Halloween= Nothing to do

So Halloween is a good and fun holiday, but it makes it very difficult for me to get work done. Here at an elementary school, kids do not do any work. This means that I cannot help them with their work and therefore have nothing to do. I'm so bored. And hungry... but that is another story. Here is a Halloween survey since I can't get onto my myspace page on my work computer:

What are you going to be for Halloween this year? Undecided... either Joe the Plumber or Sarah Palin... doing what I can to help people remember to vote.

Will you be making your costume yourself? Why, yes, I am.

What was your best Halloween costume? Two years ago, I was Miss Conception since I was preggo and everything. I remember dressing up as Ernie when I was a kid and I totally loved that.

What was your worst Halloween costume? Probably the ones that I can't remember. They must have been that lame.

Will you be having a Halloween party this year? I wish. No room at our inn. That's ok, we have other plans.

How many houses will you trick or treat at? None! Yay for Trunk or Treating. It's good for us lazy and paranoid parents who don't want or like to go house to house.

What is the best thing you have received when trick or treating? Full size candy bars. Gotta love those rich neighborhoods.

What is the worst thing you have received when trick or treating? Those stupid candies wrapped in orange or black paper. They are always hard as a rock. I couldn't even tell you what they were supposed to be.

Have you ever performed a trick for not getting a treat? Well, does TP-ing count?

Have you ever watched scary movies at Halloween? Of course. It wouldn't be Halloween if we didn't. But nothing too scary, I'm kind of a baby.

Do you get afraid during Halloween night? No, should I?

What was your best Halloween memory? My mom and dad used to decorate for Halloween and that was always special. Also, I remember when we were in junior high and Valerie ratted her hair out, hairsprayed the heck out of it, and colored it (green, I think). I remember we were all running for some reason and she fell and killed a bug with her hair alone. It was pretty great.

What was your worst Halloween memory? I think I remember getting teased by older kids. That always sucked.

Do you decorate your house for Halloween? No, I am too busy getting ready for Christmas.

How much candy do you buy to give out at Halloween? A bag. Maybe two.

What is your favorite Halloween monster? "Igor." "No, it's pronounced 'eye-gor.'" "But they told me it was 'ee-gor'." "Well, they were wrong then, weren't they?"

A Prayer for Today

In light of the election and economical issues, Billy Graham has offered the following prayer: 'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'

Define Femininity

In the talk, The Joy of Womanhood, Margaret D. Nadauld, a previous Young Women General President, says:

President Faust observed that femininity “is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your … capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each … possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty.”

Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.

Reflections of Christ

I had to share this slideshow. I know several of you have already seen it, but I had to display it so others could have the chance to see it as well. These are beautiful photographs depicting Christ's life. They are already available to purchase at deseretbooks.com on DVD, CD, and text.

"The Mesa Arizona LDS Temple's visitor center is currently displaying a beautiful collection of images created by Mark Mabry entitled Reflections of Christ. With daily visitor counts as high as 1,000 people, the exhibit is attracting a lot of attention. Mabry's images brilliantly capture both the humanity and grandeur of Jesus and His ministry. The following slideshow, created by Cameron Trejo, includes every image in the exhibit along with a beautiful arrangement of Come Thou Fount performed by Clyde Bawden and Freddie Ashby."

If you haven't already seen it, go to the website to see the slideshow which is under the heading Video:
http://76.163.100.54/index.html

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

With this week being the week of Halloween and the beginning of November, I begin to prepare myself for the most anticipated holiday, Christmas! Like I mentioned earlier, Eddie has decided to allow me to get out my holiday decorations early this year (mostly because he probably doesn't want to hear me whine anymore). Now as I am getting my holiday decor out and primed, I wish we had the space for a large Christmas party. The past couple of years Eddie's work had provided a beautiful semi-formal Christmas party and I just thought it was the greatest thing. This year Eddie is at a new job that employs over 3000 people so a company Christmas party is out of the question. So lame. How do I get my holiday party fix? Our apartment is too small for the party I have envisioned. So sad and so lame. Well, I guess it'll just have to wait.

Happy Halloween!

Remember kids, if Obama were in charge of Halloween, he would take the candy you worked hard for and give to the kids who stayed home and did nothing. Scary, eh?

These are the days.

Wow. So Benjamin is now almost 20 months old. He's almost at that age when I'm not supposed to count it by months. Eh, maybe I will just keep doing it anyway. "Hi, yeah, this is my son... he's 49 months old..." Ok, maybe not. He is just so much fun these days. Yeah, he's got an attitude on him, but it's really only when it comes to food which he takes very, very seriously. I think he gets that from me.

Recently, Benjamin has hit a growth spurt in his personality. He makes jokes all the time that only he understands and cracks up at them. He is always smiling and laughing. He loves to smile for the camera too. He gives sweet kisses and super tight hugs where he sees how tight he can squeeze you. He loves his stuffed animals and will hug them and rock them in his arms. His new thing is that Eddie and I have to give his Pup-pup (stuffed animal puppy) and/or his teddy bear kisses goodnight. I love it.

I love being a mom and it has taken our new working situation to make me realize how precious every day is. I just can't get enough of my kid. I look forward to the prospect of staying home and watching my son along with a couple of other kids. Though it might be difficult, it would definitely worth it.

President Joseph F. Smith said on one occasion: “After all, to do well those things which God ordained to be the common lot of all man-kind, is the truest greatness. To be a successful father or a successful mother is greater than to be a successful general or a successful statesman. One is universal and eternal greatness, the other is ephemeral” (Gospel Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939, p. 285).

The above picture shows Ben sitting in his old baby carseat which he now deems as his recliner. He likes to sit in it and watch Disney movies, something we don't get to do much anymore. The second picture shows Ben doing what Ben does best: EATING. C'mon. That is a seriously happy face. All it took was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Simple pleasures.

"If you want to destroy my sweater..."

Last Saturday, Eddie and I went on our first date in months. Between our combined two jobs, school, soccer games, and callings, we are barely able to make enough time for our little family. This means that we hardly ever get time for ourselves. Anyway, we were able to go to the Arizona State Fair and see a concert: Angels & Airwaves and Weezer. I was more excited about Weezer so after an hour of Angels and Airwaves, I was pretty bored. Weezer finally came on though and totally rocked! I hadn't seen them since 2001. While the show was rather simple, being a state fair and all, the lights, the deep booming bass that shakes your core, the thumping of the drums, the hilarious dancing, matching jogging suits, and the oh-so catchy tunes that I know and love made it all worth it! Oh and P.S. The lead singer? Totally going bald. Our vantage point gave us the perfect view of it. Anyway, since the show had started so late, we waited around just long enough to hear our favs: The Sweater Song, So It Ain't So, Hash Pipe, Troublemaker, and Eddie's fav, Pork & Beans. After that, we cruised the fair and took advantage of the best feature of the state fair: disgustingly greasy fair food. We had fresh lemonade, a corn dog the size of my arm, and deep-fried oreo cookies covered in powdered sugar and chocolate sauce. Yeah, I know. That last one doesn't sound so good... and you know what? It wasn't. Hanging out with Eddie was fun though. So much so that I didn't even mind when I was up sick all night because of the questionable food we ate. Seriously though, all in all, I had fun.

Animals vs. People (Many have made their choice)

So last night, Eddie and I watched an episode of Trading Spouses. Not something we usually do. We were intrigued by one of the wives who was a devout vegan, meaning that she does not use any part of any animal in everything she does. IE She does not eat meat, drink milk or any other dairy product, eat eggs or fish. She also refuses to wear leather, fur, or use any other product or byproduct of animals. This includes her household cleaning materials, home furniture, etc. She was so adament about health and taking care of your body and loving your environment and all animals to the extent that she was intolerant to other people's viewpoints and beliefs. She was rude and mean. Ironically enough, she smoked, drank, was borderline verbally abusive to her "new" family, as well as her own family, and practically beat her "new" family's dog. Interesting.

Later that night, I read a post from someone I know that is pro-abortion. The whole bulletin talked about how McCain doesn't know women because he called abortion extreme. It got me thinking. There are a good number of Democratics who are environmentalists ("take care of our world"), vegetarians or vegans ("take care of our animals"), anti-gun ("don't hurt anyone"), and/or animal-rights activists (again with the "take care of animals"). What I can't understand is how these people who profess to love all these things are still able to say that it is ok to kill an unborn child, or as Obama called it, "a punishment?"

Also, how can this belief, to be pro-choice, be considered a part of feminism, when it negates the very core of what it means to be a woman? That is to be kind, gentle, self-less, strong and responsible, and, above all else, to be a mother? Such a belief deadens motherly instincts to love and protect. I'm sorry, but I am disgusted by the fact that so many people would rather chain themselves to a tree or refuse to eat a cow than to protect another human life. How can this be? What is happening? Where are our values? What happened to the sancity of home, family, and love before selfishness, trends, and pride?

You Gotta Love Abe... Lincoln, that is.

As we drove to work yesterday morning, Eddie and I listened to KFYI, much like we always do. If you don't know what station that is, all you need to know is that Rush is on it. :) Anyway, Sean Hannity read the following quote by Lincoln and Boetcker and how it applied to liberal views:

"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot lift the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer.

You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.

You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

You cannot establish security on borrowed money.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves."

Not only are those quotes relevant to everyday society, but politically speaking, I can think of an instance involving a Democrat or Democratic legislature for every one of those quotes. I hope you all are registered to vote. Remember your values and not just passing trends.

So much to do, so little time

I was thinking the other day about old school assignments that I have had. I guess that is what comes from working at an elementary school; I always found myself reminisncing about books I read, projects I made, tests I took, and papers I wrote. Heck, I still remember that in 1st grade we took a spelling test and I spelled the word "Washington" incorrectly. It made me mad because the teacher pronounced it "Washingten," not "Washington." Anyway, one assignment in particular cross my mind yesterday. The teacher asked the students to make a list of things they wanted to accomplish in their lifetime. I still remember some of mine. I really wanted to be on Jeopardy. Anyway, here is a list of 25 things I want to accomplish that I just compiled at age 25:

1. I want to do all the genealogy that I can.
2. I want to dance with my husband in the pouring rain.
3. I want to put my feet on European soil.
4. I want to write a book (publishing is optional).
5. I want to mother at least 3 children.
6. I would like to get my doctorate. I want people to call me Dr. Moure.
7. I want to serve another mission, but this time with Eddie.
8. I want to see Brazil again.
9. I want to take a cruise. Anywhere.
10. I want to successfully develop a musical talent.
11. I want be a motivational speaker and go on a public speaking circuit for the church.
12. I still want to appear on a game show.
13. I want to visit 50 different temples. I have already visited 5. Whew, 45 to go.
14. Go to at least one concert a year (it's Weezer this year, baby! Az State Fair... wanna come?).
15. I want to take a last minute vacation and just go!
16. I want to see New York at Christmas time.
17. I wanna visit Machu Piccu. Thanks, Travel channel!
18. I want to buy a house with at least 3-4 acres. Not too big, not too small.
19. I want to drive to Alaska just one more time!
20. I want to give out at least one Book of Mormon a year with my testimony inside.
21. I want to visit all 50 states. I've already seen 13.
22. I want to do a 10K marathon.
23. Be friends again, or at least speaking terms, with everyone I have lost touch with.
24. Own a motorcycle again.
25. Be a foster mom.

I'm makin' a list... checkin' it twice.

So Christmas is just around the corner. Of course, I have been saying that since this past July. With only 80 something days left, one thought has plagued my mind ... decorating for Christmas! I have been begging Eddie to let me put up some lights, a little garland, and perhaps even a Christmas tree, but to no avail. Eddie says that the Christmas season does not begin until after Thanksgiving. I explained to him that that is the official start, but the preseason begins now when department stores and grocery stores start making room for their holiday merchandise. I think I am slowing wearing him down. I have already begun to buy Christmas decorations, but am not allowed to display them until the first week of November. Sigh. Perhaps it would help if I start playing Christmas carols in our home. Heehee.

All good things... go to Alabama???

Yeah, so I recently found out that my great day care provider is moving away to Alabama. :( At least she is staying until the week of Thanksgiving, but after that, Eddie and I have no idea what we are gonna do. Can we find someone else to watch Ben? Should I stay home and end up watching my friends' kids? Regular day care is way too expensive; our day care provider gave us a ridiculously good rate. Anyone know someone nearby that might wanna watch my kid?