It's our civic duty.

Jason and I have been very concerned about the economic news lately. It's more than just the price of gas, the new president elect, and the stock market. The thing that alarms us the most is the amount of people now asking for a bailout from the government. People, this is WRONG! I am so frustrated by the organizations (the auto industry, states, cities...everyone!) who are now getting in line for government aid. There is simply no way our government can bailout everyone. More importantly, once the bailout train gets going, who will put on the brakes?!

Well, instead of griping about it, we have decided to do something. Today we took a few minutes to write an email to our State Representative Boswell (who represents our Iowa district) and our State Senators expressing our concern over the bailout madness. I urge you to do the same. This website lists the name of your State Representative and this website lists the names of your State Senators. Just a couple of clicks and you, too, can email them.

If you are not sure what to write in your letter, here's an example:

Representative Boswell:

As a concerned citizen of your Congressional District, I feel it is my civic duty to make sure my voice is heard on the issue of government bailouts. As your constituent, I urge you to vote against additional bailout packages for states, cities, and American companies now requesting aid. Approving more aid will only encourage the endless line up of entities requesting help from the government...and let's face it - the government CANNOT help everyone. There simply isn't enough money for that! The bailout requests are out of control. It is not possible for the American Government to attempt to salvage every failing American Corporation and sector. Industries, such as the automotive industry, which have failed to keep up with current technologies and failed to ascertain the need for inexpensive fuel-efficient cars should be allowed to fail. Even if this comes at great expense to the American people and economy. Companies that make bad decisions should and must be allowed to fail. Virtually all great successes in this country have been surrounded by great failures. It is the true spirit of capitalism that has made America so strong. The latest attempts of government to throw money at every struggling company have, and will continue, to erode the very foundation that has kept America strong throughout its short history. Please, I beg you, reject fear, and inject some common sense into the Congressional dialogue. Do not approve, and fight vigilantly against any additional bailout funding - whether part of a Democratic or Republican agenda. You are my voice and the voice of thousands of Iowans, please make us heard in Washington.

Respectfully,
Nicole Reynolds

This has been THE year to get involved politically. Why stop at the General Election?! Take a minute and write to the people who represent you in Washington. Make your voice heard.

On the Road Again...

The Reynolds Family just returned from a week-long vacation in Texas.  We flew into Dallas to visit family and friends and then took a road trip to Houston.  We got to introduce Alex to his great-grandparents, great-grandmommy, Papa Gene, and tons of other friends and family.  He was a real trooper on the trip.  He seriously didn't even make a peep on the plane rides! Everyone around us was complimenting him on his behavior and they all thought he was cute.  Of course we just smiled and acted like he is that perfect plane-riding Angel every day, all day.  I have lots of pictures to post of our trip and my photography assignments.  Hopefully I'll catch up this week!

A Win for the Aggies. Whoop!

Texas A&M 49
Iowa State 35


*This photo is a teaser. It's one of a series of 7 I'm doing for my photography class for an assignment entitled "The Seven Deadly Sins". This one represents Pride. More to come!

Fall.

There's a tree outside my third floor window with a single yellow leaf on it. Poor leaf looks like it's hanging on for dear life.

In the Kitchen.

Y'all know I love time in the kitchen, so I was excited about this photography assignment.  The goal was to use design fundamentals such as line, shape, texture, etc. in the kitchen.  Using that recipe, here's the finished product. Enjoy!

Today we are rooting for the Aggies...

Win one for us, will ya, Ags? And if you can't win against Tech, at least give 'em a little run for their money. Otherwise, our Lubbock cousins will gloat and gloat and gloat...and gloat.

One Year Ago Today
I married my very best friend...and every day I love him more.

Love. This. Book.
Alex isn't old enough to have a favorite book yet, but this is my favorite. Know why? It's a wonderful story about a little Pea who hates candy and loves spinach. Genius, I tell you. Pure genius.

Alex doesn't stand a chance...he will learn the concept of candy=bad and spinach=good at our house. His Little Pea book will be one of the cutest teaching tools in my arsenal!

* Amy Krouse Rosenthal authored Little Pea and she has tons of other adorable kid books. Check them out here.

My new favorite.

Shooting Steel.

Here's Assignment #4.  The exact assignment was to shoot three things made of steel or some sort of metal.  We were to use our imagination on this and use these criteria for the three items: Imagine one was made by a Japanese gentleman, one by a German gentleman, and one by an Italian.  The Japanese man's design was to be practical. The German's design was to be very exact.  The Italian design was to be beautifully stupid.  Hopefully you can guess which photo goes with which designer...

Assignment #3

This photography class assignment was shot in a cemetery in Ankeny.  The assignment was to shoot the various statues scattered throughout.  I was surprised at how much I liked these shots!

I think this one was my favorite - a statue of Jesus washing the feet of Peter.  It's almost difficult to tell this is a statue.

$700 billion?

With all the news-worthy events this week, Jason has been schooling Alex in current events. He's helping him to make sense of the $700 billion bailout. This could take a while... Just look at Alex's face! He's shocked and wondering how this could possibly be a good use of taxpayer money. Me too, Alex. Me too.

I forgot.

Typically my Wednesday mornings begin at around 5:45, when I get up, shower, and eat a quick breakfast so I can feed Alex at 6:30. It's my routine because I have Photography class on Monday and Wednesday mornings...

Well, it's 3:00 p.m. and I was just thinking about how well-rested I feel today. You know why? Because I FORGOT to go to school this morning. Guess I am still getting used to this being a student thing. Thankfully I'm a grown up now and I don't have to come up with lame excuses for missing school anymore. I can just shrug my shoulders and say "I forgot"!

Play Date.

Yesterday I had lunch with a few friends who are all in our Connection Group. It was our first play date! Check out the cute babies in our Group (pictured here) and Ella (pictured on her blog). We have been so blessed by these new friends at church and really love hanging out with them.

At our "date", Grace was the only girl - man, does she have the pick of the boys!

Grace Haugland, Ryan Putney, Michael Sage, & Alex

Ahoy Mateys.

Some of you may be wondering what ever happened to the Pirate Mama role I was playing after Alex was born. (You may remember that I was stricken with Bell's Palsy two days after I delivered Alex.) Unfortunately the Bell's is still hanging around. Hence the reason I have not posted tons of pictures of myself on the blog. Smiling with half your face is kinda weird! I am happy to report, though, that it seems to be improving. Several people in the last week have commented that they see real improvement. I'm encouraged.

It's not exactly a treasure map with tons of gold at the end, but it is a relief from the "poop deck" of postpartum recovery issues. I'm hoping to give up my Pirate status soon.

I guess I could look on the bright side - at least I'm not dealing with a hook for a hand!

Smiling Alex - I finally caught him on camera!

Outdoor Assignment.

My second Photography class assignment was to shoot 100 photos outside. I chose to do all the shots in my neighborhood...Partly because it's got lots of cool historic charm and partly because I was pushing around a sleeping baby. I wasn't sure how far Alex was willing to go to get good photos, so we stayed fairly close to home. He turned out to be a very cooperative assistant.

Dear Year 31...

Year 31, you've been good to me. You've given me the man of my dreams as a husband, a remote island vacation, a state-to-state moving experience, a beautiful new baby boy and countless other memories. It's been good...but I must inform you that it's time to move on. I'm moving on to bigger, better years. Year 32 is next and then 33, 34, 35...you get the idea. Don't take it personally. It's not you, it's me. I hope we can still be friends, though, and I'll think of you every time I look at photos and my blog journal. You've been a good year to me.

32 has a lot to live up to!

Your friend always,
Nicole