Week #41: A Falcon Football Game

This week...

...Lainey got hit on the cheek by a baseball bat. And Paul was swinging that bat. It was classic accident. Paul didn't check before he swung the bat and Lainey didn't check before she walked by a seven year old boy with an active bat. We knew something was really wrong when Lainey came in to tell us what happened and she was stuck in the middle of one of those soundless cries. You know, when they're crying so hard and long that the sound expires long before their ability to go without breathing. We quickly assured Paul that he would not be grounded for the rest of his life and grabbed an ice pack for the little munchkin's face. We're pretty sure nothing's broken...she's just getting a nasty bruise on her cheek and under her eye. This is the best I could get of her cheek. You can see it on her left cheekbone and under her eye. It was a lot darker at the end of the week.

...we went to my nephew's football game. He plays JV for the Hanford Falcons. Even though the wind was blowing pretty good, I wasn't that cold. We took plenty of blankets, but the kids were running up and down the bleachers to play without their coats on by the end anyway. That's the fun of football games. (I was impressed that the port-o-potties had hand sanitizer. Score for Hanford - even thought they lost.)

Grandma Zirker, Claire, Aunt Julie Kay, Benjamin, and Emma Joy

The kids had a grand time pushing each other back and forth at the hand rail. 

...Lainey and Claire had a cooking class on making scones. They always love to play with the dough when Grandma is making something in the kitchen. In the end, Claire's had a big hole in it-Grandma says they taste better that way on account of the crispy edges-and Lainey's was just a round ball. They both ate them though.

...I saw the hand of God in the sky as the sun rose over our sleeping neighborhood. I don't sit out on the porch anymore because it's too cold. I now pull the blinds up in my office and sit inside to watch the sun's debut. Front row style. It's so refreshing! I love the variations in colors and clouds and intensity.

October 7th 

October 8th

October 9th

This was a perfect October morning. It was cold, cold, cold and there was a fun mist over the park. It made me think of graveyards on Halloween night.

October 10th

October 11th

...Benjamin actually ate two real tacos. For the longest time Benjamin has taken his tacos in mountains on his plate, minus the tortilla. I'd place the meat, cheese, olives, and corn (we like a south western touch on our tacos) in separate piles on his plate. Well, this week as I cooked the tortillas, I knew they were the best we've had in a long time. Golden and flaky-yum! It was the perfect day for Ben to say that he wanted to try a tortilla rolled up with all the fillings inside. I pulled a Regis asking him if he was sure and would he really eat it. He assured me that he would and I thought there was no harm in trying it. He made a great mess at his spot at the table, but I didn't care. Benjamin did the unthinkable and asked for another taco. I couldn't believe it. I made him another one and he ate the whole thing. Yum!

...I made the most perfect batch of cookies. I love it when they turn out looking like you could have purchased them from the store. That's when they are prime to share and they don't last long around the house. For every good baker loves to make a good presentation.

...Jason wrapped an SUV. It's a Ford Explorer. This time he learned how to take the door handles off so that there weren't any creases or crazy cuts around them. And we got to take it on a test drive.

...Texas Roadhouse helped us raise money for our friends, Scott and Mary Surplus. They sponsored a luncheon at $8.00 a plate and donated all of the proceeds to Scott and Mary. And it was their idea! We were blown away that they would do something like this and very touched to see them help make good happen in the world. The luncheon raised just about $1,000 for Mary to help with her recent medical bills on the heals of her cancer diagnosis. Her recent prognosis is good - no chemo at the this time. Wahoo!

Here's Jason with Scott and Mary Surplus as they eat their lunch.

 Here's Jason with the gang team taking their lunch break.
 

Here's Jason with Will Butts and staff from Texas Roadhouse. Will is the Marketing Manager for Texas Roadhouse and is very proactive in giving back to the community. Jason and I were so impressed with him through the whole process of planning, selling tickets, and serving the lunch. I was impressed that Will worked right alongside the other staff in serving tables. That's a great manager.

...Jason's squad dealt with a crazy driver. He was driving all over the road and in oncoming traffic as the County tried to pursue. The guy decided to ram a couple squad cars and flipped his car completely over the other two. The County car didn't make it all the way over. You can see where it landed. The black and white car was brand new with only 2,500 miles on it. Oops! None of the officers were injured in the collision. You can also read about it online in the Tri-City Herald (Pickup plows into police, sheriff's cars October 8th).

photo credit - BOB BRAWDY — Tri-City Herald

...Lainey went to the dentist for the first time. You can tell from the pictures that she had fun. Paul went first because he was really worried about the whole visit. That allowed Lainey to really see what was going to happen too. Lainey wasn't worried though. She kept asking us when it would be her turn. When her turn was done, she wanted them to do more. All my kids have made it through the dentist chair this year and no cavities! It helps a lot that Amber is our hygienist. That put Paul at ease. It makes Lainey think the office was an extension of Amber's house. She got away from me at the end and went down the hall asking for Amber at each room. 

Week #40: Candy Corn Bingo Bowl

This week...

...we showed up for the day. And the day was great. All week.

September 30th

October 1st

I love the moment when the sun first peaks up over the horizon. I love to watch and feel as it makes it's way up in the sky. I love the colors and gradual degrees of brightness until it shines in its eye blinding glory.

October 2nd

October 5th

...tracing has been the trend around the house. They've taken all of their big book coloring pages and turned them around so they can trace the image on the back. They discovered that by taping the pages to the window tracing is a whole lot easier.

...I went with Emma's class to the planetarium at CBC. They got to ride the city bus and walk over. It was great fun. It's auditorium seating style and the screen is above your heads. We watched a presentation on the planets and constellations and the mythology behind them.

We saw a skyline view of the campus and she adjusted the brightness of the sun so we could see the stars that are out during the day but not visible.

...the season is almost over. Fall is here. You have to admit, Fresh Picks looks good on green.

...Benjamin and Claire made applesauce with their Kindergarten class. I went in for an hour or so to help. Lainey was also glad that they let her help too.

  

...General Conference rolled around again, with lots of exclamations of: "Gee, I can't believe it's Conference again," and "Oh man, where did the time go?" This year I thought it would be fun to have a seasonal candy bowl for our bingo game. We've tried to simplify our conference experience by about half. Too many snacks and they hoard them, not using them throughout the session to keep them quiet or attentive. We had two bowls for each session and that was plenty. We used candy corn, Laffy Taffy, pretzels, and cheezits. This year we also got wise and used dry erase markers on our Bingo boards. We didn't have to worry about the papers falling off or messed up boards.

Everyone found and claimed a spot. Jason worked his magic so we could watch conference on the TV, instead of cramped in the office.

Emma was saving a comfy spot for dad. She wrote a very intimidating note: "Do not sit here or suffer the rath [sic] of dad."

Lainey was trying to match the picture from our stack with who was actually speaking. She was having a little bit of trouble but wouldn't allow anyone to help her out. She simply held each picture up until they matched.

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.