Rest In Peace, Kakia

Mommy said that today is a very sad day. She found out that Kakia, a beloved pug, passed away on Tuesday. I only got to meet Kakia one time, but Mommy said that she was a very special pug.

For those of you who don't know, Mommy and Daddy moved to Ohio a long time ago. When they first arrived, they met Deidre. Daddy used to play ultimate frisbee with Deidre every week. Mommy would go to watch Daddy play and to cheer him on, but soon spent more time playing with Kakia on the sidelines than watching Daddy. Mommy thought Kakia was the cutest, coolest dog ever and convinced Daddy that she needed a pug, too.


A few weeks later, Trixie joined their family. Trixie and Kakia were BFFs immediately. Trixie wanted to be just like Kakia.

A year later, Trixie and Kakia were dognapped from their cars one evening after a game of ultimate frisbee. Mommy, Daddy and Deidre were heartbroken. They did everything they could to get Trix and Kakia back, including speaking with the dognappers on the phone and agreeing to pay ransom. The dognappers never showed up. To make a LOOONG story short, Kakia and Trixie were later found trotting around OSU campus together. To this day, Mommy says that sheltered, prissy Trixie would never have survived that adventure without tough, street wise Kakia to keep her safe.

Kakia started the "Kakia Pug Legacy." Mommy fell in love with Kakia and decided that she had to get her own pug - enter Trixie. Then Nana and Joepa decided they needed to get pugs, so Mimi and Wolfie joined their family (Deidre and Kakia helped pick out Mimi!!) Then our friends Amy and Big Jimrealized that they had to have pugs, too, so Riley and Ollie joined their family. My Aunt Jill and Uncle Emar loved pugs so much that they added Vegas and Jack to their house. After all that, Mommy knew that she had to have two pugs, too, and before you knew it Emmet joined the legacy. Deidre and Jenn also recently added another pug to their brood. Without Kakia, none of these wonderful dogs would be in our extended family.

We are so sorry for your loss, Deidre. We just know that Kakia is now running free in heaven, watching over her legacies and her family, smiling her wide pug grin!

Snug As A Pug In A Rug...

Emmet looked cold, so I cuddled up next to him and wrapped up the both of us in my trusty blankie.



Sometimes two thick coats of fur just isn't enough to keep you warm. A blankie and a good friend are needed to really feel comfortable.

OK, rest time is over. Let's play!!

Farewell, St. Paul

For the past ten months, I have been extremely lucky to be a student at St Paul Christian Child Care Center. Mommy said that I am just like she is - I LOVE school and feel very comfortable there.

Because Mommy finished her teaching job at her school, I had to say goodbye to my friends and teachers. I was very, very sad yesterday on my last day, but I have many wonderful memories of the fantastic, caring teachers and all of my great friends. This photo is of me with my BFF Chloe. We were the only two girls in the Pooh Bear room and we were definitely the princesses of the Poohs.


One of the many fun activities that my school has is the Family Picnic. Last week, Mommy, Daddy and I went to the picnic and played lots of games, ate yummy food and stayed as far away as possible from Mr. Ray's pony and his pony rides.

Daddy helped me win a prize at the Ring Toss game. I love playing games with Daddy!


Face painting? I'm not hiding any of my cute mug under paint - I opted for an arm tattoo instead!




Being the stylish toddler that I am, I asked for a butterfly tattoo to match my butterfly shirt!






My favorite activity of the picnic, of course, was the ribbon dancing. If there is "dayncing," I am there!! (take note of my boyfriend Hayden in the Nittany Lion t-shirt - even though we are no longer classmates, we are going to attempt a long-distance relationship - he has my cell number!)


A week after the Family Picnic, it was time for my last day. I put on my pretty denim dress, strapped my trusty backpack on my shoulders and excitedly left for school, like I have every weekday for the past ten months.



This was me on my very first day of school back in August. When this photo was taken, I had no idea how much fun school was going to be, how much I was going to learn or how many great teachers and friends I would soon have.


This is my teacher, Vicky. Every morning when I walked into the classroom she said, "Good morning, beautiful!" Vicky is very funny, caring and taught me so much this year.

My other teacher, Janelle, was on vacation on my last day. I gave her lots of big hugs and kisses on Wednesday when we said goodbye, but Mommy didn't have her camera with her to take photos. We have to go back to school next week to pick up some things, so I hope I can get a picture with Janelle then. Janelle called me her special princess and loved playing with and styling my hair. She is a very good story reader and gave me lots and lots of hugs. I was VERY lucky to have both Vicky and Janelle as my teachers.


Mommy had been telling me all week that I would have to say goodbye to school so that I could stay home and play with her. Mommy knew that I was very sad (I told her I was sad about a million times this week), so she, Nana and Joepa took me out for ice cream after school on my last day. I am going to miss everything about St Paul, but I am very excited to spend more time with Mommy.

And of course the ice cream helped me feel better, too!!!

Best Daddy in the World

Available for a limited time only!

Act now, and you can have the best daddy in the world!!

This model of daddy comes complete with lots of play time. Feel like climbing up his legs? He'll let you do it all day long!

Want to play drums in his band? He'll even let you pick the song!

In the mood to "daynce?" He'll swing you around and around until you can't walk straight!

Feeling the urge to play soccer in the backyard? This daddy will kick the ball back to you everytime!

Interested in reading a good "Strawberry Shortcake" book? He'll read every berry last one to you!!

Need to learn how to drive really fast? This daddy can teach you how to go around turns really fast without losing control!

Want to learn how to make your car cleaner than any other car on the road? This daddy can show you the secrets to an ultra-clean vehicle!

Getting frustrated because you can't throw the rings onto the pencils sticking out of the ground? This daddy is very patient and can teach you how to do anything.

Oh, wait! There's been a mistake! This daddy isn't for sale. He's MY daddy! He's the best daddy in the world, why would I want to share him with anyone?

This limited time offer is now over. Sorry!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DADDY!!!! I am such a lucky girl!!!

****A special Father's Day shout out to JoePa. You're the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Charlie Bradshaw

Carrie Bradshaw may have to shop at all the fancy NYC shoe stores to find her perfect summer shoe. I, on the other hand, just had to hit 'click' on the computer. Two days later, my perfect summer shoe arrived.



I was so excited when we pulled into the driveway and saw the box sitting outside our door. At first, I thought "Zappos" was some cool new magic fairy wand that I could use to zap things. Mommy reminded me that it was the company made this new pair of shoes just for me. Mommy had looked all over the mall, the outlets and the internet stores and couldn't find this special shoe in my size. She went onto Zappos site and zap!! They made it disappear from their warehouse and appear at my doorway!

I insisted on carrying it in from the driveway. I wasn't going to trust anyone else to transport my new special shoes.


I opened the box carefully so that I wouldn't harm the shoes.



I pulled out the smaller box, and before me was the symbol I had longed to see - the happy grin of a friendly crocodile named "Croc."


I had been waiting since last summer for a new pair. A crazy person at my school decided that we couldn't wear Crocs, so it had been a long nine months before I could get another pair. Now that school is almost over, I am reunited with my favorite footwear. This was a special moment for me.



Not only did I get a brand new pair of pretty pink Crocs, but I got a new design. No longer would I be walking around in the original Cayman style that everyone now seemed to have (it's exhausting being a trendsetter.) Now I have the new, more feminine Mary Jane style. I feel that this style fits my girlish personality better and will match my closet full of dresses.

Jimmy Choos? Manolo Blahniks? Not for this girl. Those of us in the know here in Pennsylvania realize that Crocs are the must-have shoe of the summer. Now I need to go call Carrie and inform her of this trend before it really catches on in the rest of the country!

Miss Charlotte

Today was such an exciting day! Mommy decided that she needed a break from teaching for the morning. I volunteered to help her - who needs a substitute when you have Miss Charlotte at your disposal??

The whole ride to school I told Mommy that I was so excited to see the 'big kids.' I couldn't wait to teach them everything I know!


The first thing every good teacher must do is create an excellent lesson plan. Not only was my lesson plan well written, making accommodations for all the different learners I would encounter, but it was also colorful.


To make sure that all my students understand circles, I modeled one on the chalkboard.

Note to chalkboard makers: Not all great teachers are tall. Maybe you could install them a little bit closer to the ground for those of us who are vertically challenged??




Onto the next topic...let's discuss fashion. We all know that I look adorable in Crocs and a dress, but can grown-ups pull off this look? Please discuss...











This chalk is not good for my silky smooth skin.

Note to chalk makers: Could you try to formulate chalk that is less...chalky??


Phew! Teaching is hard work! Now I see why Mommy is so tired at the end of the day. I need to sit in my special teacher chair and relax for a few minutes.












Now it's time to give all my students their grade for the day. They all said that I was really cute, so "A's" for everyone!!!!