Missing Our Sweet Sadie on Her 9th Birthday

Happy Birthday to our sweet Sadie girl. She would have been 9 today. In Berner years that's still quite a feat. I can't get over how many times I've read recently that another Berner has passed away at such a young age that I feel quite lucky that despite all of Sadie's problems that she lived to be almost 9 years old. We were lucky. Lucky to have had her that long. Lucky that we could afford to give her the best life despite her ailments. Lucky that she was just shy of the average maximum life expectancy of the Bernese Mountain Dog. 

She's home with us now. Resting next to her sister, Adler, and amongst her family. We carefully selected an urn from the same company where we bought Adler's. Sadie's urn is a bit bigger given her size but just as beautiful. She actually came home in a different urn but it was non-descript and looked like an urn and I wanted to give her something as beautiful as Adler's. And we did. We adorned it with her name and like Adler's a meaningful quote: 

"When the day comes when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever." 

I will, Sadie. I will. Forever. 

As for me, I'm doing okay. Going and getting all of her things from the boarding facility and then the vet and then the vet again (they forgot to give me her harness she was wearing at the end) was hard. I didn't want to go into those places. Didn't want to see her things and face the reality that she was gone. I cleaned out her closet and donated everything that I could including hundreds of dollars worth of medications. I kept a few things if we ever decide to get another dog but I don't think so. I said that I would give it a year and see how I feel but I'm at peace. We gave so much for so long to both Adler and Sadie. Twenty years of caring for them combined. I'm good. The bookends to our family will always be Adler and Sadie. 

Her quote

Adler and Sadie - Our Bookends

Peyton's On the Road!

Peyton started drivers education at school this semester and received her permit on the first day of second semester. Taking drivers ed at school was different than what we did with Austen. Due to Peyton's birthday, it made sense for her to take drivers ed at school. Even better, I didn't need to schedule those hard to get driving appointments and take her to class each week. Plus, at school they give them the permit and driving test so less DMV visits which I'm all for!  

We have taken her out a few times to drive too and it seems she's getting in a lot of driving at school as well. Her easing into braking needs some work and she still isn't sure when it's her turn to go at a four way stop so lots to still work on with her but she's out there - on the road so be aware!

Last weekend, Tom and I tricked her and secretly stashed our reusable grocery bags in the back of her car and then told her to drive to Western Springs (where she panicked because she needed to change lanes for the first time!). When she arrived in the grocery store parking lot, she thought we were just parking to switch drivers but we told her to get out because we were going to the grocery store. She was thrilled! Hey, that's the price you pay for us helping you learn how to drive - you help too! 

She definitely is less afraid than Austen was to drive in the beginning and is asking us to go out most weekends to practice. So she has a new obsession besides her tumbling classes (especially now that cheer is over for the year). She told me she's recording all the hours she is out with us (I don't think Austen ever did that) and is excited for that freedom that comes from being able to drive yourself (and your friends) somewhere without your parents. She's already planning our Xmas vacation around her ability to go to the DMV and get her drivers license before she goes back to school next year. The only drawback may be that her brother will still be home from college and will be using that car! 

Battle of the Books Champions!

The winners!

For the past two years, my little bookworm (Hailey) has been part of her elementary school "Battle of the Books" program. Neither her brother nor her sister joined this program when they were in elementary school, but Hailey loved having to read books and answer questions pertaining to the books. This year, her team was comprised of five 5th grade girls who are all her very good friends. There were 20 books in the "Battle" so they each were supposed to read as many as they could and try to be experts on that book. Hailey read 10 of the 20. 

Week after week on Tuesdays, she stayed after school while her team vied for the most points so they'd be selected the best team to compete against the seven other elementary schools in our district for the District "Battle of the Books." Never mind that she ran right from Battle to Religious Ed and then straight to basketball practice, not getting home til 7pm most Tuesdays. She didn't complain even if it was an 11 hour day for her. She loved it. 

Then came the announcement two weeks ago, her team had been selected as the best team from Prospect Elementary to head to the District "Battle of the Books." She was so excited as were the other girls on her team. 

They had one week of just them practicing with their librarian and sponsor teacher and then it was time for the District "Battle." 

Getting ready to "Battle"

So yesterday after school, I brought her home for a quick snack and then right to the District "Battle." I, like most other parents, had never experienced  "Battle of the Books" before, but learned as they jumped right into asking the kids questions - figuring out steals and then trying to mentally keep track of which schools missed and who had the most points. They didn't reveal which teams had the most points, even in-between rounds, which made it much more exciting when they announced the winners. 

They started with 3rd place. They weren't called. Maybe they got second, I thought. They had to at least get second as I knew they did pretty well from my mental calculations. But they didn't call them for 2nd place either. Then I knew they had to be in 1st and they were! Prospect Elementary secured 1st place in the District "Battle of the Books" for the first time in 11 years! Our principal, librarian and sponsor teacher celebrated with the girls. Hailey almost cried tears of happiness. They were all genuinely proud. 

After a lot of pictures, hugs and congratulatory remarks from the parents, the girls went out for pizza to continue their celebration. And, even better, today on their morning announcements, they applauded the girls for bringing home the District "Battle of the Books" plaque for the first time in more than than a decade. Congratulation Hailey and teammates, we are so proud of you!

Excited to celebrate w/ pizza!

Good teammates and friends!

Peyton's Obsession

Holding the "A"

Is it a boy? A new friend? A favorite class? A vacation she wants to take? Nope. None of those. It's improving her tumbling for cheer. She's obsessed with going to her semi-private training classes so she can now get her back tuck. She was once obsessed with a back hand spring but has moved on to the back tuck (which is way harder). 

I'm so impressed with how far she's come in less than a year. From only being able to do a cartwheel and round off at this time last year before tryouts approached, to being close to even throwing any of these in a performance. Not sure I ever really thought she could tumble because she was never truly interested in any of that to give it enough of a chance. But she's strong because of her swim background and surprisingly isn't afraid (with her coach's support) to try these new elements. 

She's rounding out her first high school basketball cheer season with a halftime performance tomorrow and then will take some time off to prepare for spring tryouts for next year. She really wants to make varsity cheer but I think there are still many things she can improve on as a JV cheerleader. Besides making JV means she gets to cheer for her own age group for basketball and football next year. Plus, she gets to work on some leadership skills too and her smiling! 

Here she is cheering in a few basketball games this season. 

Second from left