Coon Dog Dreams

About 3 years ago, it started with this...

Ross watched this movie on Amazon and decided he wanted to be this boy, minus the bibs.  He's begged for a redbone coon pup to train and own ever since.  Last week he came to me with a photo of a coon dog pup he found online located in Iowa.  He explained he'd buy the dog and care for it himself, including food and vet bills.  His only Christmas wish was for us to grant him permission to buy it.  He was 5 months old and at a rescue shelter in Guthrie County.  

Well, you all know me when it comes to adoption...

Saturday morning Ross and I made the 2-1/2 hour drive north to meet the puppies at Stylin' Pooch Dog Rescue.  Ross couldn't sleep Friday night and was too nervous to eat Saturday morning.  He was so worried someone else would claim the pooch before we got there.  I told him these were the times you have to rely on faith.  This particular dog had a brother... and a sister- so there were options either way.  

We arrived 30 minutes early, and holy smokes was this place was RURAL.  There wasn't a gas station within 20 miles and needless to say I'd drank a thermos of coffee on the way.  Ross advised me to pee in the ditch and wipe with a tampon.  Smart kid.  So after he peed against the tire, he volunteered to keep a lookout as I drained my bladder in the ditch and wiped with cotton from a tampon.  I swear I'll forget many important moments of raising my children, but this is one I'm confident will engrave itself into my long-term memory.  

After meeting and playing with the dogs, Ross whispered he was 'kinda into the brother' of the one he originally wanted.  I reminded him to trust himself and pick the one he felt the most connection with.

Leaving the other brother and sister in the pen hurt.  But Ross reminded me, we can't save them all.  

And once again, my 13 year old grounded me.

Ross helped bathe the dog before we left.  

And these two bonded the entire way home.  I couldn't keep my eyes off the rearview mirror. 

We stopped in Des Moines to get his name tag engraved, food and bedding. 

And he waited patiently.  

Ross chose his name. 

And took Gunny and Goose for a walk around the property.  Goose could care less about the new addition.  Meanwhile, this 5-month-old pup cannot be outside alone and we don't have a kennel set up.  

He is not house trained yet so therefore....

this is me.....

Merry Christmas Ross!

Christmas Ornaments

Today we I, put up the tree.  The main focus always comes back to this skating rink. 

Ironic, if you ask me. 

Somehow I just KNOW she's smiling down on us.

So many of my Chrismas memories come back to G'funk.  So when my last surviving ornament of hers dropped off the tree, bumped into the clay art project and ricocheted off the craft stick phone frame ornament, I couldn't help but feel bummed.

These ornaments remind me of the days she'd sit in the chair handing us ornaments that were 'hooked' and ready to hang.  

Afterward, we'd throw (literally throw) tinsel on the tree with the blue lights while Grandma and Grandpa handed up more, set up the village, plaeyed a bit, then hoped she'd take us to Hardees for Frisco Burgers.  There were some special ornaments... ones from her mom (Grandma Cake) that were fragile and old.  She always put them at the top.  The topper was unique.  I can't even describe it.  But if I ever saw it again I pay full price to own it.  

Because of these memories, I'm able to move past the actual "things," tell the kids it's okay,  and appreciate the real memories.  

It's awfully hard to forget someone who gave us so much to remember.

By the way... the chocolate ornament tree is returning this year...

Signs of the Times

Last Wednesday I turned 40. 

I spent the day organizing and completing the production of 51 pumpkin cake rolls and came home with powdered sugar in my shoes and bra.

I guess it's a sign of the times.

The girls tested out a new Monet hair cream prior to sleeping in braids.

Yep, looks familiar.

Mack is in basketball and has 3 hour long practices, Sunday open-gym and metatarsal pain.  Ross is in wrestling which involves 6:15-7:30 a.m. practices each morning.  Maisie has play practice 3 times a week in Winterset.  Brings back memories of Mom's old t-shirt that said, "My Kids Drive Me Crazy, I Drive Them Everywhere Else."

And then I'm supposed to feed everyone 3 times a day too.  

I took a photo of my Sunday morning set-up to give you a glimpse of what's involved with this process.

It's basically the makings for 2 pans of lasagna, thawing beef for tacos, eggs for hard-0boiling, bacon for breakfast burritos, ground pork, fish sauce and soy sauce for a spicy Asian soup, vegetables for snacks, pumpkin for the bars Molly has to take to school Tuesday, chopped ham for homemade hot pockets, bacon grease for dog treats, the diorama instructions Maisie needs for social studies, Molly's Book-It calandar, the Bearenstein Bears Thanksgiving book which takes FOREVER to read, and a partridge in a pear tree.

I have a feeling it's going to be a long winter.  

A very, very long winter...

Crazy Busy, Dirty Vans and Pete's Dragon

This weekend I feel as though I've temporarily come up for air.  Work's been busy, college classes have been tough, it's dark by 5:15, wrestling and basketball practices started, Scrooge practices are in full swing, at nearly 40 I realized it's "etc", not "ect",  the kids have been eating their weights in dry macaroni and gum went through the dryer on high-heat.  And at the same time, I'm constantly reminding myself that 'this too will pass...'

On a Sunday night before a no-school day, Molly actually asked to spend the night in van.  Yep, folks, this is my life.  However, look how long her hair's grown!

One of my favorite times of the day.  Moments away from bedtime....

Maisie is learning to type and is considering re-opening her blog about being a second grader.  Clearly, it's been a while.  

 This is why my van looks the way it does.  

Why my children carve pumpkins barefoot is beyond me.  Less socks to sort?

Jay has discovered Pete's Dragon and Bambi on cassette.  The mornings we're forced to listen to these stories in the van has Ross' patience on the verge of explosion.  Luckily, it's only a 15 minute ride.