Tanganyika 2013

We finally made our annual trip to Tanganyika. I really really love this zoo. I love getting up close with the animals. It is so cool to say "I have pet a kangaroo and a giraffe." So if you live around here, I highly recommend going! Yearly!

First up the nursery. Look at all the cute baby animals.

Lo brought her own camera, but failed to use it. HA!

Ah, the Lemurs. Every year we go Lo freaks out. This year she kept telling everyone that this was the year she was going to be brave and hold a Lemur....

{This was 2011}

{2012}

{2013}

Well...there is always next year.

Stopping to play on this cool jungle gym.

Mommy too.

Petting bunnies and feeding tortoises.

Mommy Kanga with Little Roo in her pouch!

Cutest little baby monkey ever.

Ah and we saved THE best for last. The Giraffes. God's greatest animal creation.

I want one!

Photo Dump sans iPhone

Well since I am ever so slowly working my way back into blogging; let's start with a catch all post. Again.

I hate not capturing our everyday, but then I sort of like not feeling like I have to write it all down either. Sometimes memories are just best left in our minds...right?!

Gymnastic Birthday party for their cousin. They both love gymnastics so much. Mommy just recently got a new job teaching at our Y and I LOVE IT! They kids get to come practice with me a lot and are growing in their skill daily! Lo is getting ready to start Level 1! Hopefully in another year {or two} she will be ready to compete. I pushed dance, but she is really wanting this right now. We are open to whatever they will dedicate themselves too and for now this is it!

Zoo fun with our friends! Their mommy is ready to pop any day!! Can't wait!

I don't even have words....

A very chilly parade day, but we braved it for the candy. :)

This was on our way to get Thatchy Puppy.  Power windmills or wind turbines; for miles it was amazing and this picture does zero justice, but no time to stop in our 6 hour round trip.

 I have a thing for sunset and cloud pictures. I just always feel God's presence in these, like He is peeking in on us. God's fingerprints are everywhere we just have to look!

Storm rolling in from work. So cool.

Brothers. Slowly, but surely becoming friends. They even are starting to finally play together. I think Tuck has missed having a playmate. Toby was just not a playmate for a long time.

So Meg wants to get into shape, so what better way then to train for a 5K. We trained for 3 days and then life hit and it has been pretty hit and miss. But we signed up for a 5K in November, so we better get back on the wagon.

One day a little girl in our neighborhood had a bee on her. She was freakin' understandably. So I went to shoo it and it climbed on my hand. And just hung out. There was no stinger. He just crawled around and around for a minute and then flew off. Crazy cool.

Again. No words. There is nothing more precious than seeing a daddy reading to his kids. My heart is full.

 And then there is this one. Let's just say he keep us all very busy. Good thing he is cute. :)

The past month and half photo dump. Thanks for stopping by. :) I have some other posts planned and in the works...I really want to get back to documenting our lives. How else will my kids explain the idiosyncrasies to their future therapist. {only sort of kidding...}

Lo-Rider

I had a few goals for us this summer and one of them was Lo learning to ride her bike sans training wheels. The neighbor girl across the street, who is the same age, learned last summer. We tried with Lo, but to no real avail. Around July we tried again, and she would pedal a few strides and then topple over. She didn't want to do it. Training wheels back on.

I really have no idea when "the day" was. {Bad mommy} Mostly because we weren't expecting it. I didn't really even get any pictures, just a few videos. In true Leighton fashion, she woke up and decided today is the day. That is how she does everything in life...it is so weird. Daddy took off the training wheels and after maybe 2-3 trial runs {and she only fell because all the neighbor kids in their passion to cheer her own kept getting in her "way."} she was off. You will hear me screaming like a fool. But that is my proud mommy voice. I couldn't believe my eyes. My baby girl is off, riding her bike. Next thing I know I will be watching her drive off into the sunset with some boy. They are growing too fast.

Without any more ado...my baby girl's inaugural bike ride! {Sometime in August}

005 from Michele Keethler on Vimeo.

She at one point went up the driveway and slammed into the bushes...which she thought was hilarious and then proceeded to continue doing that.

She did struggle with starting on her own and stopping without just plain falling over, but after a few more practice days she was off and now she rides beside me while I run! Love it! Now she just needs a bigger bike.

P365 {Family Diary}

Once upon a time I use to scrapbook. I use to love it. Actually I still do, but as I previously stated, my muse was gone. I have spent the past few months just in a funk. {Which is apparent based on the lack of pictures for this project.} Losing Toby really through me off, I can't believe how much I still miss that little dog. But this week I decided to jump back into my life and start doing the things I love.

I am nearly all caught up on this project it only took me one very late night to do. Next year I plan on doing this very differently!

{29-30}

{31-32}

{33-35}

{36-37}

{38-39}

Turning Pain into Joy

Still so many emotions running through my mind.
I am still sad that Toby is gone. For the first few days every time I closed my eyes I saw the doctor bringing him in on a warm blanket. He laid there relaxed, his eyes searching, looking at me. When the doc asked if we were ready I wanted to scream NO! I will never be ready and then scoop Toby up and run as fast as I could. By God's grace I stood there, tears pouring down my face as Chad nodded.
I held Toby tight. I whispered in his ear "I love you." And then I heard the doctor say "He's at peace."

He's at peace has been blaring in my ears for days. DAYS. It is all I can hear. The words sting. Because they are final. But they also bring peace to me, us. Now Toby is free of his pain. Waiting for us to re-unite one day in heaven.

I didn't think I would want a new dog so quickly. But something made me feel like a new puppy would help. Chad being the tender-hearted, smart husband that he is agreed. We tried the pound, but couldn't find what I was looking for. I needed Toby back. His kindred spirit was out there. Chad had me contact our breeder. I guess I can call her that since we are now on our 3rd dog and 5th overall as a family...she just so happened to have a black, toy, boy poodle. One that was lazy, cuddly, and easy-going.

I still wasn't sure because what if...something happens to him?
he isn't like Toby?
I was betraying Toby?

We drove up/over to Hays to go meet him. Chad kept telling me he would not be Toby and I can't let what happen to Toby keep me back. He was right. Sometimes he gets to be right. Just once in awhile, we don't want to upset the balance of our marriage. :)

2.5 hours later I was snuggling with a precious baby poodle. He just laid there, just like when we got Toby. He snuggled Lo, he snuggled Chad. He was perfect. He came home with us.

It has been barely 48 hours and he is Toby's kindred spirit. Actually, he is the re-incarnation of all of our favorite dogs! {Roscoe, Moeka, and Toby}. He has taken to the kids so well. LOVES Leighton. Snuggles me and just wants nothing but love.

So I introduce you to Thatcher Beau.

And while the pain of missing Toby is still raw, he is healing all of our hearts. He will never replace Tobias, but he is definitely is filling in the void.

Watching the kids with a puppy is so fun! So glad it isn't a baby! Holy Cow. Lo has completely taken over and I can let her with a puppy. A baby not so much! HA!

 Tucker THRILLED we have a new puppy! What can I say about Tuck. He is high-maintenance, OCD, yappy and fairly un-loving. He doesn't really care for the kids. He just goes around livin' life and doing his own Tucker thing. He isn't mean. Just absent. So you can see why I wanted another Toby {a pup who even in his last days let the kids snuggle and love on him!}...someone the kids could love and squeeze and play with.

Nap time reading. Thatch already learning the ropes. In bed with sis.

Thank you Chad for once again sacrificing the dog of your dreams to fulfill mine! I love you!