Veteran's Day Weekend

The weekend has been pretty low key for us. We went on a hike up to Keller Peak with the girls. Ali hiked very well. It was the best she has hiked ever. I think she is finally getting ready for some longer hikes. There were tons of roads cut along the trail to provide fire support. We also saw some one taking advantage of these roads to 4 by4.

We also helped a family in our ward who lost their house to the fire move in to a new house. They seemed in such high spirits that I was impressed with their ability to cope with life. This particular family did not have any insurance and were mostly just making do with what others had given them. But they were happy. I guess we do not need possessions to be happy. It makes me wonder why I think I have to have so many things when really we do not need most of them. Gives meaning to the scripture that we should lay up our treasures in heaven and not on earth.

Mommy what are we doing today?

Well we are lucky because we have not had any problems as a result of the fire. Cameron was able to work so we still received a paycheck, we didn't have to stay in a hotel thanks to Chalon and Todd and most importantly our house didn't burn so we still have a place to call home. But there are still the little things. We still are not in school. It will not start until the 12th of November. So I am constantly having to decide what to do to keep one very busy 5 year old who wishes to be in school busy. We have been doing many things this week. Ashling got a hair cut-she was convinced it would hurt and very scared but behaved very well under the bribe of a cookie. We went to Toy's R Us and the kids told me what they wanted for Christmas. That was very fun.

Yesterday we went to the Zoo with our friends The Holmes. That was a blast! Although we discovered we probably could have just let the girls play at her house and they would have been just as happy. I was very impressed with the playful Zebras. They were wrestling and having fun. Also the gorillas had babies which are always entertaining but it was especially interesting to see one angry mama clobber another gorilla who got too close to her baby. The highlight of the day was two tiny baby monkeys in the cribs at the nursery. They were as cute as newborns. I wanted to hold one. Then we got lost in San Diego for awhile and were saved by mapquest and her husband. We had dinner at Red Robbin and then let the balloons go in the parking lot. (This is a very good way to not have to worry about what to do with a dead balloon in the morning.)

Today the girls had gymnastics and we spent the whole day down the hill. Ashling loved doing flips today and Ali loved being able to get on the bar all by herself. We also went to the park where the girls tried to get rid of energy. Ashling had a doctor's appointment and behaved as well as an adult after the bribe of a milkshake if she laid still. We also went to Chalon's and the girls played together for a little while.

I am tired and out of ideas for what we are going to do for the five more days until school starts so any ideas?

Home Sweet Home and Halloween pictures

We are home at last. Running Springs is not devestated. I have not driven by the burn area due to the fact that I have not had time but while driving to my house you can see burned areas but everything is not devestated. Our house is not smoky and you can not tell there was a fire from our house. I guess we were very lucky. I could see some burned areas but overall the fire seems to have preferred houses to the forrest in general. I am sure that I will find more as I get out and look later this week.

Halloween was fun. We went trick or treating with the cousins. It was a lot of kids and they were able to do most of it themselves. Ashling got tired and gave her pumkin to daddy to carry for awhile about half way through. Then the big kids wanted to go dump their pumpkins. Ashling decided that she had enough candy and did not want to go walking anymore. Instead she loved handing out candy. Ali also tired before the other cousins. Here are some pictures to go along with the post.

Halloween

Today is Halloween and we are still down the hill at Chalon's. It has been fun but very crazy with all of the kids and their different needs. We get to go home tomorrow and I am very excited for my own house. I have to admit that it is pretty easy to get used to not having a lot of furniture but the one thing I really miss is a washer and dryer. I would not like living in a time without those luxeries.

Yesterday Cameron and I went miniture golfing for a break from the routine. It was fun to get out. I saw one of my old students from colton. I was weird because I haven't been a teacher in so long that I don't think of myself that way anymore. I didn't recognize her but I guess that is what happens when you have 200 kids coming through a day. I think it would be nice to teach only 30 kids for a whole year instead.

Sunday Church

We went to church today and met with our ward and the Lake Arrowhead Ward. It was a very nice meeting. Our Stake President said that in the Southern California fires 57 families have lost their home within the church. We are still not 100% sure of everything in Running Springs as they have not assessed the property damage there yet. He said that one family got a reverse 911 call and just had time to get in the car and down the street before their house was engulfed and destroyed. So we are very lucky right now. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits and our branch president gave a talk about accepting whatever help we need and giving whatever help we can give in the coming weeks.

I know that I will make some changes to the way I do things and I have one big reccommendation. In the event of an evacuation grab your dirty clothes laundry basket. There will be somewhere to do laundry where you go and it will have what you need since it is the clothes that you wear.

We are thinking we will still be here for most of the rest of the week. But Lake Arrowhead gets to go home today. Lucky them!

Still Evacuated

Well Cameron did not have work yesterday due to the power going out. We are not sure why the power was out there. WE spent the day trying to figure out what to do. One thing is that being evacuated can be boring. We got an incredible package in the mail with lots of stuff for the kids to do and even some clothes for us. Thanks to my wonderful sister and her husband for that!

Mike (Cameron's dad) also visited the mountains yesterday. He got the inportant stuff from our house for us. Butterfly wings and a princess costume and then a bucket of dirty laundry. Hopefully we will have enough stuff for our evacuation now. It will probably be at least another week but we are very lucky because our neighborhood is still standing. Mike said that if you look from our house you can't even tell that there was a fire. What a blessing. I guess we were indeed led to the right house when we were picking houses to live in last month.

We went to an apple orchard yesterday in Oak Glen and enjoyed the cool air and the atmosphere that they created. We are ready to go back in the mountains just as soon as the fire is all out.

We are still in Highland

We had a calm day today. I cleaned the house a little and the girls worked on some "homework". Then we went to Norton air force base to collect the mail. After that we went over to orange show to the evacuation center. The red cross is amazing! Go red cross. It seems that everyone is doing fine there. They checked us in and took our information. Then they gave the kids some coloring books and stuffed animals and fed us. They even had a razor for Cameron so he can stop being the hairy monster :) Our last stop was the church where we worked on some humanitarian projects.

As of now our house is fine. Mike is going to be going up the mountains to check out the damage and hopefully get our halloween costumes. I think the fire may decide to leave most of the town standing. Although there are plenty of houses that were completely destroyed.

It is still smoky and it will probably be awhile before we can go home.