Audrey and I were at the grocery store this weekend. She sat in the cart, which I parked next to a basket of dollar toys, while I searched nearby for something from our list.

(Looks quite pensive) Mommy, are those toys for bad kids?

Um, no.

Well, daddy said they are for the bad kids. The bad kids get those.

I could not stop laughing. Audrey learned the truth and will not soon forget it. Busted, daddy!

For Aunt Christy

Audrey had soooo much fun making this for Aunt Christy! Such a ham!

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful fourth Mother's Day with Audrey. Eric held down the fort while I got to sleep in a bit, and then Audrey greeted me with a nice hug and kiss and a 'Happy Mother's Day!' before showing me the gift wrap she designed. She later said without prompting how much she loved me! Priceless. We headed out for a nice brunch, and Eric and I enjoyed the nice, quiet meal as Audrey inhaled her oatmeal and pancakes. We later enjoyed dinner in after some fun on the swingset. Audrey even pushed me on the swing for a bit! I had forgotten just how much fun it is! It was my turn to read to her and say prayers, and we sang our traditional, 'Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes'.

My little girl, who wore her Cubs pajamas to bed, then ended Mother's Day with the following.
Mommy, we shout "Go, Cubs, Go", right?

Well, I don't like the Cubs, so no, I don't. I like the Cardinals.

With a very serious look, she answers: Well, that's okay, mommy. We're all wrong sometimes.

By next year, Audrey will fully understand baseball standings. And that will indeed always sway her to the right side...

I think this picture can describe better than I just how excited Audrey was about her Easter weekend visit from Uncles T and J...

Happy Easter!

Audrey had a great Easter despite it raining buckets all day. She loved the egg hunting, egg decorating, chocolate eating, and jellybean choosing. Her poor chocolate bunny - she insisted she eat the head yesterday and the butt today! She loved looking thru her Easter basket and wearing her bunny ears (thanks, Aunt C!). I think we'll need a full year to recover!

Blowing Kisses Up To Heaven

I am constantly amazed by Audrey.

We began talking with Audrey about a week ago about Frisbee going up to heaven soon. She struggled to remember that word - often using "healthen" instead, but we knew what she meant. I wasn't sure how much she would talk about it, but it become a frequent topic of conversation, as was Fris' declining health. Eric did such a great job of talking with her about all living things eventually dying - trees, people, animals - but not things like houses - and of course her curiosity grew.

So, will Frisbee fly up to heaven?

Does heaven have food? (Yes, and God cooks!)

Does heaven have dog food? (Yes.) Well when I go to heaven I want to try dog food!

And when Frisbee goes to heaven, she will wake up and be happy?

Eric also did a fabulous job of helping Audrey to understand that she wouldn't be able to play with her outside, or give her kisses, or hug her after she was in heaven.

When I knew that it was time for Fris to head to heaven, I let Audrey know.

And, so I won't be able to give her kisses anymore? (No, no more kisses.)

But, I can blow her kisses up to heaven! We can blow her kisses!

I am constantly amazed by Audrey.

I told her this morning that we would be blowing kisses up to heaven tonight, and every night. And that we would go out to the porch each night to blow these kisses to the sky.

Even in the rain? (Yes, even in the rain.)

But, I thought later - no, not in the rain! Our Fris - the dog who would dig her heels in at the sight of even a sprinkler a half mile away - would have blown kisses from anywhere but outside in the rain. So, no, from inside on rainy days.

And so every night, we will blow kisses up to heaven for our friend. Inside or outside. This beautiful red head with the softest coat and a knick of unknown origin in her right ear. Who we met in 2004 at the Humane Society. Dog #68. Whose BFFs were leash and seatbelt. Who developed a love for snow. With an inherent love of peanut butter. Who got into trouble on more than one occasion for her love of eggnog with brandy. Who rode for hours in a hot car while escaping a hurricane (and didn't laugh at us when we put a seatbelt on her in the car driving 1 mph). Who was photographed with us at our wedding. Who moved with us to Indy. Who was an integral part of my ultimately quite complex series of superstitious behaviors which landed a Word Championship for the Cardinals in 2006. Who was the first to know about us expecting an Audrey. Who slept between Eric and I every night (always creeping into Eric's space but leaving me plenty of room). Who always waited for me to rouse in the morning. And would then wait to head downstairs until I was ready for the day. Whose genetic testing revealed she was related to a long line of Heinz 57's. And who was sent to heaven with a bit of baby food on her ear.

Yes, we miss Fris dearly. And would like her back with all our hearts. But this amazing dog taught us so much about unconditional love. And has paved the way for our other redhead's inevitable lifelong love of dogs. And we couldn't have asked for anything more.

Audrey is a bit under the weather, and I gave her Benadryl tonight before bed. An hour later, she was still awake, talking, singing. I went in her room a little later and told her that she needed to close her peepers and that most close their peepers without problem after given that medication.

Very serious look from Audrey:

Um, mommy, I only close my peepers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and today is Friday.