June 28, 2008 - Mountain Beaver

It was dark and we were all outside in the back at Hansens when all the sudden Preston let out this loud, shrieking scream and then he ran over to my dad. We were all asking Preston, "What is wrong?" when all the sudden someone spotted this animal moving around the patio by the window.

Tom, Branden and Dad moved over to get a look - it looked like a huge (like 1 foot long) rat with no tail. It also moved really slowly. They went and caught it in the bucket while the girls checked on Preston - it scratched him on the leg. Once we caught it and put it in the kitty cage we tried to figure out what it was because it was so strange looking.

After Dad and Branden searched for 45 minutes on the computer (and mom's suggestion that it was a baby raccoon!) we finally figure out that it was a Mountain Beaver:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/mtn_beavers.htm

Below is a picture that we took (in the red cage) and the other one is from online so you can see what they look like.

Dad eventually took it across the trail and let it go, but it was pretty scary and weird!

This is what it said online: Most people don't know mountain beavers exist and some still continue to question that fact even after they've heard about the animals.

We can now verify for anyone who questioned their existence :)

Friday, June 20, 2008 - Initiation into Young Womens

So I had my official "initiation" into Young Womens on Wednesday night.

There are 2 things that absolutely do not go together: Heather & Team Sports (specifically sports involving a ball).

So at Wednesday's combined YW/YM activity we played..... kickball. When my team was in the outfield for the first hour I stood close to the boys (my tactic since elementary school). When a ball came my way I would either duck or run the opposite way the ball was coming.

Well there was one time when I was standing between 1st & 2nd base and all the sudden I'm the only one there. Someone kicks a pop up ball and I look up to see that it is headed right in the exact spot where I'm standing. So I start to scream - a blood startling scream. I close my eyes and just think " grab onto the ball as tight as you can" so then the ball comes down and I caught it!!!! When I opened my eyes I couldn't believe it so I started screaming from the TOP of my lungs "I caught the ball! I caught the ball!" Jumping up and down like a complete idiot. All the sudden I'm swarmed by a ton of people giving me 5's and I just keep saying over and over, "I've never caught a ball before" all the meanwhile my hands are completely shaking.

After we got done playing I had 3 young women come up and tell me they have never heard someone scream so loud before. Another embarassing moment for the books - me acting like a complete idiot..... this is the reason Tom loves me so much still - I give him great material.

Last night I called him on the cell phone and all I hear is him saying, "I cauuuuuugggghhhhht the balllllll" I know he does this because he loves me.

So I guess I finally initiated myself into young womens.

Things are going great - I'm finally able to get some sleep at night. I taught my lesson on Sunday and it was only 15 mintues long, which made everyone happy so I guess that part was a success.

Never a dull moment ;)

Saturday, June 14, 2008 - Another 5K

I forgot to post this last week. I am proud to say that I accomplished another goal - I ran in the Fall City Days 5K run.

I had 2 goals: run the entire time to the 1/2 way points and to do it in 40 minutes.

So I ran to the 1/2 ways point and my time was 40 minutes 18 seconds!!!

I was so proud of myself. As soon as I cross the finish line Tom, Preston and EN were there asking me all these questions about the parade, what to eat and I just kept saying, "I just finished the race, let me breathe!"

JN (some great kids we babysay for the weekend) ran it too and he did the 5K in 23 minutes!!

We had fun at the Fall City Days: watched a parade, ate fair food, and got REALLY sunburned. I'm a terrible mother for not putting sunscreen on my boys!! Preston now has about 200 new freckles on his face.

I appreciate Tom for skipping Saturday morning basketball and watching the kids so I could accomplish a goal. My next goal is to run another one the entire time! But my plantar faciitis might have other plans :(

Thursday, June 5, 2008 - I'm back

I was just going through all my May pictures and realized how incredibly busy I was this past month. I haven't been blogging because the last week has just been crazy! I have lots of news to share with my fellow bloggers:

1 - With gas prices just so insane (by our house it's $4.25/gal) I decided to give in and save myself $20 and have my mom cut Preston's hair. Even though she took about 5x the amount of time Lu at Totally Awesome Kids Cuts takes - she did an incredible job! I actually think it looks better than what Lu does. She didn't cut it as short which was nice because you don't see Preston's bald spot. Hansens' Salon will definitely be getting my business again - thanks so much mom!



2. Wesley went to the doctor a week ago Thursday. He is only in the 10% for weight but the doctor said she isn't worried because he is such a mover. She was impressed with how strong he was for his age. Something funny about Wesley is he just can't relax when you lay him on his back. He has to hold his head up the whole time. He got 4 shots again but it hardly affected him. However, our little angel has been quite distressed over two little white things about to pop up in his mouth:


His teeth still have not come in and they are driving him crazy. He has a hard time drinking the bottle because he just wants to chew on the nipple. Poor guy - we all feel for him. We dip the binky in ice water and give him chew toys to help. We also have to change outfits at least 2x a day because of the drool. Please come soon teeth!

Here is a picture of Wesley after his 4 shots - he only cried for about 15 seconds then he was back to being happy. Wesley is laughing outloud a ton now. He laughs in his sleep and randomly when he is sitting by himself he will just start laughing.


3 - Last Saturday 5 of my friends ran the Issaquah Triathlon. I was so proud of them! My friend Wendy and I decided to show our support by going down to cheer them on, but then we also did the 5K Run (mostly walking though). It was really fun to be a part of it. I encourage anyone to do a 5K - it wasn't too much work. I don't even think my heart rate got up there. And there was 0 training involved. We deicded to do it Friday night. We walked the same course as the runners so I'm sure they were so annoyed with two "chatty" ladies walking.

PS: This picture was taken last night after I worked out intensely - not the day of the 5K. Just wanted to make sure everyone knew I was not sweating from that :) - hee hee

4 - Tom went and attempted to climb Mt. Hood last weekend with my dad and Lance. However, he got altitude sickness pretty bad and didn't make it very far. I guess my prayers were answered (sorry Tom). He is still going against my wishes and climbing Mt. Rainier the end of the month.

5 - Monday night for Family Night we took Preston up to Snoqualmie Falls. It is huge right now with all the snow melting. We kept telling Preston we were taking him up to a surprise. When we got them he kept asking "Where is the surprise?" we said, "This is it - isn't it cool" then he would say, "Where is the surprise?" After about 5 minutes we left to go back to the car where he asked us again and we told him it was the water. Then he said - Let's go look at again then. I guess he wasn't too impressed.


I love this pictures. Preston hates to take his pictures now so I have to be a little creative.



6. I wasn't planning on starting Wesley on solids until 5 months but he started eating every 2 hours again and waking up 2 times in the night so yesterday I pulled out the rice cereal and figured milk just wasn' t filling him up. He caught on to the whole swallowing thing and you could see him playing with his tongue realizing that it was finally in there. We had a very gassy and tooty night - I think his stomach was a little tender from the new food - but he slept 7 hours last night!



7 - and now for the biggest piece of news that has been consuming my week. I got a new calling.... I couldn't believe it.... I was really shocked. Let me back up to about 2 months ago when I was laying in bed one night when this thought shot into my head "Are you ready to be in YW?" I thought - No, not yet (i have been dreading it), I'm too immature and not ready. I have never served a calling in YW as an adult.

Well last Wednesday I met with the bishop and you guessed it - he asked me to be 1st counselor in YW. I guess the thought was a statement not a question. I was called in on Sunday and I've had a huge list of things to do, meetings to attend, etc. It seems really overwhelming to me right now and I'm still feeling a little scared about the whole thing. I don't know why I have been dreading it so much - maybe because it wasn't too long ago when I remember being at that age. And honestly - I was annoyed with teenage girls when I was a teenager. It has really brought me to my knees and made me humble.

The best thing of all is that I'm working with all AMAZING women. Some of them my best friends. I have some great mentors and with them around I know I can't fail.

I'm teaching all the YW the 1st Sunday in July - I have never taught a YW lesson and so it will all be new to me. I was so comfortable in Primary.... I know this calling will allow me to grow and mature so much, and I'll probably cry when I get released. It's going to be a busy time though.... more to come, of course!