Dean family update

Well not to be outdone by Melanie and her pet pack…I was reading the paper and saw an Airedale mix for $50….so I thought if this puppy (10 mo.  In Battleground) looks like an Airedale I’m getting it…it might be the great-great-grandson of Rosie- the dog my parents made me give up as a child.  Well to make a long story short- he looks like an Airedale and has the personality of a Walker hound…extremely mellow.  I will send pictures soon.  He’s 95 pounds- and my husband thinks retarded.  I think he’s just houndlike- kind of bumps into you- puts his head and body into everything you’re trying to do.  Just a good family dog….didn’t attack the cats, got along with the dogs and Kalena running at him didn’t make him flinch or really react.    Mariah and Edmond have a blast playing- Brody plays less and less- so this is good for Mariah to get some energy out.  My vball girls got 2^nd of 16 teams in our tournament this Saturday.  Kalena had another accident- she was watching her dad drive into the driveway- and wasn’t watching where she was walking- fell right off the deck and onto her nose (on the cement) so scraped her nose up- looks pretty beat up.  We are hoping it doesn’t scar.  Well the bell is about to ring. 

Nothing up with the Rudd/Sharp's

So I really don't have much going on. The kittens are good. They can be extremely cute one moment and then extremely, persistently obnoxious the next. Work has been very, very slow. I basically haven't had anything to do for the last month but go to my office and try to stay busy. I do have a short, two week trip down outside of Eugene in just over a week. The one new thing is that I am taking another GIS class 2 nights a week at PSU. So that adds long commutes with added stress of crammed in homework. Missing two weeks of class at a time certainly doesn't help things.

I think I am ready for a whole new field of work. I just don't know what that is yet.

Greyson and I went rollerblading around North Bonneville today. The entire town has paths all throughout it. You just have to make sure to avoid the acorns and pinecones that can trip you up.

That is all I have to share.
Mel

Grandma Ruby off again!

Grandma Ruby is off to Laughlin, Nevada to gamble, again.. She does love going to casinos, and loves winning even more. She is going with the senior group in Moorpark; it's a nice group and I kid her about her boyfriend. There is a short asian man who really enjoys seeing Mom/ Grandma; guess he has a history of kissing her on the cheek when he sees her. Don't think a new father is in the future since she doesn't hang around long enough to encourage the poor guy.

We have very exciting news in our house!! Stephanie and Nate are having a baby next year! yup, she's the one that just got married.. They wasted no time starting their family. Stephanie had a time frame for her life and it's all falling into place. Naturally Phil and I are so excited.. we've already sent baby clothes and a couple of maternity tops for Steph. We just can't wait.

Michelle and Christopher are working hard at his real estate company and finishing the yard and pool. Real estate has slowed down a lot in California; hope it picks up for them.

Signing off... we love keeping up with the family.
Love, Aunt Chris

greyson the intruder for my class

Ok so here’s my idea for when Greyson comes into my class- I’m calling on the creativity of the rest of my family.  The objective is to teach students about eyewitness testimony and see how accurate they are when they aren’t prepared for such an event.  Greyson would come into my room in the middle of a lesson/lecture—dressed in normal attire- jeans or pants and shirt and carrying an empty back pack- but grasping a bloody set of scissors- behind his back most likely-  and having some blood like substance on his shoes.  I’m thinking even a good fake mustache at this point would be cool….and he asks me if he can use my dishwasher- and I will say sure..Then he will go into my prep room- start up the dishwasher and take off his first set of clothes- underneath would be some athletic attire- shorts and T-shirt and gym shoes- he would stuff all his outer clothing into the back pack, place the scissors in the dishwasher and start it, remove the mustache- then come back out (you have to leave an enter the prep room through the classroom doors)- so he would leave…saying thanks or something afterwards.  I’ll also have the unusual phone calls and things on the white board again this year from my other staff members.  What do you think Greyson?  And any other clever ideas from my family?  Oh and as he leaves he drops a wipe in the garbage can- but the classroom door- that he used to clean off some dirt that was on his face- or the blood on his hands- whatever.  The wipes are in the science prep room..but the garbage can is by the exit door in the classroom. 

poop scootin pooey

Now Larry. I understand the value of having lamb or chicken as the top ingredient in a dogfood, but after seeing the doggie constitutional dance days in a row, and carpet crabwalks, I think the fiber found in "lesser brands" could be introduced in a mixture. That or coffee and a cigarette. The vet said that more fiber may be key,and I'm inclined at this point to agree. Something to be aware of, dog owners.

Two cats are as good as one baby, right?

Well our bad news is that the first cycle had to be cancelled a few days ago. My over zealous body stimulated way too much which can lead to a life threatening condition (OHSS- ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) if allowed to progress. OHSS is kind of a neat syndrome where all the fluids in your body get sucked into your abdominal cavity and your ovaries become the size of softballs and leads to all sorts of problems. So anyway, my doctor cancelled the cycle and we are going to start over again in a few weeks. This time I will be using a much smaller dose of the stimulation medication. The problem there is that I could understimulate and not produce enough eggs and then the cycle gets cancelled. This was not a cheap setback but it could have been worse; some people get much further along and then get cancelled.

The good news, I talked my hubby into a pair of chocolate point Siamese kittens. We named them Louie and Parker in keeping with the jazz theme started with Miles. Right now they look so much alike I had to write an "L" on Louie's forehead in permanent marker so we could tell them apart. They have been a fun distraction given the disappointing cycle. Miles was very upset the first couple days (all sorts of hissing) but has started to play with them today.

The other good news is that Greyson has started to make some great contacts in town and has been hired to design a website for the Big River Grill, the most popular local restaurant. And that owner also owns the mexican restaurant in town and may want some future help with that site. I know he will do a great job.

-Mel

Dean family update

Nicholas got selected to be on safety patrol- only 20 students out of his elementary school get this honor.  He is quite happy about his new position of importance. 

Gabriel is excelling at wrestling- his coach talked with me this morning (he’s a staff member) about how impressive a job he did last night at practice…beat everyone except a 7^th grader- and that’s because he went into a scramble?? And when that happens the more experienced players tend to win.  His first match is next month.

Emma still talks constantly- until you are in public- where she becomes mute.  If I make a comment about a dead animal on the road- it was a baby deer the other day- it became an entire discussion for the next 20 minutes of our drive- how a bear must have scared the baby onto the road- and that the daddy dear must be sad and missing his baby…and on and on. Kalena, well she keeps us all busy…I’m still waiting for the day when everything quits going into her mouth and where all drawers are meant to be emptied and all chairs and tables are meant to be climbed.  My husband- I don’t see him much- I think he’s this handsome guy that works at a dairy.  He’s wonderfully supportive and has been busy chauffering children to soccer scrimmages, wrestling practices and picking up girls from child care.  As far as me- I think I’m a little crazy- but hanging in there.  I spend most of my day with teenagers talking science- and a whole lot of other topics- then another few hours with some freshmen girls, and then if I’m lucky I get to go home…lately I’ve had games, first aid training, and departmental duties (checking our tech equipment, etc.).  Hope everyone had a great week!  Love. Jenn.

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• 1. Elvis's grave at Graceland. 2. Steam locomotive trip from Williams, Arizona to the Grand Canyon. 3. Aunt Chris/ Sister at the really Grand Canyon. 4. Michelle and Christopher's outdoor fireplace.

Grandma had a fun time seeing all of you; wished we could be with you, too. So glad your family vacation was such a success. Just wanted to share a couple pictures with your family. ... Enjoy!