Dear Politicians,

  As an American, I feel it is a gift to vote.  I also feel you should tell us WHY to vote for you, not why NOT to vote for your opponent.   In student council, a candidate tells us what he or she will do for the student body.  He or she may share opinions about current events or student rights.  I am pretty sure this is how it started with the politics we know today.  What on earth made you decide it would be better to slam your opponent?  I PROMISE to make my decision based on who goes about the process in a positive manner.  I refuse to vote for the politician that spends other Americas' hard earned money to spit on another's face.  It is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourself.

  While watching television with my husband yesterday, we sat through a commercial break that was completely made up of political slander ads.  Eew!  Why am I receiving 6-12 paper slander ads a day in the mail?  Why would I vote for someone who throws trees into my mailbox?  I have placed them all in my recycle bin, but I am positive, most people are just tossing them in the trash.  I don't even read them if they look negative.  I believe this is a trashy way to do business.  PLEASE knock it off.  We tell our children not to speak ill of others.  What do you think they are learning from our nation's leaders?  You are undoing everything parents try so hard to instill in their children.  Talk bad about each other and waste as much as possible.  What garbage!!!  Thank you to the occasional pump ad.  It is shameful that they are so rarely seen.  Please refrain from teaching us to hate.  Isn't there enough hate in this world?  Do you REALLY need us to HATE your opponent?  God tells us to love one another as he loved us.  This is hardly what you are practicing.  Please re-evaluate your practices before our next election.  I really can't take all of this negativity in my mostly positive home.

                     ~Helen Hassel

I Just Love This Hat!

The Funny Things My Kids Did Today

1. I was helping Michael get ready for school this morning.  His zipper was down so I asked him to zip it.  He said, "Daddy calls this my barn doors." (Brian has been telling him his barn doors are open) I said,"I understand that, could you put it up?"  Michael continued, "But I like to let the cows out!"
  When he's 13 this is going to be SO FUNNY!
2. Michael has recently taken my razor scooter out of retirement.  He's getting really good at it and decided to attempt a trick.  He was riding down the sidewalk from the front door, crossing the driveway and into the grass, where he would fall knee first into the small hillside.  I asked him to stop and he naturally asked why.  I said something to the tune of "Because you are ruining your jeans and I'm going to have to find a way to get those grass stains off of your knees."  He said,"You just have to rub that stuff on them and they will come right out!"  me - WHAT?  Michael- It's called Oxyclean.
3. Brian and I were sitting on the sofa sharing some popcorn and watching "Top Gear" when I smelled baby powder.  I asked Brian what smelled like baby powder and he said he was wondering the same thing.  He walked up stairs to the origin of the smell.  This is the farthest point of the upstairs to where we were sitting.  There was a small mound of powder in Carter's room.  This mound was closely followed by little white footprints leading to the closet.  In the closet, there were 2 pairs of shoes, two board books and a baby powder bottle completely covered.  Along with a two year old more pale than he has ever been before.

I have had many many laughs today.  Thank you Boys!!!

Can You Even Believe This???

I can hardly believe how stinkin' cute this boy is.  I am so proud of him for taking such an amazing picture. I admit, I would have liked for the photographer to have him wipe his chin but this smile is priceless.  Way to go Pal!!!!

My Aspiring Dentist

Carter set up one of the bar stools near the very bright sliding door. He said, "Mommy! Check this out! Come sit down so I can check your teeth!!" The amazing part is that he moved his little fingers around my mouth like the dentist moves his tools. He was totaly looking IN my mouth, like from 2 inches away. After he was done checking mine, he had me check his. I love this alone time with him. His imagination astounds me.

I'm Not Crying...

Michael has apparently inheritted my crying eyes when it's cool and windy. He came up to me and I asked if he was crying. He said,"I'm not crying! That's just eyeball juice."

Michael's Editing

Michael has been working on a LOT of nursery rhymes at school.  The first week he came home singing "Hickory Dickory Dock"
Today...He had a revision.
"Hickory Dickory Dock,
The mouse ran up the clock,
The clock struck two,
Then the mouse stayed up there and got the cheese."
I said, "That's not how it goes."
He said, "That's how I say it."
HA HA HA HA HA HA!

Ten on Today

1. I got to sleep in today.
2. When I woke up, Carter asked me for milk.  I told him to get it and I would fill it for him.  He said "My milk's all gone."  I told him it wasn't and that we had more in the garage fridge.  He promptly brought back a half gallon of Lactaid.  Brian said, "Where did he find that?"  I told him it was in the garage.  He followed that with, "Well, I think we just found our self-sufficiant child."
3. I LOVE October.
4. I can't wait to decorate this monstrosity for Halloween.
5. Buckeyes are on!!!
6. Michael knows that Buckeye day comes just before church day.  Hee hee hee
7. Mom brought over her Cricut a couple weeks ago and NOW realizes how much she actually uses it.  I'll get it back to you soon Mama!
8. Carter and Brian are giving the yard a once over.  It's pretty pitiful.  Most of the grass is brown from the lack of rain.  If you run your foot over it, it just comes out.
9. Charge conference is done and out of our heads for the year.  :ºD
10. We got our "Save the date" for Maureen and JD's wedding.  I CAN NOT WAIT!!!  I am so excited for her them.  She deserves a love like JD gives her.  WHAT A BLESSING!!!!  Love you Mo!!!!