Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Mugshots



Fun old fashioned family vacation....

Gather round one and all. Let me tell you a little tale of the Watkins family vacation. You know the one... where it is too expensive to actually go anywhere thanks in large part to some certain foreign policies of every one's favorite president. Oh well, at least next year President Obama will be giving out free vacations to all Americans. Right? That's why I'm voting for him.

I do have 11 days off, starting tomorrow and extending until July 7th. The price of gas really isn't the only reason not to go anywhere. A very angry two year old does not like to travel and generally likes to live life by his own terms... and likes for everyone else to live by his terms. In addition, we are blessed with two wonderful dogs who everyone is clamouring to dog sit... so thanks again almighty ruler of the underworld... thanks for letting us borrow your hounds for 10-15 years!!! Also, I think we found your cat.

So we will do little things. Tomorrow we will finish pulling up carpet There is also a carnival in town so we will go to that. After that things are more uncertain: some time in the mountains, cleaning, naps, swimming, and a general neglect of personal hygiene (at least for me).

I want to try to keep this blog updated about everyday of this period. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, I have taken some mugshots of my children in case I decide that selling them on craigslist is the only humane option. Please don't call the cops that was only a joke.

Loveland



Last Sunday we took a trip to Loveland to look at a xeriscape garden. We discovered that Loveland had a very nice civic center and I have to ask; is Loveland the new Fort Collins? Will the hippies, yuppies, and guppies move from here to there. Will they take there banjos, jam bands, and subarus with them? I doubt all of this but they will migrate from somewhere.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

May





I admit to being horrible at this blog thing.

It has been a month and a lot has happened.

I finished my first semester of school. Cale graduated preschool. We planted a vegetable garden. Maya is starting a dance/gymnastics class next week. Aden doesn't really believe that sleep is necessary but he does believe that milk and gummy bears are. Sadie has bitten at least 500 people. Ruby has dug a hole under bush (probably one of the great accomplishments of her life).

This morning just about the biggest bee I have ever seen is flying around the garage. Cale is scared to death but Maya said it is her friend bee. Maya also made friends with a rather large snake we saw.

A lot of outside time.

Next weekend we are taking all the kids camping. We want to see if Aden is ready for it.

Friday, May 2, 2008

May Day

Sorry all you Watkins family fans. It has been awhile.

Well I have around a week left in my school work and all my time is devoted to that. Seriously, ask me what Calc II is all about. I don't know and I am about to pass the class with a B.

We don't take pictures of Cale anymore but all you need to know is that Aden and Maya are cuter. Cale, if you are reading this I am joking. Cale is actually reading now. He is ready for kindergarten and we have been told that he is a very creative, intelligent and sensitive child. He also knows how to use Tivo so he can turn his own cartoons on in the morning and then when we tell him to stop watching seven hours later he can turn it off.

Maya is half very sweet, half devil spawn. Everyday is a surprise. She is signed up for another dance class.

Aden... well... he decided sleep is a terrible waste of time when there are so many productive things to be done. Like screaming.

Springtime





Sunday, April 6, 2008

Report Card

Five weeks of school left. While I now have better study habits and grasp the material better my mind is drifting a bit more. It is so nice out.

I did receive a 82 on my last calculus 2 exam which beats the 20 or so I got on the first one. Given that you can replace the low score with a high I might even be able to get an A and I'm confident a B is in the works. Surveying is my most difficult class surprisingly. Lots of calculations and a professor who writes very unclear homework and exams questions.

And those are just the prerequisites.

I am in one graduate class. It is an intro to GIS class. All is well there. I have decided to focus my studies to coastal and underwater mapping. I have started reading the premier text on the matter and find it fascinating . I would use it to put the kids to bed but a fear their little minds would become to stimulated with all the talk of erosion and control points.



And update on Sadie the ankle-biter... well she is an ankle biter. She bit me very hard today and Carrie too. Not sure what to think. It is usually only when I first get home and she apparently forgets that I live here and tries to bit me. She also like to bite Ruby in the face when Ruby barks. It is her way of telling Ruby to shut up. This makes Sadie sound horrible but for the most part she is fine. Luckily she is smaller than our cat so a mauling is unlikely (mauling of Sadie by fat cat: likely!). Also I think Carrie appreciates Ruby a bit more. She can be annoying in her way but she would never bite anyone and she can probably hold off on going to the bathroom for two days. Not even kidding... it is amazing (everyone don't let your dog out to see how long it can go(this is a joke (this is more words in parenthesis))).

Also Carrie made me watch this past week's episode of Oprah going inside puppy mills. As much as you know I love Oprah, it was actually terrifying for reasons other than the infamous hostess. I believe Ruby was probably born of puppy mill stock which may explain something. I don't think we will ever get a dog again that isn't from a shelter, rescue, or very very reputable breeder. Besides, puppyies are ugly.

Good day all!