Poor Maggie

School starts at eight forty five this year, which is forty five minutes later than previous years. This has caused a bit of a problem for us. To help fill the extra time this morning, I asked the kids to go in their room and pick up all the dirty clothes off the floor.

A few minutes later, I heard a suspicious amount of laughter...
Poor Maggie!
August 2010

New Years Eve 2006

Tomorrow will mark the one month anniversary of Abbie's death. I still miss her, of course, but the acute phase of the grieving process is mostly behind me. I've only cried once in the last couple weeks but that was a doozy.

It happened last Saturday. The boys and I were shopping at Petsmart, and as usual, James was randomly running up to people and asking if he could pet their dogs. One lady had an American Eskimo that really didn't look much like Abbie. She was much smaller and her face was completely different. I didn't think anything of it until I reached down and petted her back.

Oh, she felt exactly like Abbie! It took me by surprise and I was completely overwhelmed by a sudden rush of emotion. I burst into tears, and then I had to explain why I was crying which only made it worse. Ryan gave me a big hug and I did eventually pull myself together. Still, both boys seemed a little nervous around me for the rest of the day.

School started Monday and James' first homework assignment was to bring three pictures to school. One was supposed to represent his favorite place. He told me that was Eaton Canyon and asked if I could find a picture of him there. With both boys looking over my shoulder, I put an old memory card in my laptop and pulled up some photos from December 2007.

This was the picture that opened first. Both boys tensed up instinctively. I think they thought I was going to burst into tears again. They shouldn't have worried. I like seeing old pictures of Abbie. They remind me all the good years we had together.

This particular group of photos was taken on New Year's Eve 2006. I think this was the first year we let the kids (try to) stay up until midnight.
Only one of the three Buxton men managed to ring in the New Year with me. Can you guess which one it was?
Not Seth. He was the first casualty. James made it a little longer, but by ten thirty he was all yawns.
By eleven o'clock he was out cold. When midnight came, it was just Ryan, Abbie and I who were awake to welcome 2007. Abbie and I rang in a lot of new years together, and I sure am glad I have pictures of at least one of them!December 2007

Third grade rules

The Great Pumpkin

Although best known for its giant zucchinis, the Buxton Family Garden has produced many different types of vegetables over the years. Back in 2005, it blessed us with this seventy two pound pumpkin!October 2005

I missed my calling

In my next life, I think I'm going to be a zucchini farmer.August 2010

Back to school

The new school year begins today.The kids have new clothes,
new backpacks,
and the same old bratty behavior!
August 2010

Elephant art

The Denver Zoo is undergoing major renovations. The construction is hidden by a temporary wall which is decorated with paintings by Mimi and Dolly, the Asian elephants.This one is entitled "Donkeysplat." I think James is trying to find the donkeys.
August 2010

Wild, Wild World of Animals

When I was a kid, I loved shows like Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and Wild, Wild World of Animals. I dreamed of going to Africa and working on a wildlife refuge. I still think that would be pretty cool, but I realize now that it's unlikely to happen.

Fortunately, I don't have to go all the way to Africa to see lions (or tigers or bears). Yesterday the kids and I took advantage of the cloudy morning and spent some time animal watching at the Denver Zoo.

The big cats were always my favorites, so it seems appropriate that the lion habitat is right next to the Zoo entrance.
It's wonderful to see them up close like that...
even if it is through a pane of glass!
Cheetahs were my childhood favorites and I still like them today.
The boys, however, were most in love with this baby California Sea Lion.
The capybarra is the world's largest rodent. I don't think this would fit in our rat cage.
I kind of wanted to steal the Arctic Fox.
And just for the record, I do not think Maggie looks like a hyena!

Of course, no zoo trip is complete without a long visit with the zebras.
August 2010

Dad's hat

A new picture of an old hat.And another.
August 2010

Dog hair

I know I will get over this eventually, but I still get sad each and every time I vacuum up another little fluff of white dog hair...

July highlights

July was a bad month, but of course it wasn't all bad. Here's a look at some of the happier moments.

The Fourth of July is always a favorite around here. The kids had a great time at the informal Oakland Street firework party.

Ryan, James and I went to a horse show at the Colorado Horse Park.

Probably I enjoyed that more than they did!Kristin and Nate joined us on a trip to Belleview Park where they explored the river and found a big water snake!
James fell in love with a pig at the petting zoo.
We also went to a Dragon Boat Race and Asian Festival at Sloan's Lake.
Looking back, it wasn't a completely terrible month... but I sure hope August will be a lot better!
July 2010

Rat birthday party

Yesterday we had a rat birthday party.The boys have been wanting to do this for several weeks. I kept putting them off because the idea of a rat birthday party seemed ridiculous. Yesterday, however, I changed my mind. July was such a bad month. Between the stress of Seth's unemployment and the sadness of Abbie's death, this hasn't been a very happy house. I decided they needed something fun and silly to celebrate.
We bought one piece of carrot cake at Safeway and divided it into three human sized portions and two rat sized portions. Ryan decorated a paper plate for his rat.
Seth wasn't here for the festivities (I'm sure he'll be so disappointed!). Maggie made an appearance, though.
Ryan watching Cinnamon eat.
Isn't she cute?!
Basil.
"Go away, Cinnamon. This is my cake!"
I could probably go the rest of my life without attending another rat birthday party, but the kids really enjoyed it so I'm glad I let them have their way. Now if I could just get them to help me scrub all the little rattie germs off my kitchen table!
August 2010