If only cats really did have 9 lives

This is a story of a kitten. It doesn't end well (as foreshadowed by the title.) But the story must be told.

Grace had been begging and we had been promising a kitty for months. The day finally came when we couldn't hold her off any longer.

Matt took her to the shelter where they found this charming little fellow. He was adopted, brought home, and Grace promptly changed his name to "Lurr Lurr." (Yes, there is a story behind the name; when Matt was a wee lad he had a cat too. He like the way it purred all the time so he named it Lurr Lurr. The kids love Matt's animal stories.) So....Grace was very responsible with the kitty, feeding, watering, giving it a little nip of milk here and there. And Lurr Lurr was a great kitty. No excessive scratching or crying. Bella loved to carry him around like a baby (under his "arms") and he would patiently hang out until she put him down. It seemed to be the perfect match.

When we went to Disneyland and my mom was home with Riggins she backed over him when she was leaving the garage. When she found him she put him in a shoe box and was going to bury him out back but she didn't want to leave Riggins alone in the house. Michelle A. and her son, Alec stopped by. When my mom told Michelle the story and asked if she would stay with Riggins so she could bury the kitty Michelle said, "Alec will do it." So sweet, strapping Alec dug a deep hole and the pet cemetery in the field had another beloved addition.

(An aside here... we have all kinds of friends in our lives; Friends to laugh with, shop with, eat with...etc. But it is important to know which of your friends will bury a body. . . I'm just sayin')

My mom told me on our way home from the airport. She cried. I cried. Grace cried. Bella didn't (surprisingly). McCade told Bella (with all the tact of a 6 year old boy), "Lurr Lurr is dead. Nana ran over him." Grace said, "It's not Nana's fault. It was an accident." I was proud of her. She cried and cried but forgave Nana without a second thought.

One of the most important and hardest lessons in life is that it is uncertain. And short. It's best to show the love and affection we feel with no hesitation. And no regrets.

MWF seeking balance

Sometimes I have a hard time balancing all the things I need to do, have to do, should do... with the things I want to do. Then throw in the things I need to buy, have to buy, should buy.... with the things I want to buy.... On top of that there are the things I need to eat, have to eat... well you can see I am buried in my need for balance. I confessed to my friend, Jill, about a winter coat I bought {$!$} because it was 1/2 off and I needed a new winter coat. She said, "You have to spend money to save money." Then the absurdity made us giggle like little school girls.

Part of the problem is summertime. There seem to be no punctuation marks in my day like there are during the school year. Matt feels the lack of structure and when he gets home from work it makes him grumpy (heat+matt not running after work=grump dogginess). Anyway. What's a girl to do?

We have been doing good with chores. Amazingly well, actually. But somehow this isn't giving me the sense of order I thought it would. I just can't ...quite...put my finger on it. I guess I'll go see if it's hiding in the freezer. Behind the ice cream.

Disneyland

We {heart} Disneyland! So does Matt's brother, Val and his wife, Tami. They are experts and showed us the best way to experience it so we would be assured a great trip last time. As a result we all love it. We had no trip plans on the horizon but a few weeks ago we were dreaming about going...soon. Matt got a sweet deal on rooms, throw in some affordable airfare. DONE! We were on our way.

Here are a few highlights (and "lowlights".) *My mom stayed with Riggins:) *Our Alle-giant flight was two hours late getting us to CA:(*The kids first airplane ride and the escalator @ the airport:) *Bella, "When we gonna blast off?" :) *Finally getting to our sweet hotel room (warm cookies anyone?:) *Tami, "If you thought the escalators were fun..." *Walking on to Pirates & Splash mountain as soon as we got there (Grace, sopping wet, we had to buy her a new shirt.) *Fantasmic *Bella, sound asleep, on Matt's lap *Yummy breakfast *"Hitting" Splash and Pirates every day. *Good times @ the airport.

*Bug's life baby!

*At the Pixar Parade Grace blew Buzz Lightyear a kiss, he pointed at her and drew an air heart. PRICELESS!

Splash Mountain- we love it!

*Bella wasn't tall enough to go on Grizzly River :(even after I folded granola bars in half and stuck them in her shoes) *But she was loving Brother Bear :)

*Lunch at the Blue Bayou:) -Not being by the door (double:) *Magic Morning * Bella's giggle on Thunder Mountain:) *Fast passes *Holding hands with the kids *Bella, (about Tower of Terror) "That ride frrrreaked me out" *Standing in line for Alladin:( *The Alladin show:) * Val carrying Bella around and her kissing him on the cheek all the time. *When we finally got a stroller for Bella, "The mauler." *The kids eating oatmeal and going straight to bed every night *Room service:) *Swimming at the hotel pool (Why do kids love swimming so much?) *Standing on the side of the road waiting for the bus back to the airport:(!

I'd clone him if I could

Maybe I already have...

I really would clone McCade even when he is missing a front tooth and the other one is all snaggly ... and he has a red kool-aid mustache. I'd love a clone of him that I could freeze at each age. Like the age when he said "hephalant" or the age when he said cute things about seeing the jet's breath outside at night.

I'd for sure clone the 6 1/2 year old McCade who loves to surprise me by making my bed a few times a week.

Who doesn't love animals but loves his kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Boatwright and obsesses about how tall Mr. Boatwright is.

This little / big McCade who loves his brother so much and keeps his room clean.

I'd sure like a copy of the boy who is so sweet to his mom and sisters but tore the head off his robot when his dad got after him one night. Then he came out with his headless robot and asked me to hot glue his head back on and started doing karate kid breathing so he would be calmer next time.

Since the whole cloning thing isn't going to work out, I'd settle for him to just grow up slower. ALOT slower.

AOADD

Adult Onset Attention Deficit Disorder. That is my (self) diagnosis.

I fear my symptoms are getting worse. By. The. Day.

It appears to be a genetic disorder. My Mom suffers from a fierce case as well.

It seems to be exacerbated by multiple or long to do lists.

Example #1 It was after lunch and we were going to have some ice cream. Scraping the bottom of the carton I offer to get more from the freezer in the garage. On the way out I see a box from Costco, "I'll just put that in the recycling." I broke down the box and wrestled with it, trying to get it to fit in the bin.(Approximately 5 minutes later) I gave up and was kneeling in front of the freezer when Matt came out to see if some horrible accident had befallen me. Alas, no accident, just my faulty brain.

I could go on and on but... that would be focused and not at all what this post is about. Instead I want to share this funny poem I found in one of my organizing books;

One morning I woke and began resolutely

To work till my tasks were done absolutely

I decided I would not waste even a minute-

In the race against time, I determined to win it.

I started all right, first clearing the dishes,

Then saw it was time to clean the bowl for the fishes,

As I reached for the cleanser, I thought that I'd better

Grab soap flakes as well for washing a sweater.

As I went for the sweater, I saw that the bed

Needed straightening, so I stopped to do that instead.

Just then the phone rang, and while I was answering it,

I saw plants on the sill that needed watering a bit.

So went my day, and I worked till bone tired;

Then happy and proud, I sat back and admired.

But taking stock of my home, my joy was diminished;

Everything was started, but nothing was finished.

-Donette V. Ockey

10 things I love about Grace (in no particular order)

1. I love that when she decided she wanted a new American Girl Doll she earned half the money to pay for it by reading books (penny a page) and doing extra chores.

2. I love that after she was so diligent about cleaning her ears after she got them pierced and after all that there was still one point when she was willing to let them close up because she was having such a hard time switching earrings.

3. I love that even though she is afraid of things she still does them, often by herself, i.e. pulling out her own teeth, switching her own earrings (she kicked me out of the bathroom while she did it.)

4. I love that she reads (especially if she is saving up for something.)

5. I love how much she helps me with Riggins.

6. I love that she likes to wear cute clothes, cute shoes, and matching accessories.

7. I love that she can keep up with me shopping...

8. I love that she really listens to Matt so he can talk to her about the tough stuff.

9. I love that in the car the other day she asked me what the f- word was. When I was hesitant to answer she said, "Mom, I need you to tell me. At school I will hear it and I need to know. I might spell something bad while we are doing word chunks." So matter-of-fact. (That's gonna come in handy when Matt has the birds & bees talk with her.)

10. I love that even though she is often emotional and occasionally irrational, she wants to do the right things and I can try to appeal to her logical side. If that doesn't work I can just wait until the sun comes back around, as it always does.


Here is Grace with her American Girl doll she named, "Sallina." Sallina is pictured wearing an original "Grace design" made from paper towels and ribbon from my scrapbooking stash.

It's been a month since my last confession

I've always wanted to say that.

In so many ways a blog is like a confessional. Me the confessee and you, sitting on the other side of the curtain in anonymity listening (reading), making the occasional comment. It feels good to get all the things rattling around in my head out there.

So for today's confession; I have a favorite child.

I know, horrible, right?

What can I say...

He never complains if the other kids get something and he doesn't. He NEVER complains that he has nothing to wear. He has yet to utter the words "That's not fair." (Could there be three more annoying words in our vernacular?) (Could someone {Michelle?} confirm that I used that word correctly.)

He doesn't make us all late looking for a Boise State hat for 15 minutes when we should be walking out the door to school. Throwing a fit, when he left it in his dad's truck all along.

He doesn't whine to get his way or bring three changes of clothes, a blanket, a stuffed animal, a lunch box, a mini chalk board, two coats but NOT a single PAIR OF SHOES when we are going out to a restaurant for lunch.

He doesn't do any of those things.

He plays in his bouncy thing. Looks up and beams when you throw a smile his way. Only cries when he's hungry, tired, or wet. Stops crying immediately after being picked up, regardless who does the picking up. And then when you do pick him up his little chubby body is so cuddly and soft. And that is why I can say without reservation that he is my favorite child...

...for today anyway.

Next month's confession might be a whole different ball of wax.