more puppies

Oh, these? these are the flowers I USED to have before the dogs dug them up. And ate them. 

Harvey is facing the Camera, I think. Jack is turned away. 

Happy Thanksgiving

So, Happy Thanksgiving.
Life just seems to be getting busier. My job is fantastic. Busy, and challenging, but not aggravating. And the people I work with are fabulous. Of course, we are now down one person, and so that means more hours and responsibility for me. Today I got to learn how to work with medicaid - determine eligibility and also submit claims. Kinda fun, and luckily pretty idiot proof.
What else? Lots of church stuff, which I enjoy. I don't know if it will ever amount to a 'paid' job, and I am not sure if I want it to. But I like working with the kids.
This Sunday I am: doing the Children's moment at 845 and 1100. Teaching sunday school at 1000. lighting the advent candle at 1100. And probably riding the float in the parade that night.
Yes, I am goofy. Totally and completely.
Plus the 5th I"m helping with crafts. And the Cmas eve family service? Youngest child is Joseph, older child is reading - and i'm helping shepherd children.
Still, we have our struggles. Oldest hasn't found his 'niche' yet. No close friends yet and that's hard for him. Middle one has kids on the street, and so does youngest. Oldest? nope.
Sigh. Hopefully he'll find some direction soon.
The puppies continue to grow and change, and are lots of fun but are quite a bit of work. Like all young mammals!

For your time wasting pleasure....

http://snowdays.popularfront.com/


Go, make a snowflake. It's strangely relaxing and addicting.

Today i took the dogs to the vet - they're fine, except Harvey has a scrape on one paw. Of course.
Then I went and got my hair cut - it's my splurge. I go to an Aveda salon, because I love the pampering. Plus the stylist I go to is friendly and cuts my hair really well. Plus she did my eyebrows today. MUCH better!

Then some shopping for the pets - long leads to work on recall so they can have a bit more freedom.
And bought my nephew's bday gift, plus a few books for Christmas.

Yesterday I had to go to the docs - UTI- and they gave me antibiotics. It wasn't too bad, but I get a huge dose of fatigue with these, and it has hit me today, so I'm taking it a bit easy.

What happened in pre antibiotic days, I wonder? Because without meds, I would be curled up on the floor, or throwing myself off of a roof just to stop the pain.

Gearing up

It's going to be one of those busy weeks, and I hope that things go fairly smoothly.
I do have a source of wonderment though. When did it become standard practice to have kids wear their PJ's to school???? I really hate PJ day. Think it is stupid.
I have a meeting here tomorrow night, and then I have a district meeting Thursday, both for church. I'm happy about both meetings, but it does make for a busy week.
And cub scouts? Haivng a pack meeting, Thursday night. But having a Thanksgiving type pot luck. Why??? Why go through all that trouble one week before? Feeling very scrooge like about the whole thing.
Time just seems to be flying.
And I wish I was going to VA for Thanksgiving. My Aunt and Uncle are coming, but we decided a long time ago, on the advice of my sisters, that it wasn't going to work to come on Thanksgiving . Now I'm regretting that but can't rearrange things now. We'll have to go after Christmas, and before Sugar Bowl. Or something.
Have a great week!

Happy Love Thursday

So, one of the blogs I read faithfully, http://wouldashoulda.com/, by the fabulous Mir, does a Love Thursday post every week. In it, she finds something to reflect the love that surrounds us in this life.
Since I've been doing a fair bit of 'poor,poor pitiful me" thinking lately, I decided I needed to steal, er, borrow that idea.

It is Veterans Day. And while I am thankful for all those who served, who died serving, who lived to come home, and those who are still out there, I have a group of people who I think about when I read the In Flanders Field poem that I do every Veterans day.
It is the ladies of Arlington National Cemetery. They make sure that every veteran buried there has someone at their funeral, to stand and honor their service. Here's a link: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/anc-lady.htm
And they don't do it out of guilt, or money, or for publicity. They do it out of love, a love for those they have never met, and for the love of their country.
My father is buried at Arlington. The support and dignity that accompanied his funeral was amazing to me, even in the midst of our grief. Go to Arlington if you get a chance. It is overwhelming, and sad, but there is a sense, to me, of love, of tenderness, of care, for those who gave their life simply because they were doing what they believed was their duty. Some willingly went to war, some were sent. Some died on that field, some died inside on that field, and some came home to live a life full and happy and died years later. But war changes everyone who touches it, and who is touched by it. The only cure for war, and the only cure for heartache caused by war? Love.
So love those around you, love them with every ounce of your being, so that the love may spread, and through love, we may beat our swords into plowshares.
Happy Love Thursday.

Answering machines

Because we are apparently in the dark ages, we still have a "land line". The description of which makes me  shake my head - sounds like the other option is what? An air line? water line?
One thing I am learning to use, though, is my answering machine to screen calls. Now for 3.5 years we did not have caller ID available on our home phone. Now we have it again, and even though I am on the do not call list, we still seem to get our fair share of nonsense calls. Especially during the day, if it doesn't say G county schools or the name of my church, I'm pretty sure its a nonsense call.
My cell phone, however, must be one or two digits off of someone else's number. Because I CONTINUALLY get wrong number calls. And texts. Once, someone asked if they should get dreds. I thought, hmm..I don't think this is who you think it is.
Nothing against dreds, but they don't really work on anyone who would be texting me - my DH, my best friends, my sisters...none of them either have the correct texture or length for such things.

On the stomach front, Oldest is the only one so far to actually become physically ill. I had a mild version of it, as did middle kid. But good gravy, I am so drained. Apparently that is one of the hallmarks of this particular virus. It's not even no energy. It's like an energy vacuum.

Took both puppies for a walk today. It's fun till they get tired and start to be uncooperative :) like all small tired mammals, so we turned around and came home then.

Now I am off to the store so I can sneak in a nap before the kids get home. And I'm really wishing my washing machine and dryer both took the same amount of time. Laundry would be so much more efficient.

Guess what season it is!

It is......stomach flu season, apparently.
Oldest had band competition this weekend - 5A state finals. Band finished the highest they ever have before, so awesomeness abounds.
However, he announced this morning that he didn't feel well. And he didn't look well, obviously. And then he told us that 5 kids had puked at the band competition.
So...he made it to school but then DH brought him back as he felt like he was about to puke. So when I got back from bringing middle kid to school, there he was. So far he's puked twice.
But boy, do I have clean bathrooms now.

So now we are watching The Princess Bride.

And I'm wondering how long till the other shoe drops...

Puppies

Fall

I'm actually enjoying the Fall weather - I love cool days and cold nights, but I could do without the rain. But we need it, so I should just hush up.
One of the funniest things lately is to watch the puppies play in the leaf piles. Endless entertainment.
They are looking more and more 'boxer' ish...
I think I'm ready to write the official letter to my grad school telling them that I will not be continuing the masters program. I hate not finishing things, but it just isn't where I need to be any longer. I think. Arrggh.
No, really. I don't think I want to teach in the public school system again - I like my part time job, and it allows me time to take the kids to appointments, wrangle puppies, and also take time off when needed, to go see my mom, etc.
And if we both worked full time? We would so have a house cleaner.
Now, if my sinuses would please loosen up so I could move without feeling dizzy!

November? Really?

Well, the trick or treat night went well, with tons of kids, and we had a few stragglers last night. I was very generous to the younger kids last night, but if you are older, and can't bother to dress up, you get one piece of candy.
Amazed at the number of people who drove their kids house to house. Now, I live in a subdivision where the houses are not far apart  - we share driveways, and walking from door to door is not hard. AT ALL.
I make the older kids do a trick - if they are stumped I tell them to jump on one foot, say their ABC's etc. One girl said hers backward. She got extra :)
One teen boy was trick or treating for his little sister who was too scared to actually come up the steps, or approach anyone. So he got a package of chocolate for himself, and lollipops for her.
Parents? Don't care if you are dressed up. If they are YOUR children, YOU don't get to trick or treat. Steal their candy like everyone else.
Mostly everyone was well behaved and polite. Mostly. Just wasn't that into it this year. I think I was missing my buds from when we lived overseas and would sit in the driveway with a glass of wine handing out candy!
Today is house cleaning day, as life is about to kick back into gear. I do, however, have my Christmas cards purchased...now to get them out before Christmas :)