A Day of Mourning...

Sophy passed away today. Our hearts are broken. We will miss her.

A New Mode of Transportation...

Brock and Ryan's orthodontist has a great incentive program that rewards patients who take excellent care of their teeth and braces. At every appointment they can earn up to 3 tickets (for clean teeth, no broken brackets, and being on time) and enter a monthly drawing, in which one patient wins a prize valued at $150 (digital camera, iPod, Nintendo DS, or a gift certificate to the mall). In May, Brock was the lucky winner and chose the gift certificate. When he showed up to pick up his prize they gave him a check for $150 (they forgot to get a gift certificate from the mall.) So, for the past several months the money has been sitting safely in Brock's bank account.

That is until two days ago when Brock decided he wanted a Ripstick. Now, I am familiar with this perilous mode of transportation. I have seen kids operating it successfully; however, to me it looks fairly difficult and very awkward to ride. Therefore, when Brock announced that he wanted to buy one (which meant he would probably want to ride it) I had a flash back... to a similar mode of transportation called a scooter (only it had a handle bar.)

Here are the images associated with scooters that quickly flashed through my mind...

So, thanks to a $10 scooter (which cost us 50 times it's purchase price in medical bills), Brock's first accident occurred in April 2003, at the age of 5, when he shattered his front tooth (the root was extracted by the dentist and 3 yrs later the permanent tooth finally came in ) on the handle bar of the scooter after crashing in our unfinished basement. Then the following year, Brock (age 6) spent the entire summer wearing three different casts... BLACK, RED, and GREEN.

The broken bones started April 2004, when Brock broke his right arm the first time, scooting on the sidewalk in front of our house. The tiny front wheel got stuck in a sidewalk crack (I always knew those cracks were unlucky.) In June, a few weeks after the cast was removed, he re-broke the same arm going down the neighbor's drive way (it was very obvious he had broken it.) This time we had to take him to the Emergency Room, where they put him to sleep and reset the bone using an x-ray machine (cha-ching.) At the end of July, after more x-rays, an orthopedic specialist said the arm hadn't healed completely... so a third cast was installed. Wearing a cast for 4 months did not stop Brock from enjoying his summer activities. He still played t-ball and went swimming several times a week. However, by the time school started in late August, he was "cast free" and we were "scooter free." After the 3rd cast (3 strikes you're out rule) we gave three fairly new scooters to a young, poor, yet grateful door-to-door salesman (who happened to have 3 kids and fortunately didn't believe in jinxed scooters.)

Therefore, it was with much trepidation (and only after stalling for as many hours as "parently" possible) that I drove Brock to the store and allowed him to purchase a Ripstick. I am trying to be optimistic, that we will have better luck with this mode of transportation. Brock reports that he is getting "the hang" of it and can now turn corners. Of course I wouldn't know, because I have to close my eyes when he rides it.

A Day of Pampering...

I love those early mornings when I jump out of bed, full of endless energy and a burning passion for cleaning. Yesterday was one of those such days. Like a whirlwind, I worked my way through the entire house (and straight through lunch), whipping everything I touched into tip-top shape. I even went the extra mile on a few special projects, such as vacuuming the dust bunnies behind my bed, swifting the walls and ceilings for cobwebs (although now they are gone I realize that I should have left them as part our Halloween decor), and organizing the girls very messy hair pretty drawer. After several hours of high speed cleaning, I decided the rest of the afternoon should be spent in rest and relaxation and even a little pampering...

...for Sophy!!

The past few weeks our sweet little leopard gecko has been feeling a little under the weather. She has stopped eating her crickets and started losing weight. We have been extremely worried about her (and truth be told, I believe her days are numbered.) So after reading about her symptoms and condition on the Internet, I decided she needed some urgent attention and a little pampering.

The so called pampering began with a pedicure. Every girl likes to sit back and soak her feet (and I assume lizards are no different.) During my Internet research, I learned that Sophy has extremely delicate little claws on the end of her feet. When she sheds her skin (every 4-5 weeks) it can sometimes get caught on her toes, becoming difficult to remove without pulling out her claws. So, Sophy relaxed in my hand while soaking her feet in a dish of warm water. After the dead skin became soft, I carefully rolled it off her foot with a Q-tip. Now that I could see her tiny little claws, I have to confess that I was really tempted to paint them red (you know, the full pampering treatment.)

Next, I decided that since nothing says "Get Well" like a nice, spruced-up home, I cleaned and freshened her cage. After that, I hand fed Sophy a plump, juicy meal worm. It was a little tricky because the meal worm was still alive but we eventually got it down. I held her over the water dish so she could wash it down with a drink of water. The pampering ended with conversation (on my part only) and socialization (I admit it - we were blog stocking) as Sophy soaked up the warmth of my hand and enjoyed a nice nap.

I so thoroughly enjoyed the bonding the afternoon of pampering created that I am considering doing it again tomorrow... for Rosco. I'm thinking of letting him roll in the horse muck next door (a dream come true for him), then giving him a bubble bath and feeding him the leftover steak bone from tonight's dinner. Service, it's a wonderful gift (in any form and for every recipient!!)

Sunday Picnic at the Park II...

On Sunday we had another picnic at the park, only this time it was with the Alvord Family. It was so much fun being together, visiting, playing games and of course, eating.


There are a total of 14 Alvord Grandchildren, with a wide spread of ages, the oldest being Jason (36 yrs old) and the youngest being Emilee (4 yrs old). Our four children are among the youngest grandchildren in the family. In fact, most of the older cousins have children the same age as their younger cousins. The only cousins that are close in age to our kids are Kylee & Parker, who are Ryan and Brock's ages. Ryan & Kylee are tenacious teenagers, enjoying all the rights and privileges that go along with being a teenager (such as the inability to pose for a decent picture, as seen here.) Brock & Parker both share a love for sports and enjoy playing them whenever they are together. Parker is currently wiping the floor with his opponents in basketball and Brock is currently wiping the grass with his opponents in tackle football. Go Boys!!

Grandma came prepared with a bucket of outdoor games. Here are some pictures of just a few of the games the kids played...

Just like being a teenager affords certain privileges (like being silly, obnoxious and loud)... being a 4 year old does too. Here are two picture perfect examples of those privileges.

I mean, who else can get away with using a bucket toilet in the parking lot (the public toilets were inaccessible, so thanks Grandma for being prepared.) And after her Daddy caught her with her finger in her nose, he told her to stop. As soon as his back was turned, I took this picture and entitled it "Sneaky Picker."

I believe one of the reasons she can get away with public exposure like this (which is otherwise obscene and disgusting in adults) is because she is a such a darling, sweet little girl who says the cutest things. Like when Aunt Becky called her a "sweetie-pa-titie" and Emilee replied, "No, I'm just Emilee!" AND when it was time to go home stated, "I want to stay her forfefer! and Mom, I want you to stay with me." (I guess we'd better go ask Grandma to leave her toilet bucket.)

Here are more pictures of our incredibly fun day...

Amy's Day in Court...

In June, I was called for jury duty during the months of July to September. In August, I received a letter to appear for jury selection for a one day trial, which was cancelled due to the parties settling out of court. Well, imagine my surprise when, a few days before my duty was to end, I received another letter. It began "Greetings from the Court" (like we are old friends) and included a summons to appear for a 5 day trial (oh, like a get-together party) and ended with "If you fail to appear at the appointed time, a warrant will be issued." (like what?)

So early Monday morning, I found myself in line with 75 other prospective jurors (standing outside in the cold wind) waiting to enter the court building via security guards and metal detectors. I crammed into the elevator with a group of strangers and followed them off onto the wrong floor. After our tour of the 2nd floor (the juvenile courts) we crammed back into the elevator and continued onto the 3rd floor. As I entered the court room, the Court Deputy asked for my name, checked it off a list (which hopefully means I won't receive a warrant), assigned me a juror number and gave me a form to fill out.

There were blue pieces of papers on every chair with a juror number on it. In order to accommodate the unusual large number of jurors, there were extra chairs placed in front of the jury box and between the judge and lawyers. The juror numbers started in the jury box (1-14) and in front of the jury box, judge, lawyers (15-29) and in the spectators seats in the back (30-75). I was Juror #15 and sat directly in front of the jury box and right next to the defendant, who at one point handed me a box of tissues from his table (I had a horrible head cold.) This is where I sat for 5 hours, the time it took to select 9 from 75.

The first hour was spent filling out our forms, handing in our forms, watching a video presentation on jury duty, and then filling out another form because the first time half the people got the wrong form (even mistakes are made by the court.) At this point, we all stood up as the Judge entered the room and things got underway. The Judge had us stand up, one at a time, and state our juror number, name, city of residence, occupation, marital status (good place to meet lots of single people), spouse's name and spouse's occupation. It felt like being introduced in an AAA meeting (which of course I have never done).

After everyone was introduced, (including the lawyers, a list of their entire staff and a list of witnesses) the Judge gave us a little background about the case and read the charges. The defendant was essentially being charged with misuse of public funds while holding the office of Mayor in Eagle Mountain (Yes, the city with 9 Mayors in 10 years.) Click HERE to see the KSL news article about the case. Then the Judge asked questions, to which you would stand, state your juror number and answer the question. I must say that during this process you really got to know people and their opinions. Here are just a few of the questions and some answers that I could remember...

• Do you know any other jurors in this room? (Brother so and so over there is my home teacher - Mr. so and so taught my kids in school - I work with so and so's wife, etc.)


• Do you know any of the lawyers, judges, defendant, or witnesses in this case?


• Do you know or are related to any police officers? (tons of people stood)


• Have you ever had a bad experience with the court systems? (two people stood)


• Do you have difficulty with speaking and understanding English? (one Hispanic man stood)


• Have you ever worked for a law office?


• Have you ever been a witness in a trial?


• Have you ever been a juror in a trial? (nobody stood - we were all first timers)


• Do you believe that police officers never make mistakes? (nobody stood but everyone laughed)


• Have you ever worked with the city of Eagle Mountain? (lots of school district employees and contractors stood)


• Do you live or have ever lived in Eagle Mountain? (about 15 people)


• Have you heard about this case, whether on tv or in the newspapers? (lots of people stood)


• Would knowing about the case before hand make it hard for you to be unbiased?


• Have you ever campaigned for office for you or anyone else?


• Are you related to or know anyone who holds a political office? (lots of people again)


• Is there any legal reason you should not be on this jury? (one lady had a felony)

It was very fascinating to watch this process. It was sort of like a "Who Knows Who" type of competition. These types of questions went on for about two hours. I never stood up once (I guess I know all the RIGHT people or didn't understand the questions.)

After the group questions ended we stood up as the Judge, lawyers and defendant retired to the Judge's Chambers and started interviewing individual jurors (not every one, just those the lawyers wanted to question further.) It took 1 hour for them to call my number (#15). I was extremely nervous upon entering the Judge's Chambers and as I sat down in the chair facing the Judge, the defendant and the lawyers, I leaned back a little too far and almost tipped it over. After wobbling side to side and finally gaining control of my chair, the Judge asked if I was alright while the lawyers snickered (I swear they used that chair on purpose).

The last question on the application I had filled out earlier asked if there was any hardship that would interfere with being a juror on this trial. Although I had answered NO, I had added that I was the mother of four children but could work it out if needed. The lawyers were concerned that while being a juror on this trial, I could totally focus on it and not the absence of my children? I thought about it for a moment and then said, "Actually, it would be sort of like a vacation?" This made everyone laugh. (It was pretty funny in such a tense situation.) When I returned to my seat in the courtroom, I thought about my answer and realized that they probably misunderstood and took it to mean I would treat the trial like a vacation. So much for making a good first impression.

After another hour they reached juror #29. It was now 1 pm and everyone was hungry and hoping we would be served lunch soon. Suddenly, we were all called back into the court room and the Judge began by announcing that the lawyers were ready to select the final 9 jury members. (There were lots of murmurs of surprise throughout the room.) He also explained that typically they will call 30 jurors for the selection pool but due of the high profile of this case, they called 40 extra jurors, ensuring an optimal selection choice. For the next 20 minutes we watched as the lawyers passed a piece of paper (containing the names of jurors 1-29) back and forth, crossing off names until they agreed on 9 jurors. I was sitting close enough to the defense lawyers to see the list and counted down to my number. I was relieved to see it crossed off (big sigh). The list was then given to the Judge. He thanked us for our time and then read the numbers & names of the final jury selection. From what I can remember they were 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 14, 18, 22 & 27. In a strange way, it felt like winning the lottery or in my case losing.

Those 9 lucky people were to began their jury duties immediately following lunch, which was served to them in an adjacent room. There was a general consensus of relief (because the trial was scheduled for 5 days) and rejection (because, although I didn't want to be on the jury for various reasons, I would have like to have said "NO" for myself) as the rest of us quickly filed out of the court room, past the media cameras and down the stairs (there was only one small elevator and 60 people).

And so, with personal interest in this trial, I have been watching the news every day. On the fourth day of the trial, after deliberating for 3 hours, the jury returned with a verdict of NOT GUILTY. You can read about the trial HERE. This experience (jury selection and the justice system) has made me think deeply about the responsibilities and duties we all have in maintaining the freedom and accountability of individuals and our country as a whole. May we all live and serve to the best of our abilities in preserving the rights that have been fought and won by so many citizens of our great country!!

Sunday Picnic at the Park...

On Sunday we had our monthly Atkinson Family Dinner. Our hosts for the month were Brett & Sheri. They planned a fun picnic dinner at a park near their home.



We had yummy Frito Taco Salads and a delicious chocolate birthday cake, decorated with Littlest Pet Shop to celebrated Sydnee's 10th birthday.





These little cousins are all the best of friends and love being together. When it came time to go home they had quietly made arrangements for sleepovers amongst themselves (unfortunately they forgot that the next day was a school day.) The just didn't want the fun day to end.

Here are more pictures of the fun we had together. We missed being with Mark, Brad, Jeff & their families AND of course we miss our Missionaries!!! We love you all.

BALLET, an Extreme Sport...

Emilee started BALLET this week. She has been busy practicing her "dancing" moves (which look more like karate kicks and chops or an epileptic seizure) and getting use to wearing her leotard and dance shoes (which she has been wearing for days.) When we got to the Rec Center, we rode up the "alligator" (elevator) and met "Ms. Zebra" (Veba), the dance teacher, who is the bravest woman I know. She shuts herself into a dance room with 20 noisy, rowdy four year old girls and patiently teaches them grace and poise. The parents, with faces pressed up against glass windows surrounding the room, watch her work magic.

On her very FIRST day (we always knew she was a fast learner), Emilee proved that Ballet can be an extreme sport. The first part of the lesson was spent on learning the ballet positions. Emilee followed Ms. Zebra's movements and bent herself into positions that made her look like a contortionist. Next they learned how to make graceful movements, like sashaying, galloping and skipping. Ms. Zebra would lead the way, showing the girls what to do and then they would dance across the floor following her example. Emilee understood this to be a game of "following the leader." She concentrated hard on following the teacher with the correct dance moves but when she realized that other girls where getting ahead of her, she put on the speed and made it to the other side in record time. Once, while skipping across the room, another dancer made it to the other side first. After having a few words with her and receiving a push, Emilee hit her (using her previously practiced dance (karate) moves.)

After a group discussion on correct dancing etiquette (which does not include hitting or fighting) the rest of the lesson ran smoothly. At the end, Ms. Zebra had the girls stand in a circle, curtsy and say, "Thank you, Ms. Veba." It was very sweet.

The Ballet Buddies