My criminal record

The lie was that I have O- blood. I actually have A+. In the third grade I brought a dead snake home in a bag and put it in my closet. In the 7th I protested not even knowing what it was all about but just because everyone said to go out there (lame, I know). But I imagine you would think I had a police record!! While 13 people thought that was the lie there were 20 of you who thought it believable. What the heck!! What kind of person do you think I am??

Unfortunately, on Monday, I was cited with a misdemeanor for leaving my children unattended in a vehicle. It was so awful. They were napping so I parked in a shaded spot by the park, rolled down the windows and then sat with my friends in the grass. We were sitting to where we could see both the car and the kids at the park. I didn't think anything of it because it was such a cool day I knew my girls were just fine. I did not think anyone would call the police on me. When they showed up I figured I would go over there, show that I was nearby watching the car and then maybe he would give me a warning. I didn't think that he would threaten to arrest me and then settle with a citation that requires me to get finger printed, get a mug shot and then go before a judge for my sentence.

The worst part about it all is that I feel like I have to defend myself. When I tell people it is "yes they were in the car, BUT..." and I have to come up with something to prove that I was not negligent and that they were safe, however, you already feel guilty because you have to explain yourself. The honest truth is that I think I can win my case and be declared innocent yet I still hate this feeling that I have been labeled. Or that when people hear "unattended in a vehicle" they automatically picture my kids in the summer heat, red-faced, with the windows up while I am just having a good ole time grocery shopping.

I keep trying to figure out what this trials is for. What does Heavenly Father want me to learn?? I keep thinking I am to be humble, admit that I made a bad decision, but then I keep thinking "But I don't think it was bad. My kids were safe. They were just fine." And then that makes me wonder if I am still just being prideful. So I wonder if I should go to the trial and plead guilty, admit I was wrong but the thought of having a police record just makes me sick! Especially because I didn't think they were in danger! So I have concluded to fight this charge and get it erased but then I am back to wondering what the lesson is to learn. I think it may be about judging people (we all know I have struggled with that forever). Before the police were called I was judging a woman's parenting ways, thinking she was not very attentive or good at it. Then ten minutes later she called the police on me! She drove off as a good citizen and I cried myself home with a police record. I also feel as if I need to learn forgiveness because when I think of how she just called the police without figuring anything out or asking around it makes me mad. I blame this all on her and imagine what I would say if I ever saw her again. But then I remember that I am supposed to forgive and then I am angry that I can't just be mad and hateful to her. And I am mad at the officer who charged me for blowing it all out of proportion. He kept saying even if it wasn't a heat issue any one could have walked by and stabbed them before I could have gotten there to stop it. To that I am confused because that is not a problem in our town. I feel safe where we live so obviously I wouldn't need to worry about crazies on the loose! I would love to win my case and just rub it in his face but then I stop thinking that because I am not going to be blessed when I have a vengeful attitude.

Really I don't know what I am supposed to learn. I really hate that this happened. I want to fight to keep my name cleared. I also want learn whatever it is that is I am supposed to learn. And even though this stinks it is not half as bad as other people's trials and so I should consider myself lucky, blessed. And I would also like to know why 20 of you thought it conceivable that I would already have an existing police record! Through it all Ben was absolutely wonderful. He is so supportive of me and I couldn't have been more appreciative of him than I was on Monday. He is the best. My girls were a little scared when they woke to a policeman yelling at me and now when Kaylee says she doesn't want to go but instead wait in the car I just threaten her with the cops coming to take her away. What a mess this all is. Hopefully it will all work out and hopefully you can learn from my mistake. Even though you may feel that your kids are safe and your standard of care is adequate there are those around who may not feel so. And they may call the police on you so you better keep up with their standard or you will be sorry.

Three truths and a lie

You all know that I like to play games on my blog...it is interesting to see what people put. My friend Micaela gave me the idea to play this game. It is the one where you have to say four things; three have to be true and one has to be a lie. See if you can guess the lie.

1. I have the universal blood type, O- but I still don't donate.

2. I have housed a dead snake in my bedroom.

3. I have a criminal record.

4. I was suspended once for protesting at school (Heck No! We won't go!)

I will put a pole on the side but if you want to let me know which one you personally believe is the lie then go ahead and leave a comment.

Daisy loves her dad

This is probably one of my favorite videos. I love that she nods to say she loves me but when it comes to her dad she is much more excited and animated to admit she loves him. Don't mind the mess on her face...she was eating a pop tart earlier. I just love this video. I'm sure Ben will love it once he sees it, too.

Open House

Heidi had open house tonight and she was SO excited for us to come. Kaylee was also excited because she has been longing to go to school. The big event of the open house was that the kids stuffed clothes with newspaper and put balloon heads on the body. Heidi couldn't wait for us to see. Personally I think they look rather creepy.

Then she showed us all the stations. This is Heidi's favorite, Housekeeping. It has a little kitchen and office. Poor Kaylee wants to be a part of school so bad.

Here is the math and science station, her second favorite.
And here she is with Mrs. Stafford. She adores Mrs. Stafford and so does Kaylee. This always makes me feel so bad for Kaylee because she is just left behind. She got to see all of Heidi's cool things but she just wants to be in school herself. Anyway, Heidi is doing well in school. I have to meet with the teacher next week about her reading. There is a list she is supposed to start on and she is hoping to get Heidi to a level 2.o by the end of the year. She is excited to start checking out books from the library in october.

Ben's birthday

The earth has revolved around the sun 29 times since Ben was born. How exciting. Actually that makes it sound a little boring but still we had Ben's birthday today. He left for school before 7 and didn't get back until 6:30. We ate brownies and threw the kids in bed.

Kaylee helped me make the brownies and then spent the next four hours asking for them.
She likes to play Cinderella so I made her clean up the table when we were done. She thinks it's hilarious for me to boss her around...that won't last long.

And her was cute Daisy playing in the plants while we waited for Ben to come home. She loves when Ben comes home and goes running to meet him. Of course I have no pictures of Ben because it is his birthday and he didn't want me to take any. Happy Birthday!

Nothing new

We have spent the last few days being sick. The girls are coughing at night and Ben is losing his voice. This morning the girls wanted to watch the Barbie Swan Lake movie so they got all dressed up in their ballerina skirts for the show.

Of course kaylee wouldn't smile or look at the camera. Although if I had Heidi for a sister I would be annoyed, too. You really can't blame her too much for being a crab.
Kaylee is smiling here because she wanted the good chair for breakfast and she beat Heidi to it. She will sit at the table for 20 minutes before breakfast if it means that she beats Heidi for the good spot. They fight over that chair every morning.
And Daisy has her hair in pigtails today. They are tiny and will fall out after her nap but it was still fun to put her hair up.

Where are Kaylee and Heidi???

I know that I only make posts about Daisy but there is a reason.  My other girls are MIA.  Heidi is always at school.  I don't have time for pictures in the morning and then when she gets home it is time to start dinner, doing reading time, get ready for bed, etc.  Kaylee, however, just refuses to take pictures.  She will either turn her head away or we have to get her by surprise.  The last one we got by surprise is the zoo picture below.  It's just an ugly picture. 

This was at the Redbirds game.  She would not look up but instead hid under a blanket.  What am I supposed to do?  She will not let me take her picture unless she is in an EXTREMELY good mood.
She was willing to let me take her picture today after the dentist.  At first she tried to keep the stuff in front of her face so she wouldn't be in the picture but finally she lowered them.  
I am happy to report no cavities.  And they both came home with blinking rings that are actually a pretty cool toy from the dentist.  Luckily Heidi went to school so Daisy could play with her ring all day.  Heidi has also decided to not eat candy anymore because it can give you cavities and all your teeth will rot out.  She is too responsible for her own good.  

Redbirds Game

For Labor Day we went a Redbirds Game with some friends.  It was so hot.  Poor Daisy was red in the face the entire time.  Kaylee was so hot she was crabby and tired.  But, it was a fun time and unfortunately the Redbirds lost in the last inning.  

Look how stinkin' cute Daisy is.  She has a bit of a bulldog bite in the above picture which reminds me of Becca.
And it was also dollar-dog-day at the park.  The hot dogs were actually really good for only a dollar.  I knew my dad would like these pictures of Daisy devouring her hot dog.  She may look like a Taylor but she eats like a Hancock.

This was her face when she was ready for another bite.

And this was her face after she took a bite.  She is the funniest baby ever.  I got stop laughing at what she does.  

Just fun

We were trying to get a video of Daisy barking but instead she just continued to laugh. It was fun.