Mom on the go in Holy Toledo

McDonald’s Clubhouse, date night destination? (and Giveaway)

March 26, 2014April 2, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

Date Night. What comes to mind when I hear those two words? Date night to me means, momma having to do lots of cleaning/prep work, disagreements, too much money, and guilt all for a few measly hours away from home. And the final words that come to mind when I hear date night, not worth it! Sad, but true!

Cleaning and Prep work….

So this may come as a shock to some but my home is a mess, it is in constant motion. With an 8, 6, and 3 year old the tables, floors, and counters are constantly being cleaned off and then seconds later they are covered with play dough, Legos, Barbie’s, Art projects, etc. Thus, before a sitter enters the house momma has some cleaning to do, mostly de-cluttering (so at least the children can be located easily), vacuuming, etc. nothing to strenuous. But by the time I have finished cleaning, setting out the children’s PJs, and making certain everything is ready for the next morning the last thing I want to do is primp. I don’t want to shave my legs, put on a dress, and high heels. After running everyone around all day, walking through Costco (and lugging everything into the house), chasing down the dog, going up and down the steps with loads of laundry, and cleaning the house, putting my feet in high heels would be a form of torture, no thank you.

Disagreements over our destination….

What kind of food do WE have a taste for? Where do WE want to eat? I despise these questions. Why? Because WE can never come to an agreement! My husband is more of a meat and potatoes type of guy while I am more of a foodie. I want more gourmet cuisine. I am totally comfortable with a huge plate that has two bites of something on it, as long as those two bites are amazing. Meanwhile my husband would be complaining to the waiter and requesting, where is the rest of my food? Haha! You can see our predicament.

Too much money….

I must clarify; I am okay with a gourmet restaurant, within reason. The cost of a meal at some restaurants is ridiculous. Ever glanced through a menu, noted the prices, and then wished you would have eaten the rest of your 3 year olds Mac& Cheese back at home before your left? Darn that willpower! Maybe you’ll luck out and at least be able to lick the plate when you get home. So what do you do when the prices are too high? Why act like a lady of course, and order just a side salad. Besides, like mom always said, you can fill up on water and bread. Nothing says you worked your bum off today, catered to everyone’s needs, ran around like a mad momma let’s celebrate with water and bread. Maybe the hubs will be impressed with your practice of self-control…that is until that bread basket shows up. Lol!

Guilt…..

Have you ever walked out of a restaurant and immediately felt the weight of guilt pressing down on you due to the exasperating amount you just spent on two meals? That was only for two meals?? I mean seriously, that one meal alone could have covered a semester of Junior’s college tuition. Going out to eat remorse, totally not worth it!

The solution to this date night dilemma….

The Clubhouse! The Bacon Clubhouse at McDonald’s. I know what you’re thinking, ‘please, McDonald’s, that’s a fast-food restaurant, not a date night destination’. But that’s the thing; the Bacon Clubhouse doesn’t taste like fast-food. It tastes like a ‘fancy’ Bistro sandwich (don’t worry; it is still messy enough to qualify as a man-sandwich and satisfy the meat and potato guy).

You have a choice of beef or chicken (crispy or grilled) comes with caramelized grilled onions, applewood smoked bacon, big mac special sauce, white cheddar, crisp left lettuce, fresh tomato on an Artesian Roll. YUM!

You don’t have to shave your legs, wear high-heels, or really even get a sitter…you could totally have the kiddos sit at the next table over…or there is always drive-thru Haha! Now that’s my kind of date night, no cleaning, no primping, amazing food for a reasonable price, and quality time with my hubby. Sold!

Giveaway:
Calling all the local peeps! That means all followers who live in N. W. Ohio/ S. E. Michigan.
Northwest Ohio McDonalds and Mom on the go in Holy Toledo are giving away 3 Clubhouse Be Our Guest Cards (this way you can try all 3, beef, grilled chicken, and crispy chicken) or you could share, if you wish…got a date night coming up?
To Enter:
1 Like Mom on the go in Holy Toledo
2 Follow @McDonalds_NWOH
3 Simply post a comment stating which Bacon Clubhouse you are going to try first.
Winner will be randomly selected April 3rd @ 11:49am

Disclaimer: I attended a Bacon Clubhouse Sandwich tasting event and received Be our Guest Cards, no other compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.

Poop & Mud must be Spring!!

March 19, 2014March 19, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

If one more person asks me if I am happy because Spring starts tomorrow I am going to scream! Not because I am pessimistic but because I know that the ‘actual spring’, you know, with green grass, flowers blooming, etc. is weeks away. The reality is that I am going to be looking out my window at this for the next couple weeks.

A nice combination of mud, poop, random things that got left in the snow, mud shovel (as my son calls it now), old shutters (what?). Keeping it classy! Haha!

In fact I might be the only one hoping the weather dips below freezing so that it is easier to pick up the piles of poop sprawled across the yard. Seriously, that dog pooped in every square in of this backyard!

And the worst part of the warmer weather is the fact that the kids long to be outside. And they do go outside and have a great time. But then they come back in!

And my poor carpet! I just purchased a brand new area rug for our dining room that I absolutely adore. But between the muddy kids and the dog’s paw prints I am seriously considering rolling up all my area rugs and replacing them with shower curtain till the swamp in the backyard disappears. I am dead serious! And don’t get me started on laundry….wish I could get my hands on a few youth sized hazmat suits. And momma can forget about wearing those cute strappy sandals and flats for Spring, I will be rocking boots, muddy boot!

So, to sum it up, Spring in Northwest Ohio means….dirty mounds of snow and if you’re lucky some random trash that has accumulated over the past 4 months, wearing boots for a few more weeks, washing lots of laundry, mopping floors, YELLING “take off your gosh darn shoes” as kids trail mud and poop on your new area rug, lots of ‘hat days’ because it rains in order to make, what else, more mud!!

Thus, no, I am not elated with joy because Spring starts tomorrow. In fact I feel like I should be training for the long haul of washing the dog, kids, clothes, floors. Rinse. Repeat. Haha!

So, what does Spring mean to you? Can you relate? Have any tips or tricks for tackling the mud issue?

Wholesome, Flavorful, & Kid-friendly Meals (includes coupons & recipes!)

March 15, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

When I hear the word Campbell’s my mind goes back to a simpler time. A time when the biggest decision of the day was what type of cereal I should have for breakfast. When my day would consist of play and not coming home till the street light came on, when there were no iPhones, emails to check, or bills to pay. When I hear the word Campbell’s I think of childhood and warm tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches, warm cheesy chicken casseroles, etc. Campbell’s was definitely a staple in my childhood, one that brings back warm, comforting memories. Now I am mom and I have a whole new appreciation for Campbell’s.

Now I am the one picking up and dropping of children at school, friends’ houses, and extracurricular activities. I am the one tending to the household, laundry, helping with homework, and doing the grocery shopping. And this generation of moms has additional items on their daily ‘to do’ list, now there are emails that need to be checked, texts that need to be returned, Facebook messages that need to be addressed, etc. which doesn’t leave mom much time to prepare and cook a homemade meal. So what’s the alternative? Is fast-food the only option for busy on the go moms? Do we have to compromise our families health inorder to meet the demands of our busy schedules? No!

I have found a way to provide my family with wholesome homemade meals without having to clear my schedule for 3 hours in the afternoon or attain a culinary degree. My secret, Campbell’s. Campbell’s website offers a slew of recipes that are heart healthy and right at your finger tips. Perfect for us busy mommas who don’t have time to go threw a multitude of cookbooks or websites in search of the healthiest options. I also like the fact that the recipes are simple. I am not a fan of recipes that call for 20+ ingredients. I am more of a 12 or less ingredients type of gal. And my family loves the fact that all the meals are full of flavor (apparently in my pre-Campbell days my meals ‘lacked taste’ as my husband so eloquently put it). Here are a few of my families favorites and the best part, they are American Heart Association Certified recipes. Just click on the picture to be directed to the recipe. (You’re Welcome 🙂 ).

Thanks to Campbell’s even I, the girl who received a C in home economics (sad, but true), the mom who is always on the go, the family’s heart health advocate, can provide a wholesome meal that my family loves. Campbell’s and Motherhood, a match made in heaven.

For coupons and special savings on Campbell’s products CLICK HERE.

Between Campbell’s heart healthy recipes and our family staying active together via various family fun activities, such as hikes, dancing, swimming, etc. I can sleep better knowing I am doing the best for my family’s heart health.

So do tell, are you a Campbell’s mom too? What is your favorite recipe? Do you prefer the recipes with short ingredients or long exhausting recipe? How does your family stay heart healthy?

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Campbell Soup Company. All thoughts are my own.

Reasons #10, #9, & # 8

March 12, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

There are 101 reasons why 3 year olds rule and here are #10, #9, #8…….

We attended a Bowling Birthday Party this past weekend and I managed to capture the interaction, the joy, and pure beauty between our 3 year old and her friend. The images eloquently capture the essence of 3 in all its glory.

#10 Teamwork/Loves learning to work together….

The bowling ball was really heavy so they came up with the perfect solution, teamwork! Watching the two of them slowing carry the bowling ball to the wrong lane, then the correct lane, and discussing how to actually get the ball down the lane was priceless.

#9 Friendly…

After they got the ball down the alley they grabbed each other’s hands, it was so natural. It had me thinking about how many times in life I would like to be able to just grab someone’s hand and say, without any words, “I am hear for you, we will get through this together”.

I love the fact that children have such innocence, everyone is their friend. Why just the other day we were at Costco checking out and there was a little girl in the lane next to us. The girls instantly gravitated towards one another and started talking about their boots and favorite colors. You would have thought they were long lost friends but they had just met. How beautiful the 3 year old mind is, it hasn’t been tainted by what society deems acceptable. It instantly sees the similarities we each have rather than the differences.

# 8 Expressive….

After the ball rolled halfway down the alley she started celebrating! Mind you the ball hadn’t even reached the vicinity of the pins yet, but in her mind their endeavor was successful for they were able to get the ball to go down the correct lane together. And that called for celebration. When she celebrates she expresses her pure joy with her entire body.

How magnificent that at 3 years old we can see the small victories of everyday tasks and take pleasure in it. The question begs, when do we become so hard on ourselves? When do we lose finding the joy in the small victories?

Monster Jam Fun!

March 8, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

My most favorite thing to do on this planet is to enjoy new experiences as a family. And yesterday’s experience ranks in my top ten! Yesterday we had the opportunity to attend Monster Jam! But wait, it gets better. First we had Pizza in the Pits! The kiddos got to dig in the dirt, color, play, see the trucks up close, eat pizza and other yummy treats, and best of all, meet the drivers and get autographs!!

I have to be honest; the extent of my knowledge when it came to a Monster Trucks did not venture far beyond my son’s Hot Wheels trucks (which, on a SAHM budget doubles quite nicely as a back massage…just have them use your back as the track). So to see a Monster truck up close and actually look at all the workings was rather fascinating.

The massive size of the wheels was astonishing. I was in shock when the driver said a new tire, one tire, cost between $2,500 and $3,000. And I thought the tires for the Yukon were pricy!!

The kiddos were so excited when they met the drivers, especially our 6 year old. He became a little star struck when he asked for their autographs; I never realized the volume of his voice could go so low…now I know. Haha! He really enjoyed the experience, in fact all 3 of them did. I was a little unsure of how they would react to the actual Monster Jam.

After Pizza in the Pit we located our seats. One word, AMAZING! The seats were perfect! We had a nice view of everything and the best part; Grave Digger and Dragon Breath were parked just beneath us. Those were the kiddos’ favorites.
The show started with a rumble and to my astonishment our 3 year old loved it! I was concerned because she is deathly afraid of thunder or any loud noises and apparently the bond she had made with the trucks before the show was enough to squash any anxiety.

And then the highlight of the night occurred…..

Grave Digger flipped!! And with it all the kids!! Our son thought it was so awesome especially when they had to call in reinforcements to help flip it over.

And then our 3 year old lost it. She literally started crying because she thought the truck would be broken forever. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that our 3 year old little girl would be crying over a Monster truck. Nor did I ever think she would enjoy it so much.

We had such a wonderful time. It truly was fun for the entire family. The kiddos are already looking forward to going again! And in the meantime they are having fun recreating the event with their own Monster truck tracks, play-dough, and Monster trucks. Haha!

Have you ever been to a Monster Jam event? Have you seen a Monster truck up close? Are your kiddo’s fans of Monster trucks? Do you find those Hot Wheel ones all over the house?

Disclosure: I was given seats to Pizza in the Pit, tickets to Monster Jam, and kiddos received Hot Wheels Monster Jam Maximum deconstruction system, and other goodies. No other compensation was received, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Redirecting our Family’s Focus for Lent

March 4, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

I have been reading the book, Balancing it All, by Candace Cameron Bure for our playgroup’s book club. It has really brought some topics to light regarding family and what my influence is a parent and wife. It has had me reflecting on ways to redirect my family’s focus and I cannot think of a better time to employ positive change than during Lent.

Coming to the conclusion that I have been slacking as a mom was not easy to admit. Slacking how? Well, structure for one. 2014 has not started off well. With all the snow days and the uncertainty of what the week holds I have become too flexible, too lenient, and structure has fallen by the wayside. I have fallen into a horrible pattern of just doing things myself. Landry, dishes, cleaning rooms, emptying trash, etc. to the point of exhaustion. I had never worked so hard and yet, I was being a lazy mom. I haven’t been nurturing in the evening, I raise my voice more often than I would like to admit, and I have not been doing the things I enjoy doing with the children, like reading stories and saying the Rosary in the evening.Thus I have come to the conclusion that the following need to be implemented in order for our family to redirect our focus on what is truly important, growing together in faith.

I have narrowed it down to 3 main areas in our lives that distract us away from God and God’s plan for family: Stress, Screens, and Materialism.

1) Start our Mornings off right. Instead of the kids having breakfast alone while my husband showers and gets ready for work and I run around like a chicken with its head cut off in search of pants, clean underwear, homework, etc. Everyone will be responsible (with a little guidance from mom) for their own clothes, book bags, etc. the night before and we have breakfast together. The family table need not be limited to dinner. Why not start the day off together. Over breakfast I will be reading LENT FOR CHILDREN, A Thought a Day, by Family Feast and Feria. My hope is to then have a short discussion and end with a prayer.

2) Be accountable for Screen Time. We currently have four televisions in our home and a laptop. The television in the living room has the Wii, Netflix, and cable. The television in the basement is hooked up to a DVD for viewing movies. And the laptop has educational websites and games the children enjoy. Just the other day I realized that between video games, Netflix shows, educational websites, and girls watching a movie that we were each entertained by a screen for 5 hours straight!! It is embarrassing to have to admit but owning it is the first step. We will be eliminating cable. But let’s be honest, that isn’t the main culprit. Netflix, though amazing as it is, is very addicting. I mean who doesn’t long to know what happens in the next episode? You definitely need to have self control when it comes to Netflix. But sometimes that willpower doesn’t kick in naturally so, in order to limit screen time I have purchased a kitchen timer for each of the children and we will be implementing the 2 hours or less screen time chart. Each week the children will receive the chart and they will be held accountable for their daily screen time.

3) Stop being a slave to the stuff! I spend way too much time assisting the children with cleanup of their rooms and family room. I would rather be spending that time doing something fun with them/as a family. The problem is they simply have way to much stuff. More stuff than their little minds can process. No child needs 30 Barbie’s; in fact the most they could play with at one time is 2, maybe 3. They also have an exorbitant amount of books, some are even duplicated. What we don’t have is adequate storage or space for all the stuff. Thus the stuff has got to go! I would love to sell tickets for $25 to enter my house and take what you can carry then use the funds for a family vacation. Unfortunately the hubby wasn’t to keen on a bunch of strangers perusing through our home so the next option, downsize. All nicer items will be sold to a secondhand store (children could use that money for their rice bowls), other items will be donated, and some have simply seen better days. I also like the fact that through this process the children can learn what is truly important and it isn’t the stuff, it is the people, their relationships, and most importantly their relationship with God. It is hard to have a relationships with God when you are surrounded by so many distractions a.k.a. Legos, Barbie’s, Power Rangers, cars, princess, etc. would love to do what this mother did, and who knows once I get started we still might…Why I took My Kids Toys Away.

I will also be incorporating the activities on this site, 40 Ideas for 40 Days.

Does your family have Lenten practices? How do you redirect your focus during Lent? Please share.

Preparing for First Holy Communion

February 28, 2014May 3, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

2014 is a very exciting year in our household and more specifically in our 2^nd grader’s life. She will be receiving her first Holy Communion in the Spring. Why is the First Holy Communion so sacred? As she expressed, “it is the most special gift in the world, Jesus will be entering my heart”.

I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will not have life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him. As I, who am sent by the living Father, myself draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will draw life from me. This is the bread that came down from heaven; not like the bread that your ancestors ate; they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:48-58).

In preparation for the BIG day her Godmother offered to purchase her dress and veil. Which is a huge gift in itself but what was even better was the experience of going shopping for the gown and veil. I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit when my mother, sister (her Godmother), my daughter, and I spent the day together. The only thing that could have added to the experience was if my grandmother was with us. To have 4 generations together would have been amazing but I find comfort in knowing that she was with us in spirit.

Her eyes lit up when she walked into the fitting room and put on the first dress. Meanwhile my eyes started to tear up a little. It felt like just yesterday I was carefully removing her baptismal gown and now here I was helping her try on First Communion dresses. Where does the time go?

She has been preparing for this day for quite some time. She attends her catechism classes, Mass on Sundays, and the occasional daily Mass, we discuss the virtues and Saints in our Little Flower Girls’ Club but beyond that she has had an interest in the bible, the life of Jesus, and longing to grow closer to God. Which, if I am being 100% honest I have my mother to thank, and her mother, and all the past mothers in our lineage who have made faith a priority. It seems like with each generation the secular world has grown and infiltrated the home and family more and more. The invention of the telephone, television, computer, cell phones, iPads, etc. has brought on new challenges for families and at times temptations. Each generation has had to learn the importance of moderation and work though temptation. And my generation is no exception.

It was such a magical day. I wish every mother could experience what I did that day.

I know there are many people out there looking for something but they don’t know what it is…something to fill their hearts with joy. And they think they will find it in a fulfilling job, in a fun hobby, maybe in the way other’s make them feel, but they wont. That joy, that security, that peace, is found in faith. If it feels like their is something missing in your life look to your faith. Stop making excuses.

Note to busy parents,

I understand it is difficult to get to church, trust me I understand. You have had a busy week and the last thing you want to do is go to church in the morning. I know how much work it is because I do it. I get my kiddos ready, park the car, trail through the snow in freezing cold temperatures, drop off the younger 2 at the Good Shepherds program, head back out into the cold over to the church, and then attend Mass with my 2^nd grader. I do all that solo at least 52 times a year (not counting other days of obligation) And there are some mornings when I am literally in tears because I know that I have to be the one in charge again, I have to get everyone going again, morning 7! And I am tired, cold, and worn but once I get to church and hear God’s words, words that seem to have been spoken/ written specifically for me, my life, my current struggle, I am refreshed and ready for a new week. It is the getting there that the devil tempts me. He tempts me by focusing my attention on what isn’t important, what others are doing with their time. Why should I have to go to church when others are not? I worked hard all week too, why should they relax when I have to keep going? Then I am reminded of all Jesus gave for me. The fact that God has entrusted me with 3 little souls to nurture and guide, that isn’t something to be taken lightly. I don’t go to church for me. I don’t go to church for my children. I go to church because I do everything I do for the glory of the one who made me (totally a line from the Steven Curtis Chapman song) and he knows what’s best for me and my family and that means going to church.

Parents, making certain your child has a relationship with God has never been more difficult and yet more necessary than now. Please make the effort. You are stronger than you know.

Do you find it difficult to make it to church? What is holding you back? Or do you go religiously (no pun intended) and if so what motivates you?

Conversations with the Kiddos

February 21, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

They are right; kids do say the darndest things. While just this morning I found myself laughing out loud at the kiddo’s breakfast table conversations. The topics today were urinals, zombies, and My Little Ponies. Ha-ha! Our 6 year old totally grossed out the girls when he informed them what a urinal was…nothing like taking a bite of your Cheerios then hearing about how your brother pees on everyone else’s pee. Meanwhile our 3 year old was trying to convince our 6 year old that Zombies are so cute and sweet (I am pretty sure she has no idea what Zombies really are…and I am not correcting her). And our poor 8 year old just wanted to have, as she put it, a “normal” conversation. It was one of those mornings where I wish I would have charged the battery on the video camera…who needs Good Morning America when I have quality entertainment in my own kitchen. Ha-ha!

(I am all about finding the humor in the ordinary and keeping it real so I thought I would share a few pictures of a typical day around our house. Please note I have at least attempted to clean. The vacuum is visible. But more important things popped up, like a Ninja, a dancing purple and pink cat, and a princess…just a typical day)

Here are a few additional comments my kiddos made this week that had me laughing out loud.

Background info: My hubby went to a conference over the weekend and was given a lanyard with his name and information on it. He sat it on the dining room table when he got home that night. When our son woke up he requested that he speak with me in private. So we walked into the next room and he said…

“Mom, I don’t want you to get too nervous. Dad is in the CIA. I found his badge”. LOL!

Background info: Our son was acting like he was on his death bed (turned out to be a man/boy cold…ha-ha!) So we went to the doctors. When we pulled up there were two Taxis waiting out front. Upon seeing them my son expressed….

“Wow, they came all the way from New York!!”

I asked, “Why New York?”

“Because that is where all Taxi cabs come from”. LOL!

Background info: I was in the kitchen doing dishes and preparing dinner when my 3 year old came in with a piece of paper with ‘pretend’ writing on it. She looked at me with a very serious expression and declared…

“MOM, this contract doesn’t CUT IT!”

It was so random all I could do was LOL! To which she replied…

“BAD MOMMY!” and walked out of the room. No more Shark Tank for her, ha-ha!

So what have your kiddos said that had you laughing out loud? Does a typical day around your home resemble ours? Did you ever get around to vacuuming this week or did more important things pop up?

Toledo Zoo = Winter Fun!

February 16, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

We had originally planned on just going to the zoo for an hour or two since it was so cold. The high for the day was only 23. But surprisingly thanks to our warm clothing, the sun, and plenty of heated buildings to pop in and out of we ended up staying for 5 hours! I was shocked when I glanced at the time.

We had such a wonderful time. The animals were so active in the cold weather and we had the opportunity to spend time in buildings that we would otherwise walk past on warmer days, like the reptile house. Here are the pics from our fun filled day at the Toledo Zoo…

We didn’t get a chance to see the gorillas or orangutans, which are my favorite so we will be going back! So, how do you decide what animals you will visit first at the zoo? What is your favorite animal at the zoo? Have you ever visited the zoo in the winter? Awesome, right!?

Lessons Learned through the Mourning Process

February 12, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

Well, our cat’s lifetime came to end Tuesday night. The children all petted her goodnight and went to bed. Then around 9pm she took her last breath with one of my hands on her head and the other on her paw. Surprisingly it wasn’t as unpleasant as I had anticipated.

I had read that most animals, specifically cats disappear when it is their time. But surprisingly she did the opposite. In fact she wanted to be in the family room with all of us that last evening. She mustered up as much energy as she could to get downstairs. I think she was comforted by the sounds of the family and she was able to lie near her companion, our dog.

It was fascinating to see how respectful he was to her. He would normally be sniffing her and irritating her but he just sat near her and was pleasant company.

Lessons learned through the Mourning Process…..

My husband is amazing…

I am so thankful for my husband. I think he had the most difficult task of all of us, he dropped her off at the Vet’s after she passed. He had to say the final goodbye and hand her over.

The children have compassion for one another…

Our 6 & 8 year olds tend to irritate one another at times. Why just the other day our 6 year old was trying to place his dirty underwear in his sister’s pillow case….classic sibling move, right!? With all the snow days lately the level of irritation has only increased and it had me concerned. But when I witnessed our 6 year old run into our 8 year olds arms and let out a huge yelp followed by many tears and the way she gave him a big hug and consoled him with comforting words I knew they would be okay. The image is burned to memory; it was so beautiful, so precious, and so genuine. I was comforted by the fact that if anything should ever happened to me or my husband the children will be there for each other. At that moment it felt like we, as parents, were definitely doing something right.

Every person and every child mourns differently….

Our daughter, the 8 year old, is comforted by conversations about the times she enjoyed with our cat. Our 3 year old enjoys seeing pictures of her, especially ones she is in with her.

Meanwhile our son prefers to express himself via Crayola…..

We are so fortunate….

It has been a crazy and highly emotional past week but we have learned much about each other. We know that Sable brought our family much joy and that she will be deeply missed. But we are thankful for the time we had together. We also know that there are others in this world who are deeply mourning the loss of loved ones and we are keeping all those souls in our prayers.

Need your suggestions….

The children have requested that we do something to remember Sable. For those of you who have lost a pet did you do anything special to remember them? Maybe you purchased something special to commemorate your pet? Did something as a family? Any suggests you have are greatly appreciated.