Goodbye Butter

Our sweet Butter had his last day in our home. While he lay there unable to move, I thought back and wished how I'd done more with him. He he was the most spoiled dog ever but when the kids got here, it was just too much to keep him inside and take him to all of the things while trying to watch my kids. He was a great dog. Always gentle with the kids. On his last day, he couldn't hold his bowels anymore. I knew the time had come. 

We left him inside all night so he would be close to us. 

His breathing was jagged and he was struggling. 

His body was just barely holding on that day. I believe he had cancer. He had many lumps throughout his body. 

I made all of the kids say goodbye in the morning before school and to tell him what a great dog he was. 

We had to get him off the rug because he couldn't hold anything in anymore and we put him on a bed in our living room while I watched him closely all day. 

I was mopping and kept looking back every minute to see if he was still breathing. 

I finally saw him quiver and then he didn't take any more breaths. We brought Gus in to see that his buddy was gone but he didn't really seem to mind. 

I was worried Gus would be sad about Butter being gone but he just wanted to go and get a treat. 

I was so sad to see him go and was SO grateful that Lilah had the day off of school that day so she could help me. She helped me pull him into my car and we took him to the vet to get cremated. I thought about waiting for David to get off of school but was worried about any smell so Lilah, Annie and I took him in. Thankfully they took him in right away because it was so sad to see his lifeless body laying here. 

He was such a good dog. We got him June 2012 and he passed away August 2024. I hope he had a good life. We got him off Craigs list when someone was trying to sell him. They had said he was a purebred but he had something else in him. We met up with the previous owner in front of Trader Joes parking lot. It was a great day that came with many great memories together.

The girls saying goodbye to Butter as they took him away. 

His body now sits on our mantle and we will always remember him! 

 

David's new school

David was attending Three Rings Rach next to our house, but is now going to attend at Palm Innovation Academy. 

I had signed him up for the dual immersion program but received an email that all the spots were full. I was a little sad but had come to terms with is since I had asked for a special teaching for kindergarten and that teacher won teacher of the year the year prior. But, about one month before school started, they called me and said they had one opening. It took me about a week of going back and forth and finally I decided that we would do it and switch his school. 

There were so many wonderful things about his last school. One of them being it was practically across the street from us, but I know that this will be a blessing for him in the future. 

We got to go in and tour the school and that seemed to get his nerves down. He was pretty excited by the end of the day. 

He liked his new playground. 

His teacher seemed great. 

We are excited for this new adventure as a family. Hopefully Annie can attend this school as well so they can all be together. 

 

DTF summer

Work has been really nice lately. I am so lucky that I have this great career that has allowed me many blessings. Working bedside sure was stressful, but it brought me my best friends and I'll always look fondly on those years. 

I've been there long enough to see students who are new, graduate, from nursing school. It is definitely rewarding! 

Annie is losing her babyness. Every time I look at her, she looks like such a 3 year old. The days of being a little 2 year old are gone. She is so sassy, loves dresses, and is the girliest girlie girl. 

Lilah has been asking for a watch like mom. That's one of the hardest things about being a parent right now on top of everything else, is holding back on electronics because "the other kids have them" I want them to be little for as long as possible and I know it'll all be downhill as soon as they go on terrible social media. 

David is the sweetest brother to little Annie. They have such a sweet connection and I love it. I think David bumped into Annie here and is giving her a hug. 

I've also been able to teach with one of my best friends and it's been so much fun. I am loving my career these days. 

The kids have been doing summer lessons at the High School. Mostly they've been just fooling around but I guess the price tag is better than the private lessons we've been doing. David is pretty much a swimmer now. He just needs more practice and he'll be swimming long distances in no time. 

Lilah just goes and fools around not taking things seriously as usual. It doesn't help that her coach isn't really paying attention to her and she's just flapping around like a dead fish in the water. Oh well, at least it gets us out of the house and in fresh cool water on this hot summer. 

Some more "I'm sorry cuddles" I want my kids to be close and to always be best friends. I would love more than anything for them to hang out and live close to each other when they're older. 

The 8 year old trip is still in full effect and we got to go swim at Grandma's swimming pool. Again, she is grandma goals! 

Treats after swimming. 

Worn out after a long day of fun. Annie is still taking daily naps but I'm so sad this will all come to an end real soon. 

Arts and crafts at home. 

My sister says Annie looks like Matilda hehe. 

There are so many selfies of Lilah on my phone hehe. 

My friends came over for a DTF day and it was so great! 

We had a water day and the kids had a great time in the back yard. 

I love my friends so dang much! 

We had a fun day. Annie kept fighting with all of the kids. She is so dang sassy. And David and Lilah kept fighting like cats and dogs which was embarrassing but we had fun and it was so nice getting together. 

More swim lessons for the kids. 

When we met, I was the only one with a baby, now we all have a few! 

When we bought our house, we loved that we lived next to the school and next to the park. Well, so far David has been the only one that has gone to the school next door to use but at least the playground has been used a lot. We are also so luck to have the best neighbors. My kids love them. 

My class has been fun to teach. It's fun to teach the newbies because even a nursing home is still exciting. 

My neighbor invited us over for popsicles and pizza. She's the best! 

And we love when Tio Joel comes over! 

I saw someone using a leaf blower to get all the junk from under their couches and I loved the idea, haha! 

Annie helping me with some DIY. The kids are all in school and she is my last little baby at home. Mostly she just makes messes when I clean up and draws on the walls but she is also fun. 

So many kid selfies on my phone, haha! 

Our town has been putting on lots of fun activities. This is the Touch a Truck event at the park. 

We went with our friend, Freddy and his family. 

We even saw another old 9100 co-worker. 

Slushies on a hot day. 

My friend started a lemonade stand so I love to go out and support. 

My old Butter ball. He's having such a hard time standing these days and will need our help to move around. Always such a good dog though. 

Lilah is really good at coloring. I'm considering putting her in art school or something. She is quite talented and enjoys it! 

She made a donut unicorn. She'll watch videos on the internet and will copy the pictures. She does such a great job! 

And she enjoys cooking also. She'll sometimes make the kids snack plates if I'm taking too long. I love when she's helpful! 

Annie on her way to swim class. 

Lilah taught her how to do that powtie face and she is always doing it for pictures now haha! 

We took our neighbors to the movies to give my friend a break and the kids had a great time! 

David will be starting a new school! He is a little nervous, and so am I but I know this will be great for him. It's a dual immersion program where he will learn to speak, read and write in Spanish. It's a little bit of a sacrifice because we can't walk across the street to school any more and now school starts at 8 instead of 9. This is also an older school and it's lower income so not as many school events as we're use to. But, I hope this sacrifice comes to many blessings for him in the future as a bilingual adult.