The kids were playing on the Banzai today. Enjoy!!

3 DAYS!!!

Oh I can hardly wait!! Oh please don't think I am an ungrateful parent because I am overly excited at the thought of school starting. And if you think I am ungrateful, then you don't know me very well.

I made a late night run to Wal-mart last night. I picked up everything I can think of that 3 kids starting kindergarten could practically need (lunch wise). I also found myself a really cute new purse to celebrate the fact that I made it.

Margarita time is near.
I might even chase it with a beer.

Salt on the rim and a lime on the side.
Cheer to us all we survived the ride.

Summer coming to an end

It's hard to believe that summer is almost over. Yesterday our public pool closed for the year. Even though we went there almost daily, A cried when the pool closed. We had a fantastic summer!! Lots and lots of swimming, bike riding and going to the park. But all good things must come to an end and school starts in FIVE days!! WOOOOO HOOOOOOO

The kids are VERY ready for school and I am ready for them to go too. I am sure it is going to be bittersweet to see them go. I am going to have a huge lump in my throat, but I am also really excited for them.

I have a lot planned for next week (while they are in school). Everyday I am going to work on 1 room in the house and GET RID OF EXCESS TOYS!!!! The kids are going to have no idea what happened when they get home and find well over 1/2 of their toys/clothes/excess junk GONE!! I can hardly wait!!

12 days and counting

It's been a great summer and I am already regretting not keeping up with my blog. I can't believe the summer is over in 12 days! Aug. 21st my kids start the big K! Where has the time gone??

Our summer has consisted of 1 basic thing..swimming!! My mom was here last week for a week and when she asked what to pack, I laughed and told her "Your swimsuit and pj's". That's about what our wardrobe consists of!!

Eye dr. update and loose tooth..

reading through my blog dated 06/21 I realized I forgot to update about my kids eye dr. appt.

A needs glasses, I wasn't to surprised since we were told that she would probably need them quite awhile ago by another eye dr. after her eye surgery. A isn't using her left eye at all, and her eye sight is 20/70. Pretty bad..

What surprised me was that W needed them too. His eye sight isn't to bad (20/40) but glasses are in his future also. And B needs to get tested for glaucoma (I think I spelled that wrong).

W also has a very loose tooth, VERY loose, it's hanging by skin. It's the front bottom. The adult tooth is coming up behind this loose tooth. The poor kid is destined for braces.

July 7

I couldn't think of anything jazzy to put as a title, so the date will have to do.

It's been crazy as usual here. The kids have been keeping me busy with swimming and a big range of other summer things (but the favorite is swimming). So with that said we've been spending a lot of time at the pool.

We did go through a little bout of sickness last week through, which kept the kids & I home for 1 week. It was HELL! Dh finally went to the dr. last Friday (he was sick too) and then I finally broke down and spent the $40.00 co-pay to take A & W to the dr. It ended up being sinus infection. I guess they had the darn sinus (ROFL..inside joke between a friend & I..I can hear ya laughin'.) A & W & dh are all better now, and somehow by the grace of God B & I were spared the illness.

So that was a week of staying home. Did I say it was hell?!?!

Our 4th was really fun. We (the 5 of us) went to a friends house and had supper and shot off fireworks. The kids caught fireflies and frogs. We had a wonderful time!

Yesterday (6th) I took the kids to a water park in a nearby town. We got there at 3:30pm and the park closed at 9pm. Yes..we were there until 9pm. Then the kids were so hungry they were going to eat eachother so I took them to McD. I've been to a lot of McD's and this one was by far the most high class one I've ever been to. McD trying to make a move toward the coffee shop industry? There was several big couches there, a few big comfy reading chairs. The booths were big and open, TV screens all over the place and there wasn't a kid atmosphere there at all. I felt out of place there w/ the kids. The food wasn't any better then regular McD though.

After that (it was about 9:30pm) I had to go to Walmart and get groceries. UGH! Ever take 3 kids into Walmart alone? It isn't for the kind hearted. At 10:30pm, darling dh (grrr..) calls me on the cell (remember..I am in Walmart, pushing 1 cart, pulling another cart and have 3 kids all wanting a place to sit down).
Dh: "Where are you?"
Me: "In hell..oh I mean Walmart.."
Dh: "Do you know where my remote is?"
Me: "What?"

Kids & I got home at 12:15am and the kids slept until almost noon today. That was really nice. It's been an extremely low-key day today. Dh had to work at the farm and the kids & I have done very, very little. Well..if you call 3 loads of laundry, dishes, vaccuuming, changing bed sheets and paying bills low key??

Dh gone on business..

and the kids & I have had a great, very full week!

We spent 5 1/2 hours (you read that right) at the pool today and I had to drag A out. She did not want to leave!!

We've spent a lot of time at the Y this week, and I am happy to say the kids have been sooo good about going to child watch while I work out.

The weather has been really nice this week and the next 7 days look to be real hot with the temps in the 90's. Thank goodness we invested in that new heat pump last month! Otherwise we'd be sweating our butts off with this heat!!

Tomorrow the kids have their final dr. appointment with the eye dr. before school starts. It'll feel great to have all this pre-kindergarten paperwork DONE!

Where did the month go??!

I can't believe it's been over a month since I blogged!! A lot has happened this last month too.

We made our annual trek up to MN for the week of Memorial Weekend. The kiddos & I were *going* to stay longer, dh was only going to stay for 1 week, kiddos & I for 2. But..well I won't go into a venting post. I'll just say the kids & I came home with dh, which was for the best. I am extremely bummed that I missed out on an extra week. I had hopes on seeing a lot of friends the 2nd week I was up there (since the first week is always dedicated to family), but shit happens.

The kiddos & I are having a great summer and as like last year, I now have fish instead of kids. W is getting over his first bout with swimmers ear (ALREADY!!). We are all nicely tanned already (LOL) and the summer has just started!!

Dh left this morning (yes Fathers Day) for Utah for business. He'll be gone all week, so I am prepared for a very looooong week. :(

Through the eyes of a 5 year old

The other day my dd was drawing and came running up to me and said "Look mom what I drew..it's a picture of Buck standing on a cloud up in heaven with God looking down at us." I took in a deep intake of air and looked at my little girl who understands things far more then I could ever comprend and said "Yes..that's him." She draws all the time, and this is one picture that I will keep forever.

The vet called us back today and said Buck died from a GDV (twisted stomach). It happens in deep chested dogs between the ages of 2-10. Something that keeps the stomach taunt gives a little (for no real reason) and the stomach gets slack and flips. The vet said he has never saved a dog from this, by the time the dog gets to the vet office it's to late. It happens fast and it happens w/o warning.

RIP Buck..wait for us at the Rainbow Bridge..

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

New picture

Above is a picture of Buck. Our house will never be the same.

Sad day..

Our dog Buck died yesterday out of the blue. He was fine at 3pm, he was dead at 5pm. I am numb.

We did a great job telling the kids (who saw most of the horror, but we spared the actual death). Dh & I were calm and under control, so they were too.

It's a sad day....

Soo busy!!

We took the kids to the dr. earlier this week for their round of shots for kindergarten. Boy was it an ordeal!! Our appt. was at 10am, and we finally walked in the door at home at 12:30pm. NINE shots later the kids are ready to go to school!! I am sooo glad that is over and done with! They have nothing to be anxious for regarding kindergarten now except the big day! :)

I took the kids to the circus last friday (the 13th). I remember back when I was there age going to the circus, 3 big circle rings, lions, elephants, and having the time of my life. A circus is really a dying breed. It's really sad how things change.

I finally updated my sidebar with my current book. I've had an astounding book reading year so far!! I've read some awesome books and it'll be hard to narrow down my favorites of the year in December.

Been neglecting my blog! :(

It's been over a month since I last blogged! Where has the time gone??

This month has been busy as usual. I did the swap of the kids clothes last weekend (going from winter to spring/summer). The temps have been soo nice and it feels good to have that AWFUL task done until next fall. The kids have been in short sleeves (and sometimes shorts) for the last several weeks.

What else is new?

Dh traded in his motorcycle and got a used Mule (here's a picture of it if you're not sure what a *Mule* is: http://www.wctkawasaki.com/Kawasaki%20Mule%20610.htm). It isn't the one we got, but you get the idea. Dh bought a rumble seat for the back, and a windshield. We took it out for the first time last weekend. We were out for over 3 hours! We had a BLAST!! It's a great purchase..something we can all do together.

We got the paperwork in the mail the other week for kindergarten round up. The kids are semi-excited. B heard dh & I talking about the shots they'll have to receive before kindergarten, and he's not excited about that AT ALL.

Dh & I took them fishing a couple weeks ago, we didn't catch anything but we had a great time going out as a family.

Dh hasn't been working at the farm very much yet this year, so we've been taking full advantage of the free time! :)

I finally got my side bar updated. I don't know why the picture for "First They Killed My Father" isn't working. I tried it 3x w/o any luck. But it's a fantasic book!! I've done a lot of reading so far this year.

High school girls basketball

The local girls basketball team is making a run for state this year. And because of that the kids don't have school tomorrow. Boy..I don't remember having school off unless the team really DID make it to the state championship game.

Oh man..I DO sound like my mother, next I'll be saying that *I* wore breadbags on my feet and had to walk uphill (both ways) to school everyday in 10' drifts. God..help me...

Pretty scary when..

the weather guy tells you on THURSDAY that in 2 days (Saturday & Sunday) we will be in a blizzard warning!! I found it VERY hard to believe yesterday while the kids & I were outside w/o coats on blowing bubbles and the kids were riding their scooters up/down the road. The weather was WONDERFUL! But believe it or not, for once, the weatherman was right. It has been sooo windy all day today and now it's starting to really lightly snow. I don't know how much snow we're actually going to get, but I think the wind is what the real concern is. Even a little tiny bit of snow makes visibility really difficult when the winds are blowing this hard. Amazing what a difference 24 hours can make.

Dh & I were going to take the kids to the movie today. One of the local churches where sponsoring a free movie day for families. The movie was "Barnyard". We took the kids to this movie several months ago, but we thought we'd take advantage of the free offer. We loaded everyone in the car. Braved the winds (no snow at this time) and drove to the theatre-only to find a sign on the door that said "Closed due to weather. "Barnyard" is rescheduled for next Saturday." Dh looked at me and said "Why didn't you call before hand?" I said "I did! Their answering machine said NOTHING about them being closed." We were very upset to say the least, they (theatre management) could of gotten off their asses and drove down to the theatre and put a change of plans on their answering machine rather then forcing parents to drag their kids outside on a really, really windy and cold day.

I HATE myspace.com!!!

God it feels good to say that!! I have a lot of friends who use myspace.com and being the good friend I am I try to log on there from time to time to check in on everyone. My computer freezes up EVERY DAMN TIME I log in there!! So if you're a friend of mine and you use myspace.com and you're reading this. Don't hate me for not checking in, hate MYSPACE!!

I'll stick with blogger thank you very much!!!

Felt like a bloggin'

Husbands can be such a pain in the a$$! If you have one, you know what I am talking about. If you don't have one, get a new pair of shoes instead.

Looks like the weather is going to be making a turn for the worst this weekend. YUCK!!

Back from vacation

We had a fantastic time with Grandma this last weekend!! We all came home very, very tired, but the kids wanted to do it again this morning (figures..lol).

Absolutely beautiful weather here in Nebraska today and for the rest of the week with temps in the 40-50°'s. You won't hear me complainin' (except for all the mud the kids and dogs will be tracking into the house because of the melting snow)!

Getting ready for a mini-vacation

And boy am I ready for it!! The kids & I are meeting my mom in Omaha tomorrow for a fun filled kiddo weekend. It should be fun!! Im a little bummed because it just so happens that this weekend is also State Wrestling Tournment in Omaha. UGH! So it'll be a busier then normal town. Thankfully I got a room at the hotel we usually go to, but the price was higher then normal. :(

Now I just wish 2 of my kids would go to bed so I can get the last minute things done around here and get to bed at a decent hour so we can get on the road by 9am.

Dh & I went to school conferences on Monday for the kids. They are all doing great in school and as I have said before, I must say it again..I am sooooo glad we fought and won this extra year of preschool. I do not regret it at all!! All 3 of them have matured (sp?) a lot the last 6 months. It is hard to believe the school year is 1/2 over!!

Winter is still in full swing here in NE. We got about 3" yesterday and overnight and it is still lightly snowing outside now. The temps are really suppose to warm up this weekend (into the lower 40's) so hopefully this new snow (and the stuff that's still here for end of December) will be gone soon, so the ice that is STILL there from end of December can start to melt. I don't know if I'll remember how to drive w/o ice?!

Oh dog sh!t!

We have 2 dogs which I love dearly (most of the time). Since we got all this snow (on top of ice and more ice) the dog shit is finally starting to surface with some warmer temps. God I hate dog shit. Everyday I scoop shit.