Doing my civic duty...

Yes, I went and voted today.  I wish that more informed voters would.  This year being a Presidential campaign makes it even more exciting.  Even my 7 year old knows who she would like to vote for.  Unfortunately voting nowadays feels like casting your wishes into the wind, as nothing ever seems to get accomplished and everything gets tied up in bureaucratic red tape.  I just want a clean, safe environment to raise my children in; a decent economy to provide my children with the food they need (that isn't full of bad chemicals); well-rounded education for them; and more art funding so that I can do what I love to do...pretty simple, right?

 (I think the answer is obvious, don't you?)

                          My son tagged along. 
              He's learning what to do at a young age :-)

 

 I love that the American Flag is hanging there.

 I'm not sure how everyone felt about my son standing under the voting booths, but my Mom didn't seem to care.

                                                           Wearing my sticker proudly!

Snapshots of a Fall Day

Fall just happens to be my favorite time of year.  I think it has something to do with the colors, or maybe the crisp cool air of a Fall evening.  We don't get nearly as brisk of temperatures here in Northern California as other parts of the country, but we do get the colors of the leaves.  Here are just a few snapshots from a wonderful day spent with my family.

This is the front step to our house, a ranch style built in 1964.  My son loves the scarecrows!

 I love decorating for the different holidays.

We spent the morning prepping the backyard for the winter.  

This maple tree hasn't quite turned it's leaves yet.

My husband built the playhouse/treehouse.

Aunt Kathy came to visit and helped Angie ride her bike without the training wheels.

Here she goes!!!

Now Zane wants in on the action.

We had an impromptu game of soccer in the front of our house, Gwen's the soccer girl.

Just another relaxing day at the Ross house.

Walking the tightrope

One of the things that I find most challenging as a mother and artist is finding balance between the two worlds. I often joke about being a Gemini and being torn between my two personalities. I've even facetiously given my alter-ego a name, "Lola". When I'm feeling overly temperamental or aggressive, I'll sometimes say, "Watch out, Lola's coming out with her bad self!!" But truthfully, the divide in my personality haunts me daily as I long to be the creative being I picture in my heart. So, as I change the 10th diaper for the day, wipe the kitchen table one more time, or referee the latest battle between my two tumultuous daughters, I often feel the guilt of my egocentric soul who secretly wishes to be dancing and singing the night away on the stage of the local opera house....Believe me, I know the joy of parenthood, of being a loving wife and a happy homemaker. I would never change a moment of what I have for anything...but balancing the two desires of my being is like walking a tightrope while holding a plate on each hand...the slightest bobble can lead to an emotional pitfall into the great unknown...