Goodbye Friend

Just before Tylissa came home for Thanksgiving break her dear friend passed away, poor Chucky.  Tylissa knew when she went to school that she may not see him again.  We knew it would be soon, he was so old and he wasn't looking very good.  Each morning we would be surprised when he would come eat.

Tylissa picked out Chucky by herself before she was 2.  At the time friends of ours had two cats that both had kittens at the same time and each cat had eight kittens.  I still remember it.  Tylissa sitting in their living room covered in kittens.  She had kittens crawling everywhere and she just giggled the whole time.  She finally picked out her kitty and she has loved him ever since.   Chucky lived a good long life, he was about 17 years old.  It has been a little weird without a cat around here because Val and I have had a cat since we've been married.  Good thing we still have Maggie. 


Here is Tylissa and Chucky in March 1997 - she had just turned 2.  They grew up together and Chucky endured all the loving she gave him.  Chucky looks bigger than Tylissa.

I love this picture.  This is where Chucky would usually sleep.  Tylissa is about 3 1/2 in this picture.  

This is a repeat picture.  Kaylene made matching hats for Tylissa and Chucky for Christmas in 2008.  Chucky looks thrilled doesn't he?  Chucky became an outside cat but they were still bestest of friends.

Goodbye Chucky - you were a dear friend.  I am not sure what makes Tylissa more sad - missing you or the fact that she is growing up.  She is really missing not having a pet in her small dorm.  

The Great Hunt of '13

Val and Chad embarked on the great hunt of '13 over to Colstrip.  They had a great time and both were able to get a deer so we have lots of yummy meat in the freezer.   It is fun and Chad was able to shoot his first deer.  He shot it is the stomach which made it, as Chad says, very smelly when they had to clean it.  Chad loves to go to Colstrip . . . he loves the small town feel and playing with his cousins. 

The elk still eludes the mighty hunters but one year they may get one and we will need to get a bigger freezer but until then we are happy with the venison.

Chad loves to play around on the rocks.  

This will be the last year of the 10 day hunting trips because next year it will be harder for Chad to miss class since he will be in high school.   It will be interesting to see what the great hunt of '14 will be. 

Best Graduation Gift

After two and a half years I finally finished my bachelor's degree.  Note to all you young people . . . get your degree early because trying to get it while working full time, being in the primary presidency, and oh yeah - raising a family - was not easy.  Doable yes - but hard.  Get your education while your are young!

Anywhoo . . . when I finished I posted on Facebook to join me in a cartwheel.  So low and behold I get a great picture from Uncle Dave showing my dad doing his LAST cartwheel.   Then he sent me the whole process.  To hear dad tell it is so much better.  It has to with being upside down and then realizing that it was not a good idea.  Mom and Dad were vacationing in New Zealand but I love that even though they were so far away they celebrated with me.

You have to admit the take off looks pretty good.  The middle is a little scary.  The end, well . . . it wasn't the most graceful but he made it down without breaking anything and still smiling.  Whew!  Love you dad!