Temple Grounds

On Monday, we decided to head to the Oakland Temple and Chad and I would take turns watching the kids.  I was getting ready when Chad loaded the car so I didn't even get to look at Jocey until we arrived.  I didn't even know what to say because there wasn't anything I could do (except take her camping pan away- that wasn't even until after she scooped up some water from the fountain).  I think Dallin was embarrassed too.

Below, the kids are running around the fountain.  Lucy just loved this.

We had such a fun weekend, let's just hope our summer is fun too.

Zoo

Over the long weekend, we made a trip to the S.F. Zoo.  We got there right when it opened so the crowds weren't crazy.  Thomas and Angela met us there to help manage our kids.  I know, we only have 3 kids to keep track of, you wouldn't think it would be so hard but you put Lucy in her power chair and we're dealing with all kinds of independence.

She almost broke the front wheel of her power chair trying to drive up these stairs.  We couldn't find an elevator and she just didn't want to listen to me tell her that she couldn't drive up the stairs.

Following a peacock. 

After directing Lucy through the zoo for about an hour, she started to get really sassy and then she decided that she didn't want to go anywhere we were going.  She kept telling me to go away so she could drive off on her own "Shoo, go away mom".  Long story short, I just let her go (I followed right behind but stayed there so she couldn't see me).  I followed her for about 15 minutes, she drove up and down the paths, slowing down to look at people who passed.  We got to a food court where there were a lot of people and I saw Chad and D coming so I signaled to them to not acknowledge me.  Lucy didn't even see them so I had them go back to walk by us again and when she saw them, she said, "My family! I found my family!"  I felt bad and so I talked to her about needing to stay close to us so we could suction her and help her if she needed it.  She was sassy and pushed a bunch of spit out of her mouth with her tongue as to say, "I don't need help".  We should've known, getting her a power chair would be so much more than letting her move around on her own.  We love that she is such a fireball but we also wish we had more energy to keep up with her.

Ballerina

A few nights ago, Lucy kept requesting to watch little girl's dance performances on youtube.  She didn't say much except, "I want to watch another one".  She just loved it.  After watching several, she requested a tutu and dance lessons.

Aunt Melanie buys everything that Lucy requests and she got a tutu the next day.  She asked me to dance with her but my back is ruined (maybe not ruined but it is headed that way) and I get really dizzy when she makes me spin so I put her in her power chair and she spun around and around and around with her pink tutu on.

Now, we need to figure out how to do dance lessons.  She even asked my parents if they would come watch her in her dance class when they come to visit...I better hurry!

Yosemite - a beautiful getaway

This was our view (using photosynth) from Upper Falls (above the waterfall in the previous pictures).  Beautiful!

I don't think I need to write captions for all of the pictures but Yosemite was majestic! Absolutely beautiful!  This was our very first getaway since we got married (except for the time I visited Chad in NY while he was training and when we came CA to look for housing).  It was our first time just taking a break and it felt sooooooo good!  Thomas, Angela and Melanie held down the fort at home and we do know how lucky we are that they 1) are able take care of our kids, especially Lucy and 2) are willing to take care of them.  It's a tough job.  We owe them big:)

Eclipse

Did you see the eclipse? 

This is what it looked like from our view.

All of the shadows were crescent-shaped.

Superheroes

A few weeks ago, I asked Lucy if she wanted to play dress up with Dallin and Jocey.  She was excited and I suggested that they all be superheroes.  They were all excited about the idea.  Then I suggested, Dallin to be Batman, Jocey- Superman and Lucy, Spiderman.  I looked down at Lucy and she was crying so hard, which makes her choke.  I was surprised and asked her what was wrong.  Inbetween chokes, she said, "I don't want to be Spiderman, I want to be Aurora."

Now, she asks to play superheroes all the time but when I ask her who she wants to be, she always says Aurora.

Overheard

1.  Lucy has had really bad allergies and I kept her from school yesterday so we could position her to keep her mucus out of her lungs (or so we think) and do extra treatments.  Today she is much better and she kept begging me to go to school.

L:  Please, Please!  Mommy, can I please go to school? (Over and over)
C:  I don't know, we'll see how you do this morning.
L:  I  promise, I won't turn blue!  I promise, I won't choke! (so sad but to her, it's just a fact of life)
C:  Oh, Lucy, you can't make those promises, sweetie.  Maybe we'll go visit school for a little bit.
L:  Okay, I understand.

We visited school and I am so sad the year is almost over, she just loves school.

2.  Jocey got out of bed for a hundredth time.

Me:  Jocey, why do you keep getting out of bed?
J:  These voices in my head keep telling me to get out.

3.  Driving around town in the car.

Dal:  Mom, maybe by the time you are 40, you won't have zits anymore.

Sorry I am not posting more than overheards, there is a lot going on but mostly trying to keep life under control.  Lots of love to all of our loved ones!

I remembered some more overheard's and an emergency

1.  Before my kids go to school, I always say, DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE.  If you need to, wash your hands before and after.  Before Lucy goes to school, I tell her, "Okay, Lucy, if you need suction or if you need to lay back, just tell Dawn Marie."

If Lucy's teachers say that she is not driving her power chair (asking for a lot of help) or something similar, I talk to her about it and tell her why she needs to do it herself (if she can- we realize she has limitations but we like to push her).

This is her sweet and very mature response, "Okay, mommy, I understand and I'll obey you."

And the most amazing part...she does!  When I pick her up, they always tell me how awesome she did or how helpful she is in helping the nurse take care of her.

2.  Dawn Marie (Lucy's school nurse) was helping me put Lucy into the car.

Lucy:  Mom, I made something for you today.
Dawn Marie: Ya, it's a secr... (Lucy cuts her off)
Lucy:  It's a flower

3.  We put Lucy to bed around 9 the other night.  Her nurse came in around 10 and went into her room.  I heard Lucy yelling so I poked my head into her room.

Lucy:  Hey, Mom!  What are you doing out here?  You need to go to bed.  Goodnight! (it's not just the things she says, it's how she says them)

This next story really portrays the kind of kid Lucy is.

I had just finished a Visiting Teaching appointment and then I stopped at Trader Joe's.  I then started my way to Lucy's school.  I got a call from Jo Camper but she called our number that goes to google voice and she hung up.  I got even closer and received a call from Emma.  She told me that Lucy had turned blue and they had called 911.  By then I was already in the parking lot so I didn't have time to freak out.  I ran in and saw Lucy.  I knew immediately that she was fine.  I knelt down by her on the ground and asked if she was alright.

Her response, "I was choking in my power chair."  The paramedics arrived and started asking questions.  I told them that she was fine now and one of the started assessing her (after a minute, I told them they didn't need to so they left) and she says, "Hi, what's your name?"  She was so sweet to everyone and she knew that it had really scared her teachers.  Dawn Marie did perfect and I am so glad Lucy is in her hands.  Before we left, she said that she needed hugs from everyone.  She later said that she "turned blue like a smurf".

Oh this girl, she is just too much and I just can't help but love every little thing about her.  In the picture below, we were driving and she asked me to turn her head so she could look at me and she gave me this huge smile.

 And how cute is this picture my friend Ashley made for us.

She is really awesome.