Weekend fun

We had the best weekend with Kate and her girls in Swimming City. Of course the weekend flew by!! But fun was had by all. The only regret is not getting Kate's blog up and running. That is my goal....and you will all love it! Kate is funny and sweet and her girls are delightful, with just enough spunk to keep Kate on her toes!

Leah wants to share

Well lots of good news.... a new camera has been purchased and able to use my old Kodak sharing system.... so I can now share Leah's new look!!!!!

She was so HAPPY to get new glasses, or rather get "Hannah Montana's glasses". She was refusing to leave without the frames she chose until the attendant convinced her that Hannah Montana was so busy making shiny glasses that it takes her a week!!!
Now that she has them, she actually wears them and is enjoying seeing life clearly. I am so glad this was caught early and her world has really opened up. Not only are the glasses pink and shimmery....they also seem to magnify her eyelashes even more. I thought her frames were too far from her face...but was told if they didn't ```her lashes would rub on the glass!

From this view you can see that I finally was brave to buy real paint for Leah's XMAS present. (I have let her use the dry erase and chalk lots!!) Thanks Uncle B and Aunt Karen!! Painting is a HUGE HIT! I need to find a much better hiding place for the bottles though....I came home from work tonight to find all the neighborhood kids painting their faces for the homecoming game with paint all over the front steps. Of course the memory of mean Mom making them scrub it off and threatening them with every inch of their freedom hopefully made a great impression to never touch the paint without Mom's permission again!

The new camera became a necessity...when the film camera was opened by Leah and now I have to re stage First Day of School picks.....5 to 6 weeks late! NO ONE IS TOUCHING MY CAMERA but me!!!! These pictures are way to precious to me! Off to finish packing for swimming with Kate and Family! WHEEEEEEE!!!

Here she comes

We are preparing for meeting Kate and her 3 girls for a wonderful weekend of swimming and fun. Somehow my swimsuit is missing....and yes, I really did try to find it! So today, I went to our little city to scrounge the last swimsuits of the year. Even the major sporting stores had slim picking for a mama my size. I did find a 2 piece fluorescent suit that I picked up and ready to wear. Get the sunglasses (or blinders) out! I'm glad I don't know too many people in vacation city!

Just what is she studying?

Leah is learning the Lord's Prayer, one line at a time. She was so excited to repeat after me. "Our father, who Arf in heaven" and clap loudly just like our high school football cheerleaders! After every cheer, they slide their hands while clapping and say "Arf, Arf, Arf". (because we are the mighty bulldogs)

ED COME HOME SOON!

I am so grateful for Ed! I am so grateful that I am not a single mother. Ed has been gone the last 2 days. Last night..... someone rang the door bell at 9:30, and disappeared. I ran around and secured all of the windows and double checked the doors, with Ed on the phone. Yesterday the garage door broke and we had to unjam the door to release the cars. So, I'm outside (in my winter PJs) trying to lock the door since it's an attached garage. No go, so I get a ladder and rejam the door mechanism. Now no one is getting in or out until Ed returns. I call my neighbor who assures me that "it's just kids being stupid"...and "no I would not be out of line" to just have the police drive by the house. So I call the non emergency number, and whether or not they did....I felt better. I still heard every little creak and at around 11:30 willed myself to go to sleep....but couldn't find Checkers. Of course she had gotten out into the garage (for 2 hours) with 2 boxes of DECON!!!!! So the next couple hours I researched every possible horrible reaction to DECON, and followed Checkers around the house. She was freaked out over being locked in the garage (and her crazy nurse mom trying to check her out) Finally, I called the animal poison control 1 800 number who said nothing would happen until 72 hours. So to bed I go...and the thunderstorms started and the kids crying. I could finally sleep though with Leah in my bed...but morning came really early.

Checkers is still OK and Ed and my mother-in-law are positive she wouldn't eat DECON. They are probaby right....because our little unwelcome visitor last month preferred peanut butter to DECON as well. Our vet said to wait, but to check for bleeding and call ASAP with problems.

Of course we had our busy day of school, preschool, helping out with the obstacle course at preschool, another visit to our friendly (but highly incompetent) phone company, swimming, supper, laundry, hair straightening (while watching a new Dancing with the Stars :-)), interrupting fights and constantly checking out Checkers....who seems to be fighting with Skittles kitty a lot tonight. ED COME HOME SOON!

6 more wierd things about me!

I have been tagged by Melissa. I think I did this last year, but there is more than a dozen weird things about me!

1- Some days I eat meat....most days I do not. I certainly will not eat red meat or Chicken. Just can not do it. (fake Mc Donald hamburgers use to work- but no more). Lean cuts of turkey or pork are OK some of the time. But Sunday, I bought lean pork chops and put them on the Foreman Grill and then I had to reject them at the table....or they would have rejected me after eating. I don't know why, it's just always been that way!

2- I love, love, love to eat ice. I feel my own special ice cube tray just the way I like it. My excuse is not liking Seminary City water and our current water. Ed thinks I'm anemic again (refer to #1) ....but I don't think so I just like ice!

3- I still Love Dr Pepper!!! Today, my coworker told my student that it was my vice.... just like his stimming and shadowing. She's right!

4- I love to finish packages.....the last bit of soap, the last row of crackers, or roll of toilet paper ect... I guess it's accomplishment that I can empty a container or de clutter my life (happens at work though too). Of course, I just need to open a new container and it could be weeks before the new one is empty. Weird I know.

5 - To follow #4. I have developed a new OCD trait of needing to cross off days on the calender. This started in Seminary City, but I am continuing it here! Another sense of accomplishment. But I have developed a new helpful twist. Since I've moved here and moved waaaaaay to much junk again, I have been doing 365 days declutter challenge. So I can only cross off a day, when I give something away to Good Will.

6- I can not fall asleep unless I'm warm. I wear winter pajamas all year long. I am really worried about this cold winter ahead, but am ready with an old fashioned electric blanket that can warm the bed before I get in. These new fangled "safer" warming blankets don't warm me up enough to sleep for at least an hour. Ed throws his comforter off him onto me...so BONUS DOUBLE COVERS!!!

I could keep going but will save you all. I tag any one who wants to get 6 things off their chest!

1st Day of school pics

Do other mothers recreate pictures for the first day of school....3 weeks late. I had to work early on the first day....and this was the first time I had film and both outfits clean. Just wondering.

Teachers pick the best!!!

One advantage of my new job is story time....after a 30 minute recess. My upper arms need to rest too (after pushing a swing the entire time :-) ) Not only is the room fairly calm. The teachers pick the best books. I hope I can find these at the library. Leah (and Luke) will love them.





Oh and Kate... I sure do know the actions to the song. Lets do them poolside and embarrass the kids.....a pastor's wife needs to let loose sometimes. HA HA!

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A.

Young man, there's no need to feel down.
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, young man, 'cause you're in a new town
There's no need to be unhappy

Young man, there's a place you can go.
I said, young man, when you're short on your dough.
You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.

It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A.
It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A.

It's not an exaggeration to say that Luke LOVES the local YMCA. According to the Y...lots of kids go there after school. Maybe when it's cold out, but right now it's just Luke and a few older kids playing Basketball. Last week the pool opened and Luke and a new buddy are swimming everyday after school. For a whole family monthly membership we are paying what we used to pay in St. Louis for one week of After School Care. All is good right.....until we get an email from the teacher.
"Luke is doing great in school....but could you reinforce that he doesn't need to get ready for the YMCA until after school is out. Today -- he started to change his shoes during math class!!"

MATH CLASS..... Luke, Luke, Luke we know you like the YMCA....but until 3:20 --- your time is Mrs. J's time! I think he gets it now.....or he loses the YMCA privileges. (I hope he gets it.....otherwise he'd agree with Leah that I'm the worse mother in the world....we shall see!)

FYI

Today Leah tells me "you are ruining my life, Mom"

My feelings aren't hurt, because her friend Kayli thinks her "Mom is the worst in the world" and "Miss Patty is the best Mom"

Kitty Mommy has a heavy heart

Wonderful weekend with a mission festival at our church. Good food, Good friends and Good Messages. We are praying for a couple who are spending their vicarage in Latvia. Oh my!!!! May God Bless them!

I have another prayer on my heart. Checkers is 15 years old (June 26, 1993). Yes, I know her birthday and I knew her parents (Little Lady and Oscar). She was born on my parents farm and my mom handpicked her for me just before she died. She was our first "kid" and is the most affectionate of all of my "kids". She's my baby. This spring she started slowing down and during the big move, she stayed in her kennel for 7 hours. It seemed like her hips had fused with arthritis (as she could only hop around my in laws house.) Ed brought her to his parent's vet, who was unwilling to give arthritis medication until she had taken blood. The results showed a heart problem and a high thyroid level. The medication gave Checkers a miracle recovery, but she HATED it. The cream needs to be placed in her ears. Most of our first month here - she stayed under our bed. She became very good at hiding and alluding us. After a month, the vet here retested her and her level was too low...so we stopped and our kitty slowly began to re trust us. We need to retest this week.....and she is slowing down, unable to jump onto the bed etc....yet is still grooming and is so much happier. My dilemma....do I stay ahead of health problems and keep her going......and hating me or let her age with dignity. The hospice nurse in me knows what to do. The Mom in me couldn't bear not treating her if I knew her levels were high again. So I'm thinking to just not retest. That doesn't seem very responsible. Neither option is good. Ed says it's my decision.....and it is. I need to call this week to retest. Decisions, Decisions. My camera gives her eyes...red eye.....doesn't due her justice. This picture shows both of my girls who love "kitty tv". Checks is on the left. Skittles is almost as big but is a diluted calico.

Short Post

Short post.
Not much energy.
Long day at school.
Went to the YMCA to exercise.
Hopefully, thinner me at ordination!

Off to preschool

Today my baby went to Pre school. I am actually glad she missed the cut off for kindergarten. This hit me harder than I thought it would. She loved it. I have pictures on my phone....however have no idea how to get them off and the only Verizon guy here is NOT helpful! I'll post pictures later....anyway just imagine just the biggest smile with dimples and dancing around in circles just waiting for 12:30 to arrive....that's it! Oh... and a shirt with glitter and 'diamond' buttons and a sparkly backpack. Can't go to pre school without the GLAM!