My fellow Americans

Okay, this post is really to post the kids Halloween pics, so the title is totally inappropriate. I just wanted to say it because I feel so happily patriotic today. A way I haven't felt since that stinker Clinton lied under oath! I also admit to having an ulterior motive for feeling happy today. I've been looking forward to the 2008 election for a long time because regardless of who won I was hoping that my husband could finally get over his ridiculously misguided and obsessive angst toward our poor President Bush. I don't know, though, Grant might actually need some therapy!

Anyhoo, here are the pics:

Eliseo had a scary mask, but it turns out masks are not allowed at school or at Trunk or Treat so he came up with this last minute.

My mom made this cute duck costume when Rune was two. I love recycling Halloween costumes!

Rune is a dark side Jedi. I made this costume. I almost didn't, but he wanted it so much I finally did. Luckily it was one of those 2 hr patterns. He does have some sweet Jedi moves.

This costume shows just how pathetic I was this year. A sheet with eyes cut out? How embarrassing! And I totally had Lily convinced it was ultra cool.

No, I didn't dress Violet up. But she does a pretty good monkey impression on her own. Check out the hair on her arms and back!

I'm pleased...

with the new president. I'm not going to go politics here because I know that most of my friends, family and neighbors have different political views than mine and are probably disappointed today and I love you guys more than I love my opinions. But I can't help saying that today is a happy day for me and I look forward to a future of peace, not war, prosperity for the majority, not the few, and healthcare for everyone! Okay, maybe America is not ready for the last just yet......someday.

More jokes from Rune

Here are the latest:

From what magazine can you buy stuff for cats?
A cat-alog.

What does a rat who plays basketball like to eat?
Swish cheese.

pet peeve---American tuna fish

What is up with the tuna around here? In Taiwan they still sold tuna that was actually composed of cohesive chunks of meat. When I was a kid American tuna was composed of actual chunks of meat. Now the tuna fish is so pulverized and mashed that it cannot be extracted from the water in the can and you have no choice but to eat extremely watery tuna fish. Or squish half the fish from the can in an attempt to get the water out. Or buy really expensive and mercury laden albacore tuna. Or to stop eating tuna fish which is what I've mostly done. Sigh.

More pics

Ok, I'm (mostly) done feeling sorry for myself because I only get to have five children. Boo Hoo, Waaa for me, right? The first three weeks are always the hardest for me and I'm at three weeks one day so I'm ready to join the human race again. I have a special post for the slooks, hopefully to be coming soon, but I confess that in addition to not usually being able to do much at the computer because I'm always holding Violet, I have also discovered that I have no idea how to use my scanner and every picture I scan turns out tiny and I don't know how to fix it. I wish I had Kristie's computer know how. I know you all thought I was smart just because I got straight A's in college, but I don't have a clue how to work my scanner, okay. Anyway, I do know how to use my digital camera and I'm going to post some more pics of Violet just so you don't have to come to my blog and be depressed by my poem anymore!

If you look closely maybe you can see her hairy werewolf ears. And Grant says he is jealous of her sideburns.

The intelligent look.

The not so intelligent look.

I like this picture because Grant looks like such a hick hunter with this hat. What you don't know is that Sam bought this hat in Taiwan where no one hunts because they can't and that in small letters under the "HUNT" it says "for knowledge".

Then there is the angelic sleeper picture..

And, of course, the adoring mom picture.

Vasectomy Blues

Grant had a vasectomy Friday and although he is convalescing well enough, I wasn't prepared for my own emotional response. Instead of regaling you with a long prosy paragraph I thought I would try my hand at poetry. Tell me what you think (e.g. um...Sally, you should stick to prose.).

Oh! Those postpartem hormones
That cause me to bemoan
The end of something I hated.

Suddenly I feel
The end is too real
Even though the end was much wished for.

I know there is reason
For the passing of seasons
Though the passing may cause us great sorrow.

Could I suffer again
To let new life begin?
I can't, but wish that I could.

More Violet Pics

She's already a week old. The first few weeks are so hard, what with the hormones and the crazy scheduling, not to mention four other kids to take care of. But they go too fast at the same time. That brand new stage is so fleeting and it feels especially bittersweet this time because I know a newborn will not pass through our house again. So I've been taking pictures like she was my first and here are a few.

Eye color is still up in the air

The happy big brother