Bump!

I guess I am behind in posting monthly bump pictures! Time has just started speeding by! This is my 33 1/2 week picture. Baby is alive and kickin'. She says hi (or she would if she was awake).

Des Moines, Iowa

Update on Ryan's medical school applications:
He has received a request for secondary applications from all of the schools he applied for. One school however, Des Moines University, sent him an e-mail stating that he was qualified enough and impressive enough to set up an interview now before they receive his secondary application! He is flying there Jan 14th. It is a pretty good D.O. school so he would be happy to go there. I didn't know anything about Des Moines so I did a bit of research. The city is about the same population as Salt Lake City, but 300,000 less in the Metro areas. It is smaller in area, about 72 sq miles, where SLC is over 100 sq miles. The school is small too: USU main campus is 500 acres. Des Moines' is 22! But I have no objections to small schools. I learned much better at Snow College because it was smaller. In fact, the smaller the better!
We are pretty excited that things are finally moving along. Wish us luck!

Christopher!

Yesterday was Chris's birthday. Here are things about Chris:

1. He has amazing woodworking skills
2. He is easy to joke with
3. He cares about other people
4. He is willing to help people, going the extra mile to do so
5. He loves skunks (thus the picture above, except he would have a de-gassed one).

Hope your birthday was fantastic!

James

Lonna has such a good list of things about James, I am tempted to just say Dido! But, here is my 5 things about James:

1. He is so talented! His art and movies are amazing.
2. He has determination- learning programs in one night
3. He always wins at games, and yet is still fun to play with
4. He is self-motivating
5. He is a sucker for candy- Reeses, Peanut M&M's, peanut butter chew, etc.

Happy Birthday James, we think you are great!

Yes it is that time again

It is winter, and the time I always seem to want to cut my hair. Here is the new do. I didn't do a frontal shot because it doesn't ever look right when I try to capture it on camera.

Cuties at Thanksgiving

Here are a few cuties I spied at Thanksgiving.

How did it go?

Hey everyone! How did your week challenge go? I know some of you aren't done yet, just post when your week is up.
As for my challenge:
I had some great conversations with Mom! It was fun to get to know her more as a person (not just as my mom), and learn more about her growing up years. I like being able to understand her better, what things she needs and likes, and challenges she has faced.
I had wanted to do this interview with others, but I dropped the ball. At least the first step has been taken, and there is always this week!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Yesterday was Dad's birthday! Happy Birthday Dad!

About Dad:
1. Loves chocolate
2. Has incredible patience
3. Genius (even titled "cube meister")
4. Very kind
5. Pretty much the best dad you could ever have. I would say that even if he wasn't my dad.

Super Powers!!!

Do you have superpowers? Do you want superpowers?

I had to rewrite this post. I had a VERY long essay. But I don't think people are so willing to read an essay. I have re-written this to be shorter and to the point. This is a call for you try something different. We have all said "I wish...", and yet, we continue with our lives just the same. Well we have two choices. We can:

1. Not do anything and therefore stay how we are for forever.
2. Try something new (which personally makes me feel like I have superpowers of sorts).

So here is the challenge. Choose one thing, and one thing only, that you don't do but always wished you could, or have just been interested in. For one week, you are going to try it. At the end of your week, you are going to tell us what you did and what you thought (I will have a post up you can comment on). If you don't want to tell all of us, tell someone else or write it down.

Examples:
1. You have always been shy of people and don't have many friends. You always wished you weren't so scared of them! Your challenge could be : meet one person each day. At the store, park, wherever, start a conversation with one person a day.

2. You think it would be cool to learn another language but have never made the steps to do so. Your challenge : Pick a language and for 1/2-1hr each day, learn the alphabet, pronunciation, and some vocabulary.

Can you do it? Or rather, will you?

Post your challenge in the comments to help you start, unless you don't want others to know. I will post mine there to start us off. You start your challenge as soon as you make it.

I got the chance to go to lunch with one of my best friends - Megan! It was so fun to see her again and visit. We used to do everything together and I guess you could still say we do! We got married within 5 weeks of eachother, and are now going to have babies within 5 weeks of eachother! We'll see if this trend continues.

Winter has arrived

We had some snow last week. It was really pretty actually with the mix of the fall colors and the white snow.

My Sister-in-Law and her two girls came for a visit. Emma has the curliest hair!!
And Sadie is just cute. Her eyes are so big!

Update

My bump is slowly starting to get a bit bigger. It changes every day, sometimes it is sticking out far, other days you can hardly tell it is there. But I love it anyway.

It looks like Ryan and I are going to be taking care of kids sooner than we thought. We got called to the Nursery! I admit, I am nervous. I don't know what to do with little kids. I guess this will be a great learning opportunity to help prepare me for my own kids. Anyone have great advice for us?

Fun music video

Rene

About Rene:

1. She has awesome musical talent (french horn and piano!)
2. She always seems to be optimistic
3. She makes Chris happy
4. She is willing to try new adventures
5. She has a confident personality

Have a Happy Birthday Rene!

Golf

What better way to spend a weekend than to play golf with your siblings? David Chris and I played on Saturday. It is hard to say who won overall. See, David won point wise, but I lost the least amount of balls. And we played miniature golf also which I won point wise, but David got some cool hole-in-ones. Chris kinda hung out in the middle. David was playing miniature golf with a really small club and I had to get his picture.
Despite a few minor accidents (David got in the way of a club) it was an awesome afternoon, especially because we finished it off with some Swedish Meatballs at Ikea!

What is it like to be pregnant?

What better way to share my pregnancy with Ryan than to make him pregnant too? (Hehehe)
My computer with my Adobe programs is finally working again so Ryan I and decided to play around a little... If you are an artist, yes I know this is a horrible photoshop job. Too bad.

Baby is....

GIRL!!!! Sorry you boy guessers, you were wrong.
She(I love that I can say that now) has all her baby parts, and is looking healthy as possible.

Now we get into the fun list of things to do:

1. Pick a name or 10
2. Buy cute clothes
3. Call it more than "it" or "baby"
4. Bond, bond, bond (as she kicks me).

Alien?

Is this growth in me an Alien? Or a puppy? Or a baby? Sometimes I am not sure. I feel the baby often now and I go back and forth between thinking how cool it is, to "it's really weird that something is moving inside me". Not to mention it already is trying to move in spots it shouldn't be in. Or stretching out and trying to bring my organs with it. Overall I am pretty excited it is there. It gave me a nice excuse for a new wardrobe! Come back Thursday to find out what is really growing inside me...
And don't miss your chance to guess at the poll!

Birthday Time!

Great things about Jen:

1. Her eyes twinkle when she smiles
2. She is a patient mom!
3. She plays piano and sings angelically
4. She does things even when it is hard
5. She makes me laugh and is enthusiastic

Happy Birthday Jen!!!

So close

Article V - Amendment
The Congress can make amendments to the Constitution with 2/3 of both Houses vote and 2/3 of States. (other ways given to make amendments, but haven't been used). The President cannot veto amendments and has no say in them.

Article VI - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths
Any debts or engagements made before the Constitution was accepted, will be valid as if made while under the constitution.
The Constitution and Laws of the United States, and also treaties, will be the Law of the Land and every state will honor it above their own laws.
The Senators and representatives and members of State Legislature will be bound by Oath to support the Constitution. No religious test will be required as a qualification to any office under the United States.

Article VII - Ratification
The Ratification (approving of) of the Constitution by the States will be sufficient to establish the Constitution.

Great Job everyone!!! You only have the Bill of Rights left!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday David!!

David:

1. Very talented with computers
2. One of the most generous people I know
3. Has a carefree attitude and takes things as they come
4. Loves to read!
5. Does well in every job he has/had

Isn't he great?

Anniversary

Ryan and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary and went to Salt Lake for a couple of days.


This is Ryan's idea of a vacation

The canoe said "sit here for pictures" so what could we do but obey?

This was a really crazy fish and it makes me laugh. It seems like it is all dressed up in a silly costume for a play.

Seahorses are just cool. They had quite a variety of colors. It was fun to see what kinds of things they would hang onto with their tails.

Jellyfish are by far my favorite sea animal to look at! Their movements are just so smooth! They had a great display of 3 different kinds of jellies, and all decent sized. This one in the picture is probably 7 inches across the top.

What we did not pictured:
1. Went to the Salt Lake Temple to do a session. We wanted to see the inside and experience it. It was neat, but I still like Manti better. We were really lucky though because we barely made the session and it was a small one (baby + bladder = no good), so it wasn't an extra long one like we were told. I enjoyed seeing the inside finally.
2. Eat (Pizza, Chilies, Sweet tomatoes)
3. Ryan took me shopping for my birthday (he hates shopping so it was a big sacrifice). We found some new shoes!
4. You don't really think I am going to tell you EVERYTHING do you?

Happy 2nd Ryan!

Updates

If you used to follow my paint blog, and have given up looking for updates, give up no more! I have updated it and I am starting a new project today which I will post as I work on it (weekdays only).

MiniFuzz

Ryan, Ross, and I went on a bike ride the other day, and we picked up a friend! The poor thing was being blown away by the wind, and trying to cross a LONG stretch of road. We couldn't leave him there, so we helped him on his way (hopefully we didn't put him back where he had just journeyed from). Isn't he cute? The picture is fuzzy, but that is a fuzzy caterpillar. I believe it is called a woolly bear caterpillar.

ARTICLE IV - THE STATES

Section 1 - Each State to Honor all others
"Full Faith and Credit clause". States are to recognize judgments in other states. (There is a difference between judgments and laws, keep that in mind). A state does not necessarily have to accept a law made in another state if it conflicts with their own laws. Example : recognizing same sex marriages. States that do no allow that, do not have to recognize those unions that were okayed in other states.

Section 2 - State citizens, Extradition
Citizens of each State are entitled to privileges of citizens in other States (protection, right to travel through the state, own property, etc).
If someone commits a crime and flees to another state, that state has to deliver up the person to the state where the crime was committed.

Section 3 - New States
New states are approved by Congress. No new states can be formed within the jurisdiction of another state, or a state formed by combining all or parts of two or more states, unless the Legislature of those states approve it and also the Congress.
Congress has power to get rid of or make rules about property belonging to the U.S.

Section 4 - Republican Government
The United States guarantees every State a Republican Government (no monarchs, ruled by peoples vote). The U.S. will protect states from Invasion and domestic violence.

ARTICLE III

Believe it or not, we are getting pretty close to being done. Hang in there!

Judicial Branch:

Section 1 - Judicial Powers
There will be one Supreme Court, and some inferior courts that the Congress can make. The judges of both the Supreme and inferior courts will hold their offices during good behavior (does that sound like little kids?). They will be paid for their work, and their pay cannot be cut during their service.

Section 2 - Trial by Jury, Original Jurisdiction, Jury trials
The Judicial power is to be used for cases of law made under the constitution, and cases of jurisdiction and controversies. The controversies are specifically between either : states; a state and citizen of a different state; between citizens of different states; citizens of the same state claiming lands granted by a different state; and between a state or citizen and a foreign state or citizen. Amendment 11 says : Judicial power isn't to be used by a foreign person against a person (or state) of the United States.
In cases between ambassadors ( and other public ministers) and a State, the Supreme Court will have jurisdiction (the right to apply the law). In all other cases, the Supreme Court has the power to review the decisions of the lesser courts ( unless Congress makes an exception).
The trial for all crimes, except with impeachment, will be by Jury and held in the State where the crimes were committed. When not committed in any State, the trial will be a place that Congress decides.

Section 3 - Treason
Treason is when you declare war against the United States, or help the enemies. No person can be convicted of Treason unless there are two witnesses to the same act, or with confession in open court. Congress has the power to declare punishment of Treason. The treasonous person's family still has the right to inherit the person's things.

Sections 3 & 4

Section 3 - State of the Union, Convening Congress
The President has to give Congress information once in a while on how the country is doing (usually yearly). The President also gives his agenda and priorities for the Nation.
The President can call a special session of Congress. If the 2 houses can't agree on a date to meet, the President can choose the time.
The President is to receive foreign Ambassadors.
The President is responsible for making sure that laws are faithfully executed.
The President commissions the officers of the United States such as military and Foreign Service.

Section 4 - Disqualification
If the President, Vice President, or other civil officers of the U.S. are convicted of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors, they will be removed from office on Impeachment.

Speed bump?

Look! There is a baby bump! Proof! Actually, the pic makes it look a bit bigger than it is, but still, I am excited to finally have something to show for my efforts. Stay tuned for "bigger" updates.

Are you smarter than a 5th grader?

So my smarty pants Ryan got his MCAT score back and got a whopping 33!! That means he is above average and will have an easier time getting into Med schools! He is really happy with his score, and I am pretty proud of him. To try to make that number make more sense to you, that is like getting a 90%. For a 5 hour test, that isn't too shabby. Not too shabby at all. Congratulations Ryan!

PETS, Pets, pets

I love animals and I have about a gazillion that I want for a pet. Here is a few of the smaller pets I would like to have someday.

Article II continued

Section 2 : Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments
The President is the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy and the Militia of the states when called into service. He can ask the opinion of his cabinet (people he chooses from various departments) on how to do things. He can grant pardons for offenses against the US, except with impeachment.
He has the power to make Treaties, if 2/3 of the Senators present agree. Also with the consent of the Senate, he can appoint ambassadors, other public Ministers and consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the U.S. whose positions are unfilled. The Congress by law may appoint inferior officers. The President has the power to fill vacancies that occur during the recess of the Senate, but their commission expires the the end of the next session of Congress.

This is a long one

Article II - The Executive Branch

Section 1 - The President
The President and Vice President stay in office for 4 years.
Election: Each state appoints Electors. The number of Electors is equal to the number of Senators and Representatives of that state. A person who has an "office of trust"(Representative, Senate, etc) cannot be an Elector. The Electors vote by ballot for two people (who can't be both in the same states as the Electors). They then make a list of everyone voted for and the number of votes for each and send it to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate opens the lists and counts the votes in front of the Senate and House of Representatives. The person with the most votes becomes President. If more than one person has a majority and equal votes, then the House of Representatives chooses by ballot one of them to be President. If no one has a majority, then the top five are voted on again by the House. (Previously, the Vice President was whoever came in second place for President. Now, the Vice President is voted for separately.) If the House does not choose the President when they need to before march 4th of the following year, then the Vice President acts as President. If the vote of the Vice President doesn't have a clear winner, the Senate votes for who will be Vice President.
Congress can choose what day is voting day, but it has to be the same through the USA. You have to be a natural born citizen, 35 years old, and lived in the US for 14 years to be President. The terms of the Office of President and Vice President end at noon on Jan 20th and the Senators and Representatives at noon on Jan 3. Congress meets once a year at noon on Jan 3 unless by law they appoint a different day. If the President Elect dies before starting his term, the Vice President Elect becomes President. The Congress can declare who shall act as President if neither the President or the Vice President qualify. If the Vice President's spot becomes vacant, the President can nominate a Vice President who then is confirmed by a majority vote by both Houses of Congress.
A President can write to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives and say he is unable to do his duties. Unless he writes another statement to the contrary, the Vice President becomes Acting President. If the Vice President and a majority of the principal officers of the executive departments write a declaration to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House that the President is unable to do his duties, the Vice President becomes Acting President. But if the President then writes a declaration that says he can do his duties, he resumes his powers unless the Vice President and majority within 4 days again write to say he can't do his duties. Then, the congress will decide the issue. They must meet within 48 hours. They have 21 days to determine by 2/3 vote of both Houses that the President is unable to do his duties. the Vice President then continues to be Acting President otherwise the President keeps his office.
The President will receive a paycheck, but that cannot be increased or decreased during his term, and he can't receive any other pay from the US.
When he is sworn into office he must say "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, Preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States."

We the states...

Section 10 : Powers prohibited of states

No state can enter a treaty, alliance, or confederation.
States can't grant letters of Marque (allows you to get revenge on a country)
No making other bills of credit (money). Only can make gold or silver.
No ex post facto law (increasing the punishment on a crime and then applying that to people who have already committed it).
No granting titles of Nobility.
No law can be made that stops people from fulfilling their contracts.
States cannot put any duties and taxes on imports and exports unless approved by congress or it is necessary for doing their inspection laws. The produce of the duties and taxes shall be for the use of the Treasury of the United States.
All laws can be revised and controlled by congress.
No state can tax ship cargo, keep troops or ships of War in times of Peace, can't enter into a compact with another State or foreign power, and can't engage in war unless invaded or in such danger that no delay can be made.

Bad pics = sorry

Look!!! I have a baby!!!! Isn't it sooo cute!! I never understood what I was looking at with other people's ultrasounds, but I can see it on mine and it is awesome!! I decided I could never tell because they were all probably bad copies like this. It is pretty clear in the original picture. You can see it's fat belly and everything, so you will just have to come over if you want to see it. Proof there really is something in there growing! It is almost 2 inches long now. Oh yes...for you who did not know...I am pregnant!

Communication

I have a little trouble remembering to communicate my thoughts to others, I just assume they know my intentions. (Seriously, how come you don't just know?). I got several comments about how Ryan didn't get a birthday post. The idea was that spouses of my siblings get a blog post, and siblings get a phone call. I guess that isn't good enough though...so I will do both. Here is a late one for Ryan, and to make up for it's lateness he will get 10 things listed.

RYAN BARLOW (also known as Henry)

1. He has the arguing power to convince anyone of anything...and make them do what he wants.
2. He is really talented at art
3. He is really talented with the guitar
4. He is very creative and is always thinking up new ideas with James
5. He is fun to be around
6. He kicks everyone's butts at Mario Kart (and basically anything else if you give him the chance)
7. He is a good husband
8. He has beautiful girls
9. He is pretty smart
10. He is patient and understanding

And yet another birthday....

Garrett, you get the scary clown picture. Happy Birthday!

5 great things about Garrett:
1. He is a tease
2. He is very handy at fixing things
3. He is great to his wife
4. He is very knowledgeable about cars (and drives them very fast. Watch out if he offers to give you a fun ride)
5. He is fun to be around

Happy Birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday Lonna!

Here are 5 great things about Lonna:

1. She is a problem solver.
2. She is always thinking of others.
3. She is very patient.
4. She is stylistic.
5. She is very beautiful especially with her elegant face.

I hope your day is great Lonna and full of relaxing things!

Section 9

Section 9 - Limits on Congress

Before the year 1808, Congress could not stop states from allowing migration, or importation. But Congress could put a tax on importation (no more than $10 per person).
Congress cannot stop Habeas Corpus (meaning you cannot be imprisoned without reason and they are required to give a reason if you ask) except in cases of rebellion or invasion.
Congress cannot pass bills to make a crime already committed more punishable (Ex. a person who robbed a store, and afterward a law is passed for the death sentence for robbery, that person cannot be punished accordingly because the crime was committed before the bill was passed).
No Bill of Attainder can be passed (this takes away a person's civil rights, without a real trial).
Previously, taxes could not be made unless in proportion to the number of people, but that has been changed to where taxes can be laid without doing so proportionally.
No taxes can be made on exported material. No duties to be paid between states. States should not favor one state over another in regulation of commerce or revenue of ports.
Money cannot be taken from the Treasury unless needed to because of laws. A record must be kept of expenditures and it should be published.
No titles of Nobility will be granted and no person in office can accept a present, salary, office, or title from any king or prince unless Congress says it is ok.

Section 8

I need to bring to your attention a correction. In section 2 & 3 of Article 1, I had wrong information. I have now fixed it. The correction is that the Senator or Representative have to be a resident of the State they are to represent when elected.

Next:

Section 8 - Powers of Congress
Congress can impose taxes, and collect taxes. The taxes must be the same(uniform) through the United States.
Congress pays the debts, and provides for the common defense. They also provide for our general welfare(the meaning of this word as used in the constitution is our well-being and happiness).
Congress regulates trade with Nations, States, and Indian Tribes.
They can borrow money on the Credit of the United States.
They say how an immigrant can become a citizen.
They also make the bankruptcy laws.
They print the money and regulate its value. They punish those who counterfeit money.
They Establish post offices and the roads they use.
They secure copyright for artists and authors.
They set up tribunals(judges) who are lesser than the supreme court.
They punish pirates and punish offenders of the Law of Nations (foreigners).
They declare war and make rules of what to do with captured prisoners.
They raise and support armies, but the money assigned for that purpose cannot be used for more than two years. They provide the navy, and militia, and govern them and provide for them.
They can make any law necessary to help them carry out the powers given to them.
They also can use exclusive law of a District that they have (like the seat of the Government), but no bigger than 10 miles square, and to exercise authority over the places they have purchased. (This part about exclusive law didn't quite make sense to me. Can someone explain it?)

What did you do Sunday?

Ahhh...nothing like a Sunday afternoon spent making a lego house! Here is a tour through our creation. Above you will see the general layout. First is the entryway. You walk in through the arch and on your right is the bedroom and bathroom (complete with faucet for the tub!). Walking a few steps more, you will see the dining room to your left. This cannot be seen from this picture because there is a second story in the way. Then, farther on, is the living room with the Dad drinking his silver canned drink, watching his red tv, and in the kitchen is his wife.







Above is the view of the outside, and Ryan's blue bay window in the dinning room. Quite fancy.
Below, you see the upstairs, which is the play room. There are two ways to access this level. There are stairs by the bedroom, or there is a fire escape on the far left side. This room is complete with a surf board, rocket, cannon, treasure chest of gold, treasure chest of weapons, and of course, the pet monkey and parrot.

We know, we are geeks, but we have fun.