Easter

While we were picking up Bosco the kids attended the Hobson family's annual Easter party.  We then came home and dyed eggs. 

Libby started running a fever after we got home.  Here she is trying gamely to get into the spirit of things while really just wanting to go back to bed.

All the interestingly decorated eggs.

Easter Bunny visited while they were sleeping.

Studying their pictures.

Loving the chalk.

And I'm loving Sam's bedhead.  I may be a bit prejudiced but I have some heck-o-cute kids even with messy hair all around.

"Mama, Take My Picture!"

"Look, look!"  "Mom, take my picture."

Your guess is as good as mine as to what she is doing.

This guy was a little more camera shy.

Adding One More to the Family!

Just a dog people.  We are done adding any other kind of family members.  The day before Easter we went to the Humane Society to pick up our newest addition.  We've been waiting for him for the last two months.  He is one of the dogs trained by prison inmates through the IDAPI program and we applied for him when he started his training.  The kids thought it was perfect that he was ready for adoption the day before Easter.  They thought it was the best Easter present ever.

He is a 14 month old black lab and boxer mix.  He was originally named Butch but I can't stand that name.  The kids loved it though.  We eventually were all able to agree on the name Bosco.  He has some training but is still working on walk manners and not making a break for it every time we open the gate.  The kids love making him play dead and hold a treat on his nose.

They are in heaven having a young dog that will actually play with them.

He's a lot like my other children.  Too smart for his own good.  He taught himself to open the sliding glass door the second day we brought him home and then managed to get the back gate open.  Naughty beast.

Getting ready for Easter!

Everyone needs their own fairy wings.

Looking forward to a long and happy life.

11 Years

I almost forgot - Michael had to remind me.  It was our 11th wedding anniversary.  Thankfully my mom and sister were able to take the kids overnight even on short notice.  Friday night we dropped the kids off and went out on the town.  We went to dinner (with gift card), we wandered around the Capitol Building, went to a movie (well we tried, we couldn't find a good show time at the place we had a gift certificate to), did a little window shopping and then came home and watched Sherlock on Netflix and ate brownies.  We know how to live it up around here!  Wild times!  The brownies were fabulous though.  It was a new recipe as we are trying to eat very little animal products.  I found it here and I would eat it vegan or non-vegan.  They were beautiful and moist.  The cashews and chocolate chips didn't hurt either.

Saturday morning we lazed around in bed.  No little people came in and informed us they needed breakfast, or needed to go potty, or that mom just needed to get out of bed.  It was lovely and decadent.  Michael even made me a green smoothie and served it to me in bed.  Lovely.

Then we went for a hike/jog.  We headed to the Table Rock Trail and started jogging.  A quarter mile in my lungs decided they had enough and I had an asthma attack  We walked the rest of the way.  Not that I would have been able to jog it much further.  I am not cut out for jogging.

We may have walked but we made it to the top!  It was a fairly uneventful trip back down.  There was the minor incident where my left leg gained a mind of its own and decided to see if I could do the splits.  The answer is a big resounding no.  My right leg was caught rather off guard and I ended up with a skinned knee and a tweaked calf.  My wrist did not appreciate trying to catch all of my weight either.  I was able to pick my scuffed self up and continue on though.

After a shower, lunch at Quizno's, a couple errands and a visit with Michael's sister we picked up the very, very exhausted kids.  Dinner, bath and bed and our anniversary was over.  It was rather a good one.  I think I'm up for a lot more of these anniversary things - even if Michael has to remind me!

Catch-Up

I haven't posted in a long time; not because nothing has been happening but because too much has been happening.  Some good, some bad, and some just really crazy.

The last week of February I got roped into helping decorate (who asks me to decorate?  Who?!) for the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet which made me very grumpy and very busy for a few days but Tuesday night it was over and I took a deep breath.

Then Wednesday, the director of my homeschool co-op sent out a letter saying she was "done".   Her and another lady started this co-op 5 years ago and it has grown to 29 families.  During this time her family had grown from 5 kids to 10 kids (don't worry, there were a few adoptions in there) and she just couldn't do it anymore.  This group of ladies and children have rescued me, strengthened me, made me laugh, and made me feel normal since we joined 3 1/2 years ago.  I was devastated.  They kept me semi-sane while homeschooling.  I felt lost and abandoned.  Our co-op met the next day for our regular day and also to make some decisions about the group.

Before I headed to co-op I ran next door to say goodbye to my dear friend and jogging partner because she was moving later in the day.  She is one of those friends who could drop in when me and my house were at the worst and I would welcome her in.  She also inspired me to jog three days a week.  Those are hard friends to come by.

With all the stress, a migraine was looming so I kept myself well-medicated.  The sadness of my friend moving, the stress of my co-op falling apart, topped off with a healthy dose of caffeine from the migraine medicine caused me to be a shaky jittery mess.

At the end of our co-op classes we had a mom's meeting about how to keep our co-op going strong.  We formed a committee of eight people to take over the job that one person had been doing.  I blame what happened next on the caffeine.  We had every position filled except co-director.  It was asked if anyone would volunteer.  Dead quiet. Then my trembling, overly-caffeinated hand rose of its own accord.  I've sworn off Excedrin migraine for life now but the damage was done.  

Meanwhile life continued on:

The girls (and Sam) have been running around the house wearing swimsuits despite freezing temperatures.

 People still took occasional baths.

The kids and I made a heck-o-lot of bread for a Primary teacher training.  I also discovered the limits of my Bosch mixer:  Approximately seven loaves of whole wheat bread is all it likes to knead at a time.  Pansy.

 Ten loaves all wrapped up to give to the primary teachers.

 Grace has been drawing, and drawing, and drawing.  All are variations on the same theme.

 And still working on home improvements. 

Here's hoping I don't regret pulling this sidewalk out the moment it's gone!