Softballs and hockey pucks

I love this sweet girl. She got up and tried to make chocolate chip pancakes this morning all by herself, well with Logan's help. That boy will find his way into making anything sweet in the kitchen. Jessie got as far as flipping the first pancake when she called me in to help. The saying "flat as a pancake" comes to mind when I saw what was cooking in the skillet. It was a hockey puck with chocolate chip lumps. Really bad. We determined the recipe she tried was awful and chalked it up to experience. I'm so glad J is getting more adventurous in the kitchen though!Jess had a great day despite our pancake debacle. She got the game ball tonight at her softball game which made her week! She was so excited. Every other game she comes home complaining that only the home team gets to give out the game ball (in little league both teams do) because she has had some great games as the visiting team. Last week, Jessie got 3 outs and hit really well, but since they were the visiting team there was no chance of a game ball at the end of the night. This girl is very competitive. Her game ball tonight is vindication to her perceived injustice during those other games.

And a random thought- there is another Jessie on her team and she had a Jessica on her baseball team this season as well. If I would have known how freakin' popular her name was when she was born we would have named her something else. I know, there's no use cryin' about it. It just bugs me that there is a Jessie her age around every corner.

{{Heat wave}}

Summer kicked it in high gear here in the Bay Area last Saturday. We went from a pleasant mid-80's kind of weather to a scorching 97+ degrees in one day. It sucked the life out of me. Saturday was a wash with respect to the things I had planned. The kids and I were too hot to move by about 1 PM, and we got a late start on the day. I am proud to say that I did not turn on the AC even though it was blazing hot, just a small thing I am trying to do to keep costs down. Sunday was a different story. ;) We were sick of the heat and rested very comfortably under the AC in our room. Modern conveniences are such a blessing!We had it easy last weekend compared to my Man though. He walked the Trek, which is a reenactment of the Mormon Pioneer Handcart Companies, with our church youth down in Gilroy for 3 days. They had 2 beautiful days of mild weather, but got scorched on Saturday with 107+ degree heat. Can you imagine pulling a handcart 6 miles in the middle of the day up and down steep terrain in that heat? It doesn't sound particularly fun or easy. It was character building, according to the youth who spoke about their experience last night at the Fireside, and the rest of the 3-day Trek was amazing.

*Dave and Eric the prairie medicine men.*

*Have you ever seen anyone so excited about a flesh wound?*

Dave went as part of the medical staff to treat the anticipated blisters, heat exhaustion/stroke, sprains, muscle pulls, headaches, and everything else that could happen to a group of people hiking, pulling handcarts and sleeping on the ground for three days and two nights. He was a little worried about whether he had enough of the right supplies, and if he would be able to eat the food (he's pretty much Vegan still). When Dave surprised us at the door all dusty, scruffy-faced, and as handsome as ever on Saturday night he reported to us that he had a fabulous time, the food was good, and he was able to help everyone who sat on his table. By the end of the Trek, Dave had helped out lots of people in trouble, converted some to chiropractic/ART, and made many great friends. *So we hike for 6 miles and we have to sit on the ground and sleep on the ground and now you want us to dance?*

*This was were I slept...yeah...its the ground!*

I heard from numerous people over the last couple days how much 'Doc Dave' helped them and what a fantastic service it was for him to be there on the Trek. What a blessing it is to have a husband and provider that loves what he does and is really good at it. Hey babe, I'm sure I speak for both of us when I say I'm glad you changed direction from the electrician thing. Love you Bones!