2/3/2010

More snow last night, no school again today. Conner & Claire sleeping in w/the dogs cuddled up beside them both. Loving all the snow this year!!!!!

Happy 2010!

Hi everyone. We all had a great Christmas, lots of snow, lots of time with the family and for the boys, lots of hunting. The end of 2009 was great for Conner, he's certainly become quite the hunter, bagging a couple of deer and some geese. Bill is still waiting to christen his new bow (Mathews Conquest 4) that had him speechless on Christmas Day. While the actual bow didn't arrive in time for unwrapping, we all traveled to Delaware to pick it up a few days after Christmas. Claire decided she'd like to buy a nice new pontoon boat, complete with reclining seats, stereo, retracting flag pole and a nice equipped bar for Mom and Dad. Had to disappoint her though, no new purchases in 2010 for us.

Claire hit the double digits this year, can't believe she is officially 10! What an amazing 10 years they have been. We opted for a nice family dinner and presents here at home, she wants a pool party during the summer so she can have "a big old party."

Conner is currently enrolling in the Civil Air Patrol, he's attended 2 meetings here in Easton and we're waiting for his application to be approved. Of course, the meetings he's attended so far have been ALL about airplane engines and the whatnot - I can't explain but I'm quite sure that Grandpa, Uncle Greg and Dad can fill in for the rest of us. Once he's approved, we're off to buy uniforms and combat boots....and yes, Conner will learn how to iron and polish all!

Conner's 13th birthday is just around the corner. Can't believe that one either, time has flown by way too fast for us. Had to find out his blood type (no, I didn't know it) and picked up the records for both him and Claire from the hospital. They really enjoyed hearing about how long we the actual event lasted (about an hour for each one from start to finish), Conner weighed a whopping .5oz more than Claire and they were almost identical for chest/head circumference. Those are the details that totally escape us in the chaos that is new babies.

We're all hoping Aunt Laura gets better real soon, absolutely no fun being on one leg especially as we humans can't really partake of the awesome meds that our pooches have partaken the last several years, well we could, but then we would get nothing done at all! Claire has been ready and willing to head to San Diego to take on the duty of nurse...of course, she would talk Laura's ear off in about a day!

Hope everyone is doing well......

Cath

Horsedrive

I had a very fun vacation the end of September. My friend Carol and I drove to Bishop, California. We met up with about 20 other people and took a bus up to Rock Creek, approximately 10,000 feet in the Eastern Sierras. The next four days we rounded up and drove 100 horses and mules 80 miles to the city of Independence. The wranglers of the drive set up camp and cooked for us each day and night. It was crazy, exciting, scary, dirty and one of the wildest times I have ever spent. I rode a huge horse named Ears for the first 3 days. He didn't know how to walk and basically trotted the whole time. He did jump and gallop as well. The last day my butt decided we should ride a mule. His name was Ian and he was huge and walked as fast as my horse would trot. It was a great time.

Keith is 14

We all enjoyed Keith's 14th birthday party. We went to play paintball again, it is always fun shooting all of the boys. They are all getting very big.

Outer Banks, NC

We've been on vacation since last Saturday. Beautiful weather, ocean breezes every day and yes, a bit of rain most nights while we're sleeping. Sun, sand and cold cocktails! Gotta love it right?? I'll post more pictures later when we get home, internet is sketchy since we're so far from the clubhouse. Conner and Claire tried to paddle board in the surf. It was funny to watch their expressions when the waves came their way. Uncle Greg is heading our way today, been too long since we've seen any of those Georgia (now NC) Dowds!!

I had a great weekend and went horseback riding in the Cuyamaca Mountains with some friends. The friends volunteer as the mounted patrol for the state park. Just trying to get my backside bruised and battered enough for my horse trip in September.

When Vet Techs get bored at work

This is what happens when I don't keep the technicians busy. Poor Cliff.

Why I like my job

A seven year old Golden Retriever was playing at a little dogs house and found a cool toy that he liked. Before the owner knew she couldn't find the toy. Guess where and what it is?

A hedgehog squeaky toy.

It had actually expanded in the stomach. I got to go in and cut it out.

The patient is at home with his "golden hedgehog" and recovering well.

Mud Run 2009

This was the second year that five of us from work ran in the Mud Run. It is a 6 mile, wet and wild race. It is at Camp Pendelton Marine base and there are plenty of the marines to yell you on. One in particular didn't think I was getting over a six foot or so wall and kept yelling get off the wall!!! We went through many obstacles tires, lake, walls, pipes etc. Very fun. The shower at the end was the best.

Troy's 12th Birthday

Troy's day started with the traditional tower of a dozen Krispie Kremes, then all sugared up and off to school. Troy decided to have 14 of his friends over for a nerf war, sleepover party. It was loud and wild. They had a great time.

BLUE ANGELS

A great day in Annapolis. The Blue Angels were in town for graduation. Bill and I grabbed Conner & Claire from school to enjoy another tasty lunch at the Annapolis Yacht Club. After dining on crab cakes, shrimp salads, sauteed chicken and of course the desserts, we wandered out to the deck for the show. Fat Albert got us all started and then the real show began. Lots of maneuvers this year and I don't think we've ever seen quite so many fleur de-lis! Always a great time and we couldn't have asked for a better day!