Halloween Greeting

Wes, Susanna, and Brigham dressed up for Halloween and did a little "Trick" or "Treat" around our neighborhood. It was very cold...so we didn't stay out that long...but they "racked" up on the candy. I think people were giving out a lot to the "early birds" hoping to get rid of their candy. Overall, the kids had fun...especially when they got back to the house to eat their candy AND warm up by the fire.

Like Father - Like Son

By now, you probably know that we didn't get to go to Game 5 of the World Series...because there wasn't one. I've started the process for getting my refund.

However, Wes and I received (in the mail) our matching Red Sox World Series t-shirts. So, here we are posing with our Red Sox hats, T-Shirts, the "would've been" tickets for Game 5, as well as, a copy of the official World Series Program.

I will let you know that a fellow friend and co-worker, Bill Spencer (Retired Air Force Colonel), knew that Wes would be disappointed about not going to the game...so, he is giving us 2 tickets for this weekend's Air Force - Army Football Game. Wes is excited about this opportunity ...especially the "pre-Game" fly over and the concession stand!

If we take pictures, then we will post them for you.

Sox Sweep...I Weep

Actually, my post's title is not quite true. I am thrilled that my favorite baseball team...the Boston Red Sox won the World Series. All year long, they have been the best team in baseball AND in the World Series they clearly proved it.

Yesterday, I found myself in a little predicament. For the first time in my life, I was rooting for the opposing team against the Red Sox. You see...since I had 2 tickets for the World Series Game 5, I was rooting for the Rockies to pull out a victory and extend the series to Monday night.

I found myself hoping the Rockies would get the big "2 Out" Hit and drive in the "Go Ahead" run. I was wishing that Terry Francona (the Red Sox Manager) would bring in Eric Gagne in relief...because that would've been a great relief for the Rockies. I was hoping that the long fly ball hit by the Rockies Jamie Carrol would have carried about 3 more feet...over the Right Field fence. I wanted to go to Game 5!

Yet, in the end and despite the fact these tickets are now merely two pieces of paper of "what could have been", I am happy for the Boston Red Sox. This World Series sweep of the Rockies, as well as, the '04 World Series sweep of the Cardinals does dull the pain from the '86 Red Sox loss to the Mets in the World Series and the '03 Red Sox loss to the Yankees in Game 7 of the American League Championship. Those heartbreaks are becoming less painful for me to remember...because two World Championships in 4 years are rather soothing.

I guess the consolation prize in all this is "hoping" is...I do get a refund on my World Series tickets and will be able use that money to buy some 2007 Red Sox memorabilia.

Congratulations Red Sox, the 2007 World Series CHAMPS...thanks for a Great Year!

Red Sox-Rockies: Here We Come!

Living here in Colorado, the State has gone "nuts" over the Colorado Rockies. By the way they have been playing, there is good reason for all the excitement. It has been an amazing run for the Rockies (won 21 out of 22 games before last night's beating).

On Monday, I spent about 2 hours on-line trying to order World Series tickets. The Rockies decided to only do "on-line" sales. The problem was that around 8 million other people were also trying to buy some of the limited 60,000 total tickets available for the 3 games in Denver. The webserver crashed and it is believed that a "hacker" had something to do with it.

On Tuesday, the Rockies decided to try again to sale their World Series tickets. I like many many others I tried to gain access...just for the chance to purchase World Series tickets. After a long 1 1/2 hours, I miraculously connected. When I first connected, I was in shock and praying for me not to get "knocked off". I only had 5 minutes to decide on where I wanted seats, register my personal information, input my credit card data, and make the selection. After the long wait, I grew increasingly nervous with each click that was proceeded by a LONG pause. I thought I was going to lose connection.

I envisioned me missing the "once in a lifetime" opportunity to take my son to see our favorite team in a World Series Game. As the clock ran down, I finally clicked purchase and had to wait through a final LONG pause. Once the screen reappeared, I realized I had successfully bought 2 tickets for the World Series Game 5. I would have never imagined that when Wes and I wore our Red Sox hats to see a Rockies-Giants game on Labor Day that the next time we enter Coors Field we'll be wearing those same hats and rooting for our Sox in the World Series Game 5.

I've already warned Wes that we will be in "ENEMY" territory. His response...."SO!".

Now that I have tickets and the chance to attend a World Series game with my eldest son, I'm just praying that the Series is not a sweep. If it is, then the tickets (which would be refunded) will be just a mere example of what "could have been".

So, I say:

"Go Sox...beat the Rox, but Rox please WIN 1!

Our Autumn Excursion

Fall is a very short season in the Rockies. Therefore, we knew we had to take action soon if we were going to experience a favorite family outing. Last weekend, we headed out to Canon City, Colorado for our Rogers' family tradition. Every year since Wes was born, we have taken the children to some type of Pumpkin Patch. Whether we were in Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, or now Colorado, we have found a patch to purchase pumpkins and take pictures. I have always loved this outing over the years.

This year, we experienced a first. We went to a pumpkin farm and were able to cut our own pumpkins right off the vine. The pumpkins were very large and had beautiful color. Adjacent to the pumpkin field was a corn maze. We tried a corn maze once in Florida and last year in Tennessee. Those were fun but, in both cases, the corn had already been picked and the stalks were brown and dry. This year we were able to find our way through a growing corn field with the ears still on the vine. It was very fun for the children to see the ears of corn still growing and be surrounded by green, healthy stalks.

Diana's Pumpkin Patch was a bit of a drive but the family fun that awaited us was worth the trouble.

Wes' 2nd Grade Picture

We just got Wes' 2nd Grade school pictures. This is his picture from his school, Rocky Mountain Classical Academy. It is a fairly new Charter School that has the highest test schools in the District.

Wes enjoys his teacher, Mrs. Bell, and his classmates. He does quite well at Math. Last week, Wes came home excited about making a 100 on both sides of his spelling test. We are very proud of how well he is adjusting to the Charter School environment.

Wes has only a couple Flag Football games left. His team is still undefeated, despite the fact they aren't suppose to keep score. However, the players and their parents keep the score in their heads. This past Saturday, Wes had one carry (a Reverse Handoff) for some yardage. Mainly, he likes playing on the Defensive line. They use him to help "contain" and get his hands up on the pass. Most the time, the other team usually run or pass the ball to the other side...staying away from the Towering 7 year old.

Well, that's all for now. We'll keep you (family and friends) updated with future posts.

Love,
The Rogers

Guest Blogger on a Presidential Candidate Site

Exactly two weeks ago, I was in Columbia, SC for an event hosted by our state associated (with Focus on the Family) Family Policy Council...the Palmetto Family Council. They hosted their first ever Presidential Stump Speech and Straw Poll. For the third time in person, I was able to talk with my favorite Presidential Candidate, Governor Mike Huckabee. Every Republican Presidential Candidate (except Rudy) participated in person, via phone, or by video. At the end of the night, Mike Huckabee won with over 37 % of the vote. You can read more about it HERE.

A few days after this event, I was selected as a Guest Blogger on the Mike Huckabee for President Website and this is my post that they used...just before Newt Gingrich's post.

September 24, 2007 - 03:22 PM
Why Mike? (Guest Blogger)
by Jonathan Rogers, Guest Blogger
Why Mike would make the best GOP Candidate?

First, His executive experience. With his 10 1/2 years as Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee has shown that a great leader can work in a bipartisan environment to get things accomplished. Mike was only the 3rd Republican Governor in Arkansas since the Reconstruction. At a time when our nation is polarized more than ever between "left" and "right", we need a leader that can effectively communicate a hope and vision that the American people and politicians can support.

Second, His economic record. Now I know that a group is trying to distort Governor Huckabee's record, but Mike truly believes in free markets, lower taxes for people and businesses to reinvest in our society, and the Fair Tax. Remember, Mike was the Governor of a Democratic led state (remember a former Democratic President governed here before him) and did cut taxes close to 100 times and created a budget surplus of close to nearly $850 million when he left office. Right now, our nation's economy is strong (the Stock market, low unemployment, and new jobs). One of the biggest economic concerns is spending. In Arkansas, Governor Huckabee was limited in how much he could limit government spending. The three items that took up most of the State's General revenue was education, medicaid, and prisons. Governor Huckabee made bold plans for "streamlining" each of these areas and saving the tax payers money, but was limited by the Democratic-led State legislature and "court ordered" required spending on Education.

Third, His personal character and faith. You know what you get with Mike Huckabee. His faith has guided him all the years of his life. From the ministry to public service, Mike has had a consistent passion to help others in his leadership. His leadership and great working relationship with "faith based" organizations in Arkansas allowed him to effectively respond to the Hurricane Katrina victims, who were relocated to Arkansas. He worked with churches, denominations, faith-based organizations, and many other retired public servants and concerned citizens to help those who had just lost everything. Mike's faith guided him to have compassion for these families. His faith opened up doors and encouraged participation from thousands people from Arkansas to respond. Mike faith is not used for a Campaign slogan. It is real, authentic, and obvious...not something that is leveraged for votes.

Fourth, His vision and communication ability. As a 35 year old, I have followed politics even before I was able to vote. I have met and watched Governor Huckabee give speeches on many different issues (values, faith, taxes, education, health care, terrorism, etc.). I have never been as inspired by another politican as they spoke about these issues. Mike Huckabee has a solid belief system on the issues...and he has the greatest ability to communicate that with the American people.

And lastly, if Hillary is the Democratic nominee (which if she is it is will be mainly because she is Bill Clinton's wife...not what she's done in the US Senate), then Governor Huckabee will have the greatest advantage of any other GOP Candidate to point to the successes he's had in Arkansas...since she and her husband left the state (for Uptown New York).

Jonathan Rogers is a guest blogger today. You can read his blog at http://www.huckabee08.blogspot.com.

Permalink: http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=45