Oct 11
6
Life continues…
Okay, okay, I know, I know, I have been busy! No excuses. Really. I should always have time for my blog. But, oh yes, here comes the big BUT. I was really busy. Sound familiar? Busy with life. Busy with the death of Cheebs. (Sad but true) Busy with the end of summer and getting the kids starting a new school year. And, busy turning, dare I say it out loud? The big 40! See, I told you I have been busy. No over exaggerating going on here. But my little break at the keyboard is only going to be short-lived and I feel like I owe my readers an explanation. Oh how I love blogging and can’t wait to get back to it Full-Time.
Let me tell you what’s going on. My break isn’t quite over. I’m going on a little vacation with my best friends. Still celebrating the new age I just turned. My handyman husband is taking care of the home front and is as awesome as ever. Recently he came home one morning with a new addition for our family. A total surprise. Let’s just say we couldn’t be more blessed and I’ve been excited to share him with you introducing… Koby Davis
He has been such a joy to our lives. He has already doubled in size. Our son and our daughter have already fallen totally in love. I can’t wait to share how fast he grows up and all his quirks and idiosyncracies. Even though Winchester just left us, life is short and our kids are growing so fast. They are happy to have another dog in their lives!
As for Wowmomlife, when I get back from vacation, I’m ready to get right back into it. I can’t wait. I’m going to shake things up a little. I’m ready to get down to the ”nitty-gritty” (a line from one of my favorite movies). I want to get real and honest. Really put myself out there so to speak and I have a lot to say, so I hope you like it. There is a lot more to me than just being a housewife and mom and I haven’t let it all out there so I hope you’ll stay tuned.
Till next time,
Christina
Remembering our “Winchester”
“Brown Dog” that’s what our Beautiful Boy would call him and make no mistake about it even though he is older than Bella he is mourning in his own way. I kind of overlooked it a little. Silly me, but when a pet becomes a part of family he or she becomes a part of every family members lives. I mean just look at that picture… feel the love. When our beautiful boy would go on a run guess who was always by his side? I don’t even need to say it. He was everyone’s companion. As I wrote a couple of days ago it was only this weekend that we had to suddenly say goodbye so the heartache is fresh. But let me assure you time is healing. It’s true what they say.
A dear neighbor of mine right after our brown dog passed away, who was also familiar with the pain of losing a family member/pet with a child in her family came over with a cute book for Bella and it got me thinking. Her book was called “Dog Heaven” by Cynthia Rylant and was geared more for younger children but I was amazed how Belle was comforted instantly by it. So yesterday I went to our local library and looked for books that may help my children and voila, what do you know, I found some. I picked another younger geared book that Belle could read to some of the younger neighborhood children as it would keep her busy and all words are powerful in my book! No pun intended. And, I also picked up a book/workbook that I ordered instantly on Amazon called “Remembering My Pet, A Kid’s Own Spiritual Workbook for When a Pet Dies” by Nechama Liss-Levinson, PhD, and Rev. Molly Phinney Baskette, MDiv
I figured this gives them time to preview the book and look forward to pay respect to “Cheebs” as we also sometimes call him (we are a family of many nick-names). When the book comes we can work through it, write all our wonderful memories and remember our pet together. Our children can work together and they will hopefully work through their grief in a healthy way while putting together a memory book. He brought so much joy to our lives and should never be forgotten. I think that’s what the kids worry about most. But we should and will move on. Bella sleeps with his collar every night and then leaves it by the door before she leaves for school. BB or Beautiful Boy deals with things in his own way and is very quiet, I talk to him about little things and suggested getting him pictures for his corkboard and he just said okay but he liked the memory book idea and I showed him the example from the library. He liked it! I am waiting to suggest that we should bury the collar and create a little grave site in the backyard, but I don’t when is the proper amount of time is. Any suggestions? I think our beautiful boy would be key in designing the site but it might be to soon to bring this up. Time will tell. Remember, Cheebs only left us on Sunday. But I think a memory book is a great way to laugh and remember and heal from the death of the family pet.
Just a couple more pictures of a great dog!
Posted in Home Uncategorized by .
Aug 11
29
My “Marley & Me” Story…
We suffered a sad loss this weekend! Our precious boy Winchester or “Cheebs” as we often called him passed away. Our hearts are broken, simply put. There are no other words. He was part of the Davis family. One of Bella’s best friends or if you ask her now her very best friend. As the title states it is our “Marley and Me” story because he was a “Lab”. For all you Lab lovers you might feel might relate to what I am about to tell you now. When I first read the book “Marley and Me”, I felt that John Grogan was telling my story. I had Marley or at least A Marley (the chocolate version). Maybe that’s because all Labs are the same? They are high energy and eat everything in sight? I don’t know? Well, at least that’s how our Winchester was. Little did I know when we got him. Had I read the book first maybe I would have thought twice. But I brought home the cutest Chocolate Lab ever known to man anyway and he brought us so much joy. Until he ate his first tiny bouncy ball at age 6 months and endured his first major intestinal surgery that was required to save his life.
Maybe, we wouldn’t have gone through with it being fiscally responsible people if Bella wasn’t begging please save my dog’s life! Okay, we probably would have, he was so cute and wiggled his way into our hearts. But that was it! No more bouncy balls allowed in the house! And no more surgeries. We were done. If he ate another anything that required surgery get out the shovel and start digging. Period. We let the kids know he needs to be under constant watch or else. I was amazed though, he continued eat whole socks, underwear, shoe strings, you name it and through the years he managed to poop them right out. Oh, he got better and so did we. He was under constant, well almost constant supervision. He did manage the 007 sneek out with his accomplice Abbey but he did stop his fascination with wanting to eat in-animate items however, it took some time. Despite all his imperfections he became part of family and we loved him dearly.
This last week we kind of noticed that he was sick but we figured he may have eaten something and he would just poop it out as usual. Nothing to be too alarmed about. He wasn’t acting too unsual. He was eating but now that I think about not the normal amount. He was going on his normal walks and peeing and drinking normally so no huge warning signs. UNTIL, friday evening when he starting getting sick. That evening, he always sleeps on my side of the bed and I heard him starting to gag so I let him out but he went to the back of the yard and he wouldn’t come back. I got my husband and he had to go get him and carry him back. So weird. Then the second time I let him out he went to the neighbor’s yard and laid on their sprinklers, again, so weird! My husband said, he was taking him to the vet first thing in the morning. Well, first thing in the
morning, I figured, he’d get his meds and all would be fine. I was wrong! I got the call instead. Bella and I rushed down there to say our final goodbyes and kissed one of our best friends goodbye and our hearts ache! But, all dogs go to heaven right? I’m holding on to that one real tight and so is Bella… Cheebs you’ll always be with us, in our hearts and bud we are keeping those tennis balls ready for you.
If you are not PET people or DOG people you may not understand our sadness but I am just going to let the pictures tell the story. Of course as I explained to the kids life goes on. I know that in the grand scheme of life we are lucky that it was our dog and not a family member like a real person i.e, a sister, brother, aunt, grandparent, friend etc. but we are all sad all the same. Our beautiful boy definitely is handling better but Bella is terribly sad. My handyman hubby is feeling guilty that we didn’t notice the signs earlier but that is life and life happens. It’s no ones fault. These are my words of wisdom for the day and this blog is my therapy to heal.Whew, do I feel better. Thank you!
Bella with her best friends Winchester and Abbey, having a tea party.
Forever Our Waterdog!
More BFF’s
Winchester with Abbey and Winchester with Sammy Sosa.
The best cuddle buddy and pillow you could ever hope for! I will miss my nap buddy.
RIP Winchester
The Best Dog and Best Friend that ever lived!
You were always there for us, you will be missed… We love you.
Posted in Home Uncategorized by .
Aug 11
24
Back to School Madness!
Okay, it’s time! Back to school. Let’s be honest, some of us look at two ways: dreaded or grateful. Did I dare say it? Yes, I did. Let’s face it, we all can’t wait for our little ones to be done with school at the end of each year so we can spend more time with them, BUT… That’s right here comes the big BUT, at the end of the summer we all need a break. Don’t we? Or am the only mom that feels this way? Maybe I am. I still shed many tears knowing it’s another year as they head off into growing up and needing us less. I really can’t stand it, but, see another big BUT, I do enjoy the break.
Anyone notice I haven’t been blogging lately? I’ve vacationed. Only my vacation has consisted of catching up on all those activities I have promised the kiddos. Last minute summer stuff. A little family visit. A little time with the hubby. Back to school supply shopping. An ample amount of catching up. Oh how time flies. It’s not just a metaphor, it’s the truth. Now it’s time back to reality but I think I actually welcome it. I might actually have some of that “me” time I’m always talking about now that Bella is in school, without always thinking did she read today, did I feed her on time, did she have fun, did she eat, did I teach her something valuable, etc, etc… Whew, now the teachers can deal with it and my “mom” job starts at 4pm.
Oh, by the way, my hats off to all you home schooling moms. They say patience is a virtue but I say patience is an understatement. I pray that all those dad’s of those moms that are homeschooling are giving you plenty of “me” time. For sanities sake. I know how much our children mean to us but a little break, once in a while is priceless.
So in between shopping for school supplies, locker parties, the hustle and bustle of getting it together for the back to school madness I really hope that everyone had a peaceful week! I’m sure in about a day or two I’m going to miss my Bella being around all the time, or maybe not, I’ll get used to it. Our beautiful boy has already made us accustomed to his busy lifestyle and consistent absence. We just cherish his presence and make it meaningful when he is here. They grow up fast no matter what you do.
Trip down memory lane. I just love first day of school pictures. My kids are such good sports. Our Beautiful Boy was starting a new school on this day and there was no way he was going to let me take a picture of him in front of the school as the next picture will show!
Haha, I got tricks up my sleeve, I got a picture of from the back. I’ll take what I can get. Ah, the memories! Don’t want to embarrass them, but I love them and want to hang on to every single moment.
Bella is always a better sport about posing, can’t you tell she looks so happy! JK. Another first day of school pic! The bag is almost as big as she is!
And, she just keeps getting older. They used to promise me that they would stop growing. I used to threaten them and say that the Dr. could give them a pill to keep them the same age and they would ask if they could have just one more birthday and then they would stop growing. I would say okay just one more birthday. Eventually they figured out there was no such thing. The jig was up.
Locker Party! Oh, the fun… decorating the locker, learning how to open it, seeing who’s in your classes. We are big kids now. Oh and by the way, what happened to that promise, you know, I won’t grow up? Dare I ask? Dare I say it, you are now officially growing up way to fast. STOP NOW!
So here we are first day of school and I’m not even embarrassed to admit, YES I DID. I walked her to her locker. I took the picture. Did I embarrass her? I don’t know. I think girls are different from boys, that’s a good thing I don’t think she cared. Then as I left the school I realized I’m going to miss her. Terribly! I boo wooed all the way to my car. Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook, just a heart for doing the best we can. She’s my last one. She didn’t cry, she’s so excited she can’t even stand it. We raise them to leave and lead successful, responsible, impactful lives, but are we ready for the leave? Hmmm?
First pictures from free digital photos by nuttakit
Posted in Home Uncategorized by .
You know what they say, “A
bad day fishing is better than a good day in the office”. I don’t know who said this, but I think that my husband, son and daughter believe in this whole heartedly. There is nothing like a good day fishing! My husband taught my son to fish and those are some of the first pictures I remember seeing of them together. Remember I fell in love 2x. When Bella was two she was old enough for her fairy princess pole and she was inducted into the Davis Family pass time, hook and line. Furthermore, she’s quite the fisherman.
Chuck Lewis, one of our favorite fishing holes! A local’s favorite!
Bella at peace with her line in the water. She could do this all day.
I would have pictures of her brother but he goes with his buddies. They also fish at this pond. It’s a
locals favorite!
The family master fisherman. Yes he caught the most that day. That is usually the way it goes. It was a peaceful, wonderful day! So much fun and FREE as we had all the equipment in our garage. I like to mention that as I am firm believer in using what you have. We don’t use bait just our old lures so pack a lunch and you are off! Such a good fun family fun day!
Time to call it a day… but what a day it was, family bonding, fishing, peace with nature. I would call this a God blessed day. We sent all the fish back into the pond, but we did catch something that we took home, looky here…
We caught a Bella Fish and I think we’ll keep her. What do you think?
Posted in Home Uncategorized by .
Aug 11
9
River Fun!
In the past you have heard me talk about FREE family fun activities. Well, I’m a true believer in them. I don’t think you need to spend a fortune on family activities if you can avoid it and certainly if you don’t have the money to do so. This last weekend was a beautiful weekend and we were able to take advantage of the weather and our natural resources. Usually no matter where you live you can find a FREE outside adventure a gas tank away.
Belle and I took the dogs, who you met yesterday for a river swim on Saturday and before you knew we had swam away three hours. Where did the time go? Our lab, could have swam upstream the entire time. He never tires of playing fetch in the water and he never tires of swimming!
“Forever Hopeful” that is the nickname that my mother-in-law gave him a couple of years ago when she realized he would never stop bringing her the ball to throw. As he sits there panting, waiting, never giving up, with that look of hopefulness in his eyes. She’s would say, “no, I’m not going to throw it another time”, but he would literally, sit there for hours, just hoping, not giving up. Just one more throw of anticipation in his eyes. That’s our Chester and that’s how he swims.
Getting ready for one more swim down the river! Oh, let’s give credit where credit is due, and then one more trip back UP the river. Let’s not forget those trips upstream.
Posted in Home Uncategorized by .
Aug 11
8
Meet the Dogs
Okay, I’ll admit, I’m not winning any photo contests with this one. I think I told you on the “What I am not”, post that I am NOT a professional photographer. Just a FYI, my dogs are not show dogs either. But boy do we love these guys. As it should be with the family dog. So ladies and gentlemen, I give you… Abbey Rose and Winchester Davis. Abbey is on the right, Winchester is on the left.
Now you have been introduced to the Familia. Chester in all his glory proudly holds his poop bag around his collar and Abbey with her leash still dangling posed all but for two seconds while I barely got this picture, while Bella tried her best to make them stay. It was the scene. All they wanted to do get in their morning walk. Oh, the joys of the family dog. Bella calls them her best friends.
Our Winchester, our beloved water dog, for those of you lab lovers you know exactly what I mean. However, he is wonderful in the snow, along side a bike, you name it! But give him a puddle of water and forget about it!
Sweet Abbey Rose. She’s our first, she’s older than Chester (Winchester) but she keeps up.
OMGosh, I almost forgot our sweet, Sammy Sosa. Our family would not be complete without him. Yes, we have a cat. He thinks he’s a dog, but that’s another story. He’s a Davis all the same and our family would not be the same with out him. He sneaks in the background on our walks and follows us for a bit. So cute. There that’s all of us. I think? Jk.
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Aug 11
5
Big Dreams, Young Ambition!
girlsdance Audition Video. Make your mark, Disney Channel’s dance competition for the Shake It UP! Never made it online!
Isn’t it wonderful being YOUNG? A kid? It’s like a blank slate to dream big and think bigger. Only at the time you don’t know it because you are so busy growing up and minding your p’s and q’s. You don’t really know how lucky are until you are older and you have a chance to look back that being chaperoned around by your parents was really the good life. I wish I had someone to drive me around all day. But to have the freedom to dream big, start over and be anything you want to be. WOW! How awesome would that be? No one bursting your bubble or crushing your ideas. No one saying you can’t. The sky is still the limit.
Well that is still what I see when I see Bella and her friends dance. When I see all kids going after their passions with full gusto. Recently, Belle and one of her friends choreographed a dance for the Disney Channel’s Make Your Mark Dance Competition for the show Shake it Up. It was so cute how these girls heard about it and then came home and choreographed a dance within an hour and then viola they were ready to enter. However, we lost track of the deadline and didn’t get the video in on time. We heard the deadline was the other day and we scrambled but we were to late. Oh, the heart break:-( But they tried and I was still so impressed. I decided to share the video on my blog because it is just that cute. But all this ambition got me thinking how determined these young girls were to try and about young ambition.
In the third grade, there was an assembly, at Bella’s school where they passed the microphone around and each class member was asked what they wanted to ”BE”, when they grow up? It was so precious. I will never forget, there were so many ambitions; professional skiers (you get a lot of those around here) horseback riders, olympic gold medal winners (?) teachers, marines, veterinarians, doctors, firefighters, gymnasts, astronauts, one boy wanted to be just like his dad, Bella wanted to be a Chiropractor (she still does). The list goes on and on. What a blessing to have so many options. Our pastor is always saying that we should speak life into one another and with options like these if we speak life into our children and build up their dreams and not break them down anything is possible.
Fortunately, for Belle she has had great dance opportunities in our small town and great dance instructors. She has been blessed with the best of both worlds and the gift of great academics and great cutting edge art, technique and style where she takes dance. We hope she becomes a cracker backer (Chiropractor) as she used to call it but we will love her all the same if she dances her way into some other profession.
I’d like to give a shout out to all the great instructors at elevations studio http://www.elevationdancestudio.com/index.html, that keeps Bella’s love for dance alive!
Posted in Home Uncategorized by .
Aug 11
4
I lost my post:-(
Ugh! I want to make it clear that I am experiencing utter and complete computer RAGE right now! This is my third attempt at posting today. Did you read that correctly 3rd. Someone please sympathize with me. I had this beautiful post about our youth and their clean slate to dream big and great ambitions and then next thing you know I went to save my post to have a cup of coffee and nothing. I mean NOTHING. Blank page before me. Oh, excuse me I don’t mean to over exaggerate my title was there. Not that I couldn’t have remembered that.
I’m kind of laughing at myself because I’m always telling my son, save, save, save. I don’t know what happened? It’s not even my fault. It’s the computers fault. So this time, I’m copying and pasting, because after a dear friends great words of wisdom, I took a deep breath and decided not to skip my blog altogether today and that I would blog about my computer rage. Oh, let me tell you there were words at my computer this morning, a few expletives to say the least. After I finished that cup of coffee and gathered my thoughts I blogged again, BUT, when I when I went to publish, a BLANK page. WHAT?
SERIOUSLY? As, my sister would say. How can this be? I have no idea. I am no computer genius. For crying out loud, I’m barely even a blogger. I’ve barely entered this world. I barely know what I am doing. Needless to say, I’m giving another attempt to release my frustrations out into webland as like to call it. So here it goes. If all goes well tomorrow I will be blogging about our wonderful youth and their clean slate of dreaming big and larger than life ambitions. Wish me luck:-)
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Aug 11
3
Beautiful Boy!
Meet my “Beautiful Boy”. It was always my intention that while becoming a bloggist that my life would unfold itself and it has. Bit by bit. You have definitely met my celiac angel Bella and my handyman hubby, but other than the family picture, I’ve yet to really introduce you to my beautiful boy. Well, here he is. He is my first and he’s the other half of my heart. My heart literally melts when I look at him. Doesn’t yours?
We are a modern family. Like so many others out there, now a days this is not so unusual and when I met my husband he already had our son. So when I fell in love, I fell in love 2x. So it should be no suprise that I am a step-parent, but he is my son and my love and desires for him are they same as they are for Bella. I want for his future, health and happiness all that we can offer and he has my heart. Oh, by the way he can have it if he needs it at any given moment.
I think all step-parents feel this way, but I think it takes one to truly understand one. Sometimes you are caught in between. But this is not what this is about. We can get into that conversation later. Right now I wanted to show off our beautiful son. One of the hardest working, most handsome (okay, yes, I’m biased), humorous, smart, kind, fun, loving young men I know. I’m not lying either. Bella wants you to know he’s also the best brother EVER.
And he is the best son anyone could dream of having…
Photo taken by Beyond Words Photography, click here for web-site http://beyondwordsphoto.com/
Posted in Home Uncategorized by .
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