Playing in the snow

Kodiak has enjoyed some great snow fall in the past 2 week. Besides trying some sledding, Mike made a snow fort for the girls. Mike...uhhh, I mean the girls :) ...really loved playing in the fort. -R

Goodbye Kensie

It's with a heavy heart that I write that Kensie left our lives on Friday, January 14th. She was suffering- acute renal failure- and the vet was not seeing any improvement, but some more decline, after 'aggressive' treatment for the past 2 days. So on Friday, mid-morning, Mike, Cece, Sophie and I went to say good-bye to our wonderful gentle giant. She wagged her tail but couldn't get up, just laid on her side. We were all blessed to know her- her playful and enthusiastic puppy behavior that was pure Kensie-joy. Love you, Kensie. -R
(Above is a short video celebrating Kensie's time with us...we were blessed.)

Prayers for Kensie

Kensie, our big beautiful moose-like dog, is seriously ill and staying at the Kodiak Vet Clinic. On Wednesday, I noticed she didn't get up for her morning bone. In checking more closely I noticed her nose was dry and cold. She walked slowly and wobbly into the main house then collapsed in the front hall. I called and got her an appt with the vet thinking she might have a cold or stomach virus. But it became more and more obvious that something was seriously wrong as I had to lift her into our vehicle and then when she vomited dark blood. The vet quickly x-rayed her and tested her blood and found she is septic with kidney failure. We are frustrated to know nothing on causes or whys or how she got so sick. Kensie has been on IV's since Wednesday and tomorrow the vet is saying we'll know if she's going to make it. Please send good thoughts and prayers to our beloved Kensie. Thank you... -R

Nutcracker 2010

At last, I've been able to post a video of Cece at her Nutcracker performance. She's on the right side, fourth from the end and her good friend Ruby is fifth from the end. -R :)

Sophie & Chocolate pudding

Mike has occasionally commented that one of my more 'annoying' traits is that I like to take lots of pictures and save all of them. 30 pics of Cece putting together a puzzle, 15 of Sophie dancing,... I just love to see the sequence, the play of emotions on faces, the story. I actually prefer the pics over a video, except that it's hard to share so many pics. So this morning when I woke up early, I put together this short slide show...with music! My first effort/ project...and as I couldn't download to blogger, I posted it to Youtube (only to be viewed by those who have the site address).
So here it is... Sophie had happily stumbled upon some left-over pudding from her sister's lunch. And with only a few dollops of pudding left, she had a great time. -R

Tis the season

On Friday, Cece had a holiday party at her preschool. (Cece really loves going to school and asks almost daily, "Is today a school day?") They'd been practicing singing holiday songs for the last few weeks and they gave us (parents, siblings) a concert on Friday. This was followed by singing happy birthday to baby Jesus, cake/ cookies and then a visit from Saint Nick. The kids were all so well behaved throughout the entire party...sitting quietly waiting for their cake/ cookies, cleaning up their plates by themselves, sitting on their carpet squares waiting for Saint Nick. School has really helped Cece make some great friends, learn how to be more independent and self-reliant, and be more considerate of those around her. Many thank you's to her teachers...Ms. Candy, Miss Hanna and Mr. Eric. And this last pic is of Sophie enjoying the butter I'd put out to soften to bake Christmas cookies for school that morning. :P -R

For Uncle Danny...more table manners by Sophie

Every morning Sophie climbs up onto Cece's chair and enjoys her big sister's left-over breakfast...but she doesn't use the spoon as it's already been used :) -R