed recipient of his generosity on many occasions and wouldn't be able to produce these beautiful images if not for his amazing desire, ability, and willingness to share. Anyway, so I opened up the envelope and let out a little yip of delight, then stood a moment puzzling over the odd amount. The Chief laughed when he realized that the total on the check reflected my new age. Later, I got to talk to Daniel and joked with him that upon receipt of his gift, it was the first time in my life I had ever wished I was turning about two or three decades older than I was. :0) He got a kick out of that and now my mom is thinking it might not be such a bad thing to be turning 60 this year. :P

Good-bye 27. Twenty-eight is just bursting with promise and potential. I can feel it coursing through me, vibrating in my blood. This is going to be a phenomenal year. A year of growth (just hopefully not physical growth). :0)

Thanks, all, for making my birthday absolutely perfect in every way, shape, and form.

P.S. And the best birthday gift of all is the subtle one that you see, but do not realize you see, on all my photos. The Chief gave me two new Photoshop action sets for my post-processing workflow. I am THRILLED about them and can't wait to use them on this cool photo shoot I did a while back with my friend. Thank you, Papa! You may feel like they are a "lame gift," but I couldn't think of anything I'd rather have (other than a home . . . and we're working on that). :P