Chance has issues...

Oh my word! We have had Chance 1 week...he has done OK in the fence yard, but has never liked being locked in. With the cold weather he has been even worse, even not eating or drinking much. Today with the drizzlies, after a husband-wife talk we decided that although it might be difficult (chewing, Abby etc) we would let him in. Oh my, he loves it!!!!!! Abby is a bit irked, but not as bad as we maybe expected. Chance loves playing with the kids and following them around. We are crazy, but life is too short to leave a good dog outside...especially when it makes him soooo sad.
Hopefully we will sleep well the night!

It's been a while...

Where does the time go? It has been a crazy couple of weeks, but then again, it always is! The kids finished their first 9 weeks of school and they are doing well. We are fortunate! They also got their school pictures back yesterday, but I have not scanned them in yet. Maybe later today. (HA!!) They all turned out awesome!

My mom is here for a visit, she arrived Monday. Alan was up at 5:45 a.m. this morning to make sure she had not left without saying,"Goodbye". Nope, still here! Sleeping...go back to bed. We had a hayride at AWANA tonight, so everyone is excited about that. The only downer right now is that my "online students" have exams and assignements due, so I have had to do some grading. Mom graciously folded laundry and kept me company while I graded.

Chance is a hit! What a sweet dog. He would like very much to be a house dog and has gotten almost impossible to put in the fence. We need to either trick him or Chris does it by pinching his ear. I may give him a house trial, if I could just figure out where everyone will sleep. (Meaning Abby, who is still not on the Chance band wagon!) She has to let him know of her disapproval with a little snarl /nip each day....dames! You are still loved Abby!

Collin has been volunteered to move his bed outside as he and Chance did some bonding yesterday...

Chance let us know what he thinks of leashes! We let the leash go and he whipped it around and bit it in 2! So we got a "Chance proof leash". The kids left the "chewed" leash in the living room and Abby layed down next to it. I"m sure she is thinking, "You are not putting me on that chain are you?"

Chance it is!

The name for our new pup is Chance or "Chauncey" as Chris has been calling him today ???? Overall he has been excellent. He was intent on rushing the gate the first few days, but has settled in a bit. He has learned how to "flip" the latch, so we have to chain it. He comes easily even for the kids, so Alan can put him back in. One negative is that he likes to jump up on the boys a bit, not Alan and not Erin, but Collin and Hans ? He does not do it mean, but he gets excited and jumps up with both paws going. He gets down quickly like he /knows/ he is not supposed to do it. He is a bit gun shy and does not like rough terrain yet, but there is time to work on that.

SC had homecoming this weekend complete with parade, festival, football and musical. We watched SC stomp Ottawa 46-0, I think. Then we met one of our freshman foster football students, Dustin. Seems like a great guy and the kids indoctrinated him well with a full compliment of Anderson silliness and wildness!

At the end of all this we had the privilege of seeing our senior foster student give the sermon at evening chapel. He finished a series the chaplain started on revival. I was moved and encouraged by all he had to say, way to go John. He aspires to be a pastor someday and I can definitely see it!

I'll leave you with another scrapbook page from fall 2003, this one is completely digital and printed on the big printer I bought from BIL Mitch!

"Old friends" and "New additions"

There is nothing better than spending time with an old friend...it has been great this fall to spend time with John, our foster football student from 3 years ago. Now in his senior year we have gotten to spend some time together again and the kids just love it!!!!!!!!!!! His twin brother is playing football for Sterling this year, but John is playing football with our boys. Much more interesting to be sure

Plus look what followed us home from Lyons?!? A not-quite 1 year old neutered male lab being held in the pound and ready for adoption. He is so sweet! A friend called us saying how calm and friendly he was and we were amazed to find the same thing. We brought him home for a trial. He is so docile and yet very curious and eager. I was more at ease with the kids around him, he just shows no signs of being aggressive. He hardly gruffed at Abby when she gave him the "check" over and over again. He is a bit curious about the cats, but heck they are used to that! So we are picking out names: Chance, Lucky and Buddy are up for grabs!

"Please, please, please..."

After church today we went to BK for some take out burgers to the park. The geese were being fed by another family, but quickly came and found us when they left. Hans' last few hamburger bites and french fries were being coveted. There was one that "talked" to him per se. I have never heard them do anything but "honk".

We had a nice time. Daddy has been working hard, so it was awesome to get out of town together and do something different. Unfortunately our car acted up on the way home and we had to call "brother bill"'s auto help! HELP :-)

Two heads are better than one

Especially when it comes to homework! I love this totally unprompted help that Collin gave Hans. They worked beautifully on some homework sheets together before school. Awww. For 2 boys that often fight, I need these moments!

Mama's got a new dew

My beautician always fusses with my hair and makes me look hip. If only I could recreate it later.

Football and gymnastics?

Ah, last week we got to combine all the kid's favorite sports. While at a SC Warrior Football game, Erin and her team performed a gymnastics expo. I was a terribly nervous mom as she has never done anything like this in front of people, let alone a whole football stand for of people. But she did great and was able to "hit" most of her skills. I of course did not get good pictures and it never occurred to me to ask BIL Phil to bring a "real" camera with the super dooper lens, so this is all I have I missed her on some of them.

The Warriors did not win this game, it was an intense defensive struggle lost in 2 overtime, I believe. I had to take the younger tired kids home. Maybe today will be better for them.