Bluebirds and Butterflies

Watching for Santa...

Holidays....a wonderful and busy time of year....a mixture of bliss and stress at times.  When finally, all the gifts are wrapped, items baked, cards written and received, gifts mailed out of town to those far away and all is ready for the big day.....you take time to survey it all, take it in, enjoy the beautiful holiday decor in the home and cozy up with a nice cup of tea, coffee, or favorite holiday beverage.  "Ahhhhh," you exclaim....."everything is beautiful, warm and cozy, and ready for Christmas morning."   Yes, Christmas can be a busy, hustle/bustle time......but, I LOVE it!  :)   At this time, I am not quite to the "ahhhhhh" part yet.  Today, I am wrapping the last gift for out of town and taking it to the UPS Office in our area for shipping.  I also still want to do some baking.  But, I am getting closer to the moment of "ahhhhh bliss!" HA   As I scurry around though each day, there is someone who is keeping an eye on things for me....

 
It is my sweet little Maltese.....Sadie Mae.  I recently relocated her little leopard pillow by the french door that goes out to our balcony upstairs.  She loves being out on the balcony but, as winter gets colder, we are not sitting out on the balcony as much.  So.....she is enjoying resting on her pillow that perches her up high enough to look out the window of the french door.  I am finding her here several times during the day just relaxing.  The other evening, she spotted Santa passing through our neighborhood waving to everyone from a firetruck.  We quickly went out on the balcony in the chilly air to take a peek and wave at Santa.  l

These photos are not that great because I had to hurry and run to grab my camera and snap, snap, snap....and Santa was moving!

The child in me had to yell down from the balcony as Santa was driving past....."We love you, Santa!!!!"   And, Santa heard me and turned and waved to me.   :)

I am busy, like so many, at this holiday shopping and giving time.  I am posting photos of Brandon and Amy's wedding in my spare time to share at some point, too.  It is nice to know, though, while I am out in the hustle/bustle of the season, that there is someone who is keeping an eye on things for me.   Little Sadie has one eye open as she rests on her pillow...... She is watching the house, enjoying the decor, and keeping one eye open for Santa.  

Don't worry, little Sadie......Santa will be here soon!

Hope everyone is enjoying the spirit of Christmas this year!  Love to you all... xoxo Kim

Just part of the family...

Saturday, my younger son, Elliott, came home from college for a short visit over the weekend.   I am blessed that his college is close enough that he can return home for a visit from time to time.   Here are a couple of photos made on orientation day at college at the beginning of this year...

Another photo of Elliott in front of one of his classrooms in Guggenheim Hall...

I love the architecture of some of the old buildings on campus...

Look at the beautiful ornate wood carving on this building...

Hard to believe that in a few short weeks, Elliott will have his third year in college behind him.   He is majoring in computer engineering. 

When Elliott returns home from college for a visit, I am always happy to see him and give him a big hug.  I always try to make his visit special by taking him to one of his favorite restaurants or making him one of the dinners he loves.   I also enjoy making him his favorite cookies....chocolate chip.  I always make enough that he can take some cookies back to school.  But, I am not the only one happy to see him....

Our Maltese, Miss Sadie Mae, is right there in the action....happy as she can be!    She loves to spend time with Elliott when he is home.

 

Seeing them together makes me think of just how much our pets are part of our families...  Our little Sadie is present and a part of all the important events in our lives...  

Here are some special moments with Sadie Mae....starting with a photo of Sadie with my two sons and I.  This was taken just a few months after I lost both my parents to illnesses...my mom in June and my Dad in August of 2008.  This was my first Christmas without my parents.  Having my husband, my children and Sadie Mae with me to celebrate the holidays helped to brighten the Christmas at a difficult time for me.  

Here is a photo of my husband and I with Sadie that same Christmas...  Sadie looked so cute as Santa...

A group photo of us with Sadie...December of 2008...this was made in the living room of the home we lived in at that time.  My older son was visiting us from Houston, Texas, for the holidays.  My younger son had just started attending college but was still living at home. 

Another year, another special moment with Sadie Mae....Thanksgiving at the Alderbrook Lodge in Washington...November of 2009...

Alderbrook Lodge is right on the Hood Canal...   Each year, they have a special Christmas tree lighting ceremony around Thanksgiving.   We love to make holiday photos for our Christmas cards in the lodge because it is beautifully decorated.

My husband with Sadie in the early morning out on the dock at the Alderbrook Lodge...

Sadie Mae and I sailing with Mark on Liberty Bay...

Hurricane Ridge in 2009

Having coffee at Hotshots Java after a walk...

New Year's Eve 2010...   Happy New Year, Sadie Mae!!!

In Seattle on my birthday...February 2010...seeing the broadway show, South Pacific...

Window shopping and walking in the City of Seattle..

A Christmas in Florida...

My son, Brandon, gave Sadie this Porsche  sweater for Christmas that year.  She looked so cute in it... 

Sadie, the jet setter, travelling back to Seattle from Florida...

Sadie was pirate for Halloween 2010...   Here we are dressed for Halloween and leaving our home for a walk into town to the Halloween festival...

My husband and I dressed as "bikers" for Halloween...  Here is my husband with Sadie...

Early on Halloween 2010 at the marina at our sailboat, Skye...

My husband and Sadie at the sailboat...

Sadie enjoyed our grand-daughter Brenna's first trip by  herself from Florida to Seattle last summer...

Sadie Mae with the wind in her hair on the sailboat...  Sadie says, "arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh-------, I sail better than Jack Sparrow..... savvy?"

Sadie relaxing with Brenna in the cabin of our sailboat, Skye--the Lillie James...

My husband and I with Sadie last summer enjoying a sail on Liberty Bay...

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a sailors life for Sadie...

Another day, another adventure for Sadie....  heading towards the San Juan Islands on a whale watching boat...

Sadie says, "Hey, I think they spotted whales up at the other end of the boat.   Why are we back here?????" 

After a boat cruise, a dog can get thirsty!  Can you believe they had a dog fountain?  

Our boat to Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands...

At the Poulsbo Marina....going for a walk...

On the ferry from Port Townsend to Anacortes...

Sadie, Elliott and I at Deception Pass...

At the hotel in Anacortes... 

Sadie relaxing after a long drive at the hotel in Anacortes...

Early the morning we take Elliott over to college to move into his dorm...  Yes, Sadie was there....

Learning new tricks...

Now to test the trick out...  Will Dad give me a treat if I do this?...

Sadie is such a big part of our lives...  Even though she is only 6 pounds of fluff, she makes a big impact and touches the heart of everyone she meets...  Our pets are there for us through bad times and good times.  They love us unconditionally...  They are our biggest fans...   They are always there waiting for us...

We are blessed to have our little furry friends in our lives...  

Thank you, Sadie Mae, for being a part of our lives and sharing all of our memories...

Have a beautiful day...   Love, Kim

 

Bunny Watch...

Sadie, our Maltese, is on Easter Bunny watch....

Don't worry, Sadie, the Easter Bunny will hop this way soon...

And when he comes,  he will have lots of treats for you in his basket...

Waiting for the Easter Bunny can be tiring...

Think I'll go to sleep now... 

Good night...  if you see that bunny, please wake me...

From Sadie and all of us at Bluebirds and Butterflies....   We wish you a joyous and blessed Easter weekend with those that you love...  He IS risen!  Celebrate the Easter season!     Happy Easter!   xoxo Kim