He's supposed to look grumpy. Military serious and all that. He is marching in a parade this evening.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Cadet Airman
He's supposed to look grumpy. Military serious and all that. He is marching in a parade this evening.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
I'm a dog magnet.
Why, oh why??. I love dogs. Everyone knows that. I think it is an inherited gene from my grandfather. Problem is, I already HAVE a dog AND 7 kids AND three guinea pigs AND two lizards AND two wild cats that *think* they are mine.
This evening while the little ones were playing outside what looks like a Cock-a-poo came up the driveway. He's pretty muddy but has been groomed in the not too distant past and even still smells a little of shampoo. I drove around with him looking for anyone calling a dog. Of course he has no collar or nametag and I, nor any of the kids recognize him and trust me, we know the majority of the dogs in the subdivision, at least by sight. No luck. I'll call the local vets and put up flyers tomorrow, I'll take him down to a vet and see if he was microchipped. He MUST belong to someone. Why would anyone bathe and groom THEN dump a dog? He and Murphy are getting along fine although Murphy is being his usual doofy self and trying to get this little guy to play and he just won't give up.
We aren't keeping this one too although the girls would love it. I think my dogs and I would have to move into the shed:-)
This evening while the little ones were playing outside what looks like a Cock-a-poo came up the driveway. He's pretty muddy but has been groomed in the not too distant past and even still smells a little of shampoo. I drove around with him looking for anyone calling a dog. Of course he has no collar or nametag and I, nor any of the kids recognize him and trust me, we know the majority of the dogs in the subdivision, at least by sight. No luck. I'll call the local vets and put up flyers tomorrow, I'll take him down to a vet and see if he was microchipped. He MUST belong to someone. Why would anyone bathe and groom THEN dump a dog? He and Murphy are getting along fine although Murphy is being his usual doofy self and trying to get this little guy to play and he just won't give up.
We aren't keeping this one too although the girls would love it. I think my dogs and I would have to move into the shed:-)
Nasty storm last night
Usually our county seems to miss the worst of the storms. Our little corner got hit hard last night. Lots of trees came down-not branches, trees and some huge branches. Our gazebo is a loss-flipped over, cover ripped off. Neighbors a/c was crushed. Another neighbors windshield smashed. One house down the street is covered with large branches, roof damaged. Amazingly, we lost no shingles and my fragile glass hummingbird feeder is fine. Next door lost quite a few good sized branches and trees yet Sarita's little plastic play figurines she had lined up on her play set were still standing where she left them.
Friday, April 20, 2007
It's that time of year.
I'll get to the point. In a span of about 3 hours Ian was stung by a scorpion and we (meaning Chris) killed a copperhead on our driveway. Rural TX at it's best. :-p
Typical Circle K Ranch scene with the copperhead. 9PM and Chris is coming home from work. He spots something on the driveway in his headlights. Stops, looks at it it, realizes it is a snake and probably not a good kind. He backs up, turns his wheel and RUNS OVER the snake. POP! Of course, being a snake it doesn't die but is limply trying to crawl somewhere else to die. Chris comes in, announces his deed which gets all of us out in the driveway. I look at it, identify it as a coppherhead (glad at least one member of the family has bothered to look them up), make all the kids come look so THEY know what it is, attempt to drill it into their heads that this kind of snake will at minimum equal an unpleasant trip to the hospital if it bites them. Chris dispatches the snake with a shovel. Grace and Emma are in tears and the next hour is spent explaining to the girls that we don't WANT to kill the snake but it's our job to take care of them and we cannot just let a venomous snake go merrily on his way in our yard. They understand but my two little St. Francis' still get sad. We have a little tiny graveyard for all the lizards that have come and gone.
I did NOT take pictures for the blog but Chris, who is getting into the blog-spirit behind the scenes), did come in and ask if I wanted to get pictures of the (dead, half gutted, head smashed) snake for the blog. Ummm...no thanks...honey... I don't think those are the images my readers are itching for :-)
P.S. Ian is fine. That's what you get for not wearing shoes when you go outside.
Typical Circle K Ranch scene with the copperhead. 9PM and Chris is coming home from work. He spots something on the driveway in his headlights. Stops, looks at it it, realizes it is a snake and probably not a good kind. He backs up, turns his wheel and RUNS OVER the snake. POP! Of course, being a snake it doesn't die but is limply trying to crawl somewhere else to die. Chris comes in, announces his deed which gets all of us out in the driveway. I look at it, identify it as a coppherhead (glad at least one member of the family has bothered to look them up), make all the kids come look so THEY know what it is, attempt to drill it into their heads that this kind of snake will at minimum equal an unpleasant trip to the hospital if it bites them. Chris dispatches the snake with a shovel. Grace and Emma are in tears and the next hour is spent explaining to the girls that we don't WANT to kill the snake but it's our job to take care of them and we cannot just let a venomous snake go merrily on his way in our yard. They understand but my two little St. Francis' still get sad. We have a little tiny graveyard for all the lizards that have come and gone.
I did NOT take pictures for the blog but Chris, who is getting into the blog-spirit behind the scenes), did come in and ask if I wanted to get pictures of the (dead, half gutted, head smashed) snake for the blog. Ummm...no thanks...honey... I don't think those are the images my readers are itching for :-)
P.S. Ian is fine. That's what you get for not wearing shoes when you go outside.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Chess tournament
Jack came in 3rd in Division B (middle school) at the Guadalupe Chess tournament last weekend. 8th out of 23.
His trophy:
His trophy:
It's official!!!
Lucy is walking!
Walks everywhere, can get to standing and walking without pulling up. She walked from the house to the end of the driveway today. For those of you who have never been here, that's a good 100 feet!
In the video: I sound like a goober. Ignore me. Ian is making a weird noise trying to get Lucy's attention and Ben is eating a sandwich so Murphy is begging (hence Murphy's tail wagging at the edge of the frame)
I'll take some video later of her outside. She is such a tiny little thing, she just looks PRECIOUS walking down the driveway by herself.
Walks everywhere, can get to standing and walking without pulling up. She walked from the house to the end of the driveway today. For those of you who have never been here, that's a good 100 feet!
In the video: I sound like a goober. Ignore me. Ian is making a weird noise trying to get Lucy's attention and Ben is eating a sandwich so Murphy is begging (hence Murphy's tail wagging at the edge of the frame)
I'll take some video later of her outside. She is such a tiny little thing, she just looks PRECIOUS walking down the driveway by herself.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Did you ever think......
Have you done (or said) things you never thought you would in a million years? Once my friend Stacey and I were
talking about the things we do/say as Mom's we never thought we would. Saying "Take that underwear off your head!" seems as normal as saying "It's raining out today."
As a mom playing nurse, chauffeur, chef etc....is all in a day's work but now I seem to have added a new hat to my collection.
Vet. In the last week I have bathed.....lizards......in an iodine solution.....to rid them of mites. Ever try bathing a 5 inch long lizard that only weighs a couple of ounces...and not get it in his eyes? They don't sell tear-free lizard shampoo.
One of our local stray tomcats got in a fight (nothing new there). Well he had a wicked wound over his eye. I've been putting antibiotic ointment on it. Well today the scab came off when I was cleaning it and it started to ooze green pus. I wrap him in a towel (to protect myself from his claws) and start expressing the goo out of the abscess on his head. Not a happy cat. Finally get him all patched up (filling the wound with antibiotic ointment) and on his way. Amazingly, he still is rubbing my legs and wanting attention. He must have been someone's pet, there is no way a cat like him was born wild. Now to get him to the vet and get neutered!! He isn't very big and the other tom's are kicking his patoot. Don't y'all worry, I'm very careful with these cats, wash my hands vigorously after dealing with them and will be trapping and fixing and vaccinating the bunch.
Murphy desperately wants to play with Blackie. Blackie thinks Murphy is an idiot. Murphy dances around Blackie barking and play-bowing and Blackie sits there and looks at him.
Here are Murphy and Lucy looking at Blackie and Blackie begging to come in as usual. I keep telling him he is NOT MY CAT but he isn't listening :-)
talking about the things we do/say as Mom's we never thought we would. Saying "Take that underwear off your head!" seems as normal as saying "It's raining out today."
As a mom playing nurse, chauffeur, chef etc....is all in a day's work but now I seem to have added a new hat to my collection.
Vet. In the last week I have bathed.....lizards......in an iodine solution.....to rid them of mites. Ever try bathing a 5 inch long lizard that only weighs a couple of ounces...and not get it in his eyes? They don't sell tear-free lizard shampoo.
One of our local stray tomcats got in a fight (nothing new there). Well he had a wicked wound over his eye. I've been putting antibiotic ointment on it. Well today the scab came off when I was cleaning it and it started to ooze green pus. I wrap him in a towel (to protect myself from his claws) and start expressing the goo out of the abscess on his head. Not a happy cat. Finally get him all patched up (filling the wound with antibiotic ointment) and on his way. Amazingly, he still is rubbing my legs and wanting attention. He must have been someone's pet, there is no way a cat like him was born wild. Now to get him to the vet and get neutered!! He isn't very big and the other tom's are kicking his patoot. Don't y'all worry, I'm very careful with these cats, wash my hands vigorously after dealing with them and will be trapping and fixing and vaccinating the bunch.
Murphy desperately wants to play with Blackie. Blackie thinks Murphy is an idiot. Murphy dances around Blackie barking and play-bowing and Blackie sits there and looks at him.
Here are Murphy and Lucy looking at Blackie and Blackie begging to come in as usual. I keep telling him he is NOT MY CAT but he isn't listening :-)
Important firsts
There are many important firsts in a baby's life. First bath, first smile, first tooth, first steps.....
Today Lucy had an important first......
Her first brownie! Made from scratch of course.
Today Lucy had an important first......
Her first brownie! Made from scratch of course.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Sunday, April 8, 2007
He is Risen!
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!!
Our Easter started out slightly eventful. During the night we must have lost power. When Christopher woke up at 7:45 all the clocks were flashing so the alarm hadn't gone off-set for 6:45. He went and got the children up. We *thought* we had plenty of time, not having to leave until 9AM or so to get to 10AM Mass. Well, Ian remembered that for Easter Sunday Mass was at 9!!!! AAACCKKKKK!!! It was run, run, run. We got to Mass late but not too late.
We came home and had our customary egg hunt (indoors and outdoors) We did mostly indoors because it was so cold and wet, in the mid 40's!!! You would think we were still in CT with that kind of weather for Easter.
I took plenty of pictures. Some notes on the pictures.
Katie and Christopher had already changed out of church clothes and Katie was wrapped up in this pink fleece wrap she is so fond of. All the confetti and glitter you see everywhere is from cascarones (I'm not THAT bad of a housekeeper to have my floors look like that normally)
What are cascarones you may ask?
Cascarones are confetti-filled eggs, decorated much like Easter eggs. A Mexican tradition also popular in the Southwestern US, cascarones are typically used during Easter but also show up during special occasions such as graduations and fiestas. Having a cascaron broke over your head is said to bring good luck or can indicate that you have an admirer..
I have more but my ISP is having fits.....
Our Easter started out slightly eventful. During the night we must have lost power. When Christopher woke up at 7:45 all the clocks were flashing so the alarm hadn't gone off-set for 6:45. He went and got the children up. We *thought* we had plenty of time, not having to leave until 9AM or so to get to 10AM Mass. Well, Ian remembered that for Easter Sunday Mass was at 9!!!! AAACCKKKKK!!! It was run, run, run. We got to Mass late but not too late.
We came home and had our customary egg hunt (indoors and outdoors) We did mostly indoors because it was so cold and wet, in the mid 40's!!! You would think we were still in CT with that kind of weather for Easter.
I took plenty of pictures. Some notes on the pictures.
Katie and Christopher had already changed out of church clothes and Katie was wrapped up in this pink fleece wrap she is so fond of. All the confetti and glitter you see everywhere is from cascarones (I'm not THAT bad of a housekeeper to have my floors look like that normally)
What are cascarones you may ask?
Cascarones are confetti-filled eggs, decorated much like Easter eggs. A Mexican tradition also popular in the Southwestern US, cascarones are typically used during Easter but also show up during special occasions such as graduations and fiestas. Having a cascaron broke over your head is said to bring good luck or can indicate that you have an admirer..
I have more but my ISP is having fits.....
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Slava Isusu Christu! Slava Na V'iki!
It's been years since we attended our Ukrainian Catholic parish in Rochester, NY but I still fondly remember this greeting.
You greet someone with: Slava Isusu Christu! and they reply with Slava Na V'iki!
which means: Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!
I asked Katie if she remembered any of the Ukrainian she learned when we lived in NY but while she fondly remembers quite a bit of our time there she doesn't recall any of the little Ukrainian songs she learned or phrases. :-(
Had a busy day getting ready for Easter tomorrow. Since we spend a good part of Thursday and Friday at church, or getting read for church or travelling to and from church today was THE day to get anything done. Three braided Easter Egg breads (2 for neighbors, one for us) grasshopper pie, cheesecake, and lemon pound cake plus making dinner...PHEW! I'm pooped.
Tomorrow we are having grilled pork chops, herbed rice, asparagus, glazed carrots, salad, bread, and all the goodies we can eat!!
HAPPY EASTER!!!!
You greet someone with: Slava Isusu Christu! and they reply with Slava Na V'iki!
which means: Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!
I asked Katie if she remembered any of the Ukrainian she learned when we lived in NY but while she fondly remembers quite a bit of our time there she doesn't recall any of the little Ukrainian songs she learned or phrases. :-(
Had a busy day getting ready for Easter tomorrow. Since we spend a good part of Thursday and Friday at church, or getting read for church or travelling to and from church today was THE day to get anything done. Three braided Easter Egg breads (2 for neighbors, one for us) grasshopper pie, cheesecake, and lemon pound cake plus making dinner...PHEW! I'm pooped.
Tomorrow we are having grilled pork chops, herbed rice, asparagus, glazed carrots, salad, bread, and all the goodies we can eat!!
HAPPY EASTER!!!!
Are you liberal, conservative or TEXAN?
Thanks to my uncle Bruce for forwarding this gem:
Are you a Liberal, a Conservative or a TEXAN?
Here is a little test that will help you decide:
You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children.
Suddenly, a terrorist with a huge knife comes around the corner, locks eyes with you,
screams obscenities, praises Allah, raises the knife, and charges at you. You are carrying a Glock
9mm, and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do?
THINK CAREFULLY AND THEN SCROLL DOWN
..........................................................
LIBERAL'S ANSWER:
Well, that's not enough information to answer the question!
Does the man look poor or oppressed?
Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?
Could we run away?
What does my wife think?
What about the kids?
Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand?
What does the law say about this situation?
Does the Glock have appropriate safety built into it?
Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what kind of message does this send to society and to my children?
Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me?
Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound me?
If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me?
Should I call 9-1-1?
Why is this street so deserted?
We need to raise taxes, have paint and weed day, and make this happier, healthier street; that would discourage such behavior.
This is all so confusing! I need to debate this with some friends for few days and try to come to a consensus.
........................................................
CONSERVATIVE'S ANSWER:
BANG!
........................................................
TEXAN'S ANSWER:
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Click.....
(Sounds of reloading)
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Click
Daughter: "Nice grouping, Daddy! Were those the Winchester Silver Tips or Hollow Points?"
Son: "Can I shoot the next one!"
Wife: "You ain't taking that to the Taxidermist!"
Are you a Liberal, a Conservative or a TEXAN?
Here is a little test that will help you decide:
You're walking down a deserted street with your wife and two small children.
Suddenly, a terrorist with a huge knife comes around the corner, locks eyes with you,
screams obscenities, praises Allah, raises the knife, and charges at you. You are carrying a Glock
9mm, and you are an expert shot. You have mere seconds before he reaches you and your family. What do you do?
THINK CAREFULLY AND THEN SCROLL DOWN
..........................................................
LIBERAL'S ANSWER:
Well, that's not enough information to answer the question!
Does the man look poor or oppressed?
Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?
Could we run away?
What does my wife think?
What about the kids?
Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand?
What does the law say about this situation?
Does the Glock have appropriate safety built into it?
Why am I carrying a loaded gun anyway, and what kind of message does this send to society and to my children?
Is it possible he'd be happy with just killing me?
Does he definitely want to kill me, or would he be content just to wound me?
If I were to grab his knees and hold on, could my family get away while he was stabbing me?
Should I call 9-1-1?
Why is this street so deserted?
We need to raise taxes, have paint and weed day, and make this happier, healthier street; that would discourage such behavior.
This is all so confusing! I need to debate this with some friends for few days and try to come to a consensus.
........................................................
CONSERVATIVE'S ANSWER:
BANG!
........................................................
TEXAN'S ANSWER:
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Click.....
(Sounds of reloading)
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Click
Daughter: "Nice grouping, Daddy! Were those the Winchester Silver Tips or Hollow Points?"
Son: "Can I shoot the next one!"
Wife: "You ain't taking that to the Taxidermist!"
How you know you live in the country....
Overheard conversation between two teen checkout girls at the tractor supply store (a.k.a. the best 'man store' ever according to Chris)
Teen girl #1: Hey, have you seen Keith lately?
Teen girl #2: No, why?
Teen girl #1: He got a new truck.
Teen girl #2: Yeah...
Teen girl#1: He went totally 'Grandpa'!
Teen girl #2: What'd he do?
Teen girl #1: He traded in his 350 for a ONE FIFTY with a ............bed cover! (said like Keith had gone over to the dark side)
Teen girl #2: Does it at least have a lift kit and big tires?
Teen girl #1: No, it's totally lame!
:-)
When/where I was growing up teen girls didn't a) think it was cool to own ANY pickup truck b) couldn't tell you the difference between a 350 and 150 if their life depending on it c) the term 'bed cover' would not have conjured up images of a pickup and certainly did not define the coolness of any boy
Teen girl #1: Hey, have you seen Keith lately?
Teen girl #2: No, why?
Teen girl #1: He got a new truck.
Teen girl #2: Yeah...
Teen girl#1: He went totally 'Grandpa'!
Teen girl #2: What'd he do?
Teen girl #1: He traded in his 350 for a ONE FIFTY with a ............bed cover! (said like Keith had gone over to the dark side)
Teen girl #2: Does it at least have a lift kit and big tires?
Teen girl #1: No, it's totally lame!
:-)
When/where I was growing up teen girls didn't a) think it was cool to own ANY pickup truck b) couldn't tell you the difference between a 350 and 150 if their life depending on it c) the term 'bed cover' would not have conjured up images of a pickup and certainly did not define the coolness of any boy
Friday, April 6, 2007
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Awards Ceremony for OM
Have a little laugh at my shrieking :-)
Because there were only three teams we knew as soon as the third place team was announced that we were going to World's hence all the screaming at another team being called. There are three voices, the mom's of the three team members who were able to be at the awards ceremony :-)
Because there were only three teams we knew as soon as the third place team was announced that we were going to World's hence all the screaming at another team being called. There are three voices, the mom's of the three team members who were able to be at the awards ceremony :-)
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Half our team
Unfortunately half of our OM team had to head home before the awards. These are the three that were able to stay sitting on the floor with their medals and trophies.....and Lucy and another team members little brother. Team members are in tie-dye..what else??
THEY DID IT!!!!!
SA-HERO is going to WORLD'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The kids were spectacular!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Video and details to follow, I just wanted to give the good news ASAP.
The kids were spectacular!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Video and details to follow, I just wanted to give the good news ASAP.
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