This Christmas

This Christmas

Mend a quarrel
Seek out a forgotten friend
Write a love letter
Share some treasure
Give a soft answer
Encourage youth
Keep a promise
Find the time
Forgive an enemy
Listen
Apologize if you were wrong
Think first of someone else
Be kind and gentle
Laugh a little
Laugh a little more
Express your gratitude
Gladden the heart of a child
Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth
Speak your love
Speak it again
Speak it still once again

Winter Wonderland

Here is our winter wonderland! It rarely snows in the Pacific NW so this is a big deal. We might even have a white Christmas! I have lived here my entire life and can't ever remember a white Christmas. For once I'm enjoying it. Maybe it's because the kids are all ready out of school, or it could be that we have a big 4 wheel drive truck so I'm not stuck. Who knows? But it's not bugging me. I hope you're all staying warm and dry. Make some hot cocoa and sing a Christmas carol.

Oh Christmas Tree!

We put up our huge, fake, tree the day after Thanksgiving. I would have posted earlier but it has been crazy busy around here. Trying to get ready for the holiday, working, kids, snow, no school, etc... Isn't it pretty? This year it's all in pinks and purples. I bought the ornaments last year at Target 75% off - you gotta love that!

Wrapping

I'm all done! Shopping for Christmas presents and wrapping them that is. I hate wrapping gifts so this year I decided to start early-wrap them as soon as I bring them in. Much easier, I think this will be my plan from now on. Now I just have to mail the HUGE box to my sister-in-law and we will have order in our house. Well, maybe not the entire house, but at least the hallway. ;)

AC/DC

Last night was the show, and it was AMAZING!!!! I was really worried because I took Avery, who is 8, but there were a lot of little kids there. She rocked out completely, doing her air guitar and squiggling on the floor. She had the crowd watching her. Unfortunately I follow the rules and don't sneak in a camera so you'll just have to take my word for it. Skylar took some 1/2 way decent ones with her cell phone. When she uploads them I will post a few.
I have now completed my list of must see concerts, beginning with my first when I was 11. My mom took me to see the Bee Gee's for my birthday. Sometimes I try to remember all of the shows I've seen. Let's see, in no particular order:
1 The Bee Gee's
2 The New Wave Spectacular- INXS
3 The Stray Cats
4 The B-52's
5 Bobbie Brown
6 Julio Inglesias
7 Blondie
8 The Waterboys
9 Gladys Knight & The Pips (of course)
10 Kool & The Gang
11 Shannon -remember "Let the Music Play"?
12 Dizzy Gillespie
13George Thoroughgood
14 Stevie Ray Vaughn
15 Joe Cocker
16 James Taylor x3
14 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
15 Crosby, Stills, Nash x5 or maybe 6 they are my fav!
16 CPR David Crosby's band with his son
17 The Rolling Stones x3
18 Rod Stewart x2
19 Bob Seger x2
20 Van Halen-the worst concert ever David Lee Roth is like a fat elvis but the guitar was rockin'!
21 Paul McCartney
22 AC/DC
23 Justin Timberlake, don't laugh I had to take my daughter
24 same goes for this one-High School Musical, at least I weasled out of Hanna Montana and made grandma take them to that one ;)
25 Train
26 Motley Crue

I know there are more, a lot more, I just can't remember them.
I was just thinking, comedians count right?
I've seen
George Carlin
Lewis Black
Kathy Griffin -my fav
Dane Cook

What shows have you seen? Which was your favorite?

Happy Day After Thanksgiving!

I was self-tagged by Lori , so if you're reading this consider yourself tagged as well: (if it's green I've done it)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child - kind of
    
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice -does the hotel in Vegas count?
    
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David-the fake one in Atlantic City
    
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp, kind of-the Holocaust museum in WA,DC
    
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own.

Now consider yourself tagged and post on your blog!

Suck it!

Dear husband and I went to see Kathy Griffin last night at the Paramount. She was HILARIOUS! And it was a much needed night out, even if all we did was see the show and stop at Jack in the Box on the way home. It was out, it was fun and we were without kids.

Better late than never

These are photos taken in the same spot as the ones below, the very next day. The river went over it's banks but had receded by morning.

My girls went to school, thank God. I hate missing school because that takes a day away from summer vacation.
All is warm, well kind of, and dry here - for now!

It's raining, it's pouring...

I know it's kind of spotty but it's pouring outside. This is the Puyallup river, not too far from my house. At 3 pm I drove past this spot and noticed the river was really high and running really fast. At 4:30 we drove down to take a peek, it's over it's bank and doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon. Voluntary evacuations are being conducted but I suspect they will be mandatory before long. The rain isn't supposed to let up until tomorrow sometime-if they're right about the weather (which they usually aren't). I'm glad I live above all this on a big hill!

Tell me again why I love dogs?

I can put up with just about anything my two furbabies throw at me. They ate my good shoes the other day (my fault I left them out), they dig holes (my fault they're bored), the new one Roxy has accidents (I just don't know her queue's yet), they bark at everyone and everything (not sure if this is my fault or not but since everything else is why not)
But I cannot tolerate being whined awake at 6am on a Saturday morning! Seriously, it makes me want to do horrible things I can't type here for fear of being reported to some agency or something. I stayed up late last night too, well late for me, watching Comedy Central, only because I thought I could sleep in.
What the CRAP! As my daughter would say.
Anyone want a dog?

The Sensitive One

She is my sensitive daughter, she loves to write, is always thinking. Needs to work on her spelling but gets her point across.

No thank you!

Last night was an historic night and the end of an error. On January 20, 2009 George W. Bush will be gone and we will have elected a president from my generation. Oh, and the first black president. I had a bit more hope this morning when I woke up, I was a little happier. My young children watched all of the election returns and were excited to see Barack Obama become president number 44. They don't quite understand what this means but one day, maybe when they want to run for president, it will all come back to them.

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

"In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred." MLK

The birthday party

We survived the birthday party/Halloween party! She had a blast and the decorations were a hit. We trick or treated all over our neighborhood after the party, walked more than a mile. Then came back home for candy and a "scary" movie.
Here is a slideshow of the kids having a great time!

Happy Haunting!

We're having a birthday party at our house this Halloween, complete with decorations, costumes, spooky food and tired parents. Ms. Avery turns eight in a couple days and I thought it would be good to roll them together. Never again. She was so excited last night that she didn't go to sleep until after 10. Can you say "Crabby kid!"? I'm sure it will be fun. I just finished downloading every spooky song I could think of to my Ipod, I have to get more sticks for the carmel apples, make the mummy dogs and hang the rest of the balloons. After I get home from work. And I have to wrap the presents. Next year it's cake and ice cream (yeah right - I say that every year!)

For those interested here is the history of Halloween:

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.

During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.

Some things I learned today...

I found an article online at psychologytoday.com,
the article is called "Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature" They are all interesting, but the one I like said that beautiful people are more likely to have daughters. I have three :). It says, "Americans who are rated "very attractive" have a 56 percent chance of having a daughter for their first child, compared with 48 percent for everyone else."
And while doing chacha (I told you to check it out and make some easy money) I had to look up what is in a hotdog. I have been avoiding this for years as I love hotdogs. But I found out from www.fsis.usda.gov that they are "semisolid products made from one or more kinds of raw skeletal muscle from livestock (like beef or pork), and may contain poultry meat". Isn't that about the most disgusting thing you have ever heard?
And I learned that I cannot afford this car, the Bugatti Veyron as it costs $1,192,057.

What have you learned today? Send me an email or post it to me!

Saving money!

I like to think of myself as a super thrifty shopper. Yes, I buy too much but I always get a good price! So I've recently discovered shopping through MSN livesearch. Some stores give you as much as 30% back! That could be huge. It's even available for Ebay. Yep, cashback for Ebay purchases. I don't get a kickback for telling you about it, nothing special if you sign up. Just the warm fuzzy feeling that you saved $$$. There is a trick to shopping through ebay though. You have to search here live.com,
and type in WII, for example, then shop away. For most other stores you can just check the list of stores here live.com/cashback
Seriously, you have to check it out! The amounts change, like right now it's 25% back on ebay buy it now purchases, it was 30% a couple days ago. And I bought a bunch of stuff at Drugstore.com
a couple weeks ago and got 25% back. In these weird economic times it's important to save as much as possible!

Not ready

We started seeing Christmas items for sale about two months ago while school clothes shopping. Macy's was putting up their holiday lane and Costco had their giftwrap out. I sure wish there was something we could do to make them stop. It kind of takes the fun out of it!

How much would you pay?

I found this in the Sunday paper, thought it was very, very interesting. Another reason why I'm casting myvote for Obama. How about you?

How Much Would You Pay in Taxes?
Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain both say they’ll cut federal taxes if elected. Here’s what their proposals would mean for you.

Obama McCain
If you make...
you'd save... you'd save...
less than $19,000 $567 $21
$19,000-$37,600 $892 $118
$37,600-$66,400 $1118 $325
$66,400-$111,600 $1264 $994
$111,600-$161,000 $2135 $2584
$161,000-$227,000 $2796 $4437

If you're in the top 5% of earners...
you'd pay an extra... you'd save...
$227,000-$603,400 $121 $8159
$603,400-$2.87 million $93,709 $48,862
more than $2.87 million $542,882 $290,708

*Source: Tax Policy Center. Numbers have been rounded. For complete details, go to TaxPolicyCenter.org.


If your annual salary is less than $112,000, you’d pay less in taxes under Obama’s plan; if your salary is higher, McCain would cut your taxes more. “While the aggregate tax cut is bigger for McCain, a larger number of voters get more money under Obama,” says Alan Viard, a tax-policy expert at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. “Obama is choosing to emphasize tax cuts for the middle class, whereas McCain’s strategy is to keep rates lower at the top as a way to facilitate long-run growth.” For example, a person with an income of $1 million could see his taxes increase under Obama by as much as $94,000, whereas under McCain’s plan he could save about $48,000.

Finally!

She got her braces off yesterday! "My what beautiful teeth you have!" "All the better to snarl at you with, my dear!" After almost five years and you don't want to know how much money she is free of the metal. It was well worth it.
If you're looking for an awesome orthodontist in the Seattle area check out Dr. Rudey, Rudey Orthodontics.

One down, two to go!

That One

Did you watch the second presidential debate last night? Seriously, Obama MUST win or we're in trouble. I don't want to listen to McCain call me "friend" in his condescending tone for the next four years. And the way he danced around the issues - OMG, I can't take it. There is one more debate, next Wednesday, October 15th at 6pm Pacific time. You really should watch it.

According to most major news channels Obama won last night's debate. I personally love the Huffington post, she says it so well:
"In Debate II, John McCain twice laid out the criteria for how the American people should judge the candidates: In tough times, we need someone with a steady hand on the tiller. By that measure, Obama was the clear winner. He was centered where McCain was scattered. Forceful where McCain was forced. Presidential where McCain was petulant. In the first debate, McCain wouldn't look at Obama. In this one, he referred to him as "that one." The contempt was palpable, and unpalatable. At the end of the debate, Brokaw asked McCain to get out of the way of his Teleprompter. He might as well have been speaking on behalf of the future: Senator McCain can you please get out of the way so we can get on with it?"

Palin vs Biden...

From the Huffington Post:

Top 10 Reasons Why Palin Will Cancel the Debate on Thursday:


10. Suspicious Russian tourists spotted across the Bering strait in Dezhnevo

9. Wrasslin' a bear

8. Learns Tina Fey will be watching

7. When taken on tour of White House by McCain handlers, is "inadvertently" locked in Cheney's man-sized safe

6. Schedule for memorizing state capitals thrown off by need for new schedule to memorize states

5. Speechless after finally looking up what "MILF" stands for

4. On deadline to finish her book, Namin' Your Baby the Alaskan Way

3. Needs more time to really nail those hilarious hair-plug zingers

2. No matter how hard she scrubs, she can't get Kissinger's moral stank off of her

1. Stuck in traffic on the Bridge to Nowhere

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

I am fifteen again! Sat at the computer this morning hitting refresh for fifteen minutes to get tickets to the November AC/DC show. Lucky! As Napoleon would say. The Tacoma show sold out in less than five minutes. I got four tickets, on the floor! Let the countdown begin.

If you can't get to an AC/DC show you should check out Hells Belles, they are an amazing cover band and they are all girls! They do an awesome job.

If it's too loud, you're too old!

Stoked! 1 thesaurus results for: stoked
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus
Main Entry: thrilled
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: Feeling a very strong emotion.
Synonyms: atingle, excited, fired up, worked up

Yep, I am definitely STOKED! I am using a word from high school, can't believe it! Tickets go on sale Saturday morning to see AC/DC. I plan on buying four-of course Bob and I and two of the girlies. Ashton doesn't like loud music. Skylar loves it and Avery is the tiniest head-banger of them all! November 30th


You must go to AC/DC.com and listen to their new song if you haven't all ready heard it on the radio. If you haven't you should call your local station and ask them to play it. It goes on sale, Walmart only, October 17th.

Meet Roxy!

Meet Roxy, our newest addition! She is a mini-schnauzer and something curly mix. When we got her she had long beautiful white curls, that immediately became long black muddy curls the first time they went outside to play. As you can see she has had a haircut. She is still cute though! She came to us by way of the pets section on Craigslist. A real sweetie! At first Ace was very put out and didn't like her at all but he has since warmed up and they play together very nicely. She is about 12 pounds, smaller than Ace, but still the boss. She gets along very well with our girlies and other people. Her only issue thus far is barking, she barks at everything. She has been wearing the bark collar a bit, but it really upsets Ace (who doesn't like it). She will learn I'm sure-a very smart dog.
In my search for a playmate for Ace I looked on Craigslist.org, went to a doggie adoption fair, searched Petfinder.com, went to the local dog pound and the Humane Society. It is important to make sure that you are getting the right dog or pet. Not just the cutest one. Remember to spay and neuter. Also remember pets are a commitment, time and money. Small dogs live about 15 years. That means that Ace and Roxy will probably be with us longer than our children will be home.
Give your dog a treat for me!

What are you reading?

Anyone reading a good book? My stack of must reads just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I started a book called A Rip In Heaven a couple days ago, so far so good. I also bought A Veil Of Roses yesterday at Costco. And on it's way from Barnes and Noble is the new Michael Moore book Mike's Election Guide, The American Wife -supposed to be fiction but based on Laura Bush's life (I hope it's juicy!) and The Time Travellers Wife. I also have the new David Sedaris to read and an older one of his, never read his stuff before but am really looking forward to it. Kurt Vonegut is still waiting for me, I can't believe I have never read The Slaughterhouse Five!

So, what are you reading? Any suggestions for me?

All is quiet

It's the first day back to school for the girlies. They were all looking forward to going back and seeing their friends. I, on the other hand, could have used another month or two of summer vacation. I don't like the routine. It's much more fun to play all day and only have to worry about whether or not they put sunscreen on.
It has become a tradition that mom take their picture on the first day of school. This year was no different, except that they didn't want me to. I had to wake up early just to snap the pic of Skylar going off to her first day of 8th grade. (can you tell she wasn't too happy about it?)

Ashton said I could take her picture, but only one. Man, they are growing up way too fast, first day of 5th grade and last year of elementary school!

Then there is the baby, Ms. Avery-her first day of 2nd grade. She willingly let me take her picture, anything for mom. She seemed nervous, I hope she does ok. At least she looks cute!

Milestone morning!

She made her own breakfast! DD (dear daughter) who is 10 has always wanted to cook but I'm too lazy to show her. Or maybe I just don't want to clean up the mess. But this morning I just didn't feel like cooking. Ok not just this morning, it's any morning, I don't even pour the cereal anymore. And she doesn't like cereal and we're out of frozen waffles. So I gave direction, from the couch with coffee in hand, on how to make scrambled eggs. She is so proud of herself! And she should be. What a big girl!!!

Sequim, Washington

Just returned from a great, all though too short, trip to Sequim on the Olympic side of Washington. Absolutely gorgeous! We can't wait to go back. If I can find a dogsitter we are going back this weekend. **Dogs are not allowed in national parks!** We really wanted to take a trip to Hurricane Ridge and hike to some waterfalls but we brought Ace along and couldn't leave him in the car. We tried leaving him in his crate in the trailer on Friday (with the tv and air conditioning on) but he cried and bothered everyone in the campground the entire time we were gone. We did go to the Olympic Game Farm Park that is where all the pictures of the animals up close came from. The zebras stuck their heads inside the truck window and the yaks were pretty eager too. While my kids thought it was neat I found it appalling, the conditions those poor animals live in is horrible. I don't ever want to go back there again. I would definitely skip it if you are travelling to the Olympic Peninsula, there is a lot more to see.
We camped at the KOA in Sequim. It was ok, as KOA's go. Crowded and noisy but free showers, a swimming pool and stuff for the kids to do. I plan on staying at Salt Creek Park or the Elwa Dam capmground next time. No pool but a lot nicer and cheaper too! While at the KOA we met some really nice people, I hope to keep in contact with them. Bonnie, Jim and their two daugthers. Super! A big hello to them.
We had a really great time!!! Can't wait to do it again.

My dog Ace

I love my (our) dog Ace. He is a miniature Schnauzer and is just about 1 1/2 years old. I found him while reading Craigslist one afternoon last June. The person was giving him away free and he seemed like a cool dog that would fit into our family well. So we brought him home. Only to find out he has issues, big ones. He is the most jealous, heurotic dog you will ever meet. Don't try to hug me or even shake my hand if you come over, he goes nuts. He won't try to bite you but he will cry and jump all over. Also, he has separation anxiety. At first we had him on "doggie downers" to try to get him to mellow out when we left, but we didn't like to medicate him. And it seemed we could trust him a bit more. So after keeping him in his crate when we left we started leaving him free to roam the house. He DOES NOT like it at all when we leave, even for a minute. And now he has started showing us that's he's pissed about it. We went to the movies last night, was gone about 2.5 hours. He had food and water, we left lights and the radio on for him. And when we got home Bob found that he ate my library book.

I didn't think I was going to finish it anyway, but come on! Now I have to pay for it. I wonder if they will let me keep it? Only two corners and the dustjacket were chewed up, it's still readable. BTW, it was/is The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. Now Ace is outside thinking about what he has done. Yeah right, he is outside plotting what to eat next. He doesn't like being outside by himself. Did I mention that he is afraid of everything? Yep, just about everything. But we love him. He is cute, isn't he?

Why I don't like television (that much)

It seems that all I have seen of my husband is the back of his head since the Olympics started! Seriously, that's just about all he has done. There really isn't much else on tv during the day so he watches the Olympics. Yep, the wrestling, boxing, even the shooting. I've had enough! I don't mind gymnastics or swimming, even volleyball is ok. But this is getting ridiculous. I'm going to find the breaker for the outlet where it is plugged in!

Are you all watching the Olympics?

Normally I wouldn't be interested in the Olympics at all but this year I seem caught up in the fever. Even my kids, especially the two younger ones, are watching. Of course it makes for a late night since they don't come on until late, but it's only once every four years.
I particularly liked watching last night. It was quite an honor to watch Michael Phelps achieve a dream. We have been watching him swim every night and I had noticed that he didn't seem all that excited when he won the past couple of times. Maybe he was just tired? I know I would be completely exhausted, just the thought of taxing my body like that makes me tired. But last night when he won his 7th gold medal I was in awe. He was so happy. And when he saw the race on playback and noticed how close it was, the look on his face was priceless! I was looking at his bio yesterday and saw that he tries to respond to all of his own mail and will send an autograph if you send a sase. Better jump in quick if you want one. Michael Phelps website, mail to Michael Phelps PO Box 1734, Olney, MD 20830.
I also think, my opinion of course, that stripping athletes of their medals for being poor sports is a good idea. How about that wrestler from Sweden? “Any disruption by any athlete, in particular a medalist, is in itself an insult to the other athletes and to the Olympic Movement. It is also contrary to the spirit of fair play.” And they are not going to give his medal to someone else. Good for them! Be a good sport, you can't always win, didn't your mama teach you anything. Now go to your room and think about what you did.
The theme of the games this year is "The Best of Us", watch this (fictional) but really neat video of a happy athlete.

It runs in the family

Yesterday I was messing around here, reading random blogs and looking around, when my daughter came in. She seemed interested in blogging and wanted to know how to do it. I told her it was simple, and it is if I can do it. KWIM? Anyway, she started writing her own. Of course that just means more time sitting at the computer and less time playing outside or doing something good for her. But writing can be good right?
So check out her blog! Something Random

Just thought I would share

I know, I know, the last few posts were about my vacation in Chelan. But it was really, really wonderful so I thought I would share a few more pictures. While there I was a total bookworm and put away some of my summer reading from last year! Here's what I read, all recommended by me:

The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving

The Sweet Potato Queens First Big Ass Novel by Jill Conner Brown

Step On A Crack by James Patterson

Smoke, Murder and Mirrors by Ann Rule (the best true crime writer EVER

There were a couple others I will remember later. I did finish a great book this afternoon. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. This should be required reading in junior high. IMO
So here are the pictures, enjoy. And remember to spend some time with your family.

Party's Over

We have to go home tomorrow. WAAAAAA! Back to the grind and stuff. Even though the weather has been a bit unpredictable, lots of wind and not near as hot as they said, we have enjoyed every minute. At least most of us have. Not so sure about Skylar, but she is after all 13 and wants to be with her friends. Thank God she has her cell phone or I think she would have taken to entertaining herself with picking on her sisters non-stop. All she does is text. Also a thank you to T-Mobile for unlimited texting!
I really want to get in one more short camping trip before school starts but am not sure how to swing it. We have never been to Sequim or the Hoa Rainforest on the Olympic Peninsula and I would really like to go. They have a wild animal park up there with lions and tigers and bears OH MY! We'll see...
So that's it for Chelan. Gotta set my calendar in October so I can get reservations for next year. Same time, same place, I'll meet you here!

Just chillin'

So we're still here in Chelan, just starting week 2. I've been taking a little break since getting the backs of my legs sunburned. But I think I'm ready to get back in the sun and out in the water. The weather has been a bit strange though. Really windy and humid. I don't remember it ever being humid east of the mountains. This is a serious good time though. As you can tell from the picture relaxing is hard work.

Chelan

So we're finally here! Chelan is lovely as usual. The weather is stunning, has been at least 90 everyday and it's supposed to remain that way for the next two weeks. The kids are all behaving, all six of them. The sleeping arrangements are working out great. And I am getting to spend some quality time with my brother. This hasn't happened since he was 14 and we all went camping. Long story and my battery is dying on the old laptop. Besides it's getting really dark. I hope all of you have had a chance this summer to enjoy a sunset, spend time with your family, sit in the sun and just be. Oh, and have a snowcone, the green ones are best!

No Fighting!

I have three lovely daughters and I love them all the same amount but very differently. They fight ~ all the time. I should say the oldest and the middle daughter fight all the time. The two younger ones get along fabulously. They have the kind of relationship I always wanted with my sister, best friends.
But we had a glorious day on Monday! Joy of all joys, we went to have pictures taken and they didn't fight. Not even a little bit. They had their pictures taken and didn't fuss, the pics turned out great. Then we went to dinner and again no fighting! This happens so rarely I would consider it quite a miracle. Especially when we're having pictures taken. It's almost always a disaster with someone, usually me, crying or being really pissed off. Look for yourself. The pictures tell a thousand stories:

Told you! They look happy, don't they? (let's see if it lasts)