SPCA

We enjoyed getting back to the SPCA this summer after not having been since January. We tried to get in for canine enrichment once a week and feline enrichment once a week. 

This sweet kitty, named Bunny, was born with a mild form of a condition in which she doesn't have a tail and hops on her back feet like a rabbit. She wore diapers in her crate. We were so happy to hear when she was adopted!

Bunny

Cricket

Cumulus

Layla

Nala

Pluto

Sugar

I get so used to having Owen with me walking dogs, that I miss his "roles" when I go by myself when he's out of town. I was particularly thankful when Sugar didn't respond when we saw this deer on the trail, just 10 feet away, while I was by myself!

 This cat, Muffin, was not comfortable being around people but did play when we stood at a distance. Owen read to her a few times. 

Sassy is such a smart girl! Check her out mastering this treat ball!

Willow's Mission Trip

 

Summer Fun (karate, baking day, playing in the rain, nerf armor, pool date, kitty cafe, ziplining)

Willow loves getting together with her friend Helena to have baking days. I love that they've kept in touch although Helena goes to a different school now. They always come up with some amazing products!

Willow played on a travel (local) basketball team over the summer. The coach really pushed them physically, which was good for her. The girls on the team really got along well so it was great to see her relaxed and enjoying her teammates. 

Learning how to make pancakes from the resident griddle-master!Owen helped weed in the backyard. Check out the before and after! (the vines on the tree trunks died a few days later)

The only cookies that Owen makes so far are from his Atlas Crate box (cookies from Australia) but we're happy when he makes them!

Check out who is writing about the Bills for Sports Illustrated!!We've been grateful to have Gramps and Gramma in Virginia for the past few years. We knew that Gramps would need more memory care over time, and that time came. Thankfully there was a great care facility that we all felt great about, and Gramps transitioned amazingly well! He's still come to church with us as well as coming over on Saturdays for a movie or college football. We like to call it the "resort" that he lives at now since they make all of his meals, wash his clothes, have "excursions" around town, etc. This is the display outside of his room:

Willow and I helped with VBS at church. Willow loves all the little kids!!Owen has started attending the kids AND adult classes at karate. About half of the adult class are black belts so it's good for him to see the best of the best. They get matched up randomly each time, so he's worked with each of them one-on-one at this point. The classes are definitely more serious, more physical, and a longer time frame...all good things for him!

He does still enjoy doing stuff like this in the kids class:

I was thankful to be at the CVS parking lot when our 2017 Pilot hit 100,000!

When they get along best:

I'm so thankful for my friend, Linda! She is always so easy to talk to, very welcoming, and shares her pool with us in exchange for cookies ;) She's an incredible gardener and even shared some perennials with me. Here's hoping they come back!!

A rare opportunity for her to practice diving head first!

Our trash (recycling) is his treasure (armor)!

Locked, loaded, and ready for battle!

A cat cafe opened up recently! You have to have reservations to go since they limit how many people can be in there at once, but we've been twice now, and it's so fun! There are soooo many cats! They just keep coming out of cabinets, around corners, down from towers, etc. They've already adopted out 100 cats!