In Memory of Cougar.

We found it odd yesterday morning when Cougar wasn't out on the porch waiting to be fed.  Her blanket was empty.  But we didn't think too much of it while we readied ourselves for church and then piled into the car.  But just as we were pulling out, Patrick stopped the car, looking in his rearview mirror.  "Oh my goodness!"  And I worriedly asked, "What?"

He backed up the car and there she was, laying in the road.

We pulled back into our driveway, and I walked back to the house to get a box.  The sobs came uncontrollably.

But as we drove to church with me still crying, Tate said, in his little angelic voice, "It's okay Mommy.  Kitty's in the celestial kingdom now with Heavenly Father and Jesus."  Oh to have the pure and perfect perspective of a child.

Later that day we had a funeral service for our sweet friend, sang a song, and a said a prayer.

During dinner we spoke of our favorite memories with Cougar.  She wasn't with us long, but just long enough to wrap herself around our hearts.  She was practically Tate's best friend.  He perhaps spent the most time holding and cuddling and playing with her.  And I loved her so much.  But Patrick perhaps was most changed by her.  Before Cougar, Patrick didn't much care for cats.  But inviting a kitten into our circle changed his mind.  She easily found a place in his heart.  He told me with tears in his eyes that he kept thinking about Cougar and missing her.  He loved her too.

After dinner we piled into the car again and drove to a friend's house to pick out another kitten.  She's been asking us to take one and we were considering getting a second cat when we moved.  Patrick thought it might help if we could fill the void quickly.  We watched the little kittens from the kitchen window and promised to take the little white one {or even the gray} in three weeks when we move.  And I'm so excited, but also apprehensive.  Because I don't know if I will be able to love another cat as much as I did Cougar.  I know she was just a cat, but she was my dear friend and we will always miss her.

Cougar & Tate

Because of this little friendship, Tate gets most of his squeezes and hugs out of his system, which makes Maylie (and all the rest of us) much happier.

We got Cougar fixed two weeks ago and they clipped her ear because of the "feral cat voucher" we had.  It made me so sad.

{Adorable tail}

She is the sweetest, most gentle cat I have ever owned.  She starts purring the minute she sees us and lets the boys maul her around, push her in the stroller and wagon, and even carry her by the neck.  She spends her days chasing bugs and bumblebees and her nights sleeping in the folds of the big blue quilt we laid out for her on the porch.

We love our little Cougar.

Back-to-School Feast 2012

Can it be?  Easton has really started school and is loving every minute of it.  Each night before he goes to bed, he lays out his clothes in a neat little line in the order of how he will put them on the next day: underwear, shorts, shirt, socks, shoes, and backpack.  But I'm getting ahead of myself....

Monday was a taxingly busy day.  We had a back-to-school party and so I spent most of the day making preparations for the evenings activities...and dodging a mouse.  He scared me half to death when I walked in the kitchen and he darted under the dishwasher.  I didn't even know what to do.  I thought we were done with mice in our last abode.  But alas, the mouse hunt began again.  Later, as we were doing the dishes and I was explaining what had happened to Patrick, the mouse came scampering out from under the fridge and ran right between my feet.  I screamed so loud that the mouse jumped inside the dishwasher, jumped back out, and ran under the dishwasher again.  So we set up 4 mouse traps all in a line in front of the dishwasher and left the house to get a cat.  When we came back a few hours later, the mouse was caught, and we had a new kitten which we affectionately named, Cougar...after our favorite BYU team...and because she's a golden color.

At dinner, Easton was the king of kindergarten and used "the golden plate" (and cup and bowl) for our feast.

This tradition of using the golden plate stems from my growing up days and we finally got a golden place setting (thank you Mom :)  We feasted on ham & bean soup and golden wheat rolls. 

 

While we were eating we had a lesson on David and Goliath and the boys opened a little present--5 small stones laced together to put in their special boxes.  The stones will remind them of the faith we must have in our Savior to face our challenges, and the testimony that Heavenly Father will always deliver us in some way from our trials.

After the mouse and kitten escapade was over, Easton tried on his clothes for the next day and did a fashion show for us while dancing to "Cello Wars."  I have it all on video. :)  Then right before bed we had gingersnap "Kissing Hand" cookies with milk while I read to my little sweeties one of my favorite books, "The Kissing Hand." Patrick and I each kissed one of Easton's hands and then he kissed ours in return.  The funny thing is, he had us kiss different sides...so when he puts his hands to his face to "feel our kisses," he looks rather silly.  He's darling and such a good boy.  I'm so blessed to be his mother.

And though we ran ourselves crazy, I felt that our back-to-school feast was a big success.  I can't wait for next year already!