Here's Frosty!

Tyler and I had a blast yesterday building this snowman. We got to finish it just in time before the rain starting coming down.

His carrot nose didn't last very long...The next time we let the dogs out it mysteriously disappeared. I think Jesse ate it! Fosty will be short lived for Lucy and Jesse keep trying to dig their way into it...Maybe they think there is a lost traveler buried inside!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas....

We finally put our tree up! To me it just never feels like the holidays until the tree is up and decorated. Tyler had a wonderful time this year with decorating it, the first year he really has a good understanding of the holiday. I just love this time of year for him....it's so magical!

Trick or Treat

I know, it's mid November and I'm just posting Halloween pictures. What can I say...I procrastinate horribly!

Thanks to Auntie Ann, Tyler was a cool green dragon!! I loved this costume!! Thanks Ann! Tyler is already talking about next year. He want's his friend Jessica to wear the dragon costume and he'll be a dragonslayer! LOL

Last year, Tyler was Wyatt from the new cartoon Super Why. Auntie Ann made this costume as well. I see a green theme going.....

Doggie Door

So, we have this screen door in our house separating the kitchen from the living room to keep the animals out/in, whichever it need be. Tyler was in the living room the other day eating his lunch while I was in the computer room so I shut the door to keep Jessie from eating Ty's food.
Minutes later I hear Tyler complaining the dog's in the parlor. Confused because the door was still shut, I thought Tyler must have let him in. I put him back out and told Tyler not to open the door (which he swore he didn't). Again Jessie was in the parlor moments later. Upon further investigation I found the following...

Wanting to witness it again (because I really thought it was funny) I placed him back outside the door...I guess I was just asking for this next video...

On a good note, he won't be able to fit through the opening for much longer! :)

Our New Addition...Another Outlaw

Yes, it's true...we have a new guy. Before I could properly introduce our new little guy I had to respectfully remember and honor the original, the Great, in the post below. In no way will this little angel replace Maverick, no dog ever can...but he can steal a new place in our hearts (which he has).

Introducing our new little Outlaw, Jesse James. Jesse came from the Saint Bernard Rescue where we also got Lucy 6 years ago. He has had a very rough start in his life but thanks to the rescue he survived and pulled through. He's thriving at 4 months old, weighing in at 40lbs.

Since Mav's death Lucy hasn't been the same, for the two of them were inseparable. For about 2 weeks she sulked in a corner, barely ate and didn't want to go outside. When we got to meet with Jesse two weeks ago Lucy took to him instantly, very mothering. Surprisingly, because she doesn't normally get along with allot of other dogs. We got to take Jesse home on Saturday and the transition has been rather easy. Lucy is eating again and waits for Jesse to come outside with her but she hasn't gotten the play thing done yet. The cats have someone new to play with (as you can see in the video below, Maddie is not afraid of anything!) And Tyler is loving a new friend to play with. Tyler loves hanging out in Jesse's crate and acting like a dog.

Puppy running crazy, kid in crate...my house is a zoo!! And I love it!

So, I'm sure there will be plenty more antidotes as this little guy finds his spot in our family (and chews everything up in the process of doing so)

Saying Goodbye to our dear friend...

It's finally time I say goodbye to my Maverick. I've been postponing it for quite some time but I think that I'm now ready. Maverick passed this past Labor Day weekend from a second bout of bloat. Although it's only been three weeks since losing him, it feels like so long ago because it feels like forever since we last saw him. We miss him terribly! I didn't want to let him go before saying a few words about him, he deserves it.

For years before him I had always dreamed of getting a St. Bernard. The perfect dog in my head, handsome, gentle, loving... I brought 4 month old Maverick home on Valentines Day 2002, a fluke in finding him. From day one Maverick was THAT dog...that dog that I always wanted. He was so sweet, sensitive...and dopey (they aren't the brightest breed) At 130 lbs if he wanted to he could have dragged me anywhere he wanted, yet, he never pulled on his leash. All he ever wanted from anyone is a pat on the head and a cookie from the jar. We never asked Maverick to sit because his hips hurt him, although I know if I asked him to he would have, he was just that kind of dog. He was always so happy to see anyone and I don't think I have ever heard a growl come out of that dogs mouth. He would be picked and probed at the vet and he never so much as move. I remember last summer Mav found a rabbit's nest in the yard and every time he was let out he would run over to the baby bunnies and just lay next to the hole, guarding it. He never bothered the babies. Maverick was the ideal Saint in every way. My feet now lay cold at night, not having Mav's head as my foot warmer.

Maverick we will miss you and you will never be forgotten!! Tears come to our eyes every time we pass the baseball fields by our house as Tyler says Maverick is now feeling better and chasing butterflies through the fields now.

Thank you to everyone for your kind words, support and cards. It helped allot in our loss.

Love,

Tyler, Mike, Catherine, Lucy, Murray and Maddie.

Who stole the cookie from the c-cookie jar?

So, Mike and Tyler decided to bake chocolate chip cookies last night while Mike was watching the game in the kitchen. Tyler kept stealing cookies off the cooling rack so Mike put all the cookies in a Tupperware and moved them out of Ty's reach (so he thought). While Mike was sitting there, he watched Ty's countless attempts at reaching the cookies. First was the obvious reach, then he tried to move the chair over. When Mike stopped that Tyler had to start getting inventive. He grabbed the broom and tried grabbing them with that but soon realized the broom handle wouldn't bend. He disappeared for a little bit in his room and emerged with his trusty tape measure. Mike watched as Tyler devised a way to grab the cookies using it. He's an inventive little bugger!

Here's a video of the reenactment of the crime. He was quite proud of himself to show me how he did it, and he got to steal another cookie!

My Maverick

As many of you already know, we had a scary episode early Friday morning (1am) resulting in a trip to the ER with Maverick. Maverick suffered from a bout of Bloat. Bloat is when the dog gets a massive build up of gas which if left to escalate would have twisted his stomach at both ends trapping the gases and stopping blood flow and his stomach would start to die, which in turn would kill him. It's a fast killer and Vet's said in another couple hours it most likely would have been to late. We caught it in time before the stomach twisted so emergency surgery wasn't needed. They ended up putting a tube down into his stomach to release the gas. This problem is common in his breed because of the way the stomach is built. It's something that was always in the back of my mind but I never thought I would have to go through it. It's so horrible because the dog is in so much pain. I just thank the Lord that I'm a night owl and was up at that time.

Maverick got to come home Saturday evening and is doing really well so far. Unfortunately, the likelihood of him bloating again is high. I have to regulate all food and water intake and take note of any farting and burping (not a fun job!) Most likely, Maverick will need to go into surgery so they can tack his stomach to prevent twisting in the future. He goes back to the vet this weekend for blood work and a kidney check.

Thank you to everyone for your love, support and caring words the last couple days. Since the day we got Mav, almost 6 1/2 years ago, he's been the most perfect dog! The thought of losing him is hard. You know the day will come eventually, but your never ready for it. On top of that, Lucy was extremely depressed while Maverick was hospitalized, so when we do lose him I'm afraid of how Lucy will take it, as they are inseparable.

Here's a video I just took of Maverick clowning around in the back yard about 3 weeks ago. It makes me smile.

Love for Grampa

We are all wishing Grampa a speedy recovery from his surgery yesterday!! WE LOVE YOU Grampa and know that you'll be as good as new in no time! hug, hug...kiss, kiss!!

A Little Dirt Never Hurt...

Need I say more....

Your backyard friends....The Backyardigans!!

We had a fun day yesterday with a family outing. This time we all went to see The Backyardigans Live show (Tale of the Mighty Knights!) at the Colonial Theatre in Boston. I've been looking forward to this show for months now as the Backyardigans are my personal favorite. :) (Yes, Tyler likes them too!) We also went with cousin Stacey and one of her little girls Delaney. Tyler and Della had SO much fun together! All I could get was the back of them as we were leaving, but they were so cute holding hands! Tyler really had a fun time with her.

It took Tyler some time to warm up to the show as he was a tad frightened at first. He just clung to me for dear life with his head buried in my shirt. About 15 minutes later though he turned around and started to enjoy it. Once he warmed up to his surrondings he had a wonderful time. We got home later in the afternoon and ALL of us went down for a nap!

I didn't get any pictures of the show (that's illegal you know :) But Tyler and Della had fun with our cameras while we waited for intermission to end. The two of them took pictures of the other taking pictures of them. They had so many flashes going off it's a wonder they didn't blind themselves and miss the second half of the show.

Daddy's Helper

It's been a long time, I know...There hasn't been much happening around our household for awhile. We've really had to stay close to home lately with the gas prices as they are. Jeez, Mike pays $4.50 a gallon for diesel!! Can you believe with a budget of $150.00 a week for gas ( I only get $30.00) neither one of us have seen Full in months!!

Tyler and I have been trying to take advantage of the nice spring days and clean up the yard before the heat gets here (I don't do yard work when it's hot!) Most days have been outside in the yard raking up the neverending leaves and poop. Fun, eh?

Well, staying home has it's advantages. Mike been working on some unfinished projects around the house that he never seemed to have time for before. There's no escaping them now :) Tyler's really been helping him out too.

Singing the blues...

This morning I had to take Tyler to the dentist for a routine cleaning. It was brutal, but we both survived. After the dentist I thought I'd cheer him up and buy him a guitar that he's been asking for for months. Ever since Uncle Chris let him play with one at his house he's been obsessed with them. He also loves to play his cousin Delaneys guitar ever chance he gets (thank the heavens she has two guitars!)



So our hunt ended at Wally world where he found just what he wanted. I let Tyler play it while driving home and he apparently strummed up the blues. Tonight when Daddy got home I told him to sing his song to him...here it is!

Happy Easter!!!

Hugs, Kisses and Love go out to all of our family and friends this Easter!!

Here's looking forward to fast approaching warm weather and beautiful Springtime days!!!

Next American Idol?

Ever since Ty heard this song on the radio a while back he's been belting it out. I think he loves this song solely for the howling. For whatever reason, it cracks me up!

Once Lucy heard him howling away, she came running in to join him. Here's the crazy duo...

Here Fishy, Fishy

Lately, Tyler's new favorite movie has been Disney's "Finding Nemo", so we took a trip to the New England Aquarium yesterday. I've been wanting to go there for a long time now but kept putting it off because I hate to drive in Boston. More so, I hate the parking situation in Boston. I was debating using the T, but I get nervous if I'm by myself so we drove. The drive wasn't so bad because the Aquarium is easy to find and they have a enclosed parking garage practically at the doors so I figure I'm set, Right?. Wrong! Appartently my car is over 6'6"...guess how I know that...yup, I was the dummy to hit the floating height guard (with Ty in the back "mommy, what was that noise?). ERRRRRR......So, I found a parking lot about 10 minutes away. No biggy..

Here's some clips and pictures of our day. Tyler LOVED it! I was nervous he would be afraid of the darkness of it all, but he was captivated. His favorite of course was the "Nemo" display, where he found Nemo, Dori, Bubbles and Gill, the large turtles (Crush) and sharks (Bruce).

He spent a good five minutes here, where you can change the colors of light coming up on the jellyfish.

While we were there the production crew of Extreme Makeover Home Edition were there filming the opening to one of their shows. We got to watch that as well. No Ty Pennington though :( Just this guy...it was fun to watch the aquarium staff trying to keep the penguins off of him while taping.

Moose and Zee

Who ever knew that a moose and bird could be so entertaining? On the Noggin channel (cartoons 24/7) the host is the yellow moose named Moose (but of course, what were you expecting?) and a blue bird named Zee. Every now and then they break into song and dance and it absolutely mesmerizes Tyler. Here he is doing a little jig...

The No Scissors Haircut!

Tyler got his first "tear free" haircut yesterday! I'm so proud of him!!
For Tyler, getting a haircut was equal to going to the doctors office. It was never an easy task and haircuts were put off as long as possible. He would almost get sick from being so upset. Screaming, crying, bolting...you name it.

After talking it over with him to find out why he hates it so much he told me he's afraid of the scissors because we said they are dangerous (we have to be careful with what we tell him, cause he never forgets!) Clippers or buzzers were acceptable. As long as the lady didn't have scissors he was absolutely fine, even was smiling while getting clipped. Smiling?!? It was like a different child in the chair, I was amazed!! Let me tell you though, he watched the lady's every move to ensure no scissors came near his head! The hairdresser said it was the first cut she's ever done with just clippers that wasn't a buzz.

Here's some pics of the aftermath...

And Diego went...

Last night, Mike, Tyler and I went to the PPAC to see Go, Diego, Go Live, a live show based on the Diego cartoon. It was so much fun and we all loved it! For those who don't know, Diego is an animal rescuer who in each episode has to help save an animal in trouble. The show was very interactive, although Tyler didn't make a peep the entire show. He was to busy taking it all in. The kids were given a Baby Jaguar mask (Diego's trusty sidekick) and had to help thoughout the show by growling like him. Tyler didn't want anything to do with that thing, didn't even want it near him. But leave the show and get him in the car, he hasn't put it down since! :)

Next up....The Backyardigans!!!

Will you be my Valentine?

Yesterday, Tyler got his first Valentine from a girl. His good friend Jessica (who's 7 months old) "sent" him a valentine card in the mail. Boy, was Tyler excited!! Remember when it was just that easy?....

Bed Hogs

Poor Tyler! For Christmas this year Mike and I got Tyler a new big boy bed. We got a full size one for him so that he'd have plenty of room at night. Yeah right! Maverick and Lucy love the new bed as well, and I have to constantly make sure they aren't laying ON him each night. Tyler seems to enjoy the company though...

I spy Murray in the picture as well with Lucy. The white furball curled up by Tyler's head. Hope Lucy didn't have gas that night! This kid can't catch a break.

Scooter Mania

Tyler's finding his wild side. At one point, he was flying down the driveway with just one foot on the scooter, the other hanging ten! Needless to say, mom had a heartattack (then broke out the camera)