I guess I am a "do gooder"!

*Note: This is a rant so you might just want to skip it but it was something I felt I wanted to add to my blog.

This all came about because of a large power company wanting to build a coal fired power plant in our little green valley.

Now our little green valley is a lot like many here in Utah. It is surrounded by beautiful mountains on all sides. This can work against us by creating a "bowl" effect. When there is no storm front blowing its way in our air becomes stagnant. It is most noticeable when there is an inversion during the winter. The air gets all dark and dingy. This of course is not good for anyone to breath. Fortunately our air stays relatively clean most of the time and we don't have to worry about it much.

I guess our county commissioners decided a power plant would be awesome to have here...and they decided to place one right next to a little town not 5 miles from where we live. Of course many people did not like this idea...but the county commissioners decided they didn't care what most people thought and gave them the go ahead.

I have to admit that I would rather not have a power plant in my "backyard" for my children to breath. Shane said he thinks it will bring more $$$ to the area but I rather stay poor and have clean air to breath.

The county took away the citizens right to vote to challenge the commissioners decision on the power plant (and anything else we don't like). A group of citizens took it to the Utah Supreme court and they gave the right to vote back to us. It is now on the ballot.

I was on my way home from work in the car when I was bombarded by this horrible mean advertisement made by the power company. They were telling us to vote no on the right to vote on wanting the power plant or not later this year. They said that anyone against the power plant is a "do gooder". The "do gooders" need to just leave the commissioners alone to do the job we elected them to do. If you want the right to vote you are just horrible selfish people and do gooders that have nothing better to do than to get in to business that is not ours to get into. "So don't be a "do gooder". Trust your commissioners to do the job they were elected to do and vote no on proposition 1."

What?

I almost died. It was one of the most blatantly offensive things I have ever heard! It makes me want to fight the power plant when before I was ok with just sitting back and watching things happen. I sure hope their little commercial blows up in their faces by making more than just me mad at them. Just because I rather have the right to vote if the commissioners do something that the majority of the county does not want I am a horrible person? A "do gooder" getting in their way.

There are so many other ways to make clean electricity. Wind, solar, geothermal, water and even nuclear generation is "cleaner" for the environment.

I guess I am not going to be a fence sitter any longer. I am going to go out and get me a sign for my yard as well as be sure to vote yes on the right to vote.

So I guess I am now a "do gooder". For this I will be proud to wear the label!

Fall Leaves

We have a LARGE tree in our front yard that takes its time loosing its leaves. The leaves are quite big and we make piles that are at least 5 feet tall several times a week until they are all gone. Here are the kids after jumping into the center of two of the piles. Speaking of leaves....I guess I need to go bag them up now before the wind blows them around again.

Grandma's Ward 'Fall Festival' Celebration.

My Sister in-law Nicole came down and stayed at Shanes parents house for the weekend. She brought Kayden *another one of my super cute nephews*. We got to spend quite a bit of time hanging out with them. Saturday night we attended the ward celebration that Becky was in charge of. She always pulls off great parties. Here they are for a photo.

Kayden was Charlie Brown. He is such a doll. He reminds me of Cory when he was that age. He is such a pleasure to be around. I forget how fun they are at that age. Shaelynn played babysitter as much as she could. She told me she wants Kayden to be her baby brother she likes him so much. I can see she is going to be a great babysitter when the time comes.

Hunting/Camping this weekend with Stolen Photos!

We went camping/hunting this weekend. Becky had a family Birthday party for those with fall birthdays. I forgot my camera. Abbie my sis in law got a few pictures so I am stealing them and putting them here. *thief!* I am going to have to pay Becky for doubles of her pictures when she gets them developed. Why do I always forget my camera?

Here I am with Cory and my VERY adorable nephew Warner. He is Brandon (Shanes brother) and Abbies son.

Here are the Birthday Crew. Left to right. Shane, Brandon and Lances wife Nicole (holding her son Kaden). I wish he would let me hold him like Warner does. He is a great golfer. Nicole is expecting and we get to find out if it is a boy or girl in less than two weeks. Shaelynn wants it to be a girl. she is tired of having all boy cousins.

And here is Cory hanging in his hunter orange by the stream.

I need to remember my camera more often. I must be getting old to forget it quite so often.

Hay Ride Plus at the Pumpkin Patch

The first year we moved to our home (almost 10 years ago) Grandma Becky heard of this hay ride where you can pick out a pumpkin for super cheep and take it home. She wanted to purchase some pumpkins for the grand kids that were big enough to fit them into them. We were in luck that year. The pumpkins were huge and with the help of Shane (to carry them) we got pumpkins big enough that when they were carved the kids fit right inside.

Well, to make a long story short, I continued to take the kids back every year. It is now a family tradition and a lot of fun.

The man who runs it is a real live farmer. One year he decided to grow some pumpkins (for field rotation) to donate to the schools kindergartners for a field trip. They got to ride the bus over to his farm and choose out a pumpkin to keep and take home. He ended up with so many left over pumpkins he started a small hayride to get rid of the rest charging a very small fee (say 25 cents a pumpkin). It turned out to be a huge hit so every year for the past ten years he does the same thing, only it has grown into such a big deal he hires out some guys to drive the tractors with him and has added a fun train ride and one of those wheel things that spin the kids up side down.

Now Cory seem to be at the age that he doesn't think he can have fun doing "stupid" or "little kid stuff". It has become my job to "force" him to get on rides and do things with us. He acts like I am killing him but low and behold....he has a blast once he is "forced" to have fun. Hah hah....

Here they are at the patch. Notice Corys look of pure joy to be there.


Here they are on the hayride with some pumpkins they chose out. Yes Cory is still looking grouchy even though he had fun picking out his and his dads pumpkins. Shaelynn was loving every minute if it.

On the spinner ride. (yep...he can't deny he was having fun on this ride)

And here is the train ride. They were going so fast I only got Shaelynns face on this shot. Cory is lucky I did not get one of him as it would be yet another picture of "proof" that he was having fun.

I sure hope we can continue having this as a family tradition. *even if I do have to "force" them to go!*

In the Halloween Mood

Shaelynn has been after me to decorate the house for Halloween. I finally drug out our little Halloween houses that light up and I let her set them up in our front room. I thought that would be enough for her but NOOOO.....she wants to decorate outside too.

I told her we would go on our yearly hayride at the pumpkin patch and pick out some nice big pumpkins to set out on the porch. This still doesn't satisfy her. She wants to get orange lights to hang up and purchase some fun ghoulish things to put outside. *rolling eyes*

I guess I have to face the fact that she has a lot of her grandma Becky in her. The girl loves to shop, dress up and decorate things. Myself? Not so much!

Hopefully getting the blog in the mood will help me to want to decorate outside as well.

The things we do for those we love. :o)

Fall Weather and ramblings!

It has definitely turned seasons here in Utah. We woke up to a chilly 36° F this morning. Leaves are turning yellow around town and our big cottonwood out front is starting to drop leaves. It really is beautiful. If it weren't for the constant reminder that winter is coming I might be able to enjoy the season a bit more. (I hate winter!)

We did something amazing last weekend. I actually got the kids to the store to pick out their Halloween costumes! I never do that. I am a major procrastinator when it come to buying things and every year we go about a week before Halloween and they are down to some pretty slim pickins by then. With all the costumes to choose from Shaelynn is going to be a 'Southern Belle' this year. She likes to be pretty every year where I was usually a witch for Halloween (yes...maybe that tells a little to much about me as a kid?). This year Cory wants to scare the little kids and got some sort of black ghost costume that has glowing eyes. Funny, that coming from a kid that has always been scared of his own shadow.

Shane is out doing what he likes best. HUNTING! This year I drew a southern rifle deer tag and he is so excited to go hunting with me. Poor little deer....guess they better watch out. With my sharp shooting technique they are in BIG trouble. *sarcasm*

I have been working on remodeling a website for Shane and his buddies. http://www.hightopoutfitters.com/ It isn't finished yet and Shane wants me to make videos of their hunts to add to it. I personally am tired of it for now...might be a while before I get it done. lol.

That s what we have been up to.