He was a good boy

We got the news last night that our niece's dog Chooch was hit by a car. We were so sad to learn that he didn't make it. Rest peacefully Choochie.

I spent a long time giving Bailey the attention she deserves but doesn't get as often as I know she would like. We would be devastated if we lost her - we are firm believers that we have Brenna because Bailey put the thoughts and stress of trying to get pregnant away. She is our first child, our furry baby, who is a true member of our family. We are trying to determine how to explain this life changing event to Brenna. She's old enough now to notice that Chooch is gone, and that people are sad that he isn't with us anymore. While I want to protect and shield her, death is a part of life that she is going face, hopefully not often. It's such an abstract concept for a child, so we will do our best and know that this sad event for our niece and family will lead us down one of the more difficult roads of parenthood.
We are a dog family, and all of our dogs are so much a part of our lives. Sammy, Bailey, Chooch, Bella, and Pepper make all of our lives better.

Rest peacefully good boy. Your family loves and misses you.

The pics of Chooch are from when he was a puppy...

I know, I know...

it has been entirely too long since I last posted. I have lots of stories and happenings to catch up on but am just plain too tired and busy. I promise to update soon...with pictures.

In the mean time, some highlights.

It rained in our house.

I finally got my hair cut.

Brenna is in a big girl bed *sniff.*

School, lesson plans, grading and more grading. Gearing up for testing.

Laundry, more laundry, more, more laundry.

There was time for scrapping ~ a while ago.

Neurotically planning for vacation in June ~ it makes me stress less to organize and plan now.

and last but not least...."as a matter of fact Jack, I like Yaks!" Moms may agree...

Tuesday 10 Spot

Ok so really it's Monday but it is close enough for me!

1. The basement is well on it's way to being a great place for playing and having family and friends over. Many of you know we had to un-finish our finished basement because we found mold and water damage. We think we have solved the water part and are now in the process of re-finishing...insulation is in and paneling is going up next...the ultimate goal is to have it ready so that we can host Christmas Eve. Sean is working so hard trying to get it done.

2. Still having a hard time trying to decide what to get the little girl for Christmas. She's at that age where she's to smart for the baby toys, but not really ready for big girl stuff. Her attention span is about a minute - ok maybe longer but she's 2 & 1/2 - it isn't very long! We want to find something that will keep her interested for more than the first 10 minutes she has it.

3. Speaking of Christmas, we started decorating but now we have to get the tree up. Unfortunately it is more than just pull it out and put it up. It is cleaning out whatever we need from the front closet - coats, vacuum cleaner, and any games we may want to play during our vacation, so we can move Bailey's crate. She doesn't ever get locked in the crate, but it is her safe place/house and she just doesn't do well when we take it down, especially when Sean is out of town. Then we move the crate into the area between the front door and closet door. Then we move the footstool into the crate spot, put a piece of wood on it, and then the tree goes up (up a little higher to keep dogs and little hands from touching things that they shouldn't causing said tree to become up-ended (my husband has rigged it so that we string the tree to the window and the magazine rack to keep it from coming down). Then we can think about decorating.

4. Sometimes I love when Thanksgiving is late because it means Christmas will be here sooner, but sometimes I just need more time!

5. We have started our shopping, but just for the little girl. I don't really know when that is going to happen either. Between work and school, the little girl, family time - as much as we can get, activities, and working on the basement there just isn't enough time in the day to do the normal house stuff, let alone extra stuff.

6. I have joined the world of facebook, not that I will ever do anything with it. Fun to think that I can find old friends if I put in a little effort.

7. It has been very, very cold...to cold to wash my car which is absolutely disgusting. I am embarrassed that it is so dirty - both inside and out. I need to make that a priority when the weather gets a little warmer, even if it is only clean for a few minutes!

8. I can't wait for a warmer snow day to take the little girl out and play in the snow! We went to the grocery store yesterday and all she wanted to do was walk in her boots in the snow. Who knew that 3 steps in a tiny patch of snow could make a little girl so happy!

9. Little girl is working on her potty training...she's getting the idea but just not interested in doing everything in the potty yet. We've tried panties but after an accident yesterday I think it is just time to let her be and get back to it during break.

10. Only 16 more days my friends...I can't wait, can you? Merry Christmas!

PS ~ pictures coming soon!

Thoughts for Thursday

Took Brenna for her 2 year photos today...my goodness...she is the sweetest!

Gearing up for the party. Why is it that when you have the most to accomplish, your body decides it is a good time to flake out and come down with something...I'm trying to burn it out with hot liquids although I don't think it is working. I don't have time to be sick!

I was cleaning and found these in the front closet...it was trash day but I couldn't bring myself to just put them on the curb so we loaded them into the car and took them to phone book recycling...there were 20, not including the bag of wet ones on the front porch which I keep forgetting about. Ridiculous I know but I never thought to get rid of the old as the new ones came I just shoved them in. At least the vacuum cleaner can be put away instead of hanging out in plain view all the time.


It is scary to delete the photos off the camera. I am now going to load everything onto my flash for back up....I should probably burn them to cd's as well...all in good time. I need to learn that it is ok not to keep every single picture that I take. Most of them are not good anyways. It was a friend who said "I take and take and take and take for a couple of really good shots!"

Brenna seems to be back to her old self. Full of toddlerisms that's for sure. I think her birthday is going to be fun for her this year. She has been walking around singing "Happy Birthday to me," all on her own...no coaching necessary. Such a silly, silly girl.


It's hard to believe that 2 years ago we were sitting in the hospital scared out of our minds about this little girl and the long road we thought we would be traveling down. In a matter of a few short days, we were amazed by the tiny girl born 8 weeks too soon. Nobody told her she was a preemie...preemie shmeemie mommy & daddy. Despite those long first weeks in the hospital (or short, as 3 weeks may seem to those who had a much longer stay than we did), she proved fiesty from minute one and has continued to be that way, proving to everyone that 8 weeks didn't mean anything to her. Size didn't matter in this case. Being her daddy's firey, fiesty, tempermental little girl meant everything. She's still has that same temperment and strong personality and I wouldn't want her any other way. The challenges were many but the milestones she surpassed and the joy she brings to us everyday makes every minute of that 32 week delivery priceless.


I'm getting all sentimental and weepy which that much worse because I don't feel 100% so I'm going to stop here. I need to rest so I can have energy when the little girl wakes up from her nap.