Snow Day!

Yesterday we got snow. Quite a bit. But it was very slushy and it has almost all melted away. It was fun while it lasted. Sweets got the day off of school (it seems they cancel even if we just get a light dusting) and we enjoyed our day. We dressed up and all three girls let me do their hair and put on makeup. Then we had a photo shoot.

Then the girls blew some bubbles:

This was all followed by some play time, playing restaurant for lunch (complete with menus and me being waitress and cook), sledding, a warm bath, and Dora. It was a wonderful day.

Books, Books, Books

I've been reading again. Well, I rarely ever stop. I've read some lately that I want to share.

I read East of Eden by John Steinbeck for book club. It was long but absolutely brilliant. If you want a good classic to read, this is it. It has a little bit of everything and it just really makes you think about family, sin, love, human nature, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Divergent and sequel Insurgent by Veronica Roth were awesome. Like "I read each in a day and stayed up until 2am reading" awesome. They were well written and the story moved really well. It's a different take on the distopia novel. They actually have a fairly ordered society, yet there is the ugly underbelly. There is a lot that happens you don't expect, especially at the end of Insurgent. It really makes me antsy for the third book. No idea when that will come. So I have to fill my time reading other things.

Any good books you've read lately? I have a ton on my list right now, but I'm always open to more suggestions.

My Two Cents on Gun Control

I know this is a real hot button issue right now. With the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the discussion on gun control was thrown into the forefront and has everyone at odds against each other, again. Now, I don't own a gun. I've never even touched one (except for those cool Nerf ones but those don't count). So this is from someone who really doesn't know much, if anything, about it all. (Note: I will probably use a lot of generalizations in this post. I recognize that not all Democrats and Republicans hold the same views as their party. But for ease of writing, generalizations will be used.)

From what I understand, Democrats are now wanting to ban magazines (the things that hold bullets, I think) that hold more than 15 rounds. The idea is that when some crazy wants to go on a shooting rampage, they won't be able to shoot as many people because they'll have to constantly reload. Or switch guns. This is also assuming the gunman came by their weapons legally, which could or could not be a good assumption. Criminals don't always gain their firearms legally. The gunman at Sandy Hook did use legally obtained firearms. Republicans and the NRA want no restrictions and would be happy if you didn't even have to submit to a background check. Okay, maybe they are fine with the checks, but they really don't want any restrictions on guns.

I can see why trying to keep guns out of bad people's hands is a good thing, just not really possible. Crazy people do crazy things. If someone has it in their head they're going to hurt someone, they're going to hurt them, no matter what. Having a magazine that only carries 15 bullets may or may not slow down a crazy. Personally, I don't think it really would.

Where I take issue is with the quote I heard today from a Democrat. I don't recall who said it, but it was a direct quote on NPR so it's legit. He basically said that restricting these guns was not against the Second Amendment because at the time of the Founding, all they had were muskets and bayonets. I guess the assumption was that if the Founding Fathers had known about these types of guns, they would have restricted them. Now the Second Amendment states thus: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." How I see this is that we as a people are the check to the government. WE say whether the government has the power over us or not. We have the right to form a militia, because that's necessary for us to remain free. If the government starts strong-arming us, using its military might to force us, we have the right to bear arms and fight against that. I'm not advocating gathering guns and fighting against the government. As much as I disagree with a lot that's going on right now, it's not too out of hand. But if a Hitler or Stalin or some such were able to somehow take control, through a weakening of the Constitution here or there, how could they be checked? By US. By the people. The last thing a dictator or government wanting absolute power wants is an armed citizenry. So, how are we supposed to protect ourselves against the military, if the need ever arises, with only guns that hold less than 15 rounds?

I don't really know what the answer is. I would like people to never have to use a gun. I would like to never has a mass shooting ever again. But I don't think just taking it all away is good either.

My Favorite Pictures...So Far

Here is a glimpse of some of my favorite pictures I've taken with my new camera so far.

I haven't done any editing on any of them either. I'm in picture heaven!

Brodegard Family Letter for 2012

Usually this is a Christmas letter. I’m a little late this year, but better late than never!

As a family we had some great times. As soon as summer hit, we found ourselves at the beach about every other weekend. We also enjoyed hikes in Shenandoah and going into Washington DC to see the sights. We have really taken the initiative to enjoy living here to the fullest. This Thanksgiving, we spent a week in the Outer Banks with some friends and really got in some good vacation time. Jon had the whole week off and it was wonderful to be together as a family for so long.

Jon is working harder than ever. His job continues to evolve and he is now starting to phase into being a main manager in his office. He’s also starting to put together a continuing education course for real estate agents that he will teach. He has discovered some new walks and areas of the National Arboretum, and we all enjoy going up there to explore more and more. He has been working hard as Cub Scout Committee Chair and as a teacher for the 10-11-year-olds in church.

Becca has been busy taking care of her beautiful daughters. She has also lost 20 pounds and is determined to lose at least 20 more this year. She spent her 30^th birthday at the beach, counting her lucky stars that 30 didn’t hurt like she thought it might. About 6 months ago she joined the ranks in Nursery. It’s a fun calling, but it can be a little hard sometimes. For Christmas her wonderful husband bought her a new camera, so all of you will see more and more pictures of our growing family.

Mikayla started Kindergarten this year. She’s been having fun meeting new friends and learning so much. She is starting to read, but still prefers her mother reading to her. She had fun this summer riding her bike and she is starting to learn how to cook.

Hannah also loves to ride her bike, but she has been left at home while Mikayla goes off to school. That is still a constant adjustment. She is part of a Joyschool group that meets twice a week that takes the edge off a little. She loves playing with her sister Kaitlyn and has a growing imagination.

Kaitlyn turned two in December and makes all of us smile on a daily basis. She is Hannah’s shadow most of the time. She is soaking in being the baby and milks that for all she can. She is a delight to all of us.

We hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you all have a wonderful 2013!

The Brodegards

End of the World Averted...For Now

Did I really believe the end of the world would happen today? Not really. Do I hope for it sometimes? Yes. I don't mean I want the world to burn. I don't want millions of people to die. But I do want what the scriptures say: the return of Christ in glory and power to rule over the earth. For Satan to be bound for a thousand years. That sounds wonderful. No more innocent young children gunned down at school. No more governments trying to stay afloat amid mountains of debt. Peace. Honest justice. That's what I hope and pray for.

Catch Up and Books

Since I last blogged, a lot has happened. A LOT. I sat down today to try and catch you all up, but I just don't really have it in me. So instead of a lot of pictures I'm just going to settle on a couple pictures and a quick overview.

We went to Utah in August. It was a wonderful trip. We stayed with my in-laws in their wonderful new home in Lehi. We played with cousins and met some family we hadn't met before. And played. And it was exhausting. I needed a break from my vacation. The main reason for the visit was to celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary (it's actually in November, but August was when we could all get together). My entire immediate family was there, minus one nephew: 5 brothers with their wives, my sister and her hubby, and all the grandkids, 25 in all. It was absolutely wild and wonderful. We also spent an evening and went to the temple, my parents and siblings with spouces, and Hubby and I. We did some sealings and a session, where we took Nathan's name through. It was so special and wonderful to be in the temple, surrounded by family, knowing we were helping our brother with something he really wanted but couldn't do himself in this life.

Gondola Ride in Park City

Gondola in Park City

At the Zoo, the only way to travel.

The cake I made for my parents' Anniversary

Sweets started Kindergarten. It's crazy that we are now back in the school world. It's been quite an adjustment for her. She went from being home all day to being at school almost all day. She's learning though, and seems to be getting better. She doesn't complain much anymore, although she has said it's boring lately. (I think that has more to do with the fact that I watched some friends of hers the other day that are homeschooled and she felt left out of the fun, having to go to school and not stay home.)

Ready for the First Day!

Bumpkin, not to be left out, is a part of a Joyschool group. We are with 3 other kids and the moms are share the teaching responsibility. It is twice a week and she loves it. It gives her something to do that is hers and it's really working out for her.

Somewhere in all that we've gone to the beach a couple more times, hiked in Shenandoah, and went to the National Book Festival (saw John Green, Lois Lowry, Walter Dean Myers, and a little of Jerry Spinelli). Not to mention picking apple and blackberries at a local (1 hour away) farm. Yeah, we've been busy. Maybe I'll get around to sharing some pictures. Maybe.

When I started this blog, it was a place for my thoughts. It's kind of turned into a keep-you-posted-on-major-things blog which is good and bad. I want to share some thoughts again. Mixed in with my life. Cuz I really can't separate the two.

I've been reading a lot lately. Like, devouring books. It's wonderful. My children probably don't think so, but I'm loving it. I found a new author: Jessica Day George. She writes YA/Middle Grade fantasies, most of them re-told fairy tales. And they are fun. With great female main characters. I read one, then quickly read all her other ones. Dragon Slippers and sequels were delightful, and Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow was her best YA, although her Princess at the Midnight Ball was great too. So if you're in the mood for that kind of thing, I recommend her. I'm currently working on two non-fiction: Team of Rivals, which is a biography/history of Lincoln and his cabinet. It's facinating, but long and I only get it in spurts because of other books I have to read. The other is Stiff, which is by Mary Roach and is about cadavers. Sounds grusome, and it is in parts, but it's oddly interesting and she mixes some tasteful humor in there, so I find myself laughing. About cadavers. Yeah, I'll let you know my final thoughts when it's done.