Sternum Intact, Mothering Resumed, Living with Husband

All good things happening at the Ware house! I am 8 weeks post surgery and feeling back to normal for the most part. My sternum is healed and it's good to have it back! My skin around my incision is feeling better and better. Noah hits it all the time when I'm carrying him and I've noticed it's hurting less and less. So, that's good. How about a picture to celebrate me carrying kids:

 And another one I thought was cute of Noah...

And Sienna trying to escape my grasp.

We ended our 3 week stay in Utah and road tripped home to Phoenix. It was my dad's idea - he loves road trips. It turned out pretty well thanks to breaking it up into 2 days and watching plenty of movies in my brother's van. I sat in the back most of the time and tickled Sienna every time she screamed or whined. She loooooooves to be tickled.

On the way we stopped in St. George and saw Adam's sister and his grandparents. It was great fun!

 Here are the 6 Ware grandchildren, together at last!

Now we are home. And now Noah has a strange obsession with being wrapped in a towel and snuggled. Mostly after baths, but anytime works, really.

 He also does these crossed arms when we announce it's time to pray. I die from a cute-attack every time.

Adam is working some looooooooong hours but on Saturday morning he actually got to hang out with his kids in jammies. I took a picture to document it and to show them in the coming months that yes, kids, you really do have a dad. He is my husband. And we live with him again.

 We went to the Arizona state fair! It did not disappoint.

 Lonely Bird in the umbrella stroller.

 My first smoked turkey leg. I'd like to devote one blog post just to this. It surpassed all my expectations.

 The scary ride we sat under while eating aforementioned turkey leg.

 We all loved the turkey leg. Every last one of us. Also, kettle corn. After being entrapped in its salty sweet crunch for the second time this month (first time was pumpkin patch), I declared it officially impossible to stop eating.

 Birdie's first carousel ride. I enjoyed it as much as she, nay, more so! She did get the tiger, though, which was the coolest animal choice.

 Our first family Ferris wheel ride.

Nobers was just happy to be on any ride. He was sick of watching his sister have all the fun.

This week has already been jam-packed with fun outings. Since we came back to amazing weather here in Phoenix, every day presents an opportunity to enjoy the out of doors. These desert dwellers earn their good weather, man. I am already trembling with dread the coming of May (or is it April ... or March?)!

My online friend, Lani, and I finally met! She and I met through a mutual friend's blog at the time I was pregnant with Sienna. Lani writes a really excellent birth blog that was really helpful to me during that time. When I was working in PR, I connected her with another birth blogger and they ended up writing this book which happens to contain the story of Sienna's birth. I can't believe I haven't shamelessly plugged it yet. It's a fabulous book, one I wish had been around when I was learning all about birth. Anyway, Lani is awesome. She was so nice to show me the beautiful Desert Botanical Gardens.

Here's Noah and Sienna and Lani's two youngest kids playing in a water fountain.

 I really love the desert landscape. It's so barren and stark and the contrast with the blue sky always blows me away.

 I can't get enough of cacti and this garden had it in all possible shapes, sizes and species.

 Today I went with my friend, Candace, to the Phoenix Zoo! It was a great zoo! I could have watched these giraffes all day long.

 Sienna and Reed find a puddle. But of course.

 Sienna and Noah were pretty uninterested in general as I suspected they would be. See them turning their backs on the baboons? Shame. But I had a great time.

Also, Adam got a mountain bike and has gone riding a couple times in the dark with Curtis and Steve. This picture makes me so happy (thanks Curtis for taking it so I could take it from you)!

Phoenix winter, thank you for being the summer we never had. Here's to many more months of outdoor exploits.

Decision 2012

Here's how it's going down at the polls this year for yours truly. Yes, I am one of those Independents who is all over the map in my opinions, so I had to write them down to solidify what was really going on in my scatter brain. Also important information to note right here: I made a special trip to the DMV last month to become a registered voter in the great state of Arizona. THE DMV. THE WORST PLACE ON EARTH. All for the noble cause of voting (suffragette sisters, you know I don't take this duty lightly, and thank you). But it was all good. The DMV was actually awesome. And relatively fast (30 minute wait). And they printed my driver's license out RIGHT THERE. Now THAT is government at its finest.

Here's where I stand on the issues I most care about (because I don't care about them all, what do you think I am, running for president or something?)...

Abortion / Women's Issues: Either but mostly Obama I go back and forth on abortion all the time. I have the same view on abortion that Romney does, which is the same view that many (not all) Mormons have, which can be read here. I've also been thinking a lot about Elder Oaks' recent talk about protecting children. But I think it's not always a black and white issue. I've had two babies. I feel for every woman who has a baby, whether the baby was wanted or not. BABIES ARE A BIG FREAKING FAT DEAL. I have felt the feelings of wanting a baby to go away. (Every day much? Ha.) So, I guess I can just empathize. Whatever that means ... it's scary to say. I'm still figuring it out. As for women's issues in general, I favor Obama a bit more. Actually I favor Obama a lot more. Wow, women's issues are complicated for me. I must be a woman or something.

Gay marriage: Obama There's a really long answer for this one. I kind of want to write it here. But I kind of don't. How about this: I'll email you my answer if you want it.

Energy / Environment: Obama In my great hometown of Roosevelt, Utah, it's drill baby drill ... and it's causing a boom here! It's very exciting. I'm serious. I, personally, having visited here for several weeks, am excited about this. It's great. And I support oil drilling. However, I support broader thinking in terms of cleaner energy. So, Obama for the win.

Foreign policy: Obama Let's be honest, I just think Hilary Clinton is doing a really good job as Secretary of State. So, keep her.

Gun control: Neither Getting a gun in this country needs to be approximately 4 billion times harder than it is and neither candidate is willing to touch gun rights with a 10 foot pole. It's unfortunate. Because how many times have people had time to go get their gun and shoot an intruder, aka self defense? And how many times have guns fallen into the hands of minors and the mentally ill and led to horrible tragedies? Yeah. The end. 

Economy / Jobs: Romney Obama inherited a bad economy and the first thing he did was ram Obamacare through ... bad move. He should have been focused more on jobs and the economy. I trust Romney more when it comes to this. It's the businessman thing. However, I don't truly think that either president can really deliver a magic pill that makes everything go away overnight or even in four years. Economists can't even figure out the economy (ever take Economics 101, the most absurdly maddening class ever? And then I had to take 102 ... death!), why would we expect a president and congress to solve this? But if someone tried to solve it, I'd throw my bets on Romney. Which I sometimes think is reason enough to vote for the guy! But then comes health care...

Health care: Obama While Obamacare was poorly timed, I do think our current health care system on a national level is waaaaaaayyyyy too complicated and we'd do well to adopt a more socialist system ... there I said it! P.S. The term "socialist" gets a bad rap in America ... I think there are many excellent things to learn from socialism. Also Nicolas Kristof for president! He sums up a lot of what I think about health care needing to be more of a safety net (yes, even a mandated safety net!) with that story. The 6th paragraph from the bottom beginning with "My second argument..." really sums it up well I think. So that's that.

Taxes: Who knows. They both just say what we want to hear and then do whatever. But here's what I think about taxes. I'm all about taxes! Tax away! See? I'm a socialist. Taxes pay for things I use everyday! Hello nice roads. Hello nice street lights. Hello public safety. Yes, my taxes will be misused and abused. But if I want community, state and national services that benefit me every single day, I'm happy to pay for them. Since more taxes means more government and we (moderate) liberals are all about more government, then this must mean Obama.

Immigration: Obama I used to care more about immigration. I was all "build that wall!" But now I guess I don't really care. America is a land of opportunity and I often feel bad that more people weren't lucky enough to be me. I was born here and they weren't. So I just get to wake up and go outside and have cool freedoms. And other people risk their lives to come here and pick strawberries. UGH. The inequity of it all. I say come one, come all. There's room. 
Education: Obama (or WHOEVER) Look, no one in their right mind is going to say "forget the schools!" to get elected. I want whoever is going to pay teachers better and reduce class sizes, for starters. And what are charter schools again? If I had a penny for every time my mom has had to explain them to me, I'd be trouncing both candidates in campaign money raised. Also, bring back recess, art class (No Child Left Behind you left all the budding artists behind), chicken nuggets and chocolate milk.

Okay, brave souls, how are YOU voting and WHY?

Hello from Utah, Part 2

The kids and I have been living with my parents for 2.5 weeks but it feels like we've been here 3 years. In a good way! I feel like we live here for real. Life in Roosevelt is wonderfully simple and we are having a great time. We've seen Mark and Wendy twice already! They came out General Conference weekend along with her girls (McKenna, Bella, Sariah and Sariah's new husband Steve). They are already the best addition to our family! Owen came out as well and so did Heather and her family. It was a Hullinger family General Conference weekend extravaganza.

 OH! I nearly forgot the best part about that weekend ... My dad flew Adam out to SURPRISE ME! Best surprise of my life. Best weekend of my life. Pretty much. Here we are attempting a family photo.

Haven, June, Sienna and Noah having some tub time. Noah is ever the good sport.

Mom, Wendy, McKenna, Heather and I stole away one afternoon to have some fun at our local thrift shop Junky Funky Gypsy Mama. Ohhhhh did we have fun! Just look at those dresses! Lawrence Welk show anyone?

Here are our handsome men headed to Priesthood session. Onward and upward, men! We love you.

 Noah has a new face we like to call "Stink Eye." Do not cross him.

Heather is a photo bomber. Do not cross her.

Owen played a rousing rendition of .... everything...

 ... and everyone danced and sang!

 After everyone left (booooo) we resumed normal life (booooo). Sienna got a haircut at Walmart. (Actually these are out of order, she got a haircut before Conference weekend, but just got with it.)

She has a whole new brand of sass.

Noah also got a haircut. He was so chill during the whole thing. That's my boy, Noah!

Raiding Grandma's costume box.

5 weeks post surgery scar update. Because I know you were wondering. Heh.

 Sienna "watching a movie" with the basketball. (???)

 Sienna "watching Aladdin" with a bowling pin. (???) (Pin pals, Adam says. Heh.)

 Making some gnarly faces at the library.

 Noah pretends to read.

 Pumpkin patch today! Noah and Sienna loved feeding the goats! It was a hoot.

 There's the corn maze.

 Noah loved the cow train.

 After those adorable pictures, they chucked the pumpkins. That's all they're good for, right?

Goodnight (harvest) moon.