More Driving Lessons

When I was 16 and had my license for 13 days I was making a left turn onto an on-ramp, misjudged how much time I had, and a car hit me. The poor couple that hit me was getting married in a couple days and I believe their car had to be towed. It was my fault and I received a ticket for “failure to yield right of way”. My dad was so kind and went with me to a driving class that took some money off the ticket amount and some points off my record.

Yesterday I was sitting as a juror in a criminal case of “reckless driving that resulted in an accident which caused injuries” for a 21 year old who made a left turn in front of a couple and their two children. I was grateful that my ticket was so minor and could really feel for the defendant and felt sorry for him. We all make mistakes and here he was facing criminal charges against him. I’m not exactly sure why they were criminal charges, but I do know he did not have insurance (he said he thought his mom had it on him) and the couple that hit him did not realize they did not have uninsured insurance. If the defendant was found guilty then the victims could receive compensation for the car that they had saved up to buy and had $11,000 worth of damages.

The defendant had a spinal cord injury which really messed up the way he walks and a supposed brain injury that caused long and short term memory loss. This memory loss allowed him to not remember much about the accident, except that the light was green for him. The wife in the other car had injury to her knees and still has pain 17 months later and their son had a head injury too. The other 5 jurors and I found the defendant guilty. The judge was very nice and talked to us afterwards. She said he could get 90 days for reckless driving and a year for causing injuries, but she couldn’t see sending him to jail, so I’m not sure what, if any, punishment he’ll get, except restitution.

So this is what lessons I learned and relearned from being a juror on this case:
1. Drive carefully, especially when flustered and you miss the road you were to turn on
2. Drive defensively
3. Wear your seat-belt (I don’t know if the defendant did or not)
4. Have insurance
5. Have uninsured insurance
6. Do not immediately admit guilt if you are in an accident
7. Being on a jury is an interesting, educational process and really isn’t all that bad. I would love to do it again, as long as it wasn’t longer than a few days.

Mice

I was making dinner yesterday and I could hear a noise coming from the corner cabinet area. "Great, another mouse". K had told me earlier that she thought she heard a mouse. She even told me how she wanted to make a trap to catch one alive. She went through all the details of how she would do it with a box and string and wood.
We've killed a few mice in this house. I won't go in the gross details of the one that was still alive and couldn't escape, because it was still attached to a trap, or the one that killed itself by gnawing on our dishwasher's electrical wire and we found it through its smell. We even had a baby mouse that was suppose to be eaten by a pet ball python. The snake wouldn't eat it for some reason, so we ended up nursing it with a syringe for 5 days until it died.
So back to the story of yesterday. I decided I'd better sweep the floor and take care of the bag of garbage on the floor that was waiting to be taken out and set out some traps. I cautiously grabbed for the trash can under the sink to put a new bag in it, because I didn't want to be startled by any mice that might be behind it. I didn't have to worry about that though. There was a mouse IN the trash can. I screamed very loud and the girls hurried downstairs. The poor little thing was so scared that it kept on trying to jump out of the can. Yes, they can jump pretty high for being so little. This freaked me out even more. It calmed down a bit. So I calmed down a bit, seeing that it didn't seem like it could jump out, or it would have jumped out before.
It is a young mouse and I think it must have somehow got into the trash can from crawling on the sink pipes. The girls were trying to convince me that we should keep it. I could just imagine all the diseases and germs that it had. I couldn't just outright kill it though. We gave it a couple drops of water, some food and put a mesh tank cover over the can. I decided that we'd take it to the field today and let it go. The problem is that after having temperatures of up to 70 this week, it quickly dropped to highs of 9 degrees the past couple of days. I just couldn't be so mean to a baby mouse and let it freeze, so for a couple of days, until it warms up a little, we have a "pet" mouse named Jack (in-the-box).

Potty Talk

The other day M asked "What happens when you get flushed down the toilet?" I tried to reassure her that she couldn't get flushed down the toilet. I even showed her how in the toilet the hole was just too small. "But what if just your arm or leg gets flushed down?" I told her that it couldn't, because they wouldn't come off her body. I'm not sure she was convinced.

Class of 2022

Today I had to go early to register M for Kindergarten. I wanted to get her in the A.M. class, so I made sure to get there right when they started at 7:00 a.m. When I arrived, there were people who had already filled out the paperwork and were standing in line to hand it in. They had obviously started a little early and I heard that people had been there since 5:30! I guess others really wanted to be sure they got a certain class. It's the a.m. and all day kindergarten classes that fill up first. We have open enrollment, so others come from other school boundaries, but they have to be put on a waiting list.
I also volunteered in M's preschool class today. It was fun seeing how they learn through play. They write and draw what they are going to do in a chosen center. They are already learning to separate the words and sound out parts of the words they are writing. I think when I was going to school we were just learning the alphabet in kindergarten! M loved being the line leader, because I was the volunteer parent and we had fun playing with the wooden train track and trains. I also had the "privilege" of having a little girl sitting next to me (not M) lean over and wipe her nose on my arm. Luckily I had long sleeves, but EWWWWW!!!!

Mia Maids

AC was made the Mia Maid 1st counselor today. Actually 2 weeks ago she was, but today she was officially set apart. I also gave my first lesson today. I guess it went okay. It was titled "Jesus is the Christ". I read the last stanza of this Hymn, but I really like the whole thing. I often read through it during the sacrament.

Reverently and Meekly Now

Rev’rently and meekly now,
Let thy head most humbly bow.
Think of me, thou ransomed one;
Think what I for thee have done.
With my blood that dripped like rain,
Sweat in agony of pain,
With my body on the tree
I have ransomed even thee.

In this bread now blest for thee,
Emblem of my body see;
In this water or this wine,
Emblem of my blood divine.
Oh, remember what was done
That the sinner might be won.
On the cross of Calvary
I have suffered death for thee.

Bid thine heart all strife to cease;
With thy brethren be at peace.
Oh, forgive as thou wouldst be
E’en forgiven now by me.
In the solemn faith of prayer
Cast upon me all thy care,
And my Spirit’s grace shall be
Like a fountain unto thee.

At the throne I intercede;
For thee ever do I plead.
I have loved thee as thy friend,
With a love that cannot end.
Be obedient, I implore,
Prayerful, watchful, evermore,
And be constant unto me,
That thy Savior I may be.

Hymn #185

Swimming again

We went swimming again today, but as the whole family. We were having fun playing and such, but after just 50 minutes they made everyone get out and go to the locker rooms. The fire department was there and we found out it was because of high level of gasses in the pool areas. Probably chlorine or something. The youngest two were very disappointed, but we were able to get a rain check, so we can go back in the next little while for free. M said on the way home "I know why there must have been so much gas. Because too many people (passed gas)".

Calvin and Hobbes

AR decided to re-enact a scene from the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. Here we have snowman #1 bowling with snowman #2's head

Close up of #2's head and the bowling pins.

Close up of snowman #1 and #2 looking for his head.

The next day, #1 had fallen over and his head was smashed a little. I think #2 pushed him over for revenge :)

More Birthday Fun

I wanted K to still have some fun on her birthday, because we had already celebrated her birthday throughout the weekend. Besides being able to blow out her candle again and have leftover cake and ice cream, she invited two friends to go with her to the local pool. It has two slides (one for older and one for younger kids), water toys, and other fun things. I even braved a swimming suit. It was fun! Going home was only a little cold, because we made sure to bring a change of clothes and coats with hats. These are the only pictures that really turned out okay. I think it is interesting how the camera caught a drop of water in mid-air above K's eyebrow and you can even see the shadow of it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Presents and Cake

K opened her presents and we had cake and ice cream early this year, because My Love had to leave on a trip today. She received some nice presents. From us she received a digital camera and an arrow holder (or whatever you call it) to go with the archery set Santa gave for Christmas.

Her sisters were so sweet and gave presents too. AC gave her a movie, AR a birthday barbie, and M picked out a littlest pet shop for her. She also got some money and a card from her uncle.

She received a dress and webkin clothes from G'ma and G'pa M, and a scripture case and money from G'ma and G'pa L.

Mail Time!

With the title, I just can't keep the song from Blues Clues going through my head. The wonderful benefit of being a mom to a preschooler who's been watching a couple of tapes of it that I recorded back when K was her age.
AC and AR have both been waiting in anticipation for the mail this week. AC received her official drivers permit. She's been out a couple times with her temporary one, but she's keeping to the residential roads for now where she can go slower as she gets use to driving.
AR received an acceptance letter to a program at a high school that will be 25 minutes away. It is a new program that will hopefully allow her to go more at her own pace and give her the ability to do projects that interest her. It is up by My Love's work, so will only be a 10 minute longer commute for him to drive her there. She'll probably ride the city bus home, until she gets her drivers license in about 2 1/2 years.
K also received a card and a couple of packages for her birthday. It's been a nice week of mail for the girls.

Some Pictures from K's Year

Because it is K's birthday in a few days, I thought I'd post some pictures of her from this year. I like the expression on her face in the picture below.

At field day. Yes, the tongue sticking out helps get more distance. (If you click on the picture, you can see it better).

She was STARR student at school. Students That Act Responsibly and Respectfully. They have a little award ceremony for different selected students each month.

Market Day at school. She designed and made snowmen and reindeer bookmarks and also made origami bows.

Oral interpretation with a friend. She came in third place in her age group for her school and went on to area oral interpretation.

Making a city to bomb with pop-its.

She loves rock wall climbing. She had to do it over and over again.

Piggy nose made from play dough. What a funny girl!

Strange Happenings

3:00 a.m. I'm awakened by a little knock on the door. "Yes?" A little voice from M says " 'Night Mom". Me - "Do you have to go to the bathroom?". M- "No, I just wanted to tell you good night". Me - " 'kay, go back to sleep". What was she doing up at 3:00 a.m. telling me this? I thought maybe she was wandering around half asleep, so I had to get up and check on her. She had gone back to her bed and gone to sleep. I'm so glad that she wanted me (in her half asleep condition) to have a good night so that I then spent an hour trying to fall asleep, to then be awakened at 5:00 when AC got up to get ready for seminary. I then had to get up at 5:30 to take AC to seminary. What a strange "good night":)
So then today, M found AC's old cell phone that K was using to play with. I thought she was cute talking to an imaginary person and headed upstairs to tell AR that she needed to empty the dishwasher. AR came downstairs and found M having a conversation with someone who did not sound imaginary. She took the phone and I heard the end of AR's conversation. Something like "No, there is not an emergency. My little sister was just using my sister's old cell phone and must have hit the SOS button. ...No, there's not an emergency.... Thanks... Bye". M had called 911! The operator was trying to find out if M was alone, or if there was anyone else with her. So advice to you all. Do NOT let little kids use old cell phones, unless you take out the battery. They have an SOS button that can be used, even if they're not activated or have a Sim card. What fun four "and a half" year olds can be.

FHE

Madagascar 2 was at the cheap movie theatre, so we went yesterday for Family Home Evening. One last activity before school started today. We were the only ones there for awhile, because we got there 15 minutes early. Pretty empty after that too. I was a terrible mom and allowed the girls to put their feet up on the back of the row in front of us. M had to imitate her older sisters. She would crouch all the way in her booster and be practically on her back trying to reach the chair in front of us. This picture isn't the greatest, because it was taken by My Love's phone, but if you notice, M's feet aren't even reaching the chair for the photo.

More Pictures

AC in the dress she wore for choir last year during Masquerade from The Phantom of the Opera in May. It was made by Gramma L.

I love this picture of AR next to a lake taken in 7/08. I call it Reflections.

These two pictures are of M at the historical farm and museum. We went there with her preschool class in Oct. She seemed to love playing in the play kitchen, so Santa brought her a play one for Christmas.

When our foreign exchange student Louise was here, we took her to the dinosaur park that has footprints. I love the picture below of K and M. It shows such sweetness of a big sister helping the younger down the road of life.

Changes

After two years not being in Young Women's, I was put in today as the Mia Maid advisor. AC is relieved that she will be moving up to Laurels in 6 months and AR is excited that I will be with her when she turns 14 in four months. I didn't realize it could be such torture to have your mom with you at church activities, although I seem to remember that sometimes AC didn't want to go unless I was there. (Edited to add that AC said that she was just teasing me about being glad she was moving up and the reason she wanted me to go with her was because she was very shy back then).
K is so excited to now be in Valiant 9 where she is in senior primary and M is excited to be in CTR 5. She thought it was neat that she got a CTR ring and they both love their new classes.

Pictures

My Love says that he's been checking a certain blog and it hasn't put anything new on, so I've decided that for the next little while I'll put pictures from the past year on when I don't have anything else to write about.

My Love and AR participated in a 5K that our ward had in October. K and M also participated in a childrens run. My Love also went along with M.

AC liked playing in the Young Women's basketball. I'm not sure if our ward ever won, but they had fun and were good sports.

Both of these pictures are at the zoo. If you can't tell, that is not a real elephant:)

Happy New Year!!!

Hope you all have a great, prosperous, and happy year! I stayed up until later than 1:30 playing the game Settlers with My Love and AR and waiting for AC to come home from a dance. (I gratefully didn't have to drop her and her friend off and pick them up, because it was 1/2 hour away, when you go the right way). K woke up this morning and was upset that she didn't get to stay up for the New Years. She has no recollection of us shaking her, standing her up and making her look at the t.v. It's kinda hard to stay up late two nights in a row. The previous night she had a sleep over with two friends. She was all excited that it was a "double sleep over and it wasn't even (her) birthday!" What is on their faces !?!?! AR loves playing with kids. She made a yogurt face cream for doing makeovers. Even M got in on the fun. The first picture is of her in the car yesterday. We were going into the mall and she insisted on wearing the hat. I asked her why she wanted to wear it. " 'Cause it makes me look cool". You can't tell she has older sisters that are corrupting her, can you? She already says she loves the Jonas Brothers and a couple other actors, and she even has the boy she wants to marry picked out. She gets upset when he tells her he's not going to marry her. Poor girl, already dealing with rejection. By the way, do you know what happened to the hat and jacket? Yep, I ended up carrying both.

Driving Fun

AC(child #1) received her driving permit yesterday! Aaaaaaaa!! It scares me to have to drive with someone who doesn't know how to drive. She doesn't want to drive yet, either, until we practice more in the parking lot. She gets 6 hours with the driving school she went to, so I may have her go there at first so they teach her first on a car that has a second brake. In 6 months she gets to start dating too! She's growing up! Here's a picture of her in her choir dress from this year and a picture from last year when she still had her braces on.

On a second driving note, Colorado has, what I think, a very frustrating way of setting up roads. Say for example you are traveling down a road and you miss the road you are suppose to turn on. You could continue down the road looking for the turn off, finally finding the second road you are suppose to turn on. This road will not lead you to where you are suppose to go. You then turn around following that road back, thinking the first road you missed should be somewhere along that road. You then drive around for an hour, being lost, calling your daughter at home to see if she can figure out where you are suppose to be. She cannot figure out where you are on the internet map, so you finally stop at a gas station to buy a map. You quickly find where you are at and discover you were nowhere near where you were suppose to be. The problem is that roads in Colorado can start and stop all the way across the map. You cannot get to the place where you were suppose to be because there was a huge lake or park or something that broke up the road. This whole scenario makes your teen in the back seat grumble, because she and her friend you are driving to a New Years Eve Dance, an hour later than planned. This is all hypothetical, of course, but at least in this hypothetical situation they made it to their dance a couple hours before New Years.