Wow...it's been too long yet again!

We are now in mid July, the day before Josey's 11th birthday. Can you believe it?? 11!!! Going on 16 I must add. First year we are taking her shopping for her birthday instead of buying her something ahead of time...feels weird, but we just want our "baby" girl happy :) I mention that my little girl is turning 11...but by her 12th birthday I'm sure I'll be looking up at her. Yes, she's a little bit less than a 1/2 inch shorter than me and is only 1 shoe size away. Again....WOW!! Heading into middle school in a couple months, dancing up a storm at camps, getting ready for 2 ballet classes and the youth ballet (Nutcracker again in December) and she's going to starting voice lessons next week. Singing a solo in her class concert and also singing in two talent shows recently, she loves to sing and we love to listen to her. So proud of our girl!

Josey in the Cinderella ballet, she was #12, on the right. She was also a mouse.

Kenny is doing great! He is also getting taller and has loved going to football camp and also church camp on Wednesdays. He & Josey also got to attend a camp near Ken and staying with him for a week at the trailer. He is enjoying the summer and hanging out with his other daycare friends. Daddy put some training wheels on and now Kenny is actually even wanting to attempt riding his bike. Still trying to get those off, but he's trying!

Ken is still "living" in Clarkston for work. We visit him as often as we can and he comes home when I need help around the house, we have an event or he just wants a a nice long shower...trailer showers just aren't the same. We miss him, but it makes us enjoy the time we have together. We had a wonderful weekend at the Riverwalk Festival in Lowell. Fireworks, Kids carnival and shopping on Saturday. Then a family water gun/hose fight on Sunday. Fun!!

For those of you that have not heard, we lost our oldest "child", Russ. Our beautiful golden retriever that would have been 13 this month. A tumor that took over his internal organs was what caused it. Making the decision was the hardest thing our family has had to make in our lives together. He sure has left a large hole. What a wonderful friend he was. At least the last weekend we had with him was at Higgins Lake and he was able to enjoy the water and the beach he loved so much.

Saje, our mighty hunting girl, had to have some doggy x-rays this week. Unfortunately, the depression and lack of exercise since losing Russ has caused some tightening of her joints. She had an old injury, an ACL tear. Now she is limping and the x-rays show that she has had a mild case of hip diplasia all along as is evidenced by the amount of arthritis in her hips and now in her knees. Well, we have decided to give her pain medicine and doggy chews that help with joint pain for now to see how she does. Surgery is not out of the question yet, but we want to see how adjusting her diet and medicine works first.

Dog number 3...yes, you read that right. A couple of months before Russ passed away, we got a new "puppy". His birth name is Wakes Up Laughing and his nickname is Joker. He was 18 months when we got him. He is an English Bulldog, Ken finally got his dream dog! He is a big sweety.

I'll try not to wait too long to post again. But life has had other priorities. With Ken working out of town, my working full-time, taking care of the inside and the outside of the house, and my favorite part....completely loving my kids and taking them everywhere they need to go has made for a busy life.

Thanks for taking the time to read about the family I'm so proud of.