Saying goodbye to Riley

This was a day that we knew was coming but it doesn't make it any easier when it finally arrives. Riley has battled lymphoma for a few months and although the doctor thought he was in remission, there was something more going on as he stopped eating, drinking and could hardly get up anymore. Let me back up for those of you who don't know the story behind Riley. My parents saw him at the pet store when they were building the new Oregon City Papa Murphy's and when I saw him I fell in love. My parents advised against getting him...Jamie and I had just gotten married and were living in an apartment which they didn't think was the best place to have a dog. And Jamie REALLY didn't want me to get him...he actually said it's me or the dog...but of course I knew he was kidding because that same night he came home to meet our new puppy! I had no idea what having a puppy meant...the chewing, biting, jumping, peeing and vet bills. I would have to jump up on the couch or counters just to get away from those sharp puppy teeth attacking my ankles! And of course I had to find somewhere to keep Riley when I went to work all day so guess who got to take care of their first grand-dog?! I would bring Riley up to my parents before work and let him play on their 5 acres, go in the pond and chase balls. When we moved into our first house we were finally able to keep him at home. Then we had Ellie and let's just say Riley wasn't a big fan of little people. It got to be too much trying to keep a toddling little girl away from an inpatient dog so Riley got to move up to the 5 acres once again. And this time he stayed. We still came to see Riley and everytime we pulled up he would talk to us...this funny little howl thing he did. He loved it up here, he loved us and he loved my parents. They became his caregivers (thank goodness because we never could have afforded all that cancer treatment, or back surgery he had)...he was in good hands and they came to love him and had a strong bond with him. So...fast forward to this morning...I was getting ready to get the girls on the bus when the phone rang and my mom said it was time. He had a bad night, and it was time to end his suffering. We walked the kids over to say goodbye and we all gathered around him and cuddled him. Lily was too sad to go to school, Ellie went but didn't have a very good day. I went with my parents to go put him down and it was a very sad day. We decided to bring him home with us and bury him on our property so he could always be here with us. Jamie dug a hole...a very big, deep hole and we had our little memorial service for Riley. The girls made cards that they put in the grave with him and we put in a ball...he loved his tennis balls! It brought Jamie and I back to ten years ago...he was our first "baby"...the first addition to our family. We laughed how hard it was in the beginning and cried over how hard it was today in the end...but all those special memories in between makes it all worth it. Riley will be missed and will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Jalen found the bb gun

Before I tell the story let me say I HATE guns...any guns and all guns...paint guns, bb guns, hunting guns, kill someone kind of guns, and even water guns when they are pointed at me! So I wasn't happy when I walked downstairs to see Jamie and all three of my kids outside with a rifle and a huge cardboard box propped up against the big fir tree. AND...it was 8:00 at night! I guess Jalen spotted my dad's old bb gun up in the closet in the office and for some reason Jamie thought it would be cool to show him, and the girls, how it worked. So there they are out in the dark taking turns shooting this gun at the box. They dragged me out to watch...which I'm sure Jamie later regretted with all the grief I gave him...and once I saw Jalen's face I had to go get the camera. You would think he had just seen Santa Claus...or walked into the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse...or whatever else excites a 2 year old! The look on his face was priceless! So I let him have his fun and then made Jamie promise to put it away where he COULDN"T see it and never let him shoot a gun again!

Bathtime for Happy

Let me start by saying I am so far behind on posting to this blog...and the whole reason I am doing it is to keep all of you updated on our busy lives...as well as for my kids to be able to look back on and remember special moments in their lives. Okay...so this technically isn't that special but it was one of the priceless moments that will be so funny when they look back on it one day. Happy had been playing outside and they know that Mommy gets MAD when they let him in without wiping his paws. Even Jalen tries his best to chase Happy around the room with a towel...usually unsuccessful but the effort is there. So they came into the office and asked if they could give Happy a bath. Of course we don't have a good place to give a real bath so I clarified that what they really meant was wiping him down...more of a spongebath and they eagerly agreed. So...thinking we were on the same page (my mistake!) I told them to close the laundry room door to contain Happy and have at it. A few minutes went by (okay maybe more than a few...I was REALLY enjoying the peace and quiet!) So by the time I went and checked the entire room was covered with every single rag we own, Jalen had the car wash mit on his hand, Ellie was holding Happy on the leash and Lily had the sprayer from the sink pointed out into the middle of the room attempting to spray Happy as he tried his best to get away. I wanted to be mad at the mess but all I could do was laugh. The kids meant well, they were having fun and although Happy didn't seem to like getting sprayed he was still sitting there with that big old "happy" smile on his face!

Papa Jacks 60th Birthday!

We feel so blessed to be surrounded by such loving family! Everytime we all get together we are reminded of how lucky we are to be so close to our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Papa Jack...we love you and look forward to blowing out many more candles with you! xoxo

Surprise Snow!

No one was expecting anything but rain...but then again should we expect anything more from our weather friends?! Yesterday when a few flakes started falling I grabbed the camera thinking that would be the only shot of snow I would get but three hours later there was four inches on the ground and the kids were outside making snowmen and sledding down the hill! Ellie got stuck at a friends house,Jamie got stuck at work, and our dinner guests had to cancel. So after spending a couple hours on dinner I had no one to share it with! Lily called and invited Grandma and Papa over to have dinner and they walked across the field and joined us....pretty convenient! Usually it's the other way around...us going to Grandma's for dinner! The snow didn't last...Jamie was finally able to get home (although he had to use his mom's car to get up the hill) and when we woke up this morning there was still snow but after a beautiful day of sunshine it's sadly gone. It was still a nice unexpected treat!

Christmas in the new house...

We worked so hard to get everything done in time to have all the Christmas gatherings at our house and it paid off! We celebrated Christmas Eve here with the whole Snook family, then went to Lacey's to spend some time with the Foelker grandparents and aunts and uncles. Christmas morning we got up to see what Santa had bought...the girls got ipods and Jalen got a Handy Manny workbench! After having some breakfast we went to church to celebrate the true reason for the day and then had the whole Iacolucci family over later that night for our traditional Italian feast. It was a couple long days...especially for Jalen...but so much fun to be able to spend time with everyone! The girls knew the routine but this was the first year Jalen really got "Santa"...and even then I'm not sure he fully comprehended! He is the first kid I have ever seen that I had to force him to open more presents! He would open one and then just want to play with it...I guess all we needed was one present for him! Although he really liked Braylon's new toys (his 5 year old cousin) and chased him around trying to take away all his new army gear. Now we just have another week of kids out of school, friends and sleepovers galore and constant entertaining! I think I will wait until the kids are back in school to attempt to put away Christmas...then I have to resume unpacking the other 20 boxes in the garage. I'm seriously considering tossing them...what could I need that I have managed to live without for the last 6 weeks? Other than my precious pictures of course! While we will all be working at the pizza shack we hope you have a Happy New Year!

Home comes Happy!

We have been telling the girls for over a year that when we moved they could get a dog. Their dreams of a dog turned into getting an entire farm! They were then talking about cats, rabbits, chickens, and a horse. We decided to start with a dog. We moved November 20th so naturally they thought we should go get a dog on the 21st! We then told them once we were settled we could get a dog. We are still not completely settled but I wasn't sure how much longer we could put them off without making ourselves look like liars. So like everything else we do...last minute and spur of the moment we decided to go look at one of the shelters on Saturday. We got there at 4:45 and the lady told us they stop showing dogs at 5:30 and there was a chance we may not get in. We knew the girls would hate us if we left, so we thought it was better to chance it, and if the lady told us to leave they could hate her instead! She was nice enough to stay a few minutes late and we got to meet a 1 year old lab/retriever/collie mix named Happy. She seemed good with the kids, even Jalen. After hearing how she was rescued from being an outside neglected dog that was not given food or water and forced to stay outside in below freezing temperatures we decided she needed a home and ours was as good as any. The lady asked if we would come back the next day since she had already stayed late. You should have seen the girls faces...total devastation! Of course we said yes so we went back on Sunday at noon to bring Happy home with us. As we were loading him in the car Happy slipped out of his collar and went running down the busy street...cars slamming on their brakes, everyone in the shelter running out to help chase down the dog and the girls screaming and crying from the backseat. I just hope this wasn't a glimpse of things to come! The lady afterwards mentioned that he may be a "flight risk"...really?! So...here we are with 5 acres and Jamie and I are taking turns in the pouring down rain to take Happy on his walks. Our plan of making the girls do all that work went out the door when we realized Happy has the ability to take them on walks...he is way to powerful for them to handle. I am hoping some training will help with that...and staying in our yard but guess who gets to be in charge of that?! Somehow no matter how hard you try to give your kids responsibilities it always ends up in more work for yourself. We are very happy with Happy..haha...he seems to be a good dog and will find a special place in our family.