on the mend

Oh, wonderful stomach bug, thank you so much for stopping by the Totten house this year.

Olivia & I are so very pleased that you are on your way out.

We had chicken noodle soup for each meal the last couple of days.


Here's to hoping I can sleep all night in my own bed, rather than the couch.

How could I forget...I also hope Rachel and Jarrett don't catch this.

Christmas Parade 2012

both of my beautiful girls were in the Chrismtas parade this year with Dance Xtreme. funny, it didn't really feel like Christmas parade weather - it was 65 degrees. here are my smiling girls prior to the parade.

our little town's Christmas parade was extra special this year. no, no, not because both of my girls were in the parade. it was extra special because one of my dear friends Ramee and her beautiful family were the Grand Marshall this year. if you don't know Ramee's story, you should. Ramee is mother to 3 gorgeous little redheads. the youngest of which, Mabel, is extra special. please, go read the story of Mabel & Ramee's incredible strength & faith.

Nora, Ramee, Mabel, Daniel, & Braden



there were some other cute little girls in attendance. 

and here is my smiling Rachey girl.

to be perfectly honest, i was a little worried about how Rachel would do. but she was a rockstar.

Olivia was an old pro, waving & smiling.



Olivia yelling something, no doubt "Nathan!!!"



Cassidy was in the parade again this year with Girl Scouts. She was a magician.

why Snooks hated me for a week

oh Snooki...

she definitely hated me for about a week.

she had to go to the vet to get fixed on wednesday. i picked her up thursday morning. and i thought, oh good lord what have i done to my cat.



all loaded up & ready to go



 maybe I should explain why...

I registered her to get fixed with a clinic. so, it was $25 for the sterile feral treatment. spay, rabies shots, & her ear clipped. why the ear clip? well, so if she were to ever get out, they would know she belongs to someone.

my friend, Katie, (hi Katie) called it the back-alley spay. haha. I didn't know it would be a ton of other animals. there were probably 10 other cats & 15 dogs. and we dropped off at 7:00 am wednesday. they loaded them up in a box van & took them to springfield (like 45 minutes away). then picked up the next morning.

when i brought her home, she was all out of sorts. I assume from the medicine. but seriously, she was pissed. like super pissed. hated me. wouldn't even look at me. she darted down the basement steps the second I unloaded her from the pet carrier.

we found her laying in a laundry basket when we got home thursday evening. we brought her upstairs, and she was sitting with Liv for a bit. then she was gone.

i found her in the closet.

Snooki says, "I hate you people. I can't even stand to be around you."

 the next day, was better. here she is with Liv.

Snooki says, "I love Olivia, but I hate you crazy woman. Don't even look at me."

 and the next morning. more of the same. she would literally see me coming & turn her head.

and now here we are a week & half later. and she is back to being my little snuggle girl & just mildly bitchy. just like me.