I Love My Mommy Friends

My friend Ellen picked this shirt up at a thrift store and thought it would be perfect for my husband. We like to make light of the fact that we don’t know what causes pregnancy and all the resulting kids. Some guys at Aron’s work ask him when he’s going to get “fixed” … but I’m pretty sure nothing is broken.

Funny, nobody has EVER asked me when I’M going to get “fixed” … they probably don’t want a broken jaw and a big ole black eye.

And I’d run them over with my new 12-passenger Mac Bus, once I get it. Look out, car salesmen: I’m comin’ to negotiate with ya, and I’m one tough cookie!

My friend Eva wants a post about van-hunting for my basketball team of kids. When I start hunting, I’ll let you know.

The Final Wedding

[edited to delete photo b/c of fear of family photos being on Internet]

This was taken in December of 2004 at the wedding of Aron’s sister, the last of the 5 kids to get married.

I was hesitant to post this photo and post because of the circumstances of the wedding, but my intentions are only good because I do love this family. I won’t name names because some people are Blog Sensitive and are afraid of being stalked.

Three of us were pregnant in this picture: me (7 months along with Callie), the bride (6 months along) and my red-headed sister-in-law (3 months along). My in-laws got 3 new grandbabies in only a few month’s time in 2005.

Aron just had hernia surgery the day before and was in a lot of pain. He’s the one who looks like he’s going to puke. Girls, you don't know love til you've nursed your man through hernia surgery while pregnant.

I love Aron’s family because it includes many nationalities and colors. I hate the term African American unless someone is from Africa, so I’ll just say my brother-in-law is black; my sister-in-law is Korean; her 4 kids are all mixed (and gorgeous and smart). We have German and Irish and Swedish in this family, that I know of. We are the Melting Pot Family.

I’m proud of the McLoughlins and am proud to be one.

Why the Dinosaurs are Extinct

Here is Michael’s theory:

“The brachiosaurus bit all the other dinosaurs and put them in a pile (dead). Then he was too big to get down and eat the leaves, so he starved to death. He couldn’t drink, either.”

Michael continues, clapping gleefully, “But wait, Daddy, he could bend his neck down …”

Aron asks, “So how does that play into our theory of extinction?”

Michael, “Poo poo.”

Then Joel says, “Hey, something extincts in here.”

American Family Insurance … Again

Last year I wrote about the annoying survey American Family Insurance spent tons of money on and sent out to policyholders rather than just call customers to see how they were enjoying their service and agent.

Now I’m griping because we got a letter from them saying they “may use a credit-based insurance score based on information contained in [our] credit report(s).”

I know someone who had their insurance rates go UP because they had bad credit. I’m sorry, but I think insurance should cost the same (based on number of tickets, age, etc., of course) for everyone, regardless of how bad or good their credit is. Our credit is great, so I’m not worried about our rates going up.

But maybe I should be. Maybe they raise the rates of people with BAD credit because they are a risk and those with GOOD credit because they are responsible with their money and possibly have more of it. I like to think most people with bad credit are working hard to pay off their debt, so why should they be penalized and charged more for that?

I feel for these people. When I was in my early 20s and had just escaped from an abusive marriage with the clothes on my back, the guy wouldn’t pay his bills, so creditors came after me. Even though I didn’t end up with any of the stuff, I worked hard and paid off the credit cards and even the IRS so they would leave me alone and not mess up MY credit for what HE had done.

Is your insurance company pulling this crap? How can we stop it?

*Follow-up since I wrote this post … they LOWERED our rates by about $40 every 6 months on my husband’s 1994 truck. I want to know who is paying for our lower rates now? Do you think this is fair?

Moral Lessons of Harry Potter

This post is for those who believe that the Harry Potter series of books and movies are evil. You know who you are. Hear me out. I’m not 100% sure, but I doubt I’m headed for hell for enjoying Harry Potter. While we’re confessing, I like to read books off Banned Books lists also.

Years ago, Mom bought every Harry Potter book for herself as they came out, then passed them over to me for the kids when she was done reading them. Aron started reading #1 to the boys over a year ago and they recently finished #4. It brings them together.* It’s not like we plunk them down in front of the HP movies and say, “Okay, now, try not to have nightmares later.”

Forget all that crap about the author coming out later (ha!) and saying Dumbledore is gay. I don’t buy it for a second and it doesn’t change the fact that the stories are great. The author (J.K. Rowling) was just looking for more publicity. She’s pretty, talented, famous AND rich … she also must want to be controversial. Whatever.

Here are “The Moral Lessons of Harry Potter”, part of an article I saved from the January 2002 issue of Child magazine (now defunct):

“Adversity can be overcome through perseverance and hard work. Despite the circumstances surrounding his early life, Harry is hopeful and able to thrive. … Harry is always having to confront his fears.”

“It’s important to be accepting of differences in others and to treat everyone equally. … Having been rejected by his own relatives, Harry is particularly sensitive to others’ suffering …” Yes, I’m aware that I’m “religious” and am supposed to cross the street when I see a gay or different-in-any-way person coming my way. But get out your Bible: Jesus himself hung out with prostitutes and lepers and other socially unacceptable people. If I have a divorced friend, that doesn’t mean I’m going to become divorced.

“You don’t have to be perfect. [Harry is] rather gawky, and his hair won’t even stay in place … Nonetheless, he prevails, using logic, kindness, patience, and bravery when strength or special powers fail him.”

“Education and knowledge are essential. … School plays a prominent role in all the Harry Potter books. … [and] Rowling employs rich vocabulary words, such as flouted, prudent, and abashed.”

“Loyalty to friends is important. … Even though the characters are strong as individuals, it’s as a team that they solve all their problems.”

How do YOU feel about Harry Potter?

*Aron made an Executive Decision and isn’t continuing the series until the boys are older. We moved on to SuperFudge and Wind in the Willows.