Winter is here

The weather has been a tad cold of late - winter is here!  It looked pretty, even if it felt terrible.

This was from last week, but yesterday was 18f  in the morning!

Holiday Tea

It was Emma's school show last week.  She looked beautiful and gave it her all in the performance!

Em and her BFF Margot!

Fur Baby

The puppy that thinks he's a baby!

Puppy Love

Following a childhood dream of having a [small] dog, we adopted Duncan.  It was not a spur of the moment decision - it's been a "want to" for a long time, but there were many considerations:

- Expense (food, vet bills, etc)

- Hygiene (house training, poop scooping)

- Smell (in the house)

- Care (home alone, vacations)

- Behavior

We went back and forth on it for over a year, but since everyone seemed to want to do it, it was on the horizon!

It certainly seems like Duncan was a great choice for us!  In just the time we've had him most of my concerns have been waylaid, or seem insignificant to the joy and companionship he has brought.  He likes nothing more than to snuggle, or lay with us anytime we are stationary.  He never barks when in the house (unless the door is open and he sees a dog walk past!) and when visitors come, he runs over and flops on to the floor for them to rub his belly! 

The kids are having fun teaching him to play fetch too.

Most importantly, he is showing the kids the need to be considerate and responsible.  we are encouraging them to share in his care, but also, that having a birth defect like a crooked paw, does not diminish your value to others.  We know Emma identifies with this and we are happy to show the kids, in a practical way, that love does not focus on flaws or challenges.

Scott and I are enjoying our little buddy and love seeing how he interacts with us after the kids go to bed! 

He loves to lay like this, and will even stay there after I get up!

 We assume it's because he's so comfortable in our home!

Duncan, aka Dunkin Donuts

With thanks

We had 16 for dinner, so we set up the 10' table in the living room!

Em loves holding Addison!

Toby loved the football field Scott made him!

The Morton kids!

The next generation!!

At home

Happy to snuggle with the kids...

Happy to distract Scott!

Happy to sleep in his crate at night!

Duncan

Today we made one of my childhood dreams come true, and a dream of the kids... we adopted a puppy!!

Meet Duncan (aka Dunkin Donuts), a 4 month old wire haired terrier.  We first met him on Tuesday when I saw a post on facebook by the woman fostering him.  

We went to see him.

He was so playful with the kids, relaxed and friendly.  We knew he had the perfect temperament if we were to get a dog - and the right size!

Then today, I got in line for Black Friday at the shelter, in the hopes that we could adopt him.  Someone at the front of the line got there at 7am to adopt Duncan, so they got to him first.  However they didn't realize puppies were full price!!

So, they gave him back and we jumped in!

And the kids are already running around more!

He's had a busy first day!!

Living the High Life

We have been crazy busy lately!  

Last weekend we went to a concert, I went away to a women's conference for a night and then we had two birthday parties for Emma!  

Then this weekend we did it again!

Thursday night we attended the opening of the posh apartment building that Scott cut his Superintendent teeth on.  This was his first job at the company, a tough project alone, he also ended up the only super on the project for the last few critical months!

His big boss was at the opening too, and Scott got the credit he deserved.

Selfie from the penthouse!

The rooftop infinity pool

The rooftop party deck

The virtual reality soccer game

And then Friday night is was his company party!  We were bowling, playing pool and watching everyone else get very drunk at the free bar - highly amusing!  We got home about 12:30am!

I'm almost 40 and was exhausted after the parties - but I love it!

 

Baby Addison loves her Aunt Deb!!  

Little Princess

Emma loved her new Star Wars costumes on Saturday.  That wasn't a surprise since she's been asking for them forever!!

Rey from The Force Awakens

And Princess Leia of course!

Toby, Josiah and Sophia helped the theme along!

I can't believe she is 9 already.  Growing in wisdom, humor and heart, she truly makes the world a better place.

Doodles

Toby has a weekly thing at school, to transform a doodle into a picture.  I love seeing what he does with them!

Catch Up

How did it get to be the end of October already?  Feels like yesterday we were finishing up summer!  What's been going on, in particular order...

Toby turned 7 earlier this month.  My baby boy is getting older and growing up.  This year he is in first grade, and is doing well with math and reading.  He gets homework done quickly without any fuss, which is a huge blessing because I do not have much patience for that!

His cast did indeed come off on October 7, but the bone had not completely regrown, usually taking about 3 months to do that.  Therefore he has been on "restrictions" from anything that could lead to a fall.  Of course, a 7-yo boy is not one to avoid the action, so there's been some moments of hair-raising for me, but so far so good!

Emma is doing well.  We have been continuing her post-surgery therapies, working on scar reduction and having to stretch her mouth - who knew the surgery would make her mouth not want to open!  That involves trips to the hospital weekly, to see the therapist as well as daily stretches and massage.

The left side of her new smile has increased in movement.  It's not at the level of the strong right side, but it is noticeable.  Part of her exercises is to smile at herself in the mirror so her brain makes the connection between the muscle movement and the visible movement - creating new neural pathways.  The surgery feels like it was forever ago, but in reality only 3 months from the second procedure, so there's still a way to go.

School is going well for Emma too.  She's doing great academically, but we are definitely entering in to a new phase socially.  We've encountered some rude and ignorant comments, as well as navigating the tricky female social world.  Emma is a smart, social girl, but she does not like sport and activity.  So it can be a challenge to find like-minded girls!  

Her birthday is coming up fast too.  At 9 yo she will be considered a "pre-teen"!  While she still enjoys Disney Junior and listens to the same Christian music as us, the kids around her are exposed to many other things, especially when they have older siblings.  We pray that we have done enough to help the kids make the right choices in life.

Scott's about to move on from the building he's been working on since last November, to a new site.  He's excited to move on but there will be an adjustment period.  Over-time is a financial blessing but a physical and family strain.  We make the best of it and look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas!

I'm working hard to keep everyone moving along and has what they need.  Somehow though I got strep throat, so a couple of days and I'll be back at it!

Waiting to see if today is the day the cast will stay off!