GO MIZZOU!

Halloween +

Making Halloween T-shirts. (Family Fun style)

Crazy Hair Day at school.

Guinevere, two witches, and Artemis 

(goddess of the hunt, outdoors and little-girlhood)

Elaction Party!?

So there we were, 

Laughing, 

Lounging,

Eating,

Watching the map change.

When all of a sudden, we all stared in silence at the TV!  A speech. 

What???!

The party was over.  Our guests went home.

We shut out the lights.  

We said our prayers according to our chosen religion, 

and went to bed with our guns under our pillows.   

All I can say is: If you didn't bother to vote, don't bother to complain.

-Just kidding about the guns.-   

My Soap Box and Proxy Stump Speech

I've really been, to borrow a friend's word, intrigued, by this election campaign.  Not just the players and the game, but how so many well meaning, intelligent adults can come to so many "right" and opposing conclusions about the same issues.  I wondered why people think the way they do?  Are they believing one side's rhetoric, and dismissing the others?  Is it how they grew up?  Do they base their decision on one experience or issue?  Basically, How do individuals arrive at their value system, and how does it affect their political views, if they choose to have political views.  As you might imagine, I came up with no answers. (But I will eagerly read the dissertation after someone does the research and writes the paper.)  I was finally able to evaluate my own political value system, however, and determine my motivation for choosing one candidate over another.  

You may rightly call me the Mayor of Simpleton, but there is a litmus test that I use when deciding whom to vote for.   The Family.  That is my only test.  I base my political decisions on what is good for Families.  -Not just My Family, but Families as the foundation for all that is good and hopeful for the future.  For raising whole, healthy adults with the ability to carry the torch when it is their turn.

There is a phrase that has been running through my head these past weeks, I finally found it in the following quote.  

"The strength of any community lies in the strength of its families. The strength of any nation lies in the strength of its families."   

    

I used to not believe that statement, I believed that policies could mould  behavior and that we just needed the right policies.  As I grew, I learned the value of correct teaching.  I learned that policies, however well intentioned, don't undo a foundation of ignorance, hopelessness, or laziness.   I learned that teaching correct behavior, like our great grandparents used to do, make well-adjusted, mature (unmedicated) adults that in turn, make good policies.  The following is a few of the traits that I feel make well-adjusted, heathy adults, in any town, in any culture.  The more of these adults we have around, the better our world will be. 

Healthy adults take personal responsibility!  They make mistakes and learn from them.  They know that not all natural consequences can be taken away or even reduced. For instance, if you are having sex, you may get pregnant.  It is wrong to kill a child for your lack of judgment or unwillingness to step up to the plate and learn from a mistake.  An unwanted pregnancy provides an opportunity for selflessness that is redeeming and healing.  It is called adoption.

Healthy adults work hard!  They are given opportunity, not handouts.  They fill their financial obligations.  If they borrow, they pay back. If they take risks, they accept the outcome and don't make excuses.

Healthy adults resist selfishness!  They do not seek to take advantage of others for their own gain!  They know that every action has an effect on their fellow humans sharing the planet.  There are no such things as strangers; just friends you haven't met.  Who's idea was it to issue Wal-Mart credit cards?  Who is going to use those cards the most?  The shoppers of Wal-Mart are some of the lowest income, the card (if an unscrupulous bank will give them credit -of course one will)  will give them an opportunity to get some necessities, and the mechanism for excess, and then the rest of the community (country) will end up bailing out the banks through tax dollars, and our local community members will be more in debt, or bankrupt.  Hardly fostering a strong community or confident independent adults.

Healthy adults are honest!  They are genuine.  They can be trusted.  You do not have to guard for hidden agendas, or manipulation.  You do not have to wonder where there loyalty lies.  It kills me how many people are out there for themselves at the expense of others and their own integrity.  You may not agree with their views, but you do not have to wonder about their motivation.

Additionally, the best arrangement for raising healthy adults is in a home with a Mom and a Dad! Having both genders, with all their opposing and complementing behaviors is an important dichotomy in a healthy home. A Civil Union is a legal commitment between members of the same sex.   A Marriage is a legal commitment between members of the opposite sex.   By nature they are different relationships, with a different dynamic, and we should have different terms to identify them as such. 

Does this mean intolerance and religious dogmatism as law?  No.  Neither does it mean social progressivism to the exclusion of what history has taught about civilization's revolving patterns of evolution and de-evolution and what used to be known as common sense.  Healthy adults know that we all have different opinions and backgrounds, and can work and communicate and VOTE together, to maintain a civil, functioning society. 

The rest of the above quote is as follows.

"Strong family life comes of strong and clear religious understanding of who we are, and why we are here, and of what we may eternally become. Strong family life comes of the perception that each of us is a child of God, born with a divine birthright, and with a great and significant potential. Strong family life comes of parents who love and respect one another, and who love and respect and nurture their children in the ways of the Lord. These are undergirding principles of our teachings as a church. To the degree that we observe these teachings, we build strong families whose generations will strengthen the nation."  

Prophet Gordon B. Hinkley,  1999    

You may feel that my religious leaning make my opinion less valid.  But consider the validity of the position before you knew of a certainty how it originated.   Religious associations or exposure should not be counted against one person, and allowed for by another.  - but the double standard that abounds today is not today's soap box.   

Look at the people who support -I'll say it - Barack Obama.  Are those the people with whom you share an ideology?  Preservationist Environmentalists? (as opposed to Wise-Use Environmentalists)  Abortion availability at all costs to unborn babies and minors who are not yet really aware of the consequences of their choice?  Socialist healthcare and banks?   "Spreading the wealth around" should not be mandated by law, but freely given by caring, generous citizens.   - but I digress- again

How do you choose one issue's importance over another? How do you accurately evaluate each and every policy?  I choose a candidate whom I feel I can trust (as much as you can trust a politician who isn't Mr. Smith), with whom I share a basic

ideology and value system.  One who values Families as the foundation of civilization.  This year I choose John McCain.  But that's just my opinion.

A great site to help you evaluate your pet issues.  Glassbooth  

Less than 5 min.  Interesting results. 

Tons of political t-shirts.  Check out both candidates, it's interesting.   http://shop.cafepress.com/elections08 (some of these are bad, look at your own risk)

Another Good Quick Book

The Invention Of Hugo Cabret,  a great little/big book.  

Interesting story, innovative format.  Well worth the hour or so reading it.  

Some background websites are also intriguing. 

www.fi.edu/learn/sci-tech/automaton/automaton.php?cts=instrumentation 

(this one looks boring, but scroll down and it gets good.)

www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm

Also, don't know if any of you have been reading, or have read some of The Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini.  The third book, Brisingr, I thought was not for children.  You may 

want to read it first before you hand it to an eager child.

Summer Catch-Up

Before summer ended, we had the chance to accompany Dad while he had to be out of town.

We did family stuff on the weekends, but otherwise, while Daddy was working, we girls got to play.  

Here are some of the things we did.

We went to a Renaissance Fair to ride an elephant, meet a Fairy, get creative, and fall off a ladder.

We went to the Zoo and got a bit silly.

My cousin came to town and we hung out and took a "little hike." 

http://www.inclineclub.com/incline/

We hiked around Garden of the Gods as a family too.

Wow! this post is way too long, and we haven't shown you the radio show, or the Olympic

 Training Center.  Plus, this summers Children's Theatre, more family visiting, back to school,

 a Santa Fe trip...  guess I'll have to stop procrastinating.  More later.   :)   Topper

Big Red is into Apes

Big Red had a birthday this past weekend.  She had monkey games and a gorilla on her birthday

cake.  She had a simple backyard birthday party with friends from near and not as near.  Everyone

had a great time.  "Backyard Birthdays" are now being requested by the other girls as well.

Sometimes simplest is best. 

We are so proud of our little girl.  She is such a blessing.

Gila Cliff Dwellings

One of the absolute best things we have done while here in the southwest, is visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings.  

It is one of the few cliff dwelling sites that allow you to walk around inside them.

It was just over a mile hike and well worth it!  I hope we go back.

Insufferable Logic Game

Yes, my friends, you deserve more than another teaser blog entry, 

but check this out!  

We're always on the lookout for educational websites with games 

to trick our kids into using their brains a bit. This is a link to one 

such site that has a horrendous game on it. 

http://www.mathplayground.com/hexagon.html

Try it out, don't throw anything or teach your children any new

expletives.  No, the computer is not out to get you personally, so 

name calling is also not appropriate.  

     But someone, please figure it out, we know you are all smarter

 than us.  

Good Read

I picked up a great little book today in Chickadee's classroom.  It's a quick read (couple hours),

 and a great one.  Young girl, autistic brother, growing pains - Super! -made me cry.  

Rules-(Newbery-Honor-Book)

Another Birthday Girl!

So, over the summer, our Little Red turned 5.  Wow.  We had a family party at Chuck-E-Cheese

 and everyone had fun.  She's so big now, she loves to tie her shoes, she is learning to ride a

 bike, and she loves Kindergarten, except when she hates it.  She is an all around joy to her

 family!   I don't know anyone who can resist her charms. 

 Happy Birthday Sweet Cakes!

(I know, the pics are crooked, I'm still figuring out the software on our new comp. 

 I'm going to have to fix them in the camera 'til I figure it out. Sorry)   

10 min update

-we have a laptop now (a Mac) and our desktop is dead. (replacement for Christmas probably)

-school is in session, 2 girls love it, every morning the other 2 girls say they're not going, 

but we manage to get them there anyway.

-I spent the bulk of my day cleaning up my overrun garden of weeds, aphids, ants,

 and powdery mildew.  I think we'll get just a few pumpkins for carving, and more 

peppers, tomatoes and zuccini.

-the rest of my day (before I get kids, in 5 min) has been catching up on my friends blogs. 

 I still have  few to catch up on, but I figured some of you may look here for an update,

 so I better have one.

I have 4 min to put up a few pictures.  Glad to be back, got a bunch of stuff to catch

 up on.

The girls are only frowning because I told them their game was over.

Silly first day of school pic. 

The R_____   Trifecta

 (as thy are known as at their TeaKwonDo academy.)

Ack!  I'm late.......

Acceptable Excuses?

Yes, it has been way too long since an update. But this is not the update you have been
waiting for. This is a hurried explanation from a friend's computer.

Our Computer Broke!!! Not just a power supply, not just a keyboard, or a printer,
or the internet connection (all of which we can handle quite well), but our operating system
no longer wants to operate! Lovely.

We'll be back up whenever we get it fixed, or buy a new one. Hope everyone is having a
great summer! Safe travels!

Newest look

Our own Big Red has a new look. Cute, cute, blue glasses! She loves them.

Slightly near sighted like her mother, she wears them all the time so that
she can see detail far away. Here is her most memorable quote after picking
them up from Wal-Mart. We were in the department store side of the super-size
stuff mart, and she was looking across to the grocery side. All of a sudden
she says, "Mom! I can see the cheese!" What a statement. :)

Camping

A few days after Dad returned home (and after a million destination changes)
we finally headed into the woods for 5 days. What a fun trip. lazing around the
campsite, kids exploring the meadow, hiking, eating! Here are some pictures.



Our campsite was up a steep hill from this beautiful meadow. Dad tied a rope
around a tree and the girls would go up and down the hill and play wonderful
games down there. Occasionally we would let the dog off his rope to patrol the
area for mountain lions and other creatures that make a Mom nervous. The
kids were in heaven!

Chickadee tries her hand at splitting wood!


SMORES!! Messy, Messy!

You guessed it!

Our family is complete once more.
Here is the welcome home picture.

Sisters

“I do think that families are the most beautiful things in all the world.” (Louisa May Alcott)

A precious moment after watching the movie Little Women.

"I could never love anyone as I love my sisters"
('Jo' in the 1994 version of Little Women)

I know I shouldn't

I can't help myself...
Has anyone else noticed that on the cover of the Friend magazine for May
the Dad seems to be wearing a BYU t-shirt?
_____________________________________...Just a question.

El Paso with Grandma

Pick Grandma up at the airport and take her directly to the Zoo. What could be more logical?




These pictures are at the beginning of the day, before we were all tired hags. Before the
tour-the-border, too-much-mall, not-enough-lunch, perfume-in-the-eyes (and subsequent
poison-control and Walgreen's-washout), run-a-real-errand, FIND-SOME-FOOD, and
better-get-gas incidents. Always an adventure with Grandma. Always lots of laughs. And
that was just day one.

Yippy-Skippy is 7!

Yippy Skippy was not feeling well on her birthday, but she wasn't contagious and
it was too late to postpone the party, so she did her best. (And I'm pretty sure she
had a good time anyway.)

With Grandma's help we hosted a pony themed birthday party. First, the guests
"corralled the horses" (found the sticker packets in the back yard) and then decorated
a cowboy cup with pony themed stickers. They played pin the tail on the pony,
had a sugar cube relay, and stomped "flies". They ate pizza, cake and ice cream,
gave presents, and laughed a lot! Great Fun.

The sugar cube relay.


"Fly" stomping contest. Stomp everyone else's, but don't let yours get stomped.


Pony cake (idea courtesy Family Fun website)



Every kids favorite part?

Hooray for 7!