and he's off....

This vidoe is a couple weeks old, but this is still the preferred activity for the day. He walks back and forth like this all day long until he gets hungry or tired.

Sorry- Once again a sideways video- when will I learn???

Halloween

Chase was a duck for halloween this year. I couldn't help it when the costume was only $2.99. I think he made a very cute duck, but he wasn't sure about the costume. We got lucky to get a couple pictures with the hat on, because he didn't like it one bit.




Here he is trying to get it off.

Finally he just took off playing and forgot about the hat.


Once again, I went over board on the pictures, but I eliminated it as much as I can.

Trunk or treat

Our ward had a trunk or treat and this was a first for us. Daniel dressed up as Gilligan and Chase was a duck (who refused to wear the hat. My costume was Mary-ann from Gilligan's island but it was kinda silly- thankfully no pictures of it.

I've been watching you dad.....

Remember to stand up for proposition 8- see post below.

Daniel and Chase have the sweetest relationship- I sometimes feel a little jealous because when Chase is hurt or upset he crawls/walks crying right past me and to his daddy. Sometimes when Daniel leaves for work, Chase has a hard time and just wants to go with him. This first picture is significant because Chase never just sits around. He has to constantly be on the move, but he had a minute to sit with his daddy the other night.



Then last night I was doing homework and Daniel watching Chase when I realized what they were up to. Daniel was hanging up the cloths from the laundry room and Chase would help in any way he could. He followed Daniel around the whole time from room to room carrying one hanger with a shirt on it around. He never quite got the idea that he should give it to Daniel to hang up, but I think it is the cutest thing to watch Chase trying to be just like his daddy already. What a little character.


I've been a watchin' you dad. Ain't that cool?
I'm your buckaroo, I want to be like you,
and eat all my food and grow as tall as you are!


I know there are a lot of pictures, but I couldn't help myself.



And one final one for your viewing pleasure :)

Yes on Proposition 8- Protect marriage!

I have a couple blogs in the works. I am working with Daniel to get the story right of his near death experience, and another tag, but for now this is what's most important.


Yes on Proposition 8 - Protect Marriage

You've been tagged. PLEASE READ THIS no matter what state you live in. Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt children. If gay marriage remains legal, public schools will put it on equal footing with traditional marriage. Children will likely receive “age appropriate” information about sexual relations within heterosexual and homosexual marriages.

Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt churches. The court’s decision will inevitably lead to conflicts with religious liberty and free speech rights. Society will become more and more hostile to traditional beliefs about marriage and family. Over time, greater acceptance of nontraditional marriage will be demanded of all people. This could impact the ability of any religion to teach and practice its beliefs, including adoption agencies.

A YES vote will not hurt gays. In California, the law provides for marriage-related benefits to be given to civil unions and domestic partnerships. Proposition 8 does not diminish these benefits.

For your information: On Friday, October 10th, 2008 a first-grade class took a field trip to witness a lesbian wedding in California. Click Here for the article from the San Francisco Chronicle.

A father in Massachusetts was frustrated when his kindergartner was taught about homosexuality at school by the teachers. He insisted he be notified in the future before such things were discussed so he could pull his boy out of school. He was taken to jail. Click Here for the story.

A Catholic adoption agency In the UK closed their doors because of the Government's new homosexual equality laws. The Equality Act forbids discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the basis of sexual orientation. The law was forced through Parliament last year despite past Prime Minister Tony Blair's recommendation that Catholic adoption agencies be exempted from the rules. Click Here for more info.

Earlier this month judges in Conneticut overturned the state law (just as the judges in California did) to legalized gay marriage. This is not just an issue in California. We voted years ago to keep traditional marriage as the only marriage recognized in the state of California, 4 judges overturned our vote…and we need to fight back. That is what this Proposition is about.This is happening everywhere and the leaders of the church and others have warned that the outcome of California’s vote will affect the way the other states vote.

So PLEASE…even if you don’t live in California, put this on your blog or email this on. The internet knows no state line. You know contacts in California that I don’t…and so do your friends. Please pass this on as it could eventually have an effect on everyone!

"Occasionally discouragement may darken our pathway; frustration may be a constant companion. In our ears there may sound the sophistry of Satan as he whispers, "You cannot save the world; your small efforts are meaningless. You haven't time to be concerned for others." Trusting in the Lord, let us turn our heads from such falsehoods and make certain our feet are firmly planted in the path of service andour hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord."
--Thomas S. Monson

Click Here for excerpts from the broadcast given by Elders M. Russell Ballard, Quentin L. Cook and L. Whitney Clayton.

A good resource mentioned in the broadcast: http://www.preservingmarriage.org/
October 20th: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot if voting out of state. Click Here to get one.
October 27th: Last day to apply for “Vote by Mail.” Click Here for info.
November 4th: Election day. Polls close at 8:00pm. Vote by mail must be received by this time and can be hand delivered if necessary.

YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED...Here's what you do:In the broadcast we were asked to "go viral on our blogs, etc" by Elder Ballard. This is my way of going viral. If you feel this is an important issue I ask that you copy and paste this post...and post it on your blog. PLEASE keep it at the top of your blog through November 4th, which you can adjust each time you post under the "edit post" option.

Negro Bill's Canyon

So back ago from this past Wednesday, we headed to Moab so Daniel could go with my dad on a motorcycle ride. Chase and I got to spend all weekend with Grandma and were surprised when Michelle and Kyle showed up. Most of the weekend was fun but uneventful- a trip to Grand Junction with my Grandma, a LITTLE bit of studying (not nearly enough I found out after taking two test this week.) Ellen's family was also down and asked us to take pictures of her cute family.


The next day we all hooked back up and went for a hike up Negro Bill's Canyon. (picture of group taken by Ellen)



We all had fun, but I think Chase had the most fun riding in the little backpack on Grandma's back most the way!

Tow-Mater

When I get some time I will fill you in on our fun (and almost deadly for some of us) weekend in Moab, but for now this is a quick post for my mom.

This is the new exciting toy at our house, and all other toys have gotten the shaft. My mom couldn't stand that she had already bought Chase's birthday present and he wouldn't be able to use it now. Who knows he might have been walking before he got this little helper in a month- so he got it a month early.

At first he wasn't sure about it. He loved the noises and flashing lights on it, but wasn't sure about riding it or pushing it, so he just played with the rising piston.



He then moved up to the steering wheel and decided sitting on it wasn't so bad and before long he was giggling and squealing as Daniel pushed him around.




Today he spent the whole day walking Tow Mater around our house and around the sidewalk outside and what do you know- took his first "real" steps. He has been taking 3-4 steps for months now but usually falls into your arms or face plants after that. I call them real steps because he walks around on his own or with or without encouragement and actually gets to a destination instead of falling.

I'm not sure yet if I will thank Chase's Grandma or blame her.

(I'll get pictures of him walking soon... I was so busy studying for a test tonight that I didn't pull out the camera.)