Insane for McCain!!!

So who knew John McCain was going to have such a huge, surprising, such talked about convention right here in DAYTON, OHIO??!!! We didn't know how big this was until it happened. First, I have to start from the beginning. Eric had mentioned us going to it and asked if I wanted to go. I hummed and avoided answering, knowing it would require me to get a babysitter and arrange a day to be at a political event I wasn't sure would be worth it. I know, complain complain. Well Eric had flown to Georgia for a conference, and when he came home, he was the most focused person on this Earth to go pick up his tickets before the office closed that day. To me, it was impossible that he would make it, and we thought he missed his chance. Well later that evening he came home with 2 tickets he got from another office. SO, The next day, we hurry out to the convention. Joey went with us (camera got left at home :( we were sitting to the left of the band ) and we got in our seats just after 9am. Well, after an hour of preparations and prespeakers from local offices, we finally get to hear the announcement that John McCain is here. We wait, the band plays a song, and another song, and another. Finally, someone comes up to announce he is stuck in traffic. I laughed thinking it was a joke. No. We waited some more. Well at last, he comes out with his wonderful family and the cheering and flag waving fills the stadium. It was amazing how much we all support him. So I'll cut to the end though where he announces his running mate and vice president choice, Sarah Palin from ALASKA!!! We went crazy! She is so young, and has a baby, and as pointed out by several men we overheard, she is even pretty! I guess that matters quite a bit. :) What a shock, and how fun it was for us to hear her speak to everyone, but that day, in the Nutter Center Stadium, she was speaking to us. What an experience we will never forget. I'll be voting for the first time this year. I'm embaressed to admit that, but oh well, if it makes anyone else feel better because you haven't either, now you know you're not the only one. I see our politicians as regular people, like you and me, who are doing amazing things for our country. Hopefully for the betterment of it though. Hopefully we'll get a chance to see how Gov. Palin will clean house in our nation's capital as VICE PRESIDENT!

Joey's Medical Update

In June Joey went to Children's Hospital to do his yearly tests, measuring his kidney size and amount of reflux. He looked so cute in the little gown I had to snap a picture, even though it wasn't the funnest appt for him. The Drs are so nice and we're happy to live only 10 minutes from this hospital. He always goes away with cool stickers and toys, like his indoor/outdoor sunglasses. Anyway, after finding his right kidney is still quite large, the Dr recommended performing his surgery on Sept 8th to reimplant the tubes that are allowing backflow into the kidneys. It should completely fix the problem if all goes well, allowing him to not require his daily dose of antibiotics.


What gives me comfort is that Joey is young enough that I don't think he'll remember the surgery. That and we will be praying for him and giving him anything to make him comfortable. He is a healthy and very active 3-year-old and I am thankful we have wonderful Drs who can perform these miraculous surgeries that help us. Keep him in your prayers if you could!

Lots to do in Dayton

We got to go see a Dayton Dragons baseball game and LOVED it!  I really enjoyed sitting on the lawn!  No restrictions to a seat or bothering people around us with our pom poms.  The kids got to walk around and bit and we made sure to load up on food and ice cream, and of course we wore it too.  They had a kids area where you can buy a ticket for your child to hop in a bouncy room or a big maze.  The Dragons played well and won!  We took Eric's sister, KRISTYNE RUDOLPH, bowling on the Wright Patterson lanes.  It takes forever for our family to get through a game, so by the second one we're spent and the staff is announcing they are closing in 15 minutes.  

If you haven't been to Rollandia/Magic Castle off of the Wilmington Pike exit of I675, it is worth a trip.  They have an arcade with tons of fun games, a soft-playground for kids and parents, a batting cage, mini golf, water war area, and it's next to a larger golf course for the more serious players.  It's worth looking for coupons or becoming a VIP card-holder since the money seems to run out quickly; as always.  

A Summer in Utah

So I am still needing to play around with this Blog enough to know how to fix pictures and add links, but I hope I keep up with this as a way to keep in touch with friends and family.  This summer flew by since we stayed a month with my Mom and Dad in Utah.  The cousins got to play a lot and the tree was the hang out for the kids that were tall enough to get up in it's branches.  Samantha and Morgan volunteered to paint all the kids faces for the 4th of July and Finn's belly was included in the artwork.  The fire works were a BLAST and were sorry Mom and Dad Hardy couldn't stay and see it.  However, we are all glad they were with the Edwards in California to help Leslee and the family through her surgery.  So, while I can't include everything we did, this is a few shots of our fun time there.