Saying Goodbye to Miss Piper

 This incredible green eyed mouser, who was loved by the whole neighborhood for her hunting skills, was unfortunately run over today. She somehow got under Jeff's truck tire when he was clear out in the cul de sac. 

He felt terrible. 

We were all so sad. 

She was Millie's best friend.  I knew Mill would go looking for her so I brought her out and put her up on the tailgate beside her.  Millie immediately sniffed/licked at her face like usual, then realized something was wrong.  She went over on the opposite side of Piper and sat there for a good 20 minutes,  I'm sure wondering what had happened to her friend.  But I wanted her to know.  She needed to know.  They had been two peas in a pod since we first got them both, just a week apart.  They stayed bosom buddies from day one.  If Millie and I went on a walk, Piper followed along the whole way.  Millie fiercely protected her from the neighbor dogs.  Not that they really bothered her at all, but if they tried to come in the garage or near Piper's food, Millie went on the defense.  German Shepherd or little Yorkie... it didn't matter.  Whenever Bane, the neighbor's French Bulldog would bark at Piper - Millie would run and insert herself between the two and bark back at Bane.  Piper would flip her tail and lay down in a mock jester as if to say, "ha! look at me, I have a guard dog who will fight you if you come near me." If we were sitting outback, she was too.  She liked being near us all and a part of the family.  Her favorite place in the house was in the laundry room sock bin.  She'd crawl up inside and wrap herself in the socks.  So cute!  She would wait for Millie to walk past her, watching her like a hunter watching her prey, and then she'd pounce on her and catch Millie off guard, haha!  Then they would wrestle and play.  On hot summer days she liked to either sit down on the sunken patio bench or up behind the flower pot on the front porch.  She'd nap and waste the day away, just living her best life.

We took Piper down to Joel & Julie's house, and buried her beside their cat.

Goodbye Miss Piper, Swiper, Pussy Cat, Pudy Tat, Puppy Cat.

You were a good kitty and we will miss you! 😢 

My first time at the park with Jace

 Sidney and I took this delicious baby to the All Abilities Park in Spanish Fork today.  Sidney met me there with Jace in tow.  I walked into the park and spotted them a little ways in on the swingset, swinging together.  Smiling and happily enjoying the late summer sun.  He was so cute to watch explore.  He swung on the swings and played with the musical instruments and had a blast in the splash pad area.  He's growing so quickly and learning so much.  He's getting so smart and learning to do things on his own.  I love watching him discover.  I also love watching Sidney interact with him.  He has been a blessing to our whole family.  I'm so grateful that Jens and Alexandra share so much of him with her.  She and Jack have had a part of their broken hearts comforted by him.  Their greatest desire is to have a baby of their own and for some unseen reason, they keep miscarrying.  She has no words left.  Salty tears have streamed down her beautiful face until she has no tears left.  Even today, as Sidney is in the midst of another loss, an IVF treatment of two of her baby boy embryos that didn't take, she still tenderly and happily cared for and played with Jace.  All the while, cramping and bleeding.

And then he would smile at her.

And she would smile back.

And then he would reach for her, and her heart would get a little bit of love.

Summer Days on the Lake 🚤

We have tried to make the most of what time we have had this summer on the lake with the boat.  We'll try to hit Deer Creek as often as we can. It has been a lot of fun.