Mocha's first hunt.

This is Mocha. She went on her first hunt last Saturday and she did such a great job. She wasn't quite sure of the gun going off and stayed pretty close to us. But it didn't bother her to much. At least she didn't run strait to the truck!

Snow everywhere! With quite enough to spare.

With a snow day yesterday, and with most of the schools around the area being closed again today, the kids were not happy about having to go to school today. It was a two hour late start which in my book is the best of both worlds. I get to sleep in a bit and I still get rid of the kids for the day. Only problem was my car was in the garage and there was about a 3 to 4 foot snow drift blocking my way. The drift wasn't small either, it went out about 25 feet! So what am I to do. I have to get the kids to school. So while the kids are getting ready I bundle up and grab my snow shovel and get to work. I only have about an hour to get this done. I look at all the snow that needs to be moved and think "oh man, I don't think I can do this." But with one shovel load at a time, and a little help from above I had the strength to finish just in time. I have no idea why we don't invest in a snow blower. I guess in the past we've always had a friend come by in time to dig us out with a tractor, which we did, only it was around 2:00 in the afternoon. Anyway I got the kids to school on time, and I got to go home and relax a bit. I have a sore back and my arms are very tired but other than that I feel great. I guess all that running is doing something for me.

Tonight we went to Ben's band concert. It was the Christmas concert and he playes the trumpet. Before we went we had a little fight about what he was wearing. Jeans and a t-shirt with a sweater over it wasn't going to cut it. The sweater was fine but he needed to change his pants and put a nice white church shirt on under the sweater. He didn't like that idea at all but I ended up wining and he looked very nice. I know I only have a few more years where I'll be able to do that. The concert was great. They sounded really good for only being in 6th grade.

I just called my sister Sandie in Seattle and agreed to run the Seattle marathon with her at the end of June. So I need to get my butt back in training mode. I've really been bad at being consistant with my running and my eating has been awful. I'm also running the Dam to Dam 20K at the beginning of June as well so that will just be one of my long runs, and a part of my training. I hope I can do this right this time and stay injury free. I love running but I tend to over do it sometimes. Planning a run tomorrow in town as soon as I drop off Keaton at school. I hope it isn't windy. It's hard on my face to run in the wind.

First winter storm

Well we survived our first winter storm. What can I say, the kids were home from school early yesterday and are having a snow day today. It was very nice to sleep in and listen to the wind howling outside, knowing I didn't have to go out in it. Bret however had to go in to do a C-section and had a bit of trouble getting out of the driveway. Very big snow drift right out side of the garage doors. I watched him for awhile then he looked up at me through the window and said "come here and help me!" So like a good wife I put on my snow gear and went out in the cold wind and snow to help him dig out. I thankfully got in the cab to do the driving while he pushed! Finally he was out and off to the hospital. REALLY why do these things always happen during a snow storm! You'd think these babies would have a bit of inside info on these things.

It's been fun getting ready for Christmas this year, the house is all decorated inside and out. This year I decited to go out on the roof and put up the outside lights myself, because Bret doesn't have the time during daylight hours, and he has a problem going out on the roof in the dark. So it's done and it's beautiful. He wasn't to happy with me. The first thing he thought when he came up over the hill and saw the house was, "I'm going to kill her for going out on the roof!" But no harm done and it wasn't like I haven't done that before. I did the same thing with our house in Omaha, during residency. Which I did get yelled at by my neighbor who couldn't believe I was out on my roof. She's was an older lady who's husband did everything like that I'm sure. But you know, when your husband isn't home a lot you have to do things yourself or they just don't get done. The tree is up. Amber picked out a nice big fat one, that wouldn't stay upright in the stand. It kept wanting to fall over. It almost did right on top of Ben, but Amber was there to catch it thank goodness. So with a hook and some twine we tied it to the wall behind the tree. I'll have a nice hole in the wall when Christmas is over. I guess i'll have to find a bookshelf or some thing to put there. Darn it I hate shoping :)

I went bird hunting with Bret last Saturday and that was fun. Bret got his limit in little under an hour. The dogs worked great and I had a good work out tromping around in the tall thick grass with heavy hunting boots on. I like watching Bret get excited about the whole hunting experience. It's nice that the kids are getting a little older so I can go out with him more. I forgot how much I like that. It's been a few years since we were first married.

We went to Sam's Christmas concert last week and it was so cute. He's loves being on stage singing and dancing. Makes me wonder what he's going to do when he gets older. I love living in a small town in Iowa where we can still sing the traditional Christmas songs in the schools and wish everyone a Merry Christmas. It make it that much more special during this time of year.

So here I sit snowed in at my house and loving every minute of it. I think I'll go make some hot chocolate!

Sorry, haven't updated this in awhile. Just getting over the Thanksgiving holiday mess, putting away fall decorations and putting up Christmas stuff. Which is quite an undertaking. I'm having to deal with sick kids too which is never fun. The worst of the worst kind of sickness, the stomach flu. It all started on Thanksgiving afternoon when Sam came in the kitchen and said his tummy hurt. He was going to try to go to the bathroom. Next thing I know Sheri comes into the kitchen telling me Sam is throwing up in the living room, all over my rocking chair! So I grab a bowl and give it to Derek and he runs to give it to Sam, Bret grabs the chair cushion and goes outside with it retching all the way, to go hose it off. Jennie, who is in the early stages of pregnancy is in the bathroom throwing up in the toilet. Sam puking right in front of her was too much. If felt more sorry for Jennie than I did for Sam at that point because Sam was just in the bathroom, so why did he choose the living room, right in front of Jennie and Sheri to puke? I was a little iritated. So grabing a wet washcloth and a towl and some cleaner I go to work on the mess, trying not to breath. Poor Sam isn't finished yet and I'm getting a queezy stomach myself from just the smell. After a few minutes I put Sam in the tub, Jennie is in the living room, and I'm thinking I have a house full of people who could all get this if they don't leave. I didn't want to be the blame for all of the cousins getting sick. I'm thinking that everyone needs to leave quick, but we haven't had pie yet. So even though I'm still a little full from dinner I suggest that we have pie and ice-cream so we can get the show on the road! Sam was fine the next morning and no one else came down with it. I thought for sure Keaton would the next day but we all stayed puke free until Sunday morning at around 2 am. I hear Keaton in his room crying and throwing up. Great! Luckily he managed to get out of his bed and he just made a mess on the floor, I hate cleaning up puke out of a carpet! I'm so glad I put in hard wood. So then I stay home from church with Keaton, Bret and the kids go to church, which they came home early from because Ben didn't feel well. So Ben gets it Sunday afternoon, and I'm thinking who's next. That night I'm a little scared, Amber is too, I hate throwing up more than anything in the world! So to bed we all go wondering what the night will bring. At about 1am I get woke up with the sound of Bret getting sick in the bathroom. Now I'm REALLY scared. He was up a few times durring the night so I didn't get a very good nights sleep but was greatful when I woke up at 6 with my stomach still in side me. Needless to say Amber was very afraid to go to school. There's not much worse than thowing up in high school. I'm afraid, I'm very afraid. I don't want to be next. I've seen what this bug does and I don't want to be next! Help me. As for friends and family.......stay away!