To my 2 year old.....

I love your questions (Daddy gets frustrated when you ask "Why" all of the time)

I love your laugh

I hate that you cry when I leave your room

I love how you love people, sometimes too much (Like grabbing peoples cheeks and giving them big kisses on the mouth!)

I love how you hug me and tell me it is ok while patting my head (You always say it at the right times)

I love how you scream when you get excited

I love how your face lights up when daddy gets home

I love how you can entertain yourself

I don't like how you pull the vent off and shove things down in

I love how you can sing to any song on the radio

I don't like when you tell me to shut up

I love how you like Mickey Mouse

I love that you drink from a big girl cup

I do and don't like that you are peeing on the potty (That means you are growing up!)

I love that you still like to cuddle with me

I love playing with you and listening to your stories

I love how you talk all of the time

I love how you pretend to talk on the phone with one hand on your hip

I don't like how you feed Butters your food

I love when you fall asleep on my chest

I love how you pile everything into your bed when we leave the room

I don't like how fast you are growing up

I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!

Saying Good-bye....

I have dreaded this day since I met Jon. One of the first things Jon talked about the night I met him was his dog, Brandy. She was his "sibling" in a sense. She was his friend. This week, we had to tell Brandy goodbye. I can't say much about Brandy as a pup because I wasn't around then. One thing I remember Jon talking about was Brandy would always find a way to get what she wanted. A lot of times she wanted to sit in a particular chair, so she would drag something out and when he would get up to put it away she would jump up and claim the chair.

Brandy was 10 when she came to live with me and Jon. We had just gotten Butters and thought the two would instantly be best friends- that was not the case. They eventually warmed up to each other. Brandy always carried shoes around and would lay on them. Any time someone came to our house she would take their shoe and lay with it. She liked to beg any time you had food and used to jump up on the counters. (She ate an entire batch of Grandma Phyllis's cinnamon rolls and the ceran wrap they were wrapped in!!)

When used to take her and Butters out to the trail and she would run and run. She was so happy out there. When we brought Reagan home she pretty much ignored her. Eventually she fell in love with Reagan- especially when she ate! In the last 2 years she aged a lot. Jon would take her to run and when they would get home she wouldn't be able to walk for a day. We didn't think she would make it through last winter. But this year we didn't want her to. In the past few months she wasn't able to move well. She had a hard time getting up, hearing, seeing, and would get confused easily. Butters would stand by the door because he knew she needed to go out. She loved to lay in the middle of the kitchen. She would always be there when I was cooking and every time I would turn around she was there to pick up what I dropped. The kitchen is a little empty now....

Brandy Skylar Phoenix Remsburg was a wonderful dog- but she was so much more than that, especially for Jon. We loved her so much and miss her so much but know we made the right decision for her. On her last day she spent the morning with Jon and Reagan. She ate whatever she wanted. Jon took Reagan to my parents while I was at work. He walked Brandy one last time. When they got back she couldn't move. I came home to say goodbye and then I left- bawling... Dr. May came to our house and Jon held her and she went to sleep...

I bought a book called Dog Heaven to read to Reagan. I remember reading it to the boys I used to nanny for when they had to put their dog down. It is a good book and helps explain to kids in a way they understand. Reagan doesn't really understand,but she gets that Brandy is gone. Once in a while she will ask for her, and I remind her that she is in heaven with Tess (my parents dog-they just put her down last month). Reagan asks if she is running in heaven- I say yes she is!! Then Reagan blows a kiss and throws it up and says to the sky

"I yove you Brandy".... Here are some pictures to show how much she loved Brandy!

Reading to Brandy

Brandy and Butters

Hugs for Brandy

We love you and miss you so much ....

Randomness....

Here is some Randomness for today:

• Jon is at the Ballard vs. Carroll Football game tonight, which is the game on the week on channel 8.
• I am drinking Apple Cider! Yum!
• The Slater Bank got robbed by gunpoint today.
• Reagan played all day with Grandma Becki and Grandpa Mike and STILL was going strong when I got home for work.
• I worked all day for the first time in a LONG time.
• I love colder weather, but am not looking forward to snow.
• I cried a lot this week.
• Reagan told me to "shut up" more than once this week.
• We will be putting Brandy down in the next two weeks :(
• Jon cleaned his bathroom and it took 2 days.
• I have no motivation to do anything tonight. (Obviously, I am posting this!)
• Reagan & I met my grandma, aunt, and cousins little girl for lunch this week at Hickory Park.
• I need new shoes and clothes, but hate shopping for myself.
• I am excited that my parents, sister, and nephew get back tomorrow!!
• Reagan fell asleep on the floor last night right behind the door, it took me 5 minutes to get in the room without moving her!
• Lately I have been good at working out, not so good at eating healthy.
• I need to get my haircut.
• I can't wait for Thanksgiving because all my siblings and families will be here!
• I love sweatpants!!
• Does anybody really know how many licks it takes to get the the center of a tootsie pop?

Told you.... complete Randomness!!!

Fall Family Fun!

Today when I got off work Jon, Reagan, and I headed out to Centergrove Apple Orchard! I have taken Reagan there once this year and she LOVED it!! Since today might be the last nice day for a while, we decided to go! It was perfect weather, not busy at all, and we all got to go together. There was so much to do and see. (I just might have to post more pictures at a later time :). We walked through a tunnel, visited the 3 little pigs houses, looked and petted all the baby animals, jumped on a huge trampoline-like pillow, jumped some more, went through a haze maze, rode down a HUGE slide, played in a pool of corn, and got a cider donut, fudge, and juice!! It was an awesome day and I loved that we got to spend it as a family!

Reagan is just relaxing on a pumpkin!
Reagan and Mommy playing in the corn pool!

Precious!

Walking with daddy!

Peek-a-boo!

Reagan walked around petting all the goats and sheep saying "That's a good boy!"

Boing, Boing, Boing! (Reagan said that the entire time she jumped!!) She got some good air!

Weeeeeeeeeee!!

There are about 20 pictures of us going down this slide. I was a little nervous at first and wanted Reagan to ride with me, but she insisted on going by herself. I held her hand most of the way down. She kept saying " I yike this big slide!" We went down it 3 times and she wanted to go more but I was getting tired of climbing back up the big hill :)!

I have a feeling we might make another trip out there before Halloween! Reagan has so much fun and there is so much to do!!