Summer 2009

How I spent my summer vacation.

By Amy Ogilvie

My best friend came to visit me, not once, but TWICE!!! I love my Mel!

I looked at A LOT of houses. This the wall paper the the bathroom of one. No, this isn't the house we picked. ;-)

Russ' sister and her family moved back to Utah!!! Morgan and Katie are best of friends! I'm so glad they are closer, so they can spend more time together.

Our dear friend Alexandra, and her beautiful daughter Nylah moved back to Logan, so we've gotten to spend a lot of time together! It's been SO fabulous!!!

We had some cookouts, like this one in Bear Lake at the in laws house! :-)

Hiked Limber Pine with the family a few times.

Had a visit from Russ' brother Dennis, his wife Amber and their 2 ADORABLE children!

Went to Disneyland!

And nerded it up at BlizzCon!

It's been a fun and full summer! I'm sorry to see it go, but I'm excited for what the coming year has to bring. We are moving into a new house this weekend and we've all gone back to school. Life is good. I'm truly a blessed lady. :-)

Team Jacob anyone?

Another reason I'm team Jacob!

Shameless thievery

I saw this on Kristy's blog and I just had to post it here! Too funny. Go Team Jacob!!!

I've been watching the casting and filming updates for 'New Moon' and I'm SO excited!!!!! Though that might bode ill for me, since I wasn't excited for the first movie at all and ended up loving it. Hmmm.....


EDIT: Found two more here ----> http://lucylou.livejournal.com/566295.html

They are a little naughty, and don't read them if you haven't red the books and have any desire to do so (in other words ***** Spoiler Alert******) but I really laughed at the Breaking Dawn recap.

A discourse about politics... and being a Thatcher.

*Notice* The statements and opinions made in this blog entry are solely the views and opinions of the author. No harm or criticism is intended, even if it seems to be implied.

I'm coming to realize something. Something I knew a long time ago, but forgot this past year. I hate politics. Now this might surprise some of you given some of my debates and discussions with you, but it's true. I get so worn down by debating and fighting and picking sides. BLEH! I want to like everyone. I want to live and let live. Can't we all just get along? Or is asking that a trait of a bleeding heart liberal?

What brings about this self-reflection you ask? Well, first I don't like feeling as if I've hurt, or offended others. I know it doesn't bother some, but it does me. I like a good snark as well as the next gal, but snark isn't my natural state. My natural state is that of the big sister. The shoulder to cry on. The listening ear. I hate being the one who goes on a rant about this or that policy, or political or radio or television figure. So I like Obama. I know most of you think he's the anti-Christ, but I just find him likable, and many other positive attributes that I'll refrain from listing. BUT I just read an article my cousin Robbie sent me about Rush Limbaugh, and guess what? It made me understand the man a little more. I'm not suddenly flipping sides and agreeing with the things he says, but my boiling loathing eased a bit. I saw his humanity. Where he's coming from. The talent he possesses to do what he does. It impressed me, I admit.

I guess it's the hallmark of naivety, but I would love it if politics didn't have the bite and negativity it does. It makes me feel sick inside. I know people think I'm crazy for feeling the way I do. That somewhere I must have lost my way. But honestly, I feel it is my ability to look at someone and try to walk a mile in their shoes that has brought me to my current beliefs; right or wrong. Constantly questioning myself and why I believe what I do. And in dealing with opposing views I've thought long and hard about what makes people have the political leanings they do. Where they are coming from, where they are headed and how that affects their politics.

I'm sure having an atheist husband might color my thoughts about how others outside my belief system view the world. It has taught me that just because I wholeheartedly believe one way, it doesn't negate or deny the right of another to exercise that same freedom to believe as they choose. It is a golden rule type of situation. I want those of other beliefs to treat me with dignity and respect, and because of this, I MUST afford them the same respect. And isn't example is the best way to teach those principles I hold dear? But by debating my politics am I showing what I believe by example? No. I'm just at loggerheads with people I love.

One problem I'm facing is the discussion of politics is some of the only contact I've had with some of my family since we were children. The only thing that makes me interesting to them is my political affiliation. It sets me and my sisters apart from the Thatcher throng. I mean, we're the odd ones. We didn't live on the farm, we were entirely too emotional to be tolerated and we just didn't quite “fit” in the family. Or that's how I've felt a lot of the time. I'm intensely proud to be a Thatcher though. I think it's something that comes from having your name blazed across the front page of the local news paper in big, bold letters, “THATCHER'S SUE THE COUNTY.” It felt like we really had to band together. Us verses them. We're stick to our guns kind of people. And you know, I'm proud of my family and the things they have accomplished. Though I wonder how I got none of those brassy, go out there and take the world by the horns genes. I do think I got the Thatcher love of conversation and discussion. And we have an acute curiosity about the world and love of travel. Or that's something I've observed. We're also deeply passionate. I got that trait. I like that trait.

But we can also be bullheaded and egotistical. *ouch* Prone to bragging, pride and condescension. *double ouch* We are also prone to generalizing complexities... which is what I just did. My main purpose in pointing that out is because they are truly MY faults and weaknesses in this matter. They are what have brought me here, at 3:30 in the morning reflecting on my comments and why I even care enough to continue debating.

I'll tell you why. Because I'm too stubborn and too proud to be silent. Because I think know my stuff and I enjoy saying it in a way that makes my immediate family laugh for days. Perhaps this is how to win friends and influence people, but it's like Rex says in Toy Story, “I was going for fearsome, but I don't think I'm coming across. I'm afraid I'm just coming off as annoying.” That the family is just looking at me, shaking their head saying, “Jackass.” I guess I also view it as an un-Thatcher-istic trait to even care what they think. *sigh*

The real question is, even with this realization, that at my core I hate this, I won't be able to resist the lure of the debate. Can I abide standing silent when I profusely disagree with something? Or will the draw be too seductive. The conversation too appealing. The argument too easy to make? Is it even possible for me to give it up cold turkey?

And round and round we go. It's brutal and ugly, and who wins? I haven't seen a winner yet. Each side thinks they do, but how do you win if you continue to run round and round the mulberry bush? No one ever changes their mind, we just think the other is, at best, deluded. At worst judged as misled, or even wicked. That really lights my fire and gets me riled. But that just illustrates that I'm just a big baby and don't like people thinking less of me because of who I voted for. I'm still me. I'm still a good person.

I'm confident that our current political system won't be kept when the Savior returns. We won't be divided into Democrat and Republican. I'd be willing to guess there would be parts of each party's philosophy incorporated, but the sting and bite would be gone. Wouldn't that be wonderful? But of course it's simpler to unite when the Savior is at the head of things. All we have now are imperfect men and women, with imperfect ideas, imperfect implementation, and an imperfect world. Man, it would be nice if we could take the greed and pride and ambition out of all of that. We'd sure be better off, wouldn't we?

So, I hate politics. I hate always having my dukes up, being more than willing to throw that last punch and possibly even kick 'em when their down. It makes the bile rise in my throat. At times it even makes me want to cry, but I've always been too emotional like that.

Guess I should probably update...

Because I have to have a picture and since Jonathan Rhys Meyers is better looking than the real Henry. It's relevant! It really is!

***

For someone who loves writing you would think it wouldn't be so blasted hard to update a measly little blog. Well, I at least love the IDEA of writing. I don't know if I've really actually loved writing for writings sake since my livejournal days which overlaps with my Reformation Britain History days at Utah State. Odd that the class covering my favorite period and place in history would diminish my love of writing. Preparedness was key. I'm not what you would call a prepared person. Now my friend Melanie, SHE'S prepared. I swear she always has everything she'll ever possibly need at arms reach wherever we go. Not me. I just mooch off her. Too bad she lives in Vegas. :-/

Anyway, during Reformation Britain we had to write a paper a week based on 1 of 3 topics covering in class that week. Upon learning this I thought, "YAY!!! I'm GOOD at writing! AND this is my favorite period in history! How hard can it be?" I thought I was in heaven! Then classes actually started. It took an insane amount of research and preparedness to write a flipping paper a week!!! It was absolutely exhausting! On top of that I didn't just get to write about the Henry VIII and his six wives and children. My history professor had some crazy notion that there were other factors involved in the reformation... whatever. So here I am reliving that angst and horror to explain why I put off updating my blog. And ya know? It's so difficult to make an interesting blog entry of, "went to work today. cleaned. changed diapers. made lunches. spent a ghastly amount of time on facebook. had dinner. got the kids to bed. went to bed. rinse and repeat." I know after sharing those tasty morsels I'll be receiving many requests for updates like THAT!

You know, I'm sure there are plenty of things around me that I could happily blog about that might prove interesting, but the problem is that interesting and controversial seem to go hand in hand. And controversial has a habit of biting me right on my chubby rear end. Like this whole "I'm a democrat" thing I've got going on. Sure, I'm being true to myself and what I personally believe, but now I'm under a constant barrage by one of my dear cousins on facebook *waves at Mark*. I don't know if he thinks he's actually changing my mind or if he's just punishing me for voting the way I did... probably the later, knowing him.

I could write about my kids and they are a great topic. They are interesting, intelligent, fun little people, but then I have to worry about what kind of information I'm putting out there. I tend to be a bit too honest at times. And then there is just the plan old simple truth of not knowing what to say.

And that is where I'll end this entry, gentle reader... I'm.. uh.... spent?

P.S. I really LOATHE country music. (is that controversial enough?)

The never sent Christmas cards.

This year's Christmas avarice.

Well, I had some great intentions about sending out Christmas cards this year. I had the cards, had the family letter written, had the stamps.... and I still didn't do it. Boo. So in an effort to not let those efforts go completely to waste here's my letter and some pics from the big day.

****

December 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

Every year, time seems to move faster and faster, and suddenly the holiday season is upon us. Our family has been incredibly blessed and busy this year.

In January, Amy, Morgan, Paige and Darien went with Amy's Dad and sisters to Elko, Nevada to attend a town hall meeting with Barack Obama. It was a very exciting event and we all got to shake hands with both then Sen. Obama and his wife Michelle. We even got some pictures. It really was a thrill to be a part of history like that.

In March another very exciting event, we welcomed our 5^th child and 3^rd son, William Thatcher Ogilvie (aka Liam) to our family. Some how, things worked out and he was born on the same day as his brother Britton, his grandpa Thatcher and his grandpa Ogilvie. Needless to say, March 14 is a very special day in our family.

Then this summer Russ, Amy and Liam were able to go (along with Amy's dad, uncle and 2 of her sisters) to the 4^th International Bollschweiler Family Reunion, this year held in Wilmington, Delaware. While on the East Coast we were able to visit New York City, Washington D.C., Jamestowne, Colonial Williamsburg, Valley Forge, Monticello, Mt. Vernon, Philadelphia, Antietam, Gettysburg and many other historic sites (not necessarily in that order) . Our reunion organizers Brian and Rocky Bushweller also arranged a special tour of the capital through Sen. Tom Carper's office. It was exciting to ride on the underground tram system and eat at the cafeteria the senators and other government officials use every day. Needless to say, it was quite a trip. Russ says that traveling with Amy's family is never a vacation, but a field trip. :-) We had a lot of fun though, even if it took a month for our feet to recover.

Our family has also enjoyed our daily activities. Russ is working at RR Donnelley as a Software Engineer. He enjoys working there and has met many great people. He appreciates being able to use his Linux skills on such a regular basis. Russ adores his family. He is a wonderful husband and daddy, regularly picks up more than his fair share in chores and kid duty. I'm so grateful to be married to such a wonderful man and my best friend.

I have ventured into the world of working outside the home for the first time since Morgan was born. It all happened very unexpectedly when I took Darien to have his speech tested at Riverside Pre-school (the special education preschool run by Logan City School District). I walked in to have him tested and walked out with a job. It was amazing! Plus, Darien gets to go to the best preschool in town for free. I love the people I work with so much and feel very blessed to have such a perfect job for our situation.

Morgan is 11 and in the 5^th grade. She is turning into a young woman before our very eyes. We are so proud of her and the progress she has made. She is a voracious reader and has an amazing imagination. Both of these gifts also help her be a pretty good little writer. She is also very good at organizing the other kids into some kind of production while she directs. This year at school has been a lot of fun because she has participated in the Ellis school choir and has enjoyed that immensely. You won't see her missing a practice or forgetting a concert. She loves it.

Britton is 9 and in the 4^th grade. He is a wonderful helper with the baby. He is completely smitten by his baby birthday brother and takes very good care of him. Britton also is an avid gamer. It wasn't so very long ago that he was asking me for help with them, but I'm afraid those days are long gone. I'm the one asking now. ;-) He also has an active imagination and uses it in creating some very complex and magical games outside with his friends, complete with maps and riddles. He also loves to play soccer and ride his bike.

Paige is 6 and started Kindergarten this year. Paige is very much a “sugar and spice and everything nice” kind of girl. She loves to sing, dance and perform. We are hoping to get her into some kind of dance or music training this year. She also loves all the girly things she can get her pink painted nails on. Oddly enough she still hasn't quite gotten over the crush she developed on Darth Vader (not Anakin, DARTH VADER, black mask and all) when she was 2. :-/ I hope this doesn't mean she likes bad boys. :-/

Darien is 4 and loves preschool. He is my jokester and crack up. He's always making us laugh with his amazingly articulate observations on the world. I regularly get reports from his teachers on some funny thing he's said or done that day. He is also a boy's boy. He love Cars, especially Lightening McQueen. It isn't likely that you'll see Darien without a couple die cast toy cars with him. He's also a huge Thomas the tank engine fan. Though even with his many manly pursuits, I have occasionally caught him enjoying a viewing of “Strawberry Shortcake” with his sister Paige.

Liam (or Lemur, as he is known to us) is 9 months old. I can not believe how quickly this first year has flown by. He is a champion crawler and loves to climb stairs. He's made our heart pound on more than one occasion with his feats of daring do. He also loves to eat REAL food and splash in any kind of water he can get his hands on. It is amazing the distinct personalities these little people come to earth with from day one. Liam knows what he wants for dang sure, and you'd better not try to get in his way. Honestly, we wouldn't have him any other way, though talk to me again at 3 AM when he decides it's play time and see what I say. ;-)

It has been a wonderful year for our family and we are so grateful for our associations with all of you. May you all have a wonderful holiday and a blessed and peaceful year to come.

Love to you all,

The Ogilvie Fam

My beautiful Morgan.

Cars PJ's, Cars game... any guesses on his favorite things?

Britton doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve... oh no. ;-)

The Thatcher hounds enjoying the human free chair.

Liam helping to open the kid's gift from Grandpa T.

Morgan seems to like her Nintendo DS. Maybe Brit is giving her some tips.

Britton realizing what is actually in the box (it's a Wii).

I wonder if he likes it? Only took 3 years for "Santa" to get his hands on one.

Yeah, I dun good on my honey's gift this year. :-D

Morgan is so engrossed with her DS that even baby brother will not thwart her concentration.

Paigey and her favorite gift this year. The singing Diamond Castle barbie... the brown haired one... I don't know their names. She already had the blonde one.

My adorable Darien in the Christmas wreckage.

The perils of cat ownership during Christmas.

2008, a year in review

I do this every year on my LiveJournal, and though I'd post it here and on facebook as well. It's a nice way to remember the year that has just passed.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
I've been to our nations capital, finally! I had a lot of firsts this year with our trip back east. I got to ride in the underground tram the senators use and even meet a few of said senators. I've been to NYC now. I've now visited so many sites I've only read about in history. But one of the highlights was our trip to Elko to meet Senator Obama. Yeah, I've never met a future president before.


2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I'd say I did pretty well and I think having my little job really made a difference in that.

My resolutions for this year are:

• I am LOSING WEIGHT this year. I'm not going to beat around the bush anymore. This year it has got to happen. I'm not pregnant, I have some motivation. It's going to happen (...please oh please let it happen?).
  
  
• More time with the family, less times on the computer.
  
  
• Learn to express my views better, and not get in a contentious debates with others about opposing views and then LET IT GO. I don't need to dwell on it for years and years.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I had a lot of friends and family members have babies this year. My sister in law, several cousins, several friends, but I ALSO had a baby this year! What a blessing he's been since arriving here on earth. I can't imagine my life without him. My children are truly wonderful, kind, beautiful, incredible people!


4. Did anyone close to you die?
This one makes me cry just thinking about it. My dear Uncle Gordon. I miss him so much already.

5. What countries did you visit?
America the beautiful! Added quite a few states to my “been to” list this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A better, less reviled, more unified country. I don't know how President-Elect Obama is going to do, but I hope a brighter day is on the horizon.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory?
There were a lot of significant days this year, but March 14^th is sure to be the most significant. Not only was my 5^th child and 3^rd son born on that day, but it's also my oldest son, my dad and Russell's dad's birthday.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The birth of my son and helping in the Obama campaign.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Letting what others think get to me.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing serious.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I think I hit a home run with Russ' iPod for Christmas. It is really nice to see him enjoy something like that because he's usually so spartan in his wants/needs.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My Morgan. She has come so far, made such great progress and overcome so many obstacles. I'm so proud of her and grateful to so many people who help and continue to help her grow and progress.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
People who might think that because I'm a democrat that my eternal soul is somehow in peril.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Formula and diapers.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Meeting Barack and Michelle Obama and him being elected.


16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Flogging Molly, “Float.” The Shins, “Australia.” Erasure, “Storm in a Teacup.”

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
I'd say I'm happier. I'm habitually optimistic, but I think I may have reason to be this year.

ii. thinner or fatter?
I think I may have gained a bit, but my children annihilated my scale so I can't be sure.

iii. richer or poorer?
A bit richer, oddly enough.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Getting outside and spending time with the people who really matter in my life.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I probably could spend A LOT less time on the computer. I need to cut down on those kind of distractions.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
This year was a little weird because we didn't have our traditional get together in Laketown with Russ' family. I missed that and the family members who weren't able to come, but us locals got together on Christmas Eve and had fun with our white elephant gift exchange. Then we did the traditional Thatcher family Christmas with the exception that me, Russ and Liam slept at home and then went up to my parent's when the kids woke up.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I am convinced that I am married to one of the best men on the earth. I'm not saying he's perfect, but I'm frankly really glad he isn't because I'm so far from perfect it's not funny. But there are so many things that convince me we are perfect for each other. I wish we didn't have the religious differences, but I really think that has made us a better couple and has forced us to grow in ways we wouldn't have otherwise. So, to make a short story long, yes. I'm STILL incredibly in love with my wonderful Russy.

23. The most unexpected realization you made this year?
My family will still like me even if I'm a “damn liberal.” Well, most of them do. ;-)

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Avatar, Dexter, and Cities of the Underworld

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Ummmm.....Sarah Palin? Just kidding! I don't really hate people. People irk me, but hate just isn't my kind of word.

26. What was the best book you read?
Well it sure as heck wasn't “Breaking Dawn.” BLEH!!!!! Wait, what was the question? Favorite? Oh yeah. Probably “Dreams from my Father.” I grew as a person from reading that book.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Birthday Massacre. They are such an Amy band. Thanks for sharing them with me Ryan (Schwab). I don't know how you do it, but you've introduced me to several of my favorite bands. I also became slightly obsessed with the song “J'en ai marre,” by French singer Alizée.

28. What did you want and get?
A healthy baby. Oh, and Barack Obama elected president! ;-)

29. What did you want and not get?
More affordable health care.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I don't see very many movies because getting out with small children is very difficult, but the ones I did see that I liked a lot were: Twilight, The Dark Knight, Forbidden Kingdom, Death Note, Iron Man, Mama Mia and Wall-E.

31. What did you do on your birthday?
My birthday is in January so by the time I get to December 31^st I've forgotten. Lol! Uhh.... I think we made Japanese food, but I honestly can't remember for sure. Or maybe I'm projecting because that's what I want to do this year. Lol!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I really got what I wanted this year on the whole. Uh, how about an all expense paid trip to Europe. That always makes my life immeasurably more satisfying. ;-) Oh and "Breaking Dawn" not sucking.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Jeans and work casual tops.

34. What kept you sane?
My husband, family and friends, with a little WoW on the side.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Well, for 2 years running now, it's Barack Obama. I've never been so involved or followed a political campaign as I did this one. It was a great experience in most ways.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The presidential election. I'm slowly weening myself away, but I was an absolute CNN junkie for a while there.

37. Who do you miss?
Uncle Gordon. My buddies, the Schwab's. I haven't seen them in far too long. Though I'd love to see any of my friends and family I don't see regularly.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I don't think I met many new people. Did I? The thing I loved about this year was facebook and blogs, which allow me to reconnect and get to know family and friends. I've love that so much. Oh wait! I met the Obama's! :-D
EDIT: DUH! I met the people at work this year!!!! Duh, DUH! I love those guys! They have truly enriched my life by knowing them.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. “This above all: To thine own self be true.” Still trying to apply it, but I believe it's the truth.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Besides the drinking part, this song fits me pretty well.

Flogging Molly - Float

“drank away the rest of the day
wonder what my liver'd say
drink, thats all you can
blackened days with their bigger gales
blow in your parlor to discuss the day
listen, that's all you can

ah but don't, no don't sink the boat
that you built, you built to keep afloat

sick and tired of what to say
no one listens anyway
sing, that's all you can
ramblin' years of lousy luck
you miss the smell of burnin' turf
dream, that's all you can

ah but don't, no don't sink the boat
that you built, you built to keep afloat

singled out for who you are
it takes all types to judge a man
feel, that's all you can
filthy suits with bigot ears
hide behind their own worst fears
live, that's all you can
it's all you can
it's all you can...do

no matter where i put my head
i'll wake up feeling sound again
breathe, it's all you can
tomorrow smells of less decay
the flowers greet this bloomin' fray
be thankful, that's all you can

ah but don't, no don't sink the boat
that you built, you built to keep afloat

a ripe old age
that's what i am
a ripe old age
just doin' the best i can”