Happy Voting

Today, we as Americans, should be voting! It's your right to vote. It's your responsibility. Not everyone can vote in their country. So today I will be voting. But this year I am struggling with who I should be voting for, for our Governor. I'm not a Republican or Democrat so I don't vote based on party lines. I vote based on who I believe is the right person for the state, while not compromising my beliefs.

Mark Dayton, I do know that I will not be voting for him. There are many reasons why I don't care for Dayton. Biggest thing though is that I don't trust him. I'm not saying I trust all the others more, but there is something about Dayton that can't be trusted.

Tom Emmer, is anti-gay. He may have other things that I do like, this is one thing that I cannot overlook. I have many friends who are gay and I support them 100%. Voting for Emmer would be going against my beliefs and support for my friends. Simple as that.

Tom Horner, I believe he can be the bridge for the state of MN. He has been endorsed by a well known and well liked past Governor of MN, Arne Carlson. We need a change!

And a side note for my hometown, Austin, MN. It is time for a change there too. I can tell you my vote for Mayor would be Marian Clennon (although she is a Dayton supporter...her choice). I wouldn't be voting for her only because she is my friend, but because I believe the city needs someone that is to open to working for the citizens of Austin, not just the ones in the "good 'ol boys club". Go Marian!

Happy Voting!!

***This are entirely my opinion, as I know others may choose differently. That is the beauty of America and why we can vote.  We vote for who WE believe can do the job.***

Hello NaBloPoMo!

Let's give this a try....NaBloPoMo = is a month long writing exercise intended to occur annually in November. This means that I'm supposed to publish one post everyday on my blog. It can be words or pictures or both. Since I've tried many times to restart this blog, let's see if this inspires me. It's not that I don't want to post, it's a matter of taking time. It is easier to post my pictures to FaceBook (because I can upload the ones from my phone right to FB). And I don't even know who reads this blog anymore....ahh, who cares, it's my journal and I do love looking back on past posts.

To get this started, I will just introduce myself....(as if strangers read my blog...haha!) - I live in the midwest with my family - husband and daughter who is "4 and 3/4's", as she tells me. We have a dog - Bo. He is 8 years old and LOVES to hunt (with my husband, of course...what, you thought I was the one that takes him hunting...ha, far from it!). I love to scrapbook and my "season" is just starting up. I tend to take the summer months off. Being that we live in the midwest, I have to soak up as much of the outdoors that I / we can in those summer months, so scrapbooking is saved for the months when it is really to cold to be outside anyway. That being said, my husband would prefer if my "season" would be Jan. - August (aka...non hunting months)...but, that isn't the case and he knew that when he married me (heehee...really he did :)), so the deal is that I get one weekend in November to escape to a land of scrapbooking...ahh, how I love thee! He is always more than happy to give me that weekend too....haha.

Anywhoo, other things that I love besides my family and scrapbooking...

• Photography
• Blogging
• Decorating (although on a limited budget, I still love it)
• Spending time with my girlfriends
• Traveling (ahh, white sand beaches, blue ocean water, cocktails, no interuptions, relaxation....)
• Minnesota Vikings (although really tough this year....I do love Brett Favre though - Viking or Packer - one of the best quarterbacks of all time)

Things I inspire to do....

• To be organized - I really do dream about this for any of my friends who read this and know me :)
• To do something with my love of photography, besides just taking family pics and scrapbooking them
• To be debt free
• To own a new (new to us) Acadia or Traverse for me and a new F150 for my honey

That's it for today....I've got the rest of the month to tell you more about me or to show you pics of my beautiful family and friends.

Until tomorrow.....

In one year....

A year from now we will be getting Sydney ready for Kindergarten. How is that possible? A few months ago I would always say that if we could send her this year (being 4.5) we certainly would, because we believe she is ready. However; she recently informed me that she doesn't want to go to Kindergarten. No real reason why. I told her she wasn't going this year and she didn't need to worry about it. I guess I should be thankful that she doesn't get to go this year and that we have a year to prepare her for school. I know she will do fine. She shows signs of being shy...but I think that is only when I am around. Not sure why though...I certainly don't encourage it. But she also shows signs of being ahead of where I think she should be (maybe that's just us and being her parents). Time will tell. Daycare is going to be doing a program with her and the other girls her age this year....that will be interesting to see how that goes.

A year from now when we are getting her ready to head off to Kindergarten, I can only hope she is excited (although nervous as all get out) and realize that school is and can be fun. I know me, on the other hand (and Jim too), will be a nervous wreck and thinking..."how is this even possible that my baby is heading off to school?".

It's a good thing we all have a year to wait....I'm not ready for her start school yet, either.

**Update**
Per our daycare, Connie, Sydney is not shy towards kids or adults. It must just be around me (or I think Jim too). Kids....

And she is going to be doing a program at daycare for Sydney and a few other older girls (there are not any older boys going into kindergarten next year). I'm excited to see how Sydney does. She even gets to bring a back-pack. Yea!

Sunny & Moon

Here is one of our catapillar's, Sunny, that turned into a cocoon on Monday night (6/21).

This is Moon....he is growing so fast.

We will have a couple of butterflies in the next few weeks to let go.

Photo Shoot!

No offense to our fabulous photographer, Liz (who I will still use when I want pictures of the 3 of us)...but in the spirit of saving money (not saying Liz isn't worth the money...), but I saw an opportunity this past Saturday, so I jumped up and grabbed my camera. I know that I take great pictures of her (I know...shameless :)), others have also told me that I tend to capture her the best too. These are some of the shots from the photo shoot...I have my favorites (of course). But what are your favorites? Please share!

Side funny story...to convince Sydney to let me take these pictures I told her these were for Auntie's birthday. I had to remind her of this a few times...she was all for it when I reminded her. And just this morning as I was walking out the door Sydney asks me "Mommy, do you remember the pictures we took at Grandma M's for Auntie Christy?", "Yes, I remember", "well, don't forget those are just for auntie", "would it be okay for me to put some up in our house too?", "no, they are just for auntie". She loves her Auntie! But I will still put some up in the house....this should be interesting! :)

Okay...what is / are your favorites pictures?

Funny things Sydney has said recently...

Sydney has needed some new underwear for a while now, but I kept forgetting to get her some. One evening she was "picking her seat", although I knew what she was doing, I asked her anyway...she told me, then asked "mommy, did you buy me some new underwear today?", "no, sorry Syd I didn't", "mommy...will you PLEASE buy me some tomorrow?". I did!

As it turns out this underwear (Hanes), although a size that should fit and seems to fit her, still rides up her bootie. She told Jim the other morning, "daddy, do you know why they keep going up my butt?", "why is that, Sydney?"....."because my butt just keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger and BIGGER!" Ha.....that just cracks me up every time I think about this story. Just you wait honey....just you wait! :)

The other morning Jim overheard Sydney talking to herself in her room..."Dear God, thank you for making me a girl!". I couldn't agree more! She may challenge me daily, she may be just like me....stubborn and independent (that can be good too), I wouldn't have it any other way. Along with the challenging times, she brings me more joy than I could have ever dreamed about. I just hope she has her own daughter someday....and that her daughter challenges her as much as she challenges me. LOL! :)

"When I grow up...."

As I was getting Sydney ready this morning, we were brushing her teeth and had to floss (she is the one that insists on the flossing part...."the dentist will be very mad if I don't floss"...so we floss, which is very good of her and us). While doing this I asked her if she was going to be a dentist when she grows up. She didn't say anything (because I was flossing...ha), so I asked "not a dentist, but a princess?". Nope, she is going to be a teacher. "Teachers are bigger than everyone..." so, she says. She is right, teachers are amazing individuals!

First time she has ever said that before. I love that she wants to be a teacher. Let's see if she still wants to do that in 13-14 years. :)