Libby's playdate

Libby couldn't wait for her friend Caroline to return from a 3 week vacation. Her mom called right when they got back. They live within a 1/2 mile of our home and also have a girl going into Kindergarten this fall (like Brooke). I smell the start of something wonderful! Caroline happily played with Libby for over 5 hours. They made sock puppets and put on a show for Lee and myself. Libby can't wait for next time. Caroline and Libby have many things in common, they may even be in the same 3rd grade class this year! Libby is crossing her fingers and toes.

Brooke's head laceration/Late over gone wrong

If you are at all squeamish...DO NOT SCROLL DOWN! Thankfully, all the pictures I took were blurry.

Last night was going to be grand, "a late over" as we call it around our house. This is where instead of sleeping over, we just stay over late, then go to bed and sleep late the next morning in our own beds. The last minute event was planned, a few moms, several children, etc. The kids started by swimming as the moms were chatting. Everything is going according to the plan and then...Brooke just casually falls backwards, hits her head on a corner of a wall, while standing right next to me! She quietly sobs while I pick her up. I ask her to let me check out her head (like you say every time they hit their wee heads) and I look at my hand and it is covered in BLOOD! This just doesn't happen, it was supposed to be no big deal and we could all get back to the fun night. My friend, Lisa, helped find where the blood was coming from, with the help of a flashlight. Oddly enough, Brooke let her touch the head more than she would me. Well, Sage and Libby had a great time playing games, watching a movie and eating my personal favorite, "kettle korn" while I took Brooke home to clean her up and to decide further action. After staring at an inch laceration on the back of her head that looked like...well it was just too much for me to handle. I consulted with her Dad and took off to the ER (urgent cares are all closed when these things happen). Brooke was so brave, but didn't want to go. She never screamed even when the doctor said we needed to put her back together again. The doctor wanted to use a needle, I firmly suggested the liquid numbing stuff. He consented after explaining that it takes longer for it to work. If you have ever experienced that needle, you know that you don't need a 2nd time around to know it is not for you, me, or any of my CHILDREN. The nice, jovial doctor, placed 3 staples and some glue stuff on the laceration. I was so impressed by my sweet daughter that just wanted to know what was going on and accepted that mom would do the right thing. It broke my heart to tell her that I couldn't fix it this time, the doctor needed to do it. She fell asleep about 5 minutes after it was over (10:30 PM), she was all done. Brooke slept with me and never once asked for medicine. She did have trouble sleeping several times, trying hard to find a good position to sleep in. She is a stomach sleeper, so that helped a lot, since the laceration is at the back of her head.

Brooke woke up alert and acting completely normal, a little tenderness. She even attended her dance class today. Amazingly, she can wash her hair tomorrow and go swimming. The staples will be removed by her pediatrician, next Friday.

This is the head of one TOUGH little girl. Life is precious, enjoy every moment :)

Family Reunion in Oceanside

We stayed at the Wyndham resort by the pier. The pool was just outside our window, always a happening place to be.

The beach had some great waves, but the water and sand was extremely crowded. Lee is helping Libby and Sage.

Brooke prefers the sand to the water.

Libby and Brooke played a scrabble game in the activity room.

Sage and Perry fought over holding the 2 babies: Jewel (5 months) and Lorilai (sp? - 3 months).

Jagger and Bailey loved the water as well.

We shared some yummy food each night: Baja Fresh, Domino's, and Ruby's on the pier! Thanks Mom and Ed for planning a fabulous trip.

We had a 2 bedroom place for our family that included a TV in each room, not the bathroom :(

I didn't catch a picture of Brooke in the huge Jacuzzi tub. I think she took 3 looooooong baths while we stayed there. She loves the bubbles!

Thank you Philip for sleeping with Zeus each night we were gone. We would not have been able to leave home without that help. Thanks to Gavin and Jenny for walking him, sorry for the boo-boos that come from the dog walking the child.

Perry becomes a deacon

Perry is supported and loved by many people. He turned 12 this past week and Lee ordained him today. Many people came and wanted to come and witness this event. Even the priesthood quorum was in attendance...we had to move to the RS room for enough space. Thank you for your support. We then had a family gathering (food included).

Perry is still climbing trees :)

Perry will be gone to scout camp for this entire week and then he will pass the sacrament for the first time on Sunday. He is growing up, sniff - sniff. Well, he is not moving out just yet.

Small Wonders

The way to have fun with small children is to turn the "WATER" on. Gavin, Libby, and Perry enjoyed the swimming pool. Gavin took quite some time to enter the water and then he was kicking and laughing (Libby helped encourage him).

Right in the middle of this sunny morning came a down pour of rain...big drops and then it all went away.

Maybe he will be a future firefighter, look at him go with that hose!

Libby celebrates her 8th birthday early!

Note: Please click on the image to enlarge them, they should fill your screen for easy viewing.

Libby found a picture of a cake that she wanted to duplicate for her party. She did a great job!

The bears have life preservers as well as one just finished burying another bear in the sand. Libby used frosting to put bathing suits on the little bears. The process of creating is so much fun for her :)

This is Libby's favorite pool, the "cave pool" as she calls it. A nice sister in our ward allowed us to use her pool for the party. Way to go Suzi!

She even let us use her pool toys!

This is so sweet! Big brother is helping little brother. These are 2 of Libby's cousins.

Libby's true birthday is November 28, but she has always wanted a summer swim party. Dreams can come true! Thank you friends and family for making one little girl's dream come true.

Special Dance night

Why can't they just stay little? (Our King palms are blooming for the first time ever...seen in the picture below)

Sage invited Lee to be her "date" for a dinner/dance night at church. This activity was for girls ages 8 - 11. The won a prize and learned some new dance moves. I think they looked like a nice couple with matching attire.