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.

Role Model

Today when I went to pick Lucas up from 4k (government funded preschool for 4 year olds) his teacher Mrs. DeeDee walked him out to the car. She opened the door and said, "I just want you to know how great a kid Lucas is. He is a role model for all the other kids. We are so glad to have him in our class." While driving off I commend Lucas for the kind words Mrs. DeeDee gave. He is a little embarrassed and just sticks out his tongue to me in response.
Over a dinner of lasagna I explain to the kids that a role model is someone who is a good example and shows others how to behave. I tell Isaac, Lucas and Ariel the praise Lucas' teacher had for him.
Isaac nods his head and says, " Wow, she must really mean it if she said it today. That sounds like something a teacher just tells you at parent teacher conference."
Lucas smiled in response this time.

Today

Flag Football

Saturday was Lucas and Isaac's second flag football practice. What fun to watch. Lucas' age group plays first. They play a game called sharks and minnows. One shark tries to remove as many flags from the minnows as he can. If your flag is removed you go from being a minnow to a shark. Lucas is always one of the last minnows running. The same goes for Isaac. I crack up just watching how seriously they take it. My boys have the running and chasing part down. We just need some practice on the catching and throwing.
Ariel has a great time throwing the football or some rocks and then takes a break to carry around my purse or comfort and feed her baby doll. Looks like this fall we are spending 3 1/2 hours each Saturday on the playing field for some good laughs.

Looks like I got still shots of Lucas and live action movie of Isaac and his team.

Back on the saddle again

After a four month hiatus Lucas is back in action. It took bribing Lucas with a trip to Target to get a Star Wars toy to ride his bike. This past summer no amount of anything could get Lucas to ride. I do not remember any hard crash to create his fear or whatever it was. Last week Lucas spent a few days doing jobs to earn money for a Galactic Hero Luke Skywalker. Jobs included brushing his teeth, picking up toys, brushing his teeth, vacuuming his room, making his bed, brushing his teeth. He was on such a high earning his new toy and thinking of what he could do and get next. I thought I would capitalize on this and offer the bribe for riding his bike by himself. Yesterday and today he has wanted to ride his bike everywhere. I captured a few photos on the way to the farmer's market. I am sure it was motivational to see Isaac and friend riding their bike all the way there.

This photo is a lady returning the Lego Ariel was trying to feed her dog. Notice the buggy in the background. There is a large Amish and Mennonite population in our community.