It’s officially the Christmas season now.  Today I got out the nativity and listened to John Denver’s Christmas CD!  My husband rolls his eyes at that funny Wesel tradition, but it just isn’t Christmas for me until I hear this song and the rest of the CD!  (Click  the link and then click on the black play button up in the top right hand corner of the page.  Please forgive this slightly cheesy version)

http://www.last.fm/music/John+Denver/Rocky+Mountain+Christmas/Aspenglow

I was reading the Wall Street Journal today and many articles had a grateful focus.  Some talked of the pilgrims and why they came, some talked of the hard past year we’ve had as a country and that we survived.  But one quote from an article by Peggy Noonan brought me up short and made me think hard about what I’m really grateful for this Thanksgiving.

A friend who emigrated from Nicaragua 21 years ago and lives now in New York knew right away what she was thankful for: her still-new country. “I’m mainly grateful that I could raise my son in freedom. I could vote for the first time in my life. I could express my opinions without being shot on the spot, jailed, or exiled like my grandfather. I could sleep through the night without fearing for my life. I could work and buy food without rationing.”

How incredibly blessed we are to live in America.  There are  people who call themselves Americans that think America is evil and wrong.  But those people are taking for granted the simple blessings they should be grateful for.  The blessings that people the world over would give anything to have.  Think hard tomorrow as you eat your turkey and stuffing.  Don’t ever ever forget how blessed you are to live here. 

  
The boys have been begging to go to the Statue of Liberty so on Halloween we surprised them.  It was an overcast day but very warm.  We figured the lines would be shorter because of the weather and the holiday.  Boy were we right!  No wait whatsoever.  It also helps that we came from the NJ side which is always better.  We had a blast.  We climbed 154 steps to the top of the pedestal, all of which Blue Jeans climbed himself.  We’d love to go up to the crown, but you have to wait months and months to get tickets for that.  The boys also thoroughly enjoyed running around the bottom portion of the pedestal on such a windy day.   It was lots of fun and someday I’ll go back when I can do it slowly and read all the history! 

There are too many fun photos to post here on the blog….
 

 
but you can click here to see more: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamadawn/sets/72157622789788244/

Pilot Rock and his dog, Obi Wan Kenobi, Bumblebee the Transformer, and Miss 50’s.  Pretend you can see my poodle skirt.  (One my mom made for me when I was 12 and that I STILL fit into, I’m proud to say.  Ok, so that was my slightly chubby stage, but still….I won best 50’s costume at the party.

Spooky and um….french?…

Blue Jeans as the cutest little puppy around.  Yes, this costume is on it’s 3rd round at our house, but hey, why mess with an adorable thing?

Go Go-2006                                               Mr. Pres.-2004

Happy Halloween!