Tattoo Evolution

Forgot these last two pics... this was the rest of the full sleeve: one is right after it was done with the painful red-burn look.

First: Help a friend raise money to bring her little Josiah home. She's going to have an auction soon as well. Stay Tuned: Crested Butte Ski Trip

Dig a little deeper! (okay ignore for all you non-Cheetah Girl fans that have no idea what that means). We're digging deeper into the tats today. My husband has basically a tattoo evolution. He says that there isn't anything to tell... no story. Just that he likes art. I have no tats; too much of a chameleon... I like to change things. Now my husband is very expressive as well; we both LOVE art ... he just likes it on his body. Clayton... this post is for you. =0) And anyone else who ever wanted to know.

Okay, he has one on his knee that is always covered (which is my favorite, because it is HILARIOUS). It is this half-bulldog, half gargoyle looking head thing with straining neck muscles. It is so funny. He says this is a good lesson learner for kids on why you WAIT until you are older to get tattoos! He had two small ones on his right shoulder that were covered with a piece that he let a tattoo artist freehand. It is a mix of Japanese style, lotus flowers & kabuki masks with lava. Yup, just art. The one of his left arm was a shoulder piece that evolved. It started in Australia as a tribal dream catcher. Yes, he just walks in there and they start drawing on him with sharpie after he explains styles he likes.

Later (when I was pregnant with Nika & very sick that I spent hours watching him get tattooed curled up with morning sickness on a tattoo chair), he added some freehand work... which included any style that appeased him at the time. Again it's just art, but I believe the description back then was alien bone with cavern (the caverns are colored and the bone was black shaded)... basically you can look into it and see all kinds of things. People always try to guess what it is and depending on how you look at it; you can see whatever you like.

Next comes... the 3/4 sleeve. He decided to add more... this time... all black and shaded and I have no idea what it is. I think there is a skeleton head or two and some more art that I can't explain. Later he finished it to a full sleeve. Which is funny, because I had "rules" when I met him that he must not get one on his face, lower legs or arms or neck... why, because then it is harder for him to work. Now he just wears long-sleeves to work and no one knows.... and it's saved his arms from getting cut by metal (having long sleeves, not a tat... they're not titanium plated tats! Sorry, too many kid cartoons. Spiderman, Rhino.. titanium armour...okay I hear crickets.)

It's funny because people always ask what they mean and we have no answer. He didn't memorialize anyone on his arm; although when he was younger he wanted a gigantic skull covering his whole back (the Exploited Skull for those who know who that is). Thank goodness he didn't do that because that skull is freaky. He just loves art & thinks tattoos are a great expression of art.

When he was in Australia, he met a friend who fell in love with a Papua New Guinea "Princess" (head tribesman's daughter) and she had tattoos all over her face and body and was considered very beautiful. The story goes: he wanted to marry this girl, but was not part of this tribe (he was a missionary from another country) and was not allowed to marry her because she was very "prized". The head chief loved this man and said he could have any of his other daughters. This wouldn't do so he asked to "buy" her. The chief thought about it and asked for an outrageous amount of money thinking this man could never raise the money. So the man left back to Australia and it took him a long long time, but he indeed raised the money. The head chief was so impressed by this young man's determination and gave permission for him to marry his daughter for he must truly love her if he was willing to work that hard for her.

Now, this woman's tattoos were an expression of respect and appreciation of her culture. Even though my husband doesn't belong to that culture, for him, these tattoos represent a respect for himself. He doesn't talk about it this way, but I have known him for 10 years and this is how he is. The man in the story had to respect and honor the traditions of his future wife's culture; even if something is different doesn't mean it doesn't deserve respect, honor and appreciation.

I don't agree for everyone to just get tattoos. My children know that they hurt (feel like really bad road-rash) and they get flaky, colored, scabby skin that peels as they are healing (that sticks all over the shower), that they fade and that some tattoos are a bit ignorant to place on your body. They also know about the regrets people often have after getting them and that even though they are expensive to get a nice piece, they are way more expensive to get removed. It's very hard to go back once they are on. We've always been told that our body is a temple and needs respect. I also know that some like to decorate that temple. I like decorating. I stick to pen on paper as well as an occassional drawing on my hand, and art on my walls and t-shirts instead of my body, but to each their own & I'm happy my husband likes his art... I like it on him too and think they are beautiful. I couldn't imagine naked arms on him... he'd be so white. ha ha

Now, if you ever want to know about piercings... I can explain those later... those can be quite gross (and I'm telling you from personal experience and others' experiences). I have a scar that is quite the deterrent for my children. Not pretty.

Stomach Bug Fairy

AHHH! One of my least favorite fairies came to visit last night: The Stomach Bug Fairy. You know the one that likes to wake up your child right after you've fallen into a deep sleep and have them stumble to your room, put their face next to yours and whisper 4 sweet nothings, "Mom, I threw up."

Poor Nika... poor bunk bed & floor... even Luke Skywalker riding in the Barbie car with his newest babe got obliterated. I spent last night up helping her & this morning my mother and I laughed about the times my siblings and I got sick as a kid. My mom said I was too young to remember but there was a great one when I lived in California where about 7 kids all got sick. She threw us in one room with blankets and buckets covering the floor! At least we can laugh.

Now I just hope it's the rota virus. Why? Jadyn had that vaccine. The symptoms seem to lessen each time a person gets it and I KNOW Nika and Kole have had it. Cross fingers as we wait out 10 days of contamination and incubation.

Okay next post is about tattoos... it has to wait.

Save Handmade Toys

Handmade Toy Alliance
A new law is going into effect to make toys safer as well as clothes. I am all for safe clothes and toys. Although I am for safe toys and clothes, I do not feel handmade clothes and toys should be effected, especially if the fabrics and materials purchased for these toys, etc. have already been tested, purchased in the U.S.. So many people have created stay at home jobs from online businesses of selling handmade items. I am not concerned about the safety from my handmade blanket from my child's Grandmother.

If you wish to help, please vote at this link below... change.org
SAVE HAND-MADE THINGS

Another way to help: Craftsbury Kids This is the site belonging to the woman on the youtube video on Change.org. She has listed ways to help.

This is a link to a blog that shows how many online stores will be effected, including online booties, clothes, hats.... everything. Just Add Charm

If you vote, some stores are giving away some prizes.

As I sit and really think about this, I have to edit my post. This is a cruel law (at least emotionally for me). As a child of ten siblings (and ...I love you Dad... a father who had very ill money managing skills...gambling), I grew up well below the poverty line. We barely had food, and lived off of what little we had through donations and food stamps. My mother would put our food out and leave the room without any for herself; she would wait until we had finished and eat what was left on our plates. We never asked for seconds... not only because we didn't really have it, but because it would take food from someone else (more than likely my mother). I was so starved, I would eat the dog and cat food and if we visited other peoples' homes, I searched out their dog food as well. My mother would cut up old clothes to patch the ones that were repairable. We would be naked without used clothes from Goodwil, Deseret Industries, Salvation Army, yard sales, and donations. I can't imagine the added expense of new clothes to my family's empty purse.

All of these places I mentioned that kept my family from being naked will be effected by this new law. I am not for lead poisoning; it is very serious and sad. There just has to be another way without punishing the many poor people who do live in America.

Also, my friend asked for a tattoo explanation of hubby's tats... will be the next post. =0)

Christmas=Jesus, Family, Joy,Love

Yeah, I really am a Rock Star

Star Wars Christmas explosion

Nika is shocked she finally was allowed to have Polly Pcokets (parts... small parts, enough said)

Jadyn giving Great Grandpa some sugar

How many girls can you fit on your pot shelves?

Christmas morn at Grandma's... look at my fairy Princess & the others... why look at cameras when there are cool things everywhere.

This one is just funny. My husband has been lifting weights (yup I spot him... for some reason men at his work think that is hilarious) and this shirt is way too tight in the arms... I was laughing so hard with him/at him. It barely covered his stomach because his muscles have gotten so big in his chest... he's going to kill me when he's sees this on here. He finally understands girls' tight armpit clothes.

I'm so thankful this Christmas for all of my family & the time we've spent together. I have to say I'm also thankful for all of those who have posted their Christmas memories, wishes & adventures; why? Because I needed an extra dose of Christmas spirit when you know one little person is not here that needs to be.

For Christmas, we had our annual family dinner with my husband's mother's side of the family. Jadyn found a lovely little two year old cousin to romp it up with and I have no idea what they "say" to each other, but they were in stitches with laughter.

Kole & Nika round around with their cousins singing karaoke and dressing up. Jadyn kept snagging cookies... we still have no idea how many she ate! I was seriously loving all the food... that is one of my favorite parts! I love when everyone brings over their favorite treats & I get to try all these new goodies.

The night before Christmas, we not only were able to read the story of Jesus Christ's birth and have the children really pay attention, WE READ THREE!!!! WOOHOO! We actually end up telling the story all month long as soon as the manger scene comes out... although we have to buy them each their own because they always end up arguing over who gets baby Jesus. Jesus and arguing don't really go together so we have to figure something out.

We also had our family Christmas which isn't very chaotic at all but ends up like a tornado hit the house with scraps of paper... I still need to vacuum the small ones! We had family Christmas dinner with my husband's family and then played Rock Band... I've never played that before. I'm not good at the guitar and I didn't try the drums but I can sing (well not as good as before I hurt my vocal chords a year ago, but decent) and read those super fast words across the screen. I even sang Metallica! ... um I didn't know he hit notes. James, Lars and the other ones I can't remember your names, I apologize. How in the world did Metallica get in my Christmas post?

Anyways, my sister Rakel came out a few days before Christmas and it was so good to see her and Uncle Aaron.. the kids really miss you chasing them around. Thank you for their gifts... the Star Wars guys have not left their sides, day or night. Uncle Christian, the kids were thrilled to have you come over as well... you have to be Darth again & have them gang up on you! That was hilarious... man why didn't I remember the camera... oh yeah, I was laughing too hard. It was like Attack of The Jedi Ewoks!

I splurged and went and bought clothes & toys for Milana... I don't know what size she really is but it was clearance and I can stuff them in what is hopefully her last care package & then she's coming home... right?! We wrapped her Christmas gifts but we just couldn't open them without her... the kids & I just couldn't do it. We're going to wait until she's home.... it was just too hard.

So Merry Christmas my friends, family and just someone who wanted to read... may you have the feeling of joy that this season was made for! =0) Sara

p.s. New Year's resolution... cut down on my length of my posts! ha ha

Snow Day!! In Vegas!

Snow just barely started:



The guy with the umbrella was just some pic I found on the net about the snow storm... Mary Poppins would disapprove.



Oh and little Miss Chocolate Hands... she had one crazy day: chocolate on hands (seems like she forgot to eat it), decided to rub syrup on her face, let's not forget adding peanut butter to the facial treatment later that day & pumpkin pie with finger prints always tastes better. I don't know what happened... it was around the same time that everyone else's kids were running a muck. One put fake tattoos on his neck, another ransacked the house & all it's contents on friends' blogs.

Okay back to SNOW!

Literally, the kids had a Snow DAY last Thursday!? What in the world, school cancelled on account of snow in Vegas (first time ever)??? Monday, was our biggest snow for our home and for the rest of the valley, they got annihilated by 8 to 10 inches (even though the "official" word was 3.6" because that is where the weather station is... they don't seem to go out and measure the dumped on places.).

It was a blast!!! Kids thought that it was heaven. Nika got soaked on Monday after school because she decided to have a snow ball fight in the school field with jeans & sneakers. No, we don't keep snow boots lying around because the last time this happened with this much snow was Feb. 1, 1979. I have pictures of my husband in it! I wasn't born so don't ask for that one.

Everyone was driving slow so there weren't many accidents surprisingly. I was driving slow just because I was having the hardest time not staring at the beautiful flakes floating toward my window. How cool is that stuff!? (well when it's not trapping people and causing things to break like the power. It was very surreal like being in a tunnel with all these little things careening into your windshield but landing super soft. Of course, I snuck out after the kids went to bed and started enjoying it myself (I love eating snow) and my husband locked me out on purpose!!

When Kole and Jadyn started playing in it, they had no idea it was slippery and to stomp your feet before coming in the house; they ate the tile probably 6 or 7 times trying to run.. poor things, but it was hilarious! This was Jadyn's first snow experience. If I ever figure out how to make a video... I'll show ya.

The airport grounded the flights which was sad because people who are used to the grounded flights, did their usual of sleeping on the floor. But Hello! You're in Vegas and you can hit the airport with a rock from the hotels! Plus everything is super cheap right now. Like this, Encore opened on Monday and all the rooms are $700& up a night. They are $169 right now.... and that's from a 5 star 5 diamond Wynn Encore. Everything else in the city is way less. Why sleep on the floor in the airport... when you have Vegas luxury?! Maybe I've lived here too long that I would snatch up that convenience.

SOOOO Merry Christmas Eve, Fourth Day of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa on Friday until January, Eid al Adha was earlier this month, Boxing Day on Friday and if I've forgotten any... just remember to spread the joy & love of your festivities!!! Have a holly jolly time celebrating and come back safe, happy, rested and full of good food! Love to you all!

Interest in Fundraiser

Interest In Sarah K's Fundraiser

My friend, Sarah K, is thinking of holding a drawing to help raise funds for her adoption of Josiah, but wants to see what the interest is for her prizes... it includes Colorado ski packages with hotel stays, Mommy splurge packages and more. Just thought I'd let you all know; come take a look. =0)

Connections

(oops, it was brought to my attention... thank you Lora =0)... that I may sound angry in this post. Not at all angry. =0) I just couldn't put my finger on what bothered me about the word attachment until now... I think it may come from people saying, "you're children are attached at the hip" in a negative manner. Or how the subject of attachment frightens some parents I've spoken with. I just like different words... you may all continue using attachment... like you need my permission anyways! ha ha Who knows?). p.s. I hate ticking clocks but that doesn't mean we need to get rid of them, right?! ;0)

Connections. What in the world am I talking about? In other language, attachment. i just don't like the word attachment. To me it represents velcro... it's either on or off or hanging by minuscule threads or worse... velcro loses it's stick!! Attachment with your child is not hit or miss. It is not a one time deal. Attachment comes up often when adopting and some parents are under the misconception that you either have it or you don't. That is simply not the case. I hear parents talk about how they thought that their child was securely attached (again velcro) and they come to find years later that they are not. It's like that saying, "Where did I go wrong?"

First off, Life doesn't work that way. Maybe with gravity... what goes up, must come down, but we have found ways around that through using our brains!

That's it! Connections, attachments or whatever you like to call it that makes sense to you, start in the brain! Problems: brains are complex and we can't mind- read! ah man! Luckily we can study behavior since we don't have crystal balls.

I like to think of connections like this: A Gigantic Switchboard! You know those ones that operators used to use with the plug in wires to make telephone connections. Imagine a switchboard with someone who is quite educated & can pull and plug those lines without ever getting tangled or making one mistake. That is what I consider someone who has all their screws in the right place... that person... I hate to tell ya, doesn't exist! It's a utopia.

So now that image of perfection is gone & we notice that all of us have some varying degree of tangled wires, how do we make connections that are clear cut with a child who has very tangled wires... ones that we have never experienced before?

We get in there, down and dirty... we dive in and start plugging and unplugging. Often times a child will un-do the work we have done. Start again... do not get discouraged.

A child has instincts and learns either family skills in a nurturing environment or survival skills in one that lacks basic needs and sometimes a variety of both. Survival skills are very handy but often do not work well in a home family environment. It is not that a child is fighting velcro attachment, it's that their connections are crossed and tangled. When we work diligently to over-ride the brain trauma, it may feel unnatural to the child and the child constantly reverts to these old connections of homeostasis. Humans love to maintain stability.. love it like ice cream. Problem is... that stability comes at a price... your body goes by what feels normal and safe. With a child who has fantastic survival skills and not enough family skills, they appear "unattached" when in fact, they are doing what feels natural.

Now comes the hard part, getting the child to let go of the survival skills over and over again until it starts to feel natural. This can take a lifetime. So how is it that people can think attachment happens instantly when repairing these connections takes a lifetime? I still fight some of my survival skills. That "over-ride" button is another part of our brain that takes years to mature.

Here's another way to look at it. This is something I wrote a while ago. "I view this subject in a different light. I view attachment as something that needs "tune-ups" every once in a while. Just as a marriage needs constant "dates", one must take a temperature reading of their children at different points in their lives. I am constantly re-evaluating my children's needs and finding it a worthy challenge to try and stay on top of. A child that may definitely be attached at one point in their lives can definitely find themselves with questioning behavior at another stage in their lives. I am not saying this is made up, but a child grows learns and reevaluates the world often... why shouldn't we?

I do not view it as "regression" if a child is attached and then later exhibits attachment concerns, but more as check to see if all their "tools in their toolbox" are doing the job correctly. These behaviors exist for a reason; the same reason a rattle noise makes us check the car. A relationship needs maintenance no matter which kind so make sure that it is met, so your child has all the tools necessary when they are "on their own" one day. They truly are never on their own though. Ask my mom of 10.

I definitely find my "mommy toolbox" in need of some serious power tools sometimes and expect this for years to come. Please don't consider therapy if needed, etc. as a bad thing like you didn't notice signs in time... think of it as going shopping for more tools or for girly girls... "shoes to work with every outfit".

So go in there, get those tools out, get those connections flowing with clarity, keep looking forward... you can't change the past but you can write the future!

Men's Rules (ha ha)

Thought everyone might need a laugh break. p.s. I didn't write these, they just make me laugh. p.s.s. My husband doesn't fit into all these categories, so no hun... this isn't about you. ;0)

Now here are the rules from the male side.
These are our rules!
Please note.. these are all numbered "1"
ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want.
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a Problem. See a doctor.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't Expect us to act like soap opera guys.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one .

1. You can either ask us to do something. Or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, cars, the shotgun formation, or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this.

Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; but did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

Pass this to as many men as you can - to give them a laugh.
Pass this to as many women as you can - to give them a bigger laugh

Tidbits

I've not only been busy with normal life things... I've been recovering from the sickness. I had TSS... you know that Toxic Shock Syndrome... it's not fun & you feel like death; literally. Electrolytes & antibiotics and you're good to go after about 4days but weak. Hint to all future mommas of girls... do not store tampons in bathrooms or other damp air rooms & store those things in a dark closet away from heat & light. I had mine in the bathroom in the hot window sill. Triple threat. No one told me that you have to treat them like potatoes!!!

The more people I've talked with, the more I've noticed have symptoms etc. but not as bad as mine were. Yuck... not fun at all. My kidneys still hurt a little but at least someone touching my arm isn't excruciating anymore. I still feel woozie & I have to put on a few pounds because I lost a little from not having an appetite. I hate losing weight... love muscle which I don't have much time to put on... do any of us?

Anyways, let's see. We had Thanksgiving on Friday with my husband's family. It's always nice to spend time with his family but also hard for me to be so far away from mine. I miss all of you... we'll visit after Milana comes home & she can handle the trip to AZ (at least you all are only about 5 hours away)... maybe we'll fly.

Hubby accidentally totalled his Audi on Thanksgiving. He was going to the store when someone pulled out in front of him from this side street without stopping & hubby instantly reacted & jerked the wheel... well on the other side of the car was a construction zone & he clipped a cement barricade... He's all good but his Audi is so not. So off we go to find another car. Cop asked where he was going and I said the grocery store before the Black Friday rush to get some bananas & things.... His response, "Pretty expensive bananas!" The cop was very excited that this was the first person that night who hadn't been drinking & also found my husband's Audi symbol amongst the debris which was in perfect condition...he sent that home with us. I'm just sooooo thankful that Donnie is fine... sore but fine. p.s. He wasn't allowed to drive home.

No news on the adoption front... believe me... I've been asking. I'm awaiting any scrap of news my coordinator can scrounge up from our director who just spent two weeks in Taiwan. I've actually enjoyed one thing about being incapacitated this week... I didn't have any energy to think about our case. I'll never catch up reading posts but I will say Happy Thanksgiving to all!!! And Merry Christmas & Holidays & New Year & all that good stuff coming up!

Oh yeah... I'm so sappy... I was changing channels on the radio in the car and heard Mariah Carey singing "All I Want For Christmas" and I broke out in tears... Poor other drivers kept staring at the bawling lady singing Christmas songs. And yup, they heard because it's about 70 degrees & everyone has their windows down.

p.s.s. Vegas drivers are NUTS!

World's AIDS Day

This is an article written by a fellow church member friend who has adopted a few children and a few of which were diagnosed with AIDS. Her blog and her family's stories are some amazing ones full of courage, hope & especially love. Take a moment & stop on by... I'm amazed at how well she puts a lot of my thoughts on this topic into words. Although, it is much more than just a topic... there are so many lives affected by this every moment. One life is so precious... imagine millions.

Remember to always have those with AIDS, and other diseases like Hep C & B in your hearts & thoughts & remember to properly educate yourself.

Full House Hands Hearts

Oh and as for Thanksgiving!!! Happy Belated Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for and this holiday deserves a lot more than I'm dishing. I was sick this week... so much so, that I was in the E.R. but I'm ok and we'll just say I'm SO thankful to be alive! I am so fortunate to have my family (all of you) and so many dear people who care about me & whom I care for. Mostly, family, food, & shelter are my most favorites... although I do love the cushy stuff of life... I'd be nothing without the Lord. So thank you again for my life and for letting me keep it a while longer here on Earth. =0) Thank you Thank you Thank! Much Love to EVERYONE!!!