Mommy's Little Helper

Tyler is getting so big. He loves to follow Chris and I around and try to do the things we do. Last night he helped me make dinner, and he was so proud of himself. I just had to share. He didn't even spill anything or get himself dirty. What a big boy. Sometimes he even helps me pick up his messes.

I Have Skills

About once a year, I get around to doing something homemaker-ish. Tuesday was that day for me. I had some grapes I had picked at my moms house, so I buckled down and did it. I canned!!! I'm so proud of my skills. I only had one casualty (one jar broke in the boiling canning stage). I'm still skilled, though. Right??!!

There are more canned jars in the box. I promise!

The Big Debates

For the first time in my life, I find myself in the position of an Independent. I suppose that makes me one of the people targeted in the debates. I keep hearing everyone say that this is the most important debate ever. To some extent, I think to myself that I have heard this same statement every four years since I have been able to vote. Of course, it's important to vote. Every election, particularly Presidential, is important for our country. And, it's true, I do feel this is the most important election of my lifetime, so far.

So, I have watched every debate(mostly thanks to a wonderful invention called the DVR). I admit I have never watched so many debates for one election, and, honestly, it has been painful at times. Debate #2 between the presidential candidates was by far the most boring. I thought the mediator in Debate #1 seemed the least partial towards either candidate; however, the mediator for the Vice Presidential Debate seemed the most partial, leaning toward the Obama/Biden camp. Debate #3 was the most personal and seemed to provide useful information. Here's my summary of each debate:

Pres. Debate #1- I thought it was annoying that Senator Obama kept referring to Senator McCain as John, which seemed a little disrespectful. And to make things worse, he called him the wrong name a few times (Tom and Jim). I thought it was funny that they both kept taking longer than the mediator wanted them to on certain issues.

Pres. Debate #2- Boring, boring, boring. The whole walking around thing was making me dizzy and distracted from who was talking. I didn't hear anything new, so I turned it off less than halfway through. I thought it was funny that the mediator had to chastise them several times for ignoring when he told them their time was up.

Pres. Debate #3- There were definitely personal attacks going on in this one. On the split screen, Obama mostly looked smug and snotty, like "I can't believe I have to answer questions like this." McCain blinked a lot and looked a little uncomfortable on camera. I thought it was funny that McCain told Obama he wasn't running against Bush and that, if he wanted to, he should have ran 4 years ago.

Vice Pres. Debate- Really, I thought this one was the best one of all. I am a fan of Sarah Palin. She's the one who entices me to consider McCain, who I think is a liberal Republican (almost a Democrat). Many people expected her to do poorly, but I thought she did a great job of expressing her stance on issues. I will say that towards the middle I kept hoping she'd stop going back to the energy issue, which thankfully she did. I did like that she made the point clear, though, because that is her biggest strength. Senator Biden generally looked stiff and condescending. I really thought he went in thinking Palin was weak & beneath him, like he'd win the debate without any effort. She proved him wrong

All in all, I'm still stuck without answers. Stuck between the thought of whether to vote for the best candidate or whether to vote for the lesser of two evils. Obama is so radical with his Socialist plans and outrageous budget spending that I would never vote for him (not to mention his many affiliations with crazies - William Ayers, ACORN, Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezco, Michelle Obama, just to name a few). I guess that makes McCain the lesser of two evils, by a small margin. Palin makes that margin a bigger, because she isn't tainted by the special interest groups and other political craziness in Washington DC.

However, I do wish they had let some of the candidates from the independent parties participate in the debates. I think it it crazy that we are being pushed into voting for one of two parties only. Especially, since both parties seem to be heading in the same direction, even if one is heading there at a slower pace. Where are the true believers in the constitution? That's the debate. I still haven't found the best candidate. That's my dilemma.

Baby It's Cold Outside - Up There.

Tyler and I made a quick jaunt up to our old house last weekend, since Chris had been finishing up a plumbing project up there for part of the week. I missed my family, and, well, the Fall weather, too. I also had to do some things to prepare our house to rent it out since the market is down and we can't compete with all the houses in foreclosure.

So, I left the nice 95 degree weather to make the trip to experience the "Fall" weather, since it is my favorite season. I don't know what happened, but all we got was winter. Brrrrrrrrrrr! Apparently, I missed the one week of Fall, because it was snowing and cold. I was so dillusional in thinking that it would be close to as warm there as it is down here that I packed only one long sleeve shirt and pants for Tyler. No Coat!!! And, for myself, I only packed sandles and short sleeved shirts. Crazy! Needless to say, I was cold.

We went to the Witches Festival at Gardner Village. It was fun, even if it was cold and windy. Then we drive through the canyon to look at the beautiful leaves, but also got a good view of snow.

The trip was short, but well needed. We came home to 66 degree weather (I'll take that any day over 40 degrees).

Four Tag

Four Places I Go Over & Over Again:
1. The mail box, because who doesn't like mail? Unfortunately, all I get is bills. Here in our neighborhood, the mailbox is centrally located in the neighborhood. I don't know why they do it that way here in St. George.
2. Target - It seems like I'm always needing and forgetting something.
3. Walking - It's fun to walk everywhere around our new neighborhood. I tried riding my bike a couple of times, but then I realized we live on a hill, so everywhere is downhill from our house. It's great when I start out, but, when I'm tired and coming back, it's all up hill. Terrible! Especially with a bike trailer in tow. Walking is great, though.
4. The Park - Tyler loves playing on the grass and going down the slide. Plus it's in walking distance (about 1/3 mile away), so I don't have to waste gas.

Four Favorite Places to Eat:
1. My Mom's Sunday Dinner - because I don't have to cook and I don't have to pay. Not to mention it tastes good.
2. Joe's Crab Shack - Unfortunately, there isn't one here in St. George. But I love crab!!! Yum!
3. Jeanette's Crab Shack - I buy crab when it's on sale at Smith's and I cook it. Yummy!!! But it leaves a stinky mess if I don't clean it up quickly.
4. Cafe Rio - I love the salads (pork barbecoa, pinto beans, cilantro vinegraitte dressing).

Four Places I'd Rather Be:
1. Hawaii - who doesn't want to be in the perfect weather of dreamland?
2. Ireland & England - I've only been to Ireland once, but it is so beatiful and green there. I'm sure England is similar, too. The people are also so nice. And it's a place for princesses and Jane Austen fans.
3. On a cruise to the Mediterranean - I've never been there, but I think it would be fabulous and relaxing. What better way to visit that part of the world.
4. Disneyland - It truly is the happiest place on earth (for me).

Four TV Shows I Watch All the Time:
1. The Office - I love dry humor. The Season Premier was hilarious.
2. Ghost Hunters - Creepy, but not evil scary. I would say Chris makes me watch it, but I really find it interesting.
3. Project Runway - That's probably the only reality show I would ever want to go on. I'm completely addicted. My sister and I keep wanting to do our own challenges utilizing fabric from my mom's sewing room (some of the fabric is so old it's in style again).
4. Glenn Beck - He's funny and very informative.

I tag April, Michele, Libby, and Julie