Fun day getaway to Silver Lake

Cody has become a little obsessed with fishing so this summer we went up to silver lake. The girls and I enjoyed taking pics while dad fished

I dont really know where to begin on updating this blog. I am sincerly going to make an effort to keep up with it better. This week in the McCallister household. Girls are very busy with school. Abby is taking honors english and history along with spanish and concert choir. She continues to dance but is struggling with a bunyon on her foot. She is looking forward to the appointment with the podiatrist this coming Tuesday. Hope is getting into the swing fof second grade. She is a little bored with the spanish portion of her day but its hard when you have Mrs. Malan to compare it to. She is really becomming quite the soccer player and is enjoying dance. Cody is still looking for work thereby I am picking up premiums left and right. I know he will find the right job and I feel bad knowing how frustrating looking for work can be. I am also back to school, I am taking Math 1010 and cultural reading (which counts for my diversity and humanities credit) next semester I have stats and micro and then I am off to either Weber or the U for my Bachelors.

Abby got a new dog for her birthday. Her name is Luna and she is an American Eskimo.

As always life is busy!

I am back...read and give feedback please

So I know I took a little hiatis from blogging, but I hope I am back! I am taking a class called reading culture and my first assignment was to write a paper about a cultural attribute. I chose to tackle polygamist dress and hairstyle. I would love to hear what you think!

Have you ever walked into a Cosco and found yourself wondering if you had possibly time traveled to the days of the pioneer. Wondering up and down the isles are women dressed in long dresses highlighted with sneakers for footwear, girls in these long dresses seem to have the desire to put on a pair of jeans underneath. The boys all look a little robotic with their slicked hair, button down shirt, and jeans. Now, while this is all quite a spectacle to behold the real eye catcher is the hair, yes I said it, the hair. Wow, I wonder to myself, how in the world someone can get their hair to look like that. It is almost like a piece of art on top of someones head.
Questions about this hairstyle most certainly have all been asked and there have been many answers. Why, is usually the first question. With the recent raid on the FLDS church compound in Texas, some former members have been able to shed a little light on our questions. Carolyn Jessop is an escapee of the FLDS compound. When asked about the hairstyles and dress she simply answered, it was one of the only forms of self expression for these women. She stated that the restrictions on their dress are so harsh that there is simply one pattern and a handful of plain pastel colors that can be used. She also stated that the women are required to wear their hair up as a loose hairstyle can be used to sexually entice a man. Therefore, we in the public see long, intricately braided hair with what I term “locker bangs gone bad” in the news.
I almost buy into this concept of self expression, except I am still questioning if it is self expression, then where is the individuality of the style. Maybe these are the true step ford wives. Obedient, hard working and they all look the same.
Another escapee spoke of the style being a way to segregate the women from the outside world. She stated it was so outside of their teachings to even wear a short sleeved shirt that as children when they saw someone doing that they would call them wicked. This young lady stated she was allowed to attend college but felt completely segregated by the mainstream population because of the restrictions placed on her dress and hairstyle.
It appears that this style, or lack of, intends to promote morality, modesty, and chastity. I do think, however, that this style is being imposed on these women by men. These men appear to be domineering and power hunger. The women are told to submit and please the man and one way to do this is to conform to the dress code. However, it sounds like these women, because of human nature, want to express themselves and their individuality and these high, coiffed hairstyles are a reflection of that desire.
While these styles are more reflective of the 1980’s than of the 1890’s. The puffy sleeves and shoulder pads with hair that looks a little to similar to “locker bangs”. It is clear that this style has engaged many outsiders to this community. It has provided a context in which to begin a dialog regarding this subgroup within America. I feel sorry for these women to live a life of so few personal choices. If the only choice they feel they are given is how to style their bangs, I guess I can just admire it from afar.

More pics of Aurora (just for the cousins)

Abby and her "brace face" as requested!

Still so cute!!!!

Happy Easter....broken window!

I worked on Easter and had just a great time taking care of a detoxing man and a dying woman. It was day shift #3 out of 3 but I am back tonight for a grave. The girls enjoyed the holiday with thier dad.
I woke to a broken window, some idiot broke into my car and took my purse but left my wallet that was next to it (duh!!) I am grateful though. Also they took a bag that had a project I was making for my sis-in-law, which I am pissed about. Oh and the fact that I am out $160.00 for the window.
The window guy is here fixing it now and Abby is getting her braces on.... I need a nap!

New Niece

Erin had her baby on April 6th around 1 in the afternoon. Mom and baby are healthy. I was able to attend the all natural birth and hopefully give a little help! Way to go Erin! You did great. We are very excited for this new edition to my ever growing list of neices. Yea for girls!!!!

Erins shower was a success! We all had a great time and had enjoyable conversation. Thanks to all who came out to celebrate!

Opening night of The Wiz

OPening night went well. Abby did great! The Tin Man was really sick and lost his voice and there were a few technical problems with the mic'ing. The kids all worked hard and the parents and faculity really pulled this together. What a fun expierance. Here are a few photos...more to come!

We had a great time at bouncin off the walls today. There were about 17 kids total, mostly 7 year olds! What a fun party. We not have Stone and Aidan (family friends) over for a sleepover. Hopes two week celebration is now winding down!

Life is officially been so crazy since graduation! I thought things would slow down, but no luck. First graduation went great! I had a lot of family support and most of them were able to make it. Unfortunatly my wonderful older sis could not come but I am hoping for a visit this summer...hint hint! My sister Erin moved back from Vegas the day of gradution and was able to come and take a few pics. I started my job in the ICU not even a week after graduation. I love it. I am so happy to have good friends that I work with and that make this trasition a lot easier!

Abby got two parts in her school musical "The Wiz". She is a tornado dancer and an Emerland City Citizen. She has made the adjustment into Junior High look like a breeze. Continuing her straight A's. She has no absences and only one tardy for the whole year. She is a great kid, and I am so lucky to be her mom! We are off for our second pair of pointe shoes today. her foot will just not stop growing!

Hope is the same spitfire she has always been she is loving school this year and has become quite a good reader! She is a yellow belt in Karate with a white stripe(as of yesterday). She is doing well in dance and is excited to find out what her part will be in the recital which is "The Wizard of Oz".

Cody and I decided to buy a house. We were looking in Sandy when my mom decided she needed to sell her house. We are now partially moved in (hopefully done by the end of the week. The loan should come through the first part of Febuary and then life can settle a bit. We have a lot of remodeling we want to do to make this OUR house and are excited to embark on this project together. Hope is a little nervous to change schools but we are waiting until next year to do that. Cody is doing well at the electrical company he started with in the fall and has taken a part time job doing maintanence on a church downtown.

Well I have to study for my NCLEX, I take it in a couple weeks!!!!