Good Bye Old Friend

Our family picture 2004 (The kids insisted that Cruiser be in the picture. I'm so grateful that he was.)

 Seven and a half years ago, our nephew (cousin) Greg called up and asked if we wanted a puppy. His two dogs had parented the cutest little golden fluffs of hair that have ever been seen. One of them was a runt and easily captured the heart of all Greg's family. They didn't want him to go. An easy solution was to give the little guy to us and then he would still be part of the family.


I don't remember really anticipating that we would get a dog anytime soon. We had a cat and that was enough for me. I had grown up in a family that was never allowed to have pets. I didn't know how to take care of a dog. But, how could you say no to that little guy or to that cute Greg? So, Cruiser entered our life. As he grew from puppy to full-grown Golden Retriever, we watched how he became more and more part of the family. He had more hair than a person could imagine. His tail wagged so hard that sometimes we thought he would break a person's leg. (You've heard that saying, "The tail that wags the dog." That was Cruiser.)  He spread out on the kitchen floor and made it almost impossible to cook a meal. He stood under the kitchen table at meal times (even when company was over) hoping for a morsel of "people food." He curled up next to you when you'd sit on the floor and want his belly rubbed. He slept with Collin for years when he was afraid to sleep alone. He lived in the house, just like the other kids, and thought he was a human. He easily befriended anyone, young and old, who visited the house, even those who didn't like dogs. When he went on walks he always allowed everyone to pet him. He gently took food from your hand and NEVER!!! growled at people. When Katy took him to school last year for a speech, calls of "Cruiser" were heard up and down the hallways from students and teachers.  I don't know if any other dog in the world has been more loved than him. In return, Cruiser loved his people even more.

Last summer, Cruiser experienced his first Grand Mal seizure. It was scary. The vet told us that it could be just a coincidence or it could be a sign of things to come. After a few changes in diet and a round of medication he didn't experience anymore for some time. Then it happened again. It didn't seem to be coincidence anymore. Recently the seizures became more violent and came more often. New meds just weren't helping. Until finally he was having so many that they were making him disoriented. A decision had to be made. So on Friday, August 13, we took him to the vet to be put to sleep. We said goodbye to possibly our dearest, most devoted friend and family member. Our hearts have been broken ever since.

I'm sure that within time we will stop crying and we will get a new dog to fill the space that Cruiser left in our home and in our family. But, no other dog will ever fill the space in our hearts that a large, hairy, lovable, kind Cruiser has occupied. We love him so and miss him even more.

Cruiser with Trent and my nephew Hunter on July 24th

Life is Good - even if your heart is weeping and tears are streaming!

Summer Weekend Vacation

Our family is changing. No longer do we have ample time to just do whatever - based upon mom and dad's schedule. Now, we are juggling 6 schedules. As soon as school ended we began searching for an open week for the family vacation. So many possibilities were out there - Seattle, Oregon Coast (again, we love that place), San Diego, San Francisco, etc. But, when we looked at all the weeks, there wasn't one single week that was open - NOT ONE!!! How could that be? No matter how we tried to maneuver the trip nothing worked out. So, there was only one option - a Weekend Vacation. We decided to stay close and do some things that we haven't done with the kids. We opted for West Yellowstone to Jackson. Playmill Theater, Yellowstone Park (we have done that but found some new places to explore), Bar J Wranglers, Alpine Slide, Jackson Hole Tram, and a ski lift. It all worked out to be an exciting and fun memory building time.

Across from the Playmill Theater. We saw Beauty and the Beast.

Adri and Trent sitting on a very cute bench in West Yellowstone.

Collin and Kenna at the top of a very large rock they have climbed.

Collin - 'nough said!

Adri, Katy and Kenna rock climbing.

Waiting in line. On your mark, get set, GO!!

Jackson Hole Tram. 2.4 miles up and 4600 feet in elevation. My ears were popping like crazy.

Posing at the top of the world. The Grand Teton is in the background.

Life is good and filled with memories!

Holy Cow! Does Everyone Lose Their Mind When I'm Out of Town?

I spent last week at Edufest - a Gifted and Talented Conference at Boise State University. Its a conference for people who teach and associate with GT kids, not GT people. That is why I was invited! It was a full week and I'm sure the family enjoyed having me away. But, I began to wonder what in the world was happening at home when I got a text from McKenna while I was attending a banquet. At the time the text came, all the kids were with Gma and Gpa Grant swimming. Here is the text:

Kenna: I JUST GOT A PUPPY!
Me:  No you don't!
Kenna:  Yes I do too!
Me.  Not really! I'm going to cry.
Kenna:  For serious! Its so cute!
Me:  Did Dad let you?
Kenna:  He doesn't know yet!
Me:  You can't have a puppy! Where did you get it?
Kenna:  At Golden Corral.
Me:  what? What the heck is a golden corral?
Kenna:  The restaurant duh! Some guy just gave it to me.
Me:  Honey you can't have it. Is it real?
Kenna:  It is real. Its in the car with me and I'm NOT giving it back.
Me:  What did Grandma (the voice of reason, by the way) say?
Kenna:  She didn't care. She thinks that its cute!

In the mean time, I text Trent and let him know about the Dog. I get a text back from him that says, "If my parents have let her get a dog, they are dead!"

Me:  What kind is it?
Kenna:  Yellow!
Me:  Big or Little?
Kenna:  Really little!
Me:  What do you think your dad will say?
Kenna:  He will probably just laugh?
Me:  Really. I'm not laughing,.
Kenna:  I am! 

I'm thinking, "Yah you're laughing because I'm here and you're there and there isn't anything that I can do to stop this dog from coming to my house."

Me:  "Well, I am not happy!
Kenna:  Sorry!
Me:  Are you sure of what you are doing? I'm about to throw up. None of us have time to take care of a puppy. Besides we have Cruiser (our dog who has begun having grand mal seizures regularly) is stressing me out and school is about to start.
Kenna: I promise that this puppy needs no are at all!
Me:  All puppies need care and I am FREAKIN' out!!!!!
Kenna:  This one doesn't!
Me:  You are kidding huh! Please say yes!!!!!
Kenna:  No I have a dog.
Me:  I'M GOING TO NOT BE VERY HAPPY!!!! GRRRRRR!!!
Kenna:  Do you want me to call you and explain it?
Me:  NO!!!! I just want it to go away. Dad says that if this is real then Grandma and Grandpa are dead.
Kenna:  Fine! Ya know what? I will just pop it!! '( Haha!
Me:  Whew!!! I love you again.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH  Good joke!!!

Life is Good when you don't have a new puppy to deal with.