Girl's Night at Danielle's

Saturday night Danielle, (pink tank) invited me over for a Girl's, Booze, and BBQ Party. Since Jack has been gone so much with work, I REALLY needed a break! Don't be confused by the party theme, and the appearance of Ivan. He's not really a girl. I'm still not sure, and I don't think he is either, how he came to be the lone male invited to girl night, but I think he was grateful! We had a great time chatting, playing Wii bowling, dancing (that's Lisa with Ivan), and Danielle made some awesome food! All in all, a fun night! Girls Rock! (ok, and Ivan too!)

Horses!

While looking through the Community Directory that came in the mail, I stumbled upon an ad for the local horse rescue. I went to the web site and sent a message saying that I wasn't able to help financially, but that the girl's and I would love to volunteer to help with the cause. Many know of Miss. Sydney's obsession with horses. As a toddler, horse figurines were the only things she was really drawn to and since she didn't communicate about much else, we fostered her obsession. Eventually her interests expanded to include dinosaurs, though not in any way replacing horses. Fortunately, Belinda, the person in charge was cool with us non-horsey folk coming by to learn to help out. It has been a wonderful experience for all of us! She has been patient with teaching the girls and I "Horse Care 101". Mel's favorite part is to hang out with her pal Buttons on the left. He is the stallion and seems to respond well to her. She actually skipped a birthday party she had been looking forward to so that she could hang out there. We have learned about leading the horses, brushing them, and I even learned how to clean their hooves. Usually it's just me, Mel, and Syd because I can't handle Punkin and actually accomplish anything at the same time. Also, because she is accident prone and a wee bit exciteable! Saturday she got to come out with us

since Jack was there to help while we learned to feed them and clean their stalls. Was that fun! Horse poop scooping at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning would not normally be my first option, but it was pretty cool. I was amazed that I could fill up an entire wheel barrel with poo, only to find out that it was just ONE DAY'S worth!! That is ALOT of poop! Sydney had her own little tiny wheel barrel, and while I was cleaning one of the stalls she yells to me, "Mom! Save some poo for me!" I can honestly say that I NEVER, and I mean NEVER thought that I would hear that particular phrase drop from the lips of any of my children, for any reason. I suppose I should be grateful for her enthusiasm! Mel was all about helping us get the tools ready and handing them to us, but was adamant that in no way was she going to do anything that involved poop. Sydney's enthusiasm made up for her lack. Belinda was impressed with Jack's wrangling skills. That is his Punkin Wrangling skills she was referring to! She managed to survive her first visit there without injury! Miracles make the world go round!

And They Say The Desert Isn't Green!

Can I just confess that those huge weeds are actually much shorter than the ones on the other side of the driveway! Cripes! This winter was wetter than usual (*snicker*snort) for Arizonan's (big, dry, babies!!), so the weed population has flourished. I took this picture of our family Weed Eradication Party. Jack was happy to partake in the celebration as you can see from his trademark finger. The best part is that we dug up these weeds, and not more than a week later they came back! The next step was poison! Oh yes! Unfortunately, the weeds laughed in the face of the poison, and continue. S.O.B. I guess we will just be furiously digging them up until it gets so dang hot that they will want to die all on their own. Just like the rest of us.

The Many Looks of Sydney

LOOK! I'M A MOOSE!

NO! I'M A KANGAROO!

MAYBE I JUST LIKE DINOSAURS!

ACTUALLY, I JUST NEED A TAN.

I have to say that of all of my children, Sydney is the one that we are just never sure what we're going to get. We have learned to think of this in a positive light. The alternative involves sedatives and counseling. (for us, of course) The one thing, and the ONLY thing that we can count on for sure with Syd, is that the first chance she gets when she walks through the door, she will take her clothes off except for her panties. I am grateful that home is the only place she does this now, since as a toddler she wanted to strip everywhere. At friend's houses, McDonalds, and even the men's room at Chuck E. Cheese. It has not always been convenient, but at least people can say now that they have seen her with clothes on. I can only hope that the progress we've made to get her to keep her clothes on will continue so that she doesn't find herself working in the only profession where this could be acceptable. In His name we pray...

Just a note- These pictures have been taken over the course of the last year, and somehow she has generated all of these looks with no outside provocation. I'm still not sure how she got my pasta utensils tied to her head, and really, I'm fine with not knowing. And the kangaroo thing happened just the other day. I asked her to get Bambi out of her freakin' panties and she says, "I can't! I'm a kangaroo!" Makes perfect sense. A kangaroo with a fawn. All righty then!

Note--

Just a little note for Jack- He has lost thirty pounds since I took that dreadful picture of him and just used it for the resembling things. It was the only one I had that was not a profile or something, and you can bet that I'll be in a wee bit of trouble for using a not so complimentary shot!!! It's the price we pay... Also, I was surprised about the equality. I had always thought that Mel and Syd looked more like him and that Alicia looks like a combination of my two brothers. Maybe I'm just a crackhead....

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Bobbing For Turds

The Bane Of My Existence has struck again. I type this story while reflecting on my life and wondering why the Lord thinks that he needs to continue giving me situations that will develop a sense of humor. It's fortunate that He's given me so much already so that the story I'm about to tell did not result in the slaughter of a small dog.

Once upon a time there was a small dog that wanted to die. He couldn't articulate his suicide mission, so I can only guess by his actions, his desires for a quick death. At this computer I was sitting while the two big kids were playing out front and the little one slept. All had been peaceful except for a quick in and out bathroom stop for Sydney. A while later it was from this same bathroom that came some disturbing noise. I was drug from my focused concentration by the snorting (if you've ever had close contact with a pug you can imagine the snuffling/snorting noises), splashing noises from the bathroom. I realized that it was Smudge and it sounded like he was trying to scuba dive in the toilet or something. I yelled for him and when he did not appear and the noises seemed more intense, I thought to go see what he was doing. I WISH THAT I NEVER KNEW. As I was coming around my desk, he came out in the hallway with what he thought was his prize! He dropped a huge turd that on the floor and then looked up at me with his little face that was covered with pieces of toilet paper and well, poop water. I don't think that I could have gotten him out of the house any faster, nor said any more swear words associated with "poop" (my nice term:) !) or little dogs (again, my nice term!). Adding insult to injury, while picking up the turd with half a roll of toilet paper, and my shirt covering my nose, I managed to smack my head on the door frame which made me see stars. I suppose it was better than seeing poop which was my current reality, but it smarted quite a bit. By the time Jack walked in the door, I had cleaned up the bathroom that had sewer water everywhere, and had a serious discussion with Sydney about the merits of flushing the toilet and putting down the lid after pooping. (I even used the nice word) Seriously, Lord, a turd eating dog? Ha. Ha.