Did you get an Influenza A shot?

We didn't and boy did we get it! Molly started getting sick the Friday before Christmas. She ended up with a wicked cough. The day after Christmas I took her to the doctor. On Christmas morning Ike had three more presents left to open when he announces he is going back to bed! We tried to talk him into staying and finish opening and he just said, "No thank you" and headed to bed. He's four mind you. By Wednesday Jake was miserable and Marissa had 104.3 temp. With all the coughing aimed right in my face it was no surprise by Thursday I was down for the count. Bruce drug us all to the doctor on Friday but by Friday night it was lights out for him as well.

According to the Nurse Practitioner, had we all been good little boys and girls and gotten the flu shot we would not be in such shape. Well, if you know me, you know all these shots are NOT my thing so I guess its egg on my face! Oh well, we WILL survive the flu in 5 to 7 days. Would we survive the cancer we get from getting all these “necessary” shots??? I know, I know…but that’s me!

Peek a Boo!

Thanks for finding the camera, Molly! 

"Is it leaning a little bit, Mama?"

This is truly a child's Christmas tree! Bruce put the tree together and the lights on. I put the tinsel garland on and the kids did all the rest! Now, I did have to do a little clean up on it because Ikey thought putting as many ornaments on one branch was just peachy!

We put the tree in "Bruce's corner" in the family room this year. It works, but now as I look at the picture it truly looks like an Ozark Hillbilly Christmas with his gun rack in the background! After Molly and Bruce put the star on, Molly got off the stool and stood back and said, "Is it leaning a little bit, Mama?" Yip, it sure enough is! Hopefully it will last the remaining 7 days until Christmas. Next year Bruce wants to chop a tree down from the farm. I just get visions of "Christmas Vacation" at the thought of that...

Well, from our house to yours..."Merry Christmas"!! And as Ike likes to say, "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" 

A lesson in teeth whitening

I had a dentist appointment last Friday and found out some interesting facts about teeth whitening that I thought I would pass on to ya all. First off, if you are thinking about whitening, the hygienist suggested that two weeks prior to using any whitening product you switch to sensitive toothpaste, like Sensodyne. Most regular toothpaste has ‘sodium laurly sulfate’ , which is what makes the toothpaste suds and also takes a protective layer off the tooth. (Can’t remember what that protective layer is called…) Anyway, that’s what can make the teeth sensitive after years of brushing.

Now if you bleach your teeth the follicles in your teeth open up. Yes, you have follicles in your teeth just like your hair. (Interesting, didn’t know that.) When those follicles are open they will take color/stain so if you are bleaching do not eat or drink anything that will stain your teeth for 12 hours after you bleached. You need to give your teeth time for the follicles to close back up.

The dentist office offers much better products to whiten than “over the counter”. Of course, much more pricey too! What she recommend was custom designed trays and syringes to the tune of $390. Sorry, don’t think so! They also offer the Crest Whitestrips Professional for $95. They have better, longer lasting chemicals than the Wal-Mart Crest strips. But she said that if you were going to go the over the counter way, using strips, Colgate’s White Strips were the best. Then she said for the best overall effect though using trays were better still than strips. There are some over the counter products that use trays but I haven’t researched what they are yet.

One last note. If you have any crowns or bridges they will remain the color they already are!! They will not whiten or lighten with the bleaching. So…if you’re sporting a three crown bridge like I am…BEWARE! I’m still thinking about it. Do I want to risk sensitivity? Will my bridge stick out like a sore thumb? Will I end up like Ross on that one episode of “Friends”? And probably the most deciding factor of all…will I spend that much money on myself??? Oh the vanity of vanities!!

Say Mama

Bruce thinks Marissa thinks my name is "SayMama" because I'm always telling her..."say Mama!" She smiles and smiles.

I took Marissa to her re-check last week with the developmental specialist. She has made such progress since we started giving her floor time! In November she was 6 weeks to 2 months behind on some skills but now 4 weeks later she has improved by 6 weeks. So, her adjusted age at the visit was 31 weeks and she was checking out at 28 weeks. She made improvements in her attention and focus and her fingering (being able to pick up something as small as string) and being able to transfer a toy from one hand to the other. She is so close to being able to turn over from her back to tummy. And she gets on all fours in the crawl position and rocks and rocks like she has somewhere to go. We are all praising God for her improvements every time!!

She is not feeling so hot right now. Jake was sick earlier this week and she has been having a low grade fever and whiney for her. She acts like she has body ache. Ya know, how you just don't feel good and want to whine? Bless her heart, she's still as sweet as she can be!

No more appointments until Feburary! Then she will have her 1 year check up! (Birthday is January 26)

Sorry no pictures to post. The camera has been MIA. Molly found it last night under a pile of clutter!

Please don't make me angry. You won't like me if I'm angry!

Molly saw the original movie of Bill Bixbie/Lou Ferringo in "The Incredible Hulk". The first time he turns into the Hulk is in a rain storm and he has to change a flat tire. Molly said, "If he only had a flashlight and a cell phone he wouldn't have had to get so mad!"

Bruce explaining to Molly that there were no cell phones in the 70's and her looking completely lost was priceless!

They are so spoiled and they have no idea!

You know you are getting old when...

1. Just because you were a Roller Skating Queen in 7th and 8th grade, that doesn't make you a R.S.Q. at 39!! Last Friday I took the kids roller skating for the very first time. I thought I should strap on some skates to be able to help them. Whoa! What happened? Could 25 years (and a lot more pounds) make that much difference? I hope I haven't done permanent damage to myself!

(By the way, the kids LOVED it! Molly fell down the most but never hung to the wall. She just kept getting up and trying again. She even limboed and speed skated! Nothing was keepin her off the floor! Ike thought he was an old pro. He was skating around with his hands in his pockets! I am so proud of Jake! He was scared to death as soon as he stood up on the skates! He clung to wall so he didn't fall that much but after a lot of encouragment he would slowly move out from the wall. He even tried the limbo. They all want to go back again.)

2. When you can't read the instructions on the back of the medicine box. I recently wanted to give Marissa some baby tylenol so I turned to box over to see the dosage. Oh man! I could not make out those tiny, tiny words! I strained and struggled getting my arms in the right position to see! Then I have noticed it since trying to read the boys label on their underpants to who's is who's...I can't see the size! I'm finding more and more stuff everyday I can't see! How can this be???

3. Your birthday was yesterday and it didn't even matter that you had a meeting to go to!

Thanks for all the birthday greetings, cards and surprises! Life is good!

Jake's 1st Piano Recital

Can I just say one word? Precious! Well, of course I am going to say more than one word! He was great! He was number 4 on the program and he got right up from his seat and sat down at the piano and played "The Little Drummer Boy". He did awesome! Then he stood up, turned around to take a bow and saw all eyes on him. He froze! He was like a deer in the headlights. He couldn't move. Bruce motioned him 3 times to come on back to the seat but it was like his feet where just planted there and his eyes as big as saucers! Bless his sweet little heart!

He had been practing Little Drummer Boy since October. He started taking lessons in September. We couldn't be any prouder of him! That is his teacher in the picture. I really like her. She has the patiences of Job. Every week she tells him the same thing about his fingering and timing with such kindness as if it was the first time she's told him.

I tried to upload the video we made to YouTube to share with ya all but I'm not computer smart! Next is Federation is March. That's where you are judged. He has a new piece all picked out. I'm impressed...it has sharps! 

Grrrr! More Ranting!

OK, here I am approaching my birthday. What does that mean? In Missouri it means that your drivers license could be expiring soon as mine does. Bruce, who turned 39 Nov. 21, already went through this with renewing his license. He told me there is a new law called "Show Me Proof" (isn't that cute, they try to ease it in by using our state slogan!). This new requires that you have Proof of Lawful Presence, Proof of Identity and Proof of Residency. In order to provide this proof you need a birth certificate. Sure, I have my birth certificate. It's filed away somewhere very safe. So safe...I can't remember where it is!!!

Well, I went to the local health department and paid $15 for a stamped and sealed copy of by b.c. and proceed to the renewal office. I pull ticket number 99 and they are on 88. As I am sitting there in the chairs they have posters all over saying "READ THIS!!!". I begin to read. If the name on your proof is not the name you are using today then you also need to bring proof of name change. C'mon! You're killing me!

I have a marriage certificate somewhere. Probably filed very safely with my birth certificate. In order to get a copy of the marriage certificate I have to go to the recorder of deeds in the county I was married in. That would be Buchanan which is about 4 hours away!!!! Grrrr...

OK...this is getting out of control! I understand we have an illegal problem and need to make sure that we are not giving drivers licenses to just anybody. But seriously, is killing the legal citizen with paper work going to correct this problem? I think not. It's just like gun control. Making more paper work for gun owners is not going to stop the thugs from getting their guns!! Please! What happened to common sense??

I understand that this is a lesson in my organization skills and I am working on finding that exact right system. (Flylady) I still say that all this paper work is going to do NOTHING to stop the ornery person who shouldn't have a drivers license from getting one! Remember before you were 21? Enough said!

Birthday count down begins!

Only 8 more days till my birthday! Turning 39 is not something I though would happen this soon! Seriously, I can't be passed 27! Thanks to Kendra and the 3-4 color she does her magic with...you can hardly tell I have any gray hair! I do feel it in my bones though. I'm not nearly as spire as I was when Jake was a baby/toddler. And my patience is eroding away. I'm not sure that's from 39 years gone by or 4 kids! I can tell you I am feeling less and less self righteous with each passing year. Humility definitely comes in years and children if nothing else!!

I couldn't be happier with my life approaching 39!! I have the kindest, funniest, loving, most patient, hardest working husband! And he's so much more than that! I have the sweetest, funniest, most forgiving kids! I have a church family that is kind, loving and compassionate who strengthens and grows me! Friends and family that love me even though they know me...very well! I am truly blessed! As I count down the days until my birthday I feel safe, secure and so greatful to my Lord and Savior for 39 years of life and 20 years of them knowing Him personally!

The Great White Hunter

On the last day of deer season, on his 39th birthday, in 70 degree weather, Bruce shot a spike buck at the farm. This is the best picture I got of him and the deer as he was alone in the woods. He had some pretty good self portraits. (yeah, right) This deer had been field dressed so I wasn't getting in the back of the truck to take the picture! The deer has been hanging in a friends cooler and will be processed Saturday. We don't really like the roasts and hams. We do like the tenderloin fried and then grind the rest for ground venison. Which we use pretty much like ground beef in all sorts of recipes. Don't worry...if I make a meal for you I don't use the venison. Not that you could tell. Bruce is really good at cutting it up correctly so you don't get that gamey taste. There is an antlerless season for a couple weeks in December that Bruce could hunt but I think one deer will be plenty. Now we go back to cutting firewood and clearing the lane. My little lumberjacks always have a good time doing that! 

Maybe you just don't need that job...

Today it is cold, wet and icy in the Ozarks! I just read a news report that said schools and businesses were closing early if they opened at all. Here in Willard, Murfins, Casey's and Sonic are closed. I didn't hear if the schools closed or if they are having early dismissal because we had no electric!

This is what I found most interesting in reading this article..."Individual office holders and department heads will determine which of their staff members are nonessential..." Nonessential?? If you are told to go home because you are nonessential can you just decide not to show up any day of the week? I mean why wait for a snow day to not work? Don't feel bad, you really aren't that essential to this job!

Believe me, if I was still in the work force right now, I would want to be the nonessential employee! I loved snow days when I was a kid! Except my parents would never believe me that I heard on the radio that school was cancelled. We still had to get dressed and drag ourselves to the bus stop and after the bus was 15 minutes late we could go home and prove that school really was called off! Poor Jake, here he sits at the dining room table doing his school work! Don't feel too sorry for him though. When we were having 70 degree weather the week before Thanksgiving we took a snow day then! :)

Yaba Dabba Doo!

This weekend there was a marathon of the Flintstones cartoons. My kids had never seen the Flintstones before. It was quite fun watching with them for the very first time and the things they got...like the newspaper made out of rock. I forgot about all the appliances Wilma had that were run by pre-historic animals! Pretty funny stuff!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend at Pappy and Grandma's house. We didn't get there until Friday afternoon though because Marissa was sick with bronchitis. She's on a nubbulizer now and is doing much better.

Kohl's was the place to shop for me this year! Boy...I got some great sale items! I think everything I bought was at least 60% off. Cool bean dip!

I got my painting project done but we are still moving in our new rooms. I didn't gain as much room as I had hoped but it's much better for the kids now. You can actually walk all around the beds to make them! Bruce says we need to think about moving in 2 years. Ugh! I hate the thought of moving!!

YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!

I can't resist it! Every time it's on I have to watch it. I don't know if it's the all star cast or just Tom Cruise himself but when flipping channels and "A Few Good Men" is on I have to stop there! Last night after coming home from AWANA it was on the ABCFamily channel. It was right at the scene where Tom is questioning Jack Nicholson. My kids were getting ready for bed in the family room. Seeing that it's on the Family Channel, I'm sure they are going to cut out or change all the bad words. Not so. Apparently, SOB is not bleep worthy. Of course, I saw eyes go big on Ikey so there we are at 10:00 at night having a discussion about self control. For some reason, the look on Ike's face, I'm not sure we are done with this conversation!

Marissa's 9 month check up

Monday Marissa saw the developmental specialist and we found out she is a little delayed. This actually, did not surprise me because I felt like she wasn't doing nearly the things she was doing 3 months ago. After some investigation we figured out she is being held too much!! Between me, my mom and Molly, when the kid's awake she's being held by one of us! So after that discussion we put her on the floor that afternoon and she started rolling over and holding her toys. We are going to give her a month on the floor then she sees the specialist again to be revaluated. She was testing about 6 weeks behind her adjusted age, which is testing at a 20 week old baby. Not a big delay that we can't catch up on. If having more floor time at home doesn't make the difference then we'll start physical therapy.

Thursday she saw Dr. G. and weighed in at 14 pounds 4 ounces and 25 1/4 inches. Dr. G. was happy with the gain (didn't seem like much to us) but said that her growth in inches was most impressive because we can always fatten a baby up but we can't make them anymore tall. She is fine in everything else. He said if she was interested she could eat some Thanksgiving dinner!

Oh...on the developmental testing...she passed all her social skills right on age. She laughs and giggles and babbles and makes eye contact etc. all like she should! That why it's kinda tricky to see the physical delay because she's just so darn pleasant...she distracts ya!

Bruce has finally let Marissa go to nursery at church...right at RSV season! She seems to like going just fine. No tears. Of course, none of our kids cried about nursery. They were like "bye! see ya later!"

I'll update again in a month with her progress. Thanks for your care, concern and prayers for her!!

Well, at least it's over...

Things did not turn out as well as I would have liked, but at least it's over. Maybe now we can watch TV again without having to mute over every commerical. I gotta figure out who to write to about the obscence amount of voice mail phone calls we got this year! As far as I'm concerned it was a referendum on those phone calls as much as President Bush or scandals!

I'm glad I don't hold my hope in the government but rather on the one Who holds tomorrow!

Iron Maiden

I like to iron. I can't believe it because I have always been proud of the fact that I never iron. This summer Bruce wanted a light weight dress shirt that goes with a tie. Those babies need ironed! You can get away with not ironing the heavy Oxfords if you take them right out of the dryer and put clothes pins on the collar to keep it straight, but not these guaze type shirts. After ironing that shirt from the dryer I had such a feeling of satisfaction and pride! It was like a high. Seeing the waded, wrinkle shirt turn into this crisp, straight, attractive shirt that could come right off the run way. Now I am kind of addicted to that feeling and looking for more ironing! And Bruce is always so thankful, shocked and impressed that I ironed! Yes, I have decided I like ironing. Next time your depressed, look for something in your closet to iron. It's really quite rewarding! 

Boo!

Would you give these guys candy?? 

Think about this MO Friends...

Claire McCaskill supports abortion up to 6 months. Marissa was born at 6 months.

Dear Missouri Friends...

On the ballot November 7th there is a yes/no vote on Amendment 2. Those for this amendment want you to think its about stem cell research but it is actually about Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT). That is the process for creating a cloned human embryo. It has nothing to do with embroyonic stem cell research for cures!! It's about making our tax dollars available and legal for research on cloning by amending our state constitution.

When you read the amendment on the ballet beware because the language is very deceptive. It says it calls for a ban on human cloning or attempted cloning but somatic cell nuclear transfer are human clones.

There is a big debate about embryonic stem cell research which has been going on for awhile now. Those for embryonic stem cell research want to make you feel like you are against cures for terrible, horrible dieases. Research done on embryonic stem cells has produced NOTHING but defects and tumors. They need federal funding for this research because biotech companies are not putting their money behind losing research. Have you ever heard about the success from adult stem cell research? You can get adult stem cells from umbilical cord blood, placenta, bone marrow and more. Nothing (no one) is destroyed and it has been successful in treating over 65 illnesses! Why they focus on embryonic stem cells is for cloning.

Please, just be informed when going to polls on Tuesday the 7th. Go to www.nocloning.org for more information.

Thank you!

Can you taste that tenderloin now?

Deer season is fast approaching! Bruce has been busy every Saturday getting ready with a new tree stand. Last Saturday Bruce saw a total of 4 deer on our property and 1 more up the road. He's pretty excited about opening day!

Isn't fall beautiful? I just love the colors of the trees as I drive into town! Ever year I think fall gets prettier. God is so awesome! 

Do you like this??

The bottom one with the rust, gold and teal colors. We are switching rooms with the kids. It is just too cramped in there for two twin beds and a crib and a toy box and a big book shelf! By us switching rooms it will give them the walk in closet, more floor space and a bathroom they really don't need. That will be the hardest giving up our bathroom! But, it's better than fighting with them to make their beds. It really is next to impossible to do a good job making the beds with them shoved against the wall like that. Bruce is going to measure all the furniture and put it in the CAD program to make sure it really is going to fit. Because I ordered those bunk beds from e-bay just by eyeballing their room saying, "oh yeah, it'll fit!".

Anyway, since I have to give up my master bedroom Bruce let me order all new bedding! So now I am going to paint the smaller room to match all the new stuff. This is so much fun! I feel like I am on an HGTV show or something. We are going to paint the kids new room as well and their bathroom. If anyone wants to come over and help let me know! It will be lots of fun! :) 

Homeschool Track Meet

Last Saturday was the Homeschool Track Meet. The kids weren't sure what 'track meet' meant but were game to try it out. They did really well and are ready to train for next years meet! 

The Ribbons

 

Standing Long Jump

Molly took 1st in this event. It was hard trying to explain swining your arms and jumping on the swing! 

50 meters and 100 meters

The running races were fun! We were really proud of Jake for finishing both races! Notice Molly coming up on Ike to pass. That was Ikey's race but at 100 meters he ran out of steam! Those Shelby kids sure can run! That's Lindsey in the lead. 

Sit ups and push ups

Ike had a little problem doing the push ups...mostly attitude! The offical was trying to be encourging telling Ike "Good job, good job!" Other parents probably thought we were terrible parents when we told Ikey, "You are NOT doing a good job!" He changed his attitude after that competition!

Jake got 2nd in his age group in sit ups and push ups. Molly got 1st in push ups and 3rd in sit ups and Ikey got 3rd in push ups (but there was only 3 doing them!) 

Sack Race

This is the first time my kids tried sack racing. The bags were as big as the kids! Ike placed 2nd in the race. 

This is how the family warms up on the frosty mornings!

 

Ancient Chinese secret, huh?

Anybody remember that commerical from the '80's? Some guy on the radio made reference to the commerical about "Calgone, take me away!" and it reminded me of that commerical where they are in a Chinese laundry mat or dry cleaners and the customer peeks in the back and catches them using this product. She says the ever catchy "Ancient Chinese Secret, huh?". But I can't for the life of me remember what the product was! What was it? Anybody know?

Is it possible this commerical was pulled for being polictial incorrect and I am opening up Pandora's box? I really just want to remember what the product is before I go crazy! Ya know how something gets stuck in your head, like a part of a song??

Maybe I should give a prize to the winner of the correct product as an incentive to answer. I know that I don't know the correct answer right now, but as soon as I hear it...it will all click! So let's just say maybe there will be a prize and answer and take me out of my misery!

Thank you!

Yes, Please!

Marissa had her first spoon feeding today! She had rice cereal with a little formula. Wow! I think she liked it! She grabbed the spoon from me and put it in her mouth and wouldn't give it back! I had Molly bring me another spoon so she could hold that one and I could continue to feed her. That didn't work...she only wanted MY spoon!

I've wanted to feed her for awhile now but I could not for the life of me remember what order you are supposed to feed the baby in. The doctor stressed to me that it was most important that Marissa got all her calories she needs daily. He said it didn't matter if it was food or formula but that food would fill her up and she wouldn't be able to finish all her formula. So, I got some advice from Molly Claire's mom and figured out how to do it. I didn't start with breakfast but at 7 p.m.

Marissa is 8 months old and 2 weeks. (Adjusted age 5 months) Yesterday, we weighed her at the doctor's office and she weighed 13 pounds 9 ounces. We were a little disappointed because we thought she was around 16 pounds. (Bruce would weigh himself then hold the baby. I guess that's not very accurate!) 

Read about us in the Springfield News-Leader!

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061002/NEWS01/610020373/1007

Wow...THAT was NOT fun!

I have spent the last 12 days sick as a dog! I mean, I have never been so sick like that where I didn't get over it in a couple of days. It started a week ago last Thursday. I was overly tired and low energy, a little achey. Ya know, like how you feel before you realize your pregnant and feeling like this leads you to taking a pregnancy test! Well, knowing that was not going to be the problem I just pressed on thinking it would pass. Went to St. Joe Friday for the weekend still with low energy but managing then BAM...Sunday came I was going down. Fever came on, full blown body ache, headached and dry cough. Suffered through until Tuesday then went to the doctor only to be told...virus. Finally after a trip to Urgent Care on Saturday for IV Fluids and pain medicine on Monday I am feeling halfway human again!

It is so hard for the mom to be down and out for so long! Bruce has done a fine job of taking care of the kids and I'm thankful for Papa and Lula next door! But being the mom there is no time for 12 days of confinement! Now I am going to burn my bedsheets and bleach the bathroom!

Oh SHOOT!

Of course you can't go out to the Farm and not shoot at a few targets! What do you when the squishy ear plugs won't stay in her ears? Believe it or not she didn't mind this at all! I guess after all the tubes and needles she's had stuck in her she's thinking "hey, THIS is no big deal!" I shot a 9 mm and a 380...I think I need some practice. I scared myself! 

And we were swinging!

Bruce, with the help of Keith, put up a swing at the Farm. It was great fun! We enjoyed Labor Day laboring away hanging a swing, making a pulley for the treehouse and cooking over an open fire! Can't beat those fire smoked burgers! Yeah, right! Of course, this was my first time cooking with fire so they were a little chared! Oh well, the dog liked it. 

Be thankful for the small things

Well, after pondering Pastor Eddie's sermon Sunday I decided to I needed to be quick to be thankful for ALL things. (This was a main point wasn't it? I hope I wasn't too distracted while in church!) One thing that I have longed for over and over was a bigger kitchen. My kitchen is 8 X 8. What you see in the pictures is what it is...counter tops, cabinets, appliances and all. I like to cook (soup, salad, sandwiches are my thing!) and could use a little more room. But, I really am thankful for my small kitchen. Here are a few reasons why...

***If I ever wanted to remodel I could put in granite counter tops, it wouldn't be too expensive!

***Not much to clean! One Magic Eraser will clean ALL surfaces without crumbling to nothing! (For more information on the magic of the Magic Eraser, check out my blog on Product Endorsement)

***Saves me money at Pampered Chef parties because I have no more cabinet space to store anymore stones!!

***Easy to change decor just by buying a new rug and hand towel at the Dollar General Store. (If you have never shopped for home decor stuff at Dollar General you are missing out!)

***Clean up is a snap. A 7 year old, 5 year old and 4 year old pretty much have it down.

Yes, I am very thankful for my kitchen! Best of all is that the kitchen is open to the dining room, living room and family room. It makes a complete circle so the kids can run laps through the house. That may not sound like the best idea but it sure is entertaining until they come barreling around the corner and find the dishwasher opened!

So remember there is always something to be thankful for! 

Grrrrrr

Call me irresponsible, but I do NOT like the new car seat law that just went into effect here in Missouri. Here's the deal...you have to be 8 years old or 80 pounds or 4'8". Jake is exactly 7 1/2 years old, 50 pounds and 4'5". So he is soooo close to meeting the requirements of at least 2 of the 3 but close is no cigar. Bruce and I decided we would just take our chances on not having car seats but I heard on the news that is a primary law and we can be pulled over and fined just for that offensive!! To the tune of $250 for each kid not properly restrained.

Now I think most of you know that Bruce and I are protective parents if not even over-protective but this is just crazy! We think the car seat manufactures and the government got together on this one. Evenflo stock must have been falling. (pictured above is the Evenflo Big Kid Car Seat which we just purchased for $39.42 at Walmart) This is the problem...Papa and Lula like to take the kids to the Palace Theater when they have kid movies. They drive a Ford Conture. This is not a big car. There is no way we are going to get three car seats across the back seat! Another problem...the kids like to invite other kids to go to Incredible Pizza, the Farm, swimming, etc. how do we cart other kids around? Sure, transfer car seats yada, yada, yada, but why? My friend told me I would feel really bad if we were in a bad accident and something dreadful happened to my kid because they weren't in a car seat. Sure, but I would feel really bad if they were on their bike and had a bad accident but I wouldn't ban all kids from bikes! Accidents happen, that's why they are accidents. They could walk around in an armour suit all day long but if accident is going to happen, it's going to happen!

Don't even get me started on government intrusion!

Maybe this stems back from memories of standing in the back seat of my dad's old Pontiac boat of a car hugging his neck while he was driving! Sure we got tossed around in the car every once in awhile for a stop short or railroad tracks, but that's what you waited for! (Maybe that's what's wrong with me now...got my head jolted around too many times.) Jake, the next generation, heard that this was they law and he has a really good attitude about going back to a car seat as not to break the law. I'm glad that he is law abiding and not rebellious LIKE HIS MOTHER! OK, I'm not that rebellious...I don't want to pay the fine so they are in car seats!