Dear Tax Man,

HURRY UP! I want my dead Presidents! Thank you for promising more than we've ever gotten back before. It would make up for past years.

Sincerely,
Lexie

Picture Slide Is Up

Just wanted to let everyone know that a picture slide has been added to the ONH Blog. When I announced the blog, I said that it was on there and it wasn't so sorry about that. You can now see it on the Home Page. Thank you to Karena for putting it together.

Robin

This is Robin Lopez, the Suns 2nd year Center. He's a 7 footer and has an identical twin who plays for the Nets, Brook. I watched the boys play together at Stanford when they were in College so it's fun that Robin is now a Sun. He and I have a lot in common. We're around the same age although he's probably a couple years younger, we both love basketball, we both love Walt Disney and Disneyland, and we both love Michael Jackson. Both the boys love Michael and Disney. Aside from basketball they have plans to write comic books, one draws, the other writes. They are certainly a cute pair of twins, with cute personalities. When asked in an interview what his favorite Michael song was, Robin said Human Nature...that pretty much clinched it for me. Any song would do. It doesn't matter if it's Michael, they're all good, but there is definitely something special about Human Nature and it's also one of my very favorites. I already knew I liked Robin, but after Human Nature, I swear he's MY twin brother...

By the way, here's his real twin, Brook.

Terrible Ending

This day ended worse than Breaking Dawn. Everything went great (unlike the book) until the tail end. Let me tell you the story. I watched my sisters kids and visited with her before she left. Then, I got the kids pajamas on and set them up watching a movie on my computer so I could watch a Phoenix Suns game. I watch all Suns games and the kids always watch a movie in my room. This is routine on game night. What isn't routine is Marcelus getting into my White Out and plastering it all over he and Phoenix, splattering it on my computer box and all over the floor.

I swear, every once in a while...Marce is such a big boy 95% of his life, but there's always that 5% waiting to come out and do something like this...and it's times like these that cause me to think that young motherhood will not be the best time of my life....seriously I don't think it ever had a chance anyway, my single years were awesome.

This boy got off way too easy tonight. Dad hasn't gotten home yet though. Isn't it convenient when your kid makes such a mess and causes such a catastrophe that you don't have the time to whoop their butt, instead you are cleaning up their mess, yelling at them the whole time. By the time you're done with the mess and hoopla, you're cooled off enough to not kill the kid.

So, Phoenix walks out of my room and at first I thought he'd gotten into the toothpaste again, but no-White Out. Marce being the instigator. Phoenix can't open that lid. I had to miss the 3rd quarter of the game when we had a 17 point lead to bathe the boys (the last thing I want to do when I already had them all ready for bed). I had to get a kitchen sponge to literally scrub the White Out off of the boys. I could not get the stuff out of Phoenix' hair though and it was just like paint stuck in there. I got even more upset when I realized what I had to do...

I was not planning on cutting Phoenix' cute curls for a very long time! So, thanks to Marce, Phoenix got a haircut tonight and I was so sad as the curls fell to the floor.

Phoenix did great but I don't think he was happy about the cut either. I had to use scissors on some parts to cut the White Out off. It is not easy cutting curly hair and I just hope it's even and hope it grows fast so I can get those curls back (and so no one will see the mistakes in the hair cut). I did the best I could. NO MORE PICTURES MOM!!

After I cut his hair, I had to put him in the shower with me so we could both get the hair off of us, then I got them both dressed again and luckily they both fell asleep shortly after. I came back to my game to see that we had blown the entire lead we had and lost the game by 9. Suck.

Lexie's ONH Journey

Many of you who read my blog know that I have recently been diagnosed with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH), and that I miraculously came across information for treatment overseas.

My cousin Karena has created a blog for the effort. The blog is awesome and has a lot of information on it including my story, about ONH, about treatment, video interviews of other ONH patients, and Contact information for volunteering and donating. It also has a picture slide and a button you can put on your own blog.

I have put my ONH Journey blog at the top of my side bar. Take some free time and check it out. Thank you blogging buddies.

Lexie

Family Update

There's a lot of random update type info I want to put on the blog so this is what this post is, plus some other random stuff...

Josh and Andrea Packard just moved into my ward. Josh is Garth's son for those of you who are family. Their daughter Stella is in Marcelus' little Sunbeams class. Their little guy James goes to Nursery with Phoenix. I think we'll have them over for dinner soon! It was fun when she introduced herself in RS. When she said Packard, I blurted out "...Packard as in Forrest & Esther Packard..." and she turned back and said "Yeah", and then I said "We'll talk after." It was funny. My RS president was kind of dumbfounded, and was trying to keep up.

I have a new little calling, well kind of...I go to Marcelus' Sunbeams class as a helper in case a kid needs to go the bathroom or get a drink. It's cute being in there, but I'll miss RS. I think it's every other week though, so that's good.

I have been growing out my hair forever to perm it (like Shar likes) but it's growing so slow and I don't really like the color even though I pretty much get nothing but compliments. I just don't feel like it's me. I just think it's a mousy brownish red color. I'm not used to it on me and now it's getting to the length where I can't do it good without a Chi. I gave mine to my sister a long time ago so I'll need to get a new one sometime I guess, but I just wish my hair would grow out faster so I could just perm it already! It's going to be a while so I think I might go dark in the meantime. We'll see.

Our lease here is up in March and the rent is going up. We've gotten really used to what we pay so we're going to move out and find something that's the same. Besides, it would be great to be closer to my sister Connie. We really like our ward, but it will be better. We're going to try and find something along the 60 between Power and Signal Butte for you locals.

Sharrid is finishing up 2 online classes here soon, then will dive right into 3 more. After those 3 (this summer) he'll have his Associates degree in Corrections. In August he will apply for the Nursing Program and start the prerequisites for the program while waiting to be accepted (about 14 months out from applying) then the program will be 2 years and he'll be done. He might become a Nursing Assistant in the process at some point and quit corrections. I'm really proud of him and happy that education and getting his degree is such an important thing to him. All his online classes here and there since we've been married are starting to pay off and we can see the end in sight. He's going to be a Nurse! Sharrid has been working at the Hospital about 2-3 days a week guarding inmates who need medical attention. He's there a lot and has had to work a little bit with the Nurses so he's gotten a pretty good idea of what he'll be doing. I think it's been really good for him to be there in the environment. Sharrid told me that he would like to finish all of his schooling down here and with the prospect of me being treated soon, I told him that I was okay with that. So, that means that according to our plans we'll be here for another 4 years. He told me that after he was done, we could move wherever we wanted. So that's our plan. I told him I don't want to end up here. I want to be closer to my family and it's just a little too big for me personally. The timing of things in the near future are unknown to us as far as my treatment, when we'll have more kids, ect. So we're trying to at least plan what we can, and we'll just have to see what happens with the rest. We'll have to play those things by ear and cross those bridges when we get to them.

Marcelus' Haircut

After growing Marcelus' hair out for probably 9 months, I decided to take him to get it cut. I had originally planned to grow it out pretty long but a few factors came into play. First of all, Marce does not bathe every day yet, so on bath days his hair would look great, but on the off days it was kind of out of control and just a mess! It was growing steadily but at the same time it seemed the longer it got, the more the ends curled up. So, initially it seemed to grow really slow when in actuality it was just pretty curly. I mainly decided to cut it because of the bathing thing and when he's older and starts taking his own showers then we can grow it out again.

In the meantime I think he looks really cute with short hair, I always have though. Short hair brings out his features and makes him look so much older to me....you would think I wouldn't like that, but I do. It's so fun to see him all grown up. He's already tall for his age so he just seems like such a big boy to me. I love this picture, you can see how beautiful his eyelashes are. I love his eyebrows and his lips too.

We took him to Cool Cuts 4 Kidz and they do a great job! I had them give him a fade with just enough on top to pomade. With his cowlicks it's a little too short to do anything with the top, but it's still super cute. The short hair just really brings out his face. Next time maybe we'll do a short fade with a swirly in it or something. I love doing new things! Phoenix is still growing out his big curly fro! I love his curls!

Puzzles

This was how their Saturday morning was spent. Mine was spent doing chores. I don't mind really. It's nice to have them out of my way and happy. They love to spend time with their daddy.

Shar was helping Marce with his ABC's while juggling Phoenix and a shapes puzzle.

This is the last shot I got of Marce before we took him to get his hair cut...post coming.

Phoenix and his frustration. Gotta love 20 months!

I have been looking to buy a dresser this month for Sharrid and I. We have a big closet and have not had a dresser yet. We have put ALL of our clothes into the closet with various bins and such but it just was not working anymore. Can you blame me though? Think of your shoes, socks, underwear, pajamas, pants, shirts, belts, church clothes, workout clothes, ect. ALL in your closet. I found this beauty on Craigslist for $35. I asked Sharrid if it could be all mine (the original plan was to share it) and after some heckling, he let me have it. Realistically his clothes are probably too big for it anyway. I LOVE my dresser. It's pretty and it reminds me of my parents dresser that they've had since they were married. It's a little darker and shinier and slightly smaller but it's pretty much the same dresser. I think this will be in the family for a very long time!

So Glad...

...this is underway! I LOVE Tim! I seriously wish we could be friends.

And this! The best feel good show on TV! My early favorite Danny won last season! He was such an awesome person. This is a picture at the finale of his starting weight, current weight, and total weight loss throughout the season!

Danny before and after.

My two favorite shows are back on! Yes!

Candid Moments

Marcelus graduated from Nursery and got to go to Primary for the first time on Sunday. He loved Nursery and his teacher but is one of the old kids with his Birthday being in February. He towered over everybody and was ready for Sunbeams! He said he liked his new teacher and it didn't seem like a big adjustment for him so on we go with Primary! Kids do grow up...
Yeah, he didn't want to take this picture after church but I wanted one of his first day.

Phoenix snoozing in his chair....I catch him like this every once in a while...

The boys are so clean and cute after bath time....it doesn't last long before their hair is all nappy and they look like orphans, so you gotta appreciate the clean days.

Top 2009 Baby Names

In case you're interested (I always am), here are the top baby names of 2009.

Girls' Names Boys' Names
1 Isabella Aiden
2 Sophia Ethan
3 Emma Jackson
4 Olivia Jayden
5 Ava Jacob
6 Madison Noah
7 Madelyn Caden
8 Chloe Logan
9 Lily Lucas
10 Addison Jack
11 Abigail Matthew
12 Emily Ryan
13 Hailey Brayden
14 Mia Caleb
15 Kaitlyn Connor
16 Kaylee Nicholas
17 Riley Dylan
18 Ella Michael
19 Zoe Gavin
20 Peyton Joshua
21 Layla Alexander
22 Sarah Benjamin
23 Avery Liam
24 Mackenzie Tyler
25 Hannah Landon
26 Alexis Nathan
27 Grace William
28 Elizabeth Mason
29 Kylie Luke
30 Natalie Evan
31 Alyssa Andrew
32 Samantha James
33 Taylor Gabriel
34 Anna Zachary
35 Arianna Elijah
36 Isabelle Owen
37 Sydney Christian
38 Aubrey Carter
39 Lillian Daniel
40 Brooklyn Cameron
41 Keira Joseph
42 Lauren Chase
43 Brianna Christopher
44 Gabriella Colin
45 Allison Anthony
46 Claire David
47 Leah Isaac
48 Makayla John
49 Audrey Samuel
50 Maya Max
51 Aaliyah Wyatt
52 Lila Tristan
53 Savannah Austin
54 Sophie Hunter
55 Kaelyn Cole
56 Kayla Cooper
57 Amelia Jonathan
58 Charlotte Brody
59 Brooke Dominic
60 Julia Alex
61 Jasmine Thomas
62 Morgan Jordan
63 Bailey Henry
64 Alana Sean
65 Katherine Isaiah
66 Jordyn Colton
67 Bella Carson
68 Molly Brandon
69 Reagan Parker
70 Lucy Jake
71 Abby Hayden
72 Victoria Ian
73 Cadence Julian
74 Megan Eli
75 Camryn Adam
76 Caroline Aaron
77 Kennedy Riley
78 Kate Charlie
79 Evelyn Xavier
80 Maria Oliver
81 Carly Sebastian
82 Callie Blake
83 Paige Miles
84 Alexandra Brady
85 Ashley Devin
86 Liliana Nathaniel
87 Ellie Justin
88 Gianna Jason
89 Makenna Levi
90 Gabrielle Adrian
91 Sadie Grayson
92 Jayden Bryce
93 Eva Robert
94 Ashlyn Nolan
95 Rachel Micah
96 Alexa Kyle
97 Katie Josiah
98 Reese Peyton
99 Jenna Brendan
100 Jada Eric

Thank You People, From Me

I have been raised on a lot of music. Older, newer, every genre, musicals, Broadways, ect. Almost half of my High School classes were music classes, the Band side of things and the Orchestra side of things. I play the bass guitar, the piano, and percussion. I've been writing my own music for seven years now. Music is in my blood. I know music. I know what's good and what's crap. Music is subjective to a certain degree, but I think that anyone who knows music or has any kind of musical education can decipher what is quality and what is not. It has not been easy to find good quality modern music.....a song here and there stands out every now and then. For example Viva La Vida, Somewhere Only We Know.....With that said, let me just say Thank You to the following.

Thank you to these fine musicians

For this

and for using a FULL Orchestra. You don't know how happy I am to find Orchestration in modern music. Makes me want to cry.

Thank you to these guys

for this

that produced some hits, and the others that produced some other hits.

Thank you to this genius

Who gave us all this

and more...

A shout out to Kelly Clarkson

(one of the only AI's who should have even gotten a record deal)

for putting out a good decent pop song.

Thank you Discovery, for something new and refreshing and fun. I'm broadening my musical horizons once again and you make it easy.

And thank you to these old farts for still putting out music like this...

and this...

Thank you to all of the above for keeping the modern music industry honest and worthy, and for making me personally very very happy.

P.S. A bit of free advice from me to you - Don't listen to the radio. They ruin everything. I never listen to the radio. The radio makes you question your own good judgement and swayes your opinions in the wrong directions. Invest in an iPod. Best thing I ever bought.