Election day venting

Since it is election day today, I feel a need to say a few things about what is happening in our country. This is only my opinion and if you disagree with it that is fine. That is what is so great about this country - we have the freedom to believe as we choose.

I usually vote for the republican candidate for president but I have decided to go in a different direction this time. NO, that does not mean that I am voting for Obama!! Since I live in California and my vote really doesn't count because it is pretty much set in stone that Obama will win in this state, I have decided to vote for the libertarian candidate, Bob Barr. If I lived in a different state I would probably vote for McCain in order for conservative values to win over, however, I would like to make more of a statement this time. Rather than writing someone in like Mitt Romney, I would rather make more of a statement by voting for Bob Barr. It says that I am not happy with the direction that this country is going and I am willing to stand up for my values and beliefs. It also says that I do not think that it is right that the government regulates EVERYTHING that we do.

Which leads me to my next point - Prop 8. I have had mixed feelings about this one from the beginning. I will be voting yes for prop 8 of course, but that does not mean that I like it that the government is defining what marriage should be. God gave each and every one of us agency. We all have the freedom to do what we choose. If someone wants to practice homosexuality, that is their choice. I think that it is morally wrong and goes against the plan that God has for our lives, but it is still their choice. One of the reasons why I am for prop 8 is because we need to maintain a separation of church and state in this country just the way the founding fathers wanted. I do not want my children taught in school that it is okay for a man and a man to be married and I don't want religious institutions to be punished or penalized for practicing what they believe to be morally right. That is not the american way. Let me believe what I believe and I will let you believe what you believe.

Next item - abortion. There are people out there who believe that a fetus is not a living person and therefore it is okay to abort it. I believe that it is a living creation from Heavenly Father and that aboring a fetus is murder. If you are someone out there who believes differently that is your choice, but you can't tell me to believe otherwise because if I have a moral obligation to abhor murder of any kind. Asking me to do otherwise is asking me to go against everything that I believe and I just can't do that. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I did. Also, why don't we start teaching young men and women in junior high and high school that sex should be saved until marriage and if you make a mistake there are serious consequences, and you have the responsibility for that mistake. Our country would be in a much better spot than it is now if people would take more responsiblity for their choices.

Those are some of my thoughts. Take it for what you will but just let me believe how I want and I will let you believe how you want. That is the great blessing of living in the wonderful country.

Halloween Fun

Another Halloween has been and gone and the kids had a lot of fun this year. Now we are just dealing with the after effects of the boys asking us for more candy every 5 minutes throughout the day. Jimmy was Batman, Luke was a frog, and Ben was a garbage truck. Originally Ben wanted to be a monster truck and I started looking online for ideas and decided that it would be way too hard for me to pull that one off so I talked him into being a garbage truck instead. It took a lot of time but it turned out really cute and the boys have had a lot of fun playing with it. It was made from recycled boxes and the whole thing ended up costing only about $8 so it was definitely worth it.

This picture was taken at the trunk or treat at the church. It was hilarious watching Jimmy trying to eat this donut tied to a string. It took him at least 5 minutes to get it in his mouth, but he was very persistent. He really wanted the donut and he didn't want to use his hands.

Pumpkin Patch

Well, I was beginning to doubt that there was a pumpkin patch in Los Angeles but I was able to find one fairly close to our house. The kids had fun picking out pumpkins, taking a train ride, jumping in the bouncy house, and seeing the animals in the petting zoo. The best part of it is that we had perfect 75 degree weather. I keep hearing about all of these other places getting snow and it makes me really happy that I live in southern California. Which is good, because I need something to get me to like this place!

On a more positive note. . .

Due to the negative tone of my last post I feel like I need to make a more positive post. Last night I got to sleep through the night for the first time in a week and a half without being woken up by one of the kids. It was great! I think we are all on the mend now - knock on wood! Also I got to clean my house yesterday from top to bottom to get rid of all of those sick germs. Since our apartment is so small it is a lot easier to keep it clean. It is truly amazing how much your mood and attitude change when you focus on the positive! I should do it more often!

A Moment of Quiet

I am finding myself in very unusual territory right now. Luke is sleeping and I walked into Ben's room and found this. He had fallen asleep on his floor. For the last 7 days I have been taking care of sick kids with the stomach flu that just doesn't want to go away. I got sick myself last week but luckily it only lasted a few hours and then I was back to normal - because moms just can't get sick - right! I probably should be doing something a little more productive with this time like reading my scriptures, writing in my journal, cleaning the house, organizing, folding laundry, planning a lesson for FHE, catching up on phone calls, exercising, or working on home made halloween costumes but instead I think I will just waste a little bit of time on the computer. There are some days when I just don't want to be a responsible adult. I would just like to going back to being a kid when all I had to worry about was which toys I would play with or whether or not I would have lucky charms or fruit loops. Life was so much more simple back then. In case you can't tell my brain is a little fried right now and I am slightly exhausted so please forgive my ramblings. I think I will just bag everything else I was going to do and take a nap and dream of the time when life was so easy and care free. Sweet dreams!

UPDATE: No nap for me, 5 minutes after I posted this Luke woke up, and then Jimmy came home from school sick with the stomach flu. He was the last one to not be sick, but I guess it was to good to be true.

Luke's walking

About 3 weeks ago Luke started to walk. I really don't think I am ready for this. He is getting into everything! He is really turning into a little Jimmy because he is so curious about EVERYTHING. Watch out! I got a kick out of Ben too. He wanted some attention in the limelight too so he showed me how he could walk across the rug like a big boy. Always wanting to be the center of attention! He definitely does not take after me in that respect!

He also had his 10th surgery a couple weeks ago. He is doing pretty good but the hemangioma is still actively growing so we will have to go in for another surgery at the end of October. We'll keep you all updated on his condition. I just had to include some of these pics because they were so cute. The first 2 are before the surgery when he was still happy.



This one was taken after the surgery. We had to stay overnight at the hospital - not very much fun at all! They put a diaper over his hand to cover up his IV because he kept grabbing at it. He was not liking it at all. We were both glad to go home the next day!

Look at me mom!

Yesterday Ben came out of the bathroom looking like this. He got the shorts on right but had some struggles with everything else. I don't know if you can tell from the picture but his shoes are on the wrong feet, his shirt is backwards and inside out, and his bright flourescent green halloween socks really add the finishing touch to the whole look. It took some convincing but I finally talked him into changing into some white socks and tennis shoes instead.