September Happenings

With school and activities in full swing, we have fun and busy days. Here's a little window into what's going on.

I was at Casa for a meeting and walked through the courtyard. I was surprised by Wade painting in the sunshine. In a beret. THIS makes my heart happy. I love that this is how he can spend his morning. 

Wade and Bree REALLY love sleeping together. It's turned into a regular thing in his room or her room. Look at their Synchronized Sleeping!

Bree and I have the afternoons to ourselves, so we try to do special activities just the 2 of us! Pedicures...

Beau and I celebrated the wedding of Frank & Mary Brooks Smith. It was one of those perfect fall nights for an outside wedding at Rhodes Hall. You couldn't have ordered better weather!

Wade loves geography and had a blast with this new USA puzzle. He traced and colored the states as a present for Ms. Lorri...

My mom's group at church (MOPS) is in full swing and we get to do a lot of fun things. Painting classes...

Dining out in Roswell...

I am a lucky girl. When the weather is nice and I'm not in a school meeting and no one's sick and no major chores/errand gets in my way....I get to start my day walking at the Chattahoochee River. I would choose exercise outside vs. inside any day. Beautiful!

Silly Wade....

Sassy Bree...

Now that Wade stays all day, I get to join him for lunch. I felt like I was dining with the President on fine china, with real silverware. We are encouraged to participate in "appropriate table conversation". It was precious to see how these 5 year olds converse with one another in such a setting. No talk about toots and poo poo heads. It was more like, "How is your day Mommy?" I love it!

The "sisters" are always good at watching their brothers play sports. It also helps to have fun friends/cousins to play with! Bree with Celie and Lauren.

Bree, hamming it up with friends at Chic-Fil-A (Charlotte and Anna Claire Fugard)...

 with Reilly Haas...

Grocery store adventures...

No words really...

Don't you wear this to play outside on a random Tuesday?

School hosts a family picnic every Fall. Bree with her new friend, Margaret,. They aren't in the same class, but they always seem to find each other on the playground. 

Wade and his school buddies, Om and Andrew

Phew! That was September Y'ALL!

Saying Goodbye to Orwell

It was finally time to say goodbye to Orwell at 17 years of age. It was heartbreaking, but so overdue.

I'm still searching for the first picture I was forwarded of a scrawny, sickly, dumpster diving dog the rescue group wanted us to foster. The laundry list of problems was LONG. He weighed a puny 36 pounds. Had heart worms and testicular tumors. We were supposed to be the pitstop for him, but after heart worm treatment almost killed him, they asked if he could live out this "short" life left with us. We were already in love, so of course said yes. How could we turn away this sweetheart given 3 months to live???

His health improved and we quickly realized we had a new family member that would (HOPEFULLY) be around for awhile. You know you're permanent when you get your own Yoda costume...

Before we knew how deathly afraid of water he was, we tried to keep him safe with a life jacket. All attempts backfired. 

When we began preparing for Wade, Orwell was at our side painting the nursery and following us around the house. And as soon as Wade was born, he took on the role as big brother...

If I left Wade in his swing, he would lay dutifully at his feet until I returned. It was honestly like he was Wade's babysitter. When I would take Wade upstairs for a nap, Orwell followed and took his own nap right along side of the crib. They were best buds.

Orwell is a very depressed banana at Wade's first Halloween...

and not so excited about being a bug at Wade's first birthday...

But he always LOVED his cuddle time on the couch with Beau. They made a permanent groove in the couch...

Orwell's first snowfall...

As Wade became mobile, he used Orwell as a constant jungle gym....

Santa's furry elves...

By the time Bree joined the family, Orwell had slowed down a bit and wasn't able to follow Bree around (like earlier days with Wade) but I know he loved her just the same...

And she loved him too...

When I would tell people Orwell is 17 years old, they couldn't believe it. What Golden lives to 17?? But 17 is the young estimate! He was the healthiest old guy you'd ever meet, but his body just ever so slowly started giving out on him. From the outside looking in, it was easy to say "it's time, put him down". But for us, his decline was so slow and steady. We couldn't give up on him for having "just one more" accident in the house. He struggled, he barely made it outside to go bathroom (if at all!), he was blind. It was rough. But he also still had an appetite and still craved to be a part of the family. Somehow, he found enough energy and mobility to be at your feet whenever he got the chance. So yes, we dealt with the accidents.

Finally, we made the decision (after chickening out a few times). Beau and Wade pampered Orwell with a full spa night, complete with bath and blowout. Beau grilled him steaks and we gave him all the love he could handle.

Our sweet vet helped us with the procedure in the car and we were able to take Orwell to be buried with all of Beau's childhood pets at his parents. It was an awful gut-wrenching experience, but we made it as peaceful as possible. I'm crying now just writing about it and remembering, but I know that's only because he meant so much to our family. 

Wade has an amazing understanding of heaven for a 5 year old. He likes to talk about Trevor, Grandma Marj and family members he never had a chance to meet...and how they're all together in heaven. So when he saw me crying, he made sure to tell me that Orwell is up in heaven too and now he can run REALLY REALLY fast. That's right Wade!

We love you Orwell and will miss your goofy ways and sweet spirit!