The Newest Addition

We lost our Claudia on July 31st. She was only about 10-11 months old. She was acting very lethargic for 2 days, so we decided to call the vet. We took her in and they did X-rays on her. They found a foreign object in her intestines. They immediately did surgery and left me in a panic. They told me they would call around 4pm to let us know how surgery went and if they would need to keep her overnight. My mom called about 30 minutes after I left the vet, crying. I knew there was bad news coming.... "They aren't able to save her. Her bowel is twisted and something is wrapped very tightly around it." My heart sank. They had called to ask for permission to put her down because there was literally nothing they could do. 

This was my sister's cat and her heart fell into a hundred pieces, completely devastated. She went with me to pick Claudia up. We couldn't hardly keep ourselves together. 

This was one of the last pictures we took of her. 

Sister and brother.

She always begged for my milk in the morning. 

Miss our snuggle time on her favorite blanket. Minis my Claudia... I love you sweet angel. 

Now to the title of this post..... Meet Kai. The little, needs-constant-attention, playful kitty. We love him dearly and are so glad he was brought into our family. He keeps Maverick attention and fights back unlike Claudia. 

The first cat I've seen lay in a magazine rack.

Pet me!

Taking a time out from playing.

There was something in the bottom of the boot that he was determined to get.

Hide and Seek... You hide and I'll count!

The school life is just killin' him!

Mackinac Island

Here in michigan there is an island that does not allow any cars except for emergency vehicles on it. We frequent here almost every summer. Bicycles are their way of transportation.. Oh and of course horses. Nolan and I took a trip with my dad and step mom in late August. 

Riding over the Mackinac Bridge. 

On the fairy to the island.

This is the bridge from the fairy ride.

Just checking into our room. Nolan found the Bible.. Love this man!

The island has a paved road around the entire perimeter and it is 8 miles. We attempted to do it, but found a different trail that was all dirt and very hilly! This was our first stop: Arch Rock. 

This was taken at a pit stop on the dirt trail. I was warn out and had to walk my bike up almost every hill!

This was also on our ride down the dirt trail. There was a spot Nolan found where he could look out and see the water.

So beautiful.

We made our way up into the island. This is the other side of Arch Rock. 

A nice, long, sweaty bike ride is not complete without a nice, cold, chocolate ice cream!

I believe this was taken from the bluffs.

Bike riding around the island.

There was even a pirate ship!

The Lone Star State

The second trip I took this summer was to Texas. My Uncle had a baby at the end if June and we got to meet her and visit with everyone else. It was so nice because the whole family made it. This is special because we don't all love in one state. 

Riding the escalator to check in!

Ready for take off... 

The Gaylord. This was the massive hotel we stayed in. There was a storm that rolled through one day and the hotel lost power... Very interesting!

So darn hot there... 106 degrees! It was very hard to lay out for any period of time due to the heat, so we spent most of the time in the pool.

Breakfast one morning inside the hotel.

This was in front of a fountain in the hotel. 

Madison and I in the arcade.

The new precious addition... Ms. Caroline.

Another spot inside the hotel.

Rangers Stadium

Cowboys Stadium

We got to visit for a short time with our good friends that transferred here. 

Olivia's birthday celebration! Big 2!

The whole family!

This girl loves to twirl her hair just like me.

Little Caroline was baptized while we were 

Just root beer, but it cracked me up. 

Missing that family so much. Can't wait to see them again.