3rd Grade Wax Museum

Since the start of school, Hannah has been required to do a book report each month on a different genre of book.  Well, for the month of February the report actually needed to be centered on someone in the community.  After picking who you wanted to spotlight, you then had to interview the individual, write a fact sheet on the individual, create a poster on the individual and then today was the "wax museum" presentation.  Each of the students had to dress up as their chosen person and pretend they were part of a wax museum.  So, as parents we were invited to come to the school at 1 p.m., walk through the line of kids, press their "button" and then they would give us a 20-30 second spill on who they were.

Hannah chose to do her project on Traci.....our previous daycare provider.  She interviewed Traci at the beginning of the month and found out some fun facts about her.  Last week she wrote up her fact sheet on Traci and on on Sunday we spent three hours perfecting the poster.

For school today, Hannah dressed up in warm-up clothes like Traci wears and we put her hair on top of her head in a bun with a pen stashed in the bun.  She looked so cute!  I think her poster looked awesome too....if I do say so myself.

Grandma Peterson, Dave, Me and Nicole went as a group through the wax museum.  Traci went a little later and Hannah was so stoked that she came.

This was quite the project to pull off.  There were many times that I told Dave I didn't think I, as the parent, was going to pass third grade.  We made it though!

Next month's book project came home today......the genre is fantasy.....the book project is a one person skit.....what?!?!?  I have anxiety already!  Third grade might just put me over the edge!

Hannah's School Play

On February 4, the two third grade classes at Hannah's school put on a play for the student body and parents.  It was a play on the History of the United States.  Hannah's part was particularly centered on the Statue of Liberty.  All of the students had to dress up as someone from a long time ago.  Hannah used one of our long skirts, Grandma Welker's bonnet and Aunt Kendal made her an apron specific for the play....super nice!

Grandma Welker, Grandma Peterson, Dave and me attended and watched the play.

Are you guys really out there? 

The nerves seem to be kicking in! 

Here's everyone.

Look at this great foundation maker! 

Accident Update as of 2/18/11

Things have been a little crazy around the household this week so it's taken awhile to get an update posted on how things are going with the accident/insurance company.

Dave made a call Monday morning to the insurance company requesting a rental car.  When he reached Jinny (our contact) she finally said that they had concluded their investigation with the accident and had spoken to all of the parties involved and realized that I had no fault in the accident and so we could proceed with the rental car.

Before Dave had contacted the insurance company, he had contacted Enterprise car rental to see how much it was per day and to see what was available for us as options.  If the insurance company wasn't going to take responsibility for the accident, he was going to inform them we'd go ahead and get the rental car and send them the bill.

As Dave was chatting with the insurance company, he told them that we needed a minivan.  That's what we were driving, we have three children, and two of them are in car seats so a small car isn't going to work.  Well Enterprise only had a minivan available for two days and then we'd have to go in and trade so instead I am driving a 2011 Chevy Silverado 4 door truck.  It's actually pretty plush and has 4 wheel drive for the snowy days, which I used yesterday morning driving in from Mendon.  It only has 9800 miles on it and every time I get in I get a whiff of the new car smell.

Dave also informed the insurance company that we needed two replacement car seats.  She didn't even question that one.  She said to go purchase new ones and e-mail them the receipt.  So, I purchased two pink car seats on Tuesday and Nicole and Ashley are in heaven!


Dave's phone call on Monday started everything in motion.  We were contacted by the insurance adjuster, Frank, who told us he would be visiting our van on Tuesday and would let us know their decision on whether it would be totaled or repaired.  I called the towing company on Monday afternoon to let them know that he would be coming and asked if they'd done an estimate for repair.  He said he had done a quick one when the van first came in and came up with $6800.  He did say though that when the adjuster came he might ask for a "tear down" of the vehicle to see if there was any other damage not visible from just looking at the vehicle.


My thoughts were "Really?  Only $6800?  I would have thought it would have been a lot more than that."  At this point, Dave and I are pretty sure the van will be repaired.


Frank called Tuesday to let us know that he checked out the van and they're going to total it.  He came up with $9800 in repairs.  I guess there's more under-the-hood damage than can be seen.  He told us that we need to go and remove everything from the van that we need and then to let them know because then they'll take it to their accessor in Ogden and then contact us back with a "fair" retail value.


So Dave headed to the towing company Tuesday afternoon and "cleaned" out the van.  I then contacted the towing company on Thursday to let them know that they could release the van to the insurance company.  We wanted to wait a couple of days just to make sure we really felt we had everything we needed.


Can I just say that I got teary eyed when I called and told them they could release the van.  I loved my van.  We purchased it brand new when I was pregnant with Ashley after we had hit the deer with our Jeep Grand Cherokee.  It fit our family so well.  I was easy to zoom around town in.  I loved the three seats in the middle section instead of the two captain chairs.  I LOVED IT and I wasn't ready to change!!!  Now I'm forced to change and I'm not really happy about it!!!  I think I've reached the angry stage.  This is part of the healing process right?


As I was driving to work this morning, I received a phone call from the insurance company asking if they were calling at a bad time.  I said I was just heading to work and so he apologized because it really was a bad time.  Then he asked how we were coming with getting the van cleaned out and in order so it could be released to them.  I informed him I called the towing company yesterday and told them to release it.  Then he apologized multiple more times for calling me instead of calling the towing company.  I'm sure it's because Frank is out of the office until next Wednesday so someone is "helping" him follow up on his cases.  

The nice gentleman informed me that they will get it towed to Ogden for the assessment and I'm assuming we should here by the first of next week how much money they are going to offer us for a replacement.  Let me just say I'm assuming there's going to be some negotiations going on between the insurance company and Dave.  We have been looking online at replacement vehicles and just to go straight across in incredible!  I'm really not thinking they'll give us that much which is irritating because I was perfectly content with what I had and that's what I want back!!!  Yes....I'm being a bit spoiled about the whole thing......again.....my angry stage.


All we can do now is wait for them to call back.  In the meantime, the girls and I will cruise around in the truck.....which by the way is a bit more difficult to park but I'm getting the hang of it.  Give me six empty stalls in a row and I'm bound to hit one of them!


The girls are doing well from the accident.  They still talk about it a bit but I am amazed at how resilient they are.  I went to a chiropractor on Wednesday for my lower back.  I went again on Thursday and he's put me into a treatment plan where for the next three weeks I'll go three times a week, then two times a week for three more weeks and then one time a week for three weeks.  Then I guess we'll reassess and see what needs to be done for maintenance.  He did say my body took more of an impact that I realize.  The adjustments should help....I hope.  I will take the soreness and do whatever needs to be done knowing that my girls are alright.


That's the update of today.  I'll update again next week when we hear how much they're willing to give us for the van!

It Can All Change in a Blink of the Eye

Date: February 9, 2011
Time: 3:50 p.m.
Place: approximately 1600 North Main in Logan

Nicole and I had picked Hannah and Ashley up from my mom's house in North Logan a few minutes earlier.  We were heading south on main street taking Ashley to her TaVaci lesson, which is at the south end of town.  From out of nowhere appears a silver truck shooting across all lanes of traffic.  Quickly in my mind I think, "go, go, go so we don't hit".  However, that didn't happen.  We slammed into the side of the silver truck going 45 mph.  Everything happened so fast and I really didn't have any time to react.  I'm not even sure if I was able to apply my brakes.

The impact happens and I kind of come back around.  The airbag has deployed and there's smoke and the nasty smell.  I touch my chest and face and can't feel anything burning.  I remember hitting the deer with our Jeep near Jackson, WY and when the airbag deployed it smacked my legs and stung.  I then flip to all three of my girls behind me.  As I turn in the seat to look at them I have six very large eyes looking back at me.

Hannah:  "Mom! What happened?!? What's wrong?!?"
Me: "We've been in an accident. Are you okay?"
Hannah: "I'm fine. I didn't even move."
Me: "Nicole, are you okay."  She looks at me with the "Mom why are you asking me.  I'm fine....just sitting here reading my book."
Me: "Ashley, are you okay?"
Ashley:  starts crying...."My neck hurts!"
Me: "Okay....okay.....I'm coming!"

A lady approaches my passenger side door.  I have to unlock it....oh yea.....the doors automatically lock when the car is in drive..forgot about that.

Lady:  "Is everyone okay?"
Me: "I think we're fine but my daughter says her neck hurts."

I get out of the driver's side and rush to the other side and open the door so I can see Ashley.  Another lady comes up and announces that she's an EMT.  I recognize her from BATC.

BATC EMT Lady: "I'm on the phone with 911. Is everyone okay?"
Me: "My daughter says her neck hurts."
BATC EMT Lady: "Okay.  We'll go ahead and have them send an ambulance anyway.  How old is she?"
Me: "She's five."

Everyone around me was so nice. They were offering me their coats.  I had a sweater on but my coat was sitting in the van.  I wasn't worried about me shivering I was worried about the condition of my girls.  They are asking me if they can call someone for me.  At this point I realize that I'm all alone.  Dave is in St. George enjoying the warm weather and golf with his Dad.  I had just left my mom's and she was heading to a doctor's appointment at 4 o'clock.  What am I going to do? I already know at this point that my van is not going anywhere.

Before I knew it and it seemed like within 30 seconds there were police officers of whom I recognized and then the paramedics were there.  The one paramedic happens to be our neighbor.  He lives about five houses up the road.  It sure was nice having a friendly face.  Then is the blur of accessing Ashley, getting her information and information on everyone else.  They asked if I wanted to transport her to the hospital, which at this point I can tell that it's not a life threatening injury.  She's basically freaked out about what has just happened and the seat belt left a nice burn mark on her neck.  The scary part is having to make this decision by myself.  Do I send her or not? Hannah is in the middle of the seat experiencing a bit of shock herself.  She's freezing cold and shivering.  She's looking at me and saying, "No mom.  Don't let them take her. She's fine."  I turned to my neighbor and said, "Mike, help me here.  What do I do."  He gave good advice and we could all pretty much tell that Ashley was going to be fine.  I chose not to transport her and to watch her for the next 48 hours.

Somewhere during this I managed to call my mom's cell phone, which she didn't answer.  Somewhere out of my head I pulled the doctor's office number and called to have them give my mom a message that I needed her to call me right away.  She called me and I informed her that we'd been in an accident on main street and totaled the car.  In my own version of shock, I asked her if she could come and pick us up after her appointment.  We'd go ahead and wait for her at Village Inn.  Where did that come from you might ask?  Well, I was looking around and trying to find a warm place that we could go in and sit.  I also realized I had my wallet so I could take the girls inside and get them a piece of pie while we waited.  Yea.....I have no idea where that came from but at the time it made sense to me.

As things are winding down, others are still coming up to me and trying to help.  It's nice to see all of the service that is out there.  Someone came up and asked where I needed to go because they had a suburban coming and could give us a ride.  The tow truck drivers were willing to take us with them.  He leaned in the car and asked the girls if they wanted to go for a ride.  Ashley's response was, "I'm tired of going for rides!"  

The paramedic that we know asked where my mom lives and when I told him it wasn't too far from where we were he was willing to give us all a ride to grandma's in the ambulance.  The ride in the ambulance came about because someone had given the girls blankets from their car.  She came up to me and asked where I lived so we could coordinate getting the blankets back to her and keeping them on the girls for now to keep them warm.  I don't know her name....all I know is that she lives in Lewiston.  Such a sweet person.  Anyway, the paramedic said that they had blankets that we could use...thus taking a ride in the ambulance.

However, right at this moment another angel appeared out of nowhere for me.  My Uncle Bob was right there and said, "Michelle, I'm right here.  What can I do to help?"  Unbeknown to me, my mom had called him from the doctor's office and he immediately left his work and came to our rescue.  I remember pointing at him and saying, "I know him!  He's my uncle!  I'm going with him!  He'll take me to my mom's!"  Oh, what a sight for sore eyes he was.

Nicole didn't cry until we got her out of the van and were trying to get her to go over to Bob's car.  There was no way she was going to get in a strange car.  After Bob gave her a pen and a pad of paper, she was all for getting in the car and was ready to go.

I thought fast enough to grab my purse and the girls back packs from the van.  Who knows what else you're going to need.  I was just hoping that I'd grabbed the essentials.

Bob took us over to my mom's where we all finally felt safe and we waited for her to return to us.  I thought I had myself composed enough to call Dave but as soon as I heard his voice I broke down crying.  Oh how I missed him at that point in time.  I finally was able to squeak out that we were all okay.  After a few more minutes, I was able to pull myself together enough to explain what had happened.

And what did happen you might ask.......

Well, it was the part of main street where you have Walmart and Deseret First Credit Union on the east side of the road and Village Inn and Al's Sporting Goods on the west side of the road.  The driver of the other vehicle was a 16 year old boy who had just gotten his license.  He was attempting to turn left onto main street from the Walmart/Deseret First Credit Union side.  First of all can I say......who in their right mind makes a left hand turn onto main street from the Walmart side....NO ONE.  This is a very dangerous spot.  In fact, a spot that I've always thought that I don't ever want to get in an accident at.  Well, so much for that.

Anyway, I guess he started the left hand turn but then another car was turning somewhere and his mom yelled for him to hit the brakes but he panicked and hit the gas instead.  Thus crossing three lanes of traffic  and into the fourth lane which was our lane and we ended up hitting him.  I guess we spun him around and he ended up hitting into another vehicle but I have no idea where the other vehicle was.  I was too focused on my girls.

As we were leaving, I noticed the camper shell on the lawn of Al's Sporting Good.  Well, I didn't realize that the truck we hit had this shell on it.  The impact of us hitting him knocked the shell off the truck.  Hannah saw the shell flying through the air.  I didn't see it but she was impressed that it didn't even break the windshield.

Things that keep replaying in my mind:

The officer coming up and asking which tow company I wanted.  I remember thinking where would Dave want me to send it.  Elden's came to my mind and out my mouth right as one of their trucks passed by.  When Elden himself came up and gave me a hug and he said that I could have at least called two minutes earlier.  They'd just driven down the road.

How nice everyone was and their concern for the welfare of me and the girls.


Seeing the 16 year old boy crying.  He was totally devastated.  He told his mom that he never wants to drive again.


The boys mom.  My heart broke for her.  She herself was devastated.  Especially after seeing my three girls in the back.  I remember hugging her and telling her that I was extremely thankful that me and my girls were okay.

How big the girls eyes were when I turned in the seat to make sure they were okay.

Poor Hannah in the seat shivering due to the cold and shock and asking if we could please shut the doors.  We couldn't though because the paramedics were assessing Ashley.


How nice and comforting it was to see familiar faces.

Nicole sitting in her car seat totally oblivious as to what was happening.  She was just happy to be in the van with her book.

My precious little Ashley.  I know she is scared by the look in her eyes but she is being so brave as the paramedics were assessing her and she was answering all of their questions.


My thoughts:


I still get rather teary eyed as I think of how blessed and grateful I am for the outcome of this event.  I think back to when I was little and we weren't required to be in car seats or seat belts.  It pains my stomach to think of where Hannah was sitting and if she hadn't had her seat belt on she would have flown through the windshield.  I think of Ashley and Nicole being in their car seats and having them properly attached.  The outcome could have been completely different if they weren't buckled correctly or not at all.


I honestly believe we had guardian angels with us this day.  I am truly grateful to my Heavenly Father for the protection he gave me and the girls.  I remember realizing that we were going to hit and then it felt as though someone else stepped in and took the impact for me.  I remember coming back around to reality and thinking to myself, "Well, that wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be."


I am utterly amazed and how powerful car seats and seat belts are.  I am totally an advocate for them.  For us to walk away with a little soreness and a welt on Ashley's neck that was gone by the next day is amazing.  I hear in my mind Hannah telling me that she didn't even move.  I see Nicole looking around like nothing had even happened.....we must have just stopped quick at a street light.  I see cute little Ashley starting to cry because her neck hurts and she's scared.  But the gratitude that filled my soul as the four of us walked in to our home that evening was so overwhelming.  Yes, we were down a vehicle but we were all safe and together as a family.

I am so grateful for the outpouring of kindness and service our ward members have shown.  It has been an eye opener at how fast word moves around a little community.  It all started because I was sitting at my mom's table at 5:15 and I was teasing Ashley that she was going to miss her TaVaci lesson.  Then it dawned on me that Hannah has piano lessons at 5:30.  After much trying, I finally got a hold of her piano teacher who is my visiting teacher too so she'd know Hannah wasn't coming and this is where the ball started rolling.  As I was chatting with Karina on the phone, she asked if she could bring us dinner.  I told her we'd be fine because I didn't know when we'd be home.  I still had to go to Nibley and pick up the truck from Dave's parent's.  She then said she'd like to bring us dinner Thursday night.  At this point I felt fine, so it was a bit weird to swallow some pride and say okay.  It kept playing in my mind that you need to let others serve you so they too can grow.  So I swallowed the pride and said okay.

Well, I guess my other visiting teacher showed up at Karina's house as I was chatting with her and between the two of them they got the ball rolling.  Before we returned home to Mendon at 9:15 p.m. I was contacted by my other Visiting Teacher, I had chatted with another ward member needing a favor but I wasn't home to help her out so she heard the story and her husband is a member of the bishopric, I was contacted by one of our home teachers and the other home teacher contacted Dave in St. George.  The Relief Society President called to make sure we were okay and to see if we needed any blessings and Dave was contacted by the Elder's Quorum President.

I do have to say I was grateful come Thursday night that dinner was brought in for us.  I couldn't sleep Wednesday night.  I last looked at the clock at 1:38 a.m. and I never got into a real deep sleep.  I kept waking up and listening for the girls to make sure all was alright.  So, when dinner came in at 6:15 it was a welcoming sight.

Thursday night I was also contacted by another ward member who serves on my enrichment committee and she "told" me she was bringing dinner in on Friday night.  Again, I swallowed my pride and said thank you.

Today at work (Friday) i received a phone call from my new visiting teacher offering to bring us dinner.  I quickly called her and let her know that someone already had it covered.  She contacted the other sister and between the two of them one brought cooked dinner for this night and another brought a cold dinner that I can use over the weekend.

We have only been in the ward for a little over two years and haven't had any major trauma that we've needed help for.  It is nice to know that there are those out there that care and are willing to jump in and serve and help out in a time of need.

As the girls and I knelt for family prayer Wednesday night, it was a very emotional prayer for me.  It was hard to keep the emotions in check.  Hannah and Ashley were curious as to why i was crying during prayer.  I used it as a teaching lesson to let them know that when your heart is so full of gratitude for what you've been given that it's alright to let the emotion show by crying.

I was tucking Ashley in to bed after prayer and she was crying a little bit.  She looks at me and says:

Ashley:  "Mom.  It's alright because the van was getting old anyway."
Me:  "You're right Ashley.  The van was getting old.  You know we can replace the van but we can't replace Ashley."
Ashley:  "Yea.....but if I were a twin then there'd be another me."
Me: "Even if you were a twin, there wouldn't be another Ashley."

Hannah has been a little shaken from the experience.  This is actually her second major accident that she's been involved in.  She's been talking about the accident quite a bit but hopefully this is her healing process and soon she'll be good as new.

Nicole....well....she will tell you that the van is sick and had to go to the doctor's.

Now comes the joy of dealing with the insurance company.  We chatted with the boy's insurance company yesterday but we were informed that he and the truck were just added to the policy last Friday so it's in "pending" mode and they can't commit anything to us for the time being.  What?!?!?  We are out of a car......we need a rental!  I'm not sure I'm ready for the game we get to play.  Especially because tonight I chatted with the third vehicle involved and she said the insurance company told her they were taking full responsibility for everything and asked if she wanted a rental car.  Again....what?!?!?  Her car is drivable and has $600 in damage.  Mine isn't drivable and I need the rental.  AARRRGGHHHH!!!

From here Dave is being great and has said he's taking over in dealing with the insurance companies.  He's going to make a call Monday morning to get things rolling.  This is a huge stress relief to me.

I'll try to keep the blog updated on how things are going.  In the meantime, here's some pictures I took of the van at the collision shop the next day.

This is the bumper lying on the ground between two other cars parked next to the van.