Nablopomo

Today We Vote

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

I still remember the first time I voted–it was 1992 and my vote went to Bill Clinton.  I remember wearing my “I voted” sticker with such pride.  That sticker symbolized every woman who couldn’t vote prior to 1920 and every black person who was prevented from voting (even after the 15th amendment was ratified in 1870–as well all know how accepting the white citizens were at that time–but that’s another post). That is has yet been 100 years since women were allowed to vote is  such a sobering thought.  It makes that I can vote so much more important.  It honors those who fought for justice, equality and freedom.

Justice, Equality and Freedom.  These ideas are what guide who I cast my ballot for.

I think forward when I vote.  Forward to the direction that the country will move.

I am proud to say that I am a liberal and a Democrat.

I am proud to say that I think women should have the right to chose.

I am proud to say that I think it should be up to a woman if she uses birth control or not.

I am proud to say that I support those who have more, helping more.

I am proud to say that people should be able to marry whomever they would like–regardless of gender.

I am proud to say that we should spend more money on education and those less fortunate.

I am proud to say that I cast my vote for someone who represents all people–not just people who agree with him.

I understand that these same ideas might look different to someone else.  That is the beauty of our country–we don’t have to agree and we know that there are many who believe something different that us.  Some of my closest friends have diametrically different political views that I do.  We each get to cast our own ballot.

Today, I took Noah with me to vote.  I think it is important for him to begin to understand the politics and procedures of our democracy.  We had a great conversation about voting and what it means.  We talked about how blacks and women used to not be allowed to vote and for some of the reasoning behind that.  We talked about how the person we vote for doesn’t always win, but that we are lucky enough to live in a country that has peaceful election and peaceful transitions of power.

He took it all in.

We got our ballot and sat down to vote.  He asked why there were dividers between everyone.

“So that you can vote for whoever you want and no one knows who you voted for.”

“So, if you vote for someone different no one fights.”

“Yep, so no one fights.”

I then let him fill out my ballot.

 

I hope he always remember this moment.  I know that I will always remember the day that I took my son to vote and the day he voted for the guy who stands for equality.  I am sorry we live in a time when equality and freedom are what we have to vote for.

These are just some of the reasons that I voted.  Why did you vote?

The Bounce Place

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

Well, the madness that was Zoë’s birthday weekend is over and I am ready to recover from the over indulgence in sugar.

Each of our kids gets one BIG blowout part with all of their friends (okay–Noah got 2, but we don’t focus on that.  Thankfully memories are short when kids are young).  Each of these parties happen when the kids turn 5. Five is a big birthday in the minds of the kids.

So, we splurged for a party at BounceU.  And it was an great decision.  The kids could not have had more fun.  They ran and jumped and bounced and slid for 60 minutes and the filled up on the best cake ever.

The trade-off is that they don’t get presents at these parties.  In stead we collect money for Ethiopian Orphan Relief.  This helps the kids realize that it isn’t just about getting stuff.  They get plenty of stuff from their own family–they don’t need random gifts from their friends.  Zoë didn’t flinch (but needed reassurance that she would get something from Mom and Dad and her grandparents).

She doesn’t completely understand that the money will go towards bringing clean water and what that means.  She does agree that kids in Ethiopia should be able to buy water than have to walk a long way to get water.  So, the lesson isn’t quite clear in her 5-year-old head.  You buy stuff with money and it’s for Ethiopia and her conclusion is somewhat logical.  We’ll keep working on that and talking about charity.  I think this is more important.  My kids have so much (as do all of the kids in their classes).

If we are honest, we have to admit that our kids have way too much.  I don’t like that my kids expect others to buy them something.  I want them to value what they have and to value their friends for their friendship not that they give them gifts.  I want them to not expect things.  We were really lucky with Noah that only 1 parent brought him a gift (all of the other families didn’t bring a gift and/or donated to charity).  This year, Zoë, received a few couple gifts–because it is clearly hard for some parents to grasp the no gift giving.  But she raise over $200 for charity and she was happy about that.

I’m am happy to be done with the big birthday extravaganzas.  I say that now, until Noah’s first sleepover b-day party in May.

The Ultimate Oven

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

Zoë has been talking for months about getting the Easy Bake ULTIMATE oven. When that “parents nightmare” aka the Toys R Us catalog came, she showed me the ULTIMATE OVEN (as Zoë says–she can’t be bothered to say Easy Bake)!! Five thousands times a day.  And I heard daily this refrain, “If I don’t get one for my birthday can I buy it with my own money?”  The Easy Bake ULTIMATE oven was the only thing she really asked for CONSTANTLY.

So, since my children aren’t at all spoiled, Zoë of course got the ULTIMATE oven from her Grandma and Grandpa.  She was super excited and of course wanted to make dessert in it last night for her family birthday dinner.   Well that wasn’t going to happen, I spent money on amazing, gourmet cupcakes.

So this morning for an appetizer before breakfast, we made pink sugar cookies with lemon icing.  I couldn’t bring myself to read the ingredients on the box (and they print them so small, so you can’t read them). So, imagine my surprise when I opened up the box and pour out the mixes–a bright pink and a neon yellow that do not occur in nature.

Each package gets mixed with either a teaspoon or a 1/2 teaspoon of water and mix.  Mix is used loosely here, considering how little there is to actually mix and the color just gets brighter as you “mix” it with the water.

After you “mix” the dough you have to roll it into little balls–the package makes 12 cookies.  Just as you might guess they are tiny, tiny, tiny cookies–smaller than a quarter it turns out.



The kids were super excited as we prepared to put the cookies in the oven.  I was still scared by their bright pink color–but a little artificial flavoring and coloring won’t kill the kids.  At least not today.

They watched the timer count down from 9:00 to zero in eager anticipation of the 12 bite-sized delights.  They agreed that they could each have 6 cookies each.  When the timer sounded, they squealed (as though they have never had cookies before).

Noah was lucky to have the job of taking the cookies out of the oven (which “it isn’t like a real oven mom–it doesn’t open).

We decided to put the weird yellowish lemon icing between 2 cookies to make little sandwiches. That was a big hit.

The kids consumed all of the cookies in a matter of seconds. Both kids quickly determining that they would need to also eat eggs for breakfast.

I have a feeling we’ll be doing a lot more baking in the Ultimate Oven. (Thanks Grandma Lori and Grandpa Mike).

Movement

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

So it’s November.  Which means I will torture myself with NaBloPoMo and attempt to post everyday this month.  This is my 7th attempt–I have been successful 5 of the 7 times.  Just the thought that I have been blogging that long is a bit crazy.  When I started this blog back in March of 2006, I really didn’t have much intention of doing it long term.  But here I am.

I have hopes that each NaBloPoMo will jump start my writing that gets less in quantity as the years pass.  My life is busy and while it appears that I would have much more to write about as I grow as a person and as my kids grow; the reality is that I have much less time for writing.

Because the writing matters.  Just like my photography–I love taking pictures and on the last few vacations with my kids I took few pictures and it made me sad.  That while I spent more time doing things with my family–I didn’t make it a priority to document those moments and you can’t get them back.  That is what this blog is–a chronicling of my life, my kids lives and my views and opinions.  It is important.  Because life keeps moving and doesn’t stop.  You have to capture what you can.

I was helping Noah with something this morning and a memory popped up of him being two and asking for “bun bob” (spongebob).  Now he is on his way to being 7.  The time goes too fast. I am hoping that this year NaBloPoMo really jump starts the attention I give to blogging.

 

Haters Abound

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

By now, there are very few people on the planet–or at least in the mommy blogger world I often live–who haven’t heard that the Duggars are expecting their 20th child.  The mom is my husbands age.  The idea of a 20th child gives me absolute nightmares.  NIGHTMARES.  I am happy with my two children.  Would I have “had” more if I were younger?  Absolutely.  But I’m not.  I’m 40 and that last thing I want is more little butts to wipe and people in my bed.

But that is me.  That is my choice.  I am slightly irritated by the sheer amount of criticism that has be waged at the Duggars for their choices.  Is it a choice I would make?  No, but it also isn’t my place to judge them.  They seem like perfectly nice (if not slightly insane) people who love their kids and have an amazing family bond.  So, hey.  Produce away.

I also respect their choice to not use birth control and give over the destiny to God.  This is not something I subscribe to.  I’m not religious but I get their faith and appreciate that it is theirs.  They have the means to support their family.  I understand that some of their income comes from the exploitation of their family for TV–but when I watch their show (which is rarely) they seem like a well-adjusted family.  I am not naive to think that everything I see on TV is true, but after all the years they have been on and having all of these kids–I think that if there were some severe issues, we’d have heard already.

This is one of the issues within our community of moms–we are quick to judge the choices of others.  How ever many kids the Duggars have has zero effect on me.  Whether our not someone stays home with their kids or works outside of the home because it has zero effect on me.

So, as you (we/me) sit in judgment of others it is important to understand the negative effect our judgments have on our community of women who should support the right choose.