ASHALEE

My oldest is 16 and she is the most wonderful, beautiful most amazing girl I know. Happy 16 Ashy, you are still my sunshine.

Can anyone tell me?

When did my children grow up?

Summer

This summer was bittersweet. It was the first summer my kids have ever had a normal visitation with their Dad. So for two, two week periods this summer I have been wandering around the house aimlessly. Not really, school, work, and summer sewer projects always call to me. I traveled when I could, to ignore the gaping hole in my heart that is filled perfectly by Ashalee, Andrew and Adam. So, I did get to go to Florida, Asheville NC and Olympia WA. The scenery was awesome, but even better than the scenery were true friends who regardless of my neurosis (like tubing down death defying rapids, or worrying I won't make it hiking),still consider me a friend. Hopefully a life long friend. These are some of the most amazing women, and I consider it a privilege to call them friends.

Do I need any more reasons?

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=7369522&cat=105&lpid=14 (copy and paste into browser)
The divorce rate is rising exponentially. It's not like people need anymore incentive to divorce, but here is one more reason to NOT marry. My favorite part of this listing is the misspelling of excessively right after drinks hmmmm. Just thought I would be helpful. You know, doing my part to help prevent unnecessary pain by preaching abstinence from marriage. If the website doesn't work on your browser this is what the ad reads, listed under pets.


Husband Needs Good Home
provo, UT 84655 - Jul 31, 2009
My Husband needs a good home..
not housebroken.. Barks all the time.
Stays outside most the time. Drinks Exsessivly
Eats 22 hours of the day
if you can give him a good home please email me thanks

Friends

There are times in our lives where we see who our real friends are and set free those who are simply posing as friends, when in reality they are the furthest thing from a true friend. Thank you to all my friends who choose to love. You are amazing gifts.

South Dakota Crazy Hinton Reunion

I love my family even though they drive me crazy at times. I wonder if anyone else feels this way? They know your most vulnerable spots and sometimes use it to their advantage. Some have bathed with you, played with you, been disciplined with you and cried with you. None of us is close to perfect and I wouldn't want it any other way because many times it's our imperfections that bring us closer. Congratulations Hinton family we survived another reunion still loving each other regardless of our weaknesses, political opinions, bald spots, love handles and flatulence. That is no small feat! I love you ALL!

It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt!

Not all of my children go to their Dad's house every other weekend. Two of them stay home with me. But when their siblings are gone and there is no one to play with but boring old me they get antsy and start harassing each other. It is a known fact that when the regular routine becomes off balance children who normally behave, start acting out. These innocent looking children of mine.....



decide to drive each other, and in turn, drive me crazy. It usually starts out with the oldest most mature, namely Bella taking a quick cheap shot at Bombo. Look closely she is quick. What you don't see in this picture is the aftermath. Bella's paw strikes Bombo soundly on the nose, numerous times. And before her calculated assault he was just minding his own business trying to take a nap.

Bombo's response is one of shock initially. He tries to gain composure and moves over to the other side of the bed to finish his nap. Bella strikes again by biting repeatedly at Bombo's whisker's. This time Bombo lets out a half hearted(in human speak)very whiny protest "STOP!" as you can see in this next picture.
He then turns his head to me as to say, "are you going to do anything about her behavior!"




Bombo the much younger sibling finally snapped and decided to take matters into his own hands pinning his older but much smaller sister to the bed with only his mouth as Bella protests loudly. This reminds me of a time when I realized that I could no longer harass my younger brother because he could take me down faster than a speeding bullet, flat on my back. Live and learn Bella, live and learn. Like they say it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt.



After this fiasco Bombo and Bella were sent into time out to think about what they had done and to come up with five ways they could have handled this situation differently. I never received answers from either of them they spent most of their time sulking, as noted in the pictures below.






While in time out I did catch Bombo making faces at Bella, as shown below, so I added an extra five minutes to his confinement. I'll have to talk to him about that later.





For those of you who may think it must be enjoyable for me to have no disciplining, no fighting, no noise, every other weekend. Just remember my other two children. As angelic as they may look....







don't be fooled because the cycle of sibling abuse is about to start again; right in the middle of a nap. It's a rough life, I tell ya!








No animals were harmed (seriously) during this post.