A Visit From Jenna

My sister Jenna came to visit us for a week. We had so much fun!!! I love all my sisters so much and having her here was sooooooooo wonderful!!!!! No trip to Alabama would be complete without stopping at Cupcakes Y'all.

Jenna got to experience a hunting trip with Dave and I in the woods of Alabama. It was soooooooo much fun. I would call it more of a hiking trip - but with the bonus of the orange beanie!

scanning...............scanning

The mighty hunters

Just some fun pictures

--------------------------------------

A slide that is meant for maybe an elf??? A little bit on the thin side.

This picture was actually supposed to be a joke - but it turned out to be cute!!!

While Jenna was here someone asked her "why she was so close to her sisters." She answered by saying simply "spending time together." I am so glad we got to spend some time together and grateful for all the time I get to spend with those I love so much!!!

Montgomery Day Trip

One great thing about Alabama is that it is rich in historical sights. Jenna and I decided to take a day trip to Montgomery.

The Civil Rights Memorial Center

Honoring the memory and achievements of those who lost their lives during the Civil Rights Movement.

--------------------------------------------------

The Wall Of Tolerance

This is hard to see but this was a dark room with a floor to ceiling screen featuring names of those people who have pledged to take a stand against hate, injustice and intolerance. Those who place their names on the wall make a commitment to work in their daily lives for justice, equality and human rights.

Jenna adding her name to the Wall Of Tolerance

Adding my name

Civil Rights Memorial : A black granite table serves as a fountain as water flows over the names of 40 Civil Rights activists who died in the struggle for Civil Rights. Behind the fountain, more water flows over a black granite wall inscribed with excerpts from the book of Amos quoted by Dr. King.

Names and Faces of those who have lost their lives because of intolerance. These included all different races, religions, gender and age. It amazed me that some of the plaques were dated only a few years ago.


These are some of the many many plaques honoring lives lost in the Civil Rights movement.


I was touched by the story of this mother of five : Liuzzo was horrified by the images of the aborted march on March 7, 1965 at the Edmund Pettus Bridge which became known as "Bloody Sunday". Nine days later, she took part in a protest at Wayne State, then called her husband to tell him she would be traveling to Selma, saying that the struggle, "was everybody's fight."
After the march concluded on March 25, Liuzzo, assisted by Leroy Moton, a 19-year-old African American, helped drive local marchers home in her 1963 Oldsmobile. As they were driving along Route 80, a car tried to force them off the road. A car with four Klan members then pulled up alongside Liuzzo's car and shot directly at her, hitting her twice in the head, killing her instantly. Her car veered into a ditch and crashed into a fence.

Quote from Elie Wiesel :

Elie Wiesel was born in 1928 in Sighet, Transylvania, which is now part of Romania. He was fifteen years old when he and his family were deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz. His mother and younger sister perished, his two older sisters survived. Elie and his father were later transported to Buchenwald, where his father died shortly before the camp was liberated in April 1945.

Outside the capital standing by Idaho flag. (The only one that was completely curled around the flag pole) :)

The Utah flag :)
The home of Martin Luther King

Sooooo cute!!!!

CHRISTMAS 2009

I wanted to give a really quick recap of Christmas for our family this year. My favorite story involves Porter and Dave. Porter spent a few days of the season trying his best to be eligible for the "naughty list." Of course don't we all sometimes deserve to be on the "naughty list?" :) Anyway, on one of these days Dave told Porter that he better stop or he would have to call Santa. Porter who did not even pause to think ran over got a pencil and a piece of paper and sat down at the table. He proceeded to recite as he wrote on his paper, "Dear Santa, my dad is being so mean! Can you please call him and tell him to be nice............"

Tracking Santa on Christmas Eve

Porter spent a great deal of time under the tree just like this

We took this picture for my Grandparents who gave us these matching shirts. Everyone including extended family on the Porter side received one. They say Forever Together. I love them.Surprise!!!!!!! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the Wii........... I think they like it!!!!

I love this picture of Porter with his new bike - his helmet is a little tight :)

Kaden and his new bike

Colton and his new bike

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!!!

So these are the things that I've had to confiscate from Porter just today. I just had to chuckle at the vast variety....

hammer (yikes), nerf gun (does anyone remember my eye being almost shot out), aloe vera ???, and chips (of course)

wonder what the rest of the day will bring??

If Kaden Was An Alligator

In the summer time I have my kids do journals. I give them topics and they write about it. I found this in Kadens journal and it made me laugh. I gave them the topic "If you were an alligator......" Here is the translation.

If I Were An Alligator

"If I were an alligator and if you got to close I would jump out of the water and get you and it won't be pretty and who nows (knows) what will happen but I'll probly (probably) eat you so watch out I'm an alligator and this is all true."

I love boys!!!!!!!

Ok - how cute is this? :)
****For the record so no one thinks we are bad parents...

Colton was only holding this gun for the picture******