Isis went to the vet on Friday, she was 5 months old and weighed 55.8 lbs. She is really growing fast, but still not keeping much meat on her bones. I figure once she is done growing up she will start to fill out.
She is really a sweet girl and has bonded well to all of us, she listens very well, as long as you catch her in the act.
She is not graceful at ALL and her antics are very amusing, she is defiantly more legs than she is dog. Her ears are also way too big for her body and always seem to be flopping around wherever they please.
She also is very patient and has so problem allowing the kids to hang all over her or climb onto her, even when she is sleeping or eating.
This picture I had to throw in just because I love it so much. I can really see a lot of me in this picture of Chris, which is pretty rare since he REALLY looks like his daddy.
The other day, I was talking to my Realtor who said we are in a great position to buy/sell real estate and likely will be for a long time; home values are on the rise and interest rates are still very low. This is good news for us when we plan on selling, but even better news for those looking into Mortgage Refinancing, either to secure a better fixed loan, or even those looking to pull equity from their home with a Home Equity Loan for remodeling their home, or to pay off higher interest loans like credit card consolidation.
If you are looking for Nevada home equity loan information, or Massachusetts home equity loan rate information, you may be pleasantly surprised on how well the market is doing in such hot markets.
*This is a sponsored post.
Last night I booked one way airline tickets for Austin and Christopher to go to my mother’s house. A few weeks later Bobby, Matthew and I will drive up and meet them, spend some time with my friends and family, and after our traditional “Cookie Reunion” as my little nephew used to call them, all five of us will drive home. This will be the first time in 10 years that my husband has been able to attend and I am really excited for him to meet my extended family and share in a tradition that spans over a decade and continued even after the loss of a beloved Aunt.
My mom calls this reunion the “Sister Reunion” because originally it was organized by the sisters as a way for them to gather all their families at a campground for a long weekend and spend time together catching up, eating, and playing games. In time the families have grown and the sisters became grandparents and along came their children with children of their own and the fun multiplied. When Joanne passed, we still included her widower and now he brings his new wife because in our hearts he is still family. On the final day Joanne used to make a large lunch of gluten steaks (a wonderful vegetarian patty) and cookies and juice and I remember eating so many gluten steaks I would feel sick. Now my Aunt Mary makes the gluten steaks and my sister Autumn makes the cookies and the grandchildren of the sisters now ride their bikes through the woods to the lake instead of toddling at the feet of their parents.
You cannot imagine how much joy it brings to me to be able to attend this year, and to share this experience with my husband. My children love late night S’mores, mid-day trail rides, all the cookies you can shove in your pockets, and sharing childhood experiences through the generations.
When I was a little girl, I loved spending summers with my grandparents, a tradition I am keeping alive with my own children. My Grandma Josie lived on a farm, and many of my memories revolve around her love of gardening and the outdoors. I remember being fascinated by her Rain Gauges, that sat on the corner of the property. I never understood why these little simple tubes held my curiosity so much, but as I look through garden supply stores at rain gauges, I think back to happier times, when I still had my grandma, and the memories we shared. And I can almost smell her house, and how fresh and clean it all felt there after the rain.
We have been fighting to get Austin’s new birth certificate since December, it has been one hurdle after another and the estimated wait is 5 months. This was fine until a few snafu’s started to arise. When Austin got accepted into the charter school, they need his correct BC for enrollment… and then this summer, my parents wanted to take Austin and Christopher to Canada, and though passports are not required yet for automobile travel, a copy of birth certificate and a note from the parents is required. Since my name is not on the copy we have yet, we cannot both sign the note.
Anyways, I was able to get SOME answers today… after being on hold for an hour I learned that I could have a copy within a month IF I can show proof that their is an urgent need. I plan on getting in touch with the school after Spring Break to see if I can get someone to write a note stating they need his certificate for their records. I am also hoping that my mom will do the same. With that information, I should be able to move forward soon!
So the water heater finally got hooked up on Thursday and I will tell you, that first shower was HEAVEN!!
On Friday I used the day of not being stuck home with plumbers to run errands… After A. left I took Chloe to the groomers (my golden retriever), took Isis to the vet for her shots (my great dane) she was 55.8 lbs!!, back home to drop off Isis, then I then went to the mall to drop off my wedding rings for repair, to Babies R Us to pick up some child proofing locks, then to Wal-Mart to return a CD Player and replace it, to check in on a friend who has been blue, to get Chloe BACK from the groomer, to the feed store to get more food for Isis, and finally to pick up dinner and go home. After dinner we went to our friends’ house to play cards and were there until 2am.
Saturday we went to a BBQ at another friends’ house and were there from 5pm to 2am. Is it a wonder why on Sunday we did not get off the couch?
This morning I tested with my CBEFM and got a “Peak” reading, then again I tested positive on my OPK so I know I am going to ovulate today or tomorrow. I hate this roller coaster, I just want it to all be over. I think by the end of the school year this year, Bobby and I need to make a decision if we want to stop trying or not. I am just not prepared to put up another long haul of a fight again.
So I forgot to update the Water Heater saga… I was supposed to get it yesterday morning, but at the precise time it was supposed to get here, the main person at the Plumbing company called to tell me the heater was not on the truck that arrived that morning and he did not know, but he was raising hell and he was very upset and very sorry. He also mentioned they would be driving 60 miles to go get it themselves and I should have it by noon.
Fast forward a couple hours… he calls again, apologized again, and told me that the heater was damaged in the trip from Kansas to Colorado and THAT is why it was not on the truck and the supplier forgot to call and give him a heads up. He said that this morning the new one should arrive and I should have it here in about an hour…. but please forgive me for not holding my breath.
Today is day SIX of no shower/no hot water and it is really starting to get to me. I love baths and all, but lukewarm baths… not so much. Besides, even when I soak in the bath, I still wash my hair in a shower… my mom used to call them shower-baths because I would bathe, then stand up and wash my hair in the shower. Poor Bobby, he has been taking cold showers. Yikes!
With all the water heater drama, I am so happy we had a line of credit to help us fund the replacement of the broken water heater. With credit however comes responsibility and that is why it is so important to compare loans before you apply for credit or before you accept your terms. Educate yourself, ask yourself “What is it I need this loan for?” and get to know all the different types of loans.
Two main types of loan are secured loans and unsecured loans; let me explain the difference.
A Secured Loan is a loan where the borrower puts up collateral, such as a home or a car where the bank owns the title/deed to your property, if you default on your payments, the bank can repossess your property, or evict you from your home. Types of secured loans are home mortgages, auto loans, home equity loans, or a secured credit card where you have to put up a cash deposit. These loans typically have a lower interest rate than unsecured loans.
Whereas an Unsecured Loan is a loan where no property is put up for collateral and if you default on payments your account can be sent to collection, you can be taken to court where you could possibly be ordered to liquidate your assets. Types of unsecured loans are signature loans, student loans and credit cards. These loans typically have a higher interest rate than secured loans.
When you shop for a loan, make sure you know what you are getting into, and that you are getting the right loan to fit your specific needs.
*This is a sponsored post.
Still no hot water, I AM thankful my dishwasher has its own water heater so at least I have clean dishes. We have decided to go with a 50 gallon, high return water heater because the cost was significantly lower than my much desired tankless water heater which would be $5000 installed. That is too much of an investment for me for a house we plan on selling in 2-4 years.
So, tomorrow at 8:30 am the person(s) should be here to hook up my hot water, with any luck I should have a shower around the time baby A. goes home.
