Happy Halloween!

I tried to convince them to go with the "Snow White" theme. Autumn was temporarily on board; this happened during an exhausting trip to a GARGANTUAN mall while we waited for a plane that had room to take us home from CA in August. At the Disney Store. So she was stuck. Gabe really had no vote, but ended up loving his Dopey hat almost as much as his prop the spoon (too bad I don't own a wooden one. For the first time in 10 years, I needed one.) But Micah would have NONE of being his sister's prince. (He said she might kiss him.) And Jonah could not abandon the hope of impersonating his hero H.P., even though the lure of a dagger-wielding woodsman was strong. So, here they are, the way they were either forced or at some point chose to be:



Micah did follow his pre-Halloween costume selection process. First, he chose a typical Halloween character (a ghost this time.) Then, he firmly decided to be a character completely unrelated to Halloween, got super excited about the idea and told EVERYONE (a chicken... smothered in white feather boas, donning yellow tights and rubber glove feet), and for the final days before the main event his costume ideas switched on the hour...until I finally set a deadline. And he chose to wear what Jonah did last year. One less costume for me to make...thanks, bud!!



Here's proof that Gabe actually did enjoy dressing up (he's just not big on picture-taking):


Autumn before I took her to preschool. I really should have worn my sunglasses, even though it was quite overcast. I tear up EVERY year at the sight of little ones all dressed up on Halloween. I was totally blubbering when one of her teachers opened the car door and unbuckled her seat belt. Embarrassing.



S.W. & her sidekick, again



Just look at those eyes... and I hadn't noticed Autumn's artwork before looking through these pictures. Nice drawing of Daddy.



And, in case you were wondering....

still crawling!

Mawwiage

So, unless you've been living in a bubble for the last few months, you've heard all about the upcoming votes in California (Prop. 8), Florida & Arizona on same-sex marriage. I've thought a lot about how to add my voice to the support of these measures, being as how I don't live in any of these states. And I think my little part is to blog about it. In a world that is shifting daily on a million fronts, I am thankful for the stability my home and marriage bring to me, to my husband and to our little ones. I think of times when the only word to describe how I have felt with my family is "heaven," and know that those same experiences could not be recreated had I married a woman. Without passing judgment on those who are living alternate lifestyles, I believe in safeguarding traditional man/woman marriage.

I agree 100% with this position, clearly explained in great detail, and released by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is worth the minute or two to read over why a non-political Church has devoted many resources in support of Prop. 8, in particular. And, lastly, I was especially relieved to hear both Palin & Biden (in the VP debate) reassure us that neither administration would support same-gender marriage, and that they each agree with extending rights, such as those mentioned in the press release I linked.

Ok...thanks for letting me get that off my chest. More light-hearted, birthday, family visiting, and such posts to follow!