SWIMMING AT THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

Yesterday, Brandi invited the girls and I to go with her and her boys swimming at the School For The Deaf in Devils Lake today. There is public swimming on Saturdays from 1 o'clock until 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I said we would go because we have been fox holed in the house since Eris arrived on Wednesday and we all really needed to get out. So, after lunch today we headed for Devils Lake.

At first I thought I was setting myself up for a suicide mission, but I was surprised by how well they all did. There was no screaming, fighting, whining, running, or any other crazy things that kids have a knack for pulling. Cassidy dove right into the water and stayed in the water for the whole two hours. I didn't have to help Cassidy at all and it made me happy to see her enjoying her freedom. Jessie followed her big sister right into the water and started jumping into the pool all by herself and swimming back to the edge to do it all over again. Jessie must have done that at least a bazillion times while I watched from the water. Eris really didn't do a lot of swimming. I tried coaxing her into the water several times, but she seemed to be scared of it and preferred to stay on the steps going into the water. It was a good thing that I brought snacks along. After swimming, the girls ate all the string cheese, cracker sticks with cheese, and fruit snacks that I had and drank every juice box in the car. When we got home they devoured their supper. By the way they ate, you would swear I hadn't fed them all day.

Now everyone is winding down for the evening and we are all super tired from all the swimming. I'm pretty sure everyone will be in bed early tonight. I am so glad that Brandi invited us out. It was a lot of fun and I think I may start taking my girls every Saturday to go swimming for something to do...weather permitting of course.

Jessie, Me, and Cassidy.

Cassidy, Jessie, and Eris.

Cassidy having fun.

Jessie enjoying the water.

Eris Pearl Pierce.

I was acting silly, and Brandi got a pic of it.

RAMBLING

Oh for goodness sakes! I am really starting to get tired of all the snow this winter. Last night the wind picked up and snow started falling and blowing like crazy. It snowed and the wind blew all through the night and I woke up this morning to the same crappy weather. I am glad the girls and I are all settled and we don't have to go anywhere. I like what Al Gore is trying to do for the environment, but I am starting to think his "stop global warming" thing is nothing but crap. I could go for some global warming right now. However; I am sure I will be saying the same thing this summer when it is 90 degrees in the shade with 80 % humidity.

The first evening with Eris went well. The girls played, watched movies, and shared toys without any fighting. Bedtime went better than I thought it was going to. After watching the first half hour of American Idol I made popcorn for a snack before bed, then they brushed their teeth and went to bed with little fussing. There was some talking and giggling so I had to go back to their bedroom a few times. I think they were all crashed by 8:30. It was nice they all fell asleep so well. It gave me some down time to watch some TV and read before I went to bed myself.

Sorry the posts have been boring lately. Not a lot has been going on that has been worth mentioning (or anything that I want to mention for that matter). Just keep reading. I am sure something exciting will happen eventually. Weird stuff always seems to happen to me at odd moments.

STUPID CAR

I am stressing over my car right now. Recently my car has been going through coolant like crazy. I roughly put coolant in it every two weeks. The idiot "low coolant" and "check engine" lights have been turning on. When I start my car it has that nasty sickly sweet smell to it so you know the coolant is burning off the engine somewhere. I had the Leeds local mechanic look at my car the last time I was there to put coolant in it. Turns out that the intake seals are shot and it will cost $400 to have it fixed. I want to get it in as soon as I can so I don't start having bigger problems with my car. Only downside is that I don't know how long they will have my car when I bring it in and I do not have a spare car to use in the mean time. I know there is something in my car insurance policy where my insurance will pay for a rental car if I have to take my car in for repairs, but I don't know if they do that for a non-accident repair.

Today, Rainy is bringing Eris out. They are coming early so that Rainy can visit for a while before leaving Eris. I am sure Eris is going to do just fine with the girls. I just hope that we don't have problems when it comes to bedtime. Eris will be staying with us until the 5th of March. We should have some pretty good times while she is here.

STUFF

The past week was a bit crazy for me. I was cleaning my house like a mad woman, getting into every nook, cranny, and crease because Rainy is bringing her daughter out on Wednesday to stay with us for a week while she and Jason are in Las Vegas. In natural kid fashion, while I was trying to clean, the girls were right behind me making a mess out of everything else. I must have washed 6 loads of laundry that didn't seem to put a dent in the pile. The worst was when the girls got Easy Cheeze on my white comforter in my bedroom, and while I was cleaning that up, they went and spilt milk in their beds only adding to laundry detail. However, I did get everything in tip-top shape and we are read for Eris. This makes me think to myself, "Why do we work so hard to clean up the house when we know it will only be 2 hours until it's dirty again?"

On my last run into town for my weekly shopping trip, I went and bought myself something. Because I had a good return on my taxes, I purchased a small 26" flat screen TV for my bedroom. I bought it mainly because it was a cheapy, no brand name TV...and I have always wanted a flat screen at the end of my bed. A friend came over and helped me mount it to my wall. It looks really good and I love relaxing in my bed and watching the RFD (Rural Farm Developement) channel. They have awesome horse programs.

Keeping the horses fed has been crazy this winter. Winter came too fast, and too cold that nobody was really prepared for the amount of hay animals were going to go through. The colder it is, the more they eat, and they have been eating like fat kids in chocolate factories. I have called a few neighbors, but everyone is in the same boat looking for hay to buy. I checked The Peddler, but there isn't even anyone selling hay bales. My mom did speak to someone who may have 1 or 2 bales that we might be able to purchase. They should be getting back to us shortly about the hay.

MY 30TH BIRTHDAY

On Saturday a bunch of friends and I got together at a local bar in Leeds to celebrate my 30th birthday. My friend Bethany Ritterman brought a feast that would have fed an army. She had BBQ's, two different chip dips, a macaroni salad, and chips. My mom made homemade buns and also had a cake for me to take up to the bar. My friend Cole brought the plates, silverware, cups, and party bead necklaces. The party started at 6:30 p.m. but things really didn't get going until after 7 o'clock. We all ate and told hilarious stories that had most of us crying all night long. I cannot remember the last time we all sat down and belly-laughed that hard at anything. After we all gorged ourselves on food, the drinks started coming. I cannot tell you how many shots were given to me, but I was told that at one point shots kept continuously coming for a good hour. Some shots were pretty good, some where horrible, and some I wish I could remember their names cause I never want to have them again. Ryan Schloss gave me a shot that burned the back of my throat for a half hour. After everyone had a few drinks and were feeling pretty good, we started playing bar games. Raphael (the bar owner) brought in his Bean Bag Toss game that was super entertaining. Imagine about 9 drunk people flinging bean bags across the bar. I don't know how we didn't break anything. We also enjoyed several games of bowling on the Wii that had us laughing and joking around pretty good. I was pretty sure I was going to make good friends with Raphael's toilet in the woman's bathroom, but I didn't get sick at all. I even felt good the next morning. I cannot believe there was no hangover. However, I did get sick on Sunday, but it wasn't from the drinking.

I had to take Jessie into the doctor last week because her tonsils were swollen and she had been coughing a lot at night. Turned out Jessie had tonsillitis. She was put on a 10 day antibiotic. She broke out a bit from it, but she did finish it. However, she is still a little sick. She must have spread the sickness to me because when I woke up on Sunday I had very bad lower back pain, my throat hurt bad, and I had been fighting a fever. Last night I fought being hot and cold all night, both of my ears started to hurt, and every time I swallow or sneeze I swear my tonsils are going to rip right out of my neck. I called the doctor to see about getting meds for myself. I am waiting for the clinic to call back. Hopefully they will fill something and my mom can pick it up after work so I don't have to drive in this awfully icy weather.

On Sunday Cole took the girls and I into town to eat since Sunday was officially my birthday. I had Cole take us to The Ranch since that is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE place to eat in Devils Lake. Before going to The Ranch, I stopped at the 2nd Chance store to find jeans for Cassidy. They had nothing there her size so we ended up going over to Wal-Mart. I picked out two pairs of jeans and a few tops for Cassidy and also a pair of jeans for Jessie and a couple of shirts. I also had to get laundry soap and a bunch of other stuff. At the check out Cole surprised me and paid for everything. I was kind of upset that he did that. He didn't have to do it. However, I do really appreciate it because then I can use the money that I do have saved on bills.

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend! I know I definitely did!!

Me wearing Jason's kick-ass "Brett Michaels" cowboy hat. I want one!

Me and my best buddy ever; Rainy Pierce.

Me and Jason Pierce.

Jason and Cole. I think Cole was trying to get away.

Me and Cole Kristjanson. I really like this picture.

Me and Tyler Bjerke.

Me and Susie Peterson.

Bethany Ritterman and Tyler. They are sooooo cute. No, they are not dating.

Jason showing off his blue bag.

Me giving the Bean Bag Toss game that Raphel had at the bar a try. I really sucked at it.

Bethany and I.

Me and Brandie Duran.

Tawny Christenson and her boyfriend Ryan Schloss.

Bethany looking sexy as ever!

Cole playing with Cassidy and Jessie the day after my party.