Friday, November 30, 2007

Just Call Me "Fatty"

Thursday after work, Lesa took me out for a belated b-day lunch. We decided to go to my cousin's restaurant because Lesa had never eaten there & I hadn't eaten there since it reopened. Well, my cousin ended up not charging us for my meal. And then all Lesa had was a bank card. (Small town Ohio is a cash only place! -- Yes, there are people who still take cash!)
I had one dollar. Lesa had three.
So I went back and talked to Amy and asked if I could write a check. "Sure." So I paid for Lesa's meal on my b-day. :)

Then I decided we should use our $4 and go to the Main St Ice Cream Parlor for dessert. I was thrilled to see what they finally had!!
PEANUT BUTTER CARAMEL COOKIE DOUGH ICE CREAM
Ali & I had eaten it once this summer and I never saw it there again. So naturally, I needed to get a lot, in case I never see it again. I got a double scoop and wanted to die after I finished it. But I survived and took the boys back today after school! I got another double scoop in a waffle cone. (I actually only ordered a single, but I think he remembered me from the previous day & just loaded me up) It was so massive, I had to put it upside down in a cup.

I feel like a big fat fatty.

But it was worth it!

They were almost out again!

Last Ones




More Pics






Thursday, November 29, 2007

Last Meal

The BK quad stacker! 4 beef patties, 4 slices of cheese, & bacon!



A Few Pics





Wednesday, November 28, 2007

The Hardest Decision

Two weeks ago this Friday, we said good-bye to Raider.
It was a hard decision, but we felt it best for every one's safety. Back in September, Raider bit one of Braden's friends. While we aren't 100% sure it wasn't do to this child picking at him, Raider became a criminal and spent 10 days under "house arrest." Since that time, he had been an angel (except for peeing on the leg of the foosball table). He loved everyone he met outside and was great with adults who came over. He was sometimes unfriendly to children so we told Brady he could not have friends in the house. The few times he did, Raider went on the front porch or outside.
Jon and I had begun to tire of the foosball issue though. I made a flier and Jon began hanging them everywhere. We were hoping to find Raider a new family before Christmas so that I could put our tree up. (I was not going to put up a tree with him in the house because of the peeing issues!)Then two weeks ago, Dallas stole a rawhide I had given to Raider earlier in the day. She always does this. Usually she then taunts him with it. She's always been the "top dog" and he knew it. Anyway it seems that he finally realized he was bigger than she was. Raider went after Dallas to get his rawhide back. It took Braden and I both to pull Raider off of Dallas. She was terrified! And upon a second look, he had bitten her on her throat.
Jon and I spent the next several days a wreck! Dallas had to be locked up on the porch or taken to her cousin's if we left the house. She was visibly nervous around him. I went to talk to the vet about our options. I called shelters and rescue agencies. All said the same thing: given his bite record, they could not take him. Then Jon read online that should we find him a home and he bite someone even 10 yrs. from now, we could still be held liable! So we came to the hard decision that we would have Raider put down. It was the only way we could insure every one's safety in the future.

So Jon planned the best last 2 days! Raider got to go on a long walk WHERE EVER he wanted. He got to go run and swim at the reservoir, he finally got people food, and then Jon took him to the vet (he LOVES them!) *** Braden just knows that Raider went to the vet and that they had a new home for him where he would be able to run and swim everyday. And maybe, just maybe he will finally be able to catch a bird! Raider loved to watch birds fly! ***

Here are some pictures of Raider before he left. I'll post the other pictures over the next few days. I took a ton! Keep Jon in your prayers. He was so upset. He loved Raider more than anyone and he is the one who took Raider to the vet. They were so great and we feel so blessed to have had people who loved Raider take care of him and take care of us!!!



Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Why Is He Still Awake?

From now until the new year, here's a glimpse of Braden's Tuesdays:

8:00-3:10 school
3:30-5:00 basketball open gym at the Y
Then it's home for dinner, homework, and a few minutes of downtime
6:30-7:30 soccer practice
8:00-8:30 clog
Then it's home to shower and get in bed

WOW! I'm exhausted just driving him everywhere! So why is he not asleep?

Monday, November 26, 2007

Keep Your Eyes Open

.....for my second husband. I'm pretty sure my current hubby is trying to kill himself. Why else would he fix this? Hash browns, sausage, eggs. Yes, they are on a plate, though it's hidden pretty well by the heart attack waiting to happen.


I'll miss him terribly!

Sunday, November 25, 2007

My Great Singers

Here are the boys singing along to various songs from "High School Musical 2." Braden got out the words and popped in the CD. Of course Daddy would have to join in for a few songs.


Singing sure can wear a person out!

Also...

I turned 27 since I last posted on Nov 7. In my old age, I guess I've been more forgetful when it comes to posting.
***And I didn't get very many birthday calls/cards which was a bit depressing for me. :(

It's Been Ages.....

....since I've posted anything. Sorry! Lots has been going on and my camera is always downstairs when I think about uploading pictures.
I have finally uploaded about 30, but the computer isn't cooperating. It would only let me post 3. So I'll have to make a point of getting on again and uploading more later.

What's been going on? We made it through football season. Braden has begun indoor soccer. My finger is healing, but it also appears that the nail is in fact beginning to fall off (slowly). I'm handling this better than I had anticipated. Our Sunday School class has started "Building Your Mates Self-Esteem." It's a really great study that I would recommend to other couples. We laughed quite a bit last night while doing our homework. We had to say good-bye to Raider just over a week ago --- pictures and details will be posted. We had a nice Thanksgiving with my grandparents. Jon did a great job with the meal. And I think I did a pretty good job with appetizers and desserts. Oh, I survived 2 preschool Thanksgiving feasts! Also, Jon and I got up and went shopping on Black Saturday. I love my husband! He was a great shopping companion! We purchased everything we set out for, plus several extras. Our shopping is close to complete! I also put up our tree (alone) and finished decorating. We still have garland to put up outside and maybe lights, but I doubt Jon will and I know I won't so....

Now for the pictures. Since it's finally gotten cold, here are some shots of how Dallas has been passing her time.


Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Prayer Request

Today at preschool, my director asked me to place a book (Who Is God?) in one of my student's backpacks.
This child comes from an unchurched family. They were simply referred to our school by someone they met during library reading time. At the beginning of the school year, the mother asked me "how religious" the school was.
We pray everyday and have chapel once a week. Apparently the child has been asking who God is at home. The mother e-mailed my director asking what she should tell her child.
I hope this means that they are open to hearing the Word.

Please pray for this family. Pray that perhaps through their child's curiosity, they might become believers. And pray that if asked, I might have the words/answers needed to guide them toward the Truth.

Thank you! And praise!

Thursday, November 1, 2007

The dangers of preschool

Wednesday I put my first preschooler into her grandparents car, shut the door, and guess what was still inside........... my finger! Holy cow! I don't know of many things more painful than shutting your finger in a car door.
And tonight my grandfather informed me that I need to drill a small hole through the nail to let the blood out! That makes me almost as sick to my stomach as I was after the "incident."
I was trying to talk to a parent right after it happened and couldn't even focus because of the pain! But I'm surviving. I made it through preschool this morning, loaded kids safely into cars afterwards, and am even posting blogs to catch everyone (AMANDA) up on things.
Please keep my finger in your prayers. It HURTS!

Trick-or-Treat

We went trick-or-treating here on Saturday. Braden wore Daddy's select baseball uniform from when Daddy was about 12 yrs. old. It was a little long, but otherwise fit great! I never did get to take posed pictures of him. He was at Jared's before trick-or-treating and then they wouldn't hold still when he came home to get dressed.

Here they are in action: (If you remember last year, they both went as football players)


Oh no! Cops!


Braden gives up pretty easily!

Preschool Pumpkin Party

Last Thursday and Friday, my preschool classes had their pumpkin parties. We had a great time doing leaf rubbings, digging out the guts of a big pumpkin, scooping kernels and acorns, playing bean bag toss, and painting pumpkins. Each child got to pick a pie pumpkin from our "patch." They then got to paint it, with help from some moms who came in to help out, and bring their masterpieces home at the end of the day. They had 6 different colors to choose from. I thought they were very creative and I was quite impressed by each child's uniqueness.

Here are a few of the pumpkins:




And you know things are getting out of hand when your bean bag toss bucket becomes a hat!