Christmas Pictures

New pictures are up on Flickr!

!

Chilly Winter Update

It's a cold winter day, and I am having a quiet Sunday with Olive, Lula, Hannah and the cats. Everyone else is snoozing, and I am watching holiday cooking shows and getting into the Christmas spirit. The tree is up and the decorations out (pics of those next time).

We've had a lot of firsts around here lately! In no particular order, Olive has eaten bananas, discovered her feet, learned how to pull herself into a sitting position using her legs as little catapults, and started to explore with her hands. Last night as we rocked quietly she put her hand in the air, so I bent over and kissed it. She spent the next 5 minutes exploring my chin and lips.

Olive spends 3 days a week with an absolutely lovely woman named Katie and her adorable 3 month old son, Jacob. I am so happy Olive is getting lots of time to play with another baby, and she seems to have a lot of fun.

For those who have been clamoring, there are some new pics up on flickr...and below is a sneak preview:

Olive and Jacob

Happy Baby!

RIP Tookie

The minute Andrew saw Tookie's picture on the Boxer Rescue website, it was love, and the minute Tookie met Andrew, the love was returned. Tookie always was Andrew's dog. Faithfully sitting on the couch waiting for his daddy to return home, he really only came to life when Andrew was around.

For 8 years Tookie filled our lives with love, laughter, fun, frustration and not just a bit of sadness as we watched his body break down, though his mind stayed sharp.

On Thanksgiving night we returned home to a truth we knew we would eventually have to face: Tookie's body had given out on him. He could not go on. He would not eat or drink and we knew he was telling us it was time. We sat for several hours, petting him, comforting him (and ourselves) the best we could before we made the final decision to take him to the Emergency Vet to be euthanized. In the end he was at peace, and I know he is frolicking at the rainbow bridge now, his body free of the arthritis that crippled him.

I am sad Olive will never know our gentle giant. Such a melancholy soul in a big, intimidating body. I just hope he knew we did our best to give him a good life.

Stuffed Olive

One day I will run out of Olive puns...but until then...we have a stuffed Olive on our hands. Stuffed up nose that is. Olive has her first cold. No fever, but she's miserable trying to breathe, and she absolutely hates it when I use the saline drops and nose sucker. Now I am sick as well. Let's hope daddy doesn't also catch what we have.

We are getting excited about Grandma Jackie coming to visit this Saturday! We will be taking a Thanksgiving trip to Itrat and Bini's new cottage in Wisconsin to meet Great Grandma Irene as well.

shameless self-promotion: did you know I have an internet business? that's right! Help support little Olive by purchasing some delicious bath and body products from me. I offer a generous family discount. :)

my site: www.violettemarket.com

An Olive in the Pumpkin Patch

Well, it has only taken me nearly 3 months to get around to posting to Olive's blog! We took a fun trip to Chicago to meet Grampa Gary, Gramma Sue, Auntie Lindsy & Stacy, Great Auntie Debbie, Great Gramma Cleo, Auntie Geri and Uncle Paul. Whew! We met a lot of people! While we were there Olive also spent a fun night with Grandma Margaret and Auntie Maggie while Mom and Dad painted the town red...and hit the sack by midnight!

Olive, Mom and Grandpa Gary


Olive and Auntie Lindsy

Olive, Mom, Great Grandma Cleo and Great Auntie Debbie

Olive and Grandma Margaret

Olive, Uncle Paul and Auntie Geri


Olive also took a trip to the Pumpkin Patch. Since an Olive would be very out of place amongst pumpkins, we put her in disguise to blend in, and she promptly fell asleep.





Did you know we have a Flickr account? I will send out invitations to join today, so you can look at pictures of Olive and the family whenever you want, and even order prints! You can see them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/missoliveann/

well, that's all for now. I promise to make another update sooner than the next 3 months. Gramma Jackie is coming to visit on Thanksgiving weekend, so we will have lots of fun new pictures then!