Our first star chart

We've been talking about getting a cat.  It's a big deal to me.  Most times the thought of being responsible for keeping another living creature alive makes me tear up.  At the same time, we are cat people.  The dog is an aberration.   I think a cat is in our (near) future.  We're looking at this one.  My only criterion so far is that it must be orange.

I got to thinking that maybe Liam could help take care of the pets.  He used to feed Mollie most mornings but the habit has fallen off lately.  So, we made our first star chart. 

As we made the chart we discussed all the ways we take care of Mollie.  Liam noted that one of the ways we take care of Mollie is by telling her to"be quiet" and "go lie down."  Oh dear.  At least he also got feeding, petting gently, and letting outside. 

Overall, the whole chart idea was pretty well received and he earned his first star by feeding Mollie her dinner tonight.   That's about it; I'll let you know how it goes.  During the making we had this exchange:

Mommy: Here's how it works, we'll put a sticker on each day that you help take care of Mollie, and at the end of a week, if there is a sticker in every day we'll have a special treat.
Liam:  Ooooohhhhh.  Like a vitamin?  I want my vitamin.

Still with the vitamins.  His favorite food. 

Overdue update

 We are fine.  Busy end-of summer time.  And my work got busy for the first time all year at the same time so, you know.  Since I was last in this space we have:

Enjoyed a visit from Will's sister and her family and survived Liam and cousin K making footprints and hand prints on the back patio.  And later that week, enjoyed a visit from my sister.  Who is coming back for Thanksgiving this year, and already I can hardly wait.

Worked on our bedside manner.  He has a ways to go.  (The stethoscope is real, we have a number of them around from when Will had chemo and they would put a dedicated-to-his-germs-only stethoscope in his hospital room.  We brought them home for reasons I still don't really know.)

Played with boats.  All of them. A lot.

Hosted at least one birthday party.

Wished a lot of days would never end.  And lots of stuff I was too busy doing/enjoying to take pictures of.

We also had our pictures taken by a real photographer.  The remarkable Clane Gessel who, in addition to his regular gigs, takes photos of CF-families.  So, if, at long last you want to see what we really look like, all cleaned and photoshop-ed up, you can see Clane's pictures here.  If you are getting married or whatever, and want photos, call Clane; he's the best.

More soon.