Old pictures

Still fighting with our new computer - can't seem to get new pics to download from our digital camera at all.  I got some pics from my cell phone camera to download, but they came out blurry.  So I decided to go onto facebook and through my saved pics in my email to see if I could find any pictures to put up here.  I found a few.

This is Jacob, after his haircut back in June.   Sadly, this was the most recent clear pic I could get to upload.  Jacob is now 7 years old, in second grade.  He loves to run around, and to climb rock walls and go hiking.  He also loves to draw.

James, on the same day.  He likes having his hair spiked up.  He's eight years old now, in third grade.  Last year he tested out at a forth grade reading level!  He decided he was old enough to read the entire Harry Potter series this past June, and is now on the sixth book.

(James and Jacob insisted that I include this pic from Halloween 2009.  They like to dress up in related costumes...this year they will be going out as Harry and Ron from the Harry Potter books)

Jonathan had been growing his hair out for Locks of Love.  After having a couple family members die of cancer, he was keen to help out in any way he could...but then the Gulf Oil mess happened, and he decided to cut it for that reason instead (one of the ways they have tried removing the oil is with human hair).

Jon is now 13 years old and becoming quite the mature young man.

This is Ayla.  She's been a member of our family since October of 2007.  When walking home from the store, I had heard what sounded like a frog in a marsh we were passing.  James insisted it was a cat, so to prove him wrong I called out "Here kitty kitty kitty!"  To my shock, a plumed tail started moving towards us, and this pitiful little half-grown cat raced into my arms.  Her long fur was matted with burrs, her ribs stuck out, and she had run through a pool of stagnant water to get to us, so she was soaked, shivering, and smelled of dead fish.  She also had a cold that made her meows sound like a frog croaking.  We cleaned her up and she has been a faithful companion ever since.

Here is Gryphon - as you can see, he likes being petted!  We got him in April of 2008...he was just a tiny kitten then.  His owners had planned to put him and his entire litter to death, but a friend of ours rescued them and then went around to all her associates, begging people to take in a kitten.  How could I have said no to that handsome face?

Hamtaro - she's about the friendliest hamster you are ever likely to meet.  We've had her since - let me think...probably March of 2009?  One of Sean's coworkers had a litter of hamsters to get rid of, and he thought she would make a good addition to the household.  You can't tell in the photos, but her back legs are deformed, and her spine twisted.  Despite the pain she must be constantly in, she has a pleasant personality and has never shown any sign of aggression towards the children, no matter how much the carry her around.  We've nicknamed her "Kamikazi" - whenever she manages to escape her cage, she heads straight for the cats.  It's like she thinks they are great big hamsters to play with.

This is Sapphire.  She's not ours.  Last spring we signed up to become foster parents to abused and abandoned animals.  It took a while to get all the paperwork through, but six weeks ago we finally became certified foster parents!  Sapphire is our first "foster child" - she's a two year old Snowshoe Siamese.  She's about the size of a four month old kitten, and will be that small for the rest of her life.  She's still in the process of acclimating to home life - only a week ago she finally allowed the children to pet and stroke her.  She's unbelievably playful and affectionate once she grows used to people.  She still has a ways to go before she is fully rehabilitated, but she is currently up for adoption.  If you are interested, please visit http://www.adoptapet-il.org and fill out an adoption application.

And this pic I am posting due to popular request by dozens of friends and family members:

That's right, I'm engaged!  Sean and I will be marrying in a private ceremony next month, but plan to hold a reception in celebration of our vows a year and a day from our "hand fasting" date.  I know it is a bit nontraditional...but heck, neither one of us are traditional people, and so this works for us.

I'd love to show off a recent picture of my fiance, but he's incredibly camera-shy.  Every pic I have taken in the last year has his hand covering his face!  But I managed to take a picture of his high school graduation photo...the photo is several years old, but his looks haven't changed much since then.  So here's the only clear picture I have of the love of my life:

Cute, isn't he?  I certainly think so!

Well, there you have it - these few pics will have to hold everybody for a while!  At least until I figure out why I can't download my digital camera to the computer.

Stupid computer.