Well, crap!

That's it. I'm done. No more puppies for me. Terra, the one we rescued a couple of weeks ago, just died. We don't know what happened. She was fine this morning. I noticed her in her dog house this afternoon as I was leaving, but that's not unusual because she likes to nap in there. So, anyway, I guess that's it for me. I don't get it. I figured Jack would've been a goner by now, but that crazy thing has survived a snake bite, a massive tick invasion, and being shot in the leg. The kids don't even know about Terra yet. They were already in bed when Ian found her. She was alive enough to say a little good-bye, if dogs can do that, but that was it. Poor gal.

I have come to a decision

I have decided it's time to get serious about my health and weight. This is hard for me to admit because I've been in denial for quite some time. We all know what happens when we ignore something hoping it will go away; the problem keeps getting bigger until we are forced to deal with it.

My goals are:
To make better food choices and lose weight in a healthy way to increase my energy, feel better about myself, and to hopefully avoid the health issues that seem to plague my family---heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension.

My current weight is 242 (OUCH! That hurt.).

I will post a food and exercise journal here to help keep myself motivated. If anyone would like to join me you're more than welcome to. I will also post a before picture as soon as I can.

I know this isn't going to be easy and won't happen overnight, but I'm determined to do what is necessary to make the changes I need to make.

A new friend for Jack

We were on our way to the grocery store and came across this little gal.

She was trying to get something to eat from a trash bag someone tossed out on the side of the road. Ian accused me of being too much like my mom and sister, but he's the one that asked if I wanted to go back and get her.

The boys came up with the name, Terra. I asked how they wanted to spell it and Todd gave me this spelling, named for Sub-Terra(whoever that is---he said something about science in there too). I've learned not to ask. So here is Miss Terra. She and Jack get along just fine. What am I getting myself into . . . AGAIN?????

First day of school and other miscellaneous things

After a very brief conversation that started out going one way and ended up going in the exact opposite direction from where I was headed (boy, that was a LONG intro), the boys decided they wanted to go back to public school. So, we talked about the pros and cons of both and let them choose.

Here they are on the first day of school---Todd-5th grade and Zack-1st grade. The guidance counselor was having some computer issues on the Friday before school started and didn't have the boys assigned to a teacher. We thought we had it worked out by Friday afternoon, but when they got to school on Monday morning, they still didn't have a teacher. In the end they both ended up with the teachers we were hoping they'd get. Woohoo!

Other random news------

My mom gave me a small batch of butter beans a week or so ago. Lauren had to help me shell them. I cooked them that night for supper and they were so good! Lauren loved them too. I hope she'll keep her good eating habits. I haven't been so lucky with the two oldest.

This is what happens when you give this child a dark chocolate fudge pop. The boys didn't like them, but she didn't care as long as it was chocolate.


Back-to-school primary activity------

Todd helped the primary presidency plan a back-to-school activity for one of his Faith in God achievements. They played several water games and had a yummy treat afterward.

Lauren didn't care anything about the games. She just wanted to get her head wet. She kept going around to the water buckets and sticking her head in.

This is duck-duck-goose using a wet sponge. When you yell GOOSE! you squeeze water out all over that person's head. I think the kids liked this one the most. They played a water relay game and water tag also, but I forgot to take pictures.

Here's the best part----the yummy treat!!!! They had brownies with vanilla ice cream on top.


They all had a good time, but it was SOOO hot that day. The water games were a good idea. At least the kids were cooled off. I can't say the same for the adults.

July 4th

So I'm a little behind, I know. Better late than never, right? The annual Gregson family July 4th gathering was held at Rock Ford. I think we had a pretty good turn-out, not as big as it used to be, but still a good one.

The icy cold creek. Matt (perched on the rocks) looks like he's trying to decide whether or not he wants to get in.

The grown-ups who are too scaredy-cat to get in the freezing water. Ok, fine. I didn't get in either.

Miss Lauren and her watermelon.

Wading in the 'little water'.

I think she's ready to float down the river.

It's hard to believe this used to be us a few short years ago.

My four wet, tired, possibly hungry, and mad at me because it's time to go, chickens.

Lauren update

I figured I better take the time to write this down somewhere before I forget. Lauren has hit the 2's wide open, but aside from all the trouble she gets into, she's also saying lots of new things all the time.

A couple of days ago I was making scrambled eggs for breakfast. She pushed a chair up to the cabinet to watch what I was doing. She saw the uncooked eggs in the pan and said, "Ewwww, gross!". It didn't keep her from eating them though.

The same day, I heated up some leftover chicken pot pie that my mother-in-law sent home with us. Same thing, "Ewww, gross!", over and over again. Sorry, dear. I didn't mean to gross you out.

Later that evening, some peppy music came on on the show we were watching and she said, "Wow, awesome!".

And the one I think is the cutest: Yesterday she followed me into the bathroom like she always does. She's in the very early stages of being interested in potty-training and thinks she needs to flush the potty for whoever is using the potty. She jibber-jabbered something I didn't understand, but I did catch the word 'flush' in there. I asked her if she wanted to flush the potty and she said, "Yes, sir." LOL! I guess she picked that up from mom and dad having to correct the brothers all the time. At least someone around here is learning some manners!

And poor Jack . . . . she thinks he belongs to her, but I'm almost positive he has other ideas. He tolerates her pretty well, thankfully.

Cub Scout Day Camp

This past week we had the opportunity to go to day camp with our pack. This is the first time any of us---scouts and adults---had ever been to day camp. The theme this year was CSI: Cub Scout Investigations.

Here is the whole group minus those of us who were behind the cameras. We had a few Boy Scouts helping out. They did a great job teaching the cubs scouts songs and games.

Huddling up after playing tag football.

Learning to shoot BB guns.

Leather working.

Webelos learning CPR for their Readyman badge.

More tag football. (Same day. I'm just being lazy and didn't put the pictures in order.)

Todd and Zack learning a new song. I think this one was Baby Shark.

Zack planting his tomato seeds. He's not a cub scout yet, but he was able to go with us and do activities with the Wolves. They went to a local nursery on this day.

Here is Todd getting ready to drive the obstacle course wearing special goggles that impair your vision to simulate what things might look like if you're drunk.

Here's my pack on the last day of camp.

I didn't post all of the pictures because there are just too many. They had so many great activities---the drug dogs did a demonstration one day, a 911 operator came and talked to the boys, finger-printing and dusting for prints another day, and the Sheriff came one day. Ian and Todd camped out with the Webelos one night. I didn't get to go every day so I missed some of it, like archery, and I wish I had taken pictures of the drug dogs, but my camera was dying. I know they all had a great time and can't wait til next year.