PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW

In December, just before Andrew was born, Kassie went and got their family a 10 week old Golden Retriever/Cocker Spaniel mix. After two weeks she couldn't deal with her, so I said we would take her. Now I know you are all laughing! Gaylene has a big "S" tattooed on her forehead, you know the one that says 'SUCKER'. I bawled my eyes out thinking she was going to go somewhere where they wouldn't love her. So Sofee came to our house on New Years Eve.

We have had her up until today. It was a hard decision, because she is just adorable, has a great personality, but it was her or one of the kids! I didn't think Kassie and RJ would let me raffle off a kiddoe, so it had to be Sofee.





I mentioned to my friend Susan, when she delivered Girl Scout Cookies, if she wanted a dog, I would give her Sofee (half joking of course). But she called a few days later and asked if I was serious. I hemmed and hawwed and said not really, but then the dam broke last week and I knew I had to do something.

The Sisson's came and got her today. I bawled my eyes out last night, knowing it was the last time she would sleep and cuddle with me. I cried all morning because the kids were actually being kind to her and having a blast with her. And me, knowing full well she going on a permanent vacation to a house full of bigger kids that could spend more quality time and energy on her and her needs.

So goodbye Sofee. We love you. We will visit you and we will see you when the Sissons are on vacation for a sleep over.

HEAR NO EVIL, SEE NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL

Have you ever had one of those days? Well it has been one of those weeks at our house. We had all four children last night and I was exhausted. I hate going to bed to an unfinished house when it comes to cleaning and putting things away, but last night, it just wasn't happening. I walked around like a Zombie. Went to bed with two little girls, ages 3 & 3 1/2, bouncing off the walls and then woke up to an absolute disaster in our bathroom this morning.

I heard my mom yell "WHO DID THIS?" Oh great, what has happened?, what have they done?
The yarn that we had rolled up for the Activity Day girls crochet lesson that was left over was all unwound and it looked as though a huge group of cats got into the yarn basket. This is only a small portion that was in their bedroom. I had to pick up the bigger mess that was in the bathroom so we could take showers and get ready for my sisters wedding this eveing.

Here's how the conversation went---
Mom: "Who did this?"
Austin: Ashlynne did it!
Mom: "Ashlynne, did you do this?"
Ashlynne: "No, Janessa did it".
Mom: "Janessa, did you do this?"
Janessa: "No, Austin did it"
I finally threatened them with the big PUNISHMENT and Janessa put her hands on her head and said" Okay, Okay. I did it. Will you just leave us alone now?"
Did she really do it, or was it to get me off of their backs?
Then of course all of us adults are trying not to laugh in front of them.
So it obviously is a case of Hear no evil, See No Evil, Speak no evil from these three mischievous kiddoes.
I swear they are ganging up on me! I am truly getting a bit paranoid.
Tell me this never happens in your homes. I'm sure that none of your children have ever done anything like this. Right?
Okay--well I can hardly wait now for that cruise--only two weeks away and Mexican Riviera, HERE WE COME. Adios!!!

WEDDED BLISS??

Tonight Geneale and her boyfriend and father of her youngest child, Kelson, finally opted for Wedded Bliss!
I'm really not sure if that is the case here, but we can always hope, right I'm a bit cynical when it comes to Geneale, her relationships rarely last longer that four or five years. That is after living with and being married to them. We can only hope that the old adage of "Third Time's The Charm" comes true in theis case.
So here are a couple of pictures of the newlyweds, Mr. & Mrs. Neal Shepard.
Welcome to the family Neal!

FAMILY PICTURE DAY--2 WEEKS AGO

The TRIPLE "A's"
Ashlynne age 3, Austin age 4 & Andrew age 3 mon.
The Entire Family
Andrew--just hanging out
Josie Cool
Joe Cool
The GOOFY Picture

The Rodriguez family had the opportunity to have their family pictures taken a few weeks ago. When RJ and Kassie dropped off the kids that Sunday Night, I took advantage of some cute shots before the CLEANLINESS wore off (if you don't look really close, you may miss the pink frosting on Ashlynnes' dress). Now, I remind you that, I am far from professional and don't even rank in the ameteur category, but these were fun to take. If you look really close at the Family picture, Austin is lying on the top of the couch pillows, just poking his head between mom and dad.

GRILLED CHEESE TACOS???

Tonight, I couldn't get up enough energy to cook anything for dinner. My niece came over and with her she brought a burrito of some sort from Taco Bell. As a general rule, I don't like Taco Bell, but I was hungry enough to eat anything.

Mom volunteered to go and get the food. I asked Austin and Ashlynne what they wanted and the answer was "Grilled Cheese Tacos." For heaven's sake, what are those? I have no idea. Kassie and Shayna didn't know, Mom was at a loss. We were just a bit perplexed.

We asked them what they looked like, what was in them (duh, cheese Nana!). Austin gets to the point by making hand gestures of round things like this and you put cheese in them and meot(said like meow)[melt] it. Then roll them up in a little tube.



It finally dawned on us non-three/four year olds that they were talking about quesadillas.

JANESSA'S OVERNIGHTER

I just wanted you to know there are others out there that we don't have all of the time. Janessa came for an overnight stay with Nana and Grammy tonight. This is our cute little munchkin that we don't see as often as we would like.
She and Ashlynne are quite a bit alike--they don't sit down for one minute, they bounce off the walls, they can't watch a movie for more than 3 minutes (unless Ashlynne is watching Mamma Mia), they are into everything, they ask a hundred questions and they are only 7 months apart in age. When they are together, it's is like having twins. And they really don't get along very well.
Janessa is an only child in a world filled with grown-ups and can be terribly bossy, wild and somewhat grown-up.
Ashlynne is an only girl--in between two boys, is feeling a bit left out these days and showing the signs of "middle child" syndrome. Yet she is a very loving little girl.
We love all of these kids--despite what their parents think!!!

MY INTERVIEW WITH MY KIDS... (GRANDCHILD)

My cousin tagged me--drats! And I am supposed to ask my children and my case, grandchildren, to answer the questions and type in their answers, tag someone and have fun with it. Ashlynne was a little young, so I stuck with Austin. I just asked the same questions that Shanda asked her kids. I have substituted Mom for Nana.
So here goes...

1. What is something Mom (Nana) always says to you?
AJ: I'm sorry (actually he says I'm sorry a lot!!!!!!)

2. What makes Nana happy?
AJ: Cutting Paper (I think he must be around when I'm doing sharing time for Primary, what do you think?)

3.What makes Nana sad?
AJ: When I call her names (and he does)

4. How does your Nana make you laugh?
AJ: by watching funny movies or tickling me.

5. What was Nana like as a child?
AJ: She was a GUURRRL!

6. How old is Nana?
AJ: 38 (Thank you Austin, you are now my favorite!) He told me earlier that I was 1147 years old and that Keith was 348.. He likes the Forty numbers for some reason.

7. How tall is your Nana?
AJ: This tall(stretching his arms out). How tall is that in feet?
4 feet!

8. What is Nana's favorite thing to watch on TV?
AJ: Funny Movies (we asked him later what his mom's fave was and he said 'Bloody Movies'. I guess I'm glad he gave mine the Funny one).

9. What does Nana do when you're not around?
AJ: Plays hide and seek (interesting)

10. If Nana becomes famous, what will it be for?
AJ: A boy (I'm not sure which boy it's for, but this should be interesting)

11. What is your Nana really good at?
AJ: Playing the piano (oh, if he could only hear Kerri, he wouldn't say that)

12. What is Nana not really good at?
AJ: playing with my toys (it's true--I don't have a lot imagination when it comes to toys)

13. What does your Nana do in her job?
AJ: Cooks a lot (it's true, I cook, but I'm not very inventive and the kids are a little picky. So any suggestions would really help me out)

14. What is your Nan's favorite food?
AJ: Roast Beef (I like beef)

15. What makes you proud of your Nana?
AJ: When I am happy

16. If your Nana were a cartoon character, who would she be?
AJ: The tools on Handy Manny ( I asked him which tool and his answer was all of them)

17. What do you and Nan do together?
AJ: Screw in Things (I have know idea what this is about--remember he's four)

18. How are you and your Nana the same?
AJ: because we are twins and have the same green eyes (they are the same color)

19. How are you and Nana different?
AJ: You're a GUURRL and I is a BOOOYYY!

20. How do you know Nana loves you?
AJ: You tell me you love me and she lets me play games on the "puter"

21. What does Nana like most about Papa (Keith)?
AJ: hugging him

22. Where is Nana's favorite place to go?
AJ: The Dinosaur Park (this truly is his favorite place to go--I really can't get into dinosaurs. I barely know the important ones!)

He was getting a silly at the end--so you know that some of the answers were a tad bit forced. But he was cute about it.

I now tag.....Kerri, Liz, Carly & Jenny.
(Remember you can make up your own questions. I was just lazy!)

IRISH EDUCATION FROM A FOUR YEAR OLD

Have you ever had one of those days and then the four year old chimes in with something very profound.
Today has been one of those horrific days when, no matter what you said or did and no matter what Austin said or did, there was always a fight with him. Believe me there have been no lucky leprechauns around our place today.
He is in EXTREME DEFIANT MODE right now and I won't go into all the reasons for his poor behavior. For those of you who read this--you probably have a very good idea already as to why he acts the way he does.
So there is the contant argument about picking up your toys, no jumping on the bed or couches, don't hit your sister, don't say that word....the list goes on forever. But this was the kicker of the day until after dinner. He had gone outside and was walking up and down the sidewalk and I asked him what he was doing--
Austin: "SMOKING A CIGARETTE! Do you have another one I can have?"
Nana: "Absolutely NO! We DO NOT smoke cigarettes, here or anywhere else!"
Austin: "I'm just "tending" (pretending)! Yelling at me at the top of his voice.
Yes, this adorable little boy, whom I love and adore (mostdays)said this to me. He is FOUR for Pete's sake. What is a Nana to do now?

Cigarettes all forgotten, it is dinner time and he is ready to eat when I say we are having POTSTICKERS. HE LOOOVVVVVVES Potstickers. Keith finishes dinner and says he is going downstairs to watch some History Channel special about St. Patrick.

Austin then asks who St. Patrick is and I tell him that he was a priest in Ireland that said a blessing on the land and supposedly drives all the snakes from Ireland, (like they had snakes in the first place).
Austin's Four Year old innocence kicks in at this point and said " What kind of car did St. Patrick drive to drive the 'nakes out?
I told him St. Patrick didn't have a car, that it was before cars were invented, so he said "Then what type of shovel did he use?" Did St. Patrick use a shovel? Who knows for sure.
We got a great laugh out of that. Happy St. Patrick's Day to All!!!

YAY ME--I'M THREEEEE!!!!!!!

So Ashlynne turned 3 on Friday the 13th--Yep it was the THUNDEROUS THREE'S of which she has been in for several months and doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon. It's going to be a long 2years---DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SPARE RITALIN LYING AROUND THAT YOU'RE NOT USING.You think I'm joking, but I am not. This kid bounces, then flies, then turns summersaults off of the walls and windows. But we love her anyway.
She loves Tinkerbell, She is a Princess (someday's) and she belongs to us. She is very loving and full of spunk and what would life be like in a sane and quiet way? (I'm waiting to find out--'cause it hasn't happened here on Hartford Street. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLYNNE, WE LOVE YOU LOTS, AND LOTS, AND LOTS.....!!!

YOU ARE TAGGED

Go to the sixth blog, pick the 6th picture, then write a little something about it. (I truly hope I did this right, I've never done it before. Thanks a lot Shanda)

I HEXED MYSELF BLOG:
(I had to do the 6th blog with pictures, because I didn't have pictures at the very beginning)
This is the blog that happened on Jan 31. I had said "How many more times are we going to have to make a trip to the ER with one of the kids" and poor little Andrew ended up at PCMC ER with RSV, Pneumonia and a collapsed lung. This was very difficult for all of us. It was a life and death siutation for a few days. A lot of prayers were said during this time.
Next time I'll keep my big mouth shut!!!

BON VOYAGE!!!

Mexican Riviera Here We Come...
Puerta Vallarta, Mazatlan & Cabo San Lucas.
Alright we did it. I said a week or so ago on Facebook that Keith came home and said we were going on a cruise. Well, I booked it Saturday. But not for when we wanted to go in the first place. There were no openings. So now we are leaving April 11th thru the 18th. We will be gone over Easter, bummer. But we will celebrate on our own if there are no church services.
There will be no family, children, relatives of any kind, and dare I say; anyone we know on a personal level. But every time I say that you always run into someone you know. Can I spend and entire week with Keith, all by ourselves and enjoy ourselves.
YEP!!!
BON VOYAGE!!! (This is the actual ship we will be sailing on--The Sapphire Princess)