I don't know why I can't get these pictures to zoom in and save, but it's just not happening for me. So, put on your glasses and/or squint, and you might be able to see these....


Confirmation it's a girl. Lack of boy parts...

The tech put little markers on the eye sockets, making her look like a kick-ass Halloween decoration. Jay thought it was cool.....skeleton sister.

Hi everyone!!!

Ally got to feel her kick last night, and thought it was pretty cool. In case you haven't heard already, the fetus within now has a name - Vivian Margaret. (Mostly Vivi as a nickname already)

I know you all are eagerly awaiting an update on how Cody is doing :) Well, Cody is great. He's a sweet, loving horse. Minnie on the other hand...... ARGH! If she were protecting George in a very maternal effort to keep this new male from harming him...I get that. However, it's not that. She is just pissed off he's here, period. When Cody comes near her or her food or her area or the barn, etc. she pins her ears back and attacks. The bucking has apparently subsided to biting. Eric noticed last night that Cody has many new scars from her.

Kicked him hard here.

Numerous bite marks.

So, this is what we've resorted to, among other things. She's wearing a muzzle to keep her from biting Cody. At night, Eric pins her in the barn in her own stall so Cody has a chance to seek shelter. If forced to choose between my kids/horses, I would say leave Cody and George and Minnie can find a new home. Would I do that? No. She's just used to being alpha female and will have to suffer some consequences. I am now ready to whip her ass anytime she acts up. Bright side? They smell so good. They are beautiful and they are like doggies, wanting affection and love (George and Cody, anyway) So worth it.

My sister and SIL have journals on livejournal.com. I used to have entries, but downsized when I created this blog (although it may seem like I have a lot of time on my hands...really, not so much). They get little questionnaires and fun stuff that they post. So, even though this isn't exactly the right domain, I'd like to participate too!! I got this from my SIL, Crissy:

WHAT WERE YOU DOING 10 YEARS AGO?
1. Working at Park Nicollet Clinic in Minnesota
2. Had my panties in a bunch cuz I was pregnant with Max and was stressed about everything (good reference tool is that with this pregnancy I stress about very little- 10 years later)
3. Right about this time was when I got lost in the Mall of America (walked around for 2 hours, trying to remember where I parked)
4. I was contemplating getting rid of my Ford Escort :(
5. What did I do before kids?!?!

WHAT'S ON YOUR TO DO LIST FOR TODAY?
1. Get photos organized and uploaded so I can make a kick-ass gift for the Wrights
2. Go to work (yes, I'm working at Target to make a little extra cash for Christmas)
3. Micro-manage Eric and the parent duties he has for today
4. Laundry - then again that's always on the to do list!
5. Pick out a board game for the fam. to play tonight!

WHAT ARE 5 OF YOUR FAVORITE SNACKS?
1. Fruit and vegetables (Never met a fruit or veggie I didn't like)
2. Hummus and pita chips
3. Cheese :)
4. Cereal - plain Cheerios, Frosted Mini Wheats, granola-ey cereals....
5. Cheez-its
*A couple of these were Crissy's favorites, too - no wonder we get along so well!!!! It's all about food, baby!

5 THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE (in no particular order)
1. Give money to the local humane societies
2. Buy stuff for my family and friends; Plane tickets for my long lost friends who I don't get to see, buy my brother and SIL babies, season tickets to Notre Dame football(Kim), 5 year's supply of gasoline (Ann:)...........
3. Build an eco-friendly house that had a very tiny, tiny little footprint (Again, Crissy and I agree on this one)
4. Ally would get a pony
5. Paul would have all the money he needed to get back to Brazil!!!
* Looking at my list, I think it would have to be more of a billionaire!!

5 PLACES YOU HAVE LIVED
1. Iowa
2. Minnesota
3. Georgia
4. Wisconsin
5. Ohio

5 JOBS YOU'VE HAD
1. Dairy Queen employee
2. LPN for nursing home, homecare, hospital and clinic (not all at the same time....)
3. Waitress @ Holiday Inn
4. Detassler (one of the worst jobs you'll ever have the privilege of experiencing..mostly for those midwest teens)
5. Target cashier (yay...............sigh)

You leave them alone for a couple hours...................


AND YOU GET A NEW HORSE!!

Meet Cody, the newest addition to the family. He's an 11 year old quarter horse. He's beautiful, don't you think?

See, Eric and the kids went to one of the mounted shoots (I've mentioned it before). Now, I don't know how the whole thing went down, for sure, but I know Eric mentioned the last thing we needed right now was another horse. Not right before Christmas. Not when we/I am already concerned about hauling my fat, 8-9month pregnant ass out to the barn to feed. Not when we already have poorly behaved (Minnie) horses we haven't trained, yet. However, a deal was made and when I came home, I got to meet sweet Cody.

Eric said Minnie put up a good show. (one of my first questions was how Mama did when introduced to him) She's overprotective, and that's the nice way of putting it. She kicked around and chased him. George just stood there between the two dancing, cuz he didn't know what the hell he was doing. All in all, they are getting along pretty well. He loves apples, so I'm sure he will fit right in.