We're back from Niagra Falls!

It was fun....and we're tired! :lol:

Here's some pics...at the end I have a small video clip of the boys at the falls (yes that's me asking the kids questions!) I'll have the WHOLE story of our trip later!

Our Family


The Guys in front of the Falls


That's totally AWEsome!


Bird Kingdom






(Josh got bit!)

All frames by Jessica Bolton

Here's the boys experiencing the "Thunder"!

{Golf}

I've been promising my mom that I would post this little video clip of Kyle. He is playing with the new golf clubs that my mom {nana} got for him during her visit.

Here you go MOM!!!

Click Me

Baby Nathan

Just wanted to post my layout for today! I didn't think I'd get this done in time since I went back to work this morning and have been running all day. But the house is quiet and I had some time to relax and scrap.



I loved the story "behind" this photo so I knew exactly what I wanted to do to scrap this photo.


Full Credits for the layout HERE....and leave me some love!!! :-)
Journaling:

Joshua held Nathan for the first time on July 16, 2007. Just after I snapped this photo, grammy came in and asked, “Joshua, did you pinch that baby?”
To which Joshua replied with great big eyes, “NO! He pinched ME!”



We went to my SIL's for my nephew's birthday party and this was the first opportunity that the boys were able to hold their new little cousin. He shares the same birthday as my husband Gene. The boys were tickled pink to hold the baby. I couldn't resist some photos....even though little Nathan was NOT a happy camper!



Photo Frames are from Shadowed Frames Collection by Sarah VanDyke available at PDW

Life's a Beach

We had fun at the beach....well, the kids did. LOL! Anything that involves dirt and seaweed and possible animal parts....leave me out. Yup! I'm a crystal clear pool kinda girl.

But the boys sure did have fun. The waves were coming in directly to shore. Which means that the sand was being gently moved that direction as well. So even though some of these photos "appear" that the boys are in the very far deep end....they both could still stand up and the water was only waist level on Joshua.

Here's some pics I took of them.....having a blast!




We just got our first assignment for the "Amazing DigiScrap Race II". We need to create a layout about a museum AND use the word Amazing somewhere on the layout. I have the perfect pics for the layout and hope to get that completed soon!

And I'll leave you with a layout that I just finished up for the CRD "CRAZY" Challenge.

The winner is.....

.......ROW!!!

Thanks so much to all who left comments on my blog and emailed me guesses. Row was the first to correctly guess AND give me the name of the person the Hair belonged to! Don't run away too fast now....'cause I like to RAK alot and if you check back, I'm sure you'll find some interesting goodies or contests. It's so much fun to do!

Here's the pic that I took the closeup of:


And here's the layout I made using the photos I took yesterday. I used the new Sea Dreams page kit by Ann-Marie at Designs In Digital....she was so kind to RAK me with!


Ok.....I'm off to take the boys to the beach....for some crazy reason they wanna go play in the water in the hot sun! After all, it is summer right????

Can you guess what this is???

I'll post the winner tomorrow morning (in time to shop the sales!) along with the full picture! So feel free to e-mail me with your guesses!

A cute little story.....

We were all sitting in the livingroom after dinner. Kyle was reading a Sports Illustrated magazine. I was lounging in the rocking chair. And Gene was laying on the couch....half pretending to sleep. Kyle looked over at me and said, "Mom, you should play this (finger pointing to a tennis ball in the magazine)" I said, "Why, should I play tennis?" He replied, "Well, 'cause Mom, softball......well.....(hand waves in a "No way" manner)

Gene opened his eyes and shot me a look......holding back a full blown laugh!!!!! The things he comes up with. One things for sure I can always count on him to be totally honest with me! LOL!
Ad Preview Credits:
Ultimate Background Coll. #1 by Nancy Comelab
DB Anna & DB Danielle by Darcy Baldwin

Stay tuned for the GC winner....

One Kit....many different looks!

I have been on a scrapping frenzy this past week! I don't know what's gotten into me....but I have been all over the challenges the CRD (Christina Renee Designs) girls have been putting out this past week.

So, I know there has been a bunch of drama and I've been one of the quiet ones. I missed the first two challenge deadlines because I didn't have a chance to get the d/l's in time to complete the challenges, but that didn't stop me from submitting anyway for the AWESOME grand prize their giving away.....three months of FREE CRD goodies!

I was just glancing at my gallery and I'm quite amazed at the variety of layouts I've done. I've used the same kit as a basis for all these layouts and they all look so different. I used the French Countryside collab duo by Christina Renee and Shabby Princess for all FIVE layouts so far and I have to say that this kit is SO totally versatile!

Here's my layouts for each challenge so far!

Challenge One
Scraplift a CRD CT Member's Layout

Play Ball <~~~~Click for Full Credits

and here's the layout I lifted, Mr. Happy Pants by Hollie



Challenge Two
Scrap Outside the Box....no squares allowed! I had so much fun with this one and it inspired me to start this as a CD gift album!

Mama's Boy <~~~~Click for Full Credits


Challenge Three
Only One (we were only allowed to use one of each item on the page)
I have to confess....I'm a template user and I just couldn't find a template to use that would allow me to use just ONE paper....SO....I found a totally new way of scrapping. I chose a frame (or in this case a set of frames) and started from there. It was so much fun!

July <~~~~Click for Full Credits


Challenge Four
Then we got dirty and GRUNGY!!!! LOVED this!!!
Layers and layers and layers....OH MY!

Faces of Summer <~~~~Click for Full Credits


Challenge Five
A template Challenge.....well of course I jumped all over this challenge! And that yummy gold glitter was included in the template!

Silly Smiley Brothers <~~~~Click for Full Credits


Don't they all look so different and unique??? All but one of those layouts above use papers from the same kit. So only two more challenges to go.....I'm all for 'em!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a cute kidlet story....it's sure to make y'all laugh!!!! And there may just be a little GC giveaway here with a secret pic contest!!! Hint! Hint!

**wink**

I'm B-A-C-K!!!!!

I'm so excited that I can finally check my email at home and maybe even get a little bit of scrapping done today!

Can you believe I actually survived a whole two months without a computer at home? I can't! But it's all good 'cause we're halfway through Kyle's baseball season, so it gave me a few great photo opportunities. Although I did have to monitor my camera use, because I had nowhere to d/l my pics to....eek! I just d/l 255 pics to the new computer.

Ohhhh, the new computer!!! It's heaven! After figuring out the quirks of Windows Vista, I think I'm beginning to actually like it! I have a Dell Dimension with 2 GB of RAM (WOW!!!) That's more than I've ever had and my d/l's fly at the speed of light it seems! It also has a 250 GB Harddrive which is VERY nice for all the CT kits I'm sure to be collecting real soon!

I have the day to myself today....both the boys have church/friend activities outside the house and Gene will be at work 1st shift....so I'm gonna be taking a bit of time to myself to get caught up, install my AC and PB actions and hopefully get a few scrap pages in.

And mom....as soon as I get those actions installed, I'm gonna get some of those pics u/l here for your viewing pleasure!!!

It's a GOOD DAY!!!

The concert was AWESOME!!!

Well, the turnout wasn't what we had hoped. I think I heard someone say that the "unofficial" count was around 150 in attendance.

After helping in the kitchen to serve the bands dinner. I was asked to help run a merchandise table for one of the bands. I hesitated 'cause that's just too much pressure, but they told me that someone would be there to help also. I ended up running the Nevertheless merchandise table. The lead singer Josh (the guy with the red hair) gave us a quick rundown on how to operate the portable credit card processor and what the price was for the various items. I can't tell you how many times they all thanked me for helping out. Very polite, nice young men. I had them sign the back of one of their t-shirts (I'm wearing in the photo below) for the boys. I have a little picture...but I'm almost hesitant to even post it. After posing with all those skinny little guys I feel F-A-T! Ohhhh, alright, I'll post it anyway. Besides, weight is just a number right??

AJ, Adam, Brad, Me, Josh, & Adam

Because I was 0ut in the vestibule area taking care of a few charge cards while they were playing, I didn't get a chance to hear them play their song, "The Real".

But from what I heard outside the doors....they ROCK!!!

Check them out here: Nevertheless

And then came Storyside B! These guys are awesome as well! I got a bunch of pics of them playing. I was able to sneak away to hear them play one of my favorite songs. It was so neat to just be there listening and singing along with them live. Two of the four band members were wearing "Nevertheless" t-shirts while they played. I thought that was pretty cool!

I was able to be there for the song "Everything and More" and snapped these pictures.

Check them out here: Story Side B

After the group pic with Nevertheless, I was afraid to get a group picture with StorySide B, although I did have the opportunity. But I did have them sign a poster for my boys. Ron McClelland (pictured above playing guitar) signed to my boys Kyle & Joshua. I love what he wrote. I told him that the boys were tired and had to go home. I so wish I had kept Kyle with me to get pictures of him with the bands. He really did like the signed posters that I got for him.

I have a pink hoodie from Storyside B and this black/pink angel t-shirt. They all signed the back of my hoodie under the hood and across my shoulder. So has anyone seen Meredith Fenwick's newsletter freebie and DST's template challenge for April??? I think I have some pretty good material here for some neat layouts.

Last night Kyle came in from taking the dog out before bedtime and told me he heard something in the boat. Unbeknownst to me, he had investigated and left the outer boat flap open. A bit later he was shining his flashlight from the bay window and said he saw "yellow lights" out on the boat. I told him it was just the reflection from the stickers on the side of the boat and took the flashlight to assure him....I was surprised to see a great big racoon staring directly into the flashlight beam. Two glowing yellow eyes...sorry didn't get a pic of that! I told Kyle that's what he probably heard when he was outside earlier.

Well....today a co-worker of Gene's was over with her three kids. They were playing in and around the boat. Kyle went to open the front boat seat....and that very same racoon was staring back up at him! The older girl screamed and Kyle dropped the seat closed. I grabbed my camera and went to take a picture of our "discovery" today. Gene lifted the boat seat so I could snap a picture and then closed the seat again. We heard it screeching a bit, so we thought it was startled by us investigating it's new "little home". We told the kids to stay back in case it got scared and tried to defend itself. We didn't want the kids to get bit or scratched in the process.

Gene lifted the lid one more time and the racoon was GONE!!! In it's place were four little babies. He closed the lid after I snapped a picture and we both looked at each other in amazement. The screeching we heard was the babies 'cause their mom took one of them with her (wherever she went) in an attempt to try to relocate them.

I guess the guys won't be doing any fishing on the boat for a few weeks!

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Well, tonight's the big night! We are hoping for a good turnout and that the Lord will touch the heart's of every young person in attendance.

Please keep us in your prayers 6-11 PM EST tonight! Thanks!

Storyside B & Nevertheless

I got a really neat surprise at church last week. Two of the bands from Air1 will be coming to give a youth concert at OUR church! I was so excited when I seen this in the bulletin. The concert will be the first day of our Easter Break on a Monday evening....April 2nd.

Storyside B

Nevertheless

I listen to Air1 online at work and in the car to/from work. The kids even sing along to the songs. It's so excited that our small church will be hosting these two bands in just 2 weeks! We attended the planning meeting after services today. Gene volunteered to do outdoor security and I'm going to be working in the kitchen. The bands have their own "demand list" that we need to get together and then we'll be handing out bottled water and popcorn free of charge for the kids who attend the concert. I also volunteered to make the labels we'll be putting on the water bottles.

Labels:

I used Sarah VanDyke's Frames Vol. 5 for around the verse.

"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14 NIV

We've arranged for Joshua to do a sleepover with grammy that evening. This will be Kyle's first concert. We are planning on paying for a ticket for our sitter and asking her to come along to help keep an eye on Kyle. Our youth minister estimates 350-500 kids will be here for the concert. So that's alot of lives that can be reached for the Lord.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Nope no green beer here! Only some leprachaun pudding with gold dust sprinkled on top and the traditional corned beef and cabbage. When we went to put it in the crockpot this morning, there was NO seasoning packet inside the bag. Though it advertised there was one! Gene to the rescue again! Whatever he used to season it....turned out so delicious! I'm looking forward to some Rueban sandwiches for leftovers. The kids even ate the cabbage with totally shocked me!

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I was a little bit lazy today, but I did manage to get all the "junk drawers" in the kitchen sorted, cleaned and organized. I'm so proud of myself for that! You don't know how long we've stabbed ourselves with pushpins while rooting through the drawers looking for something. LOL!

Grammy-Gram's tulips have finally emerged! And then....the snow hit and BURIED them! I thought this layout was appropriate for today!

Hint 'O Spring

For full credits go HERE

I hope your weekend is a great one!

St. Pat's Day SNOW!!!

Yes...we got the traditional St. Patty's Day snowfall today. We now have about two inches on the ground now and it's still coming down. Quite a contrast...considering Tuesday it was 70 degrees and sunny....I think I need to move to a warmer climate. 'Cause just having the sun shining and being able to open up our sunroof was such a mood lifter!

I have a quick layout to share with you all. I shared pics of everyone with Duchess except for myself. I'll admit....that's 'cause I didn't have a good one I'd be willing to post on the web yet. LOL! But here we are....she's so tired of posing...so I just had to add that cute caption above her.

This was done using Merkee's "Colorful Silliness" Kit and it was so much fun working on this. It's so outside my box. I also used Merkee's Tape Fun, Frames & Alpha. Link to full credits HERE

Forget new furniture and carpeting....

She's here and she's SO adorable!!! Just don't let those eyes and cute face fool ya though....she packs ALOT of mischieve into one little furry body. She's ALL paws and legs....you should see her try to walk down the stairs....it's hilarious. She's a beauty though and we are so blessed to have her.

Within minutes of being home....she had found one loose edge on the berber carpeting in the livingroom and thought tug of war was in order. LOL! Let's see....she chewed the wing off of the cats toy, peed on the carpet 8 times and did #2 twice already in the house. She tried to play tug of war with Joshua's jeans that were left laying in the middle of the livingroom floor. She chewed a lego....which she dug out from UNDER the couch....and found the remote in the cushions of the couch(Gene loved that one! LOL!) She likes to jump up on you....and the kids like to fall to the ground and let her nibble on them! A habit we are trying to break ALL THREE of them on!!! LOL!

So, we took our first walk tonight and she sure does pull. I don't think she's been outside much, because everything seemed to catch her attention. She's definetly a "water dog" and a "garbage dog". She'll find a piece of rubbish in the oddest places and pick it up in her mouth, UGH!!!

She has a nose for a mile long....very good sign for hunting! So without further ado....I present to you........Duchess.

She seems to enjoy when Gene lays on the couch...she cuddles right up to him.

That's her favorite toy...a pink stuffed bow with a small squeaker inside.

The boys just love to play with her!

Here she is waiting outside the bathroom. She wanted to get into the tub with Joshua. He got out of the tub and shooed her out, then closed the door so she couldn't get back in to the bathroom. I snapped this picture just after I re-opened the door. She was so cute, just sitting right outside the door patiently waiting for him to be done.

I'll get some better pics tomorrow....hopefully outside with better lighting. Night!

PHEW!!!! Taxes are D-O-N-E!!!

As much as I didn't want my purty little pup pic pushed down...I just had to share the excitement and relief of my accomplishment today!!!

I'm DONE with our taxes! All we need to do is hit the SEND button. I'm waiting for Gene to come home and review them, plus we'll be using his card to pay for them...no way am I paying an extra $30 from our return just to have them deduct their fees from the auto return. I used Turbo Tax online for the past two years to do our taxes.

Since I had the candy wrapper business, I thought it was the best way to go and it sure did us good last year. Found all kinds of deductions that I wouldn't have known to take. I freaked out a few Sundays back....I think late Jan/early Feb. I thought I'd surprise Gene and quick finish/file the taxes before I went to church that morning. Gene came home from work and I was still in my PJ'S!!! Mind you....it was around 5 PM!!! I was in tears.

I had to tell him that we owed $2,000 + for our state taxes. For the life of me....I couldn't figure out why and I wasn't going to file until I could get it right. He laughed at me(Gee....thanks, all that stress and tears and you laugh at me????) He told me, "Honey, it's gotta just be a mistake somewhere, you'll figure it out." Yeah, ok....nevermind I spent the whole day lookin' for the "mistake" and even missed church because of it. LOL!

Well....he hinted today that the taxes really needed done. He's counting on the federal refund to get some things done. Yeah, ok, um-hummmm, I know! So, I came home from work and sat down with my nose to the grind stone.

HURRAY!!!! I finally found the mistake.....I didn't enter our State Tax withholding!!! Yeah, I know....silly me. The reason I didn't notice that before is because I didn't even make it to the end of the State Tax review....where it shows your "bottom line". LOL! I was watching that nifty little box they have in the top left corner that calculates your refund/tax amt owed as you work through your return. I guess I must have panicked....'cause that little box was in the red the whole time and wouldn't go below $2,000 that we would owe!

Now....when I look back at it...yeah I can laugh! Now please don't hold these blonde roots against me....ok???

Our NEW Weim Baby!!!

Ok...she isn't here yet....but I have these pics from her current owners and so excited, that I didn't want to wait to show her off. So here she is! They've been calling her Duchess and I kinda like that name...so we're gonna keep it!






Ain't she purty??? Gene will go take a ride to pick her up after Kyle gets on the bus for school this Wednsday.

I searched the net for two days looking for a female pup. She came at a reasonable price...$350!!! The owners bred to keep her and run her in field trial competition. But the guy who has her had a neck/back injury and isn't able to get the litter of pups in the field. They are 12 weeks old now and he wants them to get good homes.

We are SO excited!!!!

Weimeraner Puppy WANTED!!!

Oh, y'all...I'm so heartbroken.

We had to give up our five year weimeraner that we got just this past Thursday...a few hours after my FIL passed away. He was a great distraction and comfort to the boys for a few days, but the past two days he became WAY too aggressive with both the boys. Lashed out at both of them. Finally, after biting my oldest son's finger and drawing a bit of blood and knocking him to the floor...we had to send him back to his original owner.

My oldest was crying, balling that now he was afraid he'll forget about Papa, because the dog looked almost identical to my FIL's dog. Both the boys are taking it hard and we are on the search for a weimeraner pup.

We prefer a female, as they are less dominant and hyper as they grow out of the puppy stage.We've owned a weimeraner in the past, so we are very familiar with the breed. My husband was also raised with them and he would be interested in one for hunting purposes as well.

Due to the kids being so young, we have to get a pup, so they can grow up together.

Anyone know of some good resources?

I've tried searching online with limited results.

A new addition and a loved one gone...

We have a new addition to our family! His name is Expo and he is a five year old male weimeraner. We called a few days ago from an ad in our local newspaper.

He was free to a good home.

Here he is with Joshua holding the leash. We had arranged to pick him up Thursday evening. That was before we knew all the events that would happen that day.

He came into our lives just hours after Papa passed away and left our lives.

We got the results from Kyle's chest X-Ray....he has bronchitis. Nothing we can do, but let it run it's course. The fever did break finally Thursday afternoon! But he's been running a low grade temp since then. Funny thing is...I have a cough just like him and can't shake this YUCK feeling. Hmmmmmm.......

So, I left Kyle with daddy to take a nap...they'd both had a long night/day. I took Joshua to go pick up Kyle's schoolwork for the days he's missed, take back some movies, and to the local dollar store to pass some time. I forgot my cell phone in my car and we browsed through the store. I didn't even realize that Gene was desperately trying to get hold of me. As I pulled up in front of the video store the phone rang and he said didn't they give you the message at the video store? I asked, no why? Because I need you home now, dad's dying. OK....the only thoughts through my mind were....if he doesn't make it there in time....it's all my fault for not having the phone with me. So a carefree excursion with Joshua, instantly turned into a race against time to get home so Gene can get to his dad's bedside.

He made it and had time to tell Bud that he loved him and would take care of mom. That I loved him and said goodbye and that the kids said they loved him and goodbye. He nodded his head each time. He was coherent, since they hadn't given him any morphine since Gene had left that morning. He stopped swallowing and they were unable to give him anything by mouth. A morphine pump was on order, but not installed yet. Gene and my sister-in-law Regina, were holding his hands as he took his last breath. Gene's youngest sister, who is 5 months pregnant, did not make it in time to be there when he passed. She lives almost a 45 min drive away.

He called me at 6 PM to tell me that Bud had just passed away.

The boys are having a difficult time dealing with Papa being gone. Kyle is quiet and introverted. Very sad and doesn't want to talk about it at all. Joshua is angry, frustrated and acting out. Gene is being so strong for me. I'm just falling apart and he seems to know just what to do or say.

Last night, we all had just about had enough. The boys were fighting. Joshua just wanted to be with Kyle and he only wanted to be alone. So it ended up that Kyle yanked Joshua off his bed and he fell on the floor smack on his head. I was on the pbone with my mom and Gene had the do outside at the time. When I figured out what had happened...I put my arms around them both as Gene stood behind me and told them...I know this is hard on you....it's hard on all of us....and we need to pull together and think of each other's feelings.

Gene sensed I needed a break and called our sitter. He totally surprised me and we went to see the movie "Wild Hogs" last night. Very good timing for us. The movie was very funny and had us laughing most of the way through it. We both needed the comic relief and for a few hours it took our mind off things.

I'm SO not ready to say goodbye. We went to Kathy's for dinner tonight. After the kids left the table, Kathy asked me if I wanted to go and say goodbye to Bud before they close the casket tomorrow. It wasn't a total surprise to me. Gene told me when he got home Thursday I would have the opportunity to see him before they closed the casket if wanted. Being that we were all sick, I didn't have the opportunity to say goodbye before he passed and I needed to stay with Kyle when he was dying so that Gene could go and be with him. I really wanted to be there. It's Bud's wishes to have a closed casket so I wasn't going to go. But Kathy when Kathy asked, she said she was going tomorrow in the early afternoon. I felt like she wanted someone to be with her and told her I would go.

I broke down tonight and told Gene, I'm not ready to say goodbye. It's going to be so hard tomorrow. I'll be going right after church to the funeral home for a private viewing and then the calling hours are 7-9PM. We'll be there at 10AM for calling hours and the funeral at 11. Our minister will be doing the ceremony. Then there will be a full military burial immediately after. They will do a 21 gun salute and taps with a flag presentation.

I'm not sure I can handle that. I feel so bad that I can't seem to keep it together, especially for the boys. I told Gene tonight, How can I help them feel better if I don't feel any better?

Please pray as this will be a very difficult few days.

One Week....

I'll probably be adding some layouts that have taken me forever to get finished up later, but for now just a little update.

We are just now getting over the flu. It took it's toll on the whole family. I was the last to come down with it and let me tell you I fought it the whole way. Today is the best I've felt since Sunday night. I had to rush Kyle into the doctor's today. He'd been running a fever all night of 102 degrees, at least that's what OUR thermometer said. By the time I got him to the office, they told me his tem was 103.9 degrees. They tested him for strep, but it was negative and they took a chest X-Ray to be sure he doesn't have pneumonia. We're still waiting on the call from the office about the results for that.

Gene spent the night last night at his dad's. The first since he's been over the flu. It was a long night and late/early morning they had to call the hospice nurse to come out because Bud couldn't swallow. He's refusing to have an IV or to go back to the hospital at all. He can't talk or communicate very well, but he understands and can hear when you talk to him. There is a hospital bed in the livingroom now to help keep him comfortable.

Gene came home in tears....they said it will probably be only a week longer before he's gone. Without being able to swallow fluids, he'll dehydrate and he won't allow them to take him to the hospital for an IV therapy.

After Gene left the house last night the kids and I watched a movie and when it was over, Kyle had a tear in his eye. I asked him why he was crying and he said he was thinking about Papa. He didn't want to talk around his little brother, so I took him back to my room. He said, "I know Papa is very ill." Red faced and teary eyed, "And I'm just hoping he gets better." I couldn't help, the tears just came and I told him, "I can't promise you that papa's gonna get any better, honey. He's very sick and probably won't get any better."

I read him the story that a friend of ours in church mailed to us this week. "Waterbugs and Dragonflies" I would highly recommend this book. The story gave Kyle some comfort and he knows papa is going to a better place and won't be able to come back to tell us where he's gone, but we'll be able to be with him someday again.

I said, "See Kyle, we will miss Papa, but he'll be waiting for us and we'll see him again." Kyle said to me crying, "Yeah, but I'm only seven, so it will be a long time for me." How do you answer that? I just hugged him. He wants to see Papa to say goodbye. But that is against Papa's wishes. He didn't want the kids to see him this way. We are going to arrange for him to talk to Papa on the phone to say one last goodbye when Gene goes over tonight to be with Bud again. Hopefully this will give Kyle some peace with the whole thing.

One surprise....we're getting a puppy!!! Well, not really a puppy....he's five years old and he's a weimeraner. So for that breed...if you know that breed....it's a REALLY BIG PUPPY! He's housebroken and been to training school with pure breed papers. His previous owner had a male/female and is moving to a place where he can't have them. The female is spoken for, but the male they can't find a home for, so WE'RE IT!!! Gene spoke to the lady last night. Hopefully we can bring him home tonight. The kids know there is a big surprise, but not what it is. They keep guessing, Chuck E. Cheese, a new PS2 game, a kiss??? I just keep telling them....nope BIGGER than all of that!

So hopefully tomorrow, or late tonight, I'll have pics of our new "addition" and some layouts completed!

Bye for now!

Downhill Spiral...

It's been a really eventful week. Kyle had his Blue & Gold Banquet last night for his cub scouts and has earned his bobcat and tiger cub badges. I was presented with two "mom's pins" for Kyle to pin on me and Gene received a certificate of appreciation for support. They even gave Joshua a framed Certificate of participation, which was so cute, since as they were awarding the badges to the tiger cubs, Joshua was up front with us and he kept saying, "Don't forget about me!" The crowd giggled, it was too precious. I was completly unaware that they had a certificate for Joshua and he was so proud of it!

I'm so very proud of my little Tiger Cub!!!

Ok, can't resist....one more photo of Kyle!

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Now for the rest of the week....which isn't very good news at all. After returning home from the banquet, Joshua went to bed fully dressed and immediately fell asleep. He awoke at 11PM crying sitting up in his bed. Poor thing had vomitted all over his bed and he was trying to get his dress shirt off but couldn't get the buttons undone. Gene has a VERY weak stomache and could barely gag his way through the clean-up. We'd just gotten Joshua in clean sheets and jammies laying on the couch resting when my mother-in-law called.

I knew it was bad, because it was 12:30 AM. She asked to talk to Gene and needed him there immediately because Bud wouldn't settle down. He was agitated and pacing...or trying to anyway. By the time Gene got there the hospice nurse was there and they had doubled his morphine in an effort to try and calm him down and get him to rest. Gene spent the rest of the night with him, mostly up because Bud just didn't know where he was and was hallucinating. Gene called me from work this morning and told me that he had a rough night with dad. He's not used to seeing him that way and at one point the only thing he could do was to hold him and let him know someone was there that he knew and cared about him. I know this is so hard for him. I feel the end is nearing fast and I'm so unprepared for what will happen next.

I felt it necessary to sit Kyle down and tell him that Papa has cancer and that he is very sick and probably won't get any better. Kyle understood that Papa would go to heaven if he dies and didn't say much other than that. He tends to bottle things and keep them in when they bother him, so I pray that he will be at peace with all that is going on. Kyle has not had a chance to go over to show Papa his Pinewood Derby trophy and the video of his races yet, because he came down sick with the flu early Thursday morning and we wanted to be cautious and keep whatever it is going through the kids away from Bud. Now I'm afraid that Kyle won't get a chance to share that with Bud.

My mother-in-law told me this afternoon that it's too much for one person to care for him at this point and they are looking into getting a hospital bed for the living room to help keep him resting. So Gene, will probably be spending more nights over there and it will make it rough for him physically and emotionally.

Please keep us in your prayers. Pray for wisdom, strength, courage and peace during all of this.