Hard choices

 

This week, we have had to make some hard decisions.  Not ones that we took lightly or hadn't put a lot of our energy into.  We took Maude in to get fixed.  I was on the fence.  I would actually love to let her have a litter of puppies.  But then I would have to part with them, and I don't know if I would want to.  And I doubt that we need any more Bassett hounds around here.  I am going to tell you that this is a hilarious dog!  She is also incredibly sweet.  I love her!  Common sense won out over my heart, and she is currently at the vet awaiting her surgery time tomorrow.  

And then there is this dog.  My brother's dog, Zoey.  She is a really nice dog.  She is potty and kennel trained and minds really well.  She is sweet and a good dog.  She was put into a pretty crappy situation, of no fault of her own.  When I brought her home, I had the best intentions.  And if I was being honest, it felt a little bit like I was bringing home a little part of Eric's life, and I was desperate to cling onto anything that I could.  So desperate, that despite what I could see going on before my very eyes, I ignored everything that I know, and everything that I have been taught.  Zoey has not been getting along with the other dogs.  She tried to kill Carlos a few weeks ago.  I ignored that until she did it again, and this time, in the process, Jim got bit trying to save Carlos' life.  We talked about it, and decided to keep them separated.  Which was working somewhat.  And then Zoey attacked Mallory's dog.  Again, I made excuses and told Mallory when she was bringing the dogs out, let me know and I would kennel Zoey.  And then yesterday, Jim had to break up a large dog fight between Zoey and Blitz.  One in which Blitz was hurt (thankfully not fatally) and Jim could have been hurt.  Though I had a few moments of tears, we made arrangements for Zoey to live with Uncle Harold.  It was good timing, as Uncle Harold's dog had just passed away a few weeks ago.  I didn't want to do it.  I wanted her to adapt and get along.  I wanted to hold on to some piece of my brother.  I wanted Clayton to not lose the dog too, after having lost so much already.  I cried a few tears.  Bottom line though, I don't need anyone getting hurt.  Not the other dogs, not Jim trying to break things up, and luckily, it has not been one of the girls or the grandkids.  And I know what Eric would say about it.  I know.  If the circumstances were different, we would not have waited this long.  I know.   But my functioning brain on these type of situations left me back in September.  

I hope Zoey will be very happy with Uncle Harold and Aunt Mary.  She has a good home there.  I hope that my brother would understand that we tried hard.  And I hope that Jim knows how much I appreciate him being the one who got stuck in the middle of dog wars, and his patience for my emotional lack of good judgement, or at least the length of time it took me to get back to thinking normally on this situation.  

What in the day off…??

A day off of school that is.  I still had to work this morning.  Jim still had to work.  In true Hope fashion, I made the girls dental appointments.  We ran a few errands.  We did a few things around the house and boom - day off is over.  Dang it. 

I did enjoy a cute morning hello from Easton. He is rapidly changing - rounding out and looking a little less like a sleepy newborn.  

I also, in a moment of inspiration made a Dubai chocolate cake.  Why?  Because sometimes I get inspired to create things.  And sometimes life is better with a little chocolate in it.  

This girl had an actual day off.  A rarity.  

And so when Mallory showed up (in time for dinner) to go look for the northern lights, she jumped in the car with Harper and me.  We didn’t see any good northern  lights tonight. 

But I did video a weird flashing light (video at the top of this page because the blogger app is weird as usual). .  When you scroll in, it is really weird. My video is Terrible - I couldn’t find it in the camera view. My apologies.   But if you watch between 13-17 seconds and scroll in you can see what I’m talking about.  I don’t know what it is.  Most likely a drone. But maybe proof that the aliens want to make contact.  Who knows. At this point nothing would shock me.  

I’m less concerned with aliens and more concerned with weekends and days off not leaving us so quickly. 

 

Sunday - always my fav

Sunday will always be my favorite day of the week.  Why?  I don’t have a clue. But things always seems a bit more laid back.  It is a day to catch up, catch your breath, maybe rest a little, and get ready for the upcoming week.  Sort of a reset day if you will.  

Also, we have Sunday dinner for whoever shows up. And I love seeing my little squirrels. They make my whole week happier!

Mallory made a little trip to Wichita to hold a cute little boy!  He looks so big in these pictures she took.  Colin told me he is outgrowing his newborn clothes already!  Slow down little buddy!  

Hoping the weather cooperates so that we can make a little trip down next weekend!  

The squinty eye grin cracks me up.  

Colin sent me a picture of him in the swing we got him for Christmas - he looks like he is waving to his grammy!   I can't wait to get him back in my arms!  Grammy misses you little buddy!

You can tell how cold it is by the number of cats piled together.  A redneck weather center!  For the record, there are 3.  That is pretty cold!  Some might say we have a problem.  Some might just sit beside them and enjoy their purring.  

Which is another reason I love Sunday - time to pet all the cats.  Yes, I am insane.  Deal with it. :)  

 

Ta-done! (Sorta)

This past year, I have watched Colin and Spencer renovate pretty near their entire house.  They have made brave choices, and I have watched. Occasionally thinking oooh I don’t know if I am brave enough to try that. But then seeing the end result and thinking I need to be braver with my choices.  Paint the cabinets.  Pick the colors you like. Never underestimate the sharpness of white trim.  And so, inspired by my kids, I plunged into a bathroom remodel.  The shower had been leaking so it was pretty much inevitable. Can I do flooring?   I don’t know. I never tried it before.  Colin said “mom it’s not hard it’s just time consuming.  Get the right tools, anyone can do it.”  And so I did.  Well I didn’t  get the right tools, but I did jump in a$$ deep and no, it is not perfect.  But I do like it. 

And I did drag out all of Jim’s power tools.  I replaced the trim myself.  I picked white despite the rest of the house  being oak. I painted the vanity despite Jim not being completely excited.    I put up the wainscoting - but not by myself- Jim jumped in and helped me.  He also bought me a nail gun (which I insisted we didn’t need, but I am very glad he didn’t listen).  Jim helped me get the shelves and towel bars level and we excitedly used my new Christmas drill. Some of the choices were definitely out of our comfort zones.  

Jim’s help was appreciated.  

He measures stuff where I tend to eye ball it.  I’m glad he helped me so everything is level.  

I am fairly proud of the end result.  It looks a whole lot like the picture I had in my head when we started out - a challenge I struggle with - making what’s in my brain come out in the project. 

 I still have to get some trim for along the top of the wainscoting, but it’s not happening today because I am not leaving the house!  

 

Although we did have a small interruption. Jim and I were in the zone.  Measuring, cutting, discussing.  There’s a knock on the door.  Followed by a text from Saige “I’m not getting it - it’s the cops!”  Jim ran up to find that indeed, the sheriff was beating on our door.  Looking for Cameron with a jury duty summons. Guess when I told him to call them he failed.  I think Jim got it straightened out. If not, I guess we will be visiting Cameron in prison.    

Things that make my day

Went to work late so I could take Harper for a recheck at her orthodontist.  She was released from the orthodontist!  I am happy about this. But it is also sort of weird.  We have spent a lot of time with these people for the last 4-5 years.  Sometimes seeing them more than our actual family.  It’s odd to think we won’t see them again. Or at least won’t see them regularly.  If you need a really nice orthodontist team Dr Cassidy is top of the line.  Seriously I am impressed with the kindness, the amazing staff, and their willingness to work with you financially.  It was a great experience.  And best of all, Harper did all the things to make it easy, and her smile is beautiful.  

Not that you can tell because she smiles like this.  (Just kidding). She got some sort of grinch tag at school and just now showed it to me.  Harper makes a pretty cute grinch.  

Photos of lil Dale also make my day.  He’s getting so big!   Colin had to return to work this week.  I can’t wait to get to Wichita.  Love my little Wichita family.  

Flooring is done. Toilet and shower caulked.  Trim is in except for 2 problem areas.  Jim is buying one more piece of trim board so that he can help me figure out a solution.  He is also buying some finishing nails today so we can get rolling on the wainscoting.  We are rolling along.  I have never done flooring before. I am really happy with how it turned out. 

For the last 20 or so years, Jim worked for the city.  They provided him with shirts.  The shirts all say “city of Overbrook” on them.  That doesn’t work now….or at least not well. So we had to buy him some clothes.  Harper and I walked into the feed store this morning and they had all their clothes 40-50% off!   That’ll work.  We got him a couple of button downs.  Happiness abounds.  Also happy that his first few days at the new job have been positive, he seems happy with it, and he is excited about things they are planning.  It’s nice to see him with positive things to say about work again.  

Again

What is it they say about the road to hell being paved with good intentions?  Oh right. ~they say fake it til you make it.  Right?  

I’d like to say it was fake that the weekend is over.  Dang that flew by like a flash. 

I heard a little from Colin and Spencer.  Easton is doing good.  He looks like he’s growing!  Gotta carve out a trip south soon. 

I have always loved hot air balloons.  So when I was in the store this weekend to get food to barbecue with Preston and Sunny, and they had this cute little solar powered hot air balloon, into the cart it went.  The solar lights flicker, making it seem realistic.   I’m enamored.  Jim said “oh yeaaa” which after all these years I recognize as he isn’t as impressed as I am, but also doesn’t want to tell me I’m a weirdo. Do I care?  Nope.  Am I going to continue to throw odd things into my cart and then ask him if he thinks it’s cool?  Absolutely.  And sorry/not sorry this thing is cool!   10/10 stars. Would buy again. 

I spent the bulk of Saturday bouncing between working on the basement bathroom, cleaning stuff, cooking and hanging out with Preston and Sunny who are here for the weekend.  I also conned Cameron into coming down for Sunday dinner.  It was nice to have a house full of people, relaxing and hanging out.  

And playing with the girls is always fun. Or at least it was fun until Andrew took a few guppies down to feed to Jim’s tank of bass.  He let the girls go with him.  They were not impressed at all.  Wrenley kept telling me that was mean!  Those fish mean!  I guess she didn’t appreciate their love of sea food.  

Jim starts his new job tomorrow.  I don’t know if he is ready to go back to the grind, but he seems excited about this opportunity.  Good luck at your first day Jim!  

Did I mention I am ready to go back to Wichita?  

So progress was made this weekend.  Flooring went down.  Then I ran out.  Then I ordered more and it was delivered today (I know we are supposed to be avoiding Amazon, but I got my stuff and didn’t go into Menards - saving money.   I love this floor.  Sort of.  I should not have gotten tile with such a definite pattern!  Especially for my first flooring job.  Matching it up is more difficult than I thought - especially in the areas where I have to cut the tiles down. I have just a slight touch of OCD with stuff like this. If it doesn’t match up, it will drive me crazy - I will never be able to go in there and not see it.  So it is taking me a lot longer than I originally thought.  I have made it further than this photo shows, but I am having to cut and piece together each piece, and it is tedious and time consuming.  I’ll get it done, but my idea that I would finish this bathroom this weekend  was definitely a pipe dream. It’s fine.  Everything is fine.  It’s winter time. I don’t like being outside anyway.  I also got the trim all cut, and I have a plan.  It’s just not a realistic time management type of plan.  

Lots of things

The remodeling of grandma’s kitchen continues.  Preston and Sunny are here, retrofitting cabinets to fill up her soffit space.  I am weirdly excited about it, I think I might be addicted to projects?  I even broke out the new multi-tool!  The first step = admitting there is a problem.  I admit nothing!  There is nothing to see here folks!

This little girl is growing up too fast.  Why is she looking more like a kid than a baby?  

An ornery, ornery kid.  

This little buddy had his first ER visit.  He had a complication with his circumcision. Only mention this because if you might recall, Colin was our king of the ER when he was younger.  I sort of laughed, sort of cringed when Colin said “we made it 2 weeks before we had to go to the ER.  I am not joking when I tell you that the nurses at St Francis knew my son my name.  

Easton is ok. He had a very long night and day, but he is home and they have a resolution.  (Grammy loves you little buddy!). 

I am still enamored with my bichirs. They are getting big. I can’t get enough.  I have owned fish my entire life - but these are different.  They seem friendly. Or curious or something. They come up to say hi when I go in the room.  Jim has noticed too.  They are really amazing fish.  

The weather has been exceptional.  One night, I came home from work and grilled steaks on the grill in shorts and flip flops. It is January?   Yesterday we had thunder storms.  It was 60 degrees and seemed like an April day.  My brain cannot handle it.  I have spring fever.  

The closest thing I have to spring is that my little cherry seeds went from little roots to actually sprouting and starting to get leaves.  And yes, if you come here often you will continue to get updates because this is truly exciting!

I do know that spring isn’t here and I’m not planting a garden or thinking about starting to clean the pool.  Although that’s where my heart is.  Instead I have been making Valentine’s Day wreaths.   Mallory even got Carlos a Valentines day outfit. He was so happy!  

Other exciting news- Jim got a job with the Kansas Rural Water office.  It was a job he really wanted and I am so happy and excited for him.  As you probably know, Jim worked for the city of Overbrook for 20 years. In that time he learned a lot of stuff. He became certified in water treatment and wastewater treatment. He became a master clerk. He learned a lot stuff about a bunch of computer programs, learned about utility billing and management. He wore a whole bunch of hats.  He also met a lot of people who he both learned from and impacted.  I believe those skills he acquired both helped him get this job, and make him a perfect fit for it.  I can’t wait to watch him master this!  Proud is an understatement.  

We are weekend ready.  This was a short week, but it was a long short week.  If you want to hang out this weekend, I will be in the basement bathroom, feel free to join me!  Since Preston and Sunny are here, I am going to pick their brains about how to do a couple of things down there.  And by the grace of God, I am hoping to finish up.  Plumber is currently on his way. Vanity is painted and first coat of poly is on, just have to do one more coat and reattach the drawer pulls.  I am ready to crunch out some flooring, trim and wainscoting!  I watched a YouTube video, I believe it will only take about 25 minutes!  :)  OHHH and just wait until Jim sees the amazing decor I bought just for this room!  He will probably have tears in his eyes when he sees the amazingness!