Pike's Pickles

Happy 4'th of July

2008-07-04T05:20:00.000-07:00

I'm off to start the eggs and pancakes for the local pancake breakfast and then rush Caroline to sing at a performance . I had dreamed of coming up with some really eloquent post about freedom and our country . But, I'll do that later okay? Meanwhile have a happy Fourth of July!

Tagged by Miss Hope ( Uggghhh)

2008-07-02T08:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Miss Hope,
This morning to my utter dismay, complete shock and absolute horror.... you have tagged me on your blog with your post. So, here I sit, completely drug free pondering the speed at which the last 15 years have passed. Not a good thing with your first born baby going off to college soon. I really hesitate to be cooperative as I prefer to leave some things in the past.
Here it is my best attempt.
Mrs PP

The assignment
Here's the deal. Think back on the last 15 years of your life.What would you tell someone that you hadn't seen or talked to for 15 years? How would you sum up your life? You get 10 bullet points. A list of 10 things to summarize about you. At the end of your list, tag 5 more people and send on the love.

"Hey, how are you doing? Wow I cant believe 15 years has flown by. Whats happened? Lets walk together. Lets see, i'll try to keep this on the positive and not go off on a whim here. Well, by 1993 I already had sweet, bubbly, Allyssa and was pregnant with Trey. He was such a fun, adventurous baby boy. He was a boy of few words - more of an observer. Later he became my little protector and was always looking out for my safety. A few years later, Aaron came into my days and I have been laughing ever since with his antics. About that time my ex decided he wanted to spread his wings and "find himself". It didnt bother me too much because I knew that right away I would make friends in the church there. We packed up our home, belongings and moved to North Carolina. I loved it there. I loved it so much that I bragged alot to my father about the area. Soon, he packed his bags into a big truck and put in his retirement papers. I found him and his wife an apartment in my neighborhood. Upon stepping off of the step of the truck at his new address he had a massive heart attack. It was so hard to see him like this. During this time the local church members were so helpful, taking care of my children while I unpacked his moving truck and tried to get them settled. Slowly he would recover but not fully. Meanwhile, my ex discovered he wasn't finding himself find himself there. GO figure. So he quit his job and we returned to NY to live with his parents. That was the longest, teariest ride of my life. Upon returning, I was working 3 jobs to pay the bills while my ex sat in a coffee shop with the locals day after day and cheated on me night after night.

NEXT CHAPTER

While working for Novacare, I was lucky enough to have an incredible woman as my boss, Joan Kane . She was so insightful and a true leader. One day we were in the clinic and she looked at me in the eye and said " Who has made you feel the way you do? Who has done this to you? You are wonderful. You are strong. Don't let him treat you this way."

That night I prayed probably the deepest, most anguished prayer and asked for peace amidst all that was happening. I further asked that I would know what was the best thing to do for my children. Prayers were answered in the still of the night.

April 16'th 1999, I walked out of the house and never looked back. I felt the peace of knowing that the Lord was with me every step of this path. The divorce was very quick. Ironic- after 9 years and 363 days of marriage , I would have expected more difficulty. And Literally, I met the man of my dreams within months. We dated for awhile and then we were married in April of 2000. Now, all of this navy wife stuff was new to me. I had gone from welfare and food stamps to Officer wives get togethers on the waterfront with crystal table settings . It made for a few interesting, humorous stories at which I will undoubtedly be coerced to share at a later date. Soon after we moved to Newport, my father passed away . And then after Christmas my sweet Caroline was born. She was a temperamental baby who didn't really like Momma until her first birthday. It took her that long to discover what "gem" I am. LOL.

The next stop was Virginia. Jason was out on the ship most of the time and we rarely saw each other. At one point, he was even told to cancel leave orders 2 days before we were going on a week vacation to DisneyWorld. Gotta love the whole married to the Navy thing. He was out more than in those few years and I was bumping my way around the wives clubs trying to make friends with the few women who didn't care how many stripes my husband had. I got along better with the fewer stripped women but "tradition" dictated" that I had to hang with equal stripes. The husband finally told me to just be happy and hang with whoever......During one of his trips to some undisclosed location, I packed up the kids and we went on surprise vacation to California. Upon my return, he asked,' "What did you think?" I said'" It's a beautiful place to visit but we could NEVER afford to live there."

famous last words.

NEXT CHAPTER

Me: Hello? Jason? Is there an emergency?

Jason: ( crackiling and static of the connection from Ship to land) No, No emergency. I love you Honey. We need to talk, the Navy just told me that there is a quick fill billet that they need me to fill. ( more static) We need to move in 8 weeks.

Me: Where? What ? I love this house? How?

Jason: ( more crackling and static) San Diego, California

(Nothing is heard except a thump as I hit the floor.)

Moving here has been loaded with tons of blessings, good friends and niceties along the way. Jason was able to adopt the three oldest children . A nice formality as they had been calling him Dad from the moment they met him. And in April of 2006 we were able to go and be sealed for time and all eternity as a family. I would say that has been the highlight of my journey thus far. To have my children surrounding me in the beauty of the San Diego temple and to know that we can be together forever.

Last year, in December Gabriella joined our sweet, crazy, hectic, unpredictable family filled with laughter and love.

The last 15 years I can promise you, I have never once been alone. Sometimes the journey has been hard and tiresome but I have felt my Saviors love every step of the way. Many times I have had prayers answered barely before they have left my mouth. Life has been very, very good.

NEXT CHAPTER
stay tuned...................

TAG-
Della
Ally
Mr Vonsteiff
Orange Peanut
Fourney Four
and anyone else who wants to join in

CONTEST WINNERS

2008-07-01T06:48:00.001-07:00

Everyone who participated in last weeks 25 things to do this summer contest has
won the free grand prize.

If you didn't participate yet, you may still do so and the prize will be yours as well. If you don't have a blog just list your list of 25 things to do in my comments section.
Once you do so, consider yourself invited to California. I have decided its too darn expensive to go anywhere this year but, we would love to have visitors come. Lynniece, Della, Jennifer, Miss Hope, Chelle, Moms friends, and anyone else? I would love to have more company! We can either put you up in our home or I will "create" a lovely place for you in the yard if that suits you better.

We can go to the beach, the zoo, the museums, Disneyland, etc. Just drop a note and let me know when you will be arriving and I will leave a mint on your pillow.

Gabriellas Surf Lessons

2008-06-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

Tonight was family night , so off we went to the beach.

Gabriella got surf lessons from Daddy. She loved this and would have been
happy if daddy could have done it the whole time.

Aaron and Trey hung out with friends and Ally took pictures.

Aaron Alex and Co.

2008-06-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

Aaron can be quite the little, industrious,little kid. He has been studying all kinds of methods for making and investing money. The other night I found him in the office, sitting on the floor asking his Dad questions about investing money. He has paired his talents and energies with another entrepreneur and the results have been simply amazing. Since the business merge, the boys have been hours on end; planning, building inventory , creating websites, opening paypal accounts and testing out new equipment.

The are excited to introduce ....

THE MARSHMALLOW SHOOTER
This streamlined (completely harmless) "weapon" is a ton of fun and introduces children to mechanics and the science of weaponry.
This also might be a good stress reliever for adults as well.
Buy early for Christmas.
A great toy for homeschoolers.

And now without further adieu and fanfare CLICK HERE to go to Aaron and Alex Co.

SPECIAL- For my internet bloggies - I will throw in a bag of marshmallows free if you order from him this week.

Remember the Drive In theater?

2008-06-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

I do. They were always so much fun. I remember my parents would load up the station wagon with chips, peanuts, soda, sleeping bags and whatever else they thought they needed. I can remember many a starry night sitting in the back, front or roof of the station wagon watching Disney movies in Homer, New York.

Well, last night our dear friends George and Sherry (and Alex too) invited us to go to the Drive In theater ( in Santee) with them. It was so much fun! We got there early and got the camp set up ... in the front row no less ! We had 2 coolers filled with soda, salads and sandwiches. We watched the movie Wally after that The Incredible Hulk was coming on but we were already getting tired. Sherry brought a HUGE bag filled with popcorn that we ate and threw at each other. It was such a fun walk down memory lane - thanks.

Here is a picture of our set up.

Also - I caved in. The other day when I went to drop Trey off at his friends house, I stumbled across this great little find. What do you think?

DO you know how very hard it is to get an 18 month old and a
kitten to stay still long enough for a picture?

THIS IS A TEST OF THE EMERGENCY SOMETHING OR OTHER SYSTEM

2008-06-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Bloggies,

Mr friend Della had an interesting reader and commenter on her blog the other day CLICK HERE. And Read the second post down NO MORE ASPARTAME first and then open the comment section to see Mr Garsts long (very long, my mother has never commented that long) comments.

Tell me , how did he find her blog out there in cyberland? How did he track her down? Does he have stock in Aspartame? Does he have a wife? (Cmon I am curious? ) Does he have children? Does he have pets? Is he one of those health food junkies or does he drive through the drive thru on occasion? What kind of car do you think he drives? Is he a genuine PHD? Does he run triathalons on the weekend or does he watch baseball or take kids to museums? Will he leave a longer, nicer comment on my blog than he left on Dellas? Cmon, my curiosity is killing me? Really, WHO IS MR GARST?

Okay - Here is my test. I am going to put "certain" sentences here to see if I can LURE him in. (I'm not one to bet but I would bet a plate of brownies that he'll show up around here today......)

BAN ASPARTAME

ASPARTAME IS YUCKY

Aspartame and Nutrasweet are very bad ....

names for childrem.

NUTRASWEET KILLED MY GUINEA PIG -

though I have really never had a guinea pig.

ASPARTAME AND NUTRASWEET ARE EVIL PLOTS TO OVER THROW MY HOUSEHOLD.

MY PREGNANCY WAS CAUSED BY NUTRASWEET AND ASPARTAME.

HELLO MR GARST

Please

leave me a comment and .... if it could be longer than Dellas I would be ecstatic !? Please if your feeling extra nice, tell us a little bit about yourself.

CONTEST

2008-06-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

fun things to do

with your kids

this summer !

Pack up a lunch and have a picnic
go to some of your local museums
Have a lemonade stand
Write a letter or send a postcard
read a book or tell a silly joke
Draw on the sidewalk
Make your own bubbles
make a list of things that they want to do
Start a collection...stamps, bugs, bottlecaps, boogers...
lay out and watch the stars
let them teach you something
play a board game
hide in the bushes and wait for your teenagers to come home and scare them
go for a drive
watch a baseball game
make cookies
play in the stream
tell stories
play in the neighbors sprinklers
toilet paper someones house
Tell them about what it was like when you were a child
Say your sorry
Go for a walk
Hug
Say I love you in acts and words.
Your turn –Post your own 25 things to do this summer on your blog and link it back here. Leave a comment saying that you’re joining the fun. Deadline is one week from today. Be funny, creative, original, be yourself and have fun! For contest prize click here!

old people.....

2008-06-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

Old people are supposed to sit around discussing bowel irregularities and read the latest edition of AARP. For fun they are supposed to play bingo, shuffleboard and exchange Jello and Molasses cookie recipes.

NOT!
Mythbusters was here this past week and in conjuction with the grandparents - they BEAT the myth.

I hope that they are home right now in there quiet, little community doing old people stuff right now cuz they sure as heck didn't do it while they were here. I am telling you we were one busy group of people! First Grandpa tackled the garage. . .For those of you who had never seen my garage it was a huge mess which only complicated itself after the fires. It became the edge of the Earth and we were dumping all of our toxic waste there. I suppose one of the kids could have pitched a tent there and I would have never crossed paths with them. NOT NOW- all of the garden tools are in one spot, the tools are all back in the tool box ( glory be!) , the miracle grow, pesticides and paint cans have found there places. The sleeping bags are all reunited and the dead rat has been removed.

We also attended two graduations, went to the beach, had a graduation party, a few cook outs with friends, the county fair, a drive to Ramona, planted some more vegetables, fed the missionaries twice, A day at Disneyland, out to dinner at a great Italian restaurant, the bathroom light was repaired, sat in the hot tub, and the creme de la resistance we ( JUST the girls) went to the fashion district in LA shopping...

Did I mention the temperatures have been over 100 this week?

When MOM speaks.............it never ends!!!

2008-06-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

Tom cooking hot dogs at the beach.
Hi all, Nana, Alison, Sharon, Helen, Jo Ann and George, Joann and John, Bev and Bill, Vera and any of the New Yorkers who come on this blog I might have forgotten!
Here Tom and I are in sunny California (real sunny, and HOT) and I have been asked to be a guest on Pikespickles. So, I do not think I am as funny as my Erma Brombeck daughter and don't have tales to tell, yet. We are throughly enjoying our visit with the family. How they have grown since last year. We got to Trey's 8th grad graduation a little late on Friday. Gosh, he is so tall and mature and handsome. Ally's graduation was very nice and a party after. Gee, I keep remembering her as the little girl of 5 learning to read Junie B. books and can't believe she is a grown woman now and quite beautiful. Tears of joy and sadness (alittle).
Of course, Aaron and Caroline have grown a lot too. Caroline is turning into quite the lady and Aaron is a great guy with a very scientific mind. Then there is Gabriella. She is a whole year older and a funny cute baby.
We have been to the beach and will head for Disneyland tomorrow and shopping in LA Saturday. Also have been in the hot tub once and took a scenic trip to pick up Trey yesterday. It was kind of a goof but, got to see edges of valley cliffs, sometimes a little closer than I wanted to be on the passenger side. Stefany is a good driver but, that road was pretty narrow in places.
Okay, so as not to wear out my welcome I am outta here. Watch for me on the comments side aka or anonymous MOM.

FAMILY NIGHT

2008-06-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

at the beach

Every other Monday in the summer time we go to the beach with some of our friends after our dads get there we have roasted hotdogs and marsh mellows ( we are all about healthy eating). Then we usually sit round the campfire and the grownups talk. Last night we didn’t stay very long as we were all pretty wiped out.

Graduation

2008-06-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

Ally graduated with Honors yesterday.
I am a mixture of emotions; exhaustion, joy, relief and sorrow to see her move on.

She has worked so hard and has accomplished so much. We are SOOO very proud of her.

Here is a picture of her after the graduation ceremony.

Here is a picture of her with her teacher, Mr Porter, in front is the "Ally shrine" with the awards that she won.

Best PreTrial Defense Lawyer
Excellence in Leadership

And a picture with her proud grandparents.

LATE BREAKING NEWS

2008-06-14T06:17:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE
---------------------------------------

Just after writing that last post... I got the inviation of a life time. I was invited into the secret realm of the teenager.

Yep, you got it a custom invitation.

SIDENOTE- Ally has her best friend Christie staying with us this week for her graduation. ( Christie moved to Utah last year) Here is a picture of the girls

So, on the eve of my daughter graduating from high school. I was invited to come up and join them in teenager land. Can you imagine? We laughed till we couldn't breathe about things I have sacredly sworn to never divulge, we shared secrets that if I were to share or pass judgments based upon I would lose my motherhood pass and then I answered life's questions - the best I could. At about 2:00 am we finally went to sleep. But can you imagine how cool it was to have such a free pass if even for a short time? I am telling you, it was worth every bit of lost sleep and if ever given a shot at the free pass - TAKE IT.

I will now pop a few excedrin and get on with the day and start the party preparations...

Priceless

2008-06-13T22:56:00.000-07:00

Cost of a csection- 3000.00

Cost of a broken arm - 10.00 copay

Cost of competitive soccer - about 1000.00 a year

Cost of seeing Trey graduate from Eighth Grade.......
Priceless

Trey "Buddy"
I love you.
You are one amazing kid.
I meant what I shouted as you went up to get your diploma.
Those 4 simple words.
I have and always will .
I have shouted that to you from the sidelines of soccer games in snow, sleet and temperatures of over 100.
I have meant it when I have told it to you as
we have been on drives talking about ...stuff.
I have meant it when I have gone to bed leaving you to finish up school reports...
As I have uttered those same 4 words to you
before going out to hang out with friends..
I hope that you can feel the depth of them.

so one more time today ......

" I BELIEVE IN YOU !!!"

one graduation down...one to go.

Bloggies, I'll talk to you tomorrow!
This is going to be one crazy, blogging week !
Perhaps ...even a post from a guest blogger.

arrgh

2008-06-12T13:31:00.001-07:00

This has been such a crazy week. Trey is graduating from middle school tomorrow and Ally graduates from High school on Saturday. Never fear , we will post a few photos of each ! I am trying to get the house cleaned and ready for Family and Allys friends visiting and the graduation party . The graduation party... 150 hamburgers and 50 hotdogs. Do you think thats enough? A potato salad, fruit salad, 2 kinds of dips for veggies and coleslaw. Not to mention that each of the kids had their end of year conference and meeting with their teacher. ( this by itself can be a bit stressful as we have to have all of the work completed, graded and organized before we walk in. My fellow homeschoolers just felt a shiver run up their spine.) They all did wonderful! Aaron even pulled his C in writing up to an A+ !

Today the door installers are here installing a new door. Ours was kicked in during the fires (by a wonderful, concerned fireman). We "jerry rigged" it to make it until today but I cant tell you how happy I am with my new door. Pictures of that to follow as well. . .Its hard to keep sanity when your front door is open wide to the world and the neighbors dog keeps running in and peeing on my tile. . .

You get the idea - I have been exhausted. Quite plainly put, some days I feel like I am going to trip over my own boobs as I am leaning so far forward , dragging so much from exhaustion. I feel like a true one legged man in a butt kicking contest!

So --- all of that being said, leave it to my good friend Alisa to send me a picture from her cell phone ( She is on vacation in NY) to completely crack me up. Check it out. I guess she must have known that I needed a funny picture for my blog.

Spring Choir Performance !

2008-06-09T21:16:00.001-07:00

Event number one, of a week filled with excitement, happened tonight!
Caroline's choir performance.
It was a wonderful show and now for your viewing enjoyment.....

The show was so amazing and there were many great performers.
And now without further adieu and fan fare is a video clip of Caroline "rapping".

Happy Birthday on June 9'th

2008-06-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

A story that I don't want forgotten

2008-06-07T22:36:00.000-07:00

About 4 years ago I was making Tshirt invitations for Treys Birthday party. I was using the iron on sheets and I had printed the invitation onto them with the printer. It was really neat- I even found away for the printer to flip the image so that the letters would end up the right way after the iron on happened. It was a long process of creating, printing, ironing. It really took awhile but these were so cute they were worth it. About halfway through it I caught Aaron doing something mean to Caroline.

Now take a moment to look at the picture to remind yourself how darling this boy can be.

I told him not to do it again and off he stomped to his bedroom mumbling things to me. A few minutes later he appeared and went to the computer and grabbed a piece of paper ( which was actually tshirt transfer paper) and wrote me my first and...only hate mail ( from him at least)

I read it and actually giggled as a most wonderful thought popped into my head. . .

After he went back upstairs, I grabbed a clean tshirt form the drawer and made myself a tshirt that looked something like this.

When he woke up he took one look at me and said;

"Mommy, take it off. ( ARMS crossed across the chest) I didn't mean it. NOW TAKE THE SHIRT OFF."

I think I wore that shirt the rest of the day ...........much to his chagrin.

(This is a re-creation of the image as the actual
shirt later disappeared and was never found again ?)

A random moment

2008-06-07T04:53:00.000-07:00

brought to you by none other than Aaron, Trey and Caroline.

So we were driving down the road . I love the discussion clips that I overhear in the back seat of my family SUV. Yesterday - I was driving down the road and heard some good ones. They just seem to be coming at a high price lately with gas costs.

Caroline says

"Mom did you know that thing hanging down in the back of your throat is a YOOUVULA?"

a long reflective silence

" Mom what EXACTLY is the purpose of a YOOOOOOUVULA?"

Trey says

" Mom, you know how they are talking about making a wall between Mexico and the United States?"

"Yes Trey?"

"Mom, WHO would they be having build the wall? The Mexicans are the only ones who would work hard in the hot sun and get paid a small amount. I doubt they would build their own demise. Who would build the wall?"

Aaron says

"DO you know that for some people it is their HOBBY to pick up trash on the side of the road?"

long silence as I ponder what a correct response could be to that.

"Yeah and some lady even found a prosthetic leg when she was picking up trash!"

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE? And where do they FIND this stuff? And does their brain go non stop?

ISFJ and ENTJ

2008-06-02T21:58:00.000-07:00

So I found this over on Kristin's blog ... I went through and answered the questions and it gave me the following... It is very interesting. It takes about 5 minutes and if you do it ... be sure and check on the full profile and in the comments section name a famous person who has your type of personality..... I have the same personality of Mother Theresa.

Then, I thought it would be neat to have Mr P.P s do it as well....He has the same personality as Bill Gates and Franklin Delanor Roosevelt.

What is it that they say about opposites attract? This was a very interesting activity to do. It shed some light on some of our different approaches to life. I really encourage you to take this test with your spouse....It takes about 5 minutes and if you do it ... be sure and check on the full profile and in the comments section tell us your personality type and name a famous person who has your type of personality.....

To take the test go here . Click on the tab that says TAKE THE TEST CLICK HERE and then create an account.

All is well again.....

2008-06-01T19:45:00.000-07:00

The Pike Family Update -

Gabriella is doing MUCH better and is back to her happy , silly self again. Hooray ! It has been a long week of worrying.

Mr P.P. is off to begin some long hours of no sleep and lots of work. He worked like a crazy man this weekend getting things done around the house as he is fairly sure that there wont be a spare moment in the next few weeks.

Ally and Trey came home last night filled with stories, smiles, more stories ,laughter, pictures and ........a speeding ticket. (see picture that Trey took )
Okay, so here goes. I will never doubt the power of Allys prayers. She told me before going to EFY that she KNEW she was supposed to be going to Southern Virginia University even though BYU Idaho was so much cheaper. Again nad again she would say, " Mom, I know, but I prayed about it and there is a reason why I need to go to SVU. I don't know why but I ve never felt stronger about something. " We have been pulling our hair out trying to come up with every last penny to be able to make it happen but...it just wasn't happening. So she told me that while away this week she would be praying and fasting to come up with a way to come up with the finances. I tell you when the girl prays ... she has some sort of direct connection. By the end of the week, she received an email from the President of the college naming her as a Presidential Scholar. Wow. I am completely amazed. Yet another example of the fact that the Lord hears our prayers.

I will include some pictures that I just heisted off of her camera for you to see......

Ally and Trey

CTR means "choose the right "

Ally and her roommate

Ally doing a skit
Ally and Trey.
Ally at one of the workshops.
Allys group.
Trey didn't have a camera to take pictures of his group.
Note to self...the boy needs a camera.

P.S. Rumor has it that Ally met a real life cowboy ... details to follow...

Happy Birthday

2008-06-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday

to the craziest Aunt

and Sister in Law in the World

....

We Love you AUNT MISSY!

P.S.
A gift is on the way =0)

Miss HOPES HURRICANE CAME MY WAY

2008-05-30T19:14:00.000-07:00

So ... Mr P.P. came home and announced that we was told that he is going to be the investigation officer aboard a rather large carrier that just headed into our town to be repaired for fire damages. ( I am being careful not to release information here) That means that he will be gone a whole lot more than he has been and that "hopefully" he will be able to make graduations and other events coming up.

I agree with Hope, "the life of a military wife ain't all chips and dip, people! "

All while I have been working to get the home ready for visitors.

And... Gabriella woke up with a fever of 103 last night and vomiting...lots of vomiting and holding her head saying " Owie" . I called the doctor at 2:00 am and asked what to do. He told me to take her right away to Children's hospital Emergency Room. We spent from 3:00 am until about 2:00 pm there getting tests and waiting... lots of waiting.....She had to get a CT scan and with a baby of this age they have to actually anesthetize them. Not fun. I actually went out into the hall and sat myself down and had one of those gushing, I feel so sorry for my baby, sobbing fests. After a few hours, the CT scan came back with results of a moderate concussion .

So - the concussion theory explains everything but the fever. We are assuming that the fever is from a secondary virus ? The thing is it spikes up real high in a matter of minutes.

All of this, while I don't have my helpful teens here and Mr. P.P. is off to be Mr. Investigator.

At anytime FEMA will be here to help me piece together the pieces in the aftermath of the hurricane, I am sure of it.

Gratitude

2008-05-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

Gratitude.... I sometimes worry that I haven't expressed my gratitude enough over the past several months. October 22'nd we were evacuated at 4:00 am to this sight. ( This is an actual picture of our neighborhood) The sound of crackling in the trees around our home and embers flying everywhere.

The days passed by slowly while we waited for news of our home and our belongings. After the news came that our home was safe we would still wait another weeks until our home was safe to reenter. Once in, I would often go to the neighbors home and help them sift through ashes to find belongings .

Today as I drive through the neighborhood - its filled with hope and promise. One by one the foundations are being relayed, walls are being raised, rooves are going up, and family by family they are returning home.

SO if I haven't said it enough.... I am so grateful for our safety, my home, my photographs, documents and all that I have.

A word to the wise -- go through your home today and take photos of every room. Then upload them onto shutterfly or kodak along with some of your favorite children's photos. Then make a list of what you would want to take if evacuated and place it inside your coat closet door . Here are some ideas to get you started;

Flashlight
cell phone chargers
Battery-powered radio with additional batteries
First aid kit
Medicines, prescriptions and eye glasses
Water (at least one gallon per person and enough for three days for each person in the household)
Change of clothing
Diapers and formula if needed
Sleeping bags and pillows
cash and credit cards
passport
have a list of phone numbers for banks, credit cards, mortgage company and relatives
have a file of birth certificates, marriage certificates that you can grab.

I hate to be all doom and gloom but I never would have thought that a fire 30 miles away would have come into my back yard within 12 hours and passed over a lake along the way !

What a night

2008-05-27T21:13:00.000-07:00

We had just finished a delicious meal courtesy if the dinner group. Just the 5 of us because Ally and Trey are out of town. I got up to take the leftovers to the kitchen . Jason was working with Aaron on the merit badge book thingy.

I heard a loud THUMP and rushed around the corner to watch Jason scoop the baby up off of the floor. She had fallen off of the table and hit the right side of her head . I held her and she screamed hard for about 5 minutes. Then she stopped.....and she got really pale......and lethargic and kind of sleepy acting . Jason and I talked about it and decided to take her to Urgent Care . On the way there her eyes rolled back in her head and she was sort of shutting them , her arms and neck were real limp and she was like a little rag doll and then she started vomiting all over. I said to Jason " Oh no this isn't good" and told him what was happening . He changed course and we went to the ER.

They brought us in right away and started triaging her. She was still limp but starting to get annoyed by the bright lights and strange people looking in her ears and eyes.

Then... little by little she started getting the color back and crying and soon she was laughing again and being silly, trying to remove the pulse oximeter and the patient bandage on her foot.

By the time the Doctor came in this is what she saw. . .
( click on the picture, you wont believe it)

Long story short....we are back home . She is fine . We decided not to get a cat scan but we will monitor her through the night.....

good grief. . . never a dull moment.

PS- Many thanks , to our dear friends Wes Peters and Brian Brockbank meeting us at the hospital.