Wrestling

Teagan the kitty: A Christmas Story

About eight months ago, in April, Tony was moving across the country to St Paul to set up his CrossFit. He was bringing our kitty Teagan with him to keep him company while I finished up classes back in Utah. After a long drive, Tony made it the first leg of the trip to South Dakota, arriving at his Aunt Debs house around 2am. When he opened the door, Teagan promptly hopped out of the car and ran into the darkness. Tony was too tired to attempt a search right then, so he went in and went to sleep. The next day Teagan was nowhere to be found and Tony had to continue on to St Paul.

Fast forward to November.

Aunt Deb sent me a text saying they saw a cat on the deck, who she thought looked like Teagan and was wearing a collar. They dont see a lot of cats since they live in a somewhat country area, you know, big expanses of land where your neighbors are across the field rather than next door. So I told her to keep an eye out for her if she comes back around, but they didnt see her again since they have a couple dogs that I assume would bark and scare cats away.

Christmas time.

We go out to visit the family for Christmas and decide to take a look around the land for cats. After walking around for awhile yelling "KITTY KITTY HEEEERRRE KITTY" and looking weird, we settle back inside. On Christmas day, Tony comes through the door, telling me that he found Teagan on the neighbors barn and put her in the car. WHAT! Eight months after we lost her she turns up next door and just lets Tony pick her right up and cuddles on our laps.

I was a little nervous about bringing her home since for all I know she has been living in squalor as a barn cat eating mice and small birds. I looked her over, combed through her fur and she looks great! She is still nice a clean, maybe even a little more plump than when we left her. Maybe the neighbors have been looking after her. She and Oliver even rode home in the same car together with no incidents! They touched noses and sniffed and not even a bark (maybe a small hiss). She has been home with us for two days now and she is just regular old Teagan! The other cats dont really like her that much right now, but they generally just avoid each other, so nothing major has happened. I really can't believe it! It is great and Evie just LOOVES her. She meows at her trying to get Teagans attention and will bend down and put her face in Teagans and laugh. Teagan has been a champ about it all.

We are taking her to the vet this afternoon to get everything checked out (luckily we updated all of her shots just over a year ago so she should be good from the whole wilderness cat thing).

YAY!

I forgot to take some pics of Teagan, but here is Evie talking to Annie the cat.

Words!

I can put words on the blog again! I cant type on the blog from my phone, just upload videos. The plug for my laptop went out recently (the plug stop working? what? has anybody heard of this?) so I have not been able to get on a computer besides a snippet here and there on Tony's computer at the gym. Hence, I have only been blogging via video uploads from my phone. Maybe now I can leave stories and even some pictures because Tony got me a new laptop for christmas!!

While my other was still in working order, it was getting older and replacing the plug (we have already replaced it once) would cost like a hundred bucks anyway so here we are! On my new lap top! It is beautiful! It is shiny! There are no tiny fingerprint smudges on the screen! Best of all, there is a camera! Now I can skype my long lost family members (weeks have gone by, baby Henry must be walking by now, I am missing it all! but no longer.)

Also, I can leave awesome stories for everyone to read (Hi Grandpa Earley!) For instance, we celebrated Christmas a little early this year since we will be spending it in South Dakota. Santa came yesterday morning bright and early. We told Elijah that he had to sleep in his own bed ALL night in order for Santa to stop at our house and leave fun presents and treats. Lo and behold, at 730 am, the door creaks open and elijah shuffles into bed next to me with a big smile on his face. The kind where his eyebrows go up and his nose wrinkles. I asked if Santa came. "YEAH! SANTA CAME MAMA! He weeve preseeents!" It was so fun.

This is the first year he has started to grasp the 'santa' concept and we have been playing it up since Halloween. Any time he is naughty or throwing a fit, we just tell him that Santa wont come unless he his nice and listens. It has worked pretty well. Any chance it will work up until next christmas? Maybe we can do it again for the easter bunny.

Trains at the Botanic Gardens (and these boots are made for walking)

Christmas sing-a-long/Elijah rocks out

Prodigy

Elijah loses the staring contest

At the mall

We are excited to visit!

We couldn't wait until christmas

A leisurely stroll

The jump

Leaves are falling all around

 They make a carpet on the ground... I forget how the rest of that goes.  In this case however, its not a carpet, but a big fluffy pile to jump into.  Elijah and Evie would disappear when they jumped into it because it was so high.  Tony pulled out a step ladder so they could get a good angle for the jump.

 Tony tried to get in on the action, but was quickly butted out by those who wanted to jump.

 Elijah helped with the piling of the leaves

 And also the jumping-into of the leaves.

It is very beautiful here during the fall, the leaves on the street in front of the house are bright yellow and glow through the windows when the sun comes out.  I love it!  Now if we could get like a week of snow, then have it be spring, I'd be good.

Friends and karate

 When we visited VA a few weeks back, Elijah and Lizzie became pretty good buddies.  At least on Elijahs part, I don't know if Lizzie appreciated having a 3 year old around to take her toys as much as Elijah enjoyed playing with them.  But they had fun nonetheless.

 While we were there, we dropped in on a Karate class taught by Mary and Tim!  They even gave elijah his own karate uniform (which he wore as his Halloween outfit, I like to make the most out of things). He was less than impressed for the first few minutes, but quickly caught on when he realized that Lizzie participated so well!

 He tried a few kicks and a few exercises.  He still knows how to Hi-Yah! now that we are home.  In order for him to do it, he usually insists on having a piece of paper to kick so it makes the loud noise, like in class.

We get to go back to VA next month for an early Christmas and to see new baby Taylor whenever he or she decides to make an appearance (next week, I predict)  A very exciting time.  Maybe we will be able to do another karate class!

The Biz

 So in case you didnt know, Tony and I own Timberwolf Crossfit.  Things are going fairly well, people continue to come in and sign up and Tony loves being his own boss. The kids and I like heading over there during the day to hang out when he is not too busy and does not have any classes scheduled.

Whenever we get in the car Elijah asks if we are going to one of two places, Daddy's gym or the gwoswee (grocery) store.  Because those are basically the only places we go.  That and story time.
We are hoping for things to pick up a little more with the colder weather now and people referring friends to the gym.  After a few more things are worked out with the city and will the billing system, it should be pretty smooth sailing. 
New shirts and hoodies are coming in next week!  We got some in the kids' size so I will put up some pictures of them when they come in!

Autumn time

 The weather is permanently cooler now.  This means that Holiday season is in FULL SWING!  I am very excited to venture out into crowded shopping areas to search for the perfect gifts.  Also, I am excited to lay out decorations.  I mean, who can resist making paper turkeys out of little traced hands or one of my new favorites THIS. 
We kicked things off by warming things up around here.  Evie picked out her new long johns.

 We ventured out on some brisk fall walks.

 When we went to VA at the end of September, we went apple picking! Nothing says fall like more apples than you can possibly consume (Apple pie? Apple fritters?  Lets throw some apples on those pancakes..).

 Elijah was not so impressed with the idea.

 Jen helped to pick up some of the apple picker slack.

 And I just thought I would throw this one in.  The only pictures I got of G.Deb and Evie, Evie wouldn't take her finger out of her nose.  I keep trying to convince her this is not a 'pose' and that it is not the position that should be assumed when the camera comes out.

A Party

 I know this is late, but here are some pictures from Elijah's birthday party that we threw!  It was a little bit for me too, but mostly Elijah.
One present that he got was a little portable Thomas set.  He carries it around sometimes like a business man and his briefcase.

 Our friend Megan, who comes to the gym, just happens to be sort of a pastry chef.  SO we recruited her to make the cake!  Thank you, Megan!!  Even Tammy, who is not usually much of a cake fan, loved it.

 We had the party at the gym, because it had space.

 Evie was a little sneaky cake stealer.

 Megan also made a fruit tart for me!  The most delicious amazing berrylicious yummy fruit tart I have eaten.  Ever.

Long story short, Elijah is three.  And we plan on locking Megan in the basement, to churn out desserts for us whenever we please.

Jumping rope

One time Elijah and Lizzie borrowed my camera.

 and this is what happened.  (This happened when we visited VA last month and my sisters and I were in the church gym at an exercise class)