Getting Involved with Politics

 Andy volunteered with the Romney campaign and constantly received emails.  His assignment during the Republican Primaries was to drive from poll place to poll place and then text in numbers to their headquarters.  A few days before the election, he got an email announcing a rally in a warehouse downtown. 

 We thought this would be kind of neat to go to.  Well, we walk in with our 4 kids and quickly get pulled to the front where risers are set up as a backdrop to the stage.  They tried to get all different ages, ethnicity, classes, etc.  We got there shortly after 7, thinking the rally started at 8, as was scheduled. 

 We didn't think Emily would make it waiting and standing for so long, so we sent her over to sit with some friends in their seats.  The woman next to her in red is her super-fantastic primary teacher that Em just loves!  Ben and Annie got to play our phones until a few minutes before 9, when it really started.  We were told absolutely no electronics while the cameras were on so all faces were looking at Mitt.

 Mitt and Ann came in; it was pretty cool!  They stopped for a few minutes to say hello to the Holleys, a senior missionary couple that is serving in our ward at church.

 Oh, it was so touching.  Mitt and Elder Holley were companions while serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints many years ago, as 20 year old boys.  They haven't seen one another since...after the rally, the Holleys went back and had time to catch up with the Romneys.

 Lots of cheering and hot bright lights!!!

 Since we were on the front row right behind the stage, we were some of the first to shake hands and chat with the Romneys.  I had on my 2002 Olympics jacket from when the games were held in Utah - when Andy volunteered,  He and Ann chatted for a good 5-10 minutes about The Games... :)

 Really like this woman!!!  It was a great experience, definitely not something I have ever done before!  However, I later learned that I should have given the kids actually vocabulary words for where we had been.  The kids went to school late, wearing their stickers.  That night at a Girl Scout meeting, a mom came up to me with a confused look on her face.  "Annie said she met the President today?"  Ben told his friends we went somewhere when they talked about other people doing wrong things and then everyone clapped.  AUGHH!!!  Thankfully, I could explain more fully over the next few days and gave them words to describe their experiences - now that I knew what a rally was!

Phone Photos

ABOVE:  For a few months, Emily took swimming lessons.  Since I would play racquetball prior to her lessons, Mitchell's one hour in the childwatch was all used up.  Two weeks in a row, he watched these men play ping-pong...they were pretty fierce!

BELOW:  Jacob, Kyle and Ben - these three had a great time learning all types of lessons during basketball season in a Canton League - friendship, street ball, very physical ball, and patience!  They are all in the same class and have a great time being silly together!

We went on a walk with our super-awesome neighbors (who are moving at the end of the month) and found a big hill to roll down!  We obviously need some practice! 

 Annie and Emily have gymnastics one afternoon a week.  Ben's friend, Kyle from above, is there at the same time.  This leaves me to keep Mitchell busy amidst bleachers he would LOVE to climb on - and not much else!  I typically bring him a snack of sorts.  This day, I brought myself a salad, knowing I was going to get very hungry and didn't want to be tempted by the vending machines.  Mitchell thought my snack looked better and completely took over my salad!

Annie's Girl Scout troop took a field trip to the local Dairy Queen.  It was a very very quick tour, culminating in each girl getting a free sundae!

 Happy 5th birthday, Em!  We invited a few of her little friends to play with us one morning at Pump It Up.  Honestly, it was a blast!  I had so much fun jumping around!!!

 Happy birthday my little Munchkin!!!

 Emily's preschool class got free tickets to see the Shriner's Circus.  We watched our little friend, Aurora, that day and her dad met us there.  (Jared is Andy's new friend, and they have weekly racquetball dates.)  We also brought along our pretend-Grandma, Sister Dayton. The Renchers go to the same preschool, so Emily was thrilled to have Cambri sit by her too! 

 We did an egg-dyeing activity at the library for Easter.  Very fun!  The librarian read a story, they acted out a play, sang a few songs, decorated containers, and then we dyed the 3 dozen eggs we brought!  Very fun and quickly cleaned up.  :)  Love all the library activities we get to go to!