GOODBYE RUBY...

I think I've cried more over this silly dog than I have in a while! I wish I would've done more homework about puppies and labs in general. She was HYPER! She also had a serious chewing problem. After chewing up my favorite reclining chair (the one that I absolutely LOVE to relax in during summer), constant digging, chewing up a garden hose, eating rocks and chewing the sprinkler attachment of the hose (the kind that fire departments use that are supposedly indestructable). The weekend before Halloween, I went to Everett to spend some time with Mom and Dad and called Jeff to see how his 2-10 page papers were coming along and also to check on Ruby. He replied very enthusiastically-"She's having TONS of fun!" I said, "really?" His response was "Yes, honey-she dug up your sprinkler lines I planted in all your flower pots and chewed them all up!" UGH! But wait, it does get better. The final straw was when she started chewing on the air conditioner lines. ($3,000) I couldn't justify keeping a dog who simply wouldn't listen-I understand puppies, but honestly, she wouldn't obey! EVERY time we went to play with her outside, she would constantly jump up on us-she got so big that her paws would land right on my chest! UGH! We tried bitter apple spray, treats, MANY walks and finally swatting her nose to tell her to get down, but she just couldn't grasp the idea. The day before the air conditioner episode, she had dug in the garden and must've found her poop we burried and got it all over her. I gave her a bath and she was NOT happy with me. She rolled in the dirt and came and jumped all over me.



Now, I must admit that I was totally smitten by this dog. She had me wrapped around her "paws" (Actually, I loved her soft ears!). We talked to the kids and obviously they were very sad about her, but understood why she wasn't a good fit for our family. The night before I had to take her back, I held her in my lap and sobbed and gave her several treats. She broke my heart when she in turn licked my tears away and then started JUMPING on me!



Which leads me to why I haven't blogged since we got her....we've been busy! But, now I hope to have a little more time to focus on my kids and start taking more pictures!

WELCOME RUBY...

Ashley couldn't believe we FINALLY got a dog...

Well, we finally did it...we got a puppy!

(Not quite as small as some puppies, but she's definately a puppy!)

I went to the Humane Society and found her and instantly fell in love. Jeff & I decided to surprise the kids because we told them we were NEVER going to get a dog. Aylexie and Thomas got home from school first and couldn't believe she was ours. Ashley fell down beside her and started hugging and kissing her and said "I've finally got a friend who will always spend the night with me and be there for me"...(her best friend, Brianna, moved to Arizona and she's really been down lately.) She has certainly brought a lot of joy to our home and will continue to add some silliness and energy! Thomas thought she was way too hyper the 2nd day (she had been spayed the morning I brought her home) and he asked me if she could get some more medicine. :) Wish us luck!

This one brought me to tears...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFibyjcyYsE

I don't share my testimony often, but I know that music really touches me right to the core. I love the song "His Hands". I've even sung it in church a couple of times in sacrament meeting. But I'm constantly touched everytime I hear this song.

I have a very simple testimony and I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. I am SO grateful to have the knowledge that I have a Heavenly Father who knows me and for a living Prophet (Thomas S. Monson) to guide me and help me to live a better life. I am EXTREMELY grateful to have a wonderful husband who loves me dearly and children who aren't perfect :) but love me even when my patience is wearing thin. I am blessed to have been sealed in the temple to my sweatheart for time and all eternity and know that I will be with him after we leave this earth and that my children will be with me also.

I think my testimony makes me who I am and hopefully makes me radiate something special.

TWILIGHT!!!

HOOLA-HOOPING

Thomas was showing me how he could hoola-hoop and I thought you all should see this! He's quite good!

1ST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

Ashley 7th Grade-Thomas Kindergarten & Aylexie 5th Grade





Thomas was watching them take Aylexie to school...
Waiting for the afternoon Kindergarten bus.
Waiting more (35 minutes!)...
My big boy going off to school...

I can't believe they're all in school. It's such a strange feeling not having someone tagging along with me all day. Everyone was very happy with their teachers. Ashley found out she had 4 classes with her best friend who had just moved to Arizona. I think that made for a little saddness on her first day. Aylexie has a great teacher for 5th grade-Ms. Stahnke. She had her for 2nd grade and loved her. Thomas' teacher is Ms. Kaden. He was so excited I thought he was going to explode! He came home after school and told me that he LOVED school! (SIGH) I'm just happy that my kids are happy! :)

LAKE SHORE

This past summer, we had SO much fun swimming at Lake Shore Athletic Club. Thomas absolutely loved spending time with his sisters and I enjoyed getting a lot of sun!
Ashley doing her "pencil" dive
Aylexie diving.
Thomas working on his "cannon ball".
Waiting to go down the slide...



Aylexie swiming under water.
Just having a Blast-spashing each other!

We had a lot of fun spending warm afternoons here. Thomas has been working hard to learn how to swim this past year. It paid off...he was absolutely delighted to go from the diving board to the water slide!

Aylexie was just like a fish. I think her favorite thing to do was swim under water and practice her handstands. She gets SO tan each summer. I think she REALLY looked tan in this particular swim suit!

Ashley is so grown up, but absolutely loves being with her brother and sister. She was content having Thomas hang onto her neck and also just reading beside me in the lounge chairs.

Summer has gone WAY TOO FAST!!!