Oh Christmas Tree

After weeks of procrastination, our tree is finally trimmed. Last year was an off year for us as far as Christmas went. All of our ornaments were in boxes in storage and we were living in an apartment, and getting ready to close on our new home the day after Christmas. We were in a bit of chaos to say the least. So this year has been extra special in the fact that we have been able to pull out all of our special Christmas decorations and make our house into a celebration of Christ's upcoming birth.

We began by patronizing our local Knights of Columbus tree sale. We found a nice balsam fir (we normally get a frazier fir), and the nice gentleman "tied"it to the top of the car. Let's just say that as we were driving over the Indian River bridge, we watched in horror as the tree flew off the roof of our car! How this tree landed on the shoulder of the road and not smack dab in the river I'll never know. We had to keep going over the bridge, turn around, go back over the bridge, and then turn around and start back up the bridge. Chris wasn't about to try and tie the tree back to the top of the car, so we opened the back and shoved it inside. Let's just say that if Colin ends up in therapy one day with an unexplained fear of Christmas trees, you'll know where it came from!

We finally got the tree home, and there it sat for a couple of weeks. We just never seemed to have enough time to trim the tree. Until last weekend. We decided we really didn't want to start a new tradition of decorating the tree on Christmas Eve, so we bit the bullet and trimmed away. The result is a sparkling, decorated tree.You can see where the boys did their decorating :-)

Santa

We went to the zoo on Sunday where Santa and Mrs. Clause were spending some time. Finally, 4 years later I have a picture of my children with Santa. Brian went into a Santa fear at around 17 months, and it hasn't abated since. As you can see I'm holding onto him for dear life! But, I now have a current picture to put into our Santa frame. :-)

The Stockings Were Hung

Who says you need to live where it can snow to have a fireplace? Not I! Chris and I decided that it would be nice to have a fireplace in our home, so we purchased a beautiful free-standing fireplace. And what's even nicer is that I can tie some history lessons into our purchase! Think we can write it off as a school supply? ;-)

A Spider Born...

A Spider Bred and When I Die I'll Be a Spider Dead!
So Rah-rah for Richmond, Richmond!
Rah-rah for Richmond, Richmond!
Rah-rah for Richmond - U of R!!!!

We are the Champions!

We R..UR!

This is me, many moons ago. I was a cheerleader for my University of Richmond Spiders. Let me preface this by informing you that during my 4 years at the University of Richmond, our football team won a total of 4, yes, count them, 4 games. So needless to say, my job as a cheerleader was cut out for me. I learned how to keep wearing a smile even when your team is being bested again, and again, and again.

However, tonight, all of those losses are being put to rest. My Spiders are playing for their first National Championship in the history of our program! I'm finding it very easy to cheer tonight!

Nature Study at the Zoo

Check out the fun we had today at the zoo. And it was educational to boot!

Go on and Elf Yourself!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Happy 2nd Birthday Colin

My sweet little man turned 2 today. How did that happen? It seems like just yesterday he was that little preemie hooked up to all of those wires and machines with his mommy strapped to her own bed.

Now he is such a big boy! His smile lights up a room. He loves to laugh and to dance. He loves 'Mouse' (Mickey Mouse) and Blue. His vocabulary is expanding by leaps and bounds. He has been running around today saying 'cocoa' - talking about our Christmas Elf. Colin is a climber and a little love. He loves to follow his big brothers around and do everything they are doing.

I just adore this child and am so proud to be his mommy. Happy Birthday Little Man! I love you.

Be Creative and Win

My sister Lori is starting a new business endeavor selling these fabulous diaper clutches and wipes cases that she sews.

Her problem: she doesn't know what to name her new business. So she is offering the opportunity for a lucky person to help her name her business and win a free diaper clutch to boot!

Now when I tell you these diaper clutches are great, I'm not kidding. I can fit the wipes case (either my coordinating one, or a disposable pack, plus at least 4 size 5 diapers, some diaper rash ointment and even a disposable changing pad. I can pack this up, throw it in my purse, and I don't have to: 1) drag a diaper bag along, 2) rummage through my purse to find the diapers and wipes and 3) Chris doesn't mind taking Colin into the bathroom to change him if he only has to carry this in with him.
Even if you don't have the need personally for a diaper case, you will probably need to get a gift for a new mom at some point. This is such a wonderful gift. Please consider helping my sister come up with a name for her store. Thanks!

Fight FOCA

Barack Obama is now the president-elect. This fact won't change. What we can do though is take a stand against FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act) which would wipe away every restriction on abortion nationwide .

FOCA would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support, such as:

~Bans on Partial Birth Abortion
~Requirements that women be given information about the risks of getting an abortion
~Only licensed physicians can perform abortions
~Parents must be informed and give consent to their minor daughter's abortion

FOCA would erase these laws and prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future.

Please go to this site and sign the petition against FOCA.

Sadness abounds in my house

Today Brian was asking me why Chris and I voted for John McCain and not Barack Obama. I tried to explain to him in terms he could understand that John McCain believes in the same things that his daddy and I did and that Barack Obama does not. He kept probing me as to what Obama didn't believe in.

I explained that Obama wants to take more of our money to give to other people, and while it's good to help people who don't have as much as we do, his daddy and I don't think it's right for the people in the government to tell us to give our money. I also explained that Obama believes that it's okay for mommies to hurt babies that are in their tummies. And that John McCain wants us to keep our money and that it's not okay for mommies to hurt the babies in their tummies.

Brian looked at me and said with complete sincerity. "Well Mommy, that's wrong to hurt a baby. Why doesn't John McCain just tell Barack Obama that?"

I told him that John McCain has let Barack Obama know that it's not right. Brian then said, "Well, we should just tell him that it's not right then."

Out of the mouthes of babes.

And now we just have to pray mightily that the next four years will not be as horrific as I'm afraid it will be.

Welcome Sarah Anne

A big rousing welcome to the newest member of the Foss family. My friend Elizabeth gave birth last night to Sarah Anne. She was 34 weeks but weighed 5 lbs. 6 oz. She's still in the NICU as of this morning, working on regulating her temps and getting that whole oxygen thing down. Elizabeth is doing great, but wanting to snuggle up to her littlest one. Prayers for a quick recovery for all, and a happy homecoming.

I swear, I'm not a bad mom, really!

As you can see, we have a little refrigerator outside on the patio by the pool. We keep sodas, water, juice boxes and yes, Chris' beer out there. The weather was so lovely the other day that the boys and I took our lunch outside. After lunch I took our plates inside and came back out to this:

(No, he's not really drinking the Guiness!)

The next day the boys ran outside to play while I was getting dinner ready. I heard a "concert" going on outside and found all of Daddy's beer bottles on the table.

I think I'm scared to let Colin go off to college...can you say Harvard Homeschool?

Art & Me

Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test...

Conscientious, Fulfilled, and Spiritual

25 Renaissance, 11 Islamic, 1 Ukiyo-e, -39 Cubist, -35 Abstract and 19 Impressionist!

The Renaissance was a cultural movement that profoundly affected European intellectual life. Beginning in Italy, and spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16th century, its influence affected literature, philosopy, religion, art, politics, science, and all other aspects of intellectual enquiry. Renaissance artists looked at the human aspect of life in their art. They did not reject religion but tended to look at it in it's purest form to create visions they thought depicted the ideals of religion. Painters of this time had their own style and created works based on morality, religion, and human nature. Many of the paintings depicted what they believed to be the corrupt nature of man.

People that like Renaissance paintings like things that are more challenging. They tend to have a high emotional stability. They also tend to be more concientious then average. They have a basic understanding of human nature and therefore are not easily surprised by anything that people may do. They enjoy life and enjoy living. They are very aware of their own mortality but do not dwell on the end but what they are doing in the present. They enjoy learning, but may tend to be a bit more closed minded to new ideas as they feel that the viewpoint they have has been well researched and considered. These people are more old fashioned and not quite as progressive. They enjoy the finer things in life like comfort, a good meal, and homelife. They tend to be more spiritual or religious by nature. They are open to new aesthetic experiences.

Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy

No, no and no

This must be a refrain that my kids hear from me because they are starting to use it back to me. It got me thinking how often I must say "no" to them...
"No, you can't go outside right now."
"No, you can't have a snack now."
"No, don't hit your brother."

Well, you get the point.

Now, some things require a no. Like when Colin is wanting to draw on the television (like right now!), or when Sean is scratching at Colin or Brian's face, or when Brian pulls out a big knife. Safety aside, I want to be a mom that is more of a "yes" mom. Not that I want to be a doormat or let my children run the roost. There are certain boundaries and rules that are in place to try and keep our house and family running well, but for the other things, my goal is to say "yes" when my previous instinct was to say "no".

"Yes, we can go outside and play"
"Yes, I will play trains with you now"
"Yes, I will read this book to you again"
"Yes, you can have a snack now - would you like an apple or a banana?"

Are you a "yes" mom or a "no" mom?

Boo at the Zoo 2008

Friday night we met up with Tommy, Kellie and Leighton for a night at Boo at the Zoo. Our local zoo closes early the 2 weekends before Halloween. Then at 5:30 they re-open for some trick-or-treating throughout the zoo. Last year we went to Boo at the Zoo - I'm seeing a tradition coming on here. The only downside of going to the zoo in the evening is that most of the animals are already put away. It's still nice to walk around since our zoo is very tropical in nature - it almost seems as if you are walking through the animal's natural habitat. So without further ado, here is a quick slide show of our evening. You'll notice towards the end that someone put on his cranky pants!

Umm, what exactly are you saying, Sean

I have a similar scale to this in our bathroom. Colin loves to press all the buttons and hear the beeping noise.

This morning, Sean was playing around with the scale. I told him to hop on it and stand very still and we would see what he weighed. 35 pounds. Great job Sean.

He hopped off, stooped down to look closer at the scale and said, "Okay Mommy, time to monitor your fat." (The scale reads "Tanita Fat Monitor") Sometimes this early reading this isn't so good for Mommy's self esteem!

Snow in Florida

So down here in Florida we don't get much in the way of snow. Brian has been asking repeatedly over the past year when we were going to get some snow. It's so hard to explain to him that we live in a tropical climate and that the chance of snow is, well, pretty darn slim.

So, what are some ingenious boys to do while their momma is occupied? Create their own snow! If you saw on St. Anne's Academy, today we made Ziploc Freezer Bag Ice Cream. Required salt to be mixed in with the ice prior to all the shaking. Let's just say that my big box of Kosher Salt
is completely empty now. Our playroom on the other hand looked like a winter wonderland. I was too upset to think about taking pictures, but I'll just let your imagination fill in the blanks here.

New Vocabulary

On the way home from CCD this afternoon.

Sean: Mommy, what day is it?

Mommy: It's Tuesday, Sean.

Brian: No Mommy, it's Tues-night!

Too funny not to post

In case you didn't stay up on Saturday night to watch this live and in person, I'd like to share one of the funniest skits I've seen out of Saturday Night Live in a long, long time. In fact, viewership for SNL last Saturday was the highest it's been in 14 years due to the appearance of Gov. Sarah Palin. Enjoy!

H is for Happy Birthday

In the spirit of "H" week around here, I want to say a big Happy Birthday to my now 4 year old Sean! How did you get to be 4??? It seems like just yesterday I was at my doctor's appointment with Dr. Felluca and she sent me over to the hospital for a contraction stress test. This was the first test you failed (and hopefully the last!) and the next thing I knew, Dr. Felluca was pulling strings to get us into an operating room and there you were! With your older brother I was in such shock at seeing a little baby that I never cried. When you were born, tears came streaming down my face - I knew then what a special little man you were.

Your biggest achievement this past year has been learning to read all by yourself. You started amazing your daddy and I last December when you pulled out a book that you hadn't seen for over 6 months and started reading it (that would be How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten). And we haven't been able to stop you since. You devour books. You take a book with you wherever you go. You sleep on top of your books - really, there's no room on your bed for you at night...it is covered with your favorite books!

I am so proud to be your mommy and can't wait to see what this year brings. Happy Birthday Sean.

6th Picture Post

So the instructions for this meme are very easy:

Go to your picture folder - go to the 6th folder and then the 6th picture in that folder and post it.

Now, I'm kind of cheating. I have this folder in my picture folder that doesn't have any pictures in it. So this is my result if I go exactly by the letter of the law:

This was last November. We were living in our sparsely furnished apartment while waiting for our house to be finished. We had nothing to put up for Christmas until my sister Lori lent us her extra Christmas tree and some ornaments. Chris and the boys are setting up our tree.

Now, if I go by the spirit of the law, this would be the 6th picture in my picture folder.
This picture was taken last November also - at Thanksgiving. All of my brothers and sister came to town as well as my Grandma Summers and her husband Lyman. My parents had a photographer come to the house.

If you feel like playing, leave me a comment and let me know - I'd love to see your picture/pictures!

HT: Kimberly

Puppet Show for the Letter G

This week we are studying everything to do with the letter "G". Today we made giraffe stick puppets. Brian & Sean decided (on their own) to have their own little puppet show. And now, for your entertainment...Brian Giraffe & Sean Giraffe!

Before & After

It's amazing what a little haircut can do.

We have had our first sighting

I came home from t-ball with the boys this morning, and as I looked out the back door I saw something sticking up slightly from the water in the lake. When I went outside to investigate, my suspicions were confirmed - we have an alligator. I called our neighbor and she ran down the block to gaze in horror at the site with me. Looks like we'll be playing inside the house today!

Another reason why I'm so glad

1) we don't live in VA anymore

and

2) we don't send our kids to school to see this overt effort at swaying children.

When I started my teaching career, Chris warned me that the teacher's unions are forcefully liberal, and he was going to keep an eye on me to make sure I didn't get brain washed. And yes, the liberal "junk" was all over the place in that little school. Fortunately the teacher across the hall from me was an ultra-conservative, so we were able to vent about this issue. I've never understood why teachers, as a rule, are so liberal. Conservatives don't want to crush the teachers - they want to offer choices to parents. The option of having vouchers and letting parents send their kids to another school if their school is failing scares the beejezus out of most teachers. It forces them to look at themselves and realize that they can't just sit on their tenure and get by.

And don't even get me started on the No Child Left Behind policy - which by the way keeps getting blamed on George W. Bush, but in actuality was a bill proposed and co-authored by Ted Kennedy - a Democrat in case you weren't aware. All this bill does is cause teachers to feel forced to teach to the test. So if you teach science and you are studying the solar system, and your students get really excited about this topic you have to stop studying because you have to move on. This crushes the natural excitement that children have for learning. We are teaching our children to just be memorizers, not learners. All in the name of getting a high enough score to please the federal government. What?? Does that sound like a way to get our children to the next level? I don't think so.

Kelly for President

Your result for The Presidential Capacity Test...

Presidential Success!

79% Values, 95% Charisma and 82% Judgment!

"In America, anyone can become president. That's one of the risks you take." -Adlai E. Stevenson

Congratulations! You encapsulate everything that a successful candidate should encapsulate.

Crack open the whiskey and break out the celebratory cigar. You are destined for success in the Presidential Campaign. You exude confidence and charisma. You exhibit true leadership abilities and demonstrate the ability to make snap judgement calls if the need arises. You are well-respected for your strong values and your steadfast stance on honesty and loyalty.

The USA needs a President like you. You are one of a select few deserving of the influence and recognition commanded by the Presidential title. Congrats!

Other possibilities:

Take The Presidential Capacity Test at HelloQuizzy

Pizza Party

I helped put on a retreat for my church 2 weeks ago. When Chris picked me up at the end the day of Sunday I was totally exhausted. But, we had to go to the grocery store to get the fixings to have Family Pizza Night! See, while I was at church on Saturday night, Chris ordered pizza for he and the boys. Now, as you have probably gathered from other posts, my boys are a wee bit picky when it comes to food. The only pizza that they will eat is bacon pizza hold the sauce. Despite ordering the pizza this way, when the pizza arrived, there was sauce. Major catastrophe ensued. So to make it up, we were going to make our own pizza.

Daddy was in charge of "rolling" out the dough.

Sean was in charge of the cheese.

Brian was in charge of the bacon.

And Colin was in charge of taste-testing the bacon prior to the pizza!

The pizzas turned out really yummy. Although there was a little "issue" with Brian's pizza when it first came out of the oven. I guess it wasn't cooked enough - who knows. Chris put it back in the oven as the oven was cooling down - and then he forgot it. When he remembered to check on the pizza it was a wee bit overcooked. Surprisingly, for Brian is was perfect!

Check out our "E" week fun

Check out St. Anne's Academy and see what we did over "E" week.

Cookout with the family

This post is way overdue...

Labor Day weekend (see, I told you it was overdue!) we went over to Uncle Lou and Aunt Lori's house for a cookout.
In addition to having us over, Gramma & Grampa were there - always love seeing Gramma & Grampa! Lori also invited 2 of her friends from her Mom's Group and their kids to come play as well. This worked out quite well, since Drew was at Kelsey's 1st birthday party.
As you can see, Brian and Sean had a BALL playing with Drew.
Kelsey was dying to get outside and play with the bigger kids.
And Colin was caught in the act of being just too cute for words! He's getting so big - I keep wondering where my little bitty baby went. Can you believe he's going to be 2 in a couple of months??!!
I truly enjoy the blessing of living near family. I love the fact that my children have the opportunity to know their aunts and uncles and cousins in a way that I never got to. Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful life growing up, but moving around the country the way we did never afforded us the chance to be around our extended family the way our boys have been.

If I lived in the 1400s...

Your result for The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test...

The Prioress

You scored 8% Cardinal, 67% Monk, 56% Lady, and 35% Knight!

You are a moral person and are also highly intellectual. You like your solitude but are also kind and helpful to those around you. Guided by a belief in the goodness of mankind you will likely be christened a saint after your life is over.

You scored high as both the Lady and the Monk. You can try again to get a more precise description of either the Monk or the lady, or you can be happy that you're an individual.

Take The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test at HelloQuizzy

Pretty fair description, I think. HT: Margaret in Minnesota

Catholic Voter's Guide

As we approach this election, those of us who are Catholic are being called upon to make a moral stand. I don't care if you are voting for dog catcher or the president - if you take your Catholic faith seriously, you must "cast your vote in an informed manner consistent with Catholic moral teachings and fundamental human rights." (Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics)

It is our duty to vote. It is one of the duties we bear as citizens of this nation; the greatest nation in the world. Men and women have fought and died for the freedom we possess, and for this, we must take our duty seriously as well. As a Catholic, we have an added responsibility - "A well formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law that contradicts the fundamental content of faith and morals" (CLP 4)

Some things are always wrong. There are 5 non-negotiable issues which we as Catholics must use as our litmus test when it comes to whether or not to vote for a candidate, whether on the local, state or national level. These are:

1. Abortion - Our Church states "it is never to obey it, or take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law, or vote for it" (EV 73) There is a reason that this is the number one non-negotiable issue when it comes to voting.

2. Euthanasia - Again, another issue of killing innocents. It is unacceptable to kill someone - even when you frame it in the pretty terms of a "mercy killing". Killing, is killing. You cannot square up killing as a "compassionate act". It just isn't.

3. Embryonic Stem Cell Research - There are no valid medical reasons to destroy human embryonic beings in order to obtain the embryonic stem cells when they can be obtained from adults and those will provide the same if not better results. And even if there were valid medical reasons, again, it is not morally acceptable to harm these innocents.

4. Human Cloning - This is explicitly against the Church's teaching on the dignity and purpose of a marriage - to procreate. Additionally, when cloning occurs, the rejected or unacceptable clones are destroyed. See Non-Negotiable Issue #1 - since each of these clones are a human being, they are being killed.

5. Homosexual "Marriage" - Marriage is the union of a man and a woman - period. Homosexuality is immoral, and the promotion of "marriage" between homosexuals is doing a disservice to those people who are already living in an immoral state. The Church believes that when it comes to legislature that "the Catholic lawmaker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against it. To vote in favor of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral."

So what is a faithful Catholic to do with this? When comparing candidates, you must:

1. Not merely vote based on political parties. Nor just because your parents or grandparents voted a particular party. You need to research each candidate and find out what their positions are regarding the Non-Negotiable Issues.

2. Not vote for someone because they are a "star", "look good" or say what sounds good. This should really be a no-brainer.

3. Not vote for someone because they say they are Catholic. There are plenty of candidates and politicians who say they are "Catholic" but do not espouse basic Catholic teaching.

4. Determine which candidate can promote the common good, versus "what's in it for me".

5. Not vote for candidates who are "right" on lesser issues but morally wrong on the 5 Non-Negotiable Issues. There are a reason why they are in the order they are in. If both candidates that you are comparing do not espouse the Catholic view on issues 2-5, but one of them is in favor of abortion, and the other is not - the choice should be obvious as to which candidate you should cast your vote for. Our duty is to vote for the candidate who is most likely to do the most good -or worst case, the one likely to do the least harm.

When it comes to Election Day - or any day really - our conscience should be our warning bell that we are about to do something wrong. The problem is that many Catholics aren't informed enough on key issues that are intrinsic to their faith. When this is the case, their conscience isn't trained to "sound off". If you are unsure of what to do, place your faith in the unwavering teachings of the Church - you will always make a moral decision.

Start of a Season

Today was the season "opener" for our Homeschool Sports T-Ball/Softball program. Ever since we signed Brian up for T-ball, he has been talking non-stop about how much he loves baseball, and how he is going to be the best baseball player in the whole world. And if he makes a mistake, that's o.k., he'll just keep practicing.

The morning dawned, and we were getting ready to head out as a family to the park. Brian decided that he didn't want to use a glove - he only wanted to use a bat, because bat starts with "b" like Brian. When we got to the park, he wanted nothing to do with joining in with the other kids. He wanted Daddy to hold him, and he wouldn't look at anyone else. Fortunately we were with a group of Christian families, and no one thought anything of it. We followed Miss Angela, and Miss Andrea (2 homeschooled teenage girls) over to the younger kid's field. Chris stayed with Brian while I took Sean and Colin over to the playground equipment. When we came back over to the field, Brian was getting ready to get up to bat for the second time.
Here Brian is getting some coaching from his daddy. Chris was so wonderfully patient with him - not surprising!
Brian hit the ball off the tee all by himself this time. This is a picture of him running towards 1st base. As you can see, I hadn't taken the lens off zoom before he hit the ball! He got a little confused and started running towards the ball/pitcher's mound. Then he wanted Chris to run with him.
When Brian's "team" took the field, he played shortstop, and 3rd base. Chris stayed with him in the field. Brian almost got the ball one time, but a gaggle of other kids were running for it, and managed to get there first. But it was really neat to hear the "coaches" and some of the kids say "Brian, get the ball." - very encouraging atmosphere.

Our time ended with a reading from Samuel and a prayer. Then the kids headed over to the playground for a rousing game of freeze tag. The older kids were so sweet to Brian - explaining how to freeze.

I got to start meeting other moms who homeschool near us and have children near in age to our kids. I am so excited that I found this group of homeschoolers and am looking forward to getting to know these women and their children better.

What Happens When Mommy is on the Phone Making a Playdate!

A certain someone gets into the peanut butter jar!

Welcoming the newest "member" of our family

No, I'm not pregnant! We adopted a cat today. Introducing Darcy...
Brian calls her the "lovey-est cat in the whole world".
It's been 2 years since our cat, Meaghan died. I wasn't even thinking about getting another cat until a couple of weeks ago when Brian's assistant CCD teacher asked me if we would want a kitten. Chris and I talked about it and decided that we weren't quite ready to take on a kitten with homeschooling and everything else going on in our lives.

However, Brian and I stopped by Petsmart yesterday and they were having adoptions. I saw a cat that reminded me of Meaghan - she was always more like a dog than a cat! I brought the idea up again to Chris. He eventually warmed up to the idea and we went back to Petsmart today. Of course today there were different cats there! We just decided to check out the cats at the store today. And then, Darcy adopted us!

She's 4 months old and is considered a "tuxedo" cat because of her pretty black and white markings. She is an absolute lover - just comes right up to you and will give you kisses. This is going to be a fun new adventure in our lives. Wish us luck!

Sarah Palin's Speech

Oh, I can't tell you how proud I was while watching Sarah Palin accept the nomination for the Vice Presidency. She was so eloquent, well-spoken, and funny! She is going to be a "pit bull with lipstick" when it comes to holding Biden and Obama's feet to the fire.

Here's a link to her speech.

Some of the highlights for me were:
"...two decades and five children later he's still my guy" - has nothing to do with politics, but is evidence of her love of her family.

"I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening." - nice dig!


"But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country." - go get 'em!!

"...we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and ... a servant's heart.
I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice president of the United States." - we will hold you to that promise, but I certainly feel your servant's spirit.

"But the fact that drilling won't solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all. " - AMEN!

"But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate." - ouch, but true!

"In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers.
And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change." - And this is why John McCain needs to be the next president of the United States!

I Had Tears in My Eyes Tonight

As I was putting Brian and Sean to bed tonight, the boys said their prayers like they normally do. Brian said his prayers first. His new way of saying prayers involves him saying "Now I Lay Me", then me saying a "Hail Mary", and then Brian saying "Our Father". After Brian and I were done, I moved over to Sean's bed for his prayers. While listening to Sean's prayers, I heard Brian in his bed talking to himself as he was "writing" on his Doodle Pad.

Afterwards he told me that he was writing a note to Daddy and I to tell us he thanks God for all of the good things he has. Then he stopped. "Mommy, I have to write God a note, too!" Here's Brian's "note" to God.

Dearest God,
I love you so very much. Thank you for all of the things that you give to me. They are really cool things. Thank you so much. I love you.

Love,
Brian

I guess when Chris and I talk, Brian is listening.

Fun at the Waterpark

We met up with Aunt Lori and Kelsey at a waterpark that's about half way between our houses. All of the cousins had a great time playing in the water.

Aunt Lori and Kelsey.

You always have to have a picture of a cute tooshie in the air!

Kelsey chasing the big cousins - she really wanted to be in on the action.

"I almost got you, Sean!"

Brian and Sean had fun "crawling" around in the water.

Colin - such a big boy!

The brothers.

Daddy eating Colin's head - he's so silly!

There was a big "play house" in the middle of the pool. There were water fountains spraying all over the place.

Up on the platform waiting to go down the water slide.

Sean coming down the water slide.

Brian coming down the slide.

We all had a lot of fun. After a lot of hard playing in the water, we had a picnic lunch with Aunt Lori and Kelsey. Then we packed everyone up and headed home - for naps!