Election '08

I generally follow the unwritten rule about incorporating the topics of politics and religion into conversation at work, socially, etc. We all have our own opinions, and should respect that. We are entitled to believe what we want, and voice it if we choose. We should agree to disagree. After all, it is America, right? I will say that those of you who do not vote, or are not registered to vote for that matter, should probably keep your opinions about who would make the better President, or what our current President is doing wrong, to yourselves. I know, who does she think she is? Well, it IS my blog and I can say what I want.  :)  Just kidding. But seriously. It's like I told Bryan when we were dating, and he wasn't registered to vote ... you have no right to gripe about what is going on with our government if you did not voice your opinion and take advantage of your right to make a change. I read that in the 2000 presidential election in Florida, George W. Bush won by a margin of only 930 votes out of 6 million cast in the state, which made the difference in the Electoral College. Every vote counts!  You are part of a democracy ... one of the most basic rights as a US citizen is your right to vote. Take advantage of this right so you have a say in how you want this country governed. So there. Enough said. If you did vote, and you still want to gripe than by all means I'll pull up a chair with you.  :)  So with that said, I'm not going to engage in a debate and give you my reasons why you should vote for one or the other. I will, however, post some websites that I have found helpful in my journey to determine who would make the best President. 

Readers Digest has some great information. The August 2008 issue includes separate interviews with Obama and McCain.  Both "An Exclusive Interview with Barack Obama" and "An Exclusive Interview with John McCain. Both are great interviews and provide a good insight of each man. I'm not sure if this was included in the actual issue of Reader's Digest or if it was just available on the website, but McCain and Obama On The Issues is a great resource to find out where each candidate stands on the economy, the war in Iraq, and healthcare. 

The purpose of the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life is to provide a greater understanding of the relationship between religion and politics, the law, domestic policy, and world affairs. The site allows you to compare the candidates on issues such as abortion, church and state, education, and gay marriage, to name a few. It is a very easy way to breakdown what each candidate stands for.

Project Vote Smart (The Voter's Self-Defense System) is another site that allows you to click on the candidate and then view his or her positions on issues. 

Okay - that's all I'm gonna say - at least for now. I've done my part. No door-to-door campaigning for this little lady!

Tough Love vs. Spanking

Received this from a friend and it is hilarious! ....


Most of the American populace thinks it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of 'those moments.' One that I found effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk. Some say it's the vibration from the car, others say it's the time away from any distractions such as TV, Video Games, Computer, IPod, etc. Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together. Eye to eye contact helps a lot too.I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique.

This works with grandchildren, nieces, and nephews as well.

Innocence is Priceless

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Randy standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names and small American flags mounted on either side of it. The six-year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, "Good morning Randy."

"Good morning Pastor," he replied, still focused on the plaque. "Pastor, what is this?"

The pastor said, "Well son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service."

Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque.

Finally, little Randy's voice, barely audible and trembling with fear asked, "Which service, the 8:30 or the 10:45?"

Tuesday notes

Had some additional pics from Cam's birthday to post, but just haven't been able to find the time to do so. He essentially had a "week" of birthday celebrating. It started with his "friend" birthday. We went out to dinner on his "real" birthday with Grandma Denise and Papa Mike, to Cam's restaurant pick of Chili's. And then mom and dad were in town this last weekend, so Theresa and the kids came over and we celebrated with BBQ'd steaks and swimming. (Cam wanted to finish off the "party" with some Poker ... as if WE'RE going to argue with that!)

Cameron with a new "Nike" Skateboard

Cam and Papa Mike

Cam's birthday at Chili's

Picture day at school - I can't believe how old he looks!!! ;(

Ready to give mom a kiss!

I wanted to include a conversation I had with Cam, more so for documentation than anything so that I can bring it up to him a few years down the road. (Disclaimer - this conversation is about childbirth and such ... read on at the risk of wetting your pants from laughing.) I had picked him up from school on his birthday, and it was about 3:05. Starting the day before, I had been giving him the play-by-play of the day before and day of his birth. So when he was in the car, I said that 8 years ago RIGHT THIS MINUTE you were almost out of mommy's tummy. So then he's watching the clock and getting excited saying "only 2 more minutes and I'm born ... only 1 more minute ... It's 3:10 ... I'm born!" Well that was all fun until he asks about being in my tummy. Great. I'm trapped, I have 10 more minutes in the car and I have no help. He had started asking questions about babies a couple of months back, knowing they were in the mommy's tummy, but how do they get there? Well we kind of changed the subject. Figured it would come up again, so we'll just kind of put it off for now. So he says, "I know I was in your tummy, but what about the butt?" Thought he was asking me if his butt came out first, or what. Told him no, your head came out first, but sometimes babies get kind of twisted around. He sits there, and then it hits me ..."Wait, were you asking if you came out my butt?" I said no, and then he wonders where he came out at. Sooooooooo ..... I'm driving and I kind of make a "V" with my hands and point downward saying "well right here." The light bulb must've went on because he says, "Ohhhhhhhhh. So THAT'S why boys can't have babies. The hole in our wieners are too small!" Yes. Exactly. Thank you for coming to that conclusion on your own! Then the kicker ... "Well how do they get through the hair down there?" Wow. "Well sometimes the doctor will shave the mommy first." Double wow. So he says, "Oh. right. Are we almost home? I want to open my presents..."

Bryan SOOOO owes me for this one.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAMERON!

It's hard to believe that 8 years ago today, I (and quite a few others!) were anxiously awaiting Baby Boy Peterson's arrival! At 3:10 Cameron Alexander blessed this world and it hasn't been the same since. He's growing up fast, but will always be my baby!! Happy Birthday sweetheart!

Skateboard Party!

Cameron had his birthday party on Saturday at our house: pizza, skateboarding, swimming, video games, movies - and A LOT of Mountain Dew. Wow. It was certainly eventful. He had 5 other friends come over and then spend the night. Six (almost) 8-year olds? Probably not going to happen again, but I suppose as a parent we all have to experience that once, right? And then we learn our lesson? A year from now, I'll probably have another post that reads similar .... :) A few of them finally fell asleep around 1:00, and I had to convince the others to turn the video games off and maybe just watch some TV while they were in their sleeping bags. Bryan and I finally went to bed, he woke up around 4:00 and one of them was STILL watching TV. Hello!? The "sugar them up and wear them out" theory did NOT work for this one! They were all up around 6:30 to start things over again. Yeah. Add the "couple" of gin and tonics I had to the mix, and it was a fantastic morning. At any rate, they all had a blast ... and the Peterson's had a nice 3 hour family nap on Sunday. :)

Bryan in charge of the skateboarding shenanigans ... VERY scary!



Santino and Brady

Mom! Seriously. You're starting to embarass me.




A new skateboard!



Opening presents - a new Challenger. (And as Cam said - "Hey Dad ... I got one before you!")

Connor and Cameron - showing off his new helmet and board




Trying out the new gear




Tyler and Chase



Cam giving a few pointers

Dad's not looking ... if I reach to my left just a tad bit I bet I can snag one ...




Who said the Mommies couldn't have fun? :)




All the boards stacked and ready to hit the ramp in the morning ... (Oh - Cam thought I was being mean when I wouldn't let them skateboard in the backyard at 7:00 Sunday morning.)