RIP Zen the Puppy



Poor Zen the Puppy went up to puppy heaven on April 2, 2014.  This was pretty unexpected.  Anyone that knows our pups knows that they've both always been a sickly pair from the beginning - in fact, Zen has had colds and coughs periodically and Karma has been the itchy scratchy allergic bear.  So knowing that, I shouldn't be too surprised, but you are never really prepared to lose a pup.  Unfortunately my Dad was the one that dealt with the dramatic last moment.  Zen had had another cough and like before, we thought she just needed some antibiotics to kick it and she would be fine.  My Dad took her to the vet for us, and within 5 minutes of arrival, she died.  She apparently had a severe pneumonia and her lungs were full of fluid.  It pains me to think that we let her down not knowing how bad it was.  We had been desensitized over the years with so many health problems I suppose.  Jeff and I have had Karma and Zen ever since we came home from the Peace Corps.  They were our first babies and have been great dogs.  Zen was "Karma's dog," and a wild one - a bit unpredictable, refusal to be fully house-trained, and always looking for a way to squeeze into a love situation.  She pranced around protective and watchful and in constant bliss, hence, "Zen." She has been with us from really the beginning of our marriage and been there through many events - it feels like closing a chapter that we aren't ready to close.  Like all wild animals, you love and hate them and though the house feels a bit empty these days, the quiet is oddly welcome.  I hated that cold puppy nose in my armpits each day, but I am missing those little kisses now.  Rest in Peace, sweet girl.  Zen the Puppy...Zen Zen the Pup-py. Z.E.N.T.H.E.P.U.P.P.Y. Zen the Puppy.  Zen Zen the Pup-py. 



Inside Outings

I think we've made good use of our Discovery Place season pass while waiting for the weather to improve.  We've actually been checking out the IMAX movies and so far (surprisingly) the kids have been into it (even Silas sat relatively well through them).  We have seen Jerusalem and Hubble so far.  Both amazing!  Tyndell has been asking lots of great questions about both so the conversations at the Discovery Place have been very fun.  She also likes the downstairs kids area a lot which I agree is super fun so thought I would share a few photos from one of our outings there.  Love that we live in a City that has so much to offer the kiddos.  And Silas' naptime didn't seem to be too affected either ha!

Note:  Anyone else think Tyndell's concentrated face while holding a shark is as hilarious as I do?!   

Southern Snow and 2013 Recovery



Clearly I've been in 2013 recovery so far this year with so much time lapse in posting.  Honestly - I haven't been worried about it even though I do like to go back through our family pictures/posts even myself as a reminder.  2014 has been a great year so far but I think it finally dawned on me over the last couple of months how tired I was and how intense last year was.  So having said that, we've been spending a lot more time just being, sitting, relaxing, reading, cooking, running.  Normal stuff.  I haven't been worried or trying to capture all the little moments.  Just been living them.  And it's been nice.  We are really feeling settled in our house, enjoying the onset of springtime and gardening....and especially enjoying one of the main drivers of the home purchase last year:  THAT PORCH!  Love it.  We are enjoying lots of porch time for sure. 

Anyway before I get too far ahead of the now, I did want to share a few cute pictures from back in February from when we were literally snowed into our house for a good 4 days.  Snow in the South is hilarous and dangerous.  It's just enough to make everyone freak out and feel trapped.  So it's best to let it run its course.  We had a couple of days of decent snow but each layer was intermittent with ice pellets so it didn't make for very fun play unfortunately.  We did get outside at the end of the storm to enjoy some of it.  Tyndell was so pleased with the snow (think Elsa in Heaven) and Silas was confused and not convinced it was a good thing (that's my boy!).