Ammon's Birthday

Ammon's birthday was Saturday the 26th. I can't believe he is already 9 yrs. old. We had a kind of mixed but fun birhtday party for him. He wanted a lego/scoobydoo birhtday party but ended up with spiderman decorations. I guess that's all Cecilia could find. She treated us all to hambergers at Gustovos, then we came to our house for ice cream and cake and games.

We played Mistery inc. Solve that puzzle game. Basically a twist on the treasure hunt. And Ammon made his own pin the head on the Lego game. He drew out the Lego body then drew a head for everyone who was coming. He did a really good job and all the kids had a great time.

Then of course we opened presents. He loves all of them!

It was a great day for Ammon. He had a great birhtday thanks to all who could come. And a special thanks to Cecilia for all the food and decorations. Ammon We love you and are so happy to have you in our family!

9 things about Ammon

1. He likes to draw, and is good at it. He wants to be an artist when he grows up.

2. He is considerate of others.

3. He is a good helper with his younger siblings.

4. He likes legos.

5. He has a strong testimony of the gosple, and likes to share it when he can.

6. He likes to play video games.

7. He is a good speaker.

8. He likes catchup especially with frech fries.

9. He has a great imagination.

So many blessings being poured into our lives...

So, I will be starting a new job on the 7th of June working for U.S. Bank as a Personal Banker. I am excited about the prospect of being able to work again towards a career. I've been working for the Church at Temple Square as a Gardner. I know absolutely nothing about maintaining a nice yard, but my Bishop is the boss down there for that department so he said come and work for me until you find a job, and so I did. They have kicked my butt, and the work is very, very hard, but it is worth it. So many people approach us as we work and thank us for our work in making Temple Square so beautiful. I've been grateful for the opportunity to work with some good and very talented people who work hard so that everyone who visits Temple Square feels the Spirit in what they do.

I was happy when U.S. Bank contacted me and offered me the job, they were afraid that because I was over qualified for the position that I would up and leave them once I found something better. I assured them in the interview that if I was offered the job that I would not be looking for another one, but to move up in the company as soon as possible. I stopped looking as soon as they offered, I actually felt that I was going to get it so I stopped looking about 1 week before getting the job. So anyway I get the job with U.S. Bank and all of a sudden I get contacted by this company out of Portland, OR about a position that I inquired about 2 weeks prior. It was for a company developing a FEC. I spoke with the CEO, and he essentially fell in love with me over the phone. He assumed that I was LDS being from Utah and therefore assumed that I put God first in my life (he's a leader in the Methodist faith) as he does and liked that. He wrote me an email after our initial conversation telling me that my resume, website and associated links from my website along with my adherence to the LDS faith and leadership in the Republican party made me a strong candidate for the position that he had open and then welcomed me. I then started getting all of his business plans and financial projections in my email telling me to begin formulating a plan with his son and attorney to present to investors. I was never offered the job formally, but I think that I was hired. I am not entirely sure at this point. The position would be literally a dream come true, and a massive blessing from a loving and kind Heavenly Father. To be able to work with someone who has read my political writings, and liked them, and agrees with me politically and spiritually would be wonderful. Yet another blessing poured into our lives.

Then there is another company located in Canada that has contacted me and is interested in me as well. That would be a huge opportunity as well. If that works out I don't know what I will do with myself. Just more blessings! Both are stipulated on locating funding for the expansion of the business, but to have the positions would be great. I still have US Bank so no worries! And US Bank comes with benefits. What a blessing!

We are going to need the health benefits for the next blessing that God has decided to pour into our lives right now. Having health insurance is going to come in handy when Monica has the baby in January. That's right Monica is pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!! I am excited I don't know about her. Bella wants a sister, and Sam and Ammon want a brother and I want a son and Monica wants a daughter. Joshua doesn't want anything. She hasn't been to a doctor yet, but I did one of those online due date calculators and it put the due date at January 5, 2011. So it can be either in late December or sometime early January. The blessings just keep on coming!

I knew this year would bring changes, but I never dreamed of this.

Bella's Birthday

Bella is now six years old! She is such a joy to our family. We are so blessed to have her. She is our only daughter, and I am so glad to say she is ALL GIRL. She had a Cinderella birthday party at Cecilia's, and as always grandma Ramirez went all out like she does for all my kids's birthdays.

We played pricess dress up relays, and find the lost slipper, and Cinderella bingo.

It was a beautiful spring day for my Bella Victoria. She had such a wonderful time. Thank you to all of those who were able to make it, and we missed those of you who weren't.

April Fools

O.k. You have to look sideways for these pictures. I don't know how to turn them around. Anyway this was April fools day. We got so much snow that actually stuck, so Joshy and I had fun making one last snowman for the season. It was prefect snowman snow!

Caucus Night

Last night was Caucus night for Utah's political parties. I had time this year so I took the opportunity to participate in my Caucus meeting. I had been debating back and forth for several days whether or not I would seek election as a delegate for my precinct, and thought that I had made a decision by the time that I arrived just to support those who were nominated since I didn't have anyone present to nominate me. Once the meeting started they asked who would like to run for election as the delegates. They needed one for the County and one for the State. I decided to go ahead and put forth my name for consideration. There were four of us. Each of us took our turn explaining why we should be elected to represent the precinct. I hadn't prepared any remarks since I had decided not to. As I began to speak I felt the words flow from my mouth with confidence and passion. When I finished everyone was silent and the next two fumbled through their explanations. Then we voted and I won with a unanimous decision. I was told that they felt that with my knowledge of the Constitution they felt that they would be better served with me as the delegate for the State. After the meeting I was held up for about 2 hours talking about politics, The Constitution, U.S. History and other topics. They wanted to talk to me to pick my brain. It felt good to know that I would be participating in the political process in a more intimate manner. I will serve out my two years as the State Delegate for my Precinct and then I will consider running for public office. The people who were picking my brain have the responsibility to identify individuals who they want to run for public office. Who knows what will happen within the next two years. I might decide that I will just stick to political commentary, or I might decide to make a difference and do something great.

Happy Birthday Joshua

Tuesday was Joshua's 3rd birthday. He was so excited, he knew that the day that he woke up and saw the kitchen decorated that was going to be the day of his birthday. He woke up Tuesday morning he woke up and I carried him downstairs singing happy birthday to him and when he saw the kitchen his jaw dropped and he was in shock. We used the Superman stuff from Sam's party a couple of years ago (since he is obsessed with Superman). He ate his requested breakfast of pancakes, and was just happy being the center of attention.

Joshua has brought a lot of happiness into our family. His brothers and sister love him as do Monica and I.

He has a smile that lights up a room. I can't believe that my baby is 3 years old.

He is excited for Saturday. That is when we will be having his birthday party and his Grandma and Grandpa are doing something different and special for him. All the kids are excited for his party. I think that his excitement is just because his brothers and sister are excited. I am sure that he doesn't know what is going to happen.

In My Defence

I am compelled to write this blog and post it on my family blog in defence of myself and my views. It has come to my attention that while trying to explain my reasoning behind not wanting to work for the U.S. Census taking place this year, Monica portrayed me as an ignorant, narrow-minded individual who makes decisions based upon hearsay and falsehoods.

So, in my defence I need to set the record straight. My refusal to work for the U.S. Census is based off of my personal beliefs. It is not based off of anything that I've heard on the radio or read on some blog online. It is deeply entrenched in the Constitution.

The Constitution of the United States, indicates in Article 1, Section 2, "An enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct." The only Constitutional mandate made by the Constitution is that the people are to be counted to determine the head count of the population in order to properly seat the right amount of Representatives in Congress. The current Census is directed under Title 13 of the U.S. Code. It is my personal belief that the Constitution only authorizes a head count, and that the long form should not be required by law, on the basis of the Constitutionality. I could care less about who is President of the United States, or which political party one is affiliated with.

I am not one to make decisions without fully understanding the reasoning behind my decision being made. Hopefully this clears things up a bit. I always tell Monica not to try and defend my positions, but she is always tries. I love her, and I know she does it because she loves me. She is great.