Like Amityville Horror

but without the cool poltergeists. I think we have had more freaky things that happen to us.... things that go wrong....continuously. It just isn't normal. I joke about living on an Indian burial ground...but I really think it has to be something like that. Either that or one of us has some really bad karma. Mike. Maybe one of us was someone really bad in history - too bad I don't believe in reincarnation - or could think of someone really evil off the top of my head that Mike could have been that I am suffering the consequences of now. Like Hitler or something. But Hitler wouldn't have had time to work himself up to a human yet. Wouldn't he still be a cockroach or something? Don't really know about those reincarnation beliefs.

Last Thursday I had this weevil looking tick in my hip. It must have been there since the previous Saturday (that's when I was out in the pasture looking at the apples and sand plums). It isn't that I don't bathe or anything, I just didn't notice. It was pretty small still when Mike pulled it out, so it must have been pretty tiny to start with. It was like an alien tick. I can't find anything like it on the internet. I had this area on my hip that was about 2/3 the size of a dime that was swollen like a blood blister, with a bruise all around that, then with a hard spot in the middle. It hurt for about a week.

I asked my doctor's nurse about it on Monday - when I went in one week early for my Hep B shot - and she said unless there were red streaks coming from it I would be okay. I hope she is right. Apparently I haven't told her about the Indian burial ground. Must remedy that. That whole day was a waste of time. There was that wasted trip, then I went to Wal-Mart to get a battery in my watch and they couldn't get the back off, so another wasted trip; then I went to Life Uniform to get a name tag for my $117 stethoscope - way across town - they were out. I stopped off at Quik Trip for a forbidden soda and went home. I shouldn't have it, but dang it, I deserved it.

This week has been a whirlwind. Between school for the kids, school for me, work for Mike, work for me, chores for everyone....we have just been busy. Oh yeah, and stupid Maggie killed one of our ducks. Mike is putting a fence in under our deck and we are moving the remaining duck up under the deck so that hopefully he can make friends with the remaining rabbit - it can happen. We are going to electrify the fence and then put an electric collar on Maggie. I rue, rue, I say, the day we got her. Meanwhile, Mike has spent EVERY STINKING MOMENT on his computer. He bought a new one. Oops. He bought parts to make a new one...and can't seem to get it working. Wouldn't it have been smarter to just buy a computer that was already together so you wouldn't spend a week trying to make it work? But that's just me.
I underestimated the amount of studying and how much information and work was involved in the EMT class. My apologies to everyone who has gone through the EMT class before. I really assumed with my superior intelligence (lol) that it would be easy. It is not easy. It is a lot of work. And right now I am not feeling smart. I feel old and stupid. I know I'm not, okay, maybe old, but not stupid. But, man I am feeling it.

I can't remember what else happened this week - it has been a long week and I have had a splitting headache through all of it. I hope next week is better. Hopefully the fact that it is a short one will help.

My parents came out today and Alexa talked us all into playing Attack Uno. We probably all needed the stress relief. We always laugh a lot when we play. It is a vicious little game. And we are all pretty mean to each other when we play...but in a fun, nice way.

Kids first day

Monday the kids started school. So far so good. As you can tell by the photos - you don't have to dress up for the first day when it's at home! I practically had to drag them outside to take their photo! It was a bit overcast. Can you believe this August weather? It is like September, but with no wind - which is weird.

Anyway - the kids' attitude so far has been great. Alexa's is always good, but of course, I was worried about Andrew. He has been great so far. And he has had some tough stuff for the first couple of days. Some stuff that has made him think. Thinking? On the first days? Who knew? They are even brushing their teeth without lying that it has already been done!

Today we we went for a very long bike ride - like 6 miles. Then we came home and I made this fabulous yogurt mix thing - yogurt, sliced strawberries, flax seed, bran flakes, crushed peanuts. Very healthy - totally delicious. I was quite surprised but the kids loved it. They even want to eat bran flakes for breakfast. What's up with that?

Anyway, so far their school is going well - wish us luck!!

School and Such

Okay...I had my first day of class last night. My friend, Tammy, and I were 5 minutes late to class. We were very close to the classroom and asked an instructor where the room was and she sent us clear back to the opposite end of the building. What was that?!? So we had to go clear back. You would think she would know - I mean, she had an office and everything. Fortunately, the instructor seems like he is pretty cool about stuff like that. I think I am going to like him. At least based on the 4 hours I spent with him last night. The class is going to be intensive, but should be fun. For those of you who aren't aware of this fact, I am rather anal about grades (okay and other things). I had read through chapter four...then Tammy told me she had read through chapter seven. So Sunday I read through chapter seven. I have issues.....help me. Turns out we are both so anal. I think we are the only ones who opened our books. That's okay. I am totally okay with having the best grade in the class. Not that I have that goal or anything...ahem..... Tammy didn't nickname me Annie for nothing (anal Annie - I call her Ossie (OCD) - although I am considering changing that to Bambi because I just found out she was a cheerleader).
Anyway...after the class, I have changed my course of action. I am now planning on taking the paramedic course after finishing the EMT-B. I guess that is providing I pass the EMT-B course and the certification. Not that I'm worried. It is my understanding that it is easier to "bridge" from a paramedic to a nurse, than from a nurse to a paramedic. Also, since I am wanting to be a flight nurse, it is best that I am a nurse-paramedic, so this is the way I need to go. Plus it will work well as far as being able to hold down a job. (the classes are two nights a week as opposed to 4 days a week 8 -12 hours a day) And the kids will be able to continue to home school - as long as they want (provided my sanity holds out). Plus - added bonus - I don't think I have to take the entrance exam to get into nursing school. Which is good, because I can't figure out the physics part.
So, on top of yesterday being all about me and my first day of classes....it was Mike's birthday. I fixed him "Western" Spaghetti. I have these bbq meatballs (they are yummy) and they have this fab-u-lous bbq sauce that I mixed in with my delicious spaghetti sauce. Mike loves Italian and BBQ, so this is like mixing is two faves in one dish. So this was all ready for him. Then I made his favorite cake that his grandma used to make. A lemon cake with holes poked in it that you pour jello in and allow to set up. I'm sure there is a name, but I don't know what it is.
The kids helped me make the lemon jello poke cake...they were in charge of the candles (although they were supposed to have Mike light them) and then they were supposed to sing happy birthday to Mike after supper. They were in charge of all of this and were totally excited. Weeellllll - Mike blew it. Not the candles - the whole deal. He ate too much spaghetti - even though he knew there was cake. And refused to let them do the cake thing. The poor little darlings begged and pleaded but nope. I griped at him when I got home and found out. Poor kids. We just did the cake thing tonight. I sang him a special day late song and told him his wish was not going to come true since it wasn't his birthday. Loving wife that I am! I did send some breakfast muffins to work yesterday along with my world famous chocolate chip cookies....so I'm not all bad.

Alexa and Hayley - rock climbers

Andrew (grey shirt) during the PE portion of his class - robot pictures to come

Alexa - climbing up that pole - doesn't look like her legs are long enough. But she did it.

There she is on the zip line.

Apparently she got to test it, too, since she knew the guy in charge.

This picture is out of order -
this is the step before climbing up further on the pole

Finally, pictures

I got the photos yesterday from Alexa's rock climbing class in July. I was beginning to fret that I wasn't going to get any. They wouldn't let me go take pictures, which I can understand - but was totally bummed about. But they promised they would take pictures of my girls. So they sent out a mass email with a link to about 639 pictures - and I was able to pick through and get pictures of Alexa - and there were a few from Andrew's class as well - I wasn't expecting those so that was a nice surprise. They woudln't let me go take pictures in there either - which I knew, but I was hoping with Alexa's since it was outside............
Anyway. I have the pictures uploaded. As I was leafing through them last night I spotted a couple of familiar faces. I asked Alexa if our friend, Mike, helped at her rock climbing class. She says, "huh?"....always a first response. I ask again, "was Aubrey's dad at your rock climbing class". "yeah," she says. Why didn't you tell me? "I don't know" - another standard answer. I wish I would have known he was going to be helping - I would have felt much more comfortable. I wasn't that worried, because I knew that they were going to be harnessed and they wouldn't have kids doing it if they didn't have all the bases covered. But, still, knowing Mike, and knowing how he operates - I would have not had the smallest inkling of worry. Oh well. I think it is really neat (yes, I said neat) that he was there - as well as his brother, Scott. I asked Alexa if she said anything to him and she said not really - she wasn't sure if he would remember her. Whatever. He just saw her like a month before at the EMS camp when he let my kids do the zip line there. That child is crazy.
These pictures are pretty good. The girl that took them was a trifle worried that she wouldn't do a good job - but I think she took some nice photos.

Back to school

Ugh. Back to school. I guess at least it wasn't that hot outside. I am so tired now.....I hate getting up early. I will never get used to it. I guess for the first day it didn't go too badly. Next week the kids and I go back to school. I have the kids' agenda ready to go for next week. I am feeling pretty on top of things. I am sure that will change quickly! I am ready to go back - get back into a routine.
I love to get organized in August. That whole start of the new school year. I have the upstairs good to go. I don't want to venture into the basement. It scares me! That's the kids' and Mike's domain.....so no organization there.
As I drove by the cemetery today, I looked at Amber's headstone, like I always do, but now the shepherd's hook and the plant holder that I had (that also held ornaments) is gone now. What is wrong with people. The last time stuff was stolen was in early June, now more stuff is gone in August. No one else has stuff taken, so I don't think it is the groundskeepers. My guess would be the worthless SD. Probably because I always throw out the stupid grave blanket they put down. BUT it is my "property", Amber didn't like him, and she didn't like grave blankets. I know, it is petty, but why would I leave something there that she wouldn't want?
I am planning on running up there tomorrow to see what else is gone. I guess I will take whatever might be left and put in her box so that it doesn't get stolen, too.

Andrew ready to bowl
Alexa, Andrew, Mom, Hayley...waiting for their turn
Alexa - with the run up and throw method of bowling
Dad - with the professional bowler's approach

The "world famous" Beaumont Water Tower - actually it is the last wooden water tower in the U.S. (according to the placard)
Andrew, Hayley, Alexa at the Historic Beaumont Hotel and Restaurant
Andrew and Alexa (with a rare photo of me - looking ever so lovely) at the wind towers
The wind towers

I can't believe it's August!

This last weekend I housesat for a friend while they were on vacation. She is spent time with her mother-in-law and The Wiggles and a gazillion children and I sat in her quiet house. I think I got the better end of the deal. I got a lot of scrapbooking done and have even gotten some studying in. I finished one book and started another. I wanted to get all caught up on my scrapbooking and I am almost there. It is weird to be in a quiet house. Even their cats are quiet.

Friday I signed the kids up for another year of eschool. I must be out of my ever-lovin' mind. This will be the last year for them if I get in to nursing school. If I start nursing school next fall, then they will have to go back to public school because I will be gone all day every day.

I have had my car in the shop again. HOWEVER - it is still stalling out when I stop. This is after the mechanic was 99.99% sure that the expensive part he replaced would fix the problem. Yeah right. I have now put $1100 in it to keep it running and it still isn't. I am not a happy person. I am going to call the mechanics on Monday and yell at them.

The kids went to Vacation Bible School last week and really enjoyed it. We had to ride our bikes up to the church since I didn't have my car, but it wasn't too bad. We were home before it hit 100 degrees every day. They stayed all night with Hayley Wednesday night because I had to take a training class Thursday morning.

After my training, we went to Beaumont and ate in the historic Beaumont Hotel and Restaurant and then went to see the wind towers. They are quite impressive to see.

I am hoping after my relaxing weekend that next week with the kids will be easier. They were pretty good last week. I started a new rule that if they argue with me or each other they have to go outside and pick up sticks. Very effective.