The future for my boys?

I don't post things like this since this blog is about our family but the results of this election will have long and lasting effects on our family and especially the future for my boys.  And I'm sad.  I'm not angry or resentful, just sad. I worry about the country my boys will inherit, the opportunities they will or will not have available to them, the debt they will have to repay, a healthcare system that was second to none in the world and will soon be socialized medicine and a weakened and diminshed national defense.  I want my boys to know that you work hard for what you want, and it's a wonderful thing to be successful (something you should not be ashamed of), and we give back to our community and those who are less fortunate.  But most of all I want them to remember no matter what, life is what you make it.  You can choose to be the sun or you can choose to be the rain.  And I know my boys...they are the brightest sunshine and the biggests joys in my life! 

I realize we don't all agree on WHAT we think is best for our country but we can agree that we want our country to be the best.

Tomorrow is a new day:)

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." 
-Thomas Jefferson

"That government is best which governs least, because its people discipline themselves."
  - Henry David Thoreau

 

Spooky Fall Fun

We had so many activities in October!  Here are some highlights of this past month...not always in order:)

We took the boys to the Lego Fest in Novi and they had a blast!  Lots to see and lots to build...LOTS of people too:)

Austin and Connor are both into the Lego Ninjago TV show.  That's Jay, the blue ninja.

When Austin was done building he was able to put his creation in a Lego display case.

Racing Lego Monster Trucks

Meeting the Lego Police Officer:)

 

We met Allen's family at a pumpkin patch in Armada.  It was very chilly that day.

Lily, Nathen, Austin & Connor

The boys favorite part at the pumpkin patch was riding the ponies:)

We also headed to the Zoo's fall festival with our friends Sophia and Nate.

They got to paint pumpkins, go through a hay maze, play games and take a hay ride.

Finding their way through the hay maze.  I'm not sure if Connor was able to see since his hat was down so low:)

Connor didn't think he could make it all the way up the giant inflatable climbing, but he did it all by himself!

Strong man!

With Sophia and Nate on the hay ride at the zoo

Taking a break in the reptile house

Watching the seals swim by

We carved and decorated pumpkins with Grandma, Grandpa and Moesie

Austin really like getting all the pumpkin guts out

Posing with all the pumpkins

Santa at his school halloween party.  He helped Mommy bake cookies to share with his friends.

Listening to spooky stories.  An older girl named Abigail kept putting her arm around Connor:)

 Playing instruments with Ms. Kathy

 

 Yummy, it's "finger" food!

Playing halloween bingo

Austin's party was next:)  All the Kindergarten kids loved posing for the camera:)

Austin and his friend Sarah.  She has been helping him learn to write Japanese.

Austin's other friend, Molly (she was dressed as a bride).  Austin likes the ladies!

 All the Kindergarten students

Finally they get to enjoy some snacks

Ready for trick-or-treating at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  It's been a loooong day already!

 

The 2 Santa's meet while trick-or-treating!

Costumes off and ready to help pass out what's left of the candy

 

Austin & Connor got invited to their babysitter's parent's house earlier this month to take a ride in her dad's Mac cab.  Austin was over the moon!

Connor is not even as tall as the tire!

we also did our annual Crossroads Village trick-or-treating this month too. So much fun for the boys.  They had a great time.

Waiting to for the spooky train to arrive so we can go for a ride

 

For some reason Santa decided to be a rocket on this particular day:)

Disney

We are back from our Disney trip.  The boys had an awesome time, the adults...I'm not so sure:)  Lots of long, hot days waiting in line and waiting for buses.  Relaxing is not the word for this vacation! We have great pictures though! Here's just a few of the 300 or so pictures we took:)

Connor fell asleep on the plane just as we took off.  4:30am is an early wake up call:)

Austin chose to enjoy the plane ride and fell asleep on the Magical Express bus ride to the hotel

The boys LOVED our pirate room at the Caribbean Beach Resort

Since our first day was a 1/2 day we went to downtown Disney.  Nothing like the Lego store to get things started right!

Digging for fossils at the T-rex Cafe before our dinner reservations

Dinner at the T-rex Cafe was pretty awesome

That Disney dining plan will add 20lbs to you in no time!

 Phineas and Ferb are totally awesome

I though this was such a cute picture

First day at the parks....the Magic Kingdom

We're all ready to go

This was Connor's favorite ride of the whole trip, the buzz lightyear ride.  He went on 3 times in a row.  I couldn't get a good picture of him though because we were in the same little car together.  Austin was a high scorer on this ride.

They captured Zurg!

Racing cars on the indy speedway

Enjoying some delicious mickey ice cream

Connor and gramps on the tea cups

Yea, for Tigger and Pooh!

Austin having a blast on Tom Sawyers Island

Connor was so excited after the Pirates of the Caribbean ride that he had to get some pirate garb:)

Austin and the Green Army Man from Toy Story at Hollywood Studios

Grandma, Aunt Sarah and Grandpa looking good!

Mommy and Connor before the 3D Muppet ride (which we missed because of 2 boys who had to go potty at the last second)

Instead of the 3D muppet show we played at the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground and the boys had a great time running around like crazy.

Austin coming down a big petal slide backwards

Giant tonka truck toy on our way out of the playground

Waiting for the Fantasmic light and water show to start.  Connor got this cool buzz lightyear that had rotating lights around it's head.  Aunt Sarah is trying to keep out of the way of the spinning lights:)

Austin got a fruit bat at the Animal Kingdom (that's daddy's favorite animal)

Connor found a baby gorilla that he loved

 We saw a lot of animals on our safari ride but this sleeping silver back gorilla was pretty awesome.

Meeting safari Mickey!

 Tree of Life at the Animal Kingdom

 It rained for a few minutes at the end of our day at the Animal Kingdom and this beautiful double rainbow appeared.

We spent our last full day at Epcot (it was a scorcher that day)

On the Seas ride with Nemo and Friends

Austin got to meet the scuba diver after he finished his demonstration at the Seas

Connor in Morocco with a camel he though was cool:)

Striking a pose in Japan

Soaking in their Latin heritage in Mexico

Our character dinner at Chef Mickey's.  We got to meet the fab five, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto.  Connor was not to fond of any of the characters but Austin really enjoyed it.  They got lots of autographs this week.

Bye Disney World!