But then something happened. Over the course of the past few months, Georgia was diagnosed with a tumor in her stomach, and then last week, we had to take her to the vet and have her put to sleep. After that happened, I felt the need to post pictures of Georgia as a puppy and talk about the eleven years she was with us. But, without a blog, I couldn't do that. I realized that with doing only a photo book, there would be a lot of stories that would not get told.
And there were other things. Colby started swim team and swam in his first meet, and I didn't post about how proud I was of him or list his swim times. (he has since had 3 meets) I also missed out on telling about how, in his last meet, he was doing great in the race, but then stopped three feet from the wall and stood on the bottom of the pool. (It was then that he first learned the word "disqualified".)
And then Miller with the funny things she says. Like last week when we were driving, she said to me "MOM! I just saw the COOLEST thing. There was a deer SLEEPING on the side of the road! In the grass! Isn't that SO cool?"
Or, when yesterday we brought Georgia's cremated ashes home in a black gift bag and tried to explain to Miller that Georgia's body was in there. She thought for a minute and said "Maybe it's just her face in there?"
All these little things will get lost without the blog. I do feel pressure to keep it up, and guilt when I don't, but I feel even more guilt for not doing it at all. In the end, I always feel good after I've posted something. I want Colby and Miller to read about their childhood and always have these memories that would otherwise be forgotten.
It's almost too much to fully catch up. I've decided to just choose a few highlights to show what we've been up to. For each highlight, there are about 20 other photos I'm not posting, so I'll definitely be making a separate photo book.
This was at the vet's office back in early Spring when we learned about Georgia's tumor. They gave her 3-6 weeks to live, but she lived much longer than that (about 2 2 1/2 months)
I had the kids pose with her right after her diagnosis.
On a lighter note, Miller can wear pig tails now and I'm loving it. (hopefully she won't cut them off like I did at her age)
I dressed up as Kim Kardashian for a night. Don't ask why.
We had a weekend visit with Colby's best friend Megan in Vienna. They still get along great (and I really miss my pal Virginia.)
We also had a nice visit with Adela, and I really miss her, too.
All four of us.
Miller had her first real ballet recital. She was SO proud of the makeup the teacher put on them back stage. She kept looking at us and smiling (just like this) throughout the show.
They changed into a special costume half way through. The only girl tall enough for it was Miller. (and she's one of the youngest)
Funny thing about these flowers. We were running late, so I sent Lee out to buy flowers while I saved our seats. He came in right before the recital began with red fake roses from the dollar store. I was HORRIFIED. A sweet friend gave me some of her real flowers to put around (and disguise) the red ones. Miller loved them just the same and didn't even notice that they were plastic.
We took a trip to Charlie and Jonathan's grandparents' farm to see baby chicks and ride in the tractor.
We visited Peepie Miller on Mother's day
We took another trip to Busch Gardens and Colby was a little daredevil. He road the Lockness monster, the new roller coaster Verbolten, and dragged me onto the really high tower that drops.
THIS tower. I have never been so scared on a ride.
Miller loved her kiddie rides.
Look how big my little girl is getting.
Silly face
Colby loved playing t-ball! Here are some of the highlights.
(I can't make this right side up)
Lee always thinks of the most creative things to do with the kids. A highlight for Colby was this military reenactment.
Playing with his new military men.
Miller had her first "pedicure" and loved it.
Memorial day party strawberries. Yum!
We had a wonderful visit with Nana and granddaddy
The kids have been LOVING the pool. They are both little fish, and Colby is now jumping off the diving board.
The kids got dressed up for the Memorial Day kids' parade.
Lee went all out decorating their jeep, which included patriotic tunes blaring from the trunk.
T-ball season ended and Colby received his very first trophy.
Colby's preschool graduation. (there are many more pictures where this came from) His class sang about four songs, and we were so proud that Colby behaved and didn't do anything crazy. (and we were sweating a little) They did have the class set up just so, with a teacher behind Colby and his friend Connor, and one set up on the other side behind two other boys. They knew who they were dealing with.
Silly song
Colby lost his first tooth...
The tooth fairy was smart enough to leave the tooth when she left her money, but daddy threw it in the trash can. He said he didn't know I wanted to save it and that saving teeth was a throw back from the olden days when people didn't have cameras. What am I going to do with him?
Colby's first swim meet. I was one proud mamma. There aren't too many five year olds out there swimming, and Colby got a 5th place and 8th place ribbon in his first meet.
Miller all dressed up and excited for Charlie's fourth birthday party
And then Georgia stopped doing so well. She got weak and could not hold herself up to go to the bathroom. We knew it was time.
This was her sleeping spot...the cold slab of soapstone.
Lee saying one last goodbye at the vet's office.
It was a very hard day. Lee and I were there with her, and she knew she was loved. As sad as we were, we had to pull ourselves together and make it to Colby's swim meet that night.
Colby sitting at the clerk of the course. I always walk him there, holding his hand, because I know, one day, he will be too cool for that. (and also, if I don't walk him there, he will never get there)
One week ago, we had a major thunderstorm that tore through our town (and state). Lee and I were sitting on the couch unaware that it was coming, and it was so loud we thought it was a tornado. It was scary. We had to wake up the kids and bring them down to the basement where we ended up camping out. The kids loved it! We were without power for four days, but it wasn't so bad with a generator. (thank goodness I had sense enough during our build to have the cable tv system hooked up to it.)
Those were the major highlights. There was so much more, but I must move forward and try to do better. The next post will be dedicated to Georgia....stay tuned.
