Conversations

Setting: Caitrin in the tub before church, playing

Daddy: Ok Caiti, it's time to get washed up
Caiti: I don't want to wash up
Daddy:Well, sometimes parents ask you to do something and sometimes they tell you to do something. And I'm telling you that you need to get washed up.
Caiti: (Yelling) I DON'T HAVE PARENTS!!!!!

Then what the heck are we, chop liver?

Christmas...an adventure

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I know my family did. The kids got what they asked for. MP3 players. They originally wanted iPods, yea, I'm not up to forking out that much money on something so small that they can loose it. But they were happy none the less. We spent Christmas Eve attending mass, then we headed up to Eric's mom's house. If you've never been there, body bubble has no meaning. It's a very small house. 6 kids with their spouses and 15 grand kids and one great grand kid. Cramped quarters. But the memories are always priceless. It wouldn't be Christmas Eve if we weren't at Grama's house. Christmas morning the kids slept in til 8 o'clock. It was really nice. We opened up our present to each other. I got a Seahawks shirt and hat along with an MP3 Player too. (When I was messing with the kids' so they would have song to listen to on Christmas morning, I just kept playing with them, so Eric go me one, too.) I got Eric a Bluetooth devise for his phone and it syncs his play list on his phone. It's funny to watch him jam out in his chair with eyes close. I'm glad that he likes it.

After we opened all out gifts, we went up to my sister's and spent the morning and half the afternoon there. My mom got me an awesome scrapbooking kit from Costco. Eric got 2 ACDC cds so he can rip them and put them on his bluetooth headset. My son got an Indiana Whip and every time you snap it, it makes the "wich cha" sound. It's really cool, but I have to watch him with it, make sure he doesn't come after his sisters. For the rest of the evening we went to Eric's Dad's house. His house is a little bigger but there is actually more people there. Eric and I helped get his nieces cell phone for Christmas, so I sat with them and programed all their phones. Have you ever had twin 13 year old girls call you and squeal in your ear that they got cell phones, it's kind of exciting really. When the night was over, we pretty much crashed. The kids are still enjoying their music players, and now I'm trying to put my house together with all the new things we got. I've got to make time to go thru all the kid's room and sort out toys. I'm sure we'll be making a few trips to the Good Will. Happy New Year to all.

I got It.

I got what I wished for. We got our White Christmas. But now the wearther is calling for rain this weekend. Oh well. Merry Christmas!

Let it SNOW!!!!

Call me bad but I skipped church today so the kids could sled. I just wasn't sure how much longer the snow is going to hang around. So here is a play by play of what we did this morning. The kids couldn't get enough, well, Caiti could, she didn't like the snow.

A White Christmas?

We have 4 days left until Christmas. AND THERE IS SNOW ON THE GROUND!!! Not many other people are sharing my excitement. Where I grew up, we had snow from Halloween until well past Easter and it was nothing to have 5 & 6 feet of snow. When I moved up here to Lewiston 13 years ago, my first Christmas was not white and I cried. The next year we had record snow fall and that felt normal to me, but it hasn't been that way ever since. So needless to say I'm hoping for a white one.

I know there isn't much, but it still brings a smile to my face. Looking at the weather forecast, it's suppose to keep snowing well past Christmas day.

Now I'm gonna bundle up the kids and we are gonna sled for a while. Might as well take advantage of it while it's still here.

Twilight

Twilight Merchandise

And so it ended tonight. I finished the last book. In the course of two weeks, I read all four. I have to say that the first book was my favorite, how could one possibly imagine that much passion. I'm going to hold true to my thoughts and not go see the movie. I've heard good and I've heard really bad. I'm honest enough with myself to know that I won't be open minded about the movie and separate it- one from the other. For now I have the images of Bella and Edward in my mind and don't want it tainted. I won't say "NEVER", but just not right now. As for the rest of the books, they had their weak points, but that's what kept you reading, to find the stronger points. I'm not a groupy, a junky. I'm not going to purchase paraphernalia and put it all over my house, join a fan club, paint myself white and wear fangs. I will move on with my life, pick up where I left off on my wifely house duties, (since I pretty much neglected all of them and didn't sleep much either).
I'm sure my kids will be happy to have me back, and Eric, well, reading these books were my "hunting season". So he should know what it feels like to be abandoned.
If you want my advise. Read the books. Nothing like being apart of the greatest love story ever told.

Baby it's cold out!

Holy Crow, it's cold outside. When Eric came home this morning from work, he said it was only 12 degrees. I was reading the weather on my phone and it's to get below ZERO in the next couple of days (that's with the wind chill factor as well) and the high all week is about 20. We have some snow, just enough to freak everyone out. I hope it snows more. I'm ready for a white Christmas. Bundle up it's gonna be cold.

Bored Night

Tonight I lost the older two to my sister and gained on from my sister-in-law. My niece didn't want Caitrin to be alone, so LeAnna volunteered to keep her busy . Got to love that. I wasn't sure what could keep a 12 year old and a 2 year old busy, so I thought of some cookies that could be made. There was more flour on the girls and the floor then on the counter or canister.

They made a few dozen cookies. Towards the end Caiti broke down because she had flour in her eyes and kept rubbing them.

I tried a new recipe, the cookies were okay, but I'm sure I won't be using it again. It didn't make enough for what I was doing. But it was cheap entertainment for the girls.

ME....Girly

Last night was my party at the Red Lion. It was awesome. We got FREE drinks. I behaved myself as always.
Eric looked so good last night. Yummy!

Me with Lory. She's the one that got me into a dress and went with me to do my search.

This is a picture of proof for me. And this will be a story that will never explain, but you can be a witness. Randy S. striking a pose.

Pedi's & Vampires

Tonight is my Christmas Party at the Red Lion. I am going to girlify myself. I'm actually going to wear a dress. And for those of you who don't know me, I DON'T wear dresses. I found one at Penny's on clearance, and shoes to boot at Payless for 10 bucks. Score! So I thought I'd pamper myself with pedicure from the college. That's were I feel bad. I took my Twilight Book - New Moon with me. I already made a dent in it last night, but I figured I'd do a little more reading there. No Kids, ample time, win win. The poor kid was trying to spark conversation with me and I just wouldn't have it. Since the pedi was being done at the college, it took 2 hours. I'm not complaining, I'm over half way thru now. Hopefully the generous tip compensated for the lack of conversation. To be honest, I'm disappointed in the second book because lack there of of certain characters. I won't say any more just because others are reading it and haven't got as far as I have, but none the less, it's good. I should be done with it tonight some time after the party or tomorrow at the latest. Then on to the next book. Yepee! More pix to come with me being a girl......

Shhh... Don't tell Mom!

Today I watched Aydann and Jaxon for a little bit while mom wanted some "me" time. I was just finishing up baking cookies for the church and sat him down on the counter. Being a curious lad, he reached over and stole a cookie. Who was I to take it away? Isn't that what Aunties are for, spoil them, dope them up on sugar then send them home? He tore in to it pretty good, not much was left when he got done with it.

Old friends

Tonight I ventured out to the glorious Wal-Mart. To my surprise it wasn't busy. I know, how weird. But in my wanderings Eric happen to stumble upon some old friends of ours. Lindsey and James McDougall. Their son, Wyatt has grow quiet handsomely, looks just like his daddy, which I won't deny that James is good looking. And I finally got to meet their newest edition, Miley. She looks just like her daddy as well, but has her mama's beautiful smile. We ended up talking for about a half an hour right in the middle aisle. Trent and Wyatt played in the clothing racks running a muck, just enough not to cause any damage. It was nice catching up. Hopefully we can get together before they leave town again.

Poor Kid

Yesterday, just like every Sunday, was FOOTBALL day. It's the one day that I have control of the TV. We started the morning off with the 49er playing the Cowboys. As you can tell my son is a die hard fan of the 9ers. But just like in recent years past, the 9ers did not prevail at all yesterday. When the 49ers were only down by a touch down, he ran downstairs and got all his garb on. He begged me to get the Halloween makeup out and do the black thingy under the eyes. In hopes that his superstition would work, I did. Needless to say it only got worse from there on out. The whiners (49ers) lost. He was a heart broken kid.

After that game got over, we watched the Seahawks play up against the Redskins. Seattle pulled their heads out long enough just to have Hasslebeck shove it right back in. To add insult to injury, last minute and 24 seconds, the Seachickens lost it. Poor kid, none of his teams won. He went hunting with his daddy again for the week, but his next favorite team in the league is the N.O. Saints. He would be proud to know that tonight the Saints kicked Green Bays rear ends. It was a hell of a game. To bad he missed out on that one. I miss the little turkey.

What to do next......

I copied this tag from Amanda's blogs, it kind of shows that there are so many things in this world to do. I have done the one's that are highlighted. GREEN Enjoy!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Stayed up all night without going to sleep
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someones life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Crafty

I have been trying to make things this year for Christmas. I'm fairly new in starting my adventure in scrap booking, so I thought I give some advent trees a whirl. I am keeping the red and green stripped one, and (not sure to who) the blue and white one will be a present. The flash on the camera kind of drowned out the detail on the white one, and you can't really see the lettering on the stripped one. I think they are super cute. I'm proud of my uncrafty self.

Now that I have two projects down, a handful more to go. Good thing I have a special friend who has a scrap booking room, and I can leave all my "stuff" there until I get it all done. I just hope I don't follow the "REEL" tradition, and finish all my presents after Christmas.

Diagnosis...???

Tonight I got told I have a communicable disease, one of which I'm not sure has a cure. And I'm not really sure it has a proper name either. Maybe you might know, here's the symptoms: care too much, feel like you have to help, even if you don't have the means, take on guilt, sleeplessness, worry about someone elses problems, taking on other family member's problems, heartburn, frustration, pissyness...Amanda what else am I missing? I think I contracted it from you, but you said you were cured... what's you penicillin? I'm still stewing over a phone call I received at work today, and really there isn't a damn thing I can do about it. Arrrrrr......

Eric is the BIG 28

So Today is Eric's 28th birthday. Or as he likes to call it the day he crawled out from under a rock. He's not much of a birthday person, so last night I made a simple dinner and a cake for him. I got him a pair of gold hoop earrings, even though he only needs one. He was trying to head out the door when I was taking these pictures. I was leaving for work and he was going to hunting camp for the week.

Yep that means that I'm along again. But I wished him a happy birthday and that was that. Off to the mountains he went, I'll see him some time at the end of this week.

LAZY DAY

I love this photo. I took it with Eric's phone. I had today off for the Veteran's day Holiday. Caiti and I just hung out while dad slept most of the day, and the other two were off to school. We colored, played dress up and played with play-doh. I thought the park would be a fun place to go since the sun was shining but we were having a wind storm and Caitrin is HORRIFIED of the wind. She had a bad mishap the last bad wind storm we had, the wind literally picked her up and knocked her down. I asked her today if she wanted to go with me across the street to get the mail, she was firm when she said no. When I returned, she asked if the wind blew me away. I had to laugh, "nope, I'm still here".

3rd Time's a Charm

Yesterday Caitrin attended yet another daycare. This is the third one in less then a year. It really doesn't help that she has really bad stranger anxiety. The first daycare was okay at first, but then they were bought out by Tendercare and the whole staff was replaced and Caiti would melt down every time we went in there because of someone new. So I searched for something new. Someone had told me of a lady who had done in home daycare. That was fine for a while, but then the screaming started back up when ever I dropper her off. When I got a chance to calm her down, she said she was scared of the lady's husband and the son. I knew that they weren't home very often, but I wasn't going to chance her for good days and bad days. So back to square one, what do I do. I then noticed that when we went to church on Sundays, she didn't throw a fit when I dropped her off in the nursery. Some one told me that the church did have a few opening. I called and low and behold, they excepted her. Now when the older two head off to school, she gets upset because she wants to go to school. When I talked to Caiti about attending Finger Prints, I told her it was "Church School". She was really excited and couldn't wait to go. Yesterday morning was the moment of truth. When we walked in, she said hi to the lady at the front desk, when we found out what room was hers, she pushed me away and started playing with the other kids. I asked her for a kiss and a hug good bye, she ran up to me, quick peck and off she went. I will admit I was a little sad, but relieved that she was going to be okay. (She looks just like my sister in this picture, same cheesy smile)

First day at "Church School".

She told me she was excited to learn about Jesus. Since she is three they will begin a program called Christian Ed. Teaching her the stories of the bible and values.

When I picked her up from my sisters, (Jonnie picks her up when she gets off work at 1:30, so she's not in daycare all day), I asked Caiti if she had a fun day with all her new teachers and friends. She said yes, but didn't want to go back. I think it's was overwhelming and over stimulating for her, since at the in home daycare, they just plopped her down in front of a TV.

She goes again on Friday, so we'll see if the screaming continues, but I some how doubt it will.

Kitchen Helper

I got a wild hair and decided to bake some cookies. I don't bake much any more, and kids always ask to make things, it's just finding motivation and time. Keeping up with a two year old who likes to break her collar bone is kind of time consuming. If you notice he's wearing his lil sister's PINK apron. I am so gonna use this against him when he brings the girlfriend home. "Remember when you wore Caiti's pink apron....?"

Trent was the only one who wanted to help me, he stirred, and yes I was a little nervous to let him mess with the oven. But how can you deny help in the kitchen? Who knows, he might make a very luck girl happy.

Kinda Lonely

Ever since Eric started at ATK this past August, I've had a hard time adjusting. In years past we've worked the same schedule and had the same days off. Economy took a turn for the worst, for the boat building business, and he was laid off. We scurried to provide the income that was abruptly lost and low and behold came ATK. They put him on nights/weekends. Totally opposite of what I work, 8-5 Mon-Friday. Needless to say, we never see each other. And now that Hunting Season has been in full swing, he feels he needs to partake in the barbaric ritual, all on his days off. Last week he took my son for three day, he came home enough to shower and hop into bed. Wake up, see me off to work, & he's gone to work before I get home. He works his weekend shift. I see him Monday morning when he gets home, I get ready for work, and he heads back up to the mountains, sans my son, as soon as I leave for work. It's now Wednesday night and he's not due to be home until tomorrow night, just to work Friday night. So will I see him, most likely not until next Tuesday, since he sleeps all day Monday. If he gets a hair, and doesn't sleep, that is the day that we all call "asshole day". No explanation is needed there. But all that aside, I miss him. It's nice to have adult conversation every now and again. I feel like he's missed so much even if it's only been two weeks. Hell, I have parent teacher conferences tomorrow for both the kids, and guess who will be elsewhere? He totally missed the election, and only the good Lord knows how he's gonna react to the results, but he didn't vote before he left so he can't bitch (right Amanda). The bed just seems too big and the flannel sheets just aren't warm enough. Here's hoping he got his ruggedness out and bagged his animal.

Trick-orTreating

All went well, even with one having a broken wing. We started off real early, try 4 o'clock. I wasn't sure if Caitrin would do okay, and she did. My sister and I figured if we started early we would beat the rain storm coming in. Yea, ..no. We headed out right as the worst part hit. We decided to have all the kids ride in the back of the durango, not the safest, but it worked for the time being. With in minutes we were drowned rats. Once Caiti got the concept that people were giving her candy, her wing didn't bother her(nor the rain), she was running with the older ones getting as much as she could. Since we started early, we ended early. I think we were home by 5:30. We live pretty much on a dead end, so we get no trick-or-treaters. Fine by me, my chance to unwind, and kill the sugar high that all three are on. Hope every one had a safe and fun Halloween.

Halloween

Broken Wing..Caiti-0...Gravity-2...

I'm not sure how she's going to do, she's a lefty. Can't tell she's doped up on Hydro's...... Poor thing. It breaks my heart to see her this way.

My baby broke her collar bone, yet again. Some spot, exactly one year to the month after the first break. Poor child doesn't have the concept of gravity. This time, so I'm told since I was at work, she was jumping from the recliner on to her lil picnic table and completely missed. Eric said it was a sickening thud. When she wouldn't move her arm, he knew it was serious. The ER nurse kind of freaked out when she fell asleep in daddy's arms. She was afraid that Caiti had a concussion, but then I informed her that Caiti hadn't had a nap all day. All was better when they gave her liquid hydro codone, a sucker, and hand made lion. But she wasn't happy about the sling. She hates any sort of restrictions.

This kid is going to be my wild child. Out of all three, she's the only one who's broken any bones. No fear, I tell you. I have a strange feeling I'm not done with her visiting the ER. Heaven help me.

HSM 3

Tarren's birthday present from her mom & dad was to go to the opening of High School Musical 3. It so happen to premier on her 10th Birthday. I let her take a friend, she chose Allie, a sweet girl. Of course Coop will kill me if he finds out that I told the world that he saw the movie. Tarren is all dec'd out in "I heart Troy" garb. The hat is studded with rhinestones, and her shirt has Troy shooting hoops. All in all, it was a good show. Just like the first 2, this one was a little cheesy. But hey, what can I say, I like cheesy. I know that we will be buying it when it comes out.

Punkin Party

Insubordinate

Caiti decided to start the morning off on the wrong foot. She thought she needed to pull all of her dress up stuff out of her trunk, then proceeded to "look for Barbie's clothes" in her toy box. Which meant dumping it over and kicking everything around to find whatever she was looking for. I then told her she had to clean her room. Yes, the world came to an end. Such child abuse making her clean up her mess. She whined and sniveled a little. I went back to cleaning the rest of the house, but all seemed too quiet. When I went back to check on her she had fallen asleep.

Tarren did the same thing when she was Caiti's age. They figure, if I lie here long enough, either mom will clean it, or they can go to sleep and do it later. Caiti got a reprieve, and her cousins came over and decided it would be "fun" to rearrange her room. As long as I didn't have to do it, and it got done, I didn't care one way or another.

Today she's 10

So today my baby is 10. I took the day off cuz I knew it would be a rough day. It was like her turning 1 all over again. She's no longer a baby. Heck, she's almost a teenager now, not to mention she acts like one most of the time. Mouthy and Ms. Know-it-All. But I can't help but love her.
Tonight for her birthday I am taking her to High School Musical 3. I'm not sure how this is going to pan out, they are predicting the movie to be beyond a full house. What we don't do for our kids to make them happy. Happy Birthday big girl, please don't grow up to fast on me.

JR

This is JR. He's been in the family since Tarren was born. We had a heated argument last night on how old he is. I say he's 11, cuz he was a year old when Tarren was born. But he's at least 10. I'm glad mom brought him back home. This is where he belongs. He hated Arizona, you can see it in his face. JR hadn't seen grass in 3 years and as soon as he got here, he rolled and dug in my sister's yard. Poor thing. The vet asked if he was part bear. He's huge! The first words out of Caiti Mae's mouth was "Ohh... I like this puppy." Sadly I'm not sure how much longer he has. It's hard for him to get around. He's on a special diet and thyroid meds, but who knows. He's such a good dog. It's gonna kill me when he goes, but he's home now. That's all that matters.

Football is over... for this year

Today we went to Moscow to watch Coop play in the championship of Clearwater Football. Before the game they were 6-0, and it didn't matter if they lost the game, they were first place. They had a banner made with all the coaches and players names on them. They all were pretty proud of it.

Good thing Grama moved home in time to watch the last game. The kids are all jacked that she's back and for good. Before the game the team had a tail gate party. I felt kind of naive and stupid I guess. I went up to get some "orange juice" for Caitrin. One gentle man hurried over to me before I gave it to her and asked me if I realized that was "Adult OJ"? Yea, no...
I think it would have made her sleep a little longer then 5 min.

THEY WON!!! WENT 7-0 GO LC TIGERS!!!

Caitrin did pretty good, though being there for 5 hours is rough on a 2 year old. At one point she fell asleep on the bleachers for all of 5 minutes, then was up and back at it, running all over the stands.