Heartache

We said good-bye to our sweet Anna this week.

It has been brutal on our hearts.

This Year's Ornament

This kid is so sweet.

Nate's 2016 ornament. 

Each year we pick out an ornament to remember  what Nate has been into that year.  

This year's choice was obvious.

A Slow Down

This weekend Nate was in the Christmas pageant at church.  

He played the wiseman Balthazar.  

He was so cute.

Our neighbors Gary and Linda attended the play this year.  

It meant so much to Nate to having someone there.

Next year will probably be his last year in the Christmas program.

The rehearsals for the program had us runnin' 'round like crazy people since the day after Halloween!

Each week an hour practice on Tuesdays, and on Sundays practice for an hour and a half.  

Add in hockey games on Saturdays and practices on Wednesdays, things have been hectic!

So now that the program is over Sunday dinners can resume!  I made pot roast last night!

We also finally had time for putting up our tree.

We just put up our smaller tree this year. 

We will be away from home on the weekend of Christmas and we are trying to simplify this year, so the small tree will work just fine.  

I want to make a tree skirt this year and replace this velvet skirt which grabs dog hair!

I might have time to make the skirt, but maybe not the motivation.  I haven't sewn in weeks.

Festive

It's that time of year again..... 

...when trying to make a 'perfect' Christmas for our family means feelings of suffocation for me.   

 This year I am trying to keep things simple.  

Thanksgiving is usually the opener for my season of panic attacks, but this year that wasn't the case.  

We had a relaxed dinner with the pretty dishes, and I was able to enjoy it.  

Normally for us the day after Thanksgiving our house is- **BOOM**CHRISTMAS**.

Not this year.

I've gradually put the festive flannel sheets on our beds, and have the Christmas quilts out.  

Olive is adorable on Christmas quilts by the way.

See!

 But besides the beds and our Advent wreath, the house looks normal.

And we've doing normal life stuff.... like celebrating Bonnie's 5th birthday.

And completing our series 16 mini-figures.

Watching rabbits and birds in the yard. 

Hockey

But.... isn't this so precious!?

A Fun Week

We've had a really great week!  

Last night we went to see Doctor Strange.  

We took Nate's friend Tyler with us, and they loved the movie!

Someone opened a little free library down the street.  

It's super cute! 

 Nate found a great book to borrow!  

He can't put it down! 

Bonnie and Olive are becoming good friends!  

They bird watch together, and I've even caught them cuddling!  

Nate finished his October lapbook too!

We studied Native Americans in history, and electricity in science!

Olive

I mentioned that we adopted a kitten last week. 

This is Olive.

She was named Olive Oil by her foster family. 

We just kept calling her Olive, so I guess that is her name.

 We had talked about a kitten for a loooong while, but were seriously concerned about Bonnie.

She barks passionately when a cat is outside the window... much like she barks at rabbits.  

We were concerned her prey drive was just too strong.

I did a lot of research, and we have been very careful.  

We introduced her to Anna first, who really didn't care.

Then Lucy who was so friendly, but a little too enthusiastic, and Olive had to show Lu about her personal space requirements.  

We did not introduce Bonnie the first day.

Most of the first day the kitten just hid.

 We finally dug her out from under the couch and put her in the laundry room where none of the dogs could have access.  We did go in and spend time with her playing and loving her up.

The second day we kept the kitten in the large dog crate in the house so Bonnie could start getting used to her. 

We would let her out often, and lock Bonnie away.  

Lucy and Olive have been sharing space very well since then.  

The kitten became much more confident. 

After Olive was used to us we mostly kept Bonnie locked up.

Each day, Olive and Bonnie spent small amounts of time in the same room with Bonnie behaving very nicely.... By the end of the first week, Bonnie was getting used to Olive, and stopped chasing her, or being too excited.  She hasn't really shown any aggression towards Olive, although sometimes when we are all on the sofa together Bonnie licks Olive, and it scares me for a quick second.  Olive acts like she likes it!

So with some patience everyone seems to be happy.

And Nate sure is!

And Lucy is always nearby her new friend.  I think she likes having someone her size, but I think Olive will be taller than Lu.

 But for now she loves the stolen kitty kibble, and weird toys and treats.

All of the dogs like these fishy kitty treats, I think that's part of the reason Bon has been so good lately, because she knows there are tuna and salmon treats they only get if Olive is around.

She is a great addition to our family.

And if you are wondering why in the world we have four animals now.... I should mention Anna is not doing so great.   A little over a month ago we noticed her belly was getting huge.... and we knew it wasn't puppies!  We took her in and they did an x-ray and bloodwork.  It appears she has a tumor growing on her liver.  It just keeps getting bigger and she has a big ol pot belly.  She hasn't been in pain, she eats and goes on walks....  Just in the past few days we've noticed she has really slowed down and seems to be having troubling holding her body up.  She is nearly fourteen, and we decided with the help of the vet to not intervene to try to extend things for her.  Recovery from surgery at her age would be more difficult.  

We are keeping an eye out for signs that she is in pain, and will cross that bridge when we get there.

Busy Times

I have not checked in for nearly a month!

Doesn't seem like that long, must just be because we have been so busy!  

Hunting season is going on.  

Jo-Ann opened here in town!

We went to the corn maze!

We adopted a kitten.

Nate has been busy with the start of hockey season.

And now Halloween is over!

What a crazy month October was!

School routine has been great though.

Karate is going well.

The weather has been insanely nice.

I'll be sure to try to be present in November.

 Hopefully I'll check in a little more often too.

I need to introduce our kitten!