Approved

Looks like the littles and I are going to prison to visit my son.  We started this process a good six months ago.  DOC was having heavy requests for visitation approvals.  And it took me awhile to gather the paperwork that I needed. I also had to get the no contact order dropped. I filled out the online registration for me, which was easy.  I filled out most of the registration for the littles but could not figure out where all the paperwork went.  Understand.....I have two different custody documents for the little woman.  I have guardianship paperwork for the little man and then more paperwork for his name change.  And of course their birth certificates and that was the easy part.
Almost three months later I was denied due to the charge that prompted the no contact order.  And then because I was denied the littles registrations were kicked out.  One of the criteria is who will bring them to visit.  The other was they still needed the paperwork I could not attach.  I was given an email address to complete their registrations.
On my denial, I was able to appeal.  And that took a good long while.  But this week I was given my exception and am now allowed to visit.  So I finished the littles' registrations using the email and I attached all 13 files.  I pointed out that I was now allowed to visit and I did not need a new form 20-441.
One day and the littles were approved for visitation.  Whew.  Mike got the notification of theirs before I did.  He called and wants us to come this weekend.  He hasn't seen his kids in a year.  And I know it is his choices that created this situation.  And I know that there are people who firmly believe that inmates shouldn't have any rights to see their kids, or drug addicts should not, or bad people should not.  I don't fall in that camp.  He is their daddy.  And they love him and he loves them.  And so we will make the trip.  It will be good to see him and when we see him he will be clean and sober and the best he has ever been.
Mike is my son and I have missed him also.  No matter what he has done, he is still my child and I love him.

Exterminator

Bill, the exterminator, came out and checked out my critter damage.  I have rats.  Plural.  Not a whole big family of them, but more than one.  So he set out a couple bait traps and filled some holes.  In a week he will come back and check the traps to see if enough bait got ate.  If so, he will close up the vents under the house that are missing the wire grills.  If not enough bait has been ate, we will wait another week. 
I'm just happy to be finally being proactive.  And Bill gave me some numbers of some contractors he knows who aren't out to overcharge people just because they can.  Yeehaw!

Lights and Leashes Dog Walk

It was a glorious night.  No rain, lovely moon.  Felt like Papa was watching out for us again.  We dressed in layers.  I had gotten some winter undergarments for playing in the snow so we used those.  We had gloves and hats and a huge soft scarf that passed around us.
We started off getting some dinner at Shari's.  Every one behaved.  And then we headed to PIR for the Lights and Leashes Dog Walk.  There are a couple of nights where you don't drive the PIR but walk it.  This is one and every one is welcome to bring their dog.  We opted not to bring our dog and just meet other folks' dogs. 
We estimated that each little met about 200 dogs and they were in their element.  They asked every time.  There were a few shy dogs but mostly just friendly people loving furballs.  The favorites seemed to be the little dogs.  Me, I like the big ones. 
The track is about two miles long and that is a long walk for kids.  But they did it.  I heard a couple complaints near the end but once we were back in the crowd everything was fine.  We lost a shirt along the way.  They got warm and took off jackets for a bit and the little man took off his shirt.  I was carrying it and have no idea when it got dropped.  The little man wanted to go back but I declined.  Who knows how far back it was and his legs were already a bit tired. 
It was a really good activity and they really liked it.  I think the dogs thrilled them more than the lights, but they did enjoy those also.  Another thing I have never done is marked off the list. 

One Day at a Time, One Step at a Time

Making some progress.  Finally finished phone tag with the exterminator.  He is coming out on Wednesday.  Connected with Travis.  Travis used to do contracting work but he is back to doing plumbing now.  So he is going to give me a couple of names and numbers of some guys for siding who are fair.  And then while I had him, I asked about the sump pump.  So later in the week he is coming out to take a look.   My best guest is something simple.  We shall see.  I told him I was too old to go under the house to check it.  He told me he wasn't a spring chicken either.  Ha.  I have a good ten years on him.  So my money trumps. 
But we are taking it all one day at a time and one step at a time. 
The rat has been making this crazy noise.  Found his hole that he just made.  Silly thing. 

Here We Go

It is rather amazing how quickly our diet can disintegrate.  We have essentially quit eating McDonald's.  Granted that is because of a YouTube video, but we will take it.  So we eat at home a lot more.  But it seems like a lot of processed food and a lot of sugar. 
So it was grocery shopping day.  And being aware means making a change.  So we did not buy the usual sugar products.  And I'm sure the complaints will come soon.  But we bought apples and grapes and strawberries.  The strawberries were gone by dinnertime.  Not unusual in that.  We usually buy them on grocery shopping day and they are usually gone by the evening. ;p
We had a complete meal for dinner and the first words out of the little man's mouth were "what are those green things? I'm not eating those."  He was referring to the green beans.  Little man you do not know what you are missing.  He did eat the chicken and the rice and the french bread.  I always find it amazing as to what they are willing to try and not try.
They wanted to try smoothies.  So I made them a smoothie.  Strawberry.  Oh no......not right.  So they each made their own.  With pineapple, strawberries and I'm not sure what else. Oh no......not right for any of us.  I give them props for trying though.  Even the little woman who hates everything. 
So we shall see if we can break the sugar addiction a bit. 

Dave

Three years.  I felt the tug on the heart strings when it was time for Dave to go.  Woke me out of a sleep and I don't believe I have ever felt those tugs before.  It's a connection that life, death, addiction, blame, dishonor or love could not ever sever.  Those heart strings held, but they were tugged and I knew he was going. 
The little man had just turned three when Papa died.  He just turned six.  He has lived half his life with and half his life without Papa.  Most memories have faded, except those we cling to with our videos and pictures. 
The little woman is eight and had more time and a longer bond.  And yet the memories fade for her also.  I find it sad, but they have this foundation that he helped lay for them. 
I still have moments when I am angry with him.  But not as much as before.  I have moments where I think of him with great love.  I wish he would have made different choices, but maybe he couldn't. 
There are people I can talk to and have fun with, but I doubt I'm ever going to find another connection like I had with Dave.  From the first moment we were able to talk about anything and everything and we did.  Some things not till the end, but we managed to hit everything we ever needed to talk about.  Maybe that connection is what blinded me to the alcoholism in the early years.  And maybe not.  I don't dwell on that too much, although it was a big part of our lives. 
I have great memories though.  All the work we did, the trips we took, the life we made.  And I still miss him every day, but life does go on.  And we honor him with our living. 
Light and love Dave.  Keep watch for us. 

From Family to Winter Wonderland

Busy, busy day.  After work I rushed home to collect the gifts for our family birthday party for the little man.  Then we headed to Hazel Dell to pick up Grammy and meet Pat at Round Table Pizza. The littles had a blast in the arcade room.  The little woman was so excited when she won a prize on the claw game.  The little man was happy with his new shoes, his nerf guns and his new game.
After dinner we took Grammy back and then hurried to school for the Winter Wonderland.  The kids made ornaments, decorated cookies, saw Santa and had snacks.  We saw many people we knew.  We did not win any of the raffles or door prizes.  The little woman was most disappointed about that. But it is what it is.  It is fun to want to win, but we can't win every time.
Now that we are done with the birthday celebrations, we can look forward to Christmas.