If she stopped by my house, I would give her my entire bowl of candy.
10.29.2010
10.28.2010
in love with a wookie
I don't know how to talk about Ella's passing. If you notice I tried to squeeze it in (very inappropriately) to JT's bday post. We are sad about Ella. It is so baffling that a dog should be able to get cancer. Does St. Francis know about this? Ella was an awesome dog. When we picked her up from the shelter, they told us (after I signed all the paperwork) that she had lived there for 3 years. It was all she knew. We really struggled at first with potty training but eventually she got the swing of things and fit in with the family. She was an awesome second mom. She tracked the boys constantly and was very protective of us all.
I have to admit that learning of Ella's diagnosis and having 3 weeks with her was comforting (in a selfish way). It gave all us time to digest the news and enjoy our time with her. It was easier than when Ethyl passed suddenly without warning. I know it was easier for us than it was for our friends who at the same time that we were getting Ella's news got news about their dog Jasper and sadly they had a shorter amount of time to make their decisions. The two families lamented our losses together. But with every sad story, there is a happy ending because Jasper's parents also have a dog named Ollie and Ollie has a brother named Jet. Call it lucky, fate, power of the gods, or serendipity but Jet was looking for a new home. He is a much loved dog who recently moved to an apartment and his mom realized he needed a little more room than what they had. Rick and I were hesitant to say yes to a new dog so soon but when you see Jet you just can't say no and I don't think either of us realized how much we would miss having a dog in our house.
And so today, we find ourselves on our first official day with Jet. He came over last night to watch the World Series and we all agreed to let him stay and see if he likes us as much as we like him. So far he has discovered cat food and due to his height he easily discovered people food on the table. I am sure we can come to a mutual understanding on both of these. I tried to take a few quick shots between calls this morning; Jet wasn't too thrilled b/c he is waiting patiently for a walk and doesn't want to mess with this camera nonsense.
I have to admit that learning of Ella's diagnosis and having 3 weeks with her was comforting (in a selfish way). It gave all us time to digest the news and enjoy our time with her. It was easier than when Ethyl passed suddenly without warning. I know it was easier for us than it was for our friends who at the same time that we were getting Ella's news got news about their dog Jasper and sadly they had a shorter amount of time to make their decisions. The two families lamented our losses together. But with every sad story, there is a happy ending because Jasper's parents also have a dog named Ollie and Ollie has a brother named Jet. Call it lucky, fate, power of the gods, or serendipity but Jet was looking for a new home. He is a much loved dog who recently moved to an apartment and his mom realized he needed a little more room than what they had. Rick and I were hesitant to say yes to a new dog so soon but when you see Jet you just can't say no and I don't think either of us realized how much we would miss having a dog in our house.
And so today, we find ourselves on our first official day with Jet. He came over last night to watch the World Series and we all agreed to let him stay and see if he likes us as much as we like him. So far he has discovered cat food and due to his height he easily discovered people food on the table. I am sure we can come to a mutual understanding on both of these. I tried to take a few quick shots between calls this morning; Jet wasn't too thrilled b/c he is waiting patiently for a walk and doesn't want to mess with this camera nonsense.
Here is what we know about this little guy:
He is two years old. His name is Jet (although Griffin told us that his full name is Jet Horn). He likes his toys, he likes cat food, and he looks like a wookie (he is actually a laberdoodle).
10.26.2010
Eight is Great!
I started thinking about this blog earlier today. I wanted to talk about JT turning 8 and about having to put Ella to sleep last week. Two heart-breaking topics although one is happier than the other (far happier). All of this was pushed aside as I found myself starting at day 1 of this blog and walking through all that has happened in our lives during the past 2.5 years of this blogs existence. There is so much that I have forgotten (train track to the head, winter baseball in 90 degree weather) and so many cute photos of the boys. I can't believe how much they have grown. Which is the perfect transition in to the Great Eight.
As with every birthday, JT is planning months in advance and he has BIG ideas many of which I just didn't have the time to bring to life but despite his mom's crazy work schedule we were able to pull off a fairly decent event. Brief overview - somehow this party grew to me having 11 boys at my house for a slumber party (note: 2 had early departures - 1 because of Sunday commitments and the other for puking). The theme was set as Halloween/baseball/football/scary movie night. We ended up with a mix of costumed/uncostumed children, pizza, cupcakes, wildness, Goosebumps movies, and a baseball game in the morning. Here are the best photos to complete the overview:
The Invitations
As with every birthday, JT is planning months in advance and he has BIG ideas many of which I just didn't have the time to bring to life but despite his mom's crazy work schedule we were able to pull off a fairly decent event. Brief overview - somehow this party grew to me having 11 boys at my house for a slumber party (note: 2 had early departures - 1 because of Sunday commitments and the other for puking). The theme was set as Halloween/baseball/football/scary movie night. We ended up with a mix of costumed/uncostumed children, pizza, cupcakes, wildness, Goosebumps movies, and a baseball game in the morning. Here are the best photos to complete the overview:
The Invitations
The Cupcakes
The party hit - Apple Bobbing
I think we spent over 30 minutes bobbing.
Zach in action
And then all hell broke loose. This started as the sweet game of wrapping your teammate in toilet paper to be a mummy and once we had the mummies a TP fight ensued. The good news, they all cleaned it up afterwards.
10.11.2010
Hurting the World
First everyone needs to take a moment to say "poor Meghan" because yesterday Rick and JT got to go to ACL fest (thanks to a fabulous friend who has the power to "get us in") while I took Zach and Griffin to a birthday party. Zach and Griffin are great company; the party was so-so.
After dropping Griffin off, Zach and I were heading home at which point Zach tells me this:
Zach: Mom you are mean.
Me: Excuse me?
Zach: You are hurting the world's feelings.
Me: What do you mean?
Zach: When you say that you are the greatest mom in the world, you hurt the world's feelings because there are other moms.
I had to apologize to the world and promise that I wouldn't say I was the greatest mom in the world ever.
After dropping Griffin off, Zach and I were heading home at which point Zach tells me this:
Zach: Mom you are mean.
Me: Excuse me?
Zach: You are hurting the world's feelings.
Me: What do you mean?
Zach: When you say that you are the greatest mom in the world, you hurt the world's feelings because there are other moms.
I had to apologize to the world and promise that I wouldn't say I was the greatest mom in the world ever.
9.28.2010
big surpise...it is baseball time again
Fall ball is here (how many times have I posted this?)
I only I have a few photos. I promise to take more. This year is hectic with Zachy moving up to 6U, which means he now plays with kids that have a range of ability and some coaches that are more focused on the win than the learning (this part makes it frustrating for mom's in the stands).
Zach has been playing pitcher. He says first is his favorite but feel like that may just be because JT plays first because Zach has some awesome technique at pitcher. In t-ball the role of the pitcher is to pretend to pitch so the batter knows when to hit (and the players know when to be ready). Most pitchers in this role weakly pretend to toss the ball. Zach on the other hand, performs the role with great bravado.
I promise to take more photos especially if he ever gets the full follow through complete with the back leg kick in the air.
JT's team is still in the coach-pitch 8U league. This season is interesting as we have several kids who have never played but they have come a long way in the past few weeks and the team is fun to watch. I only have one mediocre photo of JT mainly because I have been tasked with keeping the book this season. No photos of my book keeping just yet as I haven't mastered it, which means there is lots of crossing out and writing notes. Rick is just thankful that I haven't started doodling hearts and flowers in the margins.
Important thing in this shot is that you check out JT's early birthday present. He got a new first baseman glove at the start of the season. It looks monstrous in this photo but I assure you it is the right size.
And finally, I realize that few of my loyal followers may not be familiar with Zach's buddy Griffin; he is the younger brother of JT's buddy Rhys. He and Zach have suffered through many a baseball game together, which was only made possible by their equal love of Star Wars and the kindness of Griff's older sister Avery who is willing to help entertain them. Zach and Griffin now get the opportunity to play on the same team. All that said, here is a classic Griffin moment from our game(hint: check out his hat).
I only I have a few photos. I promise to take more. This year is hectic with Zachy moving up to 6U, which means he now plays with kids that have a range of ability and some coaches that are more focused on the win than the learning (this part makes it frustrating for mom's in the stands).
Zach has been playing pitcher. He says first is his favorite but feel like that may just be because JT plays first because Zach has some awesome technique at pitcher. In t-ball the role of the pitcher is to pretend to pitch so the batter knows when to hit (and the players know when to be ready). Most pitchers in this role weakly pretend to toss the ball. Zach on the other hand, performs the role with great bravado.
JT's team is still in the coach-pitch 8U league. This season is interesting as we have several kids who have never played but they have come a long way in the past few weeks and the team is fun to watch. I only have one mediocre photo of JT mainly because I have been tasked with keeping the book this season. No photos of my book keeping just yet as I haven't mastered it, which means there is lots of crossing out and writing notes. Rick is just thankful that I haven't started doodling hearts and flowers in the margins.
Important thing in this shot is that you check out JT's early birthday present. He got a new first baseman glove at the start of the season. It looks monstrous in this photo but I assure you it is the right size.
And finally, I realize that few of my loyal followers may not be familiar with Zach's buddy Griffin; he is the younger brother of JT's buddy Rhys. He and Zach have suffered through many a baseball game together, which was only made possible by their equal love of Star Wars and the kindness of Griff's older sister Avery who is willing to help entertain them. Zach and Griffin now get the opportunity to play on the same team. All that said, here is a classic Griffin moment from our game(hint: check out his hat).
Zach and Griffin are really a match made in heaven; they both love to ham it up and even have similar tantrum techniques.
blog cruise
I spend an inordinate amount of time online and not by choice. Technically I am working but often there is a break here and there especially when a conference call becomes a discussion that doesn't involve me and that is when I start on my blog cruise.
So imagine my surprise when I see that some of my favorite design blogs are all talking about a launch party for Rue magazine. What? Why wasn't I invited and then I remember that I don't make a living with design or a design blog, I just like to look at them. I really don't have much designer in me but I do love to pretend. I've never dreamt of being a designer, I think that is what Judes should be doing, but I do love to rearrange my furniture and see what other people are doing with their places.
Anywho, I ramble. Here is Rue Magazine. I am hoping that I can get this in hard copy. I am not sure it will replace my beloved Cottage Living but I am desperate to find something.
I also want this (until I saw the price). I want it outside as a shared office for Rick and myself or maybe as a playroom for the boys. What I really, really want is just ONE more room. I don't know why Rick just doesn't build me one. I have been toying with the idea of moving the boys to our room so they have a bigger space to destroy. So often we send them to their room to play and by moving them to our room we could (despite my long held belief not to) move the wii in there and then Rick and I could hang out in the living room without the constant demand to play wii. I just don't know if I can give up my closet though, which honestly I hadn't thought about until my mom mentioned it. We really do love that closet and I have a lot going on in there (which is code for it is a HUGE mess and I have some early Christmas gifts stowed away in there).
So this long pointless post is to announce the whole Rue magazine for anyone looking for some diversion and to announce that I have changed some of blog links to the right. I eliminated some of the blogs that I have outgrown.
So imagine my surprise when I see that some of my favorite design blogs are all talking about a launch party for Rue magazine. What? Why wasn't I invited and then I remember that I don't make a living with design or a design blog, I just like to look at them. I really don't have much designer in me but I do love to pretend. I've never dreamt of being a designer, I think that is what Judes should be doing, but I do love to rearrange my furniture and see what other people are doing with their places.
Anywho, I ramble. Here is Rue Magazine. I am hoping that I can get this in hard copy. I am not sure it will replace my beloved Cottage Living but I am desperate to find something.
I also want this (until I saw the price). I want it outside as a shared office for Rick and myself or maybe as a playroom for the boys. What I really, really want is just ONE more room. I don't know why Rick just doesn't build me one. I have been toying with the idea of moving the boys to our room so they have a bigger space to destroy. So often we send them to their room to play and by moving them to our room we could (despite my long held belief not to) move the wii in there and then Rick and I could hang out in the living room without the constant demand to play wii. I just don't know if I can give up my closet though, which honestly I hadn't thought about until my mom mentioned it. We really do love that closet and I have a lot going on in there (which is code for it is a HUGE mess and I have some early Christmas gifts stowed away in there).
So this long pointless post is to announce the whole Rue magazine for anyone looking for some diversion and to announce that I have changed some of blog links to the right. I eliminated some of the blogs that I have outgrown.
9.21.2010
Random Notes
Here are random things I think you should all know:
1) I am sorry for my lack of blogging. Life here is just topsy-turvy in some good and bad ways. I promise to get better and for those that follow the Trophy Husband, I made him promise to update his blog because that last, lingering blog post is way too depressing and thankfully he is out of that funk.
2) Everyone please say a prayer or have a thought (whatever works for you) for our dear sweet Ella. She has gotten oddly ill in the past few days. We noticed she was losing weight but yesterday it looked like she lost a ton of weight (to the gross point of bones sticking out) and it seems like she lost her eyesight in at least one eye. She is very lethargic and the poor thing fell off the deck this morning when she went out to go to the bathroom. We head to the vet at 10 AM.
3) Chandra and I are gearing up for our first ever visit to the Fall Antique Show in Round Top. I am going to admit that (and I speak for us both) we were not at all satisfied with our performance at the Spring show. I am definitely the more impulsive buyer of the two of us but this past spring we both swayed way too far to the hesitant buyer and we both have some regrets. We are nervous but we have a plan and it includes a separate cash stash for pie (last year we almost missed out on pie from Royers because they sold out and they were only taking cash for a whole pie).
4) I am knee deep in crafts most of which are Christmas presents so I can't share but keep your fingers crossed that I meet with success. I will take photos and post when the time is right!
5) Because of all these crafts, I decided to give myself a break and I am not making Halloween costumes this year. I grilled the boys, forced them to sign the "I will not change my mind" agreement, and then snuck off to Target last week and made my purchases. It feels odd to have them so early but I am also relieved to have that off my list. Now I just need to keep the boys away from the bag.
6) October will be extra emotional as JT is going to be 8. 8! I honestly have no idea how this happened but it makes me sad. But not a bad sad, that bittersweet sad. He is a great kid but 8 is closer to 10 then I like and 10 is closer to 12 and then 15...
7) Fall Ball has started. We are in a new league (which we love) and both boys are loving it. We are also busy with the select league plans for the Spring but I will hold off on that talk until later this year.
8) My hope of running Austin 1/2 is dimming. I have yet to get a good running routine but I am not going to give up just yet. I just need to take some time to map out a plan and commit to setting work/life aside and getting my runs in.
1) I am sorry for my lack of blogging. Life here is just topsy-turvy in some good and bad ways. I promise to get better and for those that follow the Trophy Husband, I made him promise to update his blog because that last, lingering blog post is way too depressing and thankfully he is out of that funk.
2) Everyone please say a prayer or have a thought (whatever works for you) for our dear sweet Ella. She has gotten oddly ill in the past few days. We noticed she was losing weight but yesterday it looked like she lost a ton of weight (to the gross point of bones sticking out) and it seems like she lost her eyesight in at least one eye. She is very lethargic and the poor thing fell off the deck this morning when she went out to go to the bathroom. We head to the vet at 10 AM.
3) Chandra and I are gearing up for our first ever visit to the Fall Antique Show in Round Top. I am going to admit that (and I speak for us both) we were not at all satisfied with our performance at the Spring show. I am definitely the more impulsive buyer of the two of us but this past spring we both swayed way too far to the hesitant buyer and we both have some regrets. We are nervous but we have a plan and it includes a separate cash stash for pie (last year we almost missed out on pie from Royers because they sold out and they were only taking cash for a whole pie).
4) I am knee deep in crafts most of which are Christmas presents so I can't share but keep your fingers crossed that I meet with success. I will take photos and post when the time is right!
5) Because of all these crafts, I decided to give myself a break and I am not making Halloween costumes this year. I grilled the boys, forced them to sign the "I will not change my mind" agreement, and then snuck off to Target last week and made my purchases. It feels odd to have them so early but I am also relieved to have that off my list. Now I just need to keep the boys away from the bag.
6) October will be extra emotional as JT is going to be 8. 8! I honestly have no idea how this happened but it makes me sad. But not a bad sad, that bittersweet sad. He is a great kid but 8 is closer to 10 then I like and 10 is closer to 12 and then 15...
7) Fall Ball has started. We are in a new league (which we love) and both boys are loving it. We are also busy with the select league plans for the Spring but I will hold off on that talk until later this year.
8) My hope of running Austin 1/2 is dimming. I have yet to get a good running routine but I am not going to give up just yet. I just need to take some time to map out a plan and commit to setting work/life aside and getting my runs in.
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