canaan's got spacers

today Canaan had his spacers put in in preperation for his braces. he's not feeling that great tonight. his mouth is sore adn said his tummy is upset as well. we'll see how he's doing in the morning for if he can go to school. I hope he does perk up cause these are nothing compared to how the actual braces will feel. :(

today Canaan and Hunter also graduated up to the next level belt in Kung Fu! Canaan is now a 2nd level green while Hunter is up his first belt to yellow. very proud of both of them! (in case anyone forgot, we pulled K and G cause of non-concentration in class. gavin really wants to get back in, but now its a matter of $ too. :P)

they're all earning an environmental badge this week though. the class gives out certain badges for doing certain projects and this semester was environment: recycling. since we do recycling here at the house all the time, it was a no brainer to get this badge

the kids were off school today too, so tomorrow its back to the grind. I think Garrett will miss everyone. :)

oh, his preschool eval is on friday! I'm excited about it for him, but also worried.

ugh, I'm so glad today is done. it was one of those dang days. not to mention I was CLUMBSY today! I hate days like that. I knocked over at least 3 food items today, not to mention dripping paint on the new floors (it cleaned up) and other stuff.

like I said above, I've gotten most things put back where they go. tossed some stuff too and making my stack for goodwill. the funny thing is that the bathroom feels bigger! its weird! it has an echo to it now without the carpet in there (no carpet! its so easy to clean!!!!!!!!!!) and it just feels bigger!
I do have pics, just need to unload the camera. I'll have gavin's bday party on there tomorrow too.

I'm doing a lego/batman cake for gav. hoping it turns out like I'm imagining it!

Garrett mashed hsi fingers in the car door tonight. he's gotten where he likes getting in the cars. I started locking them just cause of that, but daddy didnt and he was messing around in his and got his index/middle fingers of his left hand. its ok now, but we're hoping that'll teach him not to get in them. (I can hope, right??)

Sarina is telling people to "stop!" LOL! Canaan was loving on me tonight in front of her and she hollered it at him.  quite funny!

oh, forgot: took the boys to buy shoes nite before last. we had quite a foot growth spurt! hunter went from a youth 13 to a sz 2. gavin went from a 2.5 to a 4.
their little toes are much happier!

the remodel work on our floors is coming along well. today they got the top floor laid down and early tomorrow the men that will lay the new linoleum (SP?) will be here. hopefully my house will be back to rights by wednesday evening? would be nice! I'll be painting tomorrow as well, so still dont expect to see me much on here. :P
my house is chaos. we've not had the washer hooked up since friday evening so I'll be up to my armpits in laundry when its hooked back up! my whole bedroom is just.... ugh! that's where all the stuff from the utility room and bathroom AND master closet has gone (with exeption of cabinetry, washer/dryer. I'll get a pic of that mess tomorrow. i can get in on one side of the bed.

(I'll have to post this tomorrow since a storm is moving in and it knocked my net out :P )

I have to call about the kids computer. the power blinked the day before yeaterday and now it wont come on.  of course gavin and katlyn are going nuts at not being able to get on.

school is going great, seems they all like it so far. Hunter told me friday that he was being so good he'd not gotten his name on the board!
gavin brought home his math book today, they'll be using saxon math :)
and of course today started the *real* work since the 3 days last week were just intros basically.

hunter likes riding the bus. on Mon/Tues and Thurs they all get dropped off at the dojo and I meet them up there. lots easier than waiting in line at all the schools to pick them up!

hm.... oh, Hunter taught himself how to ride a 2 wheel bike last week!  he called me outside and said "momma! come watch me ride this cool new bike!" (2 guys at work had given dh 2 'new' bikes for the boys). and he trucked right around the driveway on it! I was so proud of him!

Garrett is doing really well, not that he's magically morphed into an angel, but he's doing really good during the days when the kids are gone. I hardly have any problems between him and sarina. the days are pretty darn nice IMO!

he's been TOTALLY entertained while the workers have been here. its all right up his alley, tools, dirt, man stuff LMBO! the first day he came and emptied the water heater, that was 50 gallons of water that garrett got to play in! LOL!!

guess I'll post this if it'll let me, then go read a bit before bed. I have been getting up when the kids are getting ready and will HAVE to tomorrow since the floorers will be here early. *yawn*

8-2-09 gavins baptism!

gavin was loving it cause the water was warm LOL!

first day of school pics

 

 

AWWWWWWW tender baby moment!! garrett was walking away and says "I love you mom!" (normal behavior for him) and sarina goes "I ya ma!"  that was cool! 

 

one year apart...

 last year 7-29-08


this year 7-29-09

The American Spectator
July 24, 2009
By Ben Stein

We've Figured Him Out

Why is President Barack Obama in such a hurry to get his socialized medicine bill passed?

Because he and his cunning circle realize some basic truths:

The American people in their unimaginable kindness and trust voted for a pig in a poke in 2008. They wanted so much to believe Barack Obama was somehow better and different from other ultra-leftists that they simply took him on faith.

They ignored his anti-white writings in his books. They ignored his quiet acceptance of hysterical anti-American diatribes by his minister, Jeremiah Wright.

They ignored his refusal to explain years at a time of his life as a student. They ignored his ultra-left record as a "community organizer," Illinois state legislator, and Senator.

The American people ignored his total zero of an academic record as a student and teacher, his complete lack of scholarship when he was being touted as a scholar.

Now, the American people are starting to wake up to the truth. Barack Obama is a super likeable super leftist, not a fan of this country, way, way too cozy with the terrorist leaders in the Middle East, way beyond naïveté, all the way into active destruction of our interests and our allies and our future.

The American people have already awakened to the truth that the stimulus bill -- a great idea in theory -- was really an immense bribe to Democrat interest groups, and in no way an effort to help all Americans.

Now, Americans are waking up to the truth that ObamaCare basically means that every time you are sick or injured, you will have a clerk from the Department of Motor Vehicles telling your doctor what he can and cannot do.

The American people already know that Mr. Obama's plan to lower health costs while expanding coverage and bureaucracy is a myth, a promise of something that never was and never will be -- a bureaucracy lowering costs in a free society. Either the costs go up or the free society goes away.

These are perilous times. Mrs. Hillary Clinton, our Secretary of State, has given Iran the go-ahead to have nuclear weapons, an unqualified betrayal of the nation. Now, we face a devastating loss of freedom at home in health care. It will be joined by controls on our lives to "protect us" from global warming, itself largely a fraud if believed to be caused by man.

Mr. Obama knows Americans are getting wise and will stop him if he delays at all in taking away our freedoms.

There is his urgency and our opportunity. Once freedom is lost, America is lost. Wake up, beloved America.

Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes "Ben Stein's Diary" for every issue of The American Spectator.

hey, I'm here, been lurking a bit and trying to post. hadnt gotten the gumption up to post an update
been busy, as usual and just feel like vegging when I sit down here at night.

let's see... dont remember what I last posted and I dont want to flip back a page, so I'll start where I think I left off.
C's team won their regional tourney, so they're going to state. they were supposed to play yesterday, but it got rained out, so they'll be heading up today to play tonight at 6. if they win, they play again... hmmm... it was supposed to be tonight, but maybe it'll be friday now. and if they lose they'll play saturday.

C was at youth camp this past weekend and had a great spirit filled time, he was really fired up when he came back.  K is eager to go next year (she'll be in youth then, she couldnt go this year yet)

monday dh went to Athens, TN for work, but got to come home tuesday night cause he was going to the tourney with C. he's taking vacation days the rest of this week.

tuesday was student registration for all the schools. I had tori come and sit with the kids while I did that. I have everyone done! (had to finish hunter up yesterday) so the oldest 5 are ready for school now. I've got most of the school supplies, have about 1/3 of the lists still to get. dont have C's yet, I'm guessing he'll get his at Freshmen orientation on the 31st or maybe Wmart will have a list.
K likes her homeroom teacher! I met Gav's teachers and they both seem really nice (and I told him they were pretty ;). I talked to a couple of the preschool teachers as well. Garretts eval is on Aug. 28th at 9:30.
I'm really hoping he doesnt get one of the teachers I met. she didnt smile at ANYTHING. EVER. I mean, geez!! the other was super friendly.

that day I also had dropped Lily off at the groomers. oh, the original groomer I called monday to set up an appt and she no longer was in business! oh well I didnt look forward to going in there anyway. found another who is actually closer to me (woot!) and was $35 for teh works. included getting her teeth done, her ears cleaned, haircut of my choice, nails done, bath, perfume, bandana. she looked SOOOOOOOOOO pitiful when I dropped her off! omgosh! I was ready to turn around and go back and get her! its like her little brown eyes were saying "you're leaving me???" geez! can you tell I'm hooked??  but she was so very excited to see me when I got her! she was bouncing around all excited and that little curly tail was just a goin'!  the groomers said she did great for them.  they did notice that when she was in her cage she sat with her back to them, facing the wall. they said that's a trait that a dog whose been in a cage alot (shelter or for breeding) will exhibit.  my poor little furbaby.
the groomer also didnt think she was a pekepoo like the owners had said. her hair is wavy, not curly, but I've seen plenty of pekepoos whos hair is only wavy.  the groomer was guessing a shih tzu/maltese mix maybe.
anyhoo, Lily looks so dang cute now! we had her trimmed up short all over except her tail and head and she had her head hair trimmed up and cleaned. she looks so tiny now! LOL!! I've not been in a big picture taking mood, but got one pic the day she came home from the groomer:


I also had to do Hunter's pysical taht day at the health dept. oy! I was first in line and it still took me 2 hours! :P
my day tuesday went like this:
out the door at 8:30, drop Lily off at groomers, grab breakfast, go to school to register (2 hrs+). go to walmart for a few school supplies while by myself and grab a snickers bar. check on Lily (not done), go home and pick up Hunter and race back in town (physicals started at 1) first in line at health dept. proceed to wait 2 hrs before we're done and can leave. stop and pick up Lily. race back home, have kids get into kung fu gear and go back into town. drop them off, meet Tori at McDs (she had to leave before I could get back) and then sit with her and yak for an hour. back and pick up kids, take C to ball practice-met dh there. back home around 6:30, walk dog again, fix dinner amist the chaos of being gone all day (the house was a WRECK), dh and C get home and we eat, clean up kitchen-C does dishes, then FINALLY get to sit down and feel like a lump! 
yesterday I had a WIC appt at 10 and had to take Garrett with me. dh had a dr appt at 9. he picked up Garrett when the nurse was done with him so I could take Hunter's final paperwork over to teh school to finish his registration.

today after getting up, I went to sit at the couch to find C had left a cup sitting there. well when I picked it up, it was swarming with ants!!!!!!  so dh adn I proceeded to upend the couch, tear it apart and clean EVERYTHING. amazing how much crap gets pushed under a couch and through the couch cushions. :P now how I wanted to spend my morning, but its done and much better now.
dh is back at the dr getting his results. they're supposed to leave around 2 I think.
plus K is going to another friends house. she was gone tuesday night as well. 3 bday parties in one week. LOL! another one tomorrow night!

oh, earlier in the week I did all the corn that had been given to us. our freezer is certainly full now! corn all winter! LOL!

so that's my update! I'm sure there's more but that's fried my brain enough for now.

 

meet Lillie!

I admit, I was really nervous last night being her first night home! kinda like bringing a baby home the first night, not knowing what to expect, but expecting the worst LOL!
the good news is she did fabulously! I was planning on leaving the gate up from the kitchen so she'd be enclosed between the utility room and my bathroom, but she didnt want that. (whined so pitifully) so I took the gate down and she trotted in to lay on the couch and such. LOL!
she does SO great with the kids, tells us when she needs to go out, let us sleep all night (whew!) and is just a really good girl!
even the cats outside dont worry her. they were rubbing all over her yesterday/today LMBO! and she's the same size as Angel (one of our outside cats) so thats funny in itself!
she loves her doggie chew sticks and the dog biscuit the lady at the bank gave her. the cats love her dog food LOL
she doesnt chew on stuff, she loves laying on pillows/beds and crawling under blankets. so cute! she does great on her leash. she's still not barked LOL!
she's a bit sneezy, not sure if that's just her or if its from the surgery meds or if its a cold. they gave me antibiotics for her JIC.
the kids are crazy over her and she's just a super friendly dog! when my mom came to see her yesterday, Lillie ran over to her and reached up on her legs to be picked up LOL! my mom came in carrying her and said "she loves me!" hehe! and mom wants us to bring her over whenever we come, of course. LOL!
the kids want her to ride EVERYwhere we may go. I had to decline taking her to kung fu yesterday cause I have a hard enough time keeping up with S and G during that time. :P
so we're happy she's here!!
OH, funny thing! last night when dh was going to bed, he came in here to me and said "me and your pickachu may not get along. she's in my bed."
*giggle/snort*
so I reminded him taht the cats are constantly sleeping at the foot of our bed. to which he happily argued that they didnt LOL!
I went in to check on her and she was laying on his side of the bed, under his blanket LMBO!!!

 

dh is home tonight!!  he's currently at ball practice with canaan.
tomorrow night is the ball game where the kung fu academy is going to do the pregame show and C throws in the first pitch! exciting!!
Katlyn is staying with a friend tonight.
yesterday C and K had their first visit with an orthodontist.
the big news is that before school starts, Canaan will be in braces!!!  he'll be the first one started cause he's the easiest. he goes in on the 27th for his spacers to be put in and on the 2nd or 3rd he'll have the braces and upper expander put in.
on teh 27th, K goes in at the same time for her surgical consult.
her's will be more complicated of course. once we figure out her plan of action, she'll have her braces. about a year after they're put on, she'll have surgery to have her lower jaw set back and then continue with the braces for another 6 months or so. (I think that's right, trying to remember what I was told).
she still has 6 baby teeth in her head!!!  two are ready to fall out if she'd just pluck them out! the ortho told her that if she sneezed hard enough they'd fall out LOL!
I've warned her they need to get out THIS weekend. the 4 she has on top are causing her adult teeth to come in crooked. so she's causing herself unneeded problems. *sigh*
the costs of doing this is going to be substantial.  which I never figured it'd be cheap of course, but still...  its worth it, they really need it! I'll have to get pics of before and then later to show what a difference it makes for them. I'm just thankful we've worked on our debt enough to even DO this. not that we wont have to watch our pennies like crazy, but it'll at least be doable, KWIM?? a year ago it'd have been a pipe dream!

now, dog news! we got to go visit Lillie today (and yesterday found out her real name is Chloe, and she's not a shih tzu, she's a peekapoo!) she is just THE most adorably sweet dog!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!! she never once barked while we were there, and this is with the whole yard/kennel of dogs making tons of noise. she rolled over so we could rub her belly, she happily tolerated the kids (had all but C with me), walked with K on a leash in the yard/sidewalk, likes to be carried LOL, and didnt give a fig if the cats were by her!! she's perfect!!!
today was the final day the owners had to reclaim her so they should call in the morning to let me know she's ready to adopt! (there were 4 other apps on her and one of the other applicants called while we were visiting with her! the worker told them "I dont see the approved adoptive family wanting to give her up, but if they do we'll let you know" LOL)
she'll have to stay til monday when she gets spayed and then we can pick her up that evening or tuesday morning. we went and bought a doggie brush for her today and a new leash. got to find a collar at walmart (didnt have one at mighty dollar we liked). I also stopped at a local pet groomer and got an appt for wednesday for her to get a bath, clip, etc (the works as she says). she has some matting in her hair on the lower back and she's a bit dirty (as you can tell from her pic), but she'll be spruced up and ready to go after that! though I'm only likely to use this groomer this one time: I walked in (its a private residence) and talk about being blown over from cig smoke!!! OMG! my parents smoke but I dont walk in and feel like I'm standing in LA smog! yuck!!!!! the kids could smell it all over me when I got back in the truck. :(
I'm really excited to get her! (I'll be crushed if they call tomorrow and tell me she got reclaimed! LOL)
OH, and the info I got today was that the owners didnt want her spayed and didnt have the $ to get her out of the pound otherwise. I have a feeling they had gotten her to breed peekapoo pups. I'm not worried about having puppies, so I'm just fine with getting her spayed!

ok, is that a good update? LOL! I'm sure I could think of more, but I'm losing my train of thought LOL!

trying to get back into this

crazy busy week!
I filed claims for some house work done with the ins. company. we need a new roof (have leak stains in 4 places and its 12 yrs old w/ lots of hail damage and other natural damage), plus our utility room floor-back when the old water heater busted, it warped the floor. dh just doesnt have time to do it, so I filed a claim on it to get the floor fixed. its like walking on a roller coaster in there!
so anyway, I was supposed to have the adjuster out today, but she never showed. I had one contractor come to take measures, I have 2 others supposed to come (tomorrow? thursday??), roofing estimate tomorrow (?!), plus we're having a new section added to our drive for FIL's big truck so it wont ruin our yard when he's parked here and so the gravel truck will be here tomorrow.
not to mention I have to go in town at 9 am to get the car looked at (dh thinks its missing a plug in the undercarriage cause when its wet outside, my drivers side floor board gets wet), then drop C off for band practice.
thursday morning I'm taking C and K to another dentist for a 2nd opinion on the kind of work they'll need to get their teeth fixed.
saturday is the Hot Rods ball game. the Kung Fu academy is getting a special day there, the students get to show off their dragon dancing, run the bases, special seating, and Canaan gets to throw in the first pitch! (his Sifu wanted him to do this) dh, I, mamaw, papaw, C, Gavin are going, along with about 30 people from the dojo. it'll be fun!! I'll be sure to get pics

so all that is another reason I'm not on here much. I'm feeling kinda overwhelmed currently, especially between G's behavior and dh being out of town (totally related :P ) but I'll make it. always do.

I've got a whole tub+ of stuff to get to goodwill now. been clearing out the boys room this week. trying hard to make it more spacious (ie: less clutter and unneeded stuff, including clothes not needed). its a chore, for sure, but much needed!
now the rest of the house to do! LOL!!

7-4-09

hmmm... new Sarina stuff:
she has 4 molars coming in. 2 on top are already through and the two bottom are about half way in.
she has new words and she's nodding her head.
she told C to "top" when he was picking on her earlier today
she does really well with the new kitten. she calls Misty a baby and loves petting her

we're celebrating Hunter's 7th birthday tonight since dh will be out of town come monday. he's only asked for transformers and leggos, so that's what he's getting
he's asking for present time right now, along with GAvin who is, I think, more eager for H to open his gifts!
(Gavin is telling him to jump around acting all eager and begging to open gifts, and Hunter tells him "I'm a big boy now, I dont do like kids." )

she's playign peek a boo and tag with my brother

S had a rough night, which I was figuring on since she was so restless going to sleep.  dont even remember all teh time we were up, I'm just doggone tired!
she looks awful too cause she fell face flat on the carport the other day and has a big strawberry/bruise in the middle of her forehead.
she's quite whiney and snotty too. I see another fun day ahead

C has a ballgame tonight as long as the rains holds off. he also has a game tomorrow but will be voluntarily missing that one cause 8th grade commencement is at the same time! the ball league refused to reschedule that game for the 8th graders. how stupid was that?!

so I had plans to go to the movies today with my sis, but they got shot down cause my LOs are sick.  Gav brought home a cough last week and H has it now and yesterday S woke with a low grade fever and this morning G had been trying to toss his juice, along with a low grade fever.
S woke just a bit ago though and the fever is gone and she's eating again (only ate one taco yesterday) and she's smiling and happy, so I think she's back to normal for me. G is sleeping on teh couch though, which is a huge sign he doesnt feel well

yesterday we went to church, amazing we get there relatively on time with my teens and toddlers. cant blame it on K either, its C that gives me grief!

while getting in the truck to go to church yesterday, gavin took G's hat off. G got mad adn banged his head on the truck step. of course it was right on the place he fell this week and scarred his head!  I didnt know it in all the hubub of getting out the door, but later, when C brought him in from sunday school, he said 'ms. amanda said he shoudl go to the ER for his head', I'm like  'his head is fine, all it has is a little red scab' then i lift his hair to see its turned black and blue and is swelled up with a big goose egg!!! ARGH!!!!!! it looks awful!! this kid and his tantrums. UGH! so I had to find out what happened (Garrett said "gavin did it" LOL) and Gav told me what happened. *sigh* explained to Amanda what happened and that his head had NOT looked like that all week. geez.
it looks much better today, the swelling has gone down, but its still all black and blue where he hit it. I hate tantrums. LOL

S woke this morning feeling normal! (she just woke about 30 minutes ago). she seen the pop tart Hunter had and squealed for him to give her some, a good sign! G just woke on the couch (said "I'm done!" LOL) hopefully the anti-nausea meds will help his tummy feel better.

we paid off the suburban today!! sears is paid off too!! Dave Ramsey would be proud of all we've paid off since last July. I'm super proud too! amazed mostly at how far we've come! I've not added up our payoff since 9-06 yet, but I know its ginormous (and embarrassing). our bill stack is blessedly shrinking and I don't often cringe at the mail coming any more. its wonderful how much weight is lifted off when you get out from under debt!
anyhoo, just had to share my relief

it was a good day. got pay offs and recycling done this morning. picked up c from my brothers. came home, got the girls, took mia home then went off w/ k and s.

I started asking K if there was anything she wanted to tell about, new/exciting stuff or anything and that got nowhere  finally I just told her I'd noticed it while doing laundry. she was like "OH, yeah, I forgot to tell you"  LMBO! it started the day they went on their field trip to six flags! only one day and she had her friends 'supplies' to help her out.
so we yakked about it a bit (we've already talked in depth before) and I asked her where she wanted to eat. she took us to zaxbys LOL!
at walmart I got her a new notebook and two pair of leggings, along with hair color (her and C want new highlights) and some more nair (and of course the usual food stuff).
the funniest thing was she didnt want to *look* at the pads. reminded me of a guy trying to buy them for his wife. I'd tell her what I preferred and was trying to explain the sizes adn she'd glance then look away down teh aisles while saying "sure, that's fine. uh huh. no, that's what I want. ok"  too funny!

I spent way too much there for the 2nd week in a row. I get over $100 at walmart and I kinda freak

dh worked on the cars today. my passenger window now works! (its never worked since we got teh MIB) he also fixed HIS passenger window AND my little SIL's passenger mirror. something about the passenger sides...

tonight dh and C are watching Taken adn Underworld.

S has been SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooo clingy today. I've hardly gotten to put her down and she hardly goes to anyone else, except daddy. makes it really hard to get stuff done and for one sore arm!
of course we got TONS of compliments on her hair again today. I remember 5, there were probably more

church tomorrow and dont know what else... besides Farm Town :)

so tonight was interesting. when I picked the kids up from school, K told me she had a band concert tonight. ok, thanks for the heads up! LOL! we worked it out though and dh was able to meet us in town after kung fu (K didnt go, took her home to change) and he took the boys to the park and I went to the school. her band (beginning band) only played for about 15 minutes and we stayed for the 7th/8th gr band.
caught up with the boys afterwards and went to zaxbys (kids free night). dh is goign out of town tomorrow to GA til friday. *wah!*

I'm going to my moms in the morning to hang out so probably wont be on much. I'll have to take my puter to check my farm on FB

this coming monday, vicky will be watching the kids for me and I'm going to meet my big sis in the city so we can go see xmen! I'm so excited!!! girls day out!

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5-5-09 from Citizenlink.org

 

Obama: No White House Observance for National Day of Prayer

 

Breaking tradition with President George W. Bush, the Obama administration has announced there will not be a White House observance for the National Day of Prayer this year.

"We are disappointed in the lack of participation by the Obama administration," said Mrs. Shirley Dobson, chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. "At this time in our country's history, we would hope our president would recognize more fully the importance of prayer."

The White House has indicated it will release a proclamation recognizing the National Day of Prayer on Thursday.

The National Observance will take place from 9 a.m. to noon EDT, as Dr. and Mrs. Dobson, Beth Moore and others gather in Washington, D.C., to pray for America. The event will be broadcast live on GOD TV (Channel 365 on DirecTV), Channel 138 on Sky Angel and online.