It has been a very eventful week around here. I was just saying last weekend, that it seems like it's been awhile since we've been thrown one of life's curveballs. And how I was a little freaked out by that. I know you should just try and live one day at a time and not worry so much, but for the past few years, it just seems like there's been one bad thing after another. Life is funny and for some reason I'm fascinated by thinking about it. Wondering what's coming next. Maybe that's called worrying, but I try not to look at it that way. We all go through so many 'adventures' in our lives. Some are funny, some sad, some happy. Then there are those that we don't even realize we lived through until it's gone. Like watching Kate learn to walk. Truely watching her. Her wobbly little legs trying first to get up on her knees, then eventually pulling herself up to standing, before one day finally (or already!) letting go. I'm sure we all have those 'adventures' that that flew by in the presence, but that you still think of often. But all those adventures shape who we become and sometimes even change the way we think about things.
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Friday morning the kids and I went over to Wilson to view our family pictures. Not WITH the kids, of course. Pat stayed at the house with all the kids, while us girls went to look at the pictures. And they turned out great! Since our family had been planning to go down to the beach, I just decided to stick around in Wilson with the kids until Sean could get there from work. The attempt was to save the kids another ride in the car. Because let me tell you, Kate is NOT a fan of the car. The beach was wonderful! My parents met us down there, too. We had perfect beach weather all weekend! As always Jackson had the best time in the sand.
Friday morning the kids and I went over to Wilson to view our family pictures. Not WITH the kids, of course. Pat stayed at the house with all the kids, while us girls went to look at the pictures. And they turned out great! Since our family had been planning to go down to the beach, I just decided to stick around in Wilson with the kids until Sean could get there from work. The attempt was to save the kids another ride in the car. Because let me tell you, Kate is NOT a fan of the car. The beach was wonderful! My parents met us down there, too. We had perfect beach weather all weekend! As always Jackson had the best time in the sand.
"C'mon Pa-Jack! Let's dig!"
"Imma dig a biggg howe!"
He's a beach bum, for sure!
We celebrated our 6th anniversary on Saturday. Since Nana and Pa-Jack were with us, we were able hang out on the beach for awhile -- kid free! I gave Sean and iPod Touch for our anniversary, so he had a new toy to play with. (I got a sweet new cake decorating kit. I'm excited to play with it next weekend!!) 
We went out for a lovely dinner that night to celebrate our 6 years! The food was great and it was nice to get out, just Sean and I. After dinner and another drink at the bar, we contemplated staying out a little longer. But we both decided we wanted to go back and hang out at the condo. My parents are always fun to be around and that's more of our style anyway!
He's a beach bum, for sure!We celebrated our 6th anniversary on Saturday. Since Nana and Pa-Jack were with us, we were able hang out on the beach for awhile -- kid free! I gave Sean and iPod Touch for our anniversary, so he had a new toy to play with. (I got a sweet new cake decorating kit. I'm excited to play with it next weekend!!) We went out for a lovely dinner that night to celebrate our 6 years! The food was great and it was nice to get out, just Sean and I. After dinner and another drink at the bar, we contemplated staying out a little longer. But we both decided we wanted to go back and hang out at the condo. My parents are always fun to be around and that's more of our style anyway! Sunday morning we all took Kate and Jackson out on the beach before we packed up to come home. We figured if they took good naps before we left, then they would be happier in the car. WRONG! Kate was not happy about the ride at all!! Lil' stinker! :-)
When we got back to Wilson to pick up Sean's car and Maggie, Pat met us outside. I could tell something was up right away. There was a curveball coming our way. He told us that Maggie was gone. She had ran away early Sunday morning, apparently during a storm. He was heart-broken. He explained that they had looked for her all day and had put up signs all around. He and Sean decided to drive around for awhile in Sean's car. Maybe she would recognize the sound of it. After a couple of hours, they came back with no Maggie.
We were all optimistic, but worried. Pat had a business trip planned on Monday morning and I know he was reluctant to leave. But we all agreed that he shouldn't cancel. There was only so much that could be done. We formed 'Team Maggie' to do what we could. We called vets and animals shelters, hung flyers, Amy even created a Facebook page to help spread the word. After getting word Monday morning that Maggie had been spotted near Glendale Drive, Sean spent Monday and Tuesday evenings riding around with Amy, putting up flyers and talking to neighbors in that area. But no Maggie.
First thing Wednesday morning, I decided that I was going to take the kids and we were going to go look for Maggie ourselves. By this time, she had been seen a couple of times in the same area, so I couldn't just sit around and do nothing. As I was packing up the car, the phone rang. It was Sean. "Stevie's got her! He found her!" I couldn't believe it! Stevie was driving to work Wednesday morning, just like any other day, except it was pouring rain, when he spotted her running down the shoulder of 264 in the opposite direction. He slammed on the brakes, jumped out of the truck and started running after her, yelling her name. Cars were speeding by. When she heard him call her name, she stopped and turned to look at him, but then kept running. He kept chasing and calling her, when she finally turned around again. As soon as she did, he knelt down and started talking to her. I think she may have thought she was going to be in trouble, because she timidly walked over to him. She had no idea how happy he was to see here! After he got her in the truck he called Sean and Pat to tell them the good news. I'm sure that the best news they'd heard in a long time!!
Stevie brought her back to his house and Amy gave her some food and water. She was hungry for sure! I took her in to the vet when I got there just to get checked out and the vet said she looked great! Amazingly! 3 days and 3 nights she was gone. Can you imagine the story she could tell?
When this curveball hit us Sunday night, I wasn't sure how it would turn out. I was hopeful, cautiously optimistic, but also realistic. Odds weren't in our favor. But just like in any of life's other curveballs, it's all in how you handle it and what you get out of it. This time we got a happy ending. We all learned some lessons here -- and each one of us probably learned something different. Maggie is a special part of our family and I'm so glad to have her home.
And proud of her new moves!
Good for her, but not good for us b/c now she's in to EVERYTHING!
Or anything she can feed herself, for that matter.
The weather was warm, but perfect for a summer party! The games were my favorite part -- you know I love me some fun/funny games. The boys in the 'Nipple Bobbin' game was probably my favorite! 