Our Kitten is Having Kittens!

Shai was scheduled for a spay and declaw in March but in February I picked her up and could feel nipples.  We have had a few female cats and I have never felt their nipples - disturbing thoughts started entering my head.  Watching Shai she was putting on weight and sleeping a lot more - started doing research.  I mentioned my concerns to Greg and Emily overheard and said, "I'm pretty sure she is pregnant.  I've known for weeks."  So our baby was having babies.  She must have gotten pregnant a little over a week after we got her.  I didn't even know they could get pregnant at three months old!

Her belly got bigger and bigger.  She couldn't jump much.  Her balance was off and she looked pretty uncomfortable.  We all guessed dates for when she would have the babies.  As the weeks went buy we got worried that she would have the kittens while we were away in Australia but she was just waiting for Mack to come home for his spring break.

Tuesday morning, March 12th, Lily woke us up at 5:45am , "I'm pretty sure Shai is having her babies."  Apparently, Shai was making lots of noise and moving a lot on Lily's bed.  Lily got up and followed Shai downstairs.  She woke up Mack first and they didn't wake us till a foot was coming out.  We all watched as Shai gave birth to the first kitten in the dinning room.  We had made a birthing box for her and after the first one was born on the floor she moved the baby and herself into the nesting box to deliver the rest.  After the third baby was born the girls headed off to school. I didn't make them!  They went on their own because they didn't want to be late and I think we were all hoping that three was the magic number.

Greg headed to work but Mack and I stayed and watched as Shai gave birth to two more kittens - 5 total.  No wonder she was so huge.  One grey and black striped, one black and white, and three black.

It was amazing to watch Shai instinctively know how to care for herself and the babies.  She ate their placentas, licked them all clean and started nursing.  And she pretty much nursed them all the time for the next 24 hours.

That isn't a piece of steak - it is the last placenta which Shai did eventually eat.  It gives her the nourishment she needs to nurse the babies right away without leaving them to find food.  Incredible how nature provides.

It was incredible and now we all just love watching the little kittens grow and change each day.  We were sad to leave them when we went to Australia but we came home to little kittens with their eyes open and checking out a bit more of the world.

Ditten isn't sure what to think about the kittens...we will see.

Papa Day

For Papa's birthday we made banana cake and watched Man From Snowy River, a favorite of Randy's and a good Australian prep for the girls.  Miss you and love you Randy!

 

More Skiing

Over President's Day weekend we went skiing with Wilfords on Friday and watched Jared and Sammie get better and better - especially Sammie who skied longer than anyone else that day.

Natali drove up Thursday from Provo to join us for a weekend of fabulous snow and family time.

Natali, Abby, and Emily

And look at their cool shadow.

Mack drove down from Moscow Friday after school and he and Greg join us on Saturday for another fabulous day of skiing.  Wilfords headed home Saturday afternoon and Sunday we caught the second half of stake conference (haha) instead of the 11:00am ward but it was all good.  We played a lot of games and just enjoyed all being together.  

Lily is 11!

Lily's birthday was a fast Sunday so we had the Wilford's join us at 3:30 for PoppySeed Chicken and fruit dip.  Then everyone watched with painful anticipation as Lily very carefully unwrapped her packages.  This girl hates to be cold (related to Grandma Dame) so she got a warmie, a heating pad in the shape of a bobcat and Val gave her a weighted blanket.  That girl loves to be warm!

Grandma Dame gave her this cute panda shirt and she got some cute new jeans.

She made my day and chose a blueberry lemon cake - yummy! -with the requested "wall" of candles.  

Love these guys!

The wall created such a flame that we sang the fastest "Happy Birthday" song ever before anything caught fire.  

Lily had a great time with cousins and soaking in her day, but the next morning she woke up with a sore throat, headache and cough.  She stayed home that entire week and some of the next one, but she got lots of good kitty snuggles which she had to capture with a pic and send Mack everyday to make him jealous - that girl loves cats and soft fluffy things.  She spend also spent a lot of time reading, petting cats, and watching "Just Add Magic".  She read the entire book, "Holes" in one day.

Both of the cats stayed in the room with her most of that first day - they knew she needed company.

This girls makes us laugh with her her sense of humor and wit.  She is invited to everyone's parties and playdates because she is so pleasant, easy, and a friend to any girl she sees.  Love you Lily!

Putting the 5th Grade Ski Pass to Use

 One Saturday in December Leavitts took Hazel, Payton, and Lily to ski Tamarak.  There wasn't very much snow but the girls still had a lot of fun.  Check out those awesome braids.

For the Mill Creek Ski night the McConkies took the girls out of school early to ski Bogus all afternoon and evening.

Then the very next day, Friday, I took my girls and the McConkie girls up to Brundage for a gorgeous ski day.  Other than Lily, it was the first time the rest of us had put on skis - it felt wonderful.  We had a great day.

Family Time and Snow Days

The kids were back in school just 3 days after Christmas Break when we had an epic snow fall leading to cancelled church.  I had hoped to go up to McCall to ski but not in that weather.   Then we had MLK Monday off - at this point we were starting to get tired of being home.  We were all tired of our usual entertainments.  Thankfully the kids went to school Tuesday but then there was another 7 or 8 inch snowfall canceling school Wednesday and Thursday.  I was so grateful for my new car that handled the snow so well.

Laura, Mel, and Mark flew in for all day Woodgrain meetings on Thursday.  So we left the kids to entertain themselves and had a long, but good day of discussions led by the Owner Council.  The rest of the weekend we enjoyed family time with sleepovers, games, and late night talks and poker games.

Unfortunately, Melanie was sick and spent a lot of time resting. 

Laura went out and played in the snow with the littles.  They loved it.  She makes them all feel so special and appreciated.

They especially loved watching the cats play in the snow.  Shai's little paws falling through and her belly rubbing the snow had them laughing.

Thankfully, Monday was back to school like normal, but so much for Kate driving to school.  The van couldn't handle the roads till more of the snow melted.  Crazy but fun.

Christmas Break

Merry Christmas!  Bernards gave us some of their favorite things - Like T Swift stickers!

Lily showing off her candy and goods.

Emmy glammed up in moose PJ's, new shoes and tons of clothes.

Monthly flowers and the lego flower from Laura.

Kate and all her nail stuff and lovely sleeping mask for the airplane ride to Australia.

We got pictures for our adventure wall and it took quite a lot of tweaking to get them on the wall.  

But now it looks pretty great with our new couch.

Kate didn't want a photo but she got her license!!!

Took the girls to the Discovery Center to see the impressionist immersion exhibit.  We had a bit of silly fun.

On December 31st Greg was made Bishop of the River Ranch Ward.  The ward was cut in half and the  had a lot of positions to fill.  Exciting new and bitter-sweet  changes.

Grandma Nani came - she took this picture 😂

Mack had to say goodbye to the cats and his Bob to go back to school. We miss our boys.

Emily took her first trip looking for cougars - no luck but lots of snow and -15 degrees 🥶