Thumper Ann

Thumper started showing signs of something wrong last Tuesday night. She was having difficulty jumping up and down from her spot on the couch. Shell went home to check on her Wednesday and decided it was time to take her to the Vet. They told her that Thumper had some sort of back injury and that they should take her to the CSU Vet hospital as soon as possible. Of course being the awesome parents they are, Shell and Rich rushed Thumps up to Ft. Collins and left her there in the care of some really great people. Everyone fell in love with Thumps. She was a precious pup, so it wasn't hard to understand why. They took her in to surgery early Thursday morning, and the update was that it was a textbook case of disc protrusion and that the surgery went very well. No one suspected any reason why Thumper should not recover just fine, after 4-6 months of intense (for Thumper AND her parents) rehab. Shell and Rich were now facing with Thumper more recovery time than MoJo had for his injury, which they were MORE than willing to go through...

However, as always, God's plans do not always mesh with human plans. Precious Tumpalump (as I called her) went to Doggy Heaven late Saturday night after coming home earlier that day. I honestly don't think I've ever known so many people to mourn for one puppy as much as everyone has for Thumper. She touched so many lives, including those of several people at the CSU Vet hospital. She will forever have a place in the hearts of those who knew her. Rest in peace, precious Thumper Ann. Play lots with JJ, and be happy and free of pain forever more. We'll miss you terribly...

Thumper Ann Black - November 2001 to December 2007

Ladies High Tea

Shell and Linda invited me to the Ladies High Tea at Christ Community Church this year. While I haven't attended CCC regularly for quite a while, I still consider it my Greeley Church home and was really excited to get to spend some time with the ladies of my Greeley family. I'd never been to a "High Tea" before, and was really impressed by all the formality that goes into one. Each table had a hostess who provided their own tea set to share. We had all of the wonderful finger sandwiches, scones, breads and desserts that accompany the tea. Rebekah and I had never tried our tea with milk before and found it was actually very good! Little Katie had more tea than any of the women at our table, highly evidenced by how many times she had to use the little girl's room! We also got to hear a speaker share wonderful memories of how her tea cup collection came to be, and we sang Christmas carols to open and close. As an added bonus, my former coworker Randy and his wife Bev were there in fabulous costumes! Though it was the afternoon after baking day, and we were all very tired, I personally had a really great time!

Baking Day 2007

While I'm still waiting for the big group picture from baking day (my camera died) I decided to go ahead and post a few of the other pics from our day o' fun. If you'd like a little background about baking day, please click here.

Kaitlyn and her sister Rylee
Little Helpers

Let's get this party started!! My sister brought Michelle up to help this year. Michey and I worked really hard to keep the mess under control! And no, we didn't let her have any Bailey's!!
Everyone hard at work
Michelle with the finished product ready to be distributed to several different platters and bags.

Happy Birthday, Shell!!!

Well...baking pictures will have to wait. I'm a little behind, so here's what else has been going on!

Shell's birthday was on the 27th. After working on some of the refrigerated dough, some of the fam came over for pie and ice cream.

My Parent's Christmas Tree

I helped my mom decorate their tree while I was visiting last weekend. It's always fun to see all the ornaments they've collected over the years!!

Electra Critters

We went to the Pueblo Zoo in the very cold weather to look at very cute lights! It was a great night. Here is Paul giving himself bunny ears next to the bunny... My Christmas light pictures didn't turn out too well!

Poker in Pueblo

After having a Thanksgiving meal with Paul's family on the 24th, we pulled out the games. First it was Apples to Apples, and then his dad joined us for some poker. They all had to teach me, of course I was the first one out, and it was really fun seeing all the competition between them!

Baking weekend...

Has now commenced!!! Since Monday this week, Shell has been working hard to get her baking day together. I've helped out a couple nights, including the night of her birthday which was Tuesday! Pictures will follow, if not tommorow then Sunday! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

A little late... This year I spent the holiday with my Greeley family, as my parents were in Florida with my Grandpa, and I didn't want to leave Paul alone since he had to work. My Greeley mom made the most fabulous pecan pie!! Seriously to die for. She was afraid it wouldn't turn out because she left it in the oven a little long. Truth be told, that may have made it better!! Hope you all had a very blessed day!!
The men watching the turkey fry
Sisters
Pups in sweaters. Nala has one too, she just ran out of the picture! So here are Bella and Bailey.
My Greeley family.

Cats gone wild

I bought a couple of new scratch pads for the kids and rubbed some catnip on them. I'll post a video on You Tube eventually... That and the excitement of Christmas on the way has got the kitties going crazy!! Mickey is fascinated with the lights. I really don't think it has much to do with the fact that they're on a string!!

Way FM Concert

Featuring Building 429 and Aaron Shust. Paul and I really enjoyed Building 429. Aaron was good, just unfortunately not as great as I thought he'd be!! Paul did love his bass guitarist though! He's in the red in the second picture. It was a fun night!! Definitely worthy of my 100th post!!

A Riding We Will Go!

Morgan and Shelby with their friend Natalie
Kassidy riding off on her own!

My sister has ALWAYS dreamed of having a horse, and a few years back her dream came true. She loves Bucky (short for Buckshot) to death!! Of course, the girls have all gotten in to the horse spirit as well. So much so that Morgan and Shelby compete, and Kassidy is riding by herself at the age of 6!! And to share the barn and keep Bucky company, they also have Caleb and Lily, the goats!

A Drippy Bath

Paul and both his parents share birthdays around the same time, so again we celebrated a 3 for 1. I'm guessing something happened to a couple of the letters, and "A Drippy Bath" is what Steph and Cynthia created from the leftovers. A nice time was had by all!!

It figures...

I've actually been trying to post several blogs over the past 3 days and eBlogger just doesn't seem to like my pictures. So much for staying caught up!

Kittens

I went over to Steph's house with her and her mom the weekend before last to visit the kittens. There are 10 of them!! They're adorable and all over the place, and it was not at all hard for me to resist the urge to ask to take one of them home. 4 is more than enough for me!

Peek-a-Boo

Paul and I often watch movies in the den. The kids like to watch US through the doors!

Halloween

I actually dressed up this year!! Strongly influenced by Paul, of course... We chose a Bride of Darkness costume for me, and he was a Victorian skeleton.


Madison is getting so big!!!


My once a year visit with Lori and her kids, Ethan and Sierra (holding pumpkin Nala). I think they seriously grow at least a foot every year!!

Chili, "Young Frankenstein", candy and trick-or-treaters...what more could you ask for on Halloween?!

Manitou Springs

I planned a big surprise weekend for Paul's birthday on the 28th. I booked a room in Manitou Springs, one of his favorite places, and made reservations for a Murder Mystery Dinner at the Briarhurst Manor. Now, Paul is an actor at heart, and Halloween is his favorite holiday. I was way excited to find that dinner at the Briarhurst because I knew it would be right up his alley!! Then I got with his sister and invited her and the rest of the fam to come up and spend some time with us while we were down that way. She and their mom came up and went to the Emma Crawford parade and coffin races with us, had some lunch, shopped/ate our way around town a bit, and then headed back down to Pueblo. Paul was way surprised to see them Saturday morning!! We had a great weekend away and have chatted about making it a tradition to visit Manitou at Halloween-time from now on!
The Briarhurst Manor
At the Murder Mystery Dinner. We had a fabulous 5 course dinner and great entertainment!!
One of the hearses in the parade
Steph, Paul and their mom
Paul and me in our Jack and Sally t-shirts I got us for his Birthday.
Paul and me on Lovers Lane.

Beulah Scrapbooking Retreat

I love scrapbooking getaways and I usually get to enjoy them twice a year, thanks very much to my mom. We had been going to the Hideaway in Black Forrest, but this time decided to try some place new. We stayed at a nice little B&B in Beulah and had a great time. Here are some pictures of the wildlife and snow!!



A family of deer frequented the field behind the B&B all weekend.
We woke up to snow Sunday morning and my sister helped push some of the cars out. She was SOAKED by the time she was done...
Beautiful snow covered trees

A doe found one of the few dry spots...

Miscellaneous October...

I have a habit of taking pictures while I'm driving. They never turn out as beautiful on camera as they are in person, but they at least give an idea. Here are some red clouds I saw on my way to work one morning. Too bad my windshield is cracked, too!!

Gorgeous fall trees lining the parking lot at work. I could see (before all the leaves fell off) these trees through Brad's window while sitting at my desk. Pretty distracting at times!!!

Catch up time!!!

Here's the rest of September!!

Driving dune buggies at work. Not exactly sure why I look the way I do!! LOL
Emily visits from her stay in NM. We had dinner/drinks at Hobnobbers and then went to Shell and Rich's.
A beautiful sunset on the way to dinner in Loveland one evening.
Bell Game 2007!! Unfortunately, the Bulldogs lost. Had they won, my niece Michelle would have had the bell all 4 years of High School!!! :(