Soccer

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Soccer season is right around the corner. Rylie starts practice on Thursday. These pictures are all from last season, but I figured I could safely share them since we didn't have a blog yet! Matt coaches her team and she loves that she gets to spend that time with Daddy. He hasn't ever played soccer before, but at the peewee level, you don't have to know anything about the sport to be able to coach it. Her level plays 3 on 3 with no goalie. It's quite fun to watch. These pictures were from a couple of the warmer games last year. We spent most games bundled up in winter clothes under heavy blankets!! We're hoping for better weather this go around. So, if you're in town some weekend and want to watch a soccer game, let me know and I'll get you the schedule!

Update

Things went ok last night. We sat down and talked, Rylie asked a couple questions and tried to keep us from seeing her cry. She's not big on showing emotion, so we're letting her know it's ok to cry if you're sad, etc. She and I sat in the chair and rocked and cried for awhile. She is worried that she won't have a cuddle kitty any more so we talked about how much Crosley loves to cuddle and that really helped. We even spent awhile talking about some of the fun memories we have of Cougar. I do think that really helped her to know we aren't going to forget him. It took longer for Walker to grasp it all. About 20 minutes after we told them, he crawled up on my lap, started crying and said, "But I love Cougie." We're working through it together. Walker keeps trying to get Coal to climb onto his lap, but Coal doesn't think that's such a great idea! Both cats slept with us last night, I think they know something if off. Keep us in your thoughts, I'm sure there will be more rough moments ahead.

Cougar

Cougar was Matt and my first baby. He chose us. Just a couple months after we were married, we decided we wanted a cat. We had both grown up with cats and it just felt right. So we called the Greenbelt Humane Society and asked what they had available for adoption. They told us about a wonderful 1 year old cat they had. He was friendly, ready for a family and sounded just like what we were looking for. Well, we traveled through a blizzard and arrived on the farm that housed the cats until they had their own office. We traipsed back to a small barn area and sat in a big room with probably 25 cats roaming around. The lady that ran the farm brought us "the one." We were so excited. BUT the cat wanted nothing to do with us!!! But, we had brought a pet carrier and when we looked over, there was Cougar, in the carrier. He had chosen us and was ready to go home. How can you say no to that determination!! So we paid the lady and off we went. Cougar was a lover from the moment we brought him home. He could always be found anywhere there was an open lap, especially if it had a blanket. He perfected the "Cougie Flop" as it's called in our house. As soon as he was comfortable, he would tip over and just land where he wanted to be.

Well, about three years ago, Cougar got a urinary tract blockage and spent a week at the vet. We almost lost him. And then about three months ago, he developed another blockage and spent yet another week at the vet. We think this week he developed another one and wasn't so fortunate. Last night, Cougar died. We think he was having seizures due to being completely blocked and was unable to survive this go around. I believe Cougar knew it was time. He didn't go and hide like he normally does when he doesn't feel well. He spent the afternoon cuddled up with the kids on the couch and most of the evening with Matt and I. I believe he wanted us to have such wonderful last moments with him that he endured the torture he was probably going through.

Matt and I are heartbroken with the loss and when he comes home tonight, we'll tell the kids together. I thank God neither kid has noticed he's not around. I wasn't abnormal for Cougar to spend the whole day asleep somewhere and then come around as soon as we were home for the evening. Pray for us that the kids will understand and we will be able to grieve all together. Cougar was greatly loved by all of us. I believe Cougar has passed on his "Cougie Flop" to Crosley, our baby, and he will live on through him. He will not be forgotten and will be greatly missed.

Birth Announcements

These are the pics we used for the kids' birth announcements. I love that they both look so peaceful and content. That wasn't always the case, but we love them none the less!!

Reminiscing

We had a bit of a scare this week with our desktop computer. We obtained a virus through a corrupt website and that virus proceeded to work it's way through our entire hard drive. Lucky for us, Matt has some VERY technological friends that walked us through at least being able to retrieve our pictures off of that drive. THANK YOU GREG AND JIM!! Because of them, I was able to retrieve about 2500 pictures that would have otherwise been gone. WOW, I was not a happy mommy for a while earlier in the week. So, you can reminisce with me as I look through the folders. I hope to share some of my favorites that we saved. Since today is such a beautiful day, I thought I'd share some outside pics of when the kids we little. Rylie was about 9 months old and Walker about 7. I love to look through old pictures and tell the kids the stories that go with each one. I have learned my lesson and will ALWAYS have a backup of my pictures from now on. Almost losing them once was plenty for me!

Jivin'

Rylie is to the age when fun, rhyming, hand jives are fun! I remember growing up learning these, and I'm sure every other girl out there learned them as well. While, they may not be perfect yet, she's having fun with it and trying to teach Walker!



Then Walker thought he'd make one up too. That kids cracks me up!

Camping in the House

Rylie named this post, she thought it was a great name! I know the first pic is slightly out of focus, but it was so good of both of them, I couldn't just ignore it.
Growing up, I loved making tents at Grandpa and Grandma Perry's. We'd haul out all the card tables and blankets we could find and make a mini village in their living room. The last week has been filled with card table houses at our house. They've had a lot of fun moving things in and out, watching movies from their tent and having fun! They play together so well, I LOVE it!!