Braces and Puppies

BRACES!

Another week has passed and Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. We have lots to be thankful for: clean water, loving family, roof over our head, friends, ability to learn, decent health, legs that can walk and run, and so on.

Today, EDD got her top braces! How exciting!

The puppies continue to grow. We'll be sharing them with family during the Thanksgiving gatherings. Hopefully, that will all go well.

We ARE alive.

We are just busy with the usual stuff. Nothing big to speak of. We had allergies or colds or something floating around here. And, it takes time to play with those puppies. :-)

More dressing up, puppies, and fewer teeth

Yesterday, the kids dressed as an angel, a knight, and a sweetheart bat.

Today my EDD had 2 baby eye teeth and 4 molars pulled in readiness for braces. Check her new look and her siblings and puppies, too.

This Week - Acrobats, Executions, Knights and Puppies

What a BUSY week with so much going on.

Wednesday we all (dh included) went to the Renaissance Festival for a field trip. DS voluntarily posed for his own execution. Silly me missed taking photos of my eldest DD's acrobatics because I mistook her for some teenager I decided must be in line ahead of her. Moments later, I came to find out that teenager-looking acrobat was my very own DD. *sigh* But, I did catch the up and away of the younger DD. They both enjoyed their sky high thrill.

At the festival, my DS searched for a perfect sword and shield but DH talked him out of buying one there by telling him they could make a wooden set together at home. But, then yesterday, he decided what he really wants is a sword with a sheath and a shield. Being that Halloween is just around the corner, we found a perfect Crusaders set including the helmet, breastplate, sword, sheath, and shield all at a price DS could afford. :-) So, now he is a HAPPY camper (see photo) and DH has one less project to complete. And, I don't have to worry about sword wielding in the house since it's lightweight plastic rather than wood.

And, we are now the proud owners of not one but TWO cute Shih Tzu puppies that are about 6 weeks old. The blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty is Heidi Abigail and the studly, masked pup is Jacob (Jake) Bubba aka Superman. :-)

That's right, when we went to pick up our Heidi this afternoon, we were offered little Superman too. And we gave in. :-) So, the little yorkshire terrier I was dreaming of (not yet identified anywhere, of course) will have to come home later.

That's all for now.

Fall temperatures

Yay! Yesterday and today the weather is cool enough for pants!! I'm taking advantage of the chilly air while I can before another hot wave brings the shorts back out. :-)

Many days later

The weekend of October 14th, the old curtains got hung on the wall. My dh modified the curtain rods to work here and I just love those curtains! The deal was that he'd hang the curtains while I mowed the lawn.

I also surprised dh with an early birthday present--a garage sale find---a pub table and 2 chairs for his billiards room.

And, I'm happy to announce that the window washing project is over. However, I didn't actually remove all the screens, since many were very difficult to reach or remove. But, aside from that, the windows are cleaned inside and out. Sadly, they are not completely spotless...wah. That just seems to be asking too much. They are noticeably less dirty though. :-)

Also, our exterior lights are now all operable. Ok, we still have one set that needs an adjustment or a new photocell. But, I am thrilled with that project!

My kids are enjoying crafting. They've picked up their knitting looms and are making scarves. Of course, I got interested and started one too. Sat. Oct 20, I tried to figure out their knitting maching and was making great progress when suddenly Sun, Oct 21, it got stuck and I could not unstick it. The handle actually sprung out of the machine. In great frustration, I managed to free my knitting but ended up undoing it all when I discovered it had several holes and other flaws. So, the awesome knitting machine is now in the dumpster and I've restarted the project on a circular loom. The good news is it is already farther along than it was when the catastrophe hit.

The Aggies won again this weekend! Whoop!!!

And my dh was very, very happy with the hamburgers and sausages he grilled this weekend October 20). They were worthy of a photo, but we ate them. Yuummmyy!!

Saturday, the kids went to the Hallmark webkinz party as a sweetheart bat, the Princess of Hearts, and a prince. Cute!

Artwork

We hung new artwork above the fireplace. Now, if I could just get those curtains I've had laying around for a year, hung on the wall. Hmmm...maybe I should give up on modifying the old curtain rods from the old house and just find something new that works with these windows.

Puppy selection

The Aggies won! Yippee! Close one though.

My window washing project is moving right along. Hopefully soon I can post that it is complete!

Fall has come and it's time to prune all the growth from the summer of rain. Thankfully we've had fair weather to begin this task. We have quite the overgrowth in some areas. wah. I wish we could truly eliminate the weeds where there is supposed to just be mulch.

Oh yes, the puppy--well, we have chosen a lovely white female shih tzu which should come home with us in about 3 weeks. The kids are soo excited. In fact, they called my dh at work to ask what he thought about the owner's offer for buy 2 get one free so we would have more puppies per person to hold. DH still hasn't answered that question.

Anyway, it's time to find all those puppy supplies to welcome our new addition home.

Ahh another thought.. so today is Columbus Day and we've talked about Columbus and ds's lovely artwork featuring the Pinta, the Nina, and the Santa Maria and NOW I can return the lovely art work to the attic until next fall. Huurrrraaahhhhhhhh!

My latest addition to my repertoire of 'free' time (or 'stolen' or 'procrastination' time) is to dream and draw landscape ideas to add to our yard some day---maybe next year.
And, I've decided to spend some time making a portfolio of possible face paintings. The best resource I've found so far seems to be the internet (plus it's free compared to a book). But, since I can't take the internet with me wherever I might find myself face painting, I think I should make a colored pencil portfolio. And, that would provide practice to boot!

Plus, these stolen free time activities should make me smile and a goal for the future is to exhibit joy abundantly in my life. :-)

News and thoughts

We borrowed the dad of new pups, from a friend of ours for the past few days to see how we liked him. He passed. So, we should have a new shih tzu pup added to our household within a month.

Scrapbooking is fun, but I'm always behind. :-( wah

Soccer is good exercise.

I think food usually tastes better when someone else makes it and cleans up the mess. But, there are always exceptions to the rules.

It is good to learn something new every day.

Monday, I swept the front porch and wiped the door a bit. I must say that it really did make a difference.

Half of our windows have been cleaned inside and out. Half left to go. whew! (inspired by holidaygrandplan.com)

It's all in a day's work. he he he

UGh. It's anti-procrastination day (flylady.net) I've procrastinated again! Why do I keep doing that???

Be Quiet!

WHIST!!! (A new way to say shut up!) :-)

And to the kiddos. You have a grist amount. (a usual or required amount.)

So, here's a new line: "You have a grist amount of food so whist and eat!" heheheheh

Crocs

We like 'em! My ds has black disney ones too...but right now he's stuck on his boots. :-)

New Boots!

Last night, while continuing our hunt for cowboy boots, my ds informed me he has wanted a pair ALL his life, but thought they weren't available in his size. He tried to talk me into buying workboots at Academy when I suggested we go on an official date and see what we can find at the mall --which means he gets to stay up past his bed time. Fortunately, we found a black pair at Payless.

We finished off the date with hot chocolate (tea for me), a giant rice krispy treat, and a sandwich eaten outside the coffee shop.

Anyway, my ds was so elated to FINALLY own a pair of cowboy boots that he laid out his clothes in the doorway of his room before going to bed. Today, he is proudly sporting his new look.