Vacation Week & A Certain Someone's Tango With a Porcupine

This has been a brutally cold winter here in NH, and here we are knocking on April's door with continued threats of snow and more freezing temps. I think I'm getting too old for this.  ;)

I can hardly believe that Caleb has been home with me for a whole month now. I truly love having him around, the special moments we get at random times throughout the day to reconnect, share a joke, have him read me a story, bake cookies together- I love it all! We had school vacation right after his last official week - we didn't venture very far (we'd been waiting on three different potential adoptive matches, each due around that time, which obviously means that we were not chosen) but we sure had fun.

One of our very limited nicer days this year- off to a new trail in Candia. We soon discovered that this is mostly a snowmobiling trail, but they had actually packed it down quite nicely so it was easier to walk on than slushy, shifty snow.

How did this boy get so big?

Impossible to capture the amazing depth and height of this area - sure made us feel small!

This is just so typical of everyone doing their own thing.  =)

And then this.
Poor, poor baby.
After several frantic phone calls to our vet, local ER places (because we were out of town), we settled on one in Manchester, and they were great. All things considered. Thankfully, no quills inside the mouth or in his eye.

After a very long 4+ hour wait (which may have included an impromptu pizza picnic in the waiting room while we watched the Olympics), we were finally on our way home, with a very groggy, confused little pup. Ethan had to carry him to the car because he kept bumping into walls and tripping over his own feet. If it weren't so sad it would be kind of funny. Okay, so it was a little funny.

We watched the Lego movie at Smitty's with Slushies and nachos in hand...

We had yummy snacks at Panera. FYI, their hot cocoa is different now, and it is fully loaded. HA Soooo good. Of course my children prefer the watery packaged stuff, but hey. I tried.

We painted and played games and read stories...

Ha, you can tell the bitter cold has returned! I don't think I mentioned that Caleb's Christmas fish, Captain Jack Sparrow, sadly left us. Meet Hulk, the new fish that took us a zillion hours to decide upon. Watching your fish slowly, and what looks to be rather uncomfortably, perish is really, really awful. At one point I considered secretly flushing the poor guy to end our his misery, but the eternal optimist in me that was convinced he just might turn the corner wouldn't allow it. He hung on for days and days and I was relieved to see the little guy finally at peace. Yeah, I know, it's a fish. But I'll tell you, he mattered to Caleb and so he mattered to me, and we both cried real tears for that fish.

Cuddling up with my little ninja snowboarder at Pat's Peak one afternoon. We braved the winds and took everyone boarding and tubing- it never ceases to amaze me at how truly excited I become when watching one of my children master something. They did great, and listening to them laugh as they sped down the hill on tubes was so much fun!

Just look at this adorable snow bunny! Can't even stand it.

So this is kind of random but I always want to remember the fun they have had in our backyard here - we never had anything like this at our old home. Many, many afternoons out there, and I love watching them and hearing their laughter. From the inside with my hot cup of tea, that is.  =)

Ok, so two last things: I have actually included some iphone pics! That is totally high-tech crazy for me, folks. I'm so proud.

And secondly, Hulk is still with us. He has a fun little personality and loves to eat, so this one might actually stand a chance!

Oh wait, a third thing: Ryder has completely recovered and is his usual happy self. 

Have a great day!