Annabelle wants to say hello

So here she is. She wanted to get on the computer but her dew claws hindered her from typing so I told her I would do it for her.

She says that she was happy to have that dog visit but is happy to have woken up this afternoon from her nap to find that he was gone. Yes there are remnants of him still around. A smell here, some hair there. But he is nowhere to be found. It is nice to have the house back.

He had to go back...

We did some more research and we think that Ranger possibly was a mix with a shephard and possibly wolf. Not first generation but maybe second. Anyway, he head butted mom when she got in his face and we just couldn't risk him possibly doing that with one of the kids' friends or a neighbor. So he went back to the farm where he came from. Poor guy. He would make a great pet for a family without little kids. But he wasn't for us. He did become pretty loyal to us quickly and Kenneth said he didn't want to get out of the truck when he was returned and he kept trying to get back in the truck to go home with Kenneth. The owner said that he was known for his head butting. Wonder why he hadn't told us that before?

Oh well. It was a good try and he was a pretty dog. VERY tall. He could put his nose on our countertop.

I am sure that Annabelle will be glad to not be sharing her space with anyone, however she was a trooper!!

Ranger

So, let's just start with the end. Here he is:

We had discussed getting another dog and we wanted a dog that would look a bit threatening and would bark a big bark when people come to the house. You know, just in case. So Kenneth was looking on the internet and found "free to a good home" and called about it. It happened quickly, within a day, and before we were really ready but we have him now.

"Ranger" is 3 years old and doesn't know his name. He has been on a farm for a while and was a son's pet until that son couldn't keep him any longer. So the dog went to the son's dad's house and they have too many dogs so Ranger had to go. He has a great disposition. He is gentle with the kids and is very laid back. Oh, did I tell you he has a pretty big bark? Yup, he does.

I forgot to tell you. HE'S HUGE!! He is shepard mix with we think Great Dane... Here he is next to Kenneth.

And next to Caroline:

For all those who knew Fred, he is about the same size as Fred. Maybe just a bit taller. He really reminds me of Fred. His disposition and all. AND the hair!!!

I have been Xed out!

On Thursday I told the kids all individually, as it worked out that way, that we would be going to Mamaw's house for her birthday on Friday evening. When I told Caroline she was all excited, until I added that she had to wear a dress. Well, I just deflated her balloon then! She got upset, refused to put one on and stomped off. I continued to do laundry as I had been when we were having this conversation. A little while later, Caroline returns with this note to me. She looks up at me with her big hazel eyes and hands me the note, not saying one word. I immediately recognize that it is her attempt at cutting out a heart and that it is folded up. I assume it is an apology note. But not so. I open it to find THIS!!!

Let me decypher the photo for you. First it is a heart shaped blue paper. She cut it out herself. Second, the person on the left is clearly me. I have long hair, a smile on my face and I am wearing a dress and shoes. The man on the right is clearly a man, wearing pants. It is Kenneth. We can tell by the smile on his face the short, small head and the ONE eye!! To a stranger it would look like I am married to a cyclopse crossed with Edward Scissorhands but as I am an expert at analyzing Caroline's artwork it is clearly Kenneth. Notice we are holding hands too. Third, the person (that would be me) is Xed out! See the big X cutting through my body? Yup, I have been Xed out. Kenneth has a check by his picture. He is still okay in her book.

Now, I stood there looking at it and looking at her looking at me with her big hazel eyes, and I pondered what I should do. Clearly she was waiting for a reaction and the longer I stood there she was showing signs that maybe she would get into trouble for this. But she was standing her ground. NO DRESS!

So what would you do in this situation? would you start yelling at her? Would you get down on her level and explain to her why it was important for her to wear a dress to the party? Would you just hand the note back and tell her you were not accepting a note like this?

All of those options came to mind. But I chose option number 4. CRY. Yup, cry. I started to cry and I hoped and prayed I could pull it off and actually make some tears. It happened I truly started crying and making tears. She didn't know what to do. She stood there for a minute looking up at me and then she hugged me. And then she told me that she was sorry. I told her that I was so upset and sad because I would never ever ever X her out of my heart and that I was so upset that she could so easily X me out of hers. That no matter how mad she made me or how bad she was she was never Xed out of my heart and that I would love her always (remind me of this conversation when she is caught skipping curfew with a boyfriend when she is a teenager okay?) and that I was so sad and hurt that just because it was Mamaw's birthday and we were going to a party and that I told her that she had to wear a dress that she could just X me out.

She told me then that she still loved me but she wasn't going to wear the dress.

Pinewood Derby

Here is his car this year. He named it "Stinger" for the hornet stickers he put on it.

Here he is with his car.

Here he is after he got his pin for winning against his den (which only consists of him and one other child.)

So after the den race he then races against his whole pack (the top two who win in their den move to the pack race). In past years, Nicholas has won or come in second in his den and then not done well in the pack race. He has NEVER placed first second or third in the pack races.

This is a picture of him about half way through the pack races and he is winning each race his car is in. He is starting to realize that he could win the whole thing this year. No other cars are coming close!
Nicholas won!! He won for his den and in the whole pack. He won the biggest trophy he has ever received too.

And here he is with his biggest trophy ever!

Yay! Nicholas!!! We are now off to District Finals where the top two kids from each den in each pack go to race against each other. In past years Nicholas's car has been about middle of the group. Last year he came in 5th and he received a certificate. The winner of the group was disqualified and there was a big mess with that. This year I think we could have a chance to get higher in the standings. We can't wait.

Been a while and I need to update

So today you will be getting a video of the girls cheering!! This was their first game! Caroline is so cute. She says she gets really nervous at the games because everyone is looking at her.

Few pictures from Christmas for you

Merry belated Christmas to all of you who venture to read this. Actually I am not really sure who reads this anymore. Leave me a comment if you do so I know who I am talking to.

Anyway, Disney was great again. We always have such a great time there. This year we got a great campsite just feet away from the boat to take you to the Magic Kingdom. We loved it and it was so convenient and cut down tremendously on our travel time to and from places. We didn't need a bus to get us back to our campsite this year. AND we didn't need to rent a golf cart either.

We returned just in time for Christmas and Christmas Eve and day were great. The kids were worn out by the end of it all and didn't complain one bit about going to bed. Santa was good to them and so was Mamaw and Grandpa. They gave them Nintendo DS games!!! All three learned quickly that you can "text" each other if you are close by. So that night I found them all in their beds in their own rooms giggling and texting each other. I think a new rule is coming....

I leave you with a few pictures of the day.

Hanging up the stockings:

Kenneth's Grandmother:

The Bean fashioning a boa fleece scarf made by your's truly!

Gotta love Mom's duck lips!

Thanks Aunt Jenn for the Webkinz! (Can I adopt them now, now,now???)

New sweater from Mom!

I just love gift sets! The man of the hour got a bread dipping set!

Santa time!!!

We went to see Santa today and it was fun but the kids decided that they enjoy seeing Santa but just don't want to go so early in the morning. We got them up at 6:30 and were out of the house by 7:15 to be there by 7:45 so we could see Santa at 8! We bought tickets to see Santa prior to the general public. They only allowed 25 families and it cost us $50, but it was well worth not getting extra family help to stand in line and wait out in the freezing cold for HOURS (yes, hours!!) until they opened the doors. So we went in a side door and by 8:30 we were done seeing Santa and off to breakfast.

The kids were whiney (but not with Santa) but we survived the morning. Caroline didn't want to wear her dress and worse her pantyhose!! Allie was just whiney and Nicholas picked on everyone which just made the girls more whiney! When we got home from breakfast we shuttled the kids into the family room and we took a quick impromptu Christmas family picture. This was a "one take wonder" and we were surprised at how it turned out well on the first take. I think it is a pretty good picture. But check out Nicholas! I think we have a cheeseball on our hands. But then again, we are all pretty 'cheesy'....

My no good horrible very bad day

Well the first part of the day was fine, then the no good horrible very bad part started on the ride home from work. I was asked by my husband to pick the kids up from the bus which meant that I had to leave right at the end of the day, as soon as the kids leave my classroom to be able to get to the bus on time. So I did. I hightail it out to the car and get in and head on home. Driving down the road before I get to the on ramp for the interstate I notice a cop car pass me and then get in front of me a few cars up and then hop on the on ramp for the interstate. I think to myself, "boy, I hope he cruises along because I need to get moving today." I hate passing cop cars because I always feel weird, not that I do anything wrong or drive past the speed limit, because I don't ever, plus my car has a little shimmy in the front end when I even approach 60 miles an hour so I don't usually get up that high. Anyway, we all get on the interstate, the cop car then two cars in front of me and then me and then there is another car behind me that entered from the on ramp too. So we are cruising about 55 down the highway, and I am thinking "wow, I am going to make the bus." I call Kenneth on the phone and tell him that I will make it to the bus and not to worry. His phone is dying he says so the conversation is short.

Cruising along all of the sudden the cop car puts on his lights and pulls over to the side of the road. So the other two cars in front of me pass him and I pass him thinking "that is strange he hasn't pulled anyone over and is sitting with his lights on all by himself, weirdo" and I pass and the car behind me passes him. I glance in the rearview mirror and see that he now is pulling back out on the highway and moves into the middle lane. Stange cop. He passes the car behind me who backs off me and he approaches my car and slides in behind me with his lights on. Oh shit!

Okay now this is where I have to back up. A month ago my stepfather said I had a brake light out in the back. Kenneth said he would fix it. I told him then and I remember the conversation pretty clearly that he needed to fix it right away because I work where a lot of police are coming and going all the time and that I will get pulled for that. He said, "yeah yeah yeah blah blah blah I will fix it." (not in those exact words but you get the idea - in one ear and out the other.) I reminded him again a few weeks later and then again. So now this is three times!!! blah blah blah.

Here is the other little problem. AND I admit, I have had an expired license for some time now. Okay 4 years. I don't remember why I couldn't go get it renewed, yes I know how easy it is to renew, but I didn't and I am sure it is because of Kenneth that I couldn't get it renewed, I am sure it was. So last spring I went to get it renewed and I needed a birth certificate. Well, I don't have one so I had to order one from Maryland. It took some days and when it got here I arranged to go and get it renewed. I walked into DMV and they asked me for proof of residency like a water bill or deed to my house or something with proof on it. I didn't have it so I came home. I never went back, I am pretty sure it was because Kenneth couldn't give me the time to do it or something. So, yes, expired license.

Okay, so the cop is walking up to my car taps on my brake light and asks me for my drivers license and registration. So I lean over and get my registration out of the glove box. (sidebar here, it has been a very long time since I was pulled over and frankly I never look at the registration of the vehicle so I am not sure what it looks like) I pull out of the glove box something that has the DMV heading on it and hand it to him and say "is this my registration?" He takes it and looks at it and says "is this your car?" Uh, yeah, if I were going to steal a car I wouldn't pick one that looks as crappy as this minivan and has a bunch of trash in it and oh look bonus three carseats in the back!

"Yes sir it is".

"Did you know you have a tail light out."

"no sir I didn't. I am on my way to get my kids off the school bus, and am cutting it close right now."

"well your light is out."

"I promise to get it fixed right away. May I go now and get my kids, they are little and have no one waiting for them."

"I need to see your driver's license maam." (oh shit here it comes.)

(crap crap crap) I hand it to him.

"Ma'am did you know this expired."

"WHAT???? Expired???" (knowing full well, but putting on a good act)

"Why, yes it expired, uh in 2004"

"2004!!!! That was a long time ago."

"Do you have another one, a valid one?"

"No that is the only one I have."

"I need to get my kids, can I promise to get that fixed too?" Batting my eyelashes -okay not really but asking sweetly."

He walks away, Shit!

I sit there and I call my neighbor. No one answers, I call her cell phone, no one there. 5 minutes to the bus. I call Kenneth, he is way far away and won't make it. I hang up. I call the neighbor again and leave a message "please get my kids off the bus, I have been held up. Kenneth will pick them up from you."

The cop comes back smirking a bit, oh shit shit shit.

He hands me both tickets, one for the light (damn you Kenneth) and one for the license (bad me but wouldn't have gotten caught if Kenneth had fixed the light).

He then says, "is there anyone who can pick up the kids because I can't allow you to drive."

"WHAT???"

"No ma'am, you can't drive without a license. You need to find someone who can come get you and take you and your car home."

"you are kidding me!"

"No ma'am you can not drive."

"Well, it is going to be at least an hour before my husband can come get me. You are going to stay with me on the side of the road here until he comes right?" (remember we are on the shoulder of a HIGHWAY)

"Oh no, I can't stay with you that long but I will let you drive to the nearest exit and you can stay at the gas station until he comes."

"Okay" and he gets in his car and follows me 1/2 mile to the 7-11 and leaves me there.

Now you are thinking. Why didn't you just call Kenneth and tell him not to get you and you would drive yourself home? The cop is gone right? NO he hangs out in the intersection and starts pulling over cars who are running the red lights and lurking in the area. UGH!

I watched him pull over two cars while I was waiting for Kenneth to come get my ass. He gets our neighbor to drive him and the kids to get me. GREAT!!! Now we have involved others. I don't need the neighbors to hear about this. ACKKK!

This cop was young and what can only make sense to me is that he saw my brake light out way back on the other road and he had to think about it for a long time before deciding to pull me over. Then made such an ordeal out of pulling me over. I have NEVER seen a cop pull over let cars pass then get out in the traffic and then pull me over. please. That is a rookie move.

So I had to take the day off and go get my driver's license renewed today. Of all days today, my birthday! I made Kenneth go with me and sit there for the two hours that it took to take the test and the road test and get my picture taken, I made him pay the bill, and finally leave. THEN I made him get me breakfast! (okay that part was his idea)

I am legal now until 2016! Remind me when I need to get it renewed again.

Oh, when we got home from the ordeal last night, Kenneth put in the lightbulb in the back of the car. Do you know how long it took him? two minutes!

I seem to remember the last ticket I had was Kenneth's fault too. He made me drive his mercedes to work one day and I got pulled over for having expired plates. He had the stickers but hadn't bothered to put them on. He paid for that ticket too!

Christmas is upon us

And I am not ready yet. In years past I have gotten most of my Christmas shopping done the weekend before Thanksgiving. Then I scan the Black Friday ads and end up doing a lot of exchanges and returns and rebuys that weekend because of the sales. So not this year. I decided to wait until Black Friday to BEGIN my shopping. We are on a tighter than tight budget this year so I really have to watch my pennies. But today the Monday before Thanksgiving I am feeling a bit out of sorts. I feel like I am behind the curve for shopping and such.

I have three weeks before we go to disney world again and that isn't much time. December 13th is out due to us seeing Santa in the morning. I can use that afternoon but really want to be done done before then. I had thought of doing some holiday shopping on line this year but just haven't mentally gotten there yet either.

I really need to get my act together. I think I know what is bogging me down and I hope to have that cleared up tonight. It is that the Christmas tree isn't in the family room. We thought of putting it in the living room but it looks so lonely in there and we don't really use that room so it isn't in a place that we can sit and enjoy the tree. It isn't in the room that we live in. So here is the problem. All my scrapbooking and crafting stuff is in the corner where we usually put the Christmas tree. That means that I have to clear out all my stuff and put it somewhere so we can move the tree down there. I considered swapping my scrapbook stuff to the living room which isn't such a bad idea but then that room really is a more formal room and I tend to be messy with my stuff so it isn't quite the right place. So at this point I have to pack it all up. Yup ALL of it. And that is what I am going to do tonight. I started yesterday and I am about a third done. Tonight it just needs to go somewhere.

Just to get you in the mood for decorating your house, here are some links that you might like!

http://bucketideasforchristmas.blogspot.com/ (too many trees for me but I picked up an idea or two anyway) Scroll all the way down to the big pictures. there are soo many trees!!!

http://www.100daystochristmas.com/ cool give aways and lots of ideas on what to do to get ready for Christmas.

Apple Picking, becoming a family tradition

A few years ago, well 5 years, we went apple picking for the first time. The kids were squirts and we actually didn't even pick from the trees. It was super cold on top of the mountain and we got out of the car, well not the kids and Kenneth, and I bought a bunch of apples and some cider and some apple cider donuts. I hopped back in the car quickly and we headed back down the mountain and started back home.

Since then just about every year we have taken the kids apple picking. No, we didn't go 4 years ago, we skipped that year, but we did go 3 years ago and last year and this year. Anyway, we have been going. Sometimes we make a day out of it and pick apples, eat a picnic lunch and have a great time. Last year it was hotter than all get out on top of the mountain but the kids had fun climbing the trees and picking the apples. We bought the requisite donuts and headed down the mountain with about 100 lbs of apples. This year was no different. Well it sort of was. Today we went apple picking. We woke up late this morning and in no real hurry or time table we mosied up the mountain to pick. It was crowded more than I remember in the past. Oh my, the apple paying for line was 20 minutes long and the lines for the donuts were so long I didn't even try. The kids were hot and thirsty and we headed for the car after picking our apples. This year we were lucky because we were there for the Golden Delicious picking. Last year we picked Winesaps which were fine but our favorite is Golden Delish! So with our car laidened down with 125 lbs of apples we headed down the mountain, sans the donuts!

Instead of heading straight home, we decided to take a little ride to UVA and we showed the kids Edgar Alan Poe's dorm room and we crossed the street and I showed them the whispering wall. The kids loved it and thought it was great that you only had to whisper to hear really well on the other side and if you stand at the fountain in the middle you can't hear a thing. I told the kids that this was a very special school for kids who do really really well in their grades and they get to go to college here. They were a bit impressed but they didn't understand why anyone would want to go away from their moms and dads and live somewhere else other than home to go to school. "Oh, don't worry, when you get older you will too, I promise you." Nicholas said never and Allie thought for a minute and said no I don't think I will move away either. Caroline, didn't have any response. I think she will be the one to go far far away, and then I will cry.

So I leave you with a few pictures of the day:

Beautiful Fall Days

I love the fall, the crisp air, no humidity, warm sunshine, and the changing colors of the leaves. There isn't much that I don't like about the fall. While the fall represents an end to the year and the natural growth season, for me it represents a new beginning. The new school year starts, the heat in the house gets turned on, fires in the fireplace. I also love that I get this energized feeling to reorganize the house, declutter, and basically clean out. Maybe it is because the holidays are coming up and I need the house clean and straight for Thankgiving and Christmas. Maybe it is because we tend to spend more time in the house and I am now noticing all my junk laying around me in piles.

Last weekend I cleaned and decluttered my bedroom. Kenneth doesn't seem to pile things like I do and it was nice to go through all the piles of clothes all around the room. Not only did I fill three big green trash bags full but I also filled a white kitchen trash bag and tossed a full bag (at least) of trash. Boy did it feel good.

The girls have reclaimed their own rooms again too and we rearranged their furniture and Caroline set aside three boxes of toys to go in the attic. Allie is enjoying her big bed again and Caroline loves sleeping in the loft that we made from their bunkbeds.

I still have some reorganizing in Nicholas' room and I need to go through the stuff in the living room cabinets and in the utility room. Then my fall cleaning will be done.

It's Talk Like A Pirate Day!

And for all you mateys out there. You may call me:

My pirate name is:

Mad Anne Flint

Every pirate is a little bit crazy. You, though, are more than just a little bit. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Just in case you were wondering

Your DJ Name Is:

DJ Smokin' Nerd

What's Your DJ Name?

Of All THINGS!!!

Guess What?

You Are a Moderate Mama

You're not overly political, and your views fall more with the American mainstream. In fact, it may be difficult for you to decide who to vote for at times! Your approach to politics is reasoned and well though out.

Are You a Liberal Lady or a Conservative Chick?

I think that about sums it up! And look, I am cute too!

Two Kinds of People

One thing that I have learned today in my meeting: There are people who work to live and people who live to work and the two are COMPLETELY different! I have discovered (okay I already knew) I am a live to work person. I don't get knit picky with technicalities, minutes and seconds, and with the small details of life. Oh my, There are people who I work with that are work to live-ers. They have to have everything down to the detail, the minute and second, and spelled out exactly clear as a bell. It is really driving me crazy!

Case and point: for the past 3 years Mr. Brandt and I have worked together HERE, with the same rules. If a child has been here 5 days or more we give them a grade on their report card. So today, Brad says if a child has been here 5 days then give him a grade. Then Mr. Brandt says is that five or more give him a grade or if 5 or fewer no grade? Now the technicality here is the kid who has been here 5 days exactly. To give a grade or not to give a grade that is the real question. On the report card there is a comment that we can choose that says "no grade given, student enrolled 5 or fewer days", which means if he has been here 5 days then you don't have to give a grade. But, oh you see the issue here, I don't have to define it further!

Now, I say,we have always given them a grade at day 5 so if they are here on day 5 give them a grade, day 4 no grade. This is what we have been doing last year and the year before. It hasn't changed. Why argue the point? It just wastes time and makes me frustrated!!! ERRGG!

Ever have a day where you just can't get going?

Well, that is me today. I can't seem to get moving. I got up, had two cups of coffee, surfed the net, made and ate lunch, moved on to cold caffene, and ate a candy bar. All I have is blurry eyes and a tired butt from sitting. So what do I do, work on my chair adjustments so it is more comfortable. Oh yeah, I am at work supposed to be working.

Nothing is getting done.

On another note about midnight last night Caroline posed this question to me. "Mommy, did you know that sharks wiggle when they sleep? Why do you think they do that?"

Anyone know the answer? I told her in my tired state of half sleep I was in that it was because they didn't want any other sharks or other animals who might eat sharks to think that they were asleep so when they wiggle it makes them look like they are awake so no one will eat them.

But not that I think about it, what other animals eat sharks? Now I am getting a headache.

The Olympics in Legos

Even though I want to update my blog with more puppy pictures I thought you all would enjoy this site more.

http://www.anewmorning.com/2008/08/13/beiging-olympics-lego-style/

It is pretty impressive!!! But check out the shot where you can see the swimmers and look for the guy with the machine gun.

Wonder where this is. I would love to see it up close.

Welcome Annabelle!

Say hello to our newest member of the family.

This is Annabelle! She is 7 weeks old and a Golden Retriever.

Isn't she cute???

Update on work

Well, I can forgive but I can't forget. That is the motto of the month. I am so not a collector of memories of wrongs committed against me. I move on quickly from events that are hurtful or that anger me. So with that I find myself going back to the same friendly conversation and such with these horrible people who I have to call co-workers. Jennifer Warren, remember her??? Well she has been trying to befriend me again and making fun chit chat and such. Mrs. Bomba, the one who had to consult others if she could go out with us for lunch last year and they said she couldn't go with us has decided to grow up a bit and is now making her own decisions and is trying to hang out with me more and wants to include me more in the lunches, etc. I keep her at arms' length but have obliged her and accepted her invitation to eat with her.

I had a conversation earlier this week with Brad our principal and he was talking about having a conversation with the staff about negative talk about each other and to each other as well as gossiping. So with that conversation I wanted to keep a bit of distance with the others before this talk we will get either next week or the week after. I just don't want to be associated with those who actively do this on a regular basis. So I have been eating in my room and not really talking much to others, which is fine with me anyway. When I eat with the group I usually end up with a belly ache or head ache from having to hear Mr. Levy, know everything about everything and complain and exagerate about everything too. Oh my, just gives me a headache thinking about it.

So that is my work update. I do have to say, Joel Hughes the PE teacher has been particularly nice to me recently which is a bit odd because he was the one who yelled at me last year because I was saying good morning to him every day last year. I am cordial but again, arm's length!!!