Lost

Elise has been working on her first loose tooth for a while now. The permanent tooth came in behind the baby tooth, so it took a while for the baby tooth to get loose. Once it actually started getting loose enough to wiggle, she wouldn't let me near it. She has also been avoiding eating many items, probably from discomfort.


I have been wanting to yank that tooth out myself for the last several weeks. I can't help it! Maybe it's the dental background, or maybe it's just that I can't stand having something dead, gross, and useless just hanging there, taunting me.


My kids hate this impulse of mine. I have managed to bully my way into pulling several of their baby teeth, and they still cry about it (waa waa). I do try to make it more comfortable. I apply a generous amount of topical anesthetic, courtesy of my student stash from hygiene school. Heidi has informed me several times that "it doesn't work!" I'm not sure why she thought it should make it completely numb, which of course it doesn't!!! Silly girl.


Anyway, Elise has proven to be very good at fighting me off, so I have had to watch her tooth flapping in the wind.


At dinner tonight someone noticed her tooth was gone. Who knows when it came out. It could have been anytime today, or it could have been at dinner! All we know is that it is truly "lost," as in MIA.


I sure hope the tooth fairy won't mind there is no tooth on the bedside table tonight. I know she likes to add them to her collection, but hopefully she'll make an exception in this case. She is a good friend of mine, after all.

Gummy Bears 'R Us

My kids have been jammin' to this video all week!

Summary of a Marriage

16 Years Together=

*4 kids

*2 college graduations

*64 birthdays

*10 moves

*9 cars

*15 jobs

*6 Wards

*16 church callings

*1 cat

*1 hamster

*8 fish

*11 major appliances

*5 computers

*4 cameras

*6 couches

*2 houses

What can I say? We've been busy!

Happy Anniversary, Babe!!

Weekend with Dad

This weekend my dad came up for a visit. Anyone who knows my dad can guess what sort of adventure he inspires....a hike!Eric, Heidi, and Ethan took Dad to climb Mt. Pilchuck on Friday afternoon. It was a gorgeous day, perfect for hiking!
What can beat standing on top of the world?!

On Saturday we drove up to Deception Pass on Whidbey Island. It was considerably more crowded than usual, with some roped off areas and law enforcement. When we asked a park ranger what was going on he said they were having a celebration for the bridge's 75th Anniversary. They closed the bridge off for several minutes, and let a line of antique cars drive over it for a photo op.


Down below, the kids enjoyed the rocky beach, while Dad hiked around and got some pictures.

Down the road from Deception Pass is Fort Casey. We made a stop there and had fun chasing kids around the old fort and barracks.

What topped off the weekend came on Sunday, however. My dad was able to ordain Eric to be a High Priest in our church. He gave him a really beautiful blessing, which I know will give Eric a lot of strength as he embarks on his new assignment. Our Stake President then set him apart to be on the High Council, which entails a lot of responsibility in helping the members of our Stake. I am so proud of him, knowing that he is both worthy and capable of such an important assignment. It also meant a great deal to me and Eric that my dad was able to be a part of it!

Thanks, Dad! We love you!!

More pictures from Idaho....

While we were in Menan, there was a huge brush fire. I'm not sure how many acres were destroyed, but it was pretty big. The wind was really blowing, whipping it out of control. Eric's brother Nic, who is a volunteer firefighter, was called in to assist. They were forced to evacuate several homes. Here are some crazy cool pictures from that day....

Heidi, my master-photographer-in-the-making, took these for me, as I was busy making dinner. I was jealous that I didn't get to do some as well! These were all taken just down the road from Eric's parents house.

Jane Austen Fight Club

This is just too awesome!

FINALLY.....

I am finally getting some pictures posted from our trip to Idaho!

Eric decided his parents were in desperate need of a new front porch. So, with the help of his brother Nic and cousin Danny, they constructed this beautiful new deck while we were there.
It took three days, and several trips to Lowe's, but the finished product was well worth the effort!!

The kids had so much fun with cousins!!!

And we took the opportunity for some family pictures, despite the windy conditions.

With twelve children of various ages, I'd say we got a pretty good shot of everyone!!! The last picture we were able to get of everyone together had three fewer kids. We're a growing bunch!

Idaho Fun....

Need I say more????

More pictures from the trip to follow.....