New Haircut for Riley

We took Ri to the groomers today. He's been spending alot of time in the field and in the woods since he got here to my dads. Well his fur has suffered for it. He had all kinds of stickers in his fur clear down to his skin. So he got a lion cut today. My dad's dogs didn't recognize him when we got back and ran up to him and started smelling him. It was so funny. I think he looks like an overgrown chihuahua now. :)

Strutting his stuff


Posing for the camera

Puppies eating food

We gave the puppies softened food today and they LOVED it! It was quite a mess in the pen after they ate. Here are a few pics.

This is what it looked like after we took out the 3 paper plates we put their food on. What a mess!

Isn't that little girl a cutie! (the puppy I mean--well Jordan too)

Grandpa's puppy

Mom came in and they decided they needed dessert. Isn't it cute how their ears are flapping back?

They like to play and fight now

Wandering in the grass after eatting dinner

Jordan and I took the puppies out in the yard today for the first time. They weren't real sure what to think of the grass and immediately started whining.

Jordan and I counted today and there are 5 females and 3 males. Dad started counting the night they were born but then gave up :)

The little black and white male on the left is the one my dad wants to keep. All of the brown and white ones are girls.

They are used to being all nice and cozy in the old swimming pool in the garage

The bunny is named!

The bunny's new name is Tid Bit


I got Jordan a basket at the dollar store to carry him around in. (By the way that's yellow gum in her mouth--her teeth are not that yellow!)

Happy 85th Birthday Grandma King!

Today was my grandma's 85th birthday. We had Dairy Queen ice cream cake before me and Jordan moved back up to dad's.


Grandma didn't want her picture taken because her hair was a mess. :)

Long overdue update

So much to catch up on, where to start? Things have been so crazy lately.

Jordan had a seizure on June 29th. They did a CT scan at the emergency room but didn’t find anything so they referred us to a pediatrician. She had an EEG done that showed she has abnormal peaks in the left side of her brain so she is a good candidate for repeat seizures. They put her on Tegratol to control the seizures. She still has to have an MRI done to make sure there’s nothing else abnormal in her brain.

Jordan also had to have her yearly check up for her bladder reflux. The VCUG test is NO FUN for her. She was a real trooper though and we will have the results back this week. Hopefully the reflux is a lot better and she won’t have to be on the low dose antibiotics any longer to prevent bladder infections.

We came up to my dad’s for the 4th of July. Jordan had a great time with all her cousins and her aunts Kiki (Crystal) and Angie. We had a potluck here and then did fireworks that Crystal and Matt and their friends Cheri and Rock brought up. The next night me, dad and Jordan stood out near his field and watched as the neighbor down the road let off some huge fireworks. Dad’s dog had babies. He has 8 English Pointer/English Setter puppies. They were born on Jun. 30th and Jordan had a great time cuddling with them.

Lilly with her puppies

The cousins on 4th of July: Teresa, Emily, Ariel and Jordan

Things didn’t work out in the Tri-Cites so Jordan and I moved back up to my dad’s in Rathdrum, ID on Friday. We are both in heaven now! We love the woods and the animals. I got Jordan a bunny yesterday. It’s a Dwarf Netherland. He is so cute! She is really enjoying having a pet of her own. She is also still in love with my dad’s puppies. Their eyes are open now and they are moving around more. Dad got 9 quail and 4 chuckers yesterday to add to the 5 guineas and 2 banty chickens he already had. Jordan says this really is a farm now.

Lovin the yet unnamed bunny


I’m going out tomorrow to find a job. I had put some apps. in online before I left the Tri-Cities and I will be following up on those too. I will try to update this more often now. I still only have dial up internet which is a pain but I’m learning to deal with it.

Funny Story

Tonight when Jordan and I were at the library, I was making copies of some job ads and she said she had to go potty. The restrooms were only about 100 feet from us so I told her to hurry and go and then come right back. She went over there and then came back with this serious look on her face. I said what's wrong? She said "Momma, I read the sign on the door and it says No Escaping." I looked over at the door and it said "No Smoking" I laughed so hard. I told her what it really said and she said "Oh!" and went in to go potty. LOL!

Water Park

We went down to Columbia Park today (the city park). They have a new water park set up there. The kids had a great time.

More love of horses and Smores!

We went out to Aunt Patti and Uncle Paul's again tonight for dinner. We had BBQ hotdogs, pasta salad, baked beans and veggi tray. It was yummy (and I don't even really care for hotdogs). Uncle Paul made a fire after dinner and we had smores.

Patti was "babysitting" the neighbors dogs and horses so Parker and Jordan got to go down with her to feed them. Jordan was in heaven again.

Jordan and Parker petting Delilah

Delilah licking Jordan's skirt

Can you tell this girl loves horses?

A goodnight hug :)

Jordan and Parker ready for smores!

Uncle Larry, Uncle Paul and Aunt Patti relaxing after Smores.

Uncle Paul with his dog Sid, Shannon and Aunt Patti

This was one of the neighbor's dogs that Patti is watching. She really put up with the kids mauling her.

Aunt Nita and Grandma

Horseback riding

Jordan was in heaven again today. We went to my Uncle Marc and Aunt Kellie's and she and Parker got to ride the horse. They were both really excited. Jordan can't wait to go again soon. I'm trying to upload the pics to kodak but with this darn dial up internet it is taking all night. I may have to wait and figure out another way to do it.

Jordan on Tootsey with my cousin Lexi

Jordan loved it when Lexi had her jog

Parker had fun too after watching Jordan and deciding it wasn't that bad.

After the kids rode, Lexi rode for a bit and then they turned all four horses loose in the pasture and they LOVED it. They ran around going wild, but they were just having fun. It was neat to see them run around so much.

A little update

Have I mentioned how much I hate dial up Internet??? This is so stinkin slow that it takes me over an hour to read my emails from my Mar02 mom's yahoo group each night. I hate it! Plus I have to fight with my grandma over the phone time during the day. It seems like as soon as I get on she has to make a call, even if I've asked her if I can use the computer. I'm only briefly checking in during the day now and doing most of my Internet time after she and Jordan go to bed.

Jordan and I did make it to the library today though and got library cards so now I can go there and check email too. I'm not sure what the library hours are though, I forgot to look :( so I may just get to go on Wed. when I'm off after my 3 weeks of training. Jordan got signed up for the summer reading program and checked out 3 library books today. She's very excited to be reading again. We brought a backpack FULL of books with us but it's much more exciting for her to go to the library and get some.

I have 5 more days of freedom and then I start working. I need to start working though my money has dwindled away.

We were at my cousin's (on my mom's side) graduation and graduation party this last weekend. They had mexican food at the party. I was so happy. I absolutely LOVE mexican food. There are alot of mexican places here in the Tri-Cities but I haven't had the $ to go out to them. I think when I get my first paycheck I will take my grandma and Jordan out to dinner. We went to my aunt and uncles (on my dad's side) for dinner on Sunday. My aunt Patti made a big spagetti dinner. It was delicious. She puts veggies in her spagetti sauce. My sister Shannon and nephew Parker are coming over this weekend to see us. We still need to get over to my Uncle Marc's so Jordan can see his horses. Maybe we will do that while Shannon is here.

That's about all the news from here. It's been unseasonable cold and rainy but I'm praying it gets nicer next week or Jordan (and grandma for that matter) will be going stir crazy in the house while I'm at work.

In Washington, Employed and Online!

I got a job after only being here a day and a half. The Courtyard by Marriott only had a part time position and was only $8.50 /hr. I got hired on at the West Corporation working in their AT&T department. I will be assisting customers who call in to sign up for phone and/or internet services. I start training on the 16th.
I now have internet but it is VERY VERY SLOW! It's hard to go from cable connection to dial up. I will deal with it though. Will post more soon.
Jordan and I are going to my cousin's graduation and party tomorrow and then to my other aunt's house for dinner on Sun.

Tomorrow's moving day

Well we pick the moving truck up tomorrow morning. I have James coming down tonight and tomorrow a neighbor kid and Bobbi's oldest boy are coming over to help us load the truck. This will probably be my last post for a while. We are staying in a hotel here tomorrow night. Although my mom is bringing her laptop and I think at least one of the KOA sites has WiFi so I can check in. Wish me luck and safe driving. I still have some packing to finish up today and last minute laundry to do. Talk to you all from Washington!

Just about done!

Well I'm just about done with packing up what I can. I only have a few odds and ends in the living room, the stereo, my computer and printer and then my clothes to pack. I packed some of Jordan's clothes last night and left a weeks worth in her dresser. I started measuring the couch, the chair, the table and stuff last night and just don't think I'm going to be able to fit the entertainment center and the king bed in the truck. The truck dimensions are 15'3" long X 7'8" wide by 6'2" tall. I have about 25-30 boxes packed right now that need to go in the truck plus the furniture. It's going to be a very full!

I only have 4 more full nights at work and then Mon. night I'm only working 3 hours. My mom is coming over on Mon. and so is James. I've had some people flake out on my on the things I had posted on Craigslist and on Freecycle. I may just end up putting stuff on the curb and marking it "Free" and be done with it. I did that last week with a plastic bookshelf and an old dog kennel that was falling apart and they were gone quickly.

Very disappointing day

I was sooooo very disappointed at the awards ceremony at Jordan's school today. They herded the kids through the awards like they were cattle. No time for pictures or anything. It was total chaos. I was the first parent there and there were chairs up near the front but I was told those were for the staff members and parents had to sit in the back at the lunch tables. Well before the program started only about 5 staff members sat in the chairs, the rest were filled in with parents. I was so mad because the zoom on my camera does not work well enough to get way up front. So the few pictures I did get didn't turn out that well. Jordan got her certificate for completing kindergarten and one for citizenship. I missed her getting her citizenship certificate because the kids were all just clustered up there waiting to get theirs. The principal just rattled off the names and the staff members handed out the certificates. Then for the picnic it turns out the girl that was supposed to ride with me rode with her grandpa instead so it was just me and Jordan in the car. When we got to the park Jordan only sat with me for about 3 minutes, took a few bites of her lunch said she was done and was off playing for the next 2 hours. It was a waste of my day. I could have been here packing and cleaning. Here's a few pics from the day though.

Before School

Enough pictures already mom. Let's just go to school

Waiting for the program to start. (see how grainy my camera gets when I have to zoom in)

The kindergarteners sang "There was an old woman who swallowed a lego." LOL

Getting her Kindergarten Certificate

After she got her citizenship certificate

At the park

Most of the kindergarteners played in the sand. That's Noah getting buried in the background

Looking at the cows in the farm below.

I am BEAT!

In the last 32 hours I've had about 2 1/2 hours of sleep. I got alot done today but I always felt like I was taking 1 step forward and 2 steps back. It started out with my going to 4 different grocery stores only to get 2 boxes. Normally these stores have all kinds of boxes stacked up. Then I stopped at Target to get some flip flops and decided to treat myself to the new Starbucks Mocha Mint Chip Frappuccino. Only to accidentally dump half of it all over my kitchen floor when I knocked it while packing. UGGH! It was so yummy too :) I got most of my kitchen dishes and pots and pans packed. Just need to run the dishwasher one more time with the rest. I got Jordan's DVD's and player packed as well as her books and a few odds and ends boxes. I cleaned and swept the laundry room. I still need to go through the junk drawers and the linen closet. The last thing will be packing the food that's left over next Tues. for Jim and Leon to take home. My mom is coming over on Mon. and so is James. Luckily someone took the last half of my shift Mon. night so I only need to work until 2 am. We pick up the moving truck at 9 on Tues. and I have the neighbor boys lined up to come over at noon. Mom and I will load the boxes and leave the furniture to the boys :) I'm still not sure how much of this stuff I will actually be able to fit in the truck. I've already decided if they won't fit I will leave behind my dining table and chairs and my entertainment center. I love them both but they are replaceable. Also if the king bed won't fit it won't be going.

Tomorrow is Jordan's kindergarten graduation and the all school awards ceremony at 10 and then right after that we are going to a park for an all school picnic and play time. We will be there from 11-2:30 and I am driving part of the kindergarteners. Tomorrow evening I have to run up to work for a BBQ (I don't have to be its the NYC hotels hosting it and they always give away goodies). We also are going up to our old neighborhood tomorrow to tell Bobbi and her family goodbye. Then it will be back here for more packing. Someone is supposed to be coming over tomorrow to look at the safe we have in the basement. Hopefully they will buy it. I've had 3 people bugger out on me that were supposed to come look at it. Tomorrow I'm hoping to clean the car inside and out, finish packing up the kitchen, pack the bathrooms, pack our clothes and most of the linen closet and make a list of what needs to be packed in the car as opposed to the truck. Everything that's going with us to Grandma's needs to be in the car so I don't have to sort through it at my dads. And all of that will have to be done after I'm done with her school outing. UGGH!

Please pray for my family as the stress of all this is really starting to get to us. Jordan is REALLY acting out and it's putting a strain on Jim and me. That is on top of the stress and strain we are feeling from knowing we will be separated for a while. I know we will get through this with the Lord's help. I'm trying to stay strong through this but I feel like I may hit my breaking point soon. I probably just need a good cry :) It's almost midnight now so I'm going to head to bed. I have to be up with Jordie at 7:15 and start all over with another busy, busy day.

Packing Day

Well I'm hoping to get most things packed up. I'm going to stay up as long as I can today to get things done. I'm very tired though so I'm going to have to load up on pepsi and turn music up real loud. :) It's only 7 days until I pick up the moving truck and this is my only real day off. I'm off tomorrow too but will be up at Jordan's school for most of the day.

Got a job! Almost for sure

Well I pretty much have the job at the Courtyard in Richland. I have to go in and interview with them as a "formality" but he told me I pretty much have the job. I'm going in to interview on the 4th of June. Sooooooo....as you can see we are moving 3 weeks sooner than planned! I have 12 days to get everything together--eeekk! My mom, Jordan and I are still taking our trip to Rapid City, SD on the 28th and then Jordan and I will just leave from there and drive out to my dad's to drop my moving truck stuff off and to drop off Kelly (one of our dogs). We will spend a couple days with my dad and then go down to grandma's on Tues. June 3rd. I'm very excited. I'm not sure what shift I will be working at the hotel so I'm going to see if my grandma or my aunts can watch Jordie until I have a schedule for sure and can get childcare arranged. Because I will busy for the next 12 days I may not post too much on here between now and then. It will be a while till I get internet set up at grandma's too. I haven't even talked to her about taking up a phone line for that. My aunt has a computer though and I can always go to the library so I will be checking in.
Just wanted to post my exciting news!

Move Updates

Well we are closing in on our move now. Only 5 1/2 more weeks! We have decided to get a moving truck and take most of our stuff out now when Jordie and I go. We will store things at my dad's place. We were going to get a storage unit here so our house doesn't look so cluttered but we can store it at my dad's house for free so we will do it that way instead. We will be using our stimulus check to pay for the truck. I will be towing my car behind the 16 foot truck. Pray for safe travel :) We'll leave a bed, a TV, the recliner, a computer and the kitchen stuff here for Jim. Hopefully the house will sell fast and he can join us in Washington (I know I say that all the time).

I put a bunch of stuff on Craigslist today and have had several replies. We'll see if people actually show up to buy the stuff though. We are going to get down to just the bare minimums and start from scratch in Washington. We'll have a bed and dresser for each bedroom and our couch and recliner. We may keep the dining room table or may not. It just depends. I really like my table but it would take up alot of space so I don't know if I will keep it. We end up eatting at the TV trays half the time anyway. The washer and dryer will stay at the house to sell with it as well as the dishwasher. The only other big things we will take with us would be the entertainment center and the computer desks.

Well I'm rambling, guess I'm tired again :) Actually I'm at work and trying to stay awake.

Update on Job Search

Well I called the Courtyard in Richland and the manager there told me I could have the job if I could come out right away. I respectfully declined. I'm not going to pull Jordan out of school 2 weeks before it is over. The manager understood and he told me to contact him when it was closed to my move date and he would see if he had anything else open. So it's still a possiblity I could work for Marriott.

Plus mom, Jordan and I have a little trip planned for the weekend after memorial day. And Jordan and I are taking the train over to my mom's for the weekend before we move.