Mason didn't like the snow.
This is before we got all the layers on.
Bath splash time!
Saturday Matinee in bed.
Mason telling me "It's Coooooolllllddd!"
He was only happy being held.
Family pic in the snow.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Snow Storms and a Slumber Party
With the snow and ice storm on it's way Friday, I was dreading being stuck at home all weekend with nothing to do. Eric got off work early and we were lounging around the house preparing to embrace the boring, cold weekend ahead of us when I called Brooke to see what they were up to. She was making chili and cheese straws and invited us over to spend the night. We immediately accepted and threw our stuff in the car and headed the 7 minutes down the road to Tollgate Village. After all, there is nothing better than someone to entertain your children when you are snowed in for a few days. As we were packing, it started to sleet, so the ride over was slightly treacherous, but we finally arrived safe and just in time for dinner. Saturday we woke up to ice covering snow, covering ice, covering snow. The boys went sledding and the girls went to Target and had a nice relaxing lunch at Panera and the kids played and played and played. We had so much fun that we decided to spend the night Saturday night too. I made sure to tell Brooke that she could kick us out whenever she wanted, but she assured me she wanted us to stay. We have a blast hanging out with them and our kids love each other so much. Here are a some videos and photos from our weekend.
This is before we got all the layers on.
Bath splash time!
Saturday Matinee in bed.
Mason telling me "It's Coooooolllllddd!"
He was only happy being held.
Family pic in the snow.
This is before we got all the layers on. Bath splash time! Saturday Matinee in bed. Mason telling me "It's Coooooolllllddd!"He was only happy being held. Family pic in the snow.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Why Healthcare is Not a Right
Every now and then I like to take back my old blog and share my thoughts. If you remember, this blog used to be named "Deep Thoughts by Eric" before it was "redesigned". I know a few people who will just boil over what I say below and some of them are my own family. But, that's what makes blogs so great. It's all mine and I can say whatever I want. So, here goes my post for 2010...
___________________________________
The idea that health care is a basic human right was partially the result of President Roosevelt’s State of the Union message to the Congress in 1944. Among a number of other rights he mentioned was “the right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health”. The context of his speech became known as “The Second Bill of Rights”. Even though nothing came from his proposal, many still refer to the “Second Bill of Rights” as if it were law. This “bill” was filled with similar “rights” such as the right to a decent home, a good education, protection from sickness, and even the right to a job. Only a politician could guarantee rights such as these with a straight face.
There is a big difference between the actual “United States Bill of Rights” and President Roosevelt’s proposed additions. The original rights could be guaranteed regardless of the economic condition of the country. For example, the right to free speech can persist even in an economic collapse. The right to bear arms could be maintained during a depression. In contrast, the “Second Bill of Rights” was filled with items that could never be guaranteed during a long term downturn.
How can something be a right if it can only be guaranteed during optimal economic conditions in wealthy countries? How can you guarantee a job when no companies are hiring? How can you guarantee an education when colleges shutdown due to lack of funding? How can you guarantee medical care when there is no money pay for the equipment and doctors?
Anyone who argues for rights such as these assumes that the government will always be able to fund these services. What they forget is that the government is not a bank or a company. The government is funded solely from taxpayers, businesses, and issued bonds. Our government has never been profitable. If the government was a company, it would have gone out of business long ago. The point is that without the constant influx of taxes into the government, all government services would cease within a short time.
What does it mean to have a right to something if it can no longer be provided? It means nothing. It’s a lie. It’s false hope. It’s a political tactic. Healthcare, jobs, education are not rights because they can never be guaranteed. Even in socialism, these things can never be guaranteed.
Before anyone considers me evil, let me be clear that I think we should do all can to help others in need. Matthew 25 says that when Jesus returns, He will say to His sheep “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” The Bible never says that there is a God given right to healthcare, housing or even happiness on the earth. Instead, it says that we should do everything can to help others who are in need of some of these things.
Does this mean that we should abandon our capitalistic society and switch to socialism so that everyone is equal? No, because the reason this country is able to provide all we can around the world is precisely because of our wealth. That’s why it’s confusing to me why so many seem to be embarrassed about our standing in the world. Also, how much more could we help others if every family in America were not saddled with so much debt?
The next time that you hear someone say that health care, housing, education, or anything else is a right, ask yourself if that right can be guaranteed and who can guarantee it. If it cannot be guaranteed, who cares if it’s a right? It means absolutely nothing.
Roosevelt's Second Bill of Rights
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bill_of_Rights
___________________________________
The idea that health care is a basic human right was partially the result of President Roosevelt’s State of the Union message to the Congress in 1944. Among a number of other rights he mentioned was “the right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health”. The context of his speech became known as “The Second Bill of Rights”. Even though nothing came from his proposal, many still refer to the “Second Bill of Rights” as if it were law. This “bill” was filled with similar “rights” such as the right to a decent home, a good education, protection from sickness, and even the right to a job. Only a politician could guarantee rights such as these with a straight face.
There is a big difference between the actual “United States Bill of Rights” and President Roosevelt’s proposed additions. The original rights could be guaranteed regardless of the economic condition of the country. For example, the right to free speech can persist even in an economic collapse. The right to bear arms could be maintained during a depression. In contrast, the “Second Bill of Rights” was filled with items that could never be guaranteed during a long term downturn.
How can something be a right if it can only be guaranteed during optimal economic conditions in wealthy countries? How can you guarantee a job when no companies are hiring? How can you guarantee an education when colleges shutdown due to lack of funding? How can you guarantee medical care when there is no money pay for the equipment and doctors?
Anyone who argues for rights such as these assumes that the government will always be able to fund these services. What they forget is that the government is not a bank or a company. The government is funded solely from taxpayers, businesses, and issued bonds. Our government has never been profitable. If the government was a company, it would have gone out of business long ago. The point is that without the constant influx of taxes into the government, all government services would cease within a short time.
What does it mean to have a right to something if it can no longer be provided? It means nothing. It’s a lie. It’s false hope. It’s a political tactic. Healthcare, jobs, education are not rights because they can never be guaranteed. Even in socialism, these things can never be guaranteed.
Before anyone considers me evil, let me be clear that I think we should do all can to help others in need. Matthew 25 says that when Jesus returns, He will say to His sheep “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” The Bible never says that there is a God given right to healthcare, housing or even happiness on the earth. Instead, it says that we should do everything can to help others who are in need of some of these things.
Does this mean that we should abandon our capitalistic society and switch to socialism so that everyone is equal? No, because the reason this country is able to provide all we can around the world is precisely because of our wealth. That’s why it’s confusing to me why so many seem to be embarrassed about our standing in the world. Also, how much more could we help others if every family in America were not saddled with so much debt?
The next time that you hear someone say that health care, housing, education, or anything else is a right, ask yourself if that right can be guaranteed and who can guarantee it. If it cannot be guaranteed, who cares if it’s a right? It means absolutely nothing.
Roosevelt's Second Bill of Rights
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bill_of_Rights
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Puke
Yep- this blog is about puke so if you have a weak stomach or think it's "TMI" -hit the "X" now.
Last night Mason went through 2 pillows, 4 fitted sheets, 4 pairs of pajamas, 9 blankets, and 1 bottle of Pedialyte all before the stroke of midnight. I think we are finally over this bug but I have been hearing rumors that it skips a day and happens again the next night. I am praying we are an exception to this rumor but only time will tell. Poor little Mason wasn't a high maintenance puker (unlike his father). I saw him on the monitor sit up, puke, shake the puke off his hand and lay his head back down and go to sleep. He might have laid in it all night if I hadn't gone up there to get him cleaned up. It's bittersweet when your child is sick because you hate to see them in pain but they are so dependent on you and so appreciative and cuddly for taking care of them. No matter how grossed out and tired you are, you still kind of savor those moments when they just let you hold them.
Since I didn't go to work and Mason didn't go to school we spent the day in our PJ's watching Boz and getting some things (7 loads of laundry) done around the house. Obviously, he was feeling better later in the day.
And once I blew up his massive balloon he was on cloud 9.
Here's hoping for a better tomorrow!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
January Boredom
January has been uneventful to say the least. We are back into our normal daily routine and haven't done much of anything that's blog-worthy. Mason turned 18 months on the 5th and he is basically repeating everything I say. He got his first time-out yesterday after getting mad at me, walking over to the dog food, picking up a handful, and chucking it across the room. I told him that was "naughty" (which he repeated and smiled) and then put his nose in a corner. It took everything I had in me not to laugh at him standing and staring at the wall. I would have taken a picture had it not ruined the lesson I was trying to teach him. I went around the corner so he wouldn't see me and then when I peaked at him, he had his head turned around grinning at me. I don't think he really grasped the concept, or the reason, for the time out. We'll try again on another tantrum for I'm sure there will be plenty.
Here are some pictures of just some day-today occurrences in our house.
This is what Mason does when I am getting ready for the gym.
Here are some pictures of just some day-today occurrences in our house.
This is what Mason does when I am getting ready for the gym.
I am sure this picture was taken right around 4:30 when we both hit our exhausted and grumpy time. This is the time when we start to count the minutes until Daddy comes home. A little T.V action helps us both to relax.
Sometimes we clean- sorry- blurry-he wouldn't stay still. My little cleaning machine. :)
Today Mason ate his first lollipop with his buddy Camden. Yummmy!
Lucy got a couple of licks of Mason's. Camden was more protective of his lollipop..thank goodness!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Mealtime Makeover
In efforts to stick to one of my New Year's resolutions of improving or (better yet) USING my culinary skills I signed up for e-mealz. I've never been fond of websites that make you pay for things that you can do on your own but after scouring websites for good recipes that don't have 4 trillions ingredients that require a double boiler, flour sifter, or mandoline, I took a chance at $5 a month to see what this was all about.
Once logged in, I printed out my recipes for the week, along with a detailed grocery list and list of staples for each meal. ALL of the recipes look really good and most important, EEEEEASY! Hopefully, I won't be a disaster in the kitchen. Wish me luck...I'll need it.
Another way I am resolving to cook is investing better cookware. This Monday at 6:30, I am having a pampered chef party (I know, I know- I hate those multi-level marketing parties too..) However, I went to one a couple of months ago and actually enjoyed myself...Maybe it was the wine. :) So any-who, if you are bored Monday and want to come over for free food and of course wine, please stop on by. I will not pressure you to make a purchase or talk you into becoming a "pampered chef consultant"....I promise. I am just excited to kick Eric out of the house..or upstairs with a book, and have some girl time!
Bon appétit!
Once logged in, I printed out my recipes for the week, along with a detailed grocery list and list of staples for each meal. ALL of the recipes look really good and most important, EEEEEASY! Hopefully, I won't be a disaster in the kitchen. Wish me luck...I'll need it.
Another way I am resolving to cook is investing better cookware. This Monday at 6:30, I am having a pampered chef party (I know, I know- I hate those multi-level marketing parties too..) However, I went to one a couple of months ago and actually enjoyed myself...Maybe it was the wine. :) So any-who, if you are bored Monday and want to come over for free food and of course wine, please stop on by. I will not pressure you to make a purchase or talk you into becoming a "pampered chef consultant"....I promise. I am just excited to kick Eric out of the house..or upstairs with a book, and have some girl time!
Bon appétit!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Post Christmas Blues
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