Putting our beloved dog to rest-JAIDA-

Amber at Jaida's grave. I called her "My Lady".
Violet and Addie loved Jaida. They fed her and cared for her in her last days.

This is Jaida sleeping before we took her to the vet to be put to sleep. She was deteriorating and just falling apart. She was incontinent of urine and very arthritic, although she still went out to pee and poo. She would go a day or two with out eating and just sleep all day. It was a week earlier that I witnessed her having a seizure that put me over the edge and I finally made the appointment.


Jaida's last drink of water. Violet was crying hard (you can see her red eyes).

We took her to the Grabill Vet to be put to sleep. We put her on a sheet in the back of our car and gave her a frozen chunk of deer meat. She loved it! When we got her to the vet, she was nervous, and I was a mess, crying under my breath. We took her in the room and the vet tried to put a turnequet on her arm to access her vein and she licked him, that is just one example of how loving and selfless Jaida was. It was like she was telling him, "It's okay, I know my time has come." Then he injected the medication and she layed down on the floor and stopped breathing almost instantly. He said she may gasp for air due to her nerves stopping and that's when I let out a cry that I couldn't hide or hold in and I plugged my ears so that I wouldn't hear her. The vet wrapped her up in the sheet and put her in my car! Addie and I ardusouly carried her to her premade grave and lowered her in. She was still warm and I sat there and stroked her fur and cried. I had a hard time making myself cover her with dirt, I wasn't ready to let go. So we went into the garden and collected rocks and then to the beach and got a load of beach sand. Finally we covered her, me, Addie and Violet all helped. Then we topped her off with sand, rocks and a cross. I will never forget that day and I still miss her so much.

Queen Jaida Jewel 1996-2010 Yellow Lab "Jaida" Seasoned water fowel retriever

Making Cookies with Friends

Tate and Violet making homemade from scratch pumkin cookies with frosting.
Parker with popsicle.

Tate stirring the batter.

Aprons and all!

Sledding in the morning

Nova, Addie and Violet found a hill by April's house and they call it Cliff Hill. It snowed several inches overnight and we woke up to white winter wonderland! I made a snow angel tonight and lost a key out of my pocket! So I got Kevin's metal detector out and found it!

Goats-our newest family members!

Addie and Violet wanted to get goats to show in 4-H and just to have for pets. We have a friend who is a vet surgeon and had some for sale. They are Nigerian Dwarf goats. The mother's name is Blue Bonnet and we call her Mama B (after my friend Jill!) and the baby is named Buttercup and we call her Babybutter! If you were ever pondering owning a goat, I say DO IT! They are fascinating and very cute and fun. They just eat dairy goat feed and hay/alfalfa. They like treats like animal crackers, fresh herbs, corn, oats and molasses.

Trick or treating

Addie, Violet and Nova went tot together. It was kinda cold but we had fun. Me and Aunt April, Kevin and Uncle Dave tagged along. Addie counted her lute, 98 pieces of candy. I admit that I scarfed some chocolate! I tried to make up for it by jogging today on campus. I ended up tripping over a root (was jogging on trails) and skinned up my ankle!

Ohio State Football game

Kevin and I were so lucky to get free tickets from my Coach at Ohio State. The seats were primo and the game was a blowout. We beat Purdue 49-0! It brought back memories. We brought our girls and a babysitter. We went out to eat at our favorite restuarants and icecream shops and even took them onto the campus and showed Addie where she was born and where we lived. It was an awesome family vacation. GO BUCKS!

Pumpkin Carving

This year was fun. I carved with Violet and Addie carved with Kevin. We didn't let the other see until we were done and Violet kept trying to sneek a peak which made Addie quite upset. Then later that night we went to church for a Harvest Fest where they played and got way too much candy. Mom had fun carving, too!

Amber's Squirrel Hunt (not for the weak stomach)

I even skinned and cleaned it myself, got on Bayou Bills All Outdoors and self taught myself.

Last year was the first year that I went squirrel hunting, with my broseph Austin. He is the ultimate guide! So I tried it out by myself this year. I was sitting in the woods, looking and listening like Austin taught me and all of the sudden I heard them barking just to my left and lo and behold there was one sitting on a branch not too far from me. I laid my 22 on a tree and shot, squirrel fell and everything's history from there.

I went out just yesterday with Austin and we tagged teamed it. I shot another red fox squirrel and made creamed squirrel over homemade Big Daddy Biscuits for dinner. Just like our mom used to make. We might sound like hillbillies, well maybe we are....! Even Addie and Violet like it.

1st Day of School for Violet and Addie

Addie heading off to the bus for 4th grade.

Violet checking out her busdriver, mommy, too!

First day of school! I can't believe that they wanted to match!

Last minute touches brushing wet hair!

Walking down our 200 yard driveway, Violet is always on time, Addie takes after me!

Amber salmon fishing and Michigan trip with the Bonin's

Lake Michigan Amber Loves Kevin!


Jill and Amber

Violet, Amber and Addie

Violet and Tate

Violet, Parker and Addie found a fort on the beach

Addie balancing on a drift log

The Bonins and Siebers fishing at Muskegon State Park

Amber and Jeff Bonin, owner of Rapture Trolling Flies. Her first fresh water salmon.