Last Summer Friday.....

Yup, today is IT.  The very last Friday of Summer 2011!! Wow.  Hard to believe that the kids will be returning this Monday for a whole new year.  I'll have one in 5th, 8th and 11th!! Crazy!!!

I think we're all ready.  I've got most all the school supplies I know they need, and think they WILL need.  I never know exactly what the older 2 need until they come home from their first day of school.  That's always nice. (not really)

Cousin did Sydney's hair for her the other day! She looks so pretty!!! It's not AS blonde as it looks, but it's pretty blonde!!! She LOVES it,... especially all the layers! Oh and she's got a few feathers in her hair too,... that's the latest hair trend for girls these days.

Sydney's new look

She's anxious for school to start, I'd say she's really missed her friends.  It's so hard to get together with friends during the summer.  If we're not doing something, then the friend is.  She's spent the last week of summer going to school to practice for band.  She's enjoyed the week that's for sure.  Today they get to go to the movies after practice.  Nice way to finish off the week!

Jessica has been slowly reading her English assignment and doing the work for it.  I think (hope!) she's about done.  The joys of taking an AP English class is that you get summer work.  Bleh.  At least the book wasn't HORRIBLE.  There were SOME good parts to it she said.  

Awww cute girls!

 We've been slowly gearing up to our school routine.  Going to bed earlier, getting up earlier.  I know that it's still going to be horrible come Monday.  Sydney's been up by 7am all this week, but after I get home from taking her to the school, is when I wake Jessica and Geoffery.  Lately, Geoff has been up when I get home, which is good although, he's not happy about it.  This morning I told him he needed to go eat.  At 8am he said he was NOT hungry.  Um.  Monday, it will be like 6:30am, so you'd best go eat.  Yeah, gonna be a rough week ahead for sure!!!  

Geoff and Phoebe playing

 It's been a lot of fun having a new "baby" in the house.  I have forgotten how demanding they are LOL  I almost look forward to naptime too!! She really is something else.  Funny and sweet and well, all the wonderful puppy stuff!!!  Yes, we've had some accidents in the house, but really for the most part, she does very well.  Helps that I'm quick to run her outside after she wakes from her nap.  She held her bladder all night last night, so that's a plus too.  I guess I worry about her when I start school and she's kenneled for the day when no one's home.  That will be an adjustment for her for sure.

She thinks this big tote full of yarn is a great place to nap

 Ares and Xena still don't know what to make of her, I've yet to really get any pictures of them together.  They sort of try and play with her, but at the same time, they want to keep away from her.  Xena is very jealous,... that won't ever change.  She's jealous if I give a kid too much attention in her line of sight LOL Ares, he wants to play,.... not with the toy you're trying to play with with HIM, he wants the toy that you're playing with, with Phoebe.  Goofy dogs.  I look forward to when Phoebe's a bit older and they will all play together.  I know Ares will LOVE it.  He's way more playful with toys and things than Xena is.  

Spoiled, pretty Xena

 When Phoebe sleeps, she sleeps so hard that you can put her in various poses! It's really funny.  Her whole body just goes limp.  I had fun messing with her the other day....

I'm trying to sleep here!

Modesty? I haz it?

 All in all it's been a pretty good week.  Busy at home, getting things ready for next week.  Hubby's been working nights all week, and will work Saturday night as well.  That pretty much sucks because when he's off, we'll all be going to school.  Kids return Monday, I start Tuesday.  Should be a very interesting adjustment to say the least.

I will leave you with one last puppy pic! This is probably my favorite.  I plan to mow soon, so had to make sure I got one of these.  She LOVES to roll around and hide in the tall grass.  Her coloring and the green of the grass, nice contrast I think!!  She's not fond of outside really.  Especially if it's hot.  We have to walk her out into the yard just so she has to run back to the porch.  Usually during that run, she will stop to potty LOL  Spoiled girl.  If we're out awhile, and it's hot, she will cry to go inside!!  She had enough of our high heat indexes and all to last her a long while it would seem.

Off to finish up laundry! Have a great weekend!!!

Sweet Phoebe

Catheters

Mmhmmm, a very weird title isn't it? But I had to blog this before I forgot.  Youngest, Geoffery ordered a video game from Game Stop.  Needless to say he's counting down the days until it arrives.  We're not even sure when that will be honestly.  I pray soon.

A commercial came on tv.  Catheters.  You know the one, have them shipped directly to the privacy of your home.  He pipes in saying that he has 2 things that are better than catheters.  I said you do??? Yeah,... one will be here prolly Weds he says,... mmmhmm... you don't even know what a catheter is do you???  "Nooo."  So, I explained as simply as I could.  It's a small thin plastic tube that some people need to go to the bathroom.  He gave me a look that said "huh?"  so I said, it goes inside of them.  With a disgusted face he says "Ughhhhh,.. yeah, my 2 things are way better than a catheter!"

What's the other thing you ask????  Let me show you!

Phoebe George - Border Collie 6 weeks old

 

 

 This sweet little girl is all mine!!!! isn't she lovely??? Sunday afternoon, we had my wonderful cousin and her family over for Nascar-fest.  She fixed us an AWESOME lasagna!! we had bread and a OMG wonderful peach shortcake she made from scratch with fresh peaches!!! Was a terrific meal.  I was stuffed for the rest of the night!!  Good stuff.

So, while kicking back, watching the Pocono race, Gina and I both on our smart phones surfing around,... especially Facebooking.  She came across a deal for "Yard Sales" in local areas.  Someone had posted the sell of 3 border collie pups.  1 girl, and 2 boys.  $100!!!  Holy cow!!! I've wanted a border collie for a LONG time.  But I didn't want to get one due to the fact that we don't have a fenced yard.  $100?????  *SIGH*  We don't NEEEED another dog,.... do we? 

Well, after short discussion,... hubby sayin to call,... I figured it wouldn't hurt to try??? Chances are, at that price they were gone anyhow.  The picture posted, they were really cute! I called,... and they still had all 3 of them!  NOW WHAT??  Well, I got details,... the fella was really nice,... told me how he'd bred them in the past but got out of it when he was having chemo treatment.  Recently started breeding again.  Said they were pure bred, didn't have papers because no one around there really cared one way or the other about that.  BUT said for $25 more, he could get them for me if I wanted.  HECK YEAH!! I mean,... "Honey???? are you suuurreeee???"  Well,... I told the guy I would call him back, needed to make sure I was sure too.  

Cousin was telling me "don't forget you're starting school,... " lots going on, kids in school, me going to school, hubby's weird hours.  BUT I'd be out of school by the time she really gets crazy active.  I think this will work out okay!?  The other BUT is will I even LIKE her when I see her???  

I made a HUGE mistake when we got Ares.  I love the lil guy, but he sure is a handful sometimes.  He's larger than your average yorkie,... when I picked him up at the breeder house, and cradled him,... he HATED it!!! his larger brother didn't mind, but he was HUGE! *sigh* I felt bad, the family needed the money, and they told us the papers hadn't arrived yet, they would send them out to me.  We paid them, took Ares home,.... and never did get papers.  I didn't want to make the same mistakes again.

Cradling is something I'd learned from some breeders when I lived in Hawaii.  If you can cradle a puppy and they don't mind it, that's the puppy to get.  It always seems to work.  Xena is a great example.  Smart and focused when you're working with her.  She really listens.  Ares?? Hahahahaha!!! Not so much.  

Anyhow, long story short, I drug cousin along with me,... we made the hour drive in what seemed like no time flat :o) The folks were super nice!! Got to meet puppy's momma and step sister and I think an aunt? I dunno.  All of the females were pretty and smart!  The puppies???? CUTE!!!!!!

I scooped the lil girl up, cradled her and she just laid there in my arms like a baby.  Mmmm so sweet.  Perfect little face, loved her markings.  The boys were all over the place chewing on our feet and all.  I sat down in the grass and let them all climb on me and just enjoyed :o) I watched the lil girl as she watched her momma run around, and her brothers.  She likes to sit and watch a lot.  Too cute!!!  I couldn't wait to bring her home!!  The kids had NO clue what I was up to.

Already spoiled!

I pulled into the garage, and the kitchen door opened,.... I hid her as I didn't know who it was.  It was my honey.  He got to see her :o) But, sadly she was outdoors,... so she was flea ridden! Poor thing.  I wanted her in the sink ASAP so the other animals didn't get em.  Holding her close, I was rooting around for flea shampoo and honey was asking the kids if they wanted to meet Phoebe.  Sydney says "I don't know what a Phoebe IS...."  LOL  Well, Hannah comes around and I turn slowly.... and she *GASP!* "a puppy!!??"  LOL  I turned more and Sydney saw "Ohhhhh it's so cuuutteee,.... it would be even cuter if it were OURS"  ".... it IS" I said LOL  Her eyes about popped out of her head.  Jess came in and it was the same thing.  It was too funny.

Playing in her new yard, with her new daddy

We all had fun outside with her,... watching her romp around.  Coming from being outside all these weeks, when it's been soooo terribly hot, she favors being inside now LOL Didn't take long for her to get spoiled.  I took her out today, and she cried.  Found that funny.  She's been super good.  Only a couple indoor accidents.  I've gotten good at the whole eat sleep outside routine with pups.  Hopefully it won't take her long to get housebroke.

I'm really looking forward to watching her grow up.  They say Border Collies are the smartest breed out there.  "They need a job to do..." Like hubby said, need to buy her a frisbee! I can't wait to do that.  LOVE LOVE watching agility trials and such,... not that I will get into that,... but the whole frisbee thing I would love to do :o)

Yup yup, our new baby.  What do Xena and Ares think??? Well,... they're not too sure.  Right now Ares just wants to play and doesn't understand when we're playing with her why we don't throw the toy for HIM lol Xena is jealous of anyone that tries to hog any attention away from her.  I can't even snuggle up to hubby w/o her getting in the middle LOL  

Xena says "It's picture time?"

They'll both warm up to her eventually.  The cats don't care one way or another really.  They had fun watching her, trying to figure out what the heck she was,.... but it's kinda old news now.  They stay away but aren't running to hide.  I think once she's a little bigger, Ares and she will be fast friends and playmates. 

Well,... in other news.  This is the last week of summer break! Wow huh?? It's sure flown.  The kids will start school the 15th and I start the 16th.  

We're up early this week though, Sydney has marching band practice *yawn* so I should head to bed.  Getting up at even 7am is killer right now.

Night night!!!

Tax Free Shopping!

For the very first time in Arkansas, we had Tax Free Shopping!! It ran from yesterday morning until late this evening.  My cousin and I with kids in tow headed out at 7:30 and went and did our school clothes shopping.  We got everything we needed and were done by 10am! We wandered a little bit after that, but by the time we loaded up in the car to head home, the mall was beginning to get crowded.  Hubby had Sydney with him as she had piano lessons that morning.  He said he was cussing me when he got to the mall to pick up her shoes, that he had to park out in BFE! ROFL Ooops.  Sorry honey!!  But he wasn't there long after we'd headed home, so just shows how busy it really got!

I'm set to start manicuring school Aug. 16th and am very excited about that.  I still need to get one or two more pairs of scrubs though.  I'll be going PT, from 8:30am - 2pm.  Should take about 22 weeks to complete the course.  Great news is that hubby's company will be reimbursing us for most all the tuition fees!! Awesome!!  I'm really looking forward to getting through with it all and start making us some extra money.  I hope that I'm good enough that people flock from all over to have their nails done by me :o)  

Going to have some lasagna today, have family over and enjoy Nascar.  I suppose I should get off my lazy rear and get some housework done.

Have a great day!