Read All About It!

http://www.bigvalleynews.net/

Here's a link to check out what's the latest in Big Valley. It's pretty funny sometimes, the 'news' around here. Last week was Homecoming and if you scroll down a bit click on the part about the football game and there's some pics, one is Troy and Devon in the announcers box.

So we were on our way home...

from church and Devon almost killed himself. I was driving the van with the kids and Troy was in his truck in front of me. (we drive separate since Troy has early meetings). Devon says from the back of the van that he's choking. My first thought is "Cameron, leave Devon alone. " So I glance in my mirror and can't really see much of him. I'm not really panicked because this sort of thing happens all the time. And it's usually a result of Cameron inflicting pain or the boys fighting. Anyways, I'm still driving, I really don't want to pull over on the highway, there's not much of a shoulder. He started getting louder saying he couldn't breathe..he was choking...So I pulled over figuring I'd have to climb back there and fix whatever they were doing back there. When I got to him, I saw that he had wrapped his seat belt around his neck, and he had done it so that it would not be undone unless his head could fit through the loop. He had pulled the seat belt out as far as it would go, and looped it around. You know how when you pull it out, it retracks and there is no slack? Well, every time he moved, it got a little tighter. I couldn't loosen it at all. I was starting to realize the seriousness of the situation. I was trying to stay calm, since Devon was already in hysterics. I hoped Troy saw that I wasn't behind him and would pull over. I didn't know what to do, it was so tight his face was starting to turn blue and his eyes were bulging. He kept saying he was going to die and I kept telling him he was going to be fine. I felt sooo helpless! I was watching him choke to death. I decided I just had to drive home as fast as I could, we were about 10 minutes away. As I got back onto the highway I saw that Troy had pulled over. I pulled over and ran over to tell him what was going on. He ran over and tried to pull the seatbelt off the side of the car, of course it wouldn't budge, seatbelts are made to be strong for a reason. Devon was really close to passing out. He quickly realized the severity of the situation and we were starting to panic. A truck was coming down the highway (which is not a highly traveled highway), Troy and I threw ourselves in front of the truck and he pulled over. We ran over and asked the guy if he had a knife or something. Fortunalty he had a tool box and pulled out a knife. We ran over, cut the seatbelt and got him untangled. Whew! Did that really just happen? We are so glad that nice man had a knife..that is one good thing about this area! Everyone has a truck with tools. Well, except us. We're all a little shaken by the whole thing. Devon is fine, although he has bruise marks and seatbelt cuts on his neck. I don't think any of the kids will be doing that again! We are so grateful our desparate prayers were answered. Now we have to get a new seatbelt. I'm sure that's not cheap. But at least we have Devon.

Prop 8 Update

I just got back from waving Yes on 8 signs with a few ward members on the corner of First St. and Military. I thought I might need a bullet-proof vest, but all I got was a coke can thrown at me. Actually, the feed back was about 70% in favor. However, the opposition were not nice. Sometimes, just a thumbs down, we did get some obscene gestures and f---bombs. I heard "idiots" and "bigots" a couple of times. The one guy threw his coke can at Jim Shoemaker and me. He missed, but there was a little splash. Jim waved down a Benicia policeman and filed a report on the guy. I didn't know it was a felony to throw something out of a moving car! I was just thinking a littering fine would be good. The policeman said he would send out word to all units to look for the guy. Anyway, we did have a lot of honks, thumbs-up, encouragement and thank yous also. One guy yelled out "It will be a landslide for Yes on 8!" An exciting week ahead!

Random...

This is the kitten from that wedding that brett and i went to a few weeks ago; i forgot i took a video of him!

with brett's permission i wanted everyone to see this video. Sorry it's sideways-i can't figure out how to turn it right. But i just wanted to show everyone that their future son/brother in law is a dancer!!

I was browsing through my europe videos and i found this one. Just wanted to give everyone a little taste of Orvietto, Italy! (mom and dad have already been here-maybe we could all do a vacation here someday :)

I'm sure you are all missing my wedding e-mails; i've kinda taken a break but they'll be coming again soon! :) love ya all!!

Puppy Love

What are the Whittles doing, you ask yourself. Have they gone mad? Yes, we have a puppy. And yes we have gone mad. Neb, our German Shephard given to us from Grandpa now has a new home. He just wasn't working out. It wasn't just that he was ALWAYS underfoot and ruining the front door trying to get inside, or even putting Sasquatch in his place...what finally did it was when Sasquatch had finally decided he'd had enough of Neb constantly reminding him that he was the Alpha male and they got in a huge fight. It was brutal, like to the death. It scared me to imagine if the kids had been around. Neb always had to eat first. Sometimes he wouldn't even let Sasquach eat at all. One night Troy was feeding them and Sasquach went for the food and Neb let him know that he was going to eat first. Squach growled back and got a little aggressive which he never does. Well Neb went back for more and Squach just lost it. I could hear them from in the house, and Troy was out there with them. It sounded horrible. There wasn't anything Troy could do to stop them, I'm just glad it didn't happen with kids around. It finally ended when Sqauch had Neb around the neck and Neb pretty much gave up, then he let go. Neb got hurt a little, he's limping and was bleeding a little. Part of me felt bad for him and part of me thought he got what he deserved, he's always bothering Squach. Anyways, we did find him a good home. The lady who drives the kids bus took him. She said he's doing good and gets along with their 13 yr old dog. I feel better knowing where he went and we can still keep tabs on him. Onto the puppy. Troy loves St. Bernards. He found a breeder nearby and now we have Chewbacca (aka Chewy). He really is the cutest thing. He's going to be huge though. Squach seems to like him and by gettin him as a puppy there shouldn't be any dominance issues. St. Bernards are known to be big, lovable and lazy. So that is the latest in the animal department at our house!

Chewy sees Alex as a big chew toy. For the most part Alex thinks it's funny, til his ears get nipped on. Hopefully they'll be buds for a long time.

up in the 801

little sister came out two weekends recently. it's always
fun to have her down, even if she does eat all my food.


mom on the top of the city library...it was so fun
to have mom visit, even though she was sick. :(
but we had fun shopping, eating, watching movies,
at the library and at the church history museum!


we're having a really nice fall this year. we have had
some snow already, but this weekend has been GORGEOUS!


this is my beanie that i just finished crocheting...
also, i cut my hair.

Goodbye, Cali

Maybe we're just not working out to be "cat" people. Last night, while doing the final lockdown before going to bed, I peered out the window and saw our Cali lying in the street. She had been hit by a car and died. So farewell to Cali, a good and patient cat! She has gone to join her brother, Rocky! The kids are taking it well, and I think this is helping them learn the whole life/death process, where we go after we die, etc. But I enjoyed having a patient cat who never scratched little kids and even sometimes napped with Lizzie, helping Lizzie stay in bed and sleep. That is a good animal! We will miss her!

How we imagine Cali & Rocky's reunion in heaven..

They were such cute kittens!

This is proof that Rod does have a soft spot for cats- sometimes! This is Cali offering moral support during Rod's gallbladder removal recovery.