Spooksters!

Here are a few picts from the Halloween festivities so far this year! Only the real Halloween to go! The first three picts are from the Branch Halloween party last Saturday night. The fourth picture is from a costume birthday party Maggie went to last Saturday morning, and the fifth picture is from her class Halloween party today. Tonight we went to Mom and Dad's ward Halloween party (picts to come) which was a ton of fun and tomorrow is trick or treating with Daddy and Grammy! I'd say my kids got some good use out of their costumes this year!

The Princess Kitty in full costume!

Isnt that Sweet- the vampire feeding the bat!

The Adams Family... Doodoodoodoo click click

Superstar Maggie

Maggie's Preschool Class today after their Costume Parade!
Maggie is sitting bedside Snow White.

Barak the Rock Star

Jennie Matthews and I headed to the Obama rally today, even though we heard there were already 1,000 people in line at 10am (it started at 5:15) and the convocation center at JMU only holds around 7,000 or so. The last time a presidential candidate visited Harrisonburg was back when Lincoln was running for president!
It was only about 40 with the wind blowing in gusts as well! Snow flakes were blowing around, but heck, why not brave the weather- and the crowd-

and see what we could see?
I had to pick Alexander up from school early, drop the kids off at my parents, and then head in to Harrisonburg. We parked over near the hospital and walked to the Convo Center. The line was CRAZY long! We pretty much knew we wouldn't get in but figured they would do something for all of us anyway. There were a couple of picketers

and there was a little musical group around us in line playing some tunes for us to listen to.
Some of the excitement consisted of the police with their dogs sniffing at suspicious packages and areas, people trying to cut in line and those that got mad about it, the wonderment of where the line was taking us and what we were supposed to be doing esp when people started screaming and running toward the soccer field at one point (an Obama look-alike was spotted).
Well, we didnt get in and it looked to be at least 1,000 people who didnt as well.


We decided to go around the other side of the building where they had the road blocked off and the cops were walking around. They backed up a Chevy SUV to one of the doors and we assumed this was where Obama was exiting
so we kinda hung around there for a while. Then we went back to other other doors facing the soccer field and heard Obama speak out of a huge speaker. Towards what we thought was the end, we went back around to the front to see if we could catch a glimpse of him (he is a rock star ya know) getting into his vehicle. The Secret Service agents started showing up and we knew the time was getting close. We were right in front getting smushed into the white line that we couldn't cross! Poor Jenny thought she was going to be severed in half! I knew it would be quick but it just seemed too fast-

there were a lot of people surrounding the vehicle and the passenger side back door was being held open and someone shielding him as he got in. I saw it and knew it was him as he ducked into the car. My picture is a little blurry as the people were pushing me from behind. As they slowly drove by he waved at us so at least we felt acknowledged for suffering through the cold and wind just to hear him speak and share a glimpse of him!
One thing that Jenny pointed out was all of the trash that was left behind by the crowd. How ironic that people who supposedly care about the environment would litter so much! I should have taken a picture of this!
There were a lot of people selling pins and t shirts, hats, bumper stickers, etc. I bought a pin for Alexander who is very knowledgeable about the election. I havent given it to him yet but I really think he will like it.
Overall, I am pretty disappointed that we didnt get in to see him speak (Gov Webb was there as well) but I am glad that we went. It was a good experience and I can say that at least I tried my best to see him at this very historic event!

Picts

Here are some picts I took of my friend, Shawna's 3 beautiful girls:

We got a lot of "action" shots!

What a sweet picture!

Beautiful Grace

Check out those eyes!

Why I'm Voting for the MAN

My cousin, Allie asked me why I was voting for the Obama/Biden ticket. Here are some reasons:

When I propose to give one candidate my support over another candidate, I decide what issues I feel are important to me and look at what type of person I want in the White House. There are just too many issues to see if I agree with EVERYTHING the candidates say. I DONT agree with everything either of them say (or any of them). So here are some of the issues or points that are decisive to me:

Morality: I think Barack Obama is the most moral of our candidates. I feel he will make decisions for our country based on high ideals and ethics.

Trust: Of course, these guys are politicians and they are also human and are allowed to change their minds about issues. But, I believe that Obama is honest and will keep his integrity intact and that the American people will be able to trust him to do what is best for out country.

Disposition: I think we can all see the differences in the two candidates dispositions. We need someone who is composed, calm, articulate rather than someone who easily riled up and frustrated; sarcastic. Sarcasm is not presidential in my opinion and yes, I DO think it matters. Our president can stir up the American people to want to do good for their country (JFK) or can make the American people feel that it doesnt matter WHO is in office. It's the lesser of two evils (Bush 2). And what do other countries see in our president?

Confidence: Along the lines of disposition, Obama seems so much more confident which makes him look better. This is kind of trivial.
Fresh: McCain USED to be a Maverick but he decided in the last year or two that he has sided with President Bush and his policies. I used to just love McCain but was very dissapointed when this change occurred. He's not fresh. He's the same old thing. We dont need that. I wish that he hadn't changed his maverick mind. But, he's no longer a maverick.

McCain may have been a possibility for me had he picked someone else for his running mate. Considering Cheney ran the White House for such a long time, I feel the VP position is very important. Many Americans are worried that something could happen to EITHER of our presidential candidates once elected and that is why we are all so interested in the VP. Palin is a charming, articulate woman but she is NOT ready for the White House, she DOESNT know what she is talking about half the time, is NOT presidential, and between her and Joe Biden, Joe wins by a wide margin. BTW- love JOE! I truly dont trust Palin and think she has her own agenda.

Also, I'm a little upset with McCain and his camp for choosing Palin and for the reasons behind it. I think everyone sees that he chose a woman because of his low standing on women's issues and also because he was trying to sway some of the Hillary vote. But I also see that he picked someone who claims she is a "people's people" and "joe 6 pack" kind of gal because she can relate to the American people. This is rather demeaning to me. Does McCain feel that most of America is so undereducated and slow-minded that he picked someone who could relate to us? Thanks, John. But no thanks. For my presidential candidate/VP-possible president, I want someone who is well educated, well spoken, knowledgeable about the economy (someone with a plan at least), knowledgeable about foreign affairs, someone who has a plan to get us out of this stinkin war, and someone who can get our country's morale up.

John McCain favors outsourcing and NAFTA which I feel takes good jobs away from Americans. He has also voted for these things. Obama does not favor these.

I am very, very against the way our educational system is set up and No Child Left Behind (sorry, Teddy) is a program that seriously needs to either be disbanded or completely revamped. I am not sure about vouchers but think that our public school system needs a lot more money, better teachers with better credentials, and better curiculums.

One of the big issues for me is the environment and whether you believe in Global warming or not, you have to look at what is happening to our environment, how people treat our earth, and how much waste is produced. Anyone see Wall-E? I've been told that "I'm not interested in that" by people with small children who SHOULD be interested if they want a better life for their kids. BTW- Oil drilling DOES cause environmental damage but if one is shallow enough not to care, DRILL, BABY, DRILL! Sorry- this really gets my goat. I love to have gas in my car as much as the next gal, but we need alternatives as well and more resources. Clean coal as well.

I dont think every Tom, Dick, Harry, and Jane need to be toting around handguns.

I support stem cells if they are not from aborted fetuses used primarily for that purpose. I think about what life would be like if my child were sick.

I do like the fact that Obama has a plan for getting us out of Iraq instead of just wanting to "win" the war.

Economy: I do like Obama's economic clean up plan. I dont think it's fair to give tax breaks to wealthy Americans while the rest of us middle or low middle classers pay close to half of what we make in taxes! As far as a socialist plan? Come on- the list of economic advisors backing Obama's plan is astounding. With people like Warren Buffet and Arthur Levitt backing him, I dont think that we could call the plan "socialistic". "Share the Wealth" was probably not the best choice of words to use. McCain's camp is trying to tell everyone that taxes are going to be raised on people making more than $42,000. That is just not true and here is where you can find the truth.
I have learned that you can't trust the other candidates to tell you about each other and the commercials are all counterfactual and deceitful. You also cant trust the talk radio programs like Air America and Rush Limbaugh. You really have to search for the real answers.

Anyway, this is just my opinion. There are certain issues that are more important to me than others and Barak Obama seems to have the right answers (for me) to those issues. It was probably more fun for me to actually prepare this than for anyone to read it. I am really loving this election! Oh and BTW- Obama is coming to JMU this Tuesday! Can't wait!