Bathtime!

In the evening, 7:30 comes around and it's bathtime. All three boys go into the tub, and I don't know how Cooper survives sometimes because it can get a little rough. Water, water everywhere....

Cooper's 1st Birthday

Sept. 14 was Cooper's 1st Birthday. He's quite the mover - his name is Spider Monkey. He really is such a sweet little guy. This last year really has gone by fast. It seemed to take Matt forever to turn one, and now I can barely remember his babyhood. I do like "1" though - good bye formula (at $25/can that lasts five days) and hello whole milk (much cheaper!)

Cooper keeps up with his brothers pretty well. He likes to be in the action and is a freakin' strong baby for being a baby. He's not walking yet, but managed to climb up onto the tramp yesterday by climbing up a little slide that was nearby. He loves pushing balls around the floor and chasing after them. He loves to get right under your feet, roll onto his back, and look up at you. He can wave bye-bye, say Dada (on command), and loves to sing.

I couldn't let the day go by without some sort of celebration, although it wasn't quite the party that Matt's was when he turned one. The more kids you get, the more tired you become. Coopie enjoyed the cake, anyway.

My attempt at a creative homemade cake. It's Legos.

My mother-in-law thought it was trucks. I didn't think it looked that off.

Preschool

Matt started preschool about two weeks ago. Happy Day!! After I dropped him off, I came home and did a naked dance around the house. OK, just kidding - I'm saving the naked dance for kindergarten next year.

He goes three days a week for two hours a day right during Milo and Cooper's nap time. So, I'm free for a small amount of time each day! I relish my quiet solitude every afternoon. He's enjoyed it so far - he actually begs to go to school. He's such a busy little boy - I'm just glad he likes going. I hope that continues. I always liked school, but Sam didn't. So, I'm hoping Matt takes after me in that respect or it will be a long 13 years for both of us. It's funny because he sings bits and pieces of songs or comes up with these new insights that I know he must be getting from school. For example, today he told me "red comes from black." Not quite sure if that's true, but I know they're learning about colors right now. Anyway, it's been good for both of us!

Sarah Palin

This morning on Good Morning, America, they interviewed Sarah Palin's five closest friends from her hometown of Wasilia, Alaska. I have to have my one claim to fame here (because I never have those) and tell you that my Aunt Juanita (married to my dad's youngest brother, my Uncle Norman) is one of Palin's friends. She is on the top row, second from the right (the pretty one).

Aunt Juanita is also one of the friends they interviewed, and she's the only one who said she is for sure voting for McCain/Palin. My only beef with that is if I had a friend running, you could be dang sure I'd be voting for her. I mean, if she's good enough to invite into your life, she's not good enough to help run America?? Here these women have a chance to help make history with the first woman VP, who is also a very close friend, and most of them said they were still unsure. Even with political differences, I still would vote for a friend. Sorry, maybe I'm "cliquish" that way.

I tried to get the video to post here, but ABC wouldn't allow that. So, if you're interested, here is a link http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5750475

Polygamy

I just finished reading the book, "Escape," by Carolyn Jessop. Very insightful reading. Jessop was a woman born into a polygamous family, forced to marry a man she didn't know at the age of 18, and then finally fled in the night for a new life after 15 years of marriage and eight children.

It was interesting to me because I live relatively near Colorado City, Arizona and its sister city, Hildale, Utah, home of the FLDS and its fallen "prophet" Warren Jeffs. Jessop recounts countless stories about emotional abuse from her husband and her sister-wives. Definitely a cult.

Sam had a pest control business for a few years, and we were working up quite the clientel in Colorado City. Most of our customers were actually Jessops and a few Steeds. From what I gather, most families operate with wives having different responsibilities. So, I would speak to the same girl on the phone to schedule the appointments. She was always very respectful, but not one who gave a "warm" feeling over the phone. She belonged to family of four or five wives. Since Sam went there, I think he's one of the few outsiders who has actually been allowed inside a home. He said this woman had two kids and lived by herself above the garage. Some of the other wives made comments to Sam about how she had no social skills. When I talked to her, I would always feel for her, and since Sam no longer does PC, I don't even get to talk to her on the phone now. I could just feel she was depressed and incredibly lonely.

Anyway, for anyone who has ever been to Wal-Mart in St. George, or played "Count the Polygamists" in the store (which is actually a very difficult game because it's confusing to distinguish between them), you should consider reading this book. Warren Jeffs is an evil man and I'm glad he's behind bars, but so many of these people remain brainwashed in Colorado City and in their new compound at the YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas. It's a very sad situation that these women believe they have to endure abuse just so their husbands can say "yea" or "nay" when their time comes to enter heaven.

Thanks, Mom, for getting me addicted to these books. The next one I'm reading is about Elise Wall, the girl who testified against Jeffs for arranging her marriage to a 19-year-old cousin when she was only 14.