Sweet Harley...

Sweet, sweet Harley...

I'm sad to say that we had to put our 16 year old dog, Harley, down on Sunday. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. You may remember that a year and a half ago we thought we were going to lose Harley, she had had a stroke and we thought that was the end. But, in Harley fashion, she rebounded and perked right up. Although, she did go blind and nearly deaf in the last year she would still show signs of perky Harley every now and then. Knowing "when" the right time was turned out to be very hard. I started praying that God would make it very clear to us when it was "time" and I really feel like HE did that on Sunday morning. Seeing her cry out in pain was unbearable especially since she's been such a quiet dog for 16 years.

Harley has been just the sweetest dog ever! We got so lucky with her when I adopted her from Petsmart 15 years ago when Ty and I were dating. She welcomed Maclaine when we brought this little stranger into our home 7 years after Harley. She even played along with Maclaine when it was dress-up time or any other game Maclaine could get her to play. She was one of those dogs that I never worried about biting or hurting a child, she was just incredibly gentle.

We are sad to not have her in our home anymore and sad that we can't come up with nicknames for her as she was aging. She inherited the name "Harley the pirate dog" when she originally had her stroke because she had a lazy eye for a day and we bought her an eye patch to wear.

Recently when she was completely blind and we would have to scream her name to get her attention, she received the name "Harley Keller." Get it? Helen Keller...Harley Keller. A little insensitive yes, but if you're a part of the Morgan family you just know that if you're teased that means you're loved!

Then, Ty started calling her, "Harley, pretty-girl with the bows in her hair." I asked Ty what that was all about because I had never heard that one before but he said that he knew her time was limited and since she was blind she didn't know if she was ugly or pretty that when she died she should think she was a pretty girl, and what the heck, we'll tell her she had bows in her hair. I thought that was so dang sweet! So, when Maclaine and I were laying and crying with Harley Sunday morning we told her she was a pretty girl with bows in her hair, and don't ever forget it!

Here's Harley 15 years ago...


She was right by Clainey's side when it was potty-training time...


shower time....


nap-time....


dress-up time....




and of course, just when she needed a friend...



Thanks for the memories Harley, pretty-girl with bows in your hair....

Craft night!

"Mom, can we please do a craft?" "I got ALL of our stuff out."


She's working on a birdcage here...


Here's our masterpieces! We made some clothespin magnets, a birdcage, an M decoration, and a star magnet...

Make a Wish!

One of our favorite things to do is go get a bite to eat at Dana Park on Val Vista and then we just walk up and down the sidewalks, window shopping and throwing pennies in EVERY wishing well. Can I just tell you...there are quite a few!

So, that means that some of those wishes have to come true...right?

Special Chair!

Maclaine bought this green chair with her own money and it's become her reading chair. I'm thrilled!!!

4th of July!

For the 4th this year we went to the Cicero home...we love it when they have parties because first of all, we always get invited and second, they always have great parties!

Thanks Shannah and Paul for your wonderful hospitality! :)

The annual Morgan family photo on the 4th....


Me and my bestie....


My peeps, Shannah and Nikki....




"Who's that cute boy? Can I have your number....?"


Paul and Joshy-boy....


"WATER FIGHT!"


As Clainey's throwing one water balloon there's also one going straight for her face....


Ty learning a little something about the DS from Joshua....


Kelsey and Clainey playing the Wii...
*notice Paul fading fast in the background


and he's out....


Cute kiddos....



Getting all ready for the fireworks to start....


Nothing better than an otter-pop and fireworks....


Man, I love those two...

Father's Day!

Better late than never!

For Father's Day this year we took Ty out to dinner on the Saturday before Father's day and just hung-out as a family. Then on Sunday (Father's day), after church, Maclaine and I headed down to Tucson to spend some time with my dad.

Clainey and her prince at Olive Garden...


I felt torn because I wanted to celebrate the wonderful man I'm married to and the amazing father he is to Maclaine but I also wanted to celebrate my dad who never gets to actually spend the day with his girls now that we have husbands who are father's as well.

It's actually something I'm always feeling conflicted about. On Mother's day I want to spend special time with my mom and Granny and do something special for Ty's mom and my step-mom Lin but I'm also a mom so I kinda want to be selfish and celebrate the day with my daughter. Then Father's day rolls around and my very unselfish husband who never expects anything and tells me that "it's just a made-up holiday by Hallmark" and not to worry about him, encourages me to spend the quality time with my dad. Of course I'm thrilled about that but I also feel, well, torn.

I feel very blessed to have a loving father in my life who I know loves me and adores his grand kids, and to be married to a man who loves his daughter to pieces and is Maclaine's prince charming.

So, that being said, Maclaine and I had a wonderful time spending the night in Tucson eating a yummy dinner prepared by Lin, swimming, having water fights with Liam and just enjoying each others company.

Clainey and her papa Fred...


Maclaine and her cousin Liam...




Water fight...


"Oh yea, baby! What do you have to say about that...?"


She's very proud of herself right here...


YUM, drumsticks for dessert...


Liam and papa Fred...


"I love you Daddy and Papa Fred..."

Kansas!

One of my oldest, dearest friends, Bernice, moved to Kansas with her husband Ed and daughter Mady a year ago. We were all so sad to see her leave but with all the new technology we were able to keep in touch on a regular basis. To be quite honest, I think I talked more on the phone with her when she moved then I did when she lived down the street.

When I found out Bernice was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple months ago, it hit me pretty hard. I got off the phone with her, shed some tears, received a hug from my husband, and decided that it was time for me to buck-up and do something. In a situation like that knowing what to "do" is the hard part. First, I spent some time praying...lots of praying. Then, I contacted our group of friends and we decided we would put a care package together so that when she was having her procedure done she would have some goodies to remind her that we were thinking of her constantly. Then, I talked to Ty about going out to Kansas to do whatever it was I needed to do. At that point, I wasn't sure if I would be going out to help her recover physically or mentally, I just wanted to get out there!

Plans were made, I put my "big-girl" panties on, waved good-bye to my awesome husband and sweet little girl and I got on a plane all by myself. By the time I got there Bernice was healing-up wonderfully and we were able to spend some quality time together having fun and laughing. I was thrilled to be the first one to arrive and be able to spend some alone time with her for a day. Then Kristi drove in from Texas to hang out with us for a few days. It was so great seeing Kristi, she had moved away probably 15 years ago so we had so much to catch-up on. Then, Jenni and her two kids and two of Bernice's nephews flew in from Arizona. Jenni and her daughter Abby got off the plane and had the stomach flu so they were pretty much quarantined for 24 hours while we tried to keep all the other kiddos busy. By the next day they were feeling better and we were able to hang-out and reminisce a little.

It was so much fun visiting with everyone and touring the beautiful green country of Wichita. I got to see so many gorgeous homes and wildlife...which is crazy for this Arizona native! I saw deer, dead and alive, a skunk, a mountain lion creature, a raccoon, rabbits, squirrels and of course fireflies, the kids had so much fun catching fireflies.

I will forever remember this trip and the memories made!

B, me, and Kristi....


Bernice and Ed's beautiful home...


Can you tell we had loads of fun playing cards...


"Who's that scary chic....?"


"You big faker..."


Hee, hee....


"Where's Kristi....?"


Arizonans arriving...


Hanging out at a fun Amazing Jakes type place....




Ed and Bernice....


Kristi, Bernice, Jenni and me at the country club....



Kristi has to head home, it was sad saying goodbye to her....


We're at a yummy hamburger joint called Timbuktwo...


Me and Jenni on the golf course Bernice lives on....


I'm showing the kiddos I still have it, yep, I can still do cartwheels...ouch!


Beauty!