Sleeepy Dog

Meisje was quite sleepy this weekend. She did not want to get out from under the covers.

New Baby

My newest nephew was born yesterday! Yay!!!

Paty is doing well. My brother Lucas is happy to have his son here. Isabelle (almost three) does not quite know what's up yet. Nathan will be in the NICU for a little while, since he is a preemie. He is big for being so early. He weighs 7 lbs-8 oz and he is 21 inches long. He definitely got my brother's height. He is such a pretty baby.

New Room

Ok, it is not a whole new room, but I did rearrange some furniture. I also added a lamp. Yup kids, the lamp is new (let's hope Meisje does not eat this one). My friend Te'e's daughter Se'a helped me pick it out at Ikea today. There is a picture of it below. I think it goes nicely with the room decor.


This week I spent a lot of time with Se'a and Samuel. They are fun kids. They sure do wipe me out. I'm glad kids come to us as babies and not as five or ten year olds.



Ikea has a lot of items that were on our "wish lists". Se'a mostly found a lot of pink items to go in her room. Her bedroom is almost all pink, and she'd like it to be 100% pink. I did not refunish her room, as she would have liked. She did wheedle a pink clock out of me (on sale for under $5.00), and she was quite happy with that.





While we were at Ikea, we ran into my sister's best friend Jamie. It was really great to see her, Thad, and Sienna. We did not get to visit long, but it was so nice to catch up.

Happy New Year

Well this last week was full of adventures. I assisted my best friend Iva with buying a car. (She said she brought me along so I could be bossy.) There were two birthdays in my family: my dear Grandmother and sister Erin.
Today my sister Mijken, Sully (her cute 8 month old), Grandma and Grandpa and I met up at Grandma's for lunch. It was great, and Mr. Sully sure did keep us entertained.

Meanwhile ... back at the farm

My Aunt and Uncle took care of Miss Meisje while I was gone for the first week, the final five days, my best friend Iva watched after the baby dog.

Meisje learned how to share toys and eat cat food from cousin Zuzu. She learned how to beg even better for human food with Iva (she ate TV dinners and Hot Pockets). Meisje learned to be nice to little kids, and let them play with her kennel too. After all when one is two or three years old, it is fun to bark and pretend one is a doggie.

Meisje is happy to have her Momma back, even if Momma is mean and makes her eat her dog food. She loves her rib bone from her "Grand-paw", and she chews it all of the time.

Vacation to New England (Winter 2008- 2009)

I left at 5:30AM on the 24th to find my shuttle to the airport leaving without me. I ran after the van for two blocks, and caught it. Whew! I did not miss my flight.

I managed to get a migraine on the flight out, so when I got to New York City, I felt sick. I did not get too nauseated until I was in Manhattan. When I got outside Madison Square Garden, I was stopped by a nice Jewish man, who asked me, "Are you Jewish?" At this point I was sick and lost, it was dark, and I could hardly see, but I took a moment to talk to him. I said, "No, I am not." He wished me a happy Hanukkah; I bid him a Merry Christmas, and then he kindly directed me to Penn Station. As I was entering the station, another Jewish man stopped me and asked me the same question. I don't know what they were doing out in the cold wondering if people are Jewish, but it was nice to have strangers wish me a good Holiday.

Inside the station (after getting sick from the migraine), a drug addict stopped me. The woman was VERY pregnant. She asked if I would buy her some food. It was Christmas Eve after all, so I agreed. Right next to us was a soft pretzel stand, so I went to buy her one, and the woman took the money right out of my hand and ran off. It was only two dollars. I just wish I could have gotten food into that baby in her instead of the crack I am sure she bought.

Finally, I arrived. YAY!!! I was only an hour late, and I was so happy to see my parents. We had a really fun visit. We mostly went to museums and went for drives around the country side.

Well, NYC I did not love, but picturesque New England, I adore! I'm sure you will see why, one you check out the smilebox photo book I made.

The way home was much less eventful (thanks to Dramamine), although I did get bonked on the head by someone's bag falling out of the overhead bin. I got home to my sweet dog and promptly passed out. Today I went back to work. It was a nice day, but where is my vacation for my vacation?

Make a Smilebox photobook

All Packed

Saturday I packed for my trip. I am so excited. It is my first real vacation ever. Although I am nervous to drop Meisje off, and a little worried about plane to train connections, I can't wait!

BIG THANKS to Geni, Pat, and Iva for taking care of my little fur-baby/ monster-dog.

Meisje is in a picture here, playing with her Santa Bear. When she chews it, it growls like a bear.

Happy Holidays!

CANCER FREE!!!

I just opened the mail. In it there was a Christmas card from the Vet, my friend Te'e, my sister, and letter from my doctor. The letter from the doctor was the best news ever! It says that I am cancer free. Yup that's right, I am free from cancer finally. YAY!!!

I did a dance of joy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfPg5LjGYz8&NR=1

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving weekend has been busy. Aunt Geniece, Uncle Patrick and I drove down to Grandma's, switched to Grandma & Grandpa's car and then we all drove to Uncle Les and Tamar's house in Springville for a lovely meal. It sure was fun to hang out with all of the cousins and their kids. My cousin Ashlee's little boy Morgan (age three) and I watched part of a Disney movie together. He snuggled up in my lap and gave me what he thought was a compliment. "You sure is soft", he said.




After dinner, we went back to Grandma's house to look at her remodeled kitchen. It is beautiful! The picture is not the best quality, since I took it with my camera phone. I think their kitchen is as lovely as what Extreme Makeover does.






This morning Meisje surprised me. I was picking up her toys and putting them in her basket, when she went and got her hedgehog toy and put it in the basket too. She took out her orange ball then and played with that. I can't believe my little "monster" of a pup picked up her own mess. Usually she just makes the mess, and I get to clean. Today, I will call that a blessing. :-)




PS: My Grandmother usually has everyone tell three things that person is thankful for on Thanksgiving. This year, I am thankful for family and friends, my dog, and divorce. Yup, I am thankful for divorce. It may be lonely sometimes being single, but it sure beats being miserable with a deadbeat for a husband. One more thing, I am thankful Direct TV is coming out today to fix the dish. Its been broken for a week, and I found out I like watching TV.

A new job for Kristen

The economy has been slow, and its effects are being felt in Utah too. Bullfrog had to go through lay-offs. They did not want to, but times have been hard not only in the US, but throughout the world. When so many people have such a hard time financially, I can certainly understand why not as many hot tubs were being sold. On 10/30, I was laid off.

Thursday I interviewed with CCI Mechanical for a job in their accounting department. I must have impressed them. :-) Right after I interviewed I dashed off to Provo to spend the day with my sister Mijken and her cute six-month-old Sully. I got some incredible news while I was there. I was offered the job. I got to share this moment with Mijken. It was so very exciting.

Naturally, I was really worried when it was announced to me that I would be out of a job. I am so grateful for this new opportunity. It came about very quickly, and I won't have to work two jobs to take care of myself and the dog. The good Lord does provide, and many prayers have been answered. All-in-all, I was laid off just long enough to get rid of a bad cold and get some good snuggle time in with Meisje the pup. THANK GOODNESS!

Science Project

In spite of having a horrible cold and the stomach flu this week, Meisje and I were able to schedule a day of FUN!

Iva -- my bestest girlfriend after my family has two delightful children, who think of me as their "Auntie". It is a position I cherish and I spoil them every chance I get. Yesterday, I had a chance to fulfill my Auntie duties. Kiana (now 10), had a science project to do. Since her Brother Deion (11 yrs old) had one due at the same time, Iva turned one project over to me. YAY!! Yesterday Kiana and her cousin Fa'aesea (also 10) came over to take care of the science project.

We blew up bottles of Diet Coke with Mentos. We also painted Pumpkins, borrowed a dog playmate -- my Aunt Geniece's cute Zuzu, watched a movie, and the girls picked out a dress for Meisje to wear for Halloween. Whew! I was thoroughly exhausted after the day was done.

How can you deny me when I beg like this?

Meisje loves her bath time. She likes my bath time too. Actually, she likes any form of warm water. Once she jumped into my friend Sharon's Hot Tub, and enjoyed the water there. Here is a picture of the "water bugg" begging to jump into the water filled bath last night.

Back-Pain

Ouch!!! All week long, my back has been hurting. I pulled a muscle on the right of my sacrum. Today it got so annoying that I made a little song for it. Think of the 1960's Batman TV show theme song. Da-na-na-na-na-na-na-na Back-Pain! Back-Pain ... Back Pain!

Big Screen Update

The larger monitor was installed yesterday. With the 22" wide screen and handicap settings, I can now see my work without straining. Yea!!!

Go Bullfrog!

Big Screen

GOOD NEWS! Bullfrog finally approved me for a BIG screen for my PC (I think it is going to be a 21" widescreen). I have such a hard time seeing, and I think straining to see causes a lot of my migraines. I went to the IT/IS department head today, and I asked for accommodations again. When I mentioned that I would miss less work by having the larger screen, he said he'd talk to the VP of operations and arrange for it.



He came up to my office just now and told me that it is being ordered today. I am so excited I could dance a jig, and I don't even know what that is!