Rachel's Birthday

We celebrated Rachel's 8th birthday last week. It seems like we celebrated for a whole week. We had a party with my family on Tuesday, a party with friends on Saturday, and a party with Dan's family on Sunday. She got 3 birthday cakes, and plenty of presents.

On Sunday we met with the bishop about getting baptized. She is excited to get baptized. She was nervous to meet with the bishop though.

Rachel is getting to be such a big girl. I am forgetting what she was like as a toddler now that she is getting older. She likes Hannah Montana. She is really good at reading. For her birthday, my in-laws gave her the book "Anne of Green Gables". It was an easier, 150-page version. She finished it in a day.

Rachel is a sweet, friendly girl. She loves to be social. She is such a good helper with Anna and Alex.
I am so proud of Rachel, and I love her so much.

Anna goes missing.....

On Friday, I went to Ogden with my mom and sisters to run the Odgen Marathon relay. About an hour after leaving, I called Dan to see how things were going. He said that Anna was missing and he would call me later and hung up the phone. Of course, I was really upset. The thought of ever losing my curly-haired, brown-eyed girl was such a horrible thought to me.

I thought about some of the last moments I had spent with my "Anna Girly". She wanted me to read the Little Mermaid to her. I was busy changing Alex's diaper and packing up to spend the night in Ogden. She fell asleep in the rocking chair with her book whie she was waiting for me. She looked so cute curled up and I felt bad that I hadn't read to her. It was already time to go to school to pick up kids, so I had to carry her to the van asleep. When we got back home I put her in her bed, but she didn't stay asleep. I looked down at her and her hair was extra curly since it was a hot day. I kissed her cheek and told her that I loved her. She cried when I left, but I gave her a hug and told her I would come back. I love Anna, and all my kids beyond words to express it. Well, back to the story...sorry for the ramble.

I was about to call the police from my cell phone, but I decided to wait a few minutes all then call Dan back. Back at home, Dan asked a neighbor boy if he had seen Anna. He said that he had, and she was riding her pink plastic tricycle. Dan went down to the end of the street looking for her. Then a guy from our ward pulled up to tell him that he had seen Anna down a different street. He was driving home from work and he saw her but didn't notice her (does that make sense?). I'm not sure how much time elapsed, but he told Dan at church that the image of Anna on her bike came to his mind. She had made it all the way through our neighborhood, and then down 2200 W (the nearest real street near us). We live near 2600 W. She had also gone south a bit. She was still pedaling away when he got there. There is an open canal right next to the sidewalk.

I called Dan back, ready to call the police, and he had found her. I am so thankful.

I was so mad, I demanded an explanation how Dan could not notice she was gone. He had turned on Sleeping Beauty for her in our bedroom, and was resting while she watching. Rachel came up and had something to show Anna. So Anna went downstairs to Rachel's room. Rachel thought she came back upstairs, and Dan thought she was still down with Rachel. Anna can get the doors open unless the deadbolt is locked. She sneaks outside whenever she can if the deadbolt is left unlocked. The regular lock doesn't deter her at all. And she loves pedaling that plastic tricycle. She is quite athletic for a 2 year old. She is such a fearless child. It worries me so much. I hope that she has a lot of guardian angels watching out for her. We do our best to keep her safe. I am so thankful that this didn't end up one of those sad stories on the news.

San Diego....without the kids

We spent a few days in San Diego this last week, without the kids. Dan had to fly to San Diego for some business meetings, and we decided to make a vacation out of it. My sister Becca watched the kids part of the time, and Dan's mom watched them part of the time. Actually, Dan's mom probably watched them more of the time.

On Monday morning, we got up early and went to the airport. We got there about 1 1/2 hours early. It took about half an hour to get through security. So then we got to sit and wait for about an hour.

When we were getting on the plane, Dan hit the exit sign with his carry-on bag and it fell off the wall. The flight attended said not to worry about it and tried to put it back on while we went to our seats. Well, it was time to take off, and we were not leaving. Then the pilot announced over the speakers that the flight was delayed because of a broken exit sign. Dan and I just looked at each other and smiled. About half an hour later, the sign was fixed and we were on our way.

After arriving in San Diego, we rented a car. Dan, being a true guy, wanted a Mustang. So we rented a nice, shiny mustang. It actually was fun to drive a nice, fun car instead of a min-van.

We toured the USS Midway, and went on a boat tour of the harbor, and then the next day we went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. It is much easier traveling without our kids. We both missed them and pointed out all the things that each kid would like. Caleb, my little button-pusher would have loved the control room on the USS Midway. I really missed the kids, and cried a little. But I haven't had a break in so many years. It was nice.

We stayed at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in Escondido. That is where Dan's work was having meetings. I am a frugalite. I am used to Holiday Inn. The hotel was really nice. When Dan was gone to his meetings, housekeeping came to turn my bed for me. Maybe I should have had them tuck me in too. I kept myself occupied by watching tv, shopping, and going for a pedicure.

We were happy to get home. Our kids have many welcome home signs and gifts made for us. I really love our kids.