Why 2-year-olds should not be allowed to predict elections

Last night, while intensely studying his Lightning McQueen slipper (that boy is an observer, I tell you), Cary points to the tiny American flag you see here and says:

"Mommy, look! Barack Obama!"

I decided to take that as a sign. My child sees the teensiest symbol of this great country and immediately and unequivocally equates it with Barack Obama, the man who is fighting tooth and nail to hang on to the presidency. The man I would like to see win again.

From the mouths of babes, I thought. Dear Lord, let it be so.

I even posted my prediction on Facebook. (Dunh dunh dunhhhhh.)

Fast forward to this morning, election day.

Getting in the car, Cary spots my "I voted" sticker and claims it as his own.

I tell him he can't have it, because it belongs to Mommy. Mommy gets to have it because Mommy voted.

"I voted too," he says, nodding vigorously.

"Really?! That's great," I tell him. "Mommy voted for BARACK OBAMA!" (I say it with gusto, so he and Dean know that this is a good thing.)

And then Cary says, "I voted. I-I-I-I voted for MITT ROMNEY!" (He says it with gusto.)

And smiles at me. And takes my sticker.

Sigh.

Get out and vote, people!! A lot of folks died so we'd have this right. So get out and do it today!

Photo recap of the last several days

I've been crazy busy at work, trying to pull together a publication for a client. And Superstorm Sandy threw a monkey wrench in everything. So I haven't had time to blog.

But I wanted to make sure I'm keeping good record of what's going on in the life of the Davises. With no time to write, what's a girl to do? Post photos of course!

First of all, during Superstorm Sandy, when it rained -- HARD -- for three days straight, I tried to find lots of things to do to keep the kiddos busy.  You know how I was worried about storm preparation? Turns out this is the only storm prep anyone ever really needs.

Oh yeah!

And lest you think that we spent the three days singing songs and playing Play-Doh and baking stuff like the Partridge Family, please know that by the end of the three days inside with the Crazies, I was ready to ship them in a box to Sri Lanka. (My friend Angel's family is from there, so at least I know someone would feed them.)

Doesn't this photo look like it's from the 70s? Cary even has an Afro.

 Sara decided that she is a baby and constantly tries to wiggle in between the actual babies when we're all piled up together on the couch or on the floor. Here she is in Clair's highchair, which is her new favorite place to sit, hang out or nap.

Do you want some rice cereal and sweet potatoes, little Baby Sara?

 On Halloween, the kids did not go trick-or-treating because I am lazy (I am answering a question from Beth) and also because they still think it is really fun to hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters who come to our door. And we get a fair amount, actually, which is surprising since I am one of only two houses on the whole block that even decorates for Halloween. And by "decorate," I mean put some pumpkins on the porch.

Clair is hanging right along with them! Look at her!

I would be remiss if I didn't point out that Dean ADORES handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. He yells "Trick or Treat!" and slams candy in their bags, and then waves, "Hiiii!' Even the kids think he is adorable. Cary, on the other hand, who now knows that every piece of candy going out the door is one less piece of candy for him, sulks, pouts and scowls at the trick-or-treaters, refusing to hand over the candy he's clutching in his little hand. He still likes for them to come to the door -- nearly falls over himself running to see them -- but he is no fan of sharing the Halloween bounty. Unh-unh.

Look Mommy! We have BIG muscles!

Fun with PicFrame! (Bet you thought I forgot about that!) Kids in PJs on Halloween night, hopped up on lollipops and other goodies (well, not Clair) making Mommy and Daddy sooooo ready for them to go to bed.

The lines in Baltimore for early voting have been crazy long, but I managed to sneak out in between two work assignments and do my civic duty. It's impolite to discuss politics, I know, so I'll just say that if my vote has anything to do with it, everyone will be able to get a college education, regardless of where they came from, and all my friends will be able to marry the people they love.

Because of the storm, the kids' Fall Festival and Halloween party got pushed to Thursday and Friday. Lester took Thursday (fall fest) and I took Friday (party). At the fall fest, Lester said the boys were incorrigible and refused to do all the fun crafts. They melted down when it was time to build a scarecrow and they were so hard to deal with the whole time, he was ready for a drink by 10 a.m.

In a text message to me, when he sent this picture, he said, "While the other children were all doing crafts, YOUR children were doing this."

On Friday, at the Halloween party, as soon as Cary saw me, he wanted to go home. So he whined and cried just about the whole time. And because the party got rescheduled, only two other parents and I were able to come help out. So it was a little bit chaotic. But we managed to make a bunch of crafts (more on that later) and eat a bunch of snacks and I was the hit of the party with the kids because I sang them the "Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee" song, which includes vomiting sounds. Kids LOVE that.

I even wore a costume! See -- here I am: Lt. Uhura reporting for duty! I don't think anyone got my costume though. Do people not do Star Trek?

And about those crafts we made ....

Are my children trying to tell me something? Is this a cry for help? Do they need therapy -- at 2 and a half? Arts and Crafts always leaves me with so many questions.

:-)