When You Don't Hit it off With Your Kid's Teacher

Its bound to happen sometime in your kid's educational career, you get a dud teacher. Last year was Cheyanne's turn and this year is Heather's. Heather is doing well in her class, getting all A's and excelling in everything she does but I just don't like this lady. I have tried to be understanding since she lost her husband last year, her mother in November and had two surgeries for carpel tunnel syndrome this school year but it just isn't working. At the beginning of the year we signed up to volunteer in class and since I have been unemployed I have volunteered at the kids school for wherever they need help. I even spoke to her when I was signing up, she never called. In November I spoke with her again letting her know I was available if she needed help since she was having surgery and family problems, she never called. Today she sent home the report cards with a letter stating how challenging it is to with 33 students and NO volunteers. Really? When you go to talk with her about your kid's work it is like some BIG inconvenience and she never returns a smile when I see her in the morning. I am also a little perturbed about Heather's report card, Heather received all A's and all O's except for one N in organization. This one N disqualifies her from the Honor Roll which I think is BS. her desk being messy (that is what "needs improvement") should not disqualify her. She should be recognized for her academic achievement. Oh well, at least this school year will be over with soon and hopefully next years teacher will not be so petty and unperson able.

The Prank Call

We have been trying to spend some extra one on one time with each of our girls lately and last night was Cheyanne's turn. Heather was invited to sleepover at one of her friends house (her first non-family or our best friend's kid sleepover) so we took Cheyanne out to dinner and played Mario carts with her. Cheyanne was surprised when I kicked her butt :). We laughed and joked mostly at might expense and had a real nice time. At about 10:00 the phone rang and I went to answer it knowing that it was Heather calling to say goodnight, plus I had the benefit of caller ID. It was Heather and a few other 8-9 year old girls giggling in the background, pretending they are a restaurant and talking in weird accents. I put it on speaker phone and Todd who made many prank calls in his younger days gave the girls a good show for about 10 minutes. It was so funny. Here are these little girls who really don't even know what a good prank call is trying to pull one over on their parents who were masters in their day. I can't remember the last time I heard so much giggling before.

My Little Girl

In 16 days my little girl will be turning twelve years old. My how the time has flown. She has grown up so much and everyday I see new changes in her. Cheyanne was born March 16, 1999, she was so tiny only weighing 6 lbs. 10 oz. She is now almost as tall as me and skinny as a rail. When she was little she was always sick and always getting hurt. She had pneumonia, chronic sinus infections that always went to her chest. dislocated her elbow 4 times, fell and hit her head 3 times and had to have stitches on her forehead from getting hit with a toy horse. She is healthy now, almost never sick and her elbow stopped dislocating a few years back. She is an amazing girl. She is so sweet and helpful to others, always in tune with other peoples sufferings. She's shy and can't bear the thought of having to stand up and do anything in front of anyone but her closest friends. She's funny and loves little kids (except her sister), she is really amazing to watch with young kids and they gravitate to her. She loves animals although she has fear issues with horses she has worked really hard to overcome them and has come along way in one year. She is growing up to be a beautiful young lady and I am so proud and excited for her. She will grow up to do great things, although I think they will be small things. She will touch people with her kindness and and humor those are wonderful things that will make our world a better place.

Unfriending

I have always had a love hate relationship with new technology and the Internet and facebook are no exception. On the one hand the Internet and facebook has allowed me to contact and keep in touch with people who at one time in my life meant the world to me but on the other hand its also allowed me to find out just how little you might mean to someone else. I have recently been "unfriended" by one of my facebook friends and to be honest it really hurt. This isn't just someone I went to school with or an acquaintance but was my best friend for almost 20 years. She was the one close girlfriend I had through out my life, the maid of honor at my wedding, the one friend that no matter how long it had been when we got together everything just fell in place again and she didn't even say "goodbye" or anything like that. She just simply stopped sending me Christmas cards, was awkward when I did see her and then just unfriended me like I never meant anything at all.
     I guess its just me, I've never been able to simply cut off someone from my life. If you are my friend I am fiercely loyal to you forever, even if we lose touch for awhile there is always a place in my heart for you. In fact I took this email test today and it fit me like a T, this is me.
" 31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expects the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you, realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken."
I know what happened in my head, she divorced my other best friend of 20+ years and is making a new life with someone else and doesn't see me as a part of her new life anymore, but in my heart I don't understand it at all. We talked when the divorce came up (because all three of us had been such good friends for so long) and this shouldn't be an issue. I still talk to her ex all the time but never took sides, never wanted to. Her daughter spends almost every weekend with us and is best friends with my girls but she's just gone. I wish I could be like that, because then I could just cut it off too, cut out that little piece of my heart she took up residence in but I can't and well I don't know what else to say. Not a very good ending to a not very good story but....

39 OMG He's Almost 40!

January 22nd will be my baby's 39th birthday, I can't believe its almost here. When we got married, way back in 1998 I swear 40 looked so far off and now (sigh) it is just around the corner. Of course I am 1 year, 2 months and 27 days younger than him but still it is all happening so fast. He's definitely still the man I want to grow old with and spend the rest of my life with its just that 13 years ago growing old still seemed pretty far off. Todd's mom told me when I turned 32 that I was pushing 40 and I laughed at her because by her logic she was pushing 100 but now we really are pushing 40. Ahhhhh! I can tell I am not going to age gracefully or willfully. Most of the time we still act like we are in our 20's, we still like to party with our friends (but now we want to be in bed no latter than midnight or it takes 2 days to recover), we still like toys and doing active things. but sitting down and talking is good now too. We still look pretty good, (I hope) but it definitely takes more effort (and in my case money) than it used to. (Sigh again) I wish we could pick our favorite age and remain that forever. I would be 25 forever because I still looked good with no effort, I could stay up all night and still get through the next day. I was young but had been through enough to not be stupid anymore like in my teens and early 20's. Coincidentally that was when we got married and other than my kids being born it was the happiest time of my life. Oh well I think the fountain of youth is about as out of reach as winning the lottery but just so y'all know I ain't going down fighting (unless I fall and can't get up :).

Things I Will Miss

I have a really good lead on a job right now, probably the best lead/ chance I have had in over 1 and a half years and I am hopeful but trying really hard not to get my hopes up too high (sometimes it is crushing to not get it). I started thinking though of the last 2 1/2 years of "vacation" and there are definitely some things I will miss about being home so I am writing this poem in my head as I type. Forgive me if it doesn't come out right.

When I go back to work I will miss having alone time and reading lots of books.
I will miss school awards, spelling bees and class parties.
I will miss the alone time I have by myself to read or write or just sit and veg.
I will miss picking up my girls from school everyday and holding their hand while we walk to the car.
I will miss taking a shower at noon on those days it is 20 degrees outside and only 60 in the house.
I will miss games of Mario Cart after homework is done and having a good dinner ready at 5:30.
I will miss playing my I Pod at top volume and singing out loud because there is no one to hear.
I will miss a lot of stuff just off the top of my head and I am sure there is more that I just haven't said.
When i go back to work I will miss a lot but the time I've had with my kids, well I'll miss that the most.
CF 1-14-11

Something New

     Well today was Cheyanne's school conference which I am usually a pro at only this year we did something new. Cheyanne's middle school does what is called a student led conference. The students and teachers put together a packet of her work from last semester, her report card and they have a script telling them how to go over things with the parents. So at 9:30 this morning I went to the school gym and my child walked me through her packet and grades. We discussed her strengths and weaknesses and what she needs to improve on for the next semester. I think I prefer meeting with the actual teacher but I understand that this is difficult when they have 6 different periods and different teachers so it was still a good idea. I was impressed however with how Cheyanne handled it. I think her having to put it all together was a good thing and made her more aware of her responsibilities as a student and helped her see what she needs to work on. All in all her grades were pretty good, she had all A's and B's except for Math which has always been a struggle that was a C. She didn't make her pay point this quarter as her deal was to have nothing lower than a B- in any subject but she seems eager to work on it.
 

Cold

It is funny how there are different degrees to being cold. There are days when I am cold at 68 degrees and then there is the cold of the last few days where 40 degrees when the sun is shining is actually kind of nice. Today is one of those days that I think I am just going to be cold no matter what. I turned up the heater from 60 to 65, I am wearing a beanie cap in the house and my feet feel like they are going to fall off. Even the sun looked cold to me today so I snapped this picture and named it Cold Sunshine. It is kind of silly to personify a heavenly body but to me I think the sun is cold and needs some mittens. Anyways I just wanted to whine for a bit and now I am going to go read a book under the blanket on the couch and cuddle with the dogs. Hopefully I will thaw out.

Snow Day!

The first snow of 2011 is here and the girls get to stay home to enjoy it. Snowline School District is closed today due to inclement weather so it is our first snow day ever. The girls are soooo excited they have been waiting for the snow forever it seems like. It is not even 8:00 am and they are out the door, dressed like the kids in the old malt-o-meal commercials trying to build a snowman. I'm inside where its warm wishing Todd would make me a fire in the fireplace. I'll post some pictures of the girls enjoying their first snow day experience latter after I have gotten dressed and had some coffee :).

Happy 2011

 Cheyanne

 Heather

 Todd & me after riding around on the ATV

 Sunset from our house

 Cool cloud

 Heather & Cheyanne

Sunset from our house

I have mixed feelings on saying goodbye to 2010, on the one hand it was a pretty hard year money wise, job wise (for Todd) and I am glad to see it go with the hopes that 2011 will be even better. On the other hand we had some good things in 2010 that I am thankful for like moving up here to the middle of nowhere, the girls and us have made some new friends up here, we've had plenty of new positive experiences up here and of course the horses. 2011 just seems like it should shape up to be a little easier. Todd is waiting to hear back on a new job which will mean less stress for him and a little more money for us. We should hear back this week so please pray that it works out. We are pretty settled into our new life in the sticks now and enjoying dragging the property on the tractor, talking to the ladies at the post office when we go pick up our mail, the girls enjoy their new school and Cheyanne seems to be blossoming there academically speaking and socially. Heather is right on track to be on the Honor Roll again, really picking up music very easily and generally just seems to get "it". Todd and I have spent more time together talking and laughing again. It all just gives me hope that things will be okay again. So I'm ready 2011, ready for everything. I am posting some pictures of the girls and a few sunsets I took in the last couple of days. We are expecting snow today (90% chance) so i am keeping my fingers crossed that it shows up. It would be a perfect way to start our new year and end the girls and Todd's Christmas Break. Happy New Year everyone (Mom & Chris) I love ya! (If there is anyone else who reads this you have to let it show, just in case Happy New Year to you also).

Here Comes the Sun

After 6 days of rain the sun finally came up this morning. I stood outside in my robe and slippers in 36 degrees for 1/2 an hour waiting to see it again this morning. When it rains like that for so long I feel like I am seeing a long lost friend and the world seems fresh and new again. We still have more rain and clouds in the forecast but for now "its all right". My words will be short on this but I am posting the lyrics to one of my favorite songs that sums it all up.

Here Comes the Sun ( the Beatles)

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, and I say it's all right Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here Here comes the sun, here comes the sun and I say it's all right Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here Here comes the sun, here comes the sun and I say it's all right Sun, sun, sun, here it comes... Sun, sun, sun, here it comes... Sun, sun, sun, here it comes... Sun, sun, sun, here it comes... Sun, sun, sun, here it comes... Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, and I say it's all right It's all right

Kind of brightens your day and gets you humming :)

Rain, Rain Go Away!

This is the entrance to the ranch, see how high the mud is.
This is the front area taken from ranch hands porch. The big puddle is the parking.

Well it is a couple of days before Christmas and in California it feels like God is flooding the earth again. It seems like it has been raining forever and my patience is being tried again and again. Last night we found out that we have a leak in the roof, of course it was dark, pouring and windy so there wasn't much we could do about it. We probably won't be able to get to it until Christmas Eve. The heater also decided it wasn't going to light and it is about 58 to 61 degrees in the house depending on which room you are in. I'm getting ready to do some baking just to warm up the house and the girls are curled up on the couch watching Goonies. What is funny is that I normally like this weather but it seems really inconvenient this time with all of the driving I have had to do in it, the heater and the leak in the roof I just can't wait to see the sun again, dry out and clean up. I am posting some pictures of Hidden River Ranch taken today. This is the ranch I ride at all the time and where my cousin's horses are boarded at. Of course my cousin is stuck in her house because the road is closed due to flooding and neither one of us can get into the ranch (see picture) but the ranch hand there assures us her horses are OK. These pictures were taken from his front porch and the front of the ranch, I can't wait to see what the back looks like since it backs and crosses the Mojave River which is flooded at this time. Looks like it will be a lot of work. We are hoping to be able to get in there Friday by foot, I don't think we will make Christmas Eve service this year. Well I think we get a break tomorrow & Friday I pray that we do because there is more rain in the weekend forecast. :) Tootles & Merry Christmas!

Flannel Sheets and Fantasy Football

Wow! What a weekend this was for our family. It really wasn't that exciting in a fireworks type of way but it was a really good weekend that was much needed. Friday of course was the last day of school for the girls for two whole weeks so it was kind of special anyways. Cheyanne went to the mall with two of her friends and her friends mom and went shopping for Christmas shoes by herself for the first time, Todd, Heather and I played Mario Cart on the Wii and they had a great time (I kind of suck). Saturday we dropped the girls off at my parents to go to the Candle Light Pavilion for the Christmas Show and Todd and I went to dinner at Outback (Yum!). I won't bore anyone with tales of the food & drink but it was good and we needed some time together by ourselves. It was really nice. We then went to our friends the Mes's and everyone showed up there we played pool, did karaoke to 80's songs and just generally got stupid and had a GREAT time. Of course all good things must come to an end and the hour drive home in rain, wind and bad fog in the pass wasn't so much fun but we made it home safely, slept in on Sunday and that is where the flannel sheets and fantasy football came in. Todd and I both are in a Fantasy Football League and the semi finals were last night, Todd won his and I am only behind by 1 point (thank you Vincent Jackson!) and I still have Jay Cutler to play tonight and the guy (Todd's big boss) I am playing is done. It is very likely that I am going to win tonight which means that Todd and I play each other for the $280.00 pot. Yippee, how cool is that? While all the Sunday games were taking place Todd and I did some last minute Christmas shopping and bought ourselves some flannel sheets. We wanted an electric blanket but at $70 for ours and then $40 a piece for the girls that was just too much money so we settled on flannel sheets for all of us. We also got the two of us new pillows and last night OMG I felt like I was sleeping surrounded by softness and we were so nice and warm. I can't even describe how nice it was to be so warm and cozy. Well that was it for my lovely weekend, tonight should be good and tomorrow Todd has a second interview with another company so things are looking up for next year if he gets this job. Here's hoping the luck of this week continues for next year. I am going to try to get back on here again before Christmas but if I don't have a Merry Christmas, may it be peaceful and filled with love and happiness! Love ya!

I Think of You

I think of you when I see the color purple
I think of you when I am out riding
I think of you when I see your face in your children
I think of you every holiday when you aren't there
I think of you when I just need a friend to talk to, laugh with, cry with
I still think of you, every day without fail and I miss you
CF 12-07-10
It was 4 years ago today that I lost my baby sister. It has gotten easier but I still miss her and wish she were here with us. I love you Brat.

Snow?

I woke up this morning to let the dogs out and I couldn't believe it we got snow last night a whole 1/32 of an inch of snow. I wasn't even sure if that was what it was because there was so little. I had to keep going around to all the windows looking. I finally decided that it was snow but not enough to bother waking up everyone in the house. We didn't get any more snow but it sure was cold and really windy which makes the 38 degree weather seem like 20 degrees. We bought a tree today and the girls got it all decorated, its beautiful. Todd and I were standing outside looking at it and he decided it was one of our best trees ever, I laughed because we feel that way every year. Todd's parents go home tomorrow, Todd goes back to work and the girls go back to school so I will be all by myself again until Christmas break. I haven't decided how I feel about it yet, I could use some alone time but I think it is going to feel really empty and quiet the first few days. I finally got a hold of my Dad today also he had been MIA since Thanksgiving due to a major storm and power outage wear he lives. I spoke with him Thanksgiving morning and he had been without power for 96 ours already and was hoping to be able to get out and into a hotel room that night which he did. Hopefully the storm that is supposed to hit tonight and tomorrow will be a little easier on them, I am keeping my fingers crossed and saying a prayer. Well got to spend some last few minutes with the in-laws before they leave tomorrow. Fisher out :)

Its a Work In Progress

I am bored with the look of my blog but have to cook dinner so I will get back to it again soon.

Winter is Here

Boy has it been cold up here! We woke up this Thanksgiving morning to frozen water in the dog bowls and our fish pond was frozen over with ice. Tonight the low is supposed to be 17 degrees ahhhhh! The last time I was that cold was on a vacation in Big Bear. I haven't made up my mind yet if I am going to enjoy winter up here in the high desert but I am feeling a little more optimistic about it since I finally got a coat. It arrived in the mail yesterday and I am soooo glad it is here. I can retire my hoodie and finally be warm or at least not freezing. It is supposed to warm up a little during the day and we are expecting rain on Saturday. Let me tell you 50 degrees sounds like a Hawaiian vacation right now. Well don't have too much else to say just wanted to complain about the weather a little.

What a Day

We have had quite the month so far and it isn't over. Todd's parents flew down on November 16th and are staying with us until November 29th. I won't lie and say it hasn't been challenging having 2 extra people in the house for over two weeks but it has also been nice getting to see them again. The girls are enjoying it immensely and Cheyanne has even given up her room for them to stay in. Today though was a very tiring day in which we spent about 4 hours at the VA hospital in Loma Linda to get my father in-law's medications filled. It was a lot of driving and waiting we left at 8 am and didn't get home until 5 pm. While I was at the hospital I had a lot of time to look around and I was pretty disappointed with the way some of these vets were treated. We watched one Vietnam Vet in a wheel chair pull himself along for awhile without any help until I watched him try to make it up a handicap ramp and roll back down. I asked if he needed help and ended up pushing him around the entire hospital. I didn't mind that at all, he needed help. What I minded is that before I asked him I watched two orderlies and a security guard walk right past him, look and keep on going. When I pushed him all the way around to the main entrance the concierge lady looked seriously surprised that I did this when I didn't even know who he was (I still don't). I am perplexed, I can't be the only one to of ever helped a guy out there or at least I sure hope not. Both of my grandfather's were vets, my father in-law, my step father, my step sister and brother from my dad's first marriage, my cousin in-law and some people I have been lucky enough to work with in the past and some of the guys and girls I went to school with are vets or are still in the military and if they would of been the one who needed a push I would hope someone would do it. These guys and girls gave up a lot for their country and I wish people would say thanks sometimes not only on Veteran's Day but everyday. When you see someone sporting their Navy, Army, Marine or Air force hat (vets love their hats :) take a good look and if they need a hand offer it or just smile say hello, say thanks. If I am not back on here Happy Thanksgiving! Take Care.

Gotta Love Them

Well it is starting again, the holidays are here. I hate holidays because it brings out the worst in my family. Every year since about 1985 I have bounced around from house to house on Thanksgiving and Christmas spending a few hours here, a few hours there, stuffing myself until I am sick on 2 or 3 different turkey dinners and coming home exhausted and not really happy. I have had to drag my own family around with me since I got married and had kids and I know it is hard on my poor hubby. Sometimes I wish I lived out of state like maybe Vermont or Florida because then it wouldn't be expected that I attend every bodies holiday function. It is just so frustrating. What frustrates me the most is that even though I spend my whole day in the car (especially now since we are an hour away from everyone) nobody is satisfied with the amount of time I spend with them. My mom has her dinner at noon so we will leave here at 10 am then visit, eat, help her clean up and leave to go to Grandma's. Then we eat again at Grandma's, visit and drive home because we need to get home reasonably early because it will be 27 degrees up here and the dogs will be left out while we are gone. Every year I do this it becomes more of an ordeal and every year I listen to someone tell me that next year they will just go out to eat because they want to have their dinner earlier and I can't be in two places at once I want to scream. Next year I think I will stay home and do my own thing, maybe if i have enough "balls", until then here goes another Thanksgiving whoopee oh and Christmas is coming to, I can't freaking wait.

Flags of Our Fathers

You know I read a lot and I do mean a lot of books. some of them good and some of them not so good but rarely do I read a book that that touched me the way Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley did. I know it is an old book and the movie has been out for years and this is a little late but since it did touch me I want to make sure that I acknowledged it.
Flags of Our Fathers is written by James Bradley the son of one of the flag raisers in the famous Iwo Jima photo and explores the truth behind the photo, the way the military and American public reacted to the photos and the men in it and also tells the story of the young men who fought for our young country and died for it. It takes something (the photo and statue) bigger than life and brings it down to a human level. I will admit I cried during part of the battle scenes and then at the end when John Bradley died. I could picture it all in my mind and truly felt like I had lost someone I knew at the end of the book.
My grandfather fought in WWII also, he was stationed in India and he never talked to us kids about the war. A few years before he died of Parkinson's disease he started having hallucinations caused by some of the medication he took. A lot of them were him reliving something from back then, he also had a very hard time watching Saving Private Ryan. It was so long ago and my grandpa was one of the strongest, smartest, kindest men ever and it was still affecting him. I can't imagine how these other young men felt watching your buddies die the way they did.
I have the movie here, I actually bought it a few years ago but it is still in the wrapper. I am thinking about watching it this weekend with Todd (he is not a reader). If you haven't read it I recommend it. If you had a grandparent or parent who was there or someplace like that it might give you a little insight.