A Proud Mommy Moment.

Sophia won a Halloween coloring contest and received a $50 savings bond! She was so excited. Here's a picture of her with the bank manager. Such a sweet girl.

For you, Shawcroft!

I came across this photo when I was doing some organizing this morning. I just had to laugh when I considered the irony - Chris, er, uh, I mean "Elder Bake", actually took this picture! (He he!) Good old Apple Valley, California. Do you ever wonder what has happened with Marissa?

She will be loved.

I suppose it's a testament to her sense of security and self-assuredness that my only daughter's mantra for the day is "Happy Birthday to ME!" I'm glad to know she feels that way. She is such a special girl, so vibrant, talkative, sensitive, spiritual, eager to please, and one of the most loving children I've ever seen. Since she's been in Kindergarten, the one piece of feedback I've consistently gotten from teachers and other school staff is that she is SO different from her two older brothers! She's not shy at all, always willing to talk to anyone about anything, she's friendly to everyone and always happy, and she is very generous with her hugs. We had cake and ice cream last night, since Chris was home, and she didn't seem to mind at all that my attempt at a "castle cake" was a little weird looking. (Thanks for the idea, by the way, Jennifer G., but yours turned out so much cuter!) Anyway, happy birthday, my sweet Sophie girl!

Licking the bowl.

This was Nick's contribution to making a cake for Sophie's birthday tomorrow. That was always my favorite part as a kid, too.
Right now I'm listening to the most unusual sound. It's unfamiliar to me, yet oh so welcome. Nick's taking a nap, Chris is at work, the other kids are in school, and I hear - nothing! All I can say is, aaahhhh...

Watching cows.

Here are a few pictures of Nicolas watching as some ranchers herded some cows past our house on the main road. Nicolas can still only say a handful of words, but when he says "cow", it's so funny because he enunciates it very clearly. He loves cows and it was funny to see him watching and listening so intently as the mooing reverberated through the house. Sorry the picture quality isn't that great, the lighting was weird and the cows were moving, of course, so they're a little blurry.

Baby, it's cold outside!

It's 22 degrees and I'm feeling it in my bones! I just wanted to send a quick message to our loved ones in Hawaii right now, and those going to California tomorrow - please enjoy the warmth and beauty of your surroundings enough for all of us! And maybe seeing some pictures of you all in those moments will warm us Idahoans up inside.

Election Day, and other things

We've already had a busy morning, filled with parent/teacher conferences for all the kids, and of course - VOTING!
Now I'm anxious to see what happens over the next few years. I hope and pray that whomever is elected into office will preserve America as a free and prosperous land, and not one masked by socialism and broken promises.
On a lighter note, I was so happy to see this morning that gas prices have decreased by over a dollar since July, the lowest they've been for a long time!