Happy Birthday, Kelley!

June 2011

Sweet baby girl

Our baby girl turns 24 today! Can you believe it? Kelley is such a passionate, creative, loving young woman. She inspires me daily to be a better person in so many ways. You are a blessing to us, Kell-Bell!

Glorious Summertime

One of the best parts about summer is the time I have with my girls. We have time to sit and have a complete conversation. Kelley and I have had more time together than Marie and I simply because she has had more free time. We've been able to spend time shopping at some of our favorite stores (JoAnn's, Target, and Sprouts) and planting as many flowering shrubs as we could find for our backyard! She has helped with D.C. and spent time with my parents and my neice, Shannon.

Still, Marie and I have managed to carve out time in her busy schedule for meaningful conversations, we've made a meal together and she has cooked for Ken and me (mmm, delicious salmon!). She turned me onto Covert Affairs, which is now one of my favorite TV shows. She has given me a facial at Massage Envy to start my school year off right--how sweet is that.

All in all, this has been a wonderful summer--from our trip to Cancun, to the time spent with the girls, little D.C., and my mom and dad. We have made some pretty terrific memories.

Little DC

Little DC was so sick this month with pancreatitis and we nearly lost him. He had a fever for several days and didn't eat for over a week. Thankfully, Woodcrest Veterinary Clinic took amazing care of him. He spent his days there receiving fluids and antibiotics and then came home to sleep. He ended up having surgery in the middle of his care to look for some underlying cause. All the while, Kelley and I spent our nights with him downstairs (slumber party---I don't think so!) to help him in any way.

Today, he is back home full-time, eating and drinking and being his silly, playful self (as playful as any dog is at ten years of age!). We knew he was on the mend on his first day home when he sat staring at the back door, waiting for his "daddy" (Ken) to get home from work. It is so good to have our baby boy back!

Thank you, Kelley, for all your help with our little man. You were there through every step of his illness and recovery and you propped me up when I needed encouragement. You will make a wonderful nurse one day!

Honestly, who knew you could love a dog so much?