Friday, September 19, 2008

How to Get Rid of a Stray Cat







We haven't seen him for days??!!??


Dem Dry Bones



"With the toe bone connected to the foot bone

and the foot bone connected to the ankle bone

and the ankle bone connected to the leg bone..."


Two weeks ago Marley jumped from the top of our slide......




...probably for the last time.



Actually, it isn't as bad as we thought it was going to be.

Thankfully, after sweating it out for 2 weeks, the final x rays showed no broken bone and no torn ligament, both of which had been a possibility.

She was so excited when the podiatrist said she could take the partial cast off and return to recess!!

True Friendship

One of the first things Kailey told Marley after she found out that she was on crutches was that she would just sit with her at recess since Marley couldn't play.

No one asked her to do that, she just did.

She wanted to.

And not just for the first day or two like most of the kids did because they were curious or wanted to try out crutches. She did every day for 2 weeks. And would have done it for 6 - 8 had that been the case.

I was so touched the other day as I picked up Marley and Kailey from school and Kailey was right there beside Marley assuring her she had her crutches and backpack. And Marley, not in a 'take you for granted' kind of way; but more like a 'I can count on you' way knew she would.

Becasue that's what friends do, right?

But I really didn't think that 6 year olds knew that.

I was truely touched.

True friends also pray for you to get better and then rejoice when you do!

Thank you, Kailey. You really are a true friend to Marley!

(Kailey & Marley ~ Preschool 2006)

Happy Birthday, Dear Ella!



As sure as I asked her not to, Ella turned 4! We have had a reacurring conversation for the past year where I ask her to stay the same size forever. Sometimes she would agree, others she would say that she really wanted to be able to go to school.

I felt badly because I kept joking w/ her and telling her that she was going to be 3 again on her b-day.....it took me about 1/2 the day to convince her that she really was 4!


We had a great time celebrating her birthday at Chuck E Cheese. Ella loves Chuck E ~ she couldn't wait until he came out. She invited Marley and two of her friends, Logan and Teryn to go with us for pizza, cake and games. Grandma & Grandpa also came to join in on the fun! (One adult per child is a good ratio at Chuck E Cheese.)


The pizza was served as soon as the kids arrived and it was hard to keep them still long enough to eat . After a few bites they grabbed their tokens and headed off for fun.


After the last token was spent we gathered around to sing "Happy Birthday!" I love that cake, candles and balloons can make someone feel so special! I also love this picture below, something about how sweetly Chuck is looking at Ella is endearing.


.....and then there were the gifts. Ella really enjoys playing w/ stuffed animals. She finds anything she can to put on them and wrap them in for a good night's sleep. In fact, about a week before her birthday she kept telling people the story about how on Marley's birthday when we went to Build a Bear, Marley got clothes for her bear but all she got was a backpack. So she was very pleased to get 6 or 7 new outfits, shoes, a pillow and blanket set and a carrier and bed for her animals.


Besides stuffed animals, puzzles, stickers, crafts and books are her favorites. She received some of each!! Both Ella and Marley usually fall asleep w/ books. They love to read. Heath and I found a storytime projector that projects pictures onto the wall as it tells the story. It has been a big hit.


The entire day was all about Ella and making her feel special. From the moment I woke her up singing "Happy Birthday" to when I tucked her in w/ a few new animals dressed to the nines, it was all about letting Ella know how glad we are that she was born. She got to choose her breakfast (pancakes), she received several out of town phone calls bright and early and she took cookies and punch to preschool where they celebrated her too!!


Ella, you are amazing and you make me smile!