Night Owl

My new schedule is relentless. I have yet to figure out how and when to sleep and I am pretty sure it is NOT when I am driving! Mom has been helping with the kids and we have simultaneously been on vacation camping. Lots of juggling. The kids are all doing very good. They are cooperating and helping and making me very proud of them as I know this isn't easy on them either. Today, I am off and we plan to go to the beach and have some real fun.

The New Job

I am officially starting my new job in the casino industry this coming Monday. It will be part time, but with travel, full time....should be interesting! This proves to be one of the larger nightmares in my life of turmoil! Josh has been working at Taco Bell for 6 months now and is going to football practice almost every day. Jessie is in a constant state of boredom (when we don't pay good money for entertainment) and has the typical "teenager" attitude which she has lovingly (?) passed down to her two younger siblings. You should hear my 3 year old (Juliet) tell me that "it really burns my ass".....She will be the hit of daycare!!! I never imagined having the kid in daycare who talks like a sailor and teaches all the little tykes the "f" word! Jenna is growing up super fast and her biggest daily dilemmas include "when can I go on-line?" and "am I a 'Goth' or a girly-girl?"....

As far as the dog goes....we are currently not on speaking terms. She is evil and obviously out to make my life Hell on earth. She has eaten everything of value including my sofa. She is a beast. Life after vacation is so complex! Next week is vacation #2 which is a canoe trip up North. I will be working (but don't have my schedule yet)...so I will become a visitor on the canoe trip. Should be fun for Gabby....all those kids to entertain.....hey, I might not be able to find my way up there on my days off......what a dream!!!

Disney World!!!!

Hello all!
We have returned from our fabulous Disney Resort vacation and we are doing great! It was a trip of a lifetime and we all had a ton of fun!!! I will post some photos. Other than some rain, we had 7 days of non-stop fun and had to come home to get some rest. Our resort was unbelievable.....I loved it! We were treated so well there and soaked up all the great scenery. Back to the real world.....I did get tired of people telling us to "Have a Magical Day"....My favorite overheard conversation was at the Animal Kingdom....A mom and dad were fighting over something while pushing two strollers and dealing with some bad weather...the mom says, "I don't like your attitude"....the dad says "I don't like your's either!" The mother-in-law says "Neither one of you are giving a Magical Answer! We are supposed to be having a Magical Day!!!" They all laughed and seemed to snap back into a Magical mood! I loved it!!!! (considering Gabby and I were starting to pick on each other too!)

Juliet and Luna

Cheyenne

Cheyenne is getting so big! We might have to buy a larger house to accomodate her! She is proving to be a big responsibility, but also a lot of fun. This little baby is quickly becoming a horse!

Kelly

Kelly is having a girl!!! We missed her shower but went to visit her anyway! She looks great and is positively glowing! Congratulations Kelly and Mike!

Freak accident

Proof positive that my house is officially a three-ring circus.
Sunday was a sick day. A "do nothing because you are too sick to lift your aching head" day. I spent 90% of the day on the couch. 10% to get up and get medicine and use the bathroom. On one of my 3 trips to the kitchen for medication, the dog (apparently while looking out the window) gets her paw caught in the steel furnace grate, lifts her paw and brings the steel grate with her, proceeds to fall into a psychotic tantrum, yelping and running straight for me......she flings the steel grate directly into my ankle making significant contact with my protruding ankle bone. Nice shooting Cheyenne! I yelp, fall to the ground, clutching my ankle, go into a coughing fit and having laryngitis am unable to express to my husband why I am crying and having a coughing fit on the floor. He later finds the steel grate (evidence that I wasn't just looking for attention) and the dog quivering under the coffee table (further evidence that I wasn't just faking it). I was unable to walk on that ankle until the next day which was kismet considering I needed to remain on the couch anyway. Perhaps this was Gods way of ensuring I get the rest I need while sick! :)

Jessie comes to town!

Jessie will be on her way in a few hours! I can hardly wait to see her again! We are so excited! (especially Juliet who keeps insisting that this is Jessie's REAL home)
We are all recovering from a hideous illnesses that range from bronchitis to ear infections to the flu. What a bummer this first week of spring has been. Low 20's and highs in the 30's.....right now we are getting some ground cover in the form of snow! Grrrrr......Spring needs to get here soon!

Jenna and Juliet

Jenna and Juliet in a calm, rare moment.

I am the mother of a 17 year-old

Joshy is turning 17 this week! Unbelievable!!! I am the mother of a 17 year-old!! Very scary stuff!!!

big pink coat

Every year my mother threatens to take my favorite coat and buy me a new one....she usually buys me a new coat, but I never let go of my favorite coat....most of my winter photos are of me in my big pink coat.

Mom has again threatened/offered to take me to buy a new coat...but I love this one!!! It is like a huge pink blanket and although it is obviously worn and old, I get compliments on it every time I wear it!

I finally gave into the pressure and Gabby bought me a new furry/leather coat. I can't hardly drive in it because the sleeves are stiff and it makes my shirt funky underneath the coat.....very dangerous!!!! I have shown skin when I didn't intend to! Perhaps I will have my photo taken with my new coat soon....and I will post it!

Happy Birthday Gabby!!

Today is Gabby's birthday!!! He is a BIG 33 today!!! YEAH!!! We will celebrate today by taking the day off and going up to Frankenmuth! Mom will take the kids and bus them around to their various activities! What fun! Juliet will be hanging with my mom today as well.....watch out, we might run away for longer than a day! (don't tempt me). Josh is doing great, Jenna is being a pre-teen (so I am never really sure how she is doing,,,,,somewhere between depression and delight) and Juliet is smarter than all of us put together. We miss Jessie so much. She made the softball team this week and celebrated by getting hit in the face with a ball and is now sporting a black eye....send pictures Jess!!!!! Gabby needs them for your blackmail file!

Josh and Jessie

Jessie is back in New Mexico. Here is a photo while we waited in line at the gate. We had freezing rain on the way to the airport, but it was 70 degrees in New Mexico. Sounds like a good gig to me! We miss you Jessie!!! XOXOXO

Jessie and mom

Schools In!

YES! School is finally in session! I can't even begin to explain the boat loads of money I have been shelling out for entertainment of all these children. I ended on a smart note by taking Josh to Taco Bell to fill out an application. He spent over $50 on New Years Eve alone (he treated his girlfriend).

Our Holidays were stressful like everyone else's. My moms move the weekend before Christmas put a damper on the entire Holiday, but it was a sacrifice that will last a long time. She is relocated in a wonderful house and other than moving the occasional piece of furniture for her, we are done! Yeah!!!! I didn't decorate this year but the good news is, I didn't have to clean up or take down a tree. That was refreshing. Yesterday was our first day without hard labor. (even Christmas day we were moving furniture in moms garage and I was vacuuming her floors)....No rest!!! But it is over!!!

Cheyenne is growing so BIG. The vet says she is on the largest side of the scale for her breed. We are proud parents of a huge puppy! She is such a biter though....We are working hard to get her over that! We all have many puncture wounds and scratches.

That is the latest from here. We need a vacation soon!!!! Our friends are renewing their vows in 2007 at a private resort near Puerto Rico, so we will be attending that and looking forward to the rest. Here's to a wonderful New Year!!! Happy 2006!

Jessie

Cheyenne Bearpaw

Jessie comes home!

YES!!! Jessie is finally here!! Just in time for the holiday! We are soooo glad to see her. She was exhausted when we picked her up from Metro Airport tonight, she had a 15 hour travel day and almost missed a connection which made it that much more stressful. Jessie got to see the new pup and Grandmas new house!!! Yeah!!!
Jessie came from 70 degree weather in New Mexico to frigid temps here....we will definately have a WHITE Christmas!!
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

Jenna's Band Concert

Jenna had her first "official" band concert and it was held at the high school in their new auditorium. It was wonderful and fabulous regardless of the extreme cold. We had a great time and Jenna is doing great on the oboe! (Although one of the kids in class call her the "hobo" because she plays the oboe)....

And Dog Makes Six?

We got a new chocolate lab. Her name is Cheyenne Bearpaw. Here is a pic. I will write more later....dealing with pee and poo right now!!! FUN????