Dress Up, Dine In

This is the first year I haven't had a back-to-school in somewhere around 24 years. I have been lucky enough to enjoy school supply shopping, the joy of fresh crayons, and agonize over first day outfits for far longer than I should have. True, the first day has taken on many forms...waiting for buses with labeled  backpacks, carpooling with friends, rounds of sorority recruitment, and remembering class lists and which fantastic small children I've already met at BTS night... Each of them were exhilarating in their own way. This year I've voluntarily given up that back-to-school experience and while it doesn't have to be permanent, it doesn't make it any less bittersweet. I'm so very grateful that I can try this stay-at-home-mama thing that I've been missing out on. It's been phenomenal to see all the little things Eileen does in a day. I feel like I've gotten to know her all over again. Y et that doesn't mean that every time someone tel...

When I was Eileen's age I was already well obsessed with "My Little Ponies." At least that's what my baby book said. Despite Seth and I's best efforts to show Bean the wonder of Don Bluth classics, she just hasn't been a "watching things" kind of girl.  That is until a couple of weeks ago when Seth introduced her to Sofia the First while I was sneaking in a mid-afternoon pass-out session. She sat through the whole made-for-Disney-Channel movie and has since watched all 15 Disney Junior episodes.  We love it because we get to sneak in the ever illusive cuddle. She'll proclaim "I watch" before being so immersed in Sofia that she forgets she minds you snuggling with her. In fact, she only moves to wave when Sofia does in the opening song (Eileen's got a natural princess wave) or to dance. Otherwise she's yours. Sofia (or "Sopia"/"Pia" as Bean calls her) is everywhere in our house but I can't help ...

It's no secret that when we were house hunting, we preferred to live in Salt Lake City. We were young(er) and looking for a home that had character and was close to a park. Salt Lake was more "us" and it was kind of like admitting defeat when we ended up buying out in Murray. Sure, we heard how cute/central/desirable it was to people who liked that semi-suburban type of living. It was the responsible choice but not the one we wanted.  We've been in the Ranch for three years and it's still very much a "love/hate" relationship. Maybe that's the curse of eternal renovations and the general home-owning process. No matter how I may feel about our home (or where it's located) there is one day that I absolutely adore living here each year....the 4th of July. It's utterly wonderful to roll out of the Ranch and down the street to Murray Park for their morning parade. Bean especially enjoyed waving at everyone and clapping. She even met some dino...

Tezzie overseeing bathroom renovations in August Tezzie, Loss is the drive down State St. to accept that we are now a two dog family. It's not having a puff to wake up from sleep so we can get to work. It's a silent house because no one is squeaking toys. It's a cup of food, instead of a cup and a half, at breakfast and dinner. Loss is an absence of groundhog sits, bugga rolls, and snoring. It is having to wake up each day to missing you. But I have to believe that the Rainbow Bridge has a magnificent view of our home in case you feel like telling Conor and Sake to shut up when they're being too wild. I'm sure you can sleep as long as you want. Or maybe you got your energy back...the kind we would see in short bursts down here. There's probably a box full of squeaky toys that you can hide in for days. Hippo fight with Tabitha for old time's sake; she's up there too. In fact you might meet a lot of puffs who remember us from different ...

Strut Your Mutt is this weekend.      I could tell you about how necessary these donations are especially for the group I rescue with ( Utah Animal Advocacy Foundation ) who specializes in "difficult" adoption cases. I could give you statistics on how many animals are neglected and unloved. Instead I want to tell you two stories.  This is Tezoatlan (Tezzie, Mandis, Bug, Old Man Friend). This is what he looked like when Seth and I adopted him during my senior year of college. He was a puppy mill stud dog who never knew beds, toys, or caring people. He was blind and needed major medical treatment for the first few years. Tezzie spent much of the beginning of our relationship having accidents and anxiety whenever we left.  Through lots of persistence and understanding, the puff that used to sit in a corner and want nothing to do with us became a family member. He chomps on his toy tomato, snores in his birthday bed, occasionally cuddles in his old age, and...

To Eileen~ (the night before I go back to work) I love you.  I loved you when you had an alligator spine,  when you danced if we danced in class,  when we met you.  I loved you when you snuggled,  when you first recognized the puffs,  when you reached for me on purpose.  I loved you when you giggled,  when you made dinosaur noises,  when you were my everywhere buddy.  And I will love you now in one place while you are in another.  That's the beauty of it.  There are no stay-at-home or working mamas.  There are just mamas.  And they can love from anywhere. And I will love you from everywhere.

The Ranch had its first burial this weekend.  Thankfully it wasn't any of our furry friends but it was still sad. One of the semi-feral cats that's been around since we moved in (and who recently became a mama too) passed away under the Christmas tree in the front yard. Seth, being the stellar man that he is, buried her in our easement because that's where they spent most of their time. We put some markers on the spot, food on the porch for the two babies, and had a discussion about whether cats understood death.  I'd like to think that the connection between family, even in the animal world, is there forever.  I'm definitely one of those nerds who believes in the Rainbow Bridge and those that have loved you being a presence in your life.  I believe because every now and then you see evidence of it. At night we see the kittens lying next to their mama.