Confirmation

I'll be honest.

I've considered a puppy.

Not 100% on board. Not even 75%. But maybe 60% considered getting a puppy for my babes, and my sugar, to love on.

But after tonight, that all changed.

I have my confirmation. 100% certain that we can not get a puppy.

Star, Afton's western banded gecko that's she's had for 2 years, passed away. Friday morning Afton found her and tears were shed. We had to postpone any burial services until Daddy was home and we did some real planning.

But this evening, we held a ceremony for Star.

Jocelyn was the pallbearer. 

Afton asked if we could use a rose from my anniversary flowers for Star.

Jack was not as compassionate, but he still attended the services.

Jocelyn wailed so loudly that the dogs in the neighborhood joined in. 

Afton followed suit. 

Daddy dug a nice hole. 

Star was laid to rest, covered with rocks that Jack helped collect.

There is absolutely no way, in h%@*, that we will ever have a dog.

Not after tonight. It was just too emotional for us all.

Wins All Around

It's not often I feel like I've got a solid win on my score board as a parent.

In fact most days, I don't.

My losses highly outrank the wins.

But last Saturday night, there were wins all around.

Win #1 - We got to drive to Safeco Field in Seattle for a memorable evening to see some pretty amazing people. None of them were in baseball socks, unless they had them on under their suits. The prophet, Russell M. Nelson, his cute wife Wendy Watson Nelson, and Henry B. Eyring were the speakers.

Win #2 - We had Seattle dogs for dinner, and no one spilled on their church clothes.

Win #3 - We happened to have some extra tickets that we were able to negotiate some amazing goods for trade.

Win #4 - We managed to somehow sit with a group of friends from our ward without planning. Pretty impressive in a crowd of 49,089 people.

Win #4 - It really doesn't suck having family up here.

Win #5 - As we drove away from the fireside, devotional, event, once in a lifetime experience, whatever you want to call it, we asked our babes what was their favorite part.

Jack said, "I liked when the first bald guy (Eyring) was talking about when he was a little boy just like me. He was wriggling around at church and his mom was getting mad just like you always do, but he was actually listening to the speaker, like I do. Sometimes."

Afton said, "I liked when President Nelson told that story about him on the plane when it was about to crash. I remember that Mormon Channel video we've watched, but it was cool to hear him tell it again."

Jocelyn said, "I liked the durl who gave me stickers."

Win #6 - Dick's for a late dinner is always a luxury. And my babes suggested we feed the gentleman who was holding a sign that read, "Just food."

Wins all around.

Black and White

The gospel is pretty black and white.

It's simple.

It's beautiful.

It's beautifully simple and simply beautiful.

Or simply handsome, since this is a boy baptism post.

We could not be more proud of our handsome boy for taking this simple first step in life, towards his eternal happiness.

 

Star

She's had Star for just about 2 years now. That's the longest living pet we've had since Deuce, our doberman (who bit off Jack's face).

Her cousins caught her in their backyard in Henderson and brought her to California for us when we lived there.

She's traveled with us all the way here in a tiny tank, pooped a ton of poops, shed her skin a bunch of times, and eaten so many mealworms.

She's been a great pet and we're enjoying her for the time she has left.

Rust and Starvation

In all seriousness he said to me, "Doesn't metal rust? I'm going to die from rust poisoning."

And then when I offered McDonald's with a play place - to distract him from his certain death because of this newly placed RPE (Rapid Palatal Expander) slowly poisoning him - a new fear popped in his head.

"Mom. Honestly. I can't swallow. I physically can not swallow ever again. I'm going to die of starvation."

A day later, he's had smoothies only and soft bread.

He's not as concerned about the metal anymore, as I explained that dentists take every precaution to ensure they don't put harmful metals into a body, when trying to help their patients. I reminded him he could ask his dentist father this too if his concerns continued. He said, "Oh yeah. Dad would know. Good idea."

One day at a time for my logical and worrisome boy.

Man, I love him. He's just the cutest.