A budding photographer

I was downloading some pictures and noticed a few additional photos taken by a young photographer in my home - Vanessa. These photos are hilarious! They capture what is important to her - some of her favorite toys, her laptop, the mouse to the laptop, her dolls, and her sister. In all, there were 38! Thank goodness it was digital, otherwise she would have wanted me to change out the film roll for a new one. Seeing the pictures caught me by surprise, but gave me a good laugh, especially since so many of them were taken at crazy angles angles like this one...

Dirt + Pouring Down Rain = One Stinky Dog

I had to temporarily put Riley outside while an angel cleaned my house. He had complete access to the garage, which was warm and dry. But NOOOO, that would just be too miserable.

Someone recently learned...

how to sit all by herself...and she is ready for her throne.

So yummy!

Although these little piggies are incredibly adorable, they're also incredibly difficult to paint. I think there may actually be more paint on her skin than on her nails. And check out those ankle rolls!

Answered Prayers

Today our prayers were answered and they were answered the way we wanted them to be...Riley has returned home to us safely! Apparently, a neighbor about a block away called animal control and he spent the night in the shelter. I am very grateful that this family was watching out for him, making sure that he was kept safe and not wondering the cold dark streets at night. However, if they had just let him be, he would have come right home or Bill would have found him during his five hour search. But regardless, we brought him home this morning and we are one happy family again. Even the girls were jumping when we saw him this morning and Katelyn said grace tonight at dinner thanking Saint Anthony for Riley's safe return. This little adventure that he went on really taught us how much we love him and miss him when he is not with us; after all, he is our first born and will always have a special place with us.

A mother's heart is sad

If you believe in God or Saints or a Higher Power, would you do me a favor tonight? Send a prayer that Riley returns home to us safely. Bill and my dad were outside taking down the Christmas lights and Riley was hanging outside with them. The next thing they knew Riley had decided to take himself for a walk. For the next five hours, both Bill and my dad walked and drove around the neighborhood searching for him. Calls were made to animal rescue and we looked into making "Lost Dog" fliers to be posted in the morning. We wouldn't be too worried if he had his collar on, but of course for whatever reason, he happened to have it off tonight. Perhaps someone took him in for the night and will try to find his home in the morning. I hope that is the case because without his medication, he is more likely to have seizures, and if he is at someone's home, they will not know what to do with him. So let's hope our prayers get answered tonight!

Matching smiles and PJ's while waiting for Santa to come

Every Christmas Eve, we give the girls three gifts to open: a Christmas-themed book, an ornament, and new PJ's. This has become a fun tradition for all of us and one that I hope to continue for years to come. Someday when they have a home of their own, I'll be able to send them with a box of their own ornaments, some fancy, some simple and some to remember a favorite pasttime with. The books perhaps they'll keep for their own children, just as we have several of Bill's Christmas books from his childhood. And the jammies, well they are just something fun.