autumn in arizona

It is a different autumn for us this year. Today was the kick-off Farmers Market in Scottsdale..the beginning of the season ?! The nights have cooled down, but the days still beg for the AC to be on. Being outside is lovely. The ward had its "trunk or treat" tonight and we ate dinner outside before the kidlets paraded around the parking lot. Last time I went to one of these parties was with Devin and Kelly back in Reno. I was with Devin and Kelly again..plus a few other little goblins tonight. Preston chose to be Santa Claus. I made the beard.

Cooper was a darling monster. The fur became too much and he went down to a onesie. Ok, this costume would have been perfect back on chilly halloween nights in Utah. And the little fairy foo-foo that we would have to cover up with winter coats, would be ideal here!

Jane made a precious elf to her brother Santa. Mom and dad have reindeer antlers to round out the theme. Despite how cute she looked - and the heat hadn't even hit her yet - the costume was OFF before we were even in line for dinner. Jane has a mind of her own...and if she didn't want to wear that costume at that particular time..end of discussion. I hope to get a full length shot of it on monday because the outfit is just perfect. You have got to see the hat !!

I wanted to add this picture because it so reminds of Devin.

It is all different down here - turned around - and yet just the same.

Trick or Treat.

the old goat remembers

The Wortons went down to Disneyland and we were able to have Preston and Jane for four days, aka the grand sleepover. Darling children. And Denver and Harrison are the best uncles when it comes to entertaining and helping out. My only complaint is those dang car seats..such a pain and one that definitely makes me think twice about going somewhere. Don't worry..I am using them, and I did use them when my kids were little (ok, most of the time.) Why do I always have to throw in disclaimers?!

The car seat issue - as well as every other tiny daily item - came back to me. The brain just needs a jump start you know ! Day 1&2, Kevin and I were simply sleep deprived and exhausted. Oh yeah, that memory came back Real fast. Except this time when I woke up on the little bed we made up on the floor, and Preston is up in my spot in the bed because he had a monster scare in the middle of the night I am Stiff and creaky. Or on sunday-sleep-in-morning and Preston wakes wide up at 7:05 to greet the day after not the best night. I do remember this stuff but -wow- the "older" element is really making this so much harder.

By day #3, we are all sleeping better and hitting our rythmn. Jane is falling asleep in Poppy's arms watching the world series rather than in her crib..but it works for these old goats. Jane looks so much like Porter, but she is also a dead ringer for Devin at this age. This is a Good memory..and a fun one. My day slows down considerably..and it consists of play food, and my favorite little books being read over and over again and sharing fruit snacks. It is a nice , simple world. I remember that now.

Beaver Nation

Oregon State is pretty cool. Went up there for the BYU game last saturday and this is what I found.

Phoenix zoo

ohhh..Phoenix has a lovely zoo. And I am tough on zoos. They really have to be open and humane as possible. This one seems to fit the bill. And the weather was perfect. Kevin took it easy and had many rest breaks. A nice Columbus Day was had by all.

Meanwhile, back in the desert....

Denver went to the Priesthood session of General Conference with his brothers the other night. He was sitting there listening, staring at the ground when he notices something moving. Sure enough, it was a scorpion...in-the-chapel !! Denver gallantly crushed it with his shoe ( not really an easy thing to do..one has to Grind it.) I surely would have screamed and tripped off my eternal fear of coming down with tourettes syndrome while in church.

Never fear, I still adore Arizona. But I hate those dang scorpions.

Here is a little story that further explains our decision to come to the Vattukuti Institute in Detroit.

This whole ride begins with a gem of a woman named Judy. Her husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer and she was clearly Not satisfied with the options presented to them. Judy is the most intelligent, articulate woman I have ever known. She intimidates the scrud out of most people..deservedly so. Each sentence is peppered with comments metaphysical,biophysical and everything "physical". And her comments are spot on, not like some genuises whose thoughts are pinging around. All of this is rounded out by a very frank, witty style. Like I said, she is an absolute GEM. I love her dearly. And now, even more so.

Judy was not going to accept the choices for her husbands needy surgery, so she researched the heck out of prostate cancer. Hundreds of hours and probably an equal amount of conversations later, she found the Vattukuti Urology Institute in Detroit. A doctor was pioneering a robotic surgery and Judy and her husband, after extensive thought and prayer chose him. This was 10 years ago, and Judy is still in constant touch with him. He wanted Judy to come work forn him and help improve - not the surgery obviously - but the Institutes approach/care of the patient. Their way is one of respect that I have not seen in medical care before. Judy didn't take him up on the job offer, but they talk all the time. In fact, when he came in to see Kevin several hours after the operation he asked if we had called Judy yet. When we said no, he flipped out his cell phone and said let's call her and tell her how you wrestled 5 nurses but still ripped your catheter out.

When Judy's husband was cancer free and doing well she didn't forget the Institute. In fact she wanted to help them to reach and save more people. She asked Dr, Menon if she could observe an operation and he let her. Then,
when she went back to Utah she asked another urologist who was starting to do the robotic surgery if she could observe one of his operations .She said that the second operation was like watching a kindergartner trying to tie his shoe in comparison.

The doctor has my eternal gratitude for saving Kevin. And Judy will always be my hero!!