Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Meet the Puppies!

Today we made a trip here to meet our new puppy! We picked Cooper up from school early and didn't tell him where we were going until we just couldn't stand it anymore. He was so excited, and so were we.

Introducing....our puppy and her sister!

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(we don't know which is which yet- we can pick for certain when they are 5 weeks old)

The owner was so sweet, and brought out an 8 week old puppy for Cooper so that he'd have a better idea of how the puppy would be when she comes home with us. She's lucky that we didn't grab her and run- the adorable factor was high!!!

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The countdown begins....I'm not sure who is most excited about our new addition. How will we ever pass the time??

Sunday, April 26, 2009

It's Human in Here....

This weekend, although beautiful, was HOT. Hot enough that it was 86 degrees in my bedroom. I'm NOT a fan of intense heat...or sweating (you can say perspire if you'd prefer...but it's really sweating).

Cooper and I walked upstairs together and the heat hit me immediately. Clearly it hit him too because this is what he said:

"Can I turn on the fan? It's really human in here." (His face was completely serious.)

"Um, (gulp)well of course you can turn on the fan! But Coop?"

"Yes, Momma?"

"I think the word you meant to use was humid- instead of human."
"Oh. Yes. Humid."

Hilarious!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Before & After

This weekend we had perfect weather, the kind that begs for beautification projects. We made our 1st trip to the river to open the house for the season.....I love this time. No TV, no computer, no stress. Just family, amazing friends and the great outdoors. We got so much accomplished- take a look!

My goal was to spruce up the beds which were clearly in need of some help! I've still got the window boxes to do. If you look closely, the before pic is sans a light on the right. Our handy neighbor helped Jon (or really, the other way around) to install new lighting fixtures. They are just darling- now our little cottage is lit up to to welcome us home!
before-front
Before

after-front
After



before
Before

after
After


Our other priority was to plant the garden. The crop we (read-Cooper)most want to grow? The 300 lb. pumpkin of course! Ohhh- if it could be only 1/2 that size we'd jump with joy. We can wish, dream, hope, pray and coax...

Pumpkin 2009
Think good things for us- October is a looonggg time away.

(Why do I always take squinty eyed pictures? Have I no skill?)

Hope your weekend was wonderful too!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

It Just Made Me Laugh-

This is supposed to be a Thankful Thursday post...but I was going through my e-mail account and deleting things that I didn't need anymore and I came across this picture.



I had to chuckle. This is a picture from Jon's phone, taken during Indian Guides. If you'll look closely, the child is eating breakfast. On his plate there are scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage......in his hand is a Hersh*y bar. The cup is filled with Yoohoo.

So with this in mind, I am thankful for the following (in no particular order).

-Yoohoo, which evidently contains 25% of your recommended daily allowance of calcium and Vitamin D, seven vitamins and minerals, and has only 110 calories per serving
-the bonding that happens on father/son weekends
-iPhones that allow for glorious memories to be captured that would otherwise be lost in the woods!
-my sweet child and funny hubby
-time alone in the early morning dedicated to checking e-mail, blogging and paying bills
-knowing that the weekend is almost upon us
-having a sense of humor & loving the hilarity of it all.


Happy Thursday!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter!

We celebrated a bit early with an Egg Hunt on Saturday. Our little group was cobbled together, Jess brought the kids (George is counting down the days until April 15th), my mom (my dad was at an Army Band Reunion until late Saturday) and Jon's sister and her family. In years past, I have made Wade and Katie search for beer and money so that Cooper wouldn't search alone. Sean & Patrick filled that gap this year!

pre hunt

Sadly the weather didn't cooperate and so we searched inside-

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They didn't seem bothered and the bounty was plentiful (although he does look a bit worse for the wear)!!

post hunt

We had a super time together, celebrating with wonderful food, good friends, family and so many things to be thankful for. We are all so amazingly blessed.

I love Easter- the new beginning, a fresh start, a bright outlook and so much happiness. A time to really be glad and to celebrate.

Our children's sermon this morning captured the Easter message in a way that made the whole thing much more clear for Cooper. The children was given a noise maker and they were able to use it each time we said Alleluia because we were practicing exuberance for God...."going crazy for Jesus". Totally out of character for our typically conservative church- but really powerful none the less.

Hope your Easter was filled with love, happiness & just the right bit of crazy!!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Class Play

Cooper's school is big on public speaking. This is great, if you're outgoing and a not deathly afraid of crowds and well, speaking in public.

Last year he cried through the first month of school, the patriotic program, the Christmas pageant and the Norway program. He made it through his class play and Author's Day without tears- I was elated and thought we were making progress!

This year, he cried on the 1st day of school and at Mexico Day. He made it through the Christmas Pageant (barely) but flew through the Poetry Reading with no issue. The class play was a total gamble.

He rocked it!

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He was the best python ever to appear in a production of Why do Mosquitoes Buzz in People"s Ears? No offense intended to the other python in the program- he too did a great job!

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We were so thrilled for him (and more than a little relieved)- you know those moments that you beam with pride and it just overwhelms you and you think that your heart just may explode with the complete feeling of love and adoration for the being that is your son, but you have to keep it tucked inside so that people don't think that you're completely over the top and obnoxious?? I think I was able to achieve that delicate balance (Jon confirmed it so there!)

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One of the best parts of class plays is the school tradition of "star mail". The rest of the lower school attends each production along with parents and grandparents. Once the children get back to their classrooms, they each choose a character in the play and write that child a note telling them why they liked their play. I LOVE this exercise for so many reasons- for the lessons it teaches, for the pride it builds and for the school community that it builds.

The below are notes that that Cooper received with spelling as is*!

Dear Cooper,
You were so good. You spoke so loud and clear. Your costume was very cool. You were the stare* of the show.

Your friend,
Thomas


Dear Cooper,
Your costume was graet*. You were a star.
Your friend,
Andy

PS. A is for Awesome C is for Cool E is for Excellent
PPS. You were the best
PPPS. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears is an awesome name.


The faces of the children as they read their mail- pure joy! How great is that?? For a group of 1st graders- the experience is priceless.

The same is true for their moms.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Pet-less

For the first time since 1991, I am pet-less. Similarly, for the first time since we met, Jon and I are pet-less. On Friday, we had to put my sweet kitten to sleep. I say kitten- she was almost 4. She was a stray that we rescued from the river. We called her Allie (yes, for alley cat)and for all intents and purposes, she was my cat.



Our neighbors fed her and she would come and sit on their front porch and sun herself beside their pool. She was teeny- and as time wore on, they were worried that she'd fall into the pool or would get sick from lapping up the chlorine filled water. She had a litter of kittens herself- and nature took its course with each of them. They were going to take her to animal control and my heart got the best of me.

We brought her home, and took her to the vet. He gave her the needed shots and sent me on my way. Less than 2 hours later, he called and said that she had tested positive for feline leukemia- it wasn't active- but she wouldn't live long. Did I want to bring her back for him to put her to sleep? WHAT??? Have you lost your mind? I/We loved her, and she wasn't sick. I did some research and found that cats can live for years until they actually get sick. We took the risk. She had to stay inside and we just needed to keep an eye on her for obvious changes in her demeanor.

She wasn't nuts about Jon- he could pet her once in a while IF she felt like it. On Tuesday she let him pick her up and cuddle. Her water dish (an old cup and saucer that she adopted) was full. I knew something was not right. On Wednesday I took her to the vet. He gave her some fluids, said she had an infection and prescribed some antibiotics. His direction was to call him on Friday if she wasn't better. On Thursday night, I couldn't find her- Jon finally found her curled up inside her litter box. On Friday I called the vet, was told that he was booked all day but that he'd call me back. I explained why I was calling and that I had an extremely sick cat- we needed to see him. I was polite- and implored them to relay the message that my cat was in dire need of attention. 4 hours passed without a response and I called back- he was again not available. I asked whether he had an appt on Saturday and was told that he was booked until Tuesday. I said that my cat wouldn't make it that long and they begrudgingly offered me an appt. on Saturday morning with another vet. I took it- and hung up.

I called Jon and through sobs/hysteria told him the story. He told me to pack up the cat and be waiting for him. He called Savannah's vet (yes, we see different vets- this will no longer be the case, but there's a long story attached), explained the situation and they told him to bring Allie in immediately.

Enter sobbing girl with sick cat and husband wearing an invisible superman cape. I adore this man!

His vet took one look at Allie and told me what I already knew- she was very ill and he couldn't save her. He did 2 tests- a red blood cell count and a feline leukemia test. She tested positive/active for feline leukemia and her red blood cell count was 7. Apparently, normal range is 35-40.

I adore this new vet who, because he loves animals so much, was able and willing to see me- and my cat, simply because we needed help. His kindness and compassion during our visit was amazing.

I am filled with so much anger for my own vet- who not only couldn't (and hasn't) return my call/plea for help but who clearly missed the major signs on Wednesday that my cat was beyond help. I am filled with agony to know that she was so miserable for 2 additional days- and that I couldn't help her.

I am filled with sadness that she's not a part of my life- but am at peace knowing that she was happy with us and that we made her 4 years the best that we could.

I'll miss you, Allie-