Lexi's visit

We have always wondered what our house would be like if we got a buddy for Zack.  So we are dogsitting for Zack's dogsitter and now have 2 big dogs in our home. :)  Lexi is a Golden Retriever who is very gentle in nature.  Unfortunately Zack is really excited she's here and is constantly trying to lick or bite her ears.  We're trying to fix that.  I will be putting some video up of Lexi so her family can enjoy them while they are away.  Here is the first "introduction" video of the dogs. 

Crazy animal stories

Fletch and I are animal lovers and wanted to share these stories with you.  I don't know how to post articles on here, but I am providing you links.  They are from our local newspaper, The Gazette.  Enjoy!

Bear breaks in to Circuit City

July 15, 2008 - 11:51AM

By LANCE BENZEL

THE GAZETTE

http://www.gazette.com/articles/bear_38237___article.html/animal_whitlock.html

Daylong search yields plenty of spectacle, but no African lion

July 14, 2008 - 11:35PM

By R. SCOTT RAPPOLD

THE GAZETTE

http://www.gazette.com/articles/lion_38232___article.html/african_animal.html

My last story about animals comes from home.  Fletch loves to twirl my hair.  That became apparent, in fact, at a meeting in church a few years ago.  The leaders saw him twirling my hair during a prayer equipping class and shouted, "Now, isn't that cute?" in front of the 7-8 other couples!  One night last week, while we were watching a video, he was twirling my hair.  I started getting sleepy and started falling asleep.  When I realized I wanted to go to sleep instead of finishing the video, I told Fletch to stop twirling my hair because it was keeping me awake.  He turned around, showed both hands, and said he wasn't twirling my hair at that time. I looked behind my head to find Simba playing with my hair. :)

Now this wasn't the only time I blamed Fletch for doing something he didn't do last week.  As some of you know, we've been working out a pretty normal 6 day a week schedule at the gym.  I've been doing a lot of cardio through classes and wake up the next morning pretty sore.  One night, while feeling really sore, I noticed I was starting to feel a little better.  As the night went on, I heard cats playing in the room, but ignored it.  In fact, I caught Simba right beside my bed trying to get into some rice cakes in a bag I left on the floor.  After about 30 minutes, I started to get really hot and realized our electric mattress cover was on! I looked down onto the controls and noticed it was on all the way high! I immediately thought how sweet Fletch was to turn it on (I normally use a heating pad) to soothe my aching muscles, but told him to let me know next time before doing it. I wanted to be aware so I could shut it off before falling asleep! Again, Fletch told me he didn't do it.  Now I have had incidents in 

the past where I sleep walk (have been sleep walking ever since I was a kid) and figured I must have had a cold dream and turned it on.  Then I realize I caught Simba playing with that bag of rice cakes ... which was right on top of my controller.  

Photo taken by Sean Orear (who is also holding the toy) in June 2006 when Sean and Tahli came to visit.

My lesson learned: blame the cat before blaming the husband. :)

Melissa is testing out her web cam ...

Let me know if you can see this mini-movie!!!

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! :)

Declan Update

  First of all, isn't that picture precious???!!!  

Well, the update is Declan cries, poops, eats and sleeps. :)  I'm not a Mom (or a Mum), but I think that all babies come with those characteristics. :)  Sean and Tahli are settling into life as new parents well.  I'm sure there is a lot of love at the house! 

Fletch's parents arrived back to Vanuatu safe and sound after getting a longer stay here.  They were to meet a friend in Fiji and were going to pay for accomodations in Fiji, but when they found out he couldn't meet them we invited them to stay here (for free accomodation).  It was a nice relaxing 5 days for them.  They enjoyed taking their time packing and looking around for 5th wheelers ... for when they come back in a year or two. :)  I'll have to take pictures later, but Tom did an awesome job at finishing our garage and putting in a workbench for Fletch to work at.  He also helped us update our theater room with 5.2 surround speakers and a 10 foot theater screen.  He did all of that work once we got back from our Pacific Northwest trip!!!  Our last dinner together was quite hilarious ... Fletch wanted some Korma (spelling?) Chicken ... an Indian dish.  We bought the spices from an Indian grocery store, but weren't told to use only 1/4 of the package!!! I used the entire package and we all had a great laugh about how red everyone was turning!!!  Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the fun event!!!  Tom was definitely the champion of the evening ... he finished Heather's portion and had 2nds as well!!!  We all miss having each other around, but are also glad to be back in our normal surroundings.  Please be in prayer for Tom and Heather as they wrap up their work in Vanuatu.

One more exciting news to share ... I sent off Fletch's citizenship papers last week.  Stay tuned for updates on that as time goes on.  We're thinking it'll take at least 6 months for us to get to the next step ... whatever that may be.