Ryan thought it was great, he got to put on the ever-popular bowling shoes.  Cole wanted a pair too, but they didn’t have a pair small enough, so the lady said he could wear his Crocs.

Cole gave it his best shot, but I think he is still a little too young to get the whole concept.  One of the workers brought out a ramp, where Cole could just roll the ball down.  He liked that-but he liked moving the levers back and forth on it more than bowling.  He did slow down long enough for me to capture him with his goofy smile:

The first time Ryan was up, he placed the ball down, and then kicked it with the sole of his foot- good thing it wasn’t with his toe!  He quickly caught on, and he had a little warm up move, and one he did afterwards.  I was happy for him, that he usually knocked down several pins- he was really into it!

 The warm up

 Watching

 Doing the post-move

For some reason when it was my turn to bowl, the automated bumpers stayed up.  I haven’t bowled in such a long time, I was happy the bumper was up.  But as a testament to my awful bowling, Ryan beat me!  He’s a 4.5 year old, who had never bowled, getting a higher score than his ol’ mom- even with the bumpers up!  Guess I need to work on my bowling game-in my spare time. 

The birthday boy’s mom, mentioned to us the alley we were at, had night bowling where they turn off the lights, and light up the lanes, and all of that.  Ryan heard that, and has been asking everynight when we get to go night bowling.  We are hoping we can take him soon.

I wonder if I can have them leave the bumpers up for me.  At least it will be dark, and no one will actually see my bowling ball hit the bumper.  On the other hand, maybe I’ll have them take the bumpers down for Ryan, and leave them up for me. Then we will have an even match up.   :-) 

It is so fun to see your child enjoy something, and just have 100% fun.   Even if I am an awful bowler, it was still the best time I ever had bowling.

“To put it bluntly: I have 26 8-year-old kids. 7 of them are homeless: they either live in shelters or with other family members. Most of them don’t have their own coats, boots or enough food to eat at night. 5 of my kids’ families have lost their jobs recently in the tough economic times we are facing and their futures look even more bleak. The school lunch and breakfast that we serve every day is the only times a few of my kids even get to eat. Five of my kids have family members (a mom or dad or brother) in jail, 2 just lost their cars and have no transportation and the vast majority of my kids don’t have enough books, pencils, paper or even crayons at home to do their homework. 

It’s not that the parents are deadbeats or don’t care: I’ve met all my parents and you’ve never seen a group of parents that are more devoted to their kids and passionate that their kids MAKE IT: they want their kids to rise above their situation and become better than they themselves have it.”

As I read further, I got tears in my eyes seeing what some the children had requested for A Christmas present in a writing assignment (my sister did not edit their responses): 

“…a beautiful, red, sparkly dress. Like a princess.”

“a Bratz Babby”

“Operation Hulk”

“…a bike so I don’t have to share with my brother and cuzzin.”

“…I would like a nice dress that comes with a crown.”

“…chapter books at home because I can onlee read the baby books of my brother.”

 

 A message like this really puts it in perspective.  I was bummed this morning because a kitchen set I spotted on Craig’s List for Cole, was already sold.  But Cole, and Ryan will have other presents, and they have a warm house to sleep in, socks with no holes in them, and more pencils, crayons, and books than they know what to do with.

My sister said Wal-Mart gift cards are the most helpful, because most schools get tax-exempt status from Wal-Mart and then they can purchase whatever they do not receive in donations. 

Instead of spending the money on a kitchen set, I plan to send my sister a Wal-Mart gift card, to help assure every child in her class gets ONE Christmas gift.  I also plan to get another gift card for my local school, because the sad thing is, this is not a unique situation.  Sadly, there are too many kids in exactly the same situation as the kids in my sister’s class.

My sister said I could post her school information, and if you can help out, she and the kids would be eternally grateful.  Perhaps she will be able to take some pictures of the kids with their gifts, and I can post some pictures of them in the future.

Please think about also making a donation to your local school- the thought of a child not having a gift on Christmas is so sad, let alone when a child just wants some socks with no holes in them, or a pencil so they can do their homework.  I think my sister says it all with this sentence:

There is nothing more heartwarming than the smile on a child’s face when they are used to getting nothing (which reinforces to them that they don’t matter and they don’t deserve anything) and someone, somewhere, shows that they care about that child and that they MATTER to someone.

Please note: My sister said they can accept anything (pencils, chapter books, socks, crayons, etc.) EXCEPT FOR CASH and CHECKS.  Again, Wal-Mart gift cards would be the most helpful, and would also be the least expensive to mail to her.  She needs donations in by December 12th.

If you can make a donation, you can mail it to:

Alsup Elementary School

C/O Mara Corzine

7101 Birch Street

Commerce City, CO  80022

Thank you for considering making a donation, and helping make a child’s Christmas a little brighter.

Cross-posted at Blogher

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We’ve been working on the house, and trying to get everything else done in daily life that must get done, like work, errands, parent, spend time with the boys, etc.  I still haven’t started packing yet, but that is soon to change.  Joe started bringing home boxes the other day, so now that fun chore is on my plate.

I really don’t mind, but there is always way more stuff you realize you have.  I am hoping we can donate or just get rid of the stuff we haven’t used in years, and be done with it.  Like the extra microwave that has been sitting the pantry now, for eight years.  If our microwave ever broke, we had a spare.  Except it hasn’t and we have had a microwave sitting in the pantry for eight years.

I usually blog at night- but I have been so tired physically and mentally, I think I have blogger’s block.  If you don’t see very many posts here in the upcoming weeks, I haven’t dropped off the face of the earth.  But with moving, fixing up the house, and the upcoming holiday season, I’m not sure how much time or motivation I will have to blog.  Please continue to check in- I know I’ll get my blogging mojo back eventually.  :-)  You can find me on Twitter, and I seem to be able to post 140 character items, much easier and regularly than actual blog posts these days.

I pinkie swear I will post pictures of the new house and the progress we have made.  Joe finished painting the boys’ rooms today, and he’s going to start on our bedroom tomorrow.  I placed the carpet order last week, and that should be installed right after Thanksgiving.  We are ordering our engineered hardwood flooring tomorrow.  We have decided on a honey hickory color which is a golden brown- not too dark or light.  We should have it around Thanksgiving.  It has to cure at room temperature for a week, so Joe should be able to install the floor, the beginning of December.

The brand we are getting has a locking system, so there is no need to glue or nail the pieces together.  Joe is optimistic he can install it in a few days, rather than a few weeks.  So it appears we are on schedule to move into the house by the end of December.  Not sure where we will end up having Christmas- in the old house, or the new one, but Ryan is already wondering about the tree this year, and how Santa will find us.  :-)  Cole has just been talking up a storm and telling us he wants Santa to bring him a dump truck.

I’m also trying to plan Ryan’s fifth birthday party, which always sneaks up on me, since it is just two weeks after Christmas.  I booked the venue this year in JULY- so that is set.  Now I just have to get save the dates out to people, and hope I’m not over the number of guests we are allowed to have.  Guess I had better double check on that.  Ryan of course, is just thrilled to be turning five.  I’m wondering where the time went, and how did my ‘baby’ become a little boy, who is just weeks away from being five years-old?

My mom is coming out for a visit the week of Christmas and will be able to spend an entire evening, and the next day with us.  I’m excited for that, and to be able to show her our new house.  Ryan and Cole are excited to bake cookies for Santa with Nana. 

So that is all we have been up to.  Stay tuned for another exciting update in the near future. 

Trying to work at the house with the boys should be a new reality show-how much you can get done while trying to keep the boys from undoing everything you just did, or keeping them from making more work.

Over the weekend, Joe was painting the boys’ bedrooms.  Ryan just had to help, so Joe gave him a paint brush and let him paint the closet floor (which will soon have carpet).  Later, Joe had to run to the store, and I was working in our bedroom cleaning the walls, and bathroom.  I knew Ryan was upstairs, but didn’t really think to check on what he was doing.  Big mistake. 

When Joe got back from the store, he had discovered that Ryan had taken it upon himself to empty about half the container of primer on the floor in the closet.  The primer was a few inches thick!  Joe had to scrape it all out.  After we talked to Ryan about not painting unless we were in the room with him, we figured we had solved that problem.

Shortly afterwards, Cole woke up from his nap, and Joe had moved on to another bedroom.  I thought Joe knew Cole had gone upstairs, and Joe had thought I was looking after Cole.  Uh, no.  Big mistake. 

When I found Cole, he was in the closet with a big paint brush, covered from head to toe with primer.  It was all on his new fleece jacket and jeans.  His lime green Crocs were now snow white.  There was another few inches of primer down on the closet floor-again.

Imagine my joy in having to go tell Joe that he had to scrape up all the primer again from the closet floor.  Let’s just say at this point, we were not happy.  It was time for me to give up on trying to get the master bed/bath done, and take the boys home.

On Sunday, Joe’s wonderful parents watched the boys for us all day.  We really made some progress.  I got the master bath/bed cleaned and the doors polished.  I tested out some paint samples for the room, which I am having an awful time trying to match.  Joe got the first two coats of paint applied in both Ryan and Cole’s rooms. 

The professional painter came yesterday and painted the living/entry/hallways, and dining room.  They turned out wonderful.  They finished it all in one day.  It would have taken Joe probably a week at the minimum to get it done, assuming he didn’t have any kiddie interruptions.

I decided I did not like the green and beige color scheme for our bedroom.  I found a light blue/gray color I like, but can’t seem to find an accent color.  Still working on that.  We will have to figure it out by this weekend, because Joe should be able to finish up the bedrooms and start on ours. He won’t let me paint.  He says I am as good of a painter as the boys’ are.  I don’t agree, but if he wants to do all the painting by himself, that is fine with me. 

I have to clean the entire kitchen next, and clean the stair railing and banister. They are oak, and don’t look like they have been cleaned for several years.  The doors looked the same way, and after cleaning them and using Orange Glo, they brightened up beautifully.  I am excited to do the banister and kitchen cabinets with it, and really see them perk up.  Orange Glow is a wonderful product.

I have been taking lots of pictures, and promise to post some soon.  The rooms just don’t look right without flooring yet, so as soon as we get the hardwood floor and carpeting in, I’ll have some pictures of what we have accomplished so far.

Since we would like to move into our new house, before next spring, I had grand plans this week to remove all of the ugly wallpaper border, and clean the walls, in the three bedrooms in our new house, so they would be ready for Joe to paint this weekend.  

We have decided to hire a professional painter to paint our living room, entry way, and dining room.  The living room has what I think is a 16-foot ceiling, but no, we haven’t measured.  There are some interesting angles in the room as well. 

Furthermore, the previous owners were hunters (no they were not related to Sarah Palin- a little shot of humor- I need it these days, ) and on these tall walls, they had a lot of their catches stuffed, (I believe taxidermy is the correct phrase for this), and mounted on the walls.  Evidently, it takes a lot of nails to hold up stuffed wild game.   I can’t count how many thick nails are in the walls, at various heights, and how many nail holes are in the walls. Did I mention, there is animal hair stuck the one of the walls, oh, about ten-feet up?

Joe is a great painter.  He is meticulous, but you have to have time to be that precise.  Even if he had the time, the nails, holes, and heights of the walls would take sometime to paint.   We found our painter, savior, who will remove all the nails, patch the holes, clean the walls (animal hair included for no extra charge), and then apply two coats of paint.  He has a crew, so it should just be a three or four day project. 

We have to get this area done because we are having hardwood floors installed by none other than Joe.  (We really are lucky he knows how to do all of these projects!)  But we don’t want to install the floor until the walls are painted.  In the master bedroom, and the boys’ rooms, we are having carpet installed, and again, we don’t want to paint with brand new carpet down.

So I thought I’d spend all day Tuesday removing wallpaper border. The border was glued, super-glued, three quarters of the way up on all the walls.  I had forgotten how much I HATE wallpaper.  After five hours, I only had three walls done in the master bedroom.  I didn’t have the right tools either, and I had the duct cleaner there as well..

Ryan had an injury from earlier in the morning, (trust me- you don’t want to know-let’s just say it was in the worst place ever for a little boy, and the teeth of his two year old brother were involved), so he was cranky (but who could blame him?)  and trying to work on a ladder removing wallpaper that is ten years old, with a cranky four-year old, and a curious two-year old who keeps trying to climb up the ladder-is not the formula to get much accomplished.  

After five and a half hours, we headed home.  I had to go to work for half-day on Wednesday, and after I picked up Ryan from school, we went back to the house, and I was able to finish the last wall in our bedroom.  I inspected the wallpaper in the other two rooms, and it was stuck on more firmly than the stuff I had just gotten off. 

After work today, and the nice surprise that Joe was home early, we went to Home Depot, to get a wallpaper scorer and some paint.  Fortunately, Joe has tomorrow off so he can get started in the master bedroom, and after the boys’ music class, I’ll start me vs. the wallpaper-Round 2.

It is a lot of work, and a bit stressful, but it will be worth it.  I can picture the rooms in the colors we picked out- the soft yellows against the wood floors and I get really excited.  The work makes me tired, but I still enjoy it.  

As the boys and I were sitting on a blanket on the floor in the living room, which is just sub-flooring right now, having a picnic on Tuesday, I knew someday when the room had been done for years, and has seen more of its fair share of living, I would always remember sitting there eating PB&J sandwiches with Ryan and Cole. We ate with badly-in need of paint-holes-in-the-walls, with animal hair stuck on them.  Not the most glamorous lunch, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

I do plan to post pictures, but I want to post before and after pictures at the same time.  In the meantime, I’ll leave you the paint colors of the rooms a paint consultant helped us pick out, since we are so awful at picking colors:

Colors for the entry way, living room, and dining room:

Yellow Freeze  &    Man on the Moon

Colors for the master bedroom:

 Baja Dunes &       Jade Tint

Boys’ Room: (they both wanted blue)

      Marguerite Blue

(color swatches from myperfectcolor.com)

I sincerely hope Obama will be able to deliver on the promises he has made to America, and I hope he will act on his words in his victory speech-that he will work with those who have a difference of opinion, and he will hear them.

Even though I don’t agree with the decision the American people have made today, it is the decision that has been made, and I respect it.   I respect the office of the President of the United States, and that will never change, no matter who holds the office.  I’m not going to be sporting any ”Obama is Not My President,” or “A City in Illinois Wants His Idiot Back,”  bumper stickers even though similar messages of disrespect have been displayed prominently in the last eight years, towards our current president.  

Every president deserves a chance and support, and Obama is no different.  I like to think that we will not see the same level of president-bashing during Obama’s term that we have seen during George Bush’s terms, and hopefully like Obama referred to in his speech tonight, that immaturity is behind us.  We are facing tough times, so that is one hope I have, for the next four years.  I read a great blog post tonight, for those of you who may not feel like there is a lot to be happy about right now.  It is “Why I Am Still Smiling Tonight-Reasons for Republican Joy.”

I know how I would feel if the outcome of the election had been different tonight, and I know I have many readers who do not agree with my political viewpoints.  I hope we can continue to have civil and repsectful discussions when we do not agree.  But the next few days belong to Obama and his supporters (the clear majority), and I am happy for you.  :-) 

I am also happy that John McCain decided to give it is best shot running for president. He really inspired me, and I think he is the most honorable person to have ever ran in recent times for President.  Whether you agree with his politics or not, I think most can agree he is a great Amercian, who has always served our country well.

I don’t plan to write very many more political posts- A Mama’s Blog should be mostly back to its regular format.  :-)  But if I learned one thing during this election season, it is never say never.  I have been invited to be Contributer to Moms in the Right, and plan to write for them, when I can.  I have learned a lot about myself, by expressing my political views on my blog- but that is another post entirely. 

Thanks for sticking with me during this election and supporting my views.  When you couldn’t support my views, thanks for agreeing to disagree.  If you voted for McCain, be sure to read that post, and if you supported Obama, please stop reading my blog and go celebrate this historical election result. 

I voted for McCain because he voted to protect infants that were born alive after an abortion by signing the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. 

I voted for McCain because his record shows he can work across party lines on important issues. 

I voted for McCain because he has the his record to back up what he says he will do. 

I voted for McCain because he won’t raise taxes on anyone in this economy, ensuring new jobs will still be created through small businesses. 

I voted for McCain because he does not think “spreading the wealth around” is good.  

I voted for McCain because he wants to help create wealth for everyone. 

I voted for McCain because he can work with people in business and industry to help create jobs. 

I voted for McCain because he can help end the United States dependence on foreign oil with energy alternatives.  

I voted for McCain because he understands you can’t bankrupt an entire industry, while trying to create energy dependence, without creating dire consequences.  

I voted for McCain, because he understands the water and land rights that are an issue in the West, where I live. 

I voted for McCain because he tried to regulate Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae years ago, and could foresee it was a crisis waiting to happen. 

I voted for McCain because he can keep America safe, and our enemies won’t be as likely to “test’ him. 

I voted for McCain because if our enemies do decide to test us, they will be facing an experienced military man who has who is qualified to be making national security decisions.   

I voted for McCain because he has experienced both sides of war and he understands the strategy involved.  

I voted for McCain because he understands there are enemies of the United States, and some countries are just not our friends, no matter what we say to them. 

I voted for McCain because I think he has the experience and the knowledge to bring an end to the war in Iraq, without giving up the gains that have been made there.

I voted for McCain because I believe he will find a way to end the war in Afghanistan successfully. 

I voted for McCain because I like and admire his foreign policy knowledge.  

I voted for McCain because his health plan will help my family save money on our health insurance. 

I voted for McCain because he wants to pay teachers for performance and turn the schools back over to the parents and the students.  

I voted for McCain because he wants to help teachers who just weren’t meant to be teachers, find another line of work, so our children can learn.  

I voted for McCain because he thinks “good teachers should make more money than bad lawyers.” 

I voted for McCain because he believes in school vouchers and charter schools for choice. 

I voted for McCain because he believes climate change is important, and has voted against his party on this issue, to ensure it gets the attention it deserves. 

I voted for McCain, because I like that he selected Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.  

I voted for McCain because he believes in, and has implemented equal pay for women.

I voted for McCain because he kept his word that he would select public financing to fund his campaign.  

I voted for McCain, because I think he is the more experienced, and qualified candidate to be president.

Feel free to ad your own reasons why you are voting or voted for John McCain in the comments below. 

If you are supporting Sen. McCain this election, it hasn’t been easy to remain positive.  From the polls always showing McCain behind, to the biased media coverage of McCain and Palin, the media is now starting to acknowledge. 

I don’t have to tell you, it isn’t very encouraging when McCain is being outspent by Obama in all aspects of this race, and also the record amounts of money raised by the Obama campaign. 

When we see stories in the media such as Obama is already speaking to individuals for his cabinet, and “stories” such as this: AP:Obama backers gleeful,  McCain’s glum, or when day after day, there are “scandalous” in-depth smear stories campaigns on Sarah Palin, but issues like Obama’s associations and lack of experience are ignored by the media, it is very easy to start assuming the election is over.  After all, if Obama is so far ahead, what is the point in voting?   

It is no big revelation, that the media wants Obama to win.  I have heard countless people say Obama has gotten a free pass in this election by the media.  When we know more about ‘Joe the Plumber’s’ background and details of his life, than we know why Obama chose to associate with his questionable acquaintances, for example- the majority of the media is not asking Obama the tough questions. 

So with that in mind, realize that is the purpose of the media with these biased stories, and the Obama campaign- to project the image that Obama really is so far ahead, and we might as well stay home on Election Day. 

If you don’t agree with me, ask yourself why Obama would spend four million dollars on an infomercial last week, if the election were in the bag?  Why would Obama still be campaigning and spending money  in the swing states, if he was really as far ahead as the “polls” show him to be?  

I live in Colorado, and I have constantly read in the media (newspapers, on-line news, etc.) that Obama doesn’t need Colorado to win.  I can’t recall specifically where I read last week, that Colorado would be a feather in Obama’s cap, but he doesn’t need it to win.  But Obama has been in Colorado at least eight times, and representatives from his campaign (Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, etc.) have been here many times as well.  

Two weeks ago, the day I went to a Sarah Palin rally, CNN reported that McCain was pulling out of Colorado. That proved to be false, and McCain was in Denver a week later, and this Monday (Nov. 3rd), Sarah Palin will be in Colorado Springs.  Meanwhile, Joe Biden campaigned in Colorado, and Obama has been back to Colorado twice since that story broke.  Why would he be in Colorado so many times, if he didn’t need Colorado, and the race here were not close?  The truth is, it is a close race.  On Saturday, Obama campaigned in Pueblo, and said, “We’ve got to win Colorado.” 

Quite a different story than what the media is projecting.  Early figures from last week, show in Colorado, more Republicans have voted, than Democrats. In Florida, early exit polls have shown McCain leading Obama.   

The point in my bringing up all of these examples is, we can’t control stories, media bias, and Obama interviewing his next chief-of-staff before the election has taken place.  But, reading between the lines, we can see this is a very close race.  Don’t succumb to these tactics to discourage you from voting.  It is meant to demoralize, but the election is not over yet.  

The one aspect we can control is our vote.  I have read on blogs, and on Twitter, some people hoping the Republicans and Independents who support McCain, stay home on election day.  If we don’t vote, that is favorable for Obama.  

So much of  what is out there is to give the impression that Obama is so far ahead, and is winning.  But when you look at what his campaign is actually doing overall,  and where they are campaigning, it tells a different story.  Consider the quote,

“Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

The reverse is also true for McCain.  Story after story says he is trailing in Virgina, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Missouri, Florida, and Ohio.  Yet, he keeps campaigning there.  Would he be wasting his money in these states, if there were no chance of him winning there?  Unlike Obama, he does not have unlimited money, so he has to be even more prudent on where he spends the campaign money.  He would not be campaigning in these states, if he thought they were a lost cause. 

I have no idea how the election is going to turn out.  But I do know, if we become demoralized, and think this election is over before we have voted, then we are playing right into the hands of the media and the Obama campaign’s strategy.   After all the talk, campaigning, polls, media articles, commentaries, etc., it boils down to this: If McCain supporters stay home and do not vote, McCain will lose.  If they show up and vote, there is a good chance McCain can win the election. 

I spent Sunday morning volunteering at my local Republican office, making phone calls to Republicans, and Independents, reminding them to vote on Tuesday.   

As I have mentioned before, I live in an overwhelmingly Democrat town and county.  I fully expected most people to tell me they had or were going to vote for Obama.  I made over 150 phone calls, and that was not the case.  By far, the majority told me they had or were going to vote a straight Republican ticket. Of course, those were more than likely the Republicans (my list did not say who was a Republican or who was an Independent.)

I had only a few people tell me they had or were going to vote for Obama.  Those people also added they were planning on voting for the Republican senate candidate.  I also had the reverse- I had some tell me they were voting for McCain, but were going to vote for the senate candidate running on the Democrat ticket.  I assume some of these voters were Independents.  But by far, I had so many people tell me they were voting for John McCain, and the Republican senate candidate. 

I realize this was a very small sample, but I never imagined in a dominate Democrat county, there would be so much support for John McCain.  It  reaffirmed for me, that it is a close election, and every vote will count.  Your vote will count!

Don’t allow anyone to convince you, your vote doesn’t matter.  It does matter, and it will matter.  As Americans, we have always been blessed and privileged to vote for our leaders.  Exercise that privilege and vote.  Make your voice heard.   McCain has just as good a chance as winning as Obama does.  But to ensure your voice will be heard, you have to vote. 

I urge everyone who has not yet voted, to vote on Election Day- this Tuesday,  November 4th.  Call your local county clerk and recorder’s office if you don’t know where you should go to vote.  Or you can send me a private e-mail, and I can point you in the right direction.  Do not be discouraged by what is happening in the media.  Make your voice heard, and exercise our wonderful freedom and liberty of voting!

“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Quotes from George Washington:

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.

Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse.

The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.

The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments.

To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.

Experience teaches us that it is much easier to prevent an enemy from posting themselves than it is to dislodge them after they have got possession.

Quotes from James Madison:

Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. 

Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives. 

The class of citizens who provide at once their own food and their own raiment, may be viewed as the most truly independent and happy. 

The happy Union of these States is a wonder; their Constitution a miracle; their example the hope of Liberty throughout the world. 

The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted. 

We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties.

I know Abraham Lincoln is not a Founding Father, but he was one of our greatest presidents, during one of our most tulmutuous periods.  I found several of his quotes also very applicable. 

Quotes by Abraham Lincoln: 

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.

 Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.

 My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth.

 You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man’s initiative and independence.

 We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.

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

 Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.

Ryan cleaning out his pumpkin

Fireman Cole at our town’s Halloween Parade

 Superman & the Fireman

If you want to see more pictures, head over to Wordless Wednesday.