Finally! The holidays (and year) are almost over.

I'm such a crank this time of year. The craziness of too many people at the stores, the people who forgot how to drive when it snows, or even "dusts" a few flakes, the wrapping like theirs no tomorrow, then the opening like theirs no tomorrow..... if it weren't for my girls, I'd be done with all of it. I just feel like I don't have time to breathe, let alone do anything else. It makes me nuts. And then the fighting with random family members about how I don't want 15 Christmas's.....I want my girls to have one. Santa comes one time a year....not every day of December. Grrr. Enough ranting....well, maybe......

As 2009 comes to an end...

1) Where did you begin 2009?

At Camp. We missed the ball drop yet again. We started the night at Marge and Louis' house.....for some foolish reason we left to go back to camp (apparently at 11:50ish) to fire up the generator to power the TV so we could see it and shout our "Happy New Year" and then go to bed. Needless to say, we got to camp, found out it was already 10 after 12....so we just went to bed.

2) What was your status by Valentine' Day.

married

3) Were you in school (anytime this year)?

no

4) How did you earn your money?

watching kids, cleaning, plowing, mowing, etc

5) Did you have to go to the hospital?

Yes and Sort of. Ashtyn needed to see the Doc for an "issue" with bubble bath soap and her pedi was on vacation, so I took her to Urgent Care (its really slow as death care in my book) and Shriners Hospital is a "hospital" and we went there 6 times I think. Oh yeah....I got to go to the ER because I'm a moron and put my hand through the door. Yippee that was fun. I ended up gashing my other hand a few weeks ago too (because I'm great like that...who cuts their hand open on a can of peas????....I do) I needed stitches for that one too but I said to hell with it....bandaids and medical tape.

6) Did you have any encounters with the police?

Yes. Only one time this year. Again, those stupid jerks from BF tried to break in to my neighbors house. I caught them in the act and called my ever so useless PD...big shocker, they didn't find them. I love paying taxes for stupidity.

7) Where did you go on vacation?

Orleans, Vermont.....to our camp

8) What did you purchase that was over $1000?

Kubota L3400, backhoe and brush hog

9) Did you know anybody who got married?

Justin and Crystal, Jason and Crystal, Leslie and Rob

10) Did you have any new additions to your family?

Nope

11) Did you know anybody who passed away?

Emily Brown and ( I didn't know him, but he was Jeremy's uncle) Travis Honeycutt

12) Did you move anywhere?

not yet

13) What concerts/shows did you go to?

Ashtyn's Preschool's Christmahanakwanzika Concert

14) Are you registered to vote?

yes.

15) Who did you want to win Big Brother?

I don't watch it

16) Where do you live now?

New Hampshire....still

17) Describe your birthday?

My birthday was "forgotten" by my awesome hubby. All his friends remembered though. That was a bad day :(

18) What's one thing you thought you'd never do but did in 2009?

3 things: Host a fundraiser. Enroll Ashtyn in preschool. Put my house up for sale.

19) What has been your favorite moment?

When Ryan's court stuff was over and heard he wasn't going to jail. When I heard Shriners Hospital wasn't closing Springfield.

20) What's something you learned about yourself?

I'm still a very negative person.......and I can inspire people to help do great things.

21) What was your best month?

I think they were all kind of equal. Everyone had their ups and downs.

22) What music will you remember 2009 by?

none

23) Who has been your best drinking buddy?

Ashtyn and Taylor.....we get to be sober together...yippee

24) Made new friends?

Jen, Jen and Lisa

25) New or old best friend?

I still have no idea what I am supposed to say to that...

26) Favorite Night out?

Ummmmm When I have one, I'll let you know.

Ashtyn's Preschool's Winter Concert

I apologize for the random shakiness and occasional blurriness.....It was almost as much a challenge for me to video the performance as it was for the little ones to get on stage in front of 500 people to sing.



Ashtyn was not very impressed by being on the very end of the stage. Jeremy and I thought for sure she was going to fall off at any given moment....she even tried to weasel in a few places away from the end.....but her classmate wasn't allowing any of that.

Here's my Christmas Card.....

.....this is it. I'm not mailing any :(
I'm officially out of time.....big shocker there, right?!

Guess who

After looking at some pics the other day and having a total ball when people guessed wrong....I'm sharing some pics with others......Can you figure out who is who?


Me




















Jeremy















Julie (ha ha that was a trick photo)



















Taylor














Ashtyn













Ashtyn

Santa Claus is comin' to town

Today was Get-ready-for-Christmas day at our house. Ashtyn went to the salon this morning with Grammy and Grampa to get her hair and nails done....something Mommy would never ever do......and then Jeremy and I took the girls to get our Christmas tree at Bishop's Farm in Springfield, VT, which is where we've been going since Ashtyn's first Christmas. After that we went to visit with the Claus's. Ashtyn obviously loved the visit but Taylor had other thoughts about it. Santa and the Mrs. thought maybe it was a little too chaotic at their visiting venue, so they made a special surprise visit to our house after their other visit was over......Taylor still wasn't happy.....


...but we did finally get her to come out to the kitchen for a minute...


and Miss Ashtyn got to tell Santa 8,000 more things she wanted for Christmas and even show off dancing for him and Mrs Claus.....


....but she still doesn't want her picture taken.



And now its time for music and tree trimming.

ReBuilt is back!

A few months ago I found this awesome show on FitTV about people with prosthetics, the people who made their prosthetics. It was really neat to see how they were made and the many different kinds available and what the different ones do or activities they make easier etc. Its called 'ReBuilt:The Human Bodyshop'. Two weeks after my discovery, the show just disappeared with no explanation. It is now back on and I did some checking online about its disappearance and found out it was a short lived series. The first episode aired January 18, 2006 and the 12th (and last) episode aired April 5, 2006. That said, FitTV is showing the series again...here are the dates and times I have found: Dec 7 at 2pm and 3pm, Dec 11 at 9pm, 10pm, Dec 12 at midnight and 1am, Dec 14 at 2pm and 3pm and Dec 18 at 9pm and 10pm. FitTV's site would only give the listings up to the 20th so I don't know any other dates and times yet but if you have the channel, I'd recommend cheking it out.....the few episodes I've managed to catch were really awesome.

Link to FitTV schedule

Smarty baby

I finally caught it on video...... she's so funny, she "kisses" her smilie to lube it up like I do when her nubbie isn't cooperating.... a little spit solves almost every problem :) I don't really know what the deal is with her nubbie randomly swelling....Monday I couldn't get her prosthetic on without removing the spacer sleeve and putting a nylon on her arm, then on Tuesday I had to put the spacer sleeve back in it and use the suspension sleeve to keep her prosthetic from falling off...... little weirdo.

My house is officially up for sale.....

I'm not quite sure from one minute to the next how to feel about it. The Century 21 sign went up last Thursday and I was not happy to say the least. I didn't cry, like I did when the realtor left after the paperwork the previous Friday. But it made me sad and mad and depressed. Then on Saturday, Jeremy, the kids and I were up in Orleans hanging out and we went to see a house... I fell in love with it and wanted nothing more than to run back here, pack my things and be done with New Hampshire. Then today I got a call from my realtor who informed me she is showing my house TOMORROW!!!!! and I want to cry again. I'm excited to get the ball rolling on this house we looked at, but I really love this house. And I don't want anyone to let it get run back into the ground again. I, along with Jeremy and the rest of our family, have killed ourselves trying to get this house back to what it used to be....and no, I'm no where near done.... it's 100 years old, which is code for "it'll never be done"...... this house is old, big and awesome. But being able to walk outside your house during the day and pee in your yard with no one seeing you.........that's the kind of place I want to live. Not because I have a secret love of peeing outside... I just want to be that secluded. I just wish I could move the house up North with us.

Taxing Prosthetics?

***I am seriously hoping this is untrue. If anyone finds info to debunk this, please send it my way***

Click here for~~~Original Post

By Dick Morris And Eileen McGann 11.7.2009 Published on TheHill.com November 6, 2009

As the suicidal Democratic congressmen proceed to rubber-stamp the Obama healthcare reform despite the drubbing their party took in the ‘09 elections, the president trotted out the endorsements of the AMA and the AARP to stimulate support. But these — and the other endorsements — his package has received are all bought and paid for.

Here are the deals:

* The American Medical Association (AMA) was facing a 21 percent cut in physicians’ reimbursements under the current law. Obama promised to kill the cut if they backed his bill. The cuts are the fruit of a law requiring annual 5-6 percent reductions in doctor reimbursements for treating Medicare patients. Bravely, each year Congress has rolled the cuts over, suspending them but not repealing them. So each year, the accumulated cuts threaten doctors. By now, they have risen to 21 percent. With this blackmail leverage, Obama compelled the AMA to support his bill…or else!

* The AARP got a financial windfall in return for its support of the healthcare bill. Over the past decade, the AARP has morphed from an advocacy group to an insurance company (through its subsidiary company). It is one of the main suppliers of Medi-gap insurance, a high-cost, privately purchased coverage that picks up where Medicare leaves off. But President Bush-43 passed the Medicare Advantage program, which offered a subsidized, lower-cost alternative to Medi-gap. Under Medicare Advantage, the elderly get all the extra coverage they need plus coordinated, well-managed care, usually by the same physician. So more than 10 million seniors went with Medicare Advantage, cutting into AARP Medi-gap revenues.

Presto! Obama solved their problem. He eliminates subsidies for Medicare Advantage. The elderly will have to pay more for coverage under Medigap, but the AARP — which supposedly represents them — will make more money. (If this galls you, join the American Seniors Association, the alternative group; contact sbarton@americanseniors.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .)

* The drug industry backed ObamaCare and, in return, got a 10-year limit of $80 billion on cuts in prescription drug costs. (A drop in the bucket of their almost $3 trillion projected cost over the next decade.) They also got administration assurances that it will continue to bar lower-cost Canadian drugs from coming into the U.S. All it had to do was put its formidable advertising budget at the disposal of the administration.

* Insurance companies got access to 40 million potential new customers. But when the Senate Finance Committee lowered the fine that would be imposed on those who don’t buy insurance from $3,500 to $1,500, the insurance companies jumped ship and now oppose the bill, albeit for the worst of motives.

The only industry that refused to knuckle under was the medical device makers. They stood for principle and wouldn’t go along with Obama’s blackmail. So the Senate Finance Committee retaliated by imposing a tax on medical devices such as automated wheelchairs, pacemakers, arterial stents, prosthetic limbs, artificial knees and hips and other necessary accoutrements of healthcare.

So these endorsements are not freely given, but bought and paid for by an administration that is intent on passing its program at any cost.

SHC in the process of accepting insurance

From: The Melha News

(Click pic to read it)

Quick bit

This is just a really cute picture.... I never manage to get any photos of Jeremy on here...so here's a cute one...can't tell Taylor's his daughter



Today I went to Shriners Hospital for their Thank You brunch for people who helped during their "dark days of summer". It was really nice that they did that for everyone. Normally it seems when you help someone they turn around and ask for more when your done.... not SHC. They do everything in their power to let you know just how much anything and everything you do to help is very much appreciated. I had to hold back the tears (yes I'm a sally)during some of the speaches.... I just can't imagine what we'd do without SHC. They've done so much for Taylor and for our family I can never thank them enough.


This was my mission of sorts for the last few months. I was so shocked and happy we collected almost 10 gallons of tabs from June 1-August 1, I was doing everything I could to fill up this tote with tabs by the end of 2009....well we did it....in 3 months! There was about 21-22 gallons of tabs in the bucket and bags....can't really tell by my awful picture but...I know they're there.....and whoever has to pick them up out of the mail room tomorrow will know it too :) ~~Sorry LOSNA, next time I'll make sure they're in a box or something. ....And THANK YOU to everyone who helped with "Tabs for Taylor" and for filling this enormous tote!!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!

Update on Eric Warner Case

I'm still really confused how to feel about this situation......... but here's what was in the paper

Eagle Times write up: (Click on the pics to enlarge them)

Finally some good news

Fosters.com

No jail time in Alton road death: Judge relents to wishes of victim's family

By Gail Ober
gober@citizen.com
Thursday, November 5, 2009


LACONIA — The Alton man who killed one of his passengers in a drunken driving crash in September 2008 will not serve any time behind bars, despite his guilty plea, a Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday afternoon.

Ryan Sell, 27, of 33 School St., wept as he apologized to the family of Robert H. Richey of Florida who died when the sport utility vehicle he was driving missed a poorly marked corner and ran into a culvert on Avery Hill Road.

"To sentence Ryan to jail will cause more grief and tragedy," said Megan Quinn who spoke for the entire Richey family, many of whom were in court for the sentencing hearing in Belknap County Superior Court.

"We, the family deserve, to have something positive come from this. We need something positive," she said as she pleaded with Judge Kathleen McGuire to allow Sell to continue with community service, but not to put him in jail. "We can't bear to see another life lost to the shuffle of the system."

Belknap County Attorney James Carroll had asked for Sell to serve 12 months for the vehicular homicide and had agreed to suspend a two- to four-year prison sentence for aggravated driving while intoxicated.

Sell's attorney, Mark Sisti, told McGuire Sell takes complete responsibility for what he had done and has "from the day it happened."

"I don't think taking a chance on Ryan Sell is taking a chance," continued Sisti, who said Sell does not have a drinking problem and has never used drugs or gotten even a traffic ticket.

After silently reviewing her notes for a few minutes, McGuire told those in the courtroom she could not remember a time in her 20 years on the bench when she did not impose prison on someone convicted of negligent homicide — until this time — a statement that brought tears and hugs from both Sell's friends and family as well as Richey's.

McGuire said she was "most persuaded" by Sell's intent that night, which was clearly not to drive.

According to testimony, Sell had gotten a ride to one area club with his mother-in-law and had walked to a neighboring club to meet his wife. His intent was to walk home.

Instead, Sell's uncle, Brian Eagles of Alton, asked Sell to drive him and three of his friends home, one of whom was Richey.

"His judgment was impaired but when he drank, he did not intend to drive," said McGuire who also agreed to let both sides stipulate that Sell did not drink between the time he left the club and the accident.

McGuire said she also considered the rainy, foggy evening, testimony stating the sign at the intersection was misleading and that Sell was familiar with neither the road nor the car.

"The wishes of both families is also critical," she continued. "And, by all accounts, he has been a positive hard-working member of the community."

McGuire sentenced Sell to 12 months in jail, but suspended that portion of the sentence on condition of good behavior. She also sentenced him to two to four years on the aggravated drunken driving, all suspended. He will be on probation for two years and will have to undergo an alcohol evaluation at his own expense. Sell must further perform 200 hours of community service.

The Department of Motor Vehicles suspended Sell's license for four years. However, he can reapply for it in two years.

When asked if he was satisfied with the sentencing, Carroll said the judge imparts the sentence and he respects the sentence.

"There was no way I wasn't going to ask (for jail time) because I think deterrence is important," Carroll said. "It's my job, and I will continue to do it."

Halloween Galore

Wednesday was the Halloween party at FMELC, Thursday Ashtyn and her classmates went trick or treating through Walpole and of course Halloween was Saturday...the girls trick or treated 2 houses and then we went to Candy Land at a church down near my Dad's house.....the whole place was done up like the game but life sized. Ashtyn had a blast, Jeremy fell in love with Princess Frostine and Taylor was a bit freaked out by the crazy grown ups in costume everywhere around her, King Kandy's beard freaked her out the most...poor guy.



MISS PRINCESS, Ashtyn's other outfit.....complete with high heels and makeup.


She decided to wear the Giraffe trick or treating.....Thanks Aunt Kathy!


First trick or treat experience...skipping all the way to the door.




CANDY LAND

Lucy (Martineau) Proulx Memorial

Lucy's memorial is set for Saturday 10/31 at the Silver Fern (formerly Hullabaloo's) on Pleasant St in Claremont starting at noon.

The Calender is up for sale!!!!

Link to Cafe Press

Taylor is on the first page!!!! The calenders are 18.99 and the proceeds are going to Sammy's Friends to help the group become a non profit. If you missed my info post before... Sammy's Friends is an online support group for children effected by limb differences and their families.

Shrine On Springfield Blog

I've started....or at least am in the process of starting.... a blog for Shrine On Springfield, which if you don't already know is our fundraiser for Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield Mass. There isn't a whole lot there yet but I figured I'd get that set up on its own so people looking for that are there and people looking for me and my little munchkins can find us here. There still will be stuff posted of C&M that's on SOS but it will be less than there was this past summer.

Shrine On Springfield

A prosthetic that can feel

Full Article

Don't Use Planet Aid Yellow Boxes

I donated a bunch of clothing and shoes to the Mason's Clothe the Children project, baby blankets and newborn outfits to Valley Regional Hospital (where both my girls and I were born) and food to our local food shelf this week (I'm in super un-clutter mode...and want to give back at the same time). During my struggle with my closet and shelves, I attempted to rally up some more donations from others. When I met up with a girl in Claremont to pick up her contribution for the clothes drive she told me she was glad I found a legitamit charity because she had dropped off a bunch of clothes to the Planet Aid box and was told that the clothes deposited in them where just shreded. She was the second person to tell me something "not right" about the Yellow Boxes. Another person told me the Planet Aid people were selling them to fatten their own wallets. I was pretty annoyed by this idea since last month I brought 6 contractor bags full of coats, backpacks, shoes, clothes, whatever and deposited it into a Yellow Box. So I decided to check it out when I got home.... it isn't good. The short of it is.....don't bring anything to the Planet Aid yellow boxes. Look for a legitimate charity locally.... there are many!


http://cbs3.com/investigations/I..Team.CBS.2.309677.html

http://www.7dvt.com/2008/planet-aid-help-poor-or-charitable-pandora-s-box

http://organizer.wordpress.com/2007/12/20/thinking-outside-the-yellow-box/

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/investigative/051209_fox_5_investigation_planet_aid

Where's my peak foliage?

I took this Saturday morning while the girls and I rode the Green Mountain Flyer (one of Jeremy's trains) up to Chester

Where's the color I'd like to know? You have to check out these pics to understand my whining....... this is what it looks like where I'll be living at this time next year

Another tidbit

Taylor got in to the Sammy's Friends calender!!!! As soon as they're available I'll let you know. Proceeds from sales will go to Sammy's Friends to help them become a non profit. Sammy's Friends is a support group on yahoo for kids and families affected by limb deficiencies... (Link to Sammy's Friends) ...which by the way is the "theme" of the calender... a bunch of gorgeous kids and their little bits:) I believe the calender will be available on Cafe Press but I'll let you know for sure as soon as I do....you can purchase other Sammy's Friends items if you'd like by clicking this link here (their Cafe Press site) Cafe press has millions of other groups and designs and STUFF that you may like to check out too.

Waaaaaay too much again

I received an email a couple weeks ago from Ashtyn's school about the Mason's doing a "Clothes for Children" clothing drive for local less fortunate children. Well, they are in for some overloading. I went through the clothes up in my attic...and filled up 2 totes of clothes to give. Then proceeded through what was piling up all over the kids' room and filled another tote of donatables. Then it was on to the basement and closet....hmmm.... I think I need a bulldozer.


My bed is somewhere underneath this mountain of clothing. I just wish they wanted clothing of all sizes not just newborn to 9-10 year old.

I just emailed the Mason (Ashtyn's teacher's father) about how much I have for them and am awaiting an oh-my-god type response. I have 6 totes full right now and I haven't found my bed yet (which I need to do before Jeremy gets home from working up in Newport on Wednesday) and I have a huge bag full of newborn footed onsie outfits, blankets and newborn hats for the hospital..... oh man. And I still have sooooooo much stuff left to go through... and in all honesty I'm totally keeping stuff I can't part with yet....first Christmas dresses and the like..... but I'm trying to be better. Its awesome that my kids are provided for so well, but I feel bad that we are so fortunate and completely spoiled. Its so hard for me to not be a pack rat....its in my blood. My mom and aunt Kathy have perfected it. They have more stuff in their houses than you'd find in 50 "normal" houses..... but they display everything perfectly and beautifully and its always dusted and spotless... and then theres my house...... more clothing than you'd find in the mall, more furniture than the biggest antique store on the planet.....enough toys, ride ons, bouncy seats and what have you for 5 kids (in all fairness its because I have at least 5 kids at my house almost all the time) and my house is itty bitty. At least too itty bitty for me....a normal person would be fine but me and my brood...not so much. Anyway the point of my rambling..... I set out to thin out and thanks to the Mason's having this clothing drive, I finally am allowing myself to thin out a bit.

iGive : Raise money for International Child Amputee Network, every time you search the web.

iGive : Raise money for International Child Amputee Network, every time you search the web.

Click on this link before you do your online shopping or searches for shopping goodness.... whenever you buy something from overstock, amazon, ebay, etc part of your sale will be donated to I-CAN... It only takes a second to register.... help out a good cause by doing something you are going to do anyway

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Dad-In-Law's 50th birthday party pics

Just a warning or whatever.... the butt shots and cleavage shots (they are covered by clothing) are from Travis taking my camera.....and all the middle fingers are either Travis or Sam being "awesome"... there are around 270 pictures and I don't have time to go through all of them....so you may see quite a few dumb pics...sorry.... there are a few not posted due to my own reasons..... sometimes I'm nice :) .... your welcome Uncle John ;)



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Gate Splits Border Community, Unites It In Disdain - News Story - WPTZ Plattsburgh

Gate Splits Border Community, Unites It In Disdain - News Story - WPTZ Plattsburgh

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Our new home.......in progress

Pictures 1-5 our of our driveway....wicked frickin wide....I guess its like 40 feet.. I kind of hope that's a major exaggeration






This ones looking towards our stream..... which is currently full of trees.....



This is our drinking water.....scary huh




I believe this one is where our hosue is supposed to be going.... I wasn't there to take the pictures so I'm a bit lost looking at them..... it all looks like dirt and trees to me.