Changes still a comin'!

Well the big change I thought we'd have this summer has been  put on the back burner.  This is OK, but the big change this week (besides me not getting to eat anything good except vanilla shakes) is the addition of another new kitten to the family.

She's yet unnamed, but is quite a little scrapper.  Mr Mickey Mouse is nearly twice her size and she's taking him on and not losing the argument.

Otherwise, life is settling down.  Tater's softball season came to an end. I wish we had another month, the girls looked so good at the game last night. They knew what they were doing and were playing as a team.

She's becoming quite the little catcher, and has played all of the positions well. I'm looking forward to watching her learn and grow the next few seasons.  Next week is soccer camp, gymnastics and Bean is headed to Boy Scout camp for the week. The Boss and the girls are headed camping for the weekend and Bean and I are going to hang out with the kitties until he leaves for camp.  Summer has arrived finally and I'll be out playing in the garden (and providing pictures). My white bleeding heart fern  is blooming and a surprise hosta has shown up in my bed.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to take care of your pets this 4th of July weekend!

What a weekend!

Wow! Spent the weekend at one of my favorite places in the world and got to share that place with my daughters and Girl Scout troop.  Too bad I shared it from the lodge since I spent the whole weekend sick! I have never, ever, ever been that sick and will be following up with my doctor to find out what I can be doing to prevent this (what I believe to be a gall bladder problem) from ever happening again.  I'm getting both sides of this--get it out now and don't take it out, but I will work with my medical professionals and make an informed decision that will be best for me.

That being said, the Mini Tornado was not happy with us being gone and was quite the monster when we got home. Once he wore himself out, he was back to the snuggly little bugger I know and love.  We hope to add a friend for him this week, I'm disappointed the kittens a friend has won't work (read-long-haired white cats with the Boss's navy blue uniforms...) but the shelter and a locally owned pet store have kittens available, so we're hopeful!

I was thrilled to arrive at the Girl Scout camp and see that the camp has not lost its beauty, although the pine beetles have taken away many of the trees.  The lodge has had some work done on it and it looks amazing!

While being sick, I didn't get the pictures I wanted, I did send my girls to take some, but they were more interested in critter droppings and sticks to get some of the shots of the beauty of the camp.  Here's hoping we go back next summer and I'm healthy!

 Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to trust professionals with your health!!

Mini tornado

A friend suggested we name the kitten DC for Darn Cat.  I laughed, as this little man had been so mellow in the shelter the 3 times we stopped to see him.  HA! Mickey is a tornado and 2 pounds of mischief!

We love him to death, although these early mornings are killing me.  He thinks that we should be up and at it by 5:50 at the latest.  And my legs/sleep pants seem to be the favorite play toys.  Those little claws are like needles.

He's currently playing in a 12 pack of pop box.  He's grabbing the food he's dumped with his claws and pulling it inside.  

Giving him wet food is a hoot, he races back and forth from the fridge to his food area, spinning circles and talking up a storm.  One of my co-workers said a lot of the black kitties she sees come through the shelter tend to be part Siamese and I have to agree, both our black boys have been!

Big changes this week are on hold, no new kitties if we're camping this weekend and the major change is possibly not happening.

Short post, Wednesday was a train-wreck of a day...didn't even get a chance to tell my mom good-bye when she left.  Ah well, a long weekend at the Girl Scout camp I spent 7 summers at before kids should be a great time.  Can't wait to show my girls around and share some memories with them.  Loads of pictures to be shared next week.

Until then...

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to hug your 2 & 4 legged children!

Changes #1 and #2

Today my baby boy started his first job.  It was a bit of a tug on the heart-string to send him off this morning.  I am pleased to share that he came home with a smile on his face and so proud of himself.  When we went into town today to get supplies for change #2, he drove and treated Dizzy and I to ice cream.

Meet Change #2.  

We added a new member to the family today, a ten week old black kitten, name to be determined.  He's definitely got personality to spare and is going to keep us on our toes.  It has been awhile since we have had a baby in the house!  It did force me to clean up my yarn mess in the corner, as he seems to love yarn to play in or sleep on.  He's currently sleeping with the Boss, tucked in under his chin, same place he napped with me earlier.

It was a beautiful day today, happy solstice!  I ran errands with the boss (scored the 3 Lord of the Rings DVDs for under $4) this morning, adopted the kitty and then had to get some supplies, new food (the other food gives him room-clearing gas) and dinner for the 2-legged kids while the Boss was working this afternoon. 

Now we're hanging out with the kitten and watching Fringe.  Nice way to spend the longest day of the year!

Stay tuned, more changes on their way, looking forward to lunch with my brother, aunt, uncle and mom tomorrow.

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to snuggle with a cute kitten today!

Welcome summer!

Things are quiet right now. I even have control of the remote and some peace and quiet.

Softball is moving along merrily. Tink seems to be enjoying the catchers position and her older siblings were able to assist  with the team last night.  Kind of fun to have my son pitching, youngest batting and middle child as the back-up catcher (a necessity when you have kindergarten through 2nd graders trying to catch). Not much cuter than those little ones playing softball!

Loads of fun and we're already discussing next summer and maybe traveling teams...Oh, what have I gotten myself into????

Made it out to the garden today.  Very sad, most of the plants are yellowing and not growing.  Hoping with the start of summer this weekend and some sunshine and heat, that will change!

The one plant loving the weather is my peony bush behind the house.  I included the grill in the background for height comparison.

Stay tuned, we're moving and shakin' at this house and changes, they are coming!

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to play in the rain!

June showers bring what?

Yellow plants, for what I can see right now...We're in our annual 'no one really wants summer and sunshine' month here in Montana...Cold, rain and so disappointing after a long and cold winter.  Hoping the weatherperson is right and that we will actually see the 80 degree weather this weekend.

Dizzy finished her softball season.  It was not the winning season she hoped for, but she had a great time and is already talking about next season and whether or not she wants to 'redraft' or stay on the same team.  Should be interesting to see what she decides to do.

Tater is starting her season.  She absolutely loves it. This little girl is disappointed every day when she can't go to practice and see her team.  She's the kind of kid I wanted when I was coaching years ago!

Her room cleaning and re-organizing option isn't going as well as the reading and softball parts of the summer...She thinks cleaning out her closet means she can put it all in a tub next to her door and the closet is cleaner...

We did get her clothes contained to her dresser again, except for her sweatshirts. It's a slow process!

Dizzy's room project isn't going well either.  She got the cleaning part of it down, but the keeping it clean (and making her bed everyday--note Tater's above is made) isn't.

The biggest issue is the pile next to her door (bottom right-hand corner) that grows into her doorway.  Makes it tough for any of us to get into her room, but she's fine with that.  Oh, the pre-teen age years have been a lot of fun (NOT!).  This is going to be an adventure.

I am lost without my Tigger cat.  We all miss her dreadfully and are looking to find another kitten to fill our home and hearts.  I can't sit and watch television without an ache in my heart, missing my little friend who would snuggle with me while we watched.  Of course, I'm sure the new additions will decide not to want to sit with me, but they'd still be around.

Big changes are coming for our family in July.  Wait and see.  I'll post pictures of the garden next week when it isn't so cold outside (I'm a wimp and staying inside where it is marginally warmer--we shut our heat off a month ago and I'm trying not to turn it back on).  My hopes are that the real heat doesn't hit until after my blue flowers bloom in my front bed.  Our air conditioner sits right above it and tends to droop some of the plants...

Be Happy! Be Healthy! Be sure to smile some today!

Endings...or Beginnings

The last few weeks have given us a lot of endings.

Bean ended his Freshman year, ended his journey of the broken leg today with his final surgery to get hardware out of his leg and ended his no-driving life, now bearing his TELL and legally being able to drive my car....

Dizzy ended her Junior years of Girl Scouts, culminating with her receiving her Bronze Award, ended her Elementary school career with the Presidential Award for Academics (or something along those lines) and the American Legion Award and ended her second ever season in softball with a smile and promise to her coach to play next year.

Tater ended her second season of soccer with a smile and a bounce to her stride and ended her school year with over 85 points in the Accelerated Reader program. (she also ended her life as a child who had never taken a "selfie" last weekend...)

Our dear cat Tigger ended her life this last week, her health finally failing after 16 1/2 years in our family.

While we have had a lot of endings, there are some new beginnings as well...

Bean is beginning to drive and will be beginning to run again soon.

Dizzy is beginning her summer workouts for gymnastics and ready to begin her first year of middle school.

Tater is beginning her first season of softball and loves it.  She is really taking to the catchers position like her Papa Dave.

We'll begin a new life someday soon with a new pair of kittens, a first for my kids to have a baby animal in the house.

The garden is beginning well, everything is coming up nicely and I should have a crop of lettuce in a few weeks.  Can't wait!

I've even had a beginning with a workout routine.  I'm getting up earlier in the mornings and working out for a little while, easing into a routine and retraining my body.

For every ending, there is a new beginning.  I know it is often hard to see that sometimes, but watching for the window of opportunity.