The last three months

I haven't been blogging much lately. I have stuff to say but just don't make the time to put it down. So here is summary of some things that happened the end of last year. I really want to make a habit of writing again. I enjoy keeping track of what we do, I love looking back at these written down memories! So my New Year's resolution (pretty late I know) is to blog more frequently!

A beautiful fall

Full egg production!

Mason baking bread for a Spanish class (the Day of Dead bread)
Logan getting some air

Logan in 7th grade ball (he is the one with the ball)

Skeet shooting -Logan

Skeet shooting-Mason

Millie-I took another photography class

Hunting season begins
Logan heading to his stand
Mason and his doe
Snow and sledding


The expectant mother ~SydneyThe puppies arrived on Dec 9, 3 boys and 3 girls
Christmas memories

Family visited to celebrate Christmas
Natalie
Cole
Burke~celebrating his 4th birthday
Greer
Logan and Emily vs Jason and Caleb

Introducing Alley Cat (aka Alexandria the Great)

When Cleo disappeared the house was way too quiet. I felt like a trader by even thinking about a new kitty. But the quietness and the sadness of our hearts and home led us to adopt another cat. The new cat is named Alley Cat (or her formal name is Alexandria the Great...I guess the need to have a formal name comes from having registered Golden's). We call her Alley and she was adopted from an animal shelter called the ARK (which ironically is the vet clinic we went to in India!). She is around 7 months old an is already spayed, micro chipped and up to date on her vaccinations. When we first got her I didn't sleep at all that night, I kept thinking we shouldn't have got her, it was too soon, she wouldn't be a good cat etc...she wasn't Cleo. I even thought maybe we should take her back, but Logan asked how I could take her back to "that place?" I realized he was right, the animal shelter wasn't a happy home for a cat to live in. I then realized that she wasn't Cleo, not even a replacement. She was just another addition to our family. Those first few days Alley constantly rubbed up against our legs, we learned this is a way a cat marks their territory...she was claiming us. Alley had been a bottle baby so she is super affectionate. She loves being cuddled and purrs lots and can be entertained for hours with a shoe string. She has learned the house and while she doesn't sleep in Cleo's favorite spots, she is finding her own. Alley hasn't been outside since birth and we have no intention of letting her outside. She is strictly and inside cat. Ted doesn't appear to be having allergy issues with her which is awesome! She is super calm about having her nails trimmed and even likes her bath...yeah I know cat plus water should equal a disaster. But she doesn't mind it.

Cleo...come home kitty

Cleo, the cat we adopted while in India has disappeared. She was mostly an indoor cat but loved going outside. She most of the time never ventured far, just a bit into the timber and would always come back. Cleo loved going out first thing in the morning for about an hour then back inside for breakfast and a nap and then later in the day to lay in the warm sun. She almost always stayed inside at night. There were a few instances when she did stay outside but she was always at the backdoor waiting for us in the morning. Well it has been over 2 weeks when we last saw our Cleo. I remember seeing her on the railing by the back door as was going to let her in when she hopped off and went into the yard. That was the last time we saw her. I don't know what happened to her but my heart is still sad that we may never see her again. Cleo joined our family at about 4-5 weeks old, she was so tiny when we got her. She came from our driver's neighbor. It was so funny when we got her because Millie was terrified of this tiny little kitty. But eventually Millie became Cleo's best friend. They played so hard together, have the time Cleo would chase Millie throughout the house. Cleo had quite the life, living in the US instead of the streets of India. When I get sad I try to think about how she had such a wonderful life however short it was compared to the life she would have had as a cat in India. She flew half way around the world and saw her first snow. She learned about catching birds and playing with our outdoor kitty. She eventually learned how to not only climb up trees but to climb down them as well (Ted rescued her once). She pretty much ruled the house, coming to you when she felt like it. Many time she almost got caught up in the sewing machine. When walking through the house I still look for her in her favorite spots only to find her not there. Why do we get so attached to our pets?? Oh Cleo, I would be so happy if you wandered up the back door again.Oh my sweet Cleo, how I miss you and your funny antics...come back Cleopatches!

The house has been too quiet with out Cleo, we haven't replaced her but added to our family again with another kitty. Stay tuned for a post about the new kitty.

Emily turns double digits

No more is anyone single digits in our household. Makes us feel kind of old! Emily is celebrating her 10th birthday this beautiful fall day we were blessed with. She is growing up way too fast! I can't imagine not having a little girl in our house. According to the boys she adds much "drama" but I love having her around! I always have so much fun with the birthday blog. It is fun to look back and reminisce over the older photos. It seems like when your kids are first born that the time goes so slowly but looking back it just went fast and seems to be picking up speed! I don't like it, before we know it they will be graduated and onto college!
Emily had a fun day even though she had to go to school. Today was the 4th grade field trip to Wildlife Prairie Park where they had a great day to enjoy fishing and hearing a great talk on Illinois aquatic life. It was especially neat as the high school Biology class went along to help the kids fish so Mason was able to help Emily today. We celebrated dinner at Red Lobster where she enjoyed crab. Then home to open gifts and eat cake. She had a fun filled day!!
Emily we love you so much and am thankful that God brought you into our family. Happy Birthday Emily!