Visiting Teaching Woes

My Great-Aunt Sylvia, also my visiting teacher companion, pulls me aside before Sacrament Meeting started this past Sunday and asks if we could go visiting teaching the first Tuesday of August.

"Yeah! Of course!" I graciously tell her.



So, this morning...yep, this morning, I wake up early after a horrible nights rest, shower, dress, run to Grandpa's to get him up and fed before 10am, our time to leave and I sit and sit and wait and wait...

Then it hits me! This is not the first Tuesday of August...that'll be next week Blondie!

Jeez!

I told Grandpa this did not go beyond me, him and Ruby! :)

Kiddos, eBay and Futurama!

My poor, sweet little sister had to have hip surgery last Wednesday...but on a good note, ------> I got to keep her kids!! I planned to do a lot more with them, but rain came. So, not complaining cuz we needed it so badly!

When I was keeping Jace full time, I bought him one of those hard plastic swimming pools with a slide. Claire enjoys 'water bending' (which I call splashing and have always detested) and Lindon thoroughly enjoys going down the slide...head first! Oh my! Auntie Em must be just totally paranoid!

But what we did, we had a BLAST! We, meaning the kids, swam nearly every day, we fed goats, we rode horses and visited with Grandpa Kenneth. Saturday was a very special day... We visited MOMMY AND DADDY!! After about five minutes of being there, I jokingly told Claire and Lindon to get their shoes on, we were headed home, figuring they would protest. Uuummmm, no! They obediently gathered socks, shoes and flip flops and headed to the door. Ooops...we're staying a bit longer. A wonderful visit, to say the least! A much needed mini-reunion for Sarah and Kevin.

After one especially rainy day on the way home from Woodville I told Claire to slightly lean out the window of the truck and hold her arm out as far as she could get it. There's a pretty good straight part of the graveled road that collect huge puddles of water. I hit them going a good 35 mph and drenched her arm. After cleaning tears and wiping away water I promised never to do that again.

You know what she wanted to do the very next day...? To stick her arm out (and her head) and get at wet as she could. Megan was with us, luckily, and had the brilliant (no joke, brilliant!) idea of getting both the kids and getting in the bed of the truck and fully experience the Odomville water park. We went up and down the road six or seven time.

We tried to video record it...after several attempts to set the camera up where it wouldn't get wet AND totally capture the fun, the batteries ran out and we gave up the effort. Good journal entry though!

The down part to keeping the kids came Monday night. Claire and I were comfortably sitting in the back room watching video on YouTube when in the middle of watching Beyonce dancing to the Single Ladies, I get the feeling to go into the kitchen.

Lindon was standing there and I say, "Hey buddy! Watcha doin?"

No response. He didn't look at me or made a sound.

He starts grabbing at his lips - he choking.

I hit him hard of the back and gets in up. He starts to cry and reach for me when he starts to choke again. I snatch him up and get to the garbage can, hitting his back a good two or three time again. He gets it up and vomits with it a bit. (As most know...I DON'T DO VOMIT!!! But thanks to a natural drug called Adrenaline...I really don't care.)

If that little boy could have burrowed into my chest, I'm sure he would have. He ends up vomiting two more times. In trying to calm down, sitting in the living room, sweet Claire brings him, or tries to, a pillow, a blanket, toys, a drink and a cookie. All "politely" refused by Lindon. Within ten minutes, he was back to his happy normal.

Important things I learned this week:
#1-Naps are NECESSARY! For my sanity, not really for the kids well-being.
#2-LuLu, aka Claire, is a wonderful big sister to her little brother.
#3-Booger, aka Lindon, is a lil' dare-devil, darn him!

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I totally get how people get addicted to eBay! I get a thrill simply participating in the Kirbyville Livestock Auction. eBay is my new addiction. Thanks to PayPal and its "timely processing," I rarely buy. Until recently. I got a refund on an item I re-negged on and went on a shopping spree. I got my Christmas shopping done and even got myself a little something!

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I have always said I would marry in the Temple and to a righteous, worthy Returned Missionary... But, if I met John DiMaggio tomorrow and he asked me to marry him...I'd so be knocking on the JP's door! What a talented, funny man!! I wouldn't say he's gorgeous, but he's my-kinda-cute. On that note, I am nearly caught up with watching the new season of Futurama and am waiting on the last full-length movie to come in the mail (my eBay purchase)! Can't wait! I <3 Bender Bending Rodriguez aka John DiMaggio!

Heavenly Blessings...

#1 Heber has been taking his family to church for the past five weeks! This Heavenly Blessing has been prayed for for the past 10+ years! Heber, please remember always that your Heavenly Father cares for you and your family! Please, be a righteous patriarch in your family and lead them where you know you should be!

#2 Jarom announced at graduation that he plans to serve a mission! Wow! Another Heavenly Blessing that has been prayed and fasted for! Jay, keep on the straight and narrow path you're walking down! Satan will do nothing but try to foil your plans!

#3 Megan also plans to serve a mission!! Megan, call the dentist and get that last step done!!!! This will do nothing but help you in growing spiritually and emotionally!!!!! Again, Satan will use all tools neccesary to stop you...Remember your spiritual goals and keep on!! I love you and will all I can to help you!

Truelly blessed our family is!!

The Adventures of Stallion-Keeping! (Oy Vey!!!)

Okay, I know not many people are concerned with my stud horse's genitals, but its all a part of keeping a stallion (even a gelding)! A gelding's sheath must be cleaned every year, sometimes more often, and a stallion, if being used at stud regularly, must be done quite often.

Poco Joe Sizzler, aka Lucky Joe, my AQHA registered stallion as been actively bred in several years. This last time he bred was in 2009 and I've let washing his sheath/penis slide.

When he was breeding several mares a season, I would wash him in between each round of mares and then in the Fall, before the cold weather set in. Which would often round out to be abour four cleanings a year.

Its no big deal, and by the second year of breeding, he was totally comfortable with everything a sheath cleaning involved.

Anyway, so when I wake up this past Saturday and find his sheath to be swollen, I paniced! #1 I've no money for a vet visit...I know, I know. Totally selfish and whatnot, but its a major part of owning a large animal. Large animal = large vet bill! #2 I don't have Excaliber (sheath cleaner)...by the way, I LOVE the name of the sheath/penis cleaner - Excaliber, like a sword...anyway! And #3 I know better than to let him go this long without cleaning him!!



This is about the state I found him in. Not too bad, but he's my baby and no one likes to see their baby...sick. Given, this "condition" is no more than an irritation. Like when your eye itches simply because you have some dirt or an eye lash in it. Its not infected, but could become so.

Heavenly Father knows just EXACTLY what it takes to get me to come to Him in prayer!! My horses... (just to name one reason). I basically told Heavenly Father that I could not afford a vet bill and to please guide me to help Lucky Joe the best I knew how to.

Thank you Heavenly Father for all answered prayers. Less than a week later, we're...he, Lucky Joe...is back to normal.

And thanks to all my horse- and non-horse friends for your prayers and your words of comfort, encouragement and advise!

Not Much...

...has really gone on. Jarom graduated High School is a biggie. He gave a suprise announcement to mom, via the principal during the ceremony, that he plans on serving a mission!

Megz is preparing to serve a mission. All she has left is the get a dentist appointment made and then she can click the "submit" button on her papers!

Dusty, the horse, is FOR SURE pregnant! Not sure when she's due, this baby was totally unplanned, therefore, the baby will be named, regardless of gender, "Uh-Oh!" I love it!

It looks as if I'll get $4500 on my Pell Grant, not the full $5500 as estimated, due to Angelina keeping their tuition costs, etc. down... which is totally cool! I'll take all I can get!

Lulu, aka Claire Fruge', had her recital Saturday night! Too stinkin cute! She was so precious! I love my Lulu!

My 28th birthday was Friday... uuggghhh! I asked Lulu what she was going to get me. She said, "Um... you can wait me dance at my recital!" I said, "Nope! I wanna husband." She said she couldn't get him for me right now. Again... I love my Lulu!

FIESTA....siesta!

Last night Mom, Megan and I had a slumber party here at house. Pizza, chips and dip and cheesecake! Too much for "old" Em!! I pooped out at around 10:30pm.

The night started with internet exploring then led to movie watchin... We watched Big Business with Bette Middler and Lily Tomlin, then we watched The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. (I said I'd never watch that movie again!) And when Megan put in Julie and Julia with Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Stanley Tucci, it was time for me to hit the hay!

It was a wonderful time with my girls...missing Sarah and Angel. Maybe next time we'll get them to come on out.

~What-Not~

About two months since I've written. Been keeping up with the (paper) journal about the same... not so much.

Just a few things to touch on:

I have a 102 average in my college algebra class. They can only offer me a 4.0-even, though, so...

I've (finally) signed up for a grant and I've been approved for 5,500 smack-a-roos for two semesters. That's pay for a total of about 8-10 classes, plus books and supplies! Woo-Hoo... come on full-time college student statis! What makes this even BETTER?! I don't pay it back!!

I had one, yes ONE, baby bunny born Saturday, the day before Easter. This poor little one has had more drauma in the past three days, than I have my entire life! Its still alive and kicking and since the Winter freezes no longer exist, we can hope for the best.

I'm about 110% sure that my mini horse is pregnant. I know I said that last year, but I have, like, sure signs! Her milk veins are large, her udder is changing and her "baby" moves like no crazy! Super excited!!!!