Wildlife World Zoo

We took the kids to the Wildlife World Zoo on saturday for a little distraction from loosing Archie. The weather was perfect and the kids had a great time going to the aquarium and seeing the animals. We tried to get Cayson to feed the stingrays but he was too scared so Thad fed them. That place sure is expensive but it was worth it to laugh a little and see the kids have fun.

 Seeing these lobsters made me crave some fresh grilled lobster.....mmmm!

 Cayson wanted one of these pretty frogs. Uh, I don't think so.

POISONOUS DART FROG= not pet friendly

 These moray eels are gross but kind of pretty, no just gross!

 The baby deer in the petting zoo like to bite the kids clothes. They all thought it was hilarious!

Carly LOVED feeding the giraffe.

My Archie

Yesterday we said goodbye to our friend Archie. He was sick and it wasn't getting any better. We found out that he had valley fever after he starting loosing weight drastically. He was started on medication but it wasn't helping. He finally stopped eating. His legs shook when he walked, he couldn't get on the couch by himself, he couldn't hop over the baby gate like he used to, he fell out of the car and he couldn't hold his bladder anymore. He was suffering. I couldn't fix it.

I WANTED TO FIX IT. I WISH I COULD HAVE.

Watching him go was traumatic. I keep picturing it in my head.

2 weeks ago he had energy. He was thin but he was still Archie.

Today he is gone.

He has been gone for just over 24 hours.

I miss him desperately.

We had him cremated and will get his ashes next week.

We changed around our bedroom because I kept waking up to check on him and he wasn't in his spot by my bed. It was too hard so we needed to cover his spot. It feels a little better.

I wish he was here laying his head on my lap.

I'm going to miss my running partner. I'm going to miss his snoring. I'm going to miss him cuddling with me while watching a movie. I'm going to miss walking to school with him to pick up Cayson.

It finally hit Cayson last night. He sobbed. He misses Archie too. 

We talked about all our good times with him. 

We sang "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living, my Archie you'll be."

We cried while we sang it.

Tonight Carly told me she misses Archie and asked me to sing the song again.

Every night I tell her she is my best girl. Tonight she told me she is Archie's best girl.

We told them that Archie is in heaven and that he is waiting for us but he will always be with us because he is in our heart. Right now my heart is aching but it will heal.

Archie,

I miss you, my friend.

My heart is broken without you but I know you are not suffering anymore.

I wish I could have saved you.

I'm sorry I failed you.

Thank you for loving us so much.

Thank you for bringing us so much happiness.

You were such an amazing dog and you can never be replaced.

You will be forever in my heart!

In loving memory...

Archie came into our life February 24, 2010 and left a hole is our heart January 21, 2011

Archie giving us a little wink!

Archie loved the kids. They all loved him!

Ballerina in the making

She's tiny and petite. All the makings of a great ballerina!

I love watching Carly at dance class.

She's getting better and learning lots.

But most of all, she's having fun interacting with other girls.

I can't wait for her recital in June. 

I don't expect her to do much more that spin in a circle but it's going to be great!

When I get the details EVERYONE will be invited to see her.

Don't worry if you can't come though- I'm sure I'll have plenty of pictures and video to post.

And I may brag a little....!

This little boy can make me crazy.

Sometimes I want to pull my hair out!

But isn't he sweet?

He's my wild and crazy angel!

(yes, his arm in sticking out of the slats and yes, those are teeth marks on the crib)

Artists

Keeping the kids entertained!

Taylor, you know how I feel!

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off
At 14 there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots
But don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around in your pj's getting ready for school

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
No one's ever burned you, nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to, just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder that I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
I could still be little
Oh I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even though you want to, please try to never grow up
Oh, don't you ever grow up
Oh, never grow up, just never grow up!

Is it weird that I feel this way mostly about Carly? 

Christmas Day

Here are a few pictures from Christmas Day.

The kids had a blast!

 Carly had her pj's on too but had to take them off to put on her princess heels.