Force?

So, for those of you who don't know, President-elect Obama has promised Planned Parenthood that he would sign FOCA (the Freedom of Choice Act) into law. I'm LDS, but was thrilled when the Catholic church let him know that they would close every Catholic owned hospital in the US if he did so (see article here). It's definitely a powerful threat. Why are they so upset about this Act being signed into law?

The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) would eliminate every restriction on abortion nationwide.

• FOCA will do away with state laws on parental involvement, on partial birth abortion, and on all other protections.
• FOCA will compel taxpayer funding of abortions.
• FOCA will force faith-based hospitals and healthcare facilities to perform abortions.

Anyhow, we've signed the petition. Won't you join us?

Christmas Photo Shoot

Had a great time playing with the kids & camera. Hope your Christmas is a wonderful one, full of family, friends and Christ. I'm excited that the children are getting older & we can explain to them more fully the birth of our Savior. Merry Christmas!

Almost a perfect "looking up" shot. Chayce didn't want to look at the camera.

I can't get enough of Chayce's smile in this photo.

This is where baby Payge says, "Are we done yet?"

Ahhhh, family love.

Isn't he handsome? Growing up soooo fast.

CUTE!!

My boy. :)

The two eldest. They have been such good friends.

Well, we tried to get a photo of the girls together. Payge wasn't thrilled with the idea.

She was caught off guard. Cute anyway, though, no?

Yay! One of the girls worked! They are both smiling!!

Darling.

Though she didn't enjoy the group shots, she hammed it up solo!!

Baby Comparison

So, I was curious, and now my curiosity is satisfied. Below is a photo of each of my sweet dollies at the age of 9ish months. I don't think any of them look alike. Weird.

Chayce

Payge

Zachary

#200! And Thanksgiving.

Post #200. Yay. OK, moving on.

I promised proof that I'd tackled Crown Jewel Dessert.

Mine is shorter than the one pictured in our last post, but for good reason...the tall pan was reserved for a YUMMY NY style cheese cake. It gets really tall in the oven & shrinks again once cold. Mine shrank a lot, but that's mainly because I used Neufchatel instead of cream cheese & it has water in place of the fat. Mmmmmm. It still tasted great, especially when I pulled some frozen blueberries saved from this year's harvest out of the freezer & boiled them & plopped 'em on top!

You may wonder --what about the turkey?!? Well, we took full advantage of the Notre Dame catering service. Every year they hold an on campus Thanksgiving dinner for students & faculty. Turkey, chile encrusted salmon with mango sauce, seafood bisque, Pilgrim chowder (no, no pilgrims in it, just lots of native veggies), fresh salads with vinegrettes, a fruit buffet with a chocolate fountain for dipping in, baked squash & sweet potatoes, green bean casserole (it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it, would it?) cranberry compote with pecans (the best ever), and of course, pumpkin pie. I'm sure there was more, but that's all I ate. Ha ha. The best $10 we ever spent. Yup, $10--total for all five of us. I can't buy a turkey for that. But of course that means NO LEFTOVERS, so I had to make dinner tonight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Smiley Baby!!

Green bean extravaganza! Yummy in her tummy!

Food.

The highlight of my day today. I ate spumoni, and explained to the children why it was so good. I even shared. Then, I set out to make a NY cheesecake, and a Crown Jewel dessert. I'm a sucker for tradition. I suppose that tomorrow I will take photos of the inside of my Crown Jewel dessert, until then, here's a photo of someone else's. The funny thing to me about Crown Jewel dessert, is that my very Catholic grandmother (Babci) used to make it, her use of Jello sort of defies the whole Mormon/Jello conundrum. Yes, even green Jello.

Tortoises

Tortoises have been popping up in a lot of places lately. Zach's Halloween costume, our studies on endangered species, and also, our cute stuffed one (sewn, not real, not poached.)

I think today's tortoise was the best yet.

Stephen just got home from MD last night. It was a late flight, so the kids didn't see him until Sunday morning, as we got dressed for church. After church, Stephen sat with the kids to tell them about his trip. He explained that you have to stay in your seats, and stewardesses give you rules at the beginning of each flight, to help you stay safe (we were tying this into the commandments and how you stay spiritually safe when you listen. Hey, it's Sunday!). I was surprised at how attentive Chayce was for the whole story, as I didn't think having Daddy tell how the stewardesses bossed him around (OK, not that bad, but to a toddler...) was that riveting. I soon figured out what was going through her head when Chayce asked, "So, when you have to go potty, the tortoise lets you take off your seat belt, but only then?" And then, "The tortoises keep you safe on the plane."

Yes, we affirmed, tortoises keep you safe on planes.

Where Did the Little Baby Go?

August 2008--tiny, cute, size 0-3 clothes still.

3 Months later! Size 12-18, still cute as ever, but how?

Update on Motrin Gate

Looks like we were heard. Yay to the power of moms.

A Calm Moment

I've been off the wall lately. Feeling like my house needed to be tip-top, getting my running in, making sure I'm how I "should" be. Today started out that way as well. Me, getting all in a huff when the soup spills, mopping the floor--again. Then I thought--ORGANIZED--if I were more organized, none of this would happen. Right? RIGHT? Order would prevent the children from acting up, or making messes or or or... So I typed in a google search, to get some ideas for my more organized curriculum, hoping to make this kindergarten year even better, with me in control. Instead, my first click landed me here, on this poem, I believe, sent as an answer to my prayer--and not the answer I was looking for.

I Took His Hand and Followed
Mrs. Roy L. Peifer

My dishes went unwashed today,

I didn't make the bed,

I took his hand and followed

Where his eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring,

My little son and I...

Exploring all the great outdoors

Beneath the summer sky

We waded in a crystal stream,

We wandered through a wood...

My kitchen wasn't swept today

But life was gay and good.

We found a cool, sun-dappled glade

And now my small son knows

How Mother Bunny hides her nest,

Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.

We watched a robin feed her young,

We climbed a sunlit hill...

Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky,

We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was neglected,

That I didn't brush the stairs,

In twenty years, no one on earth

Will know, or even care.

But that I've helped my little boy

To noble manhood grow,

In twenty years, the whole wide world

May look and see and know.

So, now, I'm on my way upstairs, to build a fort with blankets. And then we'll play with the musical instruments, rather than having a forced lesson, enjoying ourselves thoroughly. Then we'll sort laundry, but we'll do it together--racing to see who can find the most socks. I decided on homeschooling because I wanted to teach more deeply, not just surface topics that would be forgotten. Thank you, God, for the reminder.

Motrin-gate

So...have you heard of the new Motrin Ad? As a babywearing mom, I was a little upset to see it. If you wear your baby CORRECTLY, there is no back pain. It's not a fad, people from all over the world have worn their babies for hundreds of years. It's smart. It keeps my baby happy. All of us have benefited. The only thing I ever bought Motrin for was the children's earaches, which they got less of when they weren't being touched by other people because I was wearing them. Perhaps their next commercial will be an apology.

Babies and Blackbeans

This is what happens when you tell an 8 month old that they can hold the spoon.

Random Photo Generator

This blog cannot be named regression without a few random variables. Which, now that I think of it, makes the title so fitting. None of our posts really goes with the other, we don't have a theme (like cooking, or parenting , or art) but you'll find it all here sooner or later. If you ran a regression analysis on our blog, the null hypothesis would just be TUELLER. (Ha! And people wonder if I understand my husband's job...you betcha!)

Little mermaid undies, on the head. Are we stylin' or what?

Ummmm, I don't know.

Payge on election day.


These last two photos are of the kids enjoying the Arts Cafe: a time when our neighborhood promotes itself & shows just how great an old community can be. I was volunteering for a group that helps get housing for lower income families. I won't give away all the details in this post, because I'm planning on a fun activity later.

Chayce with hula hoop.

Enjoying the band.

Is It Just Me?

Do your kids sit on the couch upside down like this? I think I used to. So, maybe they get it from me...unless you know of others that do this, and it's normal.

Yay For Politics!!

OK, so I don't know who wrote this, I'm not taking any credit. I'm just saying that as someone who has helped a business start, and watched the struggles, I think this hits the nail on the head. Right on. Hard. So, if you've wondered in the past where I stand on big business vs big government, remember what my degree is in (B.S. Business Management) , and read on:

To All My Valued Employees

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of
this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy
has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the
good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What
does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in
this country.

Of course, as your employer, I am forbidden to tell you whom to vote for
- it is against the law to discriminate based on political affiliation,
race, creed, religion, etc. Please vote who you think will serve your
interests the best.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help
you decide what is in your best interests.

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against
employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is
a backstory. This backstory is often neglected and overshadowed by what
you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen
my big home at last years Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy
icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

However, what you don't see is the backstory.

I started this company 12 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300
square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was
converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building
a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you.

My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent
went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a
defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I
stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and
partying. In fact, I was married to my business - hard work, discipline,
and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a
modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy
cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes.
Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I
was trolling through the Goodwill store extracting any clothing item
that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced
their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put
my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that
eventually, some day, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my
friends supposedly had.

So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in
at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button
for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend
all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat and
breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is
no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached
to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only
see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the
vacations... you never realize the back story and the sacrifices I've
made.

Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right
decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who
didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled
to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life
for.

Yes, business ownership has it's benefits but the price I've paid is
steep and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is
starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell
you why:

I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough.
I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes.
Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on
taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess
what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and
regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of
my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000
for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada.
Zilch.

The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy
who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000
people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother
sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next
welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic
stimulus of this country.

The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit
and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who
wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which
is why your job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy
you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government
mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of
depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have
spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic
growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in
the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.

When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't
defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to
life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the
heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate
it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the
mud of America are the essential drivers of the American economic
engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of
change you can keep.

So where am I going with all this?

It's quite simple.

If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be
swift and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead
with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's
future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.

Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and
retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the
productive and rewards the unproductive. My motivation to work and to
provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.

While tax cuts to 95% of America sounds great on paper, don't forget the
backstory: If there is no job, there is no income to tax. A tax cut on
zero dollars is zero.

So, when you make decision to vote, ask yourself, who understands the
economics of business ownership and who doesn't? Whose policies will
endanger your job?

Answer those questions and you should know who might be the one capable
of saving your job. While the media wants to tell you "It's the economy
stupid" I'm telling you it isn't.

If you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will
be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this
country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its
landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me in the South Caribbean
sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about.

Signed,


Your boss

What do your firemans eat?

Chayce - 'Daddy, will you carry me?'
Daddy - 'Yes'
Chacye - 'Not this way!'
Daddy - 'You didn't say how to carry you. This is called a fireman's carry.'
Chayce - 'Do firemans eat girls?'
Daddy - 'No'
Chayce - 'Do firemans eat lunch?'
Daddy - 'Yes'
Chayce - 'Do we eat lunch?'
Daddy - 'Yes'
Chayce - 'I don't eat lunch'

Freedom

New Swing

Since it is getting too cold to play outside much, Jillian put a swing on Zachary's loft. Here's some pictures. We also moved our old computer upstairs so that Chayce and Zach can work on their computer graphic and programming skills. We recommend tuxpaint and the GIMP for graphics, and starlogo, and R for programming. Starlogo is especially geared to teaching nonlinear dynamics and programming to early elementary aged students.

Chicken Feet

Before I get to the funny part, Zach asked me to post this one. He's loving having a baby sister! I can only hope he takes good care of both of his sisters as they all get older, like his dad did for his sisters. Stephen was out-numbered 5-1, but was a good sport.

Chayce, putting on her "chicken socks"--my dishwashing gloves.

Zach, posing as a roasted chicken.

Showing off those feet!

Fall

I just sat on the porch while the children played and took pictures, thinking of how the weather is supposed to drop down to the 40's come Saturday, and it looks like it'll stay that way for awhile. It hit upper 70's today, and I really wanted to capture it. What if it's our last fall here? It might not be, but I didn't want to forget.