Happy #11 Cassie

The three July birthdays at the Strong's potluck.Cassie has been calling herself preteen for over a year now but she is really getting closer now as her 11th birthday came to pass.
Opening presents at potluck is always fun for the kids (and adults, LOL).

She loves the hat that grandma gave her.

She got many great presents this year.

"Happy Birthday to you, CHA CHA CHA"

Make a wish sweet heart,

We Love You!!!!

Uncle Bubble's (James Mark) House Tear Down

Here is a picture of my brothers home.

My brother was able to purchase this home in 1999 at the age of 20.

Everyone was very proud of him.

It had a basement apartment plus we lived there for a year while saving money for our house.

During that time Bubble was very wise with our rent and the rent money from the apartment and made double payments on the home.

Around 5 or 6 years ago mom and dad sold there home and moved into the apartment.
It worked out great for both parties.
The church decided to purchase the home and tear it down so that in the future they can expand the church that is next to his home.
It was sad to see it go. It was a good home.

I don't think Mark realized how sad it would make him to see his pride and joy go down.

He got a good price for it though.

He wanted to stay in the neighborhood and keep mom in the same ward.

He bought a great house just a block down the street.

I think all and all it work out OK and him and mom are happy in the new house.

A Very Special Stadium of Fire Celebration

This year was the Boys Scouts of America's 100th anniversary in America so the Stadium of Fire decided to have the biggest Eagle Court of Honor for there 4th of July celebration.

Riley qualified for his Eagle earlier this year so he was able to participant.

There was 261 fine young men getting there Eagles in the stadium that night.

Isn't he such a cutie!

Do I look like a proud mother?

Lou Diamond Philips was the host of the evening.

This is a picture I secretly took of him on stage with us while someone else is preforming.

Riley got to shack his hand and called him "Chavez" from the movie Young Guns. He laughed.

It was VERY COOL!

These are the pictures Scott took from the stands.

They had the regular Boy Scouts caring in flags for the open of the program.

Jason participated in that.

Here we are walking on the stage.

I guess yellow was a good color to wear so Scott could find me.

We ended up being behind the man conducting which put us on the big screen.

Jason watched the rest of the program from the field.

Cassie was just happy we went to see Carrie Underwood.

It was a very good performance.

Riley says, " Carrie Underwood was so lucky to be on the same stage as me. Heck she was so happy she started singing and dancing because of it."

Jason's next job was to be a blue glow stick holder for the border of America on the field.

Oh and the firework show was fun too.