Trouble with Pets

I'm beginning to wonder if I should ever be allowed to have pets, let alone children!!! We had another disaster with our hamster. For those of you who never heard the first story...sit back and enjoy!

Two summers ago, we had friends who had loads of baby gerbils. We decided to take two and Sugar and Spice became a part of our family. We played with them regularly and they were a lot of fun. We especially liked it when they played on their wheel. One day, Owen had his sweet little friend David over. Owen decided he and David would like to watch the gerbils on the wheel, so he asked me to put it in. So, I did what every good mother would do...I said yes and proceeded to remove the top of the cage to put the wheel in. While Owen and David stood watching carefully, I shut the cage and stood back to watch the kids giggle with amazement. To my horror...I realized that something was not right! It seemed that poor little Sugar tried to go up the tube while I was closing the cage....unfortunately...it mortally wounded him. While Owen screamed and I cried, his little friend stood there with his mouth open. I quickly removed Sugar out of the cage where he took his last breath in my hand. It was the first pet death that I had to deal with as the mom. Our pets always mysteriously "ran away", except for my cat Lucky...mom was supposed to put him inside at night when I was off at my aunt's house - instead she was scraping him off of the road the next morning - NO...I'm still not over it!!! Anyways...it was quite tramautic for all of us. We burried Sugar in the back yard and Emma put a cross over his grave. We eventually got Sugar Junior...and have gotten over the death of Sugar.

Well, this morning....I was awaken by screams of Emma yelling..."Mommy, Mommy, Nutmeg is hanging and bleeding...he's dying!" Of course she had two friends spending the night and they were witnesses to all of this. Poor Nutmeg had gotten tangled up in the fuzz from his nest, jumped off of his jungle gym...and got stuck hanging there. He must have thrashed and twisted all night long trying to get loose. By the time we found him, his little foot looked like it was just hanging on. It was horrible! We got him out and wrapped him in a wash cloth and held him. We were just waiting for him to die...but that little stinker is hanging on. He's eating and drinking and gimping around on his bum leg. I called the vet...just to see what they would say. Turns out...hamsters are exotic animals (ha! ha!) and we would have to drive over an hour to pay $120 just for him to be seen. Jonathan of course said he would make him a peg leg out of a dowel rod! How kind of him.

So, we cleaned his wound up - it's not quite as bad as first thought. He must have pulled all of the fur off, so it looks horrible. We put some neosporin on his boo boo and are hoping for the best! Geez...who would have thought rodents would be so much trouble! Keep Nutmeg in your thoughts! (and keep your pets away from us! :)

Emma's Birthday Party

Emma had her birthday party today at Wacky Bear. We met her friends at Cici's for pizza and then headed over to Wacky Bear to make stuffed animals. The girls had a great time, were very well behaved, and it was easy on the parents. Daddy made it home from Venezuela just in time for the party...thank goodness! Here are some pictures from today.

Owen and Pepaw

Owen and his "Crocky"
Maisie with "Meow, Meow" - she wouldn't put it down!

Logan made "Tiddie" - what he was really trying to call it was "Kitty", but the woman helping him had a hard time understanding him and she thought he said "Titty"! I almost died laughing!

The Birthday Girl - wearing her Steelers jersey proudly!

The whole gang!

Emma was the lucky one who got to add stuffing to the machine

How can she be turning ten?!

Boy...Connor needs to see a dentist!

Connor made his fire dog "Blammer" - so creative!

The girls eating pizza at Cici's.

Emma and her cow girl "Miss Milky" - what is wrong with my children?!

Logan and his giant head.

Finally...some Snow!

We finally got our first snow day! It wasn't much...but it was enough. Of course we had to head out first thing in the morning. After I dug out all of the snow boots and clothes from last year (brand new stuff that wasn't ever worn!) and stuffed my children into them, we headed out! Owen snow pants were about 3 inches too short and Emma looked like she was wearing flood pants. Emma lasted about 20 minutes and then went inside to talk on the phone. The boys and I had fun making snow balls and building a snowman. Jonathan had purchased snowball flingers so the boys had a blast with them. We enjoyed the day. Tomorrow was supposed to be a workday for teachers, but they have already canceled it. Ug! Oh well, I guess beggars can't be choosers!

I think this is my favorite project ever! Logan made this little snowman measuring stick at Ms. Beth and Christina's. Logan said his snowman was sad because there wasn't any snow! He was so excited this morning to get out and measure the snow!

He liked to pile the snow up so it looked like it was deep!

Welcome Marlee Nicole!

I hope Leanne (my cousin) doesn't mind...I am sharing a few pictures of the newest family member.

Marlee Nicole Beaghan

1/24/09

6 lbs. 10 oz.

18 1/2 inches

3:15 pm

Welcome to the family Marlee! I can't wait to meet you!

Pinewood Derby

Today was the big Pinewood Derby for Owen's Pack. His card did fine...he finished in 2nd or 3rd in many heats, but overall finished fifth. There was some stiff competition. I swear some of these dads have no life!!! Anyways, nobody in the family won, but we all had fun.

Owen's car in the second from the right - in the lead at first.Owen's car in second place.
Owen receiving his certificate of participation.

A little brotherly love!

Logan's car is the turquoise car on the far right.

Jonathan and Owen

Emma and her friend Amanda

All four of the finished cars

Change Has Come!

We were very excited to watch the inauguration today. We wanted the kids to recognize the importance of it all. I know they don't understand the magnitude of change...but they were excited to watch in on TV. We had to take a few pictures to be able to look back on this historical day. Here are a few of them:

Emma was a "bit" excited when Obama came out!

Owen had to have his picture in front of the TV as well.

*Note Logan doesn not have a picture in front of the TV...he was watching Spongebob!I couldn't resist the Jones' Soda-Orange you glad for a change Cola. Owen posing with the newspaper.
Emma reading the paper.Logan's turn!How do you like these cheesy t-shirts? Couldn't resist - this ones for you Nana and Pop!!!!!Woo Hoo! We love AMERICA!

Quote of the Day

Here is a quote from Logan:

He got some gift cards for Christmas to Wal mart, so yesterday, we went shopping. He had picked out a Star Wars toy and when we met up with Daddy in another part of the store, Jonathan asked him what he had picked. Logan's response..."My nose!" We laughed so hard...what a funny moment.