War on Christmas?

The so-called "War on Christmas" is potentially one of the dumbest things I've ever heard of. I do not understand why everyone is getting so offended. Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, it's the same thing. It's someone wishing you goodness during this season. Happy holidays is all encompassing. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, and any other holidays that fall in that time frame. Merry Christmas is just that, wishing you happiness for one day, a day you may or may not celebrate. Do you really believe the Christ you are celebrating would be offended or upset by something so ridiculously trivial??? 

It seems to me that your Christ, through his teachings, would be more concerned with the hyper-materialism and commercialization of said holiday, or the starving, and freezing, children in this country. He would be more concerned about what people DID than what people said. After all, it's the intent behind the words. Christ taught people to be kind, loving, charitable, giving, and accepting. So sad to see so many people this easily distracted by a fictitious war on Christmas causing them to forget all about the teachings of a man they are supposedly celebrating. 

BJ wisely talked me out of making that my Facebook status, but I needed to get it out of my system so it went up on the blog. 

Neil Armstrong Academy

As a parent there are times when I feel like I'm doing a terrible job. I feel like I need to teach my children more, give them more, do more for them, be more for them... you get the idea. Tonight, I feel like I did something so incredibly important for them, it's almost as though it's my crowning moment as a mom. I submitted applications for both of my children to the only STEM school currently in Utah, Neil Armstrong Academy. For those of you who don't know what that means, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. It is a school whose focus is on those areas of education. They still teach the traditional curriculum, but they have a more hands-on approach with a heavy focus on STEM areas.

I won't know until March whether I have been successful in their application, however, I feel good knowing I've done all I can do in that regard. I am praying that they will be accepted. They are such intelligent kids. Jayden loves engineering. His favorite apps on his iPad are fundamentally engineering apps dressed up as games. He has a sharp, technical mind and I have felt strongly for a while now that traditional schools will bore him. I want the kids to go to the same school, and while Aubrey is more artistic than Jayden, I know she will benefit from that school as well.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I had a fabulous time with my family. I am so grateful for them, and love them so very much. I know I am lucky to have such a close, loving relationship with my parents (all 3 of them) and my siblings. I'll be back soon to tell you all about it.

Jayden has to go to the dentist in the morning. The poor kid inherited my terrible teeth and needs a lot of work done. My uncle told me that my cousin (who is about 12-years younger than me) had a similar problem at Jayden's age. Aubrey's teeth look perfect, Jayden's look terrible. It makes me so sad. Anyway, I'll update more about his first big trip to the dentist soon as well.