Why Proposition 8?

Grandpa Kahmann's Birthday!

It was really nice that all the brothers were able to be together.

Grandpa and his beautiful wife Madeline, boy were we lucky when she came into our family!

Isn't my brother cute? So's his sweet girlfriend.

We had such a nice day when we all got together to celebrate Grandpa (Don) Kahmann's birthday! Tony and Karen were here from Idaho so it was extra special. In the front of the family picture from left to right is Preston, Don, Madeline, and Ty. Standing in the back are Conner, Paige, Travis, Tony, Kim, Karen, David, Jody, Eric, Natalie, Chris, and Madison. Hope we all look that great when we're 84!

Ty's Bowling Field Trip

This field trip actually preceded the pumpkin patch by a couple weeks, but I never blogged it. Ty loved bowling! The only frustrating part for a 3 year old is waiting for his turn! It would be perfect if he were bowling alone! ;-) Isn't sharing a tough concept to learn?

Ty's Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

Ty had a field trip with his preschool to Lombardi Ranch. We've been there at least once a year for about 6 years now with at least one of our kids field trips. They get a tour where they get to see cows, a horse, a donkey, turkeys, geese, ducks, rabbits, llamas, sheep, and goats, and they get to go to a petting zoo, and ride a "train" (a tractor that pulls covered trailers), and there are a bunch of photo ops, and they get to take home a pumpkin. There's also a wagon ride and a corn maze that we've never paid extra for. And a little farmer's market. Then we ate a picnic lunch and drove the canyon all the way home, which is a fun drive. It's always a really nice day.

My Bread Baking Feat!

That's "feat" as in "act of skill". Don't worry, I didn't bake bread with my feet! I finally tried the famous "no-knead" artisan bread recipe from Jim Lahey. Wow. How can something so simple look and taste so impressive? I saw Jim Lahey on a youtube video saying that it's so easy that a 6 year old can make better bread than any bakery. I'd say he's right! For those of you who have been living in a cave somewhere and haven't seen this recipe, I'll include it here. You have got to try it. I delayed because I've always seen it baked in a Le Creuset pot, and I don't have one (sigh). But I improvised and used some stoneware that I have. One is a covered pampered chef piece, and for the other I took two stoneware bowls and used one as the lid. Both were significantly smaller than 5-6 quart by the way, but they came out beautifully. I also didn't use instant yeast. I used regular yeast and mixed in into the water and let it sit a few minutes then mixed in the flour. Also, on the youtube video he said to cook it at 500 degrees but every recipe I found said 450. I compromised and did 475. Next, Paige wants to try adding garlic and rosemary, her favorite bread combination, ala Costco. Let me know if you try/have tried this recipe, and how you liked it!

No-Knead Bread

Yields one 1 1/2 pound loaf

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting

¼ teaspoon instant yeast

1¼ teaspoons salt

Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed (I used flour)

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.
2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.
3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.
4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

News

First Graders Taken To San Francisco City Hall For Gay Wedding

October 11, 2008
Contact: Chip White/Sonja Eddings Brown, 916-215-4392
SAN FRANCISCO, October 11 – In the same week that the No on 8 campaign launched an ad that labeled as “lies” claims that same-sex marriage would be taught in schools to young children, a first grade class took a school-sponsored trip to a gay wedding. Eighteen first graders traveled to San Francisco City Hall Friday for the wedding of their teacher and her lesbian partner, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. The school sponsored the trip for the students, ages 5 and 6, taking them away from their studies for the same-sex wedding. According to the Yes on 8 campaign, the public school field trip demonstrates that the California Supreme Court's decision to legal same-sex marriage has real consequences. "Taking children out of school for a same-sex wedding is not customary education. This is promoting same-sex marriage and indoctrinating young kids," said Yes on 8—ProtectMarriage.com Campaign Co-Manager Frank Schubert. "I doubt the school has ever taken kids on a field trip to a traditional wedding," Schubert said. When asked by the Yes on 8 campaign, The San Francisco Chronicle reporter said she did not know if the school had ever sponsored a field trip for students to a traditional wedding. Telling the Chronicle that the field trip was "a teachable moment," the school's principal believes it is perfectly appropriate for first graders to attend a same-sex wedding. Officials in other school districts disagree. "Prop. 8 protects our children from being taught in public schools that 'same-sex marriage' is the same as traditional marriage," said Santa Ana Unified School District board member Rosemarie "Rosie" Avila. "We should not accept a court decision that results in public schools teaching our kids that gay marriage is okay. That is an issue for parents to discuss with their children according to their own values and beliefs. It shouldn't be forced on us against our will," Avila added.The lesbian teacher's wedding was officiated by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Newsom is featured in a Yes on 8 television ad, released last week, in which he arrogantly declares of same-sex marriage: "The door's wide open now. It's gonna happen, whether you like it or not."The Yes on 8 campaign's ads explain that if the voters do not overturn the California Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling, teachers will be required to teach young children that there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage. “It's totally unreasonable that a first grade field trip would be to a same-sex wedding," said Chip White, Press Secretary for Yes on 8. "This is overt indoctrination of children who are too young to understand it.” The field trip underscores the Yes on 8 campaign’s message that unless Prop. 8 passes, children will be taught about same-sex marriage in public schools. “Not only can it happen, it has already happened,” White said.

Protect Marriage

Well, we went to the Church broadcast tonight, and pretty much re-iterated what we already know, that marriage is ordained of God and that we are compelled to stand for what we know to be right. We are also to understand that tolerance isn't a synonym for condone, rather for love. Just as Jesus Christ loved the sinner while decrying the sin, so should we. We have friends who are gay, and we love them. That won't change. And we aren't trying to take away any of their civil rights or benefits. But marriage is a sacred institution, and is between a man and a woman. Furthermore, tolerance is a two-way street, and we could see a day when people are intolerant of those of us who believe that, which would put our own freedom of religion at risk. That may sound extreme, but it's completely possible. I'm including links to some great information from our Church. Please pass these on to those who are like-minded whether in the Church or not, as well as to those friends who may be undecided. The first is a news release from the Church on where we stand on the issue. The second is a video of a discussion that some young adult students had with Elder David A. Bednar, who holds a leadership position in our Church.

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-divine-institution-of-marriage

"Pushing Daisies" Season Premiere Celebration

My family loves the show "Pushing Daisies" and we've been waiting for months for it to come back. In celebration of the season premiere, I made 3 pies to eat while we watched the show. Lemon meringue, Caramel Apple Crumble, and Pumpkin Pecan Crunch. They were all soooo good! Of course, 3 pies is too much even for our family, so we invited neighbors the Norris' over, and Lindsey had some when she came to pick up Madison for Young Women's. Still, we ate ourselves sick. Well, I did at least. For those who don't know the show, the main character owns "The Pie Hole", an adorable pie shop. Maybe this will be a Wednesday night tradition! Just kidding.