Cassidy and Etta

I couldn't resist this photo! Etta just adores Cassidy. Cassidy, however, is very neutral...she kind of just puts up with her.

Doggy Trouble

On Sunday Cassidy's shoulder and leg became very swollen. Before it was swollen she had gotten stuck in a funky position and wasn't able to move for a while, so I thought the swelling might have been related to that. I would just keep an eye on it since she was walking around pretty good still. Well, this morning she was trying to get up the back steps and the swollen mass ruptured and blood was flying out of it. I completely freaked out, Cassidy however, stayed very calm...I don't think she even took notice to it. Blood was everywhere, and Etta kept running around in it...Aaahhhh!!! GROSS!! I got her to the Vet with my brother, Matt's, help. And my sister-in-law, Carrie stayed with the girls...thank goodness for family! Turns out, Cassidy had an abscess that had finally ruptured. They drained it as much as they could and gave her some antibiotics. I'm supposed to put a heat pad on it a few times a day, and wash it out with iodine. I have to stick a syringe in the hole of the abscess and squirt the solution in there. Now if you keep up with my blogging you will already now I am terrible about any medical stuff. I nearly passed out when I saw the blood squirting out of her leg. So this is going to be a very difficult task. I'm just glad she'll be OK. She's been giving us lots of scares lately!


And on a completely different subject: My parents just had an Earthquake in Long Beach. It was a 5.8 based in Chino. That's big! Ryan missed his Earthquake...again.

Wow...what a weekend!

We spent the weekend in Idaho Falls. Ryan raced in the Allan Butler Memorial Criterium Saturday night. Allan was a teammate of Ryan's three years ago. He was tragically killed when a taxi cab struck him as he was crossing a street in Vegas. This is a photo of Ryan's teammates and Tammie, Allan's mom. It was a great evening, it was nice to see all of Allan's family again. And to see Odessa, Allan's daughter...wow, she's grown up a lot since I saw her last! She about the same age has Haley. Ryan was the big winner of the evening!! He and his fellow teammate Sam lapped the field and then Ryan won the field sprint! You couldn't have had a better end to a great day!

The next morning we went for a walk on the river path next to the hotel. It was beautiful! The girls enjoyed the ducks the most. Morgan finally says duck instead of "quack quack" when she sees them. Making progress!!

The path went to some falls...Idaho Falls? Very cool, although we had to keep a close eye on the girls...they kept wanting to climb up on the railing...scary! Have they no fear?!

And last but not least, meet the new addition to our family...and no it's not another baby!! We bought a Brittney Spaniel on the way home. I've been keeping a look out for this breed. However, most of the time the breeders I find are out of state. Or by the time I call the owner the puppies have been sold already. So, I stumbled upon this breeder in Alpine, which is in Utah County! She had one female left, so we decided to stop by on the way home from Idaho Falls. Well, it's pretty much impossible to walk away from it after you see it! Just look at her...she adorable! So we bought her. I know...I'm crazy!! Two kids, and now two dogs!!! I'm definitely in for it! We've named her Etta Place (Etta for short). If you keep up with Utah outlaws you'll know that Etta Place was the girlfriend of Butch Cassidy. Since our other dog, Cassidy, was named after Butch Cassidy we thought we'd stick to the outlaw theme.

The girls just love her! Although, they think Etta will be this size forever. They are going to be in for it when this puppy gets a little bigger!!

Another Birthday!

Today is little Morga-Muffin's Birthday! I can't believe she's two already...where did the time go?!

Here she is with her proud daddy after she was born.

I love this picture! This is when we first brought Morgan home. Haley kept staring at her, almost confused. "Wait, she's living HERE now?!"

I can't believe how dark her hair was when she was first born. I seriously thought they got my baby switched with another baby in the hospital.

Now, there is definitely no confusion...she's ours! With her proud daddy again. Happy Birthday Morgan!

Happy Pioneer Day!

To all my fellow Utahns, I hope you are enjoying your Pioneer Day. As for us, it's really just like any other day. Ryan unfortunately still had to go into work...bummer. And I still had errands to run...nothing different around here. I did put my flag out this morning, so that's kinda getting into the spirit, right? Oh, and I'll be baking some bread this afternoon. Now that's pretty close to being a pioneer I'd say!

The reasoning behind the bread making (no, I'm not trying to be a pioneer) is to save a few bucks. Ask my dad, he loves to add up how much a person could save if they were to bake their own bread...and let me tell you, it's a lot! So anyway, I'm trying to do my part is saving money where I can. Bread making is one way I guess. I also try to limit the car use...however, that's not very difficult since I really don't mind just staying around the house anyway.

So since it's Pioneer Day I was thinking about all the things that I'm grateful for in the summer time...things that the Pioneers did not have:

1. Air Conditioners- this really needs no explanation, I think everyone is in agreement with this one.

2. Fly Swatters- I just bought one this summer, and they are wonderful! I haven't missed a fly yet. It sure beats swinging around a towel or magazine like a crazy women.

3. BBQ's- It just doesn't get easier when cooking over a flame.

4. A Car- Again no explanation needed. I think anyone would prefer this to a handcart or wagon.

5. Fridge/Freezer- Ahhh, ice cream!!

6. This one is for any season: The Epidural!!!- I have no doubt that if I was living during pioneer days I would kick butt. I consider myself pretty tough if need be. However, I think I might have died in child birth if I didn't have an epidural...thanks to Medical Science!!

OK, I guess I could go on and on, but that's good for now. Thinking back to what the Pioneers had to endure, I'm pretty thankful for what I have today.

Anybody else have anything they want to share...share away!

More Blogs in the Family

My brother, Matt, and his wife, Carrie have started their own blog! Check it out!

Happy Birthday!

I want to wish my mom a Happy Birthday today! She is such an example to me. I try so hard to be the mom she was to us growing up. She is so very patient, I never ever remember her "loosing" it when we were kids. She is our family peacemaker, always striving to make sure everyone else is happy, having fun, or getting along. When I was helping out after her surgery it was nearly impossible for her to sit down and relax. I would notice little things that she did when I wasn't looking..."Mom, did you load the dishwasher?!". Or she would sneak into the kitchen to help with dinner. We would be talking and having a good time, then I would snap back into reality..."Wait, you not supposed to be in here! Let me do this, sit down and relax.". She's the kind of person that if she ever had a maid, she would clean the entire house before the maid got there!

I always enjoy our phone calls (which are nearly daily). Sometimes a chat with mom is all I need to help me get through the day when things are crazy and the kids are driving me insane. Thanks mom! Love you!