Okay, I know that Halloween is old news now but I just downloaded my pictures off my camera so I wanted to do a post. As every other year I scored at the thrift store for Halloween costumes. My biggest Halloween purchase was Ari's ruby slippers but those are dual purpose and then makeup was the next biggest item. But now I have lots for the future. My greatest costume creativity was Dave's costume (who did not fully appreciate my efforts) I used a soccer medal/medallion and glued some jewels on the back to make him a great vampire medallion. But since he refused my attempts to put makeup on him he turned in the Wizard instead of a vampire. Toms costume was the easiest and cheapest just $2 at the thrift store and it was 50% off too. He loved the built in muscles and was sure he was going to win the costume contest. Jacob's was probably my favorite costume. We decided on Harry because he just got his glasses and has read the first two books. Ari made a cute Dorothy even...

First of all packing, I am trying to pack ahead and save myself a huge scramble to the finish. I have found things I have never used since I moved into this house 3 years ago but yet instead of putting them in a pile to Goodwill I am just packing them up and moving them to the next garage. What is it about all the stuff we get. Grime- I am also deep cleaning this house so we can get all our money back for our deposit. We move in clean(or atleast that was the theory) and we move out clean. I just wish I could work it out while we lived here. I have found that grease dust(the stuff in your kitchen) makes a pretty good sludge after 3 or mores years of neglect. If I could only figure out a way to power my car with it I would be in business. Feeling slimed- what is it about buying a house. There are more people involved than it takes to build a house and everyone has their hand in the pot. They talk about sellers cost but come on I am writing the check for 300K. They are just redist...

I am so sick of hearing about community organizers. Since when did that word become synonymous with Mother Teresa or the epitome of social/political achievement? So if black people are so bad off that they need some "economic justice" why do we have people like Obama, Powell, Rice, and so many more that have achieved wealth and status far above my poor white self? I think I will be voting for a black man this election. I am not a fan of McCain though I am highly intrigued by Sarah Palin. I like her fresh look in Washington. But I think my vote will go to Alan Keyes. What I am really looking forward to is the election being over with. My husband has spent the last 3 weeks walking our neighborhood and now has about 30 signs up. It is great to look around and see the support for people in our neighborhood that still have strong family and moral values. Make sure to vote next week.

Finally a House!!! After 6 months and walking through too many homes and a roller coaster of are we going to get it-no we are not, we signed papers today. November 20th is the closing date and we are on our way to a home. We will be moving 15 miles into the country and have 2 acres all to our self. We are so excited. At least I was until I started calling our mortgage people and very quickly started getting a headache. Dave is so excited he doesn't know what to do. He has been dreaming of acreage since he was a boy and it is hard to believe that it is finally here.

Every fall I get a craving for homemade doughnuts. The cold air and changing season just makes me want to start frying. Last night we hosted a Prop 8 campaign meeting and so it was the perfect excuse to make up a batch of doughnuts. They were delicious. And the recipe made about 6 dozen good thing we had a good turn out that way I only ate about 3 not including holes but those don't count. We had cinnamon-sugar, glazed and chocolate glazed. Good thing I only indulge about 1 a year.

Article from Manteca Bulletin- Everything your kids need to know about marriage they can learn in kindergarten Dennis Wyatt Managing Editor Depending upon your perspective, you may view the battle over Proposition 8 on the Nov. 4 state ballot as a moral issue, a religious issue or a civil rights issue. But there is one thing for sure. It is definitely a political issue since it is on the election ballot. Which brings us to a blessed event - or unblessed event if you are for Proposition 8 - that took place at San Francisco City Hall on Friday. Eighteen kindergarten students took a field trip to City Hall to toss rose petals at their teacher's wedding. Their teacher happened to be lesbian and was marrying her partner. One of the public school kindergarteners was even sporting a "No on Proposition 8" button. So much for state laws banning kindergarten through 12th grade teachers from promoting political views in a classroom setting. Actually, Creative Arts Charter School te...

Not only is the floor white and never looks clean but it has now claimed one of Lily's teeth. Ari and her were playing at the kitchen table and it was one of those moments that I said to myself that I shouldn't let them do that because they might crash. Sure enough Ari tipped her chair over and Lily fell right on her tooth. I called Lani a friend who has a dental surgeon husband and a child who lost a tooth as a toddler. She told me to look for the tooth on the floor or maybe it had just got pushed back in. After mistaking for a noodle a cherrio and reminding myself how dirty white tile floor is. I finally found the tooth root and all. This is Lily pre-accident and today after lunch with Mac and Cheese all over h er face and one tooth missing. I guess I better I've got to get used to her new look because she will be like this for the next 7 years or so.