Trying really hard to get her to just... smile!

Took this the other morning with our cheapo web cam. I think we caught a smile....

A few things...

For friends and family, just a few notes...

We got the issue with the van resolved. The Lady who hit us took full responsibility and the insurance company is paying us the value of the damages - way more than the thing is worth. You don't see that every day, so we're happy. (Of course, we'll be happier when the check clears the bank.) Obviously we're going to use the money, and probably part of our income tax refund, to get a decent vehicle. Anyone have a good suggestion for 10 people?

"C" got a part in the musical. They're doing "Fiddler on the roof". She's Grandma Zidel - the same part her mom played when she was in it in high school! How cool is that?

"I" is in wrestling again, his first meet it the first - in Montecello Utah! I don't know how we're going to get there unless we have our new vehicle by then. Why on earth would they schedule these things so many hundreds of miles away? (Update - they got smart and moved it about 300 miles closer, only about an hour away - whew!)

"T" is taking honors courses at college this semester, stuff that's WAY over my head! Plus she tried out for a solo in her upcoming choir concert, pray for her on that one.

"G" is doing so well in school that she is helping teach the other kids to read. Rarely does the phrase "too smart for her own good" actually apply to someone, but in this case.....

"R" is teething. She screams a lot more than she did before. It hurts too much for me to hold her.

The rest of us are just hanging in there.

New Pics

Some fun photos we've taken lately.


This is "L" getting his first haircut, he looks less like a girl now.

Here's the "After".

This is Ginger, our new dog. We inherited her from friends who were moving to Texas. She looks like a dustmop and sounds like a squeak toy. Oh, and she's not housebroken - fun.

And here's "R" in one of her few happy moments. She's happy only about 5 minutes a day, the rest of the time she screams. I don't think she likes us yet.

I call her "turtle". When she sits up like this and stretches her neck out to look all around she looks like a turtle. I don't think she like me calling her that, maybe that's why she cries.

The Attack of the Cuteness

Just some random pictures we snapped with the webcam this a.m.

Have I mentioned that I hate people?

Ok, we we're headed into town so "T" can get to class and Anna can get to work. We live at the top of a hill and to get on the highway we have to cross two lanes and a median before getting into the third lane. By design, there is a merging lane in the median so that people who survive the crossing of the first two can stop for the 70 mph traffic that comes over the hill - usually big trucks that can't stop on a dime.

So we cross the first two lanes and as we are about to merge a big truck with a "wide load" banner on the front crests the hill. So we stop so he can pass. We stopped. We were at a dead stop. We were not moving as we watched this truck pulling a load of big pipes crested the hill. We were not moving. (As it turned out, the truck was turning onto the road we just left, but like most people in American, he thought his turn signal was just an annoying flashing light and didn't bother to turn it on... until it was too late.)

So, did I mention we were stopped, waiting for a truck we thought was going to blow past us? We were stopped, a dead stop.

And then we got SMACKED from behind. A lady (driving one of those huge pick-up trucks that only people who live on a huge farm really have any excuse to be driving) slammed into us from behind and pushed us into oncoming traffic.

Ok, it's important to note right here that no one was seriously hurt. I've go this tweaking in my neck that we will probably go see the doctor for today, but no broken bones, blood, or anything like that. In fact "L", who was snug in his car seat emitted a joyful "WHEEEE!!" when it happened.

So anyway, long story short, our tail light is gone, the back end is pretty bad, but the van is drivable. The perpatrator didn't want to wait at the scene for the police as she had to "get her kids to school" - and since there was no real damage to her humongous cattle hauling truck, she just went on. To be fair, she did give us a valid name and phone number and by the time we got home that day her insurance company was already processing a claim, so I guess she was at least decent about it. I kinda wish that when she is driving her armor plated truck that she'd be a little more respectful of people who can't afford vehicles as nice as hers.

So then, less than 24 hours after the accident, before we even have the opportunity to get anywhere to replace the light (which we can't, really, but I thin the socket still works and we can get some red tape) we get pulled over and given a ticket for having a busted tail light.

I hate people.

Girl Scouts Robbed - Teenage Crook Not Sorry, just P***ed She Got Caught - Concerned Parents Everywhere Demand Teen Theif Be Slapped Into The Next Century

Read Story Here.

See CNN Video Here. (Forward to about 2:32 into video.)

17 year old vs. 9 year old. Is this fair? 17 year old gets caught, and is upset because SHE got the raw end of the deal. Does this make sense?

Did I miss a memo? When did kids become so selfish and stupid? If this were one of my teenagers, they would never see the light of day again. I would take them into court and insist that the judge give them jail time, a huge fine, and community service. And then, if my kid was still "p***ed she got caught", I'd make sure they understood the meaning of the word pain. It's amazing what long hours of physical labor can do for one's attitude. (Ever seen the move "Holes"? That's nothing.)

Can we make an attempt to get back to some sanity in this country? Have we gotten so fat and wealthy that we can't teach our kids the rules of right and wrong? When did values become so relative that people don't feel remorse for stealing from Girl Scouts?

To the girls who stole the money... I don't know where you learned right from wrong, but let me give you a hint - stealing is WRONG! and you have no right to feel "p***ed" you got caught. Pay your fines. And next time - and there will be a next time - when your punishment is worse, remember that you were warned that it is WRONG!

To your parents - please get your daughters a clue for their next birthday, they so need one.

The latest....

Well, I wish I had some astounding news or some great pictures to share, but I don't. Just thought I'd say "hey".

My health still deteriorates. I no longer have health insurance, as they were declaring everything was "out of network" and we couldn't afford to pay both them and the bills they wouldn't. The good news is that we now have enough money to keep my medications filled, the bad news is we can't get referrals for any more tests or anything (the insurance wouldn't pay them anyway, but the people who do the tests won't take appointments for anyone who doesn't have some kind of insurance - go figure.)

Kids continue to do well in school. The highschoolers are stuggling a little with English and Geometry, but I was never any good at them either.

Baby is fine. Doctor is a little concerned she's not gaining weight as fast as some stupid curve says she could, but all our kids are like that, skinny at first, but then turning into butterballs around 6 months or so.

Anyway, maybe I'll find some pictures or something to post later.