The good and the bad

Top 3 things this weekend

#1 Ultra fabulous Coldplay concert at the Xcel Center in St Paul, Minnesota

#2 Attending the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints St Paul Temple

#3 Spending some much needed time and good laughs with this wild looking bunch I call family

Top 3 bad things this weekend

#1 Finding droppings left by Mickey Mouse's friend(s) in the back of our car along with a shredded up paper towel.

#2 Renting this piece of a car because of Mickey's friend(s). This was the only car available to rent. This meant no stocking up at Costco, no new treadmill, not going hog wild at the cannery for food storage. I think the kids had to suck in the stomachs the whole drive there and back in order to fit in the car. But thankfully this little car did get us to the Twin Cities and back mouse free.

#3 Getting lost countless times that it became comical. Well, the parking ticket kinda sucked too so maybe that should be #3.



p.s.

Mouse has still not been caught. Two mouse traps are set in my car and my very kind neighbor has set some up in our garage. He even enclosed the mouse traps in shelters he made out of plastic jugs so I wouldn't have to see them. We have been using peanut butter (extra crunchy) as bait. Today we decided to try mild cheddar cheese. My neighbor did catch 8 mice in his very clean garage these past two weeks.

A-R-I-E-L

Lucas has made up a new song to showcase the latest addition in his repertoire of words he spells. It goes like this:

I am a brother with a girl and Ariel is her name-O

A-R-I-E-L

A-R-I-E-L

etc., etc.

Fortify Your Family

THE BIG DAY TOMORROW

I can not stand it when I hear people questioning the importance of their one vote. I find this fact sheet fascinating that I stole from Mandy's blog.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ONE VOTE
Mary W. Morgan, Supervisor of Elections

The most often heard excuse for not voting in an election is "my one
little vote won't make a difference." Yet history is full of instances
proving the enormous power of one single vote. In many cases, the
course of nations has been changed because one individual ballot was
cast -- or not cast -- depending upon your point of view. Consider
this:

In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England.
* In 1649, one vote literally cost King Charles I of England his
head. The vote to behead him was 67 against and 68 for -- the ax
fell thanks to one vote.
* In 1714, one vote placed King George I on the throne of England
and restored the monarchy.
* In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of
German (at least according to folk lore.)
* In 1800, the electoral college met in the respective states to
cast their two votes for President. At that time, the U.S.
Constitution provided the candidate receiving the most electoral
votes would become President and the candidate receiving the
second higheest number of votes would become Vice President. When
the results of the electoral college votes were opened by both
houses of Congress, there was a tie vote for President between
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. That threw the election of
President into the House of Representaties where Thomas Jefferson
was elected our third president by a one vote margin.
* In 1824, none of the four Presidential candidates received an
electoral majority. The election was again thrown into the House
of Representatives, where John Quincy Adams defeated front runner
Andrew Jackson by one vote to become the nation's 6th president.
Andrew Jackson received the majority of the nation's popular vote.
* In 1844 in the backwoods area of Switzerland County, Indiana on
election day, a farmer named Freeman Clark lay seriously ill in
bed. He begged his sons to carry him to the county seat so he
could vote for David Kelso to become a state senator. David Kelso
had defended old Freeman Clark on a murder charge and obtained his
acquittal. The old farmer Freeman Clark got to vote for Kelso but
Clark died on his way back home. Kelso won the election by one
vote. Both Freeman Clark and David Kelso were long-time Andrew
Jackson supporters.
* In 1844 when the new Indiana senate convened, Democrats had a
majority of one -- counting David Kelso. At that time, state
senates had the task of electing the states' United States
Senator. The Indiana Senate Democrats held a caucus where it
developed a majority of the party delegation favored a man who
would vote against the annexation of Texas if elected to the U.S.
Senate. David Kelso refused to vote for the Democratic Party
choice and a deadlock resulted between the Democratic and Whig
candidates. This continued for days. Finally, Kelso made his move.
He proposed a new candidate: Edward A. Hannigan. In his party
caucus, Kelso notified his Democratic associates he would bolt and
vote with the Whigs -- thus electing a Whig to the Senate --
unless the Democrats supported Hannigan. The Democrats felt
constrained to accept Hannigan who was then elected as Indiana's
U.S. Senator by one vote -- that of David Kelso.
* In 1845, Texas was admitted to the union as a state by one vote --
that of Edward A. Hannigan from Indiana. The 1844 and 1845
excerpts on the series of single votes leading to Texas statehood
are from the book Magnificent Destiny.
* In 1846, a one vote margin in the U.S. Senate approved President
Polk's request for a Declaration of War against Mexico.
* In 1850, California was admitted to the union by a margin of one
vote.
* In 1859, Oregon was admitted to the union by a margin of one vote.
* The Alaska Purchase of 1867 was ratified by just one vote --
paving the way for the eventual annexation of America's largest
state in 1958.
* In 1868, one vote in the U.S. Senate saved President Andrew
Johnson from impeachment.
* In 1875, a one vote margin changed France from a monarchy to a
republic.
* In 1875, Florida's U.S. Senators were still elected by the state
Legislature. Democrat Charles W. Jones of Pensacola was elected by
the U.S. Senate by a majority of one vote.
* In 1876, no presidential contender received a majority of
electoral votes so the determination of the country's president
was again thrown into the U.S. House of Representatives. By a one
vote margin, Rutherford B. Hayes became the new U.S. president.
When Tilden's party protested the tabulation and demanded a
recount, Congress established a 15-member electoral commission to
again count the electoral votes and declare the result. By an
eight to seven margin -- again, one vote -- the commission
affirmed the count and gave the election and presidency to Hayes.
* In 1885, two members of the Florida House of Representates waged a
friendly but close contest for Speaker of the House. Robert W.
Davis of Green Cove Springs defeated Gen. Ernest Yonge of
Pensacola by one vote.
* In 1889, by a one vote margin, Washington was admitted to
statehood with the union.
* In 1890, by a one vote margin, Idaho became a state.
* In 1916, if presidential hopeful Charles E. Hughes had received
one additional vote in each of California's precincts, he would
have defeated President Woodrow Wilson's re-election bid.
* On November 8, 1923, members of the then recently-formed
revolutionary political party met to elect a leader in a Munich,
Germany beer hall. By a majority of one vote, they chose an
ex-soldier named Adolph Hitler to become the NAZI Party leader.
* In 1940, the vote taken by the French parliament to maintain its
status as a republic failed by a margin of one vote.
* In 1941, the Selective Service Act (the draft) was saved by a one
vote margin -- just weeks before Pearl Harbor was attacked.
* In 1948, a Texas convention voted for Lyndon B. Johnson over
ex-Governor Coke Stevens in a contested Senatorial election.
Lyndon Johnson because U.S. Senator by a one vote margin.
* In 1948, if Thomas E. Dewey had gotten one vote more per precinct
in Ohio and California, the presidential election would have been
thrown into the U.S. House of Representatives where Dewey enjoyed
more support than his rival -- incumbent Harry Truman. As it was
Dewey was expected to win the general election by a landslide so
most Republicans stayed home. Only 51.5 percent of the electorate
voted. Truman defeated Dewey.
* In a 1955 city election in Huron, Ohio, the mayor was elected to
office by one vote.
* In a 1959 city election, mayors of both Rose Creek and Odin,
Minnesota were elected to their respective offices by one vote.
* In the 1960 presidential election, an additional one vote per
precinct in Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, and Texas may have
altered the course of America's modern history by denying John F.
Kennedy the presidency and placing Richard Nixon in the White
House 8 years earlier.
* In 1962, the governors of Maine, Rhode Island, and North Dakota
were all elected by a margin of one vote per precinct.
* In 1984, a Monroe County, Florida commissioner was elected by one
vote.
* In 1994, the U.S. House of Representatives enacted a law banning
specific classes of assault weapons. The vote was initially tied
but one member changed his vote to approve the ban.
* Bills proposing amendment to the U. S. Constitution require a
2/3's vote of each House in order to be approved. When the
balanced budget amendment bill came before the U.S. Senate in
March, 1995, the measure failed by one vote --Mark Hatfield,
Republican from Oregon, was the sole Republican failing to vote
with other members of the Republican Party which was the majority
party of the U.S. Senators. When it became apparent the measure
would fail, Senate Republican Whip Bob Dole changed his vote to
enable him to bring the matter back up under parliamentary rules
for a vote in the future.

The Brownie of all Brownies

This is for anyone who wants to be the best brownie baker in the whole wide world. Move over old double chocolate brownie and make room for the new Bombshell Brownie

1 C. butter, softened
1 C. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 C. white sugar
1 t salt
1 1/4 C. brown sugar
1 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips or pieces
1T vanilla
1 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
4 eggs


directions:

• preheat oven to 350 degrees. line 9x 13 baking dish with parchment paper
• combine butter, sugars, and vanilla in a large bowl. beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each egg until thoroughly blended.
• sift together flour cocoa powder, and salt. gradually stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture until blended. stir in chocolate chips/pieces. spread batter evenly into prepared baking dish.
• bake for 30-35 minutes. remove and cool on wire rack before cutting

The taste, the texture, the look, it is all amazing. Even if you are a true brownie connoisseur, one who loves the outer edge and corner of the brownie this is the recipe for you too.

Halloween

As Isaac was crawling into bed, he said, "Tonight was the best night ever!" What could be better than that? The weather fully cooperated. We got plenty of candy and enough to share. We missed Mike. Nervous that I might loose a child in the crowded streets, I sewed reflective tape on the back of the costumes. The city ordinance here says you can only Trick or Treat from 5:30- 7:30 PM. Lame! I was feeling all hardcore. Once Ariel was more occupied with eating her candy than getting more, she and I drove slowly down the street as they boys went from house to house. They would stand on the running boards of our car and hold on through the open car window to reduce fatigue for the long distances between houses. What a blast.

bumps

When Lucas sits on the toilet to do his thing he tends to talk a lot. Actually, he talks a lot all day long. This morning while in the bathroom he yells to me in a suddenly irritated voice "Mom, why did you want bumps on my finger?" Through some dialogue I realize he is talking about the two warts on his finger. "Why do you think I want you to have bumps on your finger?" I asked.

He then still totally bothered says, "You took me to the doctor to have him put bumps on me.

A year ago I took Lucas to the dermatologist to have the warts frozen off and he is now remembering it in the reverse. So far there is no convincing him otherwise.

Monday night I made a seriously delicious apple pie. My kids will not even try it. Now I find myself eating very good pie for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The last thing my body needs.

Why did I not think of this? Sunday after church the kids came home and played a game of putting scotch tape over their mouth and not talking. This resulted in playing quietly with muffled giggles. We should have played this game during church. The boys were asked about seven times by me and twice by a man sitting behind them to keep it down during sacrament meeting.

Isaac created a scavenger hunt for me after he finished playing the scotch tape game. I noticed I only took photos of a few clues. The prize at the end of the hunt was a caramel taped to the shower door and 00000's- as in 0X0X0X0 (hugs & kisses).

costumes

I have been busy sewing our Halloween costumes with this fabric. My left elbow is really bothering me. I am wondering if there is such a thing as sewing elbow.

Instead of going to bed

I do not want to go to bed. I saw a mouse in my garage tonight. I know once I fall asleep I will have all kinds of crazy nightmares about rodents. So I am puttering around the house exhausted. I figure I might as well post the very crazy looking caramel apples Isaac is taking for snack tomorrow. I should also post the princess dress I made Ariel for Halloween that I am not going to use. I am not excited about the princess idea. I was then thinking geisha. I now think probably no. Not to worry, I was never thinking of a geisha wearing a princess dress.

Prop 8 - A Must See

Burn baby burn

With 3 tons of leaves on our ground we couldn't help ourselves. Bonfires galore. It is unbelievable how well dry leaves burn. We stacked the leaves dangerously and moved the kids way back and watched it burn. It was awesome.

Now we know what Joe was talking about

Wednesday, October 22, 2008
"Top Iran Officials Recommend Preemptive Strike Against Israel"
Posted by: Hugh Hewitt at 5:40 PM

This isn't alarmism --it is confirmation of what Joe Biden predicted Sunday and what ought to be turning the stomachs of voters who worry --rightly-- that if elected Obama's nickname would be "President Blink."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1030279.html
Obama's Radical Roots And Rules
Obama is a longtime disciple of a man whose mission was to teach radicals to disguise their ideology.
By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY
One of Obama's main inspirations was a man dedicated to revolutionary change that he was convinced "must be preceded by a passive, affirmative, nonchallenging attitude toward change among the mass of our people. They must feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless in the prevailing system that they are willing to let go of the past and change the future."

Sen. Obama was trained by Chicago's Industrial Areas Foundation, founded in 1940 by the radical organizer Saul Alinsky. In the 1980s, Obama spent years as director of the Developing Communities Project, which operated using Alinsky's strategies, and was involved with two other Alinsky-oriented entities, Acorn and Project Vote.

On the Obama campaign Web site can be found a photo of him teaching in a University of Chicago classroom with "Power Analysis" and "Relationships Built on Self Interest" written on the blackboard — key terms utilized in the Alinsky method.

The far-left Alinsky had no time for liberalism or liberals, declaring that "a liberal is (someone) who puts his foot down firmly on thin air." He wanted nothing less than transformational radicalism. "America was begun by its radicals," he wrote. "America was built by its radicals. The hope and future of America lies with its radicals." And so, "This is the job for today's radical — to fan the embers of hopelessness into a flame to fight. To say, '. . . let us change it together!' "

Alinsky students ranged "from militant Indians to Chicanos to Puerto Ricans to blacks from all parts of the black power spectrum, from Panthers to radical philosophers, from a variety of campus activists, S.D.S. and others, to a priest who was joining a revolutionary party in South America."

Capitalism always was considered the enemy. "America's corporations are a spiritual slum," he wrote, "and their arrogance is the major threat to our future as a free society." Is it surprising that an Alinsky disciple such as Obama can promise so blithely to increase taxes on CEOs?

Obama calls his years as an Alinskyesque community organizer in Chicago "the best education I ever had, and where I learned the true meaning of my Christian faith." But as radicalism expert Richard Lawrence Poe has noted, "Camouflage is key to Alinsky-style organizing. In organizing coalitions of black churches in Chicago, Obama caught flak for not attending church himself. He became an instant churchgoer."
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=303605575673142
October 21, 2008 4:00 AM
In the Fine Print
By David Freddoso

ACORN engages in many forms of left-wing activism, often employing the intimidation tactics made popular by Saul Alinsky, the father of community organizing and a role model to presidential candidate Barack Obama. The group has waged campaigns against Wal-Mart, against welfare reform, and in favor of “living wage” laws. In October 2005, the group was accused of flooding a non-union hospital’s emergency room with patients they had bused in from far away as part of a unionization pressure campaign. ACORN also controls the ACORN Housing Corporation, which along with its local affiliates has received at least $29 million in federal taxpayer funds since 1998 (other ACORN-related groups have received an additional $2 million).

ACORN also runs large voter-registration drives that are famous mostly for signing up fake voters. These have received much attention in the past month. In the revised and updated 2008 edition of his book Stealing Elections, the Wall Street Journal’s John Fund documents that, during the 2006 election, ACORN workers submitted some 35,000 registrations in Kansas City, Missouri — 40 percent of which were determined to be fake. Only after officials from the Kansas City Board of Elections submitted the evidence to the FBI did ACORN cooperate and identify the perpetrators among its staff. Between Kansas City and St. Louis, 12 ACORN workers were convicted of fraud.The group submitted 1,805 registrations in Washington State’s King County just after the registration deadline in 2006. After the indictments in Missouri, local election officials examined these forms and found that 97 percent of them were bogus. They included registrations for former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R., Ill.), a variety of New York Times op-ed columnists, and someone named “Fruto Boy.” ACORN paid a $25,000 settlement to King County to pay for the investigation of their activities rather than face indictment.John Fund interviewed ACORN officials for this timely edition of his book, which examines various attempts to degrade the integrity of American elections. They offered a variety of excuses and promises to institute better quality controls. Yet, time after time, in state after state, ACORN’s mischief has continued. Nevada authorities raided ACORN offices this year after the group submitted voter-registration forms bearing the names of numerous members of the Dallas Cowboys’ starting lineup. In the many states where ACORN operates, employees have told a similar story. Motivated by fear of losing their jobs, ACORN workers have committed fraud in order to meet the registration quotas set for them by the organization. Before the 2006 election in Missouri, ACORN organizers were required — under pain of termination — to collect 200 petition signatures daily for a ballot initiative. In Ohio, ACORN workers this year must sign up between 22 and 26 new voters every day.Stories of fraudulent activity in Ohio (ACORN workers submitted 8,700 suspicious registrations in Cuyahoga County alone) and in other states this year have received the attention of the FBI, which is examining whether there could be a national pattern of fraud.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MzExMWVkNzEwODM0ZjVmYjY5NDUxNDBhOGE5N2M2ZDY=

Check up

For the last two years, I have almost kicked myself every time we go to the dentist and I have forgotten my camera. Today I was very pleased with myself for remembering. They make quite a to do while the kids are there. Cool sunglasses to block the light out of their eyes.

Today was Ariel's second visit and she was a little champ!

At the end of the visit you get stickers, pencils, toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste, mouthwash and a prize if you get x-rays.

He Is Back

After almost three months away (which felt more like six months) Mike has finally returned today from working in Milwaukee.

Gianna Jesson interview with Sean Hannity

ANOTHER misjudgment

The Obama campaign says it was just a misjudgment for its Muslim outreach coordinator to meet with Hezbollah and Hamas supporters. If she had known these people would be at the meeting, we're told, she would never have been there.

This strikes me as a continuing theme of the Obama campaign: Cozy up to someone unsavory (but seemingly advantageous at the time), then proclaim ignorance about the details of the person's history, and distance oneself as needed. Then hope that friends in the press will under-cover it.

It's the same pattern we've seen with Bill Ayres, Rashid Khalidi, Jeremiah Wright, Father Pfleger, Tony Rezko -- and now Mahdi Bray of the Muslim American Society (who was seen pumping his fist in support of Hezbollah and Hamas at a rally) and Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (a group named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing case).

Obviously, there's nothing illegitimate about soliciting the views of solid, pro- American citizens. But like Obama's other pals, Bray and Awad don't seem to fit into that category.

Did you hear that?

Obama laid out his far left economic vision for America on Monday, which included initiatives to:
--help people who remain in homes they can't afford
--impose a 90-day ban on foreclosures
--bailout states and localities awash in budget deficits (like bankrupt California)
--create a new federal lending entity
--reduce health-care costs by having government invest (read: spend tax-dollars) for "preventive care, new technology" and increased access to providers
--government "investment" (read: spending) for new teachers, college tuition, and "green jobs"
--payments of $3,000 to businesses for each new job created

This all comes on top of Obama's "tax cut" plan -- in reality a massive new welfare program that envisions cutting checks to 95% of Americans. Remember that one-third of Americans don't pay any taxes at all--yet they will be getting a check during Obama's Excellent Utopian Adventure.

A self-employed, tax-burdened plumber in Holland, Ohio asked The One directly why he--a productive member of society--had to cough up for the rest of the country. Obama's response was telling: "It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too."

"I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."

Obama wants to put a cap on the American dream. Obama's economic plans aren't concerned with generating new jobs and new wealth; his concern is with socializing America. And he's not even hiding it!

McCain offered hope this afternoon. Noting contrasts with Obama, he delivered a few choice blows: "If I'm elected President, I won't spend nearly a trillion dollars more of your money, on top of the $700 billion we just gave the Treasury Secretary, as Senator Obama proposes. ... If I'm elected President, I won't fine small businesses and families with children, as Senator Obama proposes, to force them into a new huge government run health care program, while I keep the cost of the fine a secret until I hit you with it. ... If I'm elected President, I won't raise taxes on small businesses, as Senator Obama proposes, and force them to cut jobs. ... I will keep small business taxes where they are, help them keep their costs low, and let them spend their earnings to create more jobs."

That's the kind of fighting spirit we need. The economy is by no means Obama's strong suit. McCain is for growing our economy -- with tax cuts on income, capital-gains, dividends as well as serious-minded reform in Washington.

Become informed and know who you're voting for.

With great power comes great responsibility

Is it a bird?

Is it a plane?

Is it Superman?

No, it is Spider-Man in an outfit 3 times too small.

Participate

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraged to pay attention to political circumstances and to let their voices be heard, especially on moral issues. President Hinckley has counseled:
Now, I want to say to you, and I say it with a plea in my heart, get involved. Get involved on the side of righteousness and truth and decency and sobriety and virtue. You, and others like you, are the great hope of this world. . . .
The problem with most of us is that we are afraid. We want to do the right thing, but we are troubled by fears and the world drifts about us . . .
'Be not afraid, only believe.' I commend to you these wonderful words of the Lord as you think of your responsibilities and opportunities. (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 128–29)

The Book of Mormon warns of the dangers of allowing the voices of the wicked to determine the direction of our politics and laws. In the book of Helaman, we read:
For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.
Yea, and this was not all; they were a stiffnecked people insomuch that they could not be governed by the law nor justice, save it were to their destruction. (Helaman 5:2–3)
There is a similar warning in Mosiah 29:27:
If the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.
As inhabitants of the Promised Land, as citizens of this free nation and as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, much has been and will be expected of Church members in the United States of America. For those looking for a place to start, the primary political duty of the Saints, as the Lord has declared, is to diligently seek out "honest men and good men . . . and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil" (Doctrine and Covenants 98:10).

A day of Apples and Firsts

Today was Isaac's first play. He was a frontier boy in the play Johnny Appleseed. He was cute and a little self conscious. Isaac picked out and put together his costume about a week in advance and spent about two weeks practicing and memorizing his lines.

Today was Lucas' first field trip. A trip to the apple orchard. During the hayride on the field trip we stopped and admired a group of horses. Lucas leans over and whispers to me "This was on the schedule." He was my own little narrator. He loved how meticulously this field trip was planned. Lucas talked about the rules and schedule with such delight. I think Lucas ate about 3 apples while we were there and would have eaten more if I had not taken his bag to the car.

The play and field trip were both a big success. I had a great time just experiencing these moments with both the boys. They were not missing a thing. Soaking every moment in. I could not wipe the smile off my face all day.