An August Birthday...

Claire getting ready to blow out the candles...


Yummy!

Getting ready to open presents after ice cream sundays in the park...(more of those pics later...)

Claire opening a musical toy while Matthew checks out her new baby Ariel.


More pics later!

First Day of Second Grade!

Today was Jocelyn's first day of second grade in a new school. She was very excited this morning, and didn't have any problem getting ready in time to get Brianne to school. Then IT happened. We had pulled into a parking space at J's new school, eager to walk through the halls and locate the library, office, cafeteria, all the drinking fountains and bathrooms, and generally get a feel for the atmosphere of the school. As Jocelyn was closing her door, I reminded her to make sure it was locked (stock '93 Nissan trucks do not have automatic locks). J tried to stop the door just as it was closing and slammed her thumb in the door. (OUCH!!!) So much for her sunny outlook on the day! We made our way to the nurse's office for a band-aid and an ice pack. With a thumb wrapped in a disposable ice pack and brown paper towel, we wandered the halls. We located The Sunflower Classroom and went in to meet J's new teacher. J found a table of girls to sit with and got all settled in. She was a little down when I left, but all smiles by the time the school day was over. She was very happy to inform me that although she does not have any homework this first week, I do. I have to complete all the paperwork that comes with the beginning of a new school year. :\

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When I arrived at work this afternoon, I found this in my e-mail. It made me laugh, so I thought I would share it with everyone...(thanks again Rob!)
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Although today is Tuesday, it is my work Friday. I have one day off then it's back to the radio for two days of OT before starting my regular week again. I knew it was coming, I traded Jeri two days a week and a half ago, for these two days. I needed to work on getting the flooring down in the new house, and she is busy moving her Mom this week. When you are prepared to work the OT, it's not a problem, until someone calls in sick for your only day off. I REALLY do not want to work 11 days in a row, so I left this note on the schedule...Do you think she will believe me? If I have to come in tomorrow, I will need a 72 hour detention for mental evaluation by the end of the 11 days. Hhmmmm, a guaranteed 3 days off....

Slow Motion...

Do you ever feel like your are moving in slow motion? Or like you are stuck in quicksand while the world rushes around you? I feel like I am in limbo. We are waiting for the new septic to be put in at the new house. (Most recent update is that it should be in by Friday, permits were supposed to be picked up today.) Once the septic is in, we should be able to close escrow within a week. I want to yell YIPPEE!!, but I feel like I am stuck. Time is dragging when it comes to getting into the place, but moving so quickly when it comes to going to work, getting ready for the Cancer Walk in San Francisco, getting ready for the girls birthdays these next three months. So much to do, and not enough time.

I would really love to get the new bedrooms painted before we move in, but I figure the house is large enough for us to camp out in other rooms while we paint the bedrooms. I still need to get the girls to Home Depot or Lowe's and let them look at paint colors. One of the officers at work has an airless sprayer he is going to lend us to get the painting done faster. No more rolling and brushing! (Thank you Will!)

Cam has been bringing boxes home from work every morning. We have been using them to pack up the rest of the house, and also sharing them with my Mom's neighbor Jerry, also with Jeri's (another co-worker) Mother. I am getting tired of having boxes everywhere in the house, but I have to be patient. It will be a couple of months before all the boxes are gone and everything is put away in the new house. My goal is to have everything set up, wiped down, put away, etc by the holidays. I would LOVE to have everyone over at our new house. A place to gather, to celebrate and to relax, together.

I have SO many projects I want to start right now, but really need to wait until we get into the house and settled. I have dresses I want to sew for Jocelyn; quilts I want to make for two special little girls; jams, jellies and butters I want to make to restock my shelves; photos to take, print, frame and hang; and SO much more...

Updates...

There is a local consignment shop we love to visit. It's called Jeannie's, and you never know what you might find there; original oil paintings, one of a kind furnishings, antique toys and jewelry, I have even purchased a trailer ball and extention for my van at this place. Anyway, this past week my Grandmother found a dining room table, complete with eight chairs and a leaf, that she thought would be a perfect housewarming gift. I went with my Mother and Grandmother to look at it on Tuesday. It will be a wonderful new addition to our new dining room. (Thanks Grandma!) (My old dining room table will be in the laundry room for now, to use for sorting and folding. It is a beautiful old table with claw feet, two drop ends, a leaf and actual gears underneath. It used to belong to a church and was given to me by an old co-worker of my Mom's.) While we are still waiting for the septic to be installed, we do not have permission to move anything into the new house yet. So....we had to store the new table in my Mom's garage. (Thanks Mom!)
We picked up the table and chairs yesterday, playing tetris with the pieces to get them all into the back of my little truck (with the tool box and lumber racks on), and my Mom's car. Gavin was a help in climbing in and around the furniture to place the blankets between and pieces that may rub together during the transport. (Thanks Gavin!)

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It has been a couple of months, but I just came across this photo and thought I would share it. We had a report of a fawn that had been abandoned in a yard in town. The caller advised the fawn had been in the same place since the afternoon before and was possibly injured. It must have been later in the day, or a holiday as we did not have Animal Control on duty and had to send and officer to check out the situation. Per the Department of Fish and Game, if the animal is able to get on its feet, we are to leave it alone. However if the animal is unable to get up and has obvious injuries, officers are to dispatch the animal. What the officer found, was a very dehydrated fawn in need of some help, but no obvious injuries. The fawn was brought back to the police department while we tried to find a rescue center to take it in. After just a few phone calls we were able to located a rescue volunteer right here in town!
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Cam and me ....

Can he do it?

This made me laugh...Thanks Rob!

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Andy...

It has come to my attention that I cannot blog about things of which I do not want my husband to know. (I say this jokingly as I could never hide anything from Cam.) You see, last week while we were working on the new house, trying desperately to finish the flooring by the deadline, Cam received a call from his buddy Andy. It seems Andy keeps up with the blog, and wanted to know Cam's take on my idea of filling the spare rooms with children, and relegating the 'Man Room' to one of the outbuildings. It turns out that Cam does not always keep up with my blogging, and had no idea what Andy was talking about when he began the conversation with 'What's this about you not getting the Man Room?'

Although I love to see Cam keep in touch with old friends, I had to remind him of the deadline. (Andy, we made our deadline, Cam will be calling you to continue the conversation. Oh, and thanks for telling him about your new motorcycle. I received a call at work, and the first words out of Cam's mouth were "I bought a motorcycle.") Thanks Andy...Love ya! :)

Little Helpers

The babies, Claire and cousin Matthew, supervising during home repairs.

How to live your life...

Live your life
in such a way
that when your feet
hit the floor in the morning
Satan shutters and says,
"Oh [Snap]! She's awake!"

Thanks Lillian

House Update...

We are in escrow!
The roof inspection was completed last week. The house needs a new roof within the next 2-3 years. If we do it now, we can get the amazing deal of $5700 ($2300 less than I thought it would be)! The heating and air inspection was also last week. The air unit is industrial size and works wonderfully, although it does need a new thermostat. (It successfully froze Gavin during the night while he was watching the house for us.) The fire place needs a new block (?) but works, and the pellet stove is inoperable and to old to fix. I would have worried about how to heat the family room if my Mom's neighbor, Jerry, had not offered to give us his potbelly stove in exchange for boxes to pack his belongings for his move.
The septic inspection was also last week. The house needs a new septic. Am I ready to give up? NO! The seller has to fix the septic, so it will only mean we won't be able to move in as soon as we wanted.
The pest inspection was also supposed to be last week, but has not yet been completed.
The appraisal was yesterday morning. I am trying to be patient while waiting for the results. The appraisal is the only thing we have been waiting on to order the loan documents....

A Quote from Jocelyn

Mommy, you know how everything feels the same, unless it is something different?