Christmas Kids

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I am working on cards but who knows when they will be sent. Can someone tell me how to take the shadows off of Ben's face?

Speaking of Seatbelts . . .

It is oddly reassuring when you are spinning around in a suburban and tipping sideways to feel cinched tight in a seatbelt. From this day on, we will follow all safety belt rules to the letter! Thanks heavens we were all buckled correctly in this instance.

So, what happened? Frankly, I don't know. Just kidding. I saw the whole thing.

In my car were me, my sister Monica next to me, my niece Mariah behind me, Jill in the middle, sister-in-law Kelly behind Monica, Elaine behind Mariah, and William behind Kelly. Got it? A full suburban. We were traveling westbound after just turning off of Silverbell onto Sweetwater. I was bringing up the rear of 4 cars. The first two were Dave and my brother Jeremy and the rest of our kids, etc. The 3rd car was a little blue car (LBC) that I hope never to see again.

We are driving along, enjoying the weather, minding our speed, when the LBC suddenly starts a left turn onto a side street. No problem for me, since I am no tailgater, but there was a small SUV heading eastbound on Sweetwater approaching said side street. My first thought was, "that LBC is trying to get hit".

The SUV swerved around the front end of the LBC into the side street a little and back out onto Sweetwater, but lost control as its passenger wheels hit the dirt shoulder. At this point, I was not watching the LBC because the SUV was spinning towards our side of Sweetwater. I thought we were past it because I also have to keep my eyes on the road in front of us, but it hit our back end (somewhere by the rear passenger door and the rear tire) with a THUD and we were now spinning. The girls (and William) were screaming and I was thinking, "that LBC better be here when we come to a stop".

Just when we got used to the spinning and thought we were stopping, we felt ourselves being lifted into the air. I was thinking, "Oh great. Now we roll. They'll need the Jaws of Life to get us out." But thankfully we stopped on our side. I can't tell you the relief I felt when we stopped without rolling. And the confusion I felt when I saw the SUV driver running toward us at full speed. He had crashed into the guard-rail. I think we might have bumped it as well at some point.

Anyway, he was sprinting toward us and I thought, "are we on fire?" But we weren't. He was just concerned for our safety. A nice guy. I was able to open my window but couldn't get the other driver side window down (the door was smashed). He climbed up and inspected us all and let me know he had called 911. I asked him if the LBC was still here and he said it was. He then told me it turned in front of him. I said, "I know." Then I heard him talking to other people who I couldn't hear. He located the driver of the LBC and gave her a mild tongue lashing.

Monica was able to call Dave, et al, who thought we were joking but turned around regardless.

During all the commotion, Jill slept soundly. She opened her eyes for a few seconds, then went back to sleep. William was pretty shaken up, crying, and resting his foot out the broken window on the road which was apparently unnerving to everyone outside. Look at the bottom photo and imagine a small leg protruding out the rear window.

Several people stopped to help get us all out of the car. You can see me sitting prettily on the top of the tipped burb. We had our vitals taken, made our preliminary statements, then watched as the tow truck dragged our suburban away from the guard rail so it could be righted. The worst sight for me to see and still the most emotional to think about was seeing all the shattered glass with the jack lying in the middle of it. That jack could have hit someone's head. The SUV happened to impact in the exact location of the jack, I guess. I imagine it flying around, but maybe it just tipped out at the end.

Well, the LBC was cited for something. She was furious. She kept saying that the SUV was speeding or none of this would have happened. She also said there was no reason for him to swerve like he did. BUT. I was there. I saw it all, and I believe she did not even look at him before she turned. I don't think she was even signaling, but I could be wrong. She was well past a 45 deg turn before she noticed the SUV and stopped. He was practically on top of her.

Anyway, we transferred all our cargo from my burb to James' burb (it was finished at the shop by the time we wrecked) and went on our way to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. It is awesome. You have to visit it when you are here. Not even a car crash could keep us away.

If you build it . . .

They will come. We are fairly positive that a Peregrine Falcon has taken a liking to our neighborhood. If any of you are avid aviary enthusiasts, please correct us if we are mistaken.


Daddy rides in the Tour de Tucson!

Above: Matching outfits from The Children's Place. Wahoo!
Below: The kids after swim meets and soccer games.

Halloween

Beach Trip

We had fun in Mexico a few weeks ago. Jill loves the water. The kids love Jill. I love them all.

Shakin' and Movin'

Motivation

I finally have motivation to keep my countertops clean. And to snack well. I love these little colanders.

Pottery

Elaine and I volunteered at the Botanical Gardens yesterday during their annual sale. We sat at a table for Pima County Natural Resources (to inform about buffelgrass, you know.) Our table was next to a vendor selling the cutest pottery. I bought 4 little colanders. They hold from 2 to 3 cups is all and look so pretty on my counter tops and hanging by my stove. The picture is from her website, www.botanicalsinclay.com. She uses botanicals to imprint in her pottery. I actually bought one similar to that in the picture, and the others are brighter blue with other shapes and patterns. I'll add more photos later. I just love them.

Jill and Elaine By the Numbers

26.5 inches long. Off the charts long.
14 lb 12 oz. 70 th percentile.
9 lb 3 oz when born.
Gained roughly 5 and 1/2 lb in 4 months.

Perspective: Elaine weighed 7 lb 1 oz at birth. Gained 9 lb 3 oz in 4 months for a total of 16 lb 4 oz. Elaine was around 25 inches long at 4 months.

The thighs say it all.

Primary Program

I love the primary program. Especially when it delivers a memorable catch phrase by which we will be saluted for the next few months. This year, Benjamin provided the comic relief. But you need some background.

Liam's part was: "Family Home Evening strengthens my family." Ben's was: "Family History and Temple Work bless all the generations of my family." We practiced while driving places speaking very slowly so that Liam could be understood over the microphone, and Ben as well. Suffice it to say, all four boys knew each other's parts by heart as well as their own.

Jeremy and Alex did great. Liam said with his tongue on the mike, to all intents and purposes, "Fallyhomevenstranksmyfowly." Ben's turn came a little later. He said loudly and clearly, "Family Home Evening strengthens my . . . [confused look] . . . generations of . . . [sounding smaller] . . . temple work . . . [look of resignation] . . . oh, man!" After which he started over and said his part perfectly in a nearly silent, dejected voice.

People no longer say hello to us. They say, "oh, man!"

Liam's Birthday

Jack and Jill

Elaine's birthday

A teenager. Wow.

Liam took these pictures of Jill. Along with about 57 more of his blanket and various toys and body parts ... knees, elbows,etc.

I finally bought spirit shirts for my boys.

Word Search - Jill

Our friend Sarah made this beautiful quilt for Jill. I follow her blog and would jealously notice whenever she made one for her friends. I was so thrilled to get one myself! Can you find the personalization in the above photo? Amazing! Thanks Sarah!

Miscellaneous?

Dave and I flew up to SLC in July for his cousin Rhett's wedding. It was a very quick trip and I got no pictures of the actual bride and groom, but did get some of Dave and Jill, and Dave's grandmother with Jill.
After the wedding we flew home, then went to Sedona for our annual reunion. Tons of fun as always.











After Sedona, school started, and our birthday season kicked into full gear with Dave turning 39. A coyote came by a few days later to pay his respects.

Pappy spends some time with Jill.
Here is a random shot of an evening swim. Jill loves the pool, even when it is cool.
And for the grand finale, here are some vids showing Jill's developmental progress, which I'm sure you've been dying to see.