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Saturday, February 12, 2011

Counting Down

With 5 days to go Lady is showing signs of impending labor.  She hasn't eaten all day except a few snacks.  This is a sign of the first stage of labor.  Other signs are panting, pacing, and maybe vomiting. Nesting behavior begins at this point too.  We are going to take her temp again and see how it is.  Earlier today it was 99.7, remember her normal temp was 100.2.  So it's not a big drop.  


Also, we hope to have yarn or string to make the puppies, male and female, as well as who was born when, so we know who is growing and who needs a little extra.


I really am hoping that they don't come until Sunday night/ Monday morning.  That way we have Valentine Puppies!


Wish us luck!
And tell your friends, they are available for sale!! 

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Puppies Due Any Day

Most of you know we are having puppies!  Lady is a pure bred American Cocker Spaniel with champion lines, she is AKC registered as well.  The father has the same spec's.  The puppies will also be registered and ready for sale in a few weeks after birth.  I hope to have them all sold by the time they are 12 weeks old, starting the sales at around 8 weeks old.

Somethings you might not know:
When a dog is about to go into labor her temperature drops about 1 degree.
When a horse is about to go into labor her temperature increases.
The hair on a mom dog's belly will fall out, making it easier for the puppies to eat.
Puppy bones are only cartilage, they will then harden allowing x-rays to be taken only 1 week before the birth.
Most dogs, large, medium or small, delivery after 63 days of pregnancy.

One week ago we took Lady's temperature and got 100.2F  Today we took it and it was 99.8.  So she probably isn't ready yet.  A few more days and a few more percentages of a degree and she'll be pushing out puppies!  We are so excited!  The puppies toe are so tiny!  I have a picture of Lady's preggy belly, and I'll have more of the puppies, once they get here.
Taken Jan 31st
Taken February 4th

Taken Feb 10

Monday, January 31, 2011

Planning A Vacation

Even though I am about 99% sure that this year we won't be going away for a vacation I really do enjoy making plans for vacations.  I'd love a job that was like a party planner, but a vacation planner.  Where I can book the hotel and flights, but also give people a schedule of what to do when and back-up plans for those times that you are running late, want to stay late because you are having so much fun, or are bored and are ready to move on.

Whenever we have gone on vacation we have never had a moment of, "Well, what do you want to do now?"  I always have ideas and plans and directions to get there!  And I always plan for unintended stops.  You know those times where you are on your way and you see something really cool that you want to do, but you are unsure whether you are going to have time?  Well, I plan for those.  We always end up early enough to stop at a cave, or touristy spot.  I think these things should be planned into everyone's trip.  Kids can last only so long before they need a break, and a break is good fro the adults too.

When traveling by car we try to leave very early in the morning.  It's still dark outside when the tuck the kids into the car.  They stay away for a little while, but then fall asleep and the interruption keeps them sleeping a little bit longer than normal.  That way we can make our breakfast stop at 8am or 9am instead of 6am or 7am.  And that makes it so the kids won't become cranky with hunger 2 hours later.  You can plan for only one snack between lunch instead of two.

I recommend the first stop be at lunch time, eat breakfast in the car, as much as you can.  Breakfast isn't the time to get the kids up and going.  You want them to stay groggy as long as possible, so keep them in those car seats!  By lunch time, I found that the kids would have lost their minds if they didn't get some exercise.  Here is when we planned an "unplanned" stop.  We drove until we found something interesting.  Highways always have signs for their local attractions.  Some of the things we have stopped at are caves, road-side stands, theme parks, and mining shop.  Our favorite is definitely caves.

Caves are great because they are not only educational, but they get the kids moving!  Usually the cost is low and after lunch the kids can take a walk through the caves, which vary in length, but we have found that most tours last about one hour.  That's a good walk for little ones.  Don't be tempted to bring the stroller!  The more exercise the longer the kids will handle the second stretch of your car ride!

We have a rule, as a husband and wife.  We won't go anywhere if we aren't going to spend twice the time it takes to get there.  For example:  It takes one hour to get to a friends house, and one hour for the return trip.  We won't go unless we expect to spend four hours there.  Got to make the trip worth the effort and gas you are putting into it.  For the most part this is a good rule to follow with vacations as well.  Who would want to spend only a day at Disney anyway.

Flying is a fast way to get to your destination, but I would prefer to drive in many situations.  Just because of the fact that you can get out and walk around.  The people in the plane don't appreciate you getting up and walking around with your children.  Especially, if your getting up because of a dirty diaper or a case of the wiggles and screams.  Driving does take more patience, but it can also be a lot of fun if you keep a positive attitude and make stops long enough to wear those kids out!

A great website for world travel with kids, or state-side travel, or just local travel is Trekaroo.  Other parents who love to travel with their children rate places and  means of travel, plus give advice and idea's for traveling with kids.


These are some places I have been thinking about since the snow started.  Hawaii- Thank you Josh and Janel for putting those thoughts in my head. *wink*  Florida, not necessarily Disney, and a desert mmmmm...warm!

More Snow

For those of you who keep contact with us via this blog, I want to let you know that we have another storm coming.  They are predicting 6-10 more inches and then on top of that an ice storm.  Fun, fun, fun!

I hate winter!








Someone in Palmer did this in their yard.

Happy Birthday Jordan!

Jordan turned 12 today!  Yeah, she made it!  It was a great day because her birthday gift arrived in the mail!  She wanted a Cosplay Costume of Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket.  Here she is!

Isn't she cute!?!  We need to get her knee high socks, the one's she's wearing are Jason's so they aren't quite the right look.  And we found the perfect shoes in our closet!  Then we found that they were 2 sizes too small. So sad.  So we will have to get her shoes and socks.  But that's ok.

I have talked to Cindy Mulcahy and she has agreed to plan Bailey's Birthday party.  We are going to have a Tea Party.  The girls will dress up and have tea and sandwiches.  It should be a blast!  If anyone needs a party planner, let me know!  Cindy does a great job and is reasonably priced.  Comparing what I spent on Jordan's party and what Cindy will be charging, and she does everything, except clean the house and make the guest list, it will cost only $20 more.  THAT is well worth it!

Cindy is doing the main work for Taylor's sweet 16, and we have attended a few parties she has planned and the kids always have a blast and they are never bored.  I'll blog more about Taylor's sweet 16 when we get closer to the date.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

What's Another Few Inches

Jason standing next to the snow bank in our front yard.  Yes, it is over his head.

After working all night and not sleeping well the day before, Jason went out and shoveled the driveway.  Which is something I'd usually help out with, but I was dead to the world this morning exhausted from life, lack of sleep from getting up at 6am, not matter what. Unfortunately, my body is now in a routine, so even on Saturday and Sunday I'm up at 6am.  I hate early morning, but the schools refuse to consider a later start time.  J did ask Ben to come out and help, but from what J said he didn't do much.  It took him over 15 minutes just to get outside, then he moved his car and got that brushed off before he started to help with the driveway.  Then he stopped to talk on the phone.  I'm not sure why getting the car done was so important, because he didn't go anywhere.  But I guess it's just a typical teenager thing to think of your self and your stuff, before thinking about the fact that J had just worked all night long.

So J didn't get to sleep well today.  I took the kids out of the house to help keep it quiet, but being amped up from the shoveling/exercise made it difficult.  He's going to be very tired tomorrow!  Worst part is...we have plans to get together with friends, and then on Saturday we are going to the Temple for 7am. Which means we have to be out of the house by 5:00am.  This is much easier on me, as I'm used to getting up early and it's only one hour.  But for J this will be difficult.  Because Friday morning when he gets home he's going to need to sleep as much as possible.  Then getting together with friends will be fun and will make him really awake, then we have to come home and try to sleep.  I'll probably have no problem, but I worry that J will.
I think I'll drive tomorrow!  

The good thing about going to the temple early, is getting home early.  So he can sleep all day Saturday and be awake and ready for Sunday.  So even though today through Saturday will be hard, at least Sunday will be good.

I have to add to this!  Our neighbors are great!  Our next door neighbor snowblowed out our mailbox, then the plow came and a different neighbor did it again!  Saving J's back, a lot of work and time!  Thank you so much to Bill and Kyle!