Halloween 2008

It's a bit late, but I wanted to post our picture from Halloween. We went to a really fun party with friends and the kids had a blast trick or treating. Jack was Peter Pan, Ben was an Indian Boy, Branden was Captain Hook and I was Tiger Lilly (sort of). Yes, we all chose our outfits around Jack. It was another fun night with our CRAZY boys!

Why Mom's need to vote!

I read this great article today while I was waiting to get a cyst removed from my head. Not the most fun procedure, but not horrible either. The worst part will be living with the stitches coming out of the top of my head for the next 2 week. Anyways, at one point during the "extraction" as they called it, as I was lying on the table, I thought to myself "wow, it feels really good to stop and relax for a moment". Seriously, if that was my most relaxing moment in a while, I really need to slow down.

Oh well, at least I got to read a magazine uninterrupted for 45 minutes. The link to the article is below for anyone who is interested in reading it:

http://www.parents.com/family-life/work-money-politics/election-2008/
why-moms-should-vote/?page=1

I copied the part that I found most powerful:

In the 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream. Later, John Lennon had a dream. We all have dreams, and here is mine: that one day, all mothers will use their political power and voice not in the way that the media and our husbands, pastors, fathers, and political leaders direct us to, but rather as we're led by our personal wisdom, our deepest intuition, our maternal instinct.

I dream of a day when the image of a woman with a child in tow is the first one that comes to mind when people hear the word "activist." I envision a country in which voters' primary concerns revolve not around oil and money, but around the issues facing families and children, issues like healthcare, education, paid family leave, and flexible workplaces. I imagine what it will be like when the most active political groups in the world are not those obsessed with winning a war, but those determined to win the peace. I picture a day when the driving force behind politics in my country is not power or money, but maternal love.

If my experience raising three children has taught me one thing, it's this: There is no more powerful political act than mothering. There is no greater reason than my children for me to become politically involved, and there is no more important work to put my efforts to than those things that will make this world a better, safer place for my kids. And your kids too.

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO VOTE: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2008.

Dinner - do your kids sit down?

This is a question that Branden and I ask ourselves every time we have dinner with friends. Our boys, unless strapped in their seats can not (will not!) stay seated. It's crazy! We have dinner with friends about once a month - two other families with children (girls mind you) about the same age as our boys. The other kids have SUCH better table manners and actually eat their food. Our boys just want to play. Tonight all Jack wanted to do was put his arms around and kiss the twins and Ben just wanted to drink everyone's juice. What to do??

Jack's visit to the dentist

Today was a big day for Jack - he went to the dentist and got his first real cleaning as well as a fluoride treatment. I was so proud of him sitting in the dentist chair, legs crossed, mouth open wide. He was having a full conversation with the hygienist and dentist between treatments. He seemed like such a big boy. He's growing up so fast and I feel so blessed to have this time with both he and Benjamin. I took a picture of him in the chair on my cell phone so I will need to see if I can get it uploaded. He was inducted into the "No Cavity Club" so he doesn't need to return for 6 months - yeah.

Blogging - it's only just begun!

Our dear friend Shannon set up this blog for us in an attempt to get us blogging. I am very excited and a bit intimidated at the same time. I am hoping to keep it updated with all the fun and not so fun things that happen in the Summers household. With 2 parents, 2 wild little boys and 2 cats there is bound to be something to report on. Thanks for reading and THANK YOU Shannon for getting us started. I will try to make you proud :-)