Stella

We said goodbye to our sweet Stella this weekend. It was very tough, and continues to be. 

I take comfort in knowing she didn't suffer very long though. On Wednesday, she jumped on the counter to eat my lunch I made (pulled pork) while I answered the door. She was her usual mischievous self. On Saturday we knew something was very wrong. She wouldn't move and, for the first time in 9 years, she didn't eat her food. We took her to the animal hospital and found out she had cancer and was bleeding internally. 

*****

When Chris and I got married he immediately wanted a dog. I asked him to wait a year thinking he would forget. He didn't. And, right around our one year anniversary, we went to pick out Stella. Chris found a breeder in Tennessee and we drove to meet all of the pups. We played with all of them but only one stayed by our side the whole time. It was obvious which one was our dog.

We picked her out but didn't get to bring her home for a few more weeks. And y'all. She was the CUTEST puppy that has ever lived. I mean look at her.

She was a total rascal though. Mischievous to her very core. She was playful and silly and kept us on our toes. She ATE everything. We got dog toy after dog toy and she destroyed all of them. 

She loved to dig. She dug up until last week!

Having a dog made Chris so happy.

We took her to the dog park to burn off energy. We also took her to Swim Day at Tom Sawyer Park which she thought was the best day ever. 

Most of our girls friends were scared of her (she was a big gal) but not Maddie and Sydney. They loved their Stella. She was here before they were and loved them so much.

No matter where we were, Stella was right there with us. She loved sitting under the swing set while the girls played or at the trampoline entrance keeping a watchful eye over them. It could sometimes be difficult to play hide and seek with her around. She was a loud breather!

She loved chasing bunnies, eating ANYTHING she could find and car rides.

Before her arthritis set in she loved taking walks.

She loved the snow!

Mainly she just enjoyed being around us.

The house is very quiet right now. With working from home, I talked to Stella a lot. We ate lunch together almost every day. It didn't matter what I was having, she liked it and wanted me to share. There is a space under our kitchen counter that is empty - she laid here every morning while we were all getting ready and out the door. 

Stella, we miss you so much!  

Leader Day, Strep Throat and Friends!

Maddie's school had Leader Day this year and M was so excited to be chosen as one of the three leaders for her class. She welcomed parents to the class room, gave them a tour, talked about their WIGs (wildly important goals), reviewed the 7 Habits (her school is big on the 7 Habits for Healthy Children), and more. 

She was so proud!

And so was I! I took the day off work so that I could see her in action.

Celebrating with some fro-yo after!

Maddie has been doing tremendous with her reading. She's up to a 4th grade level and reads constantly. It makes me so happy! She's reading Box Car Children now - I used to LOVE that series and think I might re-read with her now!

Maddie is our early riser. It's nice because now she can read for a bit before waking up the rest of the house. 

It was Derby here in the Bluegrass and we went to a neighbor's house for a party. It was raining a large chunk of the day but that didn't stop the kids from swimming. The pool was 85 degrees so it was actually warmer inside the pool than out! 

Cheering on Justified!

In typical KY fashion, we have completely skipped an entire season. We've gone straight to blazing hot. Kids have been enjoying all of the extra out door time!

On Tuesday of this past week, Chris woke me up complaining of a sore throat. Five minutes later Maddie came in our room crying of a sore throat. I took them to Little Clinic where they both had positive strep throat tests. Lovely.

I played working mom and doctor mom for a few days and thought we were in the clear! We had the craziest day planned for Saturday and about 10 minutes before we left the house Sydney said "my mouth hurts."

Syd is a work horse. Her pain tolerance must be high or she just doesn't get things as extreme as Maddie. We barely knew when she had the flu a few months ago. With strep, she was still playing hard but would regularly interrupt us to tell us her mouth hurt. No fever. 

We had dinner plans with some friends so she went to grandma's for some snuggles. 

And a popsicle.

Since Sydney was still contagious she had to miss our crazy busy day.

We walk in the March of Dimes every year with our friends Ronny and Kristin, whose daughter was born at 24 weeks. 

We went to Hudson's Nerf Gun Party.

 They had targets set up all over the yard with buckets of darts. 

Then we went to Lizzy's Tennis Clinic Party. 

 Maddie loved it! (And now wants tennis lessons, of course.)

It's Mother's Day. It is not lost on me the privilege I have of raising these two young ladies.

 The days are long, but the years are short!

Almost Summer Break!

We're in the weird space between Spring Break and Summer Break. It's cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon. My kid goes to the bus stop in shorts and a winter coat - haha!! Days are getting longer and we are so enjoying being outdoors later!

With the crazy weather, comes the crazy allergies. Sydney got her first ear infection in awhile so we had a doctor's visit to check things out. 

Taking a selfie with Maddie while waiting on the ENT.

While we were taking selfies, Sydney was spinning fast and furious in the doctor's chair. 

Poor little miss actually got put on amoxicillin and couldn't keep it down so she was diagnosed with a medicine allergy. That's a big bummer since Penicillen is so cheap and effective. 

 Maddie's buddy Carson had a birthday party and his parents were sweet enough to let me bring Sydney since Chris was training.

I told Sydney she needed to behave and lay low. About 5 minutes in, she was chasing Breckin (who is a big 7 year old) screaming at him to give her a turn with the nerf gun.

Kid takes no prisoners.

The day after celebrating Carson, we got to celebrate our sweet neighbor Madison.

Maddie's Girl Scout Trip had an outing to the police station - it was really the neatest thing! We got to visit the evidence lockers, investigation room, and, my favorite, the 911 command center.

Our officer had unparalleled patience with this troop!

Little miss and I continue our Friday day dates. Last week we were at a stalemate on where to eat so we did drive-throughs and had a picnic in the car. She loved it.

Nana got the girls matching tops and I tried to snap her a pic, except Sydney was being Sydney.

You all. This kid chooses joy EVERY day. She is a total riot.

It feels like Winter lasted FOREVER this year so, every opportunity possible, we've been outside enjoying it all!

We had s'mores with Hudson and Sloane.

And ice cream!

We tried a new restaurant - Double Dogs - and the kids thought it was a hoot eating out of dog bowls.

We love going to Drake's and getting sushi by the open windows. The girls can play games while they wait for their food.

But, if we can't get a spot by the window, we hope to get a spot by the computer. The girls love putting in orders.

We've been getting all of the salt and dirt and grime off our cars!

All of our neighbors are getting their pools open, mom and I have started walking every night again, it's light when the bus comes at 6:40 --- it must be almost summer!!