Fall

 This is my favorite time of year here in Southern Nevada.  It makes the sweltering, almost unbearable summers totally worth it.  While Im seeing pictures of snow and ice on friends facebook posts, we, here in the valley are finally able to be outside and enjoy the weather.

Met the grandkids at the St George Town Center to take in some fall festivities.

Bentley -  (notice the small scar on his forehead.  Thats all thats left from his accident.)

Kai - She's getting old enough to enjoy and understand whats going on.  She was dancing with the music, screaming with the kids and having a super time. She's also finally tolerating and accepting grandpa. Yeah!!

Love my kids, love my grandkids, love the weather.  I feel very blessed today.

Murder Party 2012

This year, I decided to host a Murder Party.  We did one a few years ago with our friends in St George, and it was a blast, plus, I'll use any excuse to throw a party.

So, without further ado, may I introduce you to Murder High School, Class of 1985, Class Reunion.

Who will be murdered? And, more importantly, who dunnit? Will it be the former class president, who is now a Presidential Candidate, the Drama Queen, who is now set to have a part in a huge Disney movie, the math club captain who is now richer than anyone at the reunion, combined?

Or, will it be, the former cheerleading captain who is married to the former jock, who is now a high school gym teacher having an affair with the former drill team captain, who is now a highly recognized choreographer? Its hard to tell. (Its even hard to keep up, isnt it?)

We also had a big time movie producer, a hall moniter turned policewoman, band geek who is now in a band, yearbook editor, who is now a well known journalist, the bad boy who now gets paid to protect and/or beat up people, or the class flirt who hasnt changed a bit?

There was bribery, extortion, and all sorts of lying going on last night.  And, we looked great doing it!

We had a fantastic turn out.  It was a blast getting dressed up in my 80s attire.  I had, like, an awesome time going through 80s era pictures to put up for decorations; movies, tv shows, music, etc.  Boy, I feel lucky to have grown up in such a gnarly time. 

2012 Bingham Costume Party

Every year, The Binghams throw a huge costume party.  We've been lucky enough to be invited these past two years.  (We're part of the "in crowd".) They have different themes every year.  This years theme was Heroes/Villains.

Here are some of my favorite couples. 

We have Michael Jackson and his Dr., Peter Pan with Captain Hook, Star Wars trio, Cat Woman and Nacho Libre, Bat Woman and Robin, The NFL refs, and Cleopatra and Mark Antony.  Our hosts were Spiderman and Red Queen.

Its always a good time.  The Binghams actually play in a band and they play as we dance.  This year the top three contestants for costume themes had to walk the catwalk for the final pick.  Robb totally worked it.  He ended up winning for funniest costume.  

They also did a Dating Game spoof, with a Ghostbuster being the bachelorette and The Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man, Mark Antony and Robin being her bachelors.  Of course she picked Stay Puffed.  "He's puffy and sweet".

Robb is such a great sport.  I love that he goes along with almost no complaining with my crazy ideas, and I think he looks pretty hot in that dress.

Our Small Miracle

Ive been wanting to write this post for a few days now, but every time I start to even think about this horrible event, I start crying and come close to having a full blown anxiety attack. I think I've finally gotten to the point where I can think and speak about it.

Last Friday I get a call at work from Jazz.  She is on the other end sobbing, saying I need to call Hope right away because there's been an accident with Bentley. Immediately, my mind thinks the worst.  As my brain is going in a thousand different directions and my heart is beating twice that fast, I finally get Hope on the other end. She, surprisingly, is quite calm and proceeds to tell me that Bentley has fallen out of his two story bedroom window onto the rocks below.  He is in the hospital, but in stable condition.

Her quiet demeanor has calmed me down and Im able to listen as she tells me her horrific story.  She put Bentley down for a nap and headed into the living room to get some much needed quiet mommy time.  After a while, she said she hears crying from downstairs/outside and thinks to herself, that sounds a lot like Bentley.  She quickly dismisses the idea because she knows that Bentley is snug as a bug in his bed in the next room.  She hears it again and the same idea comes into her mind. 'That sure sounds like my son.'  Just to ease her thoughts, she decides to go into Bentleys room to check on him but is unable to find him.  She frantically rushes out the front door where she finds her sweet little boy climbing up the stairs screaming and bloody.  She quickly whisks him up and runs inside to call an ambulance.

She said the ambulance gets there very quickly and they proceed to the hospital.  At the hospital, they take xrays, perform a cat scan, and do the whole works, but the only problem they find is a gash in his head and some scrapes on the side of his face.  How can this be?  He fell over 15 feet onto jagged rocks below?
We know without a shadow of a doubt that he was being watched over that day.  I think that not only were guardian angels all around him but that they carried that little boy in their loving arms safely to the ground below.

And not only that, but many things happened that day that made the outcome to the story what it was.  Casey was supposed to have gotten a job and been at work, most likely, with his phone.  Ive never felt thankful that someone didnt get a job.  The weather wasnt 100 degress, so Hope had her windows open and was able to hear Bentleys cries. She also had a friend over that was able to stay with Kai as they rushed to the hospital.

I dont like to close my eyes, because every time I do, I picture him falling.  I finally was able to go to where he fell and see the horrible remnants of that day.  I could see my grand baby's bloody hand print on the cement where he hoisted his little tattered body up to bravely head up the steep steps back to his mothers loving arms.  What a smart boy he is.

I thank my Heavenly Father 100 times a day for taking care of my Bentley that day. For everything that fell into place so that we are able to hug on that little boy tightly whenever we want or need to.  I know of several families that werent that lucky when their sweet little ones took the same dreadful fall.  My heart swells and my eyes fill with tears when I think of the blessings that we were given that day.

(His accident did make the news. http://southernutah.fox13now.com/news)

Princess Jasmine

Jasmine was nominated Homecoming Princess for the sophomore class.  

This is her and her prince in the homecoming parade.

Halftime of the football game.  The boy with her looooves sports.  He was very funny as we were trying to take pictures.  He wanted to be finished. "Are we done? I want to go change so I can cheer on the Bulldogs."

This is Sam, one of our Trek daughters. 

All I can hear when I see this picture is Stevie Wonder singing "Isnt She Lovely."

Jazz wasnt even planning on attending the dance this year because she is not yet 16, but she had to go.  Thank you to her friend Abbie and her date for letting her come with them.

Of course a mother is thrilled when something like this happens, but Ill tell you this.  In Mesquite, the boys nominate the girls and the girls nominate the boys.  I dont know if you can tell in the picture but two of the boys are handicapped.  Jazz was instrumental in getting those boys chosen.  I am more proud of that fact than of her being nominated.

She is my real life "Princess Jasmine."  I am so proud of the wonderful young woman that she has become.