My momma made me clean my house

While our basement was flooding, I called my mom and raised the white flag. I know that I call our families for anything at anytime and they will be here. But once they are called into action it is difficult to call them off. Since it seems to be a city responsibility, and the nature of the water was something we definitely did not want to to deal with, we hired a company to do it. So while the basement was being dredged out and defungified, my sister organized a school shelving unit out of control, (after she brought coffee and donuts, her labeler, and organizing boxes) my dad hung out with the kids (and they loved it), and my mom made me clean my room . . . and more (but she cleaned our bathroom, changed our sheets, did our dishes and laundry!) . It makes a great start to the new year. Thank you so much moma, papa, and Tracey.
P.S. I fell asleep before I could take pictures. What a week . . . .

Let's recap, shall we

So our blog has been quiet lately. Here are some reasons why. That sleep study and machine are not making a difference yet. I am still so tired at about 1 or so I very honestly can not keep my eyes open, driving or not. I am on my third trial mask. Let it be said that I did not try my best! The kids though are not helping. Seriously, our son was recently seen for health and sleep issues (falling asleep and staying asleep).

Then there is this guy:

Oh sure, he looks cute and Innocent now! He is tired from potty training, seeking out Isobel's dolls and stuffed animals, teething on Everett's Lego's, and dragging out dirty laundry where ever he finds it. Really, he is a lot of fun . . . but a lot of work too. He does great in the car (as you can see), is learning to obey (I can not wait for Everett's elective school course of dog training classes to start in January). He has been so sweet to all our friends kids too. Boxers are just awesome family dogs!

But back to it . . . . Christmas happened. Yikes it came and went so fast there are barely any pictures of it. Just the traditional Santa pictures for my mom (only for her and his 40 year tradition, other than our focus in on the birth of Jesus!)

Then there have been days like this: Who are they you ask? Fantastic city employees! You see, my husband is working nights. So once again the kids and I (and the dog) need to vacate the premises early so daddy can sleep. Today I was originally going to post about how I live life with my friends. I do! We do! We care for each others kids, make meals for each other, pray for each other, school with each other, vent and praise together. So today was no different with breakfast at Carolynn's then a walk, games and lunch. Simple right? That was until I decided to get a frozen dinner from downstairs in the freezer. Simple right? That was until the 6 inches of water and possible electrical current persuaded me to go no further. Ok, guess I will get dinner later, let Ian sleep, and tell him when he wakes up. So after minimal sleep my knight rises, learns of the problem and takes action. Simple right? That is until four hours and $200 later you are know further along than when you started. So I start calling pluming companies to admit defeat. Simple right? Nope. Many are over booked so no immediate help. As I go to inform Ian, he is coming in to inform me that the neighbors have 6 inches of yucky water too. Hmmm? So we call the city. Simple right? Nope. The dispatcher can not reach anyone. With the water level rising I start emptying my freezer and filling the kitchen one and a neighbors with all our hand picked berries and frozen meat. On my way back to meet the one plumber I could find, I hear a loud truck noise. That's right! The sewer company DID respond and started working on it right away. Simple right? Until Carolynn calls:(She offered to keep the kids so I could attend ANOTHER sleep related appointment). Her van has run out of gas and is stranded with her six and our two kids in her 12 passenger van with it's flashers blinking that no one, including a police officer, has stopped to check on. (*for the record she states that this has not happened since 1988*). So I leave Ian to hash things out with a city manager as to the damage to our home, grab our full gas can and hustle out to meet her.

With everyone settled back at home, I feed the family, sweep.mop.and vacuum the kitchen floor to kill any nasty germs from our boots during the day. Kiss Ian good bye (on the cheek since I have a cold), play with then tuck in the kids, feed the dog and contemplate the next step.

So see, just since the blog is quiet, does not mean that the house is.

So Simple

Our children's favorite toys of late are so basic! The old fashion piece of rope is in high demand. Right now they are having a giddy time with an unopened package of pull ups. Recycled items, soap, paper, ect. Nothing in current society someone would set out to purchase "toys". This should make Christmas easy . . . .

Meet Gus

Therapy in action. The days following Tegan were defiantly missing something. Like four legs. Do we wait? Do we not? We told the kids soon, but not right away. That was Thursday. Friday we searched online and local. Saturday we drove to Everett to visit this guy. He seems to have found Tegan's groove and fallen in it. Loving it!

He's great! And we are having fun.

There's Stuff On My Floor

and there is no one picking it up. Our beloved Tegan passed away today.

I had to call Ian home from work. I have never done that. I have asked him to hustle home, but never leave work. He happens to work only 5 minutes away and our son needed his daddy! He was here right away. I was strong until I saw him, then I lost it. He was so strong and took action. He did all the right things right way, even making dinner. It could not have been easy for him.

It made me start sobbing all over again as I brought in the dinner dishes. Pre-dinner ingredients on the floor and scraps on the plates. Tegan was a birthday present to Ian 9 years ago. My husband wanted a house, so he could have a yard, so he could have a fence, so he could have a dog. Tegan was our first living responsibility. He was a moma's dog though. Always right behind me as I worked in our home. He would cuddle with me in the morning as I drank my coffee. This bedtime hour is super hard though. Everett and Tegan have always been together as far as Everett is concerned. In fact, Tegan probably had more of the bed the last couple of years! He was our buddy and a family member. Here are some things we will remember about him:
-The way he always walked himself home the last hundred yards or so of a walk, playfully wrestling his leash as we went.
-The large guy thought he was a lap dog . . . at 90lbs!
-How he SO gently took treats from your hands
-Protector of his kids and their friends.
-If he barked he was allowed to eat it, since he rarely did. Chances were if he did not like it, we would not either.
-He would sit so upright, he looked like a human.

I've been wanting to say something for a while now

This is my friend. I love her. She is the best cook I know (that will only offend you until you enjoy her cooking). Her home is warm and welcoming. She has a Master's in organizing a full home. She always looks fabulous. Her wisdom is superb in faith, marriage, and homeschooling.

At times we school together, together, shop together, pray together, vent together, and encourage each other. And to think I could have missed out on all of it. I met her six years ago on a whim. I was at her house with my first born, who was still so young and laying in front of me at my feet, when her then baby boy, toddled over and sat on Everett's head. Being a new mom, at a strangers house, I did not know how exactly to handle the situation. Remain calm? Can you remove someones child? Comment to his mother? Nock off her son to rescue my own?

It is now a story that we laugh about as our boys are now great friends. We talk multiple times a day! And I am blessed to have her as one of my core friends.

Oh, HE is so good

The weather is crazy right now, like 60+ mph winds. Earlier this morning (1 am) Ian was working at the hospital making sure its generators and breakers could power everything during a power outage. Good thing since we lost power at 7:30 tonight. I was out having dinner with girlfriends, when the power went out there too. Since dinner was over and Ian texted me "the kids are freaking", I thought I would stop and pick up batteries and flashlights, that I had been dragging my feet in buying. I loath the price of batteries! God had us covered though. I spent a disgusting amount for them, yet due to sales I saved almost half. Half! On a night where the power goes out. Cool. Thank you Lord for always covering the details (and my little behind).