Adison-ism

Driving home from church today, we were asking Adison about the lesson in her class, which was Daniel and the Lions Den.
So I'm quizzing her through the story of what happened:

Me: So what happened when the men found Daniel?

Adison: they put him in the cave with the Lions.

Me: Did they hurt Daniel?

Adison: nope

Me: why not?

Adison: Because that guy had sprayed them with bug spray and they didn't hurt him!

Looks like we still have some work to do.... :)

Our Sweetest Girl

Today we had to say goodbye to our sweet, wonderful Bou. We knew this day was coming, but it really did not make it any easier. A few months ago she was suddenly just out of it; not moving much, staring off into space, and it seemed like something was wrong with the left side of her. A visit with our vet confirmed that it was most likely a stroke or some other neurological issue. We knew then it would just be making her comfortable. Some medicine actually turned her into a new dog, and for weeks we were so thankful to have our vibrant, happy dog back. But a few weeks ago, the medicine seemed to not have as much effect, and this week she could hardly walk, would stumble and was unable to go up or down stairs. It was time, and it was so very hard, but this wasn't our Bou and it was not a good life for her.

In Boxer years, she lived a phenomenal life. 10 years! Almost unprecedented for the breed. When Kevin and I went to the breeders house years ago, we knew we loved this dog seconds after we met her. She was so FULL of life -- a little too full, as we were the "this is what you don't want your dog to do" example in puppy class. (A class we dropped out of shortly after that). She was hyper. I thought she would never calm down. But she was such a happy, happy, dog. Loved people, loved to run. We used to take her to the dog park and just let her off the leash on the field and she was so beautiful speeding around. She came from a champion background, and we like to say that she knew this. She would let you know if she was beneath certain things.Bou loved a walk, and when she was healthier she loved going out on one. Back in the day, when it was just Bou & I, I'd take her out twice a day. Anytime you grabbed her leash she'd snap up from a dead sleep and be ready to go.

When Irbe came and the kids after that, you couldn't ask for more. She never once snapped, never growled, never showed a hint of any kind of frustration. And when Irbe was gone, she was still the same good girl. She loved the mountains. The last few times we went she acted 5 years younger. Loved to sniff around and lay in the cool air.

It is oddly quiet around the house now. When Irbe died, we still had all the dog sounds (and smells...) and now I catch myself almost every day looking outside for her on the back deck, waiting to come in. I panic when I've been out running errands and think I need to get back and let her out. I still expect her to be laying in the family room when we walk in from the garage. Kevin and I are dog people. We get attached to our dogs, and someday we'll have a (big) dog again. No matter what, though, Bou - our first dog - will hold a very special place in our hearts.

Beach Trip

Kevin saw a Groupon (a kind of coupon for local companies) for a discount on an ocean fishing trip. He thought it would be fun for he and Cole, and his brother Scott and his son, Fletcher. They bought the trip - and then it fell through. Fortunately he found another guy at Carolina Beach who could take them and we decided to make a weekend at the beach out of it.

Our condo was right across the street from the beach, so it was an easy spot for us to get to and from with the kids. Upon arriving, I soon realized I had forgotten one key piece: the kids swim suits. Off to Wal-Mart we went, where Adison's neon plaid, and Cole's blue shark shorts were truly the best they had to offer. One thing was for sure: we would not lose sight of them at the beach, you could see those suits a mile away.

The waves were pretty rough, but the kids loved running in and out, jumping waves, digging holes in the sand and the weather was just perfect.

The fishing trip was a 4-hour turned 6-hour adventure for the boys. They didn't really catch much at all, but because of the kids they didn't venture out as deep into the ocean as they normally would. Cole absolutely loved the fishing trip and Kevin is thrilled and already thinking of booking another one.

All in all it was a nice family weekend of relaxing and enjoying each other.