The Dreaded Subject: Politics

I usually make it a policy to not discuss politics with friends, family, or just about anyone but lately the subject seems to come up again and again. We were with some friends last weekend camping (lots of fun, more on that later), when the the presidential election came up. There was a lot of discussing and people trying to figure out how to find out the truth about the candidates and what they say. After we got home, I couldn't help but wonder how do we find the truth? Well, I am reading the biography of President Hinckley, Go Forward With Faith, and I actually recalled a quote by President Hinckley which answered my question. He was on an airplane talking with someone about the church and the man admitted to President Hinckley that he had received all his information about our church from his own church. President Hinckley asked what company the man worked for and he said IBM. So President Hinckley replied, "How would you feel if your customers learned about your products from a Xerox representative?" So I applied that thought to the election. If I want to find out what Obama and McCain really stand for why not hear it from them? I listened to both of their acceptance speeches and have been reading their views and plans for the country on their own websites. Of course, it is hard to trust politicians so I found a non-partisan website called factcheck.org. It is a great website and states the truth about what each politician says. Check it out for yourself. Anyways, I feel it is important to vote, but we should not vote based on the rumors, lies, and slander plastered across the television and email. Our country needs a good, strong president and we need to vote for the person not the R or the D behind the name. That is just my opinion.

I just had to take a second to let those of you who are following my little sister Staci's love life know the latest news. She went to visit her boyfriend, Blake, a couple weeks ago up in Washington and came back engaged! (Needless to say I was not surprised) They are planning on getting married in Jan in the Bountiful Temple. So congrats to you Staci!!!!!!

School is Here Once Again

Okay I decided I should probably update my blog. My computer was acting funny last week so I wasn't able to get on, stupid windows vista. Anyway, yesterday was the first day of school. Alexis started second grade and Camryn started full day Kindergarten. Sometimes it is hard to believe I have kids that old. It was kind of weird to only have Marina and me and home, it was also oddly quiet. But at 3:00 we went and picked up the girls and life was crazy and noisy once again. After driving my girls to two separate schools everyday for two straight years, I have to admit it is pretty nice to only have to go to one school. Another benefit this year is that they changed the school starting time from 8:15 to 8:00 so some days Josh can drop the girls off on his way to work. How sweet is that?

Here are some pictures of the first day of school.

I went to my ten year high school reunion a couple of weeks ago. They had a lunch at the park for the families and then a dinner at night. At the lunch I was able to see a couple of good friends so I am glad I went. Then at the dinner I saw my best friend from high school Kelley Walker and her husband Scott. It was great to see her. It was just the same as 10 years ago. She was just as sarcastic and cynical as I remember, unlike me of course. Okay maybe I was a little bit sarcastic and cynical as well. We really need to stay in touch better. I also saw my good friend Jay and his wife Ginger. Jay is still Jay and I was really glad I got to see them.

I have to make a couple of comments on the Olympics. I have always been a fan of watching the Olympics, but this year I struggled with a few sports. The gymnastics were difficult to watch because the judging was so obviously off. More then once did a Chinese girl get way more points then she deserved. Also what is up with the lip-syncing seven year old? The girl who really sang at the opening ceremonies wasn't cute enough so they had a different girl stand in and lip-sync. That really irritated me. And some of the fireworks on the tv were computerized in. So I did enjoy the Olympics, especially Michael Phelps, but come on Chinese government lets not destroy the Olympics, okay?

While we were down in Utah we went to the dinosaur park with my sister, her son, and my parents. It was a lot of fun. For being girlie girls Alexis and Camryn sure love dinosaurs.

I thought this was pretty picture. It is at Rock Creek.

Josh got to go on the pioneer trek with the youth a couple of weeks ago. I don't think I have written about this yet, but I don't know. It ended up being about 30 miles in two days. Josh had to quit a couple of hours early because he got huge blisters on his feet. The trek ended at Rock Creek where the Willie Company spent the first night after they were "rescued." A lot of people died that night and were buried there. Now there are monuments for the pioneers and the graves are marked.
Josh and Ron together again. They had a blast playing guitar hero. It was so great to see the Ronco's.

The stake put on a short program at Rock Creek when the trekkers came back. The girls are singing some pioneer songs with the Primary. The kids had the option of wearing pioneer clothes, but alas we did not have any, I don't sew, and I did not want to buy clothes for five minutes of singing.

I finally have a picture up of the girls in their dance costumes. They danced at the county fair last Saturday. I have to say they are pretty cute.

Marina is such a ham. She loves to have her picture taken anytime, anywhere.

I have to add a few extra comments to add to my previous post. I do enjoy some fiction. I really liked Harry Potter and I hate to admit that I am addicted to the Twilight series, although I also have to admit that I found myself thinking more then once that the books are rather cheesy. But it makes a quick, fun, easy read in between my heavy history books.

I did a few new things this summer which I had to write about. I tried wakeboarding for the first time. I actually did okay and I really liked it! Josh really liked to hear that, he has been trying to get me to wakeboard since we got married. I also learned to drive a boat. It was kinda scary at first, but I at least I can drive well enough for Josh to wakeboard behind me.