Election Day 2005

With the crazy election proceedings from the 2000 elections and the 2004 elections Ohio has finally updated their voting system to electronic digital ballots. We had the pleasure of being some of the first to use these new fangled voting gadgets and it was actually a cool process.

We decided that we would bring our girls with us this year to provide an early example of the importance of taking this very important opportunity only provided in democratic societies. How amazing it is to think that we take voting for granted when there are so many people in the world who will never have the blessing of being able to provide their voice concerning their government. May God Bless America that we may always have these rights and blessings.

Still tough being the Big Sister

The other night Neleha found her way into Molly's bed once again... a BIG SISTER'S job is never done.

Trick-0r-Treat 2005

So we gathered at our house and walked the streets of our neighborhood going door-to-door begging for sugary treats. We had family, friends, and costumes of course as we walked the streets meeting other disguised neighbors and heaping our bags full of free candy.


The kids have so much fun pretending to be someone else for this one night a year and in some way this American tradition is so important. It is not often we gather as citizens and agree on something, but holidays we usually find common ground. Although some may focus on the pagan aspects of this holiday I do not believe any of our children had such thoughts, they simply smiled and spoke in their small voices "trick-or-treat" at each door they encountered. They found simple joy in this simple holiday.


During our Halloween adventure I came across another Dr. Creep fan, very appropriate for the season.



Before we knew it our haunted holiday had come to a close, Tove passed out most of our treats while we were out in the neighborhood, we stock piled a great deal of candy, and Kristy & Neleha were super hero's, I was the King, and Molly a Princess for the night. A true Halloween indeed.

Boo at the Columbus Zoo

We celebrated the haunted holiday with the animals at the zoo. With our friends the Williams and the Pinons we explored the zoo and viewed some of the animals tear up some pumpkins.

Of course the zoo visit would not be complete without stopping at the petting farm area.



One of the main attractions of this event is the trick-or-treat stations throughout the zoo. This made the walking between each animal area that much more worth it.



We also took a ride down the scarecrow river which was a real treat for our little Navy Neleha.


Fun times were had indeed.... family, friends, and fun...... that is what life is all about.

Our Harvest.....more fun than food....

As you may remember this photo of Kristy putting the finishing touches on our garden box. We planted our seeds that day and was about a month behind what we should have been but we had fun all the same. Molly and I found a lot of joy in watering and nurturing our little garden over the season.

Our little seeds eventually sprouted and grew and blossomed into little plants. We continued to water and nurture.

Our garden eventually provided a harvest.... we had some lettuce, tomatoes, some chili peppers, bell peppers, a few carrots, many okra, and a pumpkin just in time for Halloween.



I sure am looking forward to next year, I am hoping to be able to build an additional box and actually plant our seeds on time.