BUSY, BUSY, BUSY - oh Happy Freakin Holidays

Well, my bay window is broken but no worries, we have free replacement - it will be here the end of January...

I have completed my shopping through hell and back but none of the gifts caught fire (yet).

Ron is doing his shopping early this year (today). He is 2 days earlier than usual.

Mallory is doing well - of course murphy's law, the rack and pinion on her car broke so we are sharing the Volvo - of course the Volvo is a turbo and doesn't have a camera in it so god only knows what she is doing in my car.

I took Amber to the psychiatrist and par for the course - she acted psychotic (she does this when she is nervous). We have had instances where she crawls on the floor, rolls around, screams in terror and loses all control... although it is embarrassing sometimes, I know she has an illness and at times can't help it. Anyway - she barked (literally) at the psychiatrist and rolled on the floor.

I also took her to the store the other day and it was crowded, Amber was standing in the middle of the store shaking wildly and screaming in terror, people were running up to her to find out what was wrong; she forgot where I was and lost it.

The psychiatrist has removed her bi-polar diagnoses given that she is acting less depressed and more psychotic (but only when she is anxious). So he put her on a medication for anxiety in hopes of calming her at school (and everywhere else) when she gets anxious and out of control. The medication is making her tired but she should get used to it before she returns to school on January 8th. We love her so much, we just need to stop her barking in public...

GREAT NEWS - I have an interview for an internship January 3rd at Parker, Froyd and Associates to do my internship in Forensic Psychology. I am REALLY looking forward to it. They do Psychological evaluations, work with police when an officer is struggling or when there is an officer involved shooting. They have a quick response team that dispatches (via the police dept) when there is a crime with victims. They also treat Domestic Violence Perpetrators, victims and children. In addition, I will still get to do Grief work with them...

Love you all - Happy holidays and for those of you expecting a christmas card, as usual you may get them in June.

Random Pictures

Memories of our Last Colorado Winter - yes there were 2 cars in the driveway


This picture is just amazing - Mallory took it at the Botanic Gardens last spring.


This is our stubborn but cute cat, with amazing vocal talents - Punkin...




This is something that is hard to look at - my daughter in a wedding veil and AC/DC pants - good Lord, when she does get married, this will probably be her attire of choice.... Yikes - she a little weird, but we love her anyway!



I thought it might be fun to post some pictures that have just been sitting in my camera..........

Life at 100mph

We put up our christmas decorations! They look great!!


This is Ron's office converted into Tylers room


This is now my bedroom, yes the dresser is turned sideways to allow us an alleyway into the bedroom, Ron's desk is behind the dresser.

Well, here it is as far as our life goes:

Amber is trying her absolute hardest to repeat 4th grade (Maybe because she likes 4th grade). We are working on a school program for her, but wow is she being a tough cookie. Her strength is persistence...

Mallory is doing VERY well in school so far this year - we are so proud of her, she also hasn't gotten any more tickets and successfully completed her probation (every parents dream - right?).

Tyler is a joy - he does his chores, his laundry, his homework and he is doing well with his job at King Soopers, he is polite and listens and makes my kids look like devils...

Ron is adjusting to having his office in the bedroom - this has not been easy for either of us, but he is taking it like a man...

Me - well, work, work, work and looking forward to seeing my gal pals from Qwest in a couple of weeks!! I have been busy getting ready for christmas which has been a chore since we are short on money (thanks to my job, having another kid and Ambers braces), so I am making gifts this year - I actually did pretty well at it (I think)...

Love you all - there is a quick update on us!!

Coni

Life's big changes - It's a Boy!!

Hello all - here is an update from the Nelson, Sanders, Adams and Strole household...

Me - Well, it was time for my annual psychiatry appointment with my 80ish year old doctor and well, I was talking with him about the last year and when I looked over - he was asleep (or dead I couldn't tell). I had a sudden fear that I had bored my psychiatrist to death!! I said his name a couple of times in hopes of waking him up and he didn't budge - so I poked him in the arm and he woke up and asked me if I wanted tranquilizers (good GOD do I need them?) I told him NO I DON'T need tranquilizers and he quickly said he was thinking about another patient. This is where the jokes come in (My psychiatrist slept with me, I bored him to death, I am a very soothing person???)

Amber is doing much better in school - we are doing a reward system that seems to be working. Bribery is what a reward system is - but hey, we have to do what we can right?

Mallory has been doing some interesting driving of late - she seems to be allergic to the concept of a "complete stop" at stop signs - she was almost broadsided and yes, we got a video of the whole thing...... I cannot in good faith relay the language she used on video - filthy. She is doing well in school and seems to enjoy her job at JC Penny.

Ron has been working his butt off at work and playing full time Dad on the weekends while I torture myself at school (I PASSED MY PRACTICUM) finally. Now it is on to my internship which will most definitely be like having 2 jobs - but I think Ron is handling things at home well!!

IT's A BOY - no I am not pregnant and either is Ron or Mallory. We have an exciting addition to our home. My nephew Tyler has decided to live with us until he graduates high school in about a year and half. He is a great kid - just needs a new environment. Although this is not easy by any means we feel blessed to have him!! Ron and I are re-locating Ron's office to our bedroom and for those of you that have had the pleasure of seeing his office - I am not yet sure where we will sleep! But - Tyler being a teenage boy - he needs his own room... Thank you Ron for being so willing to sacrifice your sanctuary!

The dogs are OK - we have had them in a cage by the dog door for about a year and decided to give them another chance to roam the house without peeing on EVERYTHING... They failed this test after getting into the trash peeing on all of our coats, the couches and yes yet again.... each other. I also found most of our underwear decorating the back yard - half eaten... So much for forgiveness and second chances the dogs are now back in their cage.

I am so excited for the holidays as I will get to see most of my friends from Qwest and other parts of the world - I feel so thankful to have friends where the lack of time doesn't damage the friendship.

Love you all.

Coni

WOW - Amber ROCKS

Amber had her first Volleyball game of the season... Since last year her team lost every game, I was hoping that she would get to feel what it is like to be on a winning team...

SHE SCORED 11 points on her own, their team won both games! She is a natural at it and now that she knows how to play she acts like she isn't even trying.... It is so cool to see her skills develop!!

Now - her team needs to come up with a name based on the color of their team tee-shirts......... the color........... BURNT ORANGE!!!

Ok so the ones that we have voted off are:

The Carrots
The Yams
The Poo Girls
The String Cheese's (yes plural)
The Mad Macaronis
The Burnt Eagles
The pumpkins

OH MY!! Suggestions are welcome!!

9 year old imagination - 4-wheeling

OK so here are a couple of pictures of Amber and I in her magical fort she built in the family room (whatta mess). But it was fun to play with her and pretend. I also added a picture of us 4-wheeling. I am excited because I figured out how to add photos!


I got out of the truck and suddenly was very short and looking at the seat in the truck!


If you look, the back tire is in the air - Cool!!

Yes, there is my priceless princess showing off her matching purple underwear in her magical fort.

This is me, haggared from playing with Amber all day and trying to read for school (in the magical fort) all day... The creative ways we mom's must find to do things like play with our kids and do our homework too!

Enjoy...

4 Wheeling Fun - He let me drive

OK so I know yet again that my husband loves me. He let my drive the princess while we were 4-wheeling, not once did he grab the wheel, slam his feet into the floorboard to activate the imaginary brake or grab the "oh crap" handle. It was a blast!!

And many of us well know - grief can sneek up on you at unexpected times (like yesterday), so can joy!! Going out and 4-wheeling in the snow was just what the doctor ordered!!

To all of you who are too far away to see the amazing sights of Colorado - these are for you!

Feeling Sad today - thought I would share the pain

I found some beautiful videos about remembering everyone who died at Columbine... Today it is cloudy and life is tough, so I am taking some time out to feel some pain and grief..... occassionally it is helpful.

I love all of you...

Tribute to Columbine High School Victims

Columbine High School Massacre