A bad day

We knew that Friday was going to be a sad day because it was the funeral for 6-year-old Mara Adams (http://www.maraadams.com/). But we didn't know it would quickly turn from sad to bad.

When Tadj got home from the funeral he suggested that we all go bowling. It sounded like fun so we hit the alley. The kids were having a blast and were really entertaining the grandmas and grandpas in the lane next to us. At the bottom of the third frame Kendall picked up her ball and slipped. The ball landed on her finger with her entire body on top of the ball. I have never heard her scream and cry so loud. There was blood everywhere and the tip of her ring finger was swollen up to the size of an olive. Since it wasn't life threatening (although you wouldn't have known that from her screaming) we rushed her to the pediatrician. When the swelling subsided a little, her finger looked like ground meat popping out the end of a sausage. After the x-rays it was discovered that she broke the bone in the tip of her finger. Her finger was too swollen for stitches and too small for a splint so all that could be done was tape the broken skin together so it didn't rip farther apart and wrap it in gauze. She was a real trooper through this part. Thanks to antibiotics (to kill any possible infection) and lots of Tylenol and Motrin she is doing much better.

So we managed the first broken bone in our family and for now we will stick to bowling on the Wii.

On Saturday evening we attended a wedding reception at the Zoo for my cousin Sarah and her husband John. After scouring through the pictures Tadj took at the reception this is the only one that shows the finger (sort of).

Fairtastic!

My favorite pics from our perfect day at the fair.

A Bum Encounter

Disclaimer: While I know that "bum" is not politically correct and I should use "homeless person" (even though I'd prefer to use "drugged-out loser"), I'll stick with the word "bum" for this story.

September 15th is the last day of busy season for my husband, which happens to coincide with my birthday. Tadj was pulling an all-nighter on the 14th and at about 2:30 in the morning he hears his car alarm go off. He works on the 8th floor and his car is parked on the top floor of the parking garage next door. So, he looks out the window and doesn't notice anything. He thought maybe a bum was sleeping under his car (which happens). A few minutes later his car alarm goes off again and this time he looks out and sees someone shutting his trunk and carrying his bags on his back. Using his buddy as a lookout, Tadj hurries down. The lookout points out where the bum went and Tadj tracks him down (not his most brilliant move ever). Tadj asks him what he thinks he is doing, noticing that he took off with our 48 hour backpack and already is chowing down on a power bar. The bum throws the bags at Tadj and apologizes profusely, "Dude, I'll make it up to you." Yeah, right. Perhaps Tadj should have let him keep the scriptures in his church bag.

When Tadj got to the car he sees that the bum broke TWO windows, the small triangle window on the rear door and the drivers door window. The police were called but by this time the bum was gone. Fortunately, we have a small deductible and the windows were quickly replaced. And thus ended a very busy, "busy season".

Back to School!

Hayden started Kindergarten lastweek He was very patient while I took his first day picture.

But then he started to get annoyed.
Here is his "please stop taking my picture" look.

Kendall started school today! She has been looking forward to going to preschool all summer. I put her in the same school Hayden attended last year. I can't believe that I have 1 hour and 50 minutes to myself twice a week. What will I do?

UW vs. BYU

Many people at Tadj's work are BYU or UW alumns so they decided to have their own football game - to be held the morning of the "real" game. A little healthy competition is good for everyone, right? In this work game the UW teamed creamed the BYU team. I photographed the event and 75% of my shots are of the UW team because BYU never got the ball. Some may wonder if I am torn on who to cheer for since I attended BYU and UW. But I have to go for my alma mater. Go Huskies! Plus, I have to root for my husband! It is just terribly unfortunate that the real college game didn't have the same outcome. And yes, I think healthy competition is good for those competing, not necessarily for the little one on the sideline who had a small accident waiting for her dad to finish playing. Poor Kendall!

Catching up

I realize I have totally neglected this blog. My personal goal was to post once a week but maybe I should set more realistic goals like once a month! It has been a church-busy August. I had to speak in church, write the children's sacrament meeting program, and make and deliver music CDs with the primary songs so the kids can make sure they know them for the program in a couple weeks. OK, so maybe it wasn't that much but I was totally stressed. I'm better now!

As for the kids, Hayden and Kendall went to dinosaur camp and just finished 10 weeks of swim lessons. Here is Hayden swimming. Look at that form!






Kendall is practicing her "ice cream scoops" in her picture. After I convinced her to put her face in the water we discovered that she can swim on her own. And I mean really swim-- kicking her feet while her arms are doing the crawl stroke. Now she just needs to figure out how to take a breath during this process!





Tadj and I have been trying to fit in weekly dates and have enjoyed the movies, shopping, and more recently we went to a Seahawks pre-season game. I didn't take my camera with me to the game but I should have. We were on the 50 yard line just a few rows from the field. It was awesome with the exception of a really obnoxious fan yelling in my ear the whole time. No, it wasn't Tadj. Here we are at a restaurant in Ballard.


I planted a vegetable garden in the spring and have had great success with the peas, zucchini, and squash. Corn and broccoli were a total failure. I am really proud of my garden (well, the veggies that grew) so I have to include a picture...