Dempsey

This is probably the saddest post I've ever written, as we lost our Boxer, Dempsey, last April.  Dempsey was originally Tim's dog, but then became Elena and Al's, and then once we moved in, Timmy and Tyler totally claimed him as theirs.  He was well loved and such a good, easy dog.  We knew that his time was coming and did a little photo shoot with the boys.  They got to say their goodbye's on his last evening as well, before he went to the vet, but we didn't tell them that he wouldn't be returning until later.  The boys handled the news pretty well.  The next day, Timmy told his whole class about Dempsey and that he had died.  His teachers let me know how sweetly Timmy spoke of him and said he didn't cry, but had them in tears.  Dempsey is still in our nightly prayers and the boys say they miss him often.  He will always be fondly remembered!

Christmas 2014

I'm officially on the last post for 2014: Christmas!  We went to Ohio the weekend before Christmas.  When we first got to Ohio we left the boys with my parents at Ron's, and Tim and I went out to have dinner and drinks with Darren and Erika.  It was such a nice visit, and the food was delicious!  The next day we went to our favorite Ohio place for watching the Redskins games, and the Shultz' all came to watch at least part of it with us!  Then we all went to Marleen's house for dinner and more visiting.

The next day we did some shopping and took Mom and Dad to the same restaurant Darren and Erika had taken us to!  Later we had dinner, visited, and opened presents with Dale, Paula, and M&M.

On Christmas Eve we attended church service at UCP, both boys chose to be shepherds this year.  I was pleased at how intently they paid attention to the service.

When we got home I started setting up cookies and milk for Santa, Timmy had the great idea to put out carrots for each reindeer and water for them, and Santa as well.

Then something really awesome happened while Timmy was getting ready for bed.


Poor Tyler was using the toilet when Timmy spotted Santa, luckily Tyler saw him on his way back up the pipestem!

On Christmas Morning we made the kiddos wait for us to go upstairs.  Timmy rushed up and checked to see how much Santa ate.  Tyler was dragging, he was not feeling very well.  They both waited, reasonably patiently, for Uncle Chris to arrive before starting to open gifts.

After presents and a delicious breakfast we went to Tim and Susan's.  The pictures do not show the extent of wrapping paper strewn about!

After present opening, Jenny and family went to see the Hedges, and Tyler and I went home for a nap!  We rallied in time to get back to Tim and Susan's for a delicious Christmas dinner.

The evening of December 26th, Mom and Dad arrived at our house from Ohio, and Joe came over too to open gifts.  (Tyler had been napping on the recliner before they arrived, but was wide awake within moments!)

The next day, we went to see VT play in the Military Bowl in Maryland, as part of our Christmas gift from my parents.  It was a wonderful Christmas!

Summer Vacation - Ormond Beach

The next day we headed for Ormond Beach, and Mom and Grandma came with us as well.  Ormond Beach was beautiful, with fairly calm water and white sand.  Our hotel was perfect for us, beach front with a private pool that had a lazy river and water slide!  We spent the first day bouncing between the ocean and the pool.  Later we went to dinner at a place with all you can eat crab legs!

Timmy playing paparazzi, and Tyler so over it!

So, Timmy turned the camera on himself, there are a lot more of these!

While pulling his beach toys on the boogie board he jerked it a little too hard and the toys fell over and off., then I heard Tyler's first curse word, "Shit." !!!  Luckily it's the only one I've heard out of him!

The next day was more of the same, floating around the lazy river and splashing in the waves!  Timmy loved boogie boarding again this trip.  Tyler reluctantly took a few little rides too.  He got to be comfortable with us holding him in the ocean, but he preferred being in the sand, and Baba was happy to entertain him there.  That evening we went mini-golfing.  We hadn't been since Timmy was about Tyler's age.  Timmy was pretty good!  Tyler understood the concept, but he would hit it, then run and pick it up and put it right next to the hole to hit it again.  Luckily, Timmy just laughed about it and wasn't worried about Tyler's score.

Look at these Beach Bums! I am still in love with their outfits from this outing!

I just could not get enough of these tan cheeked cuties!

More of the same on our third day, except it was Baba and M&M's last day with us, and just about when they were leaving around lunch time, Grammy and PawPaw arrived!  (PawPaw was starting a week of work in Florida so they came a day early to hang out!)  We spent the morning in the Ocean and building a sand castle with Baba.  Around lunch time we headed back to the pool, and Grammy and PawPaw showed up shortly after.  Later that afternoon we took our good camera down to the beach.  We went out for another nice dinner that evening.  It was the perfect way to wrap up a great vacation!

The water was calm enough that Tyler floated in the Ocean on his own a little and swam between us!

Timmy's happy place is fighting with waves.