Who Am I?

This is from an interesting email I received. Even if you think you know who it is right off, please scroll to the bottom anyway.


I was born in one country, raised in another.

My father was born in another country.

I was not his only child.

He fathered several children with numerous women.

I became very close to my mother, as my father showed no interest in me. My mother died at an early age from cancer. Later in life, questions arose over my real name.

My birth records were sketchy and no one was able to produce a legitimate, reliable birth certificate.

I grew up practicing one faith but converted to Christianity, as it was widely accepted in my country, but I practiced non-traditional beliefs & didn't follow Christianity, except in the public eye under scrutiny.

I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult, disguising myself as someone who really cared about them.

That was before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and I embarked on a new career.

I wrote a book about my struggles growing up.

It was clear to those who read my memoirs that I had difficulties accepting that my father abandoned me as a child.

I became active in local politics in my 30's then with help behind the scenes, I literally burst onto the scene as a candidate for national office in my 40s. They said I had a gold tongue and could talk to anyone and motivate them. That reinforced my conceit. I had a virtually non-existent resume, little work history, and no experience in leading a single organization.

Yet I was a powerful speaker and citizens were drawn to me as though I were a magnet and they were small roofing tacks.

I drew large crowds during my public appearances.

This bolstered my ego.

At first, my political campaign focused on my country's foreign policy then on change.

I was very critical of my country in the war and seized every opportunity to bash my country.

But what launched my rise to national prominence were my views on the country's economy and the need for change. I pretended to have a really good plan on how we could do better and every poor person would be fed & housed for free.

I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess. It was the free market, banks & corporations.

I decided to start making citizens hate these institutions and if they were envious of others who did well, the plan was clinched tight.

I called mine "A People's Campaign" and that sounded good to people.

I was the surprise candidate. I emerged from outside the traditional path of politics & was able to gain widespread popular support. I knew that, if I merely offered the people 'hope' , together we could change our country.

So, I started t o make my speeches sound like they were on behalf of the downtrodden, poor, ignorant to include "persecuted minorities".

My true views were not widely known & I kept them unknown, until after I became my nation's leader.

I had to carefully guard reality, as anybody could have easily found out what I really believed, if they had simply read my writings and examined those people I associated with. I'm glad they didn't as I became the most powerful man in the world. And the world learned the truth.

Who am I? Got someone in Mind from the last 100 years?
Look below.


























ADOLF HITLER
WHO WERE YOU THINKING OF?

3 Little Angels

I found pictures of each of the kids that were VERY similar. Notice the matching hospital blankets and hats! Do they look like brother and sisters? Maybe the new baby will look like one of them.

Rebecca.......................................Anson


Kathryn

Education Week

I'm so excited - Aaron is "sending" me to Education week at BYU in August! Doesn't sound so fun? I think it does!!! I will get to spend 3 wonderful days BY MYSELF! Plus I will actually get to learn things! I think almost every sentence so far has an exclamation point. Sorry!

I have really missed school. Probably sounds crazy. I seriously loved going to school. Elementary, Jr. High, High School, College - loved it. I love learning things. I have really missed going to classes and learning things the last 4 years. I can't say the whole 6 years since I graduated from BYU because I got my Real Estate License 4 years ago. I guess there are also the renewal classes I have taken since then, but I usually cram them all in a month or two (right before my license expires), and each class is only 3 hours. Most are pretty boring, but I've been to a few that I have really enjoyed.

So Education week is August 17-21. I'm thinking of going that Wednesday-Friday. If anyone is interested in going too, let me know! Did I mention I'm excited?

Camping - 2004

My sister-in-law has been posting some memories she has that happened when she first got married. I thought that might be fun too. Especially since I don't have anything too interesting to write about right now!

So in March of 2004, I was about 5 months pregnant. Aaron decided it was a good idea to go camping at Fossil Springs for a couple days. Being the head-over-heels, "I'll do anything you want!" girl that I was at the time (I would know better than to go now!), I agreed. I don't even like camping! I think I would have done anything he suggested though.

So we packed up our backpacks and started off. If any of you have ever hiked Fossil Springs, you will know that it is downhill pretty much the whole way to get there. For hours. I felt cramps in my legs where I didn't even know I had muscles!

We finally got to the bottom and camped in the first clearing we saw. It was starting to get a little dark, so we didn't even go to the springs that night. We just set up the tent, ate dinner, and went to bed.

I think that was one of the worst night's sleep I had ever had up to that point. I think I have had worse since being 9 months pregnant, but I had never been that far at that point. Aaron didn't sleep well either. Definitely not enough padding!

So the next morning neither of us really wanted to stay another night (but especially me!). So we went down to the springs, ate breakfast, and packed up to go home. And then we got to hike all the way back up! Not a very fun camping experience, but memorable nevertheless!

Family Home Evening (and Afternoon)

We started our Family Night early today. Aaron got home around 4:30 (which hasn't happened for a while!), so we went on a family bike ride. We rode down to the park and Aaron and Rebecca and Anson played "Lava Monster" on the playground equipment while I helped Katie go down the slide again and again. The girl is crazy about slides. I don't remember any of the others being so excited about it.

After we got home, Aaron made dinner out of all of the leftovers in the refrigerator. He is the master leftover-dinner-maker. He seriously makes the best dishes out of nothing (at least it would be nothing to me). While he made dinner, the kids and I went out to the backyard to plant the top part of the garden. We planted peas, yellow squash, zucchini, and cucumbers. The planting is done now until the tomatoes and peppers in the house are ready to be transplanted. Speaking of which, 2 of my tomato plants are starting to come up!

After dinner, we had the official family home evening. We do talents for part of it, so Katie walked, Anson played the violin (with Aaron's help), Rebecca played the guitar (strumming with the pick), and Aaron and I each played a song on the guitar too. I know about 4 or 5 chords and 2 or 3 songs. It was kind of fun to remember them from high school.

Rebecca gave the lesson on seeds and how the grow and what they need. We talked about faith. We also talked about how sometimes grass, for instance, needs to be mowed down. So we talked about how the Lord humbles us. Rebecca told a story that she remembered from the Friend. I think we read it like a year ago. She has the best memory.

We had brownies for dessert (leftover from the family dinner last night. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!). Then we made bread since it was only 7:30. Aaron ground up a ton of wheat to put in the freezer so I can use it when I want too. My wheat grinder lid is SO hard to open. I can't do it by myself, so I am at the mercy of Aaron to help me. Needless to say, it seriously dampens my bread making. Its baking right now and smells really good. Bread anyone? I'll bring some to exercise class tomorrow - this is a bribe to come, by the way!

Update

Well, I can now rest easy. I am NOT having twins! Hooray! I'm really glad I don't have to worry anymore! If any of you think I'm big next time, please do me a favor and don't mention it to me. That includes you, mom!!! I'm of the belief that ignorance is bliss anyway. I'd rather not know that I'm big, or think that I might be having more than one baby at a time!

Anyway, so I met my new Dr. yesterday. His name is Dr. Tamanaha, but most people call him Dr. T - I think because his last name is a little hard to pronounce. I really liked him. Everyone in the office was so friendly and nice too. The Dr. even asked the ultrasound lady to fit me in to do an ultrasound, even though that would normally have to be scheduled separately. She got me in, and I was able to find out that as of yesterday, I was 13 weeks and 1 day, according to the size of the baby. So I get to move my gadget that is keeping track of how far along I am forward by a couple of days. Yeah!!!

Rebecca's "Let's Play Music" party was a BIG success. Anson and Rebecca played for over 2 1/2 hours on all of the bounce houses. Xtreme Play doesn't allow the adults to jump (Bounce U does), so Aaron and I visited with the other parents and watched the kids have a blast. Aaron saw so many people he knew. I only knew about 5 people there. Two of which were Julie and Brian Moody! It was so fun to see them and talk with Julie for a while.

Anson was our wild man and would zoom off the big slide and get by the person watching to make sure the kids got off and got back in line. He knew he wasn't supposed to too. He kept looking back over his shoulder at the lady on his way back up the slide. Aaron and I had to put a stop to all the cutting. Not something we want him doing or getting away with!

Today was another fun day. Aaron went and picked up our Bountiful Basket this morning. We got so much produce! It is so wonderful! We also ordered the asian pack, so we got ginger, bok choy, chinese cabbage, and a few other items. I made a bok choy salad for lunch, and it was surprisingly really good. I didn't know what to expect at all. I don't think I've ever eaten it before.

We spent the morning making applesauce and apple plum butter and canning it. We bought 80 lbs. of apples 2 weeks ago and needed to finish using up the last 40 lbs. We did the first 40 lbs. on Monday and Tuesday. It was really fun working with the family. Everyone helped except Katie. She did not enjoy it much at all. We were all relieved (mostly Katie I think) when she went down for a nap. Rebecca helped use the apple peeler/corer, and Anson helped stir and add ingredients.

After canning, we went down to the Casa Grande Chili Cookoff. The next tasting was at 2:00, but we got there at 1:15, so we had 45 minutes to kill. One guy was still serving chili, so we tried some - it was really good. Then we wandered through the booths on the other side of the event. There were lots of businesses that had things set up. Some highlights were spinning the Cricket wheel and Anson and Rebecca each winning a bookmark, getting necklaces from Coldwell Banker, getting free lolipops from I don't know what business, and treats from Costco (snack crackers, fruit snacks, rice crispy treats, etc.). Rebecca was so excited to get a halo hat with ribbons down the back. It is a wreath of flowers that goes around your head, then has ribbons tied to the back. She saw some girls wearing them when we first got there, and was quick to admire them. Anson got a free balloon. The kids all petted a huge Clydesdale horse too.

Finally it was 2:00. We bought a lemonade, then headed down the aisle of booths of chili. I didn't realize it was a competition in the afternoon for meat chili. I like beans in it too. Most of them were way too spicy and didn't taste that good. I think I only tried 2 that were somewhat decent. Maybe the morning chili was better? I sure hope so! We drank 2 big glasses of lemonade though! Boy was it spicy!

To top off the day, Aaron took me on a date! We went to Walmart to restock all of our canned goods, bought new jeans for Aaron (he has lost a pant size, and he was way over due for some jeans that fit!), jeans for Rebecca (she is growing like a weed! If anyone has outgrown size 6 or 7 girls clothes, you now know of a great place to donate them!), and some work shirts for Aaron. He only likes the Nike Golf shirts now. He is so spoiled! I guess the collar doesn't get all bent up like the other ones. And they were on sale! They better be. They are expensive!

So thats all to report right now. Sorry for the lack of pictures in the recent posts. Lots of news though. I guess we can't be too picky now, can we?

Busy Day Tomorrow

I'm going to have a pretty busy day tomorrow. My neighbor is watching my kids from 8:30 - 10:00 (in exchange for watching her little boy on Monday). Time to do whatever I want. Hooray! Hopefully I don't just clean or something.

Then I'm watching a different neighbor's little boy while they go on a date from 10:00 - noon. Isn't that cute? He works at night, but he still wants to get out with his wife. Hooray for good husbands! It is Anson's really good friend in the ward, so they will have a blast.

At noon I'll rush down to my mom's house to drop off my kids, then head over to the OBGYN. Finally. I sure can get things done quickly when push comes to shove (aka making sure I'm not having twins). I'm pretty sure I'm not having twins. If I am bigger than normal, which I'm not totally convinced of since I really can't remember how big I was with the previous ones, then it's probably just because I just had a baby a year ago, plus it is my fourth. My body is used to this by now, right? But still, I don't think I'll rest easy until I clear up this little disturbance. Remind me to thank you one of these days for planting this thought in my mind, mom.

At 7:00, Rebecca has a "Let's Play Music" party. The program was first put into practice 10 years ago, so they are having a "birthday" party. I'm taking Rebecca and Anson to Xtreme Play in Mesa to bounce in the air-conditioned building full of bounce houses.

I hope the soreness in my limbs disappears before then. Otherwise, I'm not sure how much bouncing this body can take. I'm seriously feeling like an old woman. Must have been all those lunges on Tuesday. Could hardly move yesterday and today, so I didn't quite make it to class today. I wasn't the only one apparently. One of the other girls, who is only 24 I may add, couldn't make it today either. She also could barely move. Like me, she was in HUGE pain when bending over at work (for me it was bending over to pick up toys - I had the kids hand me things instead of getting them myself today and yesterday!). I better take it easier the next time!

Disturbing Thought

Ok, so I think some thoughts are probably better left unsaid. Take this for example. While talking with my mom this afternoon, she asks me if I am going to have the Dr. do an ultrasound to check if I'm having twins. WHAT?!? Where on earth did that come from? So I ask.

"Oh, it just seems like you got bigger faster this time than the other times. This is your fourth though. Thats what I thought too when I was pregnant with the twins. Maybe it is just because its the fourth for YOU though."

Wow. Thanks mom. So evidently I'm pretty big. And now I have a very disturbing thought floating around in my mind. Twins?!? I don't THINK so! Can you imagine 5 kids 5 and under running around? I can't. I'm having a hard enough time thinking about 4 kids 5 and under. Can you imagine trying to go anywhere? Loading up 2 newborns, 1 toddler, 1 preschooler, and 1 kindergartener to make the daily trip to take Rebecca to school? And picking her up again? Talk about a nightmare! And what about a simple trip to the grocery store? Not so simple anymore, is it?

So I figure I better find a Dr. soon. And I mean fast. I don't know how long I can let this beast of a thought run around in my head without making me officially crazy. I really need to set my mind at ease about this. 1, I can handle. 2, and I'm not making any promises!