Missy

This Valentine's Day James surprised me with a one pound box of hand-picked chocolates from Cummings. I surprised him with the news that the veterinarian recommended we euthanize the dog.

After all is said and done, I am just really, really sorry.

I am sorry to my children, who love animals. I am sorry to Wesley who doesn't understand where his puppy playmate is; much less why she is gone. I am sorry to McKenna who cried when we told her, and who now tells everyone, "We don't have a dog no more. She went to heaven." I am sorry to JJ, who loved to hold Missy and laughed when she licked his face.

I am sorry to James for buying a cute dog that he fell in love with. He always saw the very best in her, and never gave up on trying to help her be better. I am sorry for the hundreds of dollars that I spent on her. I am sorry that I have caused more emotions for him to repress (probably the reason for the migraines.)

I am sorry for myself. I am sorry that although I prayed and prayed to find the right dog for our family, I didn't get the revelation I was looking for. I am sorry that I am now one of 'those people.' I am sorry that I won't have a dog for a while. Life is hard when you don't have a furry little dog to snuggle up with at the end of the day.

Most of all, I am sorry to Missy. I am sorry that you didn't go to a family who might have compensated for your poor breeding. I am sorry if you were in pain. I am sorry that you were so scared all the time. I am sorry that you spent so much time in your kennel. I am sorry that your life was so short. I'm sorry that I didn't love you more. I tried. Really, I did.

January Blahs

I have a serious case of the January Blahs.

James went night time ice fishing on a weeknight during tax season in a snow storm while he is sick with a cold. He doesn't see my reasoning that it might not be a good idea. If he comes home dead I'm gonna be pissed.

Our playgroup at the church was interrupted today by a group of five men who wanted to play basketball. There were 17 of us there (including kids). They were basically like, "Oh sorry that we didnt reserve the building, and usually we're here on a different day, but we don't really care that you are already here with all of your kids and all of your things and this is the first time today that you have had a moment of peace where your kids haven't been throwing tantrums at the Target/ wiping their noses on the couch/ spilling an entire box of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios on the kitchen floor that you just mopped, but we're here now and so you need to go home, get barefoot, and make dinner for your husbands." (At least that's the way I took it.) I was NOT going to leave. We were going to be there until 5:00. But then all the other moms started packing up their kids. WHY? I think women are too nice. To a fault. It was wrong for them to ask us to leave, and it was wrong for us to be so willing to do it.

I got a notice in the mail that Sparky's license is about to expire. GUESS WHAT DAVIS COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES? Sparky is dead. Thanks for the reminder.

Today on Facebook I read the following 'words': Adorbs and Presh. Apparently these are short for adorable and precious. It makes me want to throw up a little bit.


I think that's about it.

JJ turns six!

JJ with his birthday crown from school


















He asked for a donut pyramid instead of a cake and I was happy to oblige!






















Here he is with all of his presents minus the card he got from Grandma and Grandpa Brown- that came the next day.
















We didn't do a friend birthday party this year. I have decided to do those every other year. Planning and hosting a kid's birthday party is not my idea of a good time; it is one of the things I dread as a parent! After we opened presents we took JJ to Boondocks and then to Artic Circle for dinner. It was a fun day!

Temple Square

We went to Temple Square to see the lights last month. James and I both hadn't seen them in a LONG time. I think the last time I went was when I was in young women's- at least 15 years ago. I was so glad that we went. The kids had a lot of fun. We parked at the Trax central station and then rode in the free zone. It was a fun night!

At the Ward Christmas Party...

Wesley played dead...
































and then threw a big fit.

McKenna Makes Brownies

With her pants on backwards.

Thanksgiving 2011

This year in kindergarten JJ's class each got Indian names. JJ's was Running Wolf. Here he is in his whole Running Wolf outfit. Each feather on his hat thingey represents something that he learned. One was 'I know my address', one was 'I know my phone number', etc. He worked really hard all month and earned every feather.




















Cute Wesley 17 months old















JJ playing Operation with Caidin and Wyatt














Jonathan carving the bird. (Next to the best damn mashed potatoes you ever ate. They worked FINE in the crock pot!)















The kid's table!














Me and The Man


















There aren't many Thanksivings where you can send the kids outside to play!



















Cheri painted McKenna's fingers and toes. She LOVED it!














Showing Daddy her cute toes















That night I went Black Friday shopping. I was in line at Toys R Us at 8:00pm. The doors opened at 9:00, but I didn't get in the store until 9:30. Then I shopped for about 30 minutes and got in line to check out at 10:00pm. That line lasted for TWO HOURS! By this time I was really regretting the Dr. Pepper that I drank right before leaving! I finally emerged at midnight with almost all of my shopping done for JJ's birthday, the kid's Christmas, and McKenna's birthday which are all in the next month and a half. VICTORY!

The next morning I hit up Shopko, Smith's Marketplace, Old Navy and Famous Footwear. It was a great Thanksgiving!