Chloe, and a Little Bit of Jack

Chloe, up close and personal.
She loves to be up close and personal.
She loves Andy best, but she will cuddle with all of us.
She is a happy little thing.
She was very sad and didn't want to eat when she first arrived.
She is fine with eating now!
Her brother Jack, below on the left, left for California.
I am not really sure that she noticed he was gone.
He liked to be right next to her.
She wants people love most.
We are all enjoying having her.
I think she helps all of us feel a little bit better.

Try to Not Smile

A few photos from the holiday party in Natalie's class. Her friends are Sarayu, Myka, and Chaarvi. Chaarvi is her friend from Faith Montessori.

Chloe is Adjusting Well

Chloe, my mom's pug is doing well.

Her brother Jack is on a road trip to California.

She adores Andy.

She loves to sleep right where she is this photo.

Target

 I suppose my kids have inherited my love of Target.

I

okay

We are okay.

We are keeping busy.

Of course, there is much to do.

Brian and Brian just left.

Brian D is way more efficient at cleaning out my mom's house than my brother and I.

Every time we open a drawer, a box, and envelope, we find memories.

I feel lost and like I have forgotten to do something.

It hasn't even been a month yet.

I'm still not sure this is real.

A Few Photos

Trying to keep things semi-normal, really for the kids.
The photo above is of Natalie and Chloe.
She will now be living with us.
She has been sad, insecure and not really eating.
Poor puppy.

So confused, so hard, and so, so sad

My mom passed away on Monday night.

It was very late.

I didn't even find out until 5:30 AM when I got in the car to go to the gym.

The doctor says it was fast.

We are all left behind with many questions.

My mom has been in many ways one of the biggest parts of my life always.

We talked almost every day.

She moved down here a few years ago.

The kids were very close to her.

They are heartbroken.

Natalie was supposed to go to Portland this summer with her, much like Meagan went to Utah last year.

My awesome brother-in-law Brian D said he would take her.

She went to all the events at the kids' schools.

The principal even knew her.

But really, everyone knew my mom.

That is the message we keep on hearing.

"Your mom never knew a stranger" and "Your mom meant so much to me."

She touched many lives.

On Wednesday, my whole family was in town.

Steve, Jean, Julie, Rich, Becky, Marilyn, Brian, Brian, and Brian (yes.  There are three Brians), Jan, Peter, Mary, Sandi, Bob.

Everyone that my mom would have loved to see.

Julie flew back after 36 hours in Hawaii.  Peter and Mary drove all the way from Denver.

People have been so generous.

My heart is touched.

At the funeral all of her friends from Cedar Valley told me how much they loved her.

She felt that Cedar Valley was her extra family.

Meanwhile, we are all very confused.

It is unfair and unfinished.

Not sure when we will understand.

We are all going to miss her.