R.I.P.

Mugsy

January 13, 1999-December 11, 2009

Our 1st baby who we actually acquired prior to marriage:). After looking back at these pictures I realized how sick he actually was for the past year. He was definitely a part of our family and it was really hard to make the decision, but we finally decided he was suffering more than was fair to him and we put him to sleep.

***

People always thought he was a pug or asked what he was and I would always just say he was a mix you haven't heard of or I would tell them he was a Brussells Griffon mix and if you are familiar with the movie "As Good as it Gets" that little dog that jumps over the cracks is a Brussels Griffon. He get the under bite, smashed nose, bug eyes and little gray beard (as he got older) from that breed. He was definitely one of a kind. We got him at a pet shop (I know I know) and out of the litter he was the only one that looked like him-the rest all looked scraggly and like the pictures of a Brussells Griffon if you look them up, but Mugsy was the one and he just happened to be on sale:)

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As a puppy (well for several years) not only would he sleep on the bed with us, but he would sleep under the sheets down at our feet-all night! After I got sick of dog hair on the sheets he wasn't allowed to do that anymore.

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Anytime we would drive in the car Mugsy would insist on laying on my neck-yes my neck. It was not that comfortable and probably not that safe and I got a lot of looks and pointing when we would be out but he insisted until he got too big and I put a stop to that.

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For years Mugsy would walk on his hind feet and even jump up into your arms. Until he got to fat/had sore joints then he stopped that.

He went with us on many vacations...

including the cabin where he followed us everywhere up and down the hill and chasing Scott on the four wheeler. We finally had to start leaving him at home because his joints would get so sore he couldn't even get out of his bed for a day, yet he would still insist on running up and down that hill following the four wheelers. It was really sad.

***

As you can see in the slide picture above, Mugsy insisted on following us everywhere which was either because he was insecure or very protective. He definitely thought he was a big scary dog and you would've heard that anytime you knocked on our door.

***

As much as he could be annoyed by kids-especially at the end when he was so fragile (aka an old grumpy man) he could always sense age and treat little babies differently. I always watched him around the babies he definitely knew they were little babies because he would never jump on them and seemed to be extra careful around them.

Actually that's the same look he gave the chicken before he ate it! OK maybe not:)

He also loved my parents house! He would always run straight to the back door to go out and visit with my parent's dog, Buster. Although their dog is almost 100lb lab mix Mugsy was always the boss. After visiting for a little bit he would want in. He really loved my brother and sleeping in his room with him. My mom was watching him one time and he was at their bedroom door like he needed to go to the bathroom so she let him out but instead he ran straight to my brothers door wanting to be let in. My mom said it was so sad she let him in their only for him to see that Toby was not even home. He definitely became attached to certain people and over the years it changed from me to Scott and always Toby.

We loved Mugsy and he will be missed!

Whew OK that was a really long post and I would not be surprised if you didn't read it but I figured I better record it all.

Santa {?} is Coming!

So the comments so far this year as to the existence of Santa...

Macey: I figured out last year that dad gave me my bike not Santa
Me: What are you talking about
Macey: Because I looked at it and it said "Made in China" on it
Me: {laughing}What's it supposed to say "Made in the North Pole"?????

Somehow the conversation changed so we dodged it again until today!

Emmy was eating dinner and curiously asked a question after helping bring the wrapped presents downstairs to put under the tree earlier today...

Emmy: Mom why was there a present to Tate from Santa?
Me: {laughing and looking at Scott} oh, oops.


I could have easily explained that one away but she didn't really seem to care much. It was the Hot Wheels that Tate keeps telling everyone that Santa is bringing him-even though he does not need one more car I figured he better get the one thing he has been insisting on.

So, I am afraid (secretly hoping) they may have actually figured it out this year!

A Day That Will Last for {Eternity}

On Saturday {December 5th, 2009} I was able to take advantage of the $25 Southwest flights to head over to San Diego for the day to witness the sealing between my sister Shannon and her husband Dustin in the beautiful San Diego temple. It was a such a special day and the kids were all angels. So glad I could be there and take part.

{Love this family}

It was a cloudy day-perfect for lots of picture taking so you know I did!

A perfect occasion to practice and get better:)

{The Happy Couple}

{ All of the Kids}

{The Boys}

{+Dad}

{a snapshot of Hayden-future heartbreaker}

{The girls}

{+ Shannon}

{Going in the Temple}

Who invited blue steel?

{Afterwards, family + Dustin's parents}

Emmy's Sleeping Habits

Emmy pretty much never stays in her bed. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that she insists on having so much blankets and stuffed animals on her bed that their is no room for her-who knows?!??! She always starts there but at some point during the night she ends up out in the loft. When I came upstairs to go to bed last night this is where I found her sound asleep by the tree (barely put up at bedtime and not decorated).

Notice all of her stuffed animals arranged around the tree? Hopefully she never ends up on that hoarders show with all of her stuffed animals!!!

Black Friday {2009}

This was the crowd/line that I was fighting on the day after Thanksgiving (aka Black Friday)...

Notice how they are all lined up for the sink?

The line wrapped all the way around to the stove!

Trust me when I say there was no line to take care of them!

My Baby is {2}

She is so funny. She kept wanting to lick the cupcake even when the candles were lit. Following the Williamson (really Phillips because it comes from me) tradition keeping the hands clean:). Don't worry, eventually she dove in with one finger!

{loving her baby}

Opening her presents was pretty funny. She kept trying to put things in instead of getting the presents out!

Here is a video that I think epitomizes Claire at age {2}....

[could you hear me laughing? so hilarious]

• She {loves} babies and stuffed animals and wants them all.
• She loves the trampoline and can now actually jump with 2 feet! She jumps on that thing every day!
• She screams and squirms the whole time I try to curl her hair which is just torture for the both of us. So, I just cut it all off so it can look semi decent without it having to be curled. That or ridiculously butchered:) No one has said anything either way!
• She still loves her 2 fingers and her green silky blanket.
• She can climb out of her crib now and can usually be found 1 of 2 places: Macey's bed or playing in the bathroom.
• She loves her family, every single person and will usually run excitedly to you saying your name (in her own language of course)when you have been gone. A great welcome home. So sad to leave her pouty face because she wants to go with you.
• She loves to play outside riding and playing along with her older brother and sisters-she thinks she is so big.

Claire is just an absolute {joy} to have in our family and we are glad that we have her!

Today On My Baptism Day

Emmy was lucky enough to get bapized on her actual 8th birthday and have the baptism all to herself so it was a really special day.

***ammendment to program-Bishop Rob Topol conducted not Brother Broschinsky.****

We were also lucky enough to get the hottest ticket in town...Kim Skinner's photography!

{enjoy}