Walking the dog on Easter

After church on Easter morning, Sarah just HAD to take our dog, Jackie Chan, for a walk. It was such a beautiful day, too!

March's Play Date

Due to having to say goodbye to my little buddy, I haven't been focussing enough on Sarah's Adventures and so I'm trying to get a little caught up here. This was our play date with our Chinese Adoptive friends we had beck on March 8th. We decided to go to the Zoo. We LOVE the Zoo and it ended up being a great day. It wasn't too cold, nor too hot, and wasn't very busy, either. We got to meet our baby giraffe, too, for the first time. She's a cutie!

Here is Sarah with Donna riding in Sarah's wagon. Our Zoo's newest addition!
These next three shots are my attempt to get a group photo...yeah, right. With this many cuties, it's impossible to get them all looking and smiling at the same time! Still, they're all adorable!



There's Lia and Emilie looking at the Lynx through the glass.

Sarah with Lia checking out the Lynx


Sarah decided that she's big enough to pull her wagon, ALL BY HERSELF!!

Dear Danny Boy...

Danny Boy-
I sit and listen for your paw
to scratch upon the door,
and all at once, I realize ...
I won't hear that anymore.

I'll miss you more than you will know
I love you very much!
I would give most anything
To feel your soft warm touch.

You're the sweetest dog in all the world
A dear you've always been,
And I will really miss you
because you were my friend!

More than a friend, you know that's true
So gentle all your days.
I won't forget the love we've shared
as we go our separate ways.

To meet again in the final end
In heaven we will be...
And I can hold and pet you
Throughout Eternity.

By BBH


One of my dearest friends, Barbara, wrote this poem and I received it today in a sympathy card. Of course, I cried, but I thought it was such a wonderful sentiment for me and my beloved Danny Boy. Thanks Barbara, for such an amazing gift.

The Danny Boy I Want to Remember

I was in the upstairs hallway this afternoon and looked at the wall. I had this photo framed up on the wall in a doggie frame. This was taken of my Danny Boy sometime between 1997 and 2001, he was somewhere between 5 to 9 years old. (That's when I had this couch of my former roommate's) It reminds me totally of the spirit of Danny boy...he always wanted to play and had a toy nearby. His ear was so funny-for many years he had one ear up and one ear down. It was so cute and characteristic of him. His haircut is a mess and needs to be cut, but I see the life in this photo that I didn't see any more in the pics that we took yesterday. This is how I want to remember my dear sweet beloved Danny Boy. Happy. Playful. Man, I loved that dog...and still do.

Children's Museum with friends!

Thank you to those of you who left the comforting comments about my sweet Danny boy in the last day...I really appreciate you all.

A couple of weeks ago, we had a play date with Angie & her kids and 2 of her neighbors and their kids at the Children't Museum. It was a blast. Here's how the day went!

Isn't Miranda Joy so adorable? I love that smile!

Angie's girls: Chelsea (at the sink), Miranda Joy and Sarah baking something!
Getting the mail




LOVING the water play area...this time we wore a smock-apron thing to protect us from getting soaked!
Miranda joy loved the water, too...

...but she did NOT like the smock-apron thingy! She's even cute when she cries!
Sarah's turn on the horse!


Sarah decided to tackle the rock wall this time...I was really close by, waiting to have to catch her. But, she did wonderfully!

Success AT LAST! This was as far up as she got, by the way.
Miranda Joy taking her turn as being the cashier!


Wait, Mama...I can't go for a ride without putting some gas in the car!

...and I can't forget to put air in the tires!
Sarah's turn as cashier...I love the way she's scanning the can

They had a blast by the area with all the balls and the tubes they were flying around in...

They had a real life flight helicopter they got to climb all over and play on.
...at the driver seat!

I love Miranda Joy's uh-oh face! So cute!

All in all...a day full of fun!

Goodbye, My Beloved Danny Boy

This morning, I had to do one of the most difficult things that I have ever had to do. Danny Boy, my yorkie, has been with me since October 2, 1992 when he was 8 1/2 weeks old. He had to be put to sleep and I had to say good bye to a very old friend. Since Danny Boy has been a part of my life many things have changed. I know that our decision was the right one, but it was so difficult to do. I love that little dog so very much, he has been my best friend and constant companion for 15 years, 5 months, and 24 days. He was with me just after I graduated from college, when I got my first real job, when I moved from Ohio to Utah, when I became a Christian, when I lived with roommates, when we lived alone, when I was single for all those years, and finally got married in 2001, bought our house, adopted a second dog and a cat, prayed for children, adopted Sarah in 2005 and when I became a Mom, and has seen Sarah grow from a baby to a toddler. My life has changed so much during his little lifetime. I thank God for that little dog and all the years of loving me, playing, tossing his ball incessantly for hours at a time, snuggling, and adoring me all the love and especially the constant companionship.

The thought of not seeing his fuzzy face every day and not having him to snuggle with on the couch is overwhelming and heart breaking for me. I am grateful that I was able to hold him as he drifted off to sleep forever and more than that grateful for all the years I was able to enjoy his friendship. It was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make and to endure.

Goodbye, old friend. You are so loved and cherished...you will live on in my memories.

We took a few photos just before returning to the vet's office to put him down.