Proposition 8

Alex and I are not political activist. In fact we are not any kind of activist. We like to keep to ourselves, I think mostly everyone knows that. These past couple of months have been different though. There is a proposition that California will soon be voting on that has changed this, proposition 8. I know that most people know that Alex and I will be voting yes, I would like to take a few moments to explain why.
We are not opposed to all people having rights and protection. Proposition 8 does not take away anyone’s rights. Same sex couples have the same rights through civil unions. We feel that marriage is something specific, different, and sacred. Marriage has been defined as being between a man and a woman since the beginning of known history. It is what marriage is.
Of even greater concern to us is the threat that this issue poses to our own rights. The right to teach our family what we feel is the best family make up should be taught in our home and not mandated by the government to be taught to our young children in our schools, especially without parental consent. This has already happened in the state of Massachusetts where children are being taught about same sex marriage as early as kindergarten. Not only are parents not informed, they are not even allowed to opt. their children out as parents can for sex education. This is a fundamental attack on parental rights.



Religious freedom is one of the most fundamental rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution. This freedom is also being attacked. Catholic Charities in Massachusetts stopped adoption services after more than 100 years when faced with the requirement that they adopt children to same sex couples. Religions should have the right to preserve the values that they teach. Moral beliefs should not be legislated by our government.
Being married in your church is very important to most religious people. It is very conceivable that with marriage redefined to include same sex couples, churches could be required by law to marry same sex couples, or face losing the right to perform marriages. In light of the Catholic Charities situation, it even seems very likely. This would severely infringe on our religious freedoms.



We hope you will join us in voting yes on prop 8. For more information you can visit:

protectmarriage.com

She Stands!

Hailey's been climbing on things and trying to get on her feet all week. She finally found something she could use to balance herself on this morning. YAY, for Hailey!

The original prodigy

I found this picture and thought the last blog could not be complete without it.

The Weekenders!

I thought I would put up some pictures of things we have been doing with our weekends for the past couple of months.

When we went to Utah Hailey got to play daddy's toy piano. Most of the Keys didn't work so I'm pretty sure Alex was a destructive child. :P

This is Alex and I In our Sumo Suits after I kicked his butt at my dad's company picnic:

I sure look good for an 800 pound woman:

I love this picture of Hailey's eyes:

Alex and Hailey LOVE to wrestle, look at the fear in her eyes:

Hailey wore daddy's hat at California Adventure so her scalp wouldn't burn:

One of Alex's students took this picture of us under the golden gate bridge at California adventure:

A creepy taxidermy bear:

Hailey obviously LOVES fish:

The Undertaker and his creepy wife, on the day of their child's christening:

Yep, that is my dad in William Shatner's actual chair. Alex and I are in the on the bridge of the enterprise. It was SHATASTIC!

Beam us up!

We actually got to see the Terracotta Warriors but they only let you take pictures with this fake one:

Kristi's Top Ten-ish

I love too many things, if I had time to bore you I would do my top 100. :D

10. The Office: I think I'm becoming an addict, I can't seem to get enough.
9. Music: The first 18 years of my life was pretty much devoted to music, now it's like a hobby that I don't have enough time for. :(
8. Traveling: I LOVE to travel, if we were independently wealthy we would be living out of a suitcase as we see the world.
7. Sarcasm: I promise I am not trying to be mean, it just comes out sometimes! I've gotten better...
6. Anything tropical: Someday we are going to have to live in Hawaii. I am pretty sure it's the perfect middle ground. Never too hot for Owlex, never too cold for me. Lot's of rain, no snow, lot's of sun and lot's of beaches.
5. Mathematics and learning: Matrices are my other love! Coding is pretty much the most awesome thing ever. I like it when my brain grows. I do not like abstract analysis or abstract geometry, a turtle woman ruined it for me.
4. The rain and the sun and any combination of the two: Sounds like a contradiction, I know, I just can't explain it. Walking in the rain is pretty much my favorite, I like to pretend I'm Gene Kelly.
3. Motherhood: Who would have thought? Being a mom is more awesomeness than your face can handle, seriously.
2. My friends: if you are cool enough for me to call you my friend you are pretty much family at this point. Except Ino, she is more like an evil stepsister. :P
1. The gospel, Alex, Marriage, Hailey, and the rest of our Family: The gospel and Alex are the real winners here but all these things are too inseparable in my mind.

Trick or Treat

Disney Magic at it's best! I love this cartoon!

Scotland the Brave!

A cheesy pictorial tour of our weekend:

This weekend we went to Ventura for the Scottish Games. Contrary to what all the people there wanted to believe, it was Hailey's second games. I think she is finally getting used to the pipes, except when grandpa is playing, but he's good now. So I'm pretty sure his playing only scares her because she thinks it is a beast attacking him. She is 1/8 Campbell and a something-ith MacDuff. Anyway, here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure: (Hailey is WAY too photogenic, I had trouble picking what to put on here!)

First we went to Salvang:
The games are right by the beach:

And it was SO COLD, even for Alex:
If we tell her to smile this is the face Hailey has started making this weekend:
It looks more like, "I'm gonna eat your face," than a smile, but it's so cute!
We got to visit the Campbell tent but the Macduff's weren't there this year. :( Notice the authentic Scotsman in the background:
Hailey loves grandpa's pipe band! Next time he will be marching kilt and all! :D
The weekend made Hailey very tired:
And this is the view from the car window on the drive home, gotta love the 101:
Hailey loved the games:
Now you should turn your head sideways and watch this awesome video of the sheave toss:

Alex's Bottom 10!

Kristi has been encouraging me to post my bottom 10. It really wasn't as hard to think of as I thought it was. Anywho, here you go!

#10. Getting sick (I think I might be sick of this one)
#9. Mayonnaise (Miracle Whip has the Tangy Zip!)
#8. Not having time to exercise (It truly is a favorite past-time of mine)
#7. Being away from Hailey (How can anyone resist that face?)
#6. So. California Weather (Hot, smoggy with a chance of being annoying)
#5. So. California Traffic (Rush Hour starts at 8am and ends 9am the next day)
#4. So. California Drivers (... who knew?)
#3. Being away from Kristi (She basically is the coolest woman I've met)
#2. 4/7th of California Supreme Court (Prop 8... yeah)

and the number one of Alex's Bottom Ten is...

#1. JERKS! (Especially those that keep me away from Kristi)

So there you have it, folks. Don't be a jerk!
Thanks

Alcohol and calculus don't mix: don't drink and derive

Find the next three numbers in the series:
1, 11, 21, 1211, 111221, 312211

Kristi's Bottom Ten

In no specific order:

10. Walking in the sand with tennis shoes on: It's just wrong. You need to be able to feel the sand between your toes.
9. Camping boogers: Is there anyone who likes these? I'm pretty sure that is a big fat NO!
8. Baby toe jam: Where does it even come from? Hailey doesn't even wear socks.
7. Snakes: Why does it always have to be snakes?
6. Melon: What is not a solid or a liquid? MELON! GROSS!
5. Snow: Poor Alex.
4. Purple: Poor Hailey.
3. When people call soda, "pop:" One of the reasons I prefer living in California.
2. Public restrooms: Why is there always mysterious liquids on the floor?
1. When strangers ask you personal questions: Seriously, do you think I want to tell you? Why are you even talking to me?