The Romantic Dogs

There is a chocolate lab that live next door (the one I have complained about). Well recently she hit puberty and our dog (Big Dog) has taken a liking to her. Our dog has been great. He usually stays in our yard or plays out in the pasture and usually stays clear of the busy road in front of our house where the cars go 70 mph or more, unlike the other dogs in the area. It is surprising there hasn't been a dead dog yet. Anyway, Hersey (neighbor's dog), would always escape their fence and go running off with Big Dog. At first he couldn't stand her, then about a month ago is when I noticed them running off together and sometimes with other neighborhood dogs, but I noticed his attention change toward her. He became very affectionate and rubbing on her and hanging around her all the time. Her owners were constantly making fence repairs but it did not matter. In the past two weeks things have become very obvious between them and they are now out in the front yard "being married" as Jonathan commented. We figure as long as this has been going on and neither are spayed or neutered, she is probably pregnant. They couldn't spay her until she was 6 months old and she is now about 8 months and they just haven't had the chance to get it done. We were trying to put as little money into this dog as possible since he is a stray that ended up coming our way. The other day our neighbors fixed their fence real well and put chicken wire on the bottom of the fence so she can not dig her way out. Then yesterday as we went to the bus we found our dog in their yard doing stuff that grossed the kids out. It took me a while to figure out how he was getting in while I am trying to be sneaky and follow him in my muddy sweats. I ended up going to the store and getting a collar for him and tying him to our porch for right now. Last night we were talking to our neighbor and she was saying that Hersey has been so sad and mopey because he has been tied up. Big Dog keeps barking and howling and choking himself to try and get off of that porch. He got to see her last night and they were just staring at each other. It was so sad, yet so sweet. We are going to try to have him neutered, the problem is that he might be too old. I don't care if he runs the countryside, but he can't be breaking in to other people fenced back yards.

First Day of School

The first day of school was almost 3 weeks ago, but you know me, always playing catch up. Jonathan is in kindergarten and loves it. Jessica is in 2nd grade and it seems easier than first grade for her. Which has me worried because she gets stuff real quick and says that its a baby class. Emily on the other hand is having a very difficult time. She has made some friends and seems to be doing alright socially but academicly struggling. She has a hard time focusing and paying attention. She has no desire to learn or to do better. She just wants to read her horse books. Jon made a deal with her. She named 5 pets that she wants : cat, turtle, rabbit, snake, and of course, a horse. The deal is that she has to meet certain requirements (finishing homework quickly, keeping room clean, taking care of the animals she already has, reading her scriptures, and doing a chore everyday, oh, and having a good attitude) for 3 months and then she will get her first pet (cat, which is a big step for Jon). But even then she has the hardest time getting her homework alone done before my bedtime. Last night she went to bed after Jon and me. 5th grade is just going to get harder. Yesterday we talked about her trying to get as much work done at school instead of playing or reading at school and saving the work for home. Its nothing super hard, she just gets distracted. Half the time when she is asking for help, she just wants someone to give her the answers. We have to be very careful, because she will manipulate us in to almost giving her the answers. It is hard to teach a child how to learn, how to memorize, how to read the questions (what are they really asking), how to find the information. I should have gone to school to be a teacher so I could be a better help. It is exhausting!

Jessica turns 7

Our neighbors have taken in a bunch of stray cats and dogs to their home. Two of the cats have had kittens under a shed that borders our property. The kittens have started walking and have come into our yard through the little holes in the chain link fence. Our dog attacked one of the kittens right before Jessica's birthday party. Emily took it upon herself to take care of the kitten until the end of the party and then she sent it home with the neighbor girl (she came to our party). The kitten seemed to be okay except it was covered in fleas. It made my skin crawl everytime I looked at the poor helpless kitten with bugs crawling all over his face. I am surprised Emily didn't get eaten up. Our dog is the most mild mannered creature, we were all shocked. He treated it like a squeaky toy or something. Animals will be animals.

We brought out the BB gun for the kids to practice shooting some tin cans we had set up but they like shooting the barn better. Every shot earned them the ting of success. It was nice of Uncle Eric , the soldier, to help out.

It didn't take long for the big boys to take over and create their own games. Shoot til everyone hits the target then scoot back and try again.

This year we have had a lot of fun with ice cream pies. They are so easy to make and they taste so good. This one is made with whopper candies crushed up in it. They don't last long.

Summer swimmn

Leah is ready to take on the world

Leah is our strongest willed child. There is nothing mild about her. She looks just like Jessica but has Jonathan's energy. She knows what she wants and she will get it. There is no holding her back. She climbs on everything and anything. She can climb out of her highchair (when she is buckled), her crib ( in 2 seconds), and I just found out her carseat ( when buckled so tight and have to put my weight into it to get it to fasten. She can strip down to naked fastern than you can say "diaper". She says she wants to use the toilet but usually ends up peeing elsewhere. I think she is our loudest as well. She will not go unnoticed. She is such a big person in such a small body. It is hilarious watching her copy the other kids whether she is running around the house, playing polly pockets, or playing baywatch on the beach at the lake (forgot my camera for that one). We love her and all she is.

Work of Art

Jon built this shelf out of scrapwood and the kids painted it.

We got a BB gun for country critters

Jamie's 3rd Birthday

This picture actually goes with the silly kid post. Leah likes to hang these chains from her neck as necklaces. I don't know where she gets her style.

This is one of those stomp rockets that the kids love to play with, this one makes bubbles as it shoots into the air.

She got lots of bubbles for her birthday.

Yvonne got this for Jamie and her baby, matching dresses.

Silly Kids

If I only put a diaper on her, she will strip it off and I will find her like this a few minutes later.

Jonathan is just too fast for our camera. All the picts I get of him are blurry.

picts from our family reunion

Emily's update on the family

Yesterday we had Jamie's b-day party.I found two catipllers,a mummified cocoon,a old ladybug shell,old spider skin,and two snail shells.I also tried to catch a moth.I also caught a typ of spider I call a claw spider and a couple of days before that I caught a grass spider with a fat butt. I think it was pregnant,and that is the update.

Emily's update on the family

Friday morning my mom pulled out one of my canine teeth. And I didn't even flinch. And after school we went to the store to get a fish. It was a beta fish (how do these things reproduce). Any suggestions for a name? I want to name it Kilo but dad says it is a name for drugs. We got to watch Alvin chipmunks the sqeakquel twice on Friday. We went to Sulphur Springs this weekend and I found a catapillar and snail. The catapillar was fuzzy. My brother found a couple of crickets. When we went outside we got to play with big dog, its my grandparents dog but we consider him ours. They don't like him because he digs lots of big holes (fact: his paw is at least as big as my hand). We have had lots of rain this weekend. Today at church my teachers weren't there so I had to go to a different class. That is the update for this week.

Sorry its been so long!!

Holding a garner snake, they went searching for snakes as soon as it got warm. They found 3. Not my favorite activity of theirs, but they sure get along great.

I have wanted to get a pict of this face for so long. she make it when we tell her no, she tries not to cry for a few seconds then if she is so inclined will belt out with a scream if she feels the situation requires it.

Its a stick with a chain on it, that turns her into a warrior. I love how they use their imagination.

This is the Quick Queen of Qunicy. In school they got to dress up as Dr. Seuss's characters for the celebration of his birthday.

My little cuddle bug, one of many.

Not enough of me

I have run into the problem of not having enough of me. I am so blessed to have 5 wonderful and cuddly kids. The problem is that I don't have enough room on my lap, or enough arms. The other night I took the hour before bed and while we were watching TV they each took a turn to have 10 minutes with my arms wrapped around them. It was too short of a time for all of them but it took an hour. I hate that I have to clean my house because it takes away from my cuddle time. And by no means is my house clean, I have to do some regular maintenance, but it doesn't seem very effective. With no dishwasher, dishes are my enemy. Laundry is out of control. My things to do list is now a novel. There just is not enough of me.

snow day video

snow day

My Valentine's Day cake. It was yummy too.

For the last week and a half we have been taking turns getting sick. Congestion, fever, and tiredness. Then last thursday we had a snow storm come through. It set all kinds of records for this area. The kids got sent home early from school and it got cancelled for friday. Which meant no Valentine party. We had a lot of family time this weekend, it was nice.