Our Little Republican

Our little boy was able to vote in his first Presidential Election! (Notice the sticker) After trying to get the Early Ballots mailed to our new address, and failing, we wound up going to the polls anyway.

Dowlin has a Goverment class this year where he spends a lot of time arguing - that's good right? He will not allow anyone to tell him how he believes or how to think!

We are proud of him.

We 3 spent quite a while going over the sample ballot and discussing and making

our own choices for this election! It was a proud moment to be there with him on this monumental day in his life!

I can't ever get through an election with out retelling the story of my 1st Presidental Election.

I was 19 and just married 1 year. Dean and I stood side by side in a trailer park office

in Provo Utah. I began reading the instructions and all of a sudden Dean leans over to me and whispers,

"By the way, we're Republican! First - I felt like we were cheating on a test!

A second later I had collected my thoughts and whispered back with a smile,

"Oh, I thought this was a FREE country." Dean appoligized, it was hilarious, then and now.

Back to Dowlin - As he has come home telling us about different discussions from class -

it has been so awesome to listen to him and feel his excitement as he talks about his views.

One night after he left us, I just laughed and said to Dean, "He is sooo Republican"

He's an adult - he's all grown up - He's my little boy!

Happy Halloween

Well here's our little angels getting ready for the Ward Trunk or Treat

As you can see, Brittney was some-sort of Fairy, Zachery was a soldier

Olivia was Snow White - She actually did pretty well with all of the "Scarey" masks that we terrify our children with. As we were Trick or Treating in our neighborhood, she & Zach walked up to a door where several adults were waiting...There was a guy in a "Scream" costume, and although he did not move, she watched him carefully. The lady giving out candy asked her if she was afraid of the guy. Olivia confidently said, "No, I'm not afraid of him!" She & Zach turned to walk away and her sleeve got caught on their car. She couldn't hold the terror back anymore. She started this terrified cry. It was heartbreaking! She skipped the rest of the street as I carried her. Finally, she was walking & I asked her if she wanted to go with Zach up to a door, again she said, "No...Oh fine, give me the bucket" It was so funny.

I was glad that she wasn't scarred for life. She was quite selective about which houses she would go up to the rest of the night though!

Then there was Princess Mercedes! She was the hit of the Trunk or Treat! Several little girls followed her around stunned. They were sure she was the "Real Cinderella". Her Sunday School teacher was ticking off the other girls in their classes costumes - "faries, devil, pirate" then he said, "I couldn't believe Mercedes was this beautiful princess!" (she sometimes comes off a bit sarcastic-Haha) Then he said, "I think these girls were showing their inner-selves" I agree - Mercedes has always been a Princess!
(By the way, this lovely retro gown happened to grace the 1986 Junior Prom of
Rogers High School - that's right, it was mine)
my favorite comments of the night were" That's so pretty, you should have seen my mom's prom dress"
Thanks Daddy - 22 years and it still "princessy"

Father Daughter Campout

In search of the Perfect Campsite

We live only like 15 - 20 minutes from the White Tank Mountains - This year our Ward had a Father Daughter Campout which the girls were sooo excited about! Mercedes pumped Olivia up about sleeping out in the wild, getting to pee outside and wipe with a rock (since there are no trees or bushes here, only cactus - so they decided on a rock) anyway by Friday Olivia was excited to go to "Camp Rock" (hilarious)

Well heres what happened - It was Dowlin's Homecoming Football game, Mercedes had a Band Festival the next morning, and both were "going out" after the Game with friends. So, Dean and the girls headed up to the campsite to set up, striking a deal that they would go up late after the game, camp and make smores - the whole 9 yards! (Plans go down hill from here) We notice the gates lock at 10PM. Decide to set up anyway, just incase - once the perfect campsite is located, and the van unloaded, the tent setup begins - then quickly ends as Dean discovers the bungies in the tent poles have decayed and the poles are all loose. A quick decision to pack up and sleep in their own beds - coming up early in the morning to eat and play for the day is reached - the tent is rolled up and van reloaded.

So after the Football game - we all head home feeling the joy of victory - we love hearing the announcer say Dowlin's name! We made smores, and watched a movie -

Dean and the little girls headed up for breakfast, and enjoyed the day hiking and playing in the mountains. Sadly (?) Olivia did not get to pee in the wild or wipe with a rock. But she took a 4 hour nap when she got home! Good Times had by all! Thanks Dad

Twenty-One Years

Today was our 21st Wedding Anniversary!

Again, where does the time go?

Hope you enjoy these "Blast from the Past" pictures.

We Were Married in the Seattle, Washington LDS Temple on

October 16, 1987.

I was 18 - Dean was 23 - When I see myself in my "minds eye" this is how I still look. It's the darn mirror that scares me! That's OK though, all the years of "wear n tear" have been totally worth it. I have a wonderful, loving husband. We have beautiful, amazing children who are the light of our lives.

We have been so blessed throughout our lives!

We are so grateful for both of our supportive parents, and all of our brothers and sisters! We are the richest people in the World - no doubt! and it all started with these two goofy kids -

I love you Dean, here"s to the next Twenty-One years

Holy Crap!

Well little Olivia keeps us in stiches - She runs the house and lets us watch! We let her have her first taste of Dr Pepper! She was very excited, took a huge drink and with her eyes watering and hand over her mouth she says, "Holy Crap! That burns!"

Really being number 5 has both advantages and disadvantages, you know - we never would have allowed Dowlin or Mercedes to get away with that kind of language! however they seem to be the reason she has a potty mouth. I guess if Holy Crap is the worse it gets we're good! LOL

Sweet 16

Believe it or not - Mercedes turned 16! WAAA - We are still trying to figure out where the time goes. It really does seem like just yesterday she was born... Amazing

Mercedes is midway through 1st quarter of her Sophomore year of High School. She is sooo busy, sometimes we have to sneak in her room at night just to see her! She is playing on the JV Volleyball team this year, and in the Marching Band. So if she's not practicing Volleyball, she's at Band and vice versa! She has Band Festivals even on Saturdays.

We've got to say, we are very proud of her and she looks pretty good in uniform :) she works pretty hard for a teenager.

Happy Birthday Princess Mercedes!

New Address

We just wanted to let you know that WE MOVED! our new address is
16989 W Bradford Way
Surprise, AZ 85374
if you're thinking....that's the old address - actually the last 2 numbers switched (was 16998) we moved across the street. YES it was miserable - But despite declining offers for help, my friend Doreen saved my life! A zillion thanks to her and TD for the help and dinner they gave to us! (Note to self...never move again)
Are you wondering WHY we moved across the street? Well, when we moved to AZ it all happened so quickly, and the market was on its way down, we decided to rent. The owner of our house had several other properties and well with the poor market right now, you can guess what happened - he let our house go into foreclosure. UGH! It was very stressful - I'm going to leave it at that!