to work or no to work

This week brought the need for many missed hours of work.

On Monday Christi had difficulty holding down anything and was promptly sent home from work. She also had an OB appointment which went well, all is exactly as expected. Dr Chang believes its just a stomach bug, not so sure ourselves. Christi also kept Naya with her because when she went to drop her off at Karen's (the babysitter), she found that Karen had been thrown from her horse and could barely move. Karen was still planning on keeping Naya. Christi decided it was better for Naya to stay with mom.


Tuesday kept Christi home as well for more than one reason. First off she was still ill to her stomach. Second the green vans tailgate had jammed open. It was very weird. It took Nick over an hour and Donna and Christi another hour of fussing with it to get it unjammed. It seems to be working now. Thank God that could have been expensive. We are not sure what happened, we think we might have been bumped at the grocery store Monday night. Tuesday night also brought the girl scout recruitment night, now we officially have one cub scout and one daisy scout.

Wednesday brought everyone back at work and school. Christi was going to spend the next three days at San Juan College in mandatory training. While she was there she discovered that the theater department was having additions for "The Importance of Being Ernest". Nick and Christi did not audition but we are thinking about doing a little back stage work.

Thursday was a lesson in patients for Christi. On Wednesday night Christi received a letter from the Medicaid office stating that they needed a copy Christi's birth certificate before Friday. The only problem is she was in training during their limited office hours to get one, she could not find her copy. Well she got permission to leave work a little early before the last session since it wasn't a corporate competency. Well the problem was CYFD and child abuse which is required ran over by 40 minutes. So Christi walked in to the vital records office right at closing time and they had already closed the office and refused to help even though their clock said straight-up four. She was very upset at their lack of customer service, which was a three hour training she had just gone through the day before. Not to mention the paperwork mess this will most likely cause with the kids' Medicaid.

Friday found Fionna getting sick at school. It took over two hours for someone to be able to go and get her. It ended up being Nick after Christi brought him the van. In all this we forgot to call the Myers, friends from scouts, who going to watch Dreigan and Fionna since the Boy's and Girl's club closed for the day. Well this panicked them when Fionna did not arrive at their house and they went looking for her. We were eventually able to clarify things. I am very thankful for such good friends who care for my children as they would their own.

Saturday was spent doing house work and working on finishing details for Dreigan's advancement ceremony.

Sunday we made cookies for the ceremony.

school days

Monday brought much tears and fighting as the kids didn't want to get up early and start getting ready for school, especially since they didn't really have anywhere to go. They spent the whole day home with Donna.

Tuesday was up early again but this time at least the kids had dentist appointments. Thank God for Donna as Nick and Christi had to work. All three kids had a good exam no cavities. It is possible that Naya is missing a set of permanent teeth. The dentist wasn't completely sure because her x-rays were blurry, It's kind-of hard to x-ray a not quite three year olds mouth. We will have to wait to see for when she is big enough to take clear x-rays. Dreigan also so had scouts. The finale meeting before the advancement ceremony, if you re going to be there please let me know.

Wednesday brought a stay home day for Nick, Dreigan, Fionna and Naya. The last day of summer vacation. Naya decided to entertain us with a 15-20 minute oration. We were able to catch part of it on the digital camera.



Thursday brought Dreigan's first day. We are very proud of him. Despite his protestations he got himself on the bus on time without any adult prompting. Nick and Christi had already gone to work and he let Donna sleep. There was also a meeting with Fionna's Kindergarten teacher Ms Mary. It went okay, Fionna likes her and that is what matters. Christi also had Roundtable, adult boy scouts, in order to get popcorn information. That's right popcorn time is here so be prepared Dreigan will be asking if you want some. I am also told to tell Paul to get his butt back in scouts.

Friday brought Fionna's first day in Kindergarten. Can you believe it. She came home just bubbling and so excited.

Saturday the kids spent the night with Cathy and Steve, giving Nick and Christi some much needed alone time.

Sunday was Steve's birthday so to celebrate we went to Cathy and Steve's for dinner. It was so good. Happy birthday Steve. We love you.

calling all family members

Dreigan needs your help.
First off if your going to be in the county on September 2nd, we would like to invite you to an advancement ceremony for Dreigan in Cub scouts. He has earned his Wolf rank. The ceremony will start at 6:30 at Bloomfield United Methodist Church. Please let us know if you can attend or can't (if you live in San Juan county).
Second for the ceremony we need a 2 foot long or so wooden arrowhead. If you are able to help to create this please let us know Dreigan would be more than happy to come and help. We just need to arrange it. Let me know so that I can get you more specifics.

The Last Week of Summer

Dreigan refuses to believe it but its true. The kids go back to school next week.

Monday was rough we decided to get the kids up early to start getting used to it again for school. Dreigan did not like it at all. In fact he says "I'm not going back. I'm done with school."

Tuesday marked the girls last day of dance for the summer program. They will restart again on September 2nd. There also was cub scouts which had an early adult meeting as we gear up for the start of the next school. Our Cub Master is very new and didn't listen when I told him that he had things he needed to do for the boys to get their rank patches, you would think 17 years in scouting would mean I know something. I don't think he can get past my gender. After all I'm just a girl, how much can I know about Boy Scouts, despite the fact I was an official Boy Scout as a youth twice as long as he was and went to resident camp i.e. Rand three summer more than he did. I guess I will always run into guys like him in Boy Scouts, all the more reason for me to be there. Thanks Dad for supporting and teaching me how to deal with them.

Wednesday I had an OB appointment with Dr Chang's nurse, Dr Cassidy referred me there because I'm borderline high risk. Mostly because of Naya's size, if this baby is bigger, oh my! All went well mostly we filled out paperwork.

Thursday I was offered a two teaching positions at head start toddlers or Pre-k. I have decided to take the one in the 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 year old room. It will be more pay and better hours, plus I will stay in Bloomfield closer to the kids.

Friday we went to the county fair. You must excuse the pictures I was working PMS's booth so Dreigan took them all. The kids loved the animals.

Saturday the pack went to the Farmington Museum. If you haven't taken the time to see how they have updated it from when they were on Orchard, now they are on Main, I highly recommend it. The have a section dedicated to oil and gas and how they do what they do. Its pretty cool and doesn't take to long. They have also updated the history portion from Anasazi to now. I was disappointed with the boys. The adults kept trying to show them diffrent and interesting facts and all they wanted to do was play and screw around. They almost missed the two headed calf. They aren't going to be happy next time when I make them right reports, but most of this goes toward their advancement and what's the point if they are messing around. I know a couple of them were in a hurry to get to the gift shop to get candy. My kids and another family weren't allowed to have candy. Dreigan took it well, so I rewarded him with a coloring book about Navajo Code Talkers, he's in to them right now. There was a Code Talker at the Fourth of July concert he was so excited, I think that was the first time he really realized that they are living breathing men, who live right here near him.

Sunday has been spent hanging out and playing. The kids need it before school starts. Dreigan starts 3rd grade and if you missed it, that's a No Child Left Behind testing year. That means all third graders are expected to take and pass a standardized test. You should see the list of accommodation in place to help Dreigan pass. Fionna starts Kindergarten and it ain't what you remember either, thanks to NCLB. She is expected to be reading before she can go on to 1st grade, that's right reading. Good thing she is excited to learn to read and is well on her way with knowing all the letter and their basic sounds and around 20 or so sight words. Lara and Lindsey consider your selfs warned. Children who are lucky enough to get to stay with mom can start Kindergarten significantly behind both socially and academically. Kindergarteners are expected to come in knowing all the basics already, colors, shapes, letters, recognizing their name, and how to function in a group. Basically what we learned in first grade in now Kindergarten, and what we learned in Kindergarten in now preschool/Pre-K.
Sorry for the rant, it must be the mood I'm in today.

Too busy or too tired?

To tell the truth I'm not sure which. You decide. The quick version of the last two weeks.
Monday-D started back with his play therapist long story.
Tuesday-F & N dance
Wednesday- D & F bowling
Thursday-
Friday-Fionna went to ABQ and Cliffs with boys and girls club
Saturday-Back to school shopping (tax free weekend)
Sunday-sleeping
Monday- D & F VBS, N couldn't go she still wears diapers
Tuesday-D&F VBS, D Connie Mack, F&N dance & D scouts
Wednesday-D&F VBS & skating
Thursday- D&F VBS & bowling
Friday-D&F VBS and finale splash down at Boys and Girls club
Saturday- yard work
Sunday- VBS music at service

Okay so it's all the kids activities but getting them to where they need to go and working 40hrs a week is about all the energy we have. You would also think as busy as they have been all summer they wouldn't be bored but they are. The big kids have started in on each other we can't wait for the last ten days of summer. Fionna starts Kindergarten on the 20th and Dreigan starts 3rd grade on the 21st
It also rained here in Bloomfield about 4 inches this week. It poured for an hour+ Tues, Weds, Thurs, & Fri. I forgot how hard and much it can rain here. Now of course all our weeds are out of control.