My twins are 5th graders!

This is the class picture of all the 4Th graders- notice Trey and Dylan in the red shirts right in the middle- lol!

Taya moves to another year of Pre-school
Twins- 5Th grade
Toby- middle school- 7Th grade!
Bryce- Jr.

Wow where has the time gone? They get so expensive as they get older. I love being a Mom- it has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I love the relationship I have with my kids and that they will tell me anything- sometimes things I don't want to know. Today was a great example.

When I woke up- Bryce came in my room and shut the door- and told me- "OK don't get mad"- well, hell right there your throat goes in your heart, you start to hyperventilate as you look at him and say "Of course I won't dear, talk to me.

Now Bryce is 16- but we did not get his permit until a few months after because he had bad grades- so when he turned 16 he did not get a licence- he is still on the permit until August.

Well the poor little child was bored last night- and in all his infinite wisdom could not think of anything to do- except steal Jen's truck at 2 a.m. and go visit some friends. Hello- was he dropped on his head as a baby? The tail light was out so he got pulled over- and it went down hill from there. He got a ticket for violating the conditions of his licence- but instead of calling his parents, the cop let him dive home....interesting.

Now I am so thankful no one was hurt including my son- but could not have planned this better- he got busted by a cop! He was terrified to tell me.

We talked and got things worked out- I did not freak out- I know there is so much more to come. I am thankful he is safe and no one else is hurt- I can cherish the little things.

Jen on the other hand is freaking out and telling the world what happened- I do not agree with that. So now we have a rift between us. I think she needs blood pressure medication to keep her calm.

I was a horrible child- ain't nothing these kids could do that I have not tried.

Oh, and just to top the day off- I let some dogs out thinking they would do well- NOPE dog fight- 7 on 1- I was screaming and kicking and I sprained my ankle and broke my big toe! Irritating.

Class of 2018

Santa's Elves

Merry Christmas to everyone. Christmas is such a magical time of year. I hope everyone is able to enjoy the day, time with family and friends. Jen has to work today so we are having a backwards Christmas. We opened gifts last night and will do stalking's today.

I do appreciate that as some children get older they can help me more. Bryce and Toby were such big help and I appreciate it. This is a lean year for us- but we are all together and that is what we enjoy.

Merry Christmas to all- have a safe holiday!

Christmas Cookies!

Today I made my second batch of sugar cookies, before the month is over I will surly make 4 or 5 more. My kids love frosted sugar cookies and the recipe I have makes the softest cookies- I love them too.

Sometimes it is so weird that my kids like spending time with us and doing stuff like this- when I was growing up I did not want to be anywhere near my parents- so I wasn't. To this day I could not even tell you a whole lot about my parents and visversa- they don't know a whole lot about me. I think it is great that our kids still like us.-This week!

What cookies do you make for the holidays?


Dylan decorating cookies


Trey was a big help with decorating

Bryce does not like a lot of frosting- weird

Toby- just got his hair cut!

Taya- she wanted to put chocolate sprinkles on every cookie

Life

Jen is back and all is well

Taya is fixing her hair

On this day Taya decided to come up with her own outfit so we went with it.

The great news is that Jen is back.

Reflecting on Life

I have been in contact with people in the past few weeks that I have not talked to in years and it has made me reflect a little- I have come to realize, once again- that I love my life, family, Jen and overall I am in a good place in my life! I am happy with the choices I have made, let go of hurtful things from my past and hurtful people, and I just want to add peace and joy to people I am in contact with. I have really enjoyed talking to an old friend Patty- nice catching up.

My parents came to visit from Hawaii for a night- they were able to go to all 4 of the boys' football games and they all won- so it was great! Sad news is they are thinking of moving away from Hawaii and back to the mainland. We will sure miss seeing them in Maui- but will get to see them more once they move. This season of their life is coming to a close. I think of life a lot more in seasons.

The season that Jen and I have shared for the past 10 months of her being layed off is also coming to an end- as she begins her new job as a correctional officer in 1 short week. I have enjoyed having some one on one time with her. Her last job really drained her- so it has been great to see her get back to the old Jen.

Bryce went to Homecoming- he is growing up. His date was beautiful and they had a great time. Last year he went stag- I think stag days are behind us now. Another season over.

Toby is an animal in football- for the second week in a row he has gotten the MVP award. The gas man came to our house the other day to change out our meter and he asked me if I was Toby's mom- I said yes and he told me that Toby was a natural at football and I needed to nurture that talent. It was a little weird that s total stranger knew my son!

I hurt my finger when I went shooting with Jen- I got a blister on my trigger finger. I just don't think I am made for shooting. Probably never gave this season a chance!

I appreciate all of you!


Family picture with my parents


The boys!

Toby and his "Big Stomp" award- it is like MVP

Full shot of Bryce with his date for Homecoming

Bryce and his date!

This is the blister on my sore trigger finger

Game Night

Once a month we are going to try to have a game night- this was our second month- sounds so wholesome huh? It has been a lot of fun- my friend Lisa and her daughter have come both times- and it has been great to see them again- this month we had a bit of a younger crowd but it was so fun to connect with the teens too. They wanted to play Twister and I did not have one- so we made one up on the floor- and then finally they went to Wal-mart to buy one. We played Pictionary, and Yahtzee, and some game like Where's Waldo- we laughed a lot and had fun. Jen's parents came and even had a good time. I was however the only adult that played Twister! You gotta live a little.

I am certain you all think we are crazy- but we have to be to have 5 kids right? Jen puts up with me and I appreciate that- I do love her so to go along with me and my ideas!

I am going to just keep inviting different people each month and see what happends- I am hoping that people we don't see very often will finally decide to come. I just bought Cranium, Taboo, and Apples to Apples- anyone have any other group game suggestions?


Emilee and Bryce- on the losing team in Pictionary!


Megan was home from college, Lisa, Emilee and Dinah enjoyed the snacks

Bryce, Trey, Taylor, and Megan play the real Twister

A group of us playing ghetto Twister

Trey getting a whiff of his buddy!

First Day of School 2009/2010

So today school started. Why do they start in the middle of the week? I am not ready for school to start- I need it to be June. I still have trips to the lake I want to take, and spend more time with the kids. I hate that football cuts my summer short- I can't even go away for Labor Day because of football. I want to go tot he lake this weekend and play but I have three puppies leaving! I am stomping my feet!

Toby is in 6th grade- I remember 6th grade- it was when my parents got divorced and three days later my father re-married. I was so boy crazy and really wanting to have a boyfriend- hormones were raging. At the same time- I had a big crush on two girls in my class- but I didn't know what it all meant.

Trey and Dylan started 4th grade. Trey is still so much bigger then Dylan- it must suck to have your twin be bigger then you are- be able to ride carnival rides before you can- my poor Dylan. Speaking of Dylan- Bryce offered to show him how to ride the dirt bike- but neglected to tell him about the clutch- so straight into the barbed wire fence he drove. 2 stitches and 3 steri strips later he is as good as new. We had not been to the ER for a month or so- so I guess it was time.

I have been watching Jon and Kate plus 8- Wow what what a train wreck! I think Jen and I need a reality show- two lezzies and a handful of kids? Would anyone watch it? :)

Bryce does not start school until Friday- again what is the point? Why not wait until Monday? He will be a Sophomore- that means only one more year of school pictures and then he will have Senior pictures- weird.

We have signed Taya up for Pre-school but she is on the waiting list- please say a prayer that she gets in- she already has her backpack ready to go and her little heart will break if she is not picked for school.

Jen was gone for a day to go drop off some dogs for a show and I went crazy missing her- now she has lost her voice and does not feel very good. Pray for healing for her as well.

Trey is normal

Dylan is into this wetting down his hair thing

Toby is growing out his hair- and it looks like straw

It has been a day!

We got my Grandmother situated in Hospice- oh they are so nice and comforting. I love them. They gave her some pain medication right away- gave her a warm towel bed bath, had flowers in her room waiting for her. I feel like she will get so much better care there. I am happy.

The guy building or porch fell off the ladder and broke his wrist today while we were dealing with transporting my Grandmother.

Then, on the way home we got a hell of a flat tire- and the lug wrench did not fit- so we called for help- the man that came to help cut his hand open because the wire of the tire wrapped around the wheel axle- we can't even get a normal flat tire. So they had to send a back up guy.

Then I am going in for surgery in a few hours and I have not even been to bed yet- does anyone else see this black cloud I have hanging over my head?


Grandmother in her new digs- Taya calles her "Grandma there"


Taya and Root Beer are worn out after a long day

The tread from the tire that fell off

Taya is showing Jen how to change a tire

We try to keep a happy face through it all- hell I am snapping photos on the interstate

What a mess

No good news on Grandmother

My Grandmother is the same. She will not eat- she is trying to bite the nurses- she is so strong for a 98 year old lady who has not had more then 100 calories in almost a week. They say if she does not turn the corner soon then we are looking at Hospice. I know she does not have much of a life and she will be happier when she is gone- but man I will miss that woman. She has been such an important part of my life. My Dad is 67 years old- and his mother is still alive- amazing!

They could not put the carpet in Bryce's room today- something about the wrong measurements. Poor kid- oh well one more day.

I have to have surgery on Friday- nothing major but I have a lump in my pubic hair area- TMI I know- and it is causing a lot of pain- so they will cut it out. Now you know how sick and wrong Jen and I are right? Sooooooo- we told the boys it was an alien that was left behind- so we are going to make a gross clump of hair and a tooth and put it in a jar and bring it home to show them. We need therapy don't we?

Wednesday they start building my pergola on the porch- that will be awesome- or awestome as Taya says.

Good, scary, and sad news...

The good news is that my niece, Madison, came to visit us for a week from Texas. She is 13 and this was her first plane ride alone. We had a great time. We went to Jen's family reunion, shopping, the zoo, swimming, and to see Harry Potter at midnight! It was a lot of fun.

The scary news is that Bryce passed his Driver's Ed class and now holds a permit for driving. Stay off the roads. In all reality he is a good driver- but man it is hard to give up that control and not act afraid.

The sad- my Grandmother is not doing well- she is 98 and they took her to the ER yesterday where she has remained in the hospital with "failure to thrive." We took the kids to see her tonight and even Bryce got teary eyed. It is very hard to watch her so terrified and fighting all the nurses- when you hold her hand she digs her thumbnail into your skin so you will leave her alone and then she pinches you. On the surface it is funny to see her so ornery- but underneath all that is a terrified lady that I love so very much.

I have a sink in my kitchen- they put it in Friday. I am so happy. The kitchen is about put together- the construction crew has left us for 2 weeks- but things seem to be functional now. Bryce gets new carpet Monday and then we can put his room together and everyone should be settled into their new rooms.

We had a Mom deliver 9 beautiful puppies- so perfect and white- and then she ate 6 of them- yes I said ate them. Sick and wrong. I guess she will not be having anymore litters.



This is my Grandmother on Thursday with Madison and Taya


Jen Taya,(aka Scuba Steve) and Madison at The Outback

Making smores on the back porch the night before Madison left

Bryce with his permit- SCARY!

The whole group before Madison left

Fourth of July pictures a little late

The 4th of July was fun- we went to the parade in the morning with Jen's family and my best friend Ann. then we had a BBQ- all my old foster kids came- so I loved that. The we had some illegal fireworks- so we had a 2 hour fireworks display with Dylan and Trey both getting hurt- but not bad.

We got the concrete poured- the counters are still not in- so we still do not have a kitchen sink- I am really starting to lose patience.

Our baby duck count is down to 4 from 6. Jen's dad's dog got one of them.

We have had 2 puppies returned by unstable people. One of them just decided she was not ready to be a puppy Mommy- so she brought him back after a few days crying her eyes out. The other one the lady has said about 5 different reason's why she brought the puppy back. I just feel bad for the puppies that are looking for forever homes.

We are going to Jen's family reunion this weekend- so that should be fun. I have to have surgery- just as an outpatient- but surgery just the same.


Bryce and his best friend Phil


Jen and Taya at the parade

Bryce and Taya

Trey and Grandma

Trey and his cousin Turtle- Taya and Toby in the background.

Dylan and Grandpa at the rodeo

Me and Jerry- Jen's dad

A wonderful day...

We had a great day- we jumped the gun and had a BBQ to unveil to new kitchen- even though it is not finished- but we really just wanted to get everyone together. We had over 40 people here and it was great. Three of my old Foster kids came- and it was great to see them and their families and who is important to them in their lives- but also to see them reconnect with each other- it does my heart good. I love those kids. We even got out old scrapbooks and saw how much they had changed. That is something they don't have- scrapbooks of their childhood's- I should have been better about taking pictures. I do have Paul's first and so far only trip to Disneyland so that is fun. It is weird for me to see them as parents now- but it looks like they are all doing great job and I love them.



Bryce giving 2 of his siblings a ride


Taya keeping an eye on her baby ducks

They are getting so big- although she loved one to death- oops

The gang and their new families

Me, Amber, and Paul

Snake and marraige

I am still heading down that road as a bad blogger- I need to get back on the band wagon.

So Jen's brother decided to get married to his girlfriend of 10 years and the woman he has three children with- why rush things? So Friday was the "wedding"- a handful of people in the back yard and the children running around shooting each other with toy guns- it was a little odd. Then Saturday was the BBQ/reception.

Jen invited a bunch of High school buddies to come down- so that was fun- Jen and her friend's had way too much to drink- so most of them were crying by the end of the night- funny to watch though. Taya loved holding this snake at the BBQ, while sitting on Ann's lap- I don't recall ever going to a wedding with snakes- but hey I am game.

The counter tops came in and just when it seemed we were going to have some normalcy in our lives I looked, and they had the wrong finish on them. In the grand scheme of things it probably does not matter- but it kept bugging me all weekend- so Monday morning I called and told them they were wrong- believe me the guy did not want to re-order those babies- but he knew he ordered them wrong- so two more weeks without counters and a sink. I will survive this right?

Jen and Trey took a road trip to MO to pick up some puppies from a litter we bred- so while she is gone all hell breaks loose. We get this freak rainstorm that fills the window well with 3 feet of water- it pours into Trey's brand new room with brand new carpet! So I have been sucking water out of the carpet for hours and there is no end in sight. I have carpet guys coming in the morning. Oh and the new bay window leaked a little too. I just want to crawl in a hole and not deal with any of this. My guys are not going to like me in the morning when I call them.

Speaking of morning- I have to get up in 3 hours to take a puppy to the airport and hurry home for the Dish network guy- I am going to be so tired. I just can't sleep when Jen is not here. O better go try though.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day?????????

We are the DIY family now!

So, the bathroom is still in progress- I did put the first coat of paint on it tonight- hopefully tomorrow it will get a second coat and we can tile. Then put it all back together on Monday- only took a week.

Now that Jen has tackled the bathroom- she thinks she is ready to open a handy man service- so she decided we could pull up the old kitchen flooring and sub floor. Note: there are a million- not even exaggerating a little, staples in the floor- so we had to get rid of them- so out came the dremel again and two days, and 15 bits later we are still sawing off staples. I am hoping this will be finished by Monday. I think the kitchen is getting painted this week, and the new flooring installed.

Then after we get these two projects completed- we are going to paint Taya's new room and pull up the carpet- so new carpet can be installed. Jen is already looking around the house for her next project- it scares me!


Sweeping up the mess- under the vinyl, and sub floor were those peel and stick tiles that will never come off. So new flooring will cover them again.


Bryce having way too much fun.

These are cool tools!

Dylan having way too much fun!

Bryce pulling up flooring.