The Escape Artist

In my last post, I shared the most terrifying of Matty's escapes...but there have been other incidents. Plenty of them. Enough to have shaved years off of my life, I am sure. Here are a couple that come to mind...

Before the Great Escape of 2010 (previous post) she ran away several times. One day she came up missing and I ran up and down the street calling for her, panicking, the whole routine....couldn't find her anywhere! I was yelling and running and panting and running and yelling. I knocked on doors. I knocked on the door of a particular next-door-neighbor who didn't answer. A little while later I tried her door one more time. She answered this time and informed me that Matty was in her house. Holy Crap!!!! I guess she had gone in their back yard and let herself into their house through the back door. What a little stinker.

While we were living out here on Sand Cliffs Road in Meeteetse we woke up early one morning to find that Matty was not anywhere in the house. We looked everywhere and yelled and yelled for her. So, naturally we figured she had gone out. It was quite chilly outside. We went out and finally did find her in the back of the house. She was in her pajamas and a jacket and shoes. I grabbed her and carried her inside and gave her the whole 'you can't go outside without telling Mommy' lecture. Later, she brought up the subject on her own and I just listened to what she had to say. It was a pretty amazing story. She talked about walking around and doing this and that...and then in her own very simple language, she said the Holy Ghost told her to 'go home'.

I'll tell you what, I believe in the whisperings of the Spirit. And I have no doubt in my mind that that little girl heard a voice telling her she needed to go home. I am so grateful to know that our Father in Heaven is mindful of each one of us and will warn us when we need help. I am so glad that Matty was listening.

More recently, she had another sneaky break-out. At least it wasn't so scary this time...but made me nervous about the things this little girl will do! I couldn't find her one afternoon and automatically opened the front door to look for her (even though I had just been in the kitchen and never saw or heard the front door open or shut). Sure enough, there she was playing outside. But I couldn't for the life of me figure out how she had gotten past me without seeing or hearing her. Later, I went downstairs to do something and saw how she had accomplished her escape. She had somehow gotten the window in the family room open (it is way out of her reach, but she must have pushed something over there to climb up on) and crawled out into the dog kennel with the dog and somehow got herself out of the kennel too!!! She never ceases to amaze me!

I hope she is finally outgrowing this escape artist routine. I am so tired of it. :)

A Blast From The Past - "I Was Running"

I thought that I had posted this story about Matty running away, but I couldn't find it anywhere on my blog. Must have been one of those posts that I composed in my mind but never got around to typing. She has run off quite a few times and each time it scared me to death. In fact, I am still to this day careful about doors being locked, and on occasion when I get a 'feeling', I even barricade the doors at night!  But she really out-did herself this particular time. It was a couple years ago, spring 2010 I believe when we were living on 10th Street in Lovell, but I wanted to make sure I had it recorded...

I had been at a Young Women activity on a Wednesday night and was just getting in my car to go home when I got a phone call from Kyle. "Matty is missing." It was almost 9:00 at night. It was dark and it was cold. I raced home and called 9-1-1 on my way.

Kyle had put the girls to bed earlier. They had been fast asleep. So he went out to the backyard to work on our pump. He went back inside to check on them and they were still fine so he went back outside. About ten minutes later he went to check again and saw that our front door was open. Assuming that I had gotten home from my meeting, he started looking for me in the house. When he didn't find me, he looked outside and saw that my car wasn't home and automatically realized that Matty must have gotten out. He went to her bedroom, and sure enough, there was no Matty. He looked up and down our street and couldn't see any sign of her. That's when he called me and I called the police.

My heart was pounding on the way home. Once I got there, I started helping Kyle look all around the neighborhood. I was really pregnant at the time and was having a hard time running and yelling and I was really starting to panic! So many people showed up - almost immediately. Police, Sheriff, Fire Department, family members, neighbors. Everyone was combing the area. It was so cold outside and all I could think about was the fact that they had let the water into the canals and I didn't think she was in anything but a t-shirt and pajama pants. I was so afraid that she had wandered somewhere dangerous or was freezing. I was f-r-e-a-k-i-n-g out! And I wasn't the only one. Even Miss Anastyn as little as she was was terribly upset and wanted to find her Matty. Finally, after we were searching and yelling and crying for what seemed like an eternity, I got a phone call from a lady wondering if I was "missing someone". I said, "yes! do you have her???". And thank goodness she did!

My little Matty had wandered clear down the street, all the way down the hill, past a canal full of water (which typically she would have been curious about because she loves water), to a house that she had never been to before. Apparently she had tried to jump on their trampoline and eventually ended up at their back door. She knocked and they didn't hear her, so she just walked right into their house! Luckily they knew who she was!!! The fire chief and her Uncle Tyler drove down and picked her up for me. I was so happy to see that little girl's face. So happy!!! As soon as I had her in my arms I asked her where she had been. She matter-of-factly stated, "I was running!" like it was no big deal!

Come to find out, she was at least smart enough to put some shoes on and one of my coats! (They found those on the ground by the trampoline the next morning!) Oh, Matty. You almost gave Daddy a heart attack and dang near sent Mommy into pre-term labor!!!! I am certain she had some guardian angels looking out for her that night...

When The Dog Bites, When The Bee Stings...

When I'm Feeling Bad
I Simply Remember My Favorite Things
And Then I Don't Feel So Bad!

Loves from my Mr.
Smiles From Mason
Even Better...Giggles from Mason
The twinkle in Anastyn's eye
Matty singing Hannah Montana or Taylor Swift in the back seat of the car
The smell of my children after a bath
A snowy or rainy day when there is nowhere to go
Ice cold Pepsi
Scotch-a-roos
My flannel sheets
The Twilight Saga
Movies on the Big Screen
The smell of rain or freshly cut grass
Sparkles/Glitter/Bling
Spring
Summer
Fall
Christmas decorations
Tai Pan
Visits from sisters
Target
Scrapbook Paper
Shopping trips to Billings
Olive Garden
Reading a good book

These are a few of my favorite things!

**Meeteetse Update** Still getting settled, still waiting for good water, still driving to Cody or Lovell every few days to get cleaned up and do laundry. And Matty is liking her new school so far. :)

Top Ten

My Top Ten List of Things I Have Recently Taken For Granted

10. A nice, long fall
9. Someone to "car pool" kids to school with
8. A good metabolism
7. A really good elementary school with a really good special ed program
6. Not having to pay rent
5. Sleep
4. Living near family and friends and having plenty of babysitters
3. Having a grocery store in town
2. My mom
1. Clean, clear city water

Lesson learned: Be grateful for what you have...things can always get worse!

This move is going to be hard on me. I am losing a lot of helpers, I'm not sure how Matty's education will be affected, I am going to have to think ahead and plan meals and be careful not to forget anything at the grocery store (since the nearest one is 30 miles away). I am going to have to deal with a lot of snow and mud...and worst of all, well water. In. My. Home. Well water that has been sitting in the tank and pipes for years. Brown, stinky well water.

But...it can always be worse. I know someone who will have to move to China soon. China is worse than Meeteetse...right??

P.S. I will be making a list of positive things about my move just as soon as I get settled. And as soon as I think of some. :)

Life Happens...

June and July have gone by in a blur. So much has been going on and we have been extremely busy. There have been so many activities, family visitors, and basically a lot of chaos. There is really no way to even summarize....to tell you the truth, I probably wouldn't even remember many details. Everything has been happening in such rapid succession!! But such is life.

I am reminded of a quote by Gordon B. Hinckley that I love...it helps me remember that life isn't supposed to be perfect:

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey … delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

When I think about the beautiful vistas in my life, I am extremely grateful that I have as many as I do. My family being the most important. What a blessing it is to be surrounded at all times by people who love and care deeply for you. I am so proud to belong to such wonderful families that rally around eachother and support eachother in all things wonderful and difficult!!

Grandma Walker

My Grandma, Verna Benson Walker, passed away on Thursday, May 28th, 2009. She was 81 years old. This woman has been a very important part of my life. I was lucky enough to live in the same town as her and see her nearly every day as I was growing up.

I had a special relationship with my Grandma that I will always cherish. She was an amazing Grandmother and always went out of her way to make me feel special.

After being away from "home" for 8 years, I was fortunate enough to spend more time with her when Kyle and I moved back to Lovell. I would take one or both of my girls to see her every day or two. I feel so blessed that we were able to spend this time with her and that Matty and Anastyn were able to get to know her and enjoy her also.

My Grandma will be missed by many, many people, including myself and my girls. I had the opportunity to give her Life History at her funeral. She was an amazing woman and I will always remember her example.

Here are some words that remind me of Grandma:

Homemade Pie, Fried Chicken, Kiddie Parades, Dress Ups, Sleepovers, Hollyhocks, Raspberry Jam, Fried Potatoes, Fancy Jell-O Pudding Cups, Walker Bears, Country Bunnies, Bandana Skirts, Costumes, Asparagus Hunting, Trips to the Grocery Store with her Coin Purse, Birdhouses, Miniature Shoe Collections, The Picture Room, Books, Grandma Benson Cookies, French Braids, and Rocking Chairs.

I Love You, Grandma! God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again!

Update...and a trip to the Big City

We found the missing glasses! Matty found them herself, which leads me to believe that she knew where they were all along. Last week early in the morning I sat down on the couch with Matty to read her a book. She reached her hand down between the couch cushions (probably the only place we forgot to look), pulled them out, and handed them to me with a grin on her face. They were a little bent, but we were so happy to have them back!! Hallelujah!

Thursday Matty had two doctor appointments in Billings. I enlisted the help of both my parents. If you know anything about my children, you will understand why I would beg for help. :) Actually, I didn't even have to ask. My mom and dad are always so willing to make my life easier and I am so grateful to them. As it turns out, even with two extra adults along, our day in Billings still left us all exhausted...

We had to get up early to make it to her first appointment. I was freaking out because I had it in my mind that her appointment was at 9:00 and we were running late. There was no way we would make it there in time to get the car parked and get registered before 9. I was getting a little grouchy and anxious and was driving faster than I should have been when my dad kindly reminded me that the appt. wasn't until 9:30. Already my dad was my hero. I stopped speeding and was able to enjoy the rest of the drive.

The eye doctor appointment went great. Matty was such a good sport. She let the doctor put drops in her eyes without a fight. We had to wait 20 minutes for the drops to dilate her eyes. I always feel sorry for her when we have to do this. It is so uncomfortable all day long. It makes her eyes extremely sensitive to light and makes her vision blurry. But the good news is that her prescription hasn't changed! Yay! That means we don't have to buy new glasses...until the next time they are lost that is. :)

We did some shopping at my favorite, Target, and ate at the girls' favorite, McDonalds, and then we were off to the next appointment - Ear, Nose and Throat - to check on Matty's tubes. This appointment also went pretty well, except for the long wait we had to endure. Matty was so brave. She let the doctor stick instruments in her ear to clean out the wax so he could see her tube. She didn't fight or cry. I was so proud of her. Unfortunately, the tube came out with the wax so she doesn't have a tube in her left ear any more. However, the doctor said her ears looked great - no fluid or infection. And he said we didn't need to worry about replacing the tube unless she starts having problems. I was so relieved that we don't have to schedule a surgery right now. I get so nervous when they put her under.

Meanwhile, my dad had a genius idea - he and my mom would stay with Anastyn in the car and let her watch a movie instead of spending an hour and a half in the waiting room with a curious, restless two year old that has more energy than both of them put together. Me, being not so genius, failed to mention that you have to leave the car running to do this. Because when you have a dvd going, Sean Hannity (one of my dad's idols) blaring on the radio, and automatic headlights that stay on, the car battery tends to DRAIN QUICKLY.

So, when we were finished with Dr. Price, I called my dad's cell phone so he could come pick us up at the door. That's when he informed me that we were stranded! Aaaahhhhh! Luckily, the hospital parking lot is the perfect place to be if you are going to have a dead battery. The hospital security van is conveniently equipped with a battery charger! We ended up being stranded for all of 6 minutes!!

My sweet father stayed in the car with it running to make sure the battery would be charged back up while mom and I went into several stores. Then it was off to the mall. Have you ever rented one of those fire truck strollers for your kids? All I have to say is BRILLIANT! Highway robbery, yes, but brilliant all the same. I own a double stroller for my girls. But it is bulky and heavy and takes up so much room in the car. Not only that, but the seats are so close together that my girls just can't resist kicking eachother in the head and pulling eachother's hair. These firetrucks are geniously engineered. One seat is up high and the other is down low. There is heavy plastic surrounding their feet. And there is no way the kids can even touch eachother. They have a blast in the stroller because it has steering wheels and they feel like they are driving around the mall. So worth the 6 bucks, I think. Another shout out to my parents - they pushed the girls around more than their share and they took the girls to the play area while I shopped. Oh - the play area! My girls love it! Usually I don't like those things because I figure they are loaded with nasty germs. But when the kiddos are spending 15-16 hours in car seats, strollers, waiting rooms and booster chairs they just need a chance to RUN!!

**Note to self: next time, after trying on clothes and before leaving the dressing room, remember to zip up your freaking fly!!! :) Sheesh...save yourself some embarassment!


What a day! There was still Costco, dinner at Olive Garden (my fav!), and of course Wal-Mart. Then the long drive home. Needless to say, we were zombies on Friday. But I was happy with how well my girls did on the trip. There were only a few minor meltdowns, Matty only tried to escape once, and she was a trooper at her doctor appointments! Have I mentioned that I love my mom and dad??

Sunshine

It is Perfect outside today. Absolutely Perfect. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the air is still.

We went to the park this afternoon and soaked up the sunshine. The girls played and played. I could hear them giggling as they ran up the stairs and soared down the slides. They took turns on the swing and pushed eachother. Anastyn got to hold a baby and Matty got to play with a friend from preschool. They had so much fun.

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And then Matty ran away. Out of the park, across the alley, into someone's yard, and around a garage before I finally caught her. And then we went home. I wasn't having fun anymore. I know...I am a party-pooper.

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I think it may get cold again before Spring is officially here in the Big Horn Basin. But, we sure enjoyed the warmth and sunshine today!! Good-bye Winter - see ya next year!!