Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

Flats Challange Day 1- Ready Set go.

2011-05-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

So today is the day. My sweet baby and I embark on the flats challenge presented by Kim Rosas from the dirtydiaperlaundry.com.

I will be using 12 osocozy bleached flats and 12 Diaper rite flats 4 flip covers (2 applix and 2 snap one converted by me using the kam snap pliers more on this later) and 1 econobum cover.

I will be washing in my tub and drying on the shower rod. Hoping my hands can withstand the washing and wringing out. The pioneers did it right in the dead of winter I can too right?? I am already starting to appreciate my washer and dryer more already.

I have been home all day and need to pack the diaper bag. I don't want any temptations so all my other diapers and put away and out of sight.

My baby is pooping like crazy these days. I am hoping the flats and covers can keep it contained. So far so good. We had one really icky diaper but it did not get on anything except the flat and cover, the cover will definitely need washed. I'm wanting to just pad fold the diaper for convenience sake but since he poops so often I might run out of covers so I am trying out the fancy origami fold, kite and still need to look up and learn more folds. It's kind of fun.

Not sure what we are doing for nighttime probably a flat wrapped around a prefold and a fleece liner. Will let you know how the washing and the nighttime diaper works tomorrow.

VOTE FOR LEVY? ........

2011-05-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

I applaud the cost saving actions that our school district has recently undertaken, But before we ask taxpayers to dig a little deeper, into already leaner pockets, there are still some questions to be answered.

Why has the district created a new position to write "curriculum's" with an $80,000 dollar price tag?

Our District has 530,000.00 in a dedicated shortfall fund from the last levy.

Our District has 330 full time employees,(who collect full benefits) of which 145 are certified teachers. Does it really take 185 non teaching positions to support our teachers?

Can our busing system be more efficient? Buses running four times a day over the same roads with very few students raise questions in efficiency.

Instead of a "Cadillac policy" should not our Districts health care policy match the majority of those in the private sector?

Do we really need a principal at every school? Can we look at the possibility of splitting a principal between two smaller schools?

Can management become a little less top heavy and do more with fewer personnel?

Recent State tax revenues have increased, promising new money for our district--up to 400,000.00.

It's time for our district to find the best way to educate our kids with the resources they have, we do sympathize with them over the loss funding, however, none of us believe that this large recession that we are in, is something only the private sector should experience. The district will not look into more efficient ways of operating if this levy passes, why should it? Until all areas are seriously addressed for efficiency and savings to balance our districts budgets--- you should vote no on this coming school levy. It's the right thing for all of our families budgets-it's the right thing for you.

Flats and Handwashing challange

2011-05-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

I have been cloth diapering our newest little addition Jarrett since his birth and exclusively now for over a month. And I love it. I have been learning from the best and one of my favorite blogs to follow is kim rosas dirty diaper laundry.
So when she presented the flats challenge. Which consists of only use flats the diapers our grandmothers used, only hand washing and air drying for a week. I was up for it. With they way the econmoy has been and continues to be this is a wonderful way how prove that cloth diapering can be done for as little as 60- 100 dollars from birth to potty. Considering most people spend 50-80 a month that can be a substanchal saving. It has been reported that many people are having to pick between food or diapers, some have been leaving their children in the disposables for a reallly long time or even trying to clean and blow dry the diapers for reuseICKKKK. Here is a link to one of the stories http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/ny1_living/health/136289/high-cost-of-diapers-forces-some-parents-into-risky-practices?r=8793973370. Many families do not have access to washers and dryers and feel cloth diapering is not an option for them. But is doable. So for one week I will be putting away my fancy pocket diapers and all the other fancy cloth diapers I am so fortune to have And be doing it old school. I am so excited!! For more information on the this challenge check out http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/take-the-flats-and-handwashing-challenge-may-23-30/

2009-09-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

2009-09-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)

Commonly referred to as America
by Rev. Samuel F. Smith

My country, 'tis of Thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills,
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet Freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright
With Freedom's holy light,
Protect us by thy might
Great God, our King.

Our glorious Land to-day,
'Neath Education's sway,
Soars upward still.
Its hills of learning fair,
Whose bounties all may share,
Behold them everywhere
On vale and hill!

Thy safeguard, Liberty,
The school shall ever be,
Our Nation's pride!
No tyrant hand shall smite,
While with encircling might
All here are taught the Right
With Truth allied.

Beneath Heaven's gracious will
The stars of progress still
Our course do sway;
In unity sublime
To broader heights we climb,
Triumphant over Time,
God speeds our way!

Grand birthright of our sires,
Our altars and our fires
Keep we still pure!
Our starry flag unfurled,
The hope of all the world,
In peace and light imperiled,
God hold secure!

9/12 projet

2009-09-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

On Saturday September 12 our family marched from the Train Depot to Capital Park. We pushed the stroller with our kids waving American flags and the don't tread on me flag (means liberty)this flag can be traced all the way back to Benjamin Franklin.
We made signs stating our opposition to big government, the ridicoulous healthcare bill and the outrageous spending and federal deficit of trillions.
We sang patriot songs such as National Anthem, God bless America, America and more. We repeated USA,USA,USA tears came to my eyes many times feeling our love for our country. When we reached capital park we listened to various speakers,said the pledge of allegiance and thought about how sad it would be without the word GOD. We signed our name below the DECELERATION OF INDEPENDENCE which is hanging by a thread.
There was an awesome speaker who immigrated from a communist country that watched his country transform into a communist country. He spoke about the change that took place before and leading to the change to communism of his country. He said that the changes taking place here in the USA are mimicking the changes that took place before his country become 100% communist.

We are either standing and defending the constitution or we are against it. I am tired of sitting and doing nothing watching our freedoms shrivel as we remain completely unaware. I believe we can make a difference.

What family pics

2009-02-19T15:22:00.000-08:00

Okay this is good. I went to put up a recent family picture on this blog and oh yeah I remember the last picture that we all took together was when I was preggo with Kiara. She's 2 and a half for crying out loud!!

I guess I know what I need to work on.

okay so i finally did it.

2009-02-19T15:04:00.000-08:00

I finally decided to give this blog thing a try. I'm new at this so bear the growing pains with me. I don't know how often I will do this but hey got to be more often than what I've been doing right?