Two Fer

Zoe had an accident today at school. She tripped on something in the classroom, fell and hit a table on the way down and managed to put her lower teeth through her lip and knock out her two front teeth. Gratefully they were baby teeth that were already loose. The lacerations on her lower lip are small. The fat lip combined with the hole in the front is making it hard for her to talk, but other than that she is doing well. Curiously enough Molly also knocked out her two front teeth in an accident as well, but not with as much collateral damage. When I picked Heidi up from school I told her what happened to Zoe. Her response "That is a really bad day." Of course by the time we were home she was already trying to devise ways to tease Zoe for her missing teeth.

What were you for Halloween?

My candy hoarding monsters, dressed up as a firefighter, a cowgirl, a pink pirate and a hippie. Molly went trick or treating with her friend Breelyn, and was able to cover more area. She has a big haul. The younger kids went with the Hunsakers and had a good time. It was my turn this year to hand out candy. I usually try to dress up, but I had dressed up on Thursday night for a party in a dress from high school and to be honest I had two hot dogs for dinner and was fairly confident I wouldn't be able to breathe if I put it on.

The happiest place on earth

We waffled. We vacillated. We decided and then we stayed up way too late putting together a plan. We went to Disneyland for fall break. I am sure if you were an outsider observing the process it took to get us there you would laugh out loud. In the end we had a really great time.

We left on Wednesday afternoon and went to the Disney compound on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We ran our kids from one attraction to the next letting them stop for an occasional dip into the snacks we packed from the “outside” to save us the pain of watching our kids not eat a meal we overpaid for. Disneyland takes a strategy. We refined ours each day. When we go back we will know better. Of course we will go back because we bought the annual pass, so now we have to get our money’s worth.

When we arrived back home and were completely exhausted we wondered if we had run the kids too hard and too fast for too long. We will take that into consideration for our next trip. For now no one is whining about the prospect of going back.

Here is the photo evidence of what we did:

My kids favorite ride: the tram from the parking garage to the park. Who knew?

Our first ride, Dumbo.

The tea cups. Anyone feeling sick yet?

Another ride that goes around in circles. This one always has a painfully long line and I can never really figure out the draw for this one.

We spent a fair amount of time on King Tritons carousel as we waited for big kids to cycle through the California Screamin' line. Heidi was devastated she was not big enough to go on California Screamin'. Tanner is too scared to ride on carousel characters and always insists on sitting on the "bench."

Turn the pipes on when you get there

Last week Reed's uncle Dwayne passed away. He grew up in Safford, worked for the foreign service and traveled the world and then settled in Elgin after he retired. Because he was not related to an original homesteading family and did not go to school in Elgin he always referred to himself as a "newcomer" and an "outsider" in this close knit rural community. Apparently the locals have a saying for those who pass over-"when you get there, turn the pipes on" referring to the every present need for water in the desert. It rained the day of his memorial. Everyone took it as a sign that he truly had become "one of them".

The sign outside the firehouse where the memorial service was held.

Family picture at the Elgin homestead.
Reed, his mom, Aunt Zalia, Cousin Leigh, Sister Zalia and our kids.

3 meters, no problem

We went back to the Kyrene pool on Labor day, just because we wanted to get pictures of Heidi on the 3 meter springboard (we met up with cousins there too which was way more fun for our kids than just hanging out with mom and dad.) Heidi had her game on. Here is a photo essay of her feat.

The assent

A short pause

there she goes

re-entry

swim to safety

pleased as punch with herself

She also swam laps with Reed, but we didn't get that recorded. Maybe next time.

Tonight for FHE

A few weeks ago while preparing a lesson for the 8-9 year olds I teach in Primary I ran across this story. I pulled it out for family home evening tonight. I tied in the scripture from Alma 5:14 in the Book of Mormon. I thought it might be over the kids heads, but they got it. Heidi's response "Mom, that was a really good lesson." I wanted to share this story, because it is just nice to have a reminder that there is always someone watching over us, regardless of what trials we are facing, and in the end if we endure well we will be more like Him.

Heidi's exploits, Zoe's outing

Last Saturday Zoe went to see Beauty and the Beast with her primary class and her former primary teacher, Andrea Dunlap. She was excited to go and had a great time.

Here they all are:

On the homefront Heidi was devastated that she was not invited, so she strong armed Reed into coming up with an alternate form of entertainment. We ended up going to a pool in Chandler (all Phoenix pools closed when school started for budget reasons). At the Kyrene pool they have a high dive. Heidi went to jump of the diving boards and was soon enticed to climb up. She told Reed she was going to do it. Reed thought of discouraging her, but then decided he wasn't going to fill her head with fears. So she climbed up and she jumped off, then jumped again, and again. She is one tough kid.
Tonight after dinner Heidi was recounting her day and let slip that she kissed a boy. I asked her if it is the boy that chases her at recess. No, that is Caleb. Does she chase him? Sometimes. Did she kiss him on the playground? no, in the lunch room. Does she have a boyfriend? Yes, what is his name? Brennan. The whole time we were having this conversation Heidi was jumping around, excited about letting it slip and kind of knowing that she shouldn't, but couldn't help herself. I just whispered to Reed under my breath, "we have our hands full with this one."