Back to School

Last night Ben and I went on a little date. He gets mad when I call it a date but ... We went shopping for school clothes/shoes. He did get to buy a couple of treats while we were shopping (soda etc) It was so nice to have some time with my little man.

Today We went to the back to school night at Bens school and I had so much fun! (I think he did too) I know several of the teachers now and one of them is a very good friend of mine so, being the "people person" that I am, it was like a night out for me.
Ben will be in first grade and I really like his teacher! He is a bit unsure about staying all day but I know he will adjust quickly.
So on Tuesday he has to be ready for the bus at 7:50 - dressed, fed and ready to go! and then he arrives home at 3:50.
I pray that I will be able to slide into the new routine without too much trouble. I will post some pictures soon!

ponds!

Here are a few before/after pictures of a project chris did a couple of weeks ago!


I can't wait for my turn to have one installed!
There is also a waterfall, but I don't have a good picture of it.

Kids

I wanted to show everyone my little fisherman

Sydney was there too but she usually just eats the bread that we bring for the ducks or sings and dances.

Summer break for me!

I can't believe it has been so long! We have been to the beach, the zoo, fishing, the park, ... and I went by myself to VA for my friend Shelleys wedding! My children stayed with my mom during the week (because Chris has such a crazy schedule) and then Chris had them the rest of the time.

This is me with Shelley and her now husband Ed at a cook out that her mom hosted the night before the wedding. I had such a great time. I REALLY needed some time off. We were on the go most of the time, but it was still relaxing to only be in charge of one person. It had been about 3 years since we had seen each other but we aren't going to let that happen again.

Job #3

So who invented/thought up payroll taxes? well who ever it was - I don't like them. I have been doing an actual payroll for a month or two and that means it is time for me to figure out what to pay, where to send it and which forms need to go where! I may have gotten an A in high school accounting a zillion years ago but that was the extent of my accounting education! My cousin is an accountant and has made a wonderful folder of information for me... Pray that I just do it and then next month and each quarter to follow will be so easy and I will look back and laugh at how much I worried about it!
*In other news - Chris sold a pond install today!!! that's so great because we had finished all of our other jobs and also because he really likes to build/install ponds and waterfalls! I will post a picture when it is finished-

New Addition

Welcom our newest family member - Chelyan -his was born in April and joined our family last weekend! I have really forgotten what it takes to train a puppy! He played outside today and then came in to wet on my floor (that actually happened twice!) but on the good side, we really missed having a dog and he is fun. Ben is really good with him and has a ton of fun playing with Chel and Syd likes to carry him around (for a few more weeks) I just keep reminding myself how much we liked Missy and I know that in a few months all of the training will be worth it!

Dogs!

So about 7 years ago Chris decided he wanted a puppy - ugh !!! I was 8 months pregnant, flat broke and Hot (it was the end of July) Well, as expected we got a puppy (remember I said chris wanted it so...) she was tiny and quite sick and I loved her. How could you not! We were now parents of lil' missy, our yellow lab. Through the years she has made our carpets dirty, chewed our couch and all of those other things dogs do, but we still loved her.
A couple of weeks ago she started to act strange - not eating and breathing funny - so off the Vet we went and they put her on a bunch of meds (one of which made her urinate all over) but, about a week later she still wasn't better and when we woke up last thursday, she had died.

Very sad for our family. I forget that she is gone and start to look for her and then I remember.