Our Girl.

We are totally in shock after losing our 7 year old lab, Zoey this morning at approx 3:30 am after a short 3 day deterioration, 2 vet visits and a false hope for her to pull through after finding out she had ingested rat poisoning and had internal bleeding.

This girl was Jon and Brynne's first "baby", and has brought our family so much joy.

It rings so true when they say that no matter what, a dog will always love you.

She did just that.

All we have left are the pictures to show the place she held in our family and in our hearts.

To our companion, hiking buddy, running partner, wrestling buddy & "horsie", right hand rafter, swimmer, fetcher, protector, snuggler, lover and home body. We will miss you so much, Zoey. Our little family has never known life without you.

Thank you for being so amazing. Until we meet again...

Dec 7, 2003-June 9, 2011

Cade the pirate

Our little Cader is such a good sport. He has what is called "Duane's Syndrome" in his left eye. What that means is the nerve in his muscle that pulls his left eye out (or to the left) didn't develop. It is irreversible. We have known this for a while, and he has adjusted to it a lot. He will turn his head further when he looks to his left instead of his eyes so he doesn't cross them.

Recently, we started noticing a little extra movement besides just when he would look to the left. We went to a specialist and found out that because of his Duane's syndrome, the part of his brain that controls his left eye has been slower in developing and is starting to cause Amblyopia, or "lazy eye" as well. His case is very mild, (he doesn't need glasses or surgery) but he gets to wear a super-awesome, amazingly cool "pirate patch" for 2 hours a day until that eye (or part of his brain) gets stronger. (They'll check him every couple of months).

The patch is fairly recent, and on Sunday in his primary class at church, they had this lesson:

Cade was excited to tell me how he's glad he has his eyes so he can see (what's in the picture) "Sunshine, and a bridge, and Daddy, and me and Jay!" He told me how Heavenly Father gave us eyes so we can see the beautiful world. This touched me so much.

We have such an immense love for Cade, sometimes our hearts just want to jump out of our chest. He is such a good sport putting up with questions, and "Cade! What happened to your eye??" comments. In our eyes, he is still perfect and beautiful and we are so grateful for his awesome example. We know he will do great as he faces trials in this life, even this small one with his eye.

I wish they all could be California boys....

He's just too cool.

33 weeks

(amazing quality, I know) picture at 32 weeks.

Well, first of all....WE MOVED!!!......in with the parents for now. :) But, we closed on our house today, so it's officially no longer ours. :/ It's bitter sweet. We are feeling nice and cozy in our temporary arrangements, grateful, and excited to find a new home for us!

Anyway, in the process, I was doing too much, probably, and starting having signs of pre-term labor. Contractions, mucous, baby's head down there, etc! Went to the doctor and found out the baby's head IS in fact down there, but I am not yet dialating. But, I was told to take it easy...no exercise or lifting or other stuff that might make me contract more. I am feeling better day by day. Hopefully that wont last too much longer!

Besides that, just feeling nice and plump and wanting ice cream all the time to help the heartburn die down!

6 weeks left!

Maternity Photoshoot Continued...

29 weeks

Not knowing if this is my last pregnancy or not, it was so fun to have these done... especially in the beautiful North Idaho springtime. I absolutely LOVE being pregnant. The feeling of growing our child inside of me is such an incredible miracle. There is nothing quite like this time!

Thank you, Shalie, for capturing it!

Maternity photoshoot!

29 weeks.

I have a friend who is finishing her portfolio and asked to take maternity photos of me! I had never done this before, and I'm glad I did! She is amazing! These are only the teasers:

www.shaliemphotography.blogspot.com

Ill post more favorites when I receive them!

Thanks, Shalie!

p.s. no more than 10 weeks to go!

(getting induced a week early, due to Jonny having regional training the week I'm due. :)

Cassie is 30!

Cassie's husband, Andrew had to leave on her birthday to serve in the Air Force, so we had a big girl's night to celebrate! The party started at wild walls rock climbing, (I took pictures! ;)

Then we ate at PF Chang's Chinese Bistro (never laughed harder!!!),

and finished the night dancing away at the Black Diamond.

It was a super crazy, fun night and my sister looks better than ever @ 30 after 4 kids!! I sure love her and appreciate her.