California Teachers Association

The California Teachers Association just donated $1 million to fight proposition 8, making them the largest donor to the no on prop 8 campaign. You can read the article here.

This makes me furious. The CTA is constantly claiming there is not enough money for schools, yet they have $1 million to donate to a cause that I do not believe in. Please contact your local CTA representative to let them know that this is not something you support. Here is the letter that I wrote to Michael Bustos, the CTA representative for Sacramento:

Dear Mr. Bustos,

I am appalled to hear that the CTA just donated $1 million to the No On Proposition 8 Campaign. In what way does this issue effect teachers? Why is the CTA sticking their nose in this matter? Does the CTA have so much money sitting around that it can just go around and donating to causes?

The CTA is constantly running commercials claiming that there is not enough money in the state budget for art and music classes. Why doesn't the CTA donate $1 million to that fund instead of fighting against the traditional family?

The CTA has forever lost my support.

Sincerely,

Nicole
Mother of 4

Look What Jaxton Can Do

Yes Peter Pan is definitely growing up. He has been walking for a few days now, but I have not been able to capture it on film because this is still his preferred mode of transportation.

The doctor told me to be worried if he wasn't walking by 15 months. So just a few days short of 15 months, he finally decided to go for it. He is quite impressed with himself. Every time he starts walking, he has 5 people jumping up and down and cheering him on. We have been trying to give him all of the encouragement we can and it has finally paid off!

He thinks it is hilarious that he can walk. He usually laughs while he is walking like, "wow, can you believe I can do this? This is so amazing!"

The Logic Is Flawed

What makes kids think that stuffing everything into the closet is a good cleaning strategy? And what makes them think that mom will not actually check the closet or under the bed?

Flashback Friday

I took these pictures so long ago that I think they qualify for Flashback Friday. These pictures are from my trip to my parent's house back on the 4th of July weekend.

Hayden LOVES grandpa. She is always asking "where's gampa?" She loves to follow him all around. They are pretty funny together. She was making him sing a song here.

My dad picked up these awesome capes for the kids in Mexico. They have led to hours of fun, fun, fun, with the kids chasing each other around, growling at each other and then running into walls and crying. Thanks dad!

He also got this really awesome mask for himself. Oh dad, you are one of a kind!

Hannah and my mom doing a really good job of putting Jaxton to sleep. You can't tell in the picture, but Jaxton is still awake, mom and Hannah, both asleep.

I'm Back

Hello all of my friends. This is Nicole and I am taking a brief break from my couponing adventures to post.

This post is for Jaxton. Jaxton, I don't understand you. Why is that you think walking is TERRIFYING, but this is great fun?


The girls left a box of Frosted Flakes on the table the other day, and when we walked into the kitchen this is what we found. He climbed up on to a chair and then up onto the table. If only I could somehow attach Frosted Flakes to a string like the proverbial carrot on a string and get him to walk.

Opened my eyes

Again I am sorry for the redundancy in this post. We spent what seamed like all three hours in church talking about this. Also for not being as funny as some of you think I should be. I wont disappoint next time. My fantastic mother in law sent this to us and and so I thought that it was worth sharing. I have to say before I read this I was sitting on the fence. I know, I know how could I be sitting on the fence. I just keep thinking how long are we going to have to fight this. A few years ago we thought that we were done since the majority had passed it but no, one judge over turned all of the majority vote. How is that fair. Any way back to before I read this I just felt like fine let them get married and be as miserable as all of us married people. Really just get married all ready and shut up. Then I read this and I realized that the school is going to teach my kids these things. I don't think so. Enough of the rant. Read it and from your own opinion.

Six Consequences If Proposition 8 Fails

1. Children in public schools will have to be taught that same-sex marriage is just as good as traditional marriage.

The California Education Code already requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage. (§51890)

Therefore, unless Proposition 8 passes, children will be taught that marriage is between any two adults regardless of gender. There will be serious clashes between the secular school system and the right of parents to teach their children their own values and beliefs.

2. Churches may be sued over their tax exempt status if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings open to the public. Ask whether your pastor, priest, minister, bishop, or rabbi is ready to perform such marriages in your chapels and sanctuaries.

3. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government agencies to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father. Catholic Charities in Boston already closed its doors in Massachusetts because courts legalized same-sex marriage there.

4. Religions that sponsor private schools with married student housing may be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if counter to church doctrine, or risk lawsuits over tax exemptions and related benefits.

5. Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages may be sued for hate speech and risk government fines. It already happened in Canada, a country that legalized gay marriage. A recent California court held that municipal employees may not say: “traditional marriage,” or “family values” because, after the same-sex marriage case, it is “hate speech.”

6. It will cost you money. This change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits, including some already lost (e.g., photographers cannot now refuse to photograph gay marriages, doctors cannot now refuse to perform artificial insemination of gays even given other willing doctors). Even if courts eventually find in favor of a defender of traditional marriage (highly improbable given today’s activist judges), think of the money – your money – that will be spent on such legal battles.

And think of all the unintended consequences that we cannot even foresee at this time. Where will it end?

It’s your children, your grandchildren, your money, and your liberties.

Lets work together to protect them.

Join with us in walking precincts and phoning voters to vote Yes on Prop 8.

THIS IS HOW WE ROLL!

So a few months ago Nicole bought a swing for Jaxton. The Girls bugged me for months to put up this swing. I wanted to build this elaborate swing set. Being a contractor they expect nothing less. Any way it was last winter and I had this great idea to put the swing up in the garage. I felt it was a brilliant idea. They could swing and and Nicole did not have to worry about them because they were locked in the garage. After putting up the one swing I found this other swing at Home Depot and got it so that all the kids could swing. They love having it. It is great when I am outside doing yard work or doing something in the garage they can hang out with me and I am not worried about them running too far from the house, mainly Hayden. Every once in awhile our neighbor from two houses down and across the street will come over with Hayden in hand and say she was ringing there door bell non stop. She is such a peach. Back to the swing in the garage, I think the next addition to the swings will be a couch on the porch, that way Nicole and I will have something to do while the kids swing. A nice cup of lemonade and a sweet couch to sit and relax on. I'm out.

Jaxton is always having a good time.

My favorite part of the picture is the fact that Hayden had just bit the dust while Hallie was pushing here on her bike and has blood all over her lip.

Avery and her famous smile.




And finally here is Nicole and I sitting on our couch together. The good times that we have shared here. Look, little Hayden is in the back ground bringing us our fresh squeezed lemonade.

This is Nick here, I am writing this note to say I am sorry to all of our loyal fans out there that look at this blog day in and day out with nothing to show for it. Nicole has decided that this blog does not matter any more. She just cant find a happy median between her new frugal blog and the family blog. So in conclusion I will try to convince her that it is necessary to update the blog. How else will I know what is happening with my wonderful family. Sorry Nicole for the outing of you. I hope I still have your love and affection.