Annie

This is a sad way to start the new year. We lost our sweet Annie unexpectedly on January 7. I know some of you have wondered what happened. I think it was probably due to bloat. She was feeling a little unwell. I knew her stomach was upset and she'd had some loose stools. I had no idea the problem was so bad, or that we would lose her so quickly. It was Saturday. We were in and out and not really wanting to go the emergency vet. She had had upset stomachs in the past, and I did not really believe that this could be serious. She seemed to be doing better. She was in the kitchen under the table when I went to check on her early in the evening. I knew as soon as I saw her stretched out with her eyes open and staring that we were losing her. She may have already been gone by then. She was convulsing. Within minutes, there was no more movement, and we knew our beautiful girl was really gone. Just that suddenly. My heart is broken.

Introducing Heath

Wow, it's been along time. I guess that is what happens when you go back to school. Since I am on winter break, I will belatedly introduce the newest family member. Our house has been taken over by the cutest kitten ever. This is Heath, our Maine Coon cat.

5 months old, the day he came home

love

Heath is addicted to watching television

under the Christmas tree

Christmas morning. Wrapping paper is the best toy

cat nap

Homecoming Day

I thought it would be fun to look back at some pictures of the days our current dogs came to live with our family. The two oldest are missing because they predate digital pictures. Someday I'll go back and look for theirs and see if I can convince my scanner to work. For now...

Here's Annie. She came home with us in April 2005. Quite possibly the cutest puppy ever!

She was supposed to be Duane's girl

The kids were so small!

September 2007 I took Rhiannon to pick up her Maverick from his foster mom.

February 2009 I brought home my Brynley boy.

He was pretty cute too!

Papillion Days Parade

Rhys makes his debut with the PLHS Marching Band!

Big Muddy

Pedestrian bridge from the Omaha side

looking from Nebraska to Iowa

upriver

Iowa

The Missouri River is near flood stage. I've been wanting to check out the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge since it opened a few months after we moved here. We finally went today.

Baseball

We have had a miserably cold spring break. Still, it is spring and baseball season has begun!

Back on the bikes

Seems like the bikes and the kids get bigger every year. I don't have to wait for them anymore. After gifting  son with my fast hybrid bike, he dropped me in the wind like a hot potato (or a teenage boy and a middle-aged mom). Daughter is still a little kinder to me.