She Will Be Loved...

...and she has been for 18 years and 9 days now. Cassidy had her magic birthday on Saturday, April 18th. She turned 18 on the 18th. It only happens once in any one's lifetime. Amidst all the party preparations, my birthday tribute blog to her was delayed. But since she is a once-in-a-lifetime-kind-of-girl, I'm sure that a few days will make no difference. Here are 'only 18' things I love about this 'beauty queen of only 18'...

• From the moment she was born, I knew she would be something special. Tiny and helpless, looking a little bit like Yoda, but with quite the mind of her own. She has certainly left her Yoda-like baby wrinkles behind, but has kept the force with her from day one. With Cassidy it is always Do. Or Do Not. There is no try. Whatever she sets her mind to, she does it all the way. A challenge does not scare Cassidy. Looking like Yoda scares Cassidy.
• She used to be my quiet, shy girl. I had a friend in Lehi who used to say, 'If you want to find Cassidy, check under Joy's arm, because she will always be tucked right there, safe and sound.' She grew out of her shyness, and away from my arms, but she will always be tucked right next to my heart, safe and sound.

• Just like Jan Brady, Cassidy is stuck in the middle as a sister. Unlike Jan Brady, Cassidy can never be heard murmuring, 'Marcia, Marcia, Marcia' about Whitney. She worships the ground Whitney walks on and wants to be just like her. Before Eli came along, she was the baby, and enjoyed that spot immensely. I think it got to be a little lonely for her and one Christmas she asked Santa to bring her a baby brother. It took a little longer than any of us expected, but we are always thankful that her wish came true. There is no better friend than a sister, and there is no better sister than Cassidy.

• Laughter is her best medicine. Her laugh is infectious. The minute you hear her laugh, you want to experience the exact same emotion she is feeling. I could listen to her laugh all day. And some days I do!
  
• "Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." Cassidy doesn't have a dog, and she's afraid of the dark, but she LOVES to read. In our family, books are a part of you from day one, and Cassidy is no exception. Her taste runs towards romance and mystery, and anything in between. It has been a blessing to have not one, but two daughters to discuss books with. They read my recommendations, and I read theirs. If you want to find Cassidy in the summer, check our front porch first...she's usually there with a good book in hand and a smile on her face.
  
• Cassidy wears her heart on her sleeve. Not unlike the Tinman in The Wizard of Oz, she is extremely tender-hearted, and a great respecter of other people's feelings. Her heart is very perceptive to other people's hurts. She is the first one to apologize, and the last one to leave a sad friend behind. She knows when someone needs a little extra attention, or a little more love. She will be there in good times, and she will be there in bad times. And if you are lucky enough to have found a special place in her heart, you can rest assured that you will be in her heart forever.
  
• Once she grew out of her shyness, Cassidy discovered the art of making friends. She is always surrounded by friends. She has a way of making everyone feel good about themselves, and everyone loves being around Cassidy. When Cassidy goes away, I will miss her desperately, and I will miss her friends almost as much. Almost.

• She has P-A-S-S-I-O-N! She's passionate about oh so many things. Olympic swimmers, U.S. Open and Wimbledon winners, David Archuleta, glistening vampires, and yes, even Mr. 17 Again himself, Zac Efron. When Cassidy likes someone, or something, she likes them all the way. She cheers for them LOUD! She supports them at concerts and in the theaters and in basements full of friends wishing she wasn't quite as passionate with her cheering. All I can say is, "You Go, Girl". If you love something, let the whole world know!

• She wouldn't be a part of our family if she wasn't a lover of music. We have introduced her to car singing and the Beatles and the Beach Boys. All by herself she discovered Michael Buble' and Josh Groban. And, not wanting to be satisfied to just sing along with the radio, she actually went one step further and developed a beautiful singing voice. Many a compliment have been paid to her for her solos in choir, in church, and for various high school musicals which she participates in. Her highlight this year was a solo in NIGHT ON BROADWAY, presented by the Idaho Falls Youth Arts Centre. Her rendition of 'I Could Have Danced All Night" brought the house down. I see great things in her future and thank Heavenly Father every day for bestowing her with such a beautiful voice and such a humble willingness to share this talent with those around her.
  
• She is a connoisseur of all fine foods...macaroni and cheese, Ramen, Olive Garden Fettucine, and my own Penne pasta with pesto sauce. Do you sense a carb-o-holic here?
  
• They say mothers give their daughters virtues and vices. Hopefully I have shared more of the former and less of the latter. We do share a passion for a certain liquid refreshment. Coke. Straight Up. With Ice. No lemon. No lime. No D-I-E-T! Have a Coke and a smile!
  

• She is a bit of a 'drama queen' but not in a bad sense. When she was little she would spend hours with Whitney putting on plays and shows. She starred in a 1st grade production at Meadow Elementary in Lehi, and her first role here in Idaho Falls was that of a cow in the chorus of 'Beauty and the Beast' with the Missoula Children's Theater Company. She has had parts in many musicals, and a supporting actress role this year in her high school production of "The Univited." Appropriately, she played a psychic actress and conducted a pretty believable seance. So, if you ever need someone to conjure up dead spirits, sing a broadway tune, or play a beautiful bovine, Cassidy is your ACTRESS!
  
  
• Speaking of acting, Cassidy is also a lover of movies. Anything with Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Doris Day, Rock Hudson, or Cary Grant. Anything involving superheroes, like Batman or Superman or Batman. If it will make her cry, she'll watch it more than once. Pride and Prejudice. You've Got Mail. A Walk to Remember. Charly. If it involves handsome men playing sports, she's all over it. Miracle. Remember the Titans. Glory Road. The Sandlot. The Rookie. If it makes her laugh, it will make you laugh. Napoleon Dynamite. Meet the Deedles. 17 Again. If it scares her to death, she'll watch it only once. The Village. Signs. The Others. If there's popcorn, she'll watch anything! (Did I mention anything with Batman?)
  
  
• She has a flair for fashion. Shoes. Nice Clothes. Jewelry. One of the first car songs she ever learned to sing along with was, "These Boots Are Made For Walking"...and that's just what she'll do. Buy enough pairs of boots and shoes to walk all over you!

• She is also a collector of purses. And things that go inside of purses. Lipgloss, mascara, i-pod, cellphone, love notes, gum, money, wallet, driver's license, Personal Progress Book (only for a few more weeks) the latest book she is reading (The Christopher Killer--Alayne Ferguson), pomegranate lotion...this list could go on and on...but as long as it's all in a purse, she's ready to rock-and-roll!

• She has a strong testimony of the gospel. She loves to study the scriptures and share what she knows with others. She is a shining example of choosing the right, even when it sometimes takes her out of the crowd and leaves her home alone. It takes great courage to make hard choices, and Cassidy has shown great courage on more than one occasion. She knows what she belives and she lives it every day. I learn daily from her example and I feel privileged that we have been blessed to raise such a spiritually strong daughter.

• She loves to learn. She likes the challenge of discovering new things, whether it be AP Government, AP Literature, or even Computer Applications, she puts her heart into her studies and manages to always come out on top. There's no need to sing "If I Only Had A Brain" about Cassidy. We are proud of her accomplishments in school and the example she has set for Eli to follow. When she graduates on June 1, it will be at the top of her class!

• She has great vision. Her eyesight is good, but her vision for the future is even better. She knows how to set goals and she knows how to achieve them. There is nothing in the world that Cassidy can't do. Once she sets her mind to it, we know she will do it. And do it well. Because from day one, it has always been: Do. Or Do Not. There is no try.

Happy (Late) 18th Birthday, Cassidy. May you always look beyond the rainbow to find your dreams. Just follow the Yellowbrick road and you will get to wherever you want to be. Just don't forget your ruby slippers. And always remember...There's no place like home!

Oooh...I hear laughter in the rain...

Isn't it great to be a boy? Seven comes with all sorts of fun. Learning. Exploring. Experimenting. Laughing. Lots of Laughing. The other day it was pouring down rain and the boys were outside getting soaked to the bone. It was our first real rain storm of the spring season and it brought with it a seven year-old boy's favorite pastime. Playing with worms! Worms in the gutter and on the grass. Worms on the driveway. Worms on my car and in my son's hands. They spent almost an hour chasing each other with the worms, discovering what happens when a worm gets cut in half, and even throwing them at each other. If Eli ever needs a part-time job maybe he can dig nightcrawlers and sell them to fishermen. My brother and I did it one summer and earned quite a bit of money. That was years ago, though, and I haven't touched another worm since. Now it's Eli's turn to touch those worms. Don't you just love the Circle of Life?

As 99 Red Balloons Go By...

...I want to wish a special lady a very happy birthday. Today my Grandma Ricks turns 99. WOW! Somedays I can't even imagine what it feels like to turn 47, and yet she has doubled my years and added another lucky seven to that number. She is one of the women I most admire in my life. She raised a family of 8...three girls and 5, yes count them, 5 boys. My grandpa was a farmer and she was the gardener. She grew beautiful flowers and even more wonderful children. She was trained as a nurse. If I ever have health questions about my kids, she is the first one I call. She has climbed Table Rock numersous times, a feat I have yet to accomplish. I guess if she can do it, I should give it a try. Probably before I'm 64. For sure before I'm 99. She is very spunky and has a definite opinion on everything, from what to eat or not eat for breakfast to how many quilts should be on her bed. She is a bit of a health food fanatic, and is always willing to share her knowledge on the 'latest and greatest' healing herbs and potions. She would have made a great teacher at Hogwarts! She is a lover of animals, which made the farm the perfect place for her to live. Up until two years ago she was still taking care of the cows and their calves and feeding her collection of stray cats...24 in all. Whenever I would go and visit we would sit in the yard with her Book of North American Birds and see how many we could identify. If she went with us on car trips she could always be called upon to identify the flowers that bloomed along the side of the road. My favorite was and still is, 'Indian Paintbrush'. She would also bring snacks to enjoy. Usually saltines and Swiss cheese. Now that's a memory. Most moms don't let kids bring saltines in the car because of the mess, but my grandma never cared much if we made a mess. We were too busy looking at the flowers. I hope her day is fabulous. Just like her. To my Grandma Ricks I say, "Here it is, a red balloon. I think of you and let it go."

A tisket, a tasket...

...I love what's in my basket! Every year it is my tradition to have a Dove chocolate truffle egg. I love them. They make me happy. When we lived in Utah I would always buy one package with 5 eggs. One for Phillip, one for Whitney, one for Cassidy, and two for me. I would eat one on Easter and save the other one in a secret hiding place for later. The year we moved to Idaho was no exception. Easter was in April and we moved in July. We lived at my parents house for 2 1/2 months until our house was done being built. Right after we moved in, the girls started school. That left me HOME ALONE. On a particularly bad day, when I was feeling a little sad and a lot sorry for myself I had a revelation. Where was the other Dove chocolate truffle egg? I checked my drawer for the secret hiding place. There, in the very back, was my life saver for the day. Dove. Chocolate. Truffle. Egg. It brings a smile to even the saddest of moments. Years later, we still have Dove chocolate truffle eggs in our basket. Only now, I buy two package of five. One for Phillip. One for Whitney. One for Cassidy. One for Eli. That leaves six. For me. I knew those math skills would come in handy some day. Now I just need to find a few new hiding places and I am set for life!

Springtime IS Coming...

"Daffodils" (1804)
I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;Beside the lake, beneath the trees,Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:Ten thousand saw I at a glance,Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thoughtWhat wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the daffodils.
By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

When You Wish Upon a Star...

...Makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires...will come to you.
Even if it's just a photo of the family with Goofy...not many characters out for taking pictures with this time, but that's okay. Our family is 'character' enough for some fine photo ops...Browse on!

Autopia...only 45 minutes in line and you become a licensed driver. Sunglasses complete the look and fulfill the need...the need for speed!

Girls, get your eyes on the road! Stop looking at all the good-looking drivers behind you! Notice how Phillip is flashing the peace sign? We find that drivers are safer when they keep BOTH hands on the wheel, so maybe he should stop playing around and start driving!

In case you haven't guessed by now, we took a few days of spring break for a quick family vacation to the "Happiest" (and most crowded) place on earth...DISNEYLAND! Whitney skipped class for two days and we headed down to LA, courtesy of Jet Blue Airways and Phillip's checking account. It was nice to be together, out of the Idaho/Utah weather. It was 78 degrees every day we were there. I could really get used to that.
There were a lot of people there, but even so, the longest line was for the new NEMO submarines, and even then it was only about 55 minutes. It felt like the ride took longer than actually standing in line! (Obviously, not my favorite!)
Here are just a few highlights of the trip...there really were too many to document until I make my movie.

I love the parades at Disneyland and this year was no exception. While we were in California Adventure they had a High School Musical 3 Parade. Guess who was chosen out of the crowd to be a guest dancer? It's like a "Where's Waldo" game. Look for the hottie in the white boa and dark glasses doing her best Beyonce' moves and you will have found...MISS JOY! My girls were probably embarassed, but I doubt it. The crowd loved me, and I would do it again in a heartbeat! ( I wonder if they are looking for an over-45 woman to join their cast?)


(Side note: I'm sad to hear Zac Efron has dropped out of the FOOTLOOSE re-make. He must be suffering from a head injury or something to remove himself from the biggest summer movie revival in 2010. However, that being said, check out the boy in red pants and hat...We decided he could EASILY become what Zac Efron decided not to be...Kevin Bacon's predecessor. Don't forget I made this prediction when it happens!)

Eli was quite the brave boy on the trip. Last time we went he was only 3 and too small for most of the rides. This time he went on almost everything, even though he was a bit apprehensive while waiting in line. The only way we got him on the Indiana Jones ride was because the boy in the front seat of our car was wearing a creepy YODA backpack. We all reminded Eli that 'the force would be with us' and he hopped right in. After it was over, we took their picture. Two words to describe Eli's end-of-the-ride-reaction. ADrenaLinE. RuSH!

The obligatory photo in front of the Sleeping Beauty's Castle. This was day 3. We had an early morning and did ALL of Fantasyland in less than one hour! That is what we call a MIRacLE!
I'm not a fan of spinning rides, but you can always drag me on the teacups at least once! Cassidy and I are going a little crazy waiting for those cups to start spinning. After riding them I have decided that maybe what makes me dizzy on this ride is not the spinning, but that organ music playing "A Very Merry Un-Birthday" over and over and over!

No one can resist the "Flying Dumbos" and we are no exception. When the girls were little, we actually stood in line for an hour and a half waiting to get on, and right before it was our turn, Cassidy needed to use the bathroom. BAD. I told her she would have to wait. Then I spent the entire ride praying that it wouldn't be the day she didn't make it. End of story. All went well. This year while waiting in line for the "Storybook Boats" another little girl needed to go. BAD. The nice lady operating the ride sweetly pulled the family members aside, sent the mom and the daughter on their way to the nearest restroom and promised to let them back on again without having to start standing in line again. One more reason why I love Disneyland. They are always thinking of new and innovative ways to remain "The Happiest Place on Earth"!" Notice Cassidy's live action shot from the "Flying Dumbos". Her hair is flying everywhere, but I'm sure she is thinking, "Dang, sure glad I don't have to go to the bathroom while I am flying over Disneyland!"


Every photographer has that perfect moment when they want to capture the perfect photo. For me, this was it. I am in a Dumbo ahead of Whitney and Eli, holding my camera backwards and clicking it without looking through the view finder. I was pretty sure most of the pictures would not turn out, but this one captures the feeling of the ride. Whitney is screaming, "Fly, Dumbo, Fly", and Eli is laughing so hard he needed to go to the bathroom as soon as we got off! BAD!

I really did go on vacation with my family. I just took most of the pictures from one end of the camera while they all stood on the other end. Here is our farewell shot from the park. They are standing in front of the Celebration Balloons...I am standing in front of them, photographing the family in front of the Celebration Balloons. Celebrate good times, come on! It's a celebration!


That night, we had a pre-birthday dinner celebration for Phillip at Joe's Crab Shack. He was turning 49 the next day. (Count our fingers!) Even though it was Phillip's party, we all had a blast!Cassidy got to be a guest "Cotton Eye Joe" dancer, Whitney enjoyed "London Style" fish and chips, I had the deluxe bucket of crab, shrimp, sausage, red potatoes, and corn on the cob, Eli ate NOTHING but spent his time doing crossword puzzles, and everyone in the restaurant sang "Happy Birthday" to Phillip while he wore a sombrero! Feliz Cumpleanos, Senor Philipe'. 49--Not such a bad place to be! After all, "When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true!"

Art for Art's Sake...

Day One of our California Adventure takes us to the BYU Museum of Art. Whitney wanted Eli to see the "Walter Wick: Games, Gizmos and Toys in the Attic" display. He is the artist who makes all the I-spy books. First we took a tour of the gallery featuring various pictures of Christ. One was titled "Picture of Christ." Our seven-year old resident art critic was quick to point out, "That is not a picture of Christ, it's a portrait." Next, we visited the American Dreams display, where Eli proceeds to crack up over a picture which I think was of a girl in a circus, simply titled, "Baby Ruth, Fat Girl". The Walter Wick display was amazing and interesting and fun. We recommend this for anyone living close to the Provo area. Eli's favorite part of the museum would have to be the display of Dan Steinhilber, a modern artist, who has no titles for any of his work, since they are all titled, "Untitled". There were giant garbage bags blown up and tied together like pipes, resin chairs stacked upside down on each other, an entire wall with packets of orange duck sauce stapled to it, and Eli's personal favorite, a room filled with packing peanuts and a fan. From time to time the fan would go off and the packing peanuts would fly all over the place. His review of the Dan Steinhilber display was priceless. "I like the interpretation of modern art. I get it. It's fascinating." Including the bottles of Mountain Dew-colored Diet Coke in the gift shop. I wanted to buy some for a friend until I realized, this, too, was "Untitled".