Our poor Koda

This is our pretty 4 1/2 year old chocolate lab, Koda. We got her just as Cooper was starting to crawl. She is so good with the boys...lets them do just about anything to her. Anyway, in May we bred her to a black lab hoping to get some good puppies we could sell and add some extra money to the boys' college funds. Yesterday she was having some contractions... which lasted all day...by evening she was fine and had even eaten her food. This morning she was doing the same thing...and by then we knew something wasn't quite right. The vet had told us that once the contractions started we should see puppies within about 1-2 hours. We were working on close to 24 hours! Heath called a different vet (not too happy with the one we were using) and they did an xray. Usually labs have litters of 8-10 puppies...Koda only had one and it was way to big to come out on its own so the vet did an emergency C-section this morning. They got the puppy out but it had died a couple days ago. I feel so bad for her. I have never been a big dog lover but we have had her just as long as our boys...so she is one of our kids. This picture is of her today. She seems a little drugged and I think she knows something is missing. Sorry girl!

Dancing Kings

Cooper has developed quite a love for musicals (I'm starting to rub off on him) and he has learned almost all the songs to "Mama Mia." The movie is not the best singing but he loves to watch it for his quite time movie (which isn't so quite) so that he can sing along. Here are a couple of pictures of him and Carson dancing and singing to the movie!

Kirby Family Reunion

This past month we head to NE Idaho; to Stoddard Creek, for Heath's annual family reunion. Our family was incharge of food and activities for over 70 people. It was alot of work; which Margy (my mother-in-law) did most of it. Brooke (sister-in-law) and I made pinatas with the kids while Heath and Travis were in charge of a BB-gun shootout competition. We had alot of food to cook--that many people eat alot of food, but it was a fun weekend. Here are some pictures.

Cooper...got to love him

We went last week to get Cooper's kindergarten physical done...what an ordeal! He did fine until the doctor told him the nurse was going to come in and give him the shots that would let him go to school; that's when the water works started. I felt really bad for him becuase I could tell he was really scared. We had tried to prepare him for the shots but nothing gets you ready for the real thing. As soon as the nurse walked in with the 4 shots he was to get it was on! Heath had to hold his arms and his face so he couldn't see when the shot came his way. I had to try and hold his legs down while keeping Carson out of the middle of it;trying to grab the shots! Cooper was screaming so loud and the viens were popping out of his head;face so red...you thought we were ambutating his leg! Finally when all the shots were done the nurse left; giving Cooper 4 very cool bandaids...then the shocker...Cooper was so mad that we let the nurse do that and that we held him still for it he said between sobs. "I hate this! I don't want to live with you anymore!" Famous words from my Coop; any time he gets mad at me that is generally what he says but this time I think he meant it; that is until we went and got him a prize for doing so good considering. (Shots are scarey!) When we came out of the room Heath was holding Cooper and there was a mom in the waiting room with her hand over her mouth and a true look or horror on her face!! PRICELESS!! I told the receptionist that the kids that were there at that time were going to come out running and never go to the doctor again. Fun times!! Love you Cooper!!

Before and After (new toy...new look!)

Ouch!!

For Carson's birthday we got him a tricycle (since Heath ran over the last one!). Our driveway is alittle sloped and Carson figured out that if he kept his feet off the pedals (he can't quite reach them anyway) he can go really down it really fast! Well, Heath went inside to get some batteries for a bubble machine, Cooper and I were trying to get the soap in the bubble machine and Carson was getting ready to fly...literally! He went so fast down the driveway and before I knew it he had turned the trike over on himself and had face-planted on the cement! His poor face and lip! See for yourself...I felt like the worst mother ever! I'm so sorry baby...I love you!

Carson turns 2!

I can't believe my baby is 2! It is amazing how fast the time has gone. He is talking up a storm and is into everything...so different than his brother!?! He has such a fun personality and that little dimple below his left eye is my favorite. He adds so much to our family! We had a little family party for Carson and Grandma Linda. It was alot of fun to have family there but Carson hated the singing part! He starting crying and screaming which was hilarious! Happy Birthday little man, we love you!!!

Mounts and more mounts

I love my husband but he is an avid hunter and it is really starting to show. We now have 6 stuffed birds and 8 deer and antelope mounted in my basement alone with 2 elk on the way and about a dozen more ducks waiting to be mounted. At least I don't have to find many decorations for my basement...sometimes the number of eyes watching me as I work gets a little unnerving, but I am proud of Heath and am glad he has a hobby he is passionate about! The European mount (in the picture) is my least favorite mount so I had to dress it up alittle bit for Easter! Looks good doesn't it? (gave him blue eyes to match the family)