The first weekend in November was a good one, full of all kinds of fun and adventures.
Friday night was date night (Ben and Caitlin take Luke on Friday nights and Jeff and I take the girls on Saturday nights so we each get a weekly date night). Jeff and I decided to use our Groupon to a place called Track 21, where there is laser tag and go-karts.
I started getting nervous the moment we walked into the building and I saw how fast the go-karts were whipping around the hairpin turns on each of the two courses. I wasn't so much afraid of getting hurt as I was afraid I would run into the tire walls or another go-kart and get in trouble or have to pay damages. I have very little confidence in my steering and control abilities.
The good news is I didn't hit anyone or anything. The bad news is I got lapped. A LOT. Since it was only about 5:30pm, the place was pretty empty, so there were only 4 of us in the race. The two guys that raced with Jeff and I were clearly Track 21 regulars. We even saw one of them driving the track by himself before our race. They had every turn memorized and knew at just what speed and angle to take them. Jeff had a little bit of a learning period, but he ended up doing pretty well. It takes some time to get used to the fact that those cars spin and slide so easily going around corners! In the end, Jeff lapped me twice, one of the guys lapped me 3 times, and the other lapped me 4 times! Wa-wa-waaaa.
After the race, we joined two different young guys for a fun game of laser tag! There were two levels to the course and for some reason, Jeff was always on the level that the other guys and I weren't, but I had a blast! And Jeff had plenty of time to hit every base for points and to try and snipe the rest of us through the vents in the floor.
Between the two of them, the guys playing with us "killed" me 47 times. I think, combined, I killed them about 20 times. So yes, I got demolished again, but oh my gosh it was fun! I loved the thrill and trepidation that comes from feeling like you are being hunted and wondering which corner the "enemy" is hiding around. I'm seriously considering having a big group go play laser tag for my next birthday.
In this particular game, Jeff and I came in 3rd and 4th place, and even though I was dead last, I did have a couple of shining moments. Once, the two guys and I all ran into each other in one area and everyone started shooting like crazy. I ran and ducked for cover behind a wall before either of them could kill me. I could hear the two of them talking as they temporarily teamed up to come eliminate me: "I know she's right over here somewhere..." They cornered me, one on either side of the wall I was hiding behind. And yet somehow, when they came around the corner, I managed to kill both of them before they had a chance to kill me! Sadly, it turned out to be just like that scene in Ice Age where Sid catches the last watermelon and then spikes it and it smashes into pieces. I was so excited about my triumph that I forgot to run away before the guys' guns charged back up. We just stood there staring at each other for a few seconds until I finally snapped out of it and started to run - just in time for the guys to charge back up and shoot me in the back as I was running away. Wa-wa-waaaa...(again).
Meanwhile, Luke was at Ben and Caitlin's playing with all kinds of girly things. Ben snapped this great picture, just for Jeff:
Yes that is a pink doll and a princess brush.
Just a couple of minutes after Jeff and I got back home with Luke, Caitlin came by to pick me up for a Girls Night at Dianna's house with a bunch of the girls from the ward. It was such a fun night! I got to meet my awesome visiting teacher Kayla and hold an adorable 6-month-old baby named Miles while we all stood around and chatted. Then, we all went upstairs to play games. We played 2 truths and a lie. For some reason, the first story to come to mind when I play that game is always the time when a tiny acrobat asked me out at the circus.
It was the summer of 2007 and like they had so many times when we were kids, Mamal and Papal took my siblings and I to the circus. As we had gotten older, fewer and fewer people could be convinced to go, but somehow, this year Patrick, Jared, Katrina and I all agreed to go. And the most fantastic thing happened when we walked in the doors. There was music playing and all 4 of us Lamb children started to dance at the same time, and then lo and behold, Mamal and Papal started to dance too! Oh, Papal dancing. A beautiful sight I had never before been so lucky to witness! It made my year! And he honestly wasn't bad! Okay, I'm getting off track. That's not what this story is about.
I first saw the 3'6" African-American acrobat in a glittery silver spandex full-body suit flipping across the Honda Center floor during the opening act. At the conclusion of the opening act, the entire circus did a lap around the arena waving at the crowd. When the tiny acrobat passed our section, he and I made eye contact so I smiled back at him. Next thing I knew, it was intermission and I hear a voice behind me ask, "You ladies enjoying the show?" Katrina and I turned around to find the little acrobat wearing a gray sweatshirt with the hood on, crouching in the empty aisle behind us. I don't remember exactly how he segued into asking me for my number so he could take me bowling, but he did. And I was so terrible at thinking on my feet (especially LYING on my feet), so I gave it to him - much to the chagrin of my protective brothers. And then I ignored his calls for the rest of the weekend.
Of course for the game, I just said, "A tiny acrobat once asked me out at the circus." But I have got to stop using that story for that game! It's so bizarre that everyone can tell it is a truth because no one could make something like that up! At least some people believed my lie: "Ive been backstage at a Bon Jovi concert." (If only!)
We also played "Guesstures," which was a blast! There were some Guesstures pros in that group! The game came down to me in the end, and my team won!
After games, we just talked for a long, long time. Caitlin and I didn't leave until after midnight and when we pulled up into my driveway, we sat in her car and talked some more (I have an awesome sister-in-law!). I didn't get to bed until 2am! It felt like I was a freshman at BYU again! I was exhausted the next day, but it was worth it!
On Saturday, Jeff and I took Luke to a place called Dewberry Farm (thank you Ben and Caitlin for the Groupon!) The place was HUGE! and there was so much to do! We had a fantastic time!
You have to pay for the handle that attaches to this wagon, but we're cheap so Jeff just gave Luke a quick ride around the other wagons and moved on.
"Weeeee!"
Goats! Naturally, Luke was excited.
Luke didn't even realize he was tricking this poor goat into thinking he had food.
How did that goat get up there?!
Luke spotted some ducks in a pond.
"Look Dad, DUCKS!"
We went into the barn and came face to face with this guy. He gave us a few of his crazy turkey sounds. Luke found that hilarious!
Petting the giant sheep's fuzzy little head.
Check out this sleeping beauty!
Luke tried to climb into the pig's pen to say hello.
Jeff picked Luke up to get a better look at the baby chicks.
He liked them.
And apparently, they liked him back!
He pet/poked this little chick ever so gently.
Luke might have wanted to get in there to see those ponies as much as I did.
Washing Luke's hands after he touched every barn animal he could get his hands on.
There was a fun little kids play area, with a sand box, toys, and a playground.
Jeff bounced Luke in the giant spider web.
The many faces of Piggy Luke:
We took a "hay ride" tour (there was no hay to be seen - it was a covered wagon pulled by a tractor) to see the pumpkin patch and Christmas trees.
Jeff pointed out to Luke that he could see the ground moving underneath us between the planks of wood. Luke was fascinated.
At the pumpkin patch.
I think Luke was claiming this pumpkin.
Luke chose a really big pumpkin to try and roll.
Success! (with a little help from Daddy)
The next step, of course, was to pick up the pumpkin.
Proving more difficult than he had imagined.
Daddy helped a little with this too.
Enjoying the view on the ride back.
This slide didn't feel too good on Jeff's behind, but Luke liked it, despite the look on his face here. He spotted me with the camera and his smile quickly turned to a look of confusion (or maybe annoyance).
Jeff got three shots on the water bottle cannon. This thing has some power!
I got a picture of the mini water bottle coming out of the end of the cannon!
Luke wasn't really interested in being a cowboy.
I decided I'd rather lasso a Luke than a calf.
It's hard to tell what's happening in this picture, but Jeff took Luke on a rope swing and Luke almost flew right over his shoulder when the the rope stopped and started back in the other direction. Fortunately, Jeff has a very strong grip (and so does Luke!).
We went straight from Dewberry Farm to meet the family at an Italian restaurant called Hasta La Pasta for our monthly pre-Fast Sunday dinner out (in our church, we fast on the first Sunday of every month and Greg takes us all out to dinner each month on the Saturday night before Fast Sunday). It was a yummy way to finish off a great day.
Grandma is always great for entertaining the kiddos.
So is Grandpa.
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