Those gentle eyes that quietly watched

For 12 summers Bill and I would say to each other, "Jules would love the lake." Yet due to airline summer heat rules and then the challenges of traveling with little kids plus 2 dogs, she never had the opportunity to go with us - until this year. With the loss of Halle last September, we knew that Jules needed people more than ever, and we could not leave her home alone all day while Bill worked - let alone board her for two weeks when Bill joined us at the lake. So this year, we packed her up and she came along.

Her health had been waning since Halle's death. Our "Fatness" had lost considerable weight. She now picked at food whereas she used to devour it. I worried about her on the trip, but I had no need. A lab until the end, she was at home on Pelican Lake.

When we first arrived we decided to walk her down to the water on a leash to show her the grounds and help provide her some boundaries. Yet as we neared the water, her old strength showed itself. She pulled at that leash trying desperately to run, to leap, to swim! I unlatched the clasp, and she bounded away running head first into the cool waters.

She looked young. She looked vibrant. She was happy. This is how I will remember her.

The house seems emptier. Quieter. I miss the the jingles of her collar; the tapping of her paws on the wood; the thud of her plopping to the ground. These are sounds that have been an intimate and natural part of our home. Now they are silent, but they will never be forgotten.

I believe big sister Halle welcomed her sweet Jules on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge with wagging tail, nuzzling nose and loving eyes. And I take solace in knowing they are together again. Goodbye sweet JuJu. I'll see you again one day.

Peace ~ Love ~ Run

Just had to pretend that I still blog on anything personal (apparently writing 15-20 hours per week on business issues doesn't leave much creative juice for personal musings) .... and put up a cute pix of B & P the day before the St. B's Fun Run!

Summer is Here!

Summer is here, and I simply need to get the naked pix of P off the blog's front page.... So, as we close out the 2010-2011 school year, here's a shot of Brady's sweet, wonderful, fantastic first grade class!

I promise a coming blog on Parker's graduation, his rainbow pancakes and his new "big boy toy"! But, we're excitedly off to FL tomorrow, and I need to pack.

In the meantime, happy summer my friends and family!

My Au Natural Boy

As I was celebrating my direct shoe hit on a roach that was scurrying across my kitchen this morning, Parker wandered in and asked why I was shouting. When I told him I had just smashed a roach with my shoe, his eyes immediately widened and filled with tears.

"Mommy! Bugs are nature! You don't hurt nature! Never hurt nature!"

I instantly felt bad and contemplated if I could have possibly initiated a "catch and release" program for the little nasty creature. I quickly decided, however, that I'm not really concerned about the extinction risk to roaches (ever seen the movie Wally?)

Yes, I think the tennis shoe approach really is best.

Here is a recent picture of what greeted me one morning last week ..... just as nature intended.

Recycling 101

Every Thursday morning, except for holidays and special events, our garbage and recycling is picked up in the 30080. On Wednesday night, the kids are helpful in consolidating trash from waste baskets around the house and taking out the recycling bin. Inevitably, there is new trash or recycling items created on Thursday mornings, so we always try to get that out to the curb at the last minute so it doesn't sit around for a week.

Yesterday, Amy sent Parker out to drop off an empty box in the recycling. When he came back in, Amy asked if the truck had come to pick it up and he responded "nope".

When Amy went outside to bring in the recycling bin, she saw the following. It looks like he's missing something with the process.

BTW... it looks like the kids ate Thin Mints for lunch. Lucky them!

"The worst day of my life" by Brady Plummer

Life is hard for a 7 year old who spends a minimum of 4 weeks a year in Orlando being spoiled by his grandparents and friends alike. There's the obvious draw like the Disney parks, but Legoland, Gator World, Gator Golf, Manatees, the driving range, riding in the golf cart, and the heated pool get all kinds of play as well.

Yesterday, Brady and Parker were swimming in the pool on a nice 80 degree afternoon. Brady had taken off his goggles (for some reason) and was dolphin diving around the pool. His eyes were closed b/c the chlorine was bugging them. Next thing you know, Brady is screaming on the side of the pool. Apparently, he had dolphin dove too close to the edge - with his eyes closed, of course - of the pool and literally popped open his chin.

I spoke with Brady in hour 1 of their 4 hour visit to the Emergency Room and he said, "Daddy, this is the worst day of my life. First, Legoland didn't have any Indiana Jones Legos b/c they stopped making them, then I bust open my chin, and I can't even play my DS b/c it needs to be charged. I am so bored."

The only saving grace was that his father had a similar result from jumping off stairs when he was younger. Brady felt better that he will "have a scar just like Daddy!"

"Disappointment" at Legoland!

Brady nervously waits in the ER with NO DSi!

Sweet stitches Brady!

History of the world, part II

So, we are eating outside at Moe's yesterday when I heard this updated account of the history of the world.

Brady was talking about Justin Bieber, as always. There was a song that Bieber sampled (I can't remember exactly, but it was something like "Ring around the rosie" or "Happy Birthday" or something like that) and he said that Justin Bieber wrote that song. I informed him that there was life before Justin Bieber.

Brady followed up with, "yeah, there was the internet".

Parker chimed in "and dinosaurs".

So, according to my little ones, the history of the world goes like this.

"First there were dinosaurs, then the internet, and then Justin Bieber"

We should talk to Random House to get the history books updated.

Torn between two loves

Parker is indeed turning out to be a bit of a Casanova. Apparently there is quite a little love triangle taking place in the Blue Birds room.

Parker and Miss Emma (seen here at soccer) have been smitten on each other for months. They were in the same class last year; they have continued their studies together this year; they play on the same soccer team - They are surely perfectly matched, right?



Check out that sideways smile!! ;-)

Well, when Miss Emma recently moved tables at school, a new love interest was born.

Enter Miss Cade.

Now that Cade and Parker have the green table to themselves (with 6 other 4-5 years olds, of course), Parker's affections are certainly torn.

Should he make like an owl and turn his head 180 degrees toward Miss Emma at the red table behind him, or does he simply turn his head 90 degrees directly toward Little Miss Cade on the left?

The choice is most definitely a tough one. Both are smart, precocious, fun-loving, and adorable little girls. I think it's safe to say that Parker's a winner either way!

Happy Valentines Day Big Guy!

Before and After

We didn't want to cut Parker's hair before his special 5th Star Wars birthday party. When it's first cut, one definitely thinks "oh, he just had a hair cut", so we held off for the purposes of pictures and such. Anyway, here's PK before, and after his haircut today. Given these pictures, it looks like we should have cut his mop before the party. ;-)

Because, that's what boys do...

1 boy + 1 extra straw + free time in the car =

Brady's turning 100!!! "NO KITTY, those are my Cheesy Poofs!!!"

If you do not follow South Park, you will probably not get all of this one, but it is truly funny.

Brady had to draw a picture and write a story about what he would be like at age 100. His story goes like this...

"When I am 100, I will have a cane. I will sit in bed and watch movies all day. I will be fat. I will have a very long beard."

It's always interesting to have a view into the young mind. Brady must think all old people sit around, watch movies, and are fat - and have facial hair. Hmmm... he may not be that far off, but I digress.

Anyway, so he reads the story and Amy and I smile and wink to each other. But then, he turns his page around to show us his drawing. It turns out, he thinks he will look like Eric Cartman when he's older.

I totally crack up b/c the thought of Brady acting like Eric Cartman, the most inappropriate, rude cartoon kid in the history of man, at age 100 was perfect. How true it is!

"No Kitty, those are my Cheesy Poofs!! MA-AAAAAAHHM!!!!"