Yay, it's summer! (and other stuff worth mentioning)

Ok, so its been most of the winter and all of the spring since I've blogged, but there just wasn't anything worth mentioning.. Well, I guess that's not exactly true, but that's my excuse and I'm stinkin' to it!
So, I guess I can tell you now that I'm a bonnified College student.  Yep, that's right.. I'm taking online classes through the University of Phoenix and I'm really enjoying it!  It's a lot of work, but I like a little challenge and the end result is gonna be my Accounting degree.  (associates at first, but I'm planning on going all the way!)  I just finished my first 'block' and am now on to my second 9 week block.  I'm taking Research Writing and Critical Thinking, which is gonna kick my hiney.  Luckily for me, I'm taking them during summer break (coincidence??) so I'll have more time to devote to the reading and writing.. and more writing.  (I foresee A LOT of writing..)

Also, that beautiful trampoline I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs was destroyed a few months ago during a storm.. see below.. :(

I know, stinks right?  Both the bottom and top frame were broken, so there was no fixing it.  We dismantled it and sold the mat and bouncy pad for a couple bucks. 

In it's place we bought the boys a swimming pool (of course that was our vacation fund, so they'd better enjoy it! hehe)

Here are some pics of todays swim..

Ramsey hanging out on his floaty lounge..

Riddoc jumping off the ladder!

Austyn jumping off the ladder!

Chillin' out..



And last but not least, Boondock.. he LOVES to swim.  I pull him in and he just does lap after lap.  When he gets tired, he swims up to one of us and we hold him up for a breather.. then he kicks off and is back at it!

I guess I can't forget to mention the sports.. since I've blogged last, two out of three Ferrier lad has entered into a sport.  Riddoc did soccer (it just ended last weekend) and Austyn is just now starting baseball..

Here's Riddoc the Dominator!  (he's number 9)  It was hard to get a picture of him because he was always on the run.  He definitely rocked that soccer field!

and here's a pic of my future little leaguer.. Austyn the Ambitious!  (Go number 4!!!)

Ramsey has yet to pick a sport (at least a sport that doesn't cost $100 a month.. like karate..) but I'm sure he will when/if he feels like it. :)

Ok, so that's it for now.. I have some dinner and an assignment to get started on..

Talk to you later!!! 

True Blue Dogs!

Ok, so by now most people who know me have figured out that I really like animals.  I always have..  I can remember when I was still living at home, my parents were also animal lovers (thankfully) and they didn't mind me having a myriad of critters in my room.  At one point I had close to 30 pets.. in my room!  Granted, that included my terrarium full of lizards and frogs, but I also had furry four leggers too, like rabbits and guinea pigs. 
One of the little lizards of that era always sticks out in my mind.  It was a little black and red newt with three legs.  I was going to get a much prettier lizard when we went to the pet store, but i was so worried that this little guy would never get a home because he was 'flawed'.  My little teenage heart went out to him and I just had to bring him home.  By the way, did you know that lizards can regenerate all of their limbs, not just their tails.. freaky!  Anywho, he was the first of many 'flawed' creatures to grace my home as my heart still goes out to them.
This passion of mine for the 'underdog' has brought me to a new idea for this season of my life.  I've been trying to figure out what it is that I'm suppose to be doing, either with a career, or lack of one, and my talents.  Sooooo I've decided to start a charity, or organization, or group, or program.. k, so I'm still trying to figure out exactly what it is.. so for now, we'll call it a program.  I'm naming it True Blue Dogs: K9 training and rehabilitation, and it will focus on the literal underdog.  I'm going to be working side by side with the local humane society to help get some of their dogs adopted. 
Here's the basic plan.  I'm going to foster a dog (one at a time) that has been in the shelter for more than 4 months.  I have certain criteria lined out that this dog will have to meet, but I'm basically taking on dogs that appear to be 'unadoptable' and doomed to die sad and lonely deaths at said shelter.  I will devote the necessary amount of time to this dog, between 1 and 4 months probably, training, rehabilitating and loving on it until it can take and pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test.  Once that happens, then the dog will be put back up for adoption (while it lives with me) and the shelter manager and I will see that it gets placed in the perfect situation.  And then I'll foster another dog and do the same thing all over again!  essentially I'll be taking a dog that's not adoptable for minor behavioral reasons and helping it to meet its full potential and prove to the world that it is extremely adoptable and that anybody would be blessed to include it into their family.
I have already met with the board of directors of the Lebanon Humane Society and they've given me their blessing to go ahead and do this at their shelter.  I brought home the first 'inductee' last week and we're making terrific strides at accomplishing our first set of goals!  (BTW, this first little girl I'll be adopting myself so that I actually have a dog that has completed the program.  It just seemed like the right thing to do.)
Anyway, I created a website for the program and any ones welcome to jump right in there and look around!  I'm anxious to get some pictures up there and to get started on the next inductee in a few weeks!

This is Jolly Roger (named because she loves to bury all her little treasures)  She's just under a year old with an unknown past.  She was found abandoned and tied to the gate at the Humane Society a few months ago. 

www.mytruebluedogs.com

Ooh.. Aah..

Phew, we survived Christmas!  What an awesomely, hectic weekend!  I was right to be anxious for it though, this was easily my most favorite Christmas so far. :)  We had a few unexpected events, but the important parts, the ones spent with family and Jesus, were well worth the wait and chaos.  Cmas Eve was great with the in laws.  We had a yummy dinner, went to church and then back to Becky's for more food and some gifts.  Lot's of great stuff changing hands there.  Then home for a quick gift before ushering all the little elves to bed.  My favorite part was Cmas morning.  The excitement, the anticipation, the ripping of wrapping paper and the oohs, ahhs and squeals of delight!  (what can I say, Joe's a squealer..hehe)
Oh, here are some pictures real quick..
Here they are anxiously awaiting the moment I put down the camera and they can start opening!

 We like to go slow and steady.. one gift and one person at a time.. oh, and don't forget to ooh and ahh!

 Much excitement over the PS3!

 and much excitement over the trampoline! (Riddocs attempting to lift the box, really, he's not pooping) :P

 a little less excitement..

 enough about them, here's my awesome 'booty'!

Can you tell I like kitchen stuff?  I know some women are insulted when they get a lot of domestic stuff, but not me, the more kitchen gadgets the better!! (I'm using that awesome crock pot you see pictured at this very moment, it's full of meatballs waiting to become yummy sandwiches later!)
Oh, then after we did our family Christmas, Joe's extended family came over and we did lunch and gifts.  Mmm, good food and lots of fun Nerf battles.  And a special thanks to Uncle Jim Bob for helping put the trampoline together! :)

Ok, so now that that parts covered, let me rewind to the morning of Christmas Eve.  I had my very first (in all the years I've been a licensed driver) automobile accident.  I was on my way into Conway to grab some groceries for that nights festivities and my car slid on a slushy spot.  I put it on it's side in the opposite ditch.. oops.  Luckily there was nobody with me and I was uninjured.  My car however is spending some quiet time at the tow lot awaiting the final say by the insurance guy.  Will he total it or fix it? Hmm..?
So anyway, I took some pictures so I could help explain exactly what happened.. if you will direct your attention to exhibit 1. 
I was heading (in my race car) to town..  (la la la la la..)

                                            

 then all of a sudden (with out warning or skidding or swerving) my car hit a slick spot and turned side ways, going down the road at a not recommended angle... (aaauugh!)

 then, going that angle and direction, my cars front end hit the ditch with a motor cracking thwak! (that's not good..)

 and then, after sliding down the ditch collecting dirt into a pile, said dirt caused my wheels momentum to suddenly stop and the roofs momentum took me onto my side.  I ended up on my passenger side, facing back towards home. (holy crap, I'm sideways!)

Luckily (thank you Jesus) I didn't have a kid sitting next to that exploding window and I was able to crawl out through MY window and walk away unscathed.

Oh, and here is a picture of the real car..



So now we're praying for an easy and not too complicated or depressing insurance thing. (come on, mama needs a new car!) ;)

Also unexpected was the stomach bug I got hit with yesterday (the day after Cmas).  I spent about 20 hours in bed or on the couch and lost 4 pounds.. hehe.. a good cheater way to kick off my New Year's diet.  Today I feel 100% better and was able to dismantle and pack away all our beautiful (but in the way) decorations.   *Sigh* I love an uncluttered house. :)

K, one last thing this evening.. I had to take a picture of Riddoc's hair.  One of the things in his stocking was his very own comb (ya I said comb.. I know we're cheap, but my kids are easily delighted).  Anyway, he has his own comb now, so he wanted to do his own hair.  Totally fine with me.  Here is the style of his choice.  (kind of reminds me of a "Something about Mary" style..)

Hehe.. awesome.
Until we speak again and just in case it'll be a while, may you have a safe and happy New Year!! (we should get together and play cards..)

Who's on that sleigh??!

I love Christmas time!  I love what it stands for of course, the birth of Jesus Christ who would die 33 years later for our sins and win us back from the clutches of Hell, but I also love the atmosphere that comes along with this time of year.  People are happier (for the most part), nicer (in general) and there's such anticipation for what's to come that you can't help but feel the excitement hanging in the air.
I'm anxious for it this year.  Normally I'm excited about Christmas, but I'm not 'anxious' about it.  I don't typically put up the decorations until the weekend before and I've never been one for getting presents (for myself).  This year's different somehow though.  We put up the decor on Thanksgiving and I can't wait to open my gifts!  I actually have presents under the tree that I don't know what they are! ;) (Mostly because Joe didn't tell my MIL what he got me.. she's notorious for giving away secrets.. Last year she came over for dinner and said "Oh, I see Joe gave you your coffee pot already".  and I was like "uh.. no, that's my old one.." and she was like "ooops.."  Joe was one unhappy little elf.) hehe.. 
Not only that, but we were able to get the boys some awesome stuff (which I can't tell you yet because the eldest is a follower of my blog) and they're all old enough to truly understand what Christmas is all about.  We don't celebrate Santa, but we do celebrate Jesus. (Just a personal family choice, not to make anyone feel like we're judging you if you do Santa)  The boys are grateful of the gifts they get and they KNOW that it's daddy's hard work and sweat earned money that pays for said gifts.  They're also knowledgeable of the facts that surround Christmas.  I love when Ramsey says grace because he always thanks Jesus for being born and then dying on the cross.. and that's truly what it's about.  But the gifts are awesome! And I LOVE getting together with family and friends and having parties with lots of food and plenty of laughs!
The big extended family gathering is something that I didn't grow up with.  We moved so much and lived so far away that there was never a holiday or birthday where we had Aunts, Uncles, cousins or Gparents around.  It was always just the 5 of us, and my mom always went overboard and made Christmas (and Easter and New years and birthdays) extra special and super memorable.  I didn't taste the splendor of the extended family gatherings until I got married.  We still get together with Joe's entire family every holiday, which is great, but I crave and demand that Christmas morning be done in our house, with just us 5.  And I can't wait for Saturday morning!! 
Oh, and speaking of Christmas, and the fact that Christmas Eve is tomorrow, I have to tell you something funny that Ramsey said the other day.  He was recollecting that in a few days was Cmas Eve and then he stopped and asked thoughtfully "Mom, why is it called Christmas Eve?  What does she have to do with it?" lol, I thought it was funny.. (maybe you had to be there..) :P
And speaking of funny things that silly kids say, here are a few things Riddoc (the speaker with a never ending statement) said the other day on the way home from MOPS.  Here they are in no particular order or relevance..  "I think I just saw Batman trying to get out of the back of that truck." "I wish I had a fake beard, not a real one, but a fake one." "Could you talk if you didn't have a tongue?" "Can you turn the heater down, it's melting my face off."  OH! and I can't forget to tell you the lyrics he's been accidentally singing instead of the normal "one horse open sleigh"..  the new version goes something like this .. "jingle bells, ~blah blah blah~, with one whore on the sled.." LOL, and no, he's not doing it on purpose.. that's just his '5 year old, I don't  know what the real words are' version.
That child should come with a warning label.. kind of like roller coaster's do.  Caution, do not engage if you have a heart condition, thoughts of suicide, a short fuse, anger issues, sensitive ear drums (cuz he has no volume control), a history of violence or any other condition that would cause you to want to jump off of a bridge after answering non relevant questions and commenting on off the wall statements for 18 hours straight.  *sigh* He's gonna be the class clown and my main reason for reporting to the principals office.  But he's awesome and God definitely has something major planned for him!!!  (you may repeat that statement as often as needed to get through your day with The Riddoc at your heals) ;)  Nah seriously though, he's an outstanding little boy, sweet, super funny and highly intelligent with a wit quick enough to keep any average adult on their toes.
So, now that I've rambled on (and on), let me ask you a question.. What are your plans for the next two days?  How do you celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? 
I'll get the poll rolling.. tomorrow we will go to Becky's house (my SIL) and the 12 of us (Becky, Dustin, their 3 kids, Nana, Papa and the 5 of us) will go to church.  Then we'll go back to Becky's house to eat dinner and open presents.  Then the 5 of us will come home and open one gift a piece before going to bed.  The next morning (before the sun comes up I'm sure) we'll get up and open all the gifts under the tree.  Then around 11 Joe's extended family will come over to our house and have lunch/dinner and do a gift exchange.  Then everyone goes home and Joe and I will collapse on the couch not to move again until after the new year.  Now it's your turn... :)
Oh, and I hope you have a Merry Christmas!!!!
PS.. here are some random pictures of our holiday cheer!

Making cookies on that snow day I talked about previously..

 Still making cookies.. but who's foot is Riddoc holding? lol

 Some of our beautiful creations.. and very loaded with icing and sprinkles!!

 Our tree..

 The Mantel

 The entry way, going into my Living Room.. (take a left to go to Joe's living room..)

 The little blue tree in the Dining room (next to the hot drink station) :)

 A cool picture of the lights that Riddoc took..

 A picture Riddoc drew for me while I was blogging just now.. (It say's "love Riddoc to Mom) He spells love with a heart.. :)

Snow day!

I love how paranoid our school system is!  We had some freezing fog this morning and wham! no school.  Seriously, there's nothing on the roads.. at least not from my house to the school. Of course, there are a lot of back roads, so maybe they're icy.. ?
Anyway, no school also means no work, which means .. uh.. well, I don't guess it actually means anything in particular.  It just means no work, which would be awesome if the boys were in school! lol  oh well, we'll just have to make cookies or something.

(Since you can't hear the commotion, you have to create your own..  Here you need to start yelling "Don't shoot me!" scream "Augh, I've been shot in the eye!" and just some general shouting, high pitch laughing and stomping around.. oh and for good measure, sprinkle about 70 nerf darts throughout the house.. yay snow days)
Oh and speaking of the boys, let me explain my blog title real quick.  Thanks to my lil sis and an early morning brainstorming session, we came up with Cheddar Pirates and Dairy Dogs.  The Pirate part is a play on initials.  The boys' first name initials put together are ARR (Austyn, Ramsey and Riddoc) which sounds like a pirate.. get it.. Arr..I'm a scary pirate, ARR..  K, moving on..  I love cheese and anything related to it in any form, hence the cheddar and dairy parts.  The last part is probably self explanitory, but I'm in a 'mood' so I'm going there too.  I love dogs.. and cats.. and horses.. and guinea pigs.. and I'm sure you're getting the idea.  We have 3 doggies at the moment, so I had to include them in the title of my blog that will be mentioning them on a regular basis, so there you have it!  (Oh, I forgot to mention that I like weird and semi chaoc blog titles that at first glance make no sense.. I only say that in case you're wondering why I didn't just call it 'boys, dogs and cheese')
Phew, that took more explaining that I was anticipating! lol.. That's ok though cuz I have nothing else to do this morning.
Hmm.. and now my brain has hit a bloggers block and I can't seem to think of where to go from here.  I started thinking how nice a hot bath sounds and that's all that's in there now.  I guess that means I'm going to get off of my laptop and go hop in the tub.. and I can do that because it's a snow day and I have nothing more pressing to do. :)