Laurie Kathryn's 6th Annual Butterfly Dance

It's that time of year again! The girls can not wait to strut around with

their butterfly wings again at

 

Sunday September 9, 2012



1-6pm at Patch Park in Charlestown, NH

There will be food, music, 3 bounce houses,

activities and more!

Donations are welcome and greatly appreciated.

All proceeds go to children's charities in the community.

The event is rain or shine.

 

(if you need directions google "Charlestown NH Ambulance" ,

the park is out behind their building or "Fort Number 4" which is

267 Springfield Rd, Charlestown, NH is next to the park...

either way, you can't miss it)

 

The following I snagged from Dee's facebook page:

 

"For those of you who are wondering what this event is all about-Laurie was mine and Stacy's daughter. Shortly after she turned 3, she acquired a virus that turned into a nasty strain of pneumonia. The illness only lasted a few days, but she passed away from it.
In memory of Laurie, we have a Butterfly Dance. She loved butterflies and dancing. Here, we raise money and turn it around and donate it to local charities that benefit children. Some of the charities include the Headstart programs, Christmas Fund, Toddler Program at the Charlestown Library, clothing a toddler who's house burned, summer pool passes, and more!
It is just a fun day for kids. The bounce houses keep them well entertained. We also have activity tables, music and dancing, food and raffles. Please come and join the fun! Your child will look forward to it all year:) "

 

Check out the event and invite friends on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/events/154563748000910/

Shrine On Springfield 2012

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Thank you everyone who strolled, roller skated, biked, was carried or walked Shrine On Springfield 2012!

Ellie Uhlig

Zane Putnam

Shawn Kincaid

Jaqi Kincaid

Beth Staples

Aiden Putnam
Wesley Putnam
Sam Putnam
Jess Rock
Justin Gallion
Darcy Lovell
Jayana Newhall

Jaxyn Lovell

Brockton Lovell
Bryan Butler  
Rachel Harrel  
Alana Butler 
Deb Burns 
Christine Brehio
Josh Brehio
Brody Brehio
Madison Brehio

Jack Brehio

Jackie Brehio
Kristi Morris   
Ajlyn Putnam  
Sam Putnam  
Jeremy Honeycutt 
Nina Honeycutt  
Taylor Honeycutt 

Ashtyn Honeycutt 

Julie St. Sauveur 
Ryan Sell 
Diane Gallion  
Clyde Gallion  
Leo LaFlamme 
Linda LaFlamme   
Linda Drew  
Candy Desrochers   
David Desrochers  
Cole Rapini  
Hanna Rapini   
Chris Rapini    
Jessica Bryant  
Cathy Hartmann    
Greg Precourt    
Jessi Dussault   
Charlie Dussault  
Lila Dussault 

Maebel Dussault

Tanya McAllister

And thank you guys for showing up for the walk before running off to conquer your zillions of parades that same morning!

Harold Rock
Mike Bamforth
Paul LaFlamme
Pat Sloan
Steven Stearns
Roger Adams
Wes Jewell
Ed LaFlamme
Thank you donors for enabling us to raise $1720 this year to help Shriners Hospitals for Children continue helping kids defy the odds!

Potentate Mt Sinai #3 Shawn Kincaid and Lady Jaqi
Past Potentate Mt Sinai #3 Leo LaFlamme and Lady Linda
Past Potentate Mt Sinai #3 Kristi Morris
Pastor of First Congregational Church in Springfield VT
Great Northern Comfort Home Improvements & Denis Chabot
John and Jane Waysville
Griffin Construction and The Dussault family
Maurine Parnet
Jack and Jackie Brehio
Empire Beauty Schools Inc
Pam Desrochers
Tonya Harding
Linda Drew
Leslie Huey
Glen and Lorraine Eckert
Candy and David Desrochers
Ashtyn and Taylor Honeycutt
Nicole Wheeler
High Priest of Bektash Richard Quindley
Ron and Sue Precourt
Kit N Kaboodle Consignments and Laurie Wallace
Paula Searles
Jessica Bryant
Beverly Waysville
Lori McElroy
Lisa Schulte
Scott Astle
Doug Hanson
Joanne Blodgett
John Hoscle
Kathy Chicoine
Cindy Stevens
Rick Sharron
Eileen Czechowicz
John Tomlinson
Lorie Desmarais
Stacy Gatto
Debbie Burns
Darcy Lovell
Tracy Lovell
Hubert Lovell
Justin Gallion
Opal Gallion
Miles Brock Lovell
Rich Pummer
Chris Rourke
Liam Smith
Tonya and Shawn Waters
Clyde and Diane Gallion
Bill Hauer
Mike Bryant
Bob Kirkbride
Rusty Towsley
Vinny Croney
Kim Stowell
Donna Jones
Betty Andreson
Bill Barrows
Bill O'Brien
Samantha Kuid
Connie Rathburn
Daniel Putnam
the "BATZ" Putnam family.

And, thank you to all of our tabbies. There are so SO many of you out there!

We had a ton of tabs brought to the walkathon thanks to

Deb Burns
Cole's Cause
Cathy Hartmann

They brought approximatly 40 gallons between them. A lot of the tab collectors had special stories and reasons for getting involved. It was amazing to hear them. The tabs turned in at the walk were from

Anthony LeClair
Rose Palmer
Debbie Burns
Florence Spaulding
Valley Regional Hospital Employees and Patients
Henry Marrotte
Bomar Company
Josh Brehio
Maplewood Nursing Home Employees
Greg Precourt and Cathy Hartmann
Cole's Cause friends and family

***we turned in about 280 gallons of tabs in July.....on top of the 140 gallons in February :)

Thanks again to our suppliers and sponsors

Doolittle's Print Serv
The Ink Factory
Roland III and Sue Irish
Ray St Sauveur and Linda Schettino
Candy and David Desrochers
Ron and Sue Precourt

and thanks to our volluntold cook Greg Precourt for all his hard work and keeping everyone's tummies full.



A huge thanks goes out to everyone who has helped us continue our mission. Your never ending support means the world to us. Every penny and every tab matters! Thank you all so very much. We are all looking forward to next year being even bigger and better than years past and we hope to see all of you as well as some new faces in June 2013!

Shriners Ball Photos

Mayhem's New Armie "Pink Dora"

Taylor, Ashtyn, my Mom, my Aunt Lisa and I went down to Springfield MA Thursday night to beat the snow and ice storm that was heading our way and ensure we would make it there for Taylor's appointments at Shriners Hospital on Friday. I can honestly say my girls were never so excited to see a hotel room or tub.

We stayed at the Comfort Inn and Suites. My mom went with a suite, as you can see from the enormous tub, and made Ashtyn's night Thursday as the 4 of us bigger people put on our bathing suits and sat in the bubble filled hot tub while Taylor was snoring away. Ashtyn was pretty excited to have some focus-on-ME time. In the morning Taylor was able to splash and play in the tub with big sister and the girls had a blast. Then we filled our tummies with waffles, sausage and yogurt before heading over to Shriners hospital to pick up Taylor's new "PINK DORA" Armie.

Almost as soon as we arrived at the O&P depatment, my thoughts were confirmed.....  My Aunt Lisa's friend, "Big Lisa", gave Taylor a pink Dora dress. No one knew or had any idea that it was almost the exact fabric that Taylor was having put onto her newest Armie.

The only differences between the fabrics are her Armie is darker pink with slightly darker flowers and Dora's hair is more rounded than it is on the fabric of her dress. It was so awesome to see that dress. It couldn't have been more perfect. Taylor was so excited.

I still can not get over how much bigger this Armie is. When we were down for her fitting 2 weeks ago we were actually debating wether or not it was time for a new one. Seeing the old one and new one together pretty much confirmed that it was in fact time.

But the day did not end here.....

We also dropped off our current pile of Tabs For Taylor.

(don't laugh at my swollen face....i had my jaw cut open the morning before this and yes its very swollen and not so comfy)

And then the surprises continue too......

Little Miss Mayhem's Armie is set up to operate not only her hook hand via figure of 9 harness, which is what and how she has been using it since July of last year, but it also has Li'l EZ hand (the one that opens and closes...kind of the exact opposite of the hook hand......she used to have this hand on her green and purple zigzag armie). This hand can be operated with a different cable and harness. AND.....AND......Taylor received the Anchor System!!!!!!!!

For those who do not know about the Anchor System...........

(this article is from SingleHandedSolutions  and Springfield Shriners Blog)

"Debra A. Latour, M Ed, OTR/L, has worked at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield, Mass for 13 years. Before she was employed by the hospital, she was a patient. Her parents sought treatment at Shriners when she was a toddler for an upper limb deficiency.

For many years, Debi used the traditional body-powered prosthesis which is activated by a figure-of-eight or a figure-of-nine harness system, using the opposite shoulder as the power source. Many users of this system complain of discomfort from the harness, typically the rubbing on the skin by the harness, asymmetry of the shoulders, pain in the opposite shoulder area, difficulty while performing tasks with both limbs, and diminished physical appearance. When Debi began to experience her own problems with the usual harness system, she relied on her 30 years of experience to solve her issues.

As a Senior Occupational Therapist, Debi knows exactly how to help patients develop skills needed to live as independently as possible and to help improve the quality of their lives. In an effort to achieve these goals for patients with an upper limb deficiency, she invented a new and improved way of harnessing a body-powered prosthesis called the Ipsilateral Scapular Cutaneous Anchor system (the “Anchor”). Her design eliminates the usual harnessing, often a source of complaint and one reason why children reject prostheses.

Debi submitted a paper on the “Anchor” to the American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists which was accepted for presentation at the 2011 Annual Meeting & Scientific Symposium in Orlando, FL. Presentations such as this serve to inform professionals in the community of new and creative solutions in treatment and also promote Shriners Hospitals for Children as a center of innovation and excellence in treatment, research and education.

While attending the symposium, Debi was interviewed by a reporter for O&P Business News. She provides a wonderful account of how her invention and her blog, Single-Handed Solutions, materialized."

THIS ANCHOR SYSTEM HAS BEEN ONLY AVAILABLE TO SHRINERS HOSPITALS PATIENTS!

Until now! 

Debi has been granted sole license to market and manufacture this system and it is now available to everyone. It can be purchased directly from Single-Handed Solutions, LLC. For more information, contact Debi Latour at LatourAnchor@gmail.com

As soon as my little monkies come home next week (they're on vacation with GrandMaMa & Papa) I will be documenting Taylor's experience with this new Anchor technology. I am so excited to be a part of this and I can not wait to tell everyone all about it.

Another butterfly lost

A while back, this girl stumbled across my blog. She was looking for help, support and answers reguarding the recent news of her 20 week gestation nephew's limb deficiency. We exchanged emails a few times and then her sister, the one having the bundle of joy, joined in and we exchanged emails too. We have kept in touch as best you can in the busy world of work, family and play. 'Little Man' was due to be born on august 30th and i've been waiting to hear the great news of his arrival. I got it this morning. But it wasn't the great news it should have been. 'Mom' had some bloodpressure issues suddenly and so the baby needed to be delivered early. He was born on saturday august 7th, and he passed away on tuesday the 10th. My heart aches. Rest in peace Nathan. I hope you find peace 'mom',  'aunt' and all of your family.  My thoughts are with you.

-- Sent from my Palm Pixi

Cole

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

*****It's now Audust 18, I just finally actually got to see this video. It basically took all I had not to cry. Hannah and Chris, you are amazing people and even more amazing parents. I hope little Cole gets better soon.*******

Visit Cole's Cause

Minutes and feet apart

Taylor and Tessa were born on Wednesday September 24, 2008..... a few short minutes apart with only a wall between them. Dan walked around the hospital floor like a proud new daddy and stopped at our door when he found out we were there too to show off his precious little bundle. We were some of the first people to meet little Tessa. Jessica and I talked about getting our girls together one of these days to play when I ran into her a little while back. The next morning I ran into Dan and Tessa just after her pictures with easter Bunny. It was only the second time I met Little Tessa... I never thought that that would be the last. Tessa passed away last night. They are not sure still of the exact cause...but the cause doesn't matter to me. I'm heartbroken and shredded by this. My heart goes out to Jessica and to Dan. I know at least she has Laurie Kathryn, Emily and Emy's little one up there to play with, but it still doesn't make it any better down here. Jessica and Dan, I'm beyond sorry.

Stringer Funeral Home Online Memorial (and obit)

Facebook Online Memorial

When it pours.....

Last night when I got the mail it was a surprisingly huge wad of envelopes. Roughly 30 letters. I open a huge envelope from SHC. It contains this really nice golden certificate thanking us again for our fundraising and letting us know they have put us in "the golden book" of donors. I'm so excited about it and I run right upstairs and frame it and then proceed to get to the other 29 envelopes. 2 bills, a couple junk mail things and then 20 envelopes are left which are frighteningly all the same size.....and all from our insurance company. Do you hear the jaws theme playing.....du dut du dut....
anyway, so I grab one and open it up and Jeremy sees the stack and starts opening one, you have got to be shitting me. These idiots sent us 19 letters informing us that they were billing Taylor's physical therapist for her services because they over paid them. Hello!?!?! Taylor's therapy is $160 bucks each visit and she usually has one each week. These friggin morons didn't start paying anything until a couple months ago and they only paid like $110 of it. So all the while the PT's company has been eating the loss. Now these assholes want the little bit they did pay back because "Taylor's diagnosis is an unapproved condition" I respond with, "Unapproved condition, seriously?" While I really feel like screaming: GO F YOURSELF! "Yeah, I'm sorry but we're not going to be able to cover these services" You have got to be kidding me.....
this is awesome!
They don't and won't cover her prosthetics, or anything that goes with them, ie visiting the ortho for the rx for the prosthetic, the suspension sleeves, the socks that go on her arm....nothing. And now they won't cover her physical therapy!?!?! If it weren't for her PT, she'd still be walking like an 80 year old pirate, and her arms would still be glued to her sides, and her balance would still likely be totally out of wack. Her PT has worked on so much more than just making sure she could use her prosthetic and do things without it.

The gov't has given us the FO
The state has given us the FO
and now our insurance company

what the hell is wrong with people?

Prosthetics are cosmetic, no pre-existing conditions, how 'bout FO to that!

If I ever hear prosthetics are cosmetic again, the idiot who says it to me will likely get punched in the face.

And so now, on top of the BS with them billing the therapist, that also messed up our deductable so we'll likely be paying a bunch more money for other visits that were previously covered and either the therapy group has to eat the entirety of the bills or we won't be able to have her come as often, if at all. Super! I'm so irritated right now......there are no words.

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

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.

Every kid wants a giant cupcake cake

This cake is ridiculously large


It doesn't look all that big, but it took 5 boxes of mix


I know Ashtyn is in love with the frosting......I just hope the cake itself tastes good.....and it makes it 'til tomorrow

My little cuties

I'm not-so-patiently awaiting the release of this week's Compass paper.... There was a photographer at the butterfly dance Sunday and she took a zillion pictures of both girls.......... cute, cute stuff.

Laurie Kathryn's Butterfly Dance

I finally managed to find Dee (Laurie's Mom) today so I could snag some fliers for this wonderful event they host every year so I can finally share the info.

Laurie Kathryn Hassett died on July 4th, 2006. She was 3 years old. News travels fast around here and I learned about it within minutes of it happening and I just about had a break down when I heard the news. Ashtyn was 2 months and some days old and I was still very post pardom crazy. Just hearing that someone lost their baby ripped me in two. I didn't even know Dee then, and I never met her beautiful little girl, but just knowing that a mother lost her child, it was more than I could take. It has been three years and I still get teary when I think of their loss. On a slightly more positive side, Laurie helped me realize my "loss" was not a loss at all and the little picture I have of her on my fridge reminds me everyday to love and cherish every second with my girls, even the very very bad seconds. Now, every year, the Hassett's host a Butterfly Dance in memory of their precious little girl. And now that I've shared a little piece of the story, and why I feel so compelled to share this with everyone, here's the flier and info:

(Click the pic for a larger view)


Patch Park in Charlestown, NH (I have linked the map to Charlestown Ambulance because even though it shows Patch Park on the map, mapquest doesn't think it has its own address.....its the same place)

Donations are accepted (recommended $10 for adults). Hope to see everyone there.... and kids, don't forget your wings.

My baby's going to school

Ashtyn has been bugging me for a year now that she wants to go to school. I've always felt that it was foolish to send her since I watch other kids her age and we do the same things at home as she would at a preschool. She has finally won the battle. I signed her up today for 2 days a week and she starts on Tuesday. I'm excited, heartbroken, scared and ...... I don't even know. I can't help but fear they'll kick her out her first day for peeing on the playground or something stupid. She has the tendency to act AWFUL if she doesn't get her way and she'll find a way, any way to let you know she's not impressed with you. I'm hoping the new environment and being around kids her age and at her level will help her. And give her and I a better relationship. AHHHHHH! Somebody hug me, I want to cry..... my baby's growing up to fast.

More idiotic evidence

I'm a complete ditz. That's all there is to it. I don't know if its the hanging out with little kids 24/7 thing, or the pregnant and/or nursing for the last 4 years messing my hormones up, lack of out of home life, genetics (ha ha...you know I love you guys)....I have no idea the source of my stupidity. Maybe its all of it put together but wow do I feel dumb.

I just met with a woman today about watching her kiddo and it was like I was transformed into a 12 month old as soon as I opened my mouth to speak. Obviously I never had a public speaking class or I probably wouldn't have this problem. And I'm not a "seller"...you like what you see or you leave the store. I'm not the type to coax you into buying something you don't want. But I seem to have the curse of making really horrible first impressions. I don't know why, I just do. By the end of my "duh, I watch kids, duh" either the parents think, "Hey at least she's on the same page as my 2 month old, I guess my kids safe here" or "this girls so good she doesn't care about first impressions...she's already got a house full of other kids and they seem fine" or, the worst case scenario," yeah, um, I'll call ya...." as they run for the hills and wonder who lets me watch kids.

Ugh!

I really should have paid more attention to my calender today.

I had a visit scheduled with Taylor's therapist to review her case/needs/whatever from noon to one, then my extra kiddo "D" was going to show up at 1, well he showed up at 10, so instead of quiet time to review Taylor's file, it was going to be 3 kids awake and crazy time, and for some reason I forgot everything that I had already scheduled between noon and 3 when I told this woman who called about childcare to "come on over" when she asked if 1:30 would be okay.

This is why the calender is right there on the door in front of my face!!!! To LOOK AT IT!!! And I neglected to do so.

Ashtyn was having a really bad day since she woke up and it was only seeming to get worse as the minutes progressed. 10:30 Ashtyn falls asleep....one down, 2 to go. Not so lucky. I got Taylor and "D" their lunch just as Taylor's therapist walked in the door. We started going over the file as the kids ate, then they finished and I laid them down. Taylor passes out but "D" tossed and turned and talked to himself for the remainder of the PT/OT's visit. Ashtyn woke up as we were finishing. One visit down. About 5 minutes later the woman with the kiddo shows up with her kiddo and her sister and her sister's kiddo as I'm cooking Ashtyn's lunch and trying to coax "D" into going to sleep. He starts crying and wakes up Taylor. Taylor's crying, Ashtyn's screaming since she hasn't had lunch yet and "D" is still crying about not wanting a nap.

CALGON TAKE ME AWAY.

I'm standing there like a deer in headlights at this woman and her sister. I might as well have been drooling on myself with how intelligent I felt. I don't even know if I got her kiddo's name....that was how crazy it got. I gave her a 15 second tour and apologized for the insanity, said she didn't mind the chaos and took my info and packet of stuff I put together for her and said she'd give me a call later this week since she's hoping to have everything lined up for her return to work next Monday.

We'll see.

Lucky for me, the visitor I was supposed to have at 2, didn't show up.

And people wonder where "Chaos and Mayhem" came from....such is my life. Nothing can go smoothly or it wouldn't be my life.

What is wrong with people?!

I'm in a pretty crud mood and since I'm super cool and have nothing to do I have turned to my newest best friends in the blogging world for a dose of cheer-me-up. Well, not so much. I've just recently found out about google's blog search engine ( yes I know I'm slow) and so I typed in "daycare" to see if I could find any ideas of stuff to do with my kids (mine and the "borrowed ones") and this was what popped up:48 babies killed and 2 dozen more severely burned, Daycare Lawsuit filed over 2 year old found in back seat of van, Daycare operator Charged.... this one titled Daycare Disputes kills me. Not the statement of the original source, but the woman who responded to her question...... her kid was taken from the daycare center by some random guy!!!!!!!!!! What the hell?!??!?!? This is why my kids are not in daycare. This is why I stay home, why I take others kids in, even when days like today make me want to throw in the towel. I can't even imagine what that mother is going through. I'd kill. There would not be a chance for sorry. I don't care if the kid was returned safe, I would kill. Flat out. Death. Oh my god! I'm by no means Mother of the Year or Caregiver of the year but I make damn sure the kids are safe. I fear everyday that the estranged parent of one of my kids might show up and want to take him/her...or that some random psycho might show up..... I know that my life would be put on the line for any of the kids.... if my dog doesn't kill them, hopefully I could at least stop them.... I'd at least give it my all. Wow. I'm so saddened by those stories. I wonder all the time if I'm really doing what's best for my girls, staying home with them instead of sending them off to a daycare center with other kids...... I'm probably never going to question myself again. I hope the parents of the kids I watch realize how good they've apparently got it too. If some person shows up at my door asking for a kid, they have to show me ID and be on the kids list of emergency release people. And I'd still call the parent (depending on the circumstance) to ask them and/or chew them out for not letting me know the person was coming. And this one Daycare operator charged um...hello..... why are there not more stay at home parents? And who is licensing these idiots?

So the last 10 days flew right by......

Friday the 10th, was the beginning of it all..... I got the go-ahead from all my kids' parents to take the kiddo's strawberry picking and to the petting zoo (both are conveniently located at the same place). Jessi, Maebel and Charlie were originally going to be joining us but at the last minute Jessi got an invite to the ocean, so we got ditched..... I do not blame her one bit.... I would have ditched to go to the ocean too. Especially since her "invitor" was doing all the driving......So I packed up the 5 kids and myself and off we went for a day of animals and berries. I have never seen these kids have so much fun as they did that day at Wellwood. Oodles of fun, oodles of poop on shoes ( thank goodness I asked the parents for 2 sets of shoes) and oodles of berries in their tummies. A full day of fun for about 6 bucks for the 7 of us. You almost can't beat that.

Once 5:15 pm came around and my last "borrowed" child went home, Jeremy and I along with Ashtyn and Taylor made our 2 1/2 hour trek up to Brownington for 9 days of just us and nature. (and a little bit of tv thanks to the generator). We got there around 9-9:30 (we had to stop for gas and pee breaks etc), unpacked and went to bed. The next day was the annual pig roast (which turned out to be not a pig roast this year....we had beef instead.... I pigged out on the chili I made and the huge fruit salad someone else had brought) over at the Glodgett's. As usual the food was awesome and the fireworks were great. Ashtyn and Taylor both had a blast. Ashtyn fell in love with a little boy named Thomas and Taylor was infatuated with Joe and Rita's little girl.... I forgot her name again....sorry...... And everyone there was awesome. They are all really great at involving the kids in practically everything. The fireworks ended around 10 and at that point it was definitely time for the kiddos to be in bed so we went back to camp. Jeremy and the other guys decided it wasn't their bed times yet so they went out with the ATVs or whatever they had to ride on. I went to bed with the girls and woke up around 4am to : "just so you know when you get up, my atv's done for the summer" WTF? He is ok and all is fine, but his atv.......definitely out of commission for at least most of the remainder of 2009. Apparently he stood it up on a crazy steep hill and instead of it finishing its ascent up the hill, it decided to fall on its face and roll down the hill. Lucky for my death defying mad man of a husband he is really (sadly) good at ditching the crash and so he ditched and only has a little bruise on him (a big one on his ego) and a huge one on the atv. That day the kids and I went to the park and let Jeremy sleep off his anger about crashing. The rest of the week was less exciting. A lot of clearing "our" land (hopefully it will be ours) and burning brush. We did see tons of wild life, which is the norm up there, but it was better than usual this time. We saw 2 moose, together, just 2 fields down from our cow path (road), a ton of Mommy dears and babies, huge wild rabbits, and tons of random enormous birds that were enjoying something very near by the camp.... there was a sad animal story on the adventure home Sunday morning.... someone was driving south, like us, an apparently their hatch opened up on their car which spilled out a bunch of clothing.... and the family dog.....right onto 91. Needless to say the dog didn't survive the tuck and roll............ Thursday night Ron and Sue showed up. I swear they came up only to scare the life out of me and have a good laugh about it. Ron got this huge GIGANTIC black spider that was at his work and stuck in in the shower. Everyone had a good ha raw about it.....except for Ashtyn. I had to pet the thing to prove to her it was fake. Friday we dubbed around Newport and Derby. Saturday we went to the circus at IROC..... and we decided to not bother once we got there. Instead Ashtyn got a pony ride, cotton candy and some bouncy house action. Then we peeked around inside IROC and then went to the GoKart place down the road for a 3 generation race between Grandpa, Daddy and Ashtyn. Then some lunch and fun at the huge play area at McDonald's. After a full day of running around we went back to camp for our last night of no-extra-kids and packed our stuff. Then unfortunately today arrived and we had to depart. So we drove home, unpacked, made my phone calls, checked my 254 emails!!!!!! and now here I am.

.....oh yeah....and it rained......a lot. and hailed and rained and tsunami and blah. Mother nature doesn't like me. Its only when I have plans in July it rains.

And we're home again

It is amazing how fast time is flying these days. The short story of the week is: I had 5 kids all day every day, with the exception of Friday.....Thursday night at the last possible second we decided to go to camp for the long weekend. Jeremy cleared a bunch of our "spot" and we're going back to hopefully get a lot closer to "finished" on Friday of this week. The weather was decent, beautiful Friday, on and off sun and sprinkles on Saturday and then crazy beautiful Sunday. The bulk of that evil rain garbage was only around at night....and there was a lot of it. But we're home now, safe and sound, to do it all again this week.....I'll be back for more story telling adventures once I get some food into our bellies.


To view the millions of pics I took click here

More adventures in the land of Chaos and Mayhem

How I find time to sleep I'll never know. I have been so busy the last few weeks I feel like I'm spinning. Between my kids and kids that aren't mine, helping out with Gram (she had her hip replacement surgery Monday, all went well and she's going to rehab on Friday.. I believe) trying to get our Shriners fundraiser up and running, helping out at Travis' house, and Brad and Gloria's house, 7 pets... only one is mine, and trying to make my house not look like a tsunami went threw it.... I should be grey or bald. And the overwhelming weekend suckage that comes with summer...ugh! I have something going on every single weekend from now until September.... and I only have one weekend currently left in September that I'm not already "booked". I also had my second, third and forth Stupid-person run in with Taylor. All in one day. "What's wrong with her arm?" Nothing, she only has one hand. "Oh... well at least she still looks alright" FO! Um blood pressure medicine...STAT. I know it is bound to happen but give me a break. Its days like those I wish she had her naughty onsie on. I hate stupid people. GRRRRR! More later when the "cranky" leaves my brain