Holly's birthday and a trip to Portland!

Our 3-year-old is growing up sooo fast! We celebrated her birthday on Sunday, since Steve was going to Portland for his work on Monday.

On Monday morning, we decided to go with Steve on his trip to Portland that afternoon (with almost all expenses paid, how could we resist? :). I'm surprised I didn't miss anything major in our packing because it was definitely last-minute "Auntie Tini style" :) It was a fun trip; we didn't do a whole lot except enjoy the hotel, especially the pool and food. It was also nice to meet and visit with the other couple who came from Steve's work.

Today Steve S. poured & stamped a concrete slab in front of the garage with Steve, Dave & Josh. Steve S. is a perfectionist and always does a wonderful job, but unfortunately the concrete hadn't been mixed properly so it didn't turn out perfect. Looks pretty good though! I'll have to take a picture of the finished product once it's cleaned off next week. We really appreciate all Steve S.'s hard work, and also Dave & Josh for helping out all day.

Here's the finished product:

Harvestfest!

Harvestfest is always a hit with the kids! As usual, the YPs did a great job of decorating and organizing, and it was a fun evening.

WOW! Can you tell this is Steve's mom? She said the power went out and she did her makeup in the dark.

Marie was a fairy of sorts, but I didn't get a good picture of Holly or Joel :(

The little ones going nuts with the pinata candy...

There are always lots of little princesses :)

Emily won the contest for best girl costume! Congratulations Emily!

And this picture doesn't really belong here, but we just recently went to visit Steve's grandparents; his grandpa is doing much better.

Here's a similar picture taken 3 years ago when Holly was a baby... Wow, the kids have grown!

The Abomination of an Obama-nation

"It's been tough... to stomach the idea that more than half of my fellow citizens who vote, have booted a genuine American hero to the curb for a rudderless charlatan. What a sad indictment on our citizenry that some are so eager to overlook his myriad flaws -- his radical roots, his extreme liberalism, his utter lack of experience or achievement. Barack Obama is the antithesis of King's dream: He's a man judged by the color of his skin rather than the content of his character. If it's God's will that Barack Obama is our next president, then so be it. We Patriots will pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and wade back to the war front, intent on liberty or death."

(from the Patriot Post)

“You have to pinch yourself—"

"...a Marxist radical who all his life has been mentored by, sat at the feet of, worshipped with, befriended, endorsed the philosophy of, funded and been in turn funded, politically promoted and supported by a nexus comprising of black power anti-white racists, Jew-haters, revolutionary Marxists, unrepentant former terrorists and Chicago mobsters, is on the verge of becoming President of the United States. And apparently it’s considered impolite to say so.”



—columnist Melanie Phillips