Begin Again- January 5, 2008

Feb 5, 2009 | Uncategorized


I’m attempting to start this blog (again.)  I tried on blogspot but couldn’t spend the time that it took to figure out all the bells and whistles.  We’ll see how this works! (Mac’s are so much easier! I love iWeb!)  
Yesterday was a hard day.  It started (or never ended) with two days of no sleep.  Amanda, mom’s dog, has been staying with us while mom’s away in Arizona.  She was 15+ and not in the best shape lately.   She woke up Wednesday morning and her front legs were stiff and cold.  I took her to the vet and she gave her some steroids and said it was probably a stroke.  On Thursday she improved a bit, and was able to move them stiffly, but not stand up without falling over.  We had two nights of her crying every ten to twenty minutes for me.  Yesterday started at the vet’s again, and we had the sad news that there wasn’t anything she could do that would get her back to “normal.”  So… we had to make the decision that was best for her.  I had the kids with me and was really worried about how they would react.  We had to put our dog (Amanda’s sister) Matty, to sleep in October.  
Max said, “Mommy, I am going to be the person who lives the longest life ever.” (He obsesses over death and dying…) I said, “Well, there is a reason for everything, baby.  We are all part of God, so we never really die all the way.”   He smiled and said “That’s good.  And now Amanda’s in heaven with her daddy Foster and mommy Amanda and sister Matty and they are playing.”
I think he’s going to be okay.
Well, we had the Cookie Rally, the big start of the Girl Scout Cookie sale last night too.  It is a “lock-in” type event held at the UALR Student Union and goes until midnight!   We ended up with only four girls and two adults going, so it was a manageable group.  I didn’t think it was much fun as lines were soooo long and there wasn’t anything different from last year.  I think the girls had some fun regardless and that IS what it’s all about!   I hope they listen to some of our suggestions for next year. 
Well, I’m off to take the Christmas tree all the way down and begin this new year again…

Arkansas Weather- January 7, 2008

Feb 5, 2009 | Arkansas, Uncategorized, United States


One thing you can never predict is Arkansas weather! Last week the weather was at freezing or just above. Then yesterday it was in the 70’s (today too!)
We decided to go ride bikes on the River Trail since it was such a gorgeous day yesterday (and the last day of winter break for the kids.) We love the new trails!
We started at the Murry Dam and rode to Burn’s Park where we stopped for a picnic. On the way there we saw a few Great Blue Herons and Canada Geese on the river and even a white swan. It seemed strange to see a swan on the river, and alone at that. You don’t realize how big they are. Usually we see deer and nutrias or beaver, but it was so busy yesterday I guess they were all hiding. After lunch we rode back along the river and Emily did see a muskrat. I heard it but it was in the horsetails before I got a glimpse. Then we stopped at the bridge and walked over.
Now NLR/LR has the largest pedestrian walking bridge in the nation- the “Big Dam Bridge” -it spans the Arkansas River and goes right over Murray Lock and Dam.
It is so much fun to walk over the river and stand directly over the locks to watch the tugboats push barges down the river.
You can even yell down and talk to the bargemen…
“Where are you going?”
“What are you hauling?”
We watched nine barges full of wheat get pushed into the locks.
Then we got back on our bikes and headed back to the car. I think we rode about ten miles in all, give or take a few.
Who knows, it might snow tomorrow!