TWILIGHT..TWILIGHT...TWILIGHT!!! ugh!!

OK.. Can I just say for the record that I AM NOT a crazy, screaming, swooning teenage fan.

But I LOVED the

Twilight Books!

I started reading them about a year ago and found myself so shamefully addicted to anything I could get my hands on. As the year went on, we highly anticipated the final book in the series,

Breaking Dawn

When it finally did, it finished the series for me. I wasn't to pleased with the last book and I was so glad that the All-mind-Dominating Story had come to an end.

AND THEN.........

The Movie.

Courtney and I, with some of her friends fought the crowds and went to the midnight showing last weekend.
I'm not sure if it was the whole atmosphere of being in an entirely sold out theater, where every theater and every seat was filled with tons of shreiking fans, but what ever it was we had so much fun, and LOVED the movie. It wasnt ANYTHING like the book. But it was still a fun movie and it was fun to see the characters of a story that so intrigues you come to life.

Coutney has been to see it 4 times.. She LOVES it .

Me????... only twice.

But I keep trying to talk Ron into going another time with me. What do you think Ron??

Purple! Purple! Whats Wrong With PURPLE?

So This is how it went....

"MOOOOOOOM!" Jessica cried joyfully as she jumped into the truck after school last week.

I should have known something was up at that moment. A smile came across my face.

"I have something to ask you"....she said quickly. "But you have to REALLY think about it before you answer"....

OH! no.. I thought here it goes.. My mind immediately went to dating before your sixteen, a body piercing, an over night boy/girl excursion. My heart started pumping, my hands started sweating as visions of REBELLION danced in my mind.

"Emily and I really Really Really want to get a strip of our hair dyed PURPLE!"

My impending fear immediately turned into uncontrollable humor. I let out a smirk..

Silence...

I looked back at Courtney, who I had forgotten was there..

Silence...

Our eyes locked and instantaneously we both started cracking up!

"WHAAAAAT?" Jessica whined "Will that look weird?"

Weird?? Yes...

But for the next few days all I heard was... Please... Please... Please!!

After Numerous questions like,

What kind of Mothers let their kids dye their hair PURPLE?

What kind of KIDS dye their hair purple? Is it the stoners?

(which they no longer call them that any more) My kids laughed at that one.

And of course the most important one...

What will your Dad say??

We came up with a compromise...

So today Jessica got some PURPLE Extensions in her hair. Not too many, Not too few. Apparently it is called Peek-a-Boo color. It actually looks kind of cute..

So another lesson learned. Picked the Battles, Love the kid, Be secure enough to know that you've taught them to be themselves, and have the courage to let them!!

Carly was a great help as we voted together today. I read who was running for which office and told her what I voted. She was very excited to come to Prop 8 and before I could say anything she said "YES"!

The freeman casting, with unpurchased hand, The vote that shakes the turrets of the land.

November 4, 2008

Why do I vote??

Maybe it's naive to think that my one little vote can change things. Maybe my simple views can't compare to the sohpisticated ideas of others. Maybe my thoughts on wanting peace in this land are a little improbable. But even so.... I vote!

I vote to make a difference.

I vote because of my children.

I vote because it is a privilige

I vote because

WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES,

and in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

And Because of that Patriotic right that we have

I VOTE!

I want to have a say in the direction this country goes. I want to have a say in the way my children will be taught by this country.
Today I will vote for one of the most consequential propostitions on the ballot.

PROP 8

-Only Marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

I will vote YES because of my family and freedom. The effects of this vote will be far-reaching and long lasting.

Tomorrow will be a new day. With new issues, but TODAY

I VOTE!

"The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.”

THIS IS HALLOWEEN!

STATE COMPETITION!

Carly Qualified to go to STATE!!

We are so proud of her. She had her BEST Meet Ever!

So Now we will be Spending

November 22 in Bakersfield (of all places) I suppose it is because it is in a central location.

Congratulations Carly!!!

Universal Studios "Haunted Horror Night"

Nobody Does it better!! WOW!

(I promise Freddy was right behind us ready to attack!!)

Ron has been promising Jessica that he would take her to one of the many amusement parks around here for the Halloween Scare!! So last weekend he was home for 3 days and he took Jessica and Courtney and their two friends. Of course my choice was to stay home with Carly. But we found her a babysitter ( can you believe I have to get a babysitter when I have 2 living in my house) :) and took off down to

Universal Studios in Hollywood.

And NOBODY does Halloween better than Hollywood. It was really amazing and of course ALL OUT!! The Hero of he the night was FREDDY KRUEGER!!!

Along with all the other Horror film Stars from Norman Bates and the Psycho House... to Texas Chain Saw massacre.. Frankenstein, Jason, Micheal, Dracula, Beheaded clowns, they had it all.

The girls Loved it! They screamed and ran the whole time. Other characters would hear the screams and of course be ready to attack as the girls came around the corner.

Hint: The more you react the more they will scare you!!

Courtney got attacked by just about everyone in there.

It was a very fun and "FRIGHTFUL" Night!

For more pictures Check out Jess & Courts Blog!

Is it FALL Yet???

WE LOVE FALL IIN SOUTHERN CALI!
The Halloween Decorations, the Candy Corn,
….The leaves changing color and falling to the ground.
(Actually it’s from the lack of water and humidity in the air due to the Wonderful Santa Ana winds blowing through …. They just turn a really dirty ugly brown and fall to the ground)
Also the cooling weather.
We are now getting down to a blustery 95*
Sooo.. We definitely have to find those little joys in life that remind us that the seasons ARE changing….
Nothing taste better on a HOT Autum afternoon than an icy cold
PUMPKIN SHAKE
From Jack in the Box.
THEY ARE DELICIOUS!!


After our dentist appointments yesterday afternoon
We stopped and got one. I think I was the most excited. YES!!!

The Pumpkin Shake Definitely started to get me in the mood!!
All of you who are getting in the mood by…
Cuddly Warm Sweaters…. NO WAY!
Cute Fuzzy Ugg Boots… Who needs them!
Intricately carved pumpkins that don’t cook on your Porch!
Snow Capped Mountains covered in flocks in Red, Orange & Yellow!
Crisp Apples, Icy Mornings that have the smell of Fall in the air as the brids leave their homes and fly to us for the winter..
Electric Blankets...., Michigan Football Sweatshirts,....... Warm comforting soup…

OOOHHHHHHH! ( Sigh) I miss the SEASON!!!!
I Guess I’ll have to go get another PUMPKIN SHAKE!!!

CARLY IS GOING TO SECTIONALS!!

GO CARLY!!

Today Carly went to her 2nd Prelim Meet. Very nerve racking for the mom. Not for the gymnast who does it all so naturally. So she had a great meet. Her Coach Emma said she did great on the floor and nailed her leap pass! Even with the judges taking the highest deductions.

I think she should get points for being so cute!!

We Still Have it!!!

Brainwave Synchronization;..... "the same brain frequency," , a naturally occurring phenomenon where the human brain has a tendency to change its dominant EEG frequency towards the frequency of a dominant external stimulus. The functional connectivity is defined as the temporal correlation between spatially-remote neurophysiological events, expressed as deviation from statistical independence across these events in distributed neuronal groups and areas, which produce the brainwaves....

Call it what you want but We still have it!!!

Sharla and I have always been on the same BRAINWAVE.. We have always thought the same thoughts... Without saying a word. Bought the same clothes with out being together. Not only for ourselves but for our children also. Laughed at the same situations NO ONE else finds humorous. (-ward Christmas party) ... Yes, the connection finds itself rooted deeper than a common coincidence or being together to much.
The other day It HAPPENED AGAIN. My girls and I were at Target looking at Halloween costumes... of all the HUNDREDS of costumes, there was one that was the CUTEST Little Red Riding hood. I could immediately picture Emma in that costume. It was more than just "picturing". That little costume just had to be Emma's... In the past I would have just bought it and taken it to Sharla's house and surprised them. But ya know that 700 miles away thing....

So we took out the greatest invention ever... the Picture phone.. and snapped a picture and sent it to Sharla.... Saying..

"You Have to get this Little Red Riding Hood For Emma. She would look so cute for Halloween"

Sharla's immediate response...

"You mean THIS Little Red Riding Hood?"

Coincidence? Fate?? Chance?? I think NOT!! Call the phenomenon what you want. I KNOW its more... I KNOW the connection... I feel it with every fiber in my soul! That's how I KNOW your having a Boy!! That's how I KNOW you know what I mean. That's how I KNOW you know I miss you! And I still feel your pain and your joy.

THAT'S how I know WE STILL HAVE IT!!!!

COURTNEY can express it ALL!!!

Courtney definately has a way

of EXPRESSING it ALL!

You will always see her with a BIG Courtney smile on her face.

No matter what her mood.
Courtney brings such joy to our family. She cheers me up when I've had an esspecially crazy day.

She makes makes Ron laugh even if Michigan loses. (which seems to be often) . She knows EXACTLY how to make Jessica say WOW!!









And best of all she knows how to put on the Charm, when Carly is having a disagreeable day!!


Courtney LOVES people and loves children. She loves her Cousins and misses them soooooo much! She is Always getting called to baby sit. She Loves to help
people and give service. She set up a baby sitting "Party" for members of our ward, while they helped with Prop 8. She has volunteered hours to help call lists for Prop 8. Her beautiful spirit Radiates with Kindness, Compassion, and Joy.

Her passion is SOFTBALL. Being part of a team brings out the Best in Courtney. Everyone wants Courtney on their TEAM. This summer we had a "BALL" going with her ALL-STAR team to the National Pony Tournament in Texas. Her Team did great!! And she had so much fun. Her best play was a triple RBI hit to 3rd. Plus some amazing diving catches in the left field.

COURTNEY brings so much delight to our lives.

She is the kind of person you always want to be around.

She loves EVERYONE and EVERYONE loves her!!

Jessica Expresses..." WOW"!!!

Jessica Can Express so many Emontions in one single word!!

WOW!

Example:.. Jess... will you please clean your Room? ...

"wOOOw" (Translation..Whatever)

Jess...What do you want for Dinner?... "Wow"

(Translation...Can't you read my mind?)

Jess.. Did You get your Home work done? .. "WOW"...(eye roll included)

Jess... You sent 4000 Text this month.. "WOOOW"...
(Translation.. I rock!)

Jess.. Here's $100 for being such an awesome Teenager!!.. "WOW"..

( Traslation.. I knew mom was going to buy me a car when I turned 16)

My Reply... "WHAT EVER!"

Yes.. The Word "WOW" Has many different expressions in this house of Teen-age Wonders!!

With Soo much Expression in one word, Jessica "WOW's" us daily!

She loves Her sisters so much. (Although she would never admit to it)..

She loves High School, and Does such an awesome job there. She love Baseball (players), Gum, & Ice Cream. She would spend her days at the beach & her nights hanging out with her Dad. She loves to shop Hollister, AE & Sports Chalet. WOW! Can you believe she never has anything to wear. :o) Her Heros are my Hero's too. Russell, Celena, & Mandee... WOW!!!

She is currently a member of Gymnastics Anonymous. Which is a support group that teaches you how to get your life back after spending 5 years & 22 hours weekly training for a Front tuck through to a whip salto, or sticking a double back hand spring, lay out, step out on a 4 inch beam.... Just kidding.There is is no such group, although there should be. We are so proud of her for going as far as she did. & Putting out all that effort to succeed.

Jessica's Love for Life will continue to

"WOW" us and will

"WOW" the world!!

I am CARLY.. Hear me ROAR!!!

Carly Has Many Expressions.....
& She LOVES to show them... She can be as loud and crazy as a Lion!!


She can Be quiet, refelctive and "wunder" things like ... How do you touch a cloud????



She Loves, Sour Patch Kids, & Sour Spray candy. She loves Brown &Pink Polk-a-Dots and Fairies. I can always get her to eat Pizza, Strawberries, & Cantaloupe. She is addicted to Crystal Light Lemon-ade. She sings her heart out to Hannah Montanna & High School Musical. She loves to dress up and pose for pictures. She won't wear anything that doesn't have a matching hair bow. She love to draw, paint and color, She love Hawaii, dressing-up Roxy & Gymnastics.


BUT Most of all she Lives and Breathes for her cousin & Partner in crime, KATELYN. Carly and Katelyn were connected from the momment we knew Katelyn was concieved. They have been described as Baking Soda and Vinegar, Alone they Soar, but together they EXPLODE!! Even though Katelyn lives 600 miles away now, not one day goes by that Carly is not missing her or talking about her. She still wants to buy two of everything one for her and one for "Takelyn".
Carly's Passion for Katelyn existed way before this life and will last long after.!!

YES!!! Carly knows how to express herself. She shows it in her kisses, her loves and her prayers. Her eyes beam with Expression and her Smile Shines with joy. We LOVE Carly's Expressions

WE EXPRESS OUR SELVES!!

Welcome to the Rich Family Bog spot. Here you will find out how WE Express ourselves!!!