Both puppies are doing well and seem to enjoy each other's company. The funny thing is that Max, the cocker spaniel who is about a quarter of the size of Leo, the labradoodle puppy, is seemingly taking the dominant lead. I was worried about him being bullied but if the last 12+ hours are any indication, no worries there.

The best part is seeing Rachel and Liz enjoy them. It is so cute and I am determined to get some pictures this weekend.

The kids all had their last week of school this past week. Lindsey is concerned about one of her classes but I think she did fine and now we have around three weeks of no necessary long trips in the car. Rachel had her award ceremony at Daisies (girl scouts) yesterday and received numerous prizes and badges. Her favorite was an inflatable chair for selling so much candy!

Monday night John and Josh have their scout Christmas party and I have baking and sewing (badges) to do to get ready for that. How I love this time of year!

Thanks for visiting!

Christmas bliss is a puppy...or two.

Santa is just crazy. He brought us a cocker spaniel puppy and tomorrow he is bringing a labradoodle! He couldn't carry them around on the sleigh and they were ready for homes.

We are typically "rescue" dog people and have done it many times. We've had mutts, labs, cocker spaniels, etc. and unfortunately we've had bad experiences with them being sick (worms a few times) so we have decided to go a different route this time. We wanted dogs who would grow up with the kids and be around for a very long time hopefully.

Santa has other gifts designated for the kids, too, but both Liz and Rachel were longing for a pet other than Bubbles the fish who, while wet and energetic, is difficult to cuddle without definite demise.

Other than our two days of supplemental classes for the older kids, someone is almost always home. I will probably take them with us when we go to school most days as there are plenty of parks and places along the way to hang out and Rachel loves being outdoors anyway.

We are excited!!!! Aren't we silly?

Not Me!

This week I did NOT allow Rachel to watch Christmas movies BEFORE doing her school work (we homeschool). Just because I LOVE the excitement she shows around this time of year and fear that this will be the last year she believes in Santa does NOT mean I would reverse work and play, right? Humph.

I did NOT go back into the same department store and buy multiple items of the same kind (but different colors) because of a huge sale. The department store people did NOT become giddy because I was spending money in their store over and over. I would NOT buy male relatives the same gift for Christmas partly because of a huge deal, would I NOT? :)

I did NOT spend an hour reading various blogs when I could have been resting with this awful cold.

I did NOT cry in the doctor's office again when she put her hand on me and told me she was praying for me. Surely I can keep it together better than that!

I did NOT stand around, kids in tow, and observe a guy dressed in drag and then proceed to stay there to observe the reactions of OTHER people when they realized he was a guy dressed in drag!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I love visitors! If you have a second, sign my guest book and post a link to your blog so I can visit!

jennifer

Today I was thinking of a friend who died. She was a very good friend. We lived near each other and hung out and had kiddos similar ages. She had a GREAT laugh and disposition. When things became stressful or insane, she would just laugh....and laugh...Sometimes I thought she was bordering on hysteria but that just made us both laugh more.

She died. I won't go into how...actually they don't really know the cause. It was some sort of flu like episode. This has been a few years and her husband remarried. Her husband was our friend first and I am SO VERY happy for him. His new wife seems very sweet. But when I look at his picture I think of her. When I look at her kids' pictures I think of her.

I know people need to move on, I know they deserve happiness and love but I cannot believe that someone can be here one minute and gone the next. Just like my uncle, my cousin's brother, my grandmothers, my nephew and my friend.

I want to know where they are. Where are they really?

Gratitude List:

birthday cake with chocolate butter cream frosting
kids here for a birthday party...all but one who is studying for finals
a warm house
lots of food
clothing
tons of love

How embarrassing that would have been- if I cared.

If I cared I would have been embarrassed. I almost fell. Everyone in our section of the restaurant looked up. I have lost count of how many times this has happened now. Most of the time what transpires is that my body, with the exclusion of my left leg, continues moving in the direction that my mind is going. It's hard to describe but happens mostly when I stand up or turn. I have absolutely no warning and next thing I know I am struggling to stay vertical.

I'm not even sure why I do not care but what people think of me being a klutz is just not anywhere in the top 1000 on my priority list.

It's been a bad health day but a good day otherwise :)

Gratitude list:

1. My family..this is a list in and of itself :)
2. My five senses.
3. My doctors
4. Air
5. Sunshine
6. Music-my preference right now-Christmas
7. Christmas decorations everywhere
8. Each day
9. Holidays
10. no pain at the moment

I picked up my records today to take to the Neuro-muscular specialist in 19 days (if I were counting). Here is what he typed "Patient has hyperreflexia (with a bilateral positive Hoffman's and a jaw jerk) and a family history of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Remaining considerations include primary lateral sclerosis, demyelinating disease or other structural or inflammatory disease of the brainstem."

They feel they have ruled out the brainstem stuff with the last MRI. I still think this is just transient and one day I will wake up and feel normal again.

What is up with this?

Today I took three of my kids to the mall which is a very brave thing for me...or crazy? I go to the mall about three times a year at this point, if that. I enjoyed their enjoyment and it was definitely worth it but why are people getting right in our faces now and trying to sell us stuff from their booths??? Why are the malls allowing this? This is so annoying. I had to tell the same people at least three times NO. Why can't any of them speak English clearly either?

More not me revelations

I did NOT sweet talk two sales people into two huge savings this week.....nine dollars off of a triple chocolate cream cake and half off of a purse...not me!

I did NOT spend some of the Christmas money that my mommy and daddy gave me on a huge new black purse and three bags in various animal prints and a new wallet and a new cell phone holder! I did NOT squeal with excitement as I organized my new purse and bags and show everyone who would even glance my way. NOT ME! How immature!

I did NOT let my kids eat pecan and pumpkin pie for breakfast the day of and the day after Thanksgiving! Aren't pecans and pumpkins healthy?

I did NOT threaten to tape my twitching eye shut, cut off my eyelashes or hold it open with a toothpick.

I am NOT counting down the days until Christmas :)