Spring Pictures

Here are the kids Spring Pictures. Some of you will be getting them in the mail in the next month. :)

Taken at The Potts Inn

The Dentist Dilemma

These are Sahara's teeth. She got her x-ray workup and molds done at her dentist a few weeks ago to get ready for braces. I was under the impression we would be referred to an orthodontist. We weren't. Instead her regular pediatric dentist set up an appointment for a consultation for getting her braces done there. I was a little concerned that a pediatric dentist could, should and would be doing her braces, besides all of her friends had gone or were going to a pretty popular orthodontist. So, we made an appointment to consult with her, the orthodontist, as well. YIKES! She was, well, a little odd to us. Used big ol' fancy doctor words and had a fake/sincere way about her. Neither of us were too impressed. I am still worried about letting the regular dentist do the braces (she has TMJ and her jaw is not symmetrical) but we have felt comfortable with him for the last 8 years....We also ran into 2 of her guy friends shortly after the consult with the orthodontist. One of them have had braces (of sorts) with the orthodontist and didn't recommend her. The other currently was sportin braces and was going to the regular dentist, Sahara's dentist, for them and said he really liked it there. Soooooo, I think we are leaning on the regular dentist to do hers. I will decide and sign the papers on Monday!

Saturday

We did the Walmart shopping and got back in time to go catch 'How To Train Your Dragon'. Really cute! Then to McDonalds for a happy meal with a Toothless toy in it. Then for a nice walk in the woods and back to the house with 20 minutes to spare to get the Easter stuff out of the barn before a nice Spring down pour started. 10 minute storm. Love it, just wish the ground wasnt all ready soaked from the last one. All I could salvage of the Easter stuff in that 20 minutes was the baskets. We have a MAJOR ant infestion (is that a word?) in the barn!

If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all...

I have had 3 computer issues this week. First, my new 3 month old printer needed new ink. Yes, the ink for the Kodak printers are a lot cheaper, but apparently it needs to be replaced more often. Anyway, the ink trey would not come to center to get the old ink out. After messing with it for 2 days I called Kodak and after walking me thru a few troubleshooting steps, they decided the sensor was bad and sent me a 'new' new printer. I got it yesterday, but it's not hooked up yet. Don't know if I need to completely uninstall the old one and reinstall the new one or if I can just plug the new one in since its the exact same model as the old one..... Then my internet went out for a few days. I tried to troubleshoot it for hours each day with no luck. Unplugged everything again and again. No luck. Called the cable company and found out I have to unplug and plug in a certain order to get it working again. Who knew. Why isnt the order included in the troubleshooting directions? Then, Sahara and my camreas would no longer connect to the computer (sometimes) then other times they would but open with a service I did not want. Could not get that fixed so I went and bought a card reader. Problem solved!

Now my truck... Brakes were making a crunching noise when I was coming to a stop from 20 miles an hour to the full stop. It had started about 2 weeks ago but seemed to be getting worse. I took it in. Apparently I was beyond metal on metal. Not only did I need new brakes, but a new rotor on the front passenger side. Brakes in the back were fine but other problems were discovered there. I have a rear axle seal out and that with new tires, balance and alignment is going to run me $800!!!!! I just opted for the new brakes and rotor for $200 this time. To me, the tires are ok, but I will have to get the axle seal fixed in the next few months. uggg.

Spring Break!

The week has arrived! So far we went from 72 to almost snowing (13 inches of snow an hour away) back up to 75 in the first 4 days of Spring Break. Today was beautiful! Went to the park, then the dr. (my annual (or bi-annual as it usually goes)). Putting hi-lights in Sahara's hair tonight. She had a hair cut today. Thurs, back to the Dr. Being 40 SUX. Internet was out for a few days so just poppin in now for updates. Going to take the kids Spring Pics tomorrow. Hope the weather stays nice!

sick boy

The picture tells it all.

Canyon has a bad cough which now is a sinus infection. He had to be picked up from school Monday and taken to the doctor. Was put on antibiotics and slept thru the night without coughing for the first time in 3 nights. Was only getting 3-5 hours of sleep a night over the weekend. Seems a little better today, just very snotty.

31 minutes

Who-da-thunk it would take a fast food joint 31 minutes to get the order out of 3 people. First, I thought I had ordered 2 single fillets and an order of honey BBQ wings and 3 drinks, but my receipt showed they put me down for 1 single and one meal fillet. They they said the BBQ wings would take a few minutes and that was what we were waiting for, no problem. The wings came up and served to us......where are the fillets? Now we have to wait for them....20 minutes later they were up, but they for some reason thought I was getting 2 meals and the potato wedges were not ready. Ugggg. FINALLY, 31 minutes from the time I placed my order, I got all my food! I told the guy who kind of handled all the order, and he really couldn't believe it took that long. I wasn't in a hurry and laughed it off, but he came by the table a few minutes later with 4 more fillets. One guess as to what we had for lunch today :)

Special Olympics

Canyon is getting signed up for the Special Olympics on top of baseball this spring. He will be entered in things like 50 meter dash, baseball throw and standing long jump. He will be the only athlete representing his school this year. They hope to have more next year. But he will be hanging out with my districts kids. :)

The Derby

Canyon had his pine wood derby race with his pack on Monday night.

His driver's license.



The line up of the 8 cars racing. Canyon's is #3, the gold truck.

Here he is setting his truck on the track.

At the finish lane he watches as his comes in first!

Here are all the boys with their cars. Even tho it appeared that Canyon won 3 out of the 4 races, he did not place for a trophy this year. :( He either got 4th or 5th because he does get to go to District in a few weeks.

1st weigh in for the biggest loser

Well, the official weigh in scale was ugly to me :( It weighed me 6 pound heavier then my scale at home. Others complained of the same thing. But, it is THE scale we are to use so so be it. Just means I have to add 6 pounds back to the 5000 I wanted to lose in the first place.

HaPpY FaT TuEsDaY !!!

A Field of Angels

Logo borrowed from http://afieldofangels.blogspot.com/

Canyon was signed up for baseball and Sahara signed up as a volunteer for this years season today. :) I dont know if Canyon will be on the younger team or the older team because his age is sort of in the middle. I am hoping the younger team at least this year because he is small. I guess it will depend on how many kids of what ages sign up. Games will not start til the end of April.

The new set up

Getting the treadmill and trying to lose weight has come at a good time. I seemed to plateau at losing 8 pounds even after limiting my calories to 1500 a day. Well, work decided to start a Biggest Loser program. It was $25 to sign up and that gets you Fruit Fridays (instead of the popcorn the school supplies on Fridays) and free healthy lunch with a meeting every other week and a pass to St. Mary's Fitness Center (which I didn't sign up for because honestly, I'd never go) for 10 weeks. Plus weekly prizes like gift certificates to sports stores and health food stores. I think the winner after the 10 weeks gets the pot of entry fees too. It's based on percentage lost and Tuesday (because Monday is no school for President's Day) is our first weigh in. Wish me luck!!!

I made out pretty good on this trade.

Dawn, the teacher I work for, traded me her treadmill for a color printer. I had gotten the Kodak printer a few months ago because the ink for the Lexmark was about as much as a printer. I think I got the better deal. We wedged the treadmill in the corner of the livingroom (facing the TV or course) and my goal or plan is 1 mile a work day and 2 -3 miles on non work days. So far, so good. Sahara has also been doing a mile a day and Canyon takes his 2 minute turns several times a day.

Oh how sweet!!!

Canyon got a note from his girlfriend Brittany (or how he says it 'gur-friend, bit-me.) He acutally blushes when you ask him about her. It's too cute!

It says: I think It is supposed to be 'silly'

sillme
sillyou
silldo
hey canyon
was's up canyon
cool,
Brittany

Yippy !!

Another round of snow days. Unfortunately, this means school will now be in session in June. Yuck! But we are enjoying our extra long weekends!
I tried to put a video of this snowman on, but it was too big and wouldn't post. :(

We were out Monday and Tuesday. I'm pretty sure we will go back tomorrow, but we are supposed to get more snow again on Thursday and Friday. The sun is out today but it is very cold.

Sascha loves running in the snow, but only if we are out there with her. If she is out by herself, all she does is scratch and jump at every door and window until we let her back in.

Yesterday was P - T Conferences at my school (canceled) and Thursday the kids have theirs at their schools. Plus we all were scheduled as having Friday off for a teacher flex day. This whole week is going to have to be made up now.

More fun in the snow

Since the forecast said it was going to be 40 today, we decided to get out there and get our snowman built. Not too big, but at least we made one.

Bird prints.

Scratch marks out in the open snow. Our guess is that a hawk swooped down and swiped up some breakfast. There were little mouse prints all over the place. Zigging and zagging every which way. I guess they were having fun in the snow too.

3rd and final Pine Wood Derby Car

Canyon is working on his last Pine Wood Derby car (actually truck this year). He will age out of Cub Scouts at the end of 5th grade and in order for him to stay in Boy Scouts, we would have to transfer to the Russellville District Scouts. Pottsville doesn't have a pack. That would mean all new kids (and adults) and no one that he goes to school with. Plus he really needs more communication skills to be able to do all the things or any of the things required of him to be in the pack. I'm sure I could push that he has equal rights with his disability and all that, just don't feel up to the challenge. Besides he will still have baseball and basketball and his waiver worker so he really is a busy boy.

Anyway, he chose a truck model this year and gold.

He is very careful when he paints.

Fun in the snow

We ended up getting about 3 1/2 inches.
No school/work of course.

These pictures were taken on Friday aftenroon when there was only about an inch.

ice storm 2010

Well, I wasn't going to prepare for an ice storm, but then changed my mind. After taking Sahara to the dermatologist, I decided to hit Wal-mart in case we are iced in for the next couple days. Basically I just did my regular Saturday shopping 2 days early. If we do have ice, enough to cause the power to go out, I wont be hanging around here anyway. Off to a hotel we'd go because trying to hang in the house is way too cold. (no fireplace)

Heres to hoping no work/school tomorrow!

He just cracks me up!

The mail was running late yesterday. I sent Canyon out to get it after school. He ran out the door with my cell phone. It had been raining and there are pretty good puddles everywhere. I thought as he left, 'there goes my phone again.' I looked out the window and he was at the mailbox using both hands to open the box. Wheres the phone? The he got out the mail and closed the box and saw that the trash can was still at the road from pick up the day before. The lid was open so he really needs 2 hands to close the lid and drag it back to the house. He tried over and over to get the mail in his pocket but couldn't do it. Every pocket at least 3 trys each. It was too funny. His pockets where only about half as wide as the envelope. I called for Sahara to come watch what he did next. It was so cute. He got the phone out of his pocket and 'dialed' some one for help! I dont think he actually dialed a number because nothing was in recent calls later when I checked. I was rolling. Sahara got her cell and called mine and he answered it. I could hear him saying words like mail, trash, cant do it. She said, 'I know, why dont you bring the mail to the house and then go back for the trash can.' He said ' oh, yeah.' and came running. I guess it's something I should have gotten on video.