Memorial Day weekend & the loss of a family member

May 22 mom called in the evening asking if the girls could go to the St. Louis Zoo the next day, Saturday.  We of course said yes, since we knew we had many things to do on Saturday and they would have much more fun going to the zoo.  So I took them to swimming lessons while Ryan worked on the bathroom tile.  Afterwards I took them to grandma & papa’s to go to the zoo.  They didn’t get home until around 10 pm that night and they looked like they definitely had fun!

Ryan finished the bathroom tile over the holiday weekend and I know he was extremely happy to finish that project.  We both did outside work as well.  So overall we got a lot done over the weekend and had decent weather to do so, until it rained on Monday the 25.

The holiday weekend was a pretty good one up until Sunday late afternoon.  The girls and I had a baby shower to go to for Nora B. earlier in the day and then Adysen was coming over to spend the night.  After the shower all of us went into town to go to Sam’s and to get dinner.  When we got back the girls wanted to swim in the pool (Ryan put it up earlier that day so it was still filling up) and Ryan and I were going to hang up the tomato plants at the playground.  While we were doing that I looked over in the yard and noticed bugs flying on Smokey   She had been attacked by what we assume was a dog and appeared to have been killed rather quickly.  It was absolutely horrible and we were trying keep our composure since the girls had no idea what was going on while playing in the pool.  Ryan went up front to start a burial plot for her under the circle tree where we’ve buried Cindy and Jake.  When he was finished I talked to the girls and explained to them what had happened and if they wanted to say goodbye to her before daddy buries her.  They asked to see her (literally) and so Ryan hestitantly did so and then we said our goodbyes.  The girls balled.  We all did.  It was a very difficult night and we tried to be upbeat with Adysen there.  She ended up leaving around 11 pm that night because she missed her mommy.  The next day (Monday the 25th) was pretty sad, too.  It is still a complete shock. She is supposed to sitll be with us.  She was an awesome family member.  She maintained the outside from bugs, snakes, mice, etc and was just a loving animal to all of us.  We will never be able to replace her. She was one of a kind.

We love you, Smokey, and you will be missed so much.  We are sorry we couldn’t protect you from what got you – that we weren’t home when you needed us.  We love you.