Everybody's Loosing Stuff These Days

We were eating dinner last night, fajitas and corn on the cob (Bud's favorite). When Bud bit down on his cob his front tooth started bleeding. We were all super excited because he refuses to wiggle his teeth so it takes forever to get them out.



Big D talked him into letting him tie floss around the tooth, I think the $$$ factor didn't hurt. Once he got the floss on he changed his mind and didn't want to do it anymore. TOO LATE!



Big D used me as a way to distract Bud. He told Bud to smile big so I could take his picture and as soon as he did Big D yanked the floss. Not my idea of a good approach but it worked. I think Big D lost his 'favorite parent' status though, which is good for me because I'm always the 'bad guy'.



Flinging the tooth, Big D lost it some where in the restroom. I think Beaner was a bit confused, she thought it was "Dinner and a Show in the Restroom" night. She came prepared.



Those big alligator tears just about broke my heart. He didn't quit crying for a good five minutes. I tell you what though, he was all smiles when he woke up this morning and the tooth fairy left him $1. That's one more dollar to spend in Florida in two weeks.

I'm Addicted To Cuteness

I can't quit taking pictures of the puppies. I think I'm addicted.



This is a picture of the daddy, Roxer. Sorry it's a little fuzzy, he's a mover and a shaker. This is the best picture I could get with my phone. He is so cute I wanted to put him in my purse and take him home. Kinnzi loved him too. She wasn't feeling really well when I took her over to meet him, she'd just gotten some shots. I thought she'd get snippy with him and not let him near her, boy was I wrong.

As soon as I put her down she started chasing him. When she turned around and Roxer mounted her the kids started laughing and asking questions. I knew it was time to leave and give them their privacy.



Kinnzi is such a great mom. I tood them in to get their tales docked and dewy claws removed yesterday. I thought Kinz was going to have a heart attack. Her and I waited in the lobby while the Vet took the pups. It's a good thing someone brought in a cat who really didn't want to be there, she drowned out the puppies cries. But that didn't stop Kinz from lactating all over me.

Kinz doesn't want anyone to see her puppies so every time someone comes close to her bed she puts her head over them. I've tried and tried to get pictures of just the puppies and I haven't been too successful.



Until now. They still look a bit like mice, but way cuter. I love their little squeaks. Bear asked me the other day why they do that and I told him that they are babies and they're crying for their mama. He laughed like the was the silliest thing he'd ever heard. He said, "I didn't cry all the time when I was a baby." Then it was my turn to laugh.

We Didn't Forget The Kids

With all the festivities going on, we didn't forget to let the kids have their Easter. Granted we did tell them the Easter Bunny wasn't coming until noon, that bought us slacker parents a bit more time.



I might be a mean mom but I make my kids wait in the other room while the Easter Bunny is delivering his goods. Big D and I hop around the living room hiding eggs. Big D even does a weird bunny voice like we are talking to him. The kids go crazy with anticipation.



After the torture is over we release the hounds and they pounce on their goods. The kids are fascinated with pregnancy right now, go figure, so Bug had to show us her belly.




Beaner pounced a bit quicker than everyone else so she found the most eggs. As you can see she is not about to share, too bad for her. She finally relented and gave one to Bear who is the slowest and shortest egg hunter.



Despite the fact he didn't find the most eggs, Bear is still happy with his finds. And thanks to Aunt Kathy they got SOME candy in their eggs instead of the boring $$$ that mom always puts in. Aunt Kathy also spoiled each of them with a book that they love. Thank You Aunt Kathy!!!



After we were all done we got down on the floor and counted out their $$$ to make sure everyone got the same amount, $5. More $$$ for them to spend in Florida, YEAH! Unless the $$$ burns a hole in their pockets first, darn those school book fairs.

Happy Easter! Kinnzi Had Pups

We had a busy Easter. First we were listening to General Conference when I noticed Kinnzi, my pregnant dog, was not snuggling with us. We went on a search for her and found her on her bed giving birth to her babies. We were a little surprised because she wasn't due until the next day.

He first puppy, a little girl, didn't survive. I don't know if it was because I wasn't there to help her remove the sack from the head or if we spooked her when we found her and when she picked up her pup to move her she killed it. Either way we lost the first puppy which was sad for all of us.



This is Kinnzi saying her good-byes to her puppy who passed away.



She went on to have two more puppies, another girl and a boy. Kinnzi didn't have any problems delivering, she knew just what to do.



She is a great mom. She has a hard time leaving her puppies. Every time she gets up to go potty or get something to eat or drink her puppies cry and she runs right back to them.

Kinnzi's bed that she gave birth to her first one is our downstairs couch. Big D hurried and cleaned every thing up as soon as we'd moved her to the whelping bed we prepared for her upstairs. That night after all the drama was over we decided to watch a movie. We were all snuggled on the couch and Kinnzi came down, borrowed under the blankets and started digging trying to find her puppy she'd lost. It broke my heart.

She is doing a lot better today. She is nervous when anyone comes by her bed, which is normal of a good mother. We already have someone to purchase the female, my sister-in-law. She named her Princess Rinnzi Kellen.

Kinnzi's dad was hit by a car in September and his owner has expressed interest in one of his progenitors so we'll see if she wants to purchase our male. I'm just excited the puppies can't go any where for eight to ten weeks. I'm excited to watch them grow.

Surprise! Happy Birthday Renea

Itch asked us to watch his kids overnight. We tried to think up ways to entertain all eight kids. Discovering it was Renea's birthday we decided to throw her a surprise party.



Everyone had their duties to get ready. Big D and Bud were on cake duty, Beaner and Bear were on present wrapping duty (we went to the dollar store and everyone got to pick something out for Renea), and Bug and I were on decorating duty. Bear really traveled from on responsibility to another, depending on who was having the most fun and how soon he got bored.

Shopping was interesting trying to keep my four kids focused buying for Renea and not themselves. But they thought they should give me ideas for when I do this for their birthday's, Bear's being next week and all.



To say Renea was surprised would be an understatement. She is not one who likes being the center of attention so when she walked in she looked mortified and immediately looked for the nearest exit.



Her brother's, on the other hand, were a different story. Even her little sister, Jo, was giggling, but not Renea. Now all the are excited for when I do this for them too. I'm going to be throwing a LOT of surprise parties this year. I probably can't call them a surprise anymore, can I?



After we found where Renea was hiding we dragged her in to sing "Happy Birthday" to her. I think this is the first smile we got out of her.



We filled every one's bellies with nutritious food first: pizza. Then we had some cake and ice cream.



It was a good thing other cousins came to the party so we could see just how many people we can fit into my tiny kitchen.



After we sugared everyone up it was time for the hot tub. It was perfect weather, thank goodness. Just thirty minutes before the kids went outside the wind was horrible and it was more slush/rain than snow. But when they finally got out it was big juicy flakes just floating down.



The kids had a great time jumping on the tramp in their swim suits, making snow angels, having snowball fights, and jumping back into the tub. All in all I think it was a success.

We Are OOOOKay

I appoligize for those of you who came to read my blog and it was deleted. The one time the husband decides to read my blog and it's about him. I think it tipped him off when C called to see if every thing was okay and Big D was sitting right next to me as I was chatting with her.

Hello, private conversation dude.

After the phone call he made me bring up my blog so he could read it. I was a little ticked when I wrote it and he wouldn't talk to me, I needed someone to talk to me so I chose all of you.

He was afraid my family would think there was some thing really wrong between us if they read it and he didn't want all the questions.

I'm sorry I usually don't air our laundry out for public entertainment. I don't think you have to worry about that any more. If any thing good came out of it, I think Big D will be a regular reader of my blog now.

Oh and we sat down and had a really good communication session ourselves and all is better. I guess that's another good thing to come from it, when I want to talk, he'll open up a bit sooner.

If there is anything Big D is depressed about now it's that he has to go to work while the rest of us have the week off. It is torturing him. Is it bad that that makes me smile just a little bit?

Who is loving the Christmas music? Me. I am. Oh me too.

Depressed Husband

This post has been deleted to protect the innocent, and the not so innocent.

50 Goals in 550 Days

My goal date has come and gone. I did achieve most of my goals but some eluded me, like the scrapbooking goals. I haven't scrapbooked in over eight years. Some goals I will still work on like writing my kids stories and letters, they really enjoy reading stories about themselves.

I really enjoy setting goals for myself and seeing them through, it's a wonderful sense of accomplishment. I wish I was able to finish all of them, but now I need to make new ones.

Start Date: 3/10/08 End Date: 11/12/09
1. Run one mile nonstop 1/26/09
2. memorize A of F 5/08 Bug & I made it a contest
3. Send at least one story/article of mine in to be published 10/10/08
4. Scrapbook at least 10 pages per kid
5. Write about seeing the Lord's hand in my day for two weeks straight. 3/28/08
6. Enter a photography contest
7. Paint a picture
8. Make a list of 100 things that make me happy 7/9/08
9. Pick a book of Scripture and study it. (Leviticus)6/23/08
10. Cook for in-laws 4x's 5/10/09
1~November 2nd: Dinner in a pumpkin
2~ January 2nd: Chicken Noodle soup
3~ January 2nd: Breakfast casserole
4~ May 10th: Taco Casserole (Mother's Day Dinner)
11. Host a dinner party of at least six people whom have never been to my home.
12. Join a social group 4/21/08 (book club)
13. Lose 20 pounds
14. Make my husband feel extremely loved 7/17/09 (Happy Birthday)
15. Write a story for each of my kids as them as the hero
~ Bug's 5/5/09
~ Beaner's 5/5/09
16. Don't complain about my calling for at least a month 4/13/08
17. Make contact with Emily and follow through 1/17/09
18. Get a pen pal 5/28/08
19. Write a one paragraph journal every day for one month 8/31/08
20. Give $100 away (it doesn't have to be in a lump sum) 7/15/08
21. Pass my English class with a 'B' 5/12/08
22. Visit a place I've never been 6/17/09 MA, NH, ME
23. Get an 'B' in my News Reporting and Writing class 12/23/08
24. Go to the temple once a month for six months straight
~ 4/24/09
~ 5/15/09
~6/12/09
~7/21/09
~ 8/6/09
~9/3/09
25. Cook a new recipe for dinner once a week for a month 7/6/08
1st~ Turkey Stuffing Divan, OK
2nd~ Chickette, rave reviews
3rd~ Nacho Dogs, Huge success
4th~ Sloppy Joe Pizza, OK
26. Go above and beyond the call of duty 7/3/09 (I hunted across the U.S. for a sewing machine that my mom has always wanted and shipped it home to her.)
27. Explore Craters of the Moon
28. Read the B of M
29. 5k 5/18/09
30. Take Bug out on a date just her and I 2/6/09
31. Take Beaner out on a date just her and I
32. Take Bud out on a date just him and I
33. Take Bear out on a date just him and I
34. Go on a romantic overnighter with Big D (not for a special occasion) 6/17/09 - 6/26/09
35. Teach Kinnzi a new trick 5/3/08 (to shake hands)
36. Potty train Bear 5/28/08
37. Run away with my sister's for one weekend 10/3/09
38. Take my mom out for lunch or dinner in another city
5/16/09
39. Scrapbook with my mom all night
40. Run away with girlfriends for one weekend 8/09
41. Do something childish with my kids 3/27/08
42. Find a long lost friend and renew our friendship 9/5/08
43. Try Indian food 5/30/08
44. Write each one of my kids a letter telling them how much, and what, I love about them
~ Bug's 5/5/09
~ Beaner's 5/5/09
45. Compliment five strangers a day for one week 6/17/09 ~ 6/26/09 (I know that's a bit longer than a week but in Boston I was complimenting people left and right: wonderful food, great store, nice people, etc.)
46. Do not go out to eat for one month straight
~ Start 8/31/09
~ End 9/29/09
47. Plan my dream vacation 10/12/09~Italy
48. Meet all the neighbors on my street
49. Plant and maintain a beautiful garden
~ Planted my garden 5/23/08
~ Harvested Aug - Sept
50. Visit Nursing Home 3x and talk to at least five people
~ 3/16/08
~ 4/13/08

Water Monsters

I took my niece,Jo, nephews, Lowell Jr. and Hyatt, and Bear to the library for story time. After story time we weren't ready to go home yet so we decided to go to the park. But to get to the toys they had to cross a bridge with a water monster living under it.



I told the kids that the water monster liked to eat leaves and if they fed him he wouldn't eat them.



The kids had fun throwing leaves into the water and they kept saying they saw the water monster eat the leaves.



They had so much fun feeding the water monster that once we made it over the bridge to the toys they didn't play long before wanting to feed the water monster again.



The kids had fun playing on the toys but the lure of a water monster was too great.


They have such a wonderful imagination. I love being around them, they help keep me young.



On the way home from the park I told the kids we had to go through a dark cave to get home.



I told the kids that there was ghosts and goblins in this cave and they needed to tell me if they saw one and I would honk the horn to scare them away.



The kids screamed and I honk the entire distance of the cave, or underpass. After we were all done and settled down Lowell Jr. said, "I didn't see any ghosts." He our logical child so I told him that it was because I did such a good job scaring them away.

I Love Halloween

We had a great Halloween. Very packed with fun fun fun.



After we went trick-r-treating for four city blocks downtown we went to a trunk-r-treat.



Brook's family and Itchy and his kids all joined us for the festivities. We were in the presence of greatness: a doctor, adventurers, football player, Wolverine, baseball player, and then there was Fat Jack the clown/mechanic (although you really don't want him to bend over your car, he had the biggest wedgie I've ever seen).



Big D got a really bad haircut, we fired his barber, Beaner was a beautiful witch, Bear and Bud were ninjas.



RC was always at attention and Bug was a rat creature, she got the idea from her Bone book. Itchy was just praying for it to all be over because he helped Big D bust out concrete all day and was exhausted.



Beaner and I decided to wear fake eyelashes. Hers turned out great, they matched her outfit and she loved them.



I tried to dress up, I bought a witches hat and put on my lashes but when I tried to find a witches dress there wasn't anything modest so I just wore dark clothing, which looked stupid. I almost had to wear the lashes to church the next day because I was too scared to tear them off, I made Beaner do hers first.



By the end of the evening Fat Jack got a hair cut...



then got fresh with Big D.

After the truck-r-treat we went to our neighborhood and some walked up and down six more blocks. Needless to say, we will probably be needing a dentist soon. Beaner couldn't even carry her bag anymore, it was too heavy. Although she does love the power of having the most candy.

We figured we should counter balance the candy with some healthy food so we went to Brook and Andy's for pizza when we were all too tired to walk anymore.