Showing posts with label Calvin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Calvin. Show all posts

WOW!

There is just something about neglect and blog that go together in the summer. I actually have a hard time understanding it. I have been on the computer. Some times for hours minutes, yet I still steer from my blog. I have a theory... there is too much to blog about. We have been so busy with family activites, parks, and randomness that I am not sure where to put it all. I said I would come back with more about my Wordless Wednesdat. That is where I will start.

Everytime we pulled our memory cards from our trail cameras, we saw bears. We estimate 9 different bears came into our barrel (of food and sweets). That was the best experiance for the children and I. It gave us perspective of what Calvin would be hunting.(Of course we knew he would be hunting bears, but it became more real with pictures) We ooh'ed and awe'ed over all the bears as a family, ploted and predicted what bear my husband would get, and really had a good time just having them on our camera and at the bait site.

All this lead to the day my husband AND his father shot their bears. (Warning: There are pictures of dead bears below. Content considered sensitive) Why is 'and' bold and capital, well 2 bears on the same site, within an hour and ten minute span and 40 yards away is pretty dang rare.


Big Calvin

Calvin aka Bear Slayer (lol)
For some reason, Calvin (Bear Slayer) did not get any of just his bear laying out. His was quite a bit smaller than his father's, but a bear none the less.


Success!


P.S. Remember this post, if in the future I have the 2 Calvin's I may refer to Bear Slayer and Big Calvin. If Big Calvin's father were to come around... you guessed it, another Calvin. We will have to think about that if the time comes along.

Wordless Wednesday



We have babies and I am a huge slacker.

Babies, say what? Yes, my little Woodie (that just don't sound the best =] ) had 3 babies yesterday about noon-ish. I was nervous when I found them because momma was under the bedding, hiding. The babies were all calm and doing good but I only seen 2 of the babies at first.

I was walking to my room and just glanced in the cage, I stopped dead in my tracks and was seriously like "O.M.G" that is a little colored baby, EEEK! And then I see another little pup that is all black like momma. So I run across the house and grab Brianna so she can see the babies. She was oober excited also. Well I knew I had to get Woodie from under the bedding and have her get to babies and finish cleaning them. I would say when I found the babies, she had them with in the hour so we will say about noon. Anyways, I gather her from under the fleece, then I search under there because I can't be sure she didn't get under there and have more babies. None. I am pleased, momma did well and her 2 babies are looking good. Well I decide to move the pigloo out of the cage because Woodie would go in there and hide from the babies and I really wanted her to finish the clean up. Well much to my surprise, there was another, fully black, baby under there but just then my heart stopped. At first sight I thought momma did not break this babies sac and that the baby did not make it. But as I gather myself (this all happened in 3 seconds) I notice the baby is out, moving some and breathing but is restricted by the dry sac on her back. I had no idea what to do. I call my husband, he says to help the baby and clean it up. All I could think was if I interfere what will the already nervous and scared momma do so I wait. I called the vet (he had to call me back) called and talked to my mom and while one the phone I was hoovering around the baby and momma cage and spooked the little black pup that was covered in sac and the sac split (no harm, remember it was just dry on him) and then he really starts to move around. I gave it another 30 min or so and then I worked on helping the little one get the bag off and momma pig would come over and assist also. I know that she is just young and wasn't sure what to do. So anyways, they all look healthy and good today. Bouncing and popping all about the cage and nursing from momma. I even seen 2 of the babies trying to eat hay and one drinking from the water spout thingy. I am sure you are ready to see some pictures!

Without further ado:

Male 1
Female
Male 2






On with the slacker end of this post....
I said that I would come back (the next day but obviously this is not...) and post about my #1's. So yes, I'm late. I should know to never plan a post on Calvin's days off. I am no good at blogging when he is home.

Is that good or bad?
    Read on and then decide.


[one] pick up my bible that is collecting dust! Teach and learn from it!:
 Well I am happy to say this is a big YES!! Not only have I picked my bible up but my family and I have been going to church. God is great and we feel so good!
[one] believe in myself:
What exactly does that even mean? I would say there are many points of this short goal. I seem to have complications with believing how good I am at a certain things. I know I can do a lot of things but I have little faith that I can really do them, and so I don't. This is still a changing manner but I can and am slowing believing in myself again. Since starting a serious weight loss (healthy living) life I have seen that I can do it. I can be reliable. I can set goals and reach them. Now the next thing to work on is not procrastinating. I believe I procrastinate because I have a long thought process and (again working on this goal) I am not sure I can do it correctly if I do it now without thought, even though many people tell me YES you can.

[one] be more thankful for my husband and his hard work.
I have always been thankful but I did lack in letting him know. I know how awesome I feel after I have cleaned the house and how down I can suddenly turn if Calvin does not praise my hard work. Why shouldn't it be the same for him. Yes, he is working for our family because, well, he has to. I expected him to tell me "It looks good in the home" but I would give nothing in return for how awesome he is and how greatly I think of him and the many things he does for our family. (Honey, I love you)

[one] take more time for family and family activities:
We are always doing things as a family. Since Calvin has been on a 10 on 4 off work schedule, we have so much more time to really do things together. Last year he began this schedule and on his days off we would still sit at home and he would relax and enjoy it. As time went on he was feeling more rested and more used to the schedule and we would head out of the home on the days he had off. Now you hardly see us home when he is on days off. We are always out doing something. I love it and it is so healthy for our family. We have grown this past year, for that I am blessed.

[one] get healthy for my family and myself:
If you have been following me this year, you will know the answer to this. Not only am I getting healthier for my family, but Calvin also. We have been eating healthy for well over a year but lacked on activities to get us moving. That is no longer the case. and since winter is finally over (even if we have had snow in may) we are outside even more and doing many things to keep active and get healthy.

[one] spend more intimate time with hubby
I will not go into details, but this goal has been succeeded and the way it has pulled us together is bliss. I love that I am loving myself and in return loving my husband wholeheartedly.

Have you notice....

my photography? A few tips and tricks applied here and there and my photos are not looking to bad. Do you agree? Well I took another "photo-op" today while the children and I played in the hall with Arlo and Woodie. OMG, did I introduce Woodie?? Oh well see below for that, as I am sure I didn't...Actually, SHE needs a whole post to herself, watch for it.

Anyways...

On with the pictures you say? Okay.
Arlo and Woodie

Woodie

Arlo and Woodie

Arlo

Woodie


P.S.
Do you remeber when i said I would like to feature my husband here in this post, well I am going to work on him this weekend since he is off and see if he can't muster us a post about "Living with Perthis."

Oscars and A Feature...

Tis the day for best and worst dressed. The day after the Oscars, a day in the news. In fact that is what I am basing this post off. I did not get to enjoy the Oscars this year as the husband was into another program. So here is to catching up on the Oscars.

Do you have an opinion on this years features? I would love to hear about it.




Who pulled it off?

Don't want to be the judge but still curious...there are a bijillion sites that will host their opinion for you today. Like here. 

Now onto those who won, and didn't. Hurt Locker, winning Best Picture. Over Avatar? I did watch both Avatar and Hurt Locker and honestly I didn't think either was "the best". Both good movies, yes, but with Avatar being 1# for how many weeks just to be smashed over at the Oscars...I think we need a recount. I will congratulate Kathryn Bigelow for best director. First female to win the Best Director award even. That is a win worth a thousand words.

I have yet to see The Blind Side but I have full faith that Sandra Bullock pulled it off. From the bits and bites I have seen, yes, she is well awarded with Best Actress. This is on my must see movie list.

I also read that Up was giving an award for Best Original Score. That had to be the cutest little movie ever. My whole family enjoyed watching it.

Precious actress Mo'nique grabbed Best Supporting Actress. I have always enjoyed Mo,nique. Just her spirit and whole being is pleasant to watch. I am waiting the March 9th (tomorrow) release to nab this movie.

Who pulled it off?
I want your input!


Next line of business. A feature in the future? I sure hope so. This person is dear to my heart. They deal with day to day issues and struggles that many take for granted. Even myself, seeing this person every single day, still don't understand the daily problems that arise or the day to day pain.  "Who is this feature?", you ask?

My heart, my life,
              my HUSBAND!

He deals everyday with limited mobility in his hip from a malformation of the socket. This is called Perthes Disease, but not really a disease at all (read link). In my husbands case, it occurred when there was an injury (as a child) and it cause the "ball" of the "ball and socket" joint in his hip to have a loss of blood supply literally killed it. The doctors say he is in need of a hip replacement but he has to hold off as long as he can since it is limited as to how many times you can get new legs. :) I hope to have him tell his side and really let you in on how everyday he is Living with Perthes.

23

March 03, 23 years ago a baby was born!
Me! My husband knows me to well and surprised me with Twilight Journals. Maybe he thinks it will inspire me to write some novels and make us famous. Whoa! When I typed "famous" it made my stomach turn a little bit. Yes extra money would be great. A lot more money would make us uncomfortable though. People always wanting to "capture" us with their big lenses and bright flashes. Stalking. Sneaking. Yea, I will pass on that! Maybe something low key, that wouldn't be bad. I am not really writter material I don't think. Ok totally off topic, moving on!

So it was my birthday, we had a small family gathering with Death by Chololate cake, Stawberry Short cake, huge sub sandwhiches and macoroni salad (Thanks again, mom). We over ate, laughed and enjoyed company of good friends and loving family!

Thank you Calvin for getting everyone together and being the wonderful husband you are. I enjoyed (and survived) another year with you by my side! LOVES AND HUGS

Weigh in

Just a quick note before I go to bed.

Calvin went to the weigh in tonight and dropped another 4lbs. I am so proud of him!! That is a fantastic -14 in 4 weeks! Only 6 weeks remain!

How to say baby.

I stole borrowed MckMama post, telling the hubby about a pregnancy. See hers in the "Welcome, Number five" post.

And here are mine.

It was a late school night (yes, school night) in 2004. My husband and I had a sneaking suspicion that our future and life as we knew it was going to change, for the best of course. I decided to buy a double pack pregnancy test, in case it was to early to test then I had a backup. Okay confession, it was truthfully because I was young (17) and to save myself the embarrassment of walking through the store with the test in hand and gawking eyes. (Which I did run into a friend's sister at the check out who said, "Really, you think you are pregnant, well I guess, good luck.") Ahem moving on. While I knew the instructions opted to test in the morning, the anticipation was growing, and growing, and growing. My husband went to bed as I sat and watched some T.V., but not for long. I couldn't wait and I knew I had two tests and could retest in the morning. I quietly open the first test, hands shaking with every emotion and ahhhh, now the 3 minute wait. Not! It showed almost instantly. Pink. Bold, dark and pink lines, right there. Now what? My husband is sleeping, along with the rest of the world. Well I go into our room, stir him up a little and whisper "We are pregnant." "uuhuh" WHAT, that is your response...okay, I forgive you and I'll let you sleep. GRR, I have to tell someone, I have to get this out. Mom, no! She has to work in the morning. AhHaa, E. yes, she will be awake. Ring ring, ring ring. "Hello." "Hey, what are you doing?" "Yea, well I just wanted to call real quick and tell you...your going to be an auntie" (Not really my sister or any relation, but might as well be, another post for that though) "What, yay! I am happy for you, that's exciting." So for all intense and purposes, E. was the first to know. For this pregnancy and the story that is next. (read on) I am antsy and it really has not hit me yet, so I go to bed.

Well that was not the end. I had to tell my mother. My father. Oh my, how do I tell my father. I am 17, in school, his only girl, the baby of the family and not married (yet!). Well I do take the other test in the morning, positive. Calvin knows by now but now I have to tell my family. Mom, she is working. Off to go see her. I go into the back (she worked at a restaurant) and I lay the test down. Her expression was a little unreadable. I could not tell is she was happy or not. And sadly after her look, I can't remember what she said. Or if words were exchanged at all. I honestly want to say she implied "well, you now need to tell your father". Or maybe I know how weird I was about having to tell him that that is what is stuck in my head. I am not even real sure how I told him. He was already on a minimal talking basis. As if he is a chatter, but I was, again, his baby, his girl and dating. Dating someone who was 6 years older than me did not help the situation. I assume the talk went something like "hmm yea, so I am pregnant dad" and it is quite likely he said nothing. Must not have been a bad response, I am sure that would have stuck with me.

So there we were 2.5 years later. Calvin was out of town and I was more than sure I was pregnant again. Off to the store again, but this was not a walk of embarrassment this time. I was older, married and ready for another bundle of joy. Again, double pack, just in case. And like before, no morning urine, I had to test now. The 3 minute wait and yes, bold, pink and very much there, a line that meant another baby to welcome into our loving hearts and arms. The news is in, and I call E. Another congratulations from my friend and now to tell the hubby. How? He would be home in 2-3 days and I could wait...right. I wanted to think of something cute and was on a time limit and a budget. Whole room of pink and blue balloons? Fun, but not something I can muster up. So I scrounge around the home and I get the idea. I will wait until he gets home, cook a great dinner and reveal it then. How, you ask? He arrives home, dinner is set and we go about it as if nothing is going on. Because well, he does not know of anything. How did he not see me staring at him with every bite. Waiting for him to see. To see what I want to tell him. A scoop of peas to his fork and then a pause. Smash, slide, glide... #2 we are pregnant, wrote right on the plate he eats from. He looks up "Really?!?" He was very excited. He jumped up from his chair to give me a hug. Don't let him fool you if he tells this story, he was on the verge of tears. Of happiness of course. It was the best reaction. I hope that I can congratulate him again soon with a baby #3 surprise.

Please...

Welcome

to our

family


Blondie!

Weigh In

If you are just joining in on Wednesday weight in, you may want to read this and this. Although I am not putting down your intelligence that you will get the point even for not reading them :) !

Defeat:
Calvin was not as successful on his weight loss this week as he has been. He sadly announced a +1. He was not the only one to see a (+) this week, in a way I guess you could say that's comforting. To him at least. He's the one in it for the challenge after all. I give him the excuses to justify his gain. 1. Sickness. He came down with a cold this week and no one feels like working out while sick. 2. Quitting Tobacco. This week he has quit chewing tobacco and I know from my (failed) experiences, it's not easy and food some how seems to slip past your lips before you can really grasp the situation. So while he may have had a +1 on the scale, he is still a winner for kicking the tobacco.


Calvin can now commit himself into the...

Parent Teacher Conferences & then some

Parent Teacher Conerences.
Thursday we had a a meeting with Brianna's preschool teachers. I could stop at "She is on track for her age." Which I am thrilled to hear. Brianna just makes the deadline of September 15th for Kindergarten so her teachers did pose a concern for that. They ran through a few different results of previous children going now versus going in a year. I have always pushed for waiting a year but my husband was set on her going this coming fall. My thought are (and have been) that she will be 4 when she starts school then turning 5. I am not fully comfortable with that. After hearing from the teachers, my same concerns, I believe Calvin is pushing for keeping her out until the following fall. Few things that I believe are making him think differently are things like her being behind on driving when everyone else will be, graduating when she is 17, and the home hitter (for me especially) is if she does happen to fall behind, they no longer hold children back. they just push them off to the next grade, ready or not. We want the best for her. In May we will meet again with her preschool teachers. They are sure she will be on track and it will then be the toss up of her age at that time.

Church.
We made it to church this weekend. I expressed my feelings about going (better yet, not going) and he agreed that we need that friendship with the Lord and need the guidence to get there from our church, pastor and friends. After all, a personal relationship with Jesus changes everything.

Thought of the week.
Live your life so you don't have to hide your diary.

The Weigh In


I finally have something worth blogging about. Not that you readers don't enjoy my day to day life in my shoes, but hang on to your pants (no pants on the ground here) I think you will enjoy following along with this!



Today is the sign up and weight in for Calvin. Our town is finally doing something worth participating in. Weight Loss Challenge. Signs ups are at a local Holiday Inn today, you give in a little bit of cash, and if you win...cash $$ and prises~a good motivator. It is a 12 week program with a weigh in every week. Calvin and his sister are going to participate and sign up, and while I am not going to sign up I am still going to participate and loose the flab.

My goals are as follows:
  • work on a healthier menu for the family
  • work out at least 20 minutes everyday. this includes, but not limited to, Wii fit plus, treadmill and a stationary bike.
  • set a realistic weight loss goal
  • motivate and encourage my husband

I am not sure how my posts will go from here on out about the Challenge so stick with me as trial and error will only lead me to the best result. I also want to mention that I would love to share progress with you but only after it has begun. I do not think I am comfortable enough to go public with my weight just yet, but I think once I have lost 10 lbs or so I will then share, knowing I am heading in the right direction.

Look for an update
to Calvin's experience after
he
Weighs In

Monday useless fact and more.



FACT: Winnie the Pooh was named after a bear
named Winnipeg and a swan named Pooh!






I want to share with you a picture of Addisyn that I am in love with. I want to add it to my blog page but need one of Brianna also that just pops like this one.

Is she not the cutest little doll face??!!

When the husband comes home...
I am not one to shower daily, and makeup...for get about it. But I have been thinking what my husband sees when he comes home. Most mornings I am up with Calvin, drink some coffee and see him off to work. Then I begin my day. I spend to much time on the computer and wait for the girls to get up and drink the much needed 3 cups of coffee, or more. I go about my day cleaning, being on computer, reading to the girls, pillow fighting, making meals, doing dishes, wash/dry/fold/put away laundry, make beds, nap, swish toilets, sweep/mop floors, watch cartoons, drink coffee, bath girls, work out; okay you get the point. Did you read anywhere up there "Shower and get myself ready"? Nope! Yes the house may clean, the kids in their underwear/diaper clothes or pajamas, and everything is in fairly neat order, except for me. How do you ladies, who stay home with your children, don't have any real places to go, focus on your family so much that you don't really have "friends", have a reason to get ready? I am talking dressed, hair and makeup in order and looking like you could pick up and leave to any place in a hurry? I find myself in clothes from the day before, hair in a messy bun, and obviously, no make up. I keep thinking, what does my husband think. I know he loves me without make up, and he is not the type to even care about what I am wearing, but could a simple change on my part make him happier? Maybe it's not him I am truly thinking about. Maybe I need to change this for myself. I don't usually have visitors, but have opened the door in a cut up tee shirt, no bra and jammie pants and hair a mess of course. What does that say to people that are not my family? I think weather or not this is an issue with Calvin, I am going to do it for a week and see how it makes the both of us feel.
From the man himself:
-What a sexy *****. I look at you and think "Wow, you made the house look good and how nice it is to come home to a clean house and a warm dinner."
-Not when we are home, Love. How long have I drilled you that you are beautiful without makeup. I don't want you to let yourself go, but don't mind when you have days you just don't want to do anything with yourself. (what is he talking about, I feel this is everyday)
-Well I don't. If you start wearing a moo moo 24/7 then we may have problems, lol
So there you have it, straight from the man himself. He enjoys the dinner, the happy clean kids, and the clean home to come home to more than what a mess his (beautiful) wife may be! Like I said above, this may be my issue, so for atleast a week I am going to get dressed, do my hair and put on a little makeup and see if it changes anything. Weather that change me in me or in him.
When the husband comes home....
He is happy with the little things, and loves his wife no matter what. That's love and marriage for ya!
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