New Addition

Meet Titan, he is the newest addition to our household!

Ethan and I have talked for years about getting a dog for our family eventually. First it was a matter of breed, that took forever. Talked about temperament, hair length,(I am allergic, but can become immune to animals in my own home.), size, how old it should be when we get it, how they do with kids. We finally settled on a Redbone Coonhound. If you have ever seen "Where the Red Fern Grows", that is the kind of dog we are talking. They are known for being an amazing hunting dog. And yes, Ethan is planning on training it for coon hunting. No, I don't have an issue with hunting.

We started looking around to pretty much anything touching our state. Checked pounds and rescue centers, private breeders, websites, Facebook. We knew we wanted a puppy, Ethan was shooting for something younger that 6 months, I was shooting for at least a year old. I wanted it pass a lot of the puppy stage. There were lots of dogs out there, but most of them were too old for training, or would not have been able to handle being a hunting dog (mainly the abused rescue shelter ones). We also didn't want one to be microchipped, and that is a whole different story. Most of the high end shelters required it be done before adoption.

After several weeks of searching, Ethan comes across one that was very, very reasonably priced. The gentleman selling them privately had been raising hunting dogs for years, had them registered, and as I said very reasonably priced. The gentleman was down in Virginia, but when we looked on the map, it turned out not to be too far away from where Ethan's sis. Auby lived, so the commute wasn't an issue. We asked why he was selling them for cheap, and it turned out that there were 11 in the litter. He wanted to make sure he was going to be able to sell them all. They were only born in Oct. so they weren't available at the time of the call, but would be soon.

The first weekend in Dec. Ethan and his sister Alycia drove down and chose a male puppy and brought him back home. Three days later we finally agreed on a name that we both liked and the kids could pronounce. Titan is a very energetic, 9 week old pup. We are trying as hard as we can to get the housebroken stage thing done, but I know it will take a little while. The kids are doing well with him for the most part, but Titan really likes to jump and he is the size of Lyssa. Well we are trying. We'll let you know how it goes.

Questionaires by three people

Nessa's Questions

1. What is your coolest scar ad how did you get it? I have a faint blue scar in the crease between my mouth and nose from when I apparently stabbed myself with a pencil at the age of 2.

2. What do you want to do before you die? I would like to do some schooling, I have plans for next year to complete the Phlebotomy course they have at BC3, and start working for awhile, so Ethan can do some school while working parttime. I would love to go to Greece, and go skydiving.

3. What is the best book you have ever read? I don't have a favorite book, there are tons that I love, McIntyre Liar, The Face on the Milk Carton, one of the most influential ones would be, hands down, Go Ask Alice.

4. What is your all time favorite dessert? Chocolate in almost any form, preferably Dark.

5. The food you wish would be blown from the face of the Earth? Ummm...Cottage Cheese, or tapioca, lumpy foods like that disgust me.

6. Coolest person you have ever met? Honestly, my brother Alan, he in my opinion one of the most enjoyable, entertaining, caring, loving person I have every met. Not to say there aren't others out there, but off the top my head, he wins.

7. Person you miss the most? Well I miss Dad and Pap all the time, but as for living people, Sara Sherrin, my sis.-in-law, Sarah from Utah, and Alan on his mission.

8. Favorite childhood game? 4Square, there was one summer when I was like 11 or so, where we spent almost the entire summer down at the park, and that was the number one game we played there in the basketball court. It had the perfect sized squares, and we were all pretty good at it, could hold our own.

Katie's Questions

1. What is your creative outlet? I am not all that creative. I am not a crafty person, I hate knickknacks beyond all belief, don't own a sewing machine, though I have to admit that occasionally I get the urge to sew. Usually around Christmas time. I love Christmas time, that is the one time a year, I am willing to put up with knickknacks. So as for creative outlet? Christmas time.

2. What is your favorite place to be? Warm and cozy in my bed. Whether it is first thing in the morning with the kids jumping on us, to reading a good book, to cuddling with my Hubby.

3. Do you know, or have you ever had a collection of anything? Books, I like collecting books.

4. Share things or objects you love most and why? Besides the obvious, family, religion and friends. I love finished projects that turn out the way I expected them too. Christmas time, and finding the perfect present.

5. Why do you blog? It is easier for the people who actually want to know what is going on in my life to follow this, than trying to remember everything for the Christmas news letter. I like the journaling aspect of it. I don't enjoy the whole write in your journal thing, so this is easier, but still getting stuff down.

6. What is your take on pets in the home/ as family members? First off, I am allergic to all most all animals, excluding sheep and rabbits. While growing up we had one cat, one dog, and a slew of rabbits. The rabbits were kept indoor, and acted similar to cats. You can litter train them. I liked having rabbits. Since being married, we have had two cats. I don't know what happened to the first one, but the second lives outside. Ethan is rather short-tempered when it comes to animals. Very little tolerance for them. I have suggested a rabbit in the pass, his response was, "As long as it is for food storage". We have considered a dog, but that will be a while before that one happens. We want a Redbone Coonhound, their fur is short, and if we get it while it is young, my allergies have been known to adapt. I want an animal that can for the most part take care of itself, doesn't need my attention every single second, gentle with the kids, that sort of thing. You can fit those requirements, you are welcome to my family. As for people treating animals as loved ones, there is a point of obsession, but at the same time, as long as you remember who is human and who is animal, and you can afford to keep it up, go for it.

7. What are your internet guilty pleasures? FB, Hulu, and Mindjolt.

8. I hate the Dentist. Ok that's not a question, but it is open for discussion amongst yourselves.
I didn't hate the dentist until I started going while I was pregnant with Lyssa. I think it was mainly the dentist I had. He openly talked about how much he disliked his job, forgot to tell me I needed a root canal, found that out while checking out. Overall not pleasant to be around.


Dedra's Question

Corn, Chicken, and Tomato Chowder
1. What are your fav. soup and bread recipes?
1/2 lb of bacon cut into small pieces
2 medium to large onions diced
2 large cans of white chicken
2 cans (14 oz) diced tomatoes w/ garlic and onion
4 cans of corn niblets
2 boxes of chicken stock
1 pint of heavy cream
2 T Mrs. Dash seasoning to taste

Satue Bacon in soup pot. When almost done, add chopped onions and saute until transparent.

Add all ingredients except heavy cream. Cook on slow rolling boil about 1 hour. Then, add heavy crem, and cook 1 hour on slow simmer.

Keep warm until ready to serve.
This can be frozen.

Bread Sticks
3/4 c sugar
2 eggs beaten
2 1/2c milk
7 c. flour
1 T +1t salt
5 t yeast
1/2c butter

Melt butter and heat milk to lukewarm-not hot. Combine sugar, salt, yeast and eggs in a large bowl. Add milk and butter, let stand until yeast begins to bubble. Add flour and knead. Wash and spray bowl- place dough in bowl and place on shelf of stove to let rise until doubled. Punch down dough and shape into bread sticks. Let rise until doubled again on pilot light. Backe at 350 for 15 minutes.

2. What are you nickenames? Maggie-do is one my mom has given me. Maggie is one that most of my Utah friends and friends from high school use.

3. Where is your favorite place you have lived? Why? I love here. I love PA. I love that there are all the season, though I am not a fan of winter. I love the trees, and the humidity, I love the greenery and hills. I have lived in Utah, and Colorado, and spend time in Ohio, none compare. Utah is a dry baren dessert. I love arguing with Utahn about their lack of greenery. I don't care about mountains, they are giant rocks in my opinions. Colorado was pretty, but still not as green. Ohio is flat.

4. What kind of Camera do you have? Do you like it, hate it? We just got a new Nikon D3100. I love it.

5. What is the worst meal you had to eat? I am pretty good at avoiding bad meals, so nothing is coming to mind.

6. What is your favorite TV show that you probably shouldn't watch? Ethan hates that I watch Law and Order SVU. I watch Desperate Housewives, and where as I don't like all the affairs and sex stuff, I do like they way the address family issues and don't glamorize what life can be like for a housewife.

7. What is something you did as a child that you couldn't tell your parents until you were an adult? Umm, I can't think of one for myself, but I know Ethan accidently set fire in their garage and put it out, ran inside and told his parents that the garage was on fire, but not to worry that he had put it out. He only confessed before we got married.

8. Why do I blog? Already answered above.

Lyssa's 1st Birthday

One year ago, I was scheduled for an induction, because a certain little girl was taking her good old time coming into the world. It was schedule for 6am Monday. Sunday evening, I got all prepare, packed bags, french braided my hair, took a nice warm bath. All the things I could do to get ready. Now all I needed was a good nights rest, and I was ready to go. I always read before I go to sleep, so I read for about 20 minutes, then hit the hay. Twenty minutes later my water broke. "DANGIT!", was running heavily through my mind. I really wanted that night sleep. With Mark, my water broke right as I was going to sleep as well, and all I remembered was being absolutely exhausted through the entire labor. I was hoping to be a little more rested this time.

Oh well, I grab some food, while Ethan got ready. All this time, I am not feeling any contractions. Kate was called and she came over, we had it planned this time that she would be my coach. I love my husband, but he was a lousy coach. He was too distracted by everything else to help me out. We get into the car and head to the hospital. Mark was already spending the night elsewhere, because we knew we would be going in for the induction early. Arriving to the hospital at 10:30 pm, we were taken up to the birthing suite.

I knew what to do this time, knew when to get into the hot tub, when to get the epidural, how to time it out. Kate and I had practice all the exercises, and Ethan slept on the couch. I tried hard to sleep but the nurse kept coming in and out, kind of annoying. Finally I could feel the contractions finally being uncomfortable, so I told them I was ready for the epidural once I finished with the hot tub. Epidural came about 6 am, and I was about 5 cm. Then we just sat there waiting for time to pass. I got checked about 10:45 am and was told I was fully dilated. I wasn't feeling a thing, so the nurse suggested that if I wasn't feeling the need to push, to let my body continue to do my thing, and they would be calling the midwife from the doctor's office next door to the hospital. Lori (midwife) showed up about 11:30, checked me out and said, yep, you are ready to go. She then proceeded to tell me that the baby would take about 10 min. I didn't believe her. I had gotten the epidural with Mark, but it had worn off just as it was time to push, and then I pushed for 1 1/2 hours. I was expecting the same amount of time. I started pushing with the contractions and after three sets of contractions, Lyssa Michelle Fike was born at 8lbs and 20 inches long at 11:42 am. And I didn't feel a thing.

Now Lyssa is a very happy little girl. She can walk, has 6 teeth, babbles like a pro. She has been sleeping through the night since she was 3 months. She loves any kind of electronic, remote controls, phones, keyboards, etc. She is tiny. She has a doctor's appt on Thursday, so I will know for sure, but I am guessing she is about 15.5 lbs, and still hasn't doubled her birth weight. Her lasted growth spurt has given her height, so I don't know how tall she is. She is the worlds lightest sleeper, and we can't go into her room once she is asleep or she will wake up. The blanket that Marme made for her has been declared her lovey within the last month. She doesn't use a pacifier anymore. Fake crying is her favorite past time. Her giggles are deep sound stomach giggles. Lyssa is actually ticklish, unlike Mark. Loves being upside down, but doesn't like heights. Can do stairs, but avoids them like the plague. Loves bath time, but can't hold still long enough to put a new diaper on.

Question

With the recent turn over of Prop. 8, it has gotten me thinking about it a lot. I can understand why people think it should be allowed. The basic thought being, "If two people love each other, why not?". The biggest argument against the idea of gay marriage were mainly for religious reasons. And if you aren't religious, it holds no ground. Then there is the part that marriage is for the procreation of children. Well not everyone that gets married want to have kids, and not all couples are able to have children. (Personally, I think trying to use the argument of couples not being able to have kids is an apples and oranges situation, and shouldn't be use.)



Well, here is what I think.

I think it is unreasonable to expect people to completely forgo religious belief.

Christians make up 76%, Jews about 2%, Muslim 1%, Atheists make up 4% and 14% are agnostic, leaving the rest unspecified (Wiccans, Hinduism, Buddhist, etc...) within the USA. After looking at numerous polls and studies, it basically came down to 70% believe the Bible to be the true word of God. Other religions such as Muslim and Jews have their own books, The Koran, and The Torah. All of which said homosexuality is an evil/bad/perverted thing.

So with that, there are churches that are "seeing past" what their own books say, saying things like," the book is old, we need something more modern." Or taking out other scriptures and saying who are we to judge. Still doesn't negate what it has originally said. Lev. 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination.

So with this, very basic, very easily understood statement. WHY, then are we expected to encourage something, that with in our deep beliefs is an Abomination. Why are we expected to basically ignore our religious thoughts and beliefs that most of us hold dearer to ourselves than almost anything besides family.

A friend of mine wrote a blog article that frankly, I couldn't have said better(Thank you, Sara)

1. People, homosexuality is of the devil. It says so in the bible and I am going to side with the God who created me more than with idiots running around naked saying I am not tolerant. Yeah I am not tolerant. I am not tolerant to sin. Before anyone gets on his high horse and start preaching that I am not very nice, well let me tell you something. I do have gay family members and friends and I love everyone of them. But I refuse to believe that they have the right to change what God himself formed and ordered. A marriage is not merely a piece of paper. It is a union of two souls for eternity. It was ordered by God to Adam and Eve so they could bring more souls to this earth and so they could be something greater than mere bodies.

2. Another reason why I was angry was the fact that they dared march on sacred Temple grounds trying to show that we are not tolerant and that we hate everyone. Are they insane?

3. With gay marriage being legal in a state, that state has the right to educate children that homosexuality is normal and no parent can do anything about it. I am sorry but WHAT? Parents are the primary educators of their children and therefore have a divine right to know what is being taught to their children. If a teacher dare ever tell me that I don't have a right to know what he or she is teaching my children, well that teacher might well get out of my way because I am very protective of the people I love.

4. The whole argument about how 'unconstitutional' the proposition was is ridiculous. Apparently what the proposition did was put opposite sex couples above same sex couples. Of course we are superior. We can procreate which is our main divine purpose on this earth and same sex couples cannot. The end.

5.5. The fact that one person can overturn what millions of people voted on seems ridiculously flawed to me. The Californians voted and the proposition passed. Get over yourself. You want to be gay legally, move to another state where it is legal or move to France. How can one person completely rule out what millions of others agreed on?

They are too cute

Baby naming

Now that I am a mother, and am at that stage in life where friends are having babies, I am truly realizing the importance of a baby's name. I definitely have some firm opinions when it comes to baby names. But I don't think I am being outrageous about the rules considering it is more consideration for the child who will go by that name. For instance, I am rather anti - family names, especially if you aren't married to the other person. Now there are times and places where it is appropriate, but for the most part, no family names. When my sister was expecting her first, I was talking to my piano teacher about it, and he said," She should name him, Bruce Ernest". (Her f-i-l, and our Dad's name, both having died within the last year and half before this pregnancy.) There are many other ways to honor a dead relative. But here are some basic rules.

• 1. If you hate the family name, don't use it. I don't care if that relative saved your life in 'Nam'. If you don't like it, use something else.
• 2. Don't add extra letters just for the sake of making it look "cooler".
• 3. Be nice, and double check initials for bad words.
• 4. Be nice and make sure it doesn't rhyme with something that will get the child made fun of for the rest of their life.
• 5. Don't name your child after Jesus.
• 6. No rhyming names between siblings. Ex: Kevin and Devin. (RL Ex of a set of twins I know.)
• 7. If you 'have to' mess up the spelling, don't go overboard.
• 8. NO NOUNS. Ex: Rainy Rose. I don't care, don't do it.
• 9. If you are making up a name, stay away from Q's. Ex: LaQuinta
• 10. Names after virtues are not going to give a child with that virtue. Ex: Chasity, Charity, Hope, etc.
• 11. Tongue-twister names are just plain mean.
• 12. I generally say to stay away from any name that is in the top 10 most popular names. Too many kids by the same name.
• 13. All of theses rules apply to nicknames as well. Check any and all possible nicknames for said birth name.
• 14. If you have given a pet your fav. name, then get pregnant, do not give the child the same name.
• 15. I am not an advocate for gender"safe/confusing" names. More specially when they really aren't gender safe anymore. Ex: Marion, Stacy, Ashley.
• 16. Any guy names that sounds like it came from a Danielle Steed book. Ex: Tane, Justus Brice.
• 17. If you are going to spell the name oddly, you have no right, whatsoever to get mad at mispronunciations. Ex: Nate', pronounced Na-tay-a.
• 18. No rhyming with last names, no rhyming period!!!! No first names same as last names for that matter. Ex: Robert Fobert (RL friend), David Davids.
• 19. Nothing that can be misconstrued as a possible porn name or a sexual act. Ex: LaPleasure, or B.J.
• 20. The name should not be longer than the child at birth. Ex: Meloncholia Francessca Antouinette.
• 21. NEVER AFTER AN Alcoholic beverage, you are just asking to pay for rehab. Ex: Brandy, Jack Daniels.

If you want some laughs http://www.notwithoutmyhandbag.com/babynames

Overall, just be courteous to the child, because eventually, they will probably be choosing your nursing home.

Question for you

Do any of you have random chinese comments left on your pages? I get them all the time, I am trying to figure out a way to get it to stop. I have gone private before, but I hated it, but I think I will need to do it again, unless someone has a good suggestion. Let me know.

Convo with Jenna

Jenna: (saying this walking behind me on the steps) Margaret, you have no butt.
Me: (a bit of eye rolling) Yes, Jenna, I am aware of having no butt.
Jenna: Its like whatever was supposed to be your butt, just went into your boobs.
Me: ( Just staring at her)

Idina Menzel, Baby Seth, New Shift, and kids!

Last Tuesday, Kate E., Amy C. and I went and saw Idina Menzel perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. SHE WAS AMAZING! IF you don't know who she is, she was the original Elphaba in Wicked, Maureen in Rent (play and movie), the girlfriend in Enchanted, and a guest star on Glee. She did a wonderful slew of songs, from 'Life of the Party', 'Funny Girl', 'I'm not that Girl', 'Pokerface'(she apologized to the orchestra for making them do it, but they did an incredible job), 'There is only this', and thankfully 'Defying Gravity'. There was a standing ovation, so she came back on stage and did 'The Sun will come out tomorrow. She told stories about each of the songs and such. There was one which was a song that she and her husband sing to their little boy Walker(10months) that the pianist made an accompaniment for the Orchestra to play. It was adorable, talked about waking up and what kind of dreams did you have Walker, things like that. We were lucky enough to get superb seats, front row balcany, just off to the right of the middle. I don't think we could have gotten better seats if we had been willing to spend more. It was a sold out show. We had a blast!!!!

Ethan and I have a new nephew, Aubrey and her hubby Patrick just had their new little boy on Saturday, Seth Patrick, weighing in at 7lbs 3oz, and 20 1/2 inches long. He was a week overdue, but I think it was on purpose, so he could hit Auby and Patrick's first Anniversary. Congrats on the new baby!

We went down to Virginia on Saturday to visit the new baby.

This was on the way back from Virginia, Lyssa loves her french fries.

The kids are doing well, Mark has started potty training and is doing very well, I need to thank Vanessa for jump starting it with him. She was watching the kids when we were at the concert, and her little one is trained already, so she showed him and since then, we haven't had much of an issue getting him to go. He is constantly on the go.

Lyssa has been crawling for about 8 weeks now, and has just started furniture walking. She'll be 10 months next week. Has three teeth and a stubborn 4th on the way. She has taken to baby food rather well, and is currently being weaned a little bit, down to about 2-3 feedings a day, for no other purpose than I would like to be done by the time she is 12 months. Mark weaned himself off by 9 months, but she doesn't seem to be liking that idea at all. So we will do it very gradually.

Ethan's job just had a new shift bid, and he is now going to start working daylight! This is excellent news, I can't wait to start on a new schedule. A little more normal bed times for everyone, and it will be nice to have evenings with him. Ethan and a friend of his are currently working on a new project, trying to make generator that is run by magnets. Don't ask me, it is over my head. But they seem to be enjoying it.

I have two beautiful little nieces that I babysat quite regularly. Kira is 3 and Ri is 2 and for the most part, Mark, my 2 yr old got along pretty well with them. The girls just moved away this last week, and it will be about 4 months before I see them again. Since they have been gone, I have been reflecting back on the things that would happen between the three of them. All three of them are very headstrong when they wanted to be. Kira was a girly girl and very inquisitive about anything and everything. Ri, when she wasn't happy, she let you know you, but she could also be the sweetest thing with her genuine smile and laughter.

I definitely had my bad days with them, but we also had fun days playing cowboys and Indians, watching movies, and helping me make cookies. We read stories and played outside. I would try to protect Lyssa from Kira and Ri's never ending desire to hold her and try to play with her.

There are many different stories that have happened when my back has been turned, such as the time I was taking care of things upstairs only to come down and find that the three of them has decided they need to cook and proceeded to break 2 dozen eggs on the kitchen floor and throw cheese into a pot. Bopbop (Grandpa Fike's nickname by the kids) was their savior from me that day by showing up early to pick them up that night. Or when I set up the wading pool, it took me several tries of forcing them into the water before they realize they were suppose to play in it with their swimsuits and diapers on. Many a diapers were found off the porch the following day. The wading pool had an inflatable whale thing in the middle of it with a hook-up for the hose to do a sprinkler effect. Mark and Kira loved it, Ri would freak out and run as far away as she possibly could.

There is one thing I was very happy to see pay off right before they left. Ri, as much as I love her and all, she can be a very whiny pushover. Mark and Kira would take toys from her, push her, anything, and she would just stand there and whimper or whine at them. Sorry, but even at the age of 2, whining isn't going to get you anywhere. It would drive me nuts that she wouldn't even try to defend herself or try to get the toy back. I know Mark and Kira needed to stop doing things to her, but she was making herself and easy mark. So one day in desperation, I watched was Mark took a toy from her, and her just stand there and whine, I grabbed Mark and Ri and made them face each other and told Ri, that if Mark or Kira did something that they shouldn't do like take a toy, or push her over, to push them back. Then I literally had her practice. At the time, Kira and Mark had a hay day being pushed by Ri. This took place months ago and was repeated about once a week, until she stopped whiny when they did something. I know many people would completely disagree with my parenting technique, and I did discuss this with Sara, the girl's mother, but I really felt like she need to learn to stand up to them. And frankly, I wanted someone Mark's age to stand up to him and not let him get away with being bullyish. I can only do so much and usually only after something has already occurred. But if she started fighting back, he wouldn't be so willing to do mean things to her. Well last Sat. was the last day I watched them and Sara stayed around after she was done with work. Mark and Ri were walking passed us and Ri tripped and accidentally hit Mark on her way down. He was like "Hey!" and kind of hit her and then she proceed to hit him three times in a row. I am sorry to say, it was really amusing. Sara and I stopped them from going further, and made them say sorry, but I was happy to see Ri stand up for herself. Now will be the time that I teach Mark when and how much is appropriate, but for now, I am glad to say neither of them are pushovers.

Ri and Mark at the Lodge.

This was common occurance.

They tried hard to "share".

Mark and Kira playing at Dave and Kita's wedding.

At Aubby's wedding

So for now, I say I love and will miss you guys altogether, you definitely gave me some fun memories.

I woke up to a little boy trying to climb into bed with theses.

What a wonderful breakfast in bed.

Then later on, I found him naked under Lyssa's crib. Not sure on that one, but it made me laugh.

Daily, I feel like there isn't anything to write about on here, but as I look back at the last couple of weeks, a lot of things have happened.

Awhile ago, Mark got too close to our propane heaters and singed his hair. In an attempt to save it, we just cut off the orange parts, but finally gave into buzzing it all off. I don't like. I miss his longish hair, and I think he looked better with it. It will grow back. See buzz cut in pictures from previous post. He is talking a lot and very cunning. He will do anything to get Lyssa's pac. And I mean anything. I have had more than one person mention that he seems a little old for the pacifer, and I am in complete agreement. But good luck keeping him from it. I mean it. I took my Aunt out to Ohio on Thursday and she got to see first hand just how far he will go to get it. He is at the point that first thing in the morning he brings me one for Lyssa, I say thank you, two seconds later, he has one in is own mouth. Thinks he should be able to keep it because he was "sharing".

Lyssa is doing extremely well, a bit of a lightweight right now. Check ups were this last week with a new doctor, and as much as Lyssa has only gained 1 lb in the last three months, her growth in general is still great. Many speculations for the lack of weight gain being due to a very cold winter, the fact that she is very mobile (not crawling yet, but is on all fours trying the torpedo launch forward) going backwards, rolls over, all that fun stuff. She is starting solids and despises rice cereal with a passion. She can sit up, no teeth yet, but is a drooling machine. Sleeping through the night was something she did very early on, and luckily for us a habit she decided to keep. Overall, very cute, very cuddly, and very lovable baby girl. Six months last Sunday!

Around the house, with the tax return, we have been working on finishing the kids room, they are painted and just need the trim and baseboards put on, then we are finished!!!!! Mark has been moved out of the toddler bed and into the double bed that we have. His room is a ridiculously bright yellow color, and we found the playmats that you connect together, got a bunch of them and uses those as his carpet. Lyssa will stay in her crib for a long time to come, but is now in her own room which is green with pink ladybugs, flowers and dragonfly decals. We bought a new window to replace one in the living room, and now that it has warmed up, it will be going in soon. The shelves in the storage room were finished as well!!! It looks so nice.

Also with the tax return came a downpayment on a new car. We had a '99 Hyundai Elantra with 102k miles on it. Struts were gone, crack in the windshield, brakes and roters have been needed to be replaced every year we have had it, recently replaced the clutch, basically it was becoming a money pit. Since we live in PA where all the season are actually tangible, not just a change in clothing lines, we had only three criteria. Decent gas mileage, 4 doors and at least allwheel drive. This last winter reminded us how much it would have been to have allwheel drive. We went to three different dealerships before finding one. I got to try my hand at truly haggling prices. I don't like it but I did managed to bring down the price by about 2K. YEAH ME!!!

A 2007 Suzuki SX4 with 43K miles on it. YEAH!

So that pretty much sums up what has been happening with us. Ethan is still working, I started going back to the theater for a whole 4 hours a week. I am still watching my S-i-L's girls three times a week, but they will be leaving soon to a brand new life down in Texas. Mark is going to miss the girls, but I'll be honest, I will not miss the messes of three of them together.

We got pictures taken the other day. Mainly it was for Lyssa, pictures of her in her blessing dress, then individuals with Mom and Dad, then family pictures afterward. We did the same with Mark. We had a hard time getting the kids to smile, apparently Mark decided before pictures that nap time needed to be earlier in the day than normal. Of course that time was during pictures. Lyssa, even with Tylenol, was a teething monster. I am happy that pictures turned out as well as they did.

New family pics

My feelings about winter.

Silly putty

Out of order of course, but here is an updated pic of our little girl!

While Christmas shopping this last time, Ethan and I found a bunch of $1 silly putty. We have seen Kira and Ri playing with it during Sacrament meeting and it seems to be a pretty big hit with them as well as being a quiet toy. So we bought some for Mark.

Last night he went to bed with it. Ethan finds him with three big globs in his hair this morning. At first we were thinking we might just have to shave all of his hair off, but after talking to Marme, she suggested peanut butter. I have heard of using peanut butter on gum, but have not heard anything about silly putty. The first two globs came out pretty easily, but the last one was really thin and matted in by his roots. Several more globs of peanut butter were thrown in, and I am sure I will continue to find bits an pieces of silly putty in his hair for a while, but he did manage to look decent again. I am glad we were able to save his hair. I don't want to shave it. I love it too much.

I love being a mom, I love my children. But to most of you who really know me, know that I am not a child person on any level. I didn't like babysitting as a youth, I liked the kids just fine, but I have a hard time especially with young children. The lack of understanding what they are trying so hard to say. Rereading the same book, playing the same games over and over again. Constant repetition of praise, encouragement, discipline, I find it very taxing sometimes. Please don't get me wrong, I love these children. I don't know if this is coming to a head because we haven't had a working car, so I have been very much housebound for the last week or what. But I need some adult conversation time.


Yesterday at church, my friend Kate wasn't feeling well and was trying to figure out about work. She has been working at the same movie theater that I have been working at on and off for about 4 years now. I haven't worked there since before Lyssa was born. I told her I would cover for her, and I was able to. I had a blast. I like working. I like the social atmosphere. There is only one job I have had that I didn't like. That was Bath and Body Works, and that was because the managers didn't listen when you had something to say. I loved just being out of the house and being around other people.

Slow and painful death...

A couple of weeks ago, while I was getting ready for a bath, I notice the water was extremely hot. Almost to boiling point. I thought it was odd, and decided to ignore it right then. Then I went to do dishes, water is still really hot. A couple more times this happens so I tell Ethan. He didn't quite believe me, or just thought I was exaggerating. Then no hot water at all.... This is getting annoying. Ethan checks the breaker, its fine, then checks the fuse, it is blown. We go and get another. The water temp gets turned down to below hot. It is still boiling hot water though. A week goes by, the fuse blows again. We know something is going on, but aren't really sure what. The fuse has blown two more times since then, and when Ethan checked it again this morning, there is water all around it. Cracked. Grrrr.... As an attempt to look on the bright side, the new one has a lifetime warranty, and is an 80 gallon instead of 50, which is what we had. Knock on wood that this is the last appliance for a while to die.

Going Private

Going Private, leave a comment with your email address and I will add you.