Our little Generals

We finally decided to decorate the boys helmets. (Thanks Melissa for your help!) Funny thing is that Bennett gets his off today until he gets his new one in 2 weeks. He has grown so fast that he has outgrown the one he is in. It only took him 6 weeks to do it too. We have been so impressed with the changes that have been made in their heads.

You Decide

We have a BIG day today! So if you haven't made your decision yet, here are a few stats to compare between our 2 candidates. Thanks Kath for the info!!!

How would either one effect your life and life style.. think before you cast your ballot; our way of life depends upon it!

McCain and Obama compared

2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE COMPARISON TALKING POINTS

ISSUE
JOHN McCAIN
BARAK OBAMA

Favors new drilling offshore US
mccain-Yes
obama-No

Will appoint judges who interpret the law not make it
mccain-Yes
obama-No

Served in the US Armed Forces
mccain-Yes
obama-No

Amount of time served in the US Senate
mccain-22 YEARS
obama-173 DAYS

Will institute a socialized national health care plan
mccain-No
obama-Yes

Supports abortion throughout the pregnancy
mccain-No
obama-Yes

Would pull troops out of Iraq immediately
mccain-No
obama-Yes

Supports gun ownership rights
mccain-Yes
obama-No

Supports homosexual marriage
mccain-No
obama-Yes

Proposed programs will mean a huge tax increase
mccain-No
obama-Yes

Voted against making English the official language
mccain-No
obama-Yes

Voted to give Social Security benefits to illegals
mccain-No
obama-Yes

CAPITAL GAINS TAX
MCCAIN
0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose any change in existing home sales income tax.

OBAMA
28% on profit from ALL home sales. (How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-s ize your home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retirement income.)

DIVIDEND TAX

MCCAIN
15% (no change)

OBAMA
39.6% - (How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.')

INCOME TAX

MCCAIN
(no changes)
Single making 30K - tax $4,500Single making 50K - tax $12,500Single making 75K - tax $18,750Married making 60K- tax $9,000Married making 75K - tax $18,750Married making 125K - tax $31,250

OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts)
Single making 30K - tax $8,400Single making 50K - tax $14,000Single making 75K - tax $23,250Married making 60K - tax $16,800Married making 75K - tax $21,000Married making 125K - tax $38,750Under Obama, your taxes could almost double!

INHERITANCE TAX

MCCAIN
- 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)

OBAMA
Restore the inheritance tax
Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes.

NEW TAXES PROPOSED BY OBAMA
New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet. New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already) New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity) New taxes on retirement accounts, and last but not least....New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level of medical care as other third-world countries!!!

You can verify the above at the following web sites:
http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/election/2008/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.taxes.htmlhttp://elections.foxnews.com/?s=proposed+taxes
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/politics/articles/mccain_obama_offer_different_visions_on_taxes.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/barack_obama/
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/john_mccain/

Halloween Pics

On Friday, my good friend took my kids down the park and took their pictures for me while Mike and I went to the temple. It was great! Naomi was a butterfly, the brothers were blue cockroaches, Mike was the Orkin man, and I was a ladybug. I had a great time making each of our costumes and I love that Mike is so willing to wear what I make for him. Naomi, however had worn her costume for her birthday party, the ward trunk or treat, and also for pictures. So, by the time it came to the actually halloween trick or treating, she was bored of her butterfly. I'm not quite sure what she was, but she had a great time putting on all of her favorite dress ups for her dress up bag. Next year I'll just have to make her something that is a little more exciting. Any suggestions?

New Family Activity

So we've discovered a great new family activity that the whole family can enjoy. We love to go hiking!!!! Naomi loves to play in the dirt and wander around exploring new places. The brothers have a great time napping and enjoying being outside. On Saturday we went up to Mount Charleston to hike "Fletcher Canyon." It was the perfect weather, a little overcast with a chill in the air. We hiked approx. 4 miles and it was great. This is the time we love living in Las Vegas. My favorite part of our hikes is the time that Naomi and I get to talk. She holds my hand while we walk and she'll ask me:

"So, Mom, what do you want to talk about?"
"Mommy, where does the sand come from?"
"What is a canyon?"
"Why are the roots of this tree out of the ground?"
"What is decay?"
"Why are those clouds not white and fluffy?"

The list really could go on forever. It's neat to see her little mind turning, trying to figure out so many different things. If you're ever up for a hike just let us know. While the weather is nice, we'll be up in the mountains as often as possible.