Santa Claus

On December 20th, Santa Claus visited the Depot at BNSF. We took the kids to see him. Charlie requested lots of Legos and Sydney requested a Tic Tac Toe game. They each came home with chocolate filled candy canes. Charlie thought maybe he was too old to sit on Santa’s lap until he got there. I was pleasantly surprised when they both climbed up on his lap for pictures.

Charlie’s Christmas Program

Charlie’s elementary school Christmas program was on Thursday night.

Chuck was trying to teach Charlie how to blow a bubble (before the program)...

I love watching the kids sing. Charlie always tries so hard to snap his fingers. He’s great at tapping his toes too. It’s very entertaining, every year.

Sydney’s Christmas program will be next Thursday afternoon and Eric has a Christmas concert Thursday night so we have two more to attend.

Charlie’s “Emergency” Dollar

I have to share…

When I bought Charlie’s backpack for school this year, it came with this nifty wallet too. He asked me if I had a dollar so he could keep it in it. I told him if I gave him a dollar he would have to keep it in there all the time and use it only for emergencies. So, he has done very well with this. Every so often he reminds me and shows me he still has his emergency dollar. I told him what kind of things would be an emergency use for his dollar when I gave it to him but that was months ago already so I don’t remember and I have a feeling he doesn’t either, LOL.

Well, he received $15 in birthday money and wanted to put it in his wallet too. I promised to take him shopping with his $15. He found something he wanted to spend it on and it turned out he was short a little as the total was $16.73. So, Charlie tells the clerk that he can’t use his “emergency” dollar and he looked at his dad as to what he should do and dad offers him the extra money so he can keep his “emergency” dollar. I thought that maybe this would have been one of those “emergency” times but the dollar was still not enough anyway but I thought it was funny how he told the clerk he couldn’t spend his emergency dollar. I guess mom and dad should have helped him better with the total on the item he wanted to buy but they had a sale price on it and we thought it was within his budget but apparently it wasn’t.

I have to give him credit for hanging on to that emergency dollar. It is still in his wallet today…

8 years ago…

11-14-2000

Chuck and I could not agree on what to name him. Chuck wanted him to be named Charles F. Goble III and I wanted him to have his own identity so we named him Charles Richard which was really the only compromise we could come up with. Anyway, “Charlie” was born at 12:48 PM CST, weighing in at 8 lbs. 2 oz. and 20″.

I cannot believe he is already 8 years old! And really I have to admit that the name Charlie does fit him perfectly. It is never a dull moment when Charlie is around. But I am still glad he likes those quiet moments with Mom once in awhile too. He’s still my buddy!

One Year

Age 2 - Helping Mommy

Age 3 - Trains are already his favorite...

Age 4

Age 5 - Missing his first tooth...

Age 6

Age 7

Age 8 - Happy Birthday Charlie!!!

The 2008 Capital Christmas Tree

…made a stop in Glendive on it’s way to the Capital from Montana’s Bitterroot National Forest. The Tree that was picked is a Subalpine Fir. The total height of the tree was 100 ft tall and it grew at 5500 ft in elevation in the Sapphire Mountains of Western Montana. The Tree was cut down to 73 feet and the remainder of the trunk was cut into “cookies” which will be branded with the Capitol Christmas Tree logo and presented to the Tree Team and sponsors. Glendive planned a community celebration (including local entertainment, free chili feed and an address from Mayor Jerry Jimison) in honor of this unique event.  We couldn’t let this opportunity pass by so we took the kids (and the camera) with us. The Tree was still in the truck with a window to view it and so we could only get pictures through the window. We were also given the chance to sign the side of the truck so we took advantage of that too. We all had a great time!

For more information on the route of the Tree on it’s way to the Capital Mall and to see pictures of the events along the route and more, visit the official website at http://www.capitolchristmastree2008.org/. The following link is a map of the Tree route: capital_tree_national_route.

Below are some of the pictures Eric took of the Tree and our signatures on the side of the truck.

ET (Eric's initials)

Chuck's name

Amy's Name (top left side of Otto's Crane and Rigging)

Charlie and Sydney's names

How much chocolate did YOU eat???

I haven’t felt like writing much lately but it doesn’t mean things haven’t been busy which is always the case when you have 3 children at home. Eric had a choir concert on October 21st. Even Chuck can attend when its a Tuesday night. Sydney has decided to take some time off from dance as she is too tired after school and though we are disappointed, Chuck and I knew it was the right thing to do. The latest thing is Halloween. Here are some pictures of the kids, Nila and I from last night.

Sydney, Eric and Charlie

Sydney, Charlie and Nila

Me!

Sydney was all tuckered out...

So, tell the truth now, how much chocolate and candy did you eat? At our house, Sydney doesn’t like chocolate so she leaves that part for Mom and Dad. We didn’t give out chocolate this year though. We gave out gummy savers and twizzlers instead. Being on a weight loss challenge though, this is definitely a challenge for me since I love chocolate and there is a lot of chocolate in our house right now. I have already given in to 3 small pieces of chocolate but in my defense, I lost 2 lbs last week and have another week to work it off but I need to give away as much of this candy as possible as fast as I can!! I thought about the freezer but that’s not good enough. I need to get it out of the house. I have worked hard to lose what weight I have already lost and I am not giving up now!!!

I don’t have any excuses, I know…

It’s been awhile since I posted here but things have been busy but not exciting in any way. I have been busy working on a weight loss challenge and busy walking lots.

Tuesday after Sydney’s dance class we stopped by to see Nila and her son Matt. Matt has recently gotten a new puppy. Toby is a 4 week old Pitt Bull puppy. Here’s a picture of Sydney holding the puppy. Toby still has his days and nights turned around so he is asleep in her lap. She just loves any kind of baby and animal alike.

Sydney and Toby

This week is homecoming week too. Tomorrow the kids are out of school early so that they can go to the homecoming parade at 3 PM. Then tomorrow is the game and the dance and all the events that go with it. I am not sure how much of it Eric wants to attend at this time but the kids all want to see the parade for sure. And the weather will be really nice for this year’s parade too.

Safety Precautions at Jefferson Elementary School

Today, my 2nd grader came home telling me someone found a dead mountain lion on the other side of the tree row behind Jefferson School. I wasn’t sure how much of a rumor it was or if it was true. Well, then I went through the kids papers from their backpacks after school. Both Sydney and Charlie had the following note from the school in their backpack:

September 12, 2008

TO: Jefferson School Parents

FROM: Mr. Idso

REGARDING: Mountain lion sightings

We have been notified of the sighting of a mountain lion around the Jefferson School area. At home, please exercise caution with children and pets outside, particularly at dawn and dusk. I would like to remind everyone of some safety tips when encountering a “big cat”.

• travel in groups
• Stay calm
• Do not make sudden movements.
• Do not run. Move slowly.
• Do not turn your back. Face the animal and remain in an upright position.
• Do all you can to enlarge your image. Do not crouch down or try to hide.
• If necessary, speak loud and firm. Arm yourself with a large stick and throw rocks.

The objective is to convince the animal that you’re not prey, but are a danger to the animal.

Below are some precautions that will be taken at Jefferson School when sightings are reported.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

JEFFERSON SCHOOL

(Mountain Lions)

Assure students that they will be safe and that precautions are being taken. We must tell them that there have been mountain lion sightings in the area. Yet, we can assure them that…

1. Any lion would probably be following its source of food – deer
2. a lion probably wouldn’t come near a place where there was noise and a crowd
3. The tree line by the 2nd-4th playgrounds will be patrolled at 7:45 A.M. and again at 9:50, just before mid-morning recess.

In the event of a sighting, playground supervisors:

1. Blow your whistle, gather students into a crowd, and walk them to the door and into the building. Students should not run, and they’ll be safer in a crowd.
2. Radio the office.
3. The office will call 911.
4. Students should go to their classrooms and quick attendance taken. Report to the office the names of any unaccounted for students.

Supervision of

the playground

begins at 7:55

each morning.

Students should not arrive earlier.

As a parent, this is not the type of note I want to receive in my child’s backpack. Especially when one of my children is in the 2nd grade and the playground he plays on is at a greater risk. A little scarier for me as his mother. This is not the first time they have mentioned mountain lions in this area but this is the first time it has been so close to my family.

Mother Goose

I have two friends,

Both have birthdays tomorrow,

Both live out of state.

By the time they receive their birthday cards,

They will both receive them late.

This thought just came to me just now and this is exactly why my kids call me Mother Goose. I am a mom who does tend to make rhymes here and there and this is just one example, off the top of my head. And the statement above is true. Can you guess who will be receiving their birthday cards late?

Isn’t the www great?

It’s amazing all the people you have been searching for who just appear online one day when you least expect them. My daughter, Ashley, from my first marriage was search for her half brother and sister for several years. The other day she called me and said, “Guess what?! I found them!” I had no idea what she was referring to but when she told me it was really great. I haven’t seen or heard from them in 16 years. So they are all grown up now and there was so much to learn about them. Ashley and Eric are both related to them through their dad. All four of them have decided that their dad isn’t really so important in their lives but that it is great to get to know each other. Ashley said she found them on myspace.com. I was amazed at how much Dusty looks like his dad and his uncle. Kristi looks a lot like her mom but her eyes are the same color as Dusty and Ashley’s too. Anyway, here are some pictures of all four of them. Do you think they look alike?

Dusty and Kristi

Eric

Ashley

I really can’t get over how they have changed. I remember them when they were little. Eric was a baby and Dusty was old enough to help out with him and play with him. Ashley thought Kristi was the greatest at that age. I remember when Dusty had a cast on his arm. They both had freckles when they were little. Dusty used to play legos a lot when he was little. Kristi used to antagonize Dusty when they were about 4 and 6. I have some good memories of them but we moved to Massachusetts and back and then when we moved back, they moved to Montana and then to Indiana eventually. With divorce and remarriage and moving on both sides, it was difficult to keep in touch but I am really glad they found each other and hope that they can keep in touch now. I have learned that Dusty has been married for two years now too. They have invited Ashley to come visit as soon as she is financially able to and she can’t wait. Eric feels like there is so much for him to learn about them. He feels like he barely knows who they are. I guess with time, it will be interesting for him to learn more about his family. I really do hope they keep in touch. I know Ashley will do her best to keep up with them.

Isn’t the www a great thing?