Rhonda's Randomness

Fall is in the air here..

2010-09-08T21:46:00.002-06:00

Well the nights are getting cooler even though the days are somewhat warm. The kids are back in school and I am enjoying my new position. The kids I work with are awesome and I really like the teacher I am working with.
Jeremiah is enjoying 3rd grade. He has an awesome teacher and he has met some new friends. He has been having fun riding his bikes and his scooter. I have to laugh at him. He has a "big" bike that he likes to ride up and down the road and around the neighborhood. Then he has his "little" bike that he does stunts on. He loves to go over jumps and ride with no hands. So far he has only had one big crash and he got pretty skinned up. Of course, he laughed after he saw he wasn't bleeding too bad and was only a bit bruised. What a nut!!
Aidyn is loving Kindergarten and Ely has started preschool. They are both getting so big. I just love listening to all three of these little ones talk of their day.
James' puppy, Dixy, is growing rapidly!! She is so big now and she listens pretty well for a puppy. He has taught her how to sit, lay, come and stay. The main commands for us. She loves to go fishing with him and the boys as she loves the water!!
They have done quite a bit of fishing this summer but so far mainly catch and release. They even go me to go a time or two, but of course I didn't catch a darn thing!!! I don't think I like fishing very much! lol That doesn't mean I won't go with them occasionally though. I like spending time with my guys.
This weekend we are suppose to go camping. I hope it doesn't get too cold. That would be the pits. I'm not much of a camper but I don't mind it as long as it is warm. I hate getting cold. I'm such a wuss!!
Well that is all for now!! Have a great day or night!!

Relaxing

2010-08-10T10:32:00.003-06:00

The days have been hot and muggy, so we have spent some time just chillin' downstairs. We spend time in the morning outside doing the little things that need to get done and then by noon we are "holed up" in the house. The afternoons are spent reading, watching TV, playing games and generally just enjoying some down time. Then after supper when it starts to cool down we can go outside and enjoy our yard and have fun with the dogs.
James got a new puppy a few weeks ago. She is a blue heeler and is adorable. He named her Dixy. She is a very smart little girl and loves attention. Tucker took to her right away, too. They wrestle out in the yard or lay together in the cool house. It is kind of funny to watch them play because Tucker is so big and she is just a little thing, but he is our gentle giant. What a sweet, gentle boy he has been.
The yard is starting to take shape and is very green. We have taken out some of the bushes and added roses, peonies and lilacs out front. I have my many pots of flowers growing out on the back patio. Started a garden but it was kind of late so not sure if I will get much out of it. Also planted some tomato plants in an old water trough and they are doing great!
School starts in two weeks and I think I am actually looking forward to it. It will be a new adventure as I will be working with a different teacher and my job will look a little different then last year. I am looking forward to the change and working with the kids again. I think I am also looking forward to working with adults again!! I have been watching my grand kids all summer and haven't had a lot of adult time during the day. Poor James gets stuck with all my need to talk to an adult when he gets home at night. Guess that is fair though as I listen to him when he comes home and talks of his day.
All the kids are doing well and settling into their new homes. Aidyn starts school this fall. He is so excited about it and Ely is already talking about how she gets to go next year. I think she will be a little lonely when Aidyn heads to school without her. They have been playmates for 4 years. She is quite the little pistol.
Well I guess that about sums up what has been happening. Here's to a beautiful day and wishes for your day to be beautiful too!!!

Home Sweet Home

2010-06-23T17:01:00.003-06:00

Well we are officially in our new home. Actually we have been for almost 2 months and we are still putting things away. Unreal how long it seems to take.
We are going to paint the boys room this week and then I can finish getting stuff put up out of the living room. It has been a storage area since we got here. We figured that was alright since we don't have any furniture to put in it anyway. Hopefully by Christmas we will have furniture up there. The rest of the house is coming along nicely.
Today I spent the day with my sweet daughter. She and her family moved back in September and moved into their new home within 2 weeks of us moving into ours. They are only about 2 blocks away and we can wave to each other if she stands on her front porch and I stand on my back porch. Pretty scary!! Not really. We are loving the time we get to spend with them and our sweet grand kids. Uncle Jeremiah is enjoying the freedom of riding around the neighborhood and down to his big sisters house to play. He has a few friends who live around us so that has been awesome.
Anyway, today we were able to spend a "mental health" day together and we did some shopping "therapy" along with having a very nice chat. She is having a rough time of it because this is the first year she has been home in almost 7 years and she is having to face the past. It was 10 years today that her dad died of cancer. I made peace with his death 5 years ago so I understand what she is dealing with. It is so hard to watch her walk through this.
My children mean the world to me and I hate when they go through trials. From experience I know we all have to walk through them and get to the other side a stronger being. She is blessed to have a wonderful man to help her walk through them as I am!
Please be praying for her.

Hopeful

2010-02-26T12:59:00.003-07:00

Well things are going well. We accepted our buyers second bid and now are waiting on their financing. The banker said shouldn't be a problem so that is good. We should know by Monday or Tuesday what is going on. I can't imagine how people feel who's houses have been on the market for several months. Our officially has been on the market not quite a month. It has been a very long month. We are praying hard that all will go well with selling this one and buying the new one. I look forward to setting up a new home. Deciding about paint and everything else. And of course, the yard to work in this spring.

It seems that spring is almost here. It is beautiful out here. I love it. The kids are getting antsy, so I am very glad that there is the weekend coming up now. Hope everyone has a great couple of days!

Many Changes...all for the better!

2010-02-25T11:05:00.003-07:00

This has been a long month. We found a house we want to buy, got approved for financing, put an offer in on said house (which was accepted contingent on our house getting sold) and put our house on the market all within the space of about 6 weeks. Whew! Now we have been patiently waiting for someone to decide to buy ours. Of course we have to keep it spotless in case anyone wants to come see it. Do you know how hard it is to keep a house clean when you have kids and grandkids? Let's just say it has been interesting. We have already boxed up and moved to storage ( at James' brother's house) a huge trailer load. That way it is our of the way. Our realtor called it "decluttering". I laughed at her and said "Oh you mean get rid of a bunch of junk so people can actually see the rooms!!" It does look nice now. James and I did a bunch of fixing and painting and finish work. It is nice to be in a house that is clean and tidy and fresh. We finally got an offer today, which we counter- offered. I just hope it all works out for us. I am ready to move forward with life. I've lived in our house for 19 years in June. That is a long time to be in one house. Well I'm off to lunch and hopefully will hear from our realtor this afternoon. Woo Hoo!!!

Well Hello again!!

2010-02-04T09:15:00.005-07:00

Well once again it has been months since I last posted. My kids moved back to Montana and the Holidays came and went. They were more fun than usual since it was the first one with the grandkids. My brother and sister in law found a home and we moved them into it in January. I know they are very happy to be in their own home.

My daughter and her family are building a home so they are staying with my mom while they await the big day. They are hoping it will be sometime April. It is going to be a beautiful home. Tawny and Evan are having a fun making decisions about flooring, fixtures and paint among other things.

Levi found a good job and is getting settled. He is doing well and I am really enjoying having him home.

As for James, Jeremiah, Brendon and I, we are in the process of selling our house and buying a new one. The one we are in the process of getting is only a few blocks from Tawny and Evans new home. Pray for us that all goes well. Getting ours sold is the only thing holding us up right now. We need someone to buy our house. Anyone moving to Montana soon??? lol

Well that is about all that is going on now. See you in 6 months!!! Maybe sooner if I get on the ball!!!

What I have been up too.....

2009-06-26T15:22:00.004-06:00

Flowers are a big thing for me. I love planting in the Spring and that is what I have been doing.
I have a 3 Silver Mound bushes growing now.
I believe these are Crocus
And of course a pretty yellow daffodil. But these are only a couple of the many I have planted this year.

Wish Spring would get here!

2009-03-30T06:55:00.002-06:00

I am soooo tired of the white stuff. Even though it is beautiful outside, all white and crisp, I still am wishing for the blossom of Spring. We start to get a hint of it and then the snow and cold come once again. I know it is just around the corner. That fresh burst of sunshine and warmth that says here I am.
We have had a bit of illness around here the past week. Jeremiah got it last Sunday and was home all week. Finally on Friday afternoon he started acting more himself, bouncing around and talking a mile a minute. He had been so sick that all he wanted to do was lay on the couch sleeping or watching TV, no games, not a lot of talking or asking to do things just laying around. Today is his first day back and he is ready to go. He even got most of his makeup homework done over the weekend.
Well I am off. This was just a quick post to pass the time this morning. James left early to plow snow and now it is time for us to head to school. Have a great day all!!!

What a wonderful life!

2009-02-17T21:11:00.003-07:00

Today was back to work...but the weekend was wonderful. We had a three day weekend for Valentine's Day. What could be better than that? Oh....well......let me tell you!! We had fun on Friday night with family. We played Rock Band and just enjoyed each others company. Then Saturday morning about 10:00 we took Jeremiah to Grandma Nita's and he spent all day Saturday, Saturday night and most of the day Sunday there. He had his cousins over for a Valentine's Party at Grandma's. While he was there, it gave James and I some time for ourselves. That just doesn't happen very often. We ate at Buffalo Wild Wings (one of James favorites) then we just kicked around town checking out various stores. Did a little shopping at Wal Mart and came home for a bit before heading out again to have supper. We ended up not going where we were going to because it was much to long a wait. So my sweetheart and I had a little bite at Taco Bell!!! It was a lot of fun. Then home and played RB together. Sunday we slept in and missed church but boy was it nice to sleep in. Had a bite to eat on our way to Best Buy to get a second guitar for RB. Then we came home and jammed out. We even had a tug-o-war or contest where you play against each other.
All in all a very RELAXING weekend. James had to work yesterday but Jeremiah and I enjoyed some down time. Well HE enjoyed some down time. I had to get tax stuff ready to go, as I have an appointment on Friday.
So that is what a wonderful life I have had for the past couple of days!!! MMmmmmm...

8 Wonderful Years!

2009-02-03T11:50:00.003-07:00

Well today is our anniversary. I have been married to this wonderful, handsome man for 8 years. It gets me to thinking and remembering. Man, we have really been through a lot of things in a short time. We don't get to spend today together as he is at a school out of town for work. This is only the second time in 8 years that we have missed. The first one we missed was 4 years ago when our grandson was born. I was in Washington with my daughter and he was here working. Poor guy missed out!! :) In August of this year, it will be 9 years since our first date. I'll always remember seeing him that night and thinking "Whoa! I am so in trouble here". He was McDreamy, McSteamy and McYummy(my word) all in one. I think I fell in love right then but waited a little while to let him know. It is always funny when we talk about that night because he says the same thing. We weren't out to get in a serious relationship, rather we just wanted a friendship. We had known each other years before and had both just lost spouses, his to divorce, mine to cancer. We were just hoping to have someone to spend time with and talk to. Well we got that and so much more.
Anyway, I am so totally happy to have the man that I do. He is awesome!!
Happy Anniversary, James.....I love my man!!!

Just a little blurb

2009-01-31T20:14:00.003-07:00

Things are going okay here. My little sis had gallbladder surgery yesterday and she is doing well with it. Just has to take it easy for about a week. Good luck with that. She is a powerhouse. Loves to be busy, but seems to be doing what she is suppose to for now.
James and my anniversary is Tuesday. It will be 8 years for us. Sometimes it feels longer, sometimes not so much. I love him more today than I did all those years ago and I just keep learning more about him. Guess that is the way it should be. Keeps us on our toes and things never get dull or old.
Jeremiah got his report card and is doing awesome. We need to work on his handwriting but nothing major there. Just needs to slow down and write neater. His teacher loves him and thinks he is a sweetheart. I think so too!! :)
Tomorrow is my grandsons Birthday! He will be 4 years old! Happy Birthday Aidyn!!!! Papa and Grandma love you. So does Uncle Jeremiah!!! Have a great day!! MWAH!! xoxo
Had to do that. Hope his mama shows him. LOL
Well this is just a blurb so will try to come back later to write more. Have a great weekend all!

Ok...Yeah.... I know.....

2009-01-21T20:39:00.004-07:00

While I have good intentions about blogging, my follow through is pretty bad. Yes, it has been over 2 months since my last post. Yes, I have been on my computer numerous times a day in the past 2 months. Yeah, I know, pretty lame. I have no real excuse. I just like to play games and read other peoples blogs. That seems to be a bit more important sometimes.
We really have gotten into the habit of playing games and chatting with family and friends on Facebook. It is really pretty sad when you think about it. Other than my kids our family now lives within a 40 mile radius of us. We do get together and have Friday night game night. We have each other over for meals and we see each other at church or school. Still...there is just something about going to Yoville and visiting each others virtual homes.
What a Sad, Sad life we have. LOL
There has been so much that has happened in the past months that I won't go into total detail, but will begin with just a few tidbits.

1. My BIL, Don, and his wife, Elizabeth and their two children moved here from Florida arriving on Thanksgiving Day. Truly a blessing.

2. James and I had 2 wonderful weeks off over the Christmas and New Year's Holidays. Totally enjoyed spending time together as a family.

3. Work is work. I enjoy it but sometimes wish I understood what I need to be doing or maybe just that I was better equipped for the job I have.

4. Jeremiah will be 7 in March and I am just boggled by how much he is growing. He looks so much like his dad and yet I see a lot of his big brother, Levi, in him. That's scary!! (love ya Levi)

5. The King and Queen of the house spoiled themselves after Christmas (we didn't buy ANYTHING for ourselves at Christmas) and we are now the excited owners of a PS3 system and Rock Band 2. It is a blast and the whole family can play if they want to. We really have enjoyed it.

Well at this point that about sums up the past 2 months. I haven't seen a lot of my side of the family as we have been spending extra time with James' side. It is a lot of fun and I know as Don and Elizabeth make their home here things will even out and we will spend time with ALL of our family! It has been a real blessing having them here. Please pray that Don finds a full time position soon that is God's chosen place for him.

Have fun all and I hope to post again soon!! LOL Like maybe a month instead of two!!!

Looking for Long Lost Blogger!!

2008-11-04T16:34:00.004-07:00

Well here I am.. There has just been TOO much going on in the last couple of months that I haven't had time to blog. Play Yoville on Facebook but not blog!!! LOL That has been the new craze in my family and extended family. We get on and chat with each other while we play, which is kind of nice considering there are some here, some in Washington and some in Florida. Keeps us connected.

We went to visit the kids and grand kids in October and boy did we have fun. James had never gone with before as he usually has a big hunting trip the same week I am gone. This year he decide the Big hunting trip would be a no go and he could do some smaller hunts on weekends. So he took a week off and away we went to surprise the kids as they didn't know he was coming. To say they were surprised is an understatement. It was priceless and we all had a wonderful time. Of course we had to go to the Big Cabela's store that was close by....three times....including on the way home!! It was really neat to tour the city with the kids and see some neat things around the area.

When we got home it was hard to get back in the groove. I think we are just now starting to get there and now the next two months will fly by. We had some awesome news before we left on our trip. James' brother and his family are moving back here from Florida. We all have been praying and patiently (yeah right) waiting for the Lord to put everything in place. Well He did and now they should be home by Thanksgiving. So now we are praying for good weather for their moving and jobs when they get here. It is so awesome to watch God work in our lives.

So then once they get here it will be Thanksgiving and then getting ready for Christmas and then Christmas will be here and then the New Year. Wow. The one of the coolest things for me is that I have two weeks off this year for Christmas and one of those weeks my Handsome Man will be home with me. That sounds like a great time. Maybe by then there will be snow and we can take the boys sledding along with the cousins and there folks!! Can't wait to white wash Don!!! Love you BIL-ly!! Hopefully I can run or slide away fast enough not to get white washed back!!!

Well that about brings things up to date. Soon I will post pictures of things that have happened the past couple of months.

Take care and have fun!!!

They call this one "Word Association" I guess!!

2008-08-20T14:46:00.002-06:00

1. Where is your cell phone? Hip
2. Your significant other? James
3. Your hair? Brown
4. Your mother? Juanita
5. Your father? Robert
6. Your favorite thing? Reading
7. Your dream last night? didnt' have one
8 Your favorite drink? Milk
9. Your dream/goal? Debt free!!
10. The room you’re in? Bedroom
11. Your hobby? presently...flower gardens
12. Your fear? deep water
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here
14. What you’re not? flambouyant
15. Muffins? Apple Struesel
16. One of your wish list items? new kitchen
17. Where you grew up? MT
18. The last thing you did? talked on the phone
19. What are you wearing? grimy jeans...just got done making new flowerbed!
20. Favorite gadget? Your looking at it!! well at your own! :)
21. Your pets? Loving
22. Your computer? Awesome
23. Your mood? chillin'
24. Missing someone? Several
25. Your car? Lumina
26. Something you’re not wearing? Food
27. Favorite store? JCP
28. Like someone? too many to name
29. Your favorite color? Purple...can't you tell!!
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Monday

Tagged Alphabet Style...

2008-08-20T14:35:00.003-06:00

A. Attached or Single attached for 8 wonderful years
B. Best Friend? My husband, James
C. Cake or pie? Pie...banana cream or peach or apple
D. Day of choice? Saturday
E. Essential Item my computer: email, internet explorer
F. Favorite color? purple
G. Gummy bears or worms? Neither!!
H. Hometown? Billings, MT
I. Indulgence? Time on the computer, coloring my hair
J. January or July? July
K. Kids? Yes - 3 of my own and 4 I inherited by choice!! :)
L. Life isn’t complete without? God, family, friends
M. Marriage date? February 3, 2001
N. Number of brothers & sisters? 1 of each
O. Orange or apples? oranges
P. Phobias? Spiders, snakes, some heights
Q. Quote? ????
R. Reasons to smile? Husband, kids, playing games with family and friends
S. Season of choice? Spring
T. Tag some peeps: Tawny, Dani, anyone who wants to do this!
U. Unknown fact about me: If I told you it wouldn't be "unknown" now would it!!
V. Vegetable? Most
W. Worst habit? stressing about things
X. Last Xray? beats me
Y. Your favorite food? Comfort
Z. Zodiac sign? ????

Awesome!

2008-07-22T21:56:00.002-06:00

Tonight after we got home it started to storm. We knew it was coming but weren't sure how bad it would be. The lightening was AWESOME!! The thunder louder than I have heard in a long time and then the rain was almost deafening on the metal roof of our house. It was great!! I really love storms as long as there isn't anything hurt by them. Tonight was just a great night of sitting and listening to the awesome power of God.
When I was a kid we lived out on the farm. I can remember one summer when we seemed to be getting more than our fair share of storms. My little sis was still pretty small and my mom was on the phone with my Aunt in town 30 minutes away from where we lived. All of a sudden there was a sound like some one knocking and then all heck broke loose. The sound was awful. Glass breaking, mom hollering for us to get into the middle room in the house. Later when we were able to go look we found hail the size of baseballs in our living room and a layer of them outside the house. It was unreal. It came from the west and everything on that side of the house was demolished. The cars had dents and broken windows. Our animals looked like someone had taken broken bottles to them and beaten the tar out of them. It was pretty bad. Then when my brother and dad went out to check the damage they were headed out around the shop when lightening hit out in our field. Boy did they get their tails back in the house fast. That was the worst storm I have ever been in.
I don't know why they fascinate me but they do. Although lightening can be scary to me sometimes. If you have a favorite memory of a storm in your life please tell me about it. I'd love to hear from people who stop by here.
Have a Rainy Day!!! lol

Why so much anxiety?

2008-07-07T21:49:00.002-06:00

For several years now I have battled anxiety attacks. I lost my husband, Carver, after almost nine years of marriage. He had battled cancer for two years before it took him. I don't remember losing it because I was always afraid that if I started to cry I wouldn't stop. So I ran as fast and as hard as I could from the pain. I started dating a wonderful man within a VERY short time and we were married less than a year after Carver had died. James is awesome and we have now been married for almost 8 years.
Well 3 years ago, it finally caught up with me. No more running, no more hiding....it hit me like a freight train one week before the 5th anniversary of Carver's death. I thought I was having a heart attack and went in to be checked. It was indigestion they figured and sent me to my family doctor. ( Which I didn't have at the time!) Anyway the doc I saw was nice but a little to forthright with information like "it could be..." and listed several things the last of which was esophageal cancer. Just what someone like me needed to here given my history of losing my husband to cancer. Anyway, my mom is the one who figured out what was going on and so that same doc without talking with me or having me see a psych doc tried to put me on an antidepressant...which caused a panic attack....which landed me at the hospital seeing the PAC team which consists of a physician and a counselor aka a psych doc. He said you don't need an antidepressant...you need to deal with your grief but you do need something to help with your anxiety attacks. Well that started a painful path of healing. It has taken almost all of the last 3 years to deal with everything...especially since I am remarried and that adds another weird dimension to grieving my late husband! Talk about strange feelings. I am just truly blessed with a guy who is patient, kind and understanding along with being the most loving, giving person I have ever met. Well things did get better and I was finally headed for healing when we were hit again. First with my brother-in-law, Matthew, dying in a car accident in September of last year than we were hit again when a very close friend of ours died suddenly of a heart attack in March. I am reeling again. Although the one thing I am finding is that I don't want to run this time. I want to cry and get mad and yell and throw things.....although as of yet I haven't thrown anything. I just hate how it all feels. I hurt for me, for James and for K's widow M, for James' folks and family. M is such an awesome lady and I love her to pieces. I just hate seeing her go through this and I hate having to go through it. I love James' folks so much and I can see the pain it causes his mom. It hurts as bad as before when Carver died. Only then I think I was only thinking of myself and now I am seeing the hurt of others and that can be almost worse. All you can do is love them, hold them and watch as they walk through all the emotions. And cry with them.
Today was a great day and then for some reason tonight I just all of a sudden hit anxiety mode and then cry mode as I let the emotions that were swirling in me take over. I miss these people so much. I think of K calling me when I was in Spokane with my daughter and him telling me how much James missed me and that I needed to come home before he withered away without me. It made me laugh so hard and yet made me want to come home so badly. Then there were all the jokes and the times he teased me about my curly hair and how he had never seen anyone with such curly hair...of course he was bald on top, so I teased right back at him. I miss those little things that means so much in a relationship. He was just such a good friend.
With Matthew it is a little different. He was like a little brother to me and he was such a good friend to my son when James and I got together. I think about all the times he would come in and say "Hey sista, How's it going?" I loved being his sister. I miss him and his quirky sense of humor but also his honor and how much he cared about people even though he tried to play the tough guy. He was such a sweetheart and I think the thing I loved the most was that he was his own person. He didn't necessarily have to please anyone except himself, but he had respect for his family...especially his mom and dad. He just loved his family and that was Matt.
Anyway tonight has just been kind of a sad, bummer, anxiety, yuck kind of night. The feelings that a person goes through when having a panic attack are nuts. I hate the way I feel when it happens, but if I let it out and talk about it then I can get past it and feel better. That is why I am so blessed with my man. He listens and then when I am done and not so crazy he will tease me into a watery smile with his silliness. I love him so much. I can't even begin to tell you what he means to me. I am so glad God allowed him to be a part of my life.
If you've ever had feelings like this I'd love to hear from you. I hope God blesses you and heals you as He is healing me.
Love you all!!

What a wonderful way to spend the weekend!!

2008-06-27T17:56:00.004-06:00

We spent the weekend helping James' folks putting up a decorative fence in their front yard. It took both days to finish it but it was so worth it. When they were done we just sat back and enjoyed the view. My MIL has a huge rock garden with many different types of flowers and bushes in it that is in front of the fence. We also hung some flowers from the fence rails and have some in rail planters. I think she will get some more of them before she is done. Anyway it is beautiful. I will post pictures of it after she is done hanging all the plants.
On Saturday, while the guys worked on the fence she and I did a little shopping and then came home and planted her trees in the back yard. We have been working together for a few weeks now on her yard and mine. So then on Sunday she came over and helped me plant my two trees and two bushes. We had to dig out two dead trees and one live elm that was in the wrong place. Elm trees are such a pain in the bum!! We have a large one that hangs over our driveway where we park and it is dropping sap on my car like crazy. So we decided not to let the sapling grow that had started on the other side of the drive. Dug it up and replaced it with an Aspen tree. Actually I now have 4 Aspens in my back yard. The dogs are not happy with me as they have to be kennelled for now while the yard gets established. I let them run for awhile in the morning and awhile at night. If it was just Freedom it would be ok, but Tucker is just a big puppy still and likes to chew on EVERYTHING!! So he can't be alone in the yard when we are gone.
Back to the yard...it is beautiful. My rosebushes in the front are huge and have TONS of blooms on them. All of the flowers and pots we planted earlier are starting to really take off!! It is gorgeous and peaceful!
Yesterday I transplanted some Lilac bushes out front to fill in the border I want to make with them. I still need to move a few more to the side but it was so hot yesterday I thought I better wait till it cools off a little.
So today I am trying to do some inside work as it is going to be HOT again!!! Don't get me wrong I like heat but this is nuts. I prefer 70's and 80's...when it starts hitting 90 I hibernate in my nice cool house!!
Well I suppose I better get moving, dishes probably won't get done without me!! lol
Hope you all have a great day. Enjoy the little things!

So much time gone by...

2008-06-12T15:38:00.004-06:00

Where has the time gone? So much has happened in the last month I'm not sure I can remember it all. So I will just hit the high lights. The beginning of May flew by and then came the time for my daughter and her family to visit. I was so excited to see all of them and then I got a surprise....my son, Levi, and his new bride came with. They only stayed a few days, just long enough to rent a U-haul and dollie to take their things back with them, but it was wonderful to see them both. Then Tawny and family stayed for a week of relaxing fun. I only had to work three days so spent lots of time with the Grand babies. My how they have grown!! Uncle Jeremiah had fun with his niece and nephew. He and Aidyn are only 3 years apart so they had lots of fun. Ely has definitely got Papa James and Uncle Jeremiah wrapped around her little finger. We all had good visits, played games and seemed to eat constantly. Then it was time for them to go back all too soon. Every time they come I find myself thinking how blessed we are that Tawny and Evan got married. He is a wonderful husband and daddy. I love watching him with the little ones. It was a teary goodbye and then a long trip home. I will miss them daily but feel so lucky to be able to see them via Internet and the many pictures Tawny sends me on the cell phone!!!
The last week of school was a bit hectic, but otherwise great. Jeremiah is officially a first grader and very excited about having the summer off. We have great plans on what we want to do this summer including trips to the water park and zoo, and going roller skating. The weather hasn't been very nice so we haven't been able to go to the water park yet but I'm sure it will warm up enough soon so we can. Roller skating is high on the list and we are planning it with lots of friends and family. Hopefully in the next week or two.
We get to go branding out at my Dad's on Father's Day. Should be a fun and wild day as always. The kids and adults get right in there with the roping, and throwing of calves. It really is a blast.
My MIL and I have been working together on our yards for the past week. We have bought flowers, pots and soil and have been working tirelessly (ok that is pushing it) but we have had so much fun in the process. She has TONS of pots with bright colors flowing out. Her favorite is the pansies. There are so many different varieties and the are all so pretty. In my yard we have potted many and also made some new flowerbeds. I am so excited to see it when it is done. I love what we have already done so finishing will be exciting. Then it will be on to the next project which is painting the kitchen. I think I will do a before and after thing with that, because I am really changing things.
Well I think that about catches things up. I know I didn't say much about J, J, B or me but that leaves me something to talk about next time.
See ya!!

Dirty Dancing....

2008-05-06T15:55:00.002-06:00

I love music and dancing. Recently I started going to a dance class and I absolutely love it...but James doesn't go with me and that is half the reason I started going. I was hoping he would change his mind and start going so we could learn together. Well my hopes have been dashed although he has compromised and said he would learn what we bring home to him. In other words we get to teach him. Well I'm not sure I want anyone else dancing with my Handsome Honey as his usual dancing can only be classified as "dirty dancing". Trust me when I say hubba hubba!!! I love dancing with him...wish we could go do it more often. Well soon we may even if it is at home or at M's house as we teach him some new moves. In the mean time I haven't gone for two weeks now. Things are just too hectic around here. Tawny and family will be here in less than two weeks. School is done the end of May and I have a list of things I want to get done.
So for now Dance Class will have to wait. Maybe in the fall when things slow down again and I can't work outside I'll start up again.
I am so looking forward to this weekend. We will finally have a full weekend just for us. We are going to work on the house and yard to get ready for company coming. I want things to look nice. The yard needs mowing and we really need to get a kennel up for the dogs. I think I can get the house pretty much done before this weekend. Then if we do the yard over the weekend next week will just be keeping things clean. I think I can handle that.
My job at school will become lighter after this Friday as my little gal is leaving to have surgery and won't be back this year. I'm still not sure what my job will be as of next year. I just hope I have one!!
I am also looking forward to my brother-in-law and his family moving here this summer. They were talking about moving sometime the beginning of July. Please be praying that God will just lay it out for them and lead them as they move ahead with this. They feel sure that God is leading them here. I'm just so excited!! I wish summer was here already.
Well I suppose I better go get something done. I think I need a list just so I don't forget what I want to get done. Even with a list I'll probably still forget!!!

I think its a record!!

2008-04-23T16:19:00.003-06:00

Four posts in one month. That is amazing for me!! I'm patting myself on the back...giving myself a high five...Wow that exerted too much energy!! Now I may have to take a nap! Just kidding. I have been wanting to post for a few days now but the time just hasn't been there. I get on to check weather, other peoples blogs( they write more often than me!!), play on Facebook and sometimes read a chapter at eHarlequin. That about sums up my time on the computer lately. So tonight I thought as long as the little guy was otherwise occupied I would get on and tell you what's been going on here.
Not a lot!! Actually things are going rather well. We have a new neighbor, although we haven't met her yet. She has two small children and doesn't seem to be around when we are. So we will have to work on that.
My job is going well. I am really enjoying it for the most part. Sometimes the kids are a little difficult but the teacher I work with is very good with them. She is also very good about helping us to know what to do with them. So I have enjoyed my time.
James is doing well too, although it has been really hard on him since Keith died. Work just isn't the same with him gone. We are trying to be there for each other and Keith's wife also. She and Keith were very good friends of ours so this has been a really hard transition for all of us. I started going to a dance class with M and some of her other friends. We have a lot of fun and it is something different to do. James doesn't come to the class so it is just us girls and then whoever happens to be there learning too. It has been good to have a girls night out!
Jeremiah is loving school and is doing awesome. I can hardly believe that he is almost done with Kindergarten and will be a First Grader next year. He has grown so much. Only 25 days of school left and then we can have a summer to recuperate!! I am hoping that we will be able to get some stuff done around the house. I think James is going to give the goat away and then we can clean out the dog kennel and use it for the dogs again!! Hallelujah!! Tucker is the diggin'est dog I have ever been around and now Freedom is picking up on it too. So my flowerbeds will all have to be replanted this year. Oh well that's life!
We are looking forward to the end of May not only because school will be out....but the end of May also means....Tawny and her family will come for a visit and Levi and his bride will hopefully move back here. That is the plan right now I guess or they might move a little later, not sure yet. It will be nice to have them back. I am really looking forward to Tawny and family being here as I get to have fun and spoil the Grand babies. Boy do I miss them!!!!!!!
Aidyn is 3 now and Ely is 1 1/2. I get to see them on Web cam and also talk to them on the phone occasionally. Aidyn is really talking good and Ely isn't far behind.
Well I think I have pretty well caught up on news for now. More later.....

Recovering from a long weekend!

2008-04-14T16:16:00.003-06:00

Today was a good day. Two of our kiddos were not at school so that made for an easy day. Which was extremely nice after a long, hard weekend.
We worked in my mom's yard on Saturday. She has some huge trees with lots of dead branches. So my sister's family, my brother's family and my family all got together and cleaned up the trees and her yard. We worked from about 10 in the morning until 7:30 at night. Then finally had to quit. It was a long day but the yard and trees look awesome and now hopefully she won't worry about the kids playing under the trees. She has really been worried that some of the branches could come down and hit one of them while they are playing. We all had a good time even though it was hard work.
Then Sunday we went to church in the morning, then shopping right afterward. Then it was grab a quick bite of lunch and head up to our friends place to help her move an 800 pound file safe. That was a lot of work right there!! Once we got the safe in place and unloaded some other furniture it was off to the neighbors to help them raise their flagpole up again. The flag had ripped the rope down in a wind storm and they had to take the pole down to restring it. So we helped get it back up so they could fly the flag again. Really missed seeing it fly.
We are doing a lot of praying for my Brother-in-law and his family as they are planning on moving back to Billings in the near future. So PLEASE pray that all will go well with that. They feel they are in God's will and that is the best place to be so we will see what happens.
Hope you all are doing well. Take care!!

Having a little fun...

2008-04-11T23:20:00.005-06:00

My daughter and I are messing with my page. The fun part is that she is two states away and we are on the webcam as we play and get it figured out. She designed my new header and is helping me figure out how to get three columns up and running. Although I like it both ways with 2 columns or 3 so may play with that a little.

Anyway decided to share a picture while I was at it. My husband and son were having a little fun of their own the other day. So I snapped a quick pic of them.

2008-04-04T13:31:00.002-06:00

Here is a picture of my Grandbabies that my daughter sent to me. They have gotten so big since the last time I saw them!!

Here's hoping it works!! I got a new computer and have been spending time on it setting things up the way I want them to be. I am working full time at the school now and totally love it! Might even get to have the summer off as James has gone to flat rate at his work.
Some very hard news since my last post...a very good friend of ours had a heart attack and died. He was just a few years older than me. His wife is doing pretty good for now. We all were just devastated by this loss. James was hit hardest as he had just lost his younger brother in September and now his best friend. He is doing ok, but I worry about him.
I started going to a dance class with my friend M( she is the one who lost her husband). There are five of us in a group that decided to start this class and boy are we having fun. It is a swing dance class and we are all learning the basic steps right now. It has been a kick!

Once again

2008-03-02T21:29:00.003-07:00

Here I am again. I guess blogging often just doesn't happen for me. A lot has happened since the last post. I had to go read it before I wrote my post to make sure of how long it had been.
Well I am in much better spirits. I worked my last day at Lowe's on February 1st. I was sorry to be done but also oh so happy. That was a Friday and by Tuesday I was working at the school as a paraprofessional. I have to wait till March to become full time but I am "subbing" in the position I am to get. I work with special education kids and I am having fun with it. The hours are perfect as I can take J to school when I go and pick him up on my way out the door. My MIL works there too and she takes him with her for the first 15 or 20 minutes before the other para's get there. I have to do a crosswalk duty first thing so he can't go with me. So it works out well that he gets to spend some time every morning with his Grandma J. I really enjoy being back at the school even if it is in a different place then before.
I have seen my counselor several times and it has helped immensely. Also I think changing jobs helped too. I now have time for my family and friends. I really missed that. James and I have had some nice talks on Saturday mornings. It is so good to be able to talk with him and just hang out.
In January, James bought me a Golden Retriever for our Anniversary. Tucker is an awesome pup. I really like having him around. He is so cute and cuddly. Freedom and Tucker get along really well and they play outside all the time.
I had some tests done in February and all is well in those areas. That had been causing some anxiety also. So now I am feeling much more in control again!! At least for now.
I have some really cool news too. My son got married on February 27th then drove here to be with us. They eloped in Coeur D' Alene. My daughter and her husband were there and sent a text with picture to let us know. Then on their way here, their car broke down and we had to go get them and then trailer the car here too. So now their little mini vacation will be extended a bit!! They are talking of moving back but I guess we will see what happens. I hope all works well for them. I am just so happy they got married!!!
My daughter sent me some pictures of her family and that was awesome. I can't believe how big the babies are getting. A is now 3 and E is 1 1/2. They are so adorable. Of course that could be the Grandma in me speaking but they really are cute!!
Well they are having fun playing Rock Band in the other room so I think I will go join in for a few minutes. It really is a fun game. Levi brought his PS3 and some games. Lots of fun!!
Anyway, I want to thank you for your prayers and know that I am praying for all of you too!! Even if you are just stopping by and I don't know you, I will still be praying for you. Hope all is well with everyone!!

I Know its been a Long time.....

2008-01-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry. I know its been a long time since I posted but I let life get to hectic and now I am paying for it. When I started my new job in June I was so excited. Then in December I decided to put in for full time. Only problem is you have to be available 6 am to 10 pm Monday through Friday. Well I got the job and now after only one month I know the schedule isn't going to work. I guess I was only looking at the benefits and the extra $$. I've been having anxiety attacks ever since I interviewed for it and then after I got it they got worse. Now that I have figured out what is going on I have to do something about it and I'm not sure my Manager is going to like it. But I have to talk to her today and let her know it isn't working out and I need to only work Monday - Friday 8 - 5 and maybe and occasional weekend with closing or something. no more nights and every weekend. My family and I can't take it. It may mean getting a new job but I guess that is life. I hope I can find something and I am praying and relying on God for that. I already put in an application at a bank that is just down the street from where we live and I am hoping that it will work out. The hours and benefits would work great. So please pray that God would work in this. I really want his will in my life and am looking for it. I have started reading more in my daily Bible study. I know it is important to be in His Word if you want to know what He wants for you. And I am praying more.
This has been a wake up call for me. I can't let my life get out of control because it causes me great anxiety and depression. I've started seeing a counselor again and also am making some changes in my daily life. I need to be taking care of myself physically, and mentally. I've let friendships go by the wayside because my schedule has been so hectic and I haven't spent near enough time with my immediate family either. My dad had brain surgery in August and I've only seen him twice I think since then. And I haven't been able to go to him, he has had to come here.
There are so many things that come into play here. Job being the biggest but also Jeremiah starting school this year. Levi moving to Spokane, my BIL Matthew dying, my late husband's dad died in November of cancer, I haven't had much time for relationships and I feel guilty about wanting to be home and also loving my job and wanting to be there. A lot of pulling going on with the job. It is fun and I love it but the schedule is crappy. So time for some new things to happen.
Sorry to be dumping on all of you but I guess that is what this blog is all about for me. Being real with people since I have a hard time doing it in person. I love my family and extended family so much and I miss spending time with them. There are so many things that I have been missing that I have felt like I am not a part any more.
Today I will talk with my manager and later I will let you know how that goes. Pray for me today and in the days to follow that God would work in my life and help me make the right steps to feeling better and doing what He wants me too. Also pray for James and Jeremiah as they have to live with me as I walk through this!!!
Love you all and have a great day!!

Thanksgiving Tag....

2007-11-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged and here we go....

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Share:
1. A childhood Thanksgiving memory: I honestly don't remember one special Thanksgiving. I just remember that it was always big and loud just like Christmas. We had a huge family dinner with all the Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandpas, Grandmas and the Greats too. Then add in a few in-laws of everyone there.
2. A family Thanksgiving tradition: Well I guess the biggest thing is we all get together at my Brother and Sister-in-laws house and after we eat we play games and then we draw names for Christmas since the family has gotten so big and none of us are that rich!!! Then we do some serious looking at the ads and make a list of things we would like so the person who gets our name has an idea of what we would like. Actually I think I like our Thanksgivings more now then I did when I was young.
3. Five things you're thankful for...besides family, friends and health. Give it some serious thought and be specific: I guess one of the things I am most thankful for is having a Lord who loves me and helps me through all the stuff life throws at me. He has been so faithful and loving even when I rebel. He waits patiently for me to come back and then He shows me what needs to be done. I am also very thankful for my home. I know sometimes I complain about it but it is warm and inviting and oh so comfortable to me. I am thankful for a job that is very fun and that I like a lot. I am also thankful for the people that I work with. And I am very thankful to live where I do. I love the freedom we have and I love the beauty around me. I like to travel but I am oh so glad when I come back home. I love this place.
Now I guess I will tag Tawny , Dani, Levi and hey how about anyone else that reads my blog. Tag your it!!!

Sunny Sunday Morning

2007-10-28T10:07:00.000-06:00

I love fall. All the colors and the cooler weather. It is perfect for enjoying the great outdoors. And here I sit at the computer!!!! I'll be heading out when it gets a little warmer today. It is pretty chilly this morning. But I am looking forward to the warm heat of a wood stove tonight!! James and a friend are going to get the new stove pipe in today so hopefully tonight we can have a nice warm fire going. I miss wood heat. It is the most wonderful heat there is!
We put in central heat when Jeremiah was born as I didn't want him to get burned on the stove when he was learning to walk. I found that I really don't like central heating. It is a cool heat even though it does warm the house. When it first starts to blow it blows cold air and that is just not "cool"!! So I am definitely looking forward to warm, cozy winter nights with the wood stove. Also burning wood is so much cheaper than gas heat. Our heating bill is about $200 a month when it gets cold, but with would it will be about $30. Wood is free as we go get it ourselves. So it costs very little to get.
Okay enough about that. I have been reading a blog written by a very neat woman and it gets better all the time. Her name is Ree but her blog is Pioneer Woman. There is a link here on my page to go to it. She is now writing about her romance with her husband Marlbaro Man. It is absolutely fabulous!! I just wish she wrote more than one or two chapters a week. She has so much other stuff she writes about it is great. She also peppers her blog with pictures she takes and she is awesome at that too. You ought to go check it out.
I have to work today so I don't have much time for anything else. Hopefully I will get time later this week to write again. Take care all!!!

Spokane... take 4 or 5 or 6 not sure which!!

2007-10-20T10:28:00.001-06:00

Well once again I find myself in Spokane! I came out to visit my Daughter and her family, and my Son and his girlfriend. They are both doing well as our their respective families. I can't believe how big the grand kids are getting and I just saw them about a month ago. Which brings me to a spot that I probably should have posted about long ago but just couldn't bring myself to write about it.
In September, my brother-in-law, Matthew was killed in an auto accident. It was a horrible time for all of us. I feel so bad for his mom and dad. He was only 28 and had only been married for 2 years. He was getting his life together and had finally got in a job that he really enjoyed. He was driving the company vehicle when he got in the accident. The shock took a long time to wear off for me personally. Matthew was my oldest son's best friend and had helped Levi through so much during the first few years that James and I were together. I had to call him and tell him over the phone as he lives here in Spokane and this had happened back in Montana. It was horrible. My husband was so strong through it all and I just keep waiting for the reality to hit. Although I guess it has a time or two now. Matthew was a wonderful man and more of a little brother than a brother in law to me. When he would come visit, he would come in and say " Hey sister" I don't know if he ever called me by my name. I was just "Sister" from the word go. I'm really going to miss him. So please pray for my husbands family as they heal from this tragedy.
And now here I am in Spokane again. Just for a little visit but nice none the less. It has been a very relaxing trip and today we are going to a little town that has a huge farmers market type thing. Only you go from farm to farm to do things. I think we are only going to a couple of farms but should be lots of fun. There is a corn maze on one and you can pick your own pumpkin for Halloween. I think the kids will have lots of fun doing this. Then when we get home they can carve pumpkins. Should be a nice relaxing day for the adults and fun for the kids.
James called this morning and he was headed for Bozeman to look at a bow he has been wanting. He is selling his old bow to a guy at work and now has decided to buy this bow he wanted. He got to shoot it and says he really likes it. So he is going to get it I guess. He sounds happy about it. Told him when I get back we are going to have to get to work and pay off bills not make any new ones!! We were doing so well and then these past two months things just keep coming up. But that is okay. Work asked me if I could work more hours and I told them I could. So that will help. And I think James has some side jobs to do too.
Well I suppose I better get in gear so we can get out of here on time. Have a great day all! Maybe I'll get on later and tell you about all the fun we had!! Post pictures if I can too. My daughter's computer is more fun than mine!!!
Take care!!

Lovin' Life!

2007-09-13T07:41:00.000-06:00

"As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man" Prov. 27:19

I hope I am reflecting good things. Like Christ in me and the love I feel for Him and the people around me. This verse just stood out at me this morning. What is my heart reflecting? What am I showing other people? Hmmm....

Things are starting to get into a good routine now. Jeremiah has been in school for 2 weeks and we are getting in the swing of things. My hours at Lowe's are much better than before and I am loving the job. It is so much fun to wait on people and have them smiling when they leave your line. You even get to know the ones that come in often. It really is a great job. The one draw back would be that I am getting ideas about doing some fun things to the house and yard. I have been buying perennials for 25% or their original price or less. And I got some cool border stones for free as they have water stains on them from being used as displays. Now just have to get out there and put them up where I want them.
I've been looking at kitchens too. I think I have decided on Hickory cabinets, wood flooring and one new appliance....a dishwasher. Also will get new counter tops after cabinets are in. May have to watch for a fridge too. We will see. Not planning the remodel till next year. The cupboards that are now in the kitchen will go in the wash room which also needs repair and it will be first. Just need some sheetrock up and then can put the cupboards in there. I think I know what I want it to be like but need to take some measurements and then do a little designing.
James is going hunting for Elk. He is so excited that he can hardly see straight. I hope he gets one this time. He has been bowhunting for about 3 or 4 years now and usually just sees them or calls them in but doesn't get a good shot off. So I'm praying that he will be safe, have fun and get that Elk he wants so bad!!! He is going with a group of Christian men so should be fun for him.
Jeremiah is loving school. He rides the bus to and from school and thinks he is big stuff. He brings home lots of papers everyday that he has done. He is such a smart little cookie. He can write his name properly, and is writing his letters and numbers. Also loves Science because of the water tables. And loves to get snake books at the library. He gets to see his Grandma J when he has computer lab so that is fun too.
I hope he keeps on loving it. He is such a sweet boy.
I've pretty much decided to quit selling Creative Memories. I'm still scrapbooking but I just don't have time to do much more. Hopefully I'll be able to have some crops just for fun with the ladies. They have all been so much fun to scrap with.
Well I suppose I better get in gear. I want to finish my devotions and pickup a little before going to do the grocery shopping for the week. You all have a wonder day and remember to let your heart reflect the joy within!!! Love you all!

So Sorry

2007-07-28T19:10:00.000-06:00

I really am!! It has been almost two months now. Wow!! Life has taken a very eventful turn and I rarely have time at the computer. My dear BIL and SIL from FL were here with their kids in June. I got a job about that same time and although it is suppose to be part-time It has been literally 38-39 hours a week. I love it but it is shift work so I haven't had two days off at the same time and my hours vary every day. I'm working at a Lowe's store and it is great. So when I am home I am busy with normal housework and loving on my family. I miss the evening times the most so when school starts I am changing my availability. Maybe then I can cook suppers and be here with my little guy when it is bed time. I miss my big guy too. Today was nice cause they came and had lunch with me.
On another note. A week ago my dad ended up having emergency brain surgery to relieve pressure from blood on the brain. He had been in a ATV accident a few weeks back and that is when it started but it got bad when he tripped over a log and hit his head hard again. So they had to drill bore holes in his head and put in drains for a few days to release the pressure and let his brain come back to normal. Well normal for my dad. He's a hoot!! He is doing well and they released him on Wednesday. We saw him yesterday and he is doing well. Not up to par totally but doing really good!! My bother in law here hurt his back a few days ago so we are waiting to hear about that also. So as you can see life has been a riot!!
Hope to write soon but I'm not promisin' anything.
Take care!!

Been pretty busy the last couple of weeks...

2007-06-22T07:32:00.000-06:00

with Dsil and Dbil here from Florida with the two little cousins. We have been having a blast. Then I got a new job and I am loving it. Had training for a week and a half now I am out on the floor and I really had fun. Yesterday was my first day on the floor and it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. Anyway have a favor to ask of everyone who comes to my blog. Please go vote for my picture at this web site:
Rate my photo, Click here
It is a picture of Jeremiah that I took a few years ago and I entered it in a contest. Your votes can help me win. So please go check it out!!
Well gotta run. I have work in a couple hours and I still need to get the house picked up and vacuumed and clothes washed....you know all that normal daily junk that needs doing.
Hope you all have a great weekend!!!

Don't pass out!!!

2007-05-31T15:25:00.000-06:00

Okay don't faint. Here I am again and it hasn't been that long. I had my first interview today for one of the places that I applied. I couldn't believe it when they called only hours after I had applied online! Unreal! Anyway, I think it went well. Now I will have 2 more interviews next week and then I will find out if I have the job. It may just be for the summer but starting pay is $8.28 so I would be very pleased with that. I also have an interview with the school on Monday. I am really hoping to get on there again. If all works out I could have a seasonal job at the one place as a cashier and then my para professional job at the school. That would be perfect! So I am praying pretty hard right now that it works. But only if it is the Lords will!!
It is raining again today, but I am great with that as everything is so green and beautiful. Most of my flowers are blooming and growing well. Some of my Glads are popping out of the ground and I have some more to get planted. I was a bit slow with them but hopefully that will be ok. Then once the irises quit blooming I have 3 people to get them from and I can plant some more out front. I really feel blessed as I wanted purples and that is what all of them have.
Well only 6 days till my BIL and SIL and their kids come here. I am really looking forward to seeing them. It has been 6 years since we last saw them. And we both have had one child since then so that will be cool. They had a little girl a couple months after we had our boy. Should be lots of fun for everyone.
I suppose I better get going. I have to get some filing done and clothes put away and maybe a little more work on the boys room. Don't think there will be a game tonight but we will see. Sometimes those Little Leaguers are pretty die hard!!
Take care!!

Crazy weekend, wild week...

2007-05-29T07:58:00.001-06:00

Can things get any more hectic!! Baseball is almost over, hallelujah!! Jeremiah has one more game and he is done. Brendon has to go through mid June but that won't be quite so bad.
Summer is finally here. The kids are out of school this Friday and I am very pleased with that. I will be DONE watching extra little ones!!! As you can tell I am very please about that. Now I just have to decide what I would like to do for a part-time job for the summer. I am hoping to get on at our school in the fall. I am praying pretty hard for that but whatever God wants for me is okay. I just hope He shows me soon. I wish I had the luxury of not working at all for the summer but I think it would be best if I did. I hate getting behind financially. So a job hunting I will go.
We are also Still working on the boys room. Feels like that is taking forever. James is working on the door and I am working on the window and closet finish trim. So shouldn't be much longer. We had the door in yesterday but found out the doorway isn't square so had to take it back out and redo some stuff we had done to make the new door fit in the old doorway. Oh well we are learning as we go I guess and it is looking pretty good. I'll post a picture when we are all done with it.
It is rainy here again today after several really nice days. I like the sunny days best but the rainy ones are so peaceful and cool. I really enjoy cool days now. Being the wonderful age I am....cool days are a blessing!!! I am in the thick of things and really looking forward to getting all the way through this "time" of life. My whole body temp has been warmer for the last two years and now I have had a couple of those wonderful "flashes" to go with it. Talk about HOT! Holy cow I was shocked by the first one. Happened at church and thought I was going to pass out from the heat! Sheez!! At least now I know what all the fuss is about. Hope it doesn't happen too often. My poor HH touched my back and burned his hand!!! Hehe...not really but he did comment on how hot I was and he wasn't talking about how I looked!!!!
Anyway, I am learning a lot these days. In some ways this year really sucks and in other ways it is pretty cool. I am learning to cope with a lot of new things and once I get to that coping part I am pretty happy with things. I find I am sometimes an emotional wreck and yet that is ok. It is a part of life to miss the passing of certain things. I miss all of my older kids like crazy. I remember how it was when they were all home ( CRAZY) and miss that so much. And yet I love the peace that comes with only having one little one here. He is such a blessing to me. He has so much love and shares it willingly with all of us. I am so glad that we decided to have a baby when we got married! Sometimes I wish we had another one but I think one is probably more than enough for the two of us. We have Brendon part-time so that helps with Jeremiah's need for a playmate. He loves his big brother very much. He loves and misses his way big brother and sister too. He keeps asking when we are going to visit them. Guess that depends on what the summer brings!!
Well I suppose I better get going on my day. Those clothes and dishes won't wash themselves and my vacuum isn't self propelled!! (haha) Anyway, hope you all are having good days!! Take care!

Baseball, Baseball, Baseball

2007-04-26T16:15:00.000-06:00

I think right now I am on baseball overload and it is only just beginning!! Jeremiah has two games a week, and Brendon has at least two games a week plus he also has practice one or two nights a week. Last Saturday I spent half the day at the ballpark working the concession stand. Then it was off to my mom's to mow her yard. By the time I got home all I wanted to do was take a shower and go to bed!!! So that is exactly what I did.
Sunday we went to church in the morning then James headed up to his friends to work on their log splitter project. He spends quite a bit of his spare time up there doing that. I can't wait till he's finished because I will finally get some time with my honey again. His work keeps him extra busy now, he even has to work some Saturdays. Then with the boys in baseball and him coaching Brendon's team plus working on the splitter, we don't have much time for us!! Oh well that is life I guess. Soon he will be home a little more and I will be much happier!!
So since he isn't home much I am staying busy with kids, yard work and housework. I lost one of my little ones on Friday because her mom lost her job, so she no longer needs me. I will lose the other two on June 1st. So now I am looking for a part-time job through the summer. I am hoping to get on at the school in the fall. We will just wait and see what God has planned for me.
Jeremiah is getting all excited about school now. We went and got his Kindergarten shots last week. He was so cute. The nurses couldn't believe he didn't cry as he had to get 3 shots in his little legs. They did two at once so it went fast and he started giggling when they did it. I think he was a little embarrassed to have to drop his pants in front of two strange women!! It was cute. They told him how awesome he was and the asked if he could have a sucker. He was all excited about that and had to tell everyone about his experience. As soon as we go to the car he ask if could go to school the next day!! He was kinda bummed when I told him he had to wait till after summer was over.
Let's see...
This week has been busy with more yard mowing... the grass is growing like crazy...more yard work...I want to get my flowers, trees and bushes planted...housework...yuck!!...and a little remodelling project that I feel I will never get finished!
Well that's what has kept me from blogging but I finally got a rainy day so had a minute to write. Hope everyone is doing well. Take care and come say hi sometime!!

When did I start scrapbooking? Well let me tell you...

2007-04-14T15:32:00.000-06:00

I actually started scrapbooking 5 years ago when my son was born. My sister had been scrapbooking for years but I never had the time or money. ( 5 kids takes care of both!!) So when my youngest was born my sister made a book for him. She had most of the pages done. All I had to do was add the pictures as I took them, but of course there were pictures that didn't fit with the pages she had pre-made so I had to do some. Little by little I started working on them more and more. Then when it started getting expensive, I started working as a Creative Memories Consultant so I could get my supplies at cost. I have been going strong now for 4 years and hopefully can continue both as a consultant and my scrapbooking. I really love getting my pictures in books. It is great when people look at them and think they are so cool. When I first started I didn't do a lot of journaling, but now I am starting to journal more and more. I have completed about 6 or 7 albums and I am presently working on 3. One album is for family, one for Jeremiah and one for Levi. I need to get one going for my step-son, but haven't got there yet. Levi's is almost finished and of course the family albums will continue. The family album I am working on right now has taken me 4 months to do. I still have about 1 or so pages to complete then it will be done.
Well that's my story. So what is your's if you are a scrapper?

Challenges for SC

2007-04-09T20:48:00.000-06:00

The challenge for today is...write about the worst thing you have ever eaten. What was it? When was it? What prompted you to try it? Give us the whole story! Share a picture if you have it!

I don't have a picture, but I think I can describe it in detail. My little sister was about 13 or so and decided she wanted to make supper for the family. Some of it was ok, but the main course was nasty. It was some dish that called for warm, wilted lettuce. Well it was warm, soggy, limp pea green looking slimy lettuce. I wish I could remember what it was called but all I remember was how disgusting it looked. We all tried to put on a good face for her and tried it. She came and sat down and took one bite and about gagged on it. She told us it was gross and we had to agree even though we didn't want to hurt her feelings. Let me tell you...we couldn't get out to the car fast enough. Off to Taco Bell we went. Since then she has turned in to a wonderful cook. Fact is she is awesome. She loves to cook and bake. She also is very good about sharing with friends and family.
So that's the story. Wish I had a picture to share with you all!!!

Today is the day

2007-04-06T08:30:00.000-06:00

It is the day my son is officially gone. Moving to another state. I'm going to miss him terribly and yet...I'm happy for him. He's doing something he really wants to do. Trying something new. I love that he has not only the ability but the courage to try something different. Even with some people telling him he shouldn't. I'm proud of him for taking a chance. I guess I look at things a little different than most. I think kids should try things when they are young and don't have children yet. Too many people allow fear of the unknown keep them from trying new things or changing what they do. Neither of my two older children show that fear and I am so proud of them for that. I love that they are their own people. Not to the extent that they hurt others or walk on them, but just to be able to do their own thing regardless of all the negative thoughts of others!!
Anyway I am doing better than I thought I would. I too am looking forward to a new era in my life. So now to get started with it I must clean and rearrange my home and of course I am truly looking forward to that. I love changing things in my house. Everything looks so fresh and clean when I am done. I have to do some shopping today and then when I get home I am going to start boxing stuff up in the back bedroom. It has been Levi's room and the game room, but now I am moving the game room up front to the big bedroom and moving Jeremiah to the back bedroom. It is smaller but closer to us and since I will be done babysitting soon it will work fine. I had given him the bigger room up front because of having the extra kids. It's easier to keep an eye on things in there, but now it will just be him and occasionally Brendon. So they won't need the big room. Before I can move them though, I have to clean, paint and do some finish work on that back bedroom.
We had friends over last night to visit. I always get a kick out of visiting with them. We spend quite a bit of time together and we are always laughing about something. We play cards, throw darts, shoot pool and sometimes just visit. We have been friends now for about a year and they are truly a blessing in our lives.
I have been scrapbooking on a daily basis too. I sit down in the afternoon when the kids are napping and watch a soap while I scrapbook. I usually get two or three pages done. So I am very excited about that. I am hoping to get caught up this year. I am currently working at the beginning of 2005. I love the pictures right now because they are pictures of when my grandson Aidyn was born. Tawny and Evan look so young and little Aidyn is so adorable. So these layouts have been going down pretty easily. I have a crop here in a couple of weeks and I would really like to have a bunch done by then. It is fun to show off your work when you get together!! My ladies love showing each other what they are doing. Their techniques and colors are awesome.
Well I suppose I've rambled enough for now. Hope you all have an awesome day!!!

My favorite March Pictures

2007-04-02T11:11:00.000-06:00

Jeremiah's Birthday was a blast. This is one of his favorite presents.

Then meet my sweet little grand babies. A is 2 and E is 7 months.

E likes her Uncle Levi. She smiles and grabs for his hat. I think he likes her a bit too!!

This is just too cute! Little Uncle J giving Miss E a smooch!

And of course my Handsome Honey getting a Dorito Smooch from our sweet son J.

Hope you all enjoy the pics!

Wastin' away again in pity partyville

2007-04-01T21:18:00.000-06:00

That's what I have been doing for the past week or so. After the kids left for Spokane it was pretty quiet around here and I was feeling pretty low. I always thought I was good at going with the flow of things but these past two years have shown me a different side of myself. Must be the age that is getting to me. You would think I would be jumping for joy. The house will be cleaner. When someone calls me on the phone I will actually get the messages. My grocery bill will go down! I can finally turn that extra room into a craft/exercise room. And yet....I am still bummed. It was hard when Darling Daughter moved 500 miles away and then proceeded to get married and have babies. I see her a couple times a year and talk to her daily through IM's. It hasn't been too bad. I miss her like crazy but we get along better now than we ever did. Now my Handsome Son is moving too. He and his girlfriend will be leaving in about a week. They too are moving 500 miles away. Luckily it is the same 500 miles that my DD went. So I will be able to visit them both when I go to Spokane. It is just hard because we have been like this team since they were born. Their biological dad and I were divorced when DD was only 2 years old. So I raised the two of them for 4 years by myself. Then I married Carver and he adopted them. To them he is their Dad. Then when he died, his kids left either to be with their mom or out on their own and it was back to just the three of us. Then HH and I got married when they were teens and the tough times began. It was a really hard adjustment for them as HH is a bit younger then me so only 9 or 10 years older than they are. They didn't want a step dad. They just wanted their mom. So we have been through a lot together and now the "team" is moving on.
This week has shown me that life changes and we need to learn to flow with it, not stress about what must change. My kids can't live with me forever (even though sometimes I thought they would). They need to get lives of their own even if it means moving far away.
So now I must redefine my life and what I need to do. I am still have Little J at home to love and take care of at least for 13 or so years. And I will always be HS and DD's mom, it is just that now I take on a less active role in their lives.
And hey it might be nice. Guess I'll just roll with it and try not to wallow in it!!
Pray for me!

I have disappearred...Honest!!

2007-03-23T06:46:00.000-06:00

I've just been very busy. Had a totally awesome time with my daughter and her family last week. Spent lots of time together loving on the grand babies and having fun. We took a day trip to the Battlefield and kicked around there checking things out. Then had a big family dinner at Red Lobster. My youngest who was getting ready to turn 5 was so excited. That is just what he wanted to do for his Birtday so it made his day. He had Snow Crab Legs for the first time and boy did he love that!! Then on Saturday we had a big potluck and birthday party. That was a little overwhelming for mommy but J had a wonderful time and of course got lots of presents. So all in all the week was great. Hated seeing them all go home but it is always nice to get back to the normal routine. Hopefully I will get to see them sometime this summer. The tough part is seeing them go but we do keep in contact on the computer and webcam and that is awesome!!!
My older son was terminated from his job so he and his girlfriend packed up and headed to my daughter's a few days after she had left. So they are out there looking for jobs and an apartment to rent. So please pray for me as this is really tough to deal with. I love my kids and hate that they have all moved away. If he does go he is the last of the older ones to go. Not real joyful of that if you know what I mean.
Well HH is up so I need to get our breakfast going. Hope you all have a wonderful day!!

My how time flies!!!

2007-03-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

I have been busy getting ready for my daughter's visit and time is just flying by. They will be here this Saturday and will stay until the 19th. I am so excited to see those beautiful Grand-babies!! Before they get here I want to get some Spring cleaning done, so I have been busy doing just that. James has been working on a video shelf for the living room and I am so hoping he gets it done before they get here!! Also want to re-caulk the tub/shower so it looks nice again. I'm trying to get my letter out for my crop on the 24th, but that has been hard to get to for some reason. So today I really need to do that. Then it has been so nice here that I just want to get out in the yard and do some work too. So hopefully today I can go out for a little while.
We got rid of the rabbits last night! A really nice dad got them for his son. So hopefully they will have a good life with them. We liked having them but J is just a little young yet to take care of them and so Daddy and Mommy had to do it. Was starting to be a real pain. Anyway, kept the cages so maybe when he is older and wants them he can get more. Daddy still has Spike (his goat) and Mommy and J have Freedom (our dog) so that is enough pets for now!!
Okay now for my ScrappyChatter friends here is a little of the blog challenge since I haven't kept up with the daily...so I'm catching up
Here are 4 in a row!!
First... things I am reading right now. I daily read my Bible. I want very badly to keep up with this but sometimes it is a challenge. I get up a half hour before everyone else just so I have some alone time to do this, but sometimes I get off track and have to check email first!! lol I also love reading romance novels so right now I am reading a good western romance by Susan Mallery. I love her books, especially her Desert Rogues series.
Second... 3 dreams for the future. My biggest dream would have to be a house. We live in a small 3 bedroom, 1 bath built in the 1950's. I've been here for 16 years now. I moved in when I married my late husband and now that James and I are together I just wish we could move into one that is ours. We are planning on buying some land and building someday. I can't wait. We even already have some plans for the house and he wants a big shop. So we are praying that someday we will be able to do this. Another dream for me would be a real honeymoon. Somewhere fun or exotic. Not sure where though as James doesn't want to fly too bad and I really don't want to get on a boat!!! Hmmm...this could be a problem!!! Third dream that could actually turn into a reality...catch up with all my pictures!! Have all my scrapping up to date. That would be an awesome thing to get done!!!
My favorite hobbies other than scrapping...well that's actually pretty easy. I love reading, sewing, working in my yard and decorating. Romance is my favorite read because I can get into it fast and it takes me away from everyday life. Sewing has been a past-time since I was in High School. I even made my own jeans when I a teen. Now I like making things for my guys and the grand-babies.
Fourth blog thing....I do NOT have a tattoo, nor do I think I will ever have one. Although I have thought about it a time or two. HH wants me to get my belly button pierce though and had given that some serious thoughts but I don't get into pain. I've heard it is painful!
Well that's it for me for now. Maybe I'll get caught up tomorrow. Yeah! Right!!

Running on empty!

2007-02-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

That's me. I'm running on empty. Didn't get a lot of sleep over the weekend and did a lot of running. So yesterday I was totally drained and yet kept pushing on. Had a bunch of normal Monday chores to do and just had to get them done. Ended up going to bed at 8:30 because I hit total shut down. HH came to bed at 10 and I barely woke up enough to tell him good-night. He asked if I had got a little sleep and I guess I just mumbled a response. Feel better today although a bit groggy!! So maybe I'll have to take a little snooze with the kiddos later this afternoon. Of course by then I'll be motivated and not able to settle down. Never fails!! Oh well so goes life...enough whining!
Today is a beautiful day and it is only 11 days till my sweet daughter, her husband and their wonderful babies are here. Evan's grandparents are also coming and I am excited about that. I'm just really excited to see my little grandbabies. Aidyn is 2 now and Ellery is 6 months. I get to see them daily via webcam but I can't wait to cuddle them and kiss their sweet faces!!
I'm also excited because we have a bite on our car!! My niece asked if it was still for sale and she wants to test drive it today. So I am praying very hard that she will buy it. The money will go in savings and that will be a first for us! So it is really exciting to think we might finally be able to do that. I thank God daily for all He is doing for us financially. It is nice to finally see a positive balance at the end of each month! It has taken much growth in both James and myself for us to get to this point but it is so worth it!!
I have been working daily on my albums. I try to get at least one page done and sometimes I even get on a roll and get several done!! I am almost to the end of 2004. I'm hoping to catch up by the end of this year. I'm also learning that not Every picture has to be in the album. Some of them just aren't that good and can be tossed. ( Don't tell my mom she'd have a fit!!) LOL.
Anyway I hope you are all doing well and having a great day!!

Blog Challenge#3

2007-02-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

This is for ScrappyChatters!!
Describe yourself as a child of 8. What were your favorite things to do? Your most treasured possessions? Your favorite teacher? Your best friends? Talk about your home, your room, your family. What were your dreams, your hopes for the future? Include a picture if you have one.

I think when I was 8 years old my life revolved around horses! I had a Shetland Pony named Smokey and a Cocker Spaniel named Peppy. I lived on a farm with folks and my big brother, Rod. I loved living on the farm and playing with all the animals. If I remember right we probably had cows, horses and chickens when I was this age. Later we would have rabbits, pigs and sheep depending on the year. Anyway life was a lot of fun when I was 8. My favorite things to do would be riding Smokey and feeding the baby calves that we bottle fed. My favorite possessions would have to be my play horses and my Barbie dolls. I would play with them for hours with my friend Karen. Who by the way was my Best Friend in the world!! We spent a lot of time together over the summer.
We had built on to the house we were living in so I finally had my own room. It had a huge living room and 3 bedrooms. My great-uncle Herman helped build on to the house and then my Uncle Gary built my mom these awesome cupboards in the kitchen. They were beautiful!!
It seemed like we always had company back then. My Grandma Freda would come stay with us for a few days and bake lots of goodies for us. She also helped teach me how to sew and bake. My Aunts, Uncles and cousins from the city would come out often too and we always had lots of fun. I loved all my family and all the fun we had together. The times that I remember most were the brandings, picnics, water fights and a family vacation to see some of my Dad's side of the family.
This is a picture of me at my Aunt Lavina's in Nebraska with her little dog Clyde. I remember this vacation because we travel to 3 states and saw a lot of neat stuff. Including huge turtles that we rode on, the Corn Palace, Mt. Rushmore, and I think it was Wild Bill's Museum. We didn't get to go on many vacations so the ones we went on I remember pretty well!
Let's see I think my teacher for 2nd grade was Mrs. Morledge (she was awesome) and my 3rd grade teacher was ??? I can't remember. I have been sitting here thinking and it is totally eluding me. I can remember all the rest of my grade school teachers but of course not her!! Oh well I must move on. My goals and dreams were pretty much in line with the thing I loved most...Horses. I wanted to have a horse farm or be a veterinary. Maybe even both. I just wanted to be around horses all the time and I always wanted to train them. I guess that's about it. Whew!! That was a little harder than the last challenge!! Have fun everyone...can't wait to read all of yours!!!

The Weekend is FINALLY here!!!

2007-02-16T21:57:00.000-07:00

This has been a hectic week but a fairly good one. I joined a neat group of ladies via the Internet who like to scrapbook. I am looking forward to getting to know them and exchanging ideas. I am also looking forward to tomorrow!! I am having a crop tomorrow here at my house from 10 am - 9 pm. We'd go longer but since it is here I have to think of my guys. They always take off for the day when I have my monthly crop but we need to get J to bed by 9:30 so he will be good for church on Sunday. When I use to have them in a conference room the ladies would stay as late as they could. Oh well this works better for the most part and is definitely a bit cheaper!!

Well tonight HH and I went out to Famous Dave's for supper. Yummy!!! He loves to go there and have their rack of ribs. I watch him eat and wonder where in the heck he puts it!! If I ate as much as he does, I'd weigh a ton!! I did have a steak and baked potato though. MMMM...I love steak! Especially when it is done right. After supper we picked J up from his GMa's and came home to set up for the crop. James is such a good husband. He helped me get things picked up and set up so I won't have so much to do in the morning.

So now all I have to do in the morning is dishes and setting out my CM product. That shouldn't take too long I hope. I'll be up early so should be able to relax before everyone gets here. Looks to be 8 of us total. If I have any more I could be looking for another table!!

Well I'll let you know how many pages I get done tomorrow. I'm still in 2004 with the pictures. Almost done but not quite. It would be great if I could get done through the end of 2004!! We'll see. I'll work hard and see what happens.

Have a great weekend all!!

What Rhonda Means

R is for Radical

H is for Hardworking

O is for Old

N is for Neat

D is for Devious

A is for Active

What Does Your Name Mean?

Blog Challenge#2

2007-02-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

Well it should be hard for me to remember about this picture but it isn't. Lucky me it was a fun time so I remember it well.
We had bought pumpkins for everyone to carve and the guys were doing theirs. This picture happens to be of my HH. He gets into carving as much as the kids do. The fun part of this whole thing was that our then 3 year old had to wear a beater just like Daddy. So I have another photo of him doing his pumpkin too. They all sat on the floor on a big plastic table cloth and Daddy helped them cut the top off. Then it was time to dig all the "goop" out. The B who is older didn't want to stick his hand in to dig it out but J our little guy just dug right in giggling the whole time. He kept saying "mommy it feels funny". They worked together and soon all the pumpkins were ready to carve. HH helped B and I helped little J to carve out funny faces. Then the boys watched as Daddy carved a special design out of the pumpkin. When he was done, there was a cute little cat with the moon up above him. They put the candles in and we took them outside to make sure they looked cool. Yep! Really cool. I think our boys will always remember Halloween because we are right there with them carving pumpkins and dressing up to go trick or treating. I think that was the year we all dressed up as hunters. Everyone had on their camo clothes and I think even put on some camo face paint. Not sure about that though. Anyway that is what I remember about my picture!!

Life Happens...

2007-02-12T19:38:00.000-07:00

Well the boys got in trouble this weekend. They decided that fighting while playing PS2 is a good thing. So they proceeded to do it every time they were allowed to play. That didn't last long though as their dad and I stepped in. We got on them several times and even made them quit playing for the rest of the day on Saturday. We thought maybe they got the message so Sunday we let them play again. Nope! Didn't even take them 10 minutes and they were at it again. Well now they are grounded from it for a couple of days. Well J has been bugging me off and on all day to know when he is ungrounded. This is new to him as he is only 4. (He'll be 5 in a month) So he is having a hard time understanding how long a couple of days lasts. Bet he'll be more careful about fighting when playing games next time!!! Well anyway I think it has been harder on me than him!!! But the good news is he will be done tomorrow and then he can play again.
So what are your plans for Valentine's Day. Something special with your sweetheart? I am hoping to have a nice romantic dinner for my HH and me. I'll do something special for the kids during the day, but the evening is just for us. I think I'll make steaks, potatoes and a garden salad. Maybe we can watch a movie or something too. I'm not sure what to get him though. Personally I just love to spend time with him. Any time we are alone together is pretty special.
I just found out the other day that 2 of the children that I watch will be in a summer program so I won't have them after the first of June. So now I am looking for 2 kids to fill those openings. The neat news is that a friend of mine who has a daycare is quitting as of April first, so she is going to let her mom's know that I am available!! It was pretty cool that this happened like it did. I really hope I get a couple of the kids because they are really good. So please be praying that it works out for me.
Well I guess that is all for now. I know it isn't much and it isn't all that exciting. But that's my life right now.

I'm a cookie!!

2007-02-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

You Are a Chocolate Chip Cookie

Traditional and conservative, most people find you comforting.

You're friendly and easy to get to know. This makes you very popular - without even trying!

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

What a WEEK!

2007-01-31T16:21:00.000-07:00

Well here I am again. I know, I know... It has been awhile. Thanks to my SIL for reminding me that I am being neglectful of my readers. I'm guessing there are a couple of you out there. I've been playing on MySpace but I really like blogger better so far. I am going to try and add some stuff to blogger in the next few days and that will make the decision for me.
Anyway the reason for the Title today is illness! We have had the crud running through our household and I finally caught it good or bad as the case may be. I ended up with Strep thanks to one of our little daytime play friends. James had it too we think... He was treated for a sinus infection so had good drugs. Then yesterday I had him take me in and we got the call this morning. Strep and the drugs will be at the pharmacy! So I will go yet another day with out the little ones being here. It has been a vacation, although I can't say it has been nice or that I have enjoyed it!! At least tomorrow I can enjoy it a little as I am feeling better today. Man, I thought my throat was on fire or something for a day or two. I have had strep before but never this bad. Worse part is we had company on Sunday which is when I started having symptoms of it. We all played cards (Pit) so the cards were getting passed around alot. I've called everyone and I am hoping and praying none of them get it!!!
Well on to better news..... Drum roll please.....
This weekend is James and my 6th anniversary. Yes indeed 6 wonderful years of togetherness. We are going to spend a quiet weekend at home together with NO little children under foot. Movies and cuddling on friday night and then breakfast at Cracker Barrel on Saturday morning. That is where we had our first breakfast together as man and wife! Not sure what we will do all day Saturday, but it will be lots of fun spending it together. I love the times we get to do that.
J-baby is doing well. Can't believe he will be 5 in March. He is such an awesome little guy. He loves spending time with his daddy playing PS2 games. So last night we bought him his first, very own, special game. Man he jumped around like a jumping bean. It was so cute. So he and Daddy spent a little while playing that together last night. I'm guessing they will probably have to do it again tonight.
James is doing well. He loves his job and is learning some new hobbies in his spare time. I am looking forward to his newest task. He started making me a DVD shelf for the livingroom just after Christmas. It will cover one wall ( a small wall) and I think it will be really cool when he is done. Maybe I'll even show some pictures when he gets it done.
Anyway I better go for now. Stuff to get done. Take care everyone and be watching to see if I can get changes added to blogger or not!!

Tagged!!

2007-01-10T08:47:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by my SIL, Elizabeth.

These are the rules of play:

1. List 5 weird things about yourself or your pets
2. Tag 5 friends and list them.
3. Those people need to write on their blogs about 5 weird things, and state the rules, and tag 5 more people.
4. Don't forget to let the people you tag know by posting a comment on their blog!

So here goes:
1. My dog Freedom stays totally skinny no matter what we feed her.
2. I had two cats at the same time who both had their right front paws broken.
3. I have children that are 14 years apart in age. ( most people find that a little weird)
4. Back to Freedom, she is deathly afraid of wind. (even just a breeze and she goes crazy trying to get in the house)
5. I like flying in airplanes, but I am afraid of heights. Driving up mountains on switchbacks scares me to death!

Five people I am tagging
Tawny
Samantha
Stephanie
Don
???? not sure

Almost a month to the day!!

2006-12-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

Well I have been playing with different blog accounts and not finding anything I can get a handle on. I'm not majorly impressed with any of them so guess I'll stick with blogger for now.
My daughter got on MySpace and I like her site but didn't have much luck messing with one for myself. So here I am back to blogger. Although I did get the newer version of it.
Let's see. This month in review has actually been pretty good. I usually get pretty stressed around Christmas but this year was different somehow. Maybe it is because we decided to make some gifts and put a limit on our spending ( and stuck to it!!). That seemed to really help. We are not in debt and it feels great!!! Now if we can just keep at it through this new year.
By the way in case I forget...Happy New Year!! I hope and pray everyone has a great year.
I was really wishing for a white Christmas but that just didn't seem to happen, but guess what...now we finally got snow! I love it. Snow makes everything look clean and fresh. The kids love making snowmen and throwing snow at each other. Of course there is always sledding too. It is not bitterly cold so that also helps. It is just some nice winter weather.
The boys really enjoyed Christmas and all the fun presents that they got. J's favorites are his Airplane from Santa and the huge slot car track that was a present to him and his brother from his Grandma and Grandpa. B loves that track too but he also loves the RC truck that he got from his Secret Santa.
James is busy finishing up some projects that he started before Christmas. He was hoping to get a shelf unit made in our livingroom for DVD's and movies but so far he's been too busy doing other things.
We've spent a lot of time socializing this month. It has been fun to spend time with family and friends. We are planning on having several over for New Year's Eve. Should be a good time for all.
Christmas was a little nicer this year as we didn't have to rush from one place to the next. It actually stretched out over 3 days and was quite fun. We spent time with James' Grandpa and his wife along with other family members on the 23rd. Then on Christmas eve we were at his parents house for a few hours and then my mom's with my family for the evening. Lots of food and laughter at both places. Christmas Day was at our house and was just as relaxing as there weren't a ton of people here. Only glitch in the whole thing was trying to get my webcam up and running on Christmas Day so that the family here could visit with my daughter and her family in Washington. Didn't work as planned and she didn't get to see everyone. Oh well, there will be other opportunities.
Now it is on to the New Year and new opportunities. Reach out and grab hold the ride is going to be great!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!!!

Christmas is well on its way!!!

2006-11-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

Well hello again! I know its been forever since I last posted, but life has been kind of busy. I am happy to say it isn't just all work that has kept me busy. We have been spending quite a bit of time with family and friends. After all what are the holidays all about if not being thankful for all of our loved ones?
HH's back is much better finally! He spent almost 3 weeks sleeping on the floor as that was better for his back than the pillowtop mattress we have. He also went to the chiropractor 2 or 3 times a week there for awhile. Now he is down to once a week and is less restricted in what he can do at work. He and the little guy are playing PS2 in the other room. We got some new to us games from a friend of his at work. They also gave us a stack of DVD's to go through. We didn't have most of them and they are kid friendly so that was really cool.
We got our tree on Friday, HH, J, B and I all went and found the perfect tree. The boys wanted a full one this year so I told them it would have to be a short one. We found this really pretty 4 footer at the place we go every year. They are reasonable and their trees usually last till after Christmas. So then yesterday HH, J and I set it up and decorated it. B is with his mom this weekend. We saw them today at the WM store. Anyway it is a beautiful little tree. Although we need to find a topper for it. I use to have an angel, but it was from when CB and I were married and I figured that it was time to get something that was for me and HH and our family. So I sent the angel out to Tawny and her family. She was really glad to get it.
Well now it is time to start getting ready for Christmas with all the fun of the season. We have decided to make a bunch of our gifts this year as money is tight. I'm looking forward to it and I think HH is too!! The kids and grandkids are the only ones we plan on buying for. We are even making stuff for each other. I think it will be lots of fun!!
I am planning on having a two day CM open house and crop in 2 weeks. I will have it here at home as that will save on trying to get a room at a reasonable price. So then everyone who comes won't have to pay such a high crop fee. I think it will just be $5 to crop as long as they want. I know I can't get as many here but since it is two days I think that will help. Pray for it please.
J is doing great. He has learned to count to 100 ( he has to look at the numbers sometimes to get them) and can do some adding and subtracting if he uses his fingers or other visuals for counting. He knows his ABC's and can also sound out simple words. He loves it when I read to him and have him tell me some of the words. He can tell you how to spell his first name and is working on his middle and last name now. Now all I have to do is get him to sit still and learn to write it!! He doesn't really like to sit and write letters. He is however finally getting where he sits and colors sometimes with me and the other kids I take care of.
B will be 9 in February and J will be 5 in March. That seems unreal to me. Also the fact that HH and I have been married 6 years in February!! Wow that went by fast. For the most part I still feel like a newlywed. We have our ups and downs but it seems we always are together in all that happens. He is a very supportive, loving person and I pray that I can be the wife he needs me to be.
We are in a small group now through our Church. It is fun to spend time with people learning what Christ wants for us. We are learning to serve together and it has been fun.
We also finally have a handful of really good friends to spend time with. We have truly been blessed in the last couple of years. God is so good and faithful.
Well I suppose I better get going. Time to fix supper and then spend some quality time with my guys! LYL and have a great week!!!

Today is more Rumblings than Ramblings!!!

2006-11-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

Rumblings, Grumblings, whatever!!! This weekend was really a good weekend with a bummer ending. My mom and I went shopping Saturday morning and I finally got some nice clothes for me. I never shop for myself but I decided it was time. I am very happy to say I was blessed and found what I wanted at reasonable prices. Everything I bought was on sale. I am blessed!!! Than Saturday afternoon, James and I went to our friends, K & M's house, to fell some trees to get ready for Sunday's activities. Sunday we went to church and than Sunday afternoon we got together with our small group and our friends, K & M, and we split, stacked and hauled wood for a family that is in need. The day was awesome. We had a lot of fun and fellowship as we worked. James back had been bothering him all week and it just happened that toward the end of the day he picked up a branch in one hand and had the chainsaw in the other and when he turned to throw the branch out of his way....Bam!! His back went out. I guess he about hit the ground but being the He man that he is he didn't quit and take it easy. Nooooooooo my man had to keep going and tough it out. Well actually he finally agreed to quit sawing and just run the splitter. So that was better but a little too late! When we were done he was walking kind of like a bent old man. Instead of coming home and taking it easy we decided to go to Wendy's for a bite with our friends. Everything was fine until we went to leave. He made it almost out the door when down he went. Something pinched and he had a hard time walking. Fact is he couldn't get back up he had to crawl forward and then R & A helped him up while I got the van and drove it over by him. We took B home to his mom's and dropped a now sleeping J off at home where his big brother, Levi, could watch him while we made a late trip to the ER. They took x-rays and gave him a shot of good pain killers and we were able to walk out of there and get some prescriptions filled and come home. That pain med really worked for him. Than today I made him stay home from work and take it easy. We also went to the Chiropractor to get him some help. He goes back on Wednesday and isn't to lift more than 20 pounds all week. Dr. even gave him a note for light duty at work. He has been moping around here all day as he is a very physical, stay busy kind of guy!! So that was our weekend!! Hopefully, this week will go better. Please pray for him to heal and also please pray that I find another little one to watch. See ya later!!

53 Days till Christmas Eve

2006-11-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

Well I just counted and yes it is official, we have only 53 shopping days till Christmas Eve.

Halloween was fun. J finally decided he would be Superman and Daddy was a miner with his hard hat and "head-light". We took him to friends and family to trick or treat. He had lots of fun and actually got quite a bit of candy, and in the process our little sweetheart blessed several people with his "twinkly" eyes. One of our friends said that J was the first Superman he had ever seen with such a twinkle in his eyes. He was just such a happy kid last night and he spread his love around to those he was with. Sometimes I think the best part of the different holidays is how the kids act. He is so innocent and fun-loving that it just touches my heart. So we had a fun family outing last night.
This morning I have my kids again. J, and 2 others are having fun playing and now they are watching "Frosty The Snowman". It is one of my favorite Christmas movies. Usually I wait until the day after Thanksgiving but they were in need of something new and different from the normal stuff they like to watch!
Today is a good day. God has blessed me with a wonderful, loving husband and both my little and big boys are blessings too. Levi is planning on moving out after the first of the year. I'm not sure how he is feeling about it but hopefully he will do okay with it. I just want my kids to succeed and be happy. I also want them to follow Christ and His will for their lives. That is my prayer today and everyday. Please pray that James and I will follow God's direction for our lives also. Sometimes it is hard to know what God has in mind and what decisions we should make.

How the time flies!!

2006-10-27T06:35:00.000-06:00

This is why it has taken me so long to post!! My grandbabies were here for a week and I spent every spare minute with them!! I couldn't believe how much little Ellery had grown in three weeks! She is such a sweetie! Of course so is her big brother! A is a real sweet big brother. He loves to cuddle his sister, at least until we get the camera out, then he is gone!! T & E went out while they were here and I got to babysit the little ones. Wow! That was a trip. I had them overnight and of course was afraid I wouldn't wake up with the little one. So I didn't get much sleep even though she actually did really well! It is funny how with your own little ones you are so use to it that you can sleep and you hear them with no problem, but watch someone else's and it is a different story!! Anyway, I really enjoyed having the opportunity to be with my little grandchildren. Funny thing is I really don't feel old enough to be a grandma yet. Maybe it is because of my wonderful four year old son!!!

Jeremiah is wonderful. He loved having everyone here too. He likes playing with A and absolutely loves holding and cuddling Ely. These pictures were actually taken when we were at Tawny's. I will post the more recent ones next time.

Life has been pretty busy all in all. I am taking care of three little girls and it is time for me to start working with J and one of the girls to get them ready for school next year. I am going to set aside time each day to work with them on letters, numbers, colors, etc. J actually knows all of these but he needs to learn to write them. He can even read simple words as he has learned to sound words out. I am totally impressed with how he is doing, but he doesn't like to write so I have to figure out a way of making it fun! The one little girl is a bit behind him but hopefully I can be patient and a good teacher for her. One of the girls is 4, one is 5 and one is 8. The five year old is in Kindergarten every other day. I am working with her on writing her name. The eight year old is in third grade and is a sweet girl. I guess really they are all pretty sweet but the younger ones push against the rules quite a bit. Feel sorry for their parents when they get a little older. LOL. Girls can be so much fun!!
Well I suppose I better get in gear. I already got my Biblestuding done and checked email and such. So now I need to get busy with the other chores of the day. James should be out soon for breakfast and then we'll be off and running!!! I have to get ready for my crop that I am holding tomorrow and also we are having company for supper tonight so have to prepare for that!!
Well have a great day and keep smiling!!

Oh yeah, just for you Don....
1. Praise songs
2. Carmen - No Monsters
3. George Strait - We really shouldn't be doin' this
4. Carmen - I've been delivered
5. Trace Adkins - Hot Mama
6. Josh Turner - Your man, Long Black train, etc.
7. Kentucky Headhunters - Dumas Walker and other songs
8. More George
9. More Trace
10. Runaway Bride soundtrack

Does that work Don? I'm not tagging anyone unless they consider themselves tagged when they read this!!!

I am sooooo excited!!

2006-10-07T10:19:00.000-06:00

My daughter and her family will be here tonight. She called about 7am my time and said they were leaving. They should get in sometime later this evening. I am praying that their trip goes well. She wasn't sure how it would be since the baby has to be nursed every 2 or 3 hours. Hope the kids are good for them!! They will be staying with my mom as she has a bigger house and plenty of beds! I am just so excited to see those little ones. Ely is 6 weeks old tomorrow. My how time flies! Anyway it will be great to have them here for the week. I even have Monday off so no extra kiddos.
Well I kind of had some bad news earlier this week. I don't know if I had said anything earlier but Levi got engaged a few weeks back. We were all so happy because Becca is a real sweetheart. She is a Christian and just a very nice girl. Anyway, things had actually progressed kind of fast and after they got engaged it hit Levi how fast they were moving and he started having second thoughts. So needless to say this last week they broke it off. They both agree that it was sailing along a bit fast and they needed to step back a little bit. They also realized how different from each other they are. Becca is very committed and Levi is still at that point where he goes back and forth between being mad at God (for his Dad's death) and being okay with things. He isn't anywhere close to being committed yet and I just have to keep praying that soon he will be. But that means that for now he and Becca are done. She stopped over last night to visit with me and James. She is having a hard time because she really enjoys being with our family too. So this is going to be tough but like I told her, she is still a part of our family even if they don't get married ever. Please just pray for both of them as I know Levi is hurting to, although he doesn't always show it the way others do.
Well I suppose I better get going for now. Gotta run to the bank. I'll try to write again later but not sure that will happen. James is out and about right now but when he comes back I kind of want to go shopping for a pair of jeans. So take care until next time. Oh yeah....Don please write soon I miss reading your blog. At least E is consistent and I get to see pics of my niece and nephew and hear how you all are doing!!! Love you all!!

Heeeectiiiiiic!!!

2006-10-03T12:56:00.000-06:00

Can we say BUSY!! Wow its only Tuesday and I feel like I've been going at high speed for a week! Yesterday was a blur. We had a great weekend. Got groceries and did some other shopping on Saturday and had an actual "date night" with my honey. No kids. It was awesome. Actually spent the night alone as the little one stayed with Grandma N. That is the first time in a long time he has wanted to spend the night anywhere. So it was really nice. Then Sunday we picked him up for church and then after lunch it was off to Grandma's with him again so Hubby and I could go help some friends cut down trees and haul the wood away. Worked hard and had some fun at the same time. It is always fun to work together! Then we had supper with them and visited for awhile before going to pick up the little guy again and head home to bed. So of course nothing was done at home since we had been gone basically all weekend!! So Monday was a bustle of activity for me. I had an appointment at 10 am and it was chaos before and after that. First my daughter calls, then while I am talking to her my sister calls and wants to bring me coffee and visit. I told her come on over but hold the coffee, I already had some. Then I continued to talk to T until B got here. Oh yeah and the gal I babysit for called too so we could make sure the schedule was straight. So then B and I visited for a little bit and my mom showed up to watch the Littles while I went to my appointment. So lets see then it was Appointment, buy stamps and send off CM letters. Come home and start on the normal routine + watch and play with and feed kids. James came home for lunch and then finally I get my little break. Naptime was definitely invented by and for MOMS!! Read a few pages in my romance novel and washed clothes at the same time. Then it was time for snack and time to get supper started. My last child leaves at 7 pm and that is when I finished drying my last load for the day. Whew!!!
Today is a bit better, although I have my little guy + 2 extras to take care of. But today they are being pretty good and right now is naptime (I really do bless the Mom who invented it!)
So everything is nice and quiet as I sit and type at my keyboard. I also had fun getting my new slideshow up and running. Hope everyone enjoys it!!

I'm back!

2006-09-20T08:50:00.000-06:00

Well hello again. What's that I hear...you missed me? No way! I haven't been gone that long have I? Oh well yes it has been almost a month!! Well you know how it is, no computer, no posting!!! So do you want to know what I've been up too? You do! That's great! I'm so excited.
On August 26th I made the long trip to Spokane to be with my daughter and her husband for the birth of their second child. This baby was due to be born on September 6th via C-section, but decided that since Grandma came early to see mommy than she wanted to see Grandma early too! Charlotte Ellery Stillar decided to appear a mere 6 hours after Grandma got there. Boy was I glad I had decided to go early!! Ely, as her parents are calling her, was born on August 27th at 12:30am. She was 3 weeks early (from her due date) and weighed in at 6 lbs. 15oz. and was actually about 21 inches although her hospital record says 18 1/2 inches ( at her two week appointment they measured her 3 times at 21 inches and decided she had been mismeasured at the hospital). She has LOTS of curly hair that is the same color as her mom and dad's. She went through about a week of jaundice and then things started looking up. I was there for three weeks and enjoyed loving on her and her big brother Aidyn. They are both precious little loves.
I am very glad to be home though. I really missed my handsome hubby and everyone here. I think he kinda missed me too!!! Anyway it is great to be back and I will post some pictures at a later date.

Hazy days

2006-08-24T10:31:00.000-06:00

I'm sorry it has taken so long to post. Things were kind of busy over the weekend and I played catch up on Monday. The big news around here is a fire that started on Tuesday morning. It started in Emerald Hills and grew from 50 acres the first few hours to 1,100 by that night and is now at around 5,000 acres. Many homes are in harms way but praise God the firefighters have saved all but 2 so far. The fire is still uncontained and winds overnight and this morning have made things pretty harsh. They evacuated all of Emerald Hills Tuesday and that mandatory evacuation is still in effect. They also temporarily evacuated an area close to Hwy 87. They have brought in a Type 2 incident command team and FEMA will kick in I guess. So that should help. Although our firefighters have done
an awesome job so far!!!
If you are interested in seeing what is going on go to montanasnewsstation.com or kulr.com for more information. There are pictures and video clips. Anyway that is what has kept me from blogging. Oh yeah not to mention that because of the fire and where it is we lost power from Tuesday afternoon until last night when it finally came on about 9:30 or so. Kind of hard to use the old computer when there isn't any power!! I'm posting a few pictures for you all to see.

The first, third and last pictures are taken as we sat in the church parking lot. The houses you see are in the new subdivision that is being built where the big field across the road from the church use to be. The fire actually topped the ridge and came part way down before they got that part out. It is still smoldering today.
The second picture is looking at the backside of the fire from I-90 between Billings and the Pryor exit. We went back out yesterday because they had closed that portion of interstate for awhile on

Tuesday. I didn't take pictures but the fire actually crossed the interstate in places and there were a lot of fence posts, trees and other areas that were still smoldering. It was pretty weird after just being there the day before!
It is pretty bad and I just ask that everyone would pray that there will be no loss of life and that houses can be spared. Thanks everyone!! Hopefully I can blog more later but for now thats all. Over and Out!!

Up, up and away...

2006-08-17T15:26:00.000-06:00

Well I just got home from the airport. I took Becca (Levi's girlfriend) and her family to the airport. They are headed for Orlando. She was a little nervous and a lot excited!! I hope they have lots of fun together.
After dropping them at the airport J and I went to Wendy's and got drive-thru. Then headed up to park and watch the airplane take off. We had about a half hour to wait and we just enjoyed watching the other planes. I think he would stay up there all day if we could. He loves the planes. His favorites are the FedEx planes and the Fire Bombers because they are so huge and loud. He says he wants to go in the Army so he can drive tanks, fly jets and do other cool stuff. Wonder if he will still feel that way when he is all grown up!!
I got the boys new room painted and the wall border up. We still need to put the kicker board up, but other than that I think it is ready for me to put stuff away and get them moved into it. Hope it works okay. J isn't too sure about being in a different room and so far from Mommy and Daddy. But I think it will be better as he will be able to hear us when he first goes to bed and there is more room to play in this room. It use to be the master bedroom so it is the biggest bedroom in the house. I painted it Monterey Blue on the bottom, White on top with a Batman border and it will have dark wood trim around the floor and windows. I think it will look cool when it is totally done. Then once Levi moves out later this fall, I can repaint the boys old room and it will be a craft/exercise room for James and me. I already have a border picked out and some decorating ideas in mind. Just have to wait and see what gets done.
I leave for Tawny's in just a 2 short weeks. I am so looking forward to seeing my baby and her babies! I just realized yesterday how terrible much I miss her. She has been having some problems in her pregnancy and I just wish I was there to help out where ever I could. Hopefully this 2 weeks will go fast and then the time I spend out there will creep by!!! Yeah right!! It never seems like you can stay long enough. That's okay though because I guess they are coming here in late October or early November. Before the snow flies anyway. I feel very blessed that I get to see her as much as I do. I just miss her so much. Having kids is great until they grow up and move away!!!
I suppose I better get moving and get something done before James gets home. I want to make him a nice supper. I've been kind of a witch here lately I think. He never complains but I know that I've been kind of grumpy! So I need to do some make up with him. Don't you love making up....I sure do!!! Talk at ya later!!!

Today is a new day!

2006-08-14T06:06:00.000-06:00

I am so glad yesterday is over. It started out good but kind of went south! We got up and ready for church with no problem. Church was awesome. I really enjoyed the music and the sermon was very thought provoking. I love it when a sermon gets you thinking! Then B went to a friends for the afternoon and we came home after stopping to get something fast at Wendy's. Okay here's where it starts to go south. Saturday night the gal I child sit for had called and asked if I could watch her little girl on Sunday while she took here boys to the fair. Well I talked to James and he said that would be okay. So when we got home after church she dropped her off. She was in a pretty good mood even though she wasn't going with to the fair. I was surprised! So anyway, we took off to run around. We had to return the lawnmower we had bought as it wasn't cutting right and had some mechanical problem. Then we went to a few shops to look for another mower. All in all E and J were pretty good little kids. Then we did the WalMart thing and the Costco thing and came home. Kids still being pretty good! James took the mower he had borrowed back and went to pick up B. Well he ended up bringing B's friend A back too. A can get a little wild and I had told James the only time he could be here is when James is here too. So they all started playing together and we got supper going. That's when it started. Here comes E in tears cause A said something mean to her. When confronted A denied it, although E doesn't usually cry for no reason! So I talked to A and he sat there and started arguing with me. I really hate it when kids argue with an adult!! So I took care of that and had him apologize to E. Supper was a constant stream of "Shhh, just eat" or "Elbows off the table" or "Don't talk with your mouth full" and "Lean over your plate, please". With 4 little ones it wasn't a very fun meal. So see E's mom was suppose to get her at 5 or so and instead we ended up taking A home first at 7:30 then on to B's mom's to drop him off, then up to the airport as we had promised J we would stop and watch the planes for a few minutes( this promise actually happened way earlier in the day but this was our first opportunity to fulfill it!!) then off to see if E's mom was home yet. We dropped her off at a quarter to 9. Her mom had just got home. She was really apologetic, but it really irks me when people are late. And come on 3 hours late that is just...well anyway, I'm glad yesterday is over and today is a new day. I will have four little ones today including my J, but I am thinking it will still be a much calmer day!!

On a happier note...yesterday was my BIL's birthday. Hope you had a good one Don! James tried to call but we figured it might have been kind of late over there. LYL BIL and SIL HAGD!!!

Oh what a beautiful morning!

2006-08-13T08:32:00.000-06:00

It smells so fresh and nice outside today! I woke up this morning, opened the curtains and had to smile. What a beautiful morning!! The sun is poking through the clouds and the ground is still wet from the downpour we got last night. There is just a hint of fog and the air smells crisp and clean. Not to mention that it is quite a bit cooler today!
It was great last night to lay in bed and hear the rain on the roof. What a peaceful thing to fall asleep with. We had enjoyed a nice evening with friends, eating, visiting and playing horseshoes until dark. Then when they left it was bedtime and the rain started coming down hard. It was awesome.
Okay enough about our wonderful weather. It has been a busy week and shows no sign of slowing down which in a way is okay with me. I spent the week babysitting and getting a room ready to paint, along with keeping up the normal day to day stuff. Then Friday, I mudded the holes and when that dried, I primed the walls. Then yesterday I was able to paint. Got it all done too. Kind of surprised myself as I am doing two colors and had to wait in between colors for it to dry. Now today we have to get the trim and get it up. Then this week I babysit again and have to get the room back in shape as it is the boys room and the toy room!! The little guy wants to help me paint so today I told him he could help paint the trim for the livingroom. It has been needing to get done for a long time. James got it cut and now I just need to get it painted and up. We are hoping to get new windows in the house someday but who knows when that will happen. Just wait and see I guess.
Talked to Tawny yesterday. She had been having contractions and wasn't feeling well. She was kind of worried she might be going into labor and asked if I could come out early if she was. Then she called last night and was doing better. Things had settled down for her. So hopefully she will last until September. I am really looking forward to going out there to see them and to be there when she has the baby.
I think that about catches up with my week, but if I think of something I'll be back!!!

What a way to learn about someone!

2006-08-08T13:59:00.000-06:00

I have been tagged by my SIL.
A) Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. dishwasher at a Mexican food place
2. youth leader
3. wife and mom
4. babysitter

B) Movies you watch over and over:
1. Pretty Woman
2. Wedding Planner, well anything with Matthew McConaughy!(yum)
3. Dirty Dancing
4. Both Zorro movies with Antonio Banderas

C) Four places I have lived:
1. Worden, MT
2. Billings, MT
3. Darby, MT
4. Pompeys Pillar, MT (hmm, get the drift...I've always lived here!!)

D) Four TV shows I love to watch
1. Grey's Anatomy (love McDreamy)
2. Desperate Housewives
3. Without a Trace
4. CSI Miami and the original CSI ( in that order)

E ) Four places you have been on vacation
1. Las Vegas
2. Spokane, WA
3. Newport Bay and Lincoln City, OR
4. Rapid City, SD

F ) Web sites you visit daily
1. johnsonsjunction.com
2. blogs
3. billingsgazette.net
4. eharlequin.com

G) Four of my favorite foods
1. Jade Palace Orange Chicken
2. Mashed Potatoes and Gravy (any kind of gravy!)
3. Steak
4. Tacos (Johnson or sloppy)

H) Four places I would rather be right now
1. reading a romance book
2. cropping
3. playing at the lake
4. taking a nap!

I) Four friends I think will respond
1. Don
2. Colleen
3. I'd say Elizabeth but she is the one who tagged me.
4. Pretty sad but that's all I can think of...Guess I need some more blogger friends!!!

Have fun!! Hope I hear from some of you!

Finally pictures of my finished project!!

2006-08-06T18:14:00.000-06:00

Okay I've been promising pictures..well here they are. At least they will be if I can get this to work!! The first one is looking at the deck from the lawn. I love sitting in my swing and looking out over the yard in the early morning or in the evening when it starts to cool off. I still need to do some work on the rock around the bush and then I need to plant some smaller flowers around the bush too. After doing this rock work and seeing how pretty it is, I would really like to do a little more in a few other places around the yard. Maybe a water feature or whatever they are called. I want to make sure and use this same type of rock though. There is also a concrete slab at the front door that I would like to replace with a large stone someday. Not sure when that will happen though. And of course the house could use new windows and siding but that takes a bit of money so will have to wait. This rock work only cost about $30 because the rock was free so we only had to pay for mortar!
The next picture is sitting on the deck looking out into the yard. When I sit in my swing and look out over the yard, I dream of what I want to do in it. Some day the old shop will be gone and a new one will be put up all the way at the back of the property. Maybe we will have a little basketball court for the boys where the old shop is now since there is a nice little concrete pad there. The corral also needs to come down and all the junk needs to be either organized or taken to the dump!! We will need to plant quite a bit of grass but it will be beautiful. We also will need to plant some trees and of course more bushes and flowers.

The last picture is looking in the gate. We only have the privacy fence on the side of the drive way, but some day we hope to have the 6 foot fence around all of the yard except looking out the back. That way it would just be quieter and of course more private.
We spent yesterday and today working on our neighbors trees. James climbed up in them and trimmed and cut down branches that needed to come down. I worked on the ground cutting limbs up enough to drag them and get them in the trailer to take to the dump. We took one load this morning and James took the second load this afternoon. We are both pretty tired but it was well worth it. James really likes to do this kind of work, and it is something we can do together. I really enjoy that.
Well I suppose I better go. I am hoping to go visit my niece and her new baby. Then I hope to come home and just rest! I am sure James is hoping for a little rest also.

GTKM: Favorite time of day...evening when it cools off

Now tell me something about you!

Calgon take me away....

2006-08-03T11:45:00.000-06:00

This past week has been too hectic! I had a party for James' 30th birthday on Sunday afternoon. I think everyone had a good time. Just a lot of visiting and relaxing. Really needed that after the week we had. I spent all of last week cleaning up from the camping trip and getting ready for the garage sale. I think I washed about a ton of laundry and dishes. Then took two or three days to get all the garage sale stuff out and tagged. Friday and Saturday I spent outside working the sale. It really went very well considering how hot it was. Made almost $200 in 2 days. I figured that was worth the trouble!! Then of course Sunday was spent preparing and having the party. The guys played horseshoes and the girls visited and played with the kids. It really was enjoyable. The only fly in the ointment was the fact that I ended up getting in an argument with my dad the night before and that is still bugging me. Oh well, I can't control how he is so I might as well get over it.
This week has been going okay. Jeremiah has been going to a Backyard Bible Club every morning for about an hour or so. It is at his Aunt Becky's and he is loving it. First two days I almost couldn't get him to leave. They have an inflatable "castle" that the kids can jump in. He totally loves it. I think he would spend all day in there if I'd let him! He finally understood that if he kept fussing about going home, he wouldn't get to come back the next day. Soooo yesterday he made sure and didn't fuss at all. He really is a pretty sweet kid.
Last night my brother called to let us know that his step-daughter, Joy, was in the hospital having her baby. I called this morning and found out she had it about 3am. Its a boy, but that is all I know right now as Rod didn't have details. I'll go up later and see her.
Tawny is due in about 5 weeks now. She is getting pretty excited. So am I as I get to go out there for two weeks when she has the baby. Wish I could fly but it is way too expensive, so I guess I will drive. Not sure whether I should take the van or the car. It would be nice to try the van out on a road trip!! I really do enjoy driving it. Never thought I'd be a van mom!!!
The weather has finally cooled off a little so we have been enjoying the great outdoors more. I think I will actually go out today and work in the yard some more. I need to take a picture of the rock work we did, but I want things to look nice first!! Okay so I'm a little weird about things like that. I hate taking pictures and then when I get them back I notice how yucky the background is! So now I take a little care about background, before taking the picture. Just makes sense.
Well it does to me anyway.
Okay I'm definitely "rambling" today so I guess I'll go for now.
Oh yeah, the movie.."She's the Man".. it was kind of cute in a weird way. I am waiting for the one with Antonio Banderas to come out so we can watch it. I think it comes out the end of this month. I love watching his movies!! Also Matthew McConaughy.
Well have a fun day all!!

And so another week gone by!

2006-07-28T19:49:00.000-06:00

Well last weekend was great! Everyone had a blast and got a lot of sun! We were pulled around the lake on a big "tube" by my brother Rod in his boat, rode Wave Runners of a guy that we met up there, and later his wife brought their boat up there and we rode a three man tube behind their boat. Brendon wasn't too sure about the tubes, although he did ride in the three man tube and did okay. He also rode a Wave Runner with his dad and that wasn't too bad as long as Dad took it easy. He did enjoy riding in the boats though and playing in the shallow water. Brendon was also the only one to catch fish when the guys went fishing.
Now Jeremiah on the other hand loved everything. He rode both tubes with his Daddy and had perma grin just like Daddy!! He fished but didn't catch anything. His favorite part was "the Wave Runners and the tubes and fishin' ". I asked him and that is what he said!! Guess he enjoyed the whole trip. Bet we go again sometime!!! Daddy seemed to really enjoy his Birthday weekend too. The only bad part was that he ended up with bad sunburn on his very white legs. That will teach him to listen to his DW and put on sunscreen next time BEFORE being in the water for a few hours. He was already pretty red when he finally put it on.
Sunday he wore sweatpants and a T-shirt to play in the water!! Pretty cute let me tell you!
Then on Monday when he went back to work, I had to buy him decent shorts so he could wear them to work instead of jeans. Poor guy, today is the first day he has been able to were pants again. Still rubbed him a little but not too bad.
Today and tomorrow my neighbor and I are having yard sales. It is intensely hot, but we still had a really good turn out. That's about all that is going on for now. I need some sleep but want to watch a movie first. Think it is "She's the Man". Hope it is good. I'll tell ya what I think of it later.

The weekend is here again!!!

2006-07-20T14:53:00.000-06:00

Yea!! I have been babysitting for the past three days from 5:30 am until 7 pm. I am so ready for a break. I am free now until next week some time. Okay not really free as we are preparing for a camping trip. I got groceries today and now I have to prepare foods and pack stuff up. I'm kind of looking forward to it, even though I'm not really "into" camping. It should be fun though.
Yesterday James came home for lunch and cut down some really big limbs on the neighbors tree. These branches have been a concern for awhile as they hang out over where we park the cars! When he left for work I went out with nippers and started trimming smaller branches off the big ones he had cut down. That way when he got home he could cut them up. Only thing is we are under fire restrictions because it is so dry here. So he had to wait until this morning to do use the chainsaw again. There is a list of things not to use during the hours of 1pm and 1am. The chainsaw happens to be one of them! Anyway, he finished that job up early this morning and then during his lunch he took the branches to the dump. His dad went with him as they had some stuff to haul away too.
We are hoping he gets off early tomorrow as he already has his 40 in this week. Then we can get going before traffic gets heavy after work.
Jeremiah loves going to VBS. He is having so much fun! He loves meeting new kids and learning new songs. I love watching him when he sings. He is just so darn cute!! Yes I know I'm a little prejudiced, but others say he is cute too so I know I'm not TOO prejudiced!!
I guess that is about all that has been going on this week.
I'd love some feedback on the slide show. I'll be adding more pictures to it soon I hope.
Have a great weekend!!

Learning new things!!

2006-07-17T09:50:00.000-06:00

Well what do you think? Do you like my slide show? It didn't take long to put it together, but it took a little bit to figure out how to get it on this blog!! They had a way to put it on as a post but I wanted it to play at the top of my blog. So I sent an email SOS to my dear SIL and she gave me the information I needed to get it up and running. Thanks Elizabeth, I really appreciate all the help you give me on the blogging stuff and webpage stuff. I'm still working on a webpage. Not sure if I really need to do that or not.
Well on to other news. We spent most of the weekend working outside on the neighbor's trees. Well actually, James and the boys spent the day cutting them down. I ran into town to get groceries, then came home and did housework. I also got supper done so I could help when it was time to put the branches through the chipper. About 5pm our friends, Keith and Mara, came over with a chipper and we worked until 8pm getting it all chipped and then Keith hauled it over to the back of our property with the Kubota. (spelling?) Then everyone came in and we had a picnic supper of cold chicken, potato salad, fruit salad, baked beans, and chips. We were all so tired and hungry, that I don't think it would have matter what we ate. Then after everyone left, the boys were put to bed and we sat out on the deck with a fire in our chimnea. That's the first time we've had it burning. It really was kind of relaxing just to sit there and talk with Levi and his girlfriend, Becca.
Sunday morning it was off to church and then home again for a quick bite of lunch. Then we headed to the lake to swim with some friends. We all had a really good time splashing and swimming. That is the first time Jeremiah has been there. He really had fun playing in the sand. Brendon was pretty brave, except when James would try to get him to come out and learn how to swim with him. The main thing was that everyone got cooled off and had fun too!!
After we all got home, James and the boys went to his folks to pick up some stuff for the dump, and I went to a baby shower for my niece Joy. She is due the beginning of August. Poor girl really is uncomfortable right now.
Now here I sit at my computer enjoying some quiet time. I have Emily today, but took her and Jeremiah to VBS. It is the first time for him and he was pretty excited. It was a little weird for me to drive away. I'm so use to him being with me or with the Grandparents that to leave him with someone else was kind of strange. I guess I better get use to it though since he will start school next year.
Well MHH just called and wants me to bring him something to eat for break so I have to run for now. Hope all is well. Take care and God Bless!!

Rock Paradise

2006-07-12T14:54:00.000-06:00

Okay I know that could be taken a few different ways, but it has to do with my little rock area off my deck. I am happy to announce that it is DONE!!! Little did I know when I started that "little" project that it would take so long!! I started doing the mortar yesterday morning and then it got too hot to be outside in the direct sun! So I started back up again this morning and stayed with it until I was finished, finito, done, phew!!! I think it looks pretty good, but then I am just a wee bit prejudiced as I did a lot of the work. MHH helped get the stones and even helped place the big ones and sand in a few, but I did the rest of the placing and then mortared them all!!! But I am so glad we did it. I really do like how it looks. Levi even put the chimnea down on one of the big rocks for me last night and moved a log stump that we had been using as decoration by the deck. I just keep thinking of more things we can do now with the rocks. But that will just have to wait for another time. Now it is on to finishing the livingroom. I'm kind of excited to get that done as it has been almost 9 or 10 months since we started that project.
Finishing projects is the name of the game this summer and fall. If we get them done, then I will start on new ones, but certain ones MUST get done first!!
On to other news in our little household.
Night before last I was needing a little me time, so I went for a drive. James and Jeremiah were watching a movie together so it was the perfect time!! I ran down to DQ and got an oreo cookie blizzard. MMMM....mighty fine!! It is always a toss up between that or a Raspberry Cheesequake. I love them both and on a hot evening ice cream is awesome!! Anyhow, I started driving around just looking at properties in the area that are for sell and also some of the new sub-divisions going up. When I returned home I was feeling much better and had my music up loud. Guy Penrod and the Gaither Vocal Band are so good. I can really get to praising when I am listening to them. Well I had parked but was still listening to the music when a head popped up over the wood fence. Levi smiled then down went his head. Pretty soon the gate opens and Becca ( his girlfriend) peeks out and smiles. Now this is just a little strange but not too much. But then they did it again. Hmmm...something is definitely up with them. I start wondering what's going on, but continue to wait for them to come to me. Finally, Becca comes out with Levi following. He says "Hi, Mommy!" (he calls me this when he has been up to something, otherwise I am mom!) Then he sticks out his tongue. Can you guess? Come on try! He finally did it...yep, he pierced his tongue. The little terd!!! I couldn't believe it. But wait it gets better. He didn't do it alone. Oh no his sweet little Becca got hers pierced too. She was worried I would be mad at her or think badly of her. I told her I wasn't. I mean come on they are both 20 this year so its their decision not mine! Well last night they were both feeling pretty sore. She was hurting enough that she finally had him take the post out. She asked if I'd ever really thought I'd wanted something and then when I finally got it realized it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Yep. Been there done that.
Levi still has his in and he will probably keep it. Be praying for him. I'm hoping he too will decide its not exactly what he really wants. He was pretty swollen and sore this morning! Pretty hard to eat when your tongue is swollen.
I can truly say I will never pierce that piece of my anatomy. James keeps teasing me and wanting me to get my belly button pierced, but I don't think that will happen. Told him he could pierce his!!

Life is never boring!!!

2006-07-11T16:47:00.000-06:00

I've decided that life really never is boring. If I don't like the way things are going I just have to wait a little while and things will change. Two days ago or was it three. I had an awesome day then the next day was a total downer. Now today is a new and better day. I love how God can wipe the slate clean and start fresh in the morning. He IS an Awesome God!!It's not that today was wonderfully spectacular or anything. It was just a good day. It actually kind of started last night and then just continued on into today. Jeremiah went to bed early, Levi wasn't home yet so James and I were able to have some time to ourselves. That doesn't happen much around here and it seems like when it does we don't know what to talk about or do. Last night was different. We really had a good time talking, laughing and joking with each other. I love times like that. It is like time slows down and we can really relax and enjoy each other. Those are some of my favorite times.Today went well too. Just kind of hung out with Jeremiah and did a little housework and an errand or two. Then we had lunch with Daddy and he played a couple of games with Jeremiah before going back to work. Jeremiah really enjoyed the daddy time. Then we went to my friend's house. She just had a baby about 2 weeks ago and I hadn't been over to see her yet. Jeremiah loves going over there because she has a little boy that is about a year or so older than him. They play pretty good together. Today he got to jump on a trampoline for a little while. He thought he was pretty cool stuff! Had to show me his "tricks" that he could do. It was fun to watch him. He kept calling it his "talent show". We really got a kick out of that. Anyway her baby is adorable. It is a little girl and they named her Ellie which is funny because that is what Tawny and Evan are naming their baby girl when she is born. Only difference is in the spelling. They will spell it Ely. Well it was fun to hold a little one again.We came home for a few minutes and then went up to James' work to let him know we were going to go out for supper. He was headed to BioLife, so he will grab a bite on the way home.Jeremiah and I grabbed tacos and went up on the rims by the airport to watch airplanes takeoff and land. We saw quite a few but the best was a fire plane that came in and then after a bit took off again. Man was it loud. Loved it!!!!!Well that is the way my day went. Like I said, nothing major, just a nice day.

Puny...what an odd word..

2006-07-08T22:21:00.000-06:00

and yet that is exactly how I feel. Puny! Yesterday was an awesome day. Got up had breakfast with my HH and got him off to work. My little gal I take care of was here and the two kids had a great time together. Hardly any fighting or bickering. I was in bliss. My mom and I took them and did a little garage saling and then I came home and got to work. I baked a strawberry shortcake for MHH and then whipped up some homemade stroganoff. It turned out pretty good. I felt great giving him a real home cooked meal. Sometimes I feel like I am just throwing things together, so it was kind of nice to actually have something planned out. My mom came back over in the evening with my niece, Katie. She had some of the strawberry shortcake and really enjoyed that. So my day just went really well. Jeremiah went to bed on time and by himself. So then James and I could spend a little couples time together. Went to bed, fell asleep and the boom it hit me. About 2 am I woke up and felt terrible. My stomach was giving me fits. I guess I should back up a little bit here. When my mom stopped over she also brought us a treat. It was two M&M brownie cookies with chocolate and vanilla ice cream sandwiched in between. I only had about a quarter of one( they were kind of big) and that was all it took. Before going to bed I had a bad case of heartburn. Now I'm back to the original 2 am thing. I was sick to my stomach for a couple of hours and finally it settled down and I was able to go back to sleep. So of course today I felt PUNY all day long. Just tonight I am starting to feel more like myself again. (Heaven help us!!) Anyway, I was able to do laundry and get a few small things done inside and then this evening after it finally started cooling down, I went our and worked on the rock area that we are making. I almost got half of them sanded in and steady. Hopefully I can finish that part tomorrow and then we can mortar them. Then I can get a picture and post it. Hope it looks as good as I am wanting it too!
Well I am being paged by my little guy. So I am going to go for now. Have a good day tomorrow and may God bless you all!

Today is a much better day!!

2006-07-06T16:20:00.000-06:00

Yesterday is over and today was a brand new day. Boy am I ever glad of that. Although yesterday did end okay. I got to talk to my sweet daughter, Tawny. That is always a highlight to my day. She was feeling kind of bored and needed a pick me up. Glad she chose me to pick her up!! Little Aidyn was being funny and talking up a storm in the background. I love to hear his little voice. It really great to talk with her.
Today has been wonderful. This morning I got up and going at a decent hour. James headed to work and I took Jeremiah over to his little friends house to play while I went shopping. Not the normal blah grocery shopping. No Way!! Today it was all about me. And boy did I enjoy myself. I went to Ross for the first time in years. I ended up spending a couple hours looking and trying on mounds of clothes. It was a blast. I walked out of there with 2 shirts, a dress and a pair of shoes and I had only spent $36. Then I decided I might as well go to JC Penney's and see what they had. Well they were having an awesome sale. Could hardly believe my good luck! I got 3 shirts and some dressy pants for a grand total of $12. I am totally so excited. I love getting good bargains. It makes my day. So now I am in high spirits. Even though I know I have to go back out tonight to get the normal grocery shopping done. I don't care because I had fun today and actually got some new clothes that I really like.
I suppose I better get in gear and get the Garage Sale over with so I can use some of that money and have some fun again!!! Nah! I think I'm okay now. Just needed a break and to do something that was totally for me. That just doesn't happen very often. I'm so glad I took the time today to do it! Now I can be a much happier me!! James and the boys will probably be glad of that. Well I gotta run. Have a wonderful evening!! Blessings to all!

One of "Those" days!!

2006-07-05T15:37:00.001-06:00

Ever have one of "Those" days. The kind where it starts out great and then things just start going downhill!! Well that's how mine has been. We had so much fun last night and I was so excited to sit down and post today. Then it happened... I finished creating and went to post and ...nothing...nada..it just kinda froze. Man was I fired up!! I tried to see if it had posted anyway but it didn't look like it. Tried to sign out, wouldn't work. Darn it all, I spent a lot of time on that. So I shut down and decided to get in gear with other things. Started the wash, cleaned up the house and started doing my very favoritist thing in the world bills(NOT). Yuck I hate doing it. It always puts me in a bad mood. You know too many bills not enough paycheck! Yeah! Well anyway the mail came and Jeremiah and I went out to get it. Opened up the bills and about passed out. Sheez louise, Water up by $40 and Electricity up by about $50. That's about a bunch of bunk. So I sit down and start figuring things out and trying to rearrange our finances. (Again) Well I guess it won't be too bad if we don't get too many other things going up too. Oh yes I forgot I had started dishes too and by this time the water was freezing cold. Had to start over there and it was time for James to be here to eat lunch!! Also had some problems with my washing machine but I got that one under control without too much fuss!!! And during all of this my little sweetheart Jeremiah keeps wanting some mommy time. Or at the very least for someone to come over and play with him as his big brother had to go back to his moms house. So finally after things settled down some... ie...James went back too work, Jeremiah has his cousin over to play, clothes almost done, etc...I finally was able to get back on and write some more. Of course, I thought I would have to redo everything I had done this morning. Lo and behold, there it was my lost post. You can bet I have been singing some praises. I really wanted to catch up with my DBIL on posts. Actually what I'd really like to do is get a few up on him but we will see how that goes.
Well I really am praising now because things are finally looking up again. I just hate having one of "Those" days! Don't you?

Happy 4th of July Recovery Day!!

2006-07-05T11:38:00.000-06:00

Well yesterday was awesome! James and I had gone out to my Dad's on Monday and got a pickup load of flat sandstone. It was a good trip and we had lots of fun even though it was work. Some of it was quite large and heavy. We had decided to add flat rock to extend the deck and have a place for the chimnea that we have. When we got home it was pretty late in the afternoon and we had other things to take care of. So we didn't get started until yesterday. We had to do some digging so the rock would be easy to mow around and then we added sand for a base. After we placed the first to huge rocks it was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. We would try different stones in different spots until we got one that looked good. We managed to get them all placed but have to go back and put more sand under some of them and then when they are how they need to be we will add colored mortar. I'll see about posting a picture when we are done.
We had to quit early yesterday as we had to go get the sand and mortar, and then we headed off to the big fireworks display at the park.
We were amazed by all the fun things they had for the kids to do. All the games and inflatable toys were free to play. It was great. Brendon and Jeremiah both went on the inflatable climbing wall. Brendon made it to the top and repelled down like he had been doing it all his little life. Jeremiah made it half way up and lost his footing. When he looked down to find a place for his foot he realized how far up he was and told the man " I think I can come down now please". It was cute. He really doesn't like heights very much, but we were surprised he went as high as he did. Oh course, I don't have pictures because I forgot the camera in the car and none of us wanted to walk all the way back just to get it. So our memories from yesterday will just have to be written about instead of being able to look at the pictures and remember. That's okay. Lesson learned I guess. Anyway, the boys had a blast and then we decided it was time for Levi and Daddy to have some fun. They had a real rock wall there and they climbed that. It was fun to watch them too. James almost made it to the top and then lost his footing and slipped. Once you start to go there's not much you can do about it. So Levi headed up and we thought he was going to fall too, but he hung there by one arm while he got his footing and his grip with the other hand. Well he made it, so of course poor James got teased pretty bad for awhile.
After a little while we caught up with Levi's girlfriend, Becca, and her family. We found a good spot to cop a squat and waited for the fireworks. The boys were pretty patient. I was totally impressed. Then at a little after 10pm the first rocket went up. It was great. They had awesome fireworks and the finale was unbelievable. We will probably go there again next year. We were all impressed and had a great time. I've never been quite that close to all the action before. I mean we were sitting right under them when they were going off. It was like so cool. We were laying there on the blanket and you could feel the blasts in your chest when they went off. IT WAS AWESOME!!!
We didn't get home till about 11:30 or so and James had to get up for work this morning so I'm sure he will be dragging today. I better go for now as he will be home soon for lunch. I'll try to write more tonight. Have a great day all!! Especially my BIL and SIL. Love you guys!!

PS. I'm catching up Don!! ;)

Back again...

2006-07-03T19:09:00.000-06:00

Hey there. I'm back and ready to go on with my story. How boring can it be. Well actually it could probably be pretty boring but I will try to make it fun.
As I said on the last post this has been a busy weekend. Saturday James took some stuff to the dump and then went to the recycling center. He made a healthy chunk at from recycling. When he got home and showed me how much he made I told him he should put it away somewhere in a "Hunting Fund" so he will have it this fall. He said he was going to get it in quarters so he wouldn't spend it. That's a lot of quarters!!! Anyway I convinced him he should just let me put it a place where he couldn't get into it when ever he gets a wild idea!! He agreed. He has a hard time when it gets close to hunting season. He starts getting excited about hunting and then he starts seeing things that would be great for hunting. You guessed it he wants to buy it then. Well thats where I come in. I help him remember how much he needs for the actual hunting trip and he starts thinking if he really needs this thing or not. Usually its a not! But tonight he bought a fletching tool and stuff so he can fletch his own arrows. Actually I think this is probably a good idea as it will save him the cost of having his arrows refletched. He also got a pretty good deal, I think.
Hmmm. ..back to my story....So Saturday while he did all the running and getting rid of junk, I tried to work in the yard. Tried because I couldn't get the darn mower to work. This is really irksome to me as I am use to having a mower I can start with one or two pulls. My mower bit the dust a week ago and I am now using one that James was given awhile back. It is just a regular push mower but hey it works. Well it usually works. Saturday it decided to be a pain in my... you know. So I had to wait for James to get home to start the stupid thing. So into the house I went to work on mounds of laundry (again) and dishes (once more) and picking up after everyone (a daily occurence). Can ya tell how much I like working inside?????
Finally my handsome honey (forever more known as MHH) came home and helped me get the mower going. He mowed the front yard and then I mowed the back while he worked on the pump. He figured out what was wrong with it so now we need to get some parts and hope that will fix it. The lawn really likes to be watered once in awhile ya know!!!
Saturday night our friends Rob and Amy came over with their son Austin. Yep same Austin that was over all day earlier in the week. We all had supper together and then we adult type people played horseshoes. It is only the second time this year that we have been able to get out and play. We had lots of fun. Rob and Amy are a blast to cut up with.
Well that pretty much sums up Saturday. Sunday was Church, lunch and the rest of the day was total relaxation. Don't know how we managed that but we did. Jeremiah and I even got a little snooze in. I love it when I get to nap with him. He is a real cuddler. I'll miss it when he gets to be too big to snuggle with mommy. But he's not too big yet!!!
Well today is Monday but the days not over yet so I think I'll wait awhile to post about today.
Only 2 more to go to catch up with you DBIL.
Love you all!!

Here's talking to you...

2006-07-03T18:06:00.000-06:00

Well I'm talking to my BIL and he's giving me guff because he has 4 posts to my 1. So now I have to get in gear and play catch up!!
Last week we had some friends over for supper. It is always fun when they come over. We ate and visited for hours. (No Don we didn't eat for hours, we talked for hours.) The boys played good together and that is always a good thing.
I think it was on Tuesday we had Brendon's little friend Austin over. Whoa...was it ever a long day. I forgot how wild boys that age can be. It was definitely a "Calgon take me away" day. I was totally ready for James to get home and take over. Holy cow!! I don't think I will ever have them together all day again. Maybe just part of the day. They were good, don't get me wrong, its just WOW I'm not use to that anymore.
Wednesday I went shopping. Pretty normal thing to do. Ho Hum..
I talked to Tawny and they are all doing well. Looking forward to September when little Ellery will be here.
Okay I gotta go for a little bit. Stay tuned for further news.....

Oh what a beautiful morning....

2006-06-29T08:10:00.000-06:00

Oh what a glorious day!
I have a sinking feeling, I won't know what to say!!
Nah, just kidding. I always can talk or write as the case may be. So how are all of you? I'm doing pretty darn good. Starting to get some projects finished that have been ongoing for quite awhile!
The Garage Sale will be this month. I love having garage sales. Getting rid of my junk, cleaning out the garage and getting paid for the stuff I have been packing away all winter and spring. Yep I love it!! I've also been working on an area to put our outdoor chimnea. We have to go to my dad's to get some more sandstone before I can finish it. I think it will be really cool when we get done.
I have to put trim up in the livingroom and then I'm not sure which project to start next. If I can get James motivated, I'd like to make and put a shelf unit up that will cover the short wall behind the TV. It would be a great place to put all of our DVD's and movies. Just takes time and a little money.
Set the kids pool up a couple days ago. They have been begging for it so Levi and I finally did it. Jeremiah loves to play in it as does Brendon. Last night we laughed so hard at them. Of course they had no idea that we were watching. Brendon was showing Jeremiah how to go underwater with goggles and a snorkel. That was fun and then they started cannonballing into it from over the side. Brendon can clear the side when he jumps but Jeremiah doesn't always make it. It is quite funny to see him bounce backward off the side. He finally made it and was so proud!! Anyway they sure have fun in it. Which is good as today is suppose to be unbearably hot (again)!!
Well I think I better get started on the day before it gets to hot to move. I'll write more on my projects as they are started and completed. Tell me what is going on in your life.
And DBIL tag your it! ;~)

Okay! So it's been awhile...

2006-06-21T20:02:00.000-06:00

Holy Buckets!! I can't believe its been so long!! My BIL sent me and asked when I was going to post again so here I am. I didn't think it had been long but wow! Okay enough of that!!
Everything is fine here. Can't complain...well at least not too loudly! : ) We have just been unbelievably busy. Summers are always hectic. James works more hours and this year so am I. My little gal that I babysit is only suppose to be here 2 or 3 days a week but for the last 2 1/2 weeks I've had her pretty much every day. Makes for a long week. Weekends have been busy with picnics, crops, work, Mother's Day and Father's Day.
We had a family picnic ( my mom's side) on Father's Day. That was fun. I hadn't seen a lot of my cousins in a long time. Seems like the only time we all get together is when there is a death in the family or serious illness. So it was great just to get together to have fun. We had it at the park, so the kids had a blast. There is a playground, a tennis court, and a wading pool with squirters and fountains. It was a great day.
The weekend before, I had a crop. It was really pretty good, although there was a mixup with the room and we had to set up in a different room so we couldn't stay as late as usual. It still was a good crop and I finished quite a few pages. Then today I went to my sister's house and cropped with her. I think I finished about 4 two page spreads, or 8 pages. I love getting things done. I am only 2 years behind. (give or take a month)
I am getting ready to paint the inside of my house. I need to finish the trim in the livingroom then I am going to do some finish work in the boys room and paint it. After that I want to clean out the game room and paint it, then maybe do some work in the hall and washroom. Last but not least I want to paint my cupboards and the kitchen. We will see how far I get. I mean I still have to keep up with the kids and the housework!! A woman's work is never done!! Ha! Ha!
Levi has a new job that he started on Monday. I hope it works for him as he seems to really like it and he gets to work days...outside. Makes life a little easier on all of us.
Well I better get going. James and Jeremiah want to have some fun. Have a great day all!!

Home again and back on track!!

2006-05-24T07:21:00.000-06:00

Well I am home again. Our trip to see Tawny and her family was great. The little one is not so little anymore. He was standing on the step waving at us when we got there. He is adorable (and not just because I am his Grandma either!!) His hair is quite a bit longer and has curl to it. I was surprised that Tawny was letting him have longer hair but it is very cute on him. He is a very happy little guy too. Mommy and Daddy are very good with him. He is very obviously a very loved and very gentle little soul. Tawny is doing pretty good all things considered. She has Placenta Previa so please be praying for both her and the baby. They will be checking again in a few weeks but they aren't expecting it to migrate back up, so she will probably have the baby earlier then expected. Right now she and baby are doing well. She just has to take it easy or they will put her on bed rest. Which could happen anyway toward the end of her pregnancy. Their new house is cute. I really liked the way it was set up and it has a nice back yard and porch. We really enjoyed our stay and I can't wait to go out again in August when Ellie is born.
Things are going well here too. While I was gone, James went to work on our bed again. He raised it another 6 or 8 inches, removed the headboard and moved the mattress up further on the frame so that there is a bench made from the frame at the end of the mattress. We have a waterbed frame and we have always wanted to make it a pedestal bed. When he raised it the first time it made the shelf headboard useless for us. Now the shelf is on our dresser which is really nice and he is making a hanging shelf for above the head of our bed. He is a very talented guy! Can hardly wait till it is all done. I have lots of finishing touches to do to the livingroom, boys room, kitchen, and playroom. Then maybe we will put the house for sale and see what happens. Just have to wait and see what is decided.
James has been very busy with his job, coaching Little League, and side jobs. Then add in all our other activities and it makes for a very busy schedule.
This past weekend we had our first grad party for Joy, then this Friday we have one for my niece Stephanie. And Becky will turn 30 on Monday so need to plan something for her.
Suzanne was here this weekend for Joy's party and graduation. It was so good to see her and get to talk with her. I really have missed being with her.
Mother's Day was awesome. We were in Spokane and Tawny took us to a spa. We were there for about 3 or 4 hours. We had mini facials, Mud in our hair, paraffin wax on our hands and feet, a 20 minute massage, and a foot and lower leg spa and massage. By the time they were done with us we felt pampered and totally relaxed! I loved it and hope to do it again someday.
Well, I think that about catches things up for now. Hope you all are doing well.
Please be praying for:
Tawny and her pregnancy
God's will in our lives as to moving
Levi and Becca
James and I to stay unstressed through the long summer!

Rambling On...

2006-05-08T15:35:00.000-06:00

I'm starting to get just a tad excited. On Wednesday, Jeremiah, my mom and I are headed to see my daughter and her family in Spokane. James and Levi get to fend for themselves for a week. It is always so much fun to go see them. I just don't like the trip there sometimes. It takes so long. Oh well it is totally worth it.
On another note...Grey's Anatomy...my all time favorite show I think. I love the ins and outs of each character. Last nights show was awesome. I can't believe there are only two more episodes till reruns for the summer. I really enjoy the Meredith-Derek thing, and the Izzy-Denny thing and now George finally has someone. At first I thought she might be too much for him to handle but now I think he will be good for her. She has a soft side. Alex is actually one of my favorite characters. He acts like such a tough guy, but under it all he really is a softy and will probably be one of the best doctors in the end. I don't like Addison, but that is just because of the role she is in. I want Meredith and Derek together!! Maybe Addison could find someone else. Anyway I am rambling!! Oh yeah that is why this is Rhonda's Ramblings!! LOL
I have to get in gear now and do the shopping for the guys so they will have food in the house while I am gone. Just hope they cook some of it, instead of going out to eat!! So I will blog when I get back from Spokane. Have a great week and be safe.

What to do....

2006-05-02T13:57:00.000-06:00

I'm sitting here at my computer wondering just what to do. There are so many options that I just can't make up my mind. Ever have one of those days? Or maybe more than one of those days? Should I work or should I play? Stick with the job I have or get a new one? Fix the home that you live in up or look for a new one? There are only a few things that I am not wondering about. I know I love the Lord and want to do His will. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I love my husband and my kids. I know I am so looking forward to spending a week with my daughter and her family. And I know that I love my life! So some things are obviously non-negotiable. But....lots of other things are!!!
We have been looking at modular homes and checking out prices and such. But it always comes back to the fact that we like where we are located and it would be much cheaper to fix what we have and then later maybe add a shop for James. We have plenty of room to do it and this house is nice, just needs some updating!!! So I guess maybe that question is resolving itself. Work or Play well obviously I am playing for the time being! I really do enjoy blogging just don't always have the time. Oh yes the job...I am currently babysitting a little girl a couple days a week, (when I actually get her) from 5:30am till 7 pm. Her mom is a nurse and only works three shifts a week, but lately it hasn't even been that much. I'm also suppose to start sitting two more girls full time but not sure when that is going to happen. In the mean time I am needing something to earn a little extra. Not sure what to do. CM just helps me pay for my hobby, and I am not into being a committed sales person that way so that won't help. So what to do!!! I've thought about giving up on the sitting and getting a job outside the home but then I would miss so much with Jeremiah. I guess I just need to be content in my circumstances! (Hmm now who in the Bible tells us that!!) If the Lord has something different for me then He will have to show me what to do.
Okay now that I have done my ranting and raving!! I will get on to other things.
I am so excited! Next Wednesday, I leave to go see Tawny and her family. My mom, Jeremiah and I will be there over Mother's Day and Tawny has planned a special day for all of us. We get to stay for a week and I am so looking forward to it. I haven't seen her since January. ( I know "boohoo" it could be a whole lot longer!!) But anyway with her being pregnant it will be fun to see how big she is getting and also Aidyn is walking now and that will be fun. She and Evan bought a new house in February, so she has been excited to show us that too. It should just be a really fun time.
I guess that about catches you up on what is going on in my life. I'm also into getting the yard looking spiffy. I love Spring and Summer. Winter can get me down but when it warms up and turns green and beautiful outside, I just can't wait to get out there and get things done. Too windy today though. Might blow me all the way to Florida or something. Wouldn't that be a trip!! (One I would dearly love to make) Well I better get my self in gear again! You know how it goes "Busy, Busy, Busy!!"

Wonderful Weekend!

2006-04-23T13:33:00.000-06:00

I love the weekends. We all get to be together and spend time having fun together.
Okay well most weekends are that way. I'd say my Friday was the best. It was in the 70's, clear and a perfect day to be outside. The kids played and had fun while I cleaned in the yard and mowed. I love mowing!! I really do!! The smell of a fresh cut lawn and the way it looks does something for me. I worked on my flowerbed in the back and we made some plans on how we want the deck and yard to look eventually. Since I worked outside all day, we ordered pizza for supper. That is always a treat!!
Saturday was hectic!! It all started with Opening Ceremonies for Little League at 10am. Brendon is in Coach pitch again this year. Next year he will be in Minors and Jeremiah will be in T-ball. James got roped into being Asst. coach for Brendon's team. Anyway, we started at 10 like I said and then I had to leave to be at a Vendor Fair by 11 to set up my CM stuff. I was there until 6pm then home. Meanwhile James and the boys took a load to the dump and then there were Baseball pictures at 12:30 then home again for a little while till B's game at 3pm. Then after we all got home we got a call about 6:30 asking what we were up to and would we want to go to Mackenzie River for pizza for my step-mom's birthday. So we loaded up and went out for supper with the whole family. It was fun to spend time with everyone. Had lots of good laughter and visiting. Food was good too!! Then home to get the boys their baths and get them to bed early as we had church today.
We got going early enough for a change that we went to the 9:15am service. The boys stayed with us as Jeremiah has a little cold and he can't be in Kids church. Service was good. Pastor talked on the DiVinci Code book and put things into perspective for people who are getting up in arms about it. After all it is just a novel. Not fact. Truth be know there are some "facts" that really aren't fact at all. But anyway it was really good. The Bible always has been and always will be the only true account of Christ's life. I trust what God Breathed!!!
Now this afternoon we are pretty laid back. Boys are napping, James is playing PS2 and here I am at the computer. My favorite place sometimes. It is pretty dreary and rainy out or I would work in the yard again. Hope tomorrow is nicer. It is suppose to be.
Well take care and have a wonderful week.

Tag your it...

2006-04-20T13:41:00.000-06:00

Hmmm... Haven't seen this before, but I'm pretty new to blogging. So here goes.
My SIL has a blog and when I went to read it I found out she had been tagged and she was tagging me and several others.
Here's the scoop. I get tagged, have to pick someone and write 5 things about them, then tag some other people. So I will write about my little sis, Becky
1. She has 2 children
2. She is very involved with their lives.
3. She runs the Little League Concession stand.
4. She is an awesome cook.
5. She is one of my best friends!!!!

Now I am tagging Renee, Markay, Don J., and my MIL Kathy.
If you aren't a blogger you can always do this by email I would think. But blogging is so much fun.
Must go for now kiddies are hungry!!

Its morning...

2006-04-15T06:44:00.000-06:00

and here I sit at the computer again!! This has been a pretty good and productive week. James finally got the trim cut for the livingroom. Yeah!! So now I just have to prime and paint it. Then the livingroom is done. Except for replacing the window someday. I think the next project will be finishing the work in the kitchen ( refinishing the bottom cupboards) and finish the boys room. There is still a little trim work to be done there. I am planning a garage sale in June, so have been going through one room at a time to get rid of stuff. Should have a pretty good sale. Yesterday I went out in the front yard and started the spring cleaning. I got the flowerbeds cleaned and today hopefully we can turn the ones that have nothing in them and then plant some seeds!! Also need to mow as we are planning a BBQ tomorrow with family for Easter.
Sometime today we will also dye our Easter eggs. Jeremiah has been looking forward to this all week long. He is so excited that we will probably have to do it right away this morning. LOL. He is such a kick. Last night when his Daddy got home he was playing on the computer and he made his Daddy come sit with him and play the game. They sat there before supper and then for quite awhile after supper playing. It was cute. James is such a good dad.
Yesterday, my mom, the kids and I went shopping and then later we went to look at modular homes. Boy are some of them nice. I so love this one. It has 4 bedrooms and 2 baths, a livingroom and family room, a country kitchen with attached utility room. The master bedroom is almost the whole end of the house. It was really nice and I expected it to be quite expensive, but it wasn't. The man said it was 79,800 and that is with them bringing it out and craning it onto a foundation. I didn't think that was too bad. Oh well it is just a dream for now. Maybe in a few years when I go back to work full time.
Hmmmm... I think that about catches me up for now. I better go eat and get ready for the day. Can't wait to get outside and get to work. I love my yard!!!

Happy Easter to everyone!

Rain, Rain go away I really want some sun today!!!

2006-04-07T08:47:00.000-06:00

Okay, I really am glad for the moisture. I even like it when it rains but....it has been doing this now for a couple of days. We were teased one day with some wonderful 70's. Now we are back to shivering in the coolness! Alright enough with my complaining!!
How is everyone out there? I am doing pretty darn good. Had to cancel my crop this weekend due to everyone already having other commitments. That's okay though, think I will do some painting or maybe go ahead and spend the time cropping here at home.
We are changing rooms here. The gameroom has been Levi's home for the past couple of months, but with me babysitting, I need the room to be a toy room. Levi is back in with the boys in their room now. We made it strictly a "bed" room. They sleep there and their clothes are in there. That way when Levi is sleeping during the day he won't be woke up by all the noise from the kids. The room he was in is just off the kitchen. The boys room is in the back of the house and should be quieter. Also this gives the kids more room to play! It is the biggest room in the house. I am hoping to paint it first before moving everything in but it is so darn chilly I'm not sure if I should. Not to mention I can't open windows with the weather the way it is.
On to even better news!!! Tawny called me on Tuesday and they found out the baby is a girl!!!! Yea! Now I can go out and buy those cute outfits I keep finding. I was so hoping for a girl. Now they will have one of each! I think I might even get something for her today as I am going shopping with my mom.
James is doing well. He is really enjoying his job more these days. I am so glad to see him happy. The boys are doing well too. Jeremiah is such a kick. He is learning so much. I accessed him the other day with some flash cards that we have. He knows his colors (some in Spanish!), can identify his letters, all uppercase and most lowercase, knows shapes and can count to 13 and sometimes higher. He can also add and subtract pretty good from 1-10. So we have started "school" for him and the little girl I watch. We work for about an hour a day. That way she will be ready for kindergarten this fall and we will see what we do with Jeremiah. It all depends on what happens at the school here in the next year!!! Becky is running for school board and will probably get a position as no one else seems to want to step up to the plate!!! Hope she does! It will be a good thing I think.
Well I better get going. Have to run my errands. Hope you all have a great day!!

I Love Rainy Days...

2006-03-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

It has been raining since last night here. I love the way it sounds on our roof. Laying in bed listening to it is so relaxing. Anyway, it is still raining today even though it is suppose to get up to 50 sometime. We will see.
Well I used that wonderful Mexican Vanilla. MMM...Boy was that yummy!! First, I made chocolate cookies with it, then I made our french toast with it. Talk about wonderful! I can see that this little bottle won't last long!!
Went to my little sister's crop last weekend. It was a blast! She is so good at organizing her crops and she always has lots of games and prizes. Some of the games are crazy and we all laugh A LOT!!! She had us blowing small wooden matches through straws first to see who could get one or more in a basket, then we decided to see who could blow one the farthest! Well I lucked out and actually got one in the basket and another gal became known as the "Blowhard"!! She really made that match fly. We were all laughing so hard I think that is why no one else had a chance! It was great. We did scrap too! Everyone had a good time and actually we all got a lot of pages completed.
Saturday was also Prom for one of Levi's girlfriend's, Dani. So the two of them stopped up at the hotel so we could take pictures. It was great. They looked awesome and it was fun to take pictures in the hotel as it is one of the nicer ones here. I will try to post a picture soon. This was the first time Levi has been in Tux with tails since he was about 4 years old and in a wedding. He looked so awesome. They had a great time. He bought her a big bouquet of flowers with 6 white roses. She was so excited about it because it is the first time anyone has given her flowers. It was great!
I am moving things around again. Actually, I am moving the boys into the back bedroom and moving all the toys, games, etc. into the front bedroom. This will make it easier for Levi to get some sleep during the day when I have kids here. The back rooms are quieter and that way the kids are here where I can keep an eye on them. I just have one little girl part-time right now but will have 2 more in a month or so. I am also hoping for a little boy but his mom hasn't called yet so not sure about him. I'll end up with 2 full time, 1 part time and 1 afterschool. That would be just right so hope it works!
Anyway should be a very busy day today. Then tomorrow we are planning on taking Mom and Dad J out for Mom's birthday! I think we will go for chinese, she likes chinese and mexican food she said as long as its not steaks!!
Well hope everyone has a great day! See you next week!

What a weekend!!!

2006-03-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

This weekend was wild. We have 4 Birthdays in 3 days, so celebrating is always interesting. Saturday was my dad's and my birthday, Sunday was Jeremiah's 4th birthday, and today is my father-in-laws birthday. So it makes for a busy time. The dad's and I celebrated Saturday night together. James and I made steaks, baked potatoes and had a salad. Then for dessert we had Strawberry Shortcake!! One of my favorites, as chocolate does a number on my stomach now. Anyway it was a good time and we really enjoyed the parents being here. I got such a kick out of my daughter out in Spokane. She forgot my B-day again this year, but her little boy was playing with her cell phone and he called me ( The funny part is that he is only 1 year old!!) They let him play with the phone sometimes and it never fails he pushes the button to call Grandma, and then his parents hang up on whoever he calls!!! So then I'll call them back and talk to the little one for awhile. T was so embarrassed about forgetting again. I told her it was okay, I'd just forget hers this year!! : ) She laughed and said that would be pretty hard to do as I plan on being in Spokane for her Birthday this year.
We had Jeremiah's party on Sunday. Uncles, Aunts, Grandparents and Cousins galore!!! He was so excited. The best part was when we made him hide his eyes so we could get his BIG present out. James and I had bought him a bike and boy was he excited. Of course it had to snow Saturday night so we had about 6 or 8 inches on the ground, but he didn't let that stop him. He has been riding it in the house and is being very careful not to run into things!!! We can hardly wait to see what happens when he takes it outside! Anyway, it was a really nice day of fun and laughter. My brother, Rod, and his wife, Leanne, just got back on Saturday from a Caribbean Cruise. They really had a lot to tell us and had some pictures too. They gave me real sterling silver earrings from one of the places they stopped. They are very pretty. They also brought us back some Mexican vanilla. MMMMM.....It smells so nice. Can't wait to bake some cookies and try it out.
So how is everyone out there doing? I would love to know who actually looks at this. I know 2 of my favorite in-laws do, but figure they may be the only readers. Guess I should email other friends and family and let them know I'm doing this. My daughter knows and enjoys reading about home and family.
I guess that's about all for now. I've got to go bake those cookies and see if the Mexican vanilla makes them taste better.
Oh I forgot, I bought myself a cool birthday present, the third movie in the Love Comes Softly series. It is great! Thanks to Don and Elizabeth for getting me the first two and therefore getting me started!! Love you guys!
Have a great week! RJ

Time for another update...

2006-03-12T19:22:00.000-07:00

I'm not very good at this blogging thing!! I forget to come back and update stuff. Things got pretty hectic again and I don't spend as much time online as I was. I've started babysitting again. Right now I only have one extra but she is here 2 or 3 days a week from 5:30am until 7pm. She is 5 years old and a real pistol. She is getting used to our ways now and our schedule. It has been a new experience for me. I have had her for 4 weeks now and the last 2 weeks I had her for the whole week. Now I go back to her normal schedule of 2 or 3 days a week. Then sometime in April I will get 2 more little girls just a couple of times to get them used to me and our house. Then in July I will get them full time. When school starts there will just be one everyday, one every other day, and one after school. So that won't be too bad. The money works well and I get to be home with Jeremiah. He will be 4 next weekend. I can hardly believe how fast the time has flown by.
We just had supper at Gram and Grandpa Johnson's. It was Uncle Matthew's birthday supper. We all had a nice time and it was good to be with everyone. We had steak and potatoes, and then brownie sundaes for dessert. Everything was great. I am stuffed!!!! Now we are getting ready to relax for the rest of the evening.
I had a crop yesterday and that was fun. It was a small one so I was able to get quite a few pages of my own done. In two weeks my sister Becky is having a Cabin Fever Crop!! She has lots of games and prizes and it will be a blast. We are looking into having a weekend crop in Red Lodge. We found a really nice banquet room to have it in that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg. But we are still in the planning stages of that one. Becky is the brains behind big crops like that. She really loves to get them going.
I just really love getting together with the ladies and visiting and sharing ideas! I love scrapbooking!!!!! Never thought I would say that! : )
Well I better go for now. Jeremiah wants me to play Hotwheels with him and Daddy before bed.
Hope you all are good. I will try to update more often. Maybe once a week if I can.
Love you all. Have a great week. Thanks for keeping me going Elizabeth!! love ya!
Bye for now.....

My how time does fly...

2006-02-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

Wow I can't believe it has been almost a whole month since my last post. Sorry about that. Things have been so hectic around here. Brendon's B-day is this weekend and we will have a party for him on Sunday. Which reminds me..."Happy Anniversary to Don and Elizabeth" Hope you have a great weekend! Any special plans?
Okay Brendon's B-day...he will be 8 years old. That is hard to believe! He was only 2 when James and I got married. Which we just celebrated on Feb. 3rd. We have been together for 5 wonderful years. We had a wonderful weekend together. No Kids!! We went out to eat and then just spent time together watching movies, going to church and running around town. It was very relaxing and fun. Then on Sunday, the 5th, we picked Jeremiah up and went to look at a pup. Well we have now added one more to our family!! Freedom is a 10 month old Cocker Spaniel mix. Although she isn't a short dog. I think maybe she has some Brittany or Springer in her. She is black with some white on her muzzle, tummy and feet. She has long, floppy ears and beautiful, brown, soulful eyes. She is really a peach although a bit timid around new people. She and Jeremiah hit it off immediately.
The rest of the month has been busy with Creative Memories, a new babysitting job, and taxes. I finally got taxes out to the accountant yesterday and this weekend is another Crop. The new little girl I babysit is a really good girl so far and I will get a couple more in July.
Anyway that has been my life in the last month. Hope all is going well with everyone and thanks for your prayers! Take care!!!

Happy Friday!

2006-01-27T15:31:00.000-07:00

Oh how glad I am that this week is done! I've spent many days deep cleaning and also doing inventory for my Creative Memories business. I am almost done. Always leave the worst for last so sticker counting is now on my list to do.
I am really looking forward to this weekend. Hopefully, I will get to do some cropping. Seems like I am always too busy doing other things. We have Brendon this weekend so that will let Jeremiah have fun. He loves playing with his big brother.
I am still looking for a job. Not sure what will happen. I have had a few calls about babysitting but so far nothing serious. I really wish that I could get some kiddos. Oh well what ever God wants I will do. Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zone and do new things. I got my CM letters in the mail yesterday. So should start having responses sometime this next week. I am really excited about them. I have to get an order ready to go on the 1st. Well I suppose I better get back to work. Please pray for my family, and especially for my daughter's in-laws. There is a special need there. Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!!

What a wild week!!

2006-01-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Wow! This past week flew by. Tawny, Evan and Aidyn were here and it was a blast. We celebrated Aidyn's 1st Birthday while they were here. He actually doesn't turn 1 until February, but this way we all got to celebrate with him! This is the first time Evan has got to meet many of his in-laws. Tawny and Aidyn have visited several time this past year but Evan has always had to work. We all loved getting to see him. They are such good parents -- I love watching them with Aidyn. While they were here Tawny found out they are expecting again. Sometime in September they think. They are really excited about it.
Well on to more news. James got a vacation from RV work as he had Jury Duty for a week. It was suppose to last longer, but they called a miss trial on Monday morning. So he gets to go back to work now. He has been really stressed at work and today he talked to one of his bosses and he got some answers to questions he had. He seems less stressed tonight.
I had an interview to babysit some kids but I think I am going to say no. I need to make a little more than I would if I watch them. So I put in an application at WM earlier today. I am hoping that will get me some part-time work. Tomorrow I work at the school, subbing. Just pray that God will put me where he wants me. I want to be in His will and do what is best for our family.
Everything else is going well. I am going to have 2 CM crops in February. Hope to pick up some more business this way.
Well I'm off for now. Blessings to all!

What a wonderful day!!!

2006-01-14T21:52:00.000-07:00

Today is a wonderful day! My daughter, her husband and my grandson came for a visit. I haven't seen them since October when I went to Spokane to see them! I can't believe how big the baby has gotten. He is now 2 weeks shy of being a year old. He turns one on Feb. 1st, but we will celebrate while they are here this week. I have really been looking forward to spending time with them. I am also grateful that Evan got to come with them this time. This will be fun to let him get to know everyone that is now his family on Tawny's side. They all look great!! A.G. has lots of blonde hair. I am surprised that his mommy hasn't cut it yet but it sure is cute. I absolutely love it. He was hesitant at first wasn't sure about so many new faces but when he saw J he went nuts again. He just wanted to hug and love and kiss him. J didn't know quite what to think but being the good little uncle that he is he just giggled and let A do it as much as he wanted. He was very gentle with him and it was fun to watch.
Tawny and I plan on doing some scrapping while she is here. Part of her Christmas present is gifts from Creative Memories. I am looking forward to doing this with her!! It's been awhile since I have had time to crop so that makes it even more fun.
This week will be long and fun and totally wonderful. I love having family around and all the laughter and fun they bring.
Hope everyone out there has a great week. God Bless you all!

And so a New Year starts...

2006-01-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year to our family and friends. This year was pretty low key for us. My mom came over with my niece and nephew, whom she was babysitting. So the boys watched TV and played in their room, James played PS2, Levi had to work and mom, Katie and I played a new game I had learned called "Farkle". All in all a very enjoyable evening. They went home about 10 or so and we put the boys to bed and decided to call it a night too. Then at midnight the fireworks started going off and woke us up so got to give my hubby a New Years kiss!
New Year's Day is always great because we go to my in-laws for supper. We have tacos and enchiladas. It's a tradition I've come to really enjoy!! My MIL makes the best tacos that I've ever had.
Hope you all have a great week and an awesome New Year!! God Bless you all!!

Oh a shopping we will go!

2005-12-27T21:18:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day! I ran quick this morning with my mom and then came home to get some stuff done. Or so I thought.. I did run with mom but when I came home, I called my little sis and talked her into going shopping. We both had some Christmas money, so we decided to go to the Mall. We spent 4 or 5 hours there shopping some really good sales. I love good sales! I bought a shirt for $1.77 that is really cute. We found a lot of other good deals but none that I couldn't live without. Think I'll go again another day when I have more time. LOL.
When we got back to my house, I had an awesome surprise waiting for me! My step-son Joe was here to visit. He has been over in Iraq for about a year and just recently came back to the states. So it was wonderful to see him and get to visit with him. He had lots to share with us. We surprised my mom by having her bring the boys (Jeremiah and his cousin Ethan) home. She didn't have a clue Joe was here until she walked in the door. That was priceless. So he got to see Becky and her husband Chris, their son Ethan, Grandma Nita (my mom), my sons Levi and Jeremiah, James and me, and a friend of my mom's Wilma. So that was pretty cool. He may get to stop again in a few days but wasn't sure as he has so many to see while he is here. It was just really great to see him!

Twas the day after Christmas...

2005-12-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

...and all through our home the chaos of Christmas no longer abounds. The wrappings are packed up, the gifts put away, the children are napping, this is my kind of day!!
Okay so I'm not Clements. I tried. I love the day after Christmas with the start of our week long vacation together. James always gets this week off and it is great. Not saying I don't totally enjoy Christmas and celebrating Christ's birth, but there is something about today. It is usually a quiet, easy going day. No pressure to get stuff done, just sit back and enjoy being with the kids and playing with their new things.
Christmas Day was wonderful. It was full of Johnson's plus a set of Turners and Broderson's. With a few drop ins during the day. Dinner was great. MMMM...stuffed myself yet again. Pumpkin pie with lots of whipped cream, Turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy. Oh how I love the holidays!! Everyone had a very good time and enjoyed a good visit. I think the kids got a lot of neat stuff and really enjoyed playing with their new toys. Christmas lasted from Noon on the 24th until about 7 last night. We really enjoyed seeing everyone. First we open presents at Grandpa and Grandma Johnson's then it was on to the motel to visit with Grandpa Don and Grandma Bea. We visited with Uncle Mike, Aunt Becky and their kids while we were there. Then it was home to check on Dad and on to Grandma Nita's to open more gifts and eat more food. At her house we saw Uncle Rod & Aunt Leanne with Joy, Meagan, and Eric, Uncle Chris & Aunt Becky with Katie and Ethan. Melina and Aaron with their two boys. Levi, Jeremiah and me. And of course Grandma Nita. I think that was all. Since James was ill we took lots of pictures everywhere we went so he can see what we did and who was there.
It took awhile after getting home to finally convince Jeremiah to go to sleep so Santa could come visit. So it was kind of a late night. But it was really a great day for me and Jeremiah!! Can't say the same for my wonderful hubby. But that is a story I refuse to write about!!! Bye for now, hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!