New Family Member!

 The whole time we fostered Ally and I wanted an orange kitten. We loved our cat Carl so much and orange cats are just so cute and silly. 

I decided a cat of my own would be a good emotional support for me when Ally leaves for Syracuse. So I reached out to our cat rescue and they happened to have an orange male kitten available. Becky and I went to meet him, and then picked Ally up from school and brought her over to meet him too. 

.  

Me and my Otto - I had decided to name him after the Syracuse mascot. 

we love him so much!

Prom - Senior Year

Ally decided to go prom her senior year. At her school all high school students are eligible to attend the Prom. They meet up at school before hand for pictures and all travel to the venue in charter buses. 

Ally looked stunning. She did her own hair and makeup. 

A neighbor offered to take our picture. 

Pretty jewelry and of course her nails were done.

She met up with her crew of guys soon after we arrived. 

And these are from the school photographer. Ally had a very challenging 4 years of high school and senior year was no different. But we are so proud of her for showing up and participating. 

Easter & London April 2025

 Becky, Beth, Dave & Debbie went to London for a week in April. It was Becky's Spring Break. They had a once in a lifetime trip filled with family memories and sightseeing. 

Ally and I stayed home; Ally had school and someone had to watch our pets! We celebrated Easter with my cousin Kimn, Angelita and Sophocles. 

Never too old for an egg hunt, especially when it ends with Apple Cash.

Becky worked hard on making a Syracuse JellyCat bunny for Ally.

Foster Journey

We had a good 8 months of fostering kittens. We were thrilled to raise so many and then send them off to their own homes. But things ended rather disastrously in March. We took in an emergency foster of a mamma cat Brie and two of her kittens, we named Jack (Monterey) and Lacey (Swiss). Lacey was sick immediately and soon passed away but Jack charmed us for a week before he started to struggle and we learned that he had a very dangerous and highly contagious disease. The rescue organization we work with paid a lot of money for emergency care for several days, but unfortunately Jack did not survive. 

It was a challenging and very sad time for us. And it ended our foster journey. We are only now a year later ready to try and foster again. We are hoping to host some kittens this summer when Ally is home from Syracuse. 

The Presidents! Oh how we loved them and they brought such joy every morning and evening for Ally during such a dark and lonely time. 

This little guy above is Sphere. We had him for a just a few days before he went to his forever family.

This is Jack. We loved him so very much. 

Daisy and Cloey always provide such comfort to Ally. 

Syracuse Class of 2029

In April Ally and I went to Syracuse for an “Admitted Students” event 
That is Otto the Orange, the mascot for Syracuse.

We met up with one of our Guatemala Girl friends, Gabi and her mom Kim. Gabi was undecided about Syracuse but after this she accepted her admittance and they are both attending Syracuse! 


These are the social media announcements! 

Remaining Spring Break 2025

The rest of Spring Break after our trip to DC was pretty laid back.

Lots of time with cats



Becky got COVID and was quarantined in the basement. But we brought her new Oscar the grouch pajamas from DC so at least she was sick in great Sesame Street style.

Naps. 

On the way home from DC Ally mentioned a few things she wanted to cook and eat. So one day we went to the grocery store together and shopped for ingredients and then made things. 

Apple pie roll ups

With a caramel sauce




And an old favorite we had not made in years, chocolate peanut butter protein balls.

It was also a time of some struggle. Ally was really frustrated with high school and going back for her final semester was not feeling good to her. We talked about cried and got some additional help and she went back when school started.

Her school was extremely understanding and very supportive. I’m so proud of how Ally worked really hard to attend classes and get homework done and graduate. 

The Presidents

March was also when we said goodbye to our foster cats, The Presidents. Mama Madison and her kittens, Lincoln, Adams, Kennedy & Carter.

They brought us so much joy during a dark time.