Pokemon Birthday Party

As you all know, the theme for any five year old birthday party changes several times during the year (i.e. Power Rangers, Star Wars, etc.), but this year it was all about Pokemon. Thanks to Heidi, Eli had a birthday he won't forget!

With 14 kids in tow, he celebrated in grand style!

Five years old never looked so good!

Eli had this look on his face all day long. Happy birthday Eli!

Fall in Virginia

It's hard to beat fall in Northern Virginia. This is our home on September 22, 2010.

Eve: Kjersti, when I put these leaves on your face, you're going to want to hold your breath. Here, let me seal your nasal passage for you.

Eli: I can still see your face! That's how I know you're under there still.

Eve: Maybe we should mark where Kjersti is by putting a big log on top of her?

Kjersti: Go ahead and lay back and forget all of your worries. Eve, our professional leaf masseuse will cater to all of your fall colors. She likes to start things off with a whirlwind of leaves to the face.

Kjersti: Ok guys, we've got him right where we want him!

Eve: Dad just won't be satisfied with anything less than a rake of leaves to the face. Let me go get the garden rake!

Eli: I'll hold him down until you get back!

Attempted Hit and Run

Eli: This green machine was made for one thing and one thing only... pain! Watch out fellow motorists! Prepare to be clobbered!

Eli: When I turn too far to the left, I start going in reverse. What's wrong with this machine-o-chaos?!?

Eli: Still looking for someone to smoosh. This is taking much longer than I had hoped.

Eli: Is that a Power Ranger on the floor of my Car of Carnage? Oh, ah, no, that looks like a Red Vine. My bad.

Eli: Well, if I can't carve a path of destruction, at least I'll be the best looking driver look out here. Cheese!

The Scary Fish

Kjersti: This ride is so slow and lame I can't believe I'm on it!
Eli: That's what I'm talking about!


Kjersti: Water shooting up from both sides... wait a minute, this is suddenly pretty intense. I did not see that coming!
Eli: That's what I'm talking about!


Kjersti: Goodness gracious! I think we're going to die on the kiddy ride!
Eli: That's what I'm talking about!!!

Eli: Kjersti, we're still alive.
Kjersti: That's what I'm talking about!

Pilgrimage to Busch Gardens

Every year we've lived in Virginia, we've gone to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA with the Allphins. This year was no different, however, there were some new attractions to see, including some new characters like Cookie Monster. Despite the fact that Parker and Eve were within arms length of a life-sized Cookie Monster, clearly there was something much more interesting off to the left.


Elmo was a hit with Eve. I think she said his name about 200 times that day and hasn't stopped since... Seriously.

Momma and Daisy Queso. How did she get that name you ask? Daisy from the nickname of the bomb "Daisy Cutter" known for its mass destructive capability and Queso for her love of cheese. For the record, when squeezed tightly, Daisy Queso's tounge has been known to pop out.

Eve's favorite things about flowers are to smell them and to pick them. The picking part is not encouraged by Busch Gardens.

Things were going along quite well and then the water starting shooting over the top of them and Eve thought for sure this was a sign from her fish friends that she should join them. It took everything Heidi had to keep her in the boat.

Put on Your Helmet

For some strange reason in mid-September, Eve went through a stage where she just had to wear Kjersti's bicycle helmet. It made her kind of look special, in a not so appealing way. :)

The Wreck

On Tuesday, October 12, 2010, Heidi was hit in the passenger rear side as she and all the kids were cruising 50 MPH (the speed limit) on the way to take Kjersti to guitar practice. The rear of the van was knocked into oncoming traffic and struck on the driver rear side. This caused Heidi to fishtail and overcorrect which lead to a roll over. The van was a quarter turn away from rotating a full 360 degrees on its side. Amazingly, no one was hurt! Kjersti got a little burn from the seat belt on her neck and Eli got a small scratch on his face, but that was it. Heavenly Father was definately looking out for us that day. The remains of the Honda Odyssey are frightening to look at. Notice the license plate of the vehicle that struck Heidi is embedded in the rear wheel (one on the ground) of the van.

As you might expect in a roll over, the roof and sides of the van took quite a beating.

The back windows blew out. Fortunately, the rear window made for a good escape hatch which Heidi and all the kids ultimately used.

This is just a part of your vehicle you never want to see exposed like this. -sigh-

The front passenger side of the van took the first impact when the car rolled. A little bit more momentum and the car would have done a full 360 degree roll.