A Man’s Best Friend

 

They say that a dog is “a man’s best friend”.  I don’t know about “best friend” but they certainly do become a part of your family.  Thirteen years ago Joe surprised me with a little puppy.  He had picked him up assuming, as the ad stated, that he was a “lab puppy”.   A lab he was not, but he was the cutest thing we had laid eyes on.  We let him sleep in our room.  We took him out in the middle of the night when all we wanted to do was sleep.  He became king of our world pretty quickly.  We had lost Dakota only a few short weeks prior and he filled a void in our hearts.

On Friday, February 11, we said goodbye to our dog Monroe.  His hips couldn’t do the job anymore and he just couldn’t walk at all.  Our big, sweet dog had to be put to sleep.  I knew this day would come sometime soon but I wasn’t prepared for the actual day that we had to make that decision.   The decision had to be made but it will take time for life to return to “normal” around here without him. 

Unfortunately that is not the end of grief in our household.  While we were away on vacation our little “Leo boy” was hit by a car and killed.  This one hit the whole family pretty hard.  We had known that our other two dogs (Monroe was still alive at the time) were getting old and their time was coming.  When we received the call we were prepared for it to be any dog, but Leo.  The kids were devastated, as were Joe and I.  Funny how an animal can have that kind of effect on your heart.  So we returned from vacation without Leo. 

Life is slowly returning to a more normal pace, but their absence will take some getting used to.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable.  Love ANYTHING, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken.  If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal.  Wrap it up carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.  But in that casket – safe, dark, airless – it will change…”  C.S.  Lewis

A Baby Shower

 

Last weekend I (along with 4 of my 5 children) had the opportunity to spend a few days with my family in New Jersey.  We drove out that way on Friday, spent the weekend and returned Monday.  It is a 12 hour drive from my front door to theirs, and my only goals were to make it there before dark and before the NYC weekend traffic. 

I succeeded in both, but I must admit my wings were a little tired  We made great time and the kids were good sports about it all.  They were so looking forward to seeing their new cousin that it made the 24 hours of travel worthwhile, that and the chance to watch more movies than would every be allowed in a 24 hour period.

Unfortunately I took VERY few pictures.  I managed one with Sydney and my brother, one of the cake (best cake I’ve ever eaten I must say), and one of baby Paige.  I’m saving up all of my picture taking energy for our trip to Disney World.  We leave tomorrow and I have a lot to do before then.  With that said, I’d better just post my last 2 pictures and get off of here! 

My younger brother Drew and Sydney.

The adorable baby Paige.

Managed to drum up one more of baby Paige and Sydney.

Holland, London, and Harrison were also there with me.  Jackson enjoyed some one-on-one time with Joe for the weekend.

Goodbye for now.  The next time I get on here I hope to be in sunny Florida with Mickey and friends!  See ya then!

A Winter Wonderland

 

We awoke Saturday morning to this…

and this…

and this…

The above was taken after the windows were wiped off enough to back the truck up for plowing purposes.  Oh, did I mention that when we went to bed there was NO…I repeat, NO snow on this vehicle at all. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had one rule to start the day.  The little kids had to be dressed first.  I didn’t want the older kids dressing quickly and rushing out before the younger ones even found their boots.  Besides, I knew these two wouldn’t last as long so I let them try out the fresh snow first.

When it snows all this girl can think about is sledding.  She was ready whether it was going anywhere or not.

Made it out the door.

Probably got snow in his boots.

At our house when it snows Joe gets the tractor out to plow the driveway.  Which inevitably means attaching the sleds to the back of the tractor and taking the kids for a ride.

Jackson fell of and Holland’s not too sympathetic.

Now she feels bad…not.

When I brought London in (she lost a boot and got a face full of snow) she was pouting at me and wouldn’t let me take her picture (notice the pouty lips, she’s a good actress).

Sorry but,

I couldn’t resist!

For those of you feeling bad, she was faking it all along!

Joe found this little guy, I’m sure he too was wondering where all this white stuff came from.  Harrison was searching frantically for a container to keep him in!  I made it quite clear that he was going right back out where they found him.

Marilyn was very curious, I’m sure she had herself a snack after the boys let him go in the snow!

Christmas

Ok, so it’s been awhile since I’ve updated this thing!!!!  Sorry about that friends, but I’m back:)  In part to my new Christmas present from my most wonderful husband….a new laptop, YIPPEEE!!!!!  Since opening my new present we have been down to celebrate Christmas day with Joe’s side of the family and then awoke the next morning to head out on a 24 hour drive to Austin, Texas to be with one of my 3 siblings and her family and my parents.  Much to my dismay, after looking at my pictures from Texas I do not have a SINGLE picture of my sister, her husband, or my parents!  Snapping pictures of kids requires so much less energy, I mean think about it.  We adults say, “wait, let me brush my hair”, “is there anything in my teeth”, “I spilled something on my shirt”, “I look thinner from this side” and so on.  Kids on the other hand have adorable smiles ready at a moment’s notice.  They don’t care how dirty they are, if their shirt’s on backwards, or what their hair looks like just as long as you let them see the picture after it’s taken.  Sooooo, I chose the easy route and photographed the kids.

The Colvin cousins at Great Mamaw and Papaw’s house…the couch picture is a tradition.  As you can see they need a bigger couch:)

Mamaw goes to great pains to prepare for this special day.  This is Joe’s mom with all the kids minus London.  She crashed and we weren’t waking her!  Thanks Mamaw for preparing the meal and planning for a special day!










This all would not be possible if it weren’t for these two special people.  These are Joe’s grandparents, affectionately known as Great Mamaw and Papaw.  We love them dearly and are so thankful for their presence in our lives!

I just love this picture.  This is my nephew Charlie.

This too is a personal favorite.  Sydney has been wanting a cowgirl hat and she got one from Mamaw and Grandad, boy is she sweet:)











The above photos were taken in the movie theater in Texas.  We all went to see the movie The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 3D.  I strongly recommend this movie in any dimension.  Kudos to Disney for doing an excellent job of getting across the message that I believe C.S. Lewis intended!  A definite must see!

75 and sunny, yeah we were outside!  It was definitely a nice break from the frigid Indiana temps. 
 
The kids insisted on racing one another.  To make it fair my dad called out names and you ran when your name was called.  I had as much fun watching as they had racing.

My sister’s daughter Peyton (second in line) insisted on starting the races.  If any of you knew my sister as a child you are not surprised by this.  We humored her and let her have a moment in the limelight, as London didn’t stand a chance against her.
 
This one was for my dad.  He worked to get all the kids on this very climbing- friendly tree.   It only took 15-20 pictures to get everyone to look at me….at the same time!  Memorable nonetheless.  A definite keeper.


Just after we arrived home from the park we heard what sounded like a freight train, the floor seemed to shake and my sister yelled, “Look outside!  Daddy’s flying over!”  Stepped outside their front door, looked up and saw my brother-in-law doing a little fly over for us.  Thanks Ellis, definitely not something we see every day.
We had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to a very busy 2011.  We’ll be heading east next week to be with the rest of my family.  Stay tuned for more on that! 

House on wheels

 

As you can see the house is moving!  If you look back at previous posts (or if you remember what our house used to look like) you’ll notice that the house is now on the opposite side of our driveway!  It was definitely strange to pull down our old driveway and see this. 

As you can see the house is literally on wheels.  It is sitting directly behind the new basement ready to be rolled onto it’s permanent home.

What’s left of the old basement. 

Should be interesting when it’s all done….stay tuned for the final move!

On the Move

 

Progress is being made at our old house even with the winter weather conditions!  Things are moving a little slower than expected, but they are moving nonetheless.  I snapped a few shots of the house as it sits about 5 ft up in the air on hydraulic jacks awaiting the perfect weather conditions to move it to it’s new “home” on the new basement about 10 feet from where it is now.

Not only will they be moving it but they also must turn it so that it faces the road.

I could have walked under it…I chose not to.

What’s left of the old basement after they busted holes in it in order to run their beams through.

The new basement, waterproofed yet full of snow:)

Well there you have it.  She needs to move from her current location to that mound of dirt on the right.  Will attempt to keep you posted as progress is made!