Who said kids don't know how to dress?

That's right, he's my fashion designer. Rubber boots, Power Rangers outfit and cowboy hat. How can you go wrong?!

I refuse to get old.

I will love this band forever, no matter what! Duran Duran played last night at Marymoor Park, we had second row seats! They sounded awesome like always and the weather was perfect.

Update of our house

YAY Tristan!!!!!!

All season long Tristan has had this mind block and hasn't hit the ball. He rarely even swings which has been incredibly frustrating since I KNOW he can hit!

Yesterday was the last game of the season and we also had a pizza party to celebrate the boy's team doing so well. The coach gave a little speech for each child and when he got to Tristan he said that Tristan is probably the best hitter on the team but he's got to deal with the game mentally. He knows he's got the talent so over the summer to practice and come back next year to kick butt.

So off to the game we go, Tristan doesn't swing the first two times up to bat. Last time up to bat he has two strikes called on him and then FINALLY swings and hits a hard line drive to right field!!!!!!

EVERYONE erupted. Team members, coaches, other parents etc were screaming and high fiving each other. I've never been so proud of him! What a way to end the season.

I love my boys!

They can be so sweet when they want to. I was unloading a 50# bag of grain from my truck tonight and had to set it down. Usually can carry it by myself no problem but now that I'm preggo and getting bigger it's not so easy.

So without me even asking Tristan and Tanner get on each end of the bag and try to carry it for me! Of course it was a little too heavy for them so I helped but it really made me feel good to see my boys helping me like that.

I love them.

Isn't he cute?

Breaking Kheara

Since I'm pregnant I can't ride the young horses but they need to be trained very badly so Wade has stepped up to the plate for me. I'm very proud of him and the horse since both have no clue what's going on and I have to try to teach them from the ground.

Today was the third time Wade got on Kheara and she was awesome! Nice and relaxed, listening to the aids. All we're doing at this point is walking while she learns how to steer and what whoa means but so far so good.

Field Trip!

Tanner's class had a field trip to the zoo, Wade went with them as a chaperone. He called me from the zoo to tell me that he only had Tanner and they were all by themselves so I should come meet them. I decided to pull Tristan out of school and surprise him with the zoo.

Off we went and had a great time!

It's a........

Boy.

I think Wade is the only one that is excited. I think I'm in shock and the boys are disappointed, they REALLY wanted a sister.

I asked Tanner if he was ok with having a little brother and he said " No, it's just going to be more crazy here now".

I then said "Well maybe he'll be really quiet and calm" and Tanner's answer was:

"or a blood sucking killer like me and Tristan".

And this is why I'm making a reservation for the insane asylum!

Oh Hai!

He's so sweet.

We were all at Tristan's baseball game the other day and Tanner was eating a licorice rope. He very sweetly asks Wade with his big blue eyes, "Dad, would you like a bite of my licorice?"

Wade says yes and takes a bite. As soon as Wade bites the licorice Tanner bursts into hysterical laughter. So Wade asks what's so funny and Tanner tells him he put the licorice up his nose!

Wade then looks at Tanner closely and notices that yes, there is red dye coming out of his nose from the licorice.

Oh, the joy of boys.

Reggie's a daddy.

Tali had her foal at 2 am this morning and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. This is Reggie's first foal and I think he outproduced himself, I'm over the moon! Baby seems healthy (vet comes out tomorrow am just to make sure) and he's SUPER friendly. LOVE HIM!

Best picture EVER!

I think she's done being pregnant!

Keep your fingers crossed.

We took Tristan to the batting cages and he did great! He swung at every ball and hit quite a few. The machine definitely was pitching faster than the kid pitchers he faces so hopefully this will give him some confidence.

Next game is Saturday so everyone keep all appendages crossed!

Tristan's mind block

Tristan's baseball team is on a roll, so far they have won every game by a landslide. The team is so talented but Tristan can't seem to bat anymore.

A few weeks ago at practice he got hit in the stomach with a ball. Now he thinks that if he doesn't swing at the ball when he's up to bat, he won't get hit. I have no idea how this is logical to him but he will NOT swing for the life of him. I've had long conversations with him, I've explained how swinging makes it LESS likely for him to be hit, I've tried encouraging him and finally have resorted to bribery. NOTHING works!

He'll say "ok Mom. Got it. I'll try swinging" but then he goes up to bat and stands there. *sigh* It's just too stressful for me to watch. I can't take it. I might have to start watching from the truck!

Words from Tanner

I was sitting on the couch watching tv when Tanner came up to me, turned his butt towards me and farted.

Me: Tanner! Don't fart on your mom.
Tanner: Oh, but I did.

She's getting close!

Tali is 5-6 weeks away from her due date and is starting to look huge. I can't believe it's almost time, Reggie's first foal. I'm so excited!

It's Britney!

I'm hanging on to my youth as long as possible. It was a girl's night out and we went to see Britney Spears. Had a blast, she looked great and put on a fun show. That's all that counts!

Looks like a house!

So far so good!

We went to Swedish Perinatal today to have a blood draw and ultrasound. Since I'm now "old" to be having a baby I'm technically higher risk for defects like Down Syndrome. Medicine has advanced enough that you don't need an amniocentisis immediately, you can have what's called an Integrated Screen. This tests your blood levels for AFP and the ultrasound checks the nuchal fold in the baby's neck. If the nuchal fold measures above a certain level then you have a higher risk for Down's.

Our level looked very good and the baby looks healthy! It was moving around a lot and we could see it pushing with it's legs. So cool!

Words from Tanner

I was watching Oprah and she had a segment where she was talking about the designer Valentino. They showed a bunch of dresses being worn by actresses.

Tanner: Mom, you would look so pretty wearing one of those dresses.
Me: Thanks, honey.
Tanner: I mean not that you don't look pretty now. You always look pretty. You would just look extra pretty in those dresses. Not that you don't look pretty now.
Me: It's ok Tanner I know what you mean. Thank you.

Words from Tanner

Last night Tanner was VERY cranky. He threw a tantrum and made a huge mess out of my bed and threw some papers on the ground during his fit. So he got in trouble, tv was turned off and he was put to bed. This morning when he woke up he looked at me and said:

"Mom, I would like to apologize for my behavior last night"

I have no idea why he talks like that!!! So cute.

Words from Tristan

Tristan: Mom, was there tv when you were a kid?
Me: Yes Tristan, there was tv.
Tristan: Did you have color?
Me: Yes, we had color.
Tristan: When did you get color?
Me: There was color tv WAY before I was born.

LOGS

Wade is starting to put the logs up! It's actually starting to look like a house. This can't happen fast enough, I'm moving in as soon as there is a roof!

We have subfloor!

The forms have come off the foundation, the subfloor is completely down and now it's time to stack logs. I can't wait to see the logs up, then it will look like we actually have a house!

Baseball Mom

Tristan's practice for baseball started today which means my life is officially filled with bats, mitts and snacks for the next three months. He has a new coach this year and new team (The Cubs) so we have to meet all the parents and kids again. I barely got to know the people from last year and now I have to start all over!!!

The coach seemed very nice though and Tristan LOVED practice. Hopefully the weather warms up soon because I HATE freezing for 2 hours four times a week!

Words from Tanner

Tonight we were driving by the Montessori where the boys used to go to when I was working outside of the house, as we drove by Tanner says:

Tanner: Mom, the Montessori looks different.
Me: Really? How so?
Tanner: It looks like a house. (it is an old house that was converted to a school)
Me: It's always looked like that.
Tanner: Nooooooooo, it used to look like a school and now it looks like a house. Something is fishy.

The foundation is done!

The walls were poured on Saturday, 8 feet tall! Nothing to take a picture of yet since it still has all the forms up but I think Wade can take them down tomorrow. Then the next step is to build the bottom floor of the house and start stacking logs! WOO HOO for progress!

Almost done.

The forms should be completely done by tomorrow for the foundation walls. The plan is to pour the walls on Saturday and then the foundation is completely done!

Oooooo pretty.

Tanner had a bright idea to decorate mommy tonight.

Some of my babies

Nothing too exciting on the home front but I took some cute pictures of the horses. Wally's getting so big and CUTE! At least in my eyes. :) Kheara was also feeling good!

I'm so proud!

Tristan is now old enough that he has to try out for Little League. So, last Saturday Tristan and I spent 3 hours out in the cold while he hit the ball, ran to first base (was timed how fast he could run), caught ground balls and caught pop ups. Today I got an email saying Tristan was drafted to a team! YAY Tristan!

I'm not sure what team he's on yet, hopefully it will be the same coach as last year. Mariners here we come!

Pictures by request

Words from Tanner

Every weekend Tanner is supposed to draw a picture of three things he did and explain what it is for homework. Since he only played video games and watched tv and didn't know what he should put for the third thing.

Tanner: I don't know what to say because if I just make something up then it would be lying.
Me: That's very true, maybe you should say how you saw Dad work on the house.
Wade: You could put that you took a bath.
Tanner:Dad, that's inappropiate.
Wade: Why?
Tanner: Because no one wants to see a picture of me naked in the bath!

Bath day

We had to try out the new wash rack with hot water. It's not done but it has cement floor, a drain and warm water so Reggie got to be our guinea pig. Of course he was a super good boy and now he's all clean and shiny!

Words from Tanner

Today when the boys got home from school I decided to take them to Target so they could use their gift cards from Grammie Tucky. On the way there I couldn't help but overhear the boys discussing what they were going to buy.

Tristan: I think I'm going to get a case for my DS.
Tanner: What? Why aren't you going to get a video game?
Tristan: I want a case for my DS.
Tanner: What kind of kid gets a case over a video game?! YOU! YOU are the type of kid that gets a case over a video game!
Tristan: You don't have to yell at me.

We have logs!

The logs for our house arrived today. They are not yet stained so it's a little hard to imagine the final product but they are here and we're one step closer.

Words from Tanner

Wade: You can get out of the bath Tanner.
Tanner: I can't get the plug out.
Wade: Just get out, I'll get the plug out.
Tanner: I'm trying to get the plug out but I have tiny little fingers and hands.

Foundation time

We started the foundation today, YIPPEE!! I took lots of pictures and after the slab was poured we all put our handprints in the cement. We also put the pawprints of our dogs in it too. :)

What the?

Coming home today after dropping the kids off at school I see our cat Max running down the road. Wait. That's not Max, it's too big.

As I get closer I see a huge ass cat with tufts on the end of it's ears and a bobbed tail. It's a BOBCAT! Oh yes. We have a bobcat in our field. In the 7 yrs of living here and the 37 years of being alive, I've never seen a bobcat other than at the zoo.

I had Wade take some pictures but I have now discovered that Wade should stick to building things, he sucks as a photographer. The pictures turned out like he was stalking Bigfoot. Grainy, out of focus of a big black blob. The pictures are here for your viewing pleasure.

Snow?

How in the world did we get snow today? The forecast said flurries but it actually snowed all day and stuck a little. Good news is that I got to ride today! Taryn hauled her horse up here and the two of us went trail riding at Lord Hill park. It was gorgeous with all the snow and we had a blast. It felt so good to be out on my horse and we agreed that we need to do it more often.

Never too old

Tristan and I had a blast tonight. We drove like crazy maniacs on the ATV's all over the property. We drove up hills, down hills, across little bridges, over little jumps, thru mud, thru water, etc. A LOT of fun!

I still cannot get Tanner to even sit on the ATV. I've tried to get him to sit on it when it's off, I've tried to have him sit on my lap and I've practically begged but nothing sways him. He just wants to play video games or computer games. He's just like his uncle Jesse.

Words from Tanner

Tanner: "DAD! We need two milks up here, on the double!"

Progress

Good day today! Wade and his friend Mike started building the forms for the foundation, the cement is set up to be poured on Friday and the logs are on order. We also had a visit from the adjuster for our Flood insurance and even though we don't have a house we still we get some money for flood debris cleanup and also for the very slight damage to the garage.

I'm so excited, things are looking up!

Foggy Night

We had a gorgeous sunny day but as soon as the sun went down the fog rolled in. I thought it was a pretty neat photo op with the horses still out.

Words from Tanner

Tristan: I'm thirsty.
Me: Have some milk. *he pours some milk and Tanner decides he wants it*

Tanner: Hey give me some milk. You're not the only one thirsty in this house you know.

One minute later.

Tanner: I hate being the short guy.
Me: What do you mean?
Tanner: I'm the only short one in the house. I'm just the short crazy guy.

YAY for Cleaning up!

We had an excavator delivered today to start the clean up of all the flood debris plus clean up the plat for the foundation of our new house. I'm actually a little excited because we might clear out an area in the front yard for our outdoor arena. We're not sure yet if we can actually do the arena before the house, we don't want to upset the county in any way. We are getting closer though to having the house built and an arena done, just knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel makes me very happy! I just want to start riding/training my horses!

Little update

Animal Control paid our neighbors a visit today. I'm not sure what was done but at least they came out and talked to them. Hopefully it was enough to let them know that animal cruelty is not tolerated around here. At least not next to Tracy Smith's house! :)

%$#$&* Neighbors!

I'm very very upset right now. I just found out that our neighbors failed to evacuate their goats and dog during the flood and they all drowned. Not only did the not evacuate them, they left them locked in the barn so the poor things couldn't even try to make it to higher ground!

When we came out to check on our property they were there and asked us to borrow our canoe because they had left a dog in the house and wanted to get him. They never mentioned the goats or the other dog! I even asked if it was Jackson in the house and she said no, it was a different dog. She failed to say that Jackson was in the barn drowning!!!!!

We did not have our canoe with us and reassured her that the dog in the house would be ok since the house is on a berm and above the flood waters. If we had known that the goats and other dog were suffering we would of gotten the canoe immediately!

I'm so angry, upset and literally ill over this. Did they not see us moving our horses out? All they had to do was say something and we would of loaded up the goats in the trailer and taken them with us to the fairgrounds. Anyway, Wade called Animal Control and left a message plus called the owner of the property and left a message with him. Probably nothing will be done but people need to be aware of this.

I'll never look at them the same again. I'm just sick.

It flooded

Oh yes, it flooded a lot. The river hit the record level of 1990 and the valley also filled with water. We moved all the horses to the fairgrounds, moved the trailer up the road to higher ground and then we waited. My horses are getting used to this so much that Tali practically ran me over jumping into the trailer!

The good news is that we didn't really lose anything since all our belongings are in the trailer, we just have a lot of clean up. The foundation did get really muddy and full of water, or I should say the plat for the foundation. Anyway, we're good and there's a little part of us that actually enjoyed it. This time we got to see the water for the amazing powers it has instead of being devastated that we lost our home.