Gimme All Your Candy!!

Happy Halloween

Love, Zachary & Elison

What Did YOU Do Today?

Seeing as our day at the park was cut short due to Katelyn pooping her pants...here is what we did today.

After stocking our 72-hr kits with fresh (if you could call it that) MRE meals, we decided that Katelyn was ready for her first car.

We got her a pink Hummer.

I knew it had to be a big car because in the front window she drew pictures of "Daddy, Mommy, Zachary, Katelyn, Zachary, Katelyn, and Katelyn."

We decided to go used because they lose so much value the first year anyway.

And we were really excited that the "KATELYN" vanity plates were still available.

She insisted that Zachary ride with her, and for such a big car I was surprised by how hard it was to fit them both in.

Eventually, though, she was ready to ride solo, and insisted that we "drop Zachary off at the park."

Actually just his jumper.

That's what we did.

How about you?

FREE Event for a Good Cause

My friend Emily (http://www.gibsonfamilyof3.blogspot.com/) is putting on this FREE event in Salt Lake City to benefit Stephanie and Christian Nielson, who were badly injured in a personal plane crash over 2 months ago. Stephanie is an inspiration to mothers across the globe.

For a glimpse into her beautiful world visit her blog at:

http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

For updates on their family and condition visit her sister's blog at:

http://blog.cjanerun.com/

If you can make it to this event, please do. You will be uplifted (face it, the guy's been on Oprah!) and it is for a good cause. Enjoy!

The Dump Cake of Dinners

I love to cook and try fancy new recipes and stuff, but let's just face the facts...I don't like to spend a lot on food when we don't have a lot to spend. So unless it's a special occasion or I'm caught in a moment of weakness I will usually forgo the fresh herbs, spices, fancy sauces and oils that will make your food taste that much better--even though the only person who might notice is you and (if you're lucky) your husband. I also tend to pass up those handy little kitchen gadgets that you can buy for an arm and a leg at Crate & Barrel. Sure, they make your job of separating the yolk from the egg white that much easier, but my kitchen is small and I just don't have room for all those luxuries. So I get creative.

With that said, I want to take the time to share with you one of my favorite recipes. Just a few basic ingredients that I always keep on hand for those days when I just don't know what to do about dinner. With minimal prep time, it's like the dump cake of dinners. It's so easy Katelyn can to it (with some supervision). I don't even know what to call it. We think it tastes like the tortilla soup from Islands restaurant, so let's call it Tortilla Soup. Here we go...

Start your soup shortly after you finish your lunch so it'll be ready by dinner time.

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 bag frozen bell pepper slices (from the frozen veggies aisle)

1 small can Campbell's Cheddar Cheese soup
3 Tbsp. chunky salsa

Throw it all in your crock pot and cook on low for 5 or 6 hours. It'll become kind of soupy.

We serve it topped with shredded cheddar, raw avocado chunks, and crushed Salsa Verde Doritos. Yum!

Try it next time you feel like something new and easy.

P.S. If you don't know what dump cake is, please let me know and I'll post that recipe, too. Because everyone should try it at least once in their lifetime. And I strongly believe that.

Happy 5 Months Littleman Zach!

He's just starting to get the hang of unassisted sitting today.

Here is the proof.

Proposition 8

I usually don't get that involved in politics. I study the issue, vote my opinion and don't do much beyond that. When I first heard of prop 8 I thought. "Oh, gays want the right to marry. Whatever...it's their choice." I didn't realize all of the other things that would go along with it. After thoroughly studying the issue, I have whole-heartedly decided to vote yes on prop 8. Please read on to learn what it is and for some of the reasons why I will be voting yes...

In 2000 the voters of California overwhelmingly passed an initiative defining marriage as only between a man and a woman. Four liberal judges in California overturned the people's vote and declared the initiative "unconstitutional."

We now have Proposition 8 on the November ballot which will amend to the State's Constitution to define Marriage as only between a man and a woman -- the idea being that the courts can't declare the State Constitution unconstitutional.

Proposition 8 is not anti-gay. Civil unions are protected under the law and enjoy the same rights, benefits, ownership, etc. as heterosexual married couples. But marriage is between a man and a woman – and should not be re-defined.

A "yes" vote on Proposition 8 will not take away any rights from homosexual partnerships. However, if Proposition 8 fails, there are many serious consequences. The following list provides some food for thought:

Six Consequences if Proposition 8 Fails

1. Children in public schools will be taught that both traditional marriage and same-sex marriage are okay. The California Education Code already requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage (§51890). Therefore, if the definition of marriage is changed, children will be taught that marriage is a relation between any two adults. 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 will be sued if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings that are 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 has already closed its doors because of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.

4. Married couples will no longer have preference with regards to adoptee placement in spite of the fact that almost all experts in this field agree that children are best raised in a home with both a mother and a father.

5. Religions that sponsor private schools and which provide housing for married students will be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if it runs counter to church doctrine, or lose tax exemptions and benefits.

6. Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages will be sued for hate speech and could be fined by the government. It has already happened in Canada, one of six countries that have legalized gay marriage.

7. It will cost you money. A change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits. 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, your church contributions – that will have to be spent on legal fees.

And think of all the unintended consequences that we cannot even foresee at this time. Where will it end? Proposition 8 is pro-family and not anti-gay. Please vote “YES” on Proposition 8.

For more information go to www. protectmarriage. com

Today is the last day to register to vote for this election. Please vote your opinion, and if you feel strongly about this issue like I do, please pass this message on to your friends who might have an interest in the California election. Thanks!

Sign Stealing...How Rude!!

This week has been a long, fun, crazy week. And I've had a lot on my mind. On top of all of my normal motherly duties (never-ending job) and students (part-time job), I've had book club, choir, every intention of going to enrichment, 4 sheets to call for Prop 8 (and a phobia of talking on the phone--not a good combination), a talk to give on Sunday, and Primary Sacrament presentation is in 2 Sundays and I still can't figure out how to get the kids to pay attention to me during the songs (I'm thinking bribery). And with so much on my mind I did what I usually do under high stress--let the house get messy and play with my kids (put off the hard stuff for later). So we did a lot of shopping, ice creams at McDonald's, time spent with Jana, visits with Marisa, CandyLand, and coloring. Sounds fun, huh? Here's the bad part: Tomorrow is Saturday and I still have to hit up the sale at Macy's, watch Jessica's soccer game, take a trip to the pumpkin patch, fold a mountain of laundry, call my Prop 8 sheets, write an amazing talk, prepare for our final Primary practice and nurse Zach ump-teen times. Can it be done? Yes. Will I get any sleep? Probably not.

Read on...

So, about that Prop 8...there has been a huge outbreak in crime--Sign Stealing. The other night Adam was out and about and he got stuck behind a guy who left his car parked right in the middle of the road while he stole signs. And what did Adam do? Shot him nasty looks and unpleasant thoughts...like farting in his face. And then I heard that my brother-in-law had put out 50 signs around town one night and by 5:30 the next morning every single one was gone. Vanished...into thin air?? An editorial in the paper today said that signs are being stolen and vandalized all over Orange County. One person wrote "Biggots" across the sign...note the misspelling.

Okay, so number one, I think that is just not classy. I will quote my childhood idol, Stephanie Tanner: "How rude!" If you're so against something, put up your own signs...don't steal other people's time, money and freedom of speech.

Number two, I think there is a lot of misunderstanding about the proposition. People on both sides are very emotionally charged and that can make it confusing. If a person is planning to vote Yes on 8 it does not mean they are anti-gay or anti-lesbian. The proposition takes away no civil rights or freedoms that gay and lesbian partners already have. Simply, it defines marriage in the California constitution as being between a man and a woman. All a yes vote says about a person is that they believe that the definition of marriage is (and would like it to remain): a union between a man and a woman. I believe that from the beginning of time "marriage" has been used to describe committed unions between men and women. I believe in God and I believe that He intends marriage to be that way. I believe that God loves all of his children (all of us) equally. I have nothing against people who are gay and lesbian. I love all people equally. What I do have is a very clear view and opinion of what marriage is, and it is a very special and sacred opinion. One that will not change. Even if you call me names.

Please vote!!

As a side note: Kate took my picture again today. She always chops me up into pieces. She handed me the camera to show me this and said "Here mom, I took your picture."

"...I took a picture of your face, too."

(Notice the messy room? I wasn't lying about letting my house go.)

Mother Dear

Mom, thanks for always leaving comments. If it weren't for you I would have sad little zeroes next to every post.

Love you mom!

Dirty Diapers

I don't like changing dirty diapers.

I'm pretty sure Adam doesn't like it either.

I wish Zachary would learn how to do this:

In fact, I wish Katelyn would learn too.

And as if she wanted to prove my point,

Katelyn just walked in with a stinky diaper.

:(

Just Felt Like Runn-in'

Hail the conquering heroes...The results are in and it looks like Maggie won the St. George marathon. Don't believe me? Just look at the picture of her flying to the finish line, and if that isn't enough proof, look at her medal. First place. Okay, so maybe they give medals to all the finishers, but I'm still pretty impressed with her. For the first time since anyone could remember it rained during the St. George marathon, and we're not just talking sprinkles--it was pouring miserable. Adam said it was so cold that his legs never warmed up the whole 26.2 miles. Maggie has never run a race before, unless you count all the little 5K races that our mom would sign us up for as kids. I wouldn't count it because we never trained, we just went out and ran them to make mom happy. A few months ago she and Adam were talking and by the time their conversation was over they were both signing up for the marathon. I guess when Maggie does something she goes big. I would have started with a 10K and worked my way up, but not my fearless Maggie. Adam finished in 3 hrs 27 min, with the help of his own style of "HypnoRunning." He was inspired by my HypnoBirthing method I used with Zachary, and when his body wanted to quit he thought if Dana can do it so can I, and he went into the zone. I make it a point not to hug my husband when he's all stinky from running, with the one exception being to congratulate him after a marathon, so I got my big stinky hug and he brought me a popsicle from the runners' tent. But I think the highlight for me was after Maggie came in she went into her Forrest Gump monologue right there in the finishing area. "I don't remember my first picnic, or my first trip to the park...but I do remember my first pair of shoes...And one day I just felt like runnin'..." Congratulations to all who ran in the marathon. I tip my hat to you.

Maggie-tah

Kate: Where are we going, Mommy?

Me: Utah.

Kate: Me-tah?

Me: YOU-tah.

Kate: Mommy-tah? Daddy-tah? Zachary-tah? Katelyn-tah?

Me: No. Utah.

Kate: Hmm... Maggie-tah.

Zach: Ta-tahs...?

Bodies In Motion

Katelyn wanted to document our morning workout.

We're representing the 80's with Gilad (who we met once at the Brea Mall).

Here's what she came up with:

Me; from head to toe.




Zach--who's idea of working out is sucking his thumb.

"Let's get our Bodies In Motion!!"