July 5, 2009
We hope everyone had a great Fourth of July. We went out to dinner and then to Tempe Town Lake for a big fireworks show for the Fourth. Vayden really liked the fireworks and all the people. She got to ride on a city bus for the first time.
Lori and Karl are enjoying being off the diet and eating more than 500 calories a day. It has gotten hot here in Arizona. We are thankful that this year June stayed pretty cool for the most part.
Very Vayden
Vayden has had a lot going on with her. She is growing so fast. A couple weekends ago we took her out to a wedding. We thought she would get fussy and we would only be able to stay for awhile, but she loved it. She was completely fascinated by the whole experience. We have been teaching he to clap, and she was amazed to see that other people do that too. She loved sitting in a high chair at the table eating real people food. She tried her first mashed potatoes which she loved. The little girl went crazy for apple cider. We have never seen her get so excited to drink something or drink so much of something. After she got all juiced up on apple cider she went off dancing with with several people. The kids got rhythm and loved the music. She seems to really enjoy new people. When she wasn’t dancing herself, she seemed fascinated by others who were. She did great at the wedding. She loves people and social interaction. We stayed until almost the end. Vayden eventually ended up in Karl’s arms and put her head on his chest and turned off like a light. Vayden has had her first trip to the emergency room. Christian was leaning on and goofing around on one side of the safety gate at the top of the stairs with Vayden on the other side. Christian was trying to pull a trash bag full of old clothes up over the gate with Vayden tugging on the bag. Christian’s weight made the gate give way and the gate and Christian’s full weight fell onto Vayden with the gate smashing into her face. She immediately had broken blood vessels and bruising on her face, but what worried us most was the egg that started forming on her forehead. We took her to the emergency room and got her checked out. She ended up being ok and the goose egg quickly subsided. It was a little scary and traumatic for everyone. Christian felt really bad.
Vayden is crazy for beef jerky. She can’t really eat it, but loves sucking on it. We have to be careful bringing it out around her or she will throw a fit if you don’t give her any. She recognizes the bag and can smell it even if you try to hide from her and eat some of it in the same room with her.
Vayden can now clap her hands and shake her head “no”. She is the cutest baby. Everyone who meets her always says the same thing. We have people at the mall, the grocery store, and where ever we go come up to us and comment on how happy she is. She is almost always smiling and laughing. People who are sitting 7 rows behind us at church will come up and mention it to us. She really is a very happy baby and we are all very blessed to have her in our home. Her happiness is contagious and she makes all of us smile all the time too.
Completely Christian
Christian is in Indiana visiting and Lori, Karl, Vayden and Roxy miss him. Karl is jealous that Christian got to be in Indiana for the Fourth of July since there are all those fireworks stands selling plenty of trouble. Recently at a wedding we attended, there was an artist there that would draw a portrait of any of the weddings guest who were willing to sit for him. This ended up being Christian’s favorite part of the wedding. Well that and the table full of candy table that they hand on hand. Christian got his portrait done and after it was done he walked over to our table and said, “Dang, I look gooooood!” Lori was laughing at him and Christian couldn’t understand why. He kept saying, “What? I do. Look.”
Christian says he is having a good time in Indiana, his only complaint is the mosquitoes. He is a lucky kid to have so many people who love him and his company.
Sooooo Shelby
Shelby is staying with us for a few weeks. Lori and Shelby went to see the Diamond backs play the Angeles. The Angeles won due to an inside the park homerun bunt if you can believe that. Shelby has been getting to know her little sister and helps out by babysitting her at times.
All Alyssa
Alyssa had a barbeque at her house and then her block gets together for a block party fireworks extravaganza.
Being Brittney
Brittney had some big plans this weekend. She was excited to get to do this since she has been wanting to do it for the past two years. Brittney is going camping with a bunch of friends at a place called Red Bud in Michigan. It is a dirt bike track, and every Fourth of July they have pro dirt bike riders come and race. There is also a fireworks show.
Family Stories
Karl’s Humor
Lori thought Karl was funny today in his lesson in church. Karl’s personality requires him to write even his attempts at humor out ahead of time, so we copied a portion of it for your entertainment.
Karl talking . . . . If this lesson sounds familiar, we had one very similar to it not too long ago. The good news is that if you are like me you probably weren’t paying attention or have already forgotten most of it. It is ok, I am not being critical, I am the worst. Ask Lori. I can’t tell you how many times she looks at me like I am crazy and says “We already talked about this!” and all I can say is, “We did?”
Then I have to ask:
Was the TV on at the time?
Was I eating something?
Was I driving?
Was I in an upright position, or horizontal on the couch?
Did I have my mouth open or closed?
Sunday News
Volume 18 Page 4 July 5, 2009
The answers to these questions help me determine if I was actually paying attention or just pretending. You see I read this book about how people, especially your wife likes it when you listen to them. (the book didn’t say anything about retaining what they say however)
Also, a tip I have learned for you guys, just listening isn’t enough.
You have to PARTICPATE. So every once in awhile during the conversation you should nod or say “Oh yeah”. Also I find it helps if you ask a question now and then so it appears as if you are following along. This is true even if you don’t care what the answer is. Just be careful, because if you ask, “Oh yeah, who is she?” and your wife responds, “Your daughter!” She may catch on.
My wife says I am not funny and that I am too serious, too intense. People are afraid of me. My response is to ask, “Who thinks that?! I want their names and addresses!”
So she writes down our address and our kids names.
Then I say. “No seriously.”
Then she asks me why would you want their addresses?
I tell her because I am going to write them a three page letter explaining why I am light hearted and easy going.
