Happy Days

Happy days are here again!  It was a rough week when Cali died but time heals heartbreaks.  We miss her presence in our home but we are spending more time with our crazy doggy now and that's helped.

We've spent two weekends at the beach this month.  We have been blessed with the best baseball schedule in years!  Jackson has had several weekends off and we are taking full advantage of it.  It's so nice to get away and enjoy each other without the distractions and our "to do" lists.  Last night, we went to the Japanese steakhouse here.  Sawyer laughed throughout the meal.  He was very entertained by Chef Jackie.  His laughter kept all of us entertained.  We had a table to ourselves which was a bonus.  I remember sitting there thinking, this is what happiness looks like.....these are the moments that I will always remember.  We topped that off with an evening on the beach, well, minus Jackson; he bought a new video game so he stayed behind (he was happy too though).  The happiness continued as Sawyer played on the beach, building castles and running from the crashing waves.  At one point, he lost the game and the water finally caught him.  For a brief moment, he was unhappy but once he removed his wet clothing, the game resumed.  Oh, happiness!

Sawyer came to me this morning and said, "My favorite things are....." so I asked him, "What are your favorite things?"  He said, "My favorite things are mommy, Jaxie, daddy, and pappi (paci)."  I'm sure he has many more favorite things so please don't be offended if you didn't make the list today.  I think that he would include being here at the beach as one of his favorite things too.

We will have one more night here and then will head back home for Jackson's game.  Hopefully we will make it back down soon.  The next few weeks include baseball and our end of season tournament, finishing up 5th grade, and keeping Sawyer busy:-)

Sandy toes and salty kisses = happiness

Happiness is being with sweet friends.
Jackson and Ty

Happiness is playing by the sea.

The laughter of boys makes us happy.

Field trips make us happy-
Fort Fisher Aquarium

Signs that say "please touch" make us happy

Shark tank

Happiness is exploring outside

Happiness is creating-
Our Gingerbread Boy creation

Happiness is playing in the sand.

"The cure for anything is salt water, sweat, tears or the sea" Karen von Blixen-Finecke

Happiness for Sawyer is having all of the sand toys to himself.

Happy at the Japanese steakhouse

Jackson's old Boston hat looks good on Sawyer too

Sawyer's kitchen counter art- he was happy with it but me, not so much;-)

Jackson added some flair to the Gingerbread Boy

Everyone loves bubbles

Popeye

Happiness is waking up early, by choice, and watching the sunrise.  I love God's artwork!

Happiness is watching your toddler pray:-)

Happiness is focusing on other's strengths, not weaknesses.  Jackson is a very talented catcher and I love watching him play that position.  It makes me happy.
(Colby is at bat)





Farm Days at home and at NC State:

Happiness is watching the children help Granddaddy in the garden.

Happiness is watching Sawyer pick up chicks, the soft  and furry kind.

Happiness is enjoying these moments for free.  We love NC State Farm Days (and free ice cream).

Happiness is seeing the love these two have for each other (and getting along for the moment:)

Happy moments

Happiness is doing your best.
 It isn't about always winning, but winning with your sister is happiness:-)
(Laura and I both won our age groups in a race on Saturday)

Cali 1997-2013

Sunny and Cali

We got Cali, almost 16 years ago.  She was a shop kitten at McGregor Downs, where Webb once worked.  Webb always knew that I wanted a calico and so one afternoon, a few months after we married, he brought Cali home from work.  I knew we didn't need two cats but how could I send such a cute little kitten away?  We have enjoyed many years with her.

Cali used to sleep with us, up until a few years ago when I discovered that I have severe cat alleriges.   Jackson said this about her in a story he dictated while in kindergarten:
"Cali stares at me sometimes and tries to wake me up.  She licks my hand at night when I sleep."

Some of my best memories of Cali are more recent.  She loved to curl up on the rug in front of the fire on cold winter days.  She looked so peaceful and happy.  In the last year, she had become especially fond of Webb and would sit in his lap each time he got comfortable in the recliner.  We would laugh about it.  

I took a picture recently of us on the couch with her.  She didn't care that we were crowded.  She just wanted to be with us or maybe she just wanted warm bodies.  Ha!  She seemed to be more affectionate this past year.  Maybe she knew that she wasn't going to be with us much longer.  

She was a spry 16-year-old until about two weeks ago.  She would often run up the stairs in a sprint.  She was still very playful and we would jokingly say that she was 6 and not 16.  Most nights, she had a routine; once we settled into our beds, she would howl.  Sunny, her older sister had done this for many years so I guess Cali decided to continue the tradition.  

We bought her a case of Fancy Fest from BJ's last week.  I'm so glad that we did.  She enjoyed many cans each day, since then.  

Our memorial, thanks to Holly and family

We said goodbye to her today.  My heart is so heavy.  Jackson is taking it hard.  Sawyer says he doesn't want Cali to go to Heaven......but we've had 16 wonderful years with her.  She's had a great life and she brought us much happiness and joy along the way.

As we watched Webb drive away with her, a butterfly flew up to the porch where we were sitting.  Butterflies are always God's reminder to me of his promises and new life.  I believe Cali is enjoying her new home and that we will be reunited with her again one day.

Sunning

Watching from the stool- late Christmas Eve 2012 (just the two of us:)

Welcome Back, Spring!

We finally made it to Carolina Beach last week!  The last time we were there was in late November.  We've missed being there and we were glad to be back for Easter vacation.  The weather was decent so we were able to spend time at the parks and on the beach.

Sawyer has been asking for a kite for several weeks now.  He had a taste of it one day when the Flythe's had kites next door.  We found two cheap kites at Walgreens and though it was too dark to fly them when we brought them back to the condo, Sawyer still persisted.  He ended up hanging one off the deck and this kept him entertained for a good while.  We did get to fly the kites the following day on the beach and Sawyer thought it was wonderful.  The kites took a beaten and they are no longer with us but they provided Sawyer with hours of entertainment and fun so I'd say it was worth the sacrifice.

We returned home on Monday, rested and ready for Jackson's second game of the season.  He spent several innings catching and did great.  He's been struggling a little with his hitting but he hasn't let it get to him too much.  On his third at bat, he hit a triple, his first great hit of the season!  We were so happy for him but equally happy at his perseverance and good attitude.

I jokingly told Webb that we were in "Sprinter" this week.  Winter just didn't want to go away. The forecast for next week has the number "80" in it so maybe "Sprinter" means we are sprinting to summer; I hope not.  As of today, Spring is winning and hopefully will be in the lead for awhile.  We are back out in the great outdoors without having to put on the winter weather apparel.  The sounds of the many birds singing in our yard is music to my ears.  The little one is running around barefoot and we don't come in until he's covered in dirt and it's dark outside.  The smells of popcorn and hot dogs cooking at the ball field means that there is excitement in the air.  Spring is really back!  These are the days!

Dinner at Rucker John's

Pregame- Sawyer showing some love for his favorite player
(Jackson's #14 was already in use so he's settling for #4 this spring)

Our flowers are in bloom and we've even spotted some butterflies in the yard

Jackson and Garrett at our "3 Bears Acres" fieldtrip

Jumping- Cole, Sawyer and Syan

Outdoor painting area

Slingshot station

He's trying

Outing at Crowder Park- There were hundreds of frogs!