Happy Halloween!

Ok, I must admit that my enthusiasm for decorating and doing Halloween-ish things like my mom has languished what with Daddy being on tour and dealing with morning sickness. I did sing Halloween songs. And I did get plenty of pumpkin story books from the library. And you must know that I fully intended to buy a 'pun-kin' to carve as M loves them. A few weeks ago I bought her a baby pumpkin which she loves and carries with her. I didn't buy the big one because I didn't want it to go bad. Now there aren't any in the stores. Good thing she won't remember that and this mommy has learned her lesson--buy before the week of Halloween! Next year I want to go to a pumpkin farm with Daddy and M to pick a pumpkin but I guess this cute pumpkin that M decorated at playschool will have to do (unless I happen upon one in the next few hours...)

I Love to See the Temple

Aunt Elizabeth came to audition for a job. And while she didn't win I think we all won by spending some super-duper quality time together. What an amazing time we had. Sisters-in-law are great. I'm so glad God gave me the opportunity to have more sisters!

I just love this photo and had to publish it.

Purse

Recently M decided she need to take her purse everywhere she went. Aunt Beth helped with the habit so she now remembers to get it most of the time. The other day we came home and she had her purse and our neighbor saw it. She tried to give her a $5 bill to put in her purse but M was more interested in the ice cream she knew Mommy was holding.

Cookies!

PlaySchool is so fun! A few weeks ago M and the Boys made yummy Halloween sugar cookies.

Tales of a Day with a Toddler

This morning started with M finding a box of packing popcorn that I should have tossed out the last time I cleaned it up. But feeling lazy at the moment I forgot. So she found it and spread it all over the room. She thought it was "raining" and felt so cool. She eventually ended up laying in it and then getting in the box and pushing her hands through it. I couldn't get mad, she was so thrilled. So what did I do? I snapped pictures.



Then during her nap I moved a load of laundry and found my first rock in the bottom of the washer. I looked at it and smiled and wondered if I should start a collection jar on top of the dryer. I wonder how long before I would fill it up. Just made me smile.

THEN when she got up from her nap I walk into her room and she says, "poop". So during the time it took her to fall asleep she'd taken off her shorts and her diaper (which must have been poopy & she hates being poopy) and tossed them over the side. Then while she was sleeping the mess got bigger... so I grinned, really what are you going to scold, and cleaned put the mess in the washer (Including her dear blankie). We all know that load had to finish by bedtime so the blankie would not be out of commission.

So you think it might end there but no she managed to get into a bit more mischief before the day was through.

Good thing she has a bedtime! I'm tired!

Dancing Queen!

M & Mommy went to review an event
for the Mommy Times on Saturday.
We had a lot of fun and caught some silly photos of M.
She loved dancing to the music!

have you read Animal Farm lately?

This last summer we read Animal Farm out loud on a road trip. Daddy had never read it before and Mommy liked the refresher. We decided it should be required reading for our kids when they get older and we especially thought that all elected officials should be required to read it annually.

Now I wonder how long it's been since most of America read it. As I drove around D.C. yesterday I felt like I needed to put a sign in my window: Have you read Animal Farm lately? From most of what I hear on the news it appears that the lessons of the Cold War and socialism are lost on many of this generation and we are in danger of becoming what we once loathed.

This election has so many extreme socialist views on the left that it shocks me that most Americans can't recognize them for what they are. Do we forget the results of socialism on a society?

I think some confuse the candidate's ideas and see them as charitable but we must remember that true charity is something that starts in our hearts and homes and we implement in our own lives through the decisions we make -- not because they are imposed by the government. It cannot be forced. Most of the measures being touted will in some measure surrender parts of our agency to the government. Hmmm....

Force vs. Agency. Whose idea does that sound like?

Agency! If you want to get down to it that is what this election is about. Agency! So valuable that our Father in Heaven sacrificed one-third (33%!) of his children to be lost over it! At what cost must we defend it?

Everyone needs to read this address from Elder Ezra Taft Benson, an apostle of God, that was given at BYU. It addresses socialism for what it is - "a philosophy incompatible with Man's Liberty".

Ahh...another word -- Liberty! At what cost did our great founding fathers defend it!

This November I know the choices are not between two great men. But in my mind I think we need to at least fight against what we know is wrong. Survey the issues - please make a choice for your liberty, and your life, and your happiness.

I should have known.

She was way too quiet. I should have know I'd pay for it but I was enjoying the peace as I listened to Conference. Too late. When I walk into her room I see she's found the vaseline and spread it all over the recliner. Scraped off what I could. Went and bought Dawn to help break the oil molecules and I'm in process of trying to figure out how our Big Green Clean machine works.

I should have known better than to enjoy the quiet.