Playtime

We've had snow! However, as you can see here, some people would rather live in denial (nice shorts, sweetie).

And, a pre-Turkey Bowl...only four people got hurt that I know of and THREE of them were Jared and his two friends (who we often refer to as his "other brothers"). The "mature man" of the group played like a 20 year old and managed to walk away without any sore muscles, bruises or back injuries.

Mom's job was to take pictures, re-fill hot chocolate and be sure snacks were readily available. Burrrrr!

Played at the park for a while...

Climbed in some trees...

and let the girls take some photos just for fun...

Halloween and Stitches

This year we have a Woopie Cushion (complete with a key-chain that makes sound effects), Ben 10 (a kid who's 10 years old with special powers to defeat aliens)...

...and not one but TWO Fancy Nancy's. We thought about dressing MJ up as a "copy cat" since she does everything her sister does, but she wouldn't be anything but "pretty like Chelsea is".

A Family Photo...


Carving pumpkins & "smiling" for the camera.
(At least the pumpkins knew how to hold still and smile)

Wednesday MJ had another expander put in her head. Her surgery time went from mid to late morning, then pushed to the afternoon, then pushed back again to early evening and finally scheduled for 8pm. It's a good thing she is the cooperative, compliant and patient child in the family. She only complained about being hungry and "really thirsty" one time all day long! She was given more chances to eat jello each time the phone rang to tell us there was a slight delay, but in the end, she (and mom) survived only on water, sprite and a few ounces of jello. BUT, the two weeks prior to this she must have known something was happening because she was eating as much (or more) than Jared! And that's saying something!

Before surgery: drinking some jello...again.


After surgery:
Trying to enjoy some strawberries
and opening a box from grandma.

The expander is in her scalp and you can see in the photo below where they went in. Though it's not very big yet, there is already about 20 cc's of saline in her "balloon". We can barely touch the side/top of her head (which feels squishy) because she says it still hurts. I got her in the tub to wash off her head yesterday and just pouring water from a cup on her head, hurt - poor girl. Other than a constant "ouchie" on her head, she is finally starting to act like herself today. Usually she bounces back in less than 24 hours. This time it took a little longer. But, the good news about it taking longer is that she gets to sleep in mom's room. The first night, she and I kicked dad to another bedroom (so at least one of us would be well rested). She's now "graduated" to her HSM blow up air mattress beside the bed for probably one more night. As of today she is finally off of her narcotics. She had been needing them every 4-6 hours. Praise God for only needing Motrin now!

Birthdays...and Fall Traditions

Happy 10th Birthday, Mr. C!

And when one turns 10 around here, they get to light their own candles...look at that serious face! And as I posted these photos, Mr. C was watching and said "I didn't think I smiled that much - how did I do that?"

An annual tradition - the Crazy Corn Maze (now that kids are old enough to appreciate it). We went with friends of ours and let the kids "lead" the way. Notice how it's light outside in the first picture...and how we are still in the maze when it's dark? Like I said - the kid's led the way!

Our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch...

The kids pick out their own pumpkins - as usual. And Corey, who really doesn't want to put forth a lot of effort to carve a gross pumpkin anyhow, chose the smallest one that would still afford him just enough space for a face. We think the girls wanted to show off their muscles - which is why they ended up with "larger than usual" pumpkins this year.

And look - a picture of mom and dad - together!

Here would be Miranda Joy and BaBa bonding - again. She's sure come a long way and now picks on her dad - a lot! She thinks she got the better of him but now that the photo is taken, looks like a tie to me!

Where in the World???

Sunrise...Sunset...

An interesting side-view of one of the local billboards.

Who knew this still existed?

There are signs that say "don't feed the birds" on our hotel window.
I don't think this woman got the message.

And for the kiddo's - to show you that we're thinking of you
and missing you...

85 degrees...and almost October!


A funny little "tradition"...writing one' s name backwards in the sand.
Palm trees, palm trees everywhere...

Corey - this is totally for you...

Pics...just for fun

I spaced putting MJ's first day of school pictures up - oops!
Here is our very happy girl on her way to Pre-K.

And, we finally got the girls in a dance class. Here are our ballerina's.

You may remember a very similar photo a couple posts ago where Chelsea (a.k.a Sharpay Evans) was sleeping with her sleeping mask on. Well, here would be Miranda having her turn. The girls trade off each night (and they don't even argue about it!).

Our new family "toy".

I love when things are on clearance. Our fire pit was 89% off after we used an additional coupon and a little gift card. Wow!

October 28 - Surgery (again)

After a very nice and long break from doctor visits and stitches, we are about to do it again. Our sweetie will be getting an expander placed in her head next month. Yep, right on the top. It was special ordered just for her and will be 9 cm long and 3 cm wide. They'll insert the balloon, expand it 4-6 weeks, then use the skin on her head to drop her hair line down and move her right eye brow back over her right eye. They will also remove the residual nevus left on her forehead. As they do this, they will do a skin graft from behind her ear to place in the corner of her left eye (to get rid of the little freckle-like nevus that is left). So, looks like we have at least two more surgeries by the end of the year. If you recall, we were doing this same thing this month last year...and trying to get that last surgery in before the new year. Here we go again...

Day Trip to Camelot...and other interesting photos

Somewhere past Park City (miles and miles and hours and hours according to Chelsea) is a little resort some of our church friends went camping at. We showed up for the one-day-event (after sleeping so comfortably in our nice, soft beds). Here would be some of the scenery.

Look who climbed a little mountain together! MJ was very proud of herself for making it to the top. Dad was exhausted; of course he had to carry her on his back. Way to go MJ - and Dad!

Down by the river...

Any MaMa Mia fans out there?

MJ and her mother happen to love the movie - and the music. We often dance together in the living room and/or have our own Karaoke performances in the van when it's just the two of us.

Here would be Miranda Joy's knees after tattooing them...just like Bill Anderson. Thankfully she didn't find the permanent markers...yet! And, thankfully she can't reach her little bottom (if you haven't seen the movie, this won't make any sense to you - sorry)!

The short version: Heard a noise in the back yard...forgot about it...looked out later and saw a sickly dog in the yard...bloody and unable to walk (gross!)...brought him to the garage...walked the neighborhood with a photo of him...Animal Control came a while later. The End.

Meanwhile, while we waited for someone to come and help this broken, quiet, very friendly beast, the kids fed him breakfast, sat in the garage with their own cereal bowls so he wouldn't be lonely, and then named him "Sandy". Kyle and I thought for sure we'd end up with him - afterall, they named him! Thankfully, he went with the officer, we followed up a few days later and we were told his owners came and got him. He was chipped! That was a close one...didn't want another dog. But it would figure that the kids here would be attracted to the sickest, most matted down, bleeding and broken thing on the planet. Afterall, that's how we got Lizzy!

Jared, our big 6th grader, is one of the co-captains for Safety Patrol at school. He didn't think his mother would actually drive over with a camera after he was already at school "working"...but she did! I think the smile on his face is one of "oh my gosh, she actually did it" - not "look at me, mom".

And look what I found...another photo of just Kyle and Me! This sure don't happen very often, so I thought I'd post it.