Political ranting

OK, I don't want to get too political on the family blog, but is anyone else really sick of this election season yet? Does anyone else find it ironic that Obama spent months tearing into McCain as a “Washington insider,” then turns around and selects someone with just as much time in Washington as his VP? Or how about McCain criticizing Obama as too inexperienced to be president, then selecting someone with even less federal experience as his VP? Having come from Utah, which is NEVER a battleground state, I thought it would be exciting to live in a battleground state like Virginia is this year. Well, I have learned that it is more annoying than anything else. I hear at least 10 political adds on the radio daily, there are at least 2 political adds during every commercial break on TV, and we get at least 2 political campaign phone calls a day (live and recorded). We have also been personally visited at our house by Obama campaigners several times. What have they achieved with all of this campaigning? Well, a sign I saw says it best: "They both stink '08."

Our newest niece!

Congratulations to my brother Joe and his wife
Candis on their beautiful new baby girl Alexis!

Autumntime in the Capital

Kenny and I went to Great Falls National Park a few weeks ago. It is located on the Maryland/Virginia state border. The falls are on the Potomac River.

There's a really neat hike in the park called the Billy Goat Trail. It's named that because you pretty much have to be a mountain goat to hike it. Most of the trail involves scrambling up large rocks. Kenny helps me to be more adventurous than I would be on my own, and he convinced me to go on this hike. We had a great time.

Lydia and Rachel started taking a dance class at a rec center near our home. Charity and I stay during the class each week and it's fun to watch them leap around.

Charity is growing up fast. She'll go to nursery in just one month! Right now she loves "push toys" and she walks around the house all day long with them. Here she is with a shopping cart and two backpacks that she prefers to use as purses.