just pictures for now...

... will report in later...

afternoon quiet time fun...



Springtime fun...

Spring Break Absenteeism...

I never thought that Spring Break in all it's glory could slow me down like this week has. The blessing behind it is that I had time with all my kids. The next blessing is that I declared this day, Saturday March 29th, to be a kid free day for me!

Yep- I offically declared it. Next week they are back in school, but Kevin is leaving for NY on Monday, so once again I am a single parent for a week!

Kevin wondered if I was mad that he was leaving again. Mad? Nope, I just want to be clear that I need some time just for whatever I want to do and today is the day.

I got to sleep in, a little, going for a haircut, and then heading to the store to scrap.

All day to myself.

But of course, you are invited to join me if you would like. =)

Baskets, dresses, and Springtime fun...

I was out of town for a few days celebrating Easter with our good friends out in Fort Morgan. Thanks again guys for letting us crash your party! We all had a great time!

So, to catch up. A show of eggs, dresses, and other springtime fun.






The puppies liked Easter too, although their baskets were empty. Don't worry they got something!






They had to get their shots and micro chips today. Ouch! But they also got lots of new chew toys to play with and a taste of outside on this beautiful Spring day!






While out in Fort Morgan I got some scrappin' done. Will show you later, but for now a parting note....

Happy 40th Anniversary (March 23rd) Mom and Dad!
I hope you are having fun on your vacation!!!

Dying to Dye eggs

Okay, okay. I finally gave in and let the kids make the Easter eggs. I don't know why I was fighting it this year. It wasn't messy. It was quick. They all had fun, even if Avery thought we were nuts at first. Take a look at her... does she look like she trusts us?


But then she started having fun. She got to use one of her favorite words over and over again.

"Avery is your egg done yet?"

"No."

"Can I take it out?"

"No."

"Do you like the color yet?"

"No."

Then she would reach for the dipper to help me get it out to look at.
The other two thought it was hilarious.





All turned out well. A picture of the dried and decorated eggs will show up soon.
Happy Easter!

Photoshop fun entry

Hello everyone!
Another one of my oh-so-talented sisters, this one in law, created this animation for a photoshop entry. She is in the movie industry and has created a few animations that have been used in major motion pictures. This time though, it was for fun and on her own. I wanted to pass it on to you all for a quick look. If possible, and you really like it, could you vote for her?

See it here.

Thanks!

It's not my responsibility but...

because I helped birth them, and I am helping raise them, I am also passing around pictures to those people that are interested in these puppies. A few pictures used to help "hook" people. =)

Annie


Max


Benji


Coco/Brownie

some creative work....

I am working on something that is a little different than what I usually do. I saw this at the store on Sunday and thought I might try to make a sample of it. I have the paper done and am now working on gathering photos for it. I am going to do a Jan snow, Spring flowers, Summer fun, Fall leaves, Halloween and Christmas pages... kind of going through and focusing on how things change here at our house. I still would like to add either a "Whalen" sign or the house numbers on the front. What do you think?


And just a page I finished...
It is funny that I buy paper that is in the store now, Springy and cute, but seem to be working with papers that are Fallish....

A kiss for you

At least one more hockey weekend!

Kevin's team won Districts! So now they are on to Nationals!

They play in Buffalo April 2nd to the 6th.

They are ranked number 2 in the nation right now, and the number 1 team has already been knocked out, so they have a real chance at winning it all!

GO THUNDERBIRDS!

Puppies that now actually look like puppies...

not like little rats or piles of color.

Here is Max showing off that they can now walk. He also likes to let the others know that he is in charge by taking the other puppies entire snout into his mouth.

Cute little Annie. I am still hoping that she is going to make it up to a certain little medical clinic up in the Northeast corner of Vermont...

Here is Benji...

And Brownie/Coco. Yes, we think she has a new name. Ms Acker, Bailey's teacher is interested in adopting her. Tonight she is whiny and wants to sit in my lap all the time. Most of the puppies got their teeth in 2 days ago, but we think she might be teething tonight. Poor me, right? Having to hold this cute little bundle.

Puppy pics

Max takes a nap after getting weighed and measured.

Brownie experiences a new type of flooring.

Benji and Annie exploring.

Avery pets Brownie.

Max.

Creative afternoon

Thanks to my posting yesterday, I purposely strayed from the computer this afternoon and spent a few hours scrapping. And I loved every minute of it!



An open eye...

Snidbits...

Okay most of this is going to be really random thoughts, sorry in advance.

1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Courtney! I hope you had a great day!!!

2. Avery has ANOTHER ear infection! That makes 4 this winter. Someone needs to tell her that breast fed babies do NOT get ear infections!!! Any more and she will get tubes in her ears. YIKES!

3. Got to spend even more time at the doctor's office today. I picked up Bailey from school, and because my mother freaked me out, I took her in to the doctor for a strep test. Mom- she did tell me that she spent most of the day at the water fountain because her throat hurt. The test was negative as was the flu test.

4. Max opened his eyes today. Not fully, just the newborn "let me check out what is going on around here" type open.

4. I have been tagged. Thanks Mary Kay.
So I have to...
* Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
* Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
* Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven facts... hum...
Something no one knows... yeah, right, I love ice cream!!! Right now I am hooked on Dreyer's (Eddie's for you back East) slow churned mint cookie! So yum!

I spend too much time on webkinz and not enough time scrapbooking. It's weird, I always feel like my life is wasted away when I am on the computer, but love when I scrapbook. Why don't I do more of that and less of the other?

I have worked with kids for almost 25 years! and if you include lil sis, it has been 30 years. There are some times that I am more comfortable in a room full of kids than in a room full of adults. True story.

Kevin and I have been together for 17 years now. Since March 2, 1991.

I have a crush on Noah Wylie, Patrick Dempsey, and Tim Daly. Do you think I like docs?

That's enough spillage.
Now it's your turn...

Beware, Bob, Kate and Angel you will be tagged!

Kate- now you actually have to post something. =)

stir crazy

Today was a very interesting day.
I was scheduled to teach a social studies lesson for part of the credit in one of my classes. I have been teaching this unit for a week now. It has been fun and so far things are going well. I have had to be flexible and change a few things, but that is part of teaching.

When I was done in there, I was to report to the second grade classroom to teach a math lesson. No problems there.

Then I was scheduled to leave.

I was walking down the hallway at the school when I noticed Bailey standing in the hall outside her classroom. She saw me, and then burst into tears. I quickly got to her and asked what was wrong. She wasn't feeling good, and sure enough, I could tell that she had a fever. I took her to the office and had her lay down while I gathered up her things for the day. As I was walking back down the hallway, a TA walked by me and asked me if I could head out to the playground and check on Dillon. He had just had a bad collision and was still down on the ground crying. I dropped off Bailey's things to her and headed out to the playground.

Sure enough, he had made it over to the stairs, but was still hurting pretty badly. I took him up to the office and got him an ice pack. He had collided with another student knee on knee. OUCH! He was having trouble walking. I told him that I was already taking Bailey home, and did he want to stay at school or head home too. After much debate, he decided to come home as well.

I left the school with two kids, picked up Avery and headed home. I immediately put Avery and Bailey to bed and got Dillon set up on the couch with an ice pack and a good book.

Everything was great for about 2 hours.

Then not so great.

Bailey wakes up, and inadvertently wakes up Avery. Avery is crabby!

Dillon is now playing hockey in my living room. I think he is feeling better.

Bailey, having taken Motrin, is also feeling better and running rampant through my house.

I try to get everyone settled back down. No chance.

Crying, loud noises, laughing, running.

A movie slows things down for a while, but soon they are up and going again.

Kevin gets home, and wonders what the h*** is going on.

Dinner is served and I leave.

Not kidding.

I head for the grocery store. Leaving instructions for both girls to be bathed.

When I get back, Kevin is looking strained. "I was beginning to wonder if you had left me." he states. (I had been gone 45 minutes.)

I get Avery to bed.

Bailey reads to Kevin. Dillon reads to me and Abby.

Bailey is in bed.

Dillon is in bed.

Quiet rules the house once again!

Puppies

This whole puppy thing has been a learning experience, for me and for the kids. I just can't believe how many things that I never thought of or never even knew about puppies.

1. When do their eyes open? My first quess was a week, then 10 days, now I am guessing 2 weeks old. I tried to look it up today but could not find any information on it.

2. When they go potty it is because Abby comes along and licks their private area. That stimulates them to pee.

3. Max was 1 week old when he first tried to walk. He still really isn't walking, but he keeps getting up there. I haven't seen anyone else try yet. The puppies kind of "swim" around the crate.

4. I am not sure if Abby taught them or that they just knew how to do it, but one day Abby climbed in with them and turned on her back to sleep. The next day was the first time I noticed any of them doing that. Now they all do. Also... if Abby is on her back, Brownie will still climb up on her to suckle. =)

5. Puppies shed ALOT! Abby does too now! I am hoping that when her hormones settle down her shedding will slow as well.

Now for pictures...
Max... he is getting black spots on his nose and paw pads. He now has a face only a mother could love =) Then again, almost all of us reading this are moms, right?


Chow time!!! Check out Brownie under Annie =)

Annie diving right into the pile.

A few short comments...

Today was a great day for hockey! Actually it was a great day for Whalen hockey.

Dillon was in a hockey skills competion this morning and won first place during the shoot out! He got a great plaque for his accomplishment.

And then Kevin's team won state! Next they are on to districts... in two weeks.

Congrads to both of you!