Post Traumatic Stress

We have a little left over stress in our family due to Weston's horrific scorpion sting a few months back. Yes, Weston has some of it. But, one would be surprised to find out that Wes is not the only worried stressed about the possibility of another sting. Until just recently, Weston wouldn't take a bath in his bathtub anymore (that's where he was stung). He always wanted to use my shower and so I left it alone. But, I noticed Zane doing the same thing. I didn't really think much of that though. I just thought that Zane liked our shower. I worried about Wes though. I didn't want to talk about it incase he had forgotten about the sting and it was just all coincidental. I guess I didn't want to know how much Wes remembered.

About a week ago, I was in a hurry though and so I started the water in Wes' tub. I quickly put Wes in and he actually started to sit down. But, then he quickly popped up and mumbled something about a scorpion. He didn't freak out, it was like he was just stating a fact. I explained that the scorpion was gone and that I made sure there weren't anymore in his tub. It took a little bit of convincing, but he finally relented and took a bath in his own tub. YES! It might have helped that I made it a bubble bath with his very own LIGHTNING MCQUEEN bubble bath:). I tried to focus on that!!!

Since Wes' sting, Zane has voiced a little concern about what will happen if he gets stung by a scorpion. I always give him the normal reassurances that it probably won't happen and if it does, it will more than likely be like his other stings - a quick sting and maybe some soreness later. (He has been stung before and it hasn't been a big deal).

The other night, Zane comes in crying that he is worried about scorpions. Poor Kid. He didn't even see Wes' bad reaction to it, but I must have talked about it too much in front of him. First, I reassured him that since it was winter the scorpions have gone underground. (I think they hibernate?) But...if he did find one and happen to get stung...it will be no big deal....probably....hopefully. "But, what if..." questions Zane. I try to reassure him that if that did happen, we would go to the hospital and get the right medicine just like we did for Wes and everything would be all right. Then, Zane continues, crying while he explains his worry. "What if it happens at night?" I guess he thought Drs. got to sleep at night. So, I proceeded to tell him about 24 hr. emergency rooms and how all will be taken care of...even during the night. I think I finally convinced him. I suggested that he pray about it so Heavenly Father could make him feel better and not to be so worried about getting stung by a scorpion and having a reaction like Wes.

My poor little boys. That stung affected them more than I thought it did. They shouldn't have to worry like this. As Lance would say in his teenage tone of voice, "Dumb Scorpion! Get out of my boys' heads!"

Just Like We Were Kids Again

Every year, my kids ask me to dress up for Halloween. "What are you going to be, Mom?" I nicely let them know that Halloween is for kids. Kids dress up. period. Meet our friends, Cindy and Bobby, who made me look like a liar to my kids. They put on a Halloween party for adults....and we were told that we HAD to wear a costume in order to attend. And, so the fun began. I haven't worn a costume in a good 25 years!
Kevin and Julie won first place for best costumes for couples. Jim and Jenni below were a close runner up though. I won't say what Kevin had in his pocket to really "play the part"...which is probably what insured his winning.

Everyone agreed. We now think even MORE highly of Jim for wearing this costume. It takes a special man to wear a costume like that.

Todd and I had a great time. Good Food. Good Friends. Shoot, I have to admit even the dressing up was fun.

I suddenly became much more of a baseball fan:) Love this guy!

They had a pumpkin carving activity also. Todd carved the one on the left with the green nose!

It was just like we were kids again. Kids with a bit more weight and wrinkles on top of it:)

Blast from the Past

I remember going to Drive-In Movies as a kid and loving it. Thanks to Sam and Lani for bringing up the idea to do it again with our own kids! Above, are Lance, Sierra, and Zane hanging out in the truckbed. Yes, I know, one can't see my oldest two. For some reason, they like to hide from the camera. argh!

We had some YUMMY honey hot and mild wings, Krazy Sub (YUMMY again), and various fattening treats for our dinner. Yum.

Here's Sam and Lani's truck bed full of kids. It was pitch black, so the camera temporarily blinded them all:).

Brett and Nicki and their kids came too. Some of us sat in lawn chairs cause we couldn't all squeeze into the truck beds. The kids had a lot of fun.



Wes and I tried for a self portrait, but it didn't work so well. So, we had Todd take a photo. See below. I think I did a better job:). Not very flattering of me, but I had to put it in since Wes looked so dang cute.



We are definitely doing it again....maybe even a pre-movie bbq out there. And, we'll definitely bring hot chocolate. bbbrrrrr. It got a little cold out there (notice my clenched fists holding onto that blanket)! Thanks Sam and Lani for the GREAT idea!

30 Bales of Hay = A New Fort

I wish I could say it was a cheap fort, but at least it serves a dual purpose and feeds the horses too. Although, since it does feed the horses, it will have to be a magical shrinking fort as the weeks pass by. Oh well. The kids seem to enjoy it every time it gets rebuilt. I was shocked to see the dog up there with them. Cash swims, Cash dives, Cash jumps, and now Cash climbs 30 bales of hay.

WIPED OUT!

After playing so hard all morning, one has gotta get some shut-eye to rejuvenate for the afternoon play. It's a rough life having to squeeze in soooo much play into one day.

A Day with Grandpa Wayne

(This happened a couple weeks ago, but I just got these pictures.)

Grandpa Wayne took Lance out for an afternoon of driving the Thing on the Saturday of Fall Break. I think this is the 2nd time he has spent some time with Lance teaching him how to drive the stick shift, etc. Grandpa says he can't believe what a good driver Lance is and how easy it comes to him (must be in his genes, huh, gramps?!). Above is Uncle Josh, Lance, and Grandpa. They spent a whole afternoon driving off road for some fun. They were going to take one of Grandpa's dunebuggies, but unfortunately Lance was too short to reach the pedals on those. So, they headed out in the THING.

One of the coolest parts of the day was the hand-me-down shirt. And, you know that says a lot for a teenager to actually LOVE a hand-me-down:). Grandpa must have rummaged through his closet cause he came out with one of the old BAJA shirts from the good ol' days. (Grandpa Wayne used to take his boys driving dunebuggies or motorcycles down the Baja Pennisula in Mexico. They would camp along the way and go through all these small towns. Those trips are some of Todd's favorite memories). So, Lance was feeling pretty special to get such a cool shirt from Grandpa. I think Todd might have been jealous.

What a cool car...I mean, THING! Thanks Grandpa for taking time for Lance. He really enjoyed his day with you!

(okay, I know I'm just being too motherly here, but Lance looks WAAYYYYY too small to be driving:) I guess Esther (their dog) went along also.

Happy Halloween!

Wes was "Bob the Builder" this Halloween. He definitely wanted to be something non-scary. And, the hand-me-down dragon suit from Zane was tooooo scary for Wes. Luckily, Mom found a "Bob" at the local child's thrift store for a few bucks. (Yes, there were a few houses that Wes wouldn't go up to cause they were "tooo scary"). For some odd reason, Wes was excited about the fire hydrants on the streets. The first one he asked what it was. Then, he was sure to excitedly point out the following ones. I think he's been hanging out with Cash (our dog) too much.








Zane was Dash from The Incredibles. Although most people thought he was Mr. Incredible cause of his muscles. He quickly corrected them. He was Dash...and so he quickly ran from house to house. He would get two houses in for every one of Wes'.




Luckily, my camera was able to catch him in his supersonic speed.


Check out those nails!



And....the red eyelashes. What a bad girl she is.


This devil has some attitude!

Time to get the goods! (They are knocking at my dear friend Sheree's house. She was the other counselor in the primary presidency with me for four years. love the smile she always has. love her!)

Beau, Wes, and Zane were ready for some fun! We started at Sam and Lani's house and ended up there too. We didn't get home till well after 10pm.

One of our friends (Greg & Jenny) put on a party for their son and all the tweens. Sierra had a great time. Here she is with Jessica and Ivy. This is one time when the red eye is perfect for the picture. She makes a pretty devil!

More friends with Sierra - Baylee, Abbey, Maddie, Jayne, and Hannah.

The party included good food, trick or treating, and guitar hero.

Here, Tate and Parker are rocking out!

Not only did Sierra party with the tweens at Parker's house, but at the end of the night she went through a haunted maze that Abbey's dad put on for all those girls.



We had a great Halloween. Lance is not in any of the photos cause he's off at the Dunes with his friend, Trevor. We covered some good distance with the little boys and filled up their buckets. We all slept in till 8am this morning. And, as soon as the cereal was gone, candy was in their mouths.

Hopefully the walking we did last night burned off all the food and candy I ate last night. NOT! (Three different homes in the neighborhood hosted parties...and I ate something at all three of them:).