Weekend Family Fun

On Saturday, Papa and Elizabeth took us out shooting. I didn't think it would be something we could bring the kids to, but they said otherwise so we gave it a try. It was a fun time. Nathan is such a boy and LOVED the guns. He must take after someone I know...

Katelyn was fearless and very trigger happy. Don't worry, I had a good eye on the other kids.

Eliza was a little more hesitant at first, but only at first. She too was a little trigger happy. I wish I would have had time to take a picture of Nathaniel shooting the AK 47. That was really cool. He liked that gun. Papa helped Nathan shoot that and I heard he was grinning ear to ear. Boys and their toys.

Tanner hated wearing these at first. They wouldn't stay on his head and kept making his eyes get squished. I thought he was adorable...as always.

I love that his cheeks look chubby when he wears those earmuff things.

I love this picture of both of my boys. Nathaniel had a good time. He loved being able to bring the kids. (The kids were perfectly safe by the way.) It wasn't as scary to bring them as I was anticipating. We all had a good time, except Kate who kept going back to sit in the van since it was too loud. After shooting we (myself and the two girls) went to a community activity with Nana, Papa, Aunt Elizabeth, and the cousins. The boys had to nap so Nathaniel stayed with them. There was swimming and fun stuff at the park.

Papa must have been trying to sport a new fad. I'm not familiar with this fad yet. I'm not sure it will take off with the teens. We got a good laugh about it and he didn't mind at all. He's such a good sport.

This is the giant slip-n-slide they had. The fire dept. brought out one of their fire hoses and soaked the place. The kids had a great time.

Blessing in Disguise

On Tuesday afternoon the boys and I went outside to the van to go get the girls from school. When I was buckling Tanner in his carseat I looked up and saw the back window was shattered into a million pieces. It was still intact, but in a million pieces. I called my friend, Talana, and switched carpool with her since I didn't want my back window to fall out. (As a side note, I love carpooling, it makes life so much easier.) As I looked at the window it was pretty obvious that it had been shot by a BB gun or something very similar. It had to have happened between 11:45 and 2:45 in the afternoon while it was parked in my driveway. I had to call the police just to be sure I got a case number if my insurance wanted it. I knew that nothing was going to come of it other than that.
I called my insurance company to once again question their policy on glass coverage. In May when I had my windshield replaced they told me I had a $250 glass deductible. I tried to fight it and tell them that I shouldn't, but it was no use. I ended up paying $180 for a new windshield. My mom convinced me to call State Farm again and push the issue with the glass coverage. When I called I was surprised to hear that indeed I don't have a glass deductible. I questioned them about why I had to pay for a new windshield in May and she said to turn in my receipt but rarely are people reimbursed for work they have done outside of State Farm's contracted companies. I wrote a letter and turned it in stating what had happened and the injustice of it all. I turned it in and had a check 2 hours later. I thought if I got a check it would be months before I saw it. So all in all this punk shooting out my window was a blessing in disguise. I ended up getting my money back that I wouldn't have known to fight for otherwise. I ordered my kids Christmas gift yesterday and we get to pick it up on Saturday. I had been saving up money for their present and this just put me $6 over. What a happy day! So, I hope all of you get your windows shot out...not really, but maybe there will be something that happens that seems bad and turns out to be really good. Thanks little punk for my kids Christmas!

One little raindrop that made it through the hole. You can see little pieces of glass on the door.

Very blurry, but it was the best shot I could get of the hole itself. I'm surprised getting my window shot didn't bug me more. I feel very safe in Yuma and I still do. Someone asked if I was more paranoid now. I haven't given it much thought, I still love Yuma. The cop asked me who I thought did it. I laughed and said I don't think I was a target, it had to be totally random.

It stayed in place pretty well until the glass guys came and replaced it. Only around the edges did it start to come off. And, this picture is proof that it does rain in Yuma.

Sea World!

Friday, August 19th my mother-in-law called and asked if we had plans for Sat. I said we didn't and she invited us to go to Sea World with them. Sea World is something that I have looked forward to doing with the Sorenson's since I met them. It was something they did regularly as kids and they all have fond memories of it. It was even a joke in the family that you aren't a Sorenson until you've been to Sea World with the family. It took me 7 1/2 years to be a real member of the family... and it was a day worth waiting for. I thought it would be more fun with just Nathaniel and myself initially. I changed my mind when I saw my kids faces and got to go on rides with them. Even Tanner and Nathan were much better than I imagined. A lot of that is because Tanner adores Papa and fussed unless Papa carried him. That made life easy for me and I loved to watch them together. Tanner doesn't take to anyone really...but he LOVES his Papa. Eliza was hilarious at the Shamu show. We sat in the soak zone and wore ponchos. Eliza's was a little loose in the front near the neck and she ended up soaked anyway. I was watching her as "Shamu" splashed her and her face was to die for. I wish I could have taken pictures, but I didn't want to risk ruining the camera. I rode and the little roller coaster ride with Kate and it was so fun. Eliza was a little concerned with me riding the ride since I was pregnant. That's illegal and I could have been arrested. I guess I still have some of that old day spunk still in me. They take your picture at the first drop on the ride and then charge $15 for the picture (maybe $20). We don't usually buy into things like that, but the look on Eliza's face with a riot and Kate had a look of sheer terror on hers. We suckered into buying it and it sits in our living room for a continual laugh. It was SUCH a wonderful day. It was so fun to share it with Nana, Papa, Nancy, Quentin, and all the cousins. I hope we do it again. My kids ask me all the time when we are going back. I am so glad Nana and Papa surprised us with that trip. It was a pretty perfect day.

Tanner and Isaac were twinners for the day.

My personal favorite show was the dolphins. The dolphins did cool tricks, but they had divers do some really amazing things too. I thought it was sooooo cool. Tanner was a little less impressed...

it was naptime.

Kate got a little tired and found a comfy spot on Daddy. Nathaniel was so great. He didn't want me to miss the Shamu show since Tanner had fallen asleep in the stroller. He stayed out with him so he could sleep and I wouldn't miss the show. I love him.

Nana and Papa and the crew (minus Q since he was in the bathroom).

Sleepy baby.