Please help

We are all aware of the state of financial crisis our country is in right now. My job (along with many of yours) is on the line. My school district is seriously considering eliminating class size reduction, which would increase k-3 classrooms to 25 and so on. If this goes into effect most likely I, along with some of my good friends, will not have a job next year. This stresses me out greatly! I know that in some ways it feels as though it is out of our hands, however there is something that can be done.

If you have a moment I'd greatly appreciate you calling or emailing your legislators today and please forward this message far and wide. The Feb. 2nd deadline has gone by without a budget. We need everyone's voice to STOP Sacramento politicians from:

1) Undermining Class Size Reduction by offering full flexibility on categorical programs. The governor's proposal for complete and permanent "flexible" use of all state categorical funds would allow local districts to eliminate the state's successful Class Size Reduction program and won't save the state one dime. Eliminating CSR is a giant step backward for our kids and will hurt ethnic minority and low-income students the most. Giving students individual attention is not possible when there are 40 students to every teacher. Teachers, parents and students get it. Why can't our lawmakers? "Flexibility" means no accountability and no guarantee that education money will be spent in the classroom.

2) Illegally manipulating Prop. 98 (the minimum school funding law) so the state will never pay back more than $7 billion owed to our schools.

3) Cutting $10.8 billion from schools and colleges over the next 18 months. They could be voting on these destructive measures any day now, since the governor and Legislature are required to reach a budget solution by February 2, 2009. This deadline was set when the governor called a special session under the Proposition 58 rule. It is time for our elected lawmakers to stop playing games and get serious about finding the additional revenue our schools need and our students deserve. If they don't, an entire generation of students will pay the price.

Your voice can help secure the funding our schools need.

Step One> CALL YOUR ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND YOUR STATE SENATOR > USING CTA'S "CUTS HURT" HOTLINE:> 1-888-268-4334 > * Tell your legislator to fund our schools, uphold Prop. 98, and protect the Class Size Reduction program. > * If you'd rather e-mail your state leaders, go to this site https://listserv.nea.org/t/975/86478/19/0/>

Step Two> CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS> 1-800-294-9811 > * Tell them to make sure they include funding for our public schools and community colleges in any Economic Stimuluspackage. > * If you'd rather e-mail your congressional leaders, go to this site https://listserv.nea.org/t/975/86478/20/0/>

Thank you for lending your voice to the fight for our students and public schools. To find out more about the state budget crisis and what CTA (California Teacher's Asso.) is doing to advocate for more funding visit www.cta.org

I hope everyone well. Take Care!

Productive weekend...busy week

Things are starting to kick into gear with getting ready for baby Hannah's arrival. Last weekend Josh and I were pretty productive with getting started on some baby projects. We finished clearing out Hannah's room so that he could begin the painting process with Ian's help on Sunday. I hung out with two of my best friends from college (Sebrina and Karina) most of Saturday and part of Sunday. We had a fun time doing some registering at this great baby story in Santa Rosa called My Baby News. It's so nice having a local place other than Target, Babies R Us, etc... to shop at. We made sure the stroller and car seat would fit in my Jetta (with it's not so spacious back seat) and then treated ourselves to a delicious cupcake from Silk. :) Josh and I ordered the bedding, (which is black, white, cherry red and kiwi green) and the furniture, (which we are doing in black). I can't wait until it all starts coming together! :)

This week has started off crazy busy! It began with the first in a series of 5 birthing classes on Monday night. We already took the early and mid pregnancy classes back in the fall. Tonight we had a late pregnancy class that included a tour of Kaiser's Labor and Delivery area. Once again, it made this experience feel so much more real once we saw where we are going to be in less than 3 months. The nurses that lead the class tonight were so knowledgeable and absolutely hilarious. We have had such a great experience with Kaiser so far.

On top of two nights of pregnancy classes, Josh coaches every day after school (with his first meet on Thurs.) I tutor 2 days and then we have Tuck's Level 3 puppy class late Thursday evening. In between all these classes etc... I am managing to squeeze in time for the gym and taking Tuck for a walk....by the time Fri. comes around we are going to be ready to drop!

Relaxing on the gliders at My Baby NewsBaby room ~ Pre PaintingLet the painting begin!The bedding we chose "McKenzie" by Glenna Jean

Relaxing weekend in Fortuna

This past weekend I left my boys....Josh and Tuck :) for a visit to Fortuna. I'd been wanting some "mom/dad/sis time" before Hannah arrives, so I decided to make my 3 day weekend a 5 day weekend. I left early Thurs. morn. (Josh was shocked I was hitting the road as he left for work) and came home Mon. morning.


During my time in Fortuna I enjoyed my mom's delicious cooking, long walks and talks with my sister, going through family photos and my baby book with my mom and sis, visiting my uncle Gary with my dad, hanging out with the girls at Renee's baby shower, lunch with Nick and Brynn, an evening of laughter with Amy, Jared, my sis and Sean and shopping with my mom and sis (baby girl clothes are sooooo stinkin' cute!!!) One night I called my mom into my room while I was lying in bed reading because Hannah had started moving around. As soon as my mom started talking to her she'd give a really big kick, each time my mom would say something she'd kick again...it was so crazy! :)


Over the weekend Josh went to a Warriors game with Mike and enjoyed courtside seats. While there, he saw C.C. Sebathia (Yankee's pitcher) and Phil Hellmuth (top World Poker player). I returned on Monday to a house that Josh had spent all morning cleaning for me. :) It felt so great to return home to a house that I didn't have to clean!!! Josh and I spent the day taking Tuck to the dog park and on a long walk, going into my classroom, making a shopping trip to Costco, cooking dinner and finally taking Tuck to his puppy training class. Overall I had a relaxing 5 day weekend that I didn't want to end.

Nicole snapped a picture while I was on the phoneRelaxin' with Nicole and Amy while Gracie snuggled on my lap

~ Hannah Nicole Heald~

Well we've decided on our daughter's name :) Hannah Nicole Heald it is! We've always loved the name Hannah. I can remember us discussing it way back in 2003 while on a hike to Upper Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park. Over the years it has stuck in our heads. With both of us being teachers it is easy to associate names with students we've had. I've only had one student named Hannah who was a sweetheart and Josh hasn't had any Hannahs. Josh loves that Hannah is a palindrome (spelled the same forwards and back). :) Her middle name Nicole, is after my sister. Deciding her name is making this all so much more real!

Meeting Gavin!

One of my best friends Amber and her husband Nick recently gave birth to their first child...Gavin Nicholas Judd on Dec. 5th, 2008. I was hoping he'd make his debut on my bday. :) Lisa and I drove to Amber's parent's house in Rocklin last weekend and I got to meet him for the first time. :) He is such a sweet baby, I didn't want to put him down! He makes the funniest little snoring sounds while he sleeps :) Looks like they'll be heading out back out to Cali for one of my baby showers in March. I just can't wait to see him again!

With new mama Amber and auntie Lisa

Wearing his new shades from Auntie Meghan...how cute is he?!?!

2008....a year of life changing moments!

2008 has been a year of many "firsts" for us. In April we took the huge step of buying our first home, brought home our first puppy in August and then found out we were expecting our first child two weeks later! I can still remember ringing in last new years in South Lake Tahoe, toasting with Josh to a year filled with exciting changes...never imagined we'd have so many! :) 2009 will bring us a new baby girl and many new adventures. Below are pics of some favorite memories from 2008.

In front of our new home Traveling to Washington D.C.Summer Weddings

Family Camping Trip at Union ValleyMany days on the lake

Josh getting some air Annual Barrel Tasting Trip

Bringing Tuck home for the 1st time (he weighed only 14 lbs. here!) At the Rib Cook off in Reno just a few days after finding out we were going to be parents


Our daughter's first picture