Family Pictures 2015

We wanted to have some family pictures done before Mike left for Saudi.

I also really wanted to get some with Sasha, and I knew she hadn't been doing so well.
I'm really glad that we did this.
My sweet friend Kristy Lee took our pictures.

Thought I'd share some of them.

 It's especially wonderful to me that we have these pictures with Sasha
since she is no longer with us.

A Hard Post For Me

The other day (June 2nd) we had to make a really difficult decision.
One that came after a lot of discussion and prayer.
We had to say good-bye to our sweet Sasha.

I will never forget the day she joined our family!

She was absolutely the perfect dog for us.
I'm so glad that we had so many years with her.
So hard to say good-bye...   :(

As hard as it was, I know it was the right decision.
Her quality of life had gone down significantly in the recent months
and very drastically in her last few days.

I was thankful that our vet would come to our home.
Sasha left us in her own bed, with her head on my lap and surrounded by her family.
Mike was able to face time and be with us too.

I hope she is running and playing with all the other dogs in heaven.
We love you Sasha, and we will never forget you!
You will always be in our hearts.

Mother's Day 2015

 I love these people!

Seriously, they are awesome. I'm so glad I get to be their mom.

Oh, and I can't forget my other "kid"

Sure love this sweet girl  :)

Springtime Snowfall

Snowfall in April?

I guess that's normal in Utah :)

 Sasha liked it

 I'm not sure my tulips did :)

Church Christmas Party and Sasha's Anniversary

Last night our kids participated in the Nativity program

at our church Christmas party.

Isaac and Anna

our cute, silly shepherd and angel

Noah as Joseph

I failed to get a picture of Grace and Dallin but they were involved as well.

Grace was party of the "family" on stage who sat and listened to the Nativity

and asked questions, and Dallin played the violin with a group of youth.

When we got home we turned the focus to our sweet Sasha!

Since we don't know when her birthday is, 

we decided to celebrate the anniversary of the day that we brought her home

and made her part of our family. 

We gave her a Frosty Paw treat and sang to her.

 She loves those treats!

Hard to believe that only 4 years ago she came home with us.

It feels like she's been with us forever! We love her!

Here she is with super excited happy kids on Dec. 6, 2010 :)

Making Friends at the Vet

Yesterday at the vet this little kitten was smitten with Sasha. 

Sasha is such a calm sweet dog that she just let the cute little cat play with her.

I wish I had a picture of it, but the cat started playing with Mike's shoelaces too. It was really cute :)

Show and Tell

Anna was so excited when she found out that she would be able to 

take Sasha for show and tell.

 The kids all loved Sasha too.

(she took her on the 20th of September)

Moving Day

Kids happily finishing off the ice cream in the freezer

After Noah finished his, he put it in the trash and Sasha found it and pulled it out.

I don't know if there was anything left in it, but she was trying to get what was left.

Duane and LeeAnn came to see us off.

We sure will miss them...

but we are glad to know that they have kids living in Utah

and we will be able to see them again!

Saying good-bye to the house

 

And we are off on our trek west.

So long Chateau Dr.

We will never forget our time in Maryland,

the life-long friends we made

and the many memories we will cherish!

And so it begins!

On August 1st the moving truck arrived

most important things in the truck :)

Noah had to carry Sasha onto the truck for the picture because she didn't

like the feel of the ramp.

She quickly jumped off (before I could get a picture.)

Well, the driveway was a little slick...

she slid and didn't like that either.

So...I really wanted a picture and I wanted Sasha in it...

I made Noah carry her back up there.

(I know, I'm so mean!)

Anyway, after we got the picture it was time to get out of the truck.

Sasha wouldn't jump because last time she slipped,

and she wouldn't go down the ramp.

So this is what we came up with :)

Chalk Treatment

Yesterday my Mom and Bob and Dresden and their kids, minus the teenagers, came for a visit.

(all of our teenagers are at scout camp or girls camp this week)

We had a good time hanging out together

playing games,

eating food,

watching old home videos,

playing outside,

stepping on rusty nails and getting tetanus shots...actually that was just Troy

and thankfully he's fine, and I couldn't believe how brave he was.

But one of the things we did that the kids absolutely loved

was giving their hair chalk treatment.

Dresden saw it on Pinterest or something I think

and showed us pictures of what she did with Leslie's hair before girls camp.

Naturally all the kids wanted to do it.

Before the chalk treatment though, Bob gave Isaac a much needed haircut.

I personally loved his curls,

but he was ready for something shorter and cooler for the summer.

The boys all wanted mohawks, or I guess I should say mochalks

and the girls had pony tails with colorful stripes

 Even Sasha got in on the fun :)