I have decided that I don't like crayons. Yes, they are colorful and nontoxic and can entertain children for hours on end, however, I don't like them. See my children have found alternative ways for crayons to entertain them....
Last Tuesday night we were doing bank night for the relay for life on Friday. I get a call from Mark and 10pm, assuming he's wondering why I'm not home yet (things always take longer then I think they will). No, he was wondering if I had any ideas on how to get a crayon out of a nose. Um, I'll be right home.
I get home and Gabie who is still half-hysterical seems to have a small piece of crayon up her nose. Mark had seen it with the flashlight and tried to get it out but the minute he touched her she went hysterical screaming for me. So I come home - she's not much calmer for me mind you and in the hysterical-ness seems to have sucked it back pretty good cause I no longer can see it.
My first thought was doing the nasal rinse - this in and of itself was an adventure with two of us holding her down and trying to wash out her nose. No crayon. SO I called up to the hospital asking if they had some magic tool that helped them to remove crayone - nope, unless they can see it there is nothing they can do. We at this point it's almost midnight now so opt for some sleep.
I call the clinic the next day to ask them what to do. They said it's possible she just swallowed it and to just watch and see if she gets a sinus infection as that would be a sign that there's something still in there. But Wednesday afternoon she has green snot coming out just the nostril she put the crayon in....hmmmmm, not a good sign.
Thursday morning still green so I call the ENT - they want to see her. So Gabie and I drive all the way to Aberdeen (with the car that still stalls out/breaks down every couple of hours) to have him say he can't see it either, SOOOO the next step is to put her under and do a scope- ugh! The silver lining he says is that she may still work it out on her own, keep doing the sinus rinse in the meantime. Surgery scheduled for next Wednesday.
Saturday morning I walk into the girls room and caught red handed (in more ways then one since they were using red crayons!) Eliya and Gabie coloring all over the walls in their room. Their vanity, bed, walls, book shelves, etc......surprisingly enough I didn't yell and actually stayed quite calm. They have had every crayon, pensil, marker and any other device that might make marks or break off and lodge itself in some bodily crevise taken away until further notice.....
So needless to say, I don't like crayons anymore.
The girls (elie and gabie) have been taking dance lessons all summer with a program some high school girls do locally. This was getting ready for the big dance recital on Saturday night - they do their pictures before the rehersal so they have to get all dolled up with hair and all even for the dress rehersal. Ellen's daughters Haily and Janae did the girl's hair and Kirstie came over to get all dolled up as well - they did such a great job!
We have had nothing but problems with our minivan that we got in January. It has been in the shop 5 times prior to the latest problems that started in June. It has since been in the shop where we bought it for over two weeks (this being the 4th time in the shop for the same problem!). So we decided to cut our losses and trade it back and got a Dodge Stratus. Since we were in Aberdeen we also went to Storybook Land. Since Nana was here we had a special day and it was beautiful out!
Tonight was the last t-ball game for Eliya. She got to play catcher and was able to hit off the ball being pitched to her (instead of the tee). It was great fun once again. This was her third game this week. Grandma and Grandpa got to take her to her first two games while we were at the hospital - they said she did great!
Darren and Susan took some vacation time visiting his family in G-bug. Susuan and the boys came over on Monday to spend the day with us. We had a great time playing, gardening, and just hanging out. Later that afternoon grandma and grandpa arrived to help take care of the girls while Mark and Rachel had surgery.
We had praise team practice this evening at church, rachel wore herself out "preaching" in the pulpit - too cute!
The next round from the garden....carrots! Actually I was just thinning them out and so these were just some 'baby carrots' but they were still delicious!
Eliya took swimming lessons for the last couple of weeks (off and on) and passed Beginners today which was pretty exciting, she went off the diving board and swam herself to the edge and then did all her strokes in the deep end (I think they had learned three). I was very impressed with how well she swam :0) 
Both Mark and Curt had to work on the 4th of July so we got together on the 5th to do some a few little fireworks and picnic together. A great time!
We had a nice quiet picnic and the fire pit going for the 4th of July - mark had church so we didn't go anywhere. After he got home we did a few sparklers and things in the driveway before heading to bed rather early. We have learned to put the girls in our room the 3-5 of July due to all the noise! Our room is much more insulated and they are less scared. We put up a little princess tent for them and they slept great even with all the lights and booms.
The girls were overjoyed to make it home in time for Kirstie's b-day party. Rachel was a little late as she had a dr apt, but otherwise we were able to enjoy a fun day celebrating Kirstie turning 5. Eliya even got to have a sleepover after the big party! Happy birthday to Amy as well!
