Last week the trial that Chris was on the jury for ended. This week we returned to normality at the Talbert Zoo. If you can even say that our home is normal. Chris traveled to Reno for work and left on Tuesday morning. And the kids have had a relatively normal school week. We got dumped with heavy snow on Monday afternoon, night and into Tuesday morning. The schools were on a two hour delay Tuesday so the plows could clear the roads before the buses went out. Chris and…
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Happy Birthday Goose!
Today is my oldest daughter’s birthday. I still can not believe that I am a mother of a seventeen-year-old. I remember being that age just like it was yesterday. Seventeen was that fun, magical age when you are still a kid but excited about becoming an adult. For me it was a time to be a little rebellious, and attempt to be an independent woman that I was to become. Seventeen was also very stressful. I remember working my butt off in my high-school classes and applying to college…
Read MoreA Day Off of School and One Mishap from the Zoo
Yesterday was Presidents Day and in Washington State the schools have the day off. I don’t remember having Presidents Day off of school when I was a kid out in Wisconsin. I guess every state operates their schools a little differently. All five kids were home with me yesterday. The court was closed downtown for the holiday as well so Chris was off of his jury duty for the day. I didn’t get around to writing in my blogs until later that afternoon due to several interruptions from the kids. …
Read MoreThursday Tidbits from the Zoo
I just commented on a bunch of blogs so I felt compelled to write a little something this morning. But I have a pile of dishes calling my name so I must make this brief. This week started out with piles and piles of snow and cold temperatures but today all the snow is gone. We had a sneak peak at spring yesterday. Bear and Monkey played outside in the mud puddles and melting snow in the afternoon. They had a lot of fun enjoying the warmer temperatures. But after…
Read MoreJuror Number 7 and Other Stories from The Zoo
This week has been pretty unusual and out of the norm. During a typical week Chris leaves for work on Tuesday morning and returns the following Thursday night. His territory spans seven states including where we live, Washington State. The only time he stays home is if and when he is visiting clients in Spokane. This week, however his normal routine was interrupted. About a month ago Chris received a jury duty summons. For some strange reason the government loves to send him off to jury duty. He has been…
Read MoreFun Kids Activities – Making a Fresh Salad
I try my best to spend quality time with my kids and teach them my values. One value that is very important in our home is healthy living. Chris and I make sure we serve nutritious meals, introduce our kids to a variety of fruits and veggies, and teach them how to prepare healthy food items. Over the weekend I made a fresh salad with my three boys. *Photography by Goose How do you teach your kids about values? What is one fun activity you did with your children…
Read MoreI Have an Addiction
I think I need to check myself into rehab, if there is a rehab for what I am addicted to. It started last night and now I need help. Kitty takes my phone without my permission regularly. Yesterday afternoon while I was doing housework she took my phone. When I finally got it away from her I noticed that she downloaded 7 apps. Of course this was also done without my permission. Fortunately they were all free. This is what she downloaded:Farting FredFashion StoryHill Climb RacingLittle Ear DoctorMinion RushTemple Run…
Read MoreThe Sickies
A Vacation Away from the Kids
My dad turned 70 on January 8th so I flew out to visit him in Wisconsin this week. Yes, you did read the title correctly, I am on a vacation without my kids. My sister and her family were here this week and I had a great time visiting with them. But they left for their home in Los Angeles this morning. It is so quiet and peaceful here. I don’t know what to do with myself. Even though I miss my kids this is a much needed break away…
Read MoreParrot’s Fun Facts
Parrot reads a lot and his brain is a little sponge. Currently he is reading National Geographic Kids books. They are filled with facts about anything and everything from geography to animals, space and dinosaurs. Sometimes I will be sitting down answering e mails, fixing dinner or doing housework and Parrot will approach me with a fact from a book he has read or something he learned at school. Here are a couple of facts he told me about just yesterday. He was doing what looked like a simple version…
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