tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20488514405384604492024-03-13T15:57:53.686-05:00SHORTY MOMPeek into my worldShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.comBlogger311125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-88796484509574870602016-02-25T20:05:00.000-06:002016-02-25T20:05:31.306-06:00Socially AwkwardIt's difficult being socially awkward. To have something to say but are afraid to say it because I'm not sure if the person I'm talking to is going to take it the wrong way. Not because I mean it that way but because the way it sounds in my head is not the way it comes out of my mouth. <br />
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Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.<br />
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So then I move to saying nothing at all. To anyone. Which makes me look more socially awkward because I'm too shy/bashful to say anything. I don't know what to say because opening my mouth seems to offend everyone. I avoid social interactions so I don't feel so much like an outcast. I avoid family because it always seems someone is upset because of something I said even though I didn't mean to upset them. I was just trying having a conversation.<br />
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It's hard as I watch people go out with others while I go home day after day. To hear of their plans with other friends/acquaintances. Not that I don't want to spend time with my family. I don't see my husband nearly enough and my kids are growing too fast. But sometimes it would be nice to have friends to unwind with after a long hard week. To have discussions with other women about things your husband wouldn't understand. <br />
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Then you wonder about the friends you used to run with or talk to constantly and wonder when you grew apart. Or wonder how they have the time to go out with others but are too busy to spend time with me. Was it something I said or did? I wonder what I've done or said when I see people who used to be my best friends walk circles around me at the store. Am I that embarrassing? Have I said something that wrong that you can't even stop to say hello?<br />
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Then I see my social awkwardness has rubbed off on my kids. How one of them struggles when in groups, not sure of what to say or how to say it. I have no idea how to fix it. I don't even know where to start. <br />
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My plea to you is simply this - don't assume that the quiet person standing off to the side is a strange person. Consider that they may be socially awkward and try talking to them. Overlook that they forget to ask you about yourself. They'll come around. Give them a chance. Or two. Or three. They just may surprise you. ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-69780863750609729402015-11-30T20:21:00.000-06:002015-11-30T20:21:06.302-06:00GrudgesGrudges are a difficult, uphill battle. One that I battle each and every day. It's not only grudges against others that I seem to hang onto but grudges against myself as well. Things that I have said or done to others that at the time may or may not have meant to be hurtful. Things that no matter much I've apologized for or tried to let myself off the hook that still won't let go. <br />
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And I don't mean to hold grudges - really I don't. Things that linger in the corners of my mind pop up at the most inopportune time. Like two or three in the morning when I wake up and there's a memory staring me in the face that won't let go. It's not a vague memory either. It's a memory that was almost like yesterday. One that you would change if you could but you can't. And I can't seem to forgive and forget and let it go.<br />
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Lately it has been more and more frequent. I'm fighting a silent, losing battle alone and no matter how hard I try I can't seem to get a leg up.<br />
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I try hard to not hold things against others but it seems to come screaming out even though I may not let you know it. Upset that your child has been bullied at school so you post it up on facebook? How about the fact that your same child that is being bullied is the one who bullied my child not that long ago. I still hang on to that fact because it was my child he hurt and even though my kid is no longer at the same school or even the same state for that matter my feelings haven't changed. But I bite my tongue and say nothing because saying something is not going to change the fact your kid bullied mine and will not stop your child from being bullied. Time has passed and chances are your kid isn't the same kid who picked on mine. My kid certainly isn't the same kid he was then.<br />
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I can't leave myself out. Like the time I screamed my child's name while he was on the basketball court because his team was losing, the game was almost over and he was about to throw a huge tantrum. I regretted it the moment I did it and apologized to him over and over again. While he seems to have let it go, I haven't. It's still there popping up from time to time to let me know that I'm a horrible mother.<br />
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I've tried and tried to block these images from my mind. I've tried to stop punishing myself for these things that haunt me. Nothing seems to ease the pain. So I keep trying. And keep trying. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe...ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-30437638542940479092015-11-03T18:20:00.001-06:002015-11-03T18:21:15.592-06:00Seventeen and EighteenKrista and Shane turned 17 and 18 respectively last week.<br />
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I'm not sure when these kids got so big but I blinked and this is what I found. Two wonderful, smart, funny kids who are practically adults. I couldn't ask for more from these two.</div>
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This past weekend all three kids went to Indianapolis for the band semi-state competition. They missed going to state by 1.8 points and were so disappointed. I hated to see the season end. This is the only time since they all reached high school that they were all involved in the same thing. Since Shane attends a different high school than Krista and Ty, I thought it would never happen. This year the band had a wonderful show that had a lot of props involved. As soon as they started recruiting help, Ty enlisted Shane and Krista so they all got to be on the field together. </div>
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Shane and Krista weren't only prop help, but characters in the show as well. Here they are in uniform/costume before their performance Saturday. I am very proud of the hard work these three put into the show this season and am sad to see it end!</div>
ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-33178915665662096602015-09-18T15:30:00.002-05:002015-09-18T15:30:22.263-05:00Fifteen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrNoR7zLY_y-FTBhbHjGfxd5QoKtWLioUKf2Z5VDQA6g3PDGn1CQKEV2K2sc1nCYH4vZgTw7IokECfAOcokwaASnyMXlFYiKFc1gqP5JizaUHRmohjjtIEv55mULJHEqCEhQ6zYO0zPOj/s1600/IMG_0963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrNoR7zLY_y-FTBhbHjGfxd5QoKtWLioUKf2Z5VDQA6g3PDGn1CQKEV2K2sc1nCYH4vZgTw7IokECfAOcokwaASnyMXlFYiKFc1gqP5JizaUHRmohjjtIEv55mULJHEqCEhQ6zYO0zPOj/s320/IMG_0963.JPG" width="240" /></a>This young man turned 15 yesterday. My baby turned 15. It's painful for me to admit that. This is his post band practice, getting ready to eat a late supper obligatory birthday picture. He hasn't seen it yet.</div>
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I am very proud of this young man. He was a huge heart, is very smart, gets wonderful grades and stands up for others. He's dying to get a job because his brother and sister have one. He plays trumpet and violin and was excited to be seated as the first chair of the second violins this week. He's growing into a wonderful young man and I can wait to see what else he has in store for us. </div>
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ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-36553172910507149022015-09-02T20:14:00.001-05:002015-09-02T20:14:36.494-05:00I Don't Even Know Where to StartI logged into my blog tonight and realized that I haven't posted in 2 1/2 years. Not that I haven't tried. I have started a few different posts that never materialized into anything that I could push publish on. So I delete them and come back again. <br />
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Life is life. It's up and down. Hectic. Unpredictable. Hard. And all of those things make time scarce. When we moved to Indiana, we downsized considerably. We got rid of our couch because it had a broken board in it and felt like you were falling through it instead of sitting on it. We got rid of our computer desk that was falling apart. Because of this, our computer was literally set up in our living room with the tower sitting on the floor and the monitor sitting on top of it with the keyboard in your lap and the mouse on the arm of the rocking chair.<br />
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A pain in the butt.<br />
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We don't have a laptop and it's very hard to "text" a blog post from my phone or tablet. A couple of weeks ago, I decided that I needed to move the computer to the table we have in the dining room that we NEVER use. I have always hesitated because it's not a dining table but an air hockey table and I knew the minute I moved the computer the kids would holler they wanted to play air hockey.<br />
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They haven't. Knock on wood. As a matter of fact, they have used the computer more on the table because it is easier to use. And I was hoping with it easier to get to, I would take the time to use it more, even though I spend all day long looking at a screen at work. <br />
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So here I am. And a lot changes in two years. <br />
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Let's just say I don't miss high school drama. <br />
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Shane is almost 18, a senior in high school with his license, his own truck and a job. He is involved with graphics communications and archery at school and love both. He qualified for the state and national archery tournament last year. He attended a graphics communication competition in North Carolina last year and his teacher has already tapped him and the girl who went with them to attend again this year. He's applying for scholarships and I have a meeting tomorrow night about college information. <br />
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Krista is almost 17, a junior with her driver's permit, her own car and a job. She is still involved with orchestra and has a long term boyfriend. She is already thinking about her senior year and is already receiving packets from colleges.<br />
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Ty is almost 15, a sophomore and jealous of the license/permit, cars and jobs. He is very involved in marching band at the moment and still plays his violin. He is also paying attention to his future and changed his schedule around this year to make his next two years a little easier on himself. <br />
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I am amazed at how big these kids have gotten (they are all 3 taller than I am). I am proud of the young adults they are becoming. <br />
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So really all I can do at this point is sum up the last two years. The kids have grown, achieved milestones, and are looking forward to moving out and up on their own two feet. Chris and I are loving them, guiding them, trying to catch as much time with them as we can while wondering what's gonna happen when everyone moves on. We will graduate a kid each year for the next three years and send them out into the real world. <br />
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Does time really have to move so fast?ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-34927406195021186152013-02-04T07:11:00.001-06:002013-02-04T07:11:39.125-06:00A Monster and a DanceNot too long ago, Chris and I were catching up on Criminal Minds after borrowing seasons 1-3 from a girl I work with. During one of the episodes, the evil guy was a man who had been burned in a fire. Towards the end of the episode, Ty came in to tell us good night on his way to bed. A short time later, I went to his room to make sure there were no electronics in his bed. He says he's scared of the dark again. So I ask "Why?" He points and I turn and look and ask him, "What?" He points again. "I don't see anything," I told him. <br />
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Finally he says it. "That show. That burned guy." So I explained it like I always do. It's a show. It's make up. It's nothing to be scared of. He knows all this of course. So the next morning I go to make his bed. I moved his pillows to the floor and find a flashlight, Swiss Army knife and an air soft gun laying where his pillows were. Guess he was just going to be prepared. <br />
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Krista and a few of her friends attended the 8th grade winter formal a couple of weeks back. One of her friends came to the house after school, Krista did both their hair, and they decided I be fashionably late to the dance. They had the best time and looked absolutely beautiful. They looked so grown up!<br />
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I had Chris take a picture of me and the kids after telling a friend of mine just how tall Shane has gotten. At 15, his is now 6'2" and doesn't seem to be done yet. They definitely aren't my babies anymore. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVm-CSx3n6lbvzwObH0sPURfJ18usnbHdd70p9zIoxda117y4fdYBSJa1KT_Qf9HlNvbRAF36uD7Ce-2gUwBhSqkMBuxjHiX8Zk-7oQp2PpQ-C96_9Mwce2ns07oCj08xH3Y0bZ94aoaA/s640/blogger-image--1689163522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVm-CSx3n6lbvzwObH0sPURfJ18usnbHdd70p9zIoxda117y4fdYBSJa1KT_Qf9HlNvbRAF36uD7Ce-2gUwBhSqkMBuxjHiX8Zk-7oQp2PpQ-C96_9Mwce2ns07oCj08xH3Y0bZ94aoaA/s640/blogger-image--1689163522.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp1eO298J4S4p4u2lUIP9cWb9lR9Pyj9DVfhcX-EDNhIQQpjgpe4PNof8TVNlcJZvfY9Uy145qdL-MxKfkGtEkNPUD3O2gKDmPrrE-gUPaLvNiUdYRyHAb43pEzPMYUmEPpjaYo06cokI/s640/blogger-image-835174022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTp1eO298J4S4p4u2lUIP9cWb9lR9Pyj9DVfhcX-EDNhIQQpjgpe4PNof8TVNlcJZvfY9Uy145qdL-MxKfkGtEkNPUD3O2gKDmPrrE-gUPaLvNiUdYRyHAb43pEzPMYUmEPpjaYo06cokI/s640/blogger-image-835174022.jpg" /></a></div>ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-39854973458614318362013-01-02T21:07:00.000-06:002013-01-02T21:07:41.552-06:00Time Marches OnAnd on. And on. And on. <br />
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I have neglected my blog. And I am so sorry. <br />
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It seems no matter how hard I try, how many goals I set, how many routines I create, I just can't seem to find the time to do everything I want and need to do. My book list? On hold. My tv shows that I couldn't live without? I haven't seen since the second weeks episode and some I didn't even get to finish from last season. <br />
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But life keeps moving and moving fast. I have spent the entire day trying to remember to write January on my paperwork. It's 2013. My kids are growing up and maturing into young adults. Weren't they just toddlers yesterday?<br />
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I am going to attempt to update to the best of my ability, but my memory isn't always the most reliable. We have officially moved to Indiana. The kids came up with Chris the end of May and I followed in August. I have found a job that I enjoy working for a local trucking company in their accounting department. The kids have been enrolled in new schools and seem to be adjusting well. Shane is now a freshman in high school and turned 15 this past October. He is officially killing me at 6'2" and still growing. Krista is an 8th grader and turned 14 in October, too. I believe she has finally almost finished at 5'5". Ty is a 7th grader and turned 12 in September. He is so close to 5' tall he can taste it.<br />
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We moved to Indiana when the terminal Chris worked at was shuttered and he was left to find a new job or relocated. So he relocated. Not too long ago, he got the opportunity to apply for one of the local plants here and was offered the job. We felt at the time that it was the best decision for our family. Turns out we couldn't have been more right. The yard that he transferred to in February has merged with another yard not an hour away.<br />
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He would've been without a job next week.<br />
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Words cannot say how lucky we are in that instance. <br />
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I lost my favorite uncle not long after moving up here. Our last banter was on my birthday when he had mom wish me a happy birthday and tell me that I'm getting old. So I had her relay that no matter how old I get, he will always be older than me. I never got his come back. Less than a month later he was gone. <br />
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We have been home three times since I came up in August. Leaving to come home has not gotten any easier. Mom and Dad are still very upset when we leave, even though we are only 2 1/2 hours away. I'm hoping time can ease their pain. <br />
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My baby brother got married the week before Christmas. Oh. My. Gosh. I am very happy for him and his new wife. They have been together a while and very good for each other I think.<br />
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This post is much shorter than I wish it was considering I haven't been here the past few months. I do have a couple of other topics in mind but those are for another day. For now, I am going to enjoy the quiet and get ready for another work day. ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-25925182381541601332012-03-21T22:36:00.002-05:002012-03-21T22:37:12.115-05:00ImpatientPatience is not my strong suit. No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to find a hint that I have any at all. Right now is when it is at its worst. I want my children to stop arguing at the drop of a hat. I want to have my house ready to list on the market. I want to be able to move and live with my husband full time. I am tired of being a single mother and want my husband there to help ease part of the load. I am ready for my life to become stable and settle into routine. I don't like uncertainty!
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Things are moving at work. They have hired my replacement even though she hasn't started yet. The news of my leaving is slowly spreading through our customers. I received an email this morning telling me I can't leave. At least I know I'll be missed!
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And these kids! Bryce has grown another inch since Christmas! He's over 5'10" inches now. Someone please make him stop. It's bad enough that I have to look up to him but to have to step back and look up? That's just too much! Belle is now over 5'4" and Brady is just over 4'10". They are steadily growing up and it won't be long before I have to look up to my baby. I have tried EVERYTHING in my power to make them slow down and they just won't listen!
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Bryce and Brady went to a concert a couple of weeks ago in which they had to dress nice in ties so I had to take pictures.
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I couldn't believe the difference between Bryce and Brady even though there is 3 years difference between them! I guess I am so used to seeing Belle sandwiched in that when I finally stop and look I'm stunned to see so much distance between them. It won't last long since Brady is determined to catch up!</div>
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I have been working on this post for a week now, trying to find time to remember to post my pictures when I get home from work. Now that I have managed to do that I find it well past my bedtime. Until next time!</div>ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-1044556918342295022012-02-14T19:04:00.001-06:002012-02-14T19:04:35.066-06:00From Hubs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From my darling Hubby on Valentine's Day! He definitely surprised me from far away!</div>ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-85692035182113938442012-02-02T16:54:00.001-06:002012-02-02T16:54:45.648-06:00DecidedWell the decision has been made and we have finally determined where we are going to end up in the near future. <br />
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Indiana.<br />
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Hubs and I went over and over our options and then went over them again. His current company has a location in Southern Indiana that he could transfer to or he could take a job with one of the last companies he worked for that would allow him to be home most nights, but again it would require us to move to Indiana. So he is transferring to the Indiana hub. He reports to work there on Monday and we will be following him during the summer so the kids can finish their school year here.<br />
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So that means we are working on the house. So far I have been peeling some serious wallpaper and just for the record? Whoever hung the wallpaper in my house should be drug out into the street and shot.<br />
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Just saying.<br />
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While the laundry room wallpaper is coming off and leaving behind a <strike>nice</strike> maroon paint behind (entirely too dark for the size of the room especially since it has no windows), the kitchen wallpaper was applied on top of wallpaper. The wallpaper that is behind it was literally glued to the wallboard so that stuff is not coming off without redoing the sheetrock and that is NOT going to happen. So we will be wallpapering the kitchen again, albeit with a different paper that can be painted to give the room a nice effect. <br />
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Whew. I'm tired just thinking about it.<br />
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I have also been looking at houses in the hopes that we will be able to sell our house quickly. Naive? Yes, but I definitely hope for it. I have found one house that Hubs and I both agree we LIKE. It has land, located in good school districts and is a style that we both agree on. So rare! Unfortunately, one drawback is that the schools do not offer an orchestra program for Belle and Brady. Brady has picked up the trumpet recently so he will have no problem moving over into band, but Belle has not played a band instrument. She has shown interest in the clarinet and I hope reading music will be enough edge for her to start out. We shall see.<br />
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So much uncertainty! I hate it! And not only am I dealing with uncertainty but I am also dealing with a husband who is acting out because of the changes. He is still hesitant about moving, despite the fact he starts his job so soon, but he also doesn't want to leave home now that he has been home so long, and I don't blame him for that. However, if I could get him to understand that if he could help more with getting the house in order to sell that it will be sooner for us to be up there with him. Men can be so hard headed!<br />
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Time for me to move on to bigger and better things. I mean like laundry. And dishes. Yeah those things. More on our upcoming move as details emerge, I promise. Until then...ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-31219619081342133622012-01-24T21:13:00.000-06:002012-01-24T21:13:08.683-06:00Proud MomNot too long ago, Belle came in with paperwork that she wanted me to fill out. She wasn't completely sure what it was, just knew that she had been nominated for something and that she wanted to be a part of it. She had been "chosen" to join the Duke Talent Search program which would allow to her take the ACT any time between now and her sophomore year. There was no way we were NOT going to allow her to do this and the fact she wanted to made it that much more important for us to sign her up. She went last month and took the ACT for the first time at 13 years old. By that point she was hesitant. None of her friends were going to be there. It was being taken at the high school with the high school kids. Because it was at the high school, I took her in, signed her in and walked her to her classroom. When it was over, I was waiting in the parking lot for her and she was completely unsure of how she had done. Said there was so many questions that she had no idea about. Scores came in the mail last week and...<br />16!!<br />
<br />We are so very proud of her!ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-76288724045724947672012-01-10T16:28:00.000-06:002012-01-10T16:28:51.346-06:00Winter BluesIt seems I get at least a touch of them every year and this year is no different.<br />
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And I hate it.<br />
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I crave sunlight and fresh air to clear my head. To get outside and move around and not feel confined by the walls crowding in on me. I know that if I am suffering from it that my family must be, too, but it's hard to remember that at 6am when the boys are arguing (again!!!) and Belle is arguing with every word I say.<br />
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Did you know the sky isn't blue? If I say it is then it must not be true because according to Belle everything that I say is wrong. Up is down and left is right and rightiswrongandohmygoshchildstop TALKING OVER ME AND LISTEN...<br />
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And then I feel bad, because it's not their fault. I know it is just the time of year and add a bit of hormones and a touch of uncertainty and I get this tangle of emotions that I struggle to control. Tears flow easily for no reason at all it seems. Not only am I fighting every waking hour to keep control but my unconscious is fighting me, too. Dreams that linger long after I wake, tears flowing from the cruelty I inflict upon my self . Then I put my mask on and go to work and hope it doesn't crack until I can get to bed again. Tomorrow's another day right?<br />
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Hurry, spring, hurry! My family needs you!ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-13499567114977095092012-01-02T19:57:00.001-06:002012-01-02T19:57:36.242-06:00Your ChildHubs and I have a running thing about "your" child. Usually "your" child shows up whenever one of them have done something they shouldn't have but occasionally it is a true example of the child we used to be. I saw Hubs in Brady not too long ago. <br />
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The kids have figured out that empty water bottles are excellent for shooting lids across a room, especially Brady. He takes pride in stalling when he's told to throw them out to show me his excellent "shooting" skills. This particular afternoon was no different. He grabbed the bottle, loosened the cap, and paused. You could see the gears turning in his mind. He was thinking. Hard.<br />
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Callie was sitting only four feet in front of him, a distance he knew he could easily make. <br />
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You could see the horns growing out the top of his head. You could see Hubs take form sitting there on the floor.<br />
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"Don't even think about it!" stopped him in his tracks. Busted! The bottle quickly made its way to the trash.<br />
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As I told the story to Hubs that night, he didn't deny that child. The same guilty, pleased grin crept across his face. The apple certainly didn't fall far from the tree.ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-35508216879890309832012-01-01T20:27:00.002-06:002012-01-01T20:27:37.236-06:00New Year, New Ideas, New PostI hate resolutions. For some it is a yearly challenge to choose resolutions and stick with them as long as possible. For me? It is something for me to forget that I had meant to do after a couple of days. So I don't even bother to make any. However, that doesn't mean I don't have intentions during the year to change things in my life. It does seem that I have a lot of those intentions at the beginning of the year. Today is no different. So to start the new year, I am going to attempt to start off on the right foot with a couple of different things. I failed to start off eating better. I've had more caffeine and sugar than I need. I haven't exercised today so that knocks that out of the water, too. And I have definitely lost my cool over a couple of minor things that I wish I hadn't have done. But what's done is done and I have to learn from my mistakes. I will blog, in the hopes that maybe by doing something I would like to improve on, that maybe, just maybe, something else will fall in line tomorrow. We will see what happens.<br />
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Tomorrow I return to work after being off for the last week on vacation.<br />
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I. Really. Don't. Want. To. Go. Back.<br />
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Really.<br />
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Really.<br />
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Don't.<br />
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I spent the last week catching up on my laundry, spending time with my family at Christmas, un-decorating the tree, straightening up my laundry room, playing Band Hero with all three kids, playing Scrabble with Belle and Brady, working on a puzzle with Belle and Brady, taking the kids to the park (even though we left shortly after we got there because Brady wasn't feeling well), and I attempted to take them to the library but unfortunately for us, the day I took them, they were closed. Oh well. Next time. I remember now what it's like being a stay at home mom. To be able to do what I need to when I need to and spend some quality time with the kids. I'm sure if I had taken my vacation on a week when the kids were in school, I would remember how bored I got because I can only do so much housework before I'm ready to stop. Needless to say, I enjoyed my time off and am not ready to get back into the swing of working just yet. Oh to have one more week!<br />
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Hubs and I are still weighing our options on his job situation. We have been back and forth on the spectrum about moving and staying home. Find a new job or transfer in the company. Move the kids or let them finish school where they are. So many decisions to make! The kids are aware of the choices that we are facing and for now are excited at the prospect of moving. Hubs, however, isn't so sure it is a good idea, having made the same move at the same age Bryce is now. Difference is we have three kids who are ready to move on to bigger and better things and meet new people where Hubs didn't want to leave his friends and family. Oh how things have changed!<br />
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I find it time for me to collect my things and get ready for bed. Work is going to come really early in the morning as much as I hate to go back! So a question for those who occasionally stop by...<br />
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Do you make resolutions? What have you made? Any recommendations on how to stick with the things I would like to improve? I would love to hear from you! <br />
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Happy New Year to all my readers and may 2012 be a great year to you!ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-78887163194866442882011-11-13T21:01:00.000-06:002011-11-13T21:08:24.215-06:00So Many Milestones!When I went back to work, I never dreamed how hard it would be for me to get motivated to do even the smallest of tasks. There are days that I am constantly on the go, doing laundry, running the kids, washing dishes, and still don't have enough hours in the day. Then there are the days that I don't want to get out of the bed, don't want to go to work, don't want to do laundry or dishes and want to go to bed as soon as I can possibly get the kids in theirs. I fluctuate between those extremes fairly often and it's such a disappointment, especially when I am ready for bed at 8pm. It interferes with my me time! Like for blogging! And Words with Friends! I have seriously cut back on my facebook time as of late simply because it doesn't interest me. I may glance through it but after a couple of minutes I'm caught up and on to bigger and better things. Usually sleep.<br />School is going well for the kids. Football season is over and Brady has now moved on to basketball. He also turned 11 a few weeks back. My baby is 11!!<br />
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When did this happen?? Wasn't he just a baby in my arms yesterday? And I love the little bits that he has to share with me. Like when he told me today he weighed 70 pounds without his head. I prefer he weigh the full 80 pounds. He decided a few weeks back that he also wanted to join band and play trumpet. His closest friends have decided to join band and he wanted to be a part of that group too. So a trumpet player he is trying to become. </div>
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He came home from school one afternoon and informed me he wanted to be Johnny Appleseed for Halloween. I didn't argue. I think he made a fine choice. </div>
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Belle has been doing well in school, is on the school news team and seems to have fun each day. She tried out for basketball, made the 7th grade team and just this past week turned in her jerseys. There are people who are made for coaching and people who aren't and her coach was not made for coaching in my opinion. There is a difference between coaching and bullying and her coach crossed that line, again, in my opinion. So she decided that it wasn't for her right now and I support her decision no matter how much it breaks our hearts (mine especially!). She became a teenager a couple of weeks back. </div>
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She was certainly ready for the challenge. I think she's been ready to be a teenager since she was 8. She informed me that she wanted me to make her a blanket and I have spent the last couple of days working on it. Yet another thing that has been keeping me busy. </div>
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Bryce is doing well in school. He will be attending All-District for band tomorrow and Quad State in a couple of weeks, huge accomplishments for this area. He turned 14 the day after Belle turned 13.</div>
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He is shaving now. I know. He was just a baby not too long ago. I distinctly remember holding him and wondering how I was going to take care of him, he was so little. Now he's over 5'9". Not so little anymore. </div>
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The new company Hubs is working for held a conference call for all of their drivers Thursday of last week. A half hour later I received a tweet from the local news station that his employer was announcing the closing of the terminal he is working out of. His new job, his dream job, is now on the line as they are closing the doors in the spring cutting 240 jobs. Not all of the employees knew when the story broke nor had the drivers had time to tell the families. That tweet was how I found out my husband was losing his job. While there will be a handful of drivers in the area, the majority of them will have to relocate or find other jobs in an area where there are really no good jobs to be had. The possible few local jobs that will be left will be subject to a wage change and will not be paid as well. We are seriously, seriously, seriously considering relocating. So much so that we are both going through the motions to see what we need to do to be ready. What does the house need done to sell? Where are there jobs within his company that are available? Making sure the areas we look at have good schools for the kids. I hate the uncertainty. I hate the idea of moving the kids from their schools but when it comes to being able to provide for their basic needs, there isn't much of a choice. It was me who initially said maybe we should go somewhere else. It is never me who says lets get out of this town. </div>
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I think it's time for me to update my Words with Friends games, put my dogs out for one last time and get some sleep. Oh to not be so tired!</div>ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-38823846176540411422011-09-06T21:37:00.001-05:002011-09-06T21:37:22.086-05:00OK So I LiedI think one of the reasons I have really slowed down on my blogging is simply because I simply cannot get back into it no matter how hard I try. And I do try. I feel as though I write and there is no one out there to hear what I say because honestly there isn't anymore. Not that I had many followers when I was writing but now I really have none. <br />
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Anyhoo. Obligatory first day of school picture of my 6th, 7th and 8th graders:<br />
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I know. They're entirely too big for their own good. Brady had his first football game this past Saturday:</div>
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That scrawny little number 2? That's my son trying to block a kid who was almost double his size in pads. <br />
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I gave Belle a lesson in friendship bracelets a couple of weekends ago:<br />
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I can't tell you how many of these I made or how many hours I spent working on the next one. Belle has my want when it comes to making something but her daddy's impatience when it comes to finishing it. This one? Ended up being a ring because she got bored. The next one she made actually made it all the way to completion but only because she was making it for a friends birthday. I do know that she has one that she has started and that's as far as it's made it. It has been moved from her purse to her room to her purse but hasn't had any progress made on it at all. <br />
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Next pictures of four of the cats eyeballing a moth at the end of the hallway:<br />
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Sebastian is the one who finally won the prize when the moth came too close to his huge paws. Ginger is a HUGE fan of the dryer:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fR_Rv7kiYgYBEceqs0OA7TdQ4nssxmr-QdR3H6UpTDcswl5DXfHqn5uFut3NsC288G9GMYO-zfZrKMMckpFqVUrJiHm5lTN6EKBdp2hAPrxEOi3Fm2KexS9mxWMqYZV2Rncsp58kRzYu/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fR_Rv7kiYgYBEceqs0OA7TdQ4nssxmr-QdR3H6UpTDcswl5DXfHqn5uFut3NsC288G9GMYO-zfZrKMMckpFqVUrJiHm5lTN6EKBdp2hAPrxEOi3Fm2KexS9mxWMqYZV2Rncsp58kRzYu/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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That is one of her most favorite places in the house, especially if I am folding laundry. She loves to try and catch what I pull out. <br />
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Lately my life has been a lot about cleaning. I have cleaned my kitchen, washed down cabinets, washed windows, cleaned dishes and ceiling fans. For the most part, I've been keeping up with it and for me that is amazing. I'm not one who likes to do the dishes immediately after supper. I just finished cooking it. I want time to relax before I clean it up. Also? I have made all four beds the majority of the last 4 weeks. Awesome! And yes I make the kids beds simply because they get up at 6am, eat breakfast before they catch the bus in addition to getting ready and only have about 45 minutes to get it all done so I don't mind making their beds if it means I don't have to drive them to school. I have been slowly working on my living room. My windows are clean, curtains are clean, picture frames are clean. I even dusted! My goal is to finish cleaning off my desk and I will be happy with the progress I've made. The catch will be how long it actually lasts before it goes back to normal and if I can get the rest of the house picked up before it reaches that point. That is my goal! To have all of my house clean at the same time! <br />
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Now that I have bored you with my mindless dribble, my accomplishments tonight. A blog post and a clean desk. Very, very cool. </div>
ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-44845673675596041582011-08-03T20:11:00.000-05:002011-08-03T20:11:40.298-05:00It's Almost That Time of Year! Again!Today is the last day of the kids summer vacation. They are definitely ready judging by the number of arguments and short tempers that I've seen over the last couple of weeks. Belle is beyond excited to be starting middle school. I was just listening to her sing about tomorrow being the first day of school. Bryce is really indifferent about moving up to 8th grade and I think Brady is excited to have the elementary school to himself. They have their school supplies bought, separated and labeled ready to get on the bus in the morning. And it has to be the bus because it isn't cool to have Mom drop us off anymore. At least until it's not cool to ride the bus and they want rides full time. That's when I will have to remind them, "Remember that time you started school in 2011 and didn't want me to take you to school???" Yes, I am that parent. And then I will drive them to school if I am able to because that's what my mom did for me.<br />
Also Bryce has grown almost a full inch in the six weeks. No matter how hard I try, the boy will just not stop growing! I would really like to be able to see over the top of his head again without having to stand on a stool. I just cut his hair and had to make him sit down in a chair just so I could make sure I didn't miss a spot. It's just so unfair!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo9t3hU5aMph8jG7kxQFguK0Y6CWQkWLJTopK8CMLUP8yT0eSGN8wZGQ2zy3beVjHPQPmDinvtrOJ4vKVREs_HvDLvQYJ4rlfFgNXMPfMD4pMH673o9_-8PzBUbLkxKzpcjYySmVX8Sm9/s1600/Photo08031908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo9t3hU5aMph8jG7kxQFguK0Y6CWQkWLJTopK8CMLUP8yT0eSGN8wZGQ2zy3beVjHPQPmDinvtrOJ4vKVREs_HvDLvQYJ4rlfFgNXMPfMD4pMH673o9_-8PzBUbLkxKzpcjYySmVX8Sm9/s320/Photo08031908.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I have not mentioned how insanely hot it is here. Belle took that picture in my car tonight at 7PM! At 5pm it was reading 103. I don't even want to think what it registered earlier in the day. This is one of the times that I am very grateful that I work in an office. <br />
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Today is one of the days that I am glad I work in such a small office. Hubs truck broke down last week and I have been running to the next town to pick him up and drop him off. We leave around 2:30am to drop him off, I return about 4:30am and then attempt to get a little more sleep before getting up again, then I would go back and get him when I got off on the days he came home. Today, my boss's son was in the next town and only a couple of miles from where Hubby parks his truck. I called Little Bossman and requested he pick up my husband since he would be finishing up his last job of the day around 2, Hubs was already in town and I didn't get off until 5. He gladly did so and even took him home when he got to town! Loved it! Made our evening a lot easier and he got to bed a lot earlier because of it. Some days I love my job!<br />
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Very short post from me today, but unfortunately I have "homework." With school starting tomorrow, I have two kids worth of paperwork to fill out in order for them to be able to start school. I am almost as impatient as they are, just waiting to hear about their first day. Almost.ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-46980093105447446162011-07-20T20:18:00.000-05:002011-07-20T20:18:52.774-05:00I've Been Called Out!A dear blogging friend called me out a couple of days ago on Facebook for not blogging as much. I admit I am guilty as charged. I haven't been blogging and I have no real excuse. Or I could make excuses all day long but it still wouldn't change the fact that I haven't blogged. And they are really thin excuses.<br />
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Work is busy. Spring and summer are always busy times during the pest control season what can I say. I am still clocking 45 hours most weeks and the weeks I'm not doctor appointments and such has taken the place of work hours. The kids are definitely keeping busy. Since the beginning of May we have sent them on school trips to Holiday World, strings camp, birthday parties, and softball practices and games. Bryce and Belle play on a youth level softball team while Brady plays on the younger youth team. Since Brady will be 11 in September, he also has the opportunity to play "up" on Bryce and Belle's team so he actually plays on two teams this summer. He has been in for his 6th grade physical and his back to school night is next week. Bryce picks his schedule up next week for 8th grade. Belle registers for 7th grade August 1st. As if this isn't enough we have softball practices Wednesday evenings and just last week we found ourselves with four games in three days. Even with Hubs taking a local job, he is still up and gone by 3am so he is usually ready for bed if not in bed no later than 8pm so most of the running for the kids falls to me. I feel like I am constantly going somewhere. <br />
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Earlier in the spring, we took the kids for eye exams and new glasses.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW8O0csXJp3NxToRYxh-LSEg0TGF5VYXuw8-Pr6oK2UcO6F7NRO3XFRL0x6AmK6KKmueV6ZRaDeuL7tlihsp3PAm9cYG1mX02ooYWjEeHFtEpw0zgqMoUdD9OM7knyegNqGWTBOmOZ4Fc/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW8O0csXJp3NxToRYxh-LSEg0TGF5VYXuw8-Pr6oK2UcO6F7NRO3XFRL0x6AmK6KKmueV6ZRaDeuL7tlihsp3PAm9cYG1mX02ooYWjEeHFtEpw0zgqMoUdD9OM7knyegNqGWTBOmOZ4Fc/s320/154.JPG" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62FnhWoe1mSaEbM2LjnziG613a7TWoTxXZAMGLjqnRfVVmEkLkQNlneNguB0PFynqLE1FLPicL2TJJMfOKhog85l68ueuPeKU_np1b4gYSf4Cm-NdyubB0I5VKtIVEzbjivOXJE4vrazj/s1600/151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62FnhWoe1mSaEbM2LjnziG613a7TWoTxXZAMGLjqnRfVVmEkLkQNlneNguB0PFynqLE1FLPicL2TJJMfOKhog85l68ueuPeKU_np1b4gYSf4Cm-NdyubB0I5VKtIVEzbjivOXJE4vrazj/s320/151.JPG" width="214" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhk2-trHsLRrTX3wDe5dvbaYst9lcg__cX-PCyn66AacXaH4_WI055jIDZDYeMU2WAM1NxSq6TnBsbDZ22AjJY5R4O5OILB5SCb_8WOZcR_iY0zpOYKWE939KV056EPk4WP_7XMstWpCX/s320/149.JPG" width="214" /></div>I was afraid Brady would get his and decide he absolutely hated them because they are very blue. I was also afraid of the teasing he might endure because they are so blue. Fortunately all I have heard about is the compliments he's received on them and so far they have lasted longer than the last pair of glasses he had knock on wood. What you don't see in these pictures is that I have also been given glasses for the first time in my life. Turns out my time on my computer has been affecting my eyes and left me with blurry vision especially when working. I don't believe there are any pictures with my glasses as of yet and don't expect there to be any time soon. Darn!<br />
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I could probably tell you mounds of stories about the kids and their softball days. Belle is moving between 1st and 2nd bases and loves both positions. Bryce usually plays 3rd and loves it as well. Brady ends up playing catcher or in the outfield since he is smaller and not as experienced on the larger field. Brady was ecstatic last week to get a "home run" last week. Because of many errors made by the other team, he was able to run each base before they stopped trying to tag him out. He rounded the gate grinning ear to ear and bouncing. For the first time all season, he finally felt big enough to run with the other kids.<br />
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The cats are growing like weeds. They absolutely love open windows, paper wads and chasing each other up and down the hallway. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyscCpjxL45n4JDxdGO1MX-RNrfeap0EyJh9jyU201RrGiPEEnuKvWygBpCnP38luRdZ3McVjYyviHaKhJf5qXIIGgAF0it_5AxbAmQ3IL5enkkh8F4IwKvhBhxPUsZrziJ33TY9Y9MAm/s1600/136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyscCpjxL45n4JDxdGO1MX-RNrfeap0EyJh9jyU201RrGiPEEnuKvWygBpCnP38luRdZ3McVjYyviHaKhJf5qXIIGgAF0it_5AxbAmQ3IL5enkkh8F4IwKvhBhxPUsZrziJ33TY9Y9MAm/s320/136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrhkhgLLKDTbYjX5lwLzApSBRO6-_hahH3C6wo3LzHu934KFFgBR12DXxKUzf43tmSfedqVWaFxFarN4-PbEMfYsSROn94-HHJD4zLsuct1zUdsvSt6au0o50itxFkkoOV4Dfl7vvWzdN/s1600/226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrhkhgLLKDTbYjX5lwLzApSBRO6-_hahH3C6wo3LzHu934KFFgBR12DXxKUzf43tmSfedqVWaFxFarN4-PbEMfYsSROn94-HHJD4zLsuct1zUdsvSt6au0o50itxFkkoOV4Dfl7vvWzdN/s320/226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNNuE7SvynUGGWerM6AOQhVnTnCEK73cShpg5lS9ItdqAJCBWfYQ7rJpchtUcRqhSTVRlaCFeaQM5bLKIYG8lC3SdqZ0EHdSDFHw6jRdhxFuiQsxlm4HQFiC1fI6ByN0-le4-ZTScsMXZ/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNNuE7SvynUGGWerM6AOQhVnTnCEK73cShpg5lS9ItdqAJCBWfYQ7rJpchtUcRqhSTVRlaCFeaQM5bLKIYG8lC3SdqZ0EHdSDFHw6jRdhxFuiQsxlm4HQFiC1fI6ByN0-le4-ZTScsMXZ/s320/142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I don't have any updated pictures of the dogs as of yet. That will be on my list of things to do for my next blog.<br />
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Things around the house hasn't changed much either. We don't get to church as often as we should. I have been kicking myself lately for this but I can't seem to get motivated. I can sit here all week long and think that I really need to get to the next service but Sunday rolls around and. Nothing. Don't know what it is that is holding me back. And it is totally me. Hubs can get up on Sunday morning and ask me if we are going and my response? A shrug. I just don't know. Just something that is really heavy on my heart and mind as of late and something I just can't seem to remedy no matter how hard I try. Something I've been trying to work on and will continue to work on.<br />
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Now I must finish some work I brought home from the office. Janjanmom, I am expecting you to call me out again if I haven't blogged again soon!ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-12198704868136206002011-05-02T17:15:00.012-05:002011-05-02T17:15:00.247-05:00VariousI need more time in the day I think (proof would be that I started this particular entry over a week ago). Or at least I need more energy. And a better memory. I have been meaning to update more from my time off and it seems time keeps getting away from me so here is a very, very quick rundown.<br />
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For Christmas, Hubs bought me this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4OGwyJJWlqIVG3jLxy4z8gDomE4D2-H-bU-Dp5zVPhk-wux5rjiA93fVckoT6KszKn10ihvuxF7bPh_7_XxcrOEUdNsKvC0vDt0RVP84JQJkf7nPxtENcPu7oDmvU4rczofY19yY4_p5/s1600/Camera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4OGwyJJWlqIVG3jLxy4z8gDomE4D2-H-bU-Dp5zVPhk-wux5rjiA93fVckoT6KszKn10ihvuxF7bPh_7_XxcrOEUdNsKvC0vDt0RVP84JQJkf7nPxtENcPu7oDmvU4rczofY19yY4_p5/s1600/Camera.jpg" /></a></div>And I love it! My Christmas photos, the critter photos and any of the recent kids photos were taken with this camera. I just wish I had more time to play with it. And that I could remember to take it on days I really intended on taking it! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border: medium none;">For our anniversary/Christmas gift, he bought me this:</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrKPpH8b_VsBCjJ8Xpszq_G0VUJftD-S9jJLux1_xnP45j5Z90RndQYniDVonMEDvso5HaAZcvbFwrn3-KOSWPKtlYZ9t_ROdVCZ97p_GbtDa_-ZIdWs9WMJw3pMjPiHz8rkiNMlL_6YV/s1600/263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJrKPpH8b_VsBCjJ8Xpszq_G0VUJftD-S9jJLux1_xnP45j5Z90RndQYniDVonMEDvso5HaAZcvbFwrn3-KOSWPKtlYZ9t_ROdVCZ97p_GbtDa_-ZIdWs9WMJw3pMjPiHz8rkiNMlL_6YV/s320/263.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">He knew that I had been looking for the last 5 years or so for the perfect (for me) set. While the ring he put on my finger 14 years ago will always be special to me, I wanted a set that I absolutely loved, one that I knew would be my final set. I found this one a little over a year ago and fell in love with it. I sat back and watch and waited, hoping that it would be brought out in a smaller version but it never was. He surprised me with it just before our anniversary. I was ecstatic. I've been wearing them 6 months now and they still catch me by surprise.</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We have managed to cruise through the last couple of months fairly easily. Belle and Brady finished their basketball seasons. Unfortunately Belle didn't make the spring league for the middle school which was very disappointing. We have three weeks of school left and I will have two kids in junior high and one in sixth grade. Where does all this time go? And who decided it needed to move so fast? Bryce is 5'6" at 13 years old. Belle is 5'2" at 12. Both of them are now taller than I am. So. Un. Fair. </div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">May is determined to keep us busy. We have a strings pizza party for Belle and Brady for practicing, a strings party for Belle for graduating out of the elementary school strings program, a trip to Holiday World for all three kids (on the same day wooohoooo) for their end of the year celebration, and a strings camp for Belle and Brady, which Hubs has agreed to chaperone. </div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I hate how much I haven't blogged over the last year. I feel like there is so much I'm going to forget by not writing it down and sharing. Hopefully that will change over the next few weeks, or at least that's my intention. Hopefully I will be back later this week with more pictures.</div>ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-24538578421760950012011-02-07T21:04:00.000-06:002011-02-07T21:04:58.488-06:00More Pictures<div style="text-align: center;"><a border="0" h5="true" height="320" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuhK5I-s3vbhSXyjxWG_XG_Ygmz_7cpUCjqiLxaY_EytPBQ0zvXzmcamTtxEWnsjifiDx2br2GxhKiocmd3KJIx4bKxUcY9jAiY2OeZj0NpOFeEWUg-ORMQO6tY8udQ_dApHY4_CIiILL/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuhK5I-s3vbhSXyjxWG_XG_Ygmz_7cpUCjqiLxaY_EytPBQ0zvXzmcamTtxEWnsjifiDx2br2GxhKiocmd3KJIx4bKxUcY9jAiY2OeZj0NpOFeEWUg-ORMQO6tY8udQ_dApHY4_CIiILL/s320/095.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" width="214"><img=""></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEoUYxN3Ai_Ugy6WD14i1SmiRT9ro1h4IV_2RKl9qCKdbuhztEz8kAXAPNNy7ve7XslUypwvHYsWKJ9v_k-zDrrX9ldtSuSSRkJkDfKvVbR6mXlzWtkTWGSrqPQmCQCtc5oy2vvYS0A-S/s1600/100-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEoUYxN3Ai_Ugy6WD14i1SmiRT9ro1h4IV_2RKl9qCKdbuhztEz8kAXAPNNy7ve7XslUypwvHYsWKJ9v_k-zDrrX9ldtSuSSRkJkDfKvVbR6mXlzWtkTWGSrqPQmCQCtc5oy2vvYS0A-S/s320/100-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Building a snowman</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6VZx422XatCd0-x5ib0m6q3hbCcBsaX-VdXVJvofl8ykAn5NWpe-lDos5BRPfYkCA5A8GzYg-kJuRZvQCA8itR2zRrH7AiPD-_smgSqMIkMaRNjRyi1hdPqJvTt7mHBUWVJGIMLGfpPA/s1600/107-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6VZx422XatCd0-x5ib0m6q3hbCcBsaX-VdXVJvofl8ykAn5NWpe-lDos5BRPfYkCA5A8GzYg-kJuRZvQCA8itR2zRrH7AiPD-_smgSqMIkMaRNjRyi1hdPqJvTt7mHBUWVJGIMLGfpPA/s320/107-1.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Working hard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3fscG5PDtc0pg2kV4xDhuVhPNT7-rjMLFmQFB3YQMaNnWLGfm6ZmYc7jQ1LJ4njUZCQQ9QVfaDv8tDlgpdu7wjgV8Idc80pbFGR4ioE5kLZv-MF0IYiiovu9zx684o3gF-ud6_RzhtQm/s1600/118-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3fscG5PDtc0pg2kV4xDhuVhPNT7-rjMLFmQFB3YQMaNnWLGfm6ZmYc7jQ1LJ4njUZCQQ9QVfaDv8tDlgpdu7wjgV8Idc80pbFGR4ioE5kLZv-MF0IYiiovu9zx684o3gF-ud6_RzhtQm/s320/118-1.JPG" width="168" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gotta make a snowball</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoO-hnwnDSZgqqamIJi5DxOWxcp2lGoZyAkM73NDss3oHDH1mQulqySCOoL3hgxA3v03-WnjSTtwTd6MAfn8iEn8Bvo1CZEGuESR3hw1LZO6sMhhN0u4ZkfNzAt2sRyh3g1VOrBhUQkP-/s1600/119-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoO-hnwnDSZgqqamIJi5DxOWxcp2lGoZyAkM73NDss3oHDH1mQulqySCOoL3hgxA3v03-WnjSTtwTd6MAfn8iEn8Bvo1CZEGuESR3hw1LZO6sMhhN0u4ZkfNzAt2sRyh3g1VOrBhUQkP-/s320/119-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Still working hard</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IugjGpOSBLIAiknGVUGWtBWjxQsh4nKu2T18bQucjhQkD1G0wyq9KQICTqGvbyPB8VZI1etZNyIV0B-wvA58bMdPKzYwJshLm6wnXL7cwVmgOSFGzcAeCV9y4xj1rircSvERvcSaXZy5/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IugjGpOSBLIAiknGVUGWtBWjxQsh4nKu2T18bQucjhQkD1G0wyq9KQICTqGvbyPB8VZI1etZNyIV0B-wvA58bMdPKzYwJshLm6wnXL7cwVmgOSFGzcAeCV9y4xj1rircSvERvcSaXZy5/s320/128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Finished product</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3L4W_y5clpo47YVZbCRqBX0qrBTRJwZjDu4gA6rnut9i2m7TTjtZjSxb9jUooAqW2lQR7vfAwFyBTcJmKyru7B6yEZWf18H2zVb0e7DB2yJt-R6CWy9xnsR_oMS2ypn9G5GLSeP1sP_u/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3L4W_y5clpo47YVZbCRqBX0qrBTRJwZjDu4gA6rnut9i2m7TTjtZjSxb9jUooAqW2lQR7vfAwFyBTcJmKyru7B6yEZWf18H2zVb0e7DB2yJt-R6CWy9xnsR_oMS2ypn9G5GLSeP1sP_u/s320/133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">With snow seats we had to build</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDswrnZiM-jV8ve9KY53Aot442RE7D0cQEQZWPZP2HatJkxqC1ELs4JShTi7UfHAPlsMPYYnthYaBGx5spfA96QBcu0_5mPECVAdUjXZwHy2Q9Ja3CgBhqLkTa6Izs695xf0ueQDC6j8X/s1600/146-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDswrnZiM-jV8ve9KY53Aot442RE7D0cQEQZWPZP2HatJkxqC1ELs4JShTi7UfHAPlsMPYYnthYaBGx5spfA96QBcu0_5mPECVAdUjXZwHy2Q9Ja3CgBhqLkTa6Izs695xf0ueQDC6j8X/s320/146-1.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here it comes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfonyQ9lTbPkfcSJzDTXRQRAJtpH9I8jVDY4unN-P0UAU1KsKLim80eNXkA7Tm0Vmbdga0DkGUgq8kt84s6dnnTCSQX9Fpa7EZn6bb4v8zVk7lf2sJdyhJjk-a6NasSbSgbsC2-Tun1Hjp/s1600/148-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfonyQ9lTbPkfcSJzDTXRQRAJtpH9I8jVDY4unN-P0UAU1KsKLim80eNXkA7Tm0Vmbdga0DkGUgq8kt84s6dnnTCSQX9Fpa7EZn6bb4v8zVk7lf2sJdyhJjk-a6NasSbSgbsC2-Tun1Hjp/s320/148-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The snow was deeper than she was tall...I love those ears!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvccAqelP0rAt2xOU6S9yYYvNPb__XrDWfJp0lOWQUE3N0UXoQBVBi10i3D5UYAlZ9zHpNaY8CYXegSXQNOfjW7Dt7hccqTbpI1ASUVU2iLbR4loMtJdkFYRdkS7_XeBiNXY1XEDhyphenhyphenOh44/s1600/153-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvccAqelP0rAt2xOU6S9yYYvNPb__XrDWfJp0lOWQUE3N0UXoQBVBi10i3D5UYAlZ9zHpNaY8CYXegSXQNOfjW7Dt7hccqTbpI1ASUVU2iLbR4loMtJdkFYRdkS7_XeBiNXY1XEDhyphenhyphenOh44/s320/153-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Gotta catch him</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWikS5eAsjNvE4NbB_LBoyRQ1dxn4nI_sNq9p157vRDYqvkfx5t6wOfz77oSZpjgMI-QHcuPtuAtJlMzdKRkn5T74AUsne-VDJE9DkhgP9Ge0MSFCoTnOfBjTiA7lhyruz2RbHVDezQE7P/s1600/154-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWikS5eAsjNvE4NbB_LBoyRQ1dxn4nI_sNq9p157vRDYqvkfx5t6wOfz77oSZpjgMI-QHcuPtuAtJlMzdKRkn5T74AUsne-VDJE9DkhgP9Ge0MSFCoTnOfBjTiA7lhyruz2RbHVDezQE7P/s320/154-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Still chasing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvoBuu8TEpDrRSB5QN3mTRXRSIIUSsbEYrKFI3V6g52_hzOA-Jlwwo2nK96LIddQiGw7WXTPqeOHGm9vgi6HAqCfoXXiTYTQI3gCUOLoj2MzefNsSW5Max3roprF-X8MOyHsN6WTc4nyp/s1600/156-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvoBuu8TEpDrRSB5QN3mTRXRSIIUSsbEYrKFI3V6g52_hzOA-Jlwwo2nK96LIddQiGw7WXTPqeOHGm9vgi6HAqCfoXXiTYTQI3gCUOLoj2MzefNsSW5Max3roprF-X8MOyHsN6WTc4nyp/s320/156-1.JPG" width="299" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Getting closer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdq26TD69izW49ocAC4cTgzHpUssJP8jof9_IaV9CU7NwC5ioglUZV8gfe-nv6l_erxrDcE4cNrS-ah7J7BmvGu9Xmgvo8Z4ngohTF9bu4QkLceh6xYvmGWkwclRo9ushkd8C-nIPE33sm/s1600/157-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdq26TD69izW49ocAC4cTgzHpUssJP8jof9_IaV9CU7NwC5ioglUZV8gfe-nv6l_erxrDcE4cNrS-ah7J7BmvGu9Xmgvo8Z4ngohTF9bu4QkLceh6xYvmGWkwclRo9ushkd8C-nIPE33sm/s320/157-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Almost got him</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqtkb8I9z_4eAHvtaNXCXf_bxc9KFbaWo0eBowsGtPFgdWvZVey2PrRxtwXphPF4XMDsXpGQtMuuaBF6-kSqpjXHYFbaX4Yjj-XQ0CbzHd5XjHTtOPcrQFOGTg_5b90C4G2gcLfqlv-vt/s1600/169-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqtkb8I9z_4eAHvtaNXCXf_bxc9KFbaWo0eBowsGtPFgdWvZVey2PrRxtwXphPF4XMDsXpGQtMuuaBF6-kSqpjXHYFbaX4Yjj-XQ0CbzHd5XjHTtOPcrQFOGTg_5b90C4G2gcLfqlv-vt/s320/169-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Back to Belle</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaucSZkuDXbtlE3mFiJXnmBunN1DkqUjbPYNnIUt0ognxA0DRxXWNcpn0d6hSwSP7LYktxkYpoQs4zW-7u1fKXDMzaf3TG4iNhz9R6oGNtgSwTy8-vkSrb7zg8adcB9XMym_YMgeNZXvAb/s1600/183-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaucSZkuDXbtlE3mFiJXnmBunN1DkqUjbPYNnIUt0ognxA0DRxXWNcpn0d6hSwSP7LYktxkYpoQs4zW-7u1fKXDMzaf3TG4iNhz9R6oGNtgSwTy8-vkSrb7zg8adcB9XMym_YMgeNZXvAb/s320/183-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Deep in thought</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGvXJIlx7u8kaG6k25xReNOpt0fzPp8yONaKyl53kPkmN97osvpSVrTeZsHQo8lBQvbb_iRV9VJysglBjadyEj6QMELbPzjFo90Pz1GuQYhYTXRkk0yx2DegHiZX_BJJ4NwHBw4Aadpax/s1600/194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGvXJIlx7u8kaG6k25xReNOpt0fzPp8yONaKyl53kPkmN97osvpSVrTeZsHQo8lBQvbb_iRV9VJysglBjadyEj6QMELbPzjFo90Pz1GuQYhYTXRkk0yx2DegHiZX_BJJ4NwHBw4Aadpax/s320/194.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Watching the work</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6ZZZdwINX9GxVGp-eRburg6WkbiaKyS2WHmTBXmr5hnEihxLDMpp_va0COK2vWTYkX45GHXVfICVc-APYsoGycGfcX6Ul1dVR2DmvpG5QkAznZ1WV5Eiyl91jShzprLVxfLLw2GTWK5O/s1600/131-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6ZZZdwINX9GxVGp-eRburg6WkbiaKyS2WHmTBXmr5hnEihxLDMpp_va0COK2vWTYkX45GHXVfICVc-APYsoGycGfcX6Ul1dVR2DmvpG5QkAznZ1WV5Eiyl91jShzprLVxfLLw2GTWK5O/s320/131-1.JPG" width="169" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The finished snowman</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaQtgFlGlsxzrSDY7UrP10D7nFsL13Z9KUYlYe9iqghXFTMTSN8EC42qx8bUlkI9R1N7TjBMBDWs9zJRsET-rAEpe0Vm_Al1wbR__6NlsvrIwwQOMFYqsyfzfVkKqwINeZ48tLG9-mZAB/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaQtgFlGlsxzrSDY7UrP10D7nFsL13Z9KUYlYe9iqghXFTMTSN8EC42qx8bUlkI9R1N7TjBMBDWs9zJRsET-rAEpe0Vm_Al1wbR__6NlsvrIwwQOMFYqsyfzfVkKqwINeZ48tLG9-mZAB/s320/115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Wearing Bryce's boots because they were convenient....they were HUGE!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Still more pictures to come as time allows and hopefully a story or two...</div>ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-65356567927303633322011-01-22T20:30:00.000-06:002011-01-22T20:30:05.159-06:00Pictures As Promised<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33N4ybR6086gLv-VUhDdUpSgHJ5XHc5E8OeTHj22MDC3qXcR9nCVw26w1Dq9wFwtUdDBJ5b04Z1bspeeSwyIGf1_Pvfa9Reh4NBU6zxe7q3K_XwRXCWZMdBloqpwU2z_zuTHrSEDn6xbi/s1600/DSCN0440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33N4ybR6086gLv-VUhDdUpSgHJ5XHc5E8OeTHj22MDC3qXcR9nCVw26w1Dq9wFwtUdDBJ5b04Z1bspeeSwyIGf1_Pvfa9Reh4NBU6zxe7q3K_XwRXCWZMdBloqpwU2z_zuTHrSEDn6xbi/s320/DSCN0440.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 10th birthday</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuaVAs7MXfxYmo0778J98Riwr5DNRNtxOhKdpCuQk0gNXhGMSCgh1xgI0i0QS37GtJat2_9ZwbKWzOYtXwBLf-AKD-R-ks4icQ-2weg2BtV1oXyZMzAMKLHpb6ouYL4bpae3IigLmZUPf/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuaVAs7MXfxYmo0778J98Riwr5DNRNtxOhKdpCuQk0gNXhGMSCgh1xgI0i0QS37GtJat2_9ZwbKWzOYtXwBLf-AKD-R-ks4icQ-2weg2BtV1oXyZMzAMKLHpb6ouYL4bpae3IigLmZUPf/s320/007.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Spike</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtbIlA6qCtvhHImkcdIII2WKncJBYp2Z1JDT0Lw05vOGQ100ag0QVlvsQNmlNjsGwfzrWUJIJ9gLNJ7gq3mL0LKg3JsgMy0tBpFPTuHo1QlqVj-NhatGxv-_ar22EUyFtueufjqBUzPz8/s1600/DSCN0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtbIlA6qCtvhHImkcdIII2WKncJBYp2Z1JDT0Lw05vOGQ100ag0QVlvsQNmlNjsGwfzrWUJIJ9gLNJ7gq3mL0LKg3JsgMy0tBpFPTuHo1QlqVj-NhatGxv-_ar22EUyFtueufjqBUzPz8/s320/DSCN0487.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 12th birthday</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1906QhpogrrF77I-aSLIikqNui4Kmi-XVBkNecV2Gkdddox0BdWgY7ze02OiiE9ZAmTFpUUUE-Uut-gSMeA-8GlQ4EMSucFqDw4g46R9kF3cLMy4MuAeNE7OTepu2-5eHIguIKqfsWRr1/s1600/DSCN0491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1906QhpogrrF77I-aSLIikqNui4Kmi-XVBkNecV2Gkdddox0BdWgY7ze02OiiE9ZAmTFpUUUE-Uut-gSMeA-8GlQ4EMSucFqDw4g46R9kF3cLMy4MuAeNE7OTepu2-5eHIguIKqfsWRr1/s320/DSCN0491.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> 13th birthday</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vt1mE2ezvqza5MtjIFzayAdU0HPR1so5fhWXHrJLY2TuUejSGorYQ1M_CX03l1rqfsfdESX3_Dyvtunz60mUi8gx8dlyBBYcIb7Pgf4S8ZNLxC9xpmQuN5Nd1blG6Az9PW_X0GHNgsHF/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vt1mE2ezvqza5MtjIFzayAdU0HPR1so5fhWXHrJLY2TuUejSGorYQ1M_CX03l1rqfsfdESX3_Dyvtunz60mUi8gx8dlyBBYcIb7Pgf4S8ZNLxC9xpmQuN5Nd1blG6Az9PW_X0GHNgsHF/s320/005.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> First Christmas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv93uXUl2NzaBe4e27QeZ4pg4nUUKsfMjnMHhovGXlO7QLPK9qR8HgP0IgkO7yGQkcN_i9BAXntHdNCRpJcHVrvSOFqxQMwDaLIEcyUd415lqTyj-cmQfXI5QiuirFYZXrcJmyHy5-gn3M/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv93uXUl2NzaBe4e27QeZ4pg4nUUKsfMjnMHhovGXlO7QLPK9qR8HgP0IgkO7yGQkcN_i9BAXntHdNCRpJcHVrvSOFqxQMwDaLIEcyUd415lqTyj-cmQfXI5QiuirFYZXrcJmyHy5-gn3M/s320/009.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> New hat</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuQsnrz2IB8hVqlI_Sih59no-EYz4YWeHpBdYrDkUsxaHc6Sf58vg8hAoViMDRsU6E1hyphenhyphen2VzBbEDIpRkwr-0SKpRLRDYJD3JO9Lj7ozYlOwGElwn8UqL6n04_eLDaOTdFkR2inEoexZ-m/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuQsnrz2IB8hVqlI_Sih59no-EYz4YWeHpBdYrDkUsxaHc6Sf58vg8hAoViMDRsU6E1hyphenhyphen2VzBbEDIpRkwr-0SKpRLRDYJD3JO9Lj7ozYlOwGElwn8UqL6n04_eLDaOTdFkR2inEoexZ-m/s320/081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Sleepy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGRiY4yoU0mvTvdMFQhmwRX4pjReR2wHrkLuuKbAysoUaFYKCpD8R6tvbNjAH0WZqrCf0XHnt5MuSiPTrIrUAPV6nQOmPyjlP7Csk_nYEz2hC4yrufkLb2eBo6lP-19KDIWPAD15bfgU8/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGRiY4yoU0mvTvdMFQhmwRX4pjReR2wHrkLuuKbAysoUaFYKCpD8R6tvbNjAH0WZqrCf0XHnt5MuSiPTrIrUAPV6nQOmPyjlP7Csk_nYEz2hC4yrufkLb2eBo6lP-19KDIWPAD15bfgU8/s320/088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Bashful</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rdrKG83qcn3hCnv7H9jcZg8EJxi6w1eSPq3kJBRP_wkSE91Bmeuspwto3arw-H8O3sxGJ9kUhT5w18S-yAKwaV_pTk-Wob8vSq8TPZ3lxSv2O6RtOIEmWNqw68EV4BYR_jwwbbZEmVxd/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rdrKG83qcn3hCnv7H9jcZg8EJxi6w1eSPq3kJBRP_wkSE91Bmeuspwto3arw-H8O3sxGJ9kUhT5w18S-yAKwaV_pTk-Wob8vSq8TPZ3lxSv2O6RtOIEmWNqw68EV4BYR_jwwbbZEmVxd/s320/102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Christmas morning</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF10XyYTtV5NTxuAebYpPifh9szXunYwuYKt1DmnGnXBS6cR69aHSz4DZ7IFz_6czND9qH71DGlsfpioEylrvyR3wHLCNNpj2W15UYRbGyRC3XVjKNa8RQ1vltega-T7AvDz8VeDfQ5fPf/s1600/101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF10XyYTtV5NTxuAebYpPifh9szXunYwuYKt1DmnGnXBS6cR69aHSz4DZ7IFz_6czND9qH71DGlsfpioEylrvyR3wHLCNNpj2W15UYRbGyRC3XVjKNa8RQ1vltega-T7AvDz8VeDfQ5fPf/s320/101.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Christmas morning</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SvYP2L1xkdB2LpCcdOOzPC1gzTGU5gLa5XyIrrSjiFTML9S7gzdXursS644maQRQiLI_pGtcSrECByGDVFCb3GG6SJJ88opyaHyps_jIAuTq32fUdAWjBN0-NONO727zvGXJToK1ENrT/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SvYP2L1xkdB2LpCcdOOzPC1gzTGU5gLa5XyIrrSjiFTML9S7gzdXursS644maQRQiLI_pGtcSrECByGDVFCb3GG6SJJ88opyaHyps_jIAuTq32fUdAWjBN0-NONO727zvGXJToK1ENrT/s320/120.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Christmas morning</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oEnIQckpc8eeExnfdpT-dS-9n6QjGeIOuDOd7heO66CRoDuEEv-KKVIsQslutxeX6xrG8-pileBIHBaKY6-NsHtrYwZdpMETN434Ul2pnlG_aIPbkWjswTkXOSC7IndOt1uRQP5pQ81r/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oEnIQckpc8eeExnfdpT-dS-9n6QjGeIOuDOd7heO66CRoDuEEv-KKVIsQslutxeX6xrG8-pileBIHBaKY6-NsHtrYwZdpMETN434Ul2pnlG_aIPbkWjswTkXOSC7IndOt1uRQP5pQ81r/s320/123.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Christmas morning</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn634tRrW4ToJmniFMUaGWgEbPYoZAb_Zs4RaPEJ37o2KTx8KA9UkcTk3tOvjAuMYDfi5NUU9JSvxAqin6_jkdUxT_2Yq78exbtQ_yy_cTcfId8hLATriLHF7WiwjMT_tI-UvGvPCbiqCf/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn634tRrW4ToJmniFMUaGWgEbPYoZAb_Zs4RaPEJ37o2KTx8KA9UkcTk3tOvjAuMYDfi5NUU9JSvxAqin6_jkdUxT_2Yq78exbtQ_yy_cTcfId8hLATriLHF7WiwjMT_tI-UvGvPCbiqCf/s320/132.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Christmas morning</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYplfutiSRr1RffpLwN9l08ZXFbDFa7dke_VV0wdNGPKDiNcUnfmB04CW-hV3jfqDv4iG9R2Zjn6qPow5BbsxTktQwW54HYFPcOm_EAk43GdmUoiCH_8iuwfsZe6LWJHCgy42d62YMHPl/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYplfutiSRr1RffpLwN9l08ZXFbDFa7dke_VV0wdNGPKDiNcUnfmB04CW-hV3jfqDv4iG9R2Zjn6qPow5BbsxTktQwW54HYFPcOm_EAk43GdmUoiCH_8iuwfsZe6LWJHCgy42d62YMHPl/s320/162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A lesson</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DAeD2Lnj237JPaEBvjP-kfOGYayk_1aHufBv8MD9oVRkz0NFBOgsreBicpFbSwj0plxWmJJeffUj7u6FN0NdbYU38Hdzgz7t1Z-wlw6o9dSOl9-vVKsOWy55N2zCm2KQfgz6tVGLaKT_/s1600/187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DAeD2Lnj237JPaEBvjP-kfOGYayk_1aHufBv8MD9oVRkz0NFBOgsreBicpFbSwj0plxWmJJeffUj7u6FN0NdbYU38Hdzgz7t1Z-wlw6o9dSOl9-vVKsOWy55N2zCm2KQfgz6tVGLaKT_/s320/187.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Morning nap</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZuNS-Z_wR4B9gT7asfbX-T58ElNI9tvtYH4T3wIuGTA2qUJ7Pet41fjwRSG4va4bclUxICZ1EzdVsqm65UbAJ1DmiHYgF_DFOKyCyyC4G6wggYol2KjE1q5rfqy3726I-uSvP50Q-IdQ/s1600/190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZuNS-Z_wR4B9gT7asfbX-T58ElNI9tvtYH4T3wIuGTA2qUJ7Pet41fjwRSG4va4bclUxICZ1EzdVsqm65UbAJ1DmiHYgF_DFOKyCyyC4G6wggYol2KjE1q5rfqy3726I-uSvP50Q-IdQ/s320/190.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Mandatory putting the toy together</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9cnGxnxvOe5l_rUt-E4vENVw4F-Bl1dx0k7x3oHNyDjljNvolk2fX0Swepevs02Z7P2m2v1eYxEAlB2TF0BPuXpRD5n-SaRcJlZqLHLirtnkzp3zF6t07kxJddZpb8e44dzaVb3hSAiw/s1600/209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9cnGxnxvOe5l_rUt-E4vENVw4F-Bl1dx0k7x3oHNyDjljNvolk2fX0Swepevs02Z7P2m2v1eYxEAlB2TF0BPuXpRD5n-SaRcJlZqLHLirtnkzp3zF6t07kxJddZpb8e44dzaVb3hSAiw/s320/209.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Trying to hide</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhke-hEuHMPWW-WOUUtmfi1YMdOnDNEkAVrtq5qjyQLPp6hx_S1kqtaMvukiWNf8ey1KMsJa1mqU73kB2U5iWSHLioJyN5dp2MR2_736s2Cjb8c4ZTlCQH9VXZgIKaCHn0jDZIL074qdj59/s1600/214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhke-hEuHMPWW-WOUUtmfi1YMdOnDNEkAVrtq5qjyQLPp6hx_S1kqtaMvukiWNf8ey1KMsJa1mqU73kB2U5iWSHLioJyN5dp2MR2_736s2Cjb8c4ZTlCQH9VXZgIKaCHn0jDZIL074qdj59/s320/214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Naptime</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">More to come...</div>ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-56244312791390176242011-01-17T20:11:00.004-06:002011-01-17T20:23:41.567-06:00First Time Ever!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYkFyEuqCeayhV5plPpHjHNRX341ZqyQ4QMNEXPNPj8UbK2TK9laaSG4MwhlwKlp3Kne9IfVyIRrFYqja5IXE0whR7Gs54cQ0K5iAMt6h_pIVquXHUSpD64x6awmcgf7DUGFdPPvZ4uXb/s1600/053.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563345013209378306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYkFyEuqCeayhV5plPpHjHNRX341ZqyQ4QMNEXPNPj8UbK2TK9laaSG4MwhlwKlp3Kne9IfVyIRrFYqja5IXE0whR7Gs54cQ0K5iAMt6h_pIVquXHUSpD64x6awmcgf7DUGFdPPvZ4uXb/s400/053.JPG" /></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563345007263741906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKyyB1zwBNujeNIeP0nicyWXk0By-HaAgKrNPa9YcVswgtVADgljFDHYlhuLQr2f4FMpR-SKy-XTQxKScctHi6esrREyCPBlSylJ4MyrPNARG5VsvIHOgjciOIOqE228yGKge7lmYKrpU/s400/047.JPG" />My Christmas cactus that I bought 5 years ago had one bud come out last year but it never open up. Eventually it fell off and I was heartbroken. This year, not only did I have one bud but 5! After watching it daily for weeks, this one finally opened up and two more are right behind it. For those that know about Christmas cactus, this one is not a forced bloom but come out on it's own. Awesome!ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-14262849006963369962011-01-10T16:30:00.000-06:002011-01-10T16:30:16.838-06:00A New Year, A New PostWow. I cannot believe how fast time is passing me by. Over the last few months, Brady was injured in a football practice (not bad but enough to end his season), Belle turned twelve and Bryce turned thirteen. I am now the parent of a teenager! How did that happen? When did that happen? At what point did time skip 10 years from when I had three kids under the age of 4? Hubby has taken a new job. We have been through Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. And I have not put up a single post about life in the Shortymom household! I'm horrible!<br /><br />So I'm here to update.<br /><br />Brady dislocated his ring finger during a football practice before the last ballgame. This dislocation was so bad that we initially thought that it could possible be broken. So we raced to the emergency room where it was eventually put back into place, given a splint and the official word that his football season was over. For us, the end of the season was a relief after a drama filled season full of disappointment from him and us. Because this is a small town, I cannot go into full detail but we we/are very disappointed on how things went on the football field. So much so that Brady was willing to quit at a couple of different points. He is fully healed now, active in basketball season but unfortunately his finger will never be "normal" again. The size of his knuckle has never gone back down to it's original size and probably never will. We are grateful that it was a minor injury compared to what it could be.<br /><br />A couple of weeks later was the beginning of basketball practices. Four practices a week between Brady and Belle on four different nights has been keeping me busy. So far Belle's team has lost one game (this past weekend). Brady's team isn't undefeated but he's actually learned more this season than he has previous seasons so we were excited. We were excited to learn that he had a new coach this year, one who works with all of the boys and not just some of them.<br /><br />Then we came to Belle's and Bryce's birthdays. They each had friends come over (different nights, whew!) and spend the night at the house. I'm still reeling from the fact that I have a teenager and one that's toeing that line. Just doesn't seem right! Their birthdays are so close to Halloween that there wasn't any time for breathing before we raced out to go trick or treating. Bryce didn't trick or treat this year but rode in the car with Hubs, Brady went as yet another ninja, and Belle. Belle was my difficult child this year. Belle wanted to be Chuckie this year from the Child's Play movies, movies she's never seen mind you. Unfortunately we just couldn't get all of the details worked out so we bought a mask and a wig and she went as some zombie thing that really doesn't have a name. They had fun and that was all that mattered.<br /><br />November brought us a whirlwind of basketball activities, science projects, book projects and getting ready for Thanksgiving that I won't bore you with. Hubby found a new job in the middle of all of this. A job that allows him to be home a lot more often. He is currently working for a job that allows him to stay over night two nights in Tennessee spread out during the week so he's not gone consecutive days. This means he's home all weekend plus another day during the week. We were excited that it finally worked out for him to find a local job allowing him to be home basically full time. Of course we have had our battles during the adjustment but nowhere near some of the battles we've had in the past adjustments. Awesome!<br /><br />December found us scrambling as we were still running basketball up until the week before Christmas and trying to get the shopping done. There were days I felt as though I hadn't stopped for weeks trying to get everything situated. I didn't even get the tree up until two weeks before Christmas things were so hectic. Unfortunately during all this running, we started getting sick. By Christmas, Belle was improving from a nasty cold she had picked up, I had it full force and Hubs was just starting to catch it. This didn't keep us from having a great Christmas (a <span style="font-style: italic;">white </span>Christmas!). I will have pictures to post soon to catch up visually on all that has gone on. New Years Eve found us in bed by 9:30pm and passed out cold at midnight thanks to the wonderful sickness. Just so much entertainment at our house!<br /><br />Just last week we had a rescheduled strings concert. We also picked up basketball practices again and had our first game this past weekend. I hope to have pictures up over the next couple of days of some of the things missed over the past few months. Then maybe I can get into the habit of updating regularly again.ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-21272565399876523512010-09-19T19:58:00.004-05:002010-09-19T21:40:26.516-05:00LifeLife for me has been all over the map the last few months. I had every intention on posting more as I felt better. And I do feel better. And I don't. I don't hurt every month like I used to. I don't hurt in between cycles every month either. And as always there is a but. But my leg still hurts and my bones still hurt. I reported both at my last follow up visit and was referred back to my family doctor but I haven't made the appointment. I'm stalling. Again. But I feel my time back will be too soon. I also felt like every time I went to post something it was also negative. I was not necessarily a gripe but a post that would end up being a downer. That wasn't what I wanted. For now, let me bring you up to date.<br /><br />Before I even got my freedom to drive two weeks after my surgery, Hubby had signed the kids up for church softball. Bryce and Belle were on an older youth team (but not the oldest) and Brady was on the younger youth team which also happened to be coach pitched. So for a while I was spending at least two nights a week in my chair at the softball fields watching practices and games. The kids were great helping carry my chair to the fields so that I didn't and had a blast playing the game. Brady's team went on to win their championship game.<br /><br />I mentioned back in the winter that we came home from a basketball game to find a dog sitting under our carport. Well she never left and we finally named her Daisy. She has become a part of our home and I finally took a minute to take her picture and share her with you.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518800677204571666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oJDmeGjz4EjpmnleT3J9gKilWhzYY5lJqWPvtc9vQsDXHeTEcviutPISp52VvhOTXZDVJVTRCXC1yBSKgnMH4S9LTbNl82IgZbtIk_wI-OoIw8cz0izY3uUfovqx2xsQ1fzkbWUDev53/s400/Daisy.jpg" />Sorry for the poor quality of the picture. She is not a photogenic animal and I was using my cell phone. Two negatives when trying to take a picture. Unfortunately, my camera has officially bit the dust and I have not been able to get me another one and don't see one in the future. We'll see what happens.<br /><br />Hubby has been trying since Christmas to get me a Himalayan kitten but the friend of ours that was breeding them had decided to stop. Then she decided to have a couple of more litters. So right after Mother's Day she sent him a message on facebook to let him know that she had a little boy, three months old that she had been unable to find a home for. She was willing to let him go for a small fortune as opposed to a huge fortune. Not that I'm saying he wasn't worth it. Just saying I've never been one to pay for a pet of any kind. Anyhoo, this is Sebastian:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7muTaKTyJ4BHxrGbi8UND_KO_UdaEXzani4BgH241OvpYVQ475SJBb-jhAD5iWA7RFMxatR2BWKYF9W5A1XNMkUNkck_B6OCxzFzNOZe984dTPdWA7KtKr83OJTOIWTfrIE4TBWcZKtdM/s1600/Sebastian.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518800681367984690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7muTaKTyJ4BHxrGbi8UND_KO_UdaEXzani4BgH241OvpYVQ475SJBb-jhAD5iWA7RFMxatR2BWKYF9W5A1XNMkUNkck_B6OCxzFzNOZe984dTPdWA7KtKr83OJTOIWTfrIE4TBWcZKtdM/s400/Sebastian.jpg" /></a> Yes his is as sweet as he looks. It took him some time to adjust to everyone but now he goes about his business without a second thought to anything or anyone around him.<br /><br />Not long after we got him, school started. The end of July brought us to the kids back to school nights. Belle and Brady had their night first and were very pleased with their teachers and classmates. It was at their night that I found out the middle school had a new band director. Not only did they have a new band director that Bryce would be under but he was also a guy that I went to school with. A guy who happened to marry the girl who was my maid of honor! I was truly excited! Bryce and I went to his back to school night alone as Mom took Belle and Brady to a softball game. We toured the school, met his teachers and found our way to each and every class so that he would know what to do on the first day. Not only did he have a good friend of mine for a band director but his Social Studies teacher was also one of my teachers in elementary school so I felt a little better. Words cannot describe how nervous I was that first day. I think I was more nervous than he was. I couldn't help but wonder if he made it to his classes correctly and on time. He came home and reported a good day. Whew! <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518800666579022850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy9bGCSeawi7ZYjylhebOshJuGZvLi4FK1SV5ylqeshc1AAh19vtR6tMeV54GbPm4il_X-8H64Ennesp-5MjjH5akPnw2-xZLIRLpJgYMs_TY49apktkhLyj0195VrmLLhqoPnXSNV6rJ/s400/First+day+of+school.jpg" />With the start of school came the next round of running. Softball ended the first week of school but that brought us to the beginning of everything else. Football season started for Brady. His third game of the season will be tomorrow night, a make up game from where they were rained out a couple of weeks ago. Belle decided she did not want to cheer this year and still put up an argument to play football. I shot it down only for her to find out there are like three other girls playing this year. She was not happy with me. Bryce decided that he was not trying out for basketball but did try out for the fall baseball team. He was truly disappointed when he was cut on the first day. I felt sorry for him but was not as disappointed as he was.<br /><br />Last week, Sebastian's Mom sent Hubby another message on facebook. She has decided that she has had her last litter of kittens and was looking for a good home for one of her mama cats and her kitten. I was up in the air over it. I had 3 kids, 3 dogs and 3 cats. I felt we were running good with the number three. But cats! I love cats! And I still ache for babies. So she gave us Abi who is two: <div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518800657598758674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSR1V9T4Pv_KTdX60WOySFuAEbYEvWIAzlLPTGBdoQEzr0zP5yriaznc4guC8q-RP6P9zm5Aoi4YoAbBazDRaEKOA579zokI6fA8GjcgEVk1eGWLOX6N4c47iDchAr1QnGlMEWSEr8p6R/s400/Abi+2.JPG" />And Ginger who is 3 months old (she is the white one):<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4puGrizJgxJZNfao1_LB8rioC7ofFbaPzSfQVcHw41xD-_i3kP4xgt6rHCsiQeD_qT_b4eFmMYUQ0tKKU3hLGOVeOZl-vxjLMx9E-ZiQEelC4u1JwaMQ1ovJsfaHDr4NxZGhDP1Q8bKr/s1600/Ginger+3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518800660858700034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4puGrizJgxJZNfao1_LB8rioC7ofFbaPzSfQVcHw41xD-_i3kP4xgt6rHCsiQeD_qT_b4eFmMYUQ0tKKU3hLGOVeOZl-vxjLMx9E-ZiQEelC4u1JwaMQ1ovJsfaHDr4NxZGhDP1Q8bKr/s400/Ginger+3.JPG" /></a>So we have Chi Chi, who is 4, Gracie who is 3 and Daisy which we don't know how old she is but figure she is an older dog. Then we have Zeus who is also 3, Callie 2, Abi 2, Sebastian 4 months and Ginger 3 months. Then don't forget the three children who are so close to being teens they can practically taste it, especially Bryce who turns 13 next month.<br /><br />Oh and this past Friday? My baby turned <em>ten!</em> That is so not right! I tried all day to correct him but he insists that he is 10 and not 2. I went to school Friday morning and had breakfast with him. Then I met up with Hubby so he could take me to work and he could go back to school and have lunch with Brady (think I've failed to mention that my van is out of commission for the time being). Brady had a friend spend the night, rented movies, had pizza, cake and ice cream. We also got to put four sugared-up kids to bed fairly early for a sleep over since the friend's Mom had already made plans for Saturday that required him being picked up at 8.<br /><br />That brings me up to this point. I'm pretty sure I've missed something in there and eventually will remember and bring it up. Now I'm going to get ready for bed so that I can start another week tomorrow. And hopefully I'll be back around soon for another post. </div></div></div>ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2048851440538460449.post-27851762395586495722010-06-03T19:41:00.001-05:002010-06-03T19:43:29.328-05:00Freedom. Sort of.Two weeks ago Monday, I was at the hospital at 6am. The next hour and a half seemed like the longest I have ever sat through. I was given a gown to change into, IV started, blood drawn, blood pressure taken and circulation socks placed up to my knees. Then Hubby was brought to the room. We waited. And waited. At 7:30, the doctor walked in and and within minutes I was wheeled away to the pre-op room. There I answered questions that I had already answered three other times, which is better than the alternative of no one knowing the answers. Then the anesthesiologist gave me something to "help me relax." The last thing I remember is them about to wheel me through a door. Then next thing I remember, I was being put into my room around 11am. According to Hubby, I was in surgery around 1 1/2 - 2 hours so that left another 1 1/2 - 2 hours in recovery. I had been given spinal morphine before I went into surgery and was still feeling the effects of it when I got to my room. Hubby came in while I was being hooked up to a bp machine, air hoses hooked up to my socks and had a monitor placed on my finger. When the room finally quietened down, I dozed off only to have alarms scream. They stopped when I came to. I dozed off two other times for them to scream again, only the last time they didn't stop until a nurse turned them off. Seems that my blood oxygen level was low, so I was placed on oxygen. Finally, I got to sleep.<br /><br />A short while later, I woke to find a friend, TJ, coming into the room. She was coming to visit while Hubby was walking out the door to come get the kids. Not long after she got there, I complained to the nurse about my face itching. Itching so bad that my chin and neck were almost raw I had scratched them so bad. Because I don't respond to benedryl well, the nurse came back with stadol. By the time she was finished injecting it into my iv, I was almost asleep. TJ watched tv, while sending out messages to facebook about how she was with me while I was sleeping and seriously drugged. She was very amused with the whole thing.<br /><br />TJ left later that afternoon and Hubby made it back with the kids about 5. They spent about an hour walking around the room, asking questions, and finally got antsy. Hubby left with them for the night and within 15 minutes a coworker walked in. Then my parents. Then the doctor. By the time everyone left at 7:30, I was itching again. At 8, I was dozing again after another dose of stadol. At 10, the night nurse came in, checked my bp and I turned off the tv for the night. At 1am, the nurse came back in again. My bp had been steady dropping throughout the day and at 10 was around 59/38. At 1, it had not dropped anymore but it had not gone up either. So she paged the dr and requested more fluids for me. Over the next hour, I had a liter of saline pumped into me with the nosiest iv pump in the hospital I think. At 2, my bp had come up slightly and I had blood drawn. Finally around 3, I got to get back to sleep only to be awakened at 6 by the morning shift coming on duty. <br /><br />Tuesday was a lot of the same. I dozed off and on a good part of the morning. I had not been able to hold down much food and started the day off on the same foot. The doctor came back in on morning rounds and informed me that they were unhooking me from most everything and that I would be up walking soon. No more catheter. No more swelling socks. I was still hooked up to the iv but I could sit up in a chair. Until they gave me phenegren so that I could start holding down food. Again, I was almost asleep by the time the medicine was in. I held down some lunch and supper. I got up and walked around the corridors. At 6pm, my bp was 68/45 and I was being released. I was on my way home. I dozed off and on while on the couch until Hubby woke me long enough to go to bed. <br /><br />Wednesday morning, I made my way to the couch. Every inch of me was swollen and sore but my stomach was not nearly as painful I expected to be. Unfortunately I had a killer headache. Every time I stood up or sat up my head would scream so I spent most of Wednesday dozing on the couch only getting up when I absolutely had to. That afternoon, we called the doctor and was told that they were adjusting my pain medication and that if I still had the headache on Thursday morning, they would bring me in. Thursday morning, I walked into my doctors office still in considerable pain. I had my finger pricked to check my platelet level, a head ct because I had been having nose bleeds and then was sent back over to the hospital for a blood patch. It seemed the site where the morphine had been administered did not close over properly and I was leaking spinal fluid every time I stood up which was the cause of my headaches. Over the next few hours, I had two liters of fluid one of which was full of caffeine. By the time I left, I was headache free. I was also done with my sleeping all day. From that point on, I had no problem staying awake for most of the day.<br /><br />Over the last two weeks, I have been slowly improving. I have had a lot of help from Hubby and the kids. Some of the church family has brought over meals so that I didn't have to cook. I am moving around more, can sit for longer periods of time and walk a lot farther. According to the doctor, he found the beginning of endometriosis. I had cysts on both ovaries, which he removed the fluid from, and one of which was a lot larger than they had originally seen on my ultrasound. According to him, my uterus looked as though it had been shot with a shot gun from the number of areas in it where it did not replace the missing lining with new lining. Now I am on iron supplements and am feeling somewhat better. I was released to drive at my two week check up and return in four weeks for my final follow up. I was told that I can return to work (which I have) on a part time, light duty basis. If I decide that it is too much, then all I have to do is call and I'm off for the next four weeks. Luckily, I have a boss that doesn't argue when I call and say I'm just not up for it today as I did this morning. <br /><br />Over the next few weeks, I will try to update as things progress. The kids are out of school for the summer and antsy to be out and about. They have been spending considerable time on the computer and playing wii while staying close to help me out. Bryce went to church camp this week for the first time ever. Tonight Belle and Brady are at my parents while I take the night off which allowed me to update this post. I am taking things one day at a time for the next few weeks so I will be back. Eventually.ShortyMomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07354591175060201130noreply@blogger.com3