Trying to Finish Well!

I'm ready for this week to be over with! It has been a good week don't get me wrong but our family schedule got messed up with Kelli not having school and the two oldest having snotty noses not being able to go to Awana's. Shane has been a busy boy more than normal with school, it is the ending of his Communication class. Which adds finishing his journal & final paper with the homework due for his next class Christian Counciling. He also worked on his Psycology homework. Last night was the parent/teacher conference for Kelli, everything is going well. We need to work on her finishing her coloring projects at school, she is apparently talking to much to get it done. She tested off the charts for the things they've tested already. We just need to keep working on numbers and putting words together for sentences. She's a bright girl, I know she can do it. Daniel has been a big help to me pulling out branches from the pile so I can break them into smaller branches...

You are to be His light and His servant in this place and in this time, to those He has placed before you. If you are tired, tell Him, call for help, call for strength. If you are angry, tell Him. Yell, fling, scream your anger at Him. He can take it and He loves you none-the-less. If you are afraid or anxious, lay your fears before Him with tears in your eyes, on trembling knees, with trembling hands lifted high.

New way of getting Daniel to sit on the potty chair. Kids enjoying play dough Not much else to report, fighting off colds so they won't take hold and plugging along in our week.

This week we had a lovely addition to our normal schedule, My Mom! She was able to come up on Tuesday and spend the mornings of Wednesday thru Friday with the kids. Then we had dinner together a couple nights with a big dinner with relatives last night. It was great that she was able to spend time the kids have been asking when they could see a Grandparent and we've been having to tell them "Thanksgiving time". With Fred & Marie busy getting Fred better, (which is great), and my folks busy with canning and helping take care of my Grandma Dennis. I'm glad my mom could make the time to visit. Plus we got restocked on Beef, and canning supplies to last us through til next fall. We appreciate the time you were able to spend with us Mom, thank you for all you did.

Dad had surgery yesterday afternoon at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to remove the tumor that was impacting his sciatic nerve. The surgery went well. His pain level has greatly decreased and he is moving around without a limp for the first time in about a year. They expect to release him from the hospital on Monday. Walter Reed’s hospital dogs came by this afternoon and he really enjoyed their company. He misses his dog Sadie. I have heard through the grapevine that my nephew Joe told Misty that Sadie is now his doggie and not Grandpa Fred’s, so Dad might have some competition for Sadie’s affection when he gets back to Idaho in a few weeks. Marie is doing well. Her friend Sandy might come over this evening for dinner and a rousing game or two of Hand-and-Foot. Shane

This last week we became members of the YMCA, so Sat. afternoon we took the kids for the family swim. They enjoyed themselves, Shane included then Sunday Shane went with the Kelli & Daniel while Dakota & I had some alone time. Dakota isn't sure what to do with water by her shoulders, by the end she wasn't shrieking in my ear anymore. She was still stuccoed on. I'm so tired Dad Daniel is silly isn't he I want my picture taken too Mom! As for this week so far not really busy just keeping our weekly schedule. Tonight the kids have A wana's and I'm starting Mum's. Thursday I'm going out with some girlfriends to Ice Cream, Friday is our every other week Small Group Bible Study. No we are not busy it's just seems like an Illusion.

Hi Family & Friends who frequent our blog world. It has been a crazy last week, Shane started his online Psychology class and had a crazy weekend trying to do his online assignments. Then finding out the system didn't like Comcast users. That would be us. He did get to see Fred & Marie at the airport late Sunday night since he was in Seattle. He started his next class for completing his degree this week. He is a very busy boy, and I'm glad he can be home the times he is. It sure seems like our lives are a whirlwind and we are hoping it touches down so we can get our barrings once again. The kids are all doing great, the rain hasn't started in earnest yet so we are all healthy still. Dakota was so cute last night, she laid her arms and head on the table and played peek a boo. She normally plays this game just never at the table before. Kelli is having trouble at school with our neighbor girl and some other 1st graders, don't know what to do exactly but I'm en...

Loved "Phantom of the Opera" at the Paramount Theater in Seattle. Shane got me hooked on Phantom by singing the song "that's all I ask of you", to me through our courting and this past year at the "Weekend to Remember" the played some of the songs from the soundtrack. So I proceeded to rent the movie. Then for Christmas sneaky Shane bought me the movie & the soundtrack. I finally got to see the stage production which was awesome and just a very neat experience to share with Shane & some very good friends. Seth making his preview Kelli being silly Daniel following suit Dakota and her pal Sherman

Happy Birthday Grandpa Dennis: From Daniel Happy Birthday From Kelli We love you very much, thank you for the rough housing, hugs, understanding. Thank you for the opportunities of riding horses, working livestock of various size, teaching me how to start and stop on the hill, and how to drive. Sure we butted head sometimes, which I'm learning you do when your kid is similar to yourself. But I wouldn't want you any other way Dad! Love you lots, I know you haven't had a birthday for a long time now but I have to say "Happy Birthday"

Daniel has lately been into using his imagination for playing. Which is great and fun for Shane & I. He has decided to hunt for Buffalo and rope them when he see's them. Ivan & Sherman unknown to us are buffalo. He places the rope around there neck and leads at least Ivan around. Sherman kind of drags Daniel around probably like a really one would do. He even did ariel tricks with Sherman on Sunday much to the heart stopping moment for Dad. I'm glad I didn't witness it. In other busy news tomorrow night the kids (Kelli & Daniel) start Awana's at our church. It should be fun for them and it's a good program. I vaguely remember going to Sparky's/ Awana's when our family lived in Twin. (I was four) When there doing that in October MUM's start. (Mom Uplifting Mom's) I let you all know how it goes when it starts.

I wanted to post this latest picture for all the relatives out there & friends that read our blog. Everything is going well, have some busy weekends coming up this month. We have our small group bible study BBQ to start off the season tonight, shopping with my girlfriend Denise tomorrow for maturnity clothes. Next weekend is "Phantom of the Opera"!!!! yippee It looks like I'll be dog sitting for Fred & Marie for a while. It will be fun to have Sherman's sister here. I can't wait to see the two of them play together.

So this has been a crazy weekend, and what looks to be a crazy month. So on Sat. we tried to get over the mountains one last time. Daniel came into our room Sat. morning with a low grade fever 99.4*, he gets up to the 100's when really sick. We kept an eye on it and decided we would continue on with the morning still planning on leaving. During breakfast after eating a bit, he got sick, fever broke but it was too late at that point which is fine. He slept on and off Sat. back to normal self Sunday. Midwives appointment went well today, heard the heart beat hip hip hooray. Neva & Jason found out last friday what they are having in Jan. and I was right!!! If you haven't heard . . . . ask them! :-) Shane & I find out towards the end of the month. I have a cousin, two nieces, nephew, friends, and father celebrating there birthdays this month. Happy Birthday to you respectively. Hope you all have a wonderful days & wonderful memories. Happy Birthday Uncle Steve! Happy Bi...

Well Kelli starts Kindergarten this afternoon, we met her teacher and saw her classroom last night. To add to the confussion her teacher goes by two names, her formal last name Jankowski, and Ms. Kitty. Of course the school supply list which I got school supplies for in August said only Ms. Kitty class needed Pencil Boxes, so I thought what's the odds? Hahahaa so last night after dinner I went out to buy a $ .75 pencil box at Target, spending how much on gas? Oh well it's pink and Kelli loves it. Thanks for letting me vent my oops! How big my little girl looks! New shoes Grandma's arent the pretty!

As you all might or might not know, Sarah and Todd Palin live in the same town as my parents. When I heard that Sarah Palin was chosen as the Vice Presidential candidate I told everyone that would listen: “There was absolutely no better choice that John McCain could have made as a running mate, bar none.” I am more proud of that statement today than I was when I said it five days ago. As an Evangelical Christian many would say that I am being hypocritical to say that I am emphatically supportive of a candidate who’s unwed daughter is pregnant. To which my response is, you don’t know what Christianity is about. Christianity is about forgiveness and it is about grace. It is about accepting the free gift that Jesus offers to everyone, regardless of anything that they may have done, will do, regardless of their gender, race, language, marital status, education or political party. That free gift is several things, first it is the gift of life. Let me explain what I mean when I say that ...

What a whirlwind weekend, to start off we found out friday that a friend & church member of Fred & Maries Church had accepted to run with John McCain as Vice President. So we got phone calls from siblings chatting how fun it is. Also on Sunday we got to talk about this more as our friends whom Shane mentioned back in the end of spring how she was considered on the short list for John McCain. :-) Go Sarah!! On Saturday we spent a busy day shopping! We bought groceries, clothes, shoes, picked up the carpet cleaner from sister to clean couch & kids beds. Sunday was church, cleaning, playing with kids (when it wasn't sprinkling outside). Crazy dad tipping Kelli What is he really chasing? Answer: Kelli I'm taller than the baseball Mom!! Monday was finish up shopping, bought a new set of dishes, wanted to preserve the remaining Moose dishes I had from the year I got married. I like the new set they are forest green. Visited Sister & husband, it was fun weekend. Kelli ...

Nothing much to report, it seems like we are on pause this week before Kelli starts school next Wednesday. It is a good thing, since I know it will be crazy this weekend with Shane home for three days. This last weekend was Shane company picnic at the Woodland Park Zoo. We probably spent more time looking for parking then we actually spent in the park. It was funny but once Shane dropped the kids & I off he found a parking spot. I of course thought we could take our time getting to the picnic sight, so the kids & I looked at the lions, giraffes, Hippos, gazelles. Then I persauded the kids the we should go find food. The had fun looking at all the different animals and riding the carosel . I tried to get a picture of Daniels smile, it was just perfect how he smile conveyed the joy he was having. It was a fun time but next time they have it there we will most likely decline. :-)

So this past week has been one full of surprises and of painful but necessary appointments. Kelli had her 5 year old checkup before starting kindergarten Sept. 3rd. The downside was we had to finish her immunization records. Which meant 4 shots! Kelli has never done well with getting shots, and it has not gotten better over the years. This year we had to have an extra nurse come in and hold her legs while I got the upper body. She sat in my lap, I don't know who it was more painful for her or me. Got a good wack to the upper lip. I know I was probably as bad in points of my life with doctors and such. But Gall I hope she out grows this like I did. She is 65% in weight and 75% in height for her age. Her vision is getting to the point that the doctor recommended going to see the vision clinic. We also talked about her ears, which looked good but she recommended rinsing them with warm water from a what I call a snurker. Big bulbed syringe thing. Daniel is doing good, still working on ...

37 Years and Counting It is hard to believe that my Mom and Dad have been married for 37 years, but considering that I am 35 years old almost 36, it is probably a good thing. A lot of memories come to mind when I think of my Mom and Dad, like the motorcycle that Dad bought to ride to work, and then promptly sold about two weeks later when he couldn't keep Wade and I off it. Camping on Red Fish Lake, paddling around in a borrowed canoe, sitting in our popup camper playing Sunken Treasure until Midnight. I remember the summer that Dad went to work on the forest fires and we drove up to see him, camping was involved of course. I remember when we drove to Mexico for Christmas my freshman year of college and the time that Mom, Dad and Wade flew down to Seattle, rented a car, and came and picked Misty and I up from college, we put about 5,000 miles on that rental car in about 10 days, great fun, great memories, we laughed until we cried, especially in Witchita, Kansas. Most of all I reme...

So thanks to Kelli's ingenious thinking this is how we are planning on getting 4 kids into the one bedroom. This is from our friend Bekha Carter's 2nd Birthday party. She is pushing Dakota around on the 4 wheeler her parents got her for her birthday.

Here are some pictures of Kelli & Daniel enjoying the warm weather we've been enjoying this week by jumping and splashing in the pool. Dakota likes to play in the water as long as she doesn't get splashed to badly. After she gets wet she goes in search of my chair and claims it as her own.