A New Family Member...

Introducing....

Bailey!!!

I've mentioned us thinking about getting a dog a couple of times. Yesterday Todd and the kids went to two shelters to see what they could see. They found Bailey. I went back with them, agreed that she is a lovely dog and so she is now part of our family!

She came to the shelter from a rancher along with three other dogs. He listed her as being about two years old and having some golden retriever in her. I think she weighs about 35 pounds but needs to gain a little weight as she is pretty gaunt. She is so sweet and mild-mannered. One hardly knows she's there. She's housebroke! She'd been at the shelter for three weeks, and they'd never heard her bark. Neither have we. She's great with the kids and is eating up all the attention she's getting. We think she'll be a little more spunky once she gains some weight and settles into our home. She responds to some commands and has already shown herself to be VERY bright in learning new things. Of course time will tell, but I think we've found the perfect doggie for our family.

She has kennel cough and will need to be "fixed." We'll take her to the vet this week and make plans to take care of both those things. And she's getting a bath. Today. :O)

Kindrid has such a heart for dogs and just keeps saying over and over that she can't believe we now have one! She was very taken by surprise that we just found her and went and got her. I wish you could have seen her smiles!!

Brennen said on the way home with her, "I have a big thing of happiness in me, Mommy, because we got a dog."


They each got to pick out a toy for her and can't wait to take her for walks and teach her stuff etc. Their joy and her sweet spirit are providing much satisfaction in our decision to get her for Todd and me.

Welcome home, Bailey, welcome home!!!

Have a great week,
Christy

Update...

Hi,

I just have a couple minutes but wanted to share with you about Brennen. As the weeks went on in third grade, he began doing better and better academically and worse and worse in happiness. So today he once again began in second grade. Since last week when we made the decision to move him back, we've seen him relax so much more and become a much happier kiddo. He got B's and A's on the third grade progress report which was awesome, but he felt very pressured to keep up and was very lonely. The one friend he'd made began ignoring him a couple weeks ago. By the beginning of last week he was begging to go back to second grade. We visited a lot with his third grade teacher and with Brennen. His third grade teacher said he'd likely be at the top of his class by the end of the year should he stick it out but he just was so miserable. At seven years old, we decided that our son's happiness was more important than him being challenged academically. He was thrilled to get to go back to his "real" class today. I can't tell you how tough these past weeks have been for us as parents. We know Brennen is capable of so much and want him to have those opportunities, but the cost was just too great. Thank you to all of you that prayed for him and gave me wise counsel as we struggled with this decision. :O)

We spent the last weekend at an indoor water park in Rapid City, South Dakota. They have a Chili's in that town...hmmm....maybe we'll be moving again?? :O) Ha! We went to celebrate our sixteenth anniversary and Valentine's Day. The kids had a great time. It was wonderful to be in a warm, humid environment in the middle of winter! :O)

Not much else is going on here. The whole "to stay in third or move back to second" decision loomed so large for the last couple weeks that it feels wonderful to be done with it!

Love you all,
Christy

All Good Things Must End...

Hi Everyone!

After a month-long visit, Todd's parents left us for greener (well, maybe not greener, but hopefully WARMER) pastures down Denver way for some time with Todd's sister and hubby. Here is a list of the things - that I can remember, anyhow - that my blessed father-in-law accomplished while he was here:

1. Covered hole in coat closet ceiling with an access panel where toilet from upstairs had leaked and been repaired.
2. Fixed closet door handles so they stay put.
3. Fixed the broken seal around the front door.
4. Replaced broken ceiling fans in the both kids' bedrooms.
5. Covered hole in attic vent where wildlife was free to come and go.
6. Fixed two shades in our Pella windows that wouldn't open.
7. Fixed a garage door brace that had fallen off.
8. Hung yard tool organizer in the garage.
9. Supervised plumber when toilet number two leaked and had to have hole cut in basement bathroom ceiling in order to be repaired. (!)
10. Repaired ceiling vent in basement bathroom (that I broke when trying to sop up water from said toilet leak).
11. Solved problem of "broken" (improperly vented) water heater and ran better venting.
12. Vented my previously-vented-to-the-closet-under-the-stairs-dryer to the outside.
13. Ordered and installed a turntable to replace the broken one in the microwave.
14. Ordered and installed a detergent cup to replace the broken one in the dishwasher.
15. Reattached several annoying pieces of trim that would come off each time I cleaned floors.
16. Covered outside opening to bathroom vent that was previously just open to whatever would like to use it as a home (think BIG Wyoming snakes and you come close to what I imagined might have entered my home through that hole!!)

I've surely forgotten a few things - and, no, you can't have him!!! He's all mine. Well, mine and Carrie's, I guess. :O) I told him I could hook him up with lots of friends in need of a handyman and he and my mother-in-law could travel all over the USA with free room/board as long as he wants!! :O) Thank you, Pa Ben, for all you did!!

Kindrid and Brennen enjoyed unlimited attention from Grandma Mary and the doggies. They both feel a little lost without their grandparents here.

Todd and I had a wonderful, relaxing time in Vegas with Carrie and Matt. We got to see the Blue Men (very funny), eat a lot, walk a lot, have breakfast with my Uncle Doug and have lots of highs and lows at the very scary, high rolling, penny slots!! :O) Todd did try a Texas Hold 'Em tournament and placed 5th out of 21. Not too bad for his first shot! It was so fun to hang with Matt and Carrie, enjoy warm air and palm trees and see all the surreal stuff (like living statues at the Venetian and those amazing fountains at Bellagio and walking under lionesses at MGM) that Vegas has to offer. I loved sleeping in, staying out late and just having time with Todd to have uninterrupted conversations. Thank you to my in-laws for staying with our kids and making our trip possible.

Brennen has settled into his class, seems to be doing alright for his first two weeks and is catching on to cursive. He learns any new stuff the teacher presents just fine. I'm working with him on some stuff they did earlier in the year. He has one friend he mainly plays with and comes out of class with a smile. Homework takes a bit longer as we have to add cursive and reviewing stuff they did earlier in the year to the nightly assignments. Please keep him in your prayers if you think of it.

Hope you are having a good start to your weeks! Love,
Christy