Goodbye O'Melays!

Yesterday, i saw my best friend before she and her family start their new life in California.  It was bittersweet, watching our children play together for the last time in what may well be as many years as some of them have been alive (but i hope it's much shorter!).  We both thought they'd grow up together, but it just wasn't meant to be at this point in time.  We will stay in touch, of course, and hope to find excuses to drive across the country and visit!

Me and my bestie



The big guys



Girls



I can't imagine how big this little guy will be the next time i see him--i'm sure he'll always be just as charming though









 They are all just the perfect friends.  What will we do?

This is Angel, favorite kitty of the daughter.  They can't take any of the cats with them, so we took this one home with us (so much for swearing not to take any more kittens!).  So far he's a little scared of the change, but i think he knows he's loved here.

Walk to the Lake

Today we found where the road ends

Home Improvement

My helpers

Me, in what's become my usual attire

 

Primer

Blue room

 

Pink Room (which is really, really pink

And the best part, in my opinion:

The fridge and range are brand new, bought with credit, ironically enough, to help our credit 

(yeah, it doesn't amuse me really)

HallowBirthdayPalooza

Today we celebrated two birthdays and Halloween, all at once!

My oldest is 9 now



And my youngest is 5.



They decorated their own cakes



Ryvre's



Ember's











This year's Trick-or-Treat lineup: Black Kitty (Rome), Percy Jackson (Ryvre), Prairie Girl (Willow), Ariel (Ember), Orange Kitty (Kassi), Prince Zuko (Tristan), and a Christmas Tree (Toly)



I loved how they ran to each house

Farewell NightHawk

Sad post today: our new kitten died.  We're not sure what caused it (insect or snake bite?  Poison?  Allergic reaction?), but she had a seizure and died almost instantly, in Dale's arms while the two older kids watched.  VERY traumatizing.  We are not going to take in any more cats in the near future.  It's way too upsetting that this has happened again so soon!

Home

This is it:

Ember's Fifth Birthday

Somehow she's gone from this squishy little baby (one day old)
 


to this lovely little girl (today)

 













Happy Birthday Ember!  We love you!