Our New Addition to the Family

Yeah---we finally got a dog! Yes, it's true--We adopted Jake the dog from the Humane Society Rescue Shelter this summer and seriously, I don't know what we ever did without this fun little guy in our home :)
Little background on the Jakester. His official name is Jacob Wentworth Deebaroginans (Hatch Family Animal Name) Gardner because Jamison felt he should have a proper name--but we call him Jake for short. We will also accept Jakens McSchmakens, Dogger McFlogger, Jakers, or Jake Doggy Dogg. He is half Australian Heeler and half White German Shepherd, so I guess you could say he's multi-cultural, but we just think he's cute! This doggy has to be the most loving, most patient and sweetest dog we could have ever asked for. My kids and all their friends do everything imaginable to bug the daylights out of this pup and he just takes it and comes back for more. Bet likes to dress him up in a variety of interesting costumes and parade him through the house, Jami enjoys wrestling with him and racing him from one end of the house to the other and Quinn is currently finding ways to coax Jake into the pool to swim with he and his friends. Of course, I am in love with the Dogger Doggins (oops, another knickname), but the real kicker is that Tracy totally loves him and even lets him sleep by our bed at night---I never thought I'd see the day! In case I've been unclear, we love our sweet new addition to the family---come by and check him out some time!

My Computer Stinks!

Okay, okay. So, I've finally succumbed to the verbal berating of my friends and family and decided that tonight was finally the night I was going to blog. Oh, the creative juices were a-flowin' as I pictured all the vivid tales I'd tell with each new blog entry. But alas---the very night I decide to turn over a new leaf as it were, my computer decides to hang on to my saved pictures for all it's worth. Again and again I try in vain to add fun and exciting pictures to my blog entries only to be heartlessly denied at each attempt. So friends, family and any of the rest of you who have been shaming me--nay virtually harrassing me--into updating my blog, these few, choice words will have to do for now until the great gods of cyberspace decide to release what was once mine and again allow me to access my cherished family photos for your enjoyment upon my humble blog page. Until then, dear friends---I bid you Adieu!

Q-dog, the Drummer!

Quinn starting playing the bells at school this year. His real dream, of course, is to play the drums at school. But wisely, the band leader requires all of those would-be drummers (i.e. energetic boys) to start out on the bells first. I think this is done 1) to weed out all the "I just want to pound on something and make alot of noise" kids who sign up to play percussion and 2)for the sanity of the band leader as well as the family of the future drummer.
He is really loving it and his family is loving the fact that he hasn't graduated on to the actual drums yet! Quinn is a cool kid with a big heart and we can't wait to watch him in his first performance. Go Q-dog!

Our Girl's gone to College:(

I can't believe it's been exactly 18 years since Bethany's Dad was driving home from Coolidge, Arizona to be with me as she was being born. Yesterday, we drove that same road home together after dropping her off for her first day at Central Arizona College. Ironic---isn't it?

Well, after we helped her settle in, we headed back home and of course, she was just fine and I cried like a baby all the way back home. As we drove, I thought about how I couldn't be any more proud of all that she has achieved in her life and the good choices she has made along the way that make her the kind of person she is today. She's determined enough to do the right thing no matter what anyone else around her is saying or doing--she always has been. I admire that quality in her!

We miss you already, Bet. Your brothers miss your goofy sense of humor, Dad misses you teasing him and I miss my friend. Good luck on your first week of college girl.

We know you'll do great!

We're your biggest fans!

Love ya,

Mom

It's funny how you don't think too much about something until you don't have it any more. And by "it", of course, I mean a washing machine. What am I to do with the heaping mounds of dirty attire piling up in my house? I guess I could go wash it in the river, but alas---no river. It makes me wonder---what did the pioneers do when their washing machines broke? I hate laundry!

First Post.

So my sisters, my nieces, my daughter, my friends...basically all of the women in my life have guilted me into joining the blogging nation. So, here I am, I hope you can all welcome me into the legions of picture-posting, family-bragging and event-sharing women everywhere.