Afton + Pasta Primavera+ Messy!!

Man, I think she eats better than I do!

All I want for Christmas...

This Christmas we're trying to be more *ahem* frugal that we have in past years. Tracy and I both have a bad habit of going off and spending more money that we had planned on gifts for each other. This year, that shouldn't be a problem, because we don't have the money to do that with. Oh, well.

Anyway, I present, in no particular order, things on my wish-list:

• Watches: I'd like two, really. One nice (metal) one that I can wear with a suit that looks all formal, and a wristwatch/digital compass/altimeter gizmo. (This one isn't bad, either. (the digital compass isn't strictly necessary) Or you can throw the budget out the window and combine the two: the Suunto Observer.
• Clothing: I'd like a sweater or two that I can wear over a button-down shirt. Also some pants for work. I like khaki pants for work, but they get worn through because I spend so much time working under desks. Anyone who has double-thick knee khaki pants? Also, the sweater/dress shirt combo would probably open me up to wearing jeans more often.
  
• Computing: I'm looking at building a Home Theater PC, in piece-meal fashion. The heart of it, though, is this case. I wouldn't mind a new optical mouse (USB, please, but not necessarily wireless) or a new keyboard. I'd like a gaming keyboard, but this will do instead of a whole keyboard. Also, I wouldn't mind replacing a few of the fans in my current computer, but the new fans would have to be vewwy, vewwy quiet. (I'm hunting wabbits). The computer's louder than I'd like, and the fans are the reason why.
• Books.
• Oddball tools. Seriously. If you think I'd use it, try it.
  
• If anyone wants to buy and make the any of the jacket, vest or pullover kits from this site, I'd really like that. I'd try it, but I'd mess it up, and we still don't have a working sewing machine.

I'll add anything else I think of as I go.

Cowgirl Afton

So Afton was a cowgirl for Halloween. She looked pretty dang cute. Of course I was working, but it was still fun to dress her up for the halloween trunk or treat at the church.



Cocoa licking Afton. We try not to let her get any tongue, but she loves it. Its disgusting!

Dang I'm cute!

Ok, give me the candy; I smiled for the camera.

Man, is this hat tasty or what!?

Ride 'em Cowgirl!! Yes, that furry body without the head is Cocoa. We tried to find a saddle for Cocoa so Afton could ride her at the trunk and treat.

What is up with this hat?

I wanna fly like the wind!

I know I'm missing part of my head. Oh well, can't be perfect evertime!

Enjoy the shows!

Come here, my pretty!

Ride'm cowboy or not!

Afton's Bad Day.......Joe's Really Bad Day

So Afton had a pretty bad day a couple of days ago. First she crashed into the corner of our dresser, leaving her with a huge knot on her head. It didn't bruise badly, but was pretty red for a couple of days. Usually when she falls, she cries until I pick her up and then she is good to go. This one hurt so bad she screamed for at least 5 minutes although it seemed so much longer. Not even 10 minutes after I calmed her down did she get another big owie. I was gathering diaper bag supplies for her when she crawled right up behind me and I stepped on her little fingers. It was so sad. Luckily, there is no lasting harm and she is good to go, but man what a day!

Joe had a horrible day on Saturday-- I can let you guess. Yep, BYU football. He was actually in a really bad mood afterwards. We even had a fight-mostly because of his bad mood. But it really is only football. I mean, I'm sad that we lost, but there is always next year. It shouldn't affect someone's ability to communicate nicely with other people. Oh well, such is life with BYU football. Oh, he also tried hunting and got nada. Now I'm just waiting for my bad day, but I'm thinking it may be a ways off....

P.S Afton was crawling around and bit my toe. Who does that? You would think two little teeth wouldn't hurt that much, but man are they sharp! I'm thinking no more cute toe socks for me! :)

P.S. Joe doesn't think the fight was his fault, but we all know the truth. :)

root canal

Two weeks ago, the dentist said I have 10 cavities.
Yesterday I had a root canal.
Two days ago, a co-worker also had one.
Mine hurts less, and has isn't swollen, because I didn't have any infection.
I go back on Tuesday to get more work done on it.

Lesson: Go to the dentist more often than once every 3 years.

Painting, Painting, and more painting

Since we've been in the house, we have only finished one room, which took plenty long. Its amazing how little you can get done when you have a child. I do have to say Afton's room turned out way cute.

Here are some random pics of Afton:

More to come!

Applesauce!

Tracy and I decided on Monday that we were going to make applesauce, and maybe some apple butter for Family Night. Unfortunately, we didn't have any apples. So, we went to the store and bought three 3-pound bags: 2 Golden Delicious, and 1 Gala.

We had been considering purchase of a food processor for a few weeks (maybe a month), but weren't sure what to get. We didn't want something that would take up a lot of room, but we definitely didn't want something too weak, either. So, I bought a food grinder that attaches to a KitchenAid. (I also didn't want to have to crank the whole thing all the time) It worked really well.

We decided not to peel the apples, just to slice and core them, and leave the skins in the applesauce. Honestly, we haven't tried it yet to see how that turned out, but it looks okay.

The apple butter was a bit harder, since we had to cook it down. We blended the remaining applesauce to make it smoother, put it in the crock pot, turned it on, propped the lid up so it could vent the excess moisture, and left it overnight to reduce, then I canned it right when I got back from voting at 7:30 am.

Anyway, here's the yield:

Yep. Three whole jars of applesauce, and two half-pints of what is hopefully apple butter.

Why do you vote?

With the election coming up on Tuesday, I've been ruminating on why people vote. I've seen all sorts of motivations for why an individual votes, and why they vote for whomever they do. First, why people vote:

1. They "hate the other guy".
2. CNN told them to.
3. Exercising their rights.
4. Actually like a candidate. (rare!)
5. So they can complain for 2/4/6 years.
6. So they can wear the "I voted Today!" sticker.

Now, how people choose who to vote for:

1. Vote for the likely winner. (This way, you're on the winning team!)
2. Vote for the likely looser. (This way you can complain for the next 4 years, and say, "I didn't vote for him" anytime anyone brings up why he's a lousy president/governator/congress-weasel.)
3. Vote for the person who provides the best opposition to the person you don't want to win.
4. Vote for the party candidate. (Even though you don't like him/her, they represent the party you chose, and the party represents you. [They said they do!])
5. Vote for the candidate you feel will best create just laws, and enforce them fairly.

I'll just stop right there. You can see most of those options are pretty petty or reek of gamesmanship. I also think you can guess which option I think is the best choice.
The system is not designed to only allow you to vote for two people. WE have made it that way in our minds. If you think that none of the candidates on your ballot will be good officers of government, go to the polling place and write-in someone who will be.
As for all this talk of "throwing your vote away" if you don't vote for one of the two major candidates, let me explain things this way: Should I not vote for the person I think will be best for the job if they don't have the funding, or the news coverage, or the name recognition of the other candidates? NO! MY job, as an informed voter, is to vote for the best candidate, not settle for an "acceptable" candidate, or even "not the worst" candidate. Let everyone else vote for who they will; you possess the freedom to vote for who you want.

I'll finish by citing one of the passages that, for me, best defines good government. (Also, I love formal 19th century-speak.)

We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.

We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.

We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.

We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.

We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience.

We believe that every man should be honored in his station, rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men show respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by anarchy and terror; human laws being instituted for the express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man; and divine laws given of heaven, prescribing rules on spiritual concerns, for faith and worship, both to be answered by man to his Maker.

We believe that rulers, states, and governments have a right, and are bound to enact laws for the protection of all citizens in the free exercise of their religious belief; but we do not believe that they have a right in justice to deprive citizens of this privilege, or proscribe them in their opinions, so long as a regard and reverence are shown to the laws and such religious opinions do not justify sedition nor conspiracy.

We believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offense; that murder, treason, robbery, theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all respects, should be punished according to their criminality and their tendency to evil among men, by the laws of that government in which the offense is committed; and for the public peace and tranquility all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment.

We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied.
(Doc. and Cov., Section 134.)