A Boys Best Friend

Back when Tanner was just past 3, he was so ready to be out of diapers, but just wouldn't. I decided bribing was in order. I told him he could pick. He wanted a kitten, but not just ANY kitten, he wanted an orange kitten. I explained to him that we couldn't have a kitten because we lived in the city and so the kitty would have to be an inside part of the time (if not all the time) kitty and his daddy was allergic to cats. He insisted that that was all he wanted, an orange kitty. I told him he had to ask his dad. HIS DAD SAID YES!!!!! (I asked him if I had to remind him he was allergic?!) So it was agreed, he could get an orange kitty when he didn't wear diapers anymore.

So being a Sunday night, I said, "OK. You can wear a diaper to bed, but in the morning, you are going to the bathroom and then wearing big boy underwear all day. You aren't going to wear diapers during the day anymore. But you can wear one to bed if you want." He wore big boy underwear all day that whole week. He wore a diaper at night. The next Sunday night I told him, "You are done wearing diapers. This is the last night for a diaper. In the morning when you put on your underwear, you are wearing it all day AND wearing it to bed." That was the last diaper he ever wore. Now we had to find an orange kitty.

Now, normally there are orange kittens everywhere. I figured it would be no problem to find one for him. We looked for about 3-4 months, and not one orange kitten to be found. I thought, "Are you kidding me?" Every day Tanner asked when we were going to find his kitty. In July Gary saw an ad in the paper and called. No orange kittens. We went to look anyway since it was only a few blocks away. Tanner saw a white with gray patches one that he held and played with. We asked him if that was the one he wanted, and he said no, he wanted an orange one. So we left. About half way back to our house he started crying and said, "We need to go back and get my kitty." Me, "You said you wanted an orange one." "No! That one is my kitty! We have to go get him! " So we turned around and went back for his kitty. He named him Moose. I thought it was a strange name for such a tiny kitty, but it fits him.

Moose has never been allowed on the furniture or Wynn wouldn't be able to sit on it. (That doesn't mean he's never gotten on it!) He is allowed on Tanner's bed, we put a blanket on it that he can sleep on. When he was little he would crawl under the blankets and snuggle with Tanner. Sometimes I still find him doing that. He has a blanket on Morgans bed and occasionally on Gary's or Lexie's beds. He knows he can get on my ottoman in the family room to snuggle if there is a blanket on it, he leaves it alone if there isn't. He snuggles with the kids on their blankets on the floor...etc. He IS NOT allowed on our bed, period. And he doesn't get on there.

Moose downstairs with Tanner, on the blanket, on the couch.

(Notice him holding Mooses' tail so they are 'touching'?)

I swear this cat is 1/3 cat, 1/3 dog, and 1/3 human. He will come get you if there is something of yours that needs attention (he knows what belongs to who), everyone swears he says 'mom' instead of meow when he is wanting me, very human things of him to do. He can be very stand-offish and turn his back and ignore you if he is in cat mode and will let you know not to bother him.

Moose in cat mode...ignoring me.

He has become very attached to Tanner. If Tanner is crying, you can hear Moose start meowing and here he comes from where ever he was at a dead run to make sure Tanner is OK. It doesn't matter where Tanner or Moose are at the time, one inside, one outside, or both in or both out. He always asks Tanner for a head to head rub to show love. It is so cute.

In the living room for a love from Tanner

He can be very nurturing, loyal and attached like a dog. To show this, I took some pictures this morning. Tanner spent the night in my bed and bathroom last night because he was sick. Puking all night long. This is what Moose did about it this morning after I got up.....

On the bathroom floor

I walked in the room to check on Tanner. Since he wasn't there, I checked the bathroom. He was snuggled against Tanners tummy, but when I came back with the camera he had moved here. (Tanner put the pile of towels in front of the toilet so they would be soft to kneel on)

Then Tanner went back to my room and this what Moose did.

Yes. He is ON OUR BED!!! Remember, he is NOT allowed by Wynn. PERIOD!!!

(Wynn knew he was there and left him with Tanner! I put the blanket so it could be taken off and washed.)

Letting us know he isn't leaving Tanner.

Still on the bed when I got home from work. Where ever Tanner moved, Moose was right there....All day long!!!

(Wynn and Gary were both home with him)

So I don't think he cares now that his kitty isn't orange. I think he knew that day in the car that Moose is his kitty. You couldn't ask for a more loyal companion or best friend.

Gary's Temple Day

At 5:30 pm, Gary went through the Logan Temple today. It was a really nice day. In attendance were my parents, Gary and Inez Hulsey, my sister and her husband, Rick and Dawna Barnes, Wynn's parents, Dean and Elaine Jenkins, Wynn's sister and her husband Scott and Maridene Wiberg, Wynn's sister Sirena Higgs, Gary's brother and his wife (our oldest child) Andy and Leza Jenkins, and family friends, Bob and Debbe Balling and Craig and Konie Humphreys. The family went to Village Inn to eat afterwards. It had been kind of a nasty day all day, rainy, windy, snowy. But time to go to the Temple it became really nice, still overcast, but nice.

You can't describe what it's like to be in the Temple with your children. And to have more than one in attendance.....no words.

Spring storms

They tend to bring Spring colds. Gary and I went to SLC with Drew last week to tour the Esthitician school there. Drew and I got free facials...WOW!!! did I LOVE that! It was warm while we were there. I loved it. She was accepted to the school. She will be getting her Master Esthitician. It will only take her about 4 months since she already has her Cosmetoligist license. Since she will be there such a short time, she won't be able to rent an apartment for 4 months, so she is going to live with Wynn's sister in Kaysville. She'll go to school during the day and get a night job. Rent money will be able to go towards her car.

Thursday started our Spring Break from school. It stormed, snowed even. Then warmed up on Friday. We went to SLC on Saturday to the Living Planet Aquarium. It was cold that day. Glad the Aquarium is inside. It was smaller than I thought it would be, but still pretty neat. They have sharks, an octopus, a South American exhibit, and stingrays. You can actually pet the stingrays. They don't feel like I thought they would, not rubbery at all. They were kind of squishy and velvety.

Sunday was a nice beautiful Easter day. I love that Tanner got up, climbed in my bed, and said,"Mom, it's Easter. This is Jesus' birthday." I said,"No, not his birthday." "Oh ya, the day he was ressurected. That means he came back to life." His first thoughts weren't of Easter baskets, bunny, candy or hunting Easter eggs. That made me happy. Of course they did turn that direction.

Monday was a beautiful day. Gary and I went and picked up his 2 suits. We bought some more mission clothes, but they are out of his size on a few things and are expecting a shipment. They wrote down what we needed so we can get them when they come in. They supply about 99% of the missionaries in the valley and surrounding areas. I'm not surprised they run short. Gary is getting even more excited to go out, if that's possible. He is dejunking his room and putting his missionary stuff in the suitcases. He'll repack right before he leaves so it fits better. He's putting his horse up for sale and transferred his money to another account so he can contribute part for his mission.

Tuesday was a nasty weather day. Cold, rainy, windy, and first day back to school. Spring Break was way too short. I woke up with a head cold. I think it's the back and forth from warm and nice to cold and yucky. Lexie had her first soccer match. Drew took her so I didn't have to set out in the miserable weather already having a cold. They won!!!!

Tanner's first soccer match is today. It's supposed to rain, and even possible snow, today and tomorrow. I love the rain....when it's warm ones to play in. My parents are heading up this way today and tomorrow. Hope their drive is safe.

They are coming for Gary to go through the Logan Temple tomorrow and my neice Lacey to get married in SLC Temple on Saturday. Gary put the date for going through the Temple 2 days before Lacey's wedding specifically so my parents could be here with him. Also so he could be in the Temple with her on Saturday. He is sooooo excited about all of this. He also will get to be in the Temple with his cousin Zach in May when he gets married. He will miss his cousin Brookes marraige though, since she gets married the Wednesday after he enters the MTC.

Well, enough head cold rambling Wednesday. I better get ready for work and Tanner for school. I need to find a sub for tomorrow. I'm planning on taking the day off to spend with Gary.

Are you sure I'm still among the living?

Well, I guess I do feel kinda undead. I was feeling better-ish yesterday, so I went to work, even though it was April fools day and I wasn't sure what kind of pranks would be played. None were, thank goodness.

I started not feeling well about time to come home, but not too bad, so I went with Gary to buy him a new watch. While we were shopping my head started to hurt, but not too bad. I mean really, I've had throw up migraines for as far back as I can remember. I even remember having one on my 7th or 8th birthday. I remember having it, I just don't remember what birthday. I only remember being in Luna for it and getting my Dawn doll. Oh well, none of that really matters. What I was getting at was I know what a real headache feels like, so this was just more of an annoyance than what I call a headache. Since my surgery 15 months ago, I get very few migraines. When I do get one, I can not understand how I kept functioning with such pain, other than I didn't know any different. I would get 4-5 a week, for as long as I can remember.

Anyway, Gary and I came home and I really started not feeling well. We went downstairs and I again curled up in a blanket with a heating pad. We watched The Fast and the Furious (the first one) and I loved it. But by the time it was over, I was really sick. I was freezing and wanted to pound a nail in my head to let the pressure out. If you've ever had a migraine, you'll understand what I mean, if not...well, you're lucky! I fell asleep in the chair for a while. When I woke up I dragged myself upstairs to bed after taking pain med. I woke up this morning feeling quite well.

I took Morgan in for her minor surgery at the periodontist. It went well. She is downstairs heavily medicated for pain. We stopped and picked up her prescriptions. We got home and I got a couple of things done. Gary and I watched The Rock. (Loved this one too) And I am now not feeling so well, and am wondering why I told the kids I would take them to the rec center!? I felt I needed to get on the treadmill and eliptical and really felt like going. But now my head is starting to hurt. I'm starting to sweat even though I am cold.....repeat of the last 3 days. My sister, Sandra, knows how I'm feeling. She's feeling it too.

Maybe I'll just go lie down. I'll let you know.