Wow!

I have to thank Melanie for having this picture up on her blog (slightly crunchy Catholic) already. I felt compelled to put it up on here, as well. (Thanks, Mel!)

Here is who I hope will be the next VP of the United States with her baby in her sling! Wow! A mother of 5, one with special needs who she refused to abort. Another wow!

Also, this is a *regular* person! Not a career politician, a regular, middle class "hockey mom" who thought she could make a difference and started off running for a position in the PTA. Someone to whom I can definitely relate. Her husband works two jobs (again, I can relate). The other VP candidate has proudly declared that he has never had a boss in his life. Can you imagine? Openly declaring that you have no idea what life is like for the rest of us, not jumping into politics from the minute you graduate from college.

So, now I feel the ticket has the both of best worlds. The candidate himself is incredibly experienced, not only from the decades (not days like his opponent) of service in the Senate, but from his meritorious military service. Being a soldier's wife, it is imperative to me to have my husband's commander in chief have military service. How can anyone command or make those types of decisions if they haven't been there? We have seen how most of the Congress (who has no idea what it's like to wear a uniform or be in a war) make horrid decisions and funding bafoos from Vietnam up to and including the current day conflicts.

We can only pray. But, again I say "Wow!"

Olympic Opening Ceremonies and our very own Circus!

Before the incredible pageantry of the Opening Ceremony (wasn't it incredible?), Kiddos 1, 2,3 and 4 put on their very own Circus, that rivaled the Beijing spectacle! LOL :-) They rehearsed all day, had their very own roles (Kiddo #1 was ringmaster in a bright red coat,


















Kiddo #2 was a clown/magician,
with his magic merlin hat,















Kiddo #3 was an elephant tamer and had his pachyderms all balance on a ball

















and Kiddo #4 was a juggler and actually did it once!) :-)















What a show and in our very own basement, not thousands of miles away!

Busy days of summer

Boy, it's August already! This summer is flying by. This past week was a well-deserved one of relaxing and hanging out at home and in the pool. You see, the week before was a crazy, hectic week that we enjoyed, but were glad when it was over. :-)

Kiddos 1 and 2 had a science camp from 9-12 that they really enjoyed. They made sidewalk chalk, crystals, took fingerprints and lots of other fun things. Kiddos 3 and 4 had a little science camp of their own from 9-9:45 that was about different kinds of animals. So, it was back and forth to the park for Mommy 2 times a day. (lovely with these gas prices)

If that wasn't enough, dinner had to be made, consumed and cleaned up by 6:05PM since in the evenings that same week was Vacation Bible School! I volunteered to work it and was a group leader, so I had to be there before it started at 6:30PM. It was a lot of fun and the kids' show at the end of the week was wonderful.

But, that was 6:30-8:30 each night and the kids had to be up in the morning by 7:30 to get to their science camps on time. Oh, and did I mention that we had playdates in the afternoons and had 10 kids in the house at one point? :-)

Thus, the well deserved rest-week this past week! :-)

This coming week sees kiddos 1 and 2 at another science camp and our preparations for our week at the beach that starts next Saturday. I have already started laying things out on the dining room table. Everyone in the family has a "job" in vacation-preparations, and Mommy's is getting all of the clothes and linens out to be packed. Of course, they all need to be washed first, so that is another hurdle.