Blue

Last week, I was feeling very overwhelmed with my college classes. Normally, I meet Jessica at the walking park, but I just didn't feel like I could leave the college that night. I told her, if she would come to the college, I would walk there. My plan was to walk until we got our Fitbit steps in, and then I would go back inside and study for another hour.

It was a good plan. Until about the 4th lap around the school grounds. As we were walking by a tree, the branches moved, and a kitten fell out. (Okay, he jumped, but the story sounded better to Josh when I said it fell.) He immediately ran over to us and I picked him up. We didn't want him to get ran over, so we were trying to figure out what to do. I agreed to take him home for the night. I knew Josh was going to his parents that weekend, and he could take the kitten to live on the farm. 

Then I named him. Which really just meant, he was never going anywhere.

I decided to name him Blue, after the mascot of USU, since I found him there. Of course I didn't go back in and study. Instead, I went home, in hopes of beating Josh home. It worked. When Josh came home, Blue was sitting next to me on the couch. But when Josh walked in, he hopped off and ran to his feet. He even meowed twice. But Josh was too busy looking at my big grin to see him. (I could never play poker). He kept asking me why I was grinning and I kept telling him it was nothing. But then I'd just grin bigger because it cracked me up he hadn't noticed the kitten at his feet. After about a minute, the kitten started to walk away. That is when Josh noticed.  

I told him it was an orphan that needed a good home and if it didn't work out, he could take it to the farm that weekend. Two minutes later, Josh was holding Blue and I knew he wasn't going anywhere. I laughed on Sunday when Josh went to the farm and didn't even ask if he was taking Blue.

Zipper and Gaby weren't happy at first. But Blue was ready to make friends. He immediately took to Sage. Its been hilarious to watch because Sage is terrified of cats. Josh sent me this picture while I was the college on Friday. He said it was like Sage was happily terrified. 

  

Sage is slowly coming around. If she knows Blue is right there, Sage doesn't sleep, she just watches Blue and tries not to move.

But when she doesn't know Blue is there, she is fine. Each night, Blue will sleep with us and then with Sage. Some nights, I'll wake up and Blue is on the blanket and Sage is curled a few feet away. I thought they were making good headway, but then Blue wanted to play and chased Sage's tail. Sage has been more on the terrified end since then. But I really think they can become best friends. 

Zipper and Gaby still aren't sure about the new kitten. But after two days, they did decide to at least forgive me. This is what I woke up to. But right as I took the picture, Gaby hissed and ran to another room.  (I love how Zipper is staking his claim on me.)

I've been wanting another kitten for a while now. Each time I asked Josh, he reminded me I was holding out for a munchkin cat. But the second I held Blue, I knew he needed to be a part of our family.  

Gaby

For unknown reasons, we had become a family of just two cats this year. Ally disappeared early this summer and then Buddy disappeared a few months later. I have missed them dearly, but decided to not replace them. Four cats was just too many. 

I was even able to stick firmly to this decision. A few weeks ago my brother offered me a kitten. I spent all night begging Josh, even though I wasn't sure. By the end of the night, Josh said, "If I come home from work next weekend and she it there, I guess there is nothing I can do about it." I knew that meant I had his permission. 

But in the end I decided, I just don't need another kitten. I'm fine with Pyro and Zipper. In fact, over the last few weeks they have given us some scares. Pyro got pneumonia and we thought we were going to loose her. Two weeks later Zipper got sick and his eye swelled shut. Giving medicine to Pyro was not pleasant, but doable. Giving medicine to Zipper was a down right nightmare.

But I was fine with just 2 cats. 

Then yesterday, I got a text from Melanie. She had found a kitten on the side of the road and wanted to know if I wanted her. I told her I would think about it, but I really was fine with 2 cats. Then later she texted me again. Preston wanted to know if he could come see the kitten when I took her home. Again, I told Melanie, I'm still not sure I want it, but if I do, of course Preston can come visit.

I spent all day telling myself no. And it almost worked. I had told Melanie that on my way home last night, I would swing by and look. I even told Melanie that since she found the kitten, she should keep it. But Colter isn't a sucker like my husband. Before I had even seen the kitten (when I was still thinking no) I called to ask Josh when he was coming home. I hadn't even had a chance to mention it when he said "I'll come home after I go pick up kitten food." I asked what he was talking about. He asked if I had talked to Melanie. I told him I had, but I was planning on saying no. 

Then I saw her. It was easier to say no to my brother. His kitten didn't purr for me. His kitten didn't cuddle with me. But on the strange side, his kitten is almost identical to this one. THIS kitten did purr and cuddle. As soon as I picked her up, she snuggled right into my arms and started to purr. 

I. WAS. HOOKED.

So I called Josh and told him to get that kitten food. 

Sadly, we think they are orphans. Melanie said she found two kittens in the shoulder of the highway when she went to Preston's soccer game. She also said there was a run over cat a little bit up the road. She gave one to her neighbor and thought she would offer the other one to me. We knew we couldn't talk Barb into taking her because, just a few weeks ago, I talked Barb into taking in a different set of orphaned kittens. I wanted those ones, but knew I couldn't give them the time they needed because they were so little. The one little guy almost didn't make it, but if anyone can make a pet better, its Barb. She did everything she could and the little guy pulled through. So because of that, Barb already has 2 kittens (which Preston and I named Mario & Princess Peach).

At least this kitten is just big enough she should do fine without her momma. Josh and I both fell in love at first sight. Each time we woke up in the night, we had to look for her and make sure she was ok.

She is definitely a loving cat. She rode on my shoulder all the way home. 

And she never goes far from either of us. She doesn't seem to like to be alone. This afternoon we went out to my car for just a minute. When we came back in, she was crying.

Pyro doesn't like her. But Pyro doesn't like anyone. Zipper is intrigued. He's only hissed a few times and that was because the kitten made sudden movements. Other then that, Zipper watches her from across the room. When she leaves a spot, he goes over to it and sniffs it over real good. I think by the end of the night, they will be best friends. 

We decided to name her Gaby. 1) Because we have spent all day watching my favorite TV show, Desperate Housewives and Gabrielle is my favorite character in the show. And 2) this kitten never stops talking. She cries when she can't find us. She cries when she can't find her food. She cries when she can't find the opening to the cat box. She cries because I think she eats too much and gets a stomach ache. Gaby just seems to fit her. 

Josh's 29th Birthday

Josh turned 29 yesterday. I wasn't able to get the day off, but I still tried to make it a fun day for him. Before I left for work I let him open one of his presents, the newest Cabela's hunting game for Wii. He has tried to buy it several times now and I had to keep stopping him because it was hiding under his brother's bed. So he was able to play his game yesterday and just relax.

Then last night we went to his parents for dinner. His mom is such a great cook so we talked her into dinner so I wouldn't have to cook after working all day. I was a little bit late getting home, so as soon as I got home we went to his parents for dinner. His mom made a chuck roast that was wrapped in bacon. It was so YUMMY! I have learned that our dinners at home are quite boring. Dinner with his family is always full of laughter, usually over funny stories of stupid things we've all done in years past. Preston cracked me up. He didn't want any meat so he took it all off of his plate. Then there was a battle over a butter knife. When he found another one, his attitude just cracked me up! The towards the end of dinner he suddenly wanted meat on his plate. I just love those little guys. 

After dinner we took the cake and ice cream and cherry chocolate cake down to Josh's grandpa's. It takes a while to light a cake with 29 candles, especially if they get blown out a few times before you are ready.

After eating cake we went back to the house so Josh could open the rest of his presents from me.

He received:

The 2011 Wii Cabela's hunting game with a gun that has a scope

A new CD case for his truck

2 Call of Duty games for the Wii

A subscription to Bugle Magazine

A new vest and a hat to keep his bald head warm.

It was a wonderful day. Now in two weeks we get to do it again for my birthday. :)

Blogger is being difficult and I can't get my pictures in the order I want so they are just kind of jumbled together.

I think that look is him telling me "Why didn't I get this for Christmas? You know how much I wanted it."

 

Your cake is on FIRE!

Tyler gives the chocolate cake 2 fingers up. And a fork. And a spoon. And an ice cream cone. He'll eat it anyway he can.

I love all I'm starting to get similar pictures of Ally and Buddy. I have pictures of each of them climbing the screen door. The below picture reminds me of him hiding under the recliner when he was little.

Bubble Bath

Hot water - Check

Bubbles - Check

Good book - Check

Curious kittens - Check

I wasn't feeling well on Monday so that afternoon I decided a hot bath might help. Ally and Buddy spent most of the time on the edge of the tub looking in. It was so cute that on Tuesday I decided to bath again just so I could get some pictures. 

Playing with (and eating) the bubbles.

 I think this is when Ally remembered she had fallen in the night before. It was pretty funny.  I was worried about Buddy falling in, which he almost did. I think he's know learned to jump to the edge and look in before jumping in all the way. Towards the end of my bath on Monday night he had tried to walk the entire edge of the tub. The edge against the wall is really narrow so I stopped him. A few seconds later Ally must have decided she could walk it because she fell in. 

Getting big and moving out

Ally has LOVED being a mom. Twelve weeks old and she still lets them nurse. Most cats ween their kittens at 6 weeks, but I don't think Ally cares that they still nurse.

Sleeping with Zipper.

I think Bullet is trying to silence Buddy.

Friday was an emotional day for me. I called Classifieds and advertised the kittens. I only advertised 3 of them because Melanie and the boys were going to take one. After I hung up, I bawled. Then a minute later my phone rang. It was my father in-law. He was pretty sure Barb wanted one of the kittens too.

That afternoon Melanie and the boys came up. The kittens all hissed at them. I had told Melanie Buddy was the calmest but when we asked Preston what kitten he wanted he told us "The orange and white one." Well, first he said Zipper, which Josh said he could have. But then he choose Honey. I will love Preston for that forever. I have been so heartbroken about giving up Buddy. I wanted to keep him, but if I couldn't, I wanted my nephews to have him. When Preston choose Honey I knew I would be keeping Buddy. :)

Then last night Barb told us she would take Bullet and Lewis. I'm so glad I found such good homes for my kittens. Of course no one spoils cats like I do, but I couldn't have chose better homes for them.

I was worried that Honey would keep hissing and scratch the boys, but Melanie said he slept with Preston the first night and even purred. I'm so jealous, they have never purred for me, they only purr when they are nursing.

So here is a few more pictures of all the kittens. After that, it will be just Buddy.

Buddy helping me set up the wireless Internet.
Buddy still sleeps in the quirkiest positions.
Ally taking a break from being WILD with the kittens.
When Melanie and the boys were ready to leave, we couldn't find Honey. That is when we noticed he was hiding under the wood stove. We didn't even know they could get there.

There is Honey hiding.
And Buddy hiding with him.