Cheetah girl and other neighborhood updates

I am now convinced that my neighbor might not be out to kill me. The simple reason being that I now know someone else has done more than simply write a blog to drive him nuts. In the past I have written about my nutty neighbor, Remember this? Anyway… a couple days ago I get a knock at the door by a man asking permission to walk around the back end of my property searching for markers from city surveyors. “Sure, why not” I tell him, “Don’t hurt yourself…” It turns out that all of the digging my nutty neighbor is doing on the hillside is irritating someone other than me. He happens to be digging up someone else’s property (which we already knew). The owner of the lot behind us asked him to please stop digging his land, and crazy neighbor man obviously chose to ignore his request. Fast forward to today, when two Astoria Police cars come pulling into my driveway… yikes! One goes to chat with my nieghbor, the other heads up the hillside to the rightful property owner who was installing a fence. The property owner went to the city, asked them to get crazy neighbor man to stop digging. They told him they were powerless to handle “civil disputes” but that he could purchase a permit to place a fence. Apparently crazy neighbor man thought property owner man was trespassing and called the police. The fun never stops. In other news… crazy neighbor man has once again taken down the for sale signs on his house. Darn!

In baby news, Brie is doing well. She has developed a few new spots, hence the name “cheetah girl.” Actually, it appears to be a very mild case of chicken pox. She has been pretty fussy, but nothing that a little Tylenol and snuggle time with mom and dad can’t fix.

Grandma and Grandpa (my parents) come in Thursday and we are all excited to see them!

Pictures as promised!

My cute boys eating dinner.

Hank opening presents, and last but not least a video of Brie laughing. Hank isn’t quite ready to become a real videographer, but he’s in training! Her laughing is a little distorted by the hiccups, but it was hillarious.

So many updates…

Were do I begin???

Yesterday Nistassa came over and we helped her buy a new car. I worked with the sales person to get her a great car. She was able to buy a new Toyota Corolla. She traded in her Neon (with 189,000 miles) and is very happy to have a new, reliable car!

Yesterday was Hank’s 11th birthday, for his ”birthday dinner” he chose to have steak, baked potato, and steamed carrots. After dinner we opened presents and then went to Dairy Queen for a birthday blizzard. Believe it or not the kid didn’t want cake!

This morning Ron and I were all set to take Brie to Portland for a check up with her surgeon. We noticed a few small bumps on her body, and decided to have her local doc check it out JUST INCASE it was chicken pox. ~We wouldn’t want to infect everyone at OHSU… Good thing we did, She has chicken pox! Looks like I won’t be getting out much in the next couple weeks. Her doc says that she can be contagious for up to the next three weeks. She is up to 12 pounds, 12 ounces! What a big girl!

Now I am off to call each of the parents of kids that Hank invited to his birthday party this weekend and reschedule the party!

Pictures from Hank’s birthday coming soon!

Quote of the day

Picture this… Last night, Ron dressed up in all his rescue gear… (got it). Now baby and I in my office…(got that?)

So today, The owner of the boat that Ron was on last night comes into my office to fill out some paperwork. We end up talking about the guy Ron rescued last night. He is doing great. He is in Portland. Cracked his C-7 vertebrae, but is up walking around! Not paralyzed!

Anyway, the owner of the boat looks at Brie and says, “Wow, now that’s a daddy’s girl! She sure looks like your husband!” – I may develop a complex if I keep hearing that stuff! I guess that means that she’s a cutie! I happen to think that her daddy is!

Football in Rainier

This weekend we played in Rainier again. Hank had two games and won one and lost one. He had a couple nice tackles. Right now he is kicking himself for forgetting his arm pads. He took a helmet right to the forearm and has a few nice bruises as a result.

At one point a “big kid” across the line from Hank told him that he wanted to eat him alive, to which Hank replied, “Open wide, ’cause I’m coming to get you!” Little kid football is so much fun! He was huge, so Hank didn’t accomplish much with that guy, but it’s still funny to watch.

Only 10 more days till my mom and dad get here! I can’t wait!

Just another day of duty!

Last night Ron had duty. Hank and I were getting ready to take dinner over when Ron was called out for a rescue. A guy on a boat was hit in the back of the head or neck with a black pot, and it looks like he will be paralyzed. Please pray for his family… and for Ron. In the process of getting lowered down to the boat Ron got smacked into the side of the boat and hurt his shoulder again. He has already had two surgeries on this one, so a third one is really not what we want! He is at the doctors office right now, I’m guessing that they will be sending him for x-rays and a MRI, we’ll see.

Where is the baby?

Look carefully, it might be hard to find her dressed in camo! Ha ha ha. When she’s in camo it’s like she is invisible, right???

New Position

Well, It’s official (warning, brag moment)! I have been appointed to the Star of the Sea (Hank’s school) school board. I am on the committee to review curriculum’s, accreditation issues, staff selection, and all that good stuff. Hip, hip, hooray for me! If you can’t tell, I am very excited about my new appointment!

My Mom

I try to be a good mom to my kids, and I think that I do a good job. I learned from the best. My mom is/was a great mom. I frequently think back to my childhood and all of the things that she did for us, sacrifices that she made for us. There are so many things that I never said “Thank You” for, but should have. My mom has truly always been one of the most giving people that I know. When you are a kid and have no real concept of time or money it’s so easy to take things for granted, I did. My mom worked hard both inside and outside of the home to make sure that we had things. Back then I did not understand the dynamics of being a mom trying to juggle work, kids, bills, the world. I can’t say that I fully understand it now. I am lucky enough to have a great husband and great kids. My mom had one great kid (me), we won’t elaborate about my little brother right now. Ha ha ha. So we were not quite perfect… I still remember chasing eachother with knives around the house, *possibly* using a sibling as target practice, ouch! My mom went without to make sure that we had things that we needed, and even things that we wanted. Somehow she did it all. I tried to help out, I remember being in 4th grade declaring to her that I would have dinner ready when she got home from work. Do you know how much that must have scared her? The thought of a 4th grader in the kitchen? I’m willing to bet she made it home in record time that day…. lucky her, I’d whipped up a nice bowl of cereal for dinner, once in a while I’d even make us a tv dinner… and marshmellows covered in chocolate sauce for dessert — Not bad for a 10 year old.

Thanks mom! – For everything you did for us, and for teaching me to be a good mom! I love you!

Booty-licious

For Father’s Day we got Ron a deep tissue massage at the day spa. He loves them! So, he decided to cash in on his present today, the day before a big phyiscal test at work tomorrow. Makes sense right?

So, here’s my thought or question… When you have gone for massages in the past did they massage your gleuts? Here’s why… I have had a handful of professional massages and NEVER had my booty rubbed. Ron on the other hand seems to get his booty rubbed every time he gets a massage. Once we even had a couples massage; he gets his bum rubbed, they don’t touch mine.

I won’t lie. I’m slightly offended. What does anyone have against my booty? He seems to think that a gleut massage is heavenly. How do I keep missing out?

So… Are people rubbin’ your bum?