Meet George - The new family member

He is a pure Valley Bulldog - A newer breed blend between an English Bulldog and Boxer

 He is a 4 month old rascal

Wait, I Thought Since I Voted Third Party That was a Vote for Hillary...

But, Trump still won? And today became the 45th president of the United States? Weird. This is not the outcome my conservative friends passionately warned me about when I voted for Evan McMullin. This is also not what my unconcerned liberal friends predicted.
So, where does this leave me? Feeling a little unenthused honestly, and although I'm sincerely grateful Hillary didn't win, watching President Trump's spray tanned face and Plaster of Paris hair as he addressed the nation left me feeling like America has really "amused itself to death". But whatev.
I get why the middle class voters supported him for president. They do feel forgotten, exactly as Trump addressed in his speech today. I understand why the majority of the population voted for Hillary because they're worried the "forgotten" found under Obama's administration will be lost again. All of these labels we create put us at war with one another. These labels become our idols. Americans worship them, and in turn encourage political extremism. Fight for the minorities or the majority, but not both. No guns or all guns. Global warming or no global warming. Tax cuts or redistribution of wealth. Acceptance of all until you disagree with me! 
What a mess.
But, I feel grateful to live in this mess. This mess of America where we can express our extreme views freely and safely. Surrounded by millions who deeply love their country. A place where we can be friends even when our ideas of what the perfect America is may be polar opposite. What an honor. I thank God I get to experience it.
So, chillax people. I'm going to. 
And now, I'm going to sit here with my new little heater on my feet and bust out some homework before my baby wakes up from her nap - but first I'm going to tell Sweetrotten she may get out of time out because I forgot she was there. 
Happy 2017 people!

Meet George. Better than a space heater!

Sweetrotten. Another year older.

Sweetrotten, 

My little diva, you're a fireball. You turned three in November and rocked it by sporting a crown all day. In the morning you picked out a balloon from the $ store and then we went to Walmart where you used your birthday money to pay for a new Barbie toy. You styled her gigantic head all day long and then moved on to styling mine. I've never looked better. Buckabu and Papa joined our family in celebrating your life and you were ecstatic when you received another Barbie doll! You played with your new treasures in your birthday pop up tent that Daddy set up. Seriously life cannot get much better for you. You love pink. You love everything girly and frilly. You love to be in charge. Your brothers played with you in the tent while you ended the night watching a Barbie movie. They catered to your every need, being patient while you bossed them around and endlessly complimented you on your new toys. They adore you. 

 When you're feeling generous you'll tell the men in your life that they are handsome. A step up is cute, a step down is awesome. It's never a great compliment to be called awesome. You refer to yourself as always being cute, and we agree. You love being a princess, but sometimes you opt for Super Girl. 

One of our favorite things to do together is paint our fingernails and toes. You hold perfectly still (unless Daddy is distracting you) and take this art work very seriously. You wish we could paint the baby's but she is still a little too wiggly. You love to dance and sing and your favorite movie right now is the Disney musical, "Descendants". You call it "core, core" because of the first song "Rotten to the Core." But this song will never outdo Frozen's "Let it Go". You sing it from the top of your lungs at home or in public. You have no shame, and why should you? You especially love dancing while I sing and play the guitar. You always say, "again!" I'll play for you while you're in the bath with your sister, and she follows your lead by splashing to the music. Other times you just want to stand on my dresser in front of the mirror watching yourself move to the beat. I love it. 

But this softness and girlishness should fool no one. There's a fierceness underneath. You can take out Moo most days and Ruckus every now and again. You love to wrestle and play rough. You are also very fond of the stink eye. It takes you awhile to warm up to people, and by awhile I mean years. Your social anxiety gets the best of you which is too bad because people miss out on your sweetness. But, I completely understand. Strangers make you nervous. They should. Strangers make me nervous too sometimes. Heck, even people I know fairly well heighten my anxiety, so never fear. You can do this. And it will get easier. 

You are a daddy's girl, of course, and I wouldn't want it any other way. But that doesn't mean you get left out of his teasing. He'll pretend he's going to give you spankings and you say, "No Daddy, don't spank me, kiss me." To which he obliges. He says you have the perfect run. "Great form" he'll say, which is a compliment because he knows his stuff, he's a runner, and I glow over how proud he is of your 3 yr old gait. 

You love your little sister and are excited she can play with you a bit more. You get a little bugged you can't fit into her clothes but you're beginning to understand why.

You are a perfect little gift. I love looking into your big deep chocolate brown eyes. They melt my soul. I love you sister! Thanks for singing, "Super Poop" with me when I change your diapers and growling out the words, "PIZZA BITES!" in a low voice when it's time for lunch. You're a cool cat. Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he sent you to our home.

Much Love,

Mom

Daddy setting up the tent.

Moo helping you open your present.