Not Shy...

Ashton has always been our quiet one. Last year, on Christmas eve, we went to a Chinese restaurant because we didn't want the kids to see what was in the backyard (half-pipe and trampoline). We got done and came home for a little Family Home Evening about Christmas and looked around and realized that Ashton wasn't with us. In a panic, we called the restaurant and Ashton was just waiting there in the front for us (we're saving for therapy on that one!). He is always so quiet, especially in public. Anyway, the reason I bring that up is because he had a concert this last week and in one of the songs he was the "announcer". He had no problem getting up in front of people. I would show that video, but it is really long! Here are videos of him playing the drum and violin in the same concert. For the drum group, he signed up to be in that, but the violin group, he was picked (as well as the others that played) out of all the fourth and fifth graders to play. That means he is one of the better ones. We love seeing him "blossom", for lack of a more manly word! Anyway...that is all for this week. Hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!

Life moves on...

Today is Calvin's 13th birthday (my third child). Another teenager in the house! The boys were all commenting how they think he should be turning older. Derrek thought he was turning at least 14. Calvin just tries to keep up with him...always has.

Last week I didn't write anything, well, because I was able to take a nice long nap! I love those Sundays. So...this is what has happened for the last two weeks...

Derrek received his drivers' permit. I included a picture above, just so that you can grasp with me that this is for real! I have found that I have never wanted $90 more than I do now to pay for the drivers' ed teacher to teach him and not me! To his credit, he does really well in our big, 12 passenger, van. I am just waiting, though, for the day he parks it in the garage and accidentally pushes the gas instead of the break and crashes into the water heater that is right there! As long as I am prepared for it, then when it happens it won't be a big deal! I just hope I don't let out a cuss word! I am more worried about that!

This last week, we (Alec) have taught our dog, Shep, how to shut the door. We usually leave the door open for him in the mornings so he can just roam in and out while we get ready for the day. It has been quite cold, in the morning, and so I mentioned to Alec that we should teach Shep how to shut the door. So, he grabbed the bag of hot-dogs and started teaching him. Within a day, Shep knew the word "close" and as proof, we video taped it (shown below). I told Alec, the next thing we need to do is teach him how to throw his trash away. When he is done chewing up a toy, he needs to pick up the mess and put it in the trash! I haven't been able to teach my kids that, so why do I think the dog could? Hope, I guess!

Third, we can't go on without something crazy happening. Two nights ago, Alec was out with his brothers and some kids from our ward. The dad bringing them home (12:30 am), was driving "crazy"...stopping, starting, moving side to side. He just lives around the corner, so the kids were in the back of his truck. So, when he got to our house, he pulled up to the curb, and at that moment, Alec stood up, and the dad driving accidentally hit the gas instead of the break (his foot slipped off the break) and Alec fell out of the back of the truck onto his back. Scott and I were asleep and Derrek and Calvin run in "Dad, Alec got hurt and there is blood everywhere". So, Scott ran outside, and there was a nice puddle of blood where his head was, and so they checked to see how bad it was. Thankfully, it was just scraped up...enough to bleed alot, but not enough to worry a doctor. We took him in the house and had him shower (blood everywhere on his head, hands, etc.). When he took off his shirt, the above picture shows what we saw. He is a little scraped up, but he is good. We are just grateful that he was being looked after. The poor dad driving the kids home is just kicking himself about it. He has called a lot to see if Alec is okay. I keep telling him that Alec could have just done this himself! Anyway, never a dull moment.

Good times...

We had a great time at Disneyland. I can't believe how crowded it was, though. We were sure that Monday and Tuesday would be quiet, but they ended up being worse than Saturday. It was great seeing family and playing with them, even though it was hard to spread ourselves between them. Here is a picture of the boys as we were leaving our trip. All the other pictures, I accidentally erased...so those that went with us, could you please send a few my way that include my boys. I am not sure I would have gotten very many of the older three because they were able to go around the two parks by themselves. That was weird for me. I felt I had to keep Dallen and Ashton near me so that I would know what to do with myself. On the last day, though, they wanted to all go together (no parents), and so I let them. I realized I could do whatever I wanted...so I went and hung out with those I hadn't seen very much during our stay there. Dallen is a pure adrenaline junkie. He could not get enough of Tower of Terror, California Screamin' and Maliboomer. We mostly rode the big rides and on one of the days, got fast passes that we could use any time during the day at all the places that took fast passes. That was good, because it ended up being one of the busiest days. All in all, it was an exhausting but great trip.

But, things don't change and getting back into the swing of things is like hitting a brick wall. Thank goodness for Sundays to recoupe! Speaking of Sundays, last Sunday when we were in CA, we went to a Sacrament meeting and I walked in and there were my three oldest getting ready to pass the Sacrament. I was very grateful to them for their service. I think they loved feeling needed. I just love that no matter where we go to church, all over the world, it is the same and we can go to any Sacrament meeting and be able to enjoy and participate just as if we were in our own ward. Then we went to Seal Beach to walk along the pier. We saw a couple of seals, a man accidentally caught a big bird and we watched him unhook it and let it go, we went under the pier, and the kids found crabs and starfish and "accidentally" got wet. Funny how it is always an "accident". It was fun to enjoy, though. I love the ocean and the smell and the sounds.

Other excitement this week...Dallen stabbed Ashton. They were messing around, punching each other, and Dallen had a knife in his hand and when to block Ashton's punch and ended up stabbing his arm. I can't get the picture off my phone to show the before...he had to have three stitches. Dallen goes around calling Ashton, "Stitch". I think Ashton is a little proud that he came away from it. Like most things like this that happen around our home, it could have been worse! Scott took him to the insta-care, and I think that was the first time he has ever had to do it. He made it and we were proud!

My sister Debbie and her husband, Mike, had their first baby this past Monday. They named her Davney. She is so chubby and cute and can't wait to see them in December. My parents are in Germany to visit and help. But, Davney won't be coming home from the hospital until after they leave. She had a slight infection in her lungs and they kept her in for anitbiotics and observation. We haven't heard much else, other than that she was born.

Well, we are having a great day enjoying General Conference. The boys loved the priesthood session. Scott said that one of the talks was about women and it must have hit something with the older ones because they came home and instantly started helping me clean without asking them to. It was nice. We had aeblskievers this morning and that is another reason we love conference.