Not Me Monday

So it is truth time again. All the things I did not do this week. Click the icon above to read what hundreds of other moms did not do.

I did not designate a kitchen spatula to help get what isn't liquid out of diapers.

I did not participate in a conversation in Young Marrieds class today about whether we do Santa at our house or not...and then realize despite the fact that we don't tell our kids there is a Santa and do focus on Jesus' birth, Baby J was wearing a Santa shirt that was not WAY too small in the first place. (The reasoning behind the conversation was that many of us don't do Santa because if kids are told Santa and the Easter Bunny etc. are real, then what is to keep them from thinking Jesus is also a fictional character?) Anyway...we see Santa, we watch the Polar Express...but we do not believe.

I did not cause Snug to wet his pants at the mall. Again, Santa was involved. There was no line so I wanted him to see him up close. At #1's work Christmas party there is a Santa who has the kids sit with him and then gives them each a gift. We thought that maybe if he could walk up to the one at the mall and realize it was just a person in a costume maybe he'd be more willing to take a gift from him and say "thank you" at the appropriate time. Um, not gonna happen. The 'Santa' said hi to Snug and he immediately wet his pants. Aren't I the great mom?

I did not put Baby J to bed for the second night on his mattress pad because I forgot AGAIN to put sheets on his bed.

I did not use the Dora potty seat in the middle of the night because it was left on the toilet and I HAD to go.

I did not burn exactly 3 pans of food this week because I got involved in other projects and forgot I was cooking. I think #1 should have been a firefighter, not a cop.

Putting Up Our Tree

Snug helped me put up our tree. He has gotten really excited seeing Christmas lights up on people's houses. When we see ones that blink he yells, "Ta Da!" This picture just makes me smile.

Baby J loves to lay under the tree and look up at the lights.

I started the ornaments while the boys were sleeping and got the breakable ones up. Most of them aren't breakable because our tree has mostly handmade or look like handmade ornaments. When I first lived in my little apartment I didn't have any ornaments for my tree so I made them all. I had dried apples and orange slices, popcorn and cranberry strung, paper snowflakes, wooden spools with buttons and rick rack, santas made out of cinnamon sticks, and felt ornaments I sewed. Now a days we've added store bought tin and wooden ornaments along with our handmade (not by me) paper star garland and small stuffed animal ornaments. My mom has given us several ornaments that look really nice there too.

We have the small tree that was in our apartment in the basement and the Draycare kids will get to put it up tomorrow. That tree has some kid-friendly ornaments, ornaments that don't necessarily go with our main tree, and some kid-made ornaments kids gave me when I was teaching.

So Snug loved helping to decorate....

...and here are the 10 ornaments he hung. They are very snuggly in one spot.

Friday Funny Pages

Ok, today's funny isn't about my sons or Draycare kids, it is about #1. While visiting his parents for Thanksgiving, we stopped in at this cute little health foods store and then a missions/fairtrade store called Ten Thousand Villages. I particularly love their hand crafted star garlands made in Indonesia for our Christmas tree. Anyway, we go in and #1 evidently knew the clerk. So I look around and he hangs out by the door with Baby J. After picking up another garland (last year I bought my second one and it still wasn't quite long enough). I proceeded to peek around a bit and then check out with the clerk. I chatted pleasantly with the clerk and then we left. No biggie, right?

Um, not to #1. After we left, he informed me she had been his HS choir teacher...and she had almost flunked him...and his parents had in his words "All but cussed her out". Evidently she didn't like him because he played sports and couldn't read music. It was funny (in case you were wondering why this was so funny) because it is the second time I've just been buddy buddy with someone #1/and or his family doesn't particularly love to pieces. We met a former girlfriend and her mom at the fair one time, I had no idea who they were. They stopped to talk to him and I, thinking they are family friends, accepted an invitation to their horse farm, and in turn invited them to our house should they ever be in Xenia. Needless to say he and this particular girl had not broken up on nice terms, and that was the first time they had met up face to face and not had a way to avoid conversation since the break up.

I guess I don't pick up on the "we are not friends, just being polite" radar. I just chat away with them like we are all spuds. Well, at least I am not weird toward them, huh? :o)

OOPS, I keep forgetting to link this back to Melissa's site. Click on the "Friday Funny Pages" Button at the top of the post...thanks!

Eye Spy

Do your kids own an I Spy book? Did you love Where's Waldo? as a kid? Ever look at those Look Alike books? Well, Snug loves his I Spy book you see below, and after 'Bama' (Grandmommy) sent a new copy I got the idea to do something for the kids. Twice a month (either a Wednesday or Saturday most likely) I am going to try to post an Eye Spy (so as not to infringe on copyrights) blog. I gotta have something to do in between "Not Me Monday" and "Funny Pages Friday". This one is kinda easy...I'm just getting started. Grab your kids...here we go!
**update-want to see more EYE SPY? Click on the EYE SPY label on my sidebar and it will take you directly to all of my links.

EYE SPY
*click on any image to view it larger

Eye Spy a little turkey guy...

And a small car that's yellow...

And a scary spider fellow!

Here's what else is in my box:

1. A stop sign

2. A basketball

3. A pair of scissors

4. Rick rack

5. Mrs. Turkey

6. Red felt flower

7. A button

8. Fall leaf

9. Skeleton Key

10. Rubber band

11. Indian corn

12. Paint set

13. Coaster (from Africa, thanks Aunt Jane)

14. Cookie cutter

15. Wooden man

I Am Thankful For...

Tonight on the way home from Financial Peace University I started to think of all the things I am really thankful for this year. I think it started when I got to church and the electricity was out. It took me back to our week without power and I am so thankful we live in a country where we usually have electricity. My Aunt lives in Africa, and this is not the case.
I was also thanksful to have OUR VAN BACK! Plus, as an added blessing the repair cost was $100 less than they told us it would be.
I am so thankful for my family. My husband does so much for us and helps me so much around the house. I complain on him sometimes, but I seriously have the best husband out there...sorry ladies.
I am SOOOO thankful Snug is doing well with the potty. He woke me up last night in the middle of the night to go-WHAT? Yeah, I was amazed too.
I am thankful for all the people who helped us out while our van was out of commission. Without all of you we couldn't have run Draycare and my poor husband would have been walking to work a lot more than he did.
I am thankful for the families who entrust their children to me each and everyday. Their checks have helped put food on our table, gas in our car(s), and our strive to be debt free (seriously, it will be a party post when that happens).
I am thankful for sweet potatoes on sale for $0.31/lb so that I could make 5 trays of baby food for $1.32 yesterday.
I am thankful for the people who do not yet have Christmas lights lit on their houses...I didn't say up I said lit. Seriously people, take advantage of nice weather and get those beauties up, but PLEASE can we just be THANKFUL for what we have before we rush into a season of getting more???
Sorry if I have offended anyone with the last statement. It just made me a teeny bit queasy to see Christmas trees up in stores alongside of those ridiculous skeletons that sing and jiggle.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family who read this, and to those of you who I don't know who also read. (not sure how many of you are out there, but my counter says more than I know of are reading)
Love,
The Drays

P.S. Janelle-this is for you. My dear aunt was with us today and took the kids while I went to FPU. Snug was nice enough to use the potty for her, but he sprayed the ENTIRE bathroom in the process-be glad you have a girl!

How Do You Find Words?

Really? How do you even comment on this? I think his cheeks are red most of the time because we kiss them so much...probably chapping them.

Ok, Mitt, I'm taking your cue and entering the Fryday contest also. Oh, and also because MckMama personally helped me with some photography questions I had. If she, a mother of four, can take time out to do that, I can take a few minutes tonight and enter her contest. Hopefully I will be able to take better pictures of my boys thanks to her tips. Want to enter her contest? Click here.

Oh, and if you don't know why she is raising money for String of Pearls, click on that icon on her page.

OSU 42 MICHIGAN 7

The OSU MICHIGAN game is a holiday at our house. #1 takes the day off of work, we eat hot wings, and watch the game. Snug used to have to change clothes at halftime, but now that we have two boys, they will each be assigned a team and dress accordingly.

I'm not sure if C had more fun watching OSU trounce MICHIGAN or playing with the boys.

We love this game! Snug was so funny, he kept yelling "go Michigan!" even if OSU was running the ball. I'm training him well.

What? Michigan lost? Now I am bummed.

Congratulations to OSU...now I have endured 5 years in a row of loss and humiliation on this most dividing of Dray holidays.

Not So Funny Friday UPDATED

I do have a couple of cute things the kids have said this week to post for my "Friday Funny Page" but overall it has not been a very funny Friday.
We saw our van finally. Last night we got the call that we could pick it up from the collision shop-you know what, I'll even post the name of the shop. We'll be putting in a call to the BBB and telling most everyone we know NOT to be using the shop. HIDY Collision is really not our favorite spot right now.
Anyway when I got into the freshly vacuumed van (which did smell so nice by the way, and there was not a trace of cheerio or raisin to be seen) and turned it on the 'check engine' light was on. Of course it was. There had been NO check engine light on when I dropped it off 18 days earlier. So we all trooped in to see the secretary who, by the way, doesn't like us at all. I mean, we called and checked the status on the van after 14 days...and then after being told they couldn't find the van (what????) and they'd call back and not hearing from them for another 3 days we called back. Man, are we annoying or what?
We were told the engine light had nothing to do with them and we'd have to take it to the Chrysler dealership to get a diagnostic. So off to the shop I went this morning after school drop offs. There, after an $80 fee we find out part of the transmission is broken and they are just sure it had nothing to do with the fact that I had hit a deer or that the HIDY people had driven the van 50 miles while they had it. So we pay the whole kit and caboodle-including the repair cost, whatever that will end up at. Seriously, not a funny Friday.

On a lighter less bitter note, here are a couple of cute things from the week:

M: I want a snack Jenney
Me: Ok, do you want a tangerine, some pear, or some almonds?
M: Um, I not hungry anymore, I NOT.
(when asked what he had been wanting, the answer was 'cookies'....um, no)

I was a tel-marketer this week for my friend who is having a Creative Memories open house. I made my calls while the Draycare kids were taking naps. R woke up and heard me make my final three or four.
R: Jenney, what are you doing?
Me: Making reminder phone calls
R: Oh
Me: I should have you make some of the calls for me
R: I can't, I don't know any phone numbers!

And a phrase I just LOVE LOVE LOVE is "I DEEEEED EEEEET" which means there was success in the potty room! Snug was dry (except naps) ALL DAY YESTERDAY! And today he has told me two times when he needs to go! YEAH FOR US.

*#1 just got off the phone and because our insurance people didn't call the dealership in time to tell them their verdict on whether or not they'd be helping pay for this new development so, it will be Monday at the earliest that we will get our van back. Ironically, before the whole incident happened, Monday was the day we were going to pay off the van and be completely debt free. Not sure what God is trying to teach me...looking for ways I've been taught...#1 is walking to work...again.

*********************UPDATE**************************************
Well, I think I know what God is teaching me. Although I am really frustrated getting 6 kids, 5 of whom require carseats around using a 3 seat (and only 2 carseats fit) vehicle that has no heat in this 30 deg weather, I am still blessed more than I remember. I read several blogs from other people and today I read of chemo therapy and just being glad she still had eyelashes, and about the loss a family member. Who am I to complain about a month without transportation? I am so glad my children are healthy, my husband has a job, and we know the Lord.

Who is Who?

Do you know this baby? Is it Baby J or Snug?

Is this baby Baby J or Snug?

This is Baby J...and so so cute too!

Oooo, so happy. Here is my comparison picture. On the right is a glass that was washed many many many times in our dishwasher with regular dishwasher detergent. Our glasses and most of all our dishes look awful these days. We bought the Melaleuca dishwasher detergent and after like two washes here is the result, on the left. Yeah!!!!


Anyone know of a good potty training camp? Seriously?

The Real "Art" of Making Baby Food

It has been a great day. Started off by waking up to Snug climbing in bed this morning and realizing we hadn't been up at all last night. And yes, Baby J was in his crib in his bedroom where he sleeps 99.9% at night...just that one little did not time. We've had a fire going in the fireplace to warm up the main part of the house and it is just so cozy. I think our fireplace is one of the things I like the most about our house. I grew up with a fireplace in our basement and I've always wanted a house that had one. (I never thought to include a bathtub in my list of house 'must haves' but it now has defiantly made the list should we ever choose to move!)
Below is a picture I took while making breakfast. It got really quiet while I was putting Snug on the potty (again) so I went to go see. I did NOT stage this. When I walked into the living room, this is what I saw. I thought it was cute. I'm pretty sure R orchestrated the entire thing :o)

So anyway, my friend K and I decided to save money we'd try making our own baby food. After a ton of research, I discovered you cannot can vegetables for babies. Something about food poisoning... Anyway, K and I canned a few quarts of pear sauce together, and I canned a few quarts of applesauce and pear sauce here at home. So now I am venturing out into veggies. In order to make your own veggie baby food in advance you have to cook, puree, and freeze it. We don't have very much freezer space so I will probably be doing most of it straight from our table foods pre-salt or spice being added. However, I spotted a fresh butternut squash in Aldi today and couldn't resist trying it.

I've seen all these great pictures online of how to prepare the veggies and the pictures are always just so. Well, I'm no Martha Stewart, so here's how it REALLY looks.

I sliced the squash in half lengthwise and put it in about 1/4 in of water in the bottom of my pan.

I cooked it at 350 for about 30 minutes in the oven. Then I scooped out all the squishy part and put it in a bowl. The seeds and skin (rind?) will go out to the compost pile. Don't throw all your veggie scraps into the trash, make great gardening dirt! Our pile does not smell and is making great dirt!

Next I put the squash and the water is was cooked in (so I didn't lose all of the vitamins) into the blender and pureed it. Next it went into the ice cube trays. See, it doesn't look pretty at all like the internet showed. It looks sticky and glumpy. Now it is in the freezer until frozen solid. Then I will put it into a freezer container and as I need a serving I can defrost the cubes one at a time add a little ground flaxseed for Baby J! It wasn't hard at all, it just looks bad. My mom would be SO proud though, when I was done I licked the spatula-and I hate squash.

Oh, and if anyone knows of a buisness within the continental US that has a potty training camp that I can send Snug to for say a week or so, please, send me the phone number. :o)

Not Me Monday

I've been reading "Not Me Monday" (see side button) for quite awhile now and for the first week I'm joining. I heard it was therapeutic, and seems how my mom left I need some therapy. It was so great last week to have here here.

Not Me Monday is designed to let moms show the imperfect side of them we don't normally want the world to see but then read everyone else's Not Me and say "Hmmm, I'm not that far off my rocker".

I was not up all night with Baby J and then finally place him securely in his car seat and put him in the basement so I could sleep for one hour straight. I would never do that.

I did not let Snug 'water' all over my socks today because I was preoccupied scraping what was NOT water out of his little pants. I am always aware of what he is doing.

I did not forget this weekend that I was dog sitting for one person and take on another dog...so I did not have four dogs this weekend while it was raining and 35 deg. Not me.

I did not eat four Oreo cookies this afternoon while the kids were napping because they got left on the table. I don't do things like that.

I did not shove a cloth diaper into rubber training pants without using a snappi or regular diaper cover for Snug's nap. Of course I knew where they were.

I am always a perfect housewife and mother, so I don't know what the other 269 people who post "Not Me Monday" posts problem is. Can't they just get it together?

Ride Along

Last night I got to go on a ride along with #1. It was really a lot of fun in the beginning and then really a lot of boring at the end. My mom was here this week to help us out with our car situation (more on that later) and she took the boys for the night so I could go to work with #1. The nice thing about him working right here in town is that when Baby J needed to eat, I could just come home and feed him.
So it started out with a domestic complaint that was interesting, and then we went to serve a summons, and then we had to do this crazy thing with a house key/work key mix-up. I mean, this was BIG stuff :o) Ok, so it wasn't, but I liked it. Then we rode around for almost 2 hours and did NOTHING. About the 3rd time I found that I had nodded off I asked to be taken back home. I'd rather sleep in my own bed than a cop car. Of course after dropping me off he got to go lights and sirens and make 2 arrests. Oh well. (We did not tell Snug that mommy was driving around in daddy's 'woo')

And this is what I found when I got home. I guess if you are tired, you'll sleep anywhere! All that potty training will really wear you out. (Oh and 3 cheers for Bama helping out with potty training. I think it is the worst)
Sooooo I call about the van. The lady at the desk put me on hold and then returned to tell me that someone thought it would be ready to get back yesterday...but that they couldn't seem to locate it. Um.....locate it? The repair shop has like 3 bay areas and a parking lot that is smaller than the one at our local drug store. I was supposed to get a call back, but never heard from them. Hmmmmmmmmmm

I missed the Friday Funny Pages this week...I"ll try again next week...I'm sure more funnies will happen, they usually do!

Just Another Tuesday? Never.

So my mom is here this week so we have a car to use and to see the boys. Our van is not fixed nor have we heard from the collision shop...but the Blazer has a "service engine soon" light on recently, so that is something, right?
Snug is trying the potty (again). Really Mamma and Bama are the ones getting potty trained. We are learning to set a timer a dozen or so times daily and watch carefully for any signs of "potty". Snug doesn't tell us when he has to go, just tells us he has gone (sometimes). However he told Chester our dog today that he had to go and we butted in on the conversation and rushed him in to try. Next step: tell someone who cares. I don't think the dogs need an alias. But should they ever, 'carpet dog' and 'tripod' should suffice.

Here the boys are taking a bath. I think the new tub is needed...soon. It is scheduled for December so if the boys just quit growing we'll be fine! For those of you who have never been here/don't even know us just stalk our blog we have no tub. We just have a huge stall shower. We are saving to pay for the bathroom remodel with cash-yeah FPU! Monday's Financial Peace University was about how to do mutual funds...I have to admit I was zoning a bit. Being on the "Getting Out Of Debt" step makes the "Get Mutual Funds" step look VERY far away!

But we will do it! We will do every step! Here is Snug in next year's Halloween costume. It was sold three weeks ago for $16.88 and I got it today for $1.68. Not the cheapest costume I've gotten for him, but close. His Mickey Mouse costume last year was only $1.09. Oh well, win some, lose some I guess :oP

Jac-A-Roo

Snug got some pictures the other day, and today was Baby J's turn. I've been trying to work with my camera and get it to do what it is supposed to do (it supposedly can do really cool stuff)...the camera is smarter than I am. Do you like his thirsties? They are great diaper covers if anyone is interested in using them.

Someone asked me the other day when on earth I have time to blog while running Draycare and my house along with my other nightly activities. I think we all make time for things...some people read, some watch TV, etc. I write on here. It's theraputic actually. There isn't much on TV anyway (ok, I'll be honest, COPS is on right now and I do have it on...I mean what better show for me to watch so I don't worry about #1 at work!). Blogging just helps me have a cheerier outlook on my day. I mean, now when the Blazer's interior lights won't turn off no matter what we do or when Snug breaks the toilet or when I look up while trying to nurse in the middle of the mall and see my 2 year old has no pants on I can just think to myself "Well, I guess I have something to write about" instead of "I might just lose my mind now".

How was your day?

Fall Pics

Friday Funny Pages

My friend from college started Friday Funny Pages, a way to share the funny things your kids have said for the week. After you post, you direct it back to her post...or something...not that far yet. Hey, I'm lucky I figured out how to get the image on!

Well, I have to go back a couple weeks for my first funny. R learned at preschool that Jesus died on the cross for her. Here at Draycare we're not as religious (ok, we do devotions daily, but hear me out) and we discuss things like walking in the cross walk and looking both ways before we cross the street. So, R went home and told her mom "Jesus died in the crosswalk. He should have been more careful with the cars." Yikes. Not sure if this is actually funny since we want her to know Jesus as her Savior, but it is kinda funny because she is four.

Here is Snug's for the week. Yesterday against my better judgement I let him play outside in the leaves with our neighbor kids. It was 75 and sunny and I'd already kept him in all week (his allergies are awful right now). I got some great pics, and he had a ton of fun. Everyone was running around playing hide-and-seek. When he was the seeker, James would cover his mouth and count "two, four, six, four here I tum duys!" Then he'd run like crazy.

Are You Kidding Me?

I think it is one of those days. Our friend M.I. let us borrow her van for the week so we could get everyone to school and back. (I may come up for clever nick names for everyone...all these initials drive me crazy) As if hitting the deer with my OWN van wasn't enough, today HER van got a flat tire while I was dropping kids off for school. Seriously. This is not my week. Back when we got the freak Ohio hurricane my neighbor lost her roof. Of course the week that I'm borrowing a car is when they came to fix it and leave nails in the street.
So I'm in a hurry to drop off R. and M. at school trying to get home because #1 had a bad night at work and is watching four kids at our house who were all crying when I left. This sweet little guy comes up to the van and tells me I have a flat tire. Sure enough I do. We have AAA roadside so I called them up. They ask all these questions about the van, which of course I don't know. The lady wanted to know if I had a spare tire. I didn't see one in the back, so I had to lay on the ground and look underneath. Then she wants to know what street I'm on. I worked at that school a few years back, but for the life of me I couldn't remember what the street was called. So, I'm trucking along down the street looking for a sign (with the lady on the phone asking me yet MORE questions about the van that I have no idea how to answer) and as I get down to where I can see the street sign there's a cop car parked. Of course its one of #1's buddies watching this whole episode. Being a good sport he got out and helped me, but I know #1 will hear about it tonight.
Got the tire fixed, got home, and I thought I was going to pass out when I hit the door. It smelled SO BAD. Guess everyone had their diaper at the same time today. I love when the kids synchronize.
We made it (don't know how) to the library for story time. As we walk in a bit late I notice that M.'s shoes are on the wrong feet, Snug hasn't had his hair brushed in two days, I forgot to brush my own teeth, and E. has breakfast ALL over her face. Nice. As I looked around I noticed all the toddlers looked in about the same shape. I think we all belong together...and I think the poor librarian might have needed an Advil after we all left.
Can't wait to see what will happen this afternoon!

Praying For Our Nation

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
I Timothy 2:1,2

And on a kinda humorous note...when I log into my computer it goes straight to the Yahoo main page. There are always news updates and advertisements you can click on. As I logged on today the front news heading (naturally) was a large picture of Barack Obama and a headline: "Obama faces daunting challenges" Directly next to this headline is a large advertisement box. In the advertisement you see a picture of a lady holding her head in front of her torso like it is a basketball and under her it says " I just want to take my head off". I kinda had to grin.

Election Day 2008

Because our last name is on our blog and because people are not so honest these days, I've taken my kids' and my husband's names off this blog.
Baby J and I went to vote today before his 4 month checkup. We had two choices. One: wait in line for 30minutes-1hour and vote electronically. Two: wait 2 seconds and do a paper ballot. Um, that took not too long to decide. I did ask the lovely lady waiting on me if the paper one would still be counted, and she looked at me like I was nuts (well, it seems like a lot of work to count paper ballots, I mean I only had to vote for like 590 things -I'm sure someone was really thrilled to sit in the back or wherever and count all the paper ballots when there were computers who could be doing the same thing). So paper ballot it was and I was outta there-I had to kinda laugh because I saw many other moms in line with cranky children hanging from their pant legs who were waiting to vote electronically. Obviously they had more of a heart for the paper counters than I.
Baby J is now 14 lbs 13 oz. Our pediatrician was happy with our decision (as it stands for now) to use cloth diapers. Usually when I do something outta the norm with my kids I brace for the negative comments, but she was really supportive and said she thinks it is a good choice! On the way home I got a box of baby cereal to start Baby J on and a Dora potty seat to put on our toilet for Snug.


Snug thinks he need to supervise this new activity for Baby J.

#1 giving the first bite.

Mom! Where has this stuff been? This is great! Snug, let go of me! You've had your turn with this stuff. YUMMMMYYYYY

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

As my husband will tell you, I love to recycle. I was so excited today when I noticed that we had more recycles than trash! Yippee! Just wait until we try cloth diapers, that week should really cut down on the trash. I'm not 100% committed to the cloth diapers because I haven't really tried them yet. Once I get them from my mom I'll keep you updated. Snug is into throwing away trash and recycles. I figure if I start teaching the boys when they are little about what can be re-used and recycled it will become a habit in their lives. Snug's "give, save, spend" jars (Financial Peace University) are re-used peanut butter jars.

Snug also likes to help put things in our compost pile. Tonight it was our Pumpkins from Halloween. All of our egg shells, fruit/veggie scraps, coffee grounds, pasta water, and some of our grass clippings and leaves go into this compost bin. We turn in every once in awhile and at the bottom is this GREAT black dirt we'll use in our garden next year!

Race For The Presidency

This race for the presidency should not be about race. My friend April sent me an e-mail the other day that really irritated me. (Not that she sent it, the content) It was a recording of a radio show (Howard Stern-nope I'm not endorsing him, trust me) and they were interviewing people in New Orleans about who they were going to vote for. People were insisting they were not voting for Obama because he was black, but rather because of what he stood for. (If you want the e-mail, please contact me) The interviewer actually would say things like "do you like Obama because he is pro-life or because he thinks we should keep our troops in Iraq?" Without even noticing the interviewer had just described McCain, not Obama, they would give which one they 'agreed' with him on more. He would then ask if they agreed with Obama's decision to have Sarah Palin as his vice president and oh yes, they agreed wholeheartedly with that decision. COME ON PEOPLE. It is not right to vote for a candidate because of their race. On the other hand, I've heard a neighbor who lives in our platt say she would never vote for a black man no matter what he stood for. (She said she wasn't sure she liked him but she'd vote for McLane-yep you read that right, McLane instead) That is so hateful and wrong. I guess I just am really bothered by this whole election. If I get one more political phone call I might go crazy. I am not fearful as I've heard other people describe it that Obama will be president. I totally think it is in God's hands who becomes the next leader of the United States. I don't feel that we are a Christian nation anymore...so why would we elect someone who even appears to be God-fearing? Am I saying I don't care if he was to become president? Absolutely not. I hope and pray that he doesn't...but I won't be surprised if he does. There are many issues I feel would be put into place and be totally detrimental to my family and community. My main biggest scariest most worrisome issue is his stance on abortion. We may have to move to Canada...or Australia (and pick up awesome accents)...or maybe Madagascar-they like to Move It Move It. Oh BTW Laura Bush called my home tonight to endorse a candidate for state senate...I didn't know I was in the White House phone directory!

Deer Vs. Soccermom Van

Well, never a dull moment, let me tell you. My aunt, cousin, and dad came to visit (all on their way through Ohio to Michigan). We went to Young's for ice cream and on the way home, met a deer. Here are the pictures. The kids are fine and so is everyone else. I am so thankful my dad was here because he helped me talk to the Allstate guy in Dayton and figure out where to get it fixed. Won't it be fun to spend 5-10 days without the van? I mean, our Blazer is totally reliable and it holds all five car seats for Draycare...er... 3 car seats, maybe. Anyhow, no matter how inconvenient we are praising God that we only have to fix a van and not any people. It could have been so much worse.
Side view: The deer hit the front corner and then bounced off the passenger door.

The Allstate dude (from the good state of MI I'll have you know) said I was the 4th deer hit he'd seen today. #1 said the deer heard there is a good chance XXXXX is going to be president and the deer are committing suicide just in case. However, if he is president there will certainly be more gun control, so the deer will be even more safe! I'm using X's to protect #1's voting privacy. I'm actually really really tired of political campaigns. I'm told to vote no on 2, 4, 6, 8 yes on 3, 5, 9, maybe on 20, 40, 60 and early/often for president. Oh, don't worry. The deer can still vote...thousands of dead people have voted in Ohio in the past few weeks...I'm sure he didn't miss the deadline (no pun intended).