Monday, September 29, 2008

Technical Difficulties

I know it's been too long since my last post! I have a lot of cute pictures and stories to share, and I will eventually post them! Our computer is on its last leg and I'm having a terrible time getting it to cooperate with me! I've put in an early Christmas gift request with Santa (a.k.a. Bobby) for a new computer, so we'll see if I've been on the naughty or nice list this year!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Pool Fun!

Our friends, Brad & Leah Ball, invited us over on Sunday for hot dogs & swimming. We had such a fun time! Brad is one of my nearly life-long friends. Brad & Leah bought Brad's childhood home and have totally remodeled and updated it. I have so many fond memories from that house and it was fun to go back and make some new memories with all of our kids!

Brad & Leah have one-year old twins - Tori & Tanner. They are just precious! Ethan & Tanner had the same swim trunks and Ethan thought that was really cool!



Ethan is a water lover, has had a couple years of swim lessons, and is almost able to swim independently from us. But, this day we had him wear his arm floaties so we wouldn't have to worry about him. He told us in the car on the way home that, "Those arm things kept me up in that deep water, but they got in the way of my really good swimming!"


Here's all the kids.....Annaliese, Tori, Tanner & Ethan (L to R)
It was hard to get all the kids to look at the camera at the same time!



I love this picture of Annaliese with her sunhat on! She didn't care for the water....too cold!


Here's Leah with Tanner & Tori in their "Baby Boats"

We didn't get any pictures of Brad & Bobby.....but they were there, I promise!

Monday, September 8, 2008

Picture Catch-Up


Brother & Sister



Annaliese with Aunt Holly


Ethan with Aunt Holly



Ethan driving a Jeep made of big blocks



Annaliese with Aunt Julie



Ethan as Buzz Lightyear



To Infinity and Beyond!



Daddy & Annaliese

Friday, September 5, 2008

Sarah Palin for President 2012!

If you will indulge me, I am going to do a political post tonight and I'll post a family update later.....

Prior to last Friday I was planning on voting for McCain, but it would not have been an enthusiastic vote. It would be more of a vote against Obama and a half-hearted vote of support. McCain by himself, while a hero and someone to admired, is not as conservative as I would like.

But then, last Friday, he introduced Sarah Palin as his running mate. Whoa Baby! I had actually seen Sarah Palin on Glenn Beck a few months ago and heard a few people toss out her name as a possible VP pick, but I didn't think she had a chance. When I heard her speech last Friday introducing herself to America, I cried. I cried because she is not only someone who holds the same values as I, but she is someone I thought, "that could be me in a few years". Growing up I always said I wanted to be the first woman President of the United States. As an adult, I have had no desire to be in politics, but if I were I think I would want to be like Sarah. She is a wife and mom, strongly pro-choice, a member of the NRA, conservative in her beliefs of the role of government, smart, well spoken and an Assemblies of God Christian! Sure, her family is not perfect, but I would like to meet someone whose family is!

I also have to say that I love that she is a strong woman, but still is feminine. So often, women in positions of power, whether a CEO or a civic leader, have a hard edge to them. It seems power and physical attractiveness/softness are mutually exclusive of each other. Well, that is a mold Sarah Palin has broken! I love that she is fashionable and pretty.....I mean she's been in Vogue!

I can't wait to learn more about her. I hope that she lives up to my hopes for her. McCain/Palin now has my heart-felt vote and I hope they triumph come November! And come four years from now, I'll be on the Palin for President 2012 bandwagon!