Ghosts of Guests Past ~ Ode to the FAM

I'm back at the beautiful game of catch-up/time travel....woooosh, and we're back in the wondrous month of April, for Bugga's second birthday. What kind of mother doesn't blog her son's second birthday when it actually happens?! Well, I suppose I would be that kind of mother. ;) Oops!

Jeremy's parents, sister, brother-in-law, and their 3 darling offspring made the long trek up from NE for the weekend preceding Bug's birthday. It was so nice to have them visit and we had so much fun!!!

Here's Bugga with Jake (left) and Jedd (right). He loves being around his cousins, and these guys are so good to him even though they're older and more able and all that good stuff. =)

This is J's sweet sis Danelle, her hubby Kelvin, and all the kids, including our own, which I enjoy because it makes it look like they have 4 kids. And were there a companion picture of J and I at that same moment, it would look like we have none. HA!

Anyway, something interesting to know about our bro-in-law Kelvin is that he cannot...sit...still. No way, no how, the guy is go-go-go-go-go. And then go a little more. If you please. So you can bet the weekend was full of activity all around. I am by nature a tad lazier...eeek, at least I admit it openly, right?! But even I had to admit, we had a blast and saw stuff here in MN that we hadn't yet seen in our roughly year and a half of state residence, so that was cool.

We went to the cities, of course. We adult females absconded with Grady to IKEA while the adult males and remaining chitlins enjoyed the Mall of America. Then we had some fun--sure, that's how I remember it, "fun"--winding our way through traffic and finally landing near a park, the name is which is very much escaping me.

{I blame whatever happened to my brain after this occurred...for the record.}

We had a grand time exploring, nonetheless. You don't need to know the name of a place to enjoy it, right?! Right! =)

Jake did everything in his power to escape the ruthless glare of the camera all weekend. See here, he's looking away, taunting me. The scoundrel.

Jedd tried to run too, but I can still catch him. ;) Barely.

Jenna, on the other hand, knows how to work it. =) Isn't she beautiful!!!

See boys, does she look like she is in pain here?! It isn't so bad, I swear! Come back and let me take your picture. ;)

To his credit, Jedd and I seem to have a deal worked out, he'll let me take his photo, but he gets to be silly. Personally, I wouldn't want it any other way. Just don't tell him, okay?!

Jenna has her fair share of silly too. It's a slightly more quiet, subdued silly though. =)

We also traveled to St. Cloud, to yet another park whose name has left me. Anyway, it was a cloudy day...yup, on the day we went to St. Cloud...mwahahaha. Oh gees, sorry, the strangest things entertain me. Anyway, we didn't get a lot of good shots that day, but this kind of made me laugh.

Someone is undoubtedly making fun of me here. Either Kelvin or J, not sure. I have evidently blocked those details out too, and would happily be thinking it was all sweetness and light that weekend, were it not for the photographic evidence. Oh well, it couldn't have been that bad. ;)

We did spend a little time at home. This pictures cracks me up, I title it "Like Mother, Like Son."

So that was Bugga's 2nd birthday weekend! THANKS so much to the family for traveling so far to be with him, it really made it so special! =) Can't wait til we see you all again, whenever that might be. Much love and many hugs...

PSA

I just tore myself up off the floor, from amidst a pile of pitties--slobbery kisses, tangled legs, soft ears, sweet eyes, and pushy snouts all vying for loving attention--to bring you this public service announcement.

People suck. =( As certain dogs are vilified darn near daily in our national media, these horrible things were happening right under all our noses basically. Where was the media then? Where are they now?

378 dogs. The count is at 378 dogs that were being used--and in the most horrendous possible ways--by humans for profit. 26 people arrested, though you know that doesn't even come close to covering all the involved parties, all the sick, twisted individuals that got some kind of kick out of watching dogs tear each other apart.

I apologize for sounding angry, I really do, but my stomach aches over the evil treatment of animals at the hands of some humans. And that goes beyond this current story also. I try to remind myself that there are loving humans doing amazing things for dogs and cats and other companion animals and wildlife all over the world; it just gets hard to keep that in mind on weeks like this. When news like this breaks.

If you have it in your heart to want to do something, the Humane Society of Missouri could use donations to help care for the dogs as they await hopefully fair evaluations to determine their ultimate fates. As a fellow friend in rescue pointed out, it warms the heart that they include sturdy toys and creamy peanut butter in the wish list. I'm fairly certain these dogs have never known such simple pleasures.

If nothing else, love a dog today. Any dog you can get your hands on. Or just wave nicely to the dog owner walking down the street. Spread a little positive energy toward the 4-legged creatures among us. I know I'll be doing my small part. ;)

*Yes, all the hyperlinks are separate articles/sites. Just an FYI.

Back to your regularly scheduling programming soon...up next, Bugga's family makes his second birthday extra special. ;)

NINE

THANKS for putting up with me like no one else probably could. ;)

THANKS for making me laugh. Every day. =)

THANKS for being on the same page with me (most of the time, ha!)...even when most people consider me out in left field or I've turned the corner to crazy-town.

THANKS for our son, and for the being the most amazing co-parent I could have ever imagined.

THANKS for reaching for the stars when I'm often content to hug the ground.

THANKS for being the yin to my yang, the peanut butter to my jelly, the orange juice to my M&Ms. (What?! Don't tell me you don't like OJ and M&Ms together?! Who are you people?!)

THANKS for being my handyman and makin' it happen, cap'n. ;)

THANKS for picking me.

THANKS for NINE years...here's to 99 more. ;)

{Okay, that last bit, not possible really. Though I do imagine that by that point, 127 will be the new 101, so you just never know, now do you?! }

Love you J. I think I'll keep you. =)

Could it be...?

...that I'm dreaming of the weekend already?!

*Sigh* Sweet vintage-stove-turned-"firepit."

Of course, there's no law against lazy nights out by the fire during the week, it just never seems to happen that way. =)

*Yes indeedy these pictures are old, as evidenced by the bare trees in the background. But not as old as one might think...Spring in MN tends to test one's patience.

A different kind of holiday...

Happy 4th of July everyone! While many around the country light fireworks, have a barbeque, head out to parades, and any other manner of celebrating our country, we...well, we kind of had a normal day. ;) I know, go figure, go figure.

The Bug is just a smidge young yet for staying up late enough for fireworks. We tried it last year, and he melted into a heap of infant-becoming-toddler moodiness as we waited for the fireworks to start. Last night, we noted that at 7:45p, he had a eerily similar fit. We decided at that moment that staying up til 10p to watch fireworks was not in the cards this year either.

Fine by us, though. I can already hear some displays happening in our neighborhood, so we don't feel completely left out of the fun. ;)

I'm sitting on the patio, as J gets ready to start a fire, so I thought I'd post a few photos of our day. You know, to keep me from mauling the bag of marshmallows prematurely. ;)

More dirty Bugga.

Each day, he expands my horizons regarding all the ways dirt can be used, the ways it is funny, the heartbreak it can cause if you separate a boy from his dirt...the possibilities are endless (as is my laundry pile).

My funny-face Bran, always so happy just to be outside.

One of the many reasons I love dogs so much is their immeasurable pleasure in the simple things in life. =)

You can't forget resident girlie, Miss Paisley. Nope. Never. Because she would never let anyone forget her.

Just go ahead and try, she dares you. ;)

Sweet Sula loves her time in the sun too. Her small break from those 8 rapidly-growing, ever-hungry, increasingly-mobile pups of hers.

We took a 9.5 mile bike ride this morning. Whew...I was pushing it at the end. Jeremy, however, could have kept going for probably double that. I mistakenly tried to race J down one of the last hills--after a killer uphill. For me, that is. Not him. Drat! Anyway, the downhill proved just as futile. I call gravity on that one though, I mean really...he's bigger than me, plus he was pulling Bugga in the trailer. Now that doesn't speak well for the fact that he beat me up pretty much every hill too, but I'm choosing not to focus on that. ;)

No pictures of the bike ride, but on the other end of the spectrum of the day's activities, here are J and Paisley enjoying some hammock time.

"Up...pease...up"

Once up, he pretty much just disturbed the peace of the hammock for everyone else. What would we expect though?!

Pai and J, in slightly different light. And with some crazy eyes from Paisley, just to keep you all on your toes. =)

For some reason, I love this pic J took from inside the hammock.

Bugga cleaning up before going inside. ;)

Well...really, that water was for the dogs, but Grady makes little distinction between himself and the dogs, often drinking out of it just like they do, and just as often dumping dirt into it and taking his wet hands and making mud. Oh the joy!!! Dirt...water...together. Ahhhhh. The boy's heart swells at the thought I swear. =)

We ended our day with some cheap-rubber-ball soccer--inside, just to jazz things up--and now a little marshmallow roasting and doggie snuggling. Oooh, better go, J handed me my roasting stick, I can nearly taste them. =) Now if I can just keep the dogs from thinking they need to share....

Ghosts of Guests Past ~ Ode to Stewarts

As I went about finally cleaning the guest room after Dad's recent visit, I was reminded of all the guests we've had over the past year. Our friends, the Stewarts, came to visit back in March of this year. Also way back then, I promised to blog the visit. Clearly, this post is really stretching the whole better-late-then-never philosophy. Eeek!

Annnnyway...

Here's to you Stee-warts. Did you know that's how J had you entered into our phonebook on our phone? ;)

Get ready for some severe picture overload. I don't think I've posted this many photos to one post since last Fall when Chris and Nichole got married and took us all on their honeymoon (I love saying it like that, hehe; posts here, here, here, and here. Whew.)

With 3 munchkins in the house, you can bet there was tons of this:

Welcome to mid-March in MN little man. =)

Yes, we were blessed with new snow right before their visit. Thankfully, the sun-washed dessert-dwellers were actually excited for the change in climate. As I dreamt of Spring, I thought they were a bit bananas, but it worked out well. ;)

I think these poofy pants might have taken up their own suitcase. HA!

Princess, indeed. =) She is such a perfect mix of sassy of sweet...the kind that raises your eyebrow as it forces a smile across your face. Love miss Gabby!

Oops! I do not remember how Mason ended up in this position, but what a photo op, right?!

The dogs got in on the mix too. That's Ham-bone, formerly Moanie (more on him and his visit in another post), trying to keep up with Paisley. My girl got air, baby! ;)

This looks like a really dangerous proposition for Justin doesn't it? If memory serves, no one was injured, so it's all good.

Snow monster. ;) Check out Justin in the background, already stripped down to shorts.

Then the kiddos would come inside, warm up, and enjoy some time on the lounger.

We also journeyed to the twin cities, enjoying--errr, tolerating?--a super-crowded children's museum, and then on to the Mall of America, that iconic stop that everyone wants to make. =)

Here, Mason snacks as he watches for his Mom and sissie on one of the rides.

Gabby's face says it all after they were done. =)

Mason and Grady found this little stage; this was before one or the other of them took a break for it to try their entertainment skills. Hehe.

Mason and his Dad, Justin. Doesn't the little guy look so sweet here? That's how they get ya...

It was off to the lego tables next. Note Gabby's look of concentration here.

You knew those pesky boys weren't going to let that go.

Oh no! There it is. They did it now.

She's a trooper, she recovered. =)

Let's see, what could I have possibly not covered? Ahhh, well, this is how Gabby spent a good portion of that weekend:

She and Paisley had a bond that evoked truly dangerous thoughts, I tell you. Like the thought that Paisley needs a little girl in her life. ;)

Right up to the very end, Gabby lavished affection on Paisley and Pai soaked it up in a way that caught me by surprise.

Not that she doesn't soak up Bugga's love and attention too, just that she is often as likely to avoid it. ;) The girl likes her space, usually. With Gab though, she was quite content right where she was, it was so precious!

So THANK YOU Justin, Tara, Gabby, and Mason for trading your AZ sunshine for MN sunshine-with-snow!

We can't wait to repay the visit, preferably when it's below zero here. =) Love to you guys!

Happy 4th of July weekend everyone! More catching up on the way, stay tuned. ;)

Momma Sula

As the Bug is busying himself covering and uncovering Paisley in her chair (darn, she's a good girl; her patience with the boy often rivals and/or exceeds my own), I thought I'd take a moment to introduce our 8 newest {temporary} family members.

I shared briefly how Sula came into our lives Saturday, June 13th and by 8a the next morning, she brought another 8 little beings into the world.

Here they are, a couple of days later.

I'll spare you all the gory details and equally gory late-night video. ;) Well, "gory" to some might well be "beautiful" to others. I myself was somewhat in awe, if not completely freaked out at the same time. Having brought forth my own little being into this world, I felt a strange connection to Sula throughout the process. She labored largely with her head hanging out the baby pool, in my lap, letting me massage and pet her and whisper encouragements that I'm sure meant little to her...being a dog and all. =)

As you can see, she did great, and delivered 8 beautiful, healthy puppies.

Each and every one of them knew what their duty was, and this is it. Most of the early pictures are of this, because this is all they do. Much like human babies. Who'd 'ave thunk?! HA! {Sarcasm alert, in case anyone wants to lecture me about mammalian laws of nature or something.}

Sula is holding up like a champ to the demands of motherhood.

Albeit a rather tired champ, at times. ;)

Again, much like a human Momma. =)