Week #39: Uninsured Motorists

This week...

...I both witnessed and experienced a collision. After mutual this week, I was stopped at a stop sign waiting to turn left. I was taking some of the girls home after our youth activity. There was a little, white car across the busy street facing us stopped at the stop sign waiting to go straight. All the cars passed and the way was almost clear for us to move, except for one last Nissan truck. Well, that little, white car didn't wait for the Nissan truck to pass. It pulled out across the street right in front of the truck. I was dumbfounded as I watched and shocked as I realized that the car was going to get hit, and that they were going to hit me. It all happened just a split second after I realized all this and by then it was too late to do something smart like back out of the way. That would have been great. But tell me who has the presence of mind to do that in this type of situation?

I reassured the girls in my car. They were pretty shook up because it was their first time being in a collision. Then I made two phone calls, 1. For someone to come get the girls 2. For Jason to come and help me out (luckily he was off). No one was seriously injured and the damage to my car wasn't that bad. It's still costing quite a bit to be fixed though. The woman driving the little, white car did not have insurance. Thankfully, we have uninsured motorist coverage. We only have to pay $100 and our insurance will fix the car. Phew!

...Lainey was so excited to go to the doctor for her wellness check. She was so compliant and eager. She sat just right and opened her mouth just right. She even sniffed just right when they put the flew mist up her nose. The only thing she didn't like was when the doctor had to check her ears.

Loving it!

...the sun didn't fail me. It was gorgeous!

September 23rd

September 25th

...I mustache you to look at more silly photos of my kids. We were invited to a luncheon with friends in celebration of their baby blessing. We all had a blast visiting, eating, and laughing. These chocolate mustache pops were our parting treats. The kids were having fun with them in the car. The picture quality isn't that great, but mustaches are just one of those things that make me laugh, especially Lainey's half eaten one.

...I've been making salsa. My friend Amber shared some tomatoes and a great salsa recipe with me this week. I've always wanted to try out homemade salsa and this was the perfect chance.

...Emma had her first harp lesson. This was simply a deal that we could not refuse. Ever since Emma learned that Shelly Norman plays the harp...and ever since Shelly Norman played a song for us on her harp...and ever since Shelly Norman allowed Emma to try out the harp for herself, Emma has been really interested. But where do you find a harp and someone to give lessons? Well, Shelly Norman offered to give Emma lessons, at no charge. Shelly Norman offered to let Emma use her smaller harp and store it at our house for easy practicing. Shelly Norman said she would come to our house to give Emma her weekly lesson. What a sweet deal, right? So we discussed with Emma the importance of maintaining school work, with piano lessons/practice, and harp lessons/practice. She was still for it. So we're trying it out. The other kids like to pluck the strings when they think they can sneak a chance. The only thing is that I can hear them no matter how sneaky they are. Haha!

This is Lainey behind the harp cover trying to be sneaky. Hhmm! The sound gives you away Lainey dear.

...Lainey had a little Dad time. She likes to crawl up behind you on the computer chair and make herself comfortable. Even if that means you aren't so comfortable with her knees in your back.

...the sunset as I was leaving the church after the General Women's broadcast. It doesn't matter which end of the day you capture, Heavenly Father gives us a gift each time.

Week #38: Waking up with the Sun

This week...

...I canned pears and peaches. This year I was determined to catch them at just the right ripeness. They turned out great! Lainey was my helper. She ate a slice every time she circled around on her scooter.

 

These little wasp-ies were so annoying! They were swarming the jars, the fruit, and me! I finally got my fly swatter to bat them away and exterminate if necessary.

...I'm still waking up with the sun. Ok, I admit. I have missed a couple of days because I've slept in. But, I feel such a loss when I miss my 20 minutes with the sun.

Sept. 15th - the kids came out to join me

Sept. 16th

Sept. 17th

Sept. 21st-don't these look fake? or maybe like a painting?

...I got a flat tire on the freeway. It made for an interesting, and expensive, adventure. I went willingly into the madness that is Goodwill and came away, for the first time in a long time, feeling like I'd found some good deals. Then I rolled out onto the road and the flat tire fun began. I heard something weird, so I pulled over to check it out. I noticed nothing abnormal. So I drove. I didn't make it very far when I heard a horrendous, semi-truck-slowing-down sound and realized that the sound was coming from my car. So I pulled over. I tried calling Jason eight times unsuccessfully waking him. He sleeps with his phone on vibrate and is on nights, so I hoped against hope that he would wake up and be able to help me. In the end, I called for a ride and I went home to wake Jason up.

Here's the lovely flat. It was one mammoth nail that I ran over. We put our roadside assistance to work and had Geoff from Rad Towing come and change the tire for us. 1. Because I had no idea how to do it - there's life skills for ya. 2. Because Jason was half asleep.

He had it changed in a flash and we headed to Les Schwab.

...we had a crazy storm blow in. The wind really picked up and whipped through the neighborhood. The dark clouds rolled in, bringing lightning and rain. A wall of dirt rose in the southern distance and quickly overtook us. We were thrown into shadow within minutes of spotting the great dirt cloud on the move. These photos are courtesy Jason, who was on duty at the time. 

...we found Sara again. Sara Hamilton is one of Emma's good friends from last year. She was in Fifth grade when Emma was in Third. They rode the same bus and Sarah would often walk Emma home across the park before back tracking to her own home just so they could talk longer. I liked Sarah too. She was is well mannered, respectful, and sweet. Just the kind of girl you want your kids hanging out with. I encouraged Emma to get her phone number or address so we'd know how to contact her over the summer. Alas, we forgot...and the whole summer passed without word of Sarah and her well being. Oh, the agony! Then one day this week, Sarah appeared at the park and walked over for a visit. She stayed to talk with Emma, eat otter pops, and ride around the park. Before she left, we got her number and address. Now we know how to find her to drop off treats or call her to play.

...I went on a temple walk with my Beehives and then we stopped for hot chocolate.

Jaki, Emily Hale, Isabel, me

Week #37:Cucumbers and Donuts and Birthdays

This week...

...Benjamin and Claire had an EPIC 6th birthday party. Do you like my use of the word Epic? It's used everywhere these days. And I wonder to myself, do people even know what it means? Or do they just use it because its the hottest new word. Although I've seen it used as far back as 10 years ago. It just didn't catch on until now. Merriam Webster online says that epic is defined as 1. telling a story about a hero or about exciting events or adventures 2. very great or large and usually difficult or impressive 3. extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope 4. heroic. Now, I suppose i have used it correctly in describing Benjamin and Claire's birthday party. It was definitely an exciting event or adventure that we set out to achieve for them. It was impressive on my part to actually, in sanity of mind, knowingly invite 18 children for the party. Of those 18, only 14 came. But then you add in one attendee's little brother and Ben, Claire, Emma, and Paul and we were back up to 18. It was beyond the usual for us to have so many kids running around in the backyard and it was difficult to get them to listen to me at any given time during the hour long party. So indeed, it was an epic birthday celebration. Quite heroic on my part, actually. 

Here's the chaos around the table for the birthday song, cake, and ice cream. I made ice cream cone cupcakes for the kids. (They reminded me of birthdays at my friend Heidi's.) The kids loved them!

We tried to play some games outside, but quickly abandoned that idea. We started with Red Rover. Once I could get them to listen to me, we tried it out. Only we wrenched the arm of the poor little girl I was holding onto. Then we wrenched the arm of another little boy. They were both almost in tears so we moved on to Red Light, Green Light. It went well until a brother/sister pair got into a punching match. Inside we went for cake, ice cream, and presents.

Benjamin was excited to see the remote control truck from Danica.

They got art supplies from Peyton Greenhalgh - fun!

Taya knew just what to get for Claire - a horse!

Attendees included: Taya and Paxton Riner; Isabella and Jaron Sandoval; Afton, Eli, and Reid Bagley; Peyton Greenhalgh; Danica Schab; Jacob Wellman; Garrette and Daniel King; Grace Barney;  Sophie and Carson Buchannan.

Ben and Claire with their birthday cereal picks - Cookie Crisp and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

...I've been waking up with the sun. It has been so refreshing, inspiring, and rejuvenating. I try to get out on the front porch at 6:30 so that I can watch and feel the sun gradually make its appearance on the eastern horizon. I take my scriptures and my scripture journal to read, ponder, and reflect. 

Sept. 12th

Sept. 13th

...we toured the human body. A giant inflatable human body that is. It was a quick run through, but it was fun to see the large heart, kidneys, stomach, liver and ribs. We read the facts quickly with animated voices to make it seem like they weren't learning and to keep their attention. We even got to slide through the esophagus. Before we went, Benjamin asked how we would get out. I said "We'll go in through the mouth and out through the bum." They thought that was a great prospect, but we went out at the waist.

We went in through the mouth, as I predicted.

Paul thought it was great fun to lean on the heart.

You can see the kidneys and liver as well as the spine. Claire is checking out the stomach.

...we hit the library again. I was feeling ambitious.The nice man brought out the building blocks and I lugged our stacks, yes stacks, of books to the self check out stand.

...the boys were being silly on the new couches. Finally, more seating. I love our new couches. They complete the room in such a great way.

Lainey wanted to join the fun and show off some tricks of her own.

...we had a great standards night for the youth. The Moons spoke and they did such a great job. When Brother Moon spoke, I felt like I was present at a Time Out For Women talk. He had us laughing one minute, feeling the spirit the next, and in awe at how he tied everything in his talk together. He was great. One young man from the audience helped read a quote and received a cucumber as his reward. At the conclusion of the night, we enjoyed donuts from Vierra's bakery. You know how much I love that combination - Vierra's and donuts. I went up to tell the Moons how much I enjoyed their remarks and I got a cucumber. Haha!

My spoils of the night made me think of the balance that is necessary in everything that we do. Especially in staying true to our standards. We can enjoy both the healthy and sweet treat just as we can enjoy the fashions and styles around us without going overboard. 

...Lainey packed her bag for preschool. I had to review what kinds of things go in the back pack. She still doesn't get it and we play that endless of game of her putting things in and me taking them out. It's great fun.