First pink slip-ever

This morning, Parker came and gave me a pencil. I knew that it was to sign something, like home work.  I asked where the paper was that I was supposed to sign.  He gave me a worried look and handed me a little pink paper.  On the top it read STOP AND GO- signed by the duty guard. It said he was caught throwing a snowball. I signed the paper so he could take it back to school and asked if he was going to do that again.  He said, "No way!". He then said, "don't tell Dad". I guess he thinks Dad will get upset.

We have never gotten a pink slip before, and hopefully we won't ever get one again.  Child number five is trying his boundaries at school or maybe just forgot the rules.  I kind of think that it is silly to send a note home, couldn't the duty guard just have him sit in time out for a while and talk to him about it?
I was impressed that Parker actually gave me the note,  I know a child that would have just kept it in his back pack.

growing up

It has been awhile since I have posted anything about Hope.  She is growing up so fast.  She knows all kinds of words but only says them when she feels like it.
She loves having other children to play with and would play outside all day if I let her. She doesn't care that it is cold out there.  I DO!

She likes to help with chores

She likes to sit on the steps and read books.

Loves to run.  And also play with my cell phone.

Meet Tanner

He is our new dog.  He is 8 months old and already house broken-mostly. He knows the command sit.  We are working on drop, and stay.
Parker decided it was time to get another dog.  So we went to the Human society to look.  Loren wanted a big dog.  Parker, wasn't so sure about it.  We took Tanner out side for a walk and let him play in a fenced in area that is there.  He played well with Parker and Hope.  They did a cat test to see how he reacted with cats.  He passed.  However, he wants to play with our cats, and they want nothing to do with him.
We have to keep a close eye on him because he loves to chew up plastic toys.  Hope's doll was the latest toy to get chewed.
I can't wait for the weather to get warmer so he can stay outside most of the day.

Crazy storm

Last night we had a crazy storm. High winds and pelting snow.  Braden had driven  himself and Zach to ym/yw and Loren was nervous about him getting home.  He did just fine.  He said the only problem he had was seeing where to turn onto our street.  But he saw a van parked at the neighbors at the corner and then knew where it was.
We frantically looked for flash lights that worked. Most of them were out in the trailer. Hope thought flash lights were a neat thing, but kept crying, pointing to the T.V. and saying show.  She didn't understand that it wouldn't come on.
A great neighbor posted on face book that gas fireplaces have a back up battery connection.  Just add 2 D batteries.  Well we found ours, but guess what, the wires had never been connected so it would work.  So our great neighbor got in his car and came right over to help(Thanks Trent).  He had it up and going in no time.  All of the kids-minus Braden slept in the family room, to keep warm.  Braden opted out and slept in his own bed.
Loren didn't dare leave the fire place on all night, afraid of carbon monoxide poisoning. The fire place is vented, but he didn't want to take any chances ( and YES we have carbon monoxide detectors in the house).  Better safe than sorry.  Loren turned the fire off at 11p.m.  and thankfully the power came back on at 2:30 before the house cooled off to much.
The older kids were hopping that it would still be off in the morning so they wouldn't have to go to school.
Thankfully my alarm clock has battery back up and the kids cell phones have alarms on them, so everyone was up on time.

It's official

Braden finally finished the Driving part to get his license.  I took him to get his  license, yesterday.  So if you live by me, stay off the sidewalks. Just kidding, he is a good driver.
He took drivers ED last year but at the end of the year the teacher had to go in for open heart surgery.  The school was supposed to call us with days and times for Braden to finish up during the summer but they never did.  Before school started I went into the office and left the teacher a note-with no response. I then left messages on his voice mail with no response.  Braden finally went into his classroom and questioned him about it , just to find out that everything was full.  I kept sending Braden to talk to the teacher and he finally made room for him to complete range and road.
I can't tell if Braden is excited about it or not.  I think he is but just doesn't want to show it.  We now need to get the mustang up and running again so I can teach him how to drive a stick.

It seems that I have had someone home ill every week this year.  Zach didn't feel well on Tuesday, so I kept him home from school.  He is still home today.  I took him into the doctors and he has bronchitis. I am looking forward to warmer weather and less illness in our home.

Brrrr it's cold outside

Baby, it's cold outside.
We have been experiencing some CRAZY COLD weather the last two days.  I drove the two youngest boys to school yesterday and the school marque said it was 12* degrees.  Their principal was hurrying everyone inside out of the cold.  I went to pick them up later that afternoon and it was still very cold.  I stepped out of the door with Hope, no coats on, it looked very nice out.  I quickly turned around and retrieved our coats.  Looks can be deceiving.
Today, I drove the boys to school and the marque read a whopping 4*degrees.  Seriously, where is the sun? Warmer weather would be nice.