Happy 4th birthday

My blog turned 4 years old today.  She is still going strong, even if I'm not so much (more on that later.)  I couldn't decide which dessert to give her this year, so I will just give her both.  Enjoy dear blog.  Don't worry about the calories.  You've earned a reward.  You have readers from far and near.

Coast to coast

At Charlie's new home on the 4th of July

Pacific with Mommy

Atlantic with Daddy

This little traveler has already dipped his toes in the Pacific ocean AND the Atlantic ocean.  He's traveled through AZ, CA, NV, UT, NC & SC at the ripe old age of 5 months with his loving parents.

This is Rick's baby blessing outfit.  V V is looking quite sporting in this outfit.

He is growing like crazy and starting to do more tricks and stunts, such as rolling over, bronc riding at the rodeo and squishing his cereal all over his face and his parents.  He is a mighty fine little man and we love little Charlie so much!  We can't wait to see him again in October.  Bronco will probably have his eye on him by then.

I couldn't choose a favorite...

...all were so different from one another...all were so extremely well performed.
Last weekend Rick and I met up with his sister Robyn and her husband Bob for some fabulous entertainment at the Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City.  It was outstanding entertainment and we were touched by the stand out performances of the talented and professional actors & actresses.  There is nothing like quality live theater!  I love it and I love attending entertainment that lifts your sights, your spirit and your thoughts.  Way to go Utah Shakespeare festival!  We'll be back again!


To Kill a Mockingbird 
 "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

 "They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."

 "I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks."
- Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

This play dealt with many issues that make up the human condition.  How we treat others.  How we think of ourselves in relation to others.  How we follow or don't follow our own conscience.  How we stand up for those who need help.  How ordinary people to extraordinary things.  How character matters more than most might suppose.  How a good example preaches a sermon without words.  

Les Miserables

I Dreamed A Dream lyrics
I dreamed a dream in times gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung
No wine untasted
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame
He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder

He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came
And still I dream he'll come to me
That we'll live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.

Does life kill our dreams or do we kill our dreams by sometimes making poor decisions that bring upon us the consequences of those poor decisions?? I think there is some of both in life, but this message certainly gives me pause to think and reflect.

 The Merry Wives of Windsor

"Why, then the world 's mine oyster" - ( Quote Act II, Scene II).

"This is the short and the long of it". Merry Wives of Windsor ( Quote Act II, Scene II).

"I cannot tell what the dickens his name is". - ( Quote Act III, Scene II).

"As good luck would have it". - ( Quote Act III, Scene V).

This play was a delight!  It had great comical and wonderfully clever lines.  I love William Shakespeare and his mind that created such wonderful imagery and thoughts. 

Romney for President (the BEST choice by a landslide)

Personal Information:

His full Name is: Willard Mitt Romney

He was Born: March 12, 1947 and is 65 years old.

His Father: George W. Romney, former Governor of the State of Michigan

He was raised in Bloomfield Hills , Michigan

He is Married to Ann (Davies) Romney since 1969; they five children.Education:
B.A. from Brigham Young University, (with highest honors)

J.D. and M.B.A. from Harvard University (with honors, in top 5% of his class)Religion:
Mormon - The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints

Working Background:

After high school, he spent 30 months in France as a Mormon missionary.

After going to both Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School simultaneously, he passed the Michigan bar exam, but never worked as an attorney.

In 1984, he co-founded Bain Capital a private equity investment firm, one of the largest such firms in the United States .

In 1994, he ran for Senator of Massachusetts and lost to Ted Kennedy.

He was President and CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

In 2002, he was elected Governor of the State of Massachusetts where he eliminated a 1.5 billion deficit.Some Interesting Facts about Romney:

Bain Capital, starting with one small office supply store in Massachusetts, turned it into Staples; now over 2,000 stores employing 90,000 people.

Bain Capital also worked to perform the same kinds of business miracles again and again, with companies like Domino's, Sealy, Brookstone, Weather Channel, Burger King, Warner Music Group, Dollarama, Home Depot Supply, and many others.

He was an unpaid volunteer campaign worker for his dad's gubernatorial campaign 1 year.

He was an unpaid intern in his dad's governor's office for eight years.

He was an unpaid bishop and state president of his church for ten years.

He was an unpaid President of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for three years.

He took no salary and was the unpaid Governor of Massachusetts for four years.

He gave his entire inheritance from his father to charity.

Mitt Romney is one of the wealthiest self-made men in our country but has given more back to its citizens in terms of money, service and time than most men.

And in 2011 Mitt Romney gave over $4 million to charity, almost 19% of his income.... Just for comparison purposes, Obama gave 1% and Joe Biden gave $300 or .0013%.

Mitt Romney is Trustworthy:

He will show us his birth certificate

He will show us his high school and college transcripts.

He will show us his social security card.

He will show us his law degree.

He will show us his draft notice.

He will show us his medical records.

He will show us his income tax records.

He will show us he has nothing to hide.

Mitt Romney's background, experience and trustworthiness show him to be a great leader and an excellent citizen for President of the United States.

You may think that Romney may not be the best representative the Republicans could have selected. At least I know what religion he is, and that he won't desecrate the flag, bow down to foreign powers, or practice fiscal irresponsibility. I know he has the ability to turn this financial debacle that the current regime has gotten us into. We won't like all the things necessary to recover from this debt, but someone with Romney's background can do it. But, on the minus side, He never was a "Community Organizer", never took drugs or smoked pot, never got drunk, did not associate with communists or terrorists, nor did he attend a church whose pastor called for God to damn the US.

Sweet land of liberty

I've said this before and I'll say it again, I absolutely LOVE the 4th of July!  Maybe it's because of being raised in Rupert where our parents celebrated the holiday in a big way.  Maybe it's because I love to celebrate the birthday of our country because it means so much to me.  Maybe it's because I love to throw a big party and have our family members come and play and chat and eat.  Maybe it's because of all of the above.
This year three of our four kids weren't able to come home, so we forged ahead with those who could make it.  Instead of a crowd of 75 or so, we had a crowd of 20.  My sister Carol who has come for years wasn't able to make it either (and she and her family were missed.)  We had a great time with Rick's family including his sister Robyn and her husband Bob who came from CA, brother Doug's family, and sister Margie with her "surprise" guest Grant and three of their four kids.  The morning of the 4th Rick and Andy ran the Provo 10k and then we went to the parade with those who could make it, including niece Syd, Adam and Rafe. After that we headed home for our BBQ complete with the same menu that we eat every year (and love it!)  We finish up with homemade ice-cream and then go swimming.  Afterwards we clean up a bit, rest and get ready for Stadium of Fire.  This year did not disappoint.  The BEACH BOYS gave a great concert and we loved the show.  We fall into bed at the end of the day, grateful for our great nation and the freedoms and liberties we enjoy. It's a day chock full of family, reminders of freedom and good food and fun.  What could be better than that?

Oceanside...again

 
We had such a fun family vacation last year, so we decided to return and play it again.  It worked out even better than before because we knew exactly what was provided in the beach house we rented, and we knew what to take and what not to take.  Here's a little recap (even if it happened almost two months ago.)

Rick, Andy and I headed down to AZ, staying at the Tuscany in Las Vegas for the night.  I must say that we have found a jewel in the city of sin (thanks to Claire.)  It's a newer, clean hotel for a killer price.  We headed to AZ the next day and Rick and Andy finally got to meet Charlie.  We went over to visit David E. and then we got ready for Charlie's baby blessing (mentioned earlier.)  The next day was Dave's graduation from ASU.  We all met for Mexican food afterwards with Courtney's family who were in town.  The following day we headed out for sunny southern California.  Andy and I took turns driving my Mom and her car and we finally caught sight of the blue Pacific about 2:00 that afternoon.  Jord and Jake and the girls and Dave and Courtney drove their cars and we all meet up at the beach house.  Claire, Lizzie and Rich flew in to San Diego and Rick went to pick them up.  We all enjoyed a good meal and feel into bed. We were there Saturday afternoon until Saturday morning of the next week and we enjoyed every minute of it.
Here are a few things we did this year:

~My Mother dear was able to go with us this year.  We LOVED having her with us.  She was so easy going and so fun to be with us.  We created some great memories over the four generations that were in attendance
~we went to the beach every day and got it in (except for Sunday.)  The little girls played by the hour in the sand.  Boggie boarding and just watching the ocean was a favorite activity.  Saw some dolphins and some beautiful sunsets
~had some family pictures taken
~went to church and had a lovely ham dinner afterwards
~listened to Mom tell her life story and more about Dad and their life together, sharing many stories our kids didn't know.  It was one of the best highlights of the trip
~sang "I run the old mill" that was mentioned earlier
~went to the Mormom Batallion site in San Diego and learned more about that part of Mormon history
~toured the aircraft carrier Midway that is now docked and is a museum in San Diego
~went to a San Diego Padres game against Rockies
~went to the San Diego temple
~the guys went to a Dodger game in LA and the girls made crafts and watched movies
~played the game of THINGS too many times and some other games with the little girls
~visited with our friend Jesse who came by for a visit
~rode bikes along the seashore
~had a special "mother's day tribute" with kind words and gifts!
~laughed and had such a good week!