The infamous tow truck story

The following is a detailed story of our evening last night. It is written in the words of Sam...


It's a really long story and a fun one to tell but not so much for typing. So you peeps are just gonna get the cliff notes here. :)

We ate dinner at Antojitos (yummy!) and parked behind Pappa John's (won't do that again!). When we came out the car was all jacked up. What a sight that was! Carrie even snapped a picture of it while it was up there in all its glory.

The tow truck driver was the stereotypical tow truck driver. I knew he wouldn’t respond to my good looks but I was surprised that I couldn’t interest him with a bribe. He wasn't about to back down. No way no how. Something about “state regulations.”

So I went inside PJ's and talked to the assistant manager, who, btw, was NOT the most pleasant person I've ever met (that's how I'll put it since some of you are impressionable youth). She told me she called the tow truck driver because I was parked where her delivery person likes to park. I should mention that were about 25 empty spots all around me.

So here's this big tow truck crowding out the whole parking lot for a good hour or so. (Really, calling the tow truck out is more convenient than me parking in one particular stall?)

I was cool, calm, and collected the entire time (I know this can be hard for some of you out there to wrap your heads around). Finally, a PJ's employee with a little more life experience came up to the front to talk with me. He understood me. We were equals. He understood things his underling did not (like the customer is always right ). We had a nice chat.

But there wasn't much he could do about it. Sure, I get it. The tow truck driver deserves to be paid. The problem was why the tow truck was called in the first place. We exchanged numbers (maybe, just maybe, someone “higher up” could do something magical for me) and pleasantries and I was on my way back out to chat with the tow truck driver. Not seeing any way out of it I gave him my credit card. (He told me he wouldn't charge me tax. Wow, what a guy. But it seems like charging state sales tax would be some kind of state regulation. ;) Just sayin.)

Then out of nowhere the PJ's OWNER showed up (didn’t even know he was onsite) and told the driver that he's told his employees NOT to call the towing company! What?! At that, the driver said, "That's it, I'm lowering the car. I don't want to get in the middle of this. And you guys (PJ's) need to stop calling us to tow from here. It's petty.”

We all shook hands. Even the assistant manager lady came over to apologize directly to me. In the end we're all friends and I don't have to make good on my little threat which may have had something to do with telling everyone I know not to get their pizza from PJ's. As if I really care to do such a thing. But it sounded good. And in the end, I think that's what made it all work out for everyone (mostly me).

Except the tow truck driver. In the beginning I offered him cold hard cash. In the end I didn't have to pay anyone a dime. I hope he's at least being paid by the hour!


I should probably also give a shout out to the PJ’s on Summitview. Without them, this post wouldn’t have been made possible. I’m sure they make great pizzas too. Yakima…Buy Into It!

All’s well that ends well.

Okay, so that's really not the cliff notes version. But you didn't get to see all of my expressions. :)

Oregon Coast- McCoy Style

For the first time in 4 years, the McCoy family took a family trip to Pacific City, Oregon. We rented a 4400 sq. ft. house on the beach with 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. Enough space for the 8 adults and 6 kids, ages 1-6!

Here is our ginormous house:
And here is the view from our ginormous house:

This would probably be the one and only time that Grandma and Grandpa McCoy sat with their feet up, with NO small kids attached to them!
One day, we went on an adventurous hike:

Our fearless leader (AKA Sam) took us to our beach destination:

On another day, the grandparents graciously kept all 6 grand-kids while the other kids (us 30 year old siblings and in-laws) got to go have lunch on the beach at the Pelican Pub Brewery, followed by another adventurous hike.

The top of the sand dunes:

Jon taking a moment to practice his yoga at extreme heights:

Haystack Rock peaking through:

We got an to area where the water was extremely rough and dangerous...but absolutely amazing to sit and watch:

We hiked down to an area, (that happened to be behind a sign saying, "Do not go beyond this point")

The waves were crashing in and we all found it fascinating to watch:

Back at the house, the girls find cheap entertainment on the staircase:

One night, Sam made all the adults Bloody Marys with Bacon Vodka. Believe it or not...they are very tasty. The kids felt a little left out, so he made them some too...virgin style:

And what is a beach trip without an ice cream cone?

We drove to Newport Beach to see the Aquarium there. The girls thought it was pretty cool to touch the Sea Anemones.

Jocelyn has a contagious cheesy grin!

Genevieve the scuba diver:

At the end of the tour through the Aquarium, we let the girls pick out a stuffed animal. Genevieve's choice was a pink octopus and Jocelyn's was an Otter.

Jocelyn, Bridget, and Caitlin. 3 cousins within 3 months of each other:

Let's go walk on the beach girls...

We are almost there...

Ah! Precious!

Nothing like roasting marshmallows at the beach!

The best experience we had from the whole trip was sitting around the campfire singing Kumbaya. Only we didn't sing Kumbaya.

Jocelyn has naturally curly hair, but being at the beach with humid weather sure made it curl up even more!

A mind of her own

As I was sitting on the chair right next to Jocelyn, a crusty green eye-booger in the corner of her eye caught my attention. I reached over and said "come here, let my get that eye-booger." She pulled away and told me not to get it. I demanded, and used my pointy finger to get it out while she was turning her head away from me. After I got it, she turned her head to look at me with the most angry look on her face and shouted, "Mom! Put it back!"

Where does bribing get us?

I bribe my children. With sugar. So today, going on my 5th day with a nagging headache, and knowing that I had some errands to run, I offered suckers to any girl that would not fight, not disobey me, not talk meanly to her sister, and who would stay right by me in the store at all times.

We got home, ate lunch and put them down for their naps. After a 2 1/2 hour nap, Genevieve came out from her room, groggy-eyed and half asleep asking for her sucker. As I took it out of the wrapper and handed it to her, she said,

"And can I have a pepper too?"

I love this girl!

Jocelyn turns 3!

In honor of my baby girl turning 3, we had a birthday party at the park with friends and family. It turned out to be a nice day, relatively hot, but shaded with a cool breeze. Jocelyn asked for a ladybug cake...a pink one. I decided to do cupcakes because they sounded easier...I was wrong.

Jocelyn enjoying a cupcake with Ashlyn and Kailer

The men folk enjoying manly conversations

Opening her loot

Thanking Caitlin for the new Slip-n-Slide

Juliana is such a good helper! She took all of the kids to the other side of the park and was playing a game with them where they sat in a circle and passed the ball. It was an amazing site! 9 kids, and Juliana had them all under control. She is going to be an EXCELLENT babysitter in just a few short years!

We got a used play house for the girls earlier this summer. Even though it seems to be 100+ degrees in there during the day, they have enjoyed playing in it. It is their "coffee house." They specialize in making Coconut Americanos with cream. I teach them young.

Partaking in more presents. Sometimes it seems like they just keep coming!

Jocelyn's godparents, Ron and Sarah, had a beautiful dress hand-made for her. It looks cute here, but it is even more adorable in person!

Swimming Lessons

When I taught swimming lessons, some 10 years ago or so, the water was freezing, we sang the same songs over and over again, and I flat out got burnt out!
So, this summer when I signed the girls up for lessons, I was expecting the same thing. I was actually hoping that Sam would get in with Jocelyn, who at 2, still requires a parent to be in the water with her. But I ended up doing it with her and I am extremely glad I did!
For starters, the water is a wonderful 89 degrees. That's right...a luke-warm hot tub. :)

Each night, the class offers something new so that we don't get bored and both the girls absolutely love their teachers and their swimming lessons in general.

Pretty darn cute girl peekin' over the edge to make sure daddy is watching her

Genevieve really loves to please her teacher. She listens very carefully to what her teacher asks her to do and then does it with a big smile.

Before we get in the water, the kids have to take a shower. Jocelyn helped herself to pulling the chain and drenching herself.

This was a nice bonding experience for Jocelyn and I to do together

In my 6 years of teaching lessons, I don't recall another child as comfortable in the water as Jocelyn is

The following are 3 videos.

Top: Jocelyn doing a bob under water on her own.

Middle: Jocelyn floating and Genevieve jumping in.

Bottom: Jocelyn jumping in.

A Bunch of Animals

There was a lion and a turtle in my house the other day...

But wouldn't you know it, it was my 2 darling daughters just trying to scare me!