In Memory of my Maddy

We lost my Maddy yesterday. I got Madison as a tiny puppy almost 11 years ago before I even moved out of my parent's house. She has been with me through every major part of my life and its so very hard to say goodbye. It was the hardest decision in the world to feel at peace that it was the right thing to do. Though she was the absolute sweetest doggie to our family loving us and letting the kids and babies pull her ears and lay on top of her, she had a history of forever trying to attack nice innocent dogs and barking at people and we always feared that she would one day try to attack a pit bull or some dog that would really hurt her and we feared that in her old age she may try to bite somebody. She had recently spent some time in the doggie hospital with a bad illness, and when she got stressed and sick again during the move and after the move, we had to very tearfully say goodbye.

Dillon is a genuinely amazing person inside and out. He deals with things so well that it is beyond me and he was my rock yesterday. We talked about God calling Maddy to Heaven and it was her time to go and that we won't see her again. That she is in a wonderful place smelling all the angel doggie trails and barking at whatever she wants to bark at and that God is scratching her favorite spots under her petal soft ears. He decided that we needed to sit down and draw pictures of Maddy and all the things she loved. He cut a flower and glued it to the page for her and I. He helped explain everything to Carter in the nicest way and kissed his head when he cried. He is truly amazing and I feel so lucky that Jim and I of all people in this world actaully get to be his parents. We will always love you my Maddy May Mo, Ray Ro, Diggy Dog, Baby Girl.

"What?"
Yes, the boys have found dirt in the new yard. Bend has this sandy dirt everywhere and boys of all ages are drawn to it...Brayden can draw and loves to do so just like his artsy brothers.....And Dillon started kindergarten today! He is going to Bear Creek, the same school his dad and aunts and uncle went to, I think even a cousin or two went there. He was so excited to get there this morning that he was actually willing to sit nicely for a picture :) Next week he wants to start riding the bus and I'll probably follow it to school darn it.

Here is Braydens' room, the bugs in the Boy's room and a picture of the boys under the house running tv cable for Jim....little helpers.

We are finally settled in to our new house in Bend....what a long time coming! I had to take a picture of the boys in their old yard after we had taken away all of their toys and swingset. They are just sitting there in the empty yard playing in the playground chips. Then, in our new house there is a picture of Brayden "fixing" the train set on the train table and a good picture showing the pretty wood beam on the ceiling in the living room. This house is smaller than our last one but we like it so much more. It has lots more character with the wood beams and hand painted mural all around the boy's room. If you look closely enough you can find all sorts of intricate little bugs beautifully painted. I'm getting used to Bend, loving the wonderful fresh smell of the Juniper trees, and I get to see real mountains and Pilot Butte right off my street everyday :) I don't have my email set up yet but when I do, I'll send out all of our new info.

Brotherly Love