Sasser-Frasser

11/19/95-4/9/09

Your story with our family started 10 1/2 years ago.

You were a gift to my husband-to-be. We had talked about getting a dog, and so I searched. I found you at the Humane Society in Muscatine. (Grammy was along, to see Daddy's reaction!) Three barks in my direction was all it took. You were ours.

I'm not getting down off this futon. Sit somewhere else.

Daddy was not quite thrilled the first time he saw you, sitting in my parents' living room. Here's how it went:

Daddy: What is that?
Mommy: It's a dog!
Daddy: I know it's a dog. Whose dog is it?
Mommy: It's your dog!
Daddy: ... No, it's not.

But you worked him over well. And since then, you have been the other woman in his life, and I have been fine with that.

You were such a loyal, SMART, sassy, funny, pushy, caring, stubborn dog, with a unique personality. And you were OURS--you made our family.

People always fell in love with you. If you wanted attention, you would walk up and flick an empty hand. If you wanted water or food, you would flip your food bowl until someone finally responded. If we started running a bath or even mentioned the word, you would hide. You would knock over the garbage can, and Tucker usually got the blame. You would drool for grapefruit. Only perform tricks for a treat.

Chase the cat. Let Tucker take your bed away in the middle of the night. Unmake Isabelle's bed during the day and lay in it. You knew if we were going on vacation or leaving the house without you. You loved to go on car rides, and stick your head all the way out the window.

Sweet Sassy.

Not a name I would have chosen, but a dog that I wouldn't have traded for the world.

Rest in peace, sweet girl. You've got a lot of love to spread around up there, and a lot of hands waiting to pet you.

Sibling Love

I could label about 1,000 posts with the words "Sibling Rivalry." So, I thought I would post a couple photos of Sibling Love! Please note that these photos were on two separate occasions!

In the photo above, the kids had earned popsicles because they worked together to pick up! Then Will offered to read to Gabi! AAAWWW....

Granted, this photo was taken at a birthday party (for Grandpa Valet) at Pizza Ranch, and they are probably euphoric on twist ice cream and dessert pizza. But the photo was captured nonetheless.

These two have come a long way in their relationship, and I think it will only get better. This fall will be a hard test when Gabi is off to kindergarten. We just might capture more moments like this one! :)

Foolin' around

Last year, it was the sushi made of Fruit Roll-Ups, Rice Krispie bars and candy. This year, it was fish sticks and cupcakes. But which was dessert and which was the meal?

April Fool's!

Mom found a recipe for a fun April Fool's meal at FamilyFun.com. It consisted of:

Meatloaf cupcakes (with dyed mashed potato "frosting") ...


... "fish sticks" made of wafer cookies, peanut butter and corn flakes, along with "peas and carrots" made of Runts lime candy and orange Tootsie Rolls (cut up) ...


... "mashed potatoes" made of vanilla ice cream and "gravy" made of butterscotch topping ...


... and "juice" (actually, Jell-O).



Here's how we made it ... and the kids' reaction.





We started April Fool's Day early by switching the kids around while they slept, putting them in each other's rooms. It would've worked had Gabi not woken up. ("Mom, I want MY bed!")

You're never safe if you live at our house.

Birthday flashback

We'd like to tell Mom HAPPY 33rd BIRTHDAY today!

She got some cool presents and an evening out without the kids. We had lots of fun ... almost as much fun as her casino-themed 30th birthday a few years ago.

Here's a birthday flashback to that time long ago, a more innocent time full of wonder and hope ... and slot machines. (And watch the first words out of Mom's mouth that were directed toward Dad: "Did you VACUUM?!?")





This year, Mom got this cool sign promoting Family Tyes, her tie-dye business. We'd like to say we painted it, but all the credit goes to Chris Boeve of Artworks here in Tipton. She did a great job.


Happy birthday, Mama Jama!

Round 3

Here we are! The happiest family on earth, at the happiest place on Earth!

Again we all had an amazing time! I have had a hard time trying to readjust to "normal" life! I will cry if you mention the words Walt, or Disney, or even World for that matter! So tread lightly!

But alas there are memories, and here are some that we would like to share!

Characters were EVERYWHERE this year!

Here are the children with Wendy and Peter Pan, right after we took a fantastic Fireworks Cruise! We got to enjoy the Wishes fireworks at Magic Kingdom on Mr.Smee's boat with Wendy. Captain Hooks boat had Peter Pan, and when the fireworks were all done, we got to meet Peter! We also played games with Wendy on our boat, and received a sword, pirate necklace, a message in a bottle, and a hook!

We had a great night! It all ended perfectly with not being able to get back to our hotel! SO the hunt was on for a bus....we eventually made it, maybe an hour of so later...but a memory nonetheless, especially with the super helpful employee at the Contemporary Resort!

The children getting to meet Captain Hook and Mr. Smee!

Pluto!

Mickey and Minnie Mouse! The children LOVED their mouse ears that they received as part of a gift basket from Uncle Chuck and Auntie Barb! The ears have their names embroidered on the back!

This was earlier in the day when we happened upon Wendy. The children got to have fun telling jokes with her, since there were not many other kids around! The kids told Wendy that they thought Captain Hook smelled like a cookie, and Wendy thought it was more like a Codfish...They all had a good time!

Okay, I need to go wipe my eyes, and continue with my W.D.W. Depression.
Send help!

Round 2

Official Mickey endorsement! Mickey loved the shirts,
and HAD to have his picture taken with me!

Adam, Kristyn, and T bone at the Magic Kingdom.
It really is Magic!

Daddy and the Kiddos at Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom! We had never been here before, and the kids loved running an exploring! There were some cool caves to go through too!

The kids loved meeting the different characters from the movies!
Here we have Jasmine, Aladdin, and Genie with the kids!

Happy kids, my favorite!

Round 1

We did it!
We made it to Disney World, and back!
Now we are working on getting all the photos on the computer, and ready to be displayed!


Below, we are on the bus with Grammy and Opa, getting ready for our exciting day!

Our first plane ride! We all loved it, and soon forgot that we were even on the plane.




MORE pictures to come!
Stay tuned!