Minor crash

Our latest news is that we (all of us were in the car)were in a minor accident on the 605 freeway. We were coming back from a dr. appointment and we were driving in the car pool lane. Our lane was cruising with no problems but the lanes to the right side of us started stopping and getting backed up. All of a sudden we saw a white compact car swerve over into our lane. Daniel was driving and tried to swerve over as much as he could to avoid the car but he could only get over so much before we'd make contact with the wall on the other side of us. We ended up hitting the car's side view mirror and knocking it off. It could have been a lot worse. Luckily I have a husband who's been in a few crashes and now drives a big Paramedic van so he's had a bit of training in defensive driving. The best part was when we all pulled over and the other driver came over her first words were "You hit me!" Daniel had to remind her that it's not okay to swerve into another lane on the freeway to avoid hitting the person in front of her. She finally accepted fault after we had a CHP officer come out and let her know that you can't do that. The scratches started at my door and spanned the length of the rear passenger's side door and dented the wheel well. I am glad that I was not driving or we would have probably ping-ponged from car to wall to another car and my car would have been dented on both sides!! But no one was hurt. Just my car. Cody was a bit confused about what happened but after explaining it to him he keeps telling everyone that a naughty person hit our car.
We've been so lucky to avoid any crashes for about 7 years but now we are going through the ups and downs of rental cars, making recorded statements to the insurance, dealing with another person's insurance, and all the other fun stuff. Here are a few pictures of the damages.

Father Son time!

There's nothing like a little Father-Son get away! Marc, Daniel and Cody took a quick little over night er camping trip this past weekend. They went to O'Neill Park in Orange County. This was Cody's first time camping and looks as though there will be many more of these trips in the future. The boys had a great time. Unfortunately, because of the heat they couldn't build a fire which is half of the fun, but they worked around that. Our ward was suppose to have their annual Fathers/Sons camp out but it was postponed last minute and Daniel had already planned for it and told Cody they were going camping. For those of you who have a child around 4 years old, you can't tell them you are going somewhere and get them excited for it and then say you aren't going without a bit of a fuss from them. Cody loved going in and out of the tent and calling it his house. Daniel has been very anxious for Cody to get to the age where he could take him camping among the many other Father/Son activities Daniel has planned for them two. So anyhow, they had a fun night and was awaken by the sun blazing hot, bright and early the next morning. Maybe one of these times they will be able to convince Mommy to come along. While the boys were gone I took advantage of my alone time. I took a trip to the craft store and started getting ambitious again with my painting and other crafts I am working on. I missed my boys but had a fun night to myself.

Cody just hanging out

Cody with his "little house" in the back
Unloading the truck
Getting everything set up
Daniel with his mini-me!

Beetle Juice...Not a pretty sight

This is a picture of me with my foot up a the hospital (when Autumn was having Tav) hanging out with my Dad because keeping my foot up helps stop the pain.

Before anyone looks at the pictures, I have to warn you that my feet aren't the prettiest things but these pictures aren't pretty!! I have had a plantar wart on my foot since I was on the swim team back in high school. It came and went on its own and after I had picked at and dug into them over the years. They weren't a big deal back then.(I am warning everyone to always wear sandals if ever walking in a locker room/shower area, or pool area where they spread like flies!) Then just when I thought I had gotten rid of them for good...one popped up on my heel and I have had it for about 7 years now! For those who don't know what a planters wart is: it is a virus that grows in the foot. Instead of growing outward like a regular wart, it grows inward. Sometimes they go away on their own and sometimes they have to be removed, but are known to be the most stubborn and difficult foot problem to get rid of! Usually if they don't hurt you can leave them alone. But the one on my heel started hurting when I would walk on my heel certain ways so I thought it was time to start freezing it. 3 years later here I am still trying to get rid of it!

Over the past few years many people have seen me with duct tape on my heel and then recently over the past month people have seen me on crutches...well and then there are a choice few who have seen me on Vicodin recently. This has been slowly getting worse over the past 3 years of on and off treatment and finally I've decided to face it head on! After trying everything under the sun I have recently been trying the "Beetle Juice" treatment again. They put some liquid on my heel and over the next few days it swells and blisters and scabs. Over those few days I am usually on Vicodin for the pain and it makes my whole body shake and feel pretty crazy. Then, it's an additional week or so before I can walk on my heel again. In the mean time I have borrowed some crutches and use them off and on so that I don't end up with foot deformities or future problems on that foot since i usually end up compensating and walking on my toes to avoid heel contact with the floor!! I have started to go back every 3 weeks for this same treatment. Some people would say I am crazy but really my only other option would be let it grow out of control or have it cut out and then wait a few weeks, at least, for it to heal (I won't be able to walk without crutches still)and then see if it grows back which I have been warned that there is a good chance with a wart of my size can do...
So for now it's Beetle Juice, Beetle Juice, Beetle Juice! Try and say it three times in a row!
P.S. for those of you who think driving while on Vicodin is easy...not so good! I only went down the street and very slowly but yeah...not going to do that again!

This is right before the scab fell off.

a few days before scab fell off

Day after "Beetle Juice" was applied to heel

(the yellowish coloring is the Beetle Juice)

"God father"

As most of you who have had children can understand how fast they can come when you are in the labor room. Just imagine if you didn't make it to the hospital! Imagine if you were at home when all of a sudden, your water broke. The next thing you did was walked to the door to go to the hospital, but wait...you could feel the baby's head crowning...ahhhhh!!!! What do you do...call 911 to have some assisitance? This is the situation that Daniel came upon last shift around 9:00 pm. They got to the house and both Mom and the baby were ready for delivery! Who delivered??...Daniel got to deliver his first baby on the job!! He was pretty stoked to deliver a healthy baby girl. I got a text message and call from Daniel around 10:00 pm to hear all about it. I joked with him and asked him if he was the God Father since he had delivered the baby. Life never gets too boring at the Fire Station!! Sorry, the only picture was a polaroid and so it's a bit fuzzy!

A bit of summer in April

This past week we've had a few days that were pretty warm. When summer like weather hits...we head over to Daniel's parents to swim and cool off. Cody has been practicing holding his breath under water in the bath tub and looking forward to when he can jump off the diving board again. With his life jacket on, he thinks he's invicible! He will see Daniel do a flip off the diving board and then he says he wants to do it too. Luckily he thinks a flip is just turning after he jumps. I sit on the side of the pool with my legs in the water and cheer him on or take a few pictures. The pool has to at least 85 degrees for me to actually get in all of the way now days. But if it's warm enough outside I will sit on a floaty tube in the pool. I am a wimp when it comes to cold water. Here are a few pictures of Cody and Daniel getting crazy on the diving board! Daniel loves having a son that's as crazy as he is when it comes to trying tricks in the pool.

Cody trying to dive like Daddy

Daniel showing some air!
Cody trying to do a cannonball!
Cody jumping off of Daniel's shoulders

I am amazed over the past couple of years that Cody has been so brave when it comes to jumping into the pool but once you take his lifejacket off he gets too scared!

High School Times

I was tagged by Katie so I thought I would give it a go.
High School Times

In High School From: 1992-1996

Friends in High School: freshmen year-my junior high friends: Sandra, Anita, Jennifer, Melissa, Erica. Soph/Junior year- Church friends-Autumn, Debbie, Julie, Melissa, Michelle, Tami, Jackie, Connie, Sandra, Dawn and swim friends. Senior year- Church friends, Connie, Sandra, Dawn, Jen (different than fresh. year).

Any sports played: I swam for two years to avoid the horrible and embarrassing general P.E. that I had to endure in junior high.

What car did you drive: My sister and I shared a white, Honda Accord that turned out to be a piece of crap that I ended up driving in college again until it pretty much died, left me stranded in the rain and made my grandparents feel so sorry that I was driving such a hunk of junk that they sold me their nice/newer Honda Accord for cheap!

What did you do on Friday nights: Good question...I am assuming that I just hung out with my church friends and did whatever we decided that night.

Were you a party animal: Nope, that's what tore me and my junior high friends apart my freshmen year.

Were you considered a flirt: Maybe in my junior/senior year to those that I thought were cute but had no intention of dating. It was fun but I had no intentions of getting a boyfriend.

Were you in band, orchestra, or choir: A big NOPE!! NO talent in that category!

Were you a nerd: Maybe to those who partied a lot but I knew a lot of them from junior high and were still friends with them, just didn't hang out with them. Everyone is a nerd at that age. Whatever!

Were you ever suspended or expelled: negatory on that one. I was too afraid of my parents to do that.

Can you sing your fight song: Maybe if someone started it for me...but probably not.

Who was your favorite teacher: Mrs. Edwards, my Spanish teacher. She was like a little Dolly Parton but for some reason she was always really nice to me even though I never volunteered in class.

Where did you sit at lunch time: I think I went home to eat?

What was the name of your high school: Lakewood High School

What was your mascot: A Lancer, oh yeah, watch out!

What were your colors: The good old Red, White and Black

Who was your rival school: Millikan or should I say...Mil-i-can't!!

Did you go to your prom: Yes I did and can we just say...LAME-O!! A bunch of drunk kids.

Would you like to go back to High School: Not only would I never want to go back in a million years, but I will never attend a reunion either.

What do you remember from graduation: It was hot and a lot of sitting. Boring!!

What did you do on senior skip day: I probably went to the beach. Or had to work...can't really remember so it probably wasn't anything big.

What's your fav. memory from high school: Crazy church dance fights(not me, the boys we went with), or getting the bathroom pass during my typing class to walk the hallways with a good friend.

Were you in any clubs: Nay, had enough trouble getting motivated to do homework so didn't care to be in clubs. Plus had mutual Wed. nights and that was enough for me at that age.

Have you gained any weight since H.S.: I definitely gained those freshmen 15 while in Hawaii, but then lost more after returned to the main land and after having Cody. Those who know me know that I am kind of a health freak and love to exercise.

Did you have a high school sweetheart?: Big NO! Had a couple of boyfriends but nothing ever lasted long. My Dad's nickname for me at that time towards guys was "The Black Widow". But I don't know what he was talking about...

Do you still talk to people from high school: Probably about 2 people and I am okay with that. That's not including my church friends that I am still in contact with because I am related to most of them now...crazy relations!

Where did you work in high school: My first job was at a movie theatre and I hated every minute of it. Other job was helping the office that my Mom worked for with their filing and billing. Good old Asthma and Allergy Clinic which is now my Dermatologist office!! Crazy!!

What grades did you get: A lot of B's, some A's. Once again, I was afraid of getting anything lower than a B. But I might have gotten a couple of C's.

What was your dress style: Contempo/Wet Seal/Gap/Beach logos.

Year Graduated: The best(because I was out of high school) and craziest year (started college at BYU-Hawaii) of my life...1996.

Those are my high school days!! Thanks to Katie for giving me the chance to reminisce!!

Proud aunt and uncle

These pictures are from the hospital yesterday. We came for a short visit. Both Ryan and Autumn looked pretty tired. Just the normal "we just had a baby look" but both had an awesome glow, beaming with pride for their adorable Tav. He's such a sweetie! We were able to hold him and show Cody that the baby that was in Autumn's tummy had come out. We've been trying to explain to him that Porter was getting a new baby brother and he would think for a minute and ask..."Phearson?" so we had to explain that Phearson was getting a new baby brother also, Tav.

Just a couple of little stories from our visit this afternoon. Porter was so loving towards Tav and being such a good helper, assisting Autumn in feeding him. He calls Tav "His Baby" and would come in to check on him every so often while I was holding him. I asked him if I could take Tav home with me for just one night and he was not too hip on that idea. They are a cute little family!! We also got to visit with Derek and Krystal afterwards with their little Lincoln who is growing so fast and is as cute as ever! Unfortunately I did not get any pictures of them. It's so fun to have such cute little nephews to play with...too bad I am on crutches because of my foot again...another story, another time!!

I am the Proud Aunt!

Daniel is a Proud Uncle
Cody is just happy to get ice cream at the hospital cafeteria!