In Loving Memory of Friday

Friday

July 3, 2010-August 29,2010

This morning, we found that Friday had passed away and joined his brother. We think these kittens must have been sick before we got them. Friday had been eating really well for the past few days and we felt hope and continued to give him lots of love and attention. We had no warning signs that he was near death. We suspected that he may be sick like his brother but didn't expect him passing away so soon.

Friday loved to play outside with the kids and lay in the sun by the patio door. He was very playful and loved to lay on you.

CJ has taken this lost the hardest. She couldn't understand how Friday could have died with all the love she had been giving it. Wouldn't it be great, if all that was needed to sustain life, was love?

Mia drew a picture during church about the cats and heaven. There in heaven is Jesus, a 100 year old person, a girl she doesn't know and Friday and Thirteen. I love that she thought that Friday was an asian cat!

We are going to try to get another kitten (or 2, if Ben has his way) but we are going to be smarter this time. We had gotten these kittens from Pittsburg, and for those who are not familiar with the area, just think of Oakland-it's pretty similiar. I remember after getting the kittens feeling an urge to run to my car, get inside and lock it!

We will probably try to get the kittens from a better area and maybe even a Pet place, although, Ben has already looked into getting one at a shelter and there is so much red tape. You have to bring the whole family in, sign adoption forms and answer questions. Then, they will decide if you are fit enough to be the owner of the kitten. Ben has also said, that lots of places think that the best environment for animals are ones without kids! That's California for you!

We will also get an older kitten. We think these kittens were a little young and maybe weaned too early.

Even though, I am enjoying the bathroom being free of liter and smell, I am hoping that the kids and Ben get another HEALTHY kitten soon. Friday was my favorite of the two. He seemed good natured, fun and playful.

We will miss you and I will miss you, Friday!

In Loving Memory of Thirteen

Thirteen

July 3, 2010-August 27, 2010

Thirteen was our black kitten whom we found this morning had passed away during the night. We just got him on Sunday and a few days later noticed that we had not seen him eat or drink. We continued to monitor him and Ben tried different types of food and even last night was feeding him by putting the food into his mouth.

Thirteen had no desire to even try to eat and it was like he had given up on life. We think he was weaned too early. We are sad that he is gone. All the kids cried a little this morning. I think this was the first time they had seen anything die, I guess besides the spiders I kill. They have all taken it well and we talked about death.

We had a little funeral and buried him in our backyard. The kids each took a turn to say something they liked about Thirteen. It was precious.

I felt bad for Friday who lost his brother. When I came home after dropping Mia off at school, I checked on Friday and he was laying in his bed with his head resting on the edge looking so sad. So sad, that I, the non animal lover, loved that little kitten. I gave him loves all day because I felt so sorry for him.

When Thirteen was alive I would often catch him and Friday snuggling together like this;

We will miss you Thirteen!

Back to School

The girls started school yesterday. Mia and CJ picked out their new outfits for school and were so excited. Mia's got a little "punk" in her. Ben had mentioned this before, but I wasn't convinced until she picked this shirt out.

CJ is figuring out what she wants her style to be. On the way to school, she went on and on about she looks so much cuter this year than last year and she wondered what her friends would think when they saw her.

This one of Mia cracks me up because of the way Mia is holding her backpack is how someone would hold smelly socks away from their body! Maybe it's because the backpack doesn't coordinate with her super punk outfit!

CJ is wearing a women's size 8 shoes! I can't believe it myself! Her feet are almost as big as mine. She constantly measures herself against me to see if she is as tall as me. She's about 5 feet right now. I told her that I hope she gets to be 5' 7", my dream height!

I noticed that when I was leaving, Mia had tears in her eyes. She also told me that she cried at recess because she didn't get enough sleep. Mia has a hard time adjusting to change. I have to cut her some slack, she is at her 3rd school and in 1st grade! When Mia came home from school, she told me that there are so many rules and she got to help make them. Her rule was no playing "guns". I think she had a fine day afterall.

CJ came home with a stackload of notes, all from different teachers. It literally gave me a headache reading through all the different notes from the teachers and their expectations and grading scales and. . .and. . . all that stuff! I can only imagine what the homework is going to be like this year!

I think the girls are going to have a wonderful school year! Mia has her church friend Mason in her class. CJ also has many friends and is walking to school with a neighbor friend. Xander will be joining in the fun in a couple of weeks!

Spidey X-man!

Meet Spidey X-man, one of the newest additions to the Superhero League. At the wee age of 4, he has learned that with great power comes, great responsibility.

Real Name: Xander Porter
Occupation: Crime fighter
Group Affiliation: LDS
Base of Operations: Concord
Height: 3' 4"
Weight: 35 lbs.
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown

Favorite phrases: "That's cool" and "Yucky" (which is really the word "lucky")

Powers: Counts to 10 and sometimes higher if enemy is near, has a spidey sense for candy, climbs all things with the power of a spider, writes the letters of his name out of order but nonetheless,all letters are accounted for, receives extra power from cereal, has the power to use the "Y" sound as a substitute for other letters.

Spidey X-man celebrated his 4th birthday with civilians, who just happen to be related to him.

He had a wonderful day being sung to in Primary and giving a talk.

Spidey X-man got to choose what was for dinner and even got a couple of kittens on his birthday that he has promised to control his super strength when holding them. The black one is Thirteen and the tabby is Friday. Get it? Friday the Thirteenth?

Although, still loyal to the spiders, Spidey X-man requested a Batman cake. Afterall, they do fight on the same team!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SUPERHERO SON!

It just makes me smile when. . .

I find things like this. . .

I was helping Mia clean her room and stumbled across this notebook I had given to her at the beginning of the summer. I called it her journal and encouraged her to write in it. She wrote about going to Utah and her grandma's house.

It just makes me smile when. . .

I get a glimpse of what goes on in their little heads.

This page is my favorite. I have to say, Mia is a fabulous artist, it was like I was looking into a mirror.

It just makes me smile.

Super Star Birthday

It was Mia's turn for a birthday party this year. After brainstorming several ideas, Mia told me that she wanted a "Star" birthday. I went online to get some ideas and all the ideas I found were about "Rock Star" or "Star Wars" birthday ideas. I had to create my own, which is easy when you have a theme.

The invite was fun to make. I really like making announcements in Photoshop. I turn it into a JPEG image and send to to be developed in a 4X6 photo. I pay like .13 just like a regular photo. Much cheaper than buying them as an announcement!

The kids decorated their treat bags with stars. . .

Made star headbands. . .

Star photo frames. . .

That they would get a group picture to put in it. . .

They tried to pin a star on Earth. . .

And they shot off balloon rockets trying to hit the star bullseye. . .

The funnest part was probably "shooting stars" where they shot the "star" (waterballoon) and tried to hit the target star. Towards the end, everyone wanted to be in the target!

The kids ate some "starrific" food. . .

And smashed a star pinata, which was tons of fun to make!

Check out my other blog later this week and I will show you the process.

The yummiest part was probably eating the star cupcakes and singing "Happy Birthday" to Mia.

Mia loved all of her presents from her friends and giving a hug to everyone! She got a couple of dress up outfits and a couple of outfits that make her look so cute! Polly pockets to play with, beads to make necklesses, Barbie pages to color and paper butterflies to make!

We are SO lucky to have so many good friends! Thank you for coming to Mia's party!