Silly Photos

What does Athol Elementary Spirit Week look like around here?

Tanner really, really got into the idea of it all

Monday was Crazy Hair Day.

Anyone who wants an awesome look around here know they can just turn to Rachel.

She can do almost anything with hair!

I had to post every angle so you could get the whole effect
When I took him in to school that morning, everyone got a big kick out of it!(Yesterday was Red Day. No big deal. Red running pants and sweatshirt)

Today was Ridiculous Day.

We got him all dressed up, thanks to Noelle, who loves to do the costume thing.

Then he decided that he didn't want to do it, and pulled it all off.

(Can you blame him . . . I can't!)

Here is Isaac with his cub scout den on a field trip to Cabela's. I think they are having a great time. (Isaac is the 2nd boy from the left)

Noelle did a trial run for her Halloween costume . . .

She calls this look "Murderer Fairy." Picture this with (fake) blood all down the front of her . . .

I'm thinking . . . I do NOT have boring kids. Not even for a minute!

I guess the kitty feels safer with her Rock 'em, Sock 'em friends!

Could YOU Eat These?

In the spirit of Halloween and all things morbid and gross, my Dad sent me an email with all of these "lovely" cakes

There were more cakes that I could have posted, but these were the least disgusting!

But I chose only 5, to (sort of) save those of you with weak stomachs!

(What can I say - I was raised with 5 brothers!)

Dead Saw-Blade Head

Pot O'eyeballs The Kitty's ... ( I found the recipe online. Email me if you want it...)

Skull
Zombie
(ok, ok, here are a few more . . . )

. . . this, as a birthday cake?

Dead Crow (or Blackbird?)

Eyes, fingers, nose and ears. . .

(gives a new spin to that Primary song, doesn't it???!)

Have a Ghoulish Halloween!

A whole lotta whaaa . . . ???

. . . just a lot of sleepin'

. . . and a lot of prayin'

that we will all be well soon!

Get lost, you snout-faced flu!

DeMint to Offer Term Limits Constitutional Amendment

WARNING: ANOTHER POST ABOUT POLITICS

Maybe this post will purge the frustration that I have been consumed with so that I can think clearly and feel deeply enough to write about my experiences, about my faith, family, and friends; from the heart and not from my boiling blood. So this blog can be back to an expression of the things that are near and dear to me...

If you are sick and tired of seeing political rants on usually family-oriented blogs, feel free to skip this post. And the post below this one too, if you haven't read it yet.

But if you are feeling the way I am about the stupidity, crimes, and dare I say - the treasons - that are taking place in the crazy town we call Washington, DC, then by all means, please read on.

Because I think that someone has a good idea here.

I recently found this awesome website NetRightNation. It is filled with up to the minute analysis on the shenanigans that are happens in and about the White House.

(Every conservative and independent with a blog should have this site on their sidebar to follow what is happening out there. Because your network news won't tell you, and Fox News isn't, well, a legitimate news source.

Yeah, right.

They sometimes tick me off with the amount of time they give the Democratic opinion. Which is equal to or exceeds the time they give the Republican opinion on any given political subject...

...of course, I am not talking about Beck, Hannity, or any of those other guys here. Those are strictly talk shows. But you knew that, right? You are all smart cookies out there, I know).

Written by Adam Bitely
Thursday, 22 October 2009 16:50
From today's episode of Jim DeMint's podcast (which will be coming out soon):

Hello again. I'm Senator Jim DeMint, and this is Freedomcast for October 22, 2009.

You know, the longer I stay in Washington, the more I have come to realize that the problem in the federal government isn't just the people... it's the process.
The system itself is so much more powerful than either party or interest group, let alone one president or congressional leader.
In Washington, the rules of the game are rigged -- in favor of bigger government, higher taxes, more debt, and the time-honored system of political back-scratching of "go along to get along."
Fifteen years ago, Republicans -- who had been out of power in Congress for forty years – made term limits a centerpiece of their “Contract with America” agenda.
The term limits constitutional amendment ultimately failed, in part because so many new reform-minded congressmen imposed term limits on themselves. After six or eight years, these members voluntarily went home, leaving behind those Republicans and Democrats who fully intended to make a career inside the beltway.
The fact is, party doesn’t matter when it comes to reform. If you want to change the policies, you have to change the process.
That’s why in the next few weeks I will introduce a new constitutional amendment to limit members of the House of Representatives to three terms (which is six years), and members of the Senate to two terms (which is twelve years).
As long as members have the chance to spend their lives in Washington, their interests will always skew toward fundraising, relationship building among lobbyists, and trading favors for pork – in short, amassing their own power. Since all that power is going to disappear in a few years, anyway, term-limited legislators will be far less likely to make compromises with the system.
Opponents of term limits say that the nation needs wise and seasoned leaders to lead the nation through crises and find consensus on difficult issues.
Well, that’s exactly what we’ve got now… How do you think it’s working out for us?
It wasn’t the “people” who gave us a 12-trillion dollar debt, trillion-dollar deficits, 100-trillion-dollar long term shortfall in Social Security and Medicare, the Wall Street and auto bailouts, and the health care takeover.
It was those wise and seasoned leaders, who enjoy lives of privilege almost wholly immune from the consequences of their policy failures.
Term limits are not enough, of course. I hope my amendment will eventually be ratified, and then followed by other structural reforms to make our public institutions more transparent and accountable.
But term limits are a good start. Because if we really want reform, we all know it’s not enough just to change the congressmen – we have to change Congress itself.

I think Jim DeMint is brilliant - and he has integrity - but do you think it will work?

(Keep in mind - I can deal with opposing viewpoints. Rudeness I don't deal with so well...)

Jim DeMint restates his position here...

A Lot of Truth Here !

I have been very frustrated by everything that has been going on in our nation, and in the world. In fact, it has me stressed out to the point where I can't even think clearly enough to write a proper rant about it all.

So, when my dad sent this little email to me, I had to share it . . .

If a conservative doesn’t like guns, he doesn`t buy one.
If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.
---
If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn`t eat meat.
If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.
---
If a conservative sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat his enemy.
A liberal wonders how to surrender gracefully and still look good.
---
If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.
---
If a black or Hispanic are conservative, they see themselves as independently successful.
Their liberal counterparts see themselves as victims in need of government protection.
---
If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.
---
If a conservative doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don’t like be taken off the air.
---
If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn’t go to church.
A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced. (Unless it’s a foreign religion, of course!)
---
If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.
---
If a conservative slips and falls in a store, he gets up, laughs and is embarrassed.
If a liberal slips and falls, he grabs his neck, moans like he's in labor and then sues.
---
If a conservative reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh.
A liberal will delete it because he's "offended".
---

I didn't write this this list, so I must give full credit to Cy Cooper, President
Cy Cooper Company

He is just a regular guy who owns a small business


We all have our different viewpoints, different way of looking at the things in our lives that matter to each of us.

But I think he has pinpointed many of the things that have gotten so crazy.

Here is Webster's definition:

Part of the definition says: "one who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters"

Do you see the irony in that like I do?

What Happens Right After You Turn Six?

Why, you get a loose a tooth, of course!
He loves to show it off!

Family Party cake - Brownie ice cream cake with whipped topping icing! Gotta eat it quick!

Here is his special "Day Of" birthday cake that I made for him on Friday.

Because we always have the family party on a Sunday. Or a Monday.

By his special request, he got a strawberry cake (yes it's pink, So What?)

With chocolate cream cheese frosting

AND

Star-shaped chocolate chip cookies. All his idea. It was a really interesting-looking (and tasting)cake, and he LOVED it!
Best bros'

The crash landing, after all that sugar. . .

The Buzzard, the Bat, and the Bumblebee!

Sometimes I receive an email that has a message that I want to share. This one in particular spoke to me profoundly. It reminded me of what I know, and of all the things that I have been blessed with, and reminded me to have faith in the knowledge that my Heavenly Father does and will look out for me. I just need to ask.

THE BUZZARD: If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground, with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner, for life, in a small jail, with no top.
THE BAT: The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about, helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation, from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
THE BUMBLEBEE: A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself. PEOPLE: In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat and the bumblebee. We struggle about, with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem! Just look up. Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, but Faith looks up!

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and have faith in the Lord your God!

A Belly Laugh...

Today, Tanner came home from school and told me all about how his bigger brother, Isaac, was beating up on him on the way home from the bus stop. Rachel and I reminded him that many times the fighting/wrestling was started by him, and sometimes he even won!

His answer?

"Mo-om, Isaac is NINE and I am only FIVE!" (never mind that he has been counting down the days til his sixth birthday)

"I am SO not in his league!"

Rachel and I busted up laughing so much after that, I completely forgot to talk to Isaac about not picking on Tanner . . .

How does an almost 6-year-old know what being "not in his league" means?

When questioned, he claims "I just knew it!"

****************

We have a new member of the family here.

A cute kitty named Ninja.She's adorable, and she's litter box trained
All of the kids have been wanting a kitty for YEARS. Really. It's been about 10 years since we have had one. And my kids are "cat people".

I have been dragging my feet, since I knew the kitty would have to be strictly a house cat.

For reasons that I might or might not share one day. . .

I was so relieved when she proved consistantly to be litter-box trained.

She can stay :~D

.

God-Given Talent

Every day I am grateful for all of the things my Heavenly Father has given me.

Today I am grateful for my children. They are each so special to me. They also have their own unique talents that they work hard to develop.

My oldest son Jake is a professional stone mason. He works with all kinds of stone, brick, and slate materials. He works for individuals as well as home builders. And sometimes he even does a project or two for me!


Here are some pictures of his latest project - restoring this old bridge and stone wall. There are missing stones and areas that are crumbling, and the owners want to repair it before it is too late.

This is so amazing to me!