Mini Hiatus

Without meaning to, it appears that I have taken a little vacation from blogging. I wish I felt like I was on vacation! Long story long: We had the carpeting replaced in our home office. Internet connection has been sporadic through the redo. The office is dismantled across my dining room right now and on Thursday I will be hosting my extended family's holiday meal. Needless to say it has been a little bit busy around here. I hope you've missed me! I will try to get a post up here by Thursday with a couple of little someones that I am feeling thankful for, in keeping with the theme for the week. I promise to be back to my intermittent, at best, posting after that. Hope you have a great week!

The cutest school pictures EVER!

Okay, I may be slightly biased, but I think it's a keeper! Looking at this photo of Dylan in all of his school-boy handsomeness, it is hard to believe that a mere four years ago, this little human was known only by my bulging uterus. And thinking back to how apprehensive I was about the transition to school a few short months ago, it is amazing how much he loves it and we couldn't imagine our lives without being part of his school community.

His teacher, on the other hand, will not be too happy about my having posted this photo:

I told her it is a great class photo and she should be honored that it will be viewed on my blog. Except for Dylan's Chandler Bingish smile. Oh, and maybe the blond kid having to be held in place by the teacher with the "get this over with now" smile on her face. Well, maybe too the girl apparently bored nearly to tears by the whole experience. Now that you mention it, the other boy kinda looks ready to get up and run away, too. But to me it's the best possible picture. That's them; all of their three-year-oldness captured for that moment in time. My little boy's first class picture!

Not her daddy's girl

Yeah, right!

Yes! We! Did!

I am not a politician or a pundit, so who am I to say anything. I mean, I know right now the blogosphere is exploding with posts just like this little post on my little blog. And many people have more insight than I and a better way of saying what needs to be said. I also know there are an equal number of blog posts expressing disappointment at this outcome, and I really don't want to rub it in any one's face that my guy won. But I am a mom and I can't let this monumental accomplishment in our nation's history occur without celebrating what this election result means for my kids; without celebrating the fact that my children will grow up during the "Obama Years!"

Before today, I avoided thinking about what either outcome would mean, how any outcome would make me feel. There is no way that I would have believed, before today, that I would go to bed last night knowing, without any room for the slightest doubt, who our president would be. (You know, after having lived through the last two presidential elections.) And I dared not let myself have a glimmer of hope that I would know with such certainty that our president would be Barack Obama. Because I didn't want to be disappointed. I didn't want to have to think about how we would make it through the next four years as we have trudged through the last eight, let alone how I would face today if the outcome had been different.

But it wasn't a different outcome. It was this one and I don't have to go to that dark place of wondering. We did what needed to be done to get our country, the country that I chose to bring children into and that I will one day leave behind to their generation, back on track. And what I have to say about it as little Mom Blogger me (if I can stop getting choked up and teary every time I start replaying the speech, or reading articles or blog posts, or listening to talk radio, or even just thinking OMG this country just elected Barack Obama president) is that OMG this country just elected Barack Obama president!!

I am not going to get all historical perspectivy here because that's just not me. I know it is important for much grander reasons than the reasons it is important to me in my little life. I am a stay at home mom. I live and breathe every need and desire of my children 24/7. My sole purpose, at this stage of our family and my life, is caring for them and doing my best each day to help them become amazing people. It is difficult sometimes to feel like I matter outside of my own household, and dammit, I even feel selfish for wanting to matter outside of the lives of my kids. But this election result means that a mom, just doing what she has to do to take care of her family, can have a hope that the world will be just a little bit better for her kids. That she can put a voice to that hope, and take action and vote. And that vote counts for something. It matters to my family, and it matters so far beyond the four walls of my home, beyond the four people in my little family. And as far reaching as that hope is, it comes down to me getting through the day being the best mom that I can be to my kids today because I hope. And that matters.

Now that it is today and I am no longer afraid of being disappointed, of hoping beyond what seemed possible, I have no words to express the elation that I feel, so I will simply say that I am grateful. It is gratifying to be in a place to be able to celebrate the outcome of this monumental election. If you are celebrating with me, thank you.


In the midst of the joy I have been feeling since the result was announced last night, it saddens me to have to say this: Congratulations, all you narrow minded zealots! Way to go on passing that "Yes for Marriage" amendment. I'm sure we straight, happily married, one-man-one-woman couples will all be so much safer now, civil rights be damned!

Post Halloween Post

It is way too hot here for November! I remember when growing up, beginning to feel the crisp air of our Arizona autumn settling in as Halloween approached. We had to trick-or-treat in sweaters. Can you say "Global Warming," anyone?

Holiday festivities started for Dylan and Sadie this week by going to Grandpa's to pick the pumpkins that he grew for them in his garden. The kids wore their costumes to show off for Grandpa. (Also because Sadie wasn't too keen on dressing up and we wanted to get lots of practice in before the big night.) It was 90+ degrees that day! Dylan was soaked in sweat by the time he got out of his jacket and helmet.

Getting ready to carve Jack-o-Lanterns; they were both very grossed out by the pumpkin slime!

On Thursday at school, the kids wore costumes, had a parade, and got to do some trick-or-treating from room to room. This is the only shot I got of the two of them together in their costumes. Dylan was a fire fighter last year and wanted to be one again this year. At first, I tried to talk him out of it but then we thought, "duh!" Why put out for a whole new costume when we already have one that he wants to wear? He doesn't know any better yet. Plus we had acquired a very cute dalmatian outfit for Sadie, so she got to be his sidekick firehouse dog.

Getting ready for the big night out.

Dylan looked like a "real" firefighter with smoky special effects smeared on his face.

We trick-or-treated up and down our street. Dylan was exhausted when we got back home, but Sadie, as her usual party-girl self was rarin' to keep going. Hot and tired won out, much to her dismay.

"I'm hot! Can I have some candy now, please?" (Look at his poor sweaty little head!)

Forget how hot it was. It's all about the candy!