Happy New Year!

Here is my good, bad and the ugly report.

Ugly first-poor kitty's tummy. It looks quite funny now though when she walks.

The good. We have had lots of travel this year. We have been to 3 zoos, Disneyland, Lagoon, Sea World, Up and down the West Coast. And the sudden trip to the East Coast. Great visit with my dad and his family. Someone has a drivers license

The bad, the loss of my grandfather, but I feel his presence. Falling Christmas trees, Expensive headaches. No time and the kids are growing up too fast. Oh yeah, someone has a drivers license.

But it is nice to reflect this year and admit it has been a good one.



So I have been sick with something since Christmas. It is getting worse and very annoying right now. I am pretty miserable. I would love to get SOMETHING accomplished on this long holiday.
Hannah is 6! My baby is 6 years old. I am having a trauma over my baby growing up. She had a nice birthday. She got a Disney princess game from my mom for the Wii. And she got the Barbie Island princess stuff from us and a cabbage patch doll from my sister that wets itself.
I am about to celebrate New Years with my husband and 3 youngest daughters. My sister and her man may show up in time to celebrate with us. Then I get I to fetch Amber and a friend on the other side of town from a church dance. Too far and too many drunks and policemen to let her drive.

Devanie thought this was a funny story so I am sharing. Amber was able to drive on her date the Friday before Christmas. But it snowed while they were in the movie. Too much to let her drive someone else's kid home and herself. Lee Joe was moving a road grader to Costco for Snow removal. About the time the movie let out he was at the theatre. I gave him ahard time about driving them home in the road grader. But He did it anyway. Amber and Matthew road home in the road grader. When they pulled up in front of Matthew's house he got his brothers and parents outside to show them. A very memorable way to come home. On Friday this week he came over with Amber's other friends to play the Wii. They ended the night playing a board game called Quelf. It is this hilarious board game of just random things. They had to write haikus about armpits and other silly things. Kelsea had to play leap frog. One of the cards said that when you land on an opponent's space you had to hold hands with that opponent. Matthew rolled next AND landed on Amber's space. They held hands for the first time for a whole 3 seconds before Amber could quickly roll the dice for her turn. She was so red and it was SOO very funny. That is my continuation of the silly teenage saga.

Happy New Year!!

Christmas aftermath

We had a very nice Christmas. The girls all got things they wanted. After they opened their stuff there was some stuff in the very back of the tree for all of them. There was a Polly pocket race to the mall for the 3 youngest. Some movies and a Disney Scene it game. And then there was a Wii with games and accessories for 4 players! And a Dance dance revolution game. The girls were so excited. They didn't expect it at all. And Lee Joe had a big surprise present. It was something that started with a note in a little box and he had to find the big box. He really wanted a Lionel train set. I found one. He didn't think he would get it at all. So that was a great surprise for him. So the train set is up on the floor in the living room and the wii all over the family room. We cleaned all day today before we played the wii today. Yes, I am having fun too, and my arm and shoulder are sore. Lee Joe and I boxed tonight.

The cat is getting better and got her tubes out of her stomach yesterday. Our neighbors feel awful.

I love Christmas vacation. My car is getting a break too.

and all that-

The two oldest have babysat for the past two days. Amber is driving herself to her friend things and now on a date tonight. Kelsea was a butt to her Orchestra teacher again on Weds. While talking to a friend of hers in her class she said Kelsea is hilarious and does and says the things they all wish they could say. She won't be there next semester. I can't believe that she is my child sometimes. If she wasn't so funny it might be easier to be much harder on her. Amber and Kelsea played together Thursday in their seminary classes. Autumn got a student of the month award yesterday. I am happy the kids are out of school. But they keep wrapping things they are making and found my tape stash. Our tree is full of stuff and I not sure if it is just big boxes and gift bags filled with pictures on paper and other crafts. But it is pretty cute. We keep getting banned from bedrooms and other rooms when they are working on something. I am so behind with everything. I was up till 3am last night in my freezing cold garage with the space heater on and I found out I need to go out in the shopping mess one more time for one or two things. I also forgot to get something for Matt's girlfriend.

And the cat is recovering well so far. She has 15 stitches across her stomach. She was listless the past two days. Today she is sitting up, purred when I pet her and complained when I cleaned her stomach and is eating. I couldn't imagine my life without pets and it just makes me sad at how bad she is hurt. I love cats even though I am allergic to them. I put up with my allergies for the love of my cat. I don't mind caring for her I am just not very good at it. I am glad it is over Christmas break because I will be more likely to remember to give her all her meds. We know that our neighbor's dog did get her. They called their dog in when they heard something going on outside. We could consider her lucky she is still alive. The girls have all been concerned for her. Lee Joe said my Christmas present was getting her fixed up but that is not true because he is out shopping for me right now with the girls.

I am so excited for Christmas. I got Lee Joe something great that he has no clue about but wants. I can't wait! I feel like the kids but it is not about what I am getting it is about them. So much fun!

I don't know that anyone will be posting much here on out. But have a
Merry Christmas.

poor kitty

Amber discovered our cat this morning was badly injured. We thought it was just her leg. She couldn't walk on it. She was a mess and smelled like she was in a fight. Lee Joe took her to the vet and then discovered she had a large slice across her stomach. She had to have surgery. The vet and Lee Joe think a dog got her. She has puncture wounds on her legs and stitches and drainage tubes out her stomach. It is huge- all the stitches she has. Poor kitty. She has a cone on her head and can't walk. It is so sad. She is on two antibiotics and has pain meds. It is awful. But at least she is OK. She is one of the kitties I hand fed as a kitten. I have some pictures I will post later because Amber thinks she needs the computer at 10:30 for homework.

Can it be?

Can it be that Christmas is less than a week away today? Can it be that I am behind with everything and that somehow this week is so plugged with stuff I will be lucky to catch up? I think I am done shopping but there is still so much left to do.

Hannah went to the eye doctor today. She is going every 3 months right now. She is 20/30 out of the not so good eye with glasses. We went to build a bear today to get her an early birthday present since all of Boise will be there after Christmas with all their gift cards. She picked out a bunny with a Disney princess shirt. I need to take pictures.

I have two concerts to attend tomorrow. One at 9:15 in the morning and one in the evening. Kelsea is still a butt to her orchestra teacher and it sounds like she actually intimidates him because he won't reprimand her, he just glares at her and yells at her friend instead.

It rained and rained today. I am subbing for recesses tomorrow. I don't like the forcast. Inside recess is a pain. In December, the last week of school , all the kids are out of control. Oh well it is just 3 hours. That is the only time I will have gone in to sub this month. I have little time to bake. We will do what we can.

I am excited for Christmas, I just more TIME to get what I want to done.

My trip

This will be lengthy-More of a story than a blog.

I decided to go at the last minute. Saturday morning we bought the tickets. Lee Joe wanted to come with me and I was such a mess over the anxiety of flying and getting there and seeing my dad again I was just a mess and didn't want to go a few times even after I bought the tickets. My mom didn't want me to go and I hurt her feelings over something I said but I told her she could help me by being here for the girls while I was away. So she was good with that. Amber was thrown into her license while we were gone. She drove the girls home from church, and took them to the Stake choir thing. She drove kids to seminary in the morning and the girls home from school, to Kelsea's game and everyone to their Weds stuff. The girls were awesome and so responsible in our abscence. That is the first time we have left them together for longer than overnight.

Before we left on Sunday, Amber and Kelsea were playing together in Sacrament. Our plane was suppose to leave at 12:45 and Sacrament is at 11. We asked the bishopric if they could move their musical number earlier and they did. They played this beautiful piece. O Come Emmanueal on piano and violin and it was amazing. Kelsea's music fell on the floor and they didn't miss a beat. She picked it up and put it on the bench during a pause for her in the music, Amber slowed it a bit and no one knew the difference. After that we said goodbye to all the girls and they all fell apart except for Amber. She takes a lot to let loose of emotions in public. Kelsea and the other girls couldn't keep it together so after sacrament they went home. We left. At the airport we found out there were delays. When we got to our gate it was a 3 hour delay. We had a connecting flight in Chicago to Providence RI and it was delayed too so we hoped for the best. Everyone kept sounding like we would have to wait until Monday to leave and that was too late. We got into Chicago. What a crazy airport! We found the part of the airport where our flight was suppose to be. We asked about our flight. We were told to go to a certain gate. We got to the gate and our flight had left an hour earlier. The flight they were getting ready to board was to Boston. We asked them if they knew how close it was to Providence. They said maybe 2 hours. We asked if we could get on that flight. So with only 10 minutes till boarding time we changed our rental car location. We got out our US Atlas I brought along. I am so prepared! Anyway, Boston is only 50 miles to Providence. We figured out our driving plan on the flight and got our car once we landed and made it to our motel in Providence at about 2am their time. But we lost our checked bag with the flight change. The other great thing I did was I packed 2 carry on bags with the stuff we needed the next day. I packed like we would lose our bag. I didn't have everything I needed with the new liquid restrictions but I had the clothes I needed to wear to the funeral and Lee Joe did too. I had make-up and toothbrushes but not shower stuff and no flat iron. So that was amazing we made it.


Some information from my past. I have seen my grandparents a few times over the years. They came to see me about 3 times. My dad saw me last when I was 4 and then I went to Connecticut 3-4 years ago and saw him for the first time in 32 years. I met my two half brothers for the first time. They were 18 and 15 then. And my step mother. I met 3 of my Aunts and their families. One of my cousins is my age and I spent a lot of time with him before I left when I was 4. I loved my grandfather. I still remember him playing the banjo and the juice harp and other instruments for us and he played with me a lot. I have always loved the hammer dulcimer because he had one and I played it and he played it. My grandma says she has only seen him cry once in all the years she has known him. And that was the day that I left with my mom and sister. When I went to Connecticut a few years ago they had put him in the home because he was so difficult with his Alzheimers. He could only remember me as a little girl at that time and I was glad he could remember me but was broken hearted at waiting too long to come because he was not himself. My grandparents and my aunts all made sure that Melissa and I were never forgotten after all those years. So I had to go to the funeral.


The next day we got it together and found our way to the viewing. We got there. I found my Aunt Kathy and my brother Duncan was close by. He gave me hug and said hi. I said hi to some more relatives. I saw my dad and Alane. They saw me and came over to me. He was all smiles. He looked surprised I made it. I thought my Aunt Kathy had told him I was coming but she didn't. He was surprised. My Aunt Amy offered to let me stay with her right away if I needed to. My dad, after I talked to him for a few minutes asked where I was staying and immediately offered his place. His own sisters were not sure he would offer. The viewing was interesting because it wasn't somber. There was laughter. Grandma said he was probably dancing around in heaven playing a harp and playing it well. They all said that even though he loved instruments, he struggled to play them. She was sad yet looked for the relief he has now at being himself since he hasn't been for so long. My aunts cried as they said goodbye to Grandpa before we left for the service at the church. I saw my first Catholic funeral. When my Aunt Amy shared her memories of my Grandfather one of her recollections included me and my cousin John sitting on his feet while he clomped around pretending we were a pair of boots he was going to kick into the closet. And then we went to the grave site and there was a little service there. Then there was dinner at a restaurant for the family. There were pictures of grandpa. One set had pictures of him when he was young and one had pictures of him with his children and grandchildren. I was in one of the pictures with him that was on display.

Back at my grandma's house we all crammed in her small place. I was in the kitchen and dining area with my cousins and they talked about memories of grandpa and him pulling out instruments from behind and under the recliner for them to play. I remembered the banjo. I said I remembered the juice harp and when Snoopy would play one I would say "my grandpa can play that!" My cousin Brian said he had one. One of the kids found the dancing wooden man grandpa would make dance for us. I had told Lee Joe about it earlier. So I was able to show him what I was talking about. Even though I was gone for so long I was not a stranger at all. The remarkable thing there is I always have felt comfortable and connected to all of them. I discovered things that I carry that are Kennedy traits. All of the Kennedys get warm easily. I do that. All the aunts babies and my dad's sons were large. Beyond 8 pounds. All my girls were. My dad is a picky eater and my sister and I are too. Melissa more than me. We went to the Olive Garden Tuesday night. My favorite place. And he always orders the same thing. I usually do. But when I told Melissa what my dad ordered she laughed because she always gets what he has-spaghetti and meatballs. She left there when she was a baby and doesn't know him. When my dad watches TV he pulls his shirt up over his nose sometimes. Weird habit but I do that! My dad teases his wife a lot. I tease my girls, nieces and nephews the same way. My dad talked a lot this time. He shared so much and let me pick any of his pictures I wanted. He has done photography for years and has had shows and won things. I told Lee Joe on the flight home that it felt so good to have had that time with my dad. And that I could say Dad to someone who really was my dad and see him happy to be around me and when we left I could still hear his voice in my head. I have wanted that my whole life. I have never cried happy tears but I have and can do that now. I feel my grandpa healing us in his passing doing what he couldn't do in life. The divorce of my parents devasted my dad's entire family. His parents, his sisters, his aunts. They all loved my mom so much. And things have never been right since. There is so much that I can't explain because this blog would go on like a book. But because I have worked so hard at being accepting of any relationship I could have with my dad this -well I am speechless with how overwhelmed I am. Something that so many people take for granted I now have and I hope to get for my sister too. I am grateful for how this trip turned out. I suppose if that was the only Christmas present I got this year it would be the best and the best ever.

I'm back!!

I went to Connecticut. It was a trip like no other. Miracles happened. remarkable incredible awesomness even with the funeral. I think my grandfather really had a hand in getting me there and since I had 3 hours of sleep last night and it took a ridicuous amount of time to get home today-but we missed all the bad weather- the full update will have to wait until I am rested.

Congrats for Amber

Amber is an official licensed driver today!! She passed the driving test yesterday and today she did the written and has a fancy card with her picture on it now!

Kelsea's team lost their first game last week to last year's city champs. She is starting and playing almost the entire game this year. She was suppose to guard this girl that was almost 6 ft tall and did a better job guarding her than anyone else on the team. She had about 20 jump balls that game too. The game before that one she made 11 points and one was a 3 point shot!! I didn't know she could make those and neither did she.

I am still undecided on whether I am leaving for Connecticut this weekend but if I do I will leave on Sunday. My own dad hasn't called me so I don't know what to think about that. It was my Aunt that called. My grandma is not taking it very well. My mom is trying to convince me I shouldn't go. Lee Joe says I need to, but I am trying to make my own decision.

Some sad news

I am sad but if I had time to have shared with my grandparents more I would be more of an impact but my Grandfather in Connecticut passed away. He has had Alzheimers for years and the last time I saw him when Hannah was 18 months he could only remember me as a little girl. But I treasure them because they took more time to see me growing up than my father ever did and from what my grandma tells me is that the only time she has ever seen him cry was the day we left Connecticut because she says he just adored me. I didn't have that great of a relationship with my other grandparents that I grew up with after that. It was a good relationship but I knew I couldn't compete with my sister. He was a special grandpa that loved music so much that he collected instruments from all over the world. He could play some of them but he claimed not very well and those are the things I remember about him. And amazingly I can remember being in Connecticut even though we left when I was that young. Maybe I am sadder than I thought. So I am trying to figure out if I am going to the funeral that is on Monday.

The tree fiasco

We always get a real tree but I have been looking at artificial trees for a few years now but haven't bought one. This year I wish I had. I sent Lee Joe on Monday with the three youngest in search of the annual tree. The past few years they have been really small so we were looking for a taller one. He got a nice tall and fat one. We didn't get it up in time to decorate it Monday so last night was the night we could do it but it was just me and the 3 little girls. It had been up all night and all day. We were putting lights on the tree and Kylee was handing them to me and all of a sudden the tree fell over on Kylee and the tree stand ran up the front of my shin. Kylee was fine but my shin was not. Huge raised bruised bump up the front of it. So we tightened the tree stand up and we were able to decorate the rest of the tree. At 4am the tree dumped over again with some disasterous results. I happened to hear it. We have a few glass ball ornaments that the girls have made and one was a gift to Kelsea that shattered. We have a tradition of the girls getting an ornament every year so when they get their first tree when they leave home they will have ornanments from their childhood. Five of those broke. 4 were repaired with super glue that Lee Joe got for me around 5am and one was not repairable. There was water all over the tree skirt and my doll nativity. I had considered putting my nice set under there this year. I am glad I didn't. The good news this morning was I found a replacement that almost matched the unrepairable ornament at Target. I may find the humor in this and do a picture for my Christmas cards with the girls in it reinacting a falling tree. So later today when Lee Joe and I are both home at the same time we need to adjust the tree, attach it to a wall and put bricks on the back side of the stand and then we will have to decorate the tree all over again. It was very pretty.

And TOMORROW!!! Amber will be doing her drivers test!!!!! And might-I say might-have a license at the end of tomorrow. I am afraid, but I don't have to take her. She is a little freaked out too. Her permit expires in January so it is good timing.

Everyone is gone-

I guess everyone but Dove is gone from the blogging world this week. Probably the almost Dec hurricane that is going on. I should be doing hundreds of things other than being here. Procrastination at its best I guess. I fought with my computer all day yesterday and thought I lost a bunch of California pictures then found them and had problems just trying to upload pictures from recently on the computer. I was a stressed out mess from it and am still further behind in my must dos- here are some pics to all the people that are not out there this month.

Autumns Thanksgiving program

Uncle Rex and his dog Roxy-sure that's a motorcycle riding front carrier.

Pep Band -------------------9th grade Basketball

Homecoming forever ago.

We are home and on the go already-

We had a nice trip to Seattle. The weather was nice. I left sick but got well enough to enjoy our time there. We had lots of family for dinner and some of my Aunt and Uncles friends. They asked Lee Joe to say the blessing on the food and when he mentioned my cousin in the prayer that is in Iraq they both had to take a minute after the prayer to compose themselves. I met a cousin I haven't seen since she was an infant. She is in college playing basketball on a scholarship right now. My grandpa cracked me up the whole time. He was telling Kelsea and Amber they needed to get this 15 year old boys phone number and he was telling the boy the same thing. He told Amber and Kelsea that they were such good friends that they needed to share their boyfriend. And then he told my uncle Rex that he needed help with an ingrown toenail. He wanted Rex to get this tool and cut a V in the top of the nail. Rex said he didn't want to do it because Grandpa would "squeal". They kept talking about it and Rex kept saying he would squeal like a little girl. It was funny. The next day he said Rex fixed it and it felt much better. And I had to ask him if he squealed and he said no. Melissa asked him why he didn't go to the doctor and he said you only go to the doctor when your sick and he wasn't sick. Coming from a man who pulls his own teeth when they hurt. My aunt and uncle have new dog. It is a little boston terrier and it is the cutest thing. My uncle had this doggie front carrier he said it was so he could take it for a motorcycle ride. We all said yeah right, that was the manly excuse for a doggie front carrier. My grandpa wanted to keep my cousin's little dog and was thanking her for the dog. She has THE cutest little 4 pound dog. It went home with my cousin.

So Friday Melissa her family and all of us went to Seattle Aquarium and I toured them down the Pike Place market. I bought a sweatshirt for me this time and shirts for the little girls. Then we went back to the house. We got a little lost but found our way back. Saturday we went to the Woodland park zoo and my Aunt and Uncle also came along. We laughed at Orangutans that were playing with a sheet. It looked like they were playing peek-a-boo. It was a really nice zoo just a little cold. We watched Evan Almighty that night. We left late Sunday morning and had a really nice visit. We got home at 8:30 which wasn't so bad.

I had to be up and out to the school this morning sice I have missed the last two Mondays with sick kids.

I can't believe it is time for Christmas almost. ACK!!!
I have some fun pictures to post later.

Happy Hallothanksgivchristmas

I think that is what we should call this time of year when the holidays feel like they start running into each other. I can't believe that Thansgiving is this coming week already. It already feels like the holiday season. It could be because they were running Christmas like commercials the day after Halloween. But Lee Joe, Amber, Kelsea and Amber's friend all say that it feels like Christmas. That usually doesn't happen until December for me but I feel it too. I think Boise feels as well because the traffic around us yesterday was seriously obnoxious. It took me 30 minutes to pick up Amber from the high school and then get to the little girls. That should take 7 to 15 minutes at the most. We are five minutes away from the only mall in town. It took me 30 minutes to get to and from the mall yesterday before 4pm!! on a friday-well fridays are busier than most week days but that was more like Saturday afternoon traffic in December.

We have had two invitations for Thanksgiving this year. One to Eastern Idaho and one to Seattle. My family is all going to Seattle to see my Aunt, Uncle and Grandfather. I have left it to Lee Joe to decide where. He is leaning towards Seattle and we may hit Eastern Idaho over Christmas break. I don't have to cook the Turkey-did you see my turkey dance?

Good news

We had some good news from the neurologist this morning. He ruled Lee Joe's episode an atypical migraine. He had a lot of symptoms they had to rule out the worst but after looking through all his tests that is what they believe he had. And then the doctor mentioned at the end of the visit that if it had been a transient ischemic attack he could loose his CDL. We are glad that it is not the case. So there is no evidence of any stroke or any sort of bleeding on the brain or artery that has done something nasty but we got to see the inside of his head. The doctor showed us his MRI pictures. But boy will this be one EXPENSIVE migraine. But thankfully the news is good.

Something crazy happened this week. I cleaned up the garage enough that we were able to pull the van in it so Lee Joe could work on it. That is remarkable since I think we have only pulled a car in the garage maybe 3 or 4 times in all the 8 and a half years we have been here.

Taking it easy

I always have high hopes for long weekends like this but when they happen sometimes it is just nice to not worry about much and that is what we have done. I cleaned so well on Wednesday that it has actually lasted most the weekend. We have done some pick-ups here and there. Amber had friends over and what I prepared for food left a minor mess. I haven't cooked and we have shopped some and Lee Joe came along with us all on Friday to the mall and we had ice cream at Baskin Robbins. Today we went to the parade that Amber marched in. I was feeling crappy so when we got home both her and I slept a long time. Autumn has started her barking cough. Hannah was sick last weekend and Kylee sounds like she could be starting so I may stay home with the sick ones again tomorrow.

By the way we had parent teacher conferences on weds and thurs. I met with 15 teachers in two days. All but one teacher had high praise. The one teacher says her attitude is improving. That is Kelsea in orchestra. It has been a battle since the begining of the year with the teacher. Many 9th graders quit at the start of the year. I wouldn't let Kelsea. When I got the call from the teacher telling me she has been disrespectful in class I was upset with Kelsea. But when I talked to her she had been bothered by the teacher causing a 9th grade boy to cry in class. And that is where her attitude came from. In the meantime I talked to the counselor about what happened and then the principal evaluated his class and I e-mailed him and suggested he talk to another teacher that is fantastic with the kids and Kelsea has that teacher for one of her classes and basketball. That teacher talked to Kelsea and gave the orchestra teacher some suggestions and positive change started taking place. We will see if it lasts though. I might have to give in to letting her out of that class at the end of the semester. He wants to win Kelsea over. He rocognizes she has talent. So there you go!

So far this week-

Lee Joe is back at work. There are no lasting effects from his episode on Sunday. Or none that are obvious. He has an apointment next week with a neurologist. I forgot to mention what a good job Amber did while we were at the hospital. I had a roast on for dinner but it took awhile before I called the house and when I did Amber was making the rest of dinner without being told to do it. I was so impressed because she lacks her own initiative sometimes. Good kid. But the day wasn't without some sisterly abuse in our absence.

My van had an oil change a few weeks ago and ever since the oil pressure light comes on and dings at me when I am idling at stoplights. We do that a lot here in Boise. So it happens a lot. And something is wrong with our tub. It is leaking into the downstairs bathroom still. We need to make time to figure out whats leaking before there is much more damage. The downstairs bathroom already needed work on the ceiling in there. It looks like the tub has a crack.

This week is interesting. It is parent teacher conference week. For some reason the school assigned me a time on Weds that makes this afternoon a huge nightmare. Piano from 3:30 to 4:30 I need to go to the jr high for Kelsea's conferences at 4:30 and I might need to go back Thursday and on Thursday I need to go to Amber's. Lee Joe has Scouts from 6-7, oh yeah-he has a new calling too. The little girls have their conferences from 6:20-to 7:20 which overlaps YW. I, of course, was in charge. Everyone is coming over here. And somehow Kelsea needs to get to basketball practice at some point. But what makes the day a bit more enjoyable is I get to stay home all day until then. Hannah doesn't have school today. That is SOOO nice. Kylee and Autumn are home after early morning choir tomorrow. And everyone is out on Friday. So I think I can get a handle on some stuff and I am still trying to tile that small strip in the kitchen and the girls that are downstairs still need shelves put up in their rooms. So I am going to think positive and we will see how much I can tackle! I need to get busy.

Since blogging-

So I blogged while everyone was at church and then Lee Joe came home with headache-he never gets those and some other alarming symptoms so it was necessary to spend the day at the ER. We got there at 2:45, left at 8:40. We got the works-EKG CT MRI and the results are he had a transient Ischemic attack. A little scary but it was mild and he felt better most of the time we were there. We are both worried about the impending bill with no insurance. He fought a lot of the tests because of the cost but when it was done and they told him what they did he could agree it was necessary. He has to take a baby aspirin everyday and see a neurologist. Fun huh? He is OK right now. We are just glad they didn't make him stay the night.

AHHHH-some time

The first 3 days this week kicked my fanny. What really kicked my fanny was an unruly kindergartener at the school at the end of the day that decided to take a run past the office and through the kindergarten class room, out the door and halfway across the playgound before I caught up to him. I hadn't had to run that fast in along time. Apparantly I need to do that more often. I worked half a day on Tues. And of course Halloween and I was EXHAUSTED!! before the day was even half over. So we survived, the kids felt really special in all their dressed up glory and we went to the trunk or treat and then went trick or treating in a nice neighborhood where most of the girls friends live. Amber dressed up like a pirate and walked the little girls through the neighborhood. She had her loud ear phones around her neck and played pirate music so she had theme music too. She didn't trick or treat. Kelsea went to a friends house and dressed up like a boy.

Thursday I got to recover. It is soo nice having things calm down a little. Kelsea made varsity in basketball. She has practices for a few weeks before games start. Friday I stayed home with Hannah. She has barking cold. It was early release. It saved me from going back to the school and hour and half later. I baked two cakes-100% homemade, not a box mix. One for a funeral and one for us. I cleaned house. So nice to see it clean even if it is only for a day. Sat the dog threw up in two places in the family room. I had to shampoo the carpet. I was going to shampoo anyway. Lee Joe and I went shopping for trim and other house stuff. We were gone all day and had lunch out. We haven't done that in ages. And then we came home proceeded to destroy things in the process of making things look nice. I started getting my tile together for the kitchen and mudded some of the walls and Lee Joe trimmed out the doorway that use to have the sliding glass door in it. We are shopping for a ceiling fan for our room. For some reason Lee Joe is fixated on having one that looks like an airplane propeller. I am giving him first choice on the fan and I think I found one online that he will really like but it costs a lot. So when we get there I will take pictures and post them-do you believe me?

We are having some successes with our fish. We have lost some too. Our big tank has been doing well. We lost one fish a few weeks ago. Everyone else is hanging in there. 24 fish, a big snail and two frogs in our big one. Our guppy tank has been up and down. We have lost more guppies. I have made few healthy again. But the fish guy I saw says he has trouble with guppies too. We have had several batches of babies. We think the frogs ate the first big round of babies so they got moved. Our first two babies that were getting really big died. We had 6 babies, 3 or 4 died but now we are back up to 5. We have 4 ghost shrimp in that tank. One is so big and now HER belly is covered in eggs so we will see how many shrimp we end with. I was going to name that one George but I guess she is a Georgette. Maybe the guppies will eat some of those of the shrimp babies otherwise we could be in a heap of trouble. And we have a big snail in there and a cory catfish. We are going to fish sit for the next few weeks while my neighbor is away.

We are progressing well right now. I always have too much to do but things are happening. I can't believe how close Christmas is now. Ack!! I am not ready for that-we just had Christmas last month it feels like.

I have written my book on this past week so there you go!

So busy

I don't really have time to blog but I am looking forward to tomorrow and Friday-I will be home more. I subbed Fri and Mon and half of Tues. I have the usual Halloween run around. But with Kindergarten I get to go to the school 2 times for parties and take Amber some food for one of her classes in between. I got to drive kids to school from seminary this morning. I did Autumn and Hannah's hair this morning for their costumes. Autumn hair needed to be curly all over. She slept in rollers and we curled her hair in ringlets-ish and Hannah has Belle hair. Kylee's hair was done last night. I plan on remembering to take pictures this year-I don't know what happened to me last year. Now I need a shower and to get myself going.

By the way, I got my first call last week from a teacher telling me one of my daughters has been naughty, more like disrespectful in one of her classes. Can you guess who? More on that later.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Crazy can stop now!

This coming week would be somewhat restful if it wasn't for Halloween in the middle of it. I really don't like Halloween much as an adult. I have never liked scary anyway and it is one of those I help my girls indulge in. This year I bought costumes for the little ones we rotate picking from the box of costumes past and fulfilling their imagination but I think I bought 2 of the 3 costumes the little girls did last year and made the other. Santa was memorable. Our current trip brought out the disney this year with one exception. Kylee is Cinderella in her wedding dress from Cinderella 3. I have to add some stuff to the store bought costume. Hannah is Belle-so easy. Autumn wanted to be Peter Pan and wear a Tinkerbell wig. I had a hard time indulging that one and partly because there are not any peter pan costumes or tinkerbell wigs around. And it was just weird. We have done a Pippi Longstocking cheerleader before but Autumn's idea was just weird. So I asked her if she still wanted to be that and she said that or Christine. I had to ask who Christine was-from the Phantom of the Opera. What 9 year old wants to be a character from a broadway musical. It wound up being easy because she wanted a white dress and Fred Meyer had a snow princess dress that works perfectly. I just have to get creative when it comes to curling her hair.