Hope

So, yesterday was election day. I voted . Things don't always turn out the way we want them to. It has been so interesting to see Mitt Romney run as the republican nominee for USA Presidential election 2012. He is amazing! I am so impressed with his capacity and endurance throughout the campaign. Also, how exciting that some people could overcome the concerns that he is a Mormon & give him their support. Instead of feeling disappointed that he did not win the election, I am proud of how close he came to winning. I am very grateful to live in a free country where I have the right to vote!

Cassie

Today is our oldest child's birthday; Cassie was born 19 years ago. Where has the time gone? She was due to be born on October 27,1993. I had to be induced for her birth. It was very exciting and we were a little overwhelmed with our new responsibility as parents. She was 9 lbs. 2 oz. & 22 inches long.

It has been a wonderful journey having Cassie in our lives. She is friendly, outgoing, smart & talented. When she was a little girl she enjoyed creating things with clay & making little houses out of boxes. Harry Potter & violin have been a big part of her life.
Now she is away at college. It is great to watch her become more independent. I especially love to see her testimony grow as she prepares to serve a mission for the church.
We took her to dinner at the Olive Garden on Saturday night. Sunday we celebrated with cheesecake. Happy Birthday!!!

Ordinary Days

Yesterday, Blake walked over to where I was in the kitchen & whispered in my ear, "what is Dad's real name?" He looked very serious. I replied, "Steven." Blake looked stunned. He said, "I thought his name was Dad!" So, it was quite a revelation for his 5 year old mind. (At the time Dad aka Steven was sitting on the couch which explains the whispering.) He is a smart & curious boy. His sister, Nicki, mentioned tonight that she tries to eat her lunch at school quickly so she can get outside on the playground to see Blake before his recess ends. I love that!

Nicki

On June 25 Nicki turned 9 years old.  She had lots of plans for us on her birthday!

 First, we got a visit from Grandma Allred.  She always makes the kids feel special on their birthdays.

After that Nicki wanted to go shopping for a new swimsuit.  We looked at Old Navy, but no luck.  So, we stopped at Target & found a fewcute  things for her that she was happy with.

Next, I took Emily, Nicki & Blake swimming at the indoor pool at the recreation center.  They had lots of fun together.

For dinner Nicki requested to go to Pei Wei, which she just recently discovered & decided she loves it.

Cheesecake for dessert, also decided by Nicki.  I think she had a really great day.  She said that being 9 doesn't feel any different than being 8 years old...and she was sad when her birthday was over. 

Nicki is my spunky, freckle faced girl.  She is very sweet, loving & affectionate.  We love you, Nicki!

Summer Fun

We met Christy & her girls at the Dinosaur Park in Ogden. The kids had a good time. It has been years since I have been there & it is much better than it used to be. I think it is just as good as the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. Blake's favorite was the exhibit where the dinosaurs were moving & made noise. It seemed real & was a bit scary for the little kids, but they still enjoyed it. There was a little pond & we fed the fish some food that the seagulls kept stealing. There were not many people around, so I guess we picked a good day & time to go. Hopefully, we can fit in lots of fun activities this summer!

We Made it to High School Graduation...

It is hard to believe that we raised a child from birth to adulthood. I know we aren't done with parenting Cassie, by any means.  That is o.k.  Just amazing we made it to this point in time.  High school graduation was great! We are so proud of our wonderful daughter for all of her accomplishments in life.