My Latest Favorite Prop 8

Check this site out. He makes some very valid points!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mNIVhGrnY

TOP THIS MESS!!!

It started off as a typical Saturday, got to sleep in (YEAH, that's not always so typical with Tyson); Saturday chores; etc.

I put Tyson down for a nap and told Danny I was going to take Kierstin shopping for clothes. This could be fun.... although I have to admit it usually is NOT. Kierstin hates to shop and I have to be in the mood for it. We were not off to a good start when I had to practically drag her out of the house. I put on a happy face and hoped for the best.

Things started looking better as soon as she walked into the store I chose for our spree. I was tickled to discover a 'Styles For Less' not far from our house. It's a "hip" young girl clothing store. Not your typical Target. We've been really striking out there lately. When we walked in she looked around for a few minutes and said "we need to come here more often." (Kierstin, correct me if I interpretted that wrong but I'm pretty sure I didn't). She actually tried on like 20 pieces and liked about 18 of them which we bought, ALL. It's rare to find stuff she likes. I was so tickled I didn't mind the bill. She has been so easy on my pocketbook all these years she deserves it. In the check-out line I called Danny and told him to get ready for his meeting and leave, Bradley could hold down the fort for 15 minutes or so, especially cuz Tyson was asleep.

We stop by our new favorite yogurt shop out here; 'Kool Bliss.' It has that new mangosteen yogurt that's been featured on Oprah. Supposed to be good for you even. You know it's good if it's not chocolate and I've become a regular there.

Anyway, the shop owner, who we've become friendly with, whips up our "usuals" (yes, he really knows what they are now), and my phone rings, it's home. I think, Tyson must have woken up and has pitched a fit. I don't even say hello, just I'm on my way home. It's Danny. He proceeds to tell me he's on his way to Priesthood Leadership or he'll be late (it's our stake conference) and he's REALLY SORRY but he has left me the BIGGEST MESS EVER to deal with!

I'm thinking, poopy diaper, mud, what could it be? Then he says, you know that big, unopened, Sams' Club sized jar of Teriyaki sauce in the pantry? Well, for some reason, Brian was in the pantry and managed to knock it off the shelf (even though it was 3 shelves up) and it is EVERYWHERE! UNDERSTATEMENT:
I should have taken a full sized pic of just how high up our pantry goes but here's 1/3 of the mess on the floor before I decided this would make a good blog entry.
See all those food storage cans on the bottom floor, there's like 40 of them? I had to take them ALL out and wipe & dry them off and return them.

There was sauce on ALL the shelves and yes, that is a pic of the pantry ceiling!!

SO, THIS IS MY FIRST TAG, I'm tagging ALL those who read this post, to TOP THIS MESS!
P.S., I'm patting myself on the back. I did NOT flip out. It was a 3 hour pain, but I figured, it's one of those things. It's even already funny and made a fun blog!

BECOME EDUCATED AND VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 8!!!

Please take a moment to educate yourself on the implications of PROPOSITION 8. We are blessed to live in a democratic nation where we, the people, do have a voice and can help make a decision. EVERY VOTE MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

YES ON PROPOSITION 8 in California
You've been tagged. PLEASE READ THIS no matter what state you live in.

Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt children. If gay marriage remains legal, public schools will put it on equal footing with traditional marriage. Children will likely receive “age appropriate” information about sexual relations within heterosexual and homosexual marriages.
Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt churches. The court’s decision will inevitably lead to conflicts with religious liberty and free speech rights. Society will become more and more hostile to traditional beliefs about marriage and family. Over time, greater acceptance of nontraditional marriage will be demanded of all people. This could impact the ability of any religion to teach and practice its beliefs. Including adoption agencies.
A YES vote will not hurt gays. In California, the law provides for marriage-related benefits to be given to civil unions and domestic partnerships. Proposition 8 does not diminish these benefits.
For your information:
On Friday, October 10th, 2008 a first-grade class took a field trip to witness a lesbian wedding in California. Click Here for the article from the San Francisco Chronicle.
A father in Massachusetts was frustrated when his twin kindergartners were taught about homosexuality at school by the teachers. He insisted he be notified in the future before such things were discussed so he could pull his boys out of school.He was taken to jail. Click Here for the story.
A Catholic adoption agency In the UK closed their doors because of the Government's new homosexual equality laws. The Equality Act forbids discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the basis of sexual orientation. The law was forced through Parliament last year despite past Prime Minister Tony Blair's recommendation that Catholic adoption agencies be exempted from the rules. Click Here for more info.
Earlier this month judges in Conneticut overturned the state law (just as the judges in California did) to legalized gay marriage. This is not just an issue in California. We voted years ago to keep traditional marriage as the only marriage recognized in the state of California, 4 judges overturned our vote…and we need to fight back. That is what this Proposition is about. This is happening everywhere and the leaders of the church and others have warned that the outcome of California’s vote will affect the way the other states vote. So PLEASE…even if you don’t live in California, put this on your blog or email this on. The internet knows no state line. You know contacts in California that I don’t…and so do your friends. Please pass this on as it could eventually have an effect on everyone!
"Occasionally discouragement may darken our pathway; frustration may be a constant companion. In our ears there may sound the sophistry of Satan as he whispers, "You cannot save the world; your small efforts are meaningless. You haven't time to be concerned for others." Trusting in the Lord, let us turn our heads from such falsehoods and make certain our feet are firmly planted in the path of service and our hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord." --Thomas S. Monson
Click Here for excerpts from the Broadcast given by Elders M. Russell Ballard, Quentin L. Cook and L. Whitney Clayton.
A good resource mentioned in the broadcast: www.preservingmarriage.org
October 20th: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot if voting out of state. Click Here to get one.
October 27th: Last day to apply for “Vote by Mail” Click Here for info.
November 4th: Election day. Polls close at 8:00pm. Vote by mail must be received by this time and can be hand delivered if necessary.YOU'VE BEEN TAGGED...Here's what you do: In the broadcast we were asked to "go viral on our blogs, etc" by Elder Ballard. This is my way of going viral. If you feel this is an important issue I ask that you copy and paste this post...and post it on your blog. PLEASE keep it at the top of your blog through November 4th. which you can adjust each time you post under the "edit post" option. The internet knows NO STATE LINE. You know contacts in California that I do not...as do your friends and their friends...and so on. Please do this. If not for your own children and the effect it could have on them some day...for mine! After you have posted this...email this to your contacts and TAG all your blogging buddies to do the same. THANK YOU!

Mira Mar Air Show

When we went to the air museum a few weeks ago we learned that Mira Mar in San Diego would be hosting an airshow this coming weekend. The last airshow we went to was at El Toro before we had any kids. It was a blast but they've closed down El Toro. We didn't realize Mira Mar hosted them too. Kierstin was going to be in H.B. with her friends so I thought it would be the perfect thing to do with the boys.

The forcast of rain did not deter us. I felt that even if they didn't have any air demostrations the boys would love being able to actually climb on some of the planes. So we packed up and took grandma Nancy along.

When we got there the line to get in was 2 stop light long. But while we were waiting in line we saw some of the planes actually giving an air demostration. It was an old bywing like they used in the first world war. The plane would go straight up, stall, come straight down and pull out just in time. It was AMAZING! Even Tyson was entertained while we were waiting our 30 minute turn to get into the base and park. I was glad they were entertained in line but I thought, I hope this is worth it...

It was overcast but warm enough to definately not need jackets. It was perfect considering we had to wait in a 40 minute line to get our bags checked so we could actually get onto the airstrip. I'm so glad Nancy and I sent the boys ahead (you could go right in if you didn't have a bag) while we waited in line. While we were waiting I thought, I hope this is worth it....

After we got the bags checked Nancy and I walked the mile, pushing the stroller and stuff up onto the airfield. It was a pleasant walk but I thought of Danny doing it with Tyson and the boys and thought, I hope it is worth it....

So we finally got there and I found Danny had paid for a ride on one of those bikes with a seat attached and you get ferried up there quicker. He had even fed the boys lunch. They were having fun checking out all the awesome planes and military vehicles like Brad on this tank:

And Bryce getting instruction in this rescue helicopter:And Brian "flying" the rescue helicopter:And Tyson not believing his good fortune of getting to sit in it too:Bryce & Brian & (tyson far left, sitting) practicing being the actual rescue crew: It's hard enough for me to believe big, huge pieces of metal can fly in the sky but it is truly a wonder that this behemoth can lift off the ground. It is literally a flying city! A tank and even a helicopter can fit inside. I thought I got a picture of the "mouth of it" wear it opens up in the front to be able to swallow up cargo as well as in the back where it spits it out. But just look at the heli sitting next to it and you get an idea of how big it really is!!We really got to get up close and personal with even the fighter jets. I love the picture of poor Wil-E-Coyote hanging onto the side for dear life. I guess in times of such seriousness you have to find some spark of humor to be able to survive.But by far, the best part were all of the flying demonstrations from the old by-wing, the fighter jets (sorry, I can't say precisely what they were) and helicopters and a demonstration of how they refuel in the air to the Harrier (that one I do know) that can take off vertically and fly horizontally as well as stay in one place in the air!

I have to admit the biggest surprise of all was that Tyson absolutely LOVED it all. I thought it was going to be one of those things where the planes might hold his attention for a minute or two but then I'd have to spend the rest of the time trying to find something to entertain him. NOT SO! His little eyes were riveted on those jets as they wisked by so fast that you saw them and then you heard them as they went by. A lot of little kids, and adults, cringed at the noise they made. Not Tyson. He just ate it all up! He was babbling a million miles an hour! this was from a kid who I work with constantly to try to say any kind of word at all! He did say "BBRROOOM, BBROOM!" complete with hand motions. Even now, if we ask him about the planes, he'll stop what he's doing, make his noise and try to go outside to find them.

It is absolutely thrilling to see those modern works of marvel at work! I know my dad worked on the stealth jet while working at Northrup. It's amazing that man can create such things.





However, I do admit, that I had to stop and think, just for a moment, how absolutely terrifying it would be to be on the target end of one of those modern works of destruction. How absolutely terrifying it would be and how helpless you would feel. I pray we never have to live on that end of things!

The Blue Angels were actually due to show at 4:00ish so we left before that to avoid the crowds and cuz it was general conference weekend and we wanted Danny to be able to try to catch the Priesthood session. (we did record Saturday's sessions).

Here's Grandma and Tyson, they were both just funned out.

My favorite pic. I saw Danny walking along with his boys with them just quizzing him with all manner of topics. They were so enjoying one another's company. I just had to capture the moment! So, Airshow..................................WORTH ALL OF IT!!

"Building a Man"

I was in my "zone" cleaning away and had a nice pace going. Brian comes up to me, his brother in tow (with ba-ba) and asks if he can "help." I stopped and looked at him and then to the squirt bottle of cleaner in my hand. The first thing that runs through my mind is "He just wants to play with the bottle of cleaner. If I let him 'help', Tyson will want to 'help' and this is going to take forever!"

I'm consciencly trying to not have that thought run through my head anymore. A few years ago I was reading this book about a fictional family set in the Revolutionary War period. The series of books, 'Prelude to Glory' were O.K. I did, however, really like the characters he created.... where is this leading to?...

There is a point when the mother is admiring a brick wall or some such that her husband and son had constructed together. When her husband typically asked to share in her thoughts she complimented the job well done. He grunted that it was but took about 3 times as long to do because he had to do it with his young son who she had insisted to let help. She looked at him and said "well, you weren't building a wall, you were building a man."

I really pondered that over and have thought about that a lot. It really struck a chord with me that yes, it is a lot of the time easier to do it myself but that is not the point. The point is that I am here to teach my children to be responsible adults who can care for themselves and be a contributing, helpful influence on society.

This is not so easy to do in todays society. I feel a lot of adults have forgotten the fact that teaching their children a good honest days work and a job well done is important to the building of character. I have had friends admit to me that they know they should probably have their kids do chores but it's too hard to make them do it and besides they can do it faster.

So when my kids say "well, my friends don't have to do chores. You just want me to be your slave! (which I admittedly told my own mother)." I just tell them, "no, I love you and want you to learn to be of value and have self worth!

But yes, sometimes it is hard not to discourage innocent provering of "help" when a part of me admittedly considers it a hinderance. So I was proud of myself when I barely skipped a beat and handed over the bottle of cleaner and started directing the proper use while employing Tyson to a task he would be happy with (wipe-up boy).

Surprisingly enough , they worked well together and actually cleaned the lower surfaces pretty well! It also provided a content atmosphere of working together for about a whole 45 minutes!

Thank you my little men!

Brian AKA "Frank"

We named our darling 4th child, Brian Alexander Baak. But sometimes I think he'd like to change his name to Frank. What I mean is he is so 'frank' and open about everything he does. He confesses every little oopsie or misdeed and has such a tender heart. He is easily moved to show a penitent little heart.

His remarks are constantly surprising me and Danny. He is open and honest in what he says. He prays earnestly and considerately for everyone.

So today, is general conference. We ask all the kids to sit and watch it. After it was over, Bryce asks if he has to watch the second session. We tell him not if he doesn't want to (he's 8) . Bradley asked if he had to watch the second session too. Yes, Danny replied, since he is older 11, and about to receive the Priesthood, we expect that he is old enough to do this, to which he offered the typical 11 year old response of how life was unfair that he had to sit a whole 4 hours which is longer than even church, etc.

As Bradley pouts up the stairs Brian turns and says, "I'm sorry mom, I can't watch the second session."

I mistake his meaning and say, "sure you can if you want to Brian."

"No mom, I can't."

Why not?

"I'm afraid my 5 year old self just does not have enough patience to sit 2 more whole hours. I have too many wiggles."

Then with a sorry expression; "Are you disappointed mom."

How can you be disappointed (where does he find these big words?) with such an open hearted, honest admission?

No Brian, never!