Fun things and a Change....

So it's Nov 4th - Election Day! Scary. Not sure I've ever been nervous about an election but this one definately frightens me a little. If you are 18 or over, PLEASE go out and vote today - make time, this election is worth it. (yes, that is light reflection not stains on my hoodie =P)

Ben received a fun surprise yesterday - a worrisome one for me for a moment. UPS rang my doorbell and delivered a package for Ben - okay not too surprising his birthday is very close but it was not from any name or company I recognized. So, mom opened the package. Found the contents he's proudly displaying and a letter to his "parents" at the bottom. LOL - shouldn't that have been at the top?!?! He entered a contest on the side of a Carl's Jr kids meal sack, mailed it in - almost late to boot - and was one of the runner ups! Maybe he does take after his mom and dad. =] His disappointments? Why send a PINK shirt to a boy - ROFL and he doesn't have a DS to play the game they sent him! Darn. LOL, I'm real sad you can tell? He's not getting a DS. Olivia inherited the prize pink shirt =] and his best friend brought his DS over for them to try out his new game - he loves it.

Besides the weather changing =], you might notice some changes in the blog. Dean got concerned after a report on the news about how people are now starting to abuse bloggers. There is NOTHING left in the world these days to have trust in I guess. So, sorry, no more anonymous comments mates - you have to tell me who you are OR ask your questions on AIM =]. Other little things might disappear or appear but those close to me will know of them should they occur =]. Google accts are really easy to get and free - just have to have email and since I know most of your emails, that's the way I preferred it.

In December, instead of the 12 days of Christmas it will be the 25 days of Nativities XD. I actually have more than 25 >] and am determined that THIS year - they will ALL get to come out! They might be found in weird places around the house but they will be out =]. I will try to add a Christmas story also since I collect those too - I hope you enjoy - you have a whole month to anticipate - ROFL.

Band Concert/Halloween

It really annoys me when I have everything typed and ready and it poofs! Grrrr. I don't remember what I typed previously so obviously it wasn't important. =P

As you can see by photo's, Anthony's 1st band concert of the year was this past Wednesday. New band teacher, 4 concerts instead of 2 but... we will give him time to adjust and acclimate. Anthony is in the Percussion Band and the Symphonic (or Advanced) Band.
The Percussion Band - by far! - sounded the best of the night. We were all amazed and impressed with all TWENTY ONE members - since that is normally unheard of in Jr High. Anthony got to move around and be Mr Percussion as he played Sleigh Bells, Bass Drum, Crash and Suspended Cymbals. He's not sure he's going to stay in band through High School but, we shall see. They will start playing at the Basketball games and the school musical - lol this year its the Music Man, how appropriate. =]

Miss Olivia had her first Halloween without brothers this year. She headed out with her friend and her parents this year. Yep, not even us! She had a ball as you can see and MAYBE her candy will last until Easter this year again but we will see. ;] She's sharing with brothers, nice sister. Her friends Sarah is Hermione and Olivia claimed to be Jessie from Toy Story 2 but considering she was "carrying" I called her Annie Oakley. Meh, both were red-headed cowgirls =].

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! WAHOO!!! It is now my very favorite time of year. The temperature drops below 78, the windows in my house open, the hoodie appears and I BAKE! I celebrated the beginning of fall last night with homemade Banana bread. As of this posting, there are 2 pieces left! Egads!! Lol - I guess that's good, shows they miss it when I actually cook =]. For family, can't wait to see all of you the day after Thanksgiving in Bountiful for the Terry Thanksgiving. To everyone else - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!f

Alright, Alright.... I will expand....

Lol... Well, I DID get some of you thinking obviously =]. A little disappointed you didn't feel like sharing who you were but that's okay - atleast you were thinking. So I'm expanding, so that my previous post makes a little more sense.

Arrogance: Over convinced of ones self worth or Haughty.
Haughty: Arrogant or inordinately proud.
Proud: Feeling pleasurable satisfaction over an attribute or how one's sense of self worth is measured. Self Respect. Latin: Brave or virtuous.

In our culture today, I believe that people tend only to think of the "negative" when they see or hear any of these words: Pride, Assumption, Haughty, Arrogant. I don't see that these words are ALWAYS negative; they have good in them also. Are we not told, moderation in ALL things? Yes, being OVER assumptive on something, being OVERLY prideful or arrogant can be negative and cause problems but I believe that we all NEED to be Proud; of ourselves, our friends, our family; Arrogant sometimes, when a point needs to get across- just don't overstep it; and Assumptive, else there would be nothing to believe in, proud of, or arrogant about.

Having said all this above; let me restate my previous sentence from the last post.
"When I "assume" something, I am "arrogantly" taking upon myself what "I think" to be true, whether it is or not." Now, depending on your situation, that can be good or that can be bad. So let's redirect this sentence: "When I "take upon myself" something, I am "convinced" that what I think is true, whether it is or not." Hmm, thinking again?!?

This is the definition I was looking for in my previous post. My "assumptions or beliefs" that I listed are things that, especially in the world around us today, I'm sure more than one person has thought about, weighed, wondered, and "hoped" to be true. However, until they are justified by another person, they are left to be assumed and hoped for. Many of us have been let down by others, but did "they" really let us down or were our "assumptions" of the situation wrong? That is my underlying meaning, that is what I want us to think about. In a world so full of "me,me,me" I think it would be nice to think "me" as far as responsibility and love others, not put off the blame.