Kayzer turns 2 !!

kayzer going for a ride with sister.


All Boy. . . always looking for adventure.



This is Flashback to last years first cake eating experience.

the trenches

On occasion I have referred to being a mother of four small children as being "in the trenches". I believe I got the phrase from my mom in law. Don't get me wrong, the days I feel like this are far outnumbered by the good ones. I am talking about the days when your voice falls on deaf ears of children that by far outnumber you. When everything and anything liquid lands on the floor. When a smoothie must be blown out the bottom end of the straw across the kitchen and not sucked into the mouth. When cereal bowls lose control and throw themselves on the floor. When arms are wrapped around your legs crying, and no one is happy to just be. And if they are happy it is because they are screaming their lungs out wrestling and running around as fast as their little legs will carry them. When strapping all of the kids in car seats and driving is relaxing just because no one can get out of their seat. These are the days when hopefully nothing has to be done. Because the only thing that helps is to sit and hold kids, and make them feel loved, count blessings, and be grateful that they are still little because that is what every mother of grown children will be quick to remind you that these are the good days.

Free is our favorite four letter F Word!!

My friend Rochelle and I hit this sale at albertson's, and it was so great we had to go back again. We went after kids went to bed. . . hello impossible to shop with children. Besides the fact that we were couponing, and to keep track of all the details is crazy alone.

Anyway Albertson's sale ends tomarrow, and if you look in their add you will see a page full of items that if you spend $30 you get $15 back, so essentially all their sale items are half the sale price. Which means. . . Wahoooooo!!! And if you go to Pillsbury.com and bettycrocker.com you can print off a coupon for most of the stuff which makes some of the items free . . . which is double wahooooo!!! Free is our favorite four letter F word.

I didn't keep track of all my spending details the first trip last week, but the second trip I was out of pocket at $55 total, and then I went back and spent my last $15 in coupons on stuff I needed, and overall I made out like a bandit. My total savings on the receipts were $238.75 , not bad!!! Once you start it is hard to stop.

Tuesday is the last day of this sale, but they are doing another one starting Wednesday which is essentially the same thing, but it is buy 20, and get 10. The key is combining a coupon with a sale!!!

I tried to take a picture but my flash is dead so it is looking funny. Sales like these are perfect for stocking up for food storage.

Facts about PROP 8

my mother sent me this email that she had recieved, and I thought it was fabulous. I actually prepared an entire blog the other day. I was on my soapbox about prop 8, but I chickened out.
I feel like the media distorts things so badly that any average joe watching television takes it as fact. People need to get educated before they look for somewhere to place blame, although I wish we could take all the credit for the prop 8 results.

From: Kevin Hamilton Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 9:03 AMSubject: Statements of Fact for LDS Supporters of Proposition 8

Dear Friends,

In the aftermath of the recent election, we may find ourselves oddly on the defensive regarding our support for the Yes on Proposition 8 cause. Our young people have been especially subject to mean spirited comments by high school friends and teachers. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We did nothing wrong. In fact, we did everything that a civic minded American can and should do. I have put together a few facts that help me to appreciate our position better. For example:

1. Mormons make up less than 2% of the population of California . There are approximately 800,000 LDS out of a total population of approximately 34 million.

2. Mormon voters were less than 5% of the yes vote. If one estimates that 250,000 LDS are registered voters (the rest being children), then LDS voters made up 4.6% of the Yes vote and 2.4% of the total Proposition 8 vote.

3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated no money to the Yes on 8 campaign. Individual members of the Church were encouraged to support the Yes on 8 efforts and, exercising their constitutional right to free speech, donated whatever they felt like donating.

4. The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign. Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $32 million, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in the country.

5. Advertising messages for the Yes on 8 campaign are based on case law and real-life situations. The No on 8 supporters have insisted that the Yes on 8 messaging is based on lies. Every Yes on 8 claim is supported.

6. The majority of our friends and neighbors voted Yes on 8. Los Angeles County voted in favor of Yes on 8. Ventura County voted in favor of Yes on 8.

7. African Americans overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8. Exit polls show that 70% of Black voters chose Yes on 8. This was interesting because the majority of these voters voted for President-elect Obama. No on 8 supporters had assumed that Obama voters would vote No on 8.

8. The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8. Exit polls show that the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8 and cited religious beliefs (assumed to be primarily Catholic).

9. The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious organizations. Catholics, Evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews, Muslims – all supported Yes on 8. It is estimated that there are 10 million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California . Mormons were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8 coalition members.

10. Not all Mormons voted in favor of Proposition 8. Our faith accords that each person be allowed to choose for him or her self. Church leaders have asked members to treat other members with "civility, respect and love," despite their differing views.

11. The Church did not violate the principal of separation of church and state. This principle is derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ." The phrase "separation of church and state", which does not appear in the Constitution itself, is generally traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson, although it has since been quoted in several opinions handed down by the United States Supreme Court in recent years. The LDS Church is under no obligation to refrain from participating in the political process, to the extent permitted by law. U.S. election law is very clear that Churches may not endorse candidates, but may support issues. The Church as always been very careful on this matter and occasionally (not often) chooses to support causes that it feels to be of a moral nature.

12. Supporters of Proposition 8 did exactly what the Constitution provides for all citizens: they exercised their First Amendment rights to speak out on an issue that concerned them, make contributions to a cause that they support, and then vote in the regular electoral process. For the most part, this seems to have been done in an open, fair, and civil way. Opponents of 8 have accused supporters of being bigots, liars, and worse. The fact is, we simply did what Americans do – we spoke up, we campaigned, and we voted.

Hold your heads up high – you did a great job on this most important cause. We will have more opportunities in the future to participate in our democratic process. Let's remember the lessons learned and do an even better job next time.

These are my personal opinions and thoughts; any errors are mine and in now way reflect official Church policy or doctrine.


Thanks,

Kevin Hamilton

Bakugon??

Ethan has been obsessing over these toys called "Bakugon". . . heard of them? Well I am feeling very well versed lately due to Ethan starting to ask for them 6 months ago for his birthday. So last night Matt and I went shopping on our date, and were soon to find. . . nothing. . . apparently they are a hot and wanted item. His bday is in two weeks, and every store is sold out. Sure you can find them on the Internet if you want to pay triple what they are in the stores. Talk about supply and demand. This is my first experience of this kind, unfortunately I basically promised him he could have some for his bday. Little did I know it was this crazy.

So I will keep looking and hopefully I happen to be at a store when they have recently restocked their shelves. Wish me Luck!!! Oh and if you happen to see one, you better buy it and I will send you a check, ha ha.

Maddie's Story about Susan

Here is a link in the Mormon Times about Matt's Aunt Susan in the Deseret News. She is a story of Hope and Courage, and we are very proud to know and love her. She is an amazing architect in Austrailia where she has her own firm, and is currently battling lymphoma.
Our sister in law, Maddie wrote this article a while back while working for the Deseret News, but it wasn't printed. Apparently they changed their minds which is awesome.

Boolicious trick or treaters

This was an almost start to trick or treating in our neighborhood. Mckay had to go actually put shoes on and wash dinner off his face. They were excited, H asked since he woke up if it was time to go trick or treat, and he didn't have preschool yesterday so it made for constant waiting. The kids got way too much candy, they filled their buckets on our street alone, and then came and dumped them to continue the craziness. We had a few neighbors from up the hill come down looking for kids to give their candy to because no one was venturing to the top of our development. Hayden and Ethan were tired fairly quickly, but Sid was the energizer bunny. She would have went all night. Anyone that knows her wouldn't be surprised by her energy.

I am glad this holiday is over. . . can it be a holiday? small children knocking on strangers doors and taking candy from people they don't know???? What is wrong with us???

The funniest part of the evening was the carloads of kids other parents were busing to our neighborhood because our houses are close together and its a trick or treater's Heaven. Fortunately we didn't run out of candy, and with the load the kids brought home there were no worries. I am trying to figure out what to do with all the candy??? I don't really want the kids to eat it all. Any suggestions besides throwing it away, I am too frugal to throw perfectly sound items away??????