Farewell to A True Friend and Family Member.....

Zevon left this world Friday, February 17th around 10:45 am.  Scott and I did the hardest thing we have ever had to do, and brought him to the vet to release his soul.  In looking back we realized just how much a part of this family he has been.  A year before Fiona was born, and immediately following the purchase of our first house Scott and I decided to adopt a shelter dog.  We found a picture of Zevon on a website called "One Tail at A Time Rescue".  The group is formed by volunteers who shuttle animals from "kill" shelters down south to safer shelters and families up north.  It was truly love at first sight.  I have been so proud of him since the first time I held him!  Zevon spent his first year commuting to school with me. I was teaching kindergarten at a private school, which graciously allowed me to keep my puppy in the classroom.  Within a year we had Fiona, and he was so excepting and protective of her.  Zevon was also a great protector of me.  Scott always felt safe leaving me home alone when he went on patrol with the Coast Guard for weeks at a time.  Zevon would never let anyone near the house.  Soon Ethan followed and Zevon just rolled with it.  The kids have never known life without Z...  I have a hard time remembering what it was like before he came into our lives.  The sadness Scott and I feel over this loss has been tremendous, and frankly shocking.  I regret not sympathizing enough for those who have lost pets in the past.  Honestly, this is something that truly took experiencing to grasp the full depth of sorrow.
     We are starting to move through the pain.  I received Zevon's ashes yesterday, and we have set him on the mantel...  As we continue our journey through life we will take our friend with us.  We will sprinkle some of his ashes in the Saco River, in Gammy and Gampy's yard, Lynn Woods, and around Nahant.  I have gathered a few of our favorite photos of our handsome mutt.  R.I.P Zevon

Auntie and Ellie are coming, and the Flu is Here!!!!!!!

     Ugh!  I have been so excited that Meagan and Ellie are arriving tomorrow.... BUT Scott and Ethan have the flu!  Fever for two days now, staying in bed, sore throats...I have been tending to them around the clock, and feel I am fighting it too.  Fiona is the trooper.  So far so good for her.  All that fresh air working on her civilization!  We all got our flu shots this year too.  The boys are on Tamiflu, which is supposed to cut the length of sickness in half.  I hope it works fast!!!  Poor Meagan and Ellie!  I must say, I gave them full disclosure.
     On another note, Ethan started baseball this past week.  (Perhaps where the boys picked up this nasty virus!)  He and Scott seem to think they have a winning team this year!  Speaking of winning teams!!!  How about those Patriots!?!  We watched the game with the Dutys, and at first some of them were rooting for the Falcons, but by the end of that game everyone was a Patriots fan!!!!!
     On Tuesday night the kids had their first official sleepover in Texas!  Ethan and Fiona were so excited all week to sleep over CJ's house.  There they have Tiger (12), Tess(10), Nathan (9) and Luke (5) to keep them busy!  Also CJ's daughter Daraugh and her husband Weston are living there, so it is a happy, full house!  With the kids away, Scott and I got to PLAY!  We enjoyed a nice evening of sushi and bowling.  Two nights later we took the kids to the symphony to see E.T. accompanied with LIVE ORCHESTRA!!!!!  It was soooo amazing!  I cried when Elliot and E.T. had to say goodbye, like I do every time.  The music was mind blowing.
     I am now looking forward to a home full of healthy family, and fun warm days ahead.

Superbowl party!

Tomatoes are going strong.

Fiona weaved this outside!

Getting their tin can kiln ready.

My bowling buddy.

Love these shoes!

This was up on the score board for all to see.  Yeah, there were some seriously jealous ladies...

My Valentine's....

Seth, Samuel and Andrew stopped by before their first game of the season.  Go Mustang's!

Charlotte from a few houses down just loves my pig!

Here are the girls bounding over from their yard.  If they spy Fiona or Ethan out front they usually pay us a visit.  So cute!

All dressed for the symphony!

We ate at Torchy's Tacos before the show.  The food was just as the sign says.

At riding lesson last week "Donkey" escaped again...

"You can't see me.  I'm camouflage with this pile of wood."

The boys before the first practice.

We are bird sitting again this week.  Kids had a blast making perches out of "Kinects".

Valentine bears!

Fiona got an extra bear from her brother.

From my dear husband.

Discovering a New Civilization...In Our Own Front Yard!

     This week has been pretty standard, except for the major developments in Fiona's new civilization!  She has been working diligently to manipulate the front yard into her own world.  Through weaving, balancing, digging and pure imagination she has managed to create her own "civilization".  There is a time telling devise (using shadows, and breaking the day up into just four parts she tells time).  There is a temple.  Depending on where the shadow falls from the stick determines what you worship at that time. (Ethan must clean the temple ten times to become a member of this exclusive society.  He is currently at about six cleanings.)  Fiona, with the help of her friend Tess, is also creating a language for this new group.  Using pictographs and creating a "Rosetta" stone for translation.  People passing by cannot help but notice all of her structures and comment with interest about what is going on.  She got a nice compliment on her "tepee" from the guy delivering our Chinese food the other night!
     Other exciting news...Ethan got to see his first pro basketball game this past week.  Scott had an extra ticket through work, so Ethan went as his "wing-man" to help keep the conversation going.  The traffic was crazy due to the Super-Bowl!
     Kids were also spoiled with two riding lessons this week due to the fact that their teacher was on vacation last week.  We LOVE those horses, and any extra time spent with them is always rewarding!  Fiona and Ethan are also well into their cantering, and lessons are such a thrill with all the speed!

The boys spotted a Delorian in the garage before the basketball game!

Tess is wearing some of the clothes the girls fashioned out of palm leaves.

Here is the entrance to the temple.

This is the time telling device.

Here is Fiona "cooking" at her fire pit.  I allow her a lit candle, as long as she stays by it at all times.  Notice her homemade head band out of seed husks.

These are some amazing veggie biscuits.  I just loved them so much I had to share...

This is not a set up.  He seriously loves reading the paper.

Ahhh...sitting by the fire while the kids snorkel in the hot tub...

Ethan on Spud.

Poor Spud let his best friend "Donkey", who is in fact a donkey, nibble off his tail.  (Horse tails and manes DO NOT GROW BACK once cut...or chewed.)

Fiona on Tuly.  Practicing flextion.  This is when you pull the horses head to the side while keeping them walking straight forward.

We always pass this sign...and it's tempting...just $549!

Our neighbor asked us to bird sit for her baby parakeet while she was away for a few hours.  We were happy to oblige!

The baby bird was a quite observer to Ethan's spelling lesson.

Anyone? Anyone?
These commercials are everywhere...and so ridiculous!