MagMadness MONDAY!!!

WASHINGTONIAN:(wosh-en-toh-nee-an) noun 1. A person who suffers from severe sun deprivation and, therefore, must contort their body to fit into any patch of sunlight that may spontaneously appear in any given area.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY KRISTINA!!!

Last Sunday we reached the one year mark of our little Kristina. Time flies when you're having fun!! She started off the day with a cold, so we came home from church early to take a much needed nap...
Then, our good friends, the Tapusoas, who's cutie-patootie boy, Mason, was born on the same day as Kristina, came over for a little gift-exchange and photo op. Mason was the perfect gentleman and let Kristina open her present first. Just like he let her be born first :) A little spark of love in the air.....? We already have them betrothed:)

The twins......
What an adorable couple they make!

We celebrated with all the cousins, aunts and uncles that night. Kristina opened presents from Mom and Dad and Grandma Rolph and Papaw, then we had a surprise call from Grandpa Jim and Grandma Colleen who were just checking in to the MTC en route to Ireland! We sure miss them and pray for them every night!

K- was not so sure of the cake...no smashing into the face from this girly girl!

I love the bucked teeth in this shot-she was so done with the cake.

YEAH!! I finally have my own dolly!

Grandma Rolph gave me a cute bunny that rattles!

This is the best gift EVER!

Seriously.......so cute.

TUNES THAT MAKE US SMILE:)

HAPPY ELECTION DAY....I wanted to add a list of songs that, well, just make me smile, or make the whole family want to dance around the living room. It turned out to be a very eclectic group of tunes that conjure up some fun memories of the past. Hopefully, this will help us all cope with what may lie ahead. That and a good dose of happy pills.

EXTRA! EXTRA! THIS JUST IN!!!

Breaking news:

Very cute children were sighted storming the neighborhoods of Marysville in search of candy. Our latest reports indicate that half the stash was devoured by their parents after they were sent to bed...(oops! did I say that?)

Baby Kristina-Ladybug
Brooke-Island Princess Barbie
Rachel-Black Cat
Mom-Babysitter(note the braces)*
*reference to earlier post which I don't know how to link to

Dad-photographer extraordinaire

Who wouldn't want to love this kitty?
(it's the only cat I will ever snuggle with)

Island Princess is giving us her best curtsy...with the assistance of Cheer Bear.

PLEASE GIVE ME A SUCKER, DADDY, PLEASE!!!!!

AAAAAAHHHHHH.....relief.

One of the rare times Kristina lets go of something and tries to stand...

So cute and ready to get some CANDY!!

A house in our neighborhood is hard-core Halloween. This picture doesn't capture the essence of fright, but you can tell on Rachel's face it's pretty spectacular. Although they enjoy all things "girly", their "Papaw" gene comes out and they are intrigued by the spooky and scary. This was the highlight of the night.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

The "Like" Game (a.k.a. Happy Birthday Grandma Rolph)

So-I will pause from the political rants(I know you're all so disappointed) and take this opportunity to play a Rolph Family favorite...the "Like" game. And since today is a special day for Mommy, we will play on her behalf. The "Like" game was played in our house on everyone's birthday. We would all say one nice thing about each other, and you couldn't use the words "pretty", "nice," or "smart". Mom also made us play when we weren't getting along. But it's a good thing we are, or Ben and Josh might have to pull out the ol' swordfighting bit....remember? Personal family joke. So, Mom, here is why we "like" (LOVE) you:

SHAWN:
I like Jeanette because she really gets into a good game.(i.e. the world series or any other sporting event) Also-we both agree on what's best for Sarah(that was put in by Sarah:)

SARAH:
I like Mom because she is one of the most compassionate and caring women I know. She puts her family first and has her priorities set. Not everyone can say their Mom is one of their best friends-but I can!(I know that was more than one thing...sorry:)

RACHEL:
I like Grandma Rolph because she bring us presents. I also loved our special walks to my new school and I love you!

BROOKE:
I like when Grandma Rolph comes to our house and tells me the "Gingerbread Man" story.

KRISTINA:
"Dat" "Dat" "Bubba" "Aaahh" "Dada"
Translation: I like Grandma Rolph because she gives me kisses and hugs and I love snuggling with her blanket every night:)



We LOVE YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

ELECTION COUNTDOWN....PART 3

WHAT'S WRONG WITH REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH?

Karl Marx said: "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."

Sounds okay, right? But not when Karl Marx or any other head of government is in charge. When we are allowed to redistribute of our own free will, whether it be to our church, charity or the local grocery store, we redistribute OUR wealth, OUR income, OUR money. When the government says they will "redistribute", it simply means "confiscate".
Just look at out current education system. Why is our public school system, which is dependent upon the "redistribution" of our money through taxes, so unbalanced and corrupt? Because we are not dealing with a benevolent government personally handing the money to the children. We deal with bureaucrats who determine where the money should go, whether it be to the schools, or in their own pockets. I saw this first-hand when I taught in inner city Philadelphia, one of the highest funded school districts in the state, yet the children were crammed into a class room of 30 or more, with limited textbooks and teaching supplies, crappy pay and run down facilities. This is a broad example of what can happen when the government gets too involved with our money. I'm not saying government should not be involved. There are certainly areas that government should oversee. But the more they oversee, the wider the door is left open for dishonesty and corruption.
So-beware of the one who wants to redistribute wealth for the "common good." The only one qualified to stand at the head of a benevolent society is Jesus Christ, and he would not confiscate our earnings or force anyone to give. We will do it of our own free will and obligation to serve our brothers and sisters, not because anyone is forcing us. That was Satan's plan.

I came across this passage today that seems to apply to the current situation. I believe even more that the Book of Mormon was inspired for our day and times:

"He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts, for behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.
"Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish."

2 NEPHI 26:29-30

ELECTION COUNTDOWN.....PART 2

Here's some food for thought, courtesy of Dr. Rolph:).....

Definitions of a Communist, A Socialist, and A Capitalist: The 'Two Cow' Version:

A Communist farmer owns two cows. The government takes one cow and distributes some of the milk to the people.
A Socialist farmer owns two cows. The government takes one cow and gives it to someone who doesn't have a cow.
A Capitalist farmer owns two cows. The government leaves him alone. The farmer sells one of the cows and buys a bull.

I would like to be free to give to whom I please and how much. That is true charity...when it comes out of free will and not by force or coercion.

Choose which one you want and vote accordingly on November 4th....