Pauli

We got Pauli in July of 2003, just after we were married.  I had never had a boxer and Chris had only had boxers.  She was the more ADORABLE puppy and the sweetest face.  Chris let shortly after we got her, so he missed her puppy stage, but I will always remember it.  Puppy training with Lisa, how she squeaked by the final test laying on her back.  She was willing to go or do anything.  

She has been by our side on every adventure through countless drives flights and back yards.  She stood by me while we raised 3 boys

Today we gave her peace as her struggles were too great.  She would fall in the night and not be able to get up, the heat was too much for her.  Our vet assured us this was such a gift we could give her.  She panted exhaustingly as we went in to the office and in a matter of minutes she was at peace.

It's impossible to leave the office so instead I sit hear writing and crying over the photos and memories.

Thankful our lives can be so enriched by a dog as wonderful as Pauli Girl. 

One of her 2 trans atlantic trips.

Traveling with us to Austria

Sometimes she even got the front seat (she was a better navigator than I!)

Never really complained about her seat as long as she got one.

A dog and her boy

I will always remember the video of Nick toddling from the food container and dropping a nugget in her food bowl.  From that moment on pauli was SOLD on this baby thing!

She lived in Texas, Germany, Virginia and finally CT, her favorite yard yet.  I can tell.

There are many times when our house is just too quiet.  I miss her coming around the corner just to see what I am up to.  The way she looked at all of us.  Such a good dog, we love you!

from 5 to 1 -

Last year we rocked out 5 triathlons, this year......ONE..... but it was AWESOME.  Not as in shape, but still pretty awesome.

striving for survival

Ladies that inspire me =)!

Now lets go to dinner =)!

more summer time

Just a few more things to LOVE about summer time.

Early morning chicken love.

Kid swap with some of our favorite friends.  Popped into the library for some books and a coloring table.  They didn't want to leave.  These are the things I love.

And than yes, we need to make slime.

Bee experiment gone bad.....  I thought those bumble bees didn't sting.  Drew held one in his hands for a while....  than what happened...  Jonah too.  Boo.  Who knew.  I guess they just aren't aggressive, but will sting if they need to.

I seriously love everything about this photo.  Lighting, Chips, Chicken, Water, railing, summer, outside eating.

Back of the truck riding to the river #summerliving

How many kids does it take to operate a paddle boat at the Izzos'?

Well good morning ladies - I love you too, please don't poop on the welcome mat...

Off to make her house really loud!

With Swim team in the books the summer is back to ours again, free form schedule!  Brian started his deployment June 1 - so Farrah and I synced calendars in hopes of having a few fun weekends to be able to live everyday life together.  This was our first shot at it.  With one QUICK stop (from fear of running out of gas) we made it to them in pretty awesome time.  totting a baked ziti too!!

Ideally we would LOVE the kids to sleep JUST like this, do you think it would happen??  Close, not quite.  With Brian gone, she missed having someone to watch the news with - sure the news its kinda depressing, so we went from that to starting a new series  - 'Big Little Lies' so mission one was have kiddos in BED - 

So its Saturday morning, A little chilly and kinda dreary, whats on tap, a day at the woodbridge pool - our kids are ROCKSTARS.  They had the pool to themselves while we could catch up on life.  It was chilly, but the kids didn't notice (the lifeguards did we our kiddos were the ONLY ones in the pool!)  Loved this shot of the boys catching their slow-mo-videos

About to call it for the afternoon.

Kinda wondering why we even bothered putting on bathing suits right??

This is how we traveled through each of our adventures (yes, we hoped to just plug into every day life - but farrah always has some awesome adventures up her sleeve.)

Like heading to the dollar store to grab snack for the minor league baseball game!

Seated and ready for the game - the boys are on the edge of their seats!

We had such good seats, the other folks in our section kept reminding us we needed to pay attention so we didn't get hit with a fly ball - these 2 are really great at paying attention, next time we need to hit the bleachers =)!

https://youtu.be/aPsl_XrZH4o

One of the greatest things about everyday life with Farrah - NAP TIME!!  I was AMAZED to finally get this one snoozing and that is the softest blanket ever!

quiet time served these 2 cuties well too

Sunday night was their swim team banquet.  Having just had ours I was completely blown away by how large their team was.  We were so lucky to slip in and join them and it was a HUGE night as MACY was awarded the Coaches award for 8 and under.  She is SUCH a determined little lady and to be recognized like this among all the swimmers was just HUGE.  We were so fortunate to be able to be there as her cheering section!  Go Macy!

A perk of everyday life with Farrah was SEEING her everyday life.  Brian hadn't had the chance to see her office yet, so on monday when she went to work, we followed her.  Love this sweet office that she gets to be a part of.  She is working as a paralegal in a Law office dealing with Wills and Estates. I didn't get to meet George or the sweet dog that comes to the office, but they sound like great office mates.

We made a quick stop to grandma and Grandpa's house for lunch and than their pool which the kids LOVED and Grandma even joined them for a little diving competition.  I love how she jumps (or literally DIVES) right in with them.

https://youtu.be/mpogg5hnfBI

Drew doing a jack knife in this one..  Grandma with a great dive!

https://youtu.be/1AKqpSCBwvM

Nick and Shane

https://youtu.be/OLYvh57UnTI

Than we popped over to their home on Barnack where Chris grew up.  This is actually Chris's room!  Love that they still have and maintain this home - and that its only a few blocks over from their current one!

They have recently done SO much with the back yard.  Removing trees, planting grass.  Its really beautiful.  Glad they found some great renters!

Thanks for making the time and letting us just pop over to be with you!

We did a super quick stop to my friend Eleanor's home.  We knew them for a quick 6 months while living in Germany.  Travis and Tyler hardly remembered us and same goes for my boys.  But they joined right in for some games while I had a good 30 minutes to catch up with Eleanor.  They moved in this May and just getting settled in NoVA life.  Such a quick visit, I never managed to snap a photo.  But the memory is there right?!?!

The last stop for the day was a pirate pool and Amy joined us as they are on their final week in VA and headed to start life in Utah!

Kids loved the place and thanks for Farrah for some great snacks and drinks!

Ending out tour walking (sort of German style) over to Sweeto Burrito.  DELICIOUS!  with a pretty awesome Parents Not approved game =)!  Farrah, you nailed every aspect of this weekend!  Such great little adventures or missions each day couples with some needed downtime for all.

Speaking of downtime, look what this guy rocked out while we were gone?!?!  No more carpet.  Thank you Chris!

hmmmmm

Its moments like these that I want to remember.  Ever have that kiddos that you KNOW in your heart needs a nap, but just won't take it??  Than you ask him to stay in his room,  he finds PLENTY of other things to do, and than this happens.  He was without a blanket so I brought his body in and my favorite blanket.  

Truth be told, its October 17 and I am FINALLY trying to catch up on my summer blog and just the other day, Drew said, remember when I feel asleep and you covered me with your blanket??  

Yes buddy, I do, and I would do it every day if you let me!

But what happened here????  The pool has been in for 30 years and the suspicion is when the bear hated to climb the fence, it just wasn't rated for bears.

No fun at all - yes, I am writing this on October 17 and honestly my father has not be able to come up with a true working solution and I know this weights on his mind.  He loves what this pool means and this is no simple solution.

No more bears on the deck!

Final Bit of Duskies

Tuesday night was our championship meet and I feel like these 3 boys clearly demonstrated the different stages of swimming.

Drew hopped up to the block - a determined 5 year old.  Not always certain he would smoothly make it to the other end, but he sure was going to muscle through it.  His dive almost a belly flop, his crawl mixed with a paddle.  He was wiling to do free style and sometimes breast stroke and excited to see where he placed in the mix.

https://youtu.be/1jHE54I2P3c

Shane -almost without us realizing really refined his strokes.  He was willing to do just about any stroke.  Even with Back stroke not being his favorite, he willingly got down to the other end (minimal zig zagging involved)  breast stroke was his favorite and he kept getting better at free style.  Matter of fact, he won his heat and placed 3rd overall in free style tonight at Championships!!  Go Shane!

https://youtu.be/ywTFu_9xVcI

Nick walked in with some earned confidence.  He was working very hard on his butterfly and 100 IM and it showed.  There were kids there that swim all year and he managed to grab his best time in butterfly and score 2nd place overall in the butterfly as well as the 100IM

25 Fly

https://youtu.be/Y3dPWMdlMwA

100 IM

https://youtu.be/PZLe4IJValI

The night was a blast seeing the boys swim so well and be part of a team.  A team of many ages, girls and boys and many different ability levels.

And just like that Swim team is over - we had 2 days of fun practice and today's weather was just perfect.  We had races against the adults - Rebecca and I combined with the 2 coaches Logan and Casey to demonstrate we can still give them a run for their money!

This right here is summer time!

Love these boys in the water!

After all the excitement from the championship meet we had to take a look at the leader board.  No leadbetter names on there yet - maybe one day!

Its things like this that make summer.... summer!

This is our younger crew - as young as 5 and goes up in age to9 maybe 10 - the different stages and level of determination truly amaze me!  And they are a darling bunch of kiddos

Ah, the banquet, where to host it?  

Rain, no rain, the call was made (by me... ) way too many times.  

I desperately wanted it to be outside and mother nature was making me play the guessing game.  Thankfully at the final hour with the concert still on, we opted to host it here and you know what - minus the sandwiches being ordered from New Hartford instead of Avon (thank you for the save chris)  it was PERFECT!

Coordinating with Cassandra and Rebecca means we have beautiful flowers!

And the most adorable Dusky Dolphin cake!

A HUGE thank you to the coaches for inspiring our kiddos to love the sport of swimming and for bringing boys and girls together on the team.  We loved it.

And even managed a little pyramid time at the concert.

Success!