Oh Henry!!

I have been thinking about getting another Boston. I know... why the heck would I want to do that? I think Rooster would enjoy a play buddy and we have just always wanted another one. I didnt really want a dog when we got Rooster. I couldnt have a dog in my apartment and it just wasnt a good time. I knew nothing about potty training and kennel training. But then Tren saw the little lady and showed me a picture of her and we couldnt turn her down. It has been a wild ride with Rooster and she bugs the sanity out of me at times. But she is a part of our family and we love her. Rooster is probably Belle's best friend. Well. Two weeks ago Rooster's mom had babies. 8 of them! 5 boys and 3 girls. Lots of them had the same little spot on their heads like Rooster's. I have been dieing to see the puppies and choose which one I wanted. We went up to Elk Camp this weekend and all 8 of the babies were there. I picked out the one we are going to get. Cassie (the dog owner) told us that there was one dog that was a bit larger than the other ones and one that was starting to look like the runt. She said she sometimes will have to "take the fat one off and put the runt on". When we chose the one we wanted it happened to be the fat one. We didnt really notice how much bigger he was than the others, untill we compared it to the runt. Then she reminded us that Rooster was the fatty of her siblings and then she became the runt as an adult. So, we'll see if this one will be tiny, too. We are naming the little guy Henry. We will call him Hen for short. Then we will have a Rooster and a Hen. he! He's so cute and I can hardly wait for 4 or 5 more weeks till we can bring him home. Belle will NOT stop talking about him and all the things she has planned for him. I can only imagine. :)

We snuck a picture holding him so we could get a better view of his face. Love him!

Swine Flu

Monday morning Belle told me she had a sore throat. I thought this was completely false because she wanted to get out of school. She managed to miraculously memorize my phone number and kept telling Mrs Montgomery to call me so I could come pick her up. And then she would ramble off my phone number. Mrs Montgomery told her she was fine and that she didnt need to go home. Well. Tuesday morning around 3am, Belle came in and woke me up saying her throat hurt. She sounded awful. Some mother I am. I gave her some Tylenol and sent her to bed, where it took her until about 4:30 to finally really fall back to sleep. I decided to stay home from work and let her sleep. At breakfast, she said to me "Do you think I have the swine flu?...It's going around, you know". (Something I'm sure she heard at school.) I told her I doubted she had swine flu and that it was just a silly cold she had. She was seeming fine and playing and acting like her throat was fine. So, around 11:30 I dropped her at her dad's and went to work. After work I decided we would go to Joann's Fabric and get the fixin's for her Halloween costume, since she could be there with me and have a say in what we did. We got to Joann's and figured out what we were going to do (much more than I had planned on) and we went up and waited for our turn at the cut counter. It is finally our turn and at this point, Belle has started telling me she "feels like crap" and wants to just go home and relax. I felt so bad for her. We get up to the counter and I start handing the lady our fabric and Belle leans over the counter and says "I have the swine flu" to the lady. Her eyes get wide and she steps away from Belle and looks at me and says "Oh boy,... that doesnt sound good" and I told the lady she has a cold and they've been talking about swine flu at school so she's paranoid she has it. The lady cautiously cuts our things and off we go. As we pull away from the cut counter Belle hollers back to her "I hope I didn't give you my swine flu!". Lovely. I hope we are still allowed in Joann's.

Box Tops!

Belle's school is collecting Box Tops. Please collect them and help her class win:

250 - Sucker Party and Goody Bag

500 - Cookie Party and Goody Bag

750 - Popsicle Party and Goody Bag

1000 - Pizza Party and Goody Bag

Thank you!

Today at 3:53pm I got a phone call from a 208-365 number that was not a saved contact in my phone. I didnt answer and figured Rooster was out terrorizing the neighborhood. I googled the phone number and at the same time my search result showed "Emmett Bus Garage" I got a voicemail. I thought maybe Belle had left her backpack on the bus or something. So, I listen to my message... "Hi Emmy, this is Shawna from the Emmett Bus Garage and Belle apparently forgot to get off the bus at her stop. Her supervisor is following the bus right now and she will be dropped back off at her stop as soon as possible. If you have any questions, you can call me at ... " So, I call my sitter. She answered the phone "I'm on my way to get her...." and we laugh and I apologize and thanked her. Then she called me back around 4pm saying she has Belle. She told me "Belle claims she fell asleep." School is out at 3:27. I would think the bus leaves ButteView around 3:35. They head to Carberry Elementary (which is RIGHT by my house) to pick up students there and then stop at our subdivision to drop off Belle and the other kids. If I remember right, when I signed her up for the bus, they told me she is dropped off around 3:47. How does she fall asleep in that short of time? I couldnt wait to hear Belle's version of this story.

Belle told me she got on the bus after school and fell asleep. Then her friend said "Belle, this is your stop!" and she woke up and saw the bus was driving away from her stop and yelled to the bus driver "Hey! That was my stop!" The bus driver told her to come up front (because she was in the very back of the bus) and asked what her name was and she told him "Bellami Bea Bare" and he asked her mom's phone number and Belle said "I dont know, but we live on Gem Stone Way and thats right back there... my mother's name is Emmy Bare." He told her she would have to wait and be dropped off in a bit and then he got on his walkie talkie and told someone she was still on the bus. Kim Webb from the bus garage personally dropped Belle off back at the sitter's house.

Belle wasnt scared and didnt cry or anything. We have been practicing my phone number all night. Im just glad she knows our street. She told me that her regular bus driver was on vacation today. I think if he was driving, she would have been woke up and got off at her stop. We also talked about her not sitting clear in the back and sitting next to the Brown boys. They looked for her after they got off and then the bus drove away and there was no Belle in sight. They ran home and told their mom that Belle didnt get off the bus and she immediately got on the phone to the bus garage.

What a ride!

28th Birthday Piggy-Q

W.A.R.N.I.N.G!!! This post is about cooking a pig in the ground. If you do not care to read about it, that is fine and I completely understand. I will not post any "graphic" pictures. If you want to see those, let me know and I can email them to you.

I have always wanted to do a "burried" pig. When Tren asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday this year, I told him I wanted to have a bon fire. Well, the bon fire turned in to a burried pig party. This was just fine with me and I was very excited for it. Tren has many friends and without all these friends, this pig cooking would have been EXTREMLY difficult. Friday the 2nd, Tren was out and about getting pineapple, banana leaves, firewood, the pig, and salt. Later that evening we went to his friends house where the pig would be cooked and the party would be. One friend used his backho to dig a pit for the pig...

Once they had burned all the wood, and it had burned down to coals, it was time to prepare the pig. I have never seen anything like this! It was like a crime scene. First, they laid out a wire fence sort of thing. Then a burlap sack was laid, opened on the fence. Then the banana leaves were opened and laid on the burlap. Then the pig was laid on the banana leaves. Then pineapple and salt was poured in to the pig. Then the leaves and burlap was wrapped around the pig and the fence was wired shut. Snug as a pig in a burlap sack:

Then it was lowered into the coals, shielded with tin and burried:

The next day was the big party! This piggy was cooking from about 9:30pm to about 6:30pm the following day. Conveniently, it was pouring rain when everyone was showing up to the party. The pig was still burried and I was getting anxious and very hungry. Finally, Tren went and hopped on the backho and dug it up. He was soaking wet from being out in the rain. They got it out and set it up on a table and started cutting the wires and pulling off the banana leaves and BAM! there was the pig. Since it was so cold outside, it was steaming (and steamed for most of the night). This made for a great show! I was up taking pictures of the pig being unveiled and some guy I dont know, grabbed a piece of the meat and said "Try this!" and shoved it in my mouth. I then watched him grab another piece FROM THE KNEE and try feeding it to someone else. I nearly lost my appetite then. But! I managed to keep it together and eat more pig later.

Here are some pics of the bon fire:

The pig was a hit,... I don't think I need to do it again. There was a lot left over and it was a lot of work and preparation and very expensive. I had a great time at my party, though! Once the pig was out of the ground, it stopped raining and the fire kept us warm all night. Thank you to everyone who helped out with the pig and side items.

SAVE THE DATE!!

Miss Bellami Bare is on the road to becoming a gracefull, soft, toe-pointing ballerina! She started ballet at Lake Dance Steps the first week of September and is loving it!! She picks up on the "positions" so quickly. Her winter recital will be Monday, December 21st at 7:oopm at Emmett Junior High. The theme for this year is "Princesses on Parade"...(right up Belle's alley) I don't know much more than that, but I will keep everyone posted.

For class, she is supposed to wear tights, a leotard and ballet shoes. Her hair is supposed to be in a "ballet bun" and with her hair not quite long enough for that, we at least pull the front half of her hair back. Here she is in her class outfit.

I made her a tutu out of leftover tulle from other tutu's I've been making for gifts. I prefer her without the tutu, so I can see those long skinny legs.

I want to thank my mother for taking Belle to her classes. I get to be at work while they are going. I really do appreciate it. -thank you, mom-

Curlers

This last Saturday I put curlers in Belle's hair...

We let them sit and "dry". Then the big reveal!

I think it turned out pretty cute. The back needed to dry a bit longer, though. She loved it, of course.

"I missed a few minutes of recess"

Belle and I are heading out to my parents bright and early the morning of Tuesday. Belle missed school on Monday because she was sick... as we are driving out there and not really talking because I had just woke her up, she tells me "I missed a few minutes of recess."

...Why you ask? I did too.

Belle: Because Mrs Montgomery needed to talk to me.

Me: About what? (oh my gosh.... what could this be about... breathe.... be ready for ??? anything...)

Belle: About talking while she is talking.

Me: (whew, not as bad as it could have been... but what is she SAYING?!) Well, what are you talking about?

Belle: I'm playing the word game, and we aren't supposed to be talking when Mrs Montgomery is talking.

Me: What is the word game? Who are you talking to?

Belle: It's where I say 'ball' and then Reagan says 'tall' and Joshua says 'hall' and Ben says 'doll'. Joshua and Ben had to miss the whole recess but me and Reagan only missed a few minutes.

Me: (great, now she thinks she wont get completely punished for things... oh I can play the word game and it will only cost me a few minutes from recess) Why arent you listening to Mrs Montgomery? You know the classroom rules... When she is speaking you are to be listening.

Belle: I know and I told her I wouldn't speak anymore.

Me: I hope you don't because when you are talking and goofing around, it means you aren't learning and that everyone else is having a hard time learning because you are being a distraction to them.

ps. Hector sits at Belle's table. The children she was playing the "word game" with don't even sit at her table, so I can only imagine what was going on in that classroom. I have heard Belle playing the "word game" and she eventually runs out of things to rhyme and starts making up words and these words are quite hilarious in her mind. Add 3 other 5 year olds and you have a situation.

I am looking forward to Parent Teacher Conferences. I better find my paper bag....

The Bus

I need to post a few pics from the first day Belle rode the bus to school. I had our neighbor, Candy, follow her to the bus with my camera and capture the moment. On school days, Belle goes to a neighbor lady's (Becky Brown) house before and after school. These are two of her three boys. Andrew is in 3rd grade and Tanner is in 1st.

Crossing the street... thats a nice straight line, eh?

Climbing on... bus 94.

I just want to be a little bug in her hair for one day. I'd love to ride around and see exactly what she does and who she talks to.

First Day of School... !

I have taken WAY to long to do this post... I'm so sorry....

Thursday, August 27th, was the Open House at Butteview. Belle and I went after work and all it really was was chaos. Parents were tearing around getting their children signed up for the bus and for lunch. I had no idea what I was going for. I thought we were meeting the teacher and looking around. Chaos. We went in and met Belle's teacher, Mrs Montgomery. I asked her what I needed to do. She told me to go into the lunch room and sign up for lunch and the bus. So we go in there and there are two long lines. We hop in the lunch line. I put $20.00 down on lunches for Belle. Each lunch is $1.75. Ugh. The lunch lady tells me to "pound it into her head this is not breakfast money". I guess they have problems with the "Kindygartners" coming in in the morning from the bus and seeing the older kids eating breakfast and then go through the line and eat too. Then parents get a bill in the mail for the breakfasts. So, I pounded that in to Belle's head. (Haven't gotten a bill yet.) Then we went to the bus line. I had already called the bus garage so I knew what bus she would be on and what time it would come for her. All we had to do was fill out the paperwork. Belle had to sign a paper saying she would follow the bus rules. It was funny to watch her sign that paper. Then we went home.

Her first actual day of school was the following Monday, the 31st. She stayed at her dad's house Sunday night and he brought her to school. He said she wasn't acting nervous or scared. She was annoyed that he kept taking pictures of her, though.

Getting in the truck to head to school:

Here she is hanging her backpack on her hook:

Sitting at her desk:

The first thing she said to my parents when they picked her up was "someone stole my lunch". She was having "hot" lunch on the first day of school. The teacher walked everyone to the bathroom and told them to go potty and wash their hands. Of course, Belle didn't have to go to the bathroom, so she just headed to the lunch room. She got her lunch and sat down at the table and started eating. Then she realizes, Oh!... she does have to go potty. So, she gets up and heads to the bathroom. She comes back to her lunch and eats a bit and then sees other kids "goofing off" and so she gets up to "goof off" with them and comes back to her lunch and it is gone. The teachers had taken it and thrown it away, thinking she was done eating. Fair enough. She was starving the rest of the day. She asked my mom if she even had a mint for her to eat on the way home because she was so hungry. Lessons learned. She now goes to the potty before lunch and doesn't leave her seat until she is done eating.

Belle is a very slow eater and has a hard time just eating her food. I'm sure lots of kids are this way. She has told me that sometimes she doesn't eat all her food because she doesn't want to miss out on recess. I think this is sad, but someday she will learn to just eat her food instead of talking and teasing, and she will still have plenty of time for a good dose of recess.

She doesn't really come home talking about the great things that happen at school. I don't know what to think about this. I feel like I am quizzing her when I ask what happened. I ask about friends, because she doesnt talk about anyone in particular. She claims she doesn't talk to boys, but then when Annie was here, she whispered to her that she has a crush on Dakota, which means she "loves" him. ? She has PE on Mondays which Belle calls "excerise" and they go to the library and music on Thursdays. She doesn't like music because they can only use their bodies to make sounds and she wants to use instruments. She says when they go to the library, her whole class is alone in the library and there aren't any teachers. I find this hard to believe. I just really hope she is learning and not bored and is having fun and making friends.

Her school schedule is Monday, Thursday and every other Wednesday. She gets on the bus around 8:36am and gets home around 3:45pm.

Kindergarten is exhausting.